#that's how you summon a demon

[some-kind-of-creature]

It wasn’t supposed to be a secret.

If you died while with the league, you will no longer be acknowledged to have existed, especially if you died during a mission. A disappointment will not be remembered.

The bats and birds don’t like speaking about the people they have lost, so they don’t. If someone ask about the dead, they will tell the person they don’t talk about that.

So how was Damian supposed to know that he should have told his father about his dead brother?

[zillychu]

Finding out the Danny Phantom pitch bible originally included more creatures other than ghosts really makes me want to just (DUMPS TRANSCENDENCE AU ALL OVER IT)

[baalzebufo]

so I very briefly mentioned this au I have in my last gideon doodle post and saw one tag saying to elaborate and thats all the excuse I needed. ok to be honest i didnt need an excuse i was going to talk about it anyway

i had a dream shortly after the stanchurian candidate aired where my brain made up a fake episode of GF to essentially finish gideons 'arc'. and it involved him making a deal with bill to gain demon powers. bill promised him All The Perks, and he was desperate to get outta jail, so he took it.

turns out 'all the perks' involves being trapped in the nightmare dimension without a physical form and, while being tremendously powerful, unable to truly utilize those powers without being summoned. so he sort of just gets condemned to existing as a demon and is desperate to get back into a physical body because, turns out, the human brain is not really.. designed to process that existence for too long. it freaks you out. especially if 'you' happens to be a ten year old who is still afraid of the dark and spends most of their time surrounded by nightmares.

it was weirdly grim and i woke up like 'holy shit. i need to make that an AU' and it developed from there. in the more thought-out version, bill and gideons deal involved him swapping into gideons body to further his plans for a while. he never promised he'd give it BACK, though. it, uh. ended how you'd expect bill possessing a body to end.

'what happened to his eye?' bill thought it'd be funny if it was part of his collectin on gideons 'debt'. hes got one eye, you should have only one of em, too.

honestly I make most of the details up as I go and its mostly an excuse to draw my favourite worst son in various levels of power-thirst and distress. sorry gids even you dont deserve this one

[kradogsrats]

an ancient and disturbing practice

[rabbitsonthemoon]

I don't think I've ever appreciated the trope of an incredibly dominant and powerful character who scares the shit everyone except they're an absolute subby mess for one specific person who Doesn't Get Why Everyone Else Thinks They're Scary™ until I watched That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime and met this absolute disgrace of a demon (affectionate).

Pat him on the head, Rimuru! Look at him! He wants head pats and to be told he's a good boy!

[withthewindinherfootsteps]

So we know that Wei Wuxian's treatment after his death was horrible. Even if nothing could impact him directly, there was still neverending slander, hatred, misinformation, theft...

But, for a while after he died, the sects did try to impact him directly – namely, frequently trying to resummon his soul. And today I'll explore the possible reasons for this, their likelihoods, and why I'm so, so thankful that Wei Wuxian's soul managed to resist the summons. Because, spoiler alert (or, you know. maybe not)... none of them are good.

(Long meta ahead)

In my opinion, there are four likely motivations for this: confinement, coercion, torment, and potentially destruction.

Out of all of these, confinement is probably the most likely motivation, at least for most sects (Jins and Jiangs excluded, though it was likely what the Jin sect said their motivations were – but I'll get to them later). This one is the most simple – we know spirit-trapping pouches exist, and we know the sects also placed 120 stone beasts on the Burial Mounds to prevent Wei Wuxian's soul from escaping. Therefore, this seems to be the most likely motivation – and fortunately for Wei Wuxian, probably also the best case scenario, though it still certainly isn't a good one.

For the second, coercion – this is where the Jin sect come in (more specifically Jin Guangshan with the help of Jin Guangyao). Due to their wealth and resources, they're likely the sect who played the largest role in the soul-summoning rituals. We know what they're willing to do to try to gain power – keeping Wen Ning under the pretence he was burned to death and trying to control him with the nails, and working with and helping Xue Yang torture people to help him refine his demonic cultivation, in order to have the Yin hufu fixed. Along with working with many other cultivators, alongside Xue Yang – Jin Guangshan really, really wanted that seal.

And so, Jin GuangShan sought after all those who imitated Wei WuXian in cultivating the ghostly path and gathered them under his rule. He spent a great amount of money and resources and these people, ordering them to study and analyze the structure of the Tiger Seal in secrecy so that they could replicate and restore it. - Villainous Friends extra, EXR

(Note that working with these cultivators very likely happened after Wei Wuxian's soul had failed to be summoned, since this happens some time after Wei Wuxian's death, whereas the soul-summoning ceromonies presumably started happening very close to it.)

In the previous paragraph, he's also quoted as having 'lusted after' the Yin hufu, which we already knew but it's nice to have a direct quote as evidence.

Now, would Wei WuXian willingly work with the Jin sect in doing this? No. We know that, and, given Wei Wuxian's actions in his first life (refusing to hand over the Tally, not being afraid to stand up to the sects, etc), I’m pretty sure Jin Guangshan knows that, too:

He beat around the bush a couple of times, using all his skills, yet Wei WuXian didn’t give in no matter what, and it made him run into a bunch of obstacles. - Villainous Friends extra, EXR

So this could actually make things go two ways. One, I'm wrong and that wasn't actually part of the Jin sect's motivations, since they know they wouldn't be able to control him (and in that case, had they managed to summon him, I could imagine them putting him in a spirit-trapping pouch and doing something similar to what Jin Guangyao did to Nie Mingjue's head. Which, also, not good). Two, it was a part of their motivations, and they hoped to find a way around that. After all, there are other guidao users out there now, and Wei Wuxian would now be a gui*. Also, cultivators can obviously harm ghosts – see the very existence of Night Hunts, and I'd include Xue Yang's talisman-caused destruction of A-Qing as well (while he isn't a traditional cultivator, talismans can be used by everyone).

