#that anyone who talks about/to kids is a child predator?

[wearylaurels]

Not sure if this has already been said but I was going through the illustrations for the Illustrated hunger games and I can’t stop thinking of the depiction the artist took for Thresh.

In the original book, Katniss describes Thresh as powerful and intimidating—a build on par with the Careers, strong and silent, a mysterious threat lurking on the edges of the arena that is able to hold out until the very last days of the 74th games. And you can see how this interpretation informed the casting choices made for him in the live action adaptations. For years, the only image we’ve had of Thresh is of this strong, unstoppable guy who had to be taken out by either the physically strongest guy in the Games, or by monsters designed by the Capitol itself.

And then, you see Thresh as he’s illustrated.

The low angle. The backlight throwing almost his entire figure into shadow. The way he holds aloft the rock he just killed Clove with—the fact that you can *see* Clove’s corpse in the background. Everything about this image is designed to paint Thresh as this hulking berserker, moments away from beating in your skull.

But then you see his face. Those eyes, welling with tears. The look of disbelief. The way his mouth is opened—what is he saying? Is he asking Katniss if she’s the one who killed Rue? The little girl who would sing when it was time to go home from the fields? Or is he stunned into silence as Katniss recounts how she buried Rue in flowers, how she sang to her in her final moments? In the books it’s mentioned that he never talked to anyone—was he preparing, like Katniss, to see everyone in that arena as a threat? How shocked must he have been that this random girl he never even spoke to, whose name he’s probably forgotten, go to such lengths to show kindness to someone who wasn’t from her district?

More than anything, he looks so *young.* His eyes are large and expressive—his face is soft, still retaining a little baby fat. Throughout the book, Katniss categorizes her fellow tributes as potential threats first and foremost—she often describes Thresh as a stoic, unflinching powerhouse, but then you see this and you’re taken aback. Because this? This isn’t the calculating, powerful predator we’ve been expecting. This is very clearly a *child.* A *boy*, who’s been ripped from his home to fight to the death in an arena for the entertainment of the ruling class. Who probably got his strength from climbing trees, hauling sacks of grain, collecting food. Who was so deeply impacted by the death of his district partner that just the suggestion from another girl’s mouth that she had killed her sent him into a rage. Who, in the books, refused to interact with or fight any of his fellow tributes until he heard Clove talking at the feast.

You start wondering—did he ever want to kill anyone? Like Peeta, did the idea of the Capitol turning him into a killer make him sick? Like Reaper, was it a refusal to play into the hands of the Capitol? Like Katniss, did the fact alone that he had killed leave its own horrible mark? Did he spend his final nights jumping awake as he relived Clove’s skull caving under the rock? When the mutts finally came for him, do you think he hesitated when he saw the tributes’ eyes staring back?

This is a *kid.* They’re all just *kids.* And that’s what fucks me up so much about this picture of Thresh—that it’s not just a depiction of him, but of all the tributes who have ever competed in the Hunger games. That no matter how they are reframed as victors and monsters and killers and spectacles, at the end of the day they were all children. Boys and girls forced to fight each other to the death, while their true enemies watched on, laughing.

[cyrsed]

genuinely fucking scary how simpatico the left and the right are rn (maybe just general US americans tbh) in terms of the paranoia about child predators, and how they're everywhere and everyone. not good news for child safety, actually!

[phoenixblaze1412]

dadtore and teen!child that refuses to speak to anyone other than him. Like.. the other harbingers see them once in a while out of the lab and try to talk to them because its a rare sight to see, only to be met with blank starring eyes and a body as still as stone before suddenly running off far away and back to dottore.

its a cycle. dottore’s chill with it

The Fatui headquarters was a place of strategy, secrecy, and absolute chaos—especially when it came to one particular scientist and their peculiar offspring.

Dottore, ever the busy Harbinger, had a child. A teenager, to be exact. And to the absolute confusion of everyone in the Fatui, this child refused to speak to anyone other than him.

It wasn’t that you were shy. No, shyness implied an eventual willingness to engage. You? You simply did not care.

And that drove the other Harbingers insane with curiosity.

The first time Capitano saw you outside of the lab, he merely nodded in acknowledgment.

Seeing Dottore’s kid out in the open was a rare sight. Maybe you had an errand, or maybe you had finally decided to socialize.

That hope was shattered the moment he attempted a simple greeting.

“You must be Dottore’s child,” he said, his voice deep and even. “It’s good to see you outside the lab.”

You did not respond.

Instead, you stared at him. Completely motionless. Completely silent. A blank, unreadable look in your eyes. Not a single muscle twitched. Capitano had been on countless battlefields, but even he found this unnerving.

“…Hn.” Capitano merely nodded and walked past you, deciding that you were either incredibly focused or just an odd teenager. He wasn’t wrong on the second part.

The moment he was out of sight, you turned on your heel and bolted back to the lab.

The next encounter was with Sandrone, who, being a woman of mechanics, was intrigued by you simply due to genetics. Surely Dottore’s offspring was some kind of prodigy, yes? Maybe she could extract some scientific insight from you.

She found you idling in one of the grand halls, clearly hesitant about being outside the lab. Perfect.

“Child,” she called, stepping closer. “What are you doing out here?”

You did not answer.

“Surely you have some project outside your father’s work?” she pressed, a sly smile tugging at her lips. “I’d love to hear about it.”

Blank stare. Absolute stillness. Like a deer locked in place by a predator’s gaze.

“…Well?”

You blinked once.

Then, without warning, you turned and sprinted full speed down the hall, disappearing around the corner before Sandrone could even process what happened.

“…Did they just run away?” she muttered, baffled.

The pattern continued.

Tartaglia? Tried a casual conversation—met with blank stare, stillness, sudden escape.

Arlecchino? Attempted to ask about your combat skills—met with blank stare, stillness, sudden escape.

Even Pantalone, with all his charm, only received a blank stare, stillness, and a sprinting teenager fleeing at top speed.

Back in the lab, you slammed the door shut, panting slightly.

Dottore barely looked up from his work. “Harbingers again?”

You nodded, slipping into the seat beside him, safe in the familiar chaos of bubbling vials and mechanical whirring.

“Hm.” Dottore hummed in amusement. “I imagine Sandrone is still trying to process your complete shutdown.”

From across the room, Theta, one of his more mischievous segments, snickered. “It’s honestly incredible. They freeze up and run like they’ve seen a ghost.”

Omega, the most refined and eerily similar to Dottore himself, simply sighed. “It’s inefficient. You could simply ignore them and walk away.”

Beta, ever the gentle one, placed a hand on your shoulder. “It’s fine, little one. You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to.”

You leaned into Beta slightly, silently appreciating the support. The segments were more like secondary fathers than anything else. Even if they all had different opinions, they all agreed on one thing: you were theirs to protect.

Eventually, your antics became infamous.

The Harbingers no longer attempted to engage in conversation, but they would whisper among themselves whenever they caught a rare sight of you outside the lab.

“There they go.”

“Like a cryptid.”

“Do you think if I offered them candy, they’d stay?”

“Sandrone, they sprinted away from you last time.”

“Shut up.”

Then one day, Pierro himself, the Jester, caught sight of you.

You froze under his gaze. This was different. Pierro wasn’t like the others. He exuded a level of authority that even you hesitated to dismiss outright.

“You,” he said simply. “Come.”

You did not move.

You did not blink.

The other Harbingers, watching from a distance, held their breath. Would you dare run from him?

Slowly, Pierro raised a brow. “…Are you going to stand there all day?”

You turned.

And bolted.

“…I see,” Pierro muttered as you disappeared down the hall. He sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Dottore’s child, indeed.”

The Harbingers promptly lost their collective minds laughing.

Later that night, you sat beside Dottore in the lab, sipping a warm drink Beta had made you.

Dottore smirked from behind his mask. “Pierro, too?”

You huffed and nodded.

Theta cackled. “Oh, that’s legendary.”

Omega shook his head, muttering, “One day, they’re going to give an old man a heart attack.”

Beta merely chuckled, rubbing soothing circles on your back. “Well, at least we know you’re still comfortable here.”

You gave him a small nod before resting your head against Dottore’s arm.

The scientist sighed dramatically. “You truly are hopeless without me, aren’t you?”

You grinned against his coat but said nothing.

That was the unspoken rule, after all.

You spoke only to him.

[ghostarii]

CAN’T TAKE MY EYES OFF YOU ! ～ JING YUAN . ❛ i want your bliss on bliss; a little company!

˖ ⁺ ⫾  CONTENT WARNING fem!reader ❱ golf dad!jing yuan ❱ dilf!jing yuan ❱ groping ❱ praise ❱ breeding kink ❱ size kink ❱ perv!jing yuan ❱ PWP!!!!! ❱ age gap ❱ cunnilingus ❱ multiple orgasms ❱ pussy drunk!jing yuan ❱ locker room sex ❱ jy’s kinda gross ❱ coercion ❱ creampie & unprotected sex (pls stay safe) ❱ pet names (mostly pretty [girl] & little one ❱ dubious consent ❱ dirty talk ❱ not proofread in the slightest ❱ minors and dc antis do not interact.

˖ ⁺ ⫾  TIP i’ve had this idea floating around in my wee wittle brain for quite some time so here’s perv golf dilf jing yuan ! ! i didnt rlly have a plot for this nor an idea on how to execute the vibe in my mind so truly i apologize if this is not that good :’( this got way messier than intended n i took forever writing it cause i kept getting stuck. i rlly rushed this toward the end cause i rlly wanted to post it so i rlly hope u guys like it 😿 rbs n feedback is always greatly appreciated <33 (pls don’t report i worked rlly hard on this n comm guidelines r so mean)

˖ ⁺ ⫾  GB 7.2k+ words .

JING YUAN CAN’T help it. He doesn't know what drives him to do it; to stare at you until holes are burned in you or touch you carelessly or talk about you like you're a piece of meat, he can't help it. It's akin to a primal urge, or manly instinct that makes him defile you disgustingly and unapologetically—and it makes him feel like a gross teen boy whose dick grows hard at the simple mention of women, but it's something about this aura of naivety and peace that swarms you that brings this carnal desire out of him. You’re the perfect prey, helpless, unsuspecting, and trusting of the ill-intended, hungry predator. Everything makes his heart flutter and his stomach gnarl—he turns into a different man because of you.

Friendly, neighborhood, retired Army General and current Xianzhou Police Chief Jing Yuan was a mask to cover perverse, snobby, and icky pervert Jing Yuan; the one who got a kick at making you do silly tasks so he can stare up your skirt and who always told you to take a seat so he can press up on you and grope you indistinctly. He sees you and immediately a deviant fire is kindled in his chest, his cheeks heat up and his skin runs cold. It's nasty, but he can't help it.

He needs you selfishly. He can't stand to watch you talk to other men and tend to their needs—sure, it's your job to pour them lemonade and escort them to the spa and guide them around the country club for a look at all the activities, and he respects that you're a hard and diligent worker, but seeing you with other men boils his blood. It's as if the lines between reality and his fucked up fantasy world have blurred, and you belong to him, you're his woman and he stakes his claim on you like a wild animal. Jing Yuan likes how you don't question how he suddenly needs your assistance, and that it's impossible for anyone but you to do it, because it lets these other men know that you respond to him. He's never felt this way about a woman before, not even the mother of his own child, so it means you're special. You mean much deeper to him than you could ever understand and all he wants is your company and to love you down into the cage of his heart.

It's not a crime to have a crush. It's not a crime to be in love with a woman you barely know. And it's not a crime to imagine her stuffed with your kids after watching her interact with yours. A crime? No. Weird? Maybe; but Jing Yuan does it anyway.

On the occasion when he brings Yanqing to the club, he gets on his best behavior. They play friendly games of golf and lounge about in the garden area, and eat up a storm in the illustrious dining hall—normal father-and-son things. Nothing out of the ordinary, people wouldn't even know that all Jing Yuan could think about was you and how sweet your pussy must taste as he eats ice cream with his son. He stays on his best outward behavior, truly—you wouldn't have even known he was in the bathroom jerking off because something about you today set him off.

He walks into the dining hall, looking around to see you. Yanqing had run off to the pool ages ago, so Jing Yuan had some time to himself…or, rather, time for you and him. He thought about how he would take you and claim you for far too long now. He thinks about it too much, actually. And that’s insane; considering the fact that you only started working at Stargazer Navalia Country Club two months ago.

He goes to his usual spot: against the wall on the northeastern side of the hall. It's slightly tucked away, the ceiling lights on that side are dim and the roaming eyes of others are limited. It's perfect for him when he touches you and even more perfect to convince you to have a seat and chat with him. You always listen, always fall for his lonely old man act, even though you've seen him with his snob friends Luocha and Dan Feng, and he's more than well-known around the community—he’s far from lonely, but his lips utter such pitiful deception that you can't help but spare him some of your company.

Jing Yuan has been doing this for a few weeks. He’ll invite you over for a refill of the house's special lemonade, sipping the juice as soon as you finish pouring, letting his lips smack obnoxiously, his tongue running across his top lip, and muttering out an “Ahh, so sweet…”, keeping eye-contact with you. His plump, rosy lips will break into a smile at your widened eyes and flustered expression, and that's when he asks you to stay. “Wouldn’t you give me a moment of your time? C’mon…call it…customer service.”

Usually, he’ll sit across from you and ask about your day. He’ll listen to your short spiels about your coworkers or your university and even your extremely personal information about your family and friends. It's cute how you open up with abandon, and he likes how apologetic you get when you feel like you’ve spoken too much. He’ll reach across the table and tap your pouted lips, “It’s okay, sweetheart. Keep going,” and he stares at your lips as you talk his ear off. But today—today, Jing Yuan is pushing the limits.

He invited you over, and instead of you sitting across from him, he pulls the chair next to him. Your proximity is close, no closer than ever before, but close enough that you feel like he can hear your heartbeat. He drapes a buff arm around the back of your chair, the pads of his fingers just barely ghosting over your biceps. He takes a deep breath, presumably to settle into his seat but actually to breathe you in. You smell sweet. He wonders if you taste sweet.

“How was your day?” the man starts. It's okay, it's fine, it’s just Jing Yuan—he’s fine! You nod your head, “Okay…not too eventful but um…kind of busy.” He immediately replies “Yeah? Tell me about it.”

