#story: nowhere to run

[bacchuschucklefuck]

okay unironically I love so much that porter is like this world SUCKS its BAD here and it HURTS you why do you care abt it!!! and literally every single bad kid is like ngl we just hate ur ass it does not matter what ur philosophy is

[roots-symphony]

do you think the reason agatha’s trial felt weird is because she was the only one who did not actually buy into the mythos of the road since she knew the truth? like that was why no perspective change and all the other reasons why people thought it was a fake trial

[invye]

So @kacievvbbbb asking about modern AU headcanons had me revisiting my 'modernised' MiShanks AU I thought up a couple months ago.

I call it 'modernised' because it is more of a medium modern AU, where I keep much of the base OP lore and history, but shrink the 'active' world down to just a few islands. The overall tech level and societal developments are much closer to what we have now and I do away with most of the political plot. I haven't yet decided if Devil Fruits still exist, but if they do, they are much more rare and are kind of a thing of legend most people don't believe in. Only very select few people would know about them and the curse associated with them.

So lets get into it, I've got plenty of thoughts on Mihawk, Shanks and how their relationship plays together in a more modern world. (And because Rosinante is also one of my favourites, and I can't seem to not smush them all together, there is a CoraMiShanks bit at the end too.)

- Mihawk -

Basic weaponry is a bit more in line with modern expectations in this AU, but that will never ever stop Mihawk from being a swords guy. Mihawk is the authority on fencing, especially in historical context. He's basically got a PHD in swords, identifying them, maintaining them, using them. He's filthy rich, not just because he won every fencing tournament there is, but also because he straight up inherited that half maintained castle outside of town along with stupid amounts of money from an uncle everyone thought already died decades before Mihawk received his testament.

These days Mihawk only competes in the highest level tournament once a year to defend the title (his 'rivalry' with Shanks makes the news every time) and otherwise spends his time at home, reading, drinking, occasionally taking small sailing trips with his beloved Hitsugibune, and of course training his swordsmanship. Everyone thinks he's just living it up big in Kuraigana castle, but the people in town know that he just wants to raise his kids in peace.

Where did the kids come from? No one knows. They're definitely not his though. Anyway, turns out that Mihawk is really good with kids, so it takes barely a couple years for the whole town to load off their kids with him during holidays and days off school. (Look, Zeff runs a busy kitchen, and as much as Sanji tries to help, he's still too young for the holiday rush. Garp has to leave on Marine assignments at the most random times, and his bum of a son has vanished to who knows where years ago, and the grandkids are friends with Zoro and Sanji anyway and can do with burning out their energy running around the woods behind the castle. Bellemère has to leave on those assignments with Garp most of the time, so Nami joins the fray while Nojiko mostly plays with Perona. Mihawk usually leaves the teen girls be on their own, especially since Robin showed up a while ago to join them [she seems to stay on her own, and Mihawk keeps an eye on her in case she needs additional help, but Crocodile seems to have that sorted already]. Usopp's mom is still sick, and she's grateful to know her son is out there having fun with his friends while she tries the next medicine with horrible side effects.)

The kids love Mihawk. Mihawk loves the kids too and to much of his dismay, the kids know it. He is a figure of authority to them, but also a person of trust, who they can approach with problems and worries when their usual parental figure is unavailable or out of reach. Given that Mihawk is pretty much always around, he begrudgingly accepts his new job as free childcare provider for the town (Garp tried to pay once. They all realised very quickly they get much farther by paying in favours, food, or doing little odd jobs because that old castle always needs something done).

Mihawk promised to teach Ace and Sabo to sail this summer, and with Luffy insisting to bounce around them, he already plans on doing more swimming and child fishing than actual sailing.

- Shanks -

Shanks is still a pirate, but it's all on a much smaller scale. He's still got the 'Red Emperor' epithet, but his reputation is much more Robin Hood of the seas. The Red Force gets into small tussles with other pirates more often than the Marines, and really, as long as they have food and alcohol on board they are all perfectly fine just sailing and enjoying their freedom. No one ever knows where the Red Force is at any given time, but they are known to show up when natural disasters strike, not to plunder the remains, but to help the people rebuild long before the Marines get around to offer their help (once the Marines show up on the horizon the Red Force clears out, a couple shots are exchanged, none of them ever hit). Garp tried to yell them into joining the Marines more than once, really Shanks could even stay captain and keep his ship and crew, he just needs to fly the Marine flag, but they all simply laugh and wave as they go off again to who knows where.