Now, would either of these methods actually work? I'm inclined to think not really (and I expand on the former method in a note below). Would that stop Jin Guangshan/Jin Guangyao/the cultivators they employ from trying? Especially considering Jin Guangshan's lust for power?

I'm inclined to think no, too.

For the third, look no further than Jiang Cheng's reputation of capturing and torturing demonic cultivators after Wei Wuxian's death, due to thinking they could be him. And this does happen – Jin Ling knows and talks about it, and there's not real motivation for him to negatively lie about someone he loves. Also, when they come across each other at Dafan Mountain, we're told this in Jiang Cheng's inner voice:

A moment ago, Jiang Cheng was certain that this person was Wei WuXian, and all of the blood in his body started to boil. Yet, now, Zidian was clearly telling him that he wasn’t. Zidian definitely wouldn’t deceive him or make a mistake, so he quickly calmed himself and thought, this doesn’t mean anything. I should first find an excuse to take him back and use every possible method to get information out of him. It’s impossible for him to not confess anything or give himself away. I’ve done things like this in the past anyways. - MDZS Chapter 10, EXR translation

This mainly shows that he's tortured people before, rather than that he's tortured people because he thinks they're Wei Wuxian, but this reason is confirmed by Jin Ling in Chapter 24. Of course, the reason is also mentioned in this chapter, and there are other moments in the chapter that illustrate my point better**, but they come from second-hand sources which I know are easier to deny. Do take note of Jiang Cheng's expression both times he comes across 'Mo Xuanyu' (after he suspects he's Wei Wuxian) in Book One***, though:

After a moment, the corners of Jiang Cheng’s lips pulled into a twisted smile. His left hand started to unconsciously stroke the ring [Zidian] again. He spoke softly, “… Well, well. So you’re back?” - Chapter 10, EXR Although his face had always been clouded, marked with arrogance and satire, it seemed as if every corner of it had come alive. It was difficult to determine whether it was vengeful wrath, fathomless hatred, or raving ecstasy. - Chapter 23, EXR

This does seem to line up with what people say his attitude to Wei Wuxian is – there doesn't seem to be any happiness at seeing him again at all. The only time a word that could suggest that ('ecstasy') is used, it's accompanied by 'raving', and considering the context and the other possibilities of his expression, it's... probably not due to happiness at being reunited.

So, considering 1) this, 2) his contribution to the Siege specifically intended to kill Wei Wuxian, and 3) that at the time of frequent soul-summoning Jiang Yanli's death would be even closer for him, I feel pretty confident in saying that yes, this is likely a motivation for the Jiang sect in trying to re-summon Wei Wuxian's soul after his death. And, as mentioned earlier, cultivators can harm ghosts (and we know Zidian is able to remove souls posessing a body from that body, and that Jiang Cheng used Zidian on 'Mo Xuanyu' in Chapter 10. If it wasn't able to restrain/harm ghosts, or other methods weren't able to, why would he risk Wei Wuxian's soul escaping?).

And finally, option four: destruction. We're heading into much more speculative territory here, so don't consider this on par with the first three. But consider this:

We know there are some spells, like Xue Yang's talisman used on A-Qing and the body-offering ritual, that can ruin the returning soul’s reincarnation cycle by destroying it. Therefore, soul destruction is possible.

The 'main'/supposed reason for summoning Wei Wuxian's soul back is to stop the "cultivation world, or even all of mortal land" from being "faced with the most insane damnation and revenge, sinking into nothing but chaos and despair" when Wei Wuxian inevitably returns. While, as mentioned above, I severely doubt this is the motivation for certain sects – and to me is likely a rumour which the Jins (again, especially Jin Guangsha) fanned the flames of to justify summoning Wei Wuxian back for their own purposes**** – there are other sects which would take it more seriously.

Although likely disrespectful, people already thought it served Wei Wuxian right to die without his body intact by the time of the second siege – something believed to negatively affect your reincarnation in your next life*****. This is only the logical next step, and I'm pretty sure the vast majority of people would believe that, again, it would serve Wei Wuxian right, or would at least lead to less harm of the world in the long run.

For these reasons, I could definitely see this as an option for some sects, especially the sects who consider themselves more 'righteous' (cough cough the Nies under Nie Mingjue cough cough). After all, evil is evil and good is good, and the evil deserve what's coming to them. And what better way to prevent that than from preventing his soul from returning at all? So for the Nie sect – and likely some of the smaller sects involved in the Siege, since among them, additudes probably vary – yes, I do think it could be a motivation.

I’m not as sure about the Lans being willing to go this far, and that’s largely for two reasons. One, Lan Wangji’s presence and his relationship to Lan Xichen, who does (not always, but he does) let this affect how he treats Wei Wuxian. An example of this is that, when Wei Wuxian's return is made public, Lan Xichen does let him hide and shelter at the Cloud Recesses instead of trying to pursue him, likely majorly due to Lan Wangji. I'd argue that the aftermath of the Nightless City also acts as an example of this, although it definitely isn't perfect. But though he, Lan Qiren and the 33 elders do come to find Lan Wangji and do not let him continue to shelter Wei Wuxian (after they see Lan Wangji's feelings), Lan Xichen doesn't use this opportunity to kill/capture Wei Wuxian, despite Lan Wangji being in a worse condition due to having fought 33 elders, Wei Wuxian being catatonic, and Lan Qiren likely supporting this outcome (especially considering he was the one who led the Lan sect in the Siege – chapter 68, Wei Wuxian's POV). And he did let Lan Wangji take Wei Wuxian back to the Burial Mounds after:

After he went out of his way to send you back to Burial Mound and returned in such low spirits to receive his punishment, how long he kneeled before the Wall of Rules! - Chapter 99, EXR

Again, this was right after the Nightless City massacre – there isn't any goodwill towards Wei Wuxian at this point in time.