Your shift started at eleven o'clock this morning, and you clocked in slightly late earning your managers, Ms. Yukong, mouthful of scolding. “Again? This is the third time in a row…” She was a strict woman. Yukong was adamant about running an establishment—not a job. In her mind, there's a distinct difference, a fine line that separates Stargazer Navalia Country Club from other leisure resorts, and that line was drawn by poise, professionalism, and punctuation—the three Ps. You essentially lacked all of that. You’re always late, and if you’re not late, you’re just barely making it, you run around a lot and don't collect yourself. Oftentimes, you take on too much than you can handle and overwhelm yourself, making a fool of yourself before the very opinionated eyes of the patrons. And you were clumsy. The country club was your first service job and your first job ever. You wouldn't have gotten the job if your parents didn’t force independence upon you and you complained to your friend, Tingyun, about your unfair predicament, and she promised to put in a good word for you to her boss. That good word was a basket full of fabrications and exaggerations. Yukong told you that you were fortunate to be allowed to work at the club, but it was hanging in the balance if you didn’t step up your game.

Jing Yuan hadn’t expected a full rant, but he was glad that you felt like you could talk to him. He wants to hold you, tell you that Yukong is a miserable bitch and she doesn't know what the hell she's talking about. You can't do any wrong—that woman wouldn’t know poise, professionalism, and punctuation if it slapped her across the face, so who was she to criticize perfection?

He gets even more upset when your chest starts to heave and you’re blinking back tears, explaining how you cried after leaving Yukong’s office and felt so useless and stupid. And you made it your mission today to do your best. No overworking, no clumsiness, and no more strikes earned. Your head was on a dart board, and Yukong was aiming at the bullseye.

You told him you just wanted to be good. To be worth something because you aren't incompetent. If only you knew how he saw you.

Tears run down your warm cheeks and your frowned lips curve into a sad smile, a laugh escaping as you pat away tears from your eyes. “Sorry, I don’t mean to cry…”

“…I should be getting back to work…” You move to get up but Jing Yuan stops you, his big hand on your thigh. This isn't new, but your eyes meet and you almost burst into tears again. Your lips frown up again and quiver and your eyes gloss over—oh, you poor thing. He squeezes your thigh as if to tell you you’re okay, but when that doesn't seem to stop the tidal wave of tears from beating at the barrier of your blinking eyelids, he pulls you in.

It's a hug. You've hugged people before. You do it all the time. Even to him—you’ve hugged Jing Yuan before, but this? This is different. He cradles the back of your head as you rest your cheek on his shoulder and he kisses your hair softly. He’s warm, like the summer heat, and your body feels like it’s on fire. His fingers stroke at your hair as if he was trying to soothe your feelings, and it works, you sniffle and softly whimper, curling your fingers against his thighs. He's taking care of you and if only you could understand what you’re doing to him. His cock is slowly growing stiffer and heat lights beneath his skin as it does yours. You feel so weak and small in his hold and God, is it doing something to him. Your breathing brushes your tits against his side and he wants to feel them pressed against his chest as he pounds into you. Your sniffles and tears that form small puddles on his shirt make him think about how you would cry from overstimulation and his big cock stretching you out.

He needs to get a grip. To stop his gross thoughts but it's no use when your entire existence is an aphrodisiac to him. It was a short hug, no longer than a minute, but it felt like it lasted a lifetime. When you pull away, Jing Yuan can't look at you. He can't look at your flushed cheeks, glossy eyes, clumped lashes, and pouted lips—he can’t look because he won’t be able to contain himself. You clear your throat and sit up, wiping your eyes and smudging your cheap mascara. He’s slightly upset that you’re leaving already, so before you go, he pinches the hem of your shirt, pulling you back.

“It's gonna be okay, little one. Have a good day.” He pats your head and smiles at you. You get flustered and quickly nod, running off as if to disappear.

You find it hard to have a good day when you’re wrapped up in your head, thinking about Yukong, yourself, and Mr. Jing Yuan. He was a nice man, sometimes too nice and you were unsure if that was a negative or a positive.

His touches feel like they’re burned into your skin. When you think about his tight, warm, and world-erasing hug, your skin tingles and births goosebumps to the surface. When you think about his deep, reverberating voice praising you and denying the existence of imperfection in you, you run hot. It’s a dangerous juxtaposition that left you an unfocused mess, productivity being the last thing of your concern. How bothered your body felt was in big bold letters in your brain, and it was hard to not prove Yukong’s harsh words about you right. You needed to get it together, but it was hard when Jing Yuan lingered in your mind like a deadly plague.

You catch Tingyun up during your dishes duty, scrubbing the dirtied plates, bowls, spoons, and forks and passing them to the girl to be dried. She laughs at you, shaking her head as she spins her hand around the inside of the porcelain bowl. “Can I be honest with you?” You nod at Tingyun’s question, “his intentions are less than pure. He’s nice and all but I think you should create boundaries. I don't like how every time you tell me about him he's grabbing on you and stuff…”

You have an issue with seeing the best in people. You can’t see anybody as evil—their actions don’t define their character in your mind and that's a fatal flaw. You shake your head at Tingyun’s words, smiling, “I don’t agree. He’s just…I don’t know.” you shut the water off, and set down the plate in your hand. “I think he’s just lonely—”

“—He has friends. His golfing buds…?” She points out. You sigh and shake your head. “Yeah, but they don't come to the club often.”

Tingyun rolls her eyes. “Can you be for real? What company can you provide to a man who’s nearly double your age?”

On that front, Tingyun had a point. You’re still in college, barely coasting your way through your third year and Jing Yuan is in his mid-to-late thirties, pushing forty. He was a dad and you were a student. He lived his life—he’s on his second career, and you’ve only just barely begun working your first job. You never knew what to talk to him about and you never understood what he talked about. There was a disconnect, but you felt like that didn't impede the slight friendship you had. “He just needs someone to talk to!”

“Didn't know talking included his hands on your ass but okay.” Her snide remark makes you frown. He wasn’t all that bad. Tingyun didn't get it.

Her eyes immediately meet yours and she softens. “Sorry.” You nod to her apology, cutting the tap back on and resuming your work. You didn't like to be judgemental and you wanted to give Jing Yuan the benefit of the doubt. He wasn’t all that bad and you liked him—for the most part. She pats your shoulder softly. She does mean well. “Just be safe, okay?”

“You never know what’s going on in someone's head.”

It’s so hot. The weather forecast called for unbearable heat and ungodly levels of humidity. The sun was angry at the world, shining down harshly and roasting your skin. Surprisingly, the club had seen the most members today. It was filled to the brim, bustling and condensing heat at every corner that you couldn’t escape.

Your uniform was dripping in sweat and it was sticking to your skin. Your hair, pulled away from your face, felt like it was dripping onto your shoulders. You were hot. And luckily for you, Qingque had taken off from work today due to the heat, leaving her shift open. You swooped in and took the role, slipping off your uniform when the clock hit 2:30 and sliding into the lifeguard swimsuit. It was tight fitting but comfortable and paired with the visor blocking the mean sun from your face, you felt fine.

Lathering a security layer of sunscreen onto your skin, you make your way to the pool, reciting Yukong’s words in your head. You had met with her at the beginning of your shift where she told you this was your last chance. Lifeguarding wasn’t some fun easy-money task. Screwing around the way you usually do could be at the cost of someone’s life and she wouldn’t put anyone at risk. At all. So you go with your head up and a warm smile, climbing up and sitting down with a hawk eye on the pool.

The water was clear blue and rippling. Bare flesh and bright swimsuits are blurred and hazy under the surface of the water. It’s a nostalgic scene, sweet chatter and giggles from the playing children, splashing water, and pattering wet feet on the hot pavement work together to induce peace upon you. This is a scene you could get used to, especially when Jing Yuan emerges from the water.

He looks divine. His upper body is exposed, large muscles flexed as he lifts his body weight from beneath the water, resting on the edge of the pool. His water-darkened hair slumps heavily in his ponytail, flipping over as he shakes his head, ridding of the water. And the water spills down his skin deliciously, thick droplets pathing down his body. It’s a sight to behold and you can't help but stare.

Jing Yuan wonders if this is how you feel. Ogled and objectified down to the bone. Your shade-hidden eyes bore into him when they should be watching the children. But he likes it. He feels like today is going to be a good day.

He comes to the pool often, usually just watching Yanqing show him his “tricks”, but he notices the order. The lifeguards cycle every forty-five minutes. He noticed it the first time when one of them took off immediately after jumping in after a panicking Yanqing, but today it was going to come to his aid. Today was the day. He’d waited too long, thought about it too hard…Jing Yuan’s fantasy world was going to pour into reality. That in itself was a terrible horror.

He waits patiently for forty-five minutes. Splashing water with his son occasionally, stepping out of the pool for a rest, or waving at you as he floats atop the water. Forty-five minutes. Tick tock.

He stops you on your way inside. His towel was thrown over his shoulder and his wet hair slung up into his fixed ponytail. You’re so enthralled by his state that you aren't taking into consideration the lazily fabricated lie that he needed your urgent attention to. You were no dummy. Jing Yuan is an overly attractive man, but he was out of your league and the father to a boy only seven years younger than you. Your lives were incompatible and frankly, he wasn't what you were looking for. Attractive? Yes. Boyfriend material? Not so much.

Regardless, you follow him to the locker room to look for his supposed missing watch. You ask him where his locker is located and he points around the corner, “125D.” His locker is tucked off around the corner, deep in the row and far from anyone’s initial line of sight. You see his golf bag resting against the wall and Yanqing’s goggles on the bench and make your way to it, “Where did you last have the watch?”

This was way out of your jurisdiction, and, besides, he was the police chief—what the hell could you do to help him find a missing watch? Nonetheless, you listen intently as he provides the details: he took it off to go swimming, placed it on the shelf in the locker, and came back to find it missing. You nod slowly, diligently looking through the slim locker. There’s not much in it and not much space a watch could slip through, so you’re confused. It's clearly not here. “I don't think I can be much help for you, you’re better off checking with whoever was in here last.”

And then his body is close to you. Your proximity thickens with the chlorine and sandalwood scent he carries, and his broad form towers over you. Your breath hitches and your body tenses as a large hand lays against the back of your thigh, running up your bare skin until it meets the curve of your ass. He doesn't say anything. Neither do you. You feel like you’re frozen, stuck beneath him, and that only urges him further.

His other arm wraps around your waist and he pulls you in, resting his chin on your shoulder and breathing you in with a deep breath. You can feel his exhale on your neck and you shudder, pushing away to create distance. Jing Yuan only tightens his big grip on you, “I want you…” he murmurs, leaning into your neck. His lips ghost over your skin and you squirm, trying to wriggle out of his grasp. This can't be happening. Not here. Not now.

You try to tell him that but it's futile. He presses his slightly chapped lips against your neck in fluttery kisses, wrapping his lips around nips of skin every now and then and leading a path to your collarbone. He steals a look at you from the side, “Tell me you don't want this and I'll stop.”

He now frames your body beneath his, pressing you against the cold lockers. You wince at the harshness of how he handles you—how his hands incessantly run up and down your body and gropes your assets and how he grinds his dick against your ass. He breathes heavily against you, grunting and growling in your ear as he edges himself closer and closer to the brink of losing control.

You try to speak up. To tell him you can't do this and that here is not the place. But you part your lips to object, only for a whimper to escape in its place. You’re shaking your head no but it opposes the sounds that leave you and the subconscious grind back of your hips. Jing Yuan uses his right hand to cup your pussy with a hardened gaze watching your reaction: your eyes widen and then squeeze shut, and you roll your lips inward, pressing them shut. He feels a slight throb when he presses his fingers against your sex, and the heat that radiates from you is all telling. “Stop fighting it…don’t deny it…you need me to take care of you.”

Kisses on your neck resume as he rubs your clothed clit, using the way your knees buckle as leverage to slightly bend your over, grinding into you rougher. “Can't you feel how hard you make me, baby? Fuck,” he whispers, his grinding now turning into desperate rutting. “Indulge me, just a little…say yes…”

You’re shaking your head no, fighting his words. You think that if you close your eyes hard enough you’ll wake up in the real world and this will have all just been in your head. The sight of the lockers in front of you dispels that thought instantly. You fight against your own body, swallowing down the sounds of pleasure that rumble in you at his touch. You promised Yukong you would do a better job. You liked working here. If she found out you had sex with a customer during work hours in the public locker room, she’d have your head on stake. But God, he knew what he was doing. It’s like Jing Yuan knows how to get into your head. All of his innuendos day in and day out, his flirtatious banter, and his wandering eyes the past few months have been test runs on you that he’s conducted for his fucked up memory log. So he could prepare for this moment. So he knew how to make you weak and make you succumb to his advances. You were a nice girl with a hard time saying no. You always indulged his requests and always did what was told to you. His constant “Say yes, baby. Say it. You know you want this,” in your ear was persuasive enough for your weak resolve. Soon enough, you’re quietly parroting his words.

“Y-yes…I…I want it,” you huff out, and he stops.

Jing Yuan lets you go—pulling off of you and spinning you around. Then, he’s swiftly pushing you against the lockers, caging you in with his big arms on either side of you. His golden eyes are richer, darkened with fantasy and lust as they bore into yours. His rosy lips curve into a sinister smirk, “Look me in my eyes and say you want me to fuck you.”

Your eyes meet, locking with each other softly. You’re telling yourself in your head that you can say no, but your mouth moves first, “I want you…to…” you grow shy at the words, and Jing Yuan smiles at you. He steps closer, grabbing your chin softly and your waist with his free hand, pulling you in. “Sweet girl…” he mumbles, brushing his lips against yours and bumping your noses.

Your kiss is sweet. It's the type of fairytale kiss, the type of wonderful kiss that whips the air out of you and has fireworks blowing in your pretty little head. Your lips mold and work together, and he takes his time getting acquainted with your mouth. He waits until you part your lips on your own to invade your mouth, and even then, he tenderly explores the cavern. He kisses you with dominance and experience. He kisses you with passion and desire. He kisses you like he’s in love with you.

You wrap your hands around his neck, pulling him into you, chasing his kiss as if he was trying to leave you. It begins to heat up. Impatience grows like mold between the two of you, you begin to want and need each other more. His hand gripping your chin wraps briefly around your neck to pull you closer, and his hand around your waist moves to your ass, cupping a cheek in his palm and roughly squeezing. He sucks on your tongue, moaning deeply into your mouth. Teeth start to clash and tongues start to bump and spin, spit dribbling out of your mouths. He bites onto your bottom lip as he pulls away, and then catches the drool running down your face with his tongue, running back up on its path to your mouth. With your saliva on his tongue, he kisses you harshly one last time—a kiss that makes you lean your head against the lockers behind you, giving him access to the expanse of your neck.

