#that they truly understand each other and see each other for who they really are

[suh-lee]

' explore ' - frontman

𐔌♯ pairing — dom top hwang inho/youngil/player 001 x sub bottom amab!reader

𐔌♯ warnings — smut mdni, CONSENTUAL, inho is mxm virgin, previous and current mentions of manipulation, age gap implied, masculine pronouns and titles for reader, this is not alpha omega but reader is lowk in heat, safe word and kinks are discussed mid-story, inho is referred to as youngil since that is what reader knows him as at this point in the story

𐔌♯ word count — tba

𐔌♯ authors note — i need him so bad omg. NOT PROOFREAD !! pls send me squid game recs in my ask box 🫤🫤😖😖

"ya, yn." you heard someone call from behind you, causing you to turn around. you were met with young-il, one of the people whom you had gotten close with during your time locked in this facility.

"hyung!" you exclaimed happily as you saw him alive after the excruciating game of mingle each player had just participated in. he walked in with a serious expression on his face.. you stared at him, trying to get a glimpse into what he was thinking.

now that you think about it, the round where he had to separate from your group, he walked out of a room alone.. that wouldn't have been allowed..? and how did he guess that the final round would be two players per room, no matter if it was slightly logical.

you pushed aside these doubtful feelings toward your hyung and just decided to talk to him after lights out once he watches over our group of players.

"hyung.." you said in a whispered tone as you crawled out from your bunk bed and sat next to him on the stairs.

"yn-ah.. why are you awake? you need rest for the games tomorrow, and your bones are still developing to their full potential. sleep will help with that." young-il said to you quietly, looking at you with a concerned look but having no real emotion behind his eyes, which you took note of.

you darted your eyes away from him for a moment, trying to find how to phrase your words. "could i talk to you..? in private.." you said, tilting your head toward the door that could lead to the bathroom.

young-il quietly nodded and peaked around the large room, filled with countless bunk-beds. he stood up after a moment, walking to the door thay lead to the hallway and knocked on the door.

a guard peaked his head through the window, about to object, but he had seen who was at the door. the guard frantically nodded and opened the door quickly, allowing you and young-il to walk to the bathroom alone.

he held the door open for you, allowing you to walk through and closing it after he entered behind you. he turned a lock on the door and turned toward you, "what did you want?"

"can i ask you a few things?" you spoke softly, receiving a small nod from young-il.

"one.. why do the guards practically ignore you when you do something wrong...? and why didn't i see you in the first game.. or the short time before that..?" you asked, looking at him directly in the eye, attempting to confront him.

he let out a soft smirk at your questions, eyeing you up and down, "you ask too many questions.." he mumbled as he took a step closer toward you, "why all of a sudden are you so cautious??"

"i was there during the first game.. i just tried to blend in the background, using the other players to hide my body.." he said in a confident tone, slowly replanting the seed of trust back into you. "and.. i wouldn't say the guards ignore me.. i just haven't done really anything that they would have to kill, or acknowledge, me for. that's why they turn a blind eye toward me.. i imagine if i did do anything wrong, i would have the same fate as the others.. but, we don't want to test that theory out.. now do we?"

you looked at him as he spoke, he truly had your undivided attention. as he started to explain himself, you were able to understand his reasoning.. but oh my god, something about his confidence mixed with the stereotypically attractive face he had. it drove you insane.

"y..yeah.. that makes sense... sorry if it seemed as if i was doubting you. it's just- you can never be sure here... anybody could be a person in power and we wouldn't know."

"i understand, yn." he said, his usual warm smile on his face, "do you still have your doubts against me?"

"they've been... decreased.. i have no reason to fully trust you, but i also have no reason to believe your lying at the moment. i do hope you're being truthful, though."

"..that's a very smart mindset you have..." he said with a nod, before continuing "especially for an environment like this one. we never know a person's true motives, just as they don't know ours."

you nodded at him, but you weren't really listening. glancing at him up and down, your eyes clearly betrayed you. he started to go on about how trust was a very fragile thing, but you could only comprehend a few words.

he laughed as he noticed the daze you seemed to be in, "are you listening?"

"oh.. sorry!" you spoke quickly.

he listened to your apology with a small smile, looking at you from top to bottom, slowly analyzing everything about your body. his stare coming back up to your face after a long minute of silence.

"you know.. you're kinda cute.." he said after a moment, leaving you stunned as he finished, "and i get an urge that you feel an attraction, of the sort, to me... now, please tell me if i'm wrong."

you stared at him blankly. he read you like a book. you tried to find a way to brush it off, but there was nothing that you could think of. "..i guess you're right." you said in a shy tone.

he looked at you with a small smirk, "well.. im not experienced on homosexual intimacy much.. but i could always. i sense the feeling that you want me in this very moment.. would that be wrong?" he said, leaving you to frantically shake you head, he was right, and you wanted him to know it. he was getting you desperate.