Of course, the Lan sect did participate in the siege after Lan Xichen knew of Lan Wangji's feelings towards Wei Wuxian, which Lan Xichen was no doubt a part of (although Lan Qiren lead the Lan sect in the siege, Lan XIchen had to have at least known/given his support, if not participated.) And it should be considered that Lan Xichen letting Wei Wuxian shelter at the Cloud Recesses was after Wei Wuxian had been back for a while, and had not caused the downfall of the Cultivation World, like many suspected he would after his death. And of course, as stated previously, his handling of the aftermath of Nightless City wasn't perfect either (though please note that his main motive here was to protect Lan Wangji from being potentially executed, rather than anything about Wei Wuxian himself). So caring about Lan Wangji doesn't mean he won't harm Wei Wuxian. But I do think he could find bringing Wei Wuxian's soul back to completely destroy it a bit excessive. There is, though, the chance that the elders of the Lan Sect would react to this differently, and of course they would have a sway on both Lan Xichen and the Lan sect as well.

The second reason is smaller, but there seems to be more focus in the Lan sect than in others when it comes to letting ghosts rest peacefully/helping them move on. And that could definitely lead to more resistance to the idea of summoning a soul back to destroy it as well, which could especially impact the elders. So I'd assume that the Lan sect would be the most likely sect to summon Wei Wuxian's soul back just for confinement, or just for some way of making sure any resentment is disippated, his spirit moves on, and he can't cause more harm to the world (eg via Inquiry)******. Not that he would or does as a ghost or as a reborn person, but that's unfortunately not relevant to this.

But yes, as a motivation for the Nie Mingjue-led Nie sect? Absolutely.

So, these are the main motives I suspect to be behind the attempted summoning of Wei Wuxian's soul after his death (and if I've missed any, please let me know – I'd love to have a discussion). And, of course, none of them lead to anywhere good. Because of course it wasn’t enough to besiege Wei Wuxian, murder the 50 non-combatants he was responsible for (and throwing them into the blood pit as a mark of disrespect because why not?), and lead to his death via him getting torn apart. It wasn’t enough to steal all his inventions, and use them commonly while still slandering him with no reprieve – or to steal his notes and give them to people like Xue Yang to study (Villainous Friends, again) and to use for their own, extremely extremely harmful, purposes. Of course, the cultivation world has to try to harm Wei Wuxian after death as well ((:

We don't know whether Wei Wuxian rejecting the summoning ceremonies was conscious or unconscious, but if it was the former, these are very likely reasons he refused to return in this way. If it was unconscious – for example, maybe during the frequent soul-summons his soul was in a weakened state due to him dying from a backlash of resentful energy and getting torn apart, and it healed over time but not before the soul-summoning rituals stopped – well, I can only be thankful.

Finally, let me leave you on the thought that – although it may well have happened since we don't spend much time in the immediate aftermath of the Sunshot campaign – there isn't even any textual mention of this happening to Wen Ruohan. Who, while not being a guidao user, was still very dangerous, still an extremely powerful cultivator, and still had a lot of reason to feel resentment. So.

:')

Thank you for reading!

--

*Considering what we see of how Wei Wuxian's guidao functions – redirecting the ghosts'/corpses' resentment into doing something they'd want to do, eg attacking people, and directing it towards a target – I'm not sure using it to force a spirit to do something 1) extremely specific, and 2) explicitly against their will would actually work. Iirc the closest thing we get to this in text is Wei Wuxian using the corpses of Wens to attack other Wens in the Sunshot Campaign, but he's still just directing their resentment to a target of his choice, and fierce corpses do tend to be on the less concious side of things (hence why Wei Wuxian had to awaken Wen Ning's consciousness). Considering how Wen Ning attacks Wei Wuxian and the Burial Mound Wens before his consciousness had fully awoken, I... really don't think those fierce corpses were able to differentiate (or didn't care).

Meanwhile, ghosts seem to be a bit more in control of themselves – see A-Qing, and Wei Wuxian's own descriptions of his ghost self.

That, alongside ghost!Wei Wuxian being able to resist his soul-summoning and the fact that pretty much all of the new guidao users are a lot weaker than he was, does make me think that this this wouldn't work. I do wonder about Xue Yang, since his methods are pretty different as well, but he's more of a modao user than a guidao user (he controls living corpses rather than dead people) and I don't think you can insert physical nails into ghosts?? Though if he was specifically instructed to figure out some way to control ghost!Wei Wuxian (who's probably kept in a spirit-trapping pouch in this scenario), he might be able to do something at least. Though also he was also struggling to piece Xiao Xingchen's ghost soul back together, so he may struggle with those areas?

Well, whatever the potential outcome, I'm so so happy once again that Wei Wuxian's soul managed to resist the soul-summonings...

**Mainly this:

Everyone in the cultivation world knew that the young leader of the Jiang Clan watched out for Wei WuXian in an almost crazed manner. He would rather catch the wrong person than let go of any possibility, and took anyone who seemed like they held the soul of Wei WuXian away to the YunmengJiang Sect, inflicting severe torture on his victim. If he wanted to take someone back, the opposition would surely lose half of their life. - Chapter 10, EXR

But I have heard people say 'you can't prove that it's just more rumours' before, and I wanted my evidence to be as watertight as possible.