However, there is one week every year, where everyone knows exactly where the Red Force will be. Shanks won't ever miss his chance to duel Mihawk in the grand fencing tournament a couple islands over from Mihawk's home. As opposed to Mihawk, who has his fixed position as defending champion, Shanks fights his way through the other contenders every year. He leans into the pirate reputation, taunting opponents, refusing protective gear, tiptoe-ing the line to breaking the rules. The people love to hate him, it's a spectacle every time. The grand finale inevitably is a duel between Mihawk and Shanks, even after Shanks lost his arm (he sat out for a year and people thought that was the end. They were very relieved when Shanks made his over the top entrance again the year after).

They have long abandoned the actual fencing rules and equipment during the finale. People clap and scream when Mihawk steps on stage carrying Yoru, the black blade just as legendary as his own reputation. Shanks never fails to grin and deliver a witty one liner (the people's boo is part of the performance) and then they lunge. Watching that fight is exhilarating. No protective gear, real blades, and two absolute masters going at each other with a force that would leave less competent fighters with the gravest of wounds. It's every bit as real as it is a performance. Everyone knows Mihawk will win before they even start, and the people can recognise a small collection of moves that they build in every time, the more flashy and wide swipes that could easily be punished but never are. It's not simply about Mihawk winning and Shanks losing, it's about witnessing a piece of history being brought back to life right in front of their eyes.

The fencing tournament has always been held within the context of the summer solstice, and with Mihawk and Shanks putting on their show its become a part of a bigger festival that focusses on celebrating history and old rites, the origins of which aren't always known anymore. Every year after the finale they throw a huge feast, traditional food all over, as historically accurate to a long past pirate era as it can get (Mihawk makes sure of it, that history PHD has to be good for something), dressing up accordingly is very much encouraged. Shanks and Mihawk keep carrying their blades and play up their daring villain and chivalrous hero act and no one thinks twice about drinking with the Red Hair Pirates (they have amazing stories to tell). Usually Mihawk ends up in the middle of a group of kids and answers all kinds of history questions, all professor like, but in his full on historical get up. Shanks catches a glimpse of him and sighs dreamily and all the people he's jokingly been flirting with and threatening to kidnap as part of his role know that they're talking to a very much taken man. They enjoy his company anyway and talk to him about what it is like to raise a kid out at sea as they watch Perona and Uta tease Zoro in the distance.

What people don't know, is that the Red Force winters. Pretty much everyone aside from a volunteer skeleton crew leaves the ship for home during the winter months.

No one in town mentions to outsiders that the Red Emperor stays with the Strongest Swordsman up in Kuraigana castle. Why would they? They're great with the kids. And Uta singing with Brook during the Baratie winter solstice celebration sells out the house every time (the townsfolk get a cheeky 50% off that day, it's a community event after all [except for Mihawk. His filthy rich ass can pay double and wouldn't notice {he does pay double. He does notice. He does not care}]).

- Rosinante & Law -

Because I can't help myself and I love thinking about Rosinante together with MiShanks, this story's active events that would make up a proper fic make it a CoraMiShanks story, which starts with Cora-san and Law arriving in town. (Rosinante is genuinely a situational mute in this one, and Law's illness is a bit less horrifying, and potentially cured/managed with medicine.) They're on assignment from Doflamingo who heard that there's a spot that has gone unfilled in the island's underworld and wants to take full advantage of the opportunity to weasel into Crocodile's operations.

Little does Doffy know that: a) Corazón accepted the assignment so he could get away from him; b) Corazón insisted on taking Law because he's still working on getting Law's illness cured; [c) {depending on if Devil Fruits exist} Corazón may have secretly taken the Ope Ope no Mi on his way out;] d) Dracule Mihawk personally checks out every newcomer in town and seems to know much more than he reasonably should; e) Dracule Mihawk loves kids and bonds with Rosinante in a single meeting that included him pulling Law out of a lake; f) gods damned Dracule Mihawk directly protects Crocodile's operations in a infuriating 'someone will do it so I pick the smallest evil' mindset and Crocodile is so damn smug about it; g) fucking Dracule Mihawk decides to keep Rosinante and Law under his protection; h) and WHERE DID THE FUCKING RED EMPEROR COME FROM???