"hmm... well, as far as i know.. we'll be alone in here for a while, most of the other players are probably sleeping at the moment..." he said, diverting his gaze away from you for a moment before looking back at your widened eyes. "shall we start..?"

"uhm.. yes.." you said, looking at him, waiting for him to continue doing something, whether that be an action or more speech.

"what are you into.. and what are you not into.." he said, waiting for you to respond.

you mentioned a list of things, but the few you listed first all seemed to be pain related, and that intrigued youngil. "do you have a safeword..?"

you nodded and said your safeword, receiving a nod from him. "is there anything else men talk about before they have intercourse?" he asked, receiving a small chuckle from you.

"not really... it's basically the same as any intercourse.. just one less hole to find." you joked before asking, "then, are you ready."

"of course.." he said before untying the drawstring on the bottoms of the tracksuit, letting them be loose around the waist. you did the same thing, except everything went off.

the cold breeze went through the air, hitting your unclothed body and giving you shivers.

young-il looked at your nude body for a moment, taking in the sight of your figure, before doing the same.

you looked at his nude body after he managed to get everything off, trying to resist the pleased smile you had been wanting to place on your face. you slowly kneeled down on the mint green tiles, the temperature no longer being an issue. as you stared at his dick, you could almost watch it slowly rise. he was clearly enjoying this as much as you were. you placed your hands on his balls and placed your mouth on the tip, slowly teasing it by moving your mouth down once, and immediately removing your lips.

he glanced down at you, making eye contact. he clearly was not pleased with your teasing. his intimidating glare made you get back to work, bopping your head up and down his cock and having your tongue wiggle down it strategically.

young-il had let a small groan escape from his lips before quickly letting more follow. this reaction had you more than pleased, making your speed increase and letting your hands start to tease his balls.

"can i?" he asked through pants. you nodded, your mouth still on his dick as he let his semen release. the warm licked spilled onto your tongue and coated the back of your throat. you left it in there for a minute before swallowing it. looking back up at him with pleading eyes.

"you're too cute." he mumbled, leaning down to place his hand on your shoulder, slowly rubbing back and forth. "and so eager.." young-il continued, crouching down to be face to face with you.

young-il grabbed your face in a possibly rough way, his hand on your chin as he held your face close to his. he smirked for a moment before moving his face in, placing his lips on yours. the kiss quickly became heated, the two tongues fighting for dominance as you ran your hands all around his body. the kiss went on for a long while, his arms wrapping around your waist and leaning your body into his.

opening his eyes, young-il took a look at your desperate demeanor. he smiled in the kiss and slowly pulled away, gaining a small whine from you. youngil observed your body once more before carefully lowering you onto the tiles of the bathroom floor. your dick was desperately hard and seeking for any sort of friction, so when he finally rubbed a hand on your dick, you let out a breathy moan. the volume of that moan echoed throughout the bathroom, and it wouldn't be shocking if it reached the hallways too.. but that was honestly the least of your worries. he grabbed your dick and stroked up and down on it. he was damn good at a handjob. it didn't take long for you to go over the edge, long streams of white liquid emerging from your cock and landing into his hand and all over the floor.

young-il smiled at you, helping you turn around on the floor, your torso and face laying on the tiles. he stood up and washed his hands thoroughly before leaning back down and placing his hands on your ass, carefully massaging it before taking a finger and sliding it into your butt, moving it inward and outward at a slow pace, slowly starting to stretch you out. it didn't hurt.. if anything, you could barely feel it.. until he slid the second finger in. he curled one finger and kept the other straight, allowing him to reach more unexplored places in you. this didn't go on for a long while, both of you quickly losing patience.

young-il slid his fingers out of you and quickly aligned his dick with your asshole, rubbing it against a few times before slowly sliding into you. you groaned loudly as you tried to adjust to his size. he smirked as your back went into more of an arch shape. he placed both of his hands on your sides, using it to hold you stable and keep you from slamming into the hard tiles of the floor. the speed of him slowly started to increase as he got closer to his high.

"do you want it in or out..?" he said with a groan.

"..out.." even if you couldn't see it, he nodded and slammed into you a few more times before pulling out and letting his semen coat your back. as he finished, you quickly turned yourself around and wrapped your hand around your cock, stroking yourself to finish your high. the pants that escaped your lips filled the room before a loud moan followed, your semen falling on the floor once more.

you looked at young-il with a defeated smile, the exhaust of your body hitting you. he looked back at you, landing a small kiss on your lips. this was going to be a memory you both will remember for a while.

[raineandsky]

This is for the lovely anon who requested the New Better Villain taking on the villain's hero and gettin a lil too violent with it :) hope you enjoy!!

tw: implied violence, blood

The hero, for lack of a better word, looks normal.

The villain isn’t sure what he was expecting. Most people look normal. But all those years under a mask, a charade… it kind of became all that the villain could see him as. The hero. Even now, looking him in the eye as the person he is—really is—it doesn’t seem real.

That and, well— the villain can’t deny that he’s pretty alright to look at. That was certainly an unexpected twist.