(And, off-topic... isn't it really sad how Jiang Cheng, in the present day, is described as young? Because, for a clan leader, he is. And another thing he is, is close in age to Wei Wuxian – who was killed 13 whole years prior :') )

***And do note that the only other time they run into each other before Wei Wuxian's identity is revealed to the world apart from this is their brief interaction at Jinlintai, where he can't just act however he wants. The next time they run into each other after it, Jiang Cheng is literally taking part in another siege against him, and still extremely hostile ("surrounded by hostile energy, face insidious, staring straight at him" – from EXR chapter 60). Then he loses his spiritual powers and can't do anything. By the time he regains his powers, Wei Wuxian, Lan Wangji and the Wen remnants' corpses have saved everyone during the Second Siege, and though public opinion hasn't properly shifted quite yet, it will soon after Sisi and Bicao tell the story of Jin Guangyao, and voila, a new scapegoat (do note that he doesn't completely bar Wei Wuxian from entering Lotus Pier after the Second Siege, though). Plus, throughout it all, Lan Wangji is still constantly present, which makes it hard for Jiang Cheng to really do anything. And then he's finally faced with the Golden Core reveal, which does alter his motivations towards Wei Wuxian (obviously the resentment is still there – read chapter 102 – but it's also mixed with other complex emotions, and he seems to start being able to move away from that a little in Chapter 103). I still definitely wouldn't describe Jiang Cheng's attitude towards him as positive, but it isn't at the point it was at the start of the novel (eg Chapter 10).

But even if his attitude does change, or would for whatever other reason apart from the reveal, that still doesn't change an initial motivation so isn't relevant to this meta. We know his intentions at the start.

****It's also possible they may have originated it, but I think WWX's reputation was bad enough for it to form naturally. Though you can trace a major part of that back to them, too.

*****That belief isn't outright stated in MDZS, but the fact people are specifically talking about the status of WWX's body in the aftermath of his death suggests that this belief does have some grounding in the MDZS universe, at least? And we know MXTX has included it in TGCF (though that doesn't mean it's definitely in MDZS), so she has used it in her works. If this isn't the case in the MDZS universe I am sorry (although that could also mean there's less importance placed on not disturbing the reincarnation cycle in the world of MDZS...? Which would work towards my original argument) – I don't want to spread misinformation that something is definitely true, I just think there's evidence to suggest it is true, which isn't the same thing.

******Again, I think this would depend on who ends up having more influence over who in the Lan sect. After all, normal resentful spirits only do what they do because of their resentment in death, whereas Wei Wuxian is 'dangerous' because of who everyone thinks he was in life – so him being reborn naturally could also 'cause a lot of harm to the world' during the time period this version of him would live in, unlike the resentful ghosts they appease. This could definitely lead to many advocating for confinement, I think.

[joaniejustwokeup]

DP x DC Prompt:

Summoning circles are more complicated than people give them credit for. They’re a bit like a mix between a thumb print, a name, a phone number, and a recipe; and at the same time, nothing like any of those things.

In reality, most summoning circles in spell books and ancient texts are incomplete, representing only a fraction of a particular spirit’s identity.

A complete circle will actually be a series of different summoning circles, with each concentric ring representing an aspect of the spirit’s identity and having individual requirements and/or offerings needed. Ghosts have an innate awareness of them and are able to draw and describe their requirements from any sort of inward reflection.

Ghosts will often give out incomplete circles as a means of communication and transportation. A single ring of the circle will only open the door, and each ring added makes the pull and connection to the summoner stronger. Ghosts will also sometimes use incomplete circles to mark and monitor their haunts and as a way of claiming territory.

A complete summoning circle will occasionally but inevitably change over time, as parts of the spirit’s identity change.

The circle will always be a closely guarded secret. This is because, much like giving your true name to the fae, giving out your full summoning circle will allow the summoner to not only capture you, but to command and control you.

After Danny was shown Dan’s future where he killed the world, he made Jazz memorize his complete circle and told her to use it if he ever turned evil. She thought he was being ridiculous, but learned the spell when she saw how frightened he had become of himself.

When the summoning circle of the Ghost King was added to his identity, he tried to make her memorize the new circle, only for her to flat out refuse, saying it’s not healthy for him to make these kind of contingencies. They get into a really bad fight and Danny flies off determined to find someone he can trust with his circle should he turn evil.

As he’s flying over his town he feels the slight tug on his consciousness indicating someone is trying to summon the Ghost King. He lets his awareness bleed through the summoning just enough to see that… yup it’s cultists again. At least there’s no sacrifices this time.

He’s about to shrug the summoning off like he has so many others when he suddenly sees someone fighting through the cultists. Oh! Make that several someones.

With a giddy sort of eagerness Danny watches Batman and his sidekicks cut through the crowd of religious fanatics, even taking down a couple that looked like they were using ghost-based magic. He’d always admired the Dark Knight, but seeing him fight in person is something else.

It’s as the hero is tying up the cultists and checking their injuries that a lightbulb goes off in Danny’s head, and, after a moment of steeling his determination, he lets himself be pulled through the summoning circle.

The Bats all tense up as the circle at the center of the room grows brighter, readying themselves for another fight. Danny tries to smile reassuringly as he feels his form materialize, though they likely can’t see it in the bright flash of light that accompanies it.

He frowns when he realizes the summoning had dressed him in his royal armor and cloak, the crown of fire burning above his head and ring of rage glaring from his right hand.

He tries raising his hands in an “I am not a threat,” pose, before realizing it looks exactly like the Box Ghost’s “Beware!” pose. He tucks his hands under his armpits, then awkwardly waves at the group of vigilantes.

“Hi there! Wow that was really cool- Thanks for taking care of these guys for me.”

The vigilantes once again tense up as Danny steps out of the circle towards them. Danny smiles sheepishly.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but I really need to talk to you, Batman.”