Doffy is seething at his plans foiled. Crocodile laughs at him, tells him to go pound sand and uses the opportunity to poach a couple of Doffy's operatives. Doffy has no choice but to retreat and plot his vengeance for later.

[aroaessidhe]

2024 reads / storygraph

Outdrawn

f/f contemporary romance

two cartoonist who’ve been rivals since uni, and now have competing webcomics online, have to work together on the relaunch of a cult classic at the comic press they both work at

they both struggle with art-related physical and mental health issues, and complicated families

[the-nysh]

Do you think we'll ever learn the connection between God and Saitama? For me I think that's the biggest chekov's gun of the manga (since in the wc isn't fully developed)

Hmm…it’s true that the wc has barely scratched the surface while the manga’s been steadily setting things up with multiple linked arcs (with the cubes, more corrupted individuals, etc) showing how god(no ID) is likely the series’ endgame Big Bad behind the scenes.

Personally I’m hoping his connection to Saitama remains unlinked - where it’s important to me that Saitama’s just a regular guy who’s earned his power thru hard work + willpower - cause if he’s some special ‘chosen one’ by god or whatever, then all his personal achievements thus far would feel invalidated (and I wouldn’t want to see that.) So I prefer a Saitama who’s accidentally pissed off god by breaking his set rules (the limiter) into a forbidden realm of power that god himself can no longer directly control. Where Saitama’s now a free-roaming wildcard and anomalous threat to the balance of the world in opposition to god’s existence without ever even knowing about it. All that good fun stuff~

The story’s early throwaway line “it’s as if a god resides in his body” with respect to Saitama’s power (way back during his hero test) could hint or foreshadow many things to come, but whatever it is, we’ve also seen just how hostile and increasingly desperate god seems to be towards destroying him and humanity (along with unsealing himself - I’m sure Blast knows far much more about it he’s yet to reveal), and finding all the more vessels (victims) to exploit as a means + power conduits towards that goal.

The wildest speculation I’ve seen on that front would be if god’s aiming to mentally break Saitama to become the perfect physical vessel to finally advent into this world’s dimension. Orrrrrr that god -is- a future version of Saitama from an alternate time/worldline. And that would be O.O;;; ???? (almost encroaching into looping convoluted orv territory there) along with the whole Saitama -is- the world’s doomed god-level threat from the prophecy. I’ve seen all such related ideas brought up by fans before! So whatever the truth actually is (which for now is a big maybe and we shall see), at the rate the two stories (manga + wc) are going, we’ll probably receive more god coverage and lore answers from the manga all in due time long before the wc ever gets to it. :’D

[drbtinglecannon]

Hi-Fi Rush really said "let's make a rhythm game that's made with such love and passion for music, has good characterization and growth, the humor and character designs are fun, the enemy battles are creative, the main villain is defeated through the power of friendship, and it contains tons of bonus content with no microtransactions, all for half the cost of an AAA game" and it fucking slapped

[starlightsugar]

I swear to god if they kill off Crunchy and Carrow I’m gonna release 4000 bees into Devsisters HQ

[starlooove]

No bc fuck tim but it really really bothers me how people ignore his growth like he used to be an asshole and I’ll give tim Stans one thing: now he’s so so so stale but what I disagree with is that this staleness is bc nobody likes him like it’s in fact the exact opposite where everyone likes him so much they dont want to do anything. Even when it’s him surface level challenging Bruce it’s when everyone else is doing it too; but he’s still the backbone of the fam! Etc. and it’s so irritating bc him gaining more compassion and empathy even for people he doesn’t fw is so fun to watch and that’s why the captain boomerang thing was so out of character! (Not in a from the author way but in a tim wouldn’t do that and he and Bruce both knew it which is why it went down like it did. Same way dick killing joker was ooc; not in fanon sense but in a he would hate himself forever for this sense) and speaking of that it’s such an interesting mirror to Bruce who genuinely believes that everyone can grow vs Tim’s it doesn’t matter if they grow it’s not my decision to make like it’s the same but it’s not AND WITH CASS’ IT DOESNT MATTER IF THEY CHOOSE NOT TO GROW I WONT DO IT! like ugh. And anyways even when people acknowledge it they boil it down to “Janet and Jack taught him that the capitalist pigs that they are” like no. This is who tim was. Tim was the kind of guy who’d blame a dead kid for dying. That’s ok. Also Janet and Jack? Please reread anything involving them that’s not a fic like Jack had anger issues and they were both aloof at worst like relax.