The other villain—the bastard he’s cursed to work with, the jackass taking his job, his nemesis, his city—has the hero in a death grip. It feels like it’s all moving in slow motion. The two of them are tousling, kind of, as much as they can tousle with the other villain raining hellfire on a hero that’s well out of his depth.

It’s strange, that the other villain seems to be the outlier here. The hero and the villain have danced around each other for years. It’s been some sort of unspoken rule that they never quite hit hard enough to truly maim. But the hero came here, probably expecting the villain, expecting their usual song and dance, and instead got met with an entirely different tune.

Does the villain want the hero dead? Does he want their game to end? He doesn’t have time to decide.

“[Other Villain],” he snaps, “stop it.”

The other villain leans back, his fist still balled in the hero’s shirt, his other pulled back for yet another strike. “Oh, sorry.” His chest is heaving, as if he’s the one losing here. “You want a go?”

The villain doesn’t know what his answer would be to that. “I think he’s got the idea. Leave off.”

The other villain doesn’t move. The hero wipes idly at the blood painting his mouth.

Like a child asking a genuine question, the other villain simply says, “Why?”

“Because you’re ruining my fun.” True. “You’re taking over on my nemesis.” True. “You’re on my watch.” Half-true, without the supervillain to take charge. “I know this life better than you. Let me do my job and stop butting in.”

“You’ve been fighting [Hero] for years without any progress.” The other villain’s brow knits, genuinely confused. “I’m doing you a favour.”

The villain glances down at the supposed favour he’s getting. Blood splatters the hero’s face, deep crimson painting his clothes. Something of a black eye is already appearing, and the villain hates that noticing that means he also notices that the hero is looking right at him.

He’s not sure why it’s so off-putting. Should he have caused that? Does he want it to have happened at all? His emotions are clashing together in a horrendous cacophony and deciphering any of them is impossible.

“Let go, [Other Villain].”

The slight frown turns into something more hateful. “No.”

“Your violence isn’t welcome in this so-called partnership. Pull it together, or go tell [Supervillain] you ruined his plan.”

“You’re generations out of date, [Villain].” It comes out of the other villain’s mouth as a spit. “Violence is the way forward. I’m helping in ways you’ll clearly never understand.”

The villain isn’t entirely sure why he lurches for the other villain, much like he hasn’t been sure of anything since the hero showed up here and ruined what was already a fairly shitty day.

The other villain has his work cut out for him with an opponent that’s not already half-dead, it seems. The two of them land in a heap on the ground, the other villain’s grappling for his partner’s throat and the villain’s grip tight on the other’s wrists and the air disappears from the villain’s lungs and the world seems so far away and everything is muffled—

The villain gasps his next breath, scrambling away unsteadily. The world slowly comes back into focus, the hum of the city below and his own haggard breathing tuning back in. He swallows nothing, the feeling a sharp burn in his throat, and whips around to look for the other villain.

The villain finds him on the ground, unmoving, the lightest trail of blood trickling from his nose. The hero is sitting next to him with a battered road sign lying at his feet, staring off into nothing.

“Did—” The word hurts. The villain tries to clear his throat and only makes it feel worse. “Did you hit him with a roadwork sign?”

The hero huffs a sort of laugh that melts quickly into a cough. He doesn’t look at the villain when he says, “Think it was about time I hit him back, wasn’t it?”

“I didn’t know you had it in you. You’ve never hit me quite that bad.”

The hero actually laughs this time, the sound choked. “You pull what he just did and I’ll consider it.”

The villain hums a sort of laugh as well, settling on the floor opposite, and the two of them fall into silence. They’re both too tired to say much anyway.

This is another strange experience. The hero and the villain usually fight and go their separate ways. This sort of… hanging out is new. Different—and thankfully not the type of different that got them here in the first place.

The hero smiles at him, and even through the bloody face paint and the blooming bruises, the villain hates that he still looks good. Looks normal. Looks like a nice civilian that the villain would end up curiously following for a couple blocks because his half-decent face caught his attention.

The hero is, the villain supposes, a person too. Another civilian that looked at the state of the world and took up a side, just like the villain did.

“Thank you,” the hero says through the daze of annoyance, “for saving me.”

“Eh.” The villain waves a nonchalant hand. “It’s not like you were going to do it.”

That earns another choked laugh. “Ah, you’re funnier than you like to admit, [Villain].”

The villain scoffs in offence and quiet falls over them again. “Thanks as well, I guess, for…” He gestures vaguely at the other villain lying next to them. “Hitting my colleague over the head with a road sign.”

The hero’s smile grows. “You’re welcome.”

The hero reaches for his mask, just as stained red and tattered as its owner. He turns it over in his hands for a moment, slow and thoughtful, before carefully putting it back over his face. “Back to the heroics, then,” he says lightly.

The villain nods, but he’s not really listening. He finds that, now he’s seeing the person he’s familiar with, he preferred the hero without his mask after all.