Batman steps forward, approaching Danny as he stands just outside the circle, a living shadow that looms larger than life. Still, Danny senses something soften in his gaze as he looks over the teenage Ghost King, stopping just out of reach of him. Danny gazes back at his childhood hero, hoping he’s making the right choice.

“I have a favor to ask of you.”

[fluffypotatey]

*puts on my Professor glasses* Macky really knows EXACTLY how to talk to Wukong, let's dissect it! M: Looks like things are going smoothly. W: I say, you've been here the whole time, haven't you? M: FFM is your home, but it's also mine. W: Did you find anything? M: Still nothing, however. Now the Jade Emperor is no longer present. The Celestial Realm already gives me an unsettling feeling. M: Wukong...that kid. W: I understand. M: You have to go and talk to him. W: I know! But...he still isn't ready. M: I see. You're the one who isn't ready, yet. How did you even become a teacher! M: He has to be. We all have to be realistic. W: He's just a kid. We can't let him... M: Who says he's just a kid! Why is it him? When you chose him, did you know? W: I didn't know, I really didn't know! I just followed...a feeling. M: Are you not the least bit worried?! This child has all of your special powers, and he always runs into trouble. Have you never questioned this before? Not a single person knows where he came from. Is it not strange?! M: We still have no clue as to whoever let out Azure Lion. All your old foes returned in one swoop. Are you not even a little- W: Then what about you? You also suddenly came back. M: Argh- M: I say, someone must be manipulating us behind our backs. Especially Xiaotian. But they still haven't succeeded. W: Then tell me. What about you? M: Tell me do you want my help or not?! / W: Not long ago you were still against me! / M: I see, you're just a- / W: ...after I assume you'll teach me how to train my own disciples? ~ Xiaotian Interupts ~ M: Look. That kid has made you his idol. You're his one true hero, but you... W: But I what? M: He has to understand, he doesn't need to carry these burdens. You have to do better. You can really tell whose the chatty one in this relationship XD Wukong might be a lil annoyed, but he's tolerant. And Macky is a little playful turd as always. Where Wukong gets gloomy and concerned, Mac swaps between teasing and serious in a blink. Then things get a lot more strained and tense, but unlike their previous fights, it never escalates into violence. Never a growl, never a raised fist. They're right at the edge, and they drop it. I'm very much interested in the psychology of arguments and when it comes to people latching onto (1) thing a person says and relating it slightly off topic to avoid talking about that other thing, like Wukong is doing here. It's so cool seeing how physical they are in trying to visibly control their emotions around each other, and how they keep trying to hold themselves back from tearing in further, always pausing and halting, and switching to another thing. They're TRYING. Ugh. I think Mac was trying to give a comforting smile at the end, but it's kinda warped by the whole ~ everything else. ~ Anyhow, I like how this starts with Wukong establishing, or rather cementing to Macaque that he believes MK is a kid. And while Macaque argues against that, he did also say before that Wukong should talk to him. And they have their squabble, with Mac pushing Wukong's buttons to get him to say something, BUT the fact this gets resolved with he needs to understand he doesn't need to carry these burdens. YOU HAVE TO DO BETTER. Like of all things Mac could have chosen. He's playing right into what Wukong himself believes, that will overwrite the "MK isn't ready" thing. Because let's face it. Mac is right when he says Wukong also isn't ready for that talk yet. He's so down throughout all this, Wukong probably feels himself that he needs to be better. AND by appealing to the fact MK is a kid, without explicitly stating that, just a statement that cannot be denied, BUT is a subject that undoubtedly, even Wukong cannot avoid. Because he wants better for MK. For him to not walk down the same path as him. Macaque has basically nudged Wukong into having that talk he wanted with MK by reframing it differently from what Wukong wasn't ready for. Thoughts? Critique?

*squishes you* anon…anon, you’re telling me..that this was the actual dialogue between SWK and Macky in 5x01. that what i just read is the translated version of the Mandarin dub. correct?

ok ok cool. i’m cool. gucci. feeling fantastic lemme just

WHAT THE FUCK LMK

ok so i ranted in the tags but realized i forgot to say more things (also i was worried i’d exceed the tag limit bc that is a real thing what do you know!)

so, anon, you said Macky knows how to talk to Wukong and yeah agreed but for me it’s for of the sense of “Macky knows how to get his words under Wukong’s skin”

he knows how to let his words sink in and fester in Wukong’s mind, making him reconsider things or another to help speed up certain decisions or choices Wukong is hesitating on. and ain’t it fascinating how despite how long it’s been since either character have talked or interacted with each other, they still know the ins and outs of their behavior and thoughts.

Macky knows Wukong needs to talk to MK but is holding back. Macky after one answer from Wukong realizes that it’s Wukong who isn’t ready for that conversation and switches tactics to try and breach that mental block

Wukong, in a need to avoid the conversation, brings up the questions surrounding Macky’s reason for even being alive again because that is information neither have talked about and oh hey! Macky is avoiding that conversation too! and it’s an important one to have so he pushes for it, but Macky knows it’s being pushed to avoid their original discussion and is annoyed bc “classic Wukong, never wanting to delve too deep into topics where he’ll need to be vulnerable for” (especially when said vulnerability is with his newly re-allied ex friend Macaroni himself)

god i love them

[moe-broey]

The other half of the Ratatoskr drawpile 🫡

[tahopo]

Dwayne johnson side eye but IS yasmin gay for solas lol

god no. it’s something far more weird.

[death-rebirth-senshi]

Where was demon slave and deadly sin ritual when the Umbra were being wiped out.

[nocreativityfornames]

I like talking about my ocs and I like hearing about other people's ocs, so let's talk about them because why the hell not ( part 1? )

Question, what was your MC doing right before they arrived in the Devildom for the 1° time? I'll start: Magnus was peacefully sleeping inside a bus while making their way home when they got summoned & pulled inside the Council Room, falling on the floor ( ouch ) in front of the brothers and Diavolo.