[corallapis]

I want to tell you this story without having to be in it.

[kirk]

never heard of this show but how doomed yaoi is robron

or are they like together canonically

if they are whats the angst to fluff ratio out there i need to decide if its worth searching for it online

the thing about robron is that they are both forever and doomed. and so back and then so over and then so back and then so over and then so back

but yeah theyre together canonically. they get together... twice. break up... twice. get back together... twice. propose... twice. get married... twice. theyre so messy and codependent on eachother. its delicious. its everything

the angst to fluff ratio id say is likeee 50/50? but my god when the fluff hits it hits soooo good and my god especially their hurt/comfort i think about the october 17th 2016 episode nearly every hour of my damn day rn. please do check them out if you want if you love like... codependency. "this isnt a love story" (turns out to very much be a love story). nobody is it for me but you. you make me a better person but also im only capable of being evil to anyone but you. type shit then. well. thats robron <3

[thesoulspulse]

These are just some quick redraws of the two horses Vlad and Danny rode in a scene from my fanfic "Nowhere To Run." I might recreate the whole thing later with their riders and saddles but not yet since I don't have the tools to make a decent grassy background. Even the one I made before was super cringe since I was still in the process of learning how to make digital artwork in general and it shows! XD

Story: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12861681/1/Nowhere-To-Run

Original:

Full Scene:

[fictionadventurer]

wowww I just watched Love Strikes Twice and it was actually wonderful! It was sweet and funny and I could really see the couple’s teamliness and what Maggie’s mom told her about finding “the one” (or there not being a One) was kind of just what I needed to hear right now. I’m so glad you told me about it <3

I'm so thrilled you loved it! Recommending Hallmark movies is dangerous because low expectations can skew my idea of what's "good", so it's a relief to know my instincts weren't totally off.

I actually rewatched this movie about a week before you sent this, and I was thrilled to find that it held up. It's so sweet and funny, and yes, the teamliness! They felt like a real couple! I realized that the reason this feels more real than most Hallmark romances is that they let the guy be dorky. There's a scene where she tells him, "I know you have a thing [edit: she means a phobia/disgust] about wearing other people's clothes", and it's just a funny little detail that you'd see in a real person, not in a wish-fulfillment Hallmark guy. That kind of thing informs all the characters, and it's great.

And yes! The speech about "the one" was one of my favorite moments on rewatch. It's exactly what I think about the subject--"true love" is about choosing to love the person you've made a commitment to--and I wish more romance films in general (not just Hallmark ones) would recognize this.

[dogtoling]

sode irder

this is true. there was in fact a trailer

i'm honestly just waiting and seeing to play it to see what they do with the story and not bothering with it before i get there. i can't really bring myself to care about it much at all when it's another story mode in what seems to be a Bubble separated from the actual world but i'll expect it to blow people's socks off in some way once we actually get to it

[rubiesintherough]

.

[goldenrobotgondoliers]

idk what the hell the Relaxing Bedtime Story Podcast i listen to was thinking when they inserted an ad with loud dog barks and meows directly between the "this is what our relaxing story will be like" in a calm quiet voice and the mini meditation part where she tells you to take a deep breath and stuff. like actually i took a very sharp deep breath when you jumpscared me 6 minutes into the intro of your Quiet Show so i may need more time to fall asleep now. what the hell

[inkovert]

Uncharacteristic angry rant post incoming

The absolute WORST place for spam bots/accounts to be allowed to flourish is an online writing website. There is nothing worse than logging into your account and seeing a rare notification that someone interacted with your story only to find out that it was just a spam bot/account advertising some random bullshit service or liking your work to get your attention.

In a time when writers are starved for someone to interact with their work or show a little appreciation for something they wrote and had the courage to share, it is absolutely soul crushing to get your hopes up only to find out the only “person” that wants to click on your story is a dumbass spam account.