[darcytaylor]

Theorizing vs. Facts: Let’s Talk

One thing that keeps popping up in fandoms (and life in general) is the mix-up between theories and facts. Let’s break it down:

A fact is something we know for sure - confirmed, verified, undeniable. A theory is a guess - sometimes informed, sometimes wild, but it’s still a guess. It’s when we take what little we know, add in what we think, and arrive at a “what if” scenario.

Here’s how this applies to some current discussions:

Nicola and Jake

Nicola and Jake hang out.

They go to events together.

They are in the same friend group. These are all facts.

Is Nicola dating Jake? There’s a possibility, sure. But since neither of them has come out and said they are, that’s still speculation. You can talk about signs, actions, or what you think it all means, but until the main players confirm it themselves, it’s still a theory (maybe even an informed one), but not a fact.

Luke and Antonia

Luke and Antonia are in the same friend group.

They have gone on vacations/traveled together.

Antonia posted a video at the same restaurant Luke was at in Rome. These are facts.

That’s what we know (and yes, there are other facts). The rest - whether they hang out one-on-one, whether Antonia was in Rome specifically to see Luke, or anything else - is speculation. Saying they’re in a relationship might be informed speculation, but it’s still not fact until the main players say so.

Luke and Nicola

They are on the same show and play each other’s partner.

They did a world tour for the release of season 3 of Bridgerton.

They have a unique relationship (and no, I’m not saying it’s romantic) that nobody in this world will truly be able to understand. These are facts.

We don’t know whether they hang out in private - they might, and they might not. All of that is speculation. And honestly, they have no obligation to share who they do or don’t spend time with in real life. Who they are dating or not dating.

(Obviously, with all of the people I mentioned above, there are more facts out there, I just named a few)

Now, here’s the part that’s been on my mind:

Sometimes people say they’re just “looking at the signs” and piecing things together because they’ve been in the fandom for a while and have the “information.” But what information do you really have? Things posted on social media, where everything is curated and never shows the whole picture?

I’ve been in this fandom for a long time, too. Most of that time, I wasn’t posting - I was a silent lurker. I’ve followed the actors since 2020. Some might think that gives me more knowledge about what’s going on, but it doesn’t. I’ll never claim to have insider knowledge, because I don’t know any of the people involved personally.

Do I maybe have more context about the wild speculations and in-fandom fights that have happened? Sure. Do I get sent things in private messages and asks because I now have a blog? Yes. But I really don’t have more facts about these people than anyone else, because most, if not all the facts are easily attainable. It’s the speculations people cling to that make them feel they have more information or insight. But guess what? Fan theories and speculation aren’t facts.

Now, I know what I’ve written here is very black-and-white, but that’s what facts and non-facts boil down to. It’s in the grey areas that theories and speculations are born. And while I do think there can be some value in exploring those grey areas, we have to remember - they still aren’t facts.

Look, I get it. People like to feel special. They want to believe they have unique insight into celebrities’ lives because they’ve followed them for years or been in the fandom for a while. But that doesn’t make you more knowledgeable than the next person. It doesn’t mean you have insider information or a clearer picture of what’s really going on.

And honestly, it gets weird when people start putting labels on others they don’t even know in real life. Relationships - even friendships - are nuanced. There will never be a pretty little box that all relationships in this world will fit into. When you label people based on limited knowledge, you’re creating a parasocial dynamic that’s both extreme and invasive.

A problem comes when speculation gets repeated so often that it feels like fact. Suddenly, a harmless guess becomes “proof,” and then people start arguing over something that was never confirmed in the first place.

So, here’s my little PSA:

🌟 Speculate responsibly. It’s okay to guess and wonder, but make sure it’s clear that’s what you’re doing. Also, there are things that just shouldn't be speculated on. Have some class. Have some empathy. Have some grace. 🌟 Acknowledge what’s real. Facts are facts. Theories are theories. Let’s not blur the lines. Nobody - and I mean nobody - has more information about people they do not know than the rest of us. We are all just fans of people in a TV show. 🌟 Stay grounded. The truth might not always align with the most entertaining theory - and that’s okay.

Let’s keep theorizing and speculation fun, don't stress. ❤️

[slaaverin]

Your post on Jikooks love had me crying, that was really beautifully put.

I have been unable to really express why their love draws me in, why I think it’s so true and beautiful

You’re right, it is hard to put it into words that do it any sort of justice. There isn’t a simple way to describe it, to simplify what it is we’re seeing. It’s too much, too large, and yet it’s also not. Because they simply love, they love each other. I know they are on the world stage and are only accessible to us because of that, but they just love each other. So much so they do allow us to see them, because they are entwined in a way, but it’s also purposely done sometimes, because I imagine they want us to see them sometimes, and be in control of that. I get it.

The kind of love they have I actually don’t think we see anymore, the only famous equivalent maybe is Tom and Zendya, the best friends type of love, where that person is your everything. It’s rare I think, that sort of love, but Jikook have it. I’ve seen posts from people who can’t imagine this sort of love, I think that’s where the doubt comes in for many people. But they have it, and it’s real.