[tabooiart]

I am so glad you changed your mind, kid! You are never gonna regret this

[samsno1]

just saw someome saying, yet again, "dean loved sam much more than sam loved dean" and i think 10 years of my life time were taken away

[redroomroaving]

Marked for Prey (Rolan x Geraldus one-shot, E)

When Geraldus is struggling with a bit of an off-day, Rolan takes a different approach to jolting him back out of it.

A little fluff-n-smut spell casting sparring session one shot for Rolan x Geraldus. Also on AO3.

Featuring: misuse of mage hands, misuse of entanglement, questionable use of hunters mark, Geraldus' faintly sexyscary spellcasting voice.

Geraldus was winding his shoulder in slow rotations, working out the angry knot of tension there - a little look of quiet frustration on his face as he did so - a small furrow between his brows.

It was rather rare to see the ranger this way. With the little clouds in his expression he was doing a poor job of hiding, Geraldus was in what Rolan might have broadly described as ‘a bad mood’.

He’d been sensing his mood gradually worsening with each arrow that missed - each shot that went slightly wide eliciting a little hiss of frustration under his breath, and on one occasion where it had gone particularly awry, something almost dangerously close to an actual curse.

A little mutter of grumpy elvish, another rarity; Rolan had heard Geraldus dip into his father’s tongue perhaps two or three times in the entire time he’d known him.

Rare because it only came out in moments like these, when he was angry, perhaps the only selection of elvish he’d picked up himself, and anger was not particularly Geraldus’ strong suit.

“You’re doing well,” Rolan said, leaning back against the desk a moment as he observed the small shooting range he’d set up for him. This was something of a lie; most of the range was intact, still, and a litany of arrows hung in the little fabricated net of arcane energy behind.

He’d intended to simply leave him to it when Geraldus had asked him to help him set up a little practice, but the moment Geraldus had placed his arrow between his teeth briefly to tie his hair back with a little bit of green fabric, Rolan had almost immediately found himself drawn instead to observing - his own work quite forgotten.

Geraldus let out a little exasperated sound at Rolan's attempt at reassurance, glancing back at him and giving him a small smile that was a poor attempt at seeming in better spirits than he was, Rolan knew. He was making himself gradually miserable.

“I’m not,” Geraldus said, “I’m …”

He let out a sigh - a sharp exhalation of air through his nose - and then let his bow drop to his side.

“Why is this so difficult today?” He said, sounding rather defeated.

Rolan felt for him, taking in the slump in his shoulders, the frown tugging at the corner of his lips, the palpable sense of tightly wound irritation with himself, all of it a picture of self-flagellation that Rolan knew all too well. He was a master at it, in those unobserved moments when the shield of confidence failed him.

He went to reach for him, to comfort him with a hand to his shoulder, but Geraldus spoke again.

“I can do this,” he said, that little thread of determination in his voice mingled with the misery.

Pity would be the wrong thing to offer, Rolan realised; recognising now that whilst Geraldus welcomed commiseration and comfort at the right time, in moments where he simply wanted to feel normal and useful, it was best to treat him as such.

Another thought occurred to him.

“Maybe you need a little incentive,” Rolan said, and turned then, lifting up his hand and twisting his fingers, summoning up a familiar enchantment - “tormentum.”

Around his fingers, growing and drawing together into a small volley of little red darts, swirling at first before he cast them loose with a sudden shot - springing forth across the air and finding their way to five of the targets in a series of quick, plosive bursts - unable to miss their target even if he’d tried.

Geraldus watched as the targets dissipated into air, his already glum expression falling further, lips parting and brows drawing up accompanied by a small sound that completed the little picture of dismay perfectly.

“H-hey,” he said, turning his gaze back to Rolan now, “that’s not really fair.”

Rolan shrugged a little, crossing his arms.

“Like I said,” he replied, “incentive.”

Geraldus’ eyes narrowed just a little at that, his cloudy expression brewing a little stormier now.

“... but those literally can’t miss,” he said, “that’s not a fair fight.”

“There’s no such thing as a fair fight,” Rolan replied, mind whirring a little, “but maybe a fight is what you need.”

Geraldus’ brow raised a little at that; bemused.

Rolan took a few steps back, twisting his wrist now and drawing the floating disc targets towards himself instead, lining them up in front of himself in an almost phalanx like formation of small shields.

Geraldus’ brow quirked higher still, and he shifted his weight a little.

“Rolan,” he said, “I… are you asking me to shoot at you?”

Rolan raised his hands up a little, and then, grinning: “well, you’re a hunter, Geraldus, maybe you need something to hunt.”

Geraldus expression was fixed for a moment longer, but Rolan could see it - the little shimmer of something else in his bright hazel eyes - the glinting spark as the idea caught in his mind.

Geraldus pursed his lips for a moment, considering, and then, he lifted his bow from his side.

Rolan felt a little sharp jolt in his chest, a soft shock of excitement there, realising his ranger intended to take him up on his offer.

He took a few further steps back, creating some proper distance between them, and then, casting his fingers around quickly in a swirl, followed up with another incantation, summoning his mage hand into the air beside him; “veni et iuva me.”

Geraldus’ expression shifted slightly then, the smallest hint of a wry smile flickering across his face as he moved into position. He drew an arrow from the quiver at his back, notching it quickly and pulling his bowstring taut.

Rolan tried not to be distracted by the the way Geraldus was suddenly biting his bottom lip, just a little, focusing intently on his with his arrow drawn - feeling the slowly building race of his pulse - the syncopation of his heartbeat picking up now as he found himself inhaling too, ready.

With a sharp whipping noise Geraldus loosed his arrow.