He admires the hickeys he already left, kissing them tenderly before leaving a few more. His teeth drag on your neck, and he's pulling the straps of your swimsuit down your arms. It's agonizingly slow and you look away, not able to face him as he unveils your body to him.

It's like a dream. Even better than. All of his fantasies and perverted thoughts haven't done any justice to how you look—the most perfect, pretty boobs with hard nipples that are begging to be played with, the most gorgeous frame that pops even more without your clothes, your dips and curves begging to be filled by his grip, and your pretty pussy, which he takes his time getting to and unveiling. He gets on his knees, kisses your soft thighs, and slowly pulls your swimsuit down to your ankles. You try to hide, feeling vulnerable and anxious in your fully naked state but he pulls your legs apart, kissing the inside of your thigh. “You’re beautiful…”

“Prettiest thing I've ever seen…” he says, trailing up your legs. He doesn't give you time to fall into your mind. He exhales deeply, letting the air from his nose blow against your pussy. You squirm but he pulls your legs apart again, looking up at you as he places a chaste kiss on your slit.

You’re already wet, susceptible to his touch, and fragile. You slightly leak past your labia and his lips shine in your slick. Eye contact remains as he licks your arousal off his lips, swallowing your taste with a satisfied hum. “So sweet, too. Better than I ever imagined.”

Something about his admission flusters you. You knew he enjoyed your company, but you didn't know he put thought into you this way. It flatters you, to say the least, and your body responds in a very telling way: your clit throbbing and hole clenching in need.

Jing Yuan smiles at how you can't hold eye contact with him and how you look down at him with urging eyes. Your body gives him the okay your mouth fails to do, and he dives in, wedging his tongue between your folds to lick a thick stripe. You gasp loudly and slam your palm against the locker behind you, seemingly caught off guard by his action. And then he does it again. This time, making his way to your clit slowly, only to circle around the bud but not pay it any attention. And again, this time only lightly flicking your clit with his tongue and ghosting over it but ultimately focusing on collecting your sweet juices, slurping it down with an obnoxious volume.

Your position is fixed—you’re stuck. Your legs are draped over his shoulders as you basically sit on his face, and he holds you tightly by your soft thighs. Your gaze is filed unto each other, unmoving, and he watches with glee at how you react when he finally gives your clit attention. He wraps his lips around the bud, sucking it into his mouth and swirling his tongue around it. You practically burst into tears. You moan out, immediately threading your fingers in his white locks. “Oh, fuck,”

He abuses your clit until your voice goes hoarse. He doesn't care that people could probably hear you. He wants them to. He wants them to hear his name flow from your mouth like syrup out of a maple tree—thick in lust and fatally sweet. Your moans sound even prettier in reality. Jing Yuan has come to the conclusion that you are one of a kind. No wild or active imagination could do you justice. He could eat you out for days—you’re just so sweet and so easy to please. Your clit getting sucked on sets you off and when he runs his thick tongue through your sloppy folds to collect your stream of arousal, you whine even louder, competing with his slurping and licking noises.

“I want you to cum on my tongue, pretty girl,” he says, pulling away from your folds. “Wanna taste all of you,” and he presses a kiss to your clit. You suck your bottom lip between your teeth, nodding rapidly, “Please! Wanna cum so bad…”

He’s determined now. Like a man starved, he practically feasts on you. His tongue is everywhere—licking and swirling from every direction and it drives you insane. You can feel the burning tension in your gut churn and to egg its release out of you, you toy with your nipples, resting your head against the lockers as ecstasy overcomes you. You whine and whimper out meek little “Yes!”’s and “Oh, God!”’s like those are the only words you know, feeling your orgasm so close that it heats your skin to the touch.

Your back arches and eyes blow wide, your body fighting against itself. You trap his head between your thighs but push his head away, damn near screaming at the top of your lungs that it's too much and you can't take it. This pushes Jing Yuan to do more, to tighten his hold on your thighs and suffocate himself in your pussy. Knock the tip of his nose against your puffy clit and probe your clenching hole with his tongue. His jaw hurts but he keeps it up well, humming and moaning endlessly to send warm vibrations through your skin. His name breaks off of your tongue so weakly and your head feels light. It's like something in you snaps, like all composure and decency melts off of you in an instant. You could care less about Yukong or anybody else for that matter. This entire room could cease to exist and it wouldn't matter because Jing Yuan has blasted you off to cloud nine. The feeling of his tongue swimming through your folds is pleasure in its purest form and it pushes you to the deep end, drowning you in overwhelming ecstasy.

The grip you have on his hair tightens and you pull the long locks as if it’d stabilize you from the wreckage your pending orgasm was bringing upon you. A silent moan falls from your lips, followed by an airy plea, “J-Jing Yuan, please..!” Your voice falters and falls into another broken moan. Your back arches yet again and your hips buck into his face, and there it is. That tight band in your stomach snaps and your orgasm wracks through you roughly. Your thighs shake and your chest heaves heavily—you feel like you can't breathe. And he doesn't let up, wrapping his lips around your sensitive clit for the harshest suck of the night, humming happily as you squirm and spasm in his hold.

You come undone, dripping down his face like a rushing waterfall. He cleans you up with his tongue, continuing to help you come down from your high even as you whimper and sniffle from overstimulation. With peppery kisses, he pulls away from your pussy, licking his lips clean and rolling his eyes at your taste. “You did so good for me, baby.”

A carnal glint shines in his eye as he takes your waist in his hands, pulling you into him for a kiss. Your lips connect with fervor. He immediately establishes dominance, invading your mouth with hunger and greed. Your teeth clash and knock and your tongue is bullied by his. Your taste on his mouth is strong and it's hard to ignore it, and on him, it tastes wonderful. Your legs are jelly, useless. He holds you up with his hands but ultimately decides to press you against the lockers once again, grinding his painfully aching hard-on onto your thigh. No. This can't happen. The longer you're in the locker room with him, the more risk that's run. People are going to start leaving the club soon, and you don't know what you’d do if they caught you like this.

You try to push him away but he only presses into you more, rutting against you more desperately and aggressively. You gave him an inch, and now he's going to take a mile.

He growls against your lips before pulling away, resting his forehead on yours. “Gotta have you, baby,” he starts, pulling down his swim trunks. His hard cock jumps out, leaking and hard and so thick it makes your eyes bulge out of your head. You can't do this. You open your mouth to protest but he just kisses you again, shutting you down instantly. He takes your hand in his, bringing it down to his dick, and forces you to hold his girth in your hand. He's heavy and hard. Two prominent veins bulge and throb and his angry tip spills milky beads of precum into a pool in his slit. He makes you jerk him off, groaning into your mouth deeply, “Fuck. Need you so bad, little one. Need your sweet little pussy wrapped around me, need to feel you, to fill you—oh, fuck. Let me? Give me that, please.”

He practically begs you. He ruts into your hand and speaks into your mouth like a bitch in heat—you’re finding it hard to deny him. And he keeps begging. Keeps nipping at your lips and swiping your jaw now and then with his tongue. He's desperate. And you feel like you have no choice. “…Okay.”

Jing Yuan doesn't notice the uncertainty in your tone. He nearly jumps for joy, kissing you so passionately and hooking his hands on your ass, hoisting you up into the air. You squeal and he laughs, kissing you again as he properly positions his tip at your entrance. “Been thinking about this since I first laid eyes on you,”

As he starts talking, he slowly slides you down on his length. You gasp and wince—he’s so fucking big. Your nails immediately dig into his shoulders and you try to brace yourself, but good God, it’s like he’s splitting your body into two. He slowly sinks in, kissing your cheeks and mumbling praises that don't do much to ease the burn of the stretch. You almost want to stop, but he's like a brick wall. Impossible to get through.

“You’re so tight…” He feels like he’s breaking you in. Like you’re untouched and not prepared to take him and it sets him off. Your whimpers are sweet and the way you hug him like you're scared to let go ignites that all-too-familiar carnal flame. He wants to ravage you. It takes a few moments but he finally bottoms out with a deep groan. “So tight…so wet…fuck, it's like you’re made for me.” He does an experimental thrust and his heart swells at how you moan into his ear and clench around him tighter. “Taking me so well,”

This starts a rhythm of slow thrusts, the two of your bodies getting to know each other. Jing Yuan is so big and he feels even bigger inside of you. Your cunt feels like it's being reformed in its shape, stretching around him widely to accommodate every bit of him. And your pussy around him was so worth the wait. Your gummy walls welcome him with a tight, warm hug, and you leak down his length unabashedly. The combination of your arousal and his slow thrusts get you two acquainted quickly, and he steadily starts to pick up the pace.

Jing Yuan has shortly found his rhythm. He thrusts up into you while simultaneously maneuvering your hips down and you’ve never felt anything like this before. He pounds you. Hard. Rough. And slowly gains speed. His heavy balls slap at your ass and your puffy clit kisses his pelvis and it all makes you weak. You bury your head into his neck and pull him closer to you, feeling enveloped in his strong hold. How he's easily able to hold you up and fuck you the way is he makes your stomach churn and knot. There's a rhythmic slapping that coordinates with his grunts and your cries and it's so loud and lewd, you’re sure the whole country club knows what you're doing. But it doesn't bother you. Because yet again, Jing Yuan works your body like an expert, plunging into your depths so well that you can't do anything but clench and drip around him like a broken faucet.

His hands are on your ass, squeezing and slapping your cheeks to make you squeal out, practically yelling his name for the masses. It all feels too good. He knows what he's doing—how to angle his hips and find your G-spot almost instantly and abuse it until you feel like your brain has melted into mush, how to mix the pain of his calloused hands slapping your ass sweetly with the pleasure he bestows upon you, how to sweet-talk into your ear and flatter you so well that butterflies are born in your tummy and your hole clenches even tighter around him. He's experienced. He's taking your body on a trip it's sure to never forget and never replicate, and you wish you knew how he did it, because he’s only been thrusting into you for a few minutes and you feel like you're about to explode.

He's now pounding into you more furiously, and you chalk that up to his orgasm approaching him as well. “I'm gonna cum again—!” you announce, voice low in a broken whisper. His thrusts get sloppy and he grunts to concur, “Me too—look at me,”

Your eyes meet and this might be the rawest moment you've ever had with Jing Yuan. There's nothing but passion and adoration in his golden eyes as he looks at you. And as he kisses you for the nth time this evening, it's soft. Kind. A complete one-eighty from how desperately and angrily he bullies his thick cock into your drooling cunt. “Cum with me.” It's more of a demand than a request, but you nod in understanding anyway. You want to feel him throb and empty out his balls inside you. You want to hear his voice crack and break as he moans out your praises. You want to feel him give it to you until he can't anymore.

He snaps his hips into you, hard and one at a time. He goes as deep as possible, making your eyes blow wide and spill tears. He's so deep in your stomach it's almost like he pops the bubble of your orgasm himself, and you're spilling all over him in a matter of seconds. It was unexpected and you drawl out a whiny moan, grinding your hips back onto him subconsciously. Your orgasm makes him follow suit, and soon enough, you're filled to the brim with his semen. Warm ropes mix nastily with your own release and it drips out of your hole as he continues to thrust through your orgasms.

“Oh shit…’s good, little one.” He kisses your cheek and carries you to the bench, laying you down. “One more for me, ‘kay?”

Your mind is lagging behind. You didn't even catch his statement until he was sliding into you again, pressing your hands against your stomach to feel him inside of you. “So deep…”

“Yeah? Feels good, doesn't it?” He wastes no time, not sparing a second to waste. You're still so sensitive, and so is he, and everything is so sloppy. So messy. Your eyes roll to the back of your head when he finds your sweet spot again, and fuck, it feels so good. “‘M not gonna last…”

Jing Yuan basically crushes you against the hard bench, closing the proximity between you two and harboring the flame between your chests. His head in the crook of your neck shakes, “Me neither. Want you to keep it all in.” His pathetic rutting elicits the wettest sounds from your pussy, and the empty locker room echoes it around with bass. He runs on and on about stuffing you full, fucking his kids into you and you don't know what at what point that started to sound good to you. Your belly rumbled in that all-too-familiar wait, your orgasm wasted no time in building.

Your eyes start to tear even harder and white blotches soon cover your whole line of sight—but not before Jing Yuan stills inside of you, dumping his second load inside of you with a guttural groan and clench of his abdomen. He rubs rough circles on your clit, murmuring about how you can do it until you clench around him, squirming beneath him as your orgasm hits you again. He doesn't pull out. He keeps you plugged up with his cock, forbidding his cum from leaving you. You didn't expect this to happen. Ever. But Jing Yuan? He always knew. It was just a matter of when.

So when your sight returns and you open your eyes to see him leaning over you, you smile happily. It was almost like you're Cinderella and he's Prince Charming, coming to rescue you from your hellish job in the most unconventional way possible. But unconventional feels good.

He won. No matter what he had to do, he won. His fantasy came to fruition and he would rather nothing else. This moment will be forever cherished, even if the distant opening of the door sounds off, and footsteps rapidly approaching bring you back to reality. He won. And nothing, or nobody, can change that. You’re all his now.

[zoropookie]

HOW HATERS ARE BORN (HHAB)

♡ chapter twenty-four — not friends. (💋)

[[ ALL WRITTEN CHAPTER ]] tw: lots of swearing, slight violence

Hu Tao didn’t think it was going to be this thorough working with Heizou.

For the past thirty minutes since four o’ clock in the morning, Heizou’s been doing nothing except making sure everybody in the group they came with was asleep. Checking all of the rooms and making sure they were accounted for while Hu Tao stood at the crook of the doorway in front of where Scaramouche was sleeping.

She truly wanted to find it funny, being the prankster herself. But she wasn’t laughing. “If you’re going to be patient with this, we may as well wait until he wakes up.”

“You can’t interrupt a crime scene like this. They’d just apprehend you.” Heizou whispered back, as quiet as the stillness in the night, continuing to trace his own steps back to the other rooms.

Hu Tao’s patience wore thin as she clenched her teeth, trying to contain her frustration by grabbing his arm and clawing her manicured nails into the meat of his forearm. “This floor is about to be a crime scene if you don’t fucking lock in, buster. You’re about to ruin it for both of us!”

"Ouch- alright, alright. Let go." Heizou winced, taking her silent warning.

With a begrudging nod, Hu Tao released her iron grip and approached the door with cautious steps, Heizou holding his own phone with his camera open at the ready.