It’s all in the way they look at each other, the love in their eyes, still ever present. The flirting, the need to touch, the support, the championship of one another, the bickering, the unwavering strength and devotion they have. Who has that anymore? As I said it’s rare

Their love is just so beautiful, and I am so grateful to them we get to witness a small fraction of it, because then, maybe the world can heal a small amount.

Beautifully written anon 👏🏻

I know they are on the world stage and are only accessible to us because of that, but they just love each other. So much so they do allow us to see them, because they are entwined in a way, but it’s also purposely done sometimes, because I imagine they want us to see them sometimes, and be in control of that. I get it.

As you said their love is a rare thing and I would imagine that if I held a love such as theirs, I would inevitably feel a pull to share it. When people are in a certain type of love they kinda want to scream it from the rooftops sometimes, I guess from the sheer joy of it.

We've got so much footage of them over the span of 10 years, so many close-ups and moments, it would be inevitable for us to not notice something, and they must be aware of that. This is a huge part of themselves, and it is engrained in many bits of their lives, so it would be very hard to hide. Lying and hiding also takes much more effort than being yourself, so I guess they took the best out of both worlds.

Jimin & Jungkook have shared a lot since the group came to be, it became natural for them as it did for the other members. They are people who, on top of being their job, like to be giving to others. So I feel in a way it is it an act of generosity for them to be so open about it.

I think they know about their fans, the jikookers, and how supportive we are. They know their relationship makes a lot of people happy. And they want their fans happy. The support is pretty encouraging for them to being themselves even more.

It might be a self-centered thought, but I've felt AYS was a gift specifically to us. A loving, thankful gesture (of course it was for themselves first).

It was nice how they let themselves be open, but also could control the narrative with the show. It worked brilliantly.

I think you are right, a small part of the world is healing thanks to them 💜 they fill our hearts with warmth and joy and love, and they give such good examples for people to follow. It is truly inspiring.

I'm always in awe because they shine so brightly and intensely, I feel humbled to witness their journey as humans. And I'm glad they get to share this beautiful love in this lifetime and truly get to enjoy it 🥺

Thank you for your beautiful words anon ��� I think we understand each other 🫂

[otaku-tactician]

my extremely late realisations when replaying the demo 1.5 years later

touchstarved demo is PEAK! replayed it today. lol i had screenshots but im just rambling cuz WOW THE DEMO IS PEAK! 2023 me did not understand just how expertly woven this game was the first time around. Playing the demo for the second time exposed me to a level of characterisation that I was utterly amazed by.

The links between characters, the hints and rumors that give clues to their hidden and deeper aspects, the way in which every love interest has such deeply interwoven ties and know so many things about the mc is so entrancing yet strange- at times i wonder if they were even informing one another about the mc's movements, because some events felt very well-timed.

and then LEANDER!!!!!!!!! WHOA MAN HES SOMETHING ELSE!

the whole 'as above so below' for Leander's bloodhounds is really intriguing. as a popular occult/ alchemy phrase; it may have links to the arcane, and some perspectives treat this phrase as saying that whatever occurs in the celestial is repeated in the lower realms as well. and how vere states that Leander's BLOODHOUNDS are no better than the Senobium clerics which most are wary of; it may also double as a huge easter egg as to how depraved Leander may truly be.

However, this multi-layered phrase could be pointing to the truth of Leander's nature as well. Monsters enter the human realms from The Shroud, which could technically either be 'above' or 'below'; and the messy human realms may reflect those realms to an extent. Or, Leander may have more in common with Monsters than one may initially assume.

Maybe this message is trying to also state that humans and monsters are not so different, after all...

and lmao back to Leander with mc... how he comments on the mc's curse and its potency whilst blushing heavily, and even gulps from the exchange makes me wonder if he gets off on curses. and how he blushed when suggesting that the mc could tie him up makes me wonder if Leander is a masochist. i mean i do understand that the hand holding scene can be interpreted in an erotic lens, but his reaction is full of rampant desire in the second image.

(Also, I lack screenshots for this; but I finally understood what the other comments were saying about Leander being forceful- he does indeed push the mc when they refuse to accept his flowers, and he grabs their hand if they hesitate, really emphasising that Leander can and will push boundaries in the pursuit of what he desires.)

(wonder if his route will be very kinky)

omg also with how Ais tries the concoctions Leander cooks up and states to mc that it was chewy and possibly poisoned??? because Leander's trying to kill him?? that is the wildest confession i've ever read in hundreds of years. just the casualness of the entire affair, their rivalry seems light hearted on the surface but in the fact that a murder attempt is so simply brushed off - has me suspecting that their competition is possibly a deeply twisted affair deep down.

and another random point- how Kuras states that Leander's BLOODHOUNDS are just like him; people who have survived great hardship in the Lowlands- makes me wonder if the Senobium fucked with him or deeply betrayed him, especially with how angry the BLOODHOUNDS were with even the slightest mention of the group.

and it's so suspect that when talking to Leander about the other love interests, if the mc picks positive options for them, Leander always ends it off with a warning or comment as if to put the mc off them. but then he also has comments for his bedroom expertise with every LI which is such a riot for me personally like YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

(Then again his warnings for Ais and Vere are pretty apt, they are both dangerous- but so is he LMAO)

HOW DID I NOT SEE ANY OF THESE HINTS THE FIRST TIME AROUND!!!!!

omg and it's so cute how Ais and Vere TALK ABOUT EACH OTHER!! Vere becomes so vulnerable and unguarded and Ais could speak about Vere for days!!!

WAUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

GWAHH this feels so intimate, the way he wistfully recounts their experiences and memories. For such a sharp fox, he feels really fuzzy here... Barely any witty or cantankerous insults to be found about Ais from Vere's remarks. They seem so closely acquaintanced and comfortable with one another. It's very... sweet.

[massy2ly]

Just wanted to talk about something real quick (EP 8 Kant’s edition)

*this is a personal opinion. I know the discussion about Kant is still controversial*

I see so many comments about how shocked people are by the preview for episode 8, especially since Kant and Bison seem to come to some form of understanding with each other. Some posts insist that Bison shouldn’t fold so easily and that Kant should grovel hard to win his love back.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a sucker for some groveling in any book or show. There’s something so compelling about that kind of raw, desperate vulnerability. But with Kant? I just don’t think that’s necessary—not in the tedious, slow and over-the-top way that some people are expecting.

Why? Because Kant has been suffering since episode 1. This man has never been allowed to breathe freely, to be himself fully, or to love unrestrained. The pressure he’s been under is honestly maddening if you really stop and think about it. And on top of that, he’s been forced into situations that pushed him to make choices he never wanted to. This is why I don’t think the typical "groveling" people expect fits his character, especially in his relationship with Bison.

When Kant stood on that boat, looking completely defeated, it wasn’t just the threat of death that crushed him. It was everything he had been through, all his struggles coming to a head. He was staring down the very real possibility of dying the worst death he could imagine—at the hands of the man he could never truly love, the one person he would never get to have a future with. This wasn’t just about facing death; it was the weight of every sacrifice he’d made and the horrifying realization that, despite everything, he was losing everything—including his chance to love Bison without fear. So yes, Kant will definitely grovel in episode 8, but their reconciliation happening quickly actually makes so much sense for his character. No more secrets, no more pretending. He finally gets to be himself, confess his love, and face his sins. For someone who’s fought alone for so long, having someone by his side to fight with—not just for—is everything he could ever want.

The trailer already shows that Kant will help Bison turn over a new leaf, and that’s huge. Kant has always been carrying everything on his own. Now, for the first time, he’s going to have someone to fight alongside him. And that shift is monumental for his growth. Remember First’s interview when he said Kant is selfless, that he wants nothing more than for his loved ones to be happy and to see their dreams come true? People often think he’s selfish, and while he often comes across as that, I personally don’t think it’s the case. That selfishness is a result of the impossible situations he’s been forced into AND ESPECIALLY his tendency to make VERY VERY stupid decisions without thinking them through. Nothing he’s done has ever been for himself (a hot take I know and i’m still debating it too because I won’t forgive him for putting Style in danger).

While Style jumped headfirst into his feelings for Fadel and took every opportunity to explore them, Kant refused to acknowledge his own because he knew he couldn’t have that kind of future. He couldn’t imagine a life where he and Bison could truly be free to love each other.

But let’s not forget Bison. Yes, he’s impulsive, passionate, and his temper can get the best of him. Yes, he’s been betrayed, and he has every right to decide whether or not to listen to what Kant has to say. But Bison isn’t just a hothead. He’s a man with his own scars—he’s a criminal, his only family is his brother, and he’s made difficult choices to protect the people he loves. And he loves Kant. He knows Kant loves him, or at least, he will come to realize it.

Style, as optimistic and goofy as he is, has been keeping it real this whole time. Love is their way out. People do foolish things for love, and when you love someone, you’ll do anything to get that person. That’s the kind of love Kant and Bison have too. And in the end, love will be what saves them.

[goo34ter]

As I dive deeper and deeper into the Jaivik lore and shipping of arcane, I realize I simply cannot hold my thoughts in any longer. pt2

This contrast is what balances them so greatly, while Viktor is the voice of reason Jayce is there to provide words of the heart. In season two we can see that even in Jayces absence Viktor gets caught up in his mind and applies to much reason to the world (though im sure the Hex core/ anomaly had a part in this too) wich is what leads him to dreeming his own imperfection just that, imperfections, something to be fixed and perfected rather than something that makes him him, and helled lead him to success. When jayce goes through the anomaly and essentially goes apeshit, I think one of the reasons is because Viktors ability to apply reason and make him stop, think, and asses isn't present, leading him to be consumed by his emotions because there is no regulator. 