It streaked across the air with a forceful whistle - his shots always sprung with a certain percussive force from his longbow that was as appealing as it was unnerving.

Rolan’s instincts kicked in immediately to meet it; his mage hand arcing through the air to strike the arrowtip aside before it could meet its target.

His pulse was racing now, the sudden lilt of surprise and adrenaline abruptly flooding him to realise he’d successfully deflected the blow.

Geraldus let out a little sound of frustration, and took a breath, notching another arrow quickly.

“Sorry darling,” Rolan said, unable to resist the urge to gloat, “you’ll have to try a bit harder than that.”

Geraldus tilted his head from side to side a moment, loosening his neck, and pulled the bowstring tight.

“I will,” he replied, and, before Rolan was ready for it - loosed his second shot.

This arrow came at him with no less speed than the one before; the quick whistle through the air sounding almost as forceful as the sudden sharp stab of surprise through him as he tried to command his mage hand quickly enough.

Instead he heard a sharp, powerful ringing like a struck bell - finding himself staring now at the point of the arrow lodged in the air mere inches from his face.

His heart had stopped for a second, and with a sudden fury, resumed beating as he took a breath.

“Oh!” Geraldus lowered his bow, eyes going wide, expression immediately replaced with concern, “are you ok Rolan?”

Rolan stared at the arrow for a second longer as the shimmering surface of the target dissipated around it, and it clattered down from the air to the ground by the toe of his boot.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline kicking in; the hurried race of his heart, but he found himself grinning at Geraldus across the space between them, feeling more than ok.

“Excellent shot,” he replied, grinning, “but too easy. Let’s see you do that again.”

With a swirl, he manoeuvred the remaining targets around, recreating his shield.

Geraldus looked hesitant a moment, but even across the distance Rolan could see it - the rapid rising and falling of his chest in return, that spark in his eyes glinting brighter now at his success.

“If you’re ready for it,” he called back, sounding almost, were it not so deeply against his nature, a little cocksure.

“I’m ready,” Rolan replied, shifting his stance a little, tensing himself in preparation, and drawing his mage hand towards the centre of the targets gathered in front of him.

Geraldus notched another arrow, and as he did, Rolan took off running - instinct and racing heart guiding him more than anything to dart sharply to his left. Geraldus shifted as he did, swivelling with him, and quickly and precisely loosing his arrow - the shot bursting from the bow with force.

Rolan was faster; but only just, the arrow whistling past his horns by mere inches as he moved.

“Oh - shoot!” Geraldus cried out, frustrated, and notched another.

Rolan grinned, skidding to a stop as he did, enjoying the quiet thrill of danger in his limbs; it had been a long time since he’d really moved, and whilst he felt a little out of practice, even that short burst making his breath heave, the shaking energy was a welcome feeling.

“You’ll never get me moving that slow,” Rolan said, letting his grin grow and seeing Geraldus’ little creeping smile in return battling through his exasperation. He was enjoying it too, he thought.

“We’ll see,” Geraldus said, and then, with a swirl of arcane energy suddenly drawing up around him, began to mutter an enchantment of his own.

“Est praedae mae,” he said, his voice suddenly echoing and low - surprising, guttural and resonant, the words emerging from his sweet features like something dark and prowling.

The words were still echoing as the energy darted across the space between them towards Rolan.

Oh, Rolan thought, throat suddenly caught, a powerful sort of impact deep in his gut stirring through him at the sound of it, taking in Geraldus’ steely expression, that was…

As the glowing symbols drew across the air before Rolan, marking him as Geraldus’ prey, Rolan felt himself swallow - the buzzing force of adrenaline clashing sharply against the sudden, bone deep sense of unbidden desire - rendering him frozen.

Geraldus squared and aimed swiftly, still crackling with that energy, as he loosed the arrow.

Rolan just barely managed to pull back into his own body in time to act; lips forming the words of the enchantment even before he’d had the thought; “inveniam viam.”

He felt himself snatched out of the air, zipping out of the spot with a quick crackle where the air collapsed behind him, reappearing just a few steps from Geraldus - still holding position from his shot.

Behind him, the arrow struck the marble floor with a sharp skidding scratch, striking the ground where Rolan had been moments before.

Geraldus’ face flashed with a quick strike of surprise, like a streak of lightning across the clouds there, and then, a sharp look of determination - his brows furrowing as he raised his hand.

He started to whisper again; a gentle green swirl of energy drawing about his fingers as the words rumbled out from the depths of his throat.

“Vinum est et gloriat,” he was murmuring - the words rasping and low - words he’d heard from him just one time before, on the first night they had met, when his instincts had moved faster than anyone else's.

Rolan’s instincts now were slower, not able to move himself quicker than Geraldus’ enchantment, feeling the sudden burst beneath him as the spectral vines sprung up from underfoot in a flurry.

He barely had time to react at all, his mind registering a faint shit and letting out a quick yelp of shock as the vines wound swiftly and tightly around his limbs, his arms and legs and dragged him with abrupt, painful force down to the floor.

His concentration cracked, the targets slipping from his arcane grasp and evaporating upward into the air like dust as he found himself now on the ground, entirely pinned to the cold marble by the weight and strength of the arcane tendrils.

When his mind caught up to the shock, he found himself staring upwards at Geraldus, appearing in his vision above him, a fox-like, wry smile lighting up the broad curve of his lips, igniting the slightest crinkle around his bright eyes.

He leant down now, crouching over him, propping his elbow on one knee and his chin in his palm as he observed his entirely captured prey.

“Got you,” he said.

Rolan attempted to struggle; just a little - testing to see quite how tight the grasp of the vines around him was - but trying to do so without giving away that this is what he was doing. His deception failed, as Geraldus’ smile grew wider still.