She paused, turning to him and pointed a finger. "Remember, we're just looking. Don't accidentally send anything to anyone."

"Don't need to tell me twice, I feel grimy just doing this."

"And not kidnapping the kid?"

"You want me to be a child predator so bad-" Heizou was able to finish his sentence until he was cut off by a rustling in the distance.

"What are you guys doing?" A small voice asked from afar.

The both of them froze, slowly turning their bodies towards the source of the noise. Even when the hallway was as big as it was, the sound didn't seem to echo through the stillness of the night.

But the rustling stopped once a silhouette appeared from under a blanket and began to rush towards the other two. Hu Tao's heart damn near fell out of her ass, flinching at how fast Nahida came into vision.

"Holy shit," Hu Tao held her hands up in faux defense.

Heizou squinted at the girl before crossing his arms over his chest. "What are you doing awake, Nahida. Growing children need their sleep every night."

"Spare me the patronizing, Heizou. What are you guys doing in front of his room?"

"Wow. I didn't even know what 'patronizing' meant at that age." Hu Tao puffed her cheeks. "Maybe you're right, Heizou. My bad."

Heizou narrowed his eyes, reveling in his victory for a bit until he cleared his throat. His demeanor shifted into a nonchalance. "We were about to talk a walk. Just happened to be in front of someone's room."

Nahida raised an eyebrow, "At four in the morning? Sneaking directly towards his room?"

"He has the better patio view." Hu Tao chimed in. "You know how it is, sometimes you just need a little bit of fresh air."

Nahida was obviously not buying it. "Right." She said with a drawl as she looked at Hu Tao and Heizou dubiously. "And I'm the Empress of Snezhnaya. Don't act like I don't know that you two are plotting to take Scaramouche down."

"Foiled again," Hu Tao gritted her teeth. "Okay, we wanted to see if he had anything on his phone. Who wouldn't be curious? That guys a briefcase of suspicion, and I'm going to open it."

Heizou cringed, shooting Hu Tao a glare before sighing. "Yeah, Nahida. This would be a huge step in my investigation."

"You're unbelievable." Nahida responded with a disappointed frown. "If you really were curious about whether Scaramouche was doing something, it'd be less of an issue to just...oh, you know, ask him yourself? Not invading his privacy?"

"Now you know me directly asking a question would cramp my style." Heizou huffed. "We're not going to do anything except gather evidence. If there is none, we're out right away. Okay?"

There was something that was aching in Nahida, almost as if no matter what were to happen if she let them do this, things were going to go entirely wrong. With or without this happening, there was no keeping it at bay.

"Just be careful." Nahida looked in between them, sighing as her expression softened by a lot. "Whatever you find, handle it responsibly. I'm sure he's been through a lot of trouble with his own people already. We don't need more of it."

Hu Tao saluted. "No unnecessary risks. Gotcha."

Within an hour, they found themselves sitting in the corner of Scaramouche's room, looking through his phone. The soft glow of his phone casting a shadow on their faces. Every now and then, Heizou would take photos from his camera of what he'd think would be evidence for the future.

The both of them fell silent, hardly making an effort to talk to each other as they both became too interested in the contents. For some reason, seeing his life so formulated and established made it harder for Hu Tao to go through it.

"I think I'm done." She whispered before sighing, leaning back against the wall. "He's not even that bad of a guy. Ei is just a publicity demon."

"You're giving up?" Heizou looked at her.

"Yeah. I thought I would be happier to look through his things, but it seems like..." While Hu Tao was taking brief glances, her eyebrows raised at a certain detail that she missed while she was sitting there. "Wait a minute...what's that?"

"Huh?"

"He has a second account." Hu Tao pointed at the screen once she swiped the menu to Twitter. "See? It's the little circle with the 3d girl on it."

"You can make second accounts linked to your main?" Heizou scrunched up his nose. "I guess that would've been nice to know when I posted my abs on social media and the office job I tried applying to found it."

Hu Tao stared at him for a second, wanting to respond, but shook her head and continue scanning through his feed. "Sneaky little fucker." She laughed in disbelief. "I mean, I guess not- it's all just random posts too. He's not following anyone on this ac-"

Once Hu Tao tapped on his icon, her eyes widened. There was a mountain sized chill that came coursing through her body. One that she thought she'd never experience ever since (Y/N) cursed the entire Inazuma group out on their livestream.

Justsofamous338. An account from the series of accounts from Justsofamous.

"Oh my go-" She stopped herself from being too loud. "Oh my...fucking god. Heizou..." She said, her breath failing her.

"Jackpot, eh?" Heizou murmured, staring interested at the screen.

Her hands visibly trembled as she pressed the messages, her eyes glued to the screen. There were no messages from this account in particular, but the fact that he was even signed in was indicator enough. "He posted on this account two times. Both cryptic, but he definitely knows that you're looking for who he is."

Heizou was genuinely in disbelief that they both were met with a side of the sleeping Scaramouche that they didn't know about until now. How? How was somebody like that so capable of what he said to (Y/N)?

Either way, Hu Tao felt herself come to a boiling point. And with that pent up anger that she's yet to know what to deal with, she hardly slept for the rest of the night.

You didn’t know where you were for a good minute.

Despite how long you were out for, there was a nagging feeling inside of you that you should wake up soon after all the stress left. Your eyes fluttered awake, leaving your body to be wracked by the copious amounts of physical exercise you did the night before. If there was one thing you hated doing in the morning, it was waking up in general…and hurting.

But even with your pain and disorient, you still managed to regain your consciousness. The memories of the previous night, and how embarrassing they were, flooding back. You put your head in your hands, groaning in a miserably agony. “Why did I say that?!” You yelled.

“Stupid, so stupid. What the fuck?!”

It hung heavy in your mind, eyes dulling. You weren’t about to let it ruin your day, but the more you sat alone in the room that used to have Tohma and Ayaka’s sleeping bodies, the more you wonder if you’re in the backrooms or not.

After a few moments of looking at the groovy texture and the zig zags of the clock, you felt your resolve return. You put on your socks and slip ons, heading towards the sliding door and opening it…

Only to be met with Scaramouche on the other side. You almost screamed, but not because of him. It was because of how the barely cooked meat of the Shoyu ramen in his hands was touching the rest of the ingredients.

“Ah yes, my reminder of the unfortunate appears again.” You murmured grimly.

“What?” Scaramouche couldn’t help but let out a small scoff.

“Nothing. Morning, Kuni. Didn’t take you to be the type to wake up on the dot.” You tilted your head. “Something’s gone awry.”

“I wanted to see how you were doing in there. It’s almost one in the afternoon.” Scara said, holding the ramen outward towards you. “Breakfast. It’s really hot, so be careful.”

“I already had breakfast, Kuni.” You said, eyeing the ramen warily.

“You just woke up.”

“Yeah?” You contested with the same amount of attitude he gave you. “It’s called eating in your sleep. I’m good off your red ass meat. You didn’t even cook it.”

“You don’t eat it when it’s red, dickhead. You put it in the broth to cook it. That’s why it’s a conversational dish.”

“Spoken as if you want to have…conversation with me?” You asked as you wiggled your eyebrows. “Man, just say you have it hot for me already. This is embarrassing.”

“You wish, chucklefuck.” Scara said disgustedly as his violet eyes moved from the top of your head to the bottom of your feet. He couldn’t get past how ridiculous your pajama set was. “Lightning McQueen?”

“Limited edition. Like my crocs too?” You put your hands in your pockets, sticking one leg out so he could look at the full set easier. “You can afford a house in this day and age, but I can afford something you’ll never be able to get a day in your life without pulling out a mortgage. Eat that.”

“I’m sure I can live without it.”

“Nobody can ever live without the kachow in their life.” You snickered, motioning him over to the table. “Thanks for the ramen.”

You couldn't shake off the weird feeling around you as you sat down with him at the dining table. Tohma and Ayaka were already out of bed somewhere, and none of the rest were around to your knowledge.

You found yourself lingering in the ruminating thought, dipping the meat in the broth for a minute. "Hm," You mulled, "Long start to the day, huh? Were you the first awake?"

"I wouldn't be surprised." He shrugged, "I wanted to make sure everyone was accounted for."

"Ooh, the hospitality." You smiled. "Looks like you're already ahead of everyone else. Always on top of things."

"Are you impressed?" He raised an eyebrow.

"Impressed? Slightly. Planning to take advantage of it? Quite." You tried to keep your tone casual in case it was just you that felt this way. "Hey, uh...sorry about last night."

As he looked up, meeting your gaze, you almost wanted to look away. You could tell that he was trying to think about it. "What did you do last night?"

You hesitated, unsure of how to broach the topic. "...If you forgot about it, it probably wasn't even that important."

Even though the both of them sat in a comfortable silence, it was suddenly broken by Hu Tao busting through the doors of where she was "sleeping". Whatever was solidified as peace throughout their silence was destroyed, as there was now obvious tension.

Her eyes darted between the two of you, and you could practically see the metaphorical gears turning in her mind as she approached. She was visibly stiff, lacking any lax in her jaw. "Nice to grace us with your presence Scaramouche. Or something like that." You exchanged a hesitant glance with her, sitting back in your chair once you put a piece of meat in your mouth. "Did you just wake up? Why are you all clammy?" "No." Hu Tao hissed. "You thought you were fucking notorious, didn't you? Thought that you could just decide to coexist with us, huh?"

"What are you on about?" Scaramouche's brows furrowed.

"You tell me, Justsofamous." Hu Tao's voice was almost gravelly and aggravated, tossing her phone with all of the evidence popped up in her photos app. A storm was live and raging inside of her veins, turbulent and fierce. "Yeah, thought you could hoe us all out with that one? Playing with us like some fools, taking advantage of our obliviousness. Fuck you."

Your mouth twitched in disbelief looking at the said photos, looking slowly back at Scaramouche.

His face didn't say anything particularly outstanding, but there was something wrong about how he looked rather than his neutrality. Your heart began to beat with an extra pulse than you were accustomed to, trying to keep the adrenaline at bay.

"What's she talking about?" You asked him, holding the chopsticks in your hand with a tighter grip. "Scaramouche?"

"Scaramouche is Justsofamous, and him and Aether are like this." Hu Tao locked her fingers together. "They never stopped talking to each other. In fact, he's literally in the same group chat as all of our ops. Crazy, right?" Hu Tao shouted, causing the rest of the group to come out from where they were to see the scene.

You faltered in your look, feeling your entire being be worn down by the sudden outcome of your morning. "Scaramouche, say something." Tears formed in your eyes, entire face intense. "Say something..." You whispered.

But even though he was being put on the spot, there was no other way he could put it other than a small sigh in the end. "Surprise." He sat back, staring at you dead in the eye with uncertainty.

You became molten lava on the inside. Your hands were trembling with the same mixture of rage that burned within you like hot coals. And then all of a sudden, it was like all of the things that he called you, the blatant way he talked to you before he even knew you, his lack of hesitance when he poured coffee on you. The way he insulted you proudly, despite being in the wrong. He wasn't betting on being your friend, nor even an acquaintance. You knew, and you still gave him the benefit of the doubt.

He was taunting you.

In the grip of your emotions, your vision went red. Like a tempest unleashed against your body, you raged. The tears streaming down your cheeks were bitter, you were being crushed by a boulder of betrayal. "You...YOU!" You could barely make out your words from how choked up you were.

You rose from your chair in a flash, your chest ragged and heaving as you knocked the Shoyu ramen on the ground, the crash of glass and the food slightly burning you. "You fucking asshole!" You screamed louder and louder, and began coming closer and closer towards Scaramouche, pushing him.

"You got a fucking kick out of it, didn't you?! You LOVED acting like the savior, just so I could get comfortable. Fuck. You. You cum gargling piece of fucking shit!" You started pushing on his shoulder to intimidate him. "Tell me how much you loved getting under my fucking skin! Huh?! TELL ME." You screamed in his face, but you couldn't even bare to listen to him.

Your cries strangled your throat as Tohma held you back. You noticed Scaramouche's face pale, trying so hard not to break his composure but now refusing to make eye contact with you. His expression betrayed him, and you knew that he regretted it, but unsure of whether he meant it.

Did it matter anyway? You destroyed everything in your path, from paintings to throwing furniture around. Nothing was left untouched until Tohma held you back. His grip on your arms tightened, his voice a steady anchor amidst the chaos. "Hey, calm down. It's not worth it."

You were almost beyond reason until then, you dropped to your knees despite all the force keeping you from it, and you sobbed violently. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" You said with a full voice, screaming again, this time in a lot more pain your heart could exuberate. "You're rotten, Scaramouche. You're fucking rotten."

Having everything shattered in you wasn't fair, you knew it, and so did he. It's why he stared down at you with a flicker of vulnerability, a crack in the facade of his own indifference.

And no matter how much he wanted to respond, to defend himself, he couldn't. Because in the end, maybe all that this situation was destined for was damnation.

previous ♡ masterlist ♡ next

YOU ARE on your way to being one of the hottest streamer in your nation at the moment, racking a monthly average of 10 million viewers, but something specific bothers you about it. you know that a lot of people hate you, but there's this one account. one account that's been following you since the early days of your career. they leave a flood of rude comments in your stream, your moderators banned each account they made, but they keep making more. you are at the end of your tether. but you are yet to find out that this persistent cockroach is none other than your friend's friend (and the only other streamer that's bigger than you), scaramouche.

taglist ♡ @thystarsshine @veekoko @gumickajolli @simonisferal @kamiboo

@justpeachyteastea @feiherp @pinkismyfavcolor @aether-darling @kunisnaomi

@keiiqq @mine-lu @featuredtofu @danhenglovebot @k4zushi

@kyon-cherri @b4tm4nn @iiinaurate @quacking-simp @auroratumbles

@kookiibun @ulquiorraswife @amvpk01 @simplysm1le @h3xi2g0n3

@alatusorrow @scaranthropy @mellowberrie @magica-ren @vernith

@kabukipookie @bananasquash @suqarlaced @dellalyra @lightyagamifan

@yourfavoritefreakyhan @heartsforseo @yomishen @pwushizz @swivy123

@strxwberryfetish @ibyobi @ashfrommars4 @chemiru @ainnofinway

@agaygothicmushroom @levianamor @dragontammerz @wth121 @lylovw

@morgyyyyyyy @lovemari @suniika @melpomenelurks @liuaneee @yumejo89 (bold users means i'm having trouble tagging you)

[rayshippouuchiha]

So, I keep thinking about the Kyouya-nii AU (which is starting to take up residence in my mind), and I keep thinking about two specific things in particular

One - I am unable to think about it without imagining the sunniest, most joyful littol child walking behind his "Awesome Kyouya-nii!" during patrol and thinking (or talking) about how he's the "Coolest brother ever!" while Kyouya has that scowl. Just, the contrast. Scary, and the adorable that's secretly scary

Two - I keep wondering how Kyouya met Izuku, because unless he has some internal feral potential detector (which, I would not put it past him) he probably would have needed to see something that showed off that potential. Like, you know how in the first episode of MHA we see kiddie Izuku getting between those bully brats and the kid they were bullying? I'm wondering if it was something like that.