This immense co- dependency is mostly likely stemmed from the vast amount of time they have spent together through development of Hextech. Why do they need to exercise these weaker parts of themselves if the other is able to take them over when needed. They play into eachothers strong suits. If you've ever met someone whose able to do that math to your music , or art to your ideas you know how quickly a bond can form even if its not inherently romantic. You are able to work seamlessly because you possess abilities that work well with each other but also because you know where the other lacks and know how frustrating it can be to get your visions int fruition because of those lacks. I Have had had a bond similar in the way that is so much more familial, they are usually a one time thing never really recreatable, not only because its a product of years of development but because of an inherent awareness of the other. When I lost this relationship there was genuinely a part of me that felt missing, wich is why i understand how devastated both Viktor andJayce became in the absence of one another. There's no one to connect with, no one to share revelations or hear your though and answer your questions, to question you, to push your limits to just understand you for you.

This is where I think things get murky, because unless you've truly had a similar relationship that Viktor and Jayce have it could be hard to understand the level of care they have for one another without it being romantic at all. When you are able to form a bond like this, its a product of years of dedication, and development. A slow but steady exposure into eachothers lives. This alone is extremely intimate, which is why their relationship can be seen as both romantic and brotherly love.

Their romantic love can be seen through small acts of “devotions”, like jayce signaling to viktor he doesn't have to get up when they are facing the council, or Viktor allowing Jayce to support him with a hand on his back when walking off the bridge, even after saying people from the undercity are dangerous. These are all a lot more personal and intimate actions that stem from years spent together. Small things that don't seem like alot but to each other mean a lot more, because they understand each other and see each other. Knows what the other needs to keep moving forward because that is what they themselves want to do, move forward.

I think there may have been a point however, between victor's death and his resuscitation where Jayce began to place more importance on their relationship, deeming it something beyond that of just brothers. In the first episode (i think) of season two Jayce is literally cradling viktor’s cane like a sad victorian widow. And although I too would be devastated if i lost the only person who so passionately shared my dream i think the time jayce had simply to think about viktor and look at him, brought him to develop their relationship beyond just that of brothers. Hes using Viktors notes to brink him back to life, everything hes using is reminding him of the person hes trying to save, at what point does his desperation to save a friend become devotion? Although initially Jayce goes to Mell for his worries about viktor health he later brings himself to viktor, sleeping and spending almost all his time in the lab while viktor is comatosed, Mell has to bring herself to Jayce, because he's no longer seeking her out.

[crime-wives]

swan queen will forever and always be my otp

[thedevotionaltour]

even for period typical ableism it still drives me nuts for karen to go oh poor matt how can he deal and get around as if he hasn't been blind most of his life at this point and living on his own by himself as an adult for his entire adult life after college and has also lived in the city his whole life like girl use your damn brain he can get around by himself just fine. good god. like take five seconds to use your brain. literally adult man who lives by himself if nothing else that should tell you he is fine and when he needs assistance has the knowledge and ability to go get it you act as if he can't even walk on the sidewalk by himself. he literally shows up to work by himself. it drives me up the wall sometimes how she sees proof of him functioning fine independently literally witnesses it on the daily and still thinks these things. like again foggy isn't great either bc again the period typical ableism (and just general ableism in the world outside of this period as this is a common attitude of viewing disabled people as helpless and unable to function even if they are people who do live independently (and im not touching on people who do need extra support and caretaking in this context. as this post is about these characters in the context of a story. so im talking about what we see there instead of any truly meaningful nuanced way) but the writing here is like. Particularly this way due to the time) he has a modicum more of understanding that matt is literally a capable grown adult man. literally told karen matt is a big boy who can handle himself and then karen went b-b-but you forget he's blind as if foggy hasn't known him for years of his life and is his best friend like PLEASE SEE HIM AS AN ADULT. I AM GOING TO GO INSANE. PLEASE RESPECT HIM IF YOU LOVE HIM SO DEARLY. AND EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T. JUST RESPECT HIM AS A PERSON!!!!!!

[goldkirk]

as I'm going back over my past history and items and journals and years, I come across all sorts of things, like the pencil I saved from that so-precious memory from second grade, and a pair of flip flops I've been missing for two years, and [checks notes] the modern-high-school-AU-kidnapped-by-a-serial-killer story I wrote in late high school jdfsjdfsjkjlksfd

[yaoianimeremade]

Soon im rly gonna do it

[notmoreflippingelves]

Obsessed with the dynamic (not romantic, not platonic, but a secret third thing--both and yet neither) between two characters who knew and cared about each deeply years ago when they were both younger and life was much less complicated.

But then, tragic, transformative circumstances separated them. Assuming that this separation was certainly permanent, because how could it not be?

And yet, somehow finding each other again years later, and sometimes they aren't sure whether the reunion that they once longed for with every fiber of their beings is a blessing, a curse, a joke, or a punishment.

Because they've both changed in the intervening years--largely because of the hellish circumstances that caused their separation. They've both changed completely and irrevocably, even if one of them has changed much more noticeably and dramatically than the other to the point of seeming a complete stranger. It is about leaning to see and appreciate all the things that have changed about the other and all the things that have not changed. It's about learning to reconcile beloved, often rose-tinted memories with the complex, yet-equally-compelling reality of the person those memories are about.