He would have been hard pressed to deny that this entire turn of events had disarmed him in more ways than one; swallowing down the rather immediate wave of desire that had swallowed him up almost as thoroughly as the vines themselves.

“So you have,” Rolan conceded, attempting to move his wrist from where it was pinned to the floor and failing, and with few weapons left in his arsenal except his wit, added, “hunt complete?”

Geraldus’ eyes flitted over him quickly then, that bright little glitter there even more inviting up close, and Rolan was painfully aware of just how stirring and aching he felt, the tight pressure around his thighs, his arms, his waist all making that feeling grow deeper and deeper still.

Then Geraldus moved forward, crawling to hover over him deftly, his hands able to find the spaces between the vines without trouble. He hung over him now, eyes trailing over Rolan’s face with something fond and hungry there. His hair had come a little loose now, a few dark tendrils falling forward.

“Hunt complete,” he agreed, and leant down, lingering now an inch or so above Rolan’s lips, but not clearing that final bit of distance. Rolan could feel his breath against his cheek, a little hurried still, and caught his familiar scents - the lavender and pine smell that followed his ranger everywhere, accompanied by the welcome tones of salt and sweat.

Rolan’s heart was still pounding away, almost painfully so, body still thrumming with adrenaline; and Geraldus’ presence so close, but unable to do much else other than struggle, was beginning to feel rather unbearable.

“You’re not going to let me out of this, are you?” He asked, raising his brow a little.

Geraldus’s eyes trailed over him a little longer still.

“Not yet,” he said, sending a fresh notch through Rolan’s gut. Something about the softness of his voice, strung through as it was now with that unexpected steel, was only making this all so much worse.

Rolan wasn’t quite sure he’d be able to do nothing for much longer; but he could still at least twist his fingers, and he could still speak.

“Veni et iuva me,” he said, conjuring up his mage hand once more into the air by his side.

Geraldus narrowed his eyes a little, not taking his eyes off Rolan as he commanded the spectral hand between them, and as Rolan shot him a quick, wry smile, flicked his fingers, casting it towards Geraldus’ chest and down, with some intent, between his legs.

Geraldus’ eyes sprung wide with alarm as the spectral hand found its target, grazing across the swell of his cock through the material of his breeches.

“H-He-” Geraldus started, but the word was cut off with a sudden, unbidden whimper of surprise as, at Rolan’s command, the grip tightened around his length.

He let out a little exhale against Rolan’s cheek, under his breath a little muttered bit of elvish Rolan didn’t know, but could guess was likely a gentle curse.

“I-I’m not,” he battled a little now, but quite determined, Geraldus met his eyes again, “I’m not letting you go that easily.”

He leant down, clearing the gap between their lips and kissing him - a firm, wanting kiss, parting his lips with his own and finding his tongue eagerly.

Rolan returned the kiss, frustrated and desperate to reach up, to tangle his fingers through his hair - to touch him for himself - aching for it but trapped entirely.

All he could do was tease him further; commanding his magic to work across him in his stead through the material, feeling the little murmuring sounds in Geraldus’ throat all the while as he kissed him.

“Don’t make me fight my way out of here,” Rolan murmured against his lips.

Geraldus grinned against his kiss, moving himself just a little to press a thigh between Rolan’s captured legs, pressing against his hardness and eliciting a deep, thorough moan from him he wouldn’t have been able to stop if he’d tried.

“You’re not casting thunderwave on me,” Geraldus cautioned, nipping a little at his bottom lip.

“Please,” Rolan found himself begging, the feeling of Geraldus pressing against him proving torturous, “skylark, this is…”

Geraldus kept himself held over him with one hand, the other sliding now to where he was pressing against him, finding a gap between the vines for his fingers to work open Rolan’s breeches and slide underneath.

He felt his fingertips drawing around his shaft, sending a shudder right through him.

“Geraldus,” he protested, desperate, as his fingers curled deftly about him - he could feel himself, throbbing and aching against his touch, and wished it was more than just his magic touching him in return.

Geraldus’s lips found his again, tongue exploring his own teasingly as he drew across him in slow, lingering strokes, grip firm and tight around him, but taking his time with every move, enjoying his steady torture whilst Rolan was able to do little else but groan against his mouth.

He was getting close; knowing fully well that his concentration on his mage hand had dropped as his own pleasure had grown closer and closer to tipping over - but Geraldus didn’t seem to care, pressing himself against his thigh hard even as the strokes of his hand finally grew more rapid, his target in his sights once more.

“Skylark-” Rolan felt it now - the sure and steady momentum of Geraldus’ every move taking him over - pleasure soaring now towards its apex and arcing over. He cried out as it worked through him, feeling the blissful spasm through his body as he came, straining against his tight bindings.

Rolan’s mind was loose and flooded as he felt that pressure retreat, the bindings around him finally loosening and evaporating as Geraldus released his spell at last.

He was panting, the pleasurable wave washing through a few moments longer as Geraldus’ forehead pressed against his, and the ranger garnished his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, the corner of his lips with small kisses.

Finally able to move but feeling rather out of control of his limbs - too loose and filled with pleasure - Rolan managed to cast an arm lazily around Geraldus’ waist, wrapping his tail around his shin vainly in response, a small little entanglement of his own.

Geraldus collapsed against him a little now, letting himself be pulled into his embrace, pressing himself against his thigh still, eager.

“Thank you,” he said, burying his face into Rolan’s shoulder a moment, “for… for doing that.”

Rolan stroked a hand idly down his back, waiting to feel properly back in his own body before he set about returning Geraldus’ affections in kind with his own hunt.

“Did it work?” He asked.

Geraldus nodded.

“Hunt complete,” he repeated, smiling against his neck.

[hauntingmiser]

⚠️ : eyes ?

Day 22

Gives you two succubuses