Also, you have gotten me obsessed with KHR even though I'm very likely never gonna watch or read it

See no this is exactly what I'm going for with this AU.

Hibari sees Izuku stand up to some bullies and is like "nice' and then he sees Izuku spear tackle someone and he's like "Nice" and then the kid gets up all bloody and bruised after getting his ass kicked and just pats himself on the cheeks all "next time I'll go for the knees cause his quirk makes his joints weak" and he's like "Wao" and decides that this small animal is adorable and obviously needs a stronger predator to help it grow into its fangs.

And, well, what better carnivore is there out there than him?

Which of course means that Hibari basically grabs Izuku by the back of his shirt, drags him to ta clearing, and starts educating him in the fine art of ass-kicking. Which then ends up with Izuku crying all over him when Hibari gives him his very own training tonfa and decides that Izuku's obviously far enough along to come with him to hunt down rule breakers on his patrols.

So everyone gets treated to the terrifying sight of Hibari strolling through town with the most adorable little green child trailing after him, spouting praise and just chattering on and on. And there are a few people who are Big Worried about this kid because it's Hibari, ya know?

But then someone sees Hibari beat a thug only halfway down and then step back and nudge the Izuku forward. And before anyone can stop him, because holy shit dude what the fuck that's an entire BABY, Izuku whips out his training tonfa and finishes fucking this thug all the way up.

And Hibari just kind of smiles with his body but not his face, pats the kid on the head 1 time, and then they move on.

[damnfandomproblems]

Fandom Problem #6704:

I’m sorry, but if you can’t tell the difference between a fictional loli/shota character or (in the case of that one A03 scare of a member of the Chinese government trying to censor A03) written words on a blank space on A03 and a kid, then you’re the one with issues. Not the people creating that content, not the people who consume that content, it’s you.

And before anyone comments, “this one is definitely a lolicon/shotacon,” I am someone who is personally uncomfortable with loli and shota characters and I avoid them like the plague. Same with content on A03 that tackles incest and pedophilia. It’s topics that I avoid constantly when I go on certain sites. I am my own censor.

You’re also watering down the terms “pedophile” and “child porn” because guess what will happen if you continue to do this? If someone is accused of being a pedo or possessing/distributing child porn, the very first thing both skeptical people and people who have seen these accusations against people who consume that type of fictional content many, many times will think or comment, “is this only being said because this person is into lolicon?” Or worse, they won’t be hearing that coming from the same people who have thrown around those terms recklessly.

Also, child sexual assault survivors are being affected by the whole lolicon/shotacon = pedophile argument. One anti even went as far as wasting time and resources by reporting a proshipper to an organization specialized in helping children from predators and I wish I was making this up.

Besides, if you REALLY want to talk about exploiting children, why waste your breath on lolis and shotas when the god-awful movie Netflix made called “Cuties” exists? That exploits ACTUAL children.

[maxdibert]

Hello, I've been following you for some time and I love your posts and analyzes about Severus, I regularly update your blog hoping for more and I always wanted to send you something, but I never had the opportunity.

But recently I saw a video on TikTok, which I didn't pay much attention to, but I saw the comments and one of them talked about how if Harry was a woman and looked like Lily, Severus would be a pedophile and that that gave people the creeps. And I, personally, find this statement very funny, because as far as I remember, Snape never had inappropriate contact with any Hogwarts student, or with anyone, in fact. But people intentionally forget that the only person who had the opening to do this was Peter Pettigrew. Ron himself said that they slept together and, probably, Peter saw the boys, literal children, changing their clothes, but, obviously, it would be Snape who was the child predator.

Sorry if it wasn't very understandable, English isn't my first language and I'm using Google to help.

Hi! Thank you. I'm glad you like my rants and sometimes nonense lol

About your pint... Well, this is a very old story. If I had a penny for every time I’ve read someone spouting this nonsense, I wouldn’t be rich, but I’d have enough for a nice dinner at a fancy restaurant. It’s so absurd that I don’t even think it’s worth refuting, but just to clarify a few things:

Severus resents Harry for two main reasons, and neither of them has to do with being in love with Lily. It’s not something as childish as “uh, my crush married someone else.” No, there are several layers to it.

The first and most obvious is that, unfortunately, Harry is the spitting image of his father, who, unfortunately, was a jerk who spent his school years torturing people—specifically, and with great enthusiasm: Severus Snape. James spent seven years hunting him down and attacking him for sport, backed by his loyal ally Sirius Black and supported by his lackeys, Remus Lupin and Peter Pettigrew. While the latter two might not have physically assaulted Severus, they were there as enablers and complicit bystanders. Four against one, at the end of the day.

Severus never had the chance to heal from that abuse because, at 21, he was forced to return to the very place that had been hell for him. He had to teach students who were likely old enough to have witnessed some of those humiliations during his time as a student. A victim cannot heal in the place where they were consistently harmed.

Then Harry comes along, looking like an exact replica of James, and every time Severus sees him, it triggers him immensely. When he looks at Harry, he doesn’t see Lily’s son, nor does he see a child—he sees his abuser. And we all know Harry isn’t to blame for any of this, but the thing is, we can’t expect someone who isn’t acting rationally to be rational. Especially when we’re talking about someone who desperately needs therapy and probably medication, neither of which he’s ever had access to.

Then there’s another factor—a deeply emotional one—which is that Harry’s very existence is a painful reminder of Severus’s own role in Lily’s death. The fact that this kid is there, an orphan, is a constant reminder that Severus overheard a prophecy, reported it to Voldemort, and that Voldemort then chose to kill the most important person in Severus’s life because of it. It’s a perpetual mix of anger and guilt.

Looking at Harry forces Severus to relive his past as a victim, his most humiliating moments, as well as the terrible decisions he made because of them and their devastating consequences. This doesn’t excuse his behavior, but it does explain it quite well.

What I’m trying to say is that the reasons behind how he treats Harry are deeply tied to trauma. If Harry were a girl and resembled Lily, Severus would still feel deeply triggered every time he saw her. The only difference would be that instead of seeing James in her, he’d see Lily. I think, rather than anger, it would fill him with depression and guilt to such a degree that, instead of antagonizing her, he’d try to avoid her as much as possible. He wouldn’t want to get within ten miles of her because seeing her face would constantly remind him of the person he failed and indirectly condemned.

At no point do I imagine anything even remotely sexual crossing his mind. Especially when you consider that Severus never once confessed his feelings to Lily or behaved inappropriately toward her. I do think he’d act “softer,” but not because of her appearance specifically—more because Severus is always gentler toward women. I mentioned this in another post, but his more cordial relationships are almost always with female characters, and when he’s cruel, it’s typically far worse with men than with women.

People who lack even the most basic comprehension or analytical skills… Honestly, if they’re going to hate on him, the least they could do is come up with more convincing arguments. Sometimes it’s just exhausting to explain why their theories don’t make any sense.

[ahsokatroi]

Batfam discussion. Trigger warning ⚠️ : very grown up topic.

Ok so some fanfic and tumblr writers have contemplated that after his parents’ deaths, Bruce would’ve been a massive target for grooming, as well as advances he would’ve been too young to know how to decline. He would’ve been targeted both because of his resources and because he was good looking.

He would have a lot of leftover trauma from that, possibly still going on depending on whether the playboy persona is something he willingly does or something he just doesn’t know how to get out of.

My friend is adamant that the Bruce that would use psychological warfare and scare tactics that are both subtle and not-so-subtle, would never have been the type of kid to tolerate that kind of thing, let alone take it lying down quietly.

I am of the opinion that this would only limit the number of people who are able to successfully manipulate him into staying quiet, rather than making it so no one ever succeeds. Bruce is brilliant, but at this point he’s still a child. One without the information, the experience, or the emotional maturity to know what kind of danger he’s in.

We both agree that Alfred would never have stood for it…but I argue that if Bruce had been in this kind of situation, he wouldn’t have told Alfred about it. It’s an unfortunate truth that victims, especially children, are often too ashamed/afraid to admit what’s been done to them. Alfred would’ve known something was off, but Bruce wouldn’t have wanted to bother him with his problems, and he would’ve kept his mouth tightly shut. He would’ve pretended as if everything was normal and nothing bad was happening.

Until those same predators start eyeing his kids.

The first time Dick attends a gala with him, he immediately clocks the eyes that lock onto the boy. It takes all of his self control to avoid bloodying his knuckles on their faces. Instead, he keeps Dick at his side and under his arm, subtly making it very clear that no one will be getting to his son.

The addition of Jason to the Wayne family comes with the added danger of being disliked because he grew up poor. He would be targeted as a show of dominance, not just because of wealth and attractiveness. Bruce would of course deflect those as well, but if he hadn’t already had practice keeping his temper in check while protecting Dick, he would’ve exploded at this new variety of comments and gazes.

Tim was born into this life, and his notoriously neglectful parents would not have protected him. At 13, he would be about as much a stranger to it as Bruce had been at that age. And Bruce, being himself, would know this. He wouldn’t be able to shield Tim without him knowing exactly what he was being protected from. They would have a difficult conversation after the first time Bruce steps in front of him, in which Tim would probably break down crying after being assured he will never have to face that again.

Damian’s appearance in the family would be slightly different, because he would have all three of his big brothers glaring daggers at and talking circles around anyone who so much as looks at him wrong. Bruce would still keep him under his arm, though. He’s of course capable of protecting himself, but his league training wouldn’t have included this type of threat, and no one would’ve dared to touch Ra’s grandson, so he would have no experience with this. Besides, Damian shouldn’t have to protect himself, especially from dangers like this. Which is why he is always with either his father or one of his brothers at these events, and Bruce always keeps him in his line of sight.

Clark would be the first person to realize that Bruce is putting every ounce of his self control into maintaining the facade he wears at parties. He would be the first person to confront him about it. Bruce would try to brush it off, and Clark wouldn’t let him. He’s a brilliant investigator (he has to be in order to be such a good reporter) and he knows Bruce. He would be the first person to get the truth out of him. He would be the first person to tell Bruce that what happened to him wasn’t okay, and he doesn’t have to pretend like it is. He would be the first person who isn’t a bat to see Bruce cry.

[empressgeekt]

Trolls - Accidental Knight and Lost Princess of Rock (A combo au of FoF and Reverse Rock Sibblings)

Okay. Reverse Rock Sibblings is an au by @rocksibblingsau it's basically a reverse of their main au where Branch was kidnapped by Barb as a kid and raised in the rock tribe, highly recommend this au and that everyone should go read their fic (link). The reverse au is one where Barb got trapped in Pop territory and she and Branch just end up living in the bunker together, because their both misfits in the eyes of Pop village. This post is my attempt at combinding this au with my au Field of Forgetmenots (with a little influence of my BB au), which is a Keith and Branch Brother's au, so we're about to start an adventure of a heavily Khaotic trio of adopted siBBlings.

The au begins with Barb on a supply trip with her father, it's peaceful at first, however their Angler bus accidentally disturbs a Briar Wolf den. In the chaos of the predator attack, Barb got hit from one of the wolf's paws, would be thrown to the brush, and knocked out. A very young Branch was out collecting herbs when this happened and he watches in mute horror as the Wolves rip the bus apart, the occupants screaming for their lives. He sees Barb get thrown and uses his hair to pull her away from the danger. He's a little surprised at her appearance, colors dulled and with a crazy hair cut, but he wasn't going to leave her to bleed out from the claw wound on her side. So, her drags her back to the village and asks for help. For once the adults listen to him about a wolf attack, cause well there's a bleeding teenager on the ground. Dr. Moonbloom patches Barb up and Peppy leads an expedition to see if anyone else survives. No one else was found other then Bloodstains on the ground.

Barb wakes up in the healing pod and she is thrown off by all of the color around her. She is horrified to discover that Pop trolls had kidnapped her. Though, she doesn't say anything about her panic, she would not be weak infront of Pop trolls. When the king comes to talk to her, she listens to his words and realizes...they don't recognize that she's a rock troll...Well King Peppy does but he askes her to keep it hidden, because the last thing the tribe needs is for other trolls to track them down and lead Giants to them. Barb bulldozes passed that whole thing and askes for her Dad, and is devestated when Peppy tells her that no one else survived the wolf attack. Barb half listens, as Peppy asks her age, explains they'll get her a foster family until she's grown and that she's welcome in the village as long as she doesn't tell anyone about the tribes. Barb half heartedly agrees, feeling heavy grief for her father. She doesn't tell Peppy about being the Rock princess.

Until a foster family is found Barb stays with Peppy after being released from Dr. MoonBloom's care. It's miserable experience. Baby Poppy is like adult Poppy, just hyped up on sugar and lacking any sort of social awareness. So, Barb has to deal with this little child who is just so excited to have a "Foster sister", all while Barb is mourning her father. She just wants to be left alone to be sad, but Poppy doesn't get it so is constantly trying to Cheer Barb up. Cooper (I headcanon Peppy took him in), is a little better, the younger funk troll (really didn't tell your kid this Peppy?) is excitable but not to Poppy's point, not to mention really clumsy. Barb finds little amusement in watching all of the tumbling Cooper does. However, She still can't wait for a foster family, just so she can get away from this hypocritical king and his daughter.

Things don't get much better with a foster family. They keep trying to make her "normal", act happy, wear bright colors, eat a lot of sugar. and make her sing, but they get upset at her when she sings, because her voice is too rough and raspy for most pop songs. She does manage to get her hands on a guitar, but its acoustic and way too expensive so she can't break it on a whim and expect a new one. She fights with her foster siblings, and apparently she gets in trouble for it since pop trollings don't brawl with their peers. Pretty much she can't wait until she's grown up enough to get out of the hell hole of the foster system. Until one day Peppy brings over another foster kid, with a strained smile, the one and only little Branch. Barb is a little surprised to see a dulled pop troll, but she immediately picks up on how he doesn't want to interact with the family. The parents don't notice but the other kids pick on him, and Barb can't stand it. For the first time someone stood up for the grey troll. and Barb doesn't stop there. After a few days, she notices that Branch would run off on his own for hours at a time, only coming back to the foster house for dinner and bed. Since no one else would do anything about a literal kid running off into the woods, a forest that Barb knew was full of predators, she decided to follow him one day. Found out all about the bunker, Branch's plans and decides to help.

Branch is very confused about Barb at first. In the beginning he just thought she was repaying him for finding her, and when he brought it up he's shock to learn that she had no idea that he found her. "Why do you want to help me then?" "'Cause you're the only sane person here." And she really does believe that, Branch is the only person who seems to give a crap about protecting himself, the entire village is up in the trees so predator's on the ground don't bother them as much, but it felt like no one was taking safety into account. Branch was the only one, and he was just a kid. Barb wasn't going to leave the younger trolling alone, besides, he was more like the trolls back home, a comfort to her in this strange colorful world.

Once Barb out grows the Foster system, she signs up to take Branch on as a young brother and they two of them work on the bunker and live in the woods. Barb prefers this to the village as Rock trolls burrowed rather then built pods. They grow up together as misfit brother and sister. Barb opens up to Branch about her tribe and their traditions. Branch tells Barb about his brothers and grandmother (after nightmares). There lives have ups and downs. Forest life is hard. Barb can take harder hits and heat, but she can't climb well and practically goes into a hibernate state when winter rolls around. Branch is more resourceful, and practically built for the woods, but has a hard time asking for help. They teach each other things, Branch teaches Barb about the Bergens, and Barb in turn teaches him self defenses (she was royalty no way she wasn't taught a little hand to hand).

They're adults by the time that a new player enters the picture one winter. A little mossy green trolling, who's also a little bit of an outsider, starts to follow Branch after an interaction between the two at the market. Barb finds it hilarious. It's like Branch is a mama critter with a Lil baby trailing behind him all the time. Despite his sister's support of a literal child following them into the middle of a dangerous forest, branch tries to keep keith at a distance at first...until an almost gruesome run in with a squirrel. After that he and Barb vow to teach their new little Stalker all about the forest and survival. From winter to summer they see keith almost every day and form a trio of khaos sibblings. A relationship that goes from honorary to legally after Keith dad died in a mining accident. Barb and Branch fight hard to get the trollings custody as they know keith would not have a good time in the foster system. Peppy begrudgingly allows them to keep keith.

A year passes, they all heal and bond. Barb know what it's like to loose a dad so she helps keith through his grief. The whole process is very healing for all three. Barb and Branch let go of their self blame for the deaths/abandonment of their familes (Barb her dad, and Branch his Grandmother specifically) because they don't want Keith to copy them and feel like he's responsible for his dad's death. Overall the Bunker is a full house with two adults and a trolling. Keith knows all about his new brother and sister. Barb has no need to hide what makes her different from Keith, the kid can keep a secret. The trolling stumble on to pictures of Branch's brothers, so the grey troll has to explain that whole bucket of worms.

Keith's birthday rolls around, and Barb and Branch go as far out as they can. A small slumber party with Keith's close friends. The trolling had been working on a story about a knight, so Branch plans to dress up as the character as a birthday surprise. Much to his sister amusement. "You look like a DnD character" "I don't even know what that is...."

Long story short, Branch fends off a wolf in costume and suddenly is named the new hero of the village without anyone noticing he's the grey outsider. After this Branch is panicking over this sudden attention on him as a Hero, because Princess Poppy is out feverously searching the village for his real identity. Barb and Keith think Branch is over reacting and that their brother deserves a little recognition for protecting the village all these years. So they team up and set up a meeting between Poppy and the "Forest Guardian", convincing Branch to go through with it, as this way the village might finally listen to them about the whole predator issue. This plan works infuriatingly well, and the village makes some changes for the safer and Knighting Branch, Barb and Keith gave Poppy that idea, and get the two on the dance floor during the formal after party (They both know Branch is a sucker for the Princess and will play matchmaker until successful).

When the 20th Freedom Anniversy rolls around. Keith is out playing with CJ in her pod, Branch is hunkered down in the bunker after foraging. Barb stayed out a little later wanting some cinnamon bark to cook dinner with, and while traveling home she gets too close to the party just as the Chef shows up. Being brave and stupid, she helps the others escape but is snatched up with the rest of the snack pack. Poppy and Keith meet up while running to the bunker and she tells him about Barb being grabbed.

Branch is horrofiyed when Poppy tells him everything. Clinging to Keith holding back a mountain of emotions and truama. He almost says yes when Poppy askes him to come but he stops himself, claiming that "Barb was grabbed, no troll comes back after being Grabbed." Poppy groans and grips about how Forest Guardian didn't come to save them. This does not help.

B: Poppy he was probably looking out for predators, you know the parties attract them.

P: It did! A bergen came and he didn't defend us!

B: What do you honestly expect him to do against a bergen! A bergen and a wolf are two completely different things.

Deep down, Branch wasn't going to give up on his sister. After Poppy stuffs the village in the bunker. Branch suits up and leaves through the tunnels that connect the Bunker to the rest of the territory. He bids Keith goodbye, leaving the leaf vest with the trolling. He and Poppy meet up in the forest same old same old.

Barb meanwhile is scared out of her mind, but she doesn't want to show it so she just seems angry to everyone. Cursing up a storm, it shocks everyone Bergens included. Even Chef isn't sure what's wrong with Barb, she knows the rock troll isn't Grey with how bright her hair is, but trolls were never this violent. When she tries to reach into the cage to grab Creek, Barb bites her hand. Chef slapps her into the floor before stuffing her back in, and still takes Creek.

Barb has to resist wrapping her baby brother in a hug when Branch and Poppy finally get to the cage. Branch is dressed as the guardian and she can't reveal his identy. Both Sibblings are not at all impressed with the whole "Date to get Creek back" plan. First off, their not fond of him. Branch for obvious reasons, and Barb because he treated her brothers like shit. Second, how the F*ck is this even going to work? Talk the king into his bedroom? Into his stomach? That's some freaky stuff neither of them need to see. Still, they know the only way to get home back to the Keith is to speed this up as long as they can. Branch and Barb snap Bridget out of her stupor, and they get to work. Barb is just trying not to throw up through the whole mission, cause this is worse then any cheesy rom-com.

Barb threatens to kill Creek like the scoundrel he is when he betrays them, and once in the pot she's right by Branch's side as they try to escape. Keith runs into her arms once the rest of the village is captured, and the sight of his brother and sister grey forces Branch to start singing. Hence ture color's seen, and the song, despite being pop, is the most beautiful one Barb has ever heard.

When confronting the Bergen king head on, and the Chef begins to lose it. She doesn't reach for Branch or Poppy to force feed to Gristle, she reaches for Barb. Dulled colors or not, the rock troll had been the one to piss off the Chef the most. Branch does not let her get snatched, and stabs the Chef's hand just as she was going to Grab his sister. In retalliation, the Chef swipes at Branch with her knife, severely wounding him...and putting him into a coma.

Barb is left scrambling. She's torn between the baby brother in the hospital, the baby brother at home, and all of the village finally coming to their senses and caring about Branch now. They send way too many flowers and thank you gifts. Poppy is a blessing, she's able to run point with the village so Barb can handle her family. Especially, when Branch is actually awake and needs to get used to missing an eye.

When it comes to the formation of the forest guard Barb is a drill sergeant, whipping people into shape for proper protectors, and serves as Branch's second. She'd love to teach them power chords however King Peppy bans it quietly, not wanting Rock practices in the village.

Well, that changes with in a year. With King Thrash's health in fast decline and no apparent Heir in sight, the Rock tribe start looking as possible candidates to take over, and give them trial periods before selecting someone to coronate. Val Thundershock was a strong contender and she has plan to get revenge on the Pop trolls. Its a known fact that Princess was lost in an attack on the there transport, the tribe had known for years, what the had only learned recently however was that it was in the Pop trolls territory that she was lost. There's no doubt in Val's mind they sent the wolves and killed her friend. And the WorldTour begins.

When the letter gets sent to the village Peppy has to finally come clean about the other tribes, Barb smiles through out the whole explanation, until Peppy says it was in fight that split up the tribes.

Barb: Okay, King dude I'm gonna stop you right there, it was not infighting that caused the Split. The tribes seperated because Pop turned on the others and wiped them out.

Peppy: Well Barb I'm afraid you're mistaken, that's not what our scrapbooks said.

Barb: You're scrap books are wrong. I have known this story for as long as I can remember, and it was not the meagre disagreement. It was a full on war, one that didn't end until King Axl Rose of the Rock Tribe and his army stood up to the pop tribe in a final fight, killing the king of disco, and allowing the other tribes a chance to flee.

Poppy: Barb how do you know about this?

Barb: Because I am a Rock troll.

Things escalate after that, Poppy takes it as good news, this giant party is a chance for Barb to re-connect with her people. And while she did, expect her dad and Branch to be a little cautious, she did not expect Barb to tell her that this was not a party invite. Barb tries to explain that Rock had been bitter to Pop, and some to the other tribes, due to how many losses they had in the war, and this was in no way and actual party. Poppy doesn't listen...and Barb and Branch join her on the mission, with Keith as a stoaway.

Branch picks up on something going on with his sister and askes if she's okay. Barb's conflicted through out the trip, for years she dreamed of going home to her dad (if he was still alive), but now she isn't so sure, for all of the problems they had with the village it's become home after so long. Not to mention the whole request for the string feels off to her, like why would Val want that? It's giving her ancient pop tribe vibes and she doesn't like to think her people could fall so far. Symphonyville just puts everything in perspective, the amount of damage that Rock music can cause. Poppy doesn't want to go home just yet.

On the trip to country territory, Branch asks Barb all she knows about Rock tactics and weaponry, and she does her best, she was trained in war when she was younger, but technology and practices can change over the years she's been gone. Keith wants to hear some Rock music so he'll know if he's in danger or not. That kind of breaks Barb's heart, she knows Keith didn't mean to be offensive he's just a scared kid after all, but that's still her music.

Barb and Branch plug up Poppy's attempts for a medley. "Pop-squeak, what you are doing is literally the reason the Split happened in the first place."

They talk to Delta, but they don't get anywhere in terms of help. As they leave Hickory trotts up offing them a ride to funk territory. Poppy agrees, however before Branch can objest Barb walks up and pulls on hickory's "tail" (dickory's hair) and rips the brother in the back out of the costume. "Val sent Bounty hunters after us." After some convincing, Hickory and Dickory join up, they just want to save their music, and as soon as Barb proves she is the lost princess of the Rock Tribe, their more inclined to follow her, since she doesn't want a war and is technically next in line. And from them Barb learns that her dad is still alive, but has been loosing his mind recently. Keith cuddles her that night to make her feel better, he knows what it's like to lose a dad.

Chaz does try to attack them in the middle of the night, but the smooth jazz troll doesn't get Far. Barb it quick to the draw with her guitar, acoustic or not, she gives in to her instincts for the first time in years, and a power chord blasts Chaz away. She's not losing her brothers.

Meeting Cooper at Vibe city...explains a lot...when Rock attacks Barb and Keith end up in a bubble with Hickory and Dickory, when they land the only find Poppy, having been captured by Chaz and Val. Branch is nowhere in sight, but as much as it pains Barb she can't go looking for him. Val has gotten all the strings, they need to act now. Barb is in no way the planner Branch is, but she picked up a few things, with the help of Hickory and Dickory, they sneak into Volcano Rock City and kidnap one Billy Reverb. Barb remembered his name from one of the roasters of "Upcoming Stars" Her dad used to read, as though trolls could be assists in time of war. Billy is a little tick at first (they stuffed him in a bag), but agrees, when Barb points out how if they let Val do whatever she was planning they wouldn't be any better then the ancient pop trolls, Billy agrees to help and He gets the rest of bad hair day involved, along with a troll he used to tutor named Demo. He gives Barb one of his guitars, and they crash the concert...and when did the snack pack get there?

As soon as Barb sees the glowing guitar strings, she knows that Val is planning. It was supposed to be a myth, but here she was about to witness and Ultimate power chord, that was being pointed straight at her future-sister-in-law, she's about to jump in when a book comes flying out of nowhere smacking Val in the face. Her first baby brother coming to save the day...until... he jumps...it's the chef all over again, only this time he isn't bloodied, he's completely transformed. Had Barb ever envisioned Branch as a Rock Troll? Yes, but never like this. He was still Branch, not a hollow husk. She does jump on stage after this, Val will never do that to anyone else on her watch.

Val and the crowd doesn't believe that Barb is the lost princess at first, but once she and Val get into a duel on stage, there's no questioning her skills. Billy and Bad Hair Day protect the crowd from the blasts, while Demo and Keith sneak to Poppy and set her free. Poppy runs to stop the fighting, and un the chaos the strings are broken. It all goes silent and Val tries to blame it on Pop, but Barb is having none of it, and tells the purple rock troll to shut it, before checking up on Branch who is just coming too. Just sing starts with the funk twins, and Barb joins them with a pluck of her strings and Branch starts singing....Peace is restored, however Barb does not claim the throne, she doesn't want to be queen, but Val is not given the crown, Rather Billy is the one selected, due to his bravery and leadership he presented at the concert.

Barb is reunited with her Dad, and Thrash is in a moment of clarity when this happens. It's a very tearful affair, and Barb takes the chance to introduce Branch and Keith to her dad, who is very sweet to them for as long as he can. When trollstopia is completed, Thrash is moved to a permanent care facility there, so he can be close to his children.

When Bridget and Gristle's wedding happens, Barb is in attendance, she's working major security, so Branch can focus on his Best Man duties, all of the bounty hunters (except Chaz), came to work in the guard since it's similar in nature to hunting, btu far more stable. Barb has faith in her soldiers, but somehow one John Dory manages to slip through the cracks, and no no no no, this child abandoner does not get to do this now. Barb shoots him with a trank dart, and arrests him, before he gets to far. She grabs Branch after the ceremony and takes him to deal with the intruder.

John wakes up before the Ceremony is over, and the poor bounty hunters had to deal with him throwing his status around as a Brozone member. Branch refused to take off his mask or reveal his idenity until John remember's his actual name. Only to get outed by Poppy and Keith walking into the room. Que Identy reveal and John suddenly has to deal with two very protective siblings. Though out the trip, Barb doesn't stop correcting John about Branch's name and Keith is right with her.