[exoexid]

the suyeol lore is so crazy

[trans-yllz]

sorry to say it but I just don't get wriolette. everyone went so bonkers insane about them instantaneously and I'm like. I promise there are gayer ppl in genshin

[ladamedemartel]

“What would it take for you to trust another person, not that I'm judging. We haven't seen each other in a while and was wondering if have you changed much since the last time I saw you, I hope not, may have missed you just a tiny bit. Anyway take care darling, hopefully, I'll see you again soon”

(Has she changed throughout the years and who does she trust and why?- sneaked two questions in one, hope it's ok)

Ask my muse personal questions!

Trust for Aurora is a bit of a tricky concept because there's levels. She trusts that the "friends" she has will dump Rebekah in the ocean and give the coordinates as told, but she instantly kills these people. Were they vampires? How would she convince vampires to undertake the task, surely they knew that they'd be killed. Yet, if it was mortals that she compelled, how did they best the Strix when Aya herself seemed to oversee the mission?

Aurora trusts Klaus enough to fall asleep in his bed when she could easily be killed or taken hostage, but she doesn't trust him enough to give Rebekah back to him. In some ways, she's trusting him with her life just by being around him, but she didn't trust him with her life in that she didn't entrust Rebekah, her sire, to him.

She trusted Aya and the witches to send her mind to Tristan when really, they could have sent her mind anywhere and done god knows what with her body. Yet, she didn't trust the Strix nearly any other time.

Arguably, she doesn't trust Tristan and Lucien because she was not content to allow them to tend to things in New Orleans, but I personally think that came out of a desire to be included rather than any mistrust.

[goo34ter]

As I dive deeper and deeper into the Jaivik lore , I realize I simply cannot hold my thoughts in any longer. pt1

I think its truly fascinating how you can see both an extremely brotherly love and romantic love between both Jayce and viktor. On one hand you can clearly see that they have a level of respect for one another because they have found someone who understands their drive and almost obsession with discovery and helping others, along with an admiration and attraction towards each other because they have finally met someone who's at their level. Their level of passion, knowledge, and perseverance. Which leads to this deep connection that you often find once in a lifetime, they click insanely well because they understand each other, utilizing this fact to create a solid bond they can rely on. On the other hand we see that perhaps this attraction has more romantic undertones, not only because they place eachother on a high pedestal of reverence but because they've found their better half. Jayce and Viktor are almost complete opposites of each other and because of this they work so well together. Where Jayce has grown up comfortable, surrounded with people willing to help lead him to success and has had access to a higher level of education, Viktor has had to build himself up alone with little help. He's from Zuan and possesses a poor hand dealt in life, taking the first thing offered rather than looking for something better. 

The way they attract patrons for support is another opposite, while Jayce has been able to gain the support of the Kiraman’s it is more emotionally driven and related, we can observe this through his relationship with Caitlyn alone, where he is this brotherly figure to her meaning he has been accepted into their family not just a smart mind to invest in for future gain. Another good example is when Jayce goes around making deals with the council leaders at the music theater in season one. Here we get flashes of each council member that agrees with the proposition being put forth, When we get to caitlyn’s mother he kisses her hand, it shows his gratitude towards her but also this deep respect, because by this point she has forgiven for his “personal study” incident and has been a reliable ally in his corner on the council despite this. He's an extremely charismatic and emotionally driven, wanting to share magic with the world because it saved his mother. Viktor on the other hand, although from what we know is little, I believe his patron may have been Hiemerdinger, at least that is how he made it to the academy in the first place. Again in season one when Heimerdinger seeks out Viktor to console him about the unfortunate news regarding his health, Hiemerdinger reminisces on when he first met Viktor and how he was impressed with his knowledge and capabilities. I'm sure being a person from the undercity that also possesses a disability does not make becoming popular in Piltover very easy, which leads us to realizing that one of the only ways Viktor was going to gain support was through his knowledge and achievements alone, and not relaying on building buddy buddy relationships with houses. Although he is sassy and always has quick remarks we really only see them when he is in a position of power or with someone he knows won't become offended or pose a threat to his success. Viktor likes to rely on reason and is extremely driven by the desire to help much like Jayce, however it stems more from his knowledge about what could be done and what is needed. He seeks to help others because he knows how to help and knows how the conditions could improve. 

This does not mean VIktor is emotionally inept of unavailable, he is expressive and doesn't truly try to hide his facial tells, however he rarely tries to allows his emotions to steer his thoughts (because that's jayce’s job). Viktor solely wants to create for the sole purpose of helping and improving lives, while Jayce allows himself to be emotionally driven by the projects. Jayce is able to get on Viktor’s level because he posses the knowledge, viktor is able to get on Jayces level because he understands the importance of passion, using his understanding for his passion of development and discovery to understand the passion of connecting with people and emotional drive.