#the music the story the characters their sacrifices

[aventurineswife]

Hello again! I was wondering if you could make a violinist reader, something similar to my previous request.

Being the reader who personally plays for the character and dedicates a song to him, with the characters Aventurine, Sampo, Jing Yuan and Childe. Take your time!

-🩵

Strings of the Soul

Tags: Aventurine x Reader, Sampo x Reader, Jing Yuan x Reader, Childe x Reader, Fluff, Romance, Violinist!Reader, Light Angst, Soft Moments, Artistic Expression(?), Comfort.

Warnings: Light mentions of Childe's battles and sacrifices, subtle melancholic undertones in some pieces, and slight flirtation, Mimi is alive 🫶🤭.

The grand casino hall was alive with the clatter of roulette wheels and the soft hum of conversation. Aventurine leaned casually against the bar, his eyes scanning the crowd with a playful glint. He was in his element, a world of wagers and whims, where every interaction was a calculated gamble.

But tonight, something—or rather, someone—had piqued his curiosity. On the raised stage, you tuned your violin with an air of quiet confidence. The gold accents of your outfit glimmered under the lights, a reflection of the daring spirit Aventurine admired.

When the first note rang out, sharp and precise, the room stilled. Your melody was a daring dance of highs and lows, a musical representation of Aventurine’s own life—a world of risks and rewards. Each crescendo mirrored the adrenaline of a well-played gamble, while the softer, melancholic tones spoke of the unseen cost of his high-stakes world.

By the time the last note faded, Aventurine was clapping louder than anyone else, his sly smile softened by genuine admiration.

Later, when you approached him, he raised an eyebrow.

“A song for me?” he teased, twirling the peacock feather earring he wore.

“For you,” you confirmed, “a gambler’s serenade.”

“Well, darling,” he said, offering his gloved hand, “you’ve just made the best bet of the night.”

The flickering lanterns of the bazaar cast warm shadows over the bustling stalls. Amid the chaos, Sampo lounged on a pile of crates, one leg crossed lazily over the other. His eyes sparkled with mischief as he observed you setting up your violin in the center of the square.

When you began to play, the usual clamor of the market faded into silence. Your music was light and playful, a lilting tune that mimicked Sampo’s carefree persona. Quick, sharp notes captured the essence of his silver tongue and slippery nature, while the sudden shifts in tempo mirrored his unpredictable schemes.

The crowd clapped along, enchanted by the melody, but Sampo’s gaze was fixed solely on you.

When the performance ended, he weaved through the crowd with his characteristic swagger, clapping his mismatched gloves in mock reverence.

“Well, well,” he drawled, “if it isn’t my new favorite musician. That piece had me written all over it.”

“It was inspired by you,” you admitted, tucking your violin back into its case.

He smirked, leaning in conspiratorially. “Careful, my friend. Flattery might just make me stick around longer than you’d like.”

The serene garden of the Xianzhou Luofu was bathed in the soft glow of twilight. Jing Yuan sat beneath a blossoming tree, Mimi, his lion companion, dozing peacefully at his side. His eyes, heavy with centuries of wisdom, flickered toward you as you approached with your violin.

You bowed slightly before taking your place a short distance away. The first notes of your song floated through the air, a gentle, meditative melody that seemed to echo Jing Yuan’s introspective nature. The composition was intricate yet understated, weaving a story of quiet strength and enduring patience.

As the music swelled, a hint of melancholy crept into the melody, a reflection of the memories Jing Yuan carried—the comrades he had lost, the battles fought, and the passage of time. Yet the piece ended