Vacay Island is a cool place and Barb was already planning to take a more relaxed trip there with her brothers and father when this was all over. She laughs at Bruce for mistaking Keith for Branch's son, and then gives the purple-haired troll a rather firm hand shake. And while she doesn't want to associate herself with the brothers, she is open to being an aunt to all of Bruce's hellions. She tries to not be effected by Branch slipping back into old habits during the practice performance, but some part of her can't help but worry that Branch is forgiving them to easily. She's waiting for the other shoe to drop after that.

The puttputt trolls put her on edge, cause goodness these guys need therapy. They were like baby branch on steroids and no emotional support. Clay gets on her nerves even more than John since while oblivious most of the time, the eldest wilted a little whenever she took a jab at him for leaving, and Bruce straight up looked guilty, Clay just gets defensive and argue's with her. Claiming that Barb doesn't know anything about what happened. Seemingly missing that Barb doesn't care what went down between the brothers, she wants them own up what they did to her brother.

When Viva tries to get them to stay at the golf course against their will. Branch pulls out a bow and Barb takes down the trolls trying to hold them in place, while Keith slipped away and opened the door. Everyone but poppy is shocked by their sudden violence, but they don't get to question it until they get back to Rhonda. "We work in military you babies!" Barb actually comforts Poppy, saying that she was right to leave, Being a big sister doesn't mean controlling your young sibling's life and while she feels for Viva, that was too far. Maybe later they can rebuild something, but that wasn't the way to do it. John over hears this.

Practice goes the same, though Barb steps in with the whole outfit thing, after all, they need their voices in harmony not their outfits. John doesn't back off until Barb asks if this is a kink for him and he shuts up and doesn't even try to get keith to fill in that roll. It's very hard for her to not lash out, when the tension rises after all, she and Branch agreed their would be no Scream fighting infront of Keith, so she's cradling the trolling, when she screams at them to shut up, exclaiming no wonder you broke up, "Ya'll don't give a Sh*t about each other!" To which Clay responsed, "Oh what Like you know how we should treat each other? You're not even real family!"

And Branch snaps. Yell at him, it hurts, and he should stand up for himself more, but no one screams at his big sister and baby brother. Branch starts ranting about everything he had to go through because of them, and he's done paying for their dreams with his deep love for them! Ripping off his mask to show them the eye he gave up for family...but not for them...for someone who appreciated it everyday, because Barb begged for him to live, not sing for her, live as he is. "Barb and Keith are more family then any of you!"

They all leave (Barb Keith, Branch and Poppy), and at first they don't even want to go save Floyd. The other three hadn't changed what was the point of getting the liar out of trouble. However, Keith doesn't think Hero's leave behind people in trouble, and the forest guardian is his hero. The little trolling's faith is the thing that gets them moving. However they would not trust the perfect family harmony to save them. Poppy calls in Cooper for back up as the Funk Trolls 100% have a way to cut gemstones.

Barb holds off on her jabs with Floyd only because this man looks bad. Like half dead vibes, it makes her father look like a spring daisy. Doesn't mean she's sunshine and rainbows to him though. Branch isn't either, with his nerves shot from the experience with the other three. When they see that Velvet and Veneer have captured the other brothers, Barb, Keith and Branch just shared exhausted sighs. Because of course this had to happen. They free Rhonda and confront the Twins, que car chase.

Barb is at the wheel since she has the most experience with driving, and she is far more aggressive with Tiny catching up to the Twins' ride much faster then expected. Keith holds them steady, as Barb climbs onto RHonda's roof, and starts to pelt the twins with power chord, trying to keep them distracted, while Branch tries to sneakily free his bothersome family. It doesn't work, and Keith loses control, sending Rhonda flying off of the road. The armadillo Bus is thankfully caught by Bridget and gristle, while Barb is saved by a locks of golden hair. Viva catches her and pulls her back to safety. Both groups of sibling reunite with hugs on board of Rhonda. Barb gives Viva a proud smile to see how much the pink blonde had grown in terms of older sibling hood.

Through out all of this John Dory is a mess. Ever since the fight, where Branch rightfully so, ripped them to shreds. He has been replaying all the words his baby brother screamed, and what he had over heard Barb say to poppy earlier. New perspective in mind, he knows he has to apologize for being just like that to his younger brothers, but first he has to make it out of this. Watching as Branch and the others battled the twins (which was crazy! taking on two giants hand to hand), until eventually he, bruce, and clay were free was just another nail in the coffin of how much Branch had grown up. Floyd is on his death bed, and he just breaks down in the group as Velvet announces an encore. His apology is bluppered and not put together well but the feeling is there, "It's a long story, everything that happened, and I'm sorry that hurt all of you. But please, just for a minute can we all put everything aside for the sake of our brother who needs us. I don't need us to be perfect, i just need us to try, cause if we don't..."

Barb surprisingly is the first to step forward with the harmony, playing a melody on her guitar, an old lullaby that her dad used to sing, and that she in turn sung to Branch and Keith. The piece predates the split, and never really belonged to any tribe, so the brothers recognize it. By some miracle, the PFH is pulled off and the Twins are arrested, by then the funk trolls show up and they are pulled into the ship and Floyd is brought to the hospital wing.

The rest of the au is basically, the brothers having to deal with Floyd's recovery and trying to bond with Branch, plus Keith and Barb, since the three are a complete package. Eventually ending at Keith's ninth birthday party where differences are settled and the family is united, with a fresh start.

----

Once more this au, was inspired by the Reverse Rock Sibblings is an au by @rocksibblingsau, please support them! as all rights to that au belong to them. FOF is my own work.

[fight-nights-at-freddys]

"I don't support it in real life!"CW: talk of sexualizing minors, slight rant

Then why write about it? If for coping purposes, why post it online for others (especially actual predators) to see and consume? Then why portray those things in a positive light instead of condemning them?And you're seriously going to tell me that just because as an adult (1) you want to see a fictional minor (that mind you, is usually designed to resemble an actual child) depicted in sexual situations doesn't mean you don't share that same view concerning children in real life? You find fictional minors attractive but not real ones? Why does the line between finding someone who is (and usually also looks like) a child sexually attractive get drawn at whether the child is real or not? I'm not calling anyone pedophiles, but if the shoe fits...(1) No I am not talking about 18 y/os finding 17 y/os attractive. Use your brain. Creating content of underaged characters is still questionable regardless of age, however.

"Just mute/block instead of harassing others!"I have nearly 70k people blocked on twitter, and hundreds of words and tags muted, I softblock and mute people who post things I don't want to see. I still see certain things on my timeline, usually because1) It's posted in the main tags of something I'm interested in2) The post isn't even tagged at all3) If someone quote retweets from someone I've blocked, I still see the take on my timeline.

"Antis use the same rhetoric as exclusionists and TERFS!"What exactly does being against pedophilia have to do with trans (women) exclusionary radical feminism?And what does lgbtq discourse in general have to do with not wanting minors to be sexualized?

"Antis harass people!"Apparently, proshippers have never done this before! Not once has a grown adult stalked literal children for calling their ships gross!Not saying harassments ok at all, but let's not act like the poor proshippers are being oppressed here.Also, I promise you, someone saying "x is a proshipper, please block them if you don't want to see their content" is not harassment. Writing callout posts and videos on underaged "antis", however is most definitely harassment but y'all don't want to hear that. People have the right to know if they are platforming people who go against their personal beliefs and morals. Choosing to hide that from people who would otherwise not want to interact with you for the sake of not wanting to "lose friends" makes you a bad person, and you should feel bad.

replying under the cut bc this ask was long enough, and i don't wanna make ppl who follow us/see this have to scroll for eons

why do you think coping mechanisms have to stay private? if someone's coping mechanism was yoga, or working out, would you say they have to do that by themselves, in the confines of their own house, and they aren't allowed to talk to anyone else about it? i hope not, because that would be ridiculous (inb4 "yeah but yoga isn't harming anyone!", neither is fiction!).

the fact of the matter is, anyone can consume any type of content, and that shouldn't prevent people from making what they like. why not portray it in a positive light? what does it matter? any regular person knows that what they see in fiction should not necessarily be replicated in real life. i know better than to go out and kill someone just because billy loomis and stu macher do it.

furthermore, wouldn't you want actual pedophiles to use fiction rather than them going out and hurting real children? that's not how that works, but using your argument that they're one and the same, wouldn't that be better for everyone, and result in less people getting hurt, ergo fiction doesn't hurt anyone?

no, fictional characters are not meant to resemble actual children. that IS a crime. however, you cannot look at an anime child, or idk, kid ashley from TCOAAL, and tell me that looks like a REAL child. that's nonsense. and no, it does NOT mean i "share the same view concerning children in real life", because those characters aren't real, and i (can't believe i have to say this) am NOT attracted to real children. yes, you ARE calling me a pedophile, which is just categorically not true. it's not "questionable" because it's not REAL, which is necessary for someone to be diagnosed with pedophilia, which is a disorder, and not just some label you can put on people.

genuinely, if you are THAT sensitive to people having other opinions, or are sensitive to different kinds of art, maybe social media isn't the place for you to be. if the post isn't tagged, i agree, something should be done about that, but the fact is, WE DO tag our stuff. that has nothing to do with me (or chica), or even proshippers as a whole. you're doing the thing were you believe one rotten apple spoils the bunch.

when you post something online, you HAVE to understand that literally anyone can view it, and if your accounts aren't private, anyone can interact with it. that is the cost of posting online. if you can't handle that, log off.

i don't think i've ever compared being an anti to being a terf/exclus, BUT they do objectively share some of the same opinions as conservatives, and even nazis (which is NOT to say all antis are conservatives/nazis, but that you share some of the same ideals).

i can't speak much to that because i don't think i've ever made that argument, but it is a lil radfem-y when most of y'all go after specifically BL and yaoi. also terfs aren't only bigoted towards trans women, it's also trans men. idk why you said that.

yes, correct, anyone can harass anyone, but the fact of the matter is, 99% of the time proshippers get harassed, it's while we're in our own lanes, minding our own business, and y'all (much like you're doing right now) come into OUR spaces and call us pedophiles, and say we deserve to die, or that we should kill ourselves.

if you've been following this blog for the last week-ish, you'd have seen some prime examples of just that. doing nothing, talking to no one, and getting harassed. people saying i should be on watchpeopledie, saying i should be killed, that they hope i get cancer, or die in a car accident, or that my dad beats me to death. that i should "slit", cut to the bone, kill myself, hang myself. threatening to doxx me, find my address, have tried to grab my ip. the difference is, when proshippers are found to be doing this stuff, they're called out and reported, often by other proshippers, whereas antis, when they exhibit this behavior, they are encouraged. they're praised by their peers.

if all people did was say "x is a proshipper, block them", we wouldn't have an issue, but the fact is, a significant amount of y'all don't start with blocking. you start with slurs, nasty names, disgusting accusations, and downright deplorable behavior BEFORE you block us. if you block us. and when we block you, it's entirely possible you just create a new account to harass us from, or grab your friends to do it for you.

if platforming people who like different types of fiction than you is that big of a problem, that you feel the need to write callouts, make google docs, harass them, and threaten to doxx them, you need to get off the internet. stop interacting with people AT ALL. live in a bubble. because again, people you don't like are always going to exist on the internet, it's your duty to navigate that in the best way you can, WITHOUT hurting anyone.

people hide the fact they're proship because we don't want the harassment. that's sorta the crux of the issue? you're completely ignoring the COUNTLESS posts of people being harassed for simply existing and being proship. we shouldn't be made to feel bad for trying to protect ourselves and our peace, YOU should be made to feel bad for making others feel bad.

[fandom-susceptible]

So I've been thinking about where The Dragon Prince left things after Season 7, especially since they had to wrap it up so quickly and it doesn't look like they're likely to get full ten seasons.

I'm still very unsettled by Terry. I know he had his whole "Zuko here" moment and "redemption arc", but it rings hollow for me for a guy who spent the previous several seasons totally cool with a genocide against his own people as long as it was Claudia doing it. I super don't buy his shock and dismay at Claudia trying to kill the illusion of her mother after what he himself did to Ibis. I want to know where he came from and why he's okay with Dark Magic, just so long as it's not Aaravos.

Which is only loosely tied into a thought I wanna dwell on more, but is somewhat important background information for my thought process.

So at the end of Season 7, Soren, Corvus, Pyrrah, and Terry take off looking for King Harrow in the body of Pip the songbird. They wouldn't even know to look except that Runaan confirmed that King Harrow didn't fight back at the assassination, and instead just squawked, and Corvus put the pieces together.

Ezran is still struggling to forgive Runaan for his part in Harrow's death, which I think actually adds to his depth of character. He's no longer an innocent child - the "true soul", "death of innocence" theme from this season was strong, and Ezran is the peak example of it. He must find a way to balance his ideals with the pain that far more adult figures have been struggling with for years. Callum made a good point bringing up that he forgave Zubeia, and we didn't get to see Ezran's response, but imo his reaction to Callum's betrayal sort of fills in the blanks. It was Zubeia's mate and son that she thought were dead. I can see how that would make more sense for a kid like Ezran, who grew up with very strong familial bonds and values, than Runaan and the other assassins carrying out revenge for someone else when they have no personal grudge of their own.

Anyways. Consider.

Pip/Harrow's been missing for three years now. That bird could be anywhere on either side of the continent by now, though he is living with the mind of a king. He's also nowhere near Katolis, or Ezran would have found him already, from going to talk to "Pip" and finding that the bird is carrying an entirely different soul.

So imagine, in that time lapse in the final episode, Soren and Corvus come back and confess that they haven't found anything of worth. The last maybe-sighting of Pip was from some soldiers in Viren's army who thought they saw the bird following them into the Sunfire plains in Xadia. It's been two years, and they don't know.

So Rayla says she knows someone who might be able to help. The best tracker in Xadia. He can find anyone on the Xadian side of the border, and anyone he's ever tried to find in the Human Kingdoms too. He's diligent and has only ever missed one target. If anyone can track down King Harrow, it's him . . . but Ez isn't going to like it.

Runaan.

And at first Ezran doesn't. But Rayla makes a point, and Corvus and Soren aren't having any luck on their own or with Terry (if he's even relevant, tbh, if I write it he probably won't be because i am still disturbedd by that guy). So he agrees - with conditions, of course.

Runaan is hesitant when he's told the news, and when Ezran asks him why, he just delicately points out that a king in the body of a bird is also a bird with none of the instincts of a bird, and may not have survived regardless of the war, unless he's learned how to feed himself and managed to avoid all possible predators for three years straight.

Ezran acknowledges it, tells him that's something he's . . . preparing for. But Corvus gets to make the call that they've searched too much and Harrow is likely dead. Not Runaan.

So the terms are agreed to and Runaan ends up going on a road trip with Soren and Corvus. Please imagine the comedic value of dignified older assassin in the midst of a major cultural deconstruction trying to do serious business with Soren. Especially Soren and Corvus. And the flip side - imagine Soren and Corvus seeing what Xadia is like towards Moonshadow elves, especially ones of Runaan's description (tall, menacing, leader, broken horn, homosexual - am I talking about Runaan or Kim'dael). Possibly featuring an appearance from the surviving Dragonguard, and Runaan's reaction to Hendyr specifically, the Skywing elf who KNEW Tiadrin and Lain stayed to protect the egg and chose not to save it or to clear their names.

[angels-heap]

we get it, you hate hlvrai. how about instead of being bitter you let people enjoy things. fr whats the point of gatekeeping a 20 year old game?

Look, I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that you didn't live through the 2020 fandom bullshit, because if you'd witnessed it, even peripherally, you would not have felt compelled to send this ask. So, a few things you should know:

I don't actually hate hlvrai! I genuinely enjoyed the series and still quote it regularly. I even used to enjoy some of the fan content, before the fandom exploded in popularity and there was a huge influx of mostly of very young fans (fine, but not my scene) who wanted me and most of my friends to die (bad; see below).

I'm not dreading more hlvrai content; I'm dreading the potential fallout within the fandom. Canon tags flooded with unrelated content. Wildly OOC characterizations of canon characters based on similar characters in an unrelated series. Endless racism discourse that somehow manages to affect everyone except the tiny fraction of fans who are actually being intentionally racist. Pushback against mature content for an M-rated game because "there are kids here now!!" Ship discourse. Death threats and endless harassment related to the ship discourse. Being accused of being a child predator and threatened with doxxing for shipping two grown adults in a different fandom.

A lot of really lovely people were driven out of the canon HL fandom because of bullshit instigated by hlvrai fans who either didn't know anything about the canon series, didn't care, or were learning incorrect information through "fandom telephone" and decided to take it upon themselves to rid the internet of anyone who didn't ship canon Gordon with their benrey-fied version of Barney "the right way." Can you really blame anyone for not wanting that to happen again?

Honestly, as long as the new content doesn't include too much conflicting lore/characterization related to canon HL characters and the fandom manages to behave itself, I'm excited to see more people get into Half Life. A lot of my current favorite HL artists and writers got into HL through hlvrai. This doesn't have to be a shitshow, but I don't think it's unreasonable to worry that it might become one.

TL;DR: Nobody really wants to "gatekeep" a 20 year old game series. We just want to be able to continue talking about the series and creating fanworks without being bombarded with unrelated content, death and doxxing threats, and baseless accusations that could ruin our actual, offline lives.

[madam-o]

Re the weird divide in the Beetlejuice fandom, which I really don't get

Fandom is so strange. Just liking Beetlejuice himself as a character has invited all manner of unusual kinks and personal interests into the fandom, and hey, the more the merrier. Beetlefans and netherlings are an assembly of interesting weirdos, so like, you do you. And obviously, this means that you should try not to judge or make assumptions about others based on your own feelings about their interests. Riiiight?

So, Beetlebabes as a ship has been around since the beginning of the fandom, and it certainly seems likely not to be going anywhere with the sequel. Now, my own personal stance on the pairing lies straight in the middle. I think Lydia and Beej have a beautiful friendship in the animated series and musical. They're such a great comedic duo and there's something very pure and sweet about this girl and her bug-man. Their relationship in the musical IS colored by the fact that they're both using and tricking each other a lot of the time, but they seem to have a mutual respect on this point and don't let it ruin their friendship, well until the topic of moms comes up, anyway.

In the movie, it's more complicated. BJ is motivated primarily by his desire to be free and couldn't care less about Lydia's problems. He also gets just a tad creepy with Lydia, though he's not over the top about it. He claims that he thinks that she "really understands me", which is a frickin weird thing to say about a kid who you talked to for like five minutes. But the pervy implications are kept to a minimum so as not to drive the movie into darker territory. His motivations are still kept as primarily a green card thing, although the viewer is still pretty grossed out by the forced, child-bride marriage.

Re BJ, I don't see him as a human or someone who really follows human rules. He's a supernatural creature who has a vague, outsider's understanding of what being human means. Even interpreting him as a ghost and not a demon, he's too different from a human to remember what being one is like. In the musical and cartoon, he relates to Lydia from a child's pov, but tries to behave like an adult with the Maitlands. He's neither, though. He's an unliving, essentially immortal Thing. And while Lydia clearly has a lot of affection for "her monster", she's not exactly into this gross, stinky, creepy old guy. As for BJ, he's very attached to Lydia, perhaps unhealthily so, but he's not being a sexual predator with her.

However, as a Beetlefan, I've seen that it's pretty natural to pair the two up romantically. I certainly shipped them as a kid. And yeah, it's kind of a weird ship, but Beetlejuice as a concept is just weird, period. Weirdness and age gaps are hardly anything new or unique in any part of the internet. Teen fans ship characters their own age with much older characters all the time, and it's not usually frowned upon. But in the Beetlejuice fandom, there appears to be a lot of ship-shaming and accusations of p3d0ph1lia when it comes to this teen/ancient monster pairing, which I'm guessing is a lot more of an internet drama thing than about the actual pairing itself.

Now to be clear, I don't ship teen Lydia with anyone, but I also acknowledge that she's not gonna stay a kid and that things could change between them.

Personally I like the idea of Lydia and BJ being reunited after spending several years apart and things being super weird and tense based on their history. I've become primarily a fan of the relationship dynamic they have in the musical, so I see them as being distrustful of each other and competitive about getting one over the other. But they still gel in a unique way, and they can't help but enjoy their messed-up frenemy thing. And I think the awkwardness of the teen bride thing should be leaned into rather than forgotten or brushed away.

Lydia (to BJ): You really fucked me up, you know. I was just a sad kid who you manipulated. You fuckin creep.

BJ (to Lydia): Yeah but at least I didn't literally STAB YOU THROUGH THE HEART, so...point to me, there.

This type of prickly, antagonistic relationship is like catnip to me, honestly. So it's pretty disappointing and sad that all this fandom drama crap can and probably will affect my ability to share and enjoy beetlebabes content because "beetlebabes dni" appears on so many profiles and posts. It's the kinda thing that makes fandom culture such a double-edged freaking sword. Why can't people ever just let people enjoy the thing they like and try to be respectful of each other, ya know?

[rewordthis]

Babanbabanban Vampire:

Rant post after ep.9. Yes, I have watched ep. 10. No, I don’t feel like talking about the episodes per se but more about trying to understand the fanbase…

So to begin, let me say how I hate ep. 9 for how much I laughed—you can’t possibly begin to comprehend my inner turmoil…

Yes— that’s a bolt on his ear. Mad about it!

Look, guys. I had the most. absolute. insane laugh since episode one of these series and the hate it gets actually made me think a lot—like… a lot lot.

But in this episode I sobered up quite rudely and out of the blue, so I’m going to address the slander this anime gets. Just ‘cause. 🤨

Every second dude on reddit, online anime sites and even here has been going “Grooming shit anime,” “Why did a disgusting grooming shit got animated?” “Why put grooming on Netflix?” etc.

And like… stupid-ass question. If anyone bothered to actually watch the thing—even from episode 1—they’d probably get that that’s just how Mori is.

This is a BL anime to be sure and as far as I have watched, there is no grooming whatsoever??? What are y’all even watching? I beg of you… tell me where does that idea even comes from?!

Like, Mori’s come clean from the very start with Rihito’s family about who and what he is and is heavily pointed that had he not been taken in, he’d most definitely left and leave them alone because—and he makes a point throughout the series so far, that—he’s not interested in children or girls. What he finds to love about Rihito is his purity and good nature, something his past lovers also had as a common trait. Thing is, though he’s been an in-house worker at their bathhouse for the past 10 years, because the family insisted on it, and that has most certainly given him the freedom and advantage of being close to Rihito, who he now knows since the age of 5. So actually, the fact is that he is very not subtly portrayed as the ‘danger that lurks close’ which is not lost on me nor should be on you despite the running gags, while at the same time I can’t find where this whole hate springs from…

His ridiculous, overemphasised boners and sexual excitement every time Rihito showcases his purity and airhead-nes is mainly an over-the-top way of conveying his fondness over a behaviour that would otherwise have you rolling your eyes inside your skull—the kid is simply too naive—and Mori’s 7-people-fit-in-this-tent boners are a huge comic relief to counter that. Like, you can’t be seriously comparing him to a groomer. Now, don’t get me wrong, he is definitely gay and attracted to Rihito, but Rihito is 15 already and Mori from episode 1 set that his conviction is to wait until the kid is 18 to drink his blood. Drinking his blood, means that Rihito dies! Btw. In case someone missed this detail…

Because guess what? He is a bonafide PREDATOR—A VAMPIRE! Get that???

His first thought every waking moment is the taste of Rihito’s blood. Not his wiener and not his ass. Plus, he’s already wasted 10 years of waiting for him. For real now…

Every man Mori is depicted to have had as a loved one in the past were all well grown-ass men. Someone that is 450 years old doesn’t become a pedo in one fell swoop. Please be careful of that shit.

Does his fixation on having virgin male blood is weird? Absolutely. Does he go out of his way to make sure Rihito stays a virgin until he kills him? 100% creep all way—not even blinking while throwing rocks at him! But considering it grooming? Grooming??? Really? It’s grooming if an adult eases a child into sexual acts and it’s also grooming when an adult goes around in the background (!) to prevent any sexual activity from ever taking place equally considered grooming? Where the fuck did this came from?

In that sense every fucking thing you’ve ever been taught or eased into even by your family could also be grooming. Get real. Just say you are a homophobe and stop watching the anime. And stop talking about it if you dropped it from episode 1; I am being serious about this one, too—if you have an opinion in something you haven’t bothered watching, listening, reading, NO YOU DON’T! YOU DIDN’T WATCH THE THING SO WHAT OPINION ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT??? IT’S JUST WHAT YOU THINK IT IS, NOT WHAT IT ACTUALLY IS! This is just your own prejudice.

I also know what Mori said, that Rihito is his masterpiece but I digress it was about grooming. I am sure it has more to do with Rihito being calm and feeling safe around him and having being told stories about Mori’s history, which as he said himself are filled with actual historical events that even secured him good grades in history class at school. Mori has been shown so far to be ‘the supporter’ of the people he has considered his loved ones, so personally, I believe that this is what he refers to. The whole problem, though is only Rihito’s grandfather actually believes Mori to be a real vampire. Like, this is seriously dangerous…

Also, at some point I wondered if having cared for Rihito for such a long time, Mori might actually be considering not killing him like Sakamoto asked, but that prospect was shot down pretty harshly, wasn’t it… huh.

The one thing that is very well buried under the shitload of sexual humour in these series is the fact that what we deal with is a blood-lusting, violent, cunning killer. Wether Mori has any ounce of pity inside him after caring for 10 whole years for Rihito since he was a little child and slowly coming to love him even after settling to feed on him due to circumstances, remains to be seen in the end of the three years-limit he has decided to take Rihito’s life… or the end of the manga, whichever comes first.

So once again I ask, where does this grooming thing comes from??? Genuinely.

Anyway, the anime was all spiced up humour and stupid laughs until episode 9 but now we are starting to see more shit hit the fan. Since the adaptation is the dreadful 12-episodes-long most anime are, though I don’t have high hopes of it concluding on our screens. Which is a shame really, because only the first 4 chapters have been translated by the manga and nothing else. Bummer. 😤

Now, I watched the new episode on Sunday but daaamn~ I still feel shitty about ep. 9… >:ω

I didn’t want Franken to be next, either. I was already very upset over the ending of episode 9 and… to be fair, I wanted to know whether my babyboy was so aggressively trying to find Mori because of that other vampire...

Dude.. I was so bitter over this. It was one of these times that—no, actually you know what? Don’t give me the credits just yet. I feel sick.

He was such a lovely lonely soul, it really hurt to think this was finally the end for him. Grrr~ And it’s not that he ended up that way just because he was a weirdo or because he was ugly or what have you. He 100% was thrown into the hunting thing and then chose this lifestyle out of his own accord in spite of the fact that he was actually cute and good-looking enough for girls to hit on, ok? All for Mori!!! 😫 He was so desperate from the very start and I felt so so sorry for him that I actually felt sad he didn’t get killed by Mori and rooted for him to die as he wished! So funny and cute like.. (◞‸◟)

Sakamoto has such an impact on my heart with the way he is written, it feels awful being tricked like that! Not that I’m not happy about him or that I didn’t thought how funny it was the way the realisation dawned on him but like… the wound was still fresh to get a laugh from me, I guess…

Bite this world! 😤

[microposting]

Idk, I feel like I usually just assume in any fetish-driven universe that anybody who's not like, an adult of sound mind between the ages of approximately 18-60, simply does not exist in universe. Otherwise, I think the Implications and the "realistically, this would happen" will eventually reach a very I'd Rather Not Think About This sorta place.

detail i forgot to mention: canonically all human-affini interaction is inherently sexual (which is the given reason they aren't allowed to be depicted interacting with children). maybe the affini are biologically incapable of being active predators the way we think of humans being predators, but several worldbuilding elements necessitate some interaction, which is, by the given rules that i am being admittedly bad-faith about, child sexual abuse.

i approach stuff the same way generally. like if you're showing me a city rampage scene I'm gonna assume all the kids are at summer camp. not a big deal. good faith. I take this in bad faith because I think it's a guideline that's based in bad faith. it's excessive fear of transphobic retaliation and slippery-sloping that's being used to exert control. if you tell me breeding kink is banned because you've extrapolated that all the way out to the birth and raising of a child, and you decided that raising that child makes you uncomfy and therefore anyone who isn't uncomfy is a child abuser, I'm going to take your worldbuilding to its uncomfortable logical extremes as well.

a character talking about having an alien schoolteacher as a child (something that, last i checked, is EXPLICITLY cited as a banned example on the wiki) isn't suspect, but if you decide that is suspect then your entire universe is suspect, and if you're crowning yourself the top-down authority on this concept then you have to deal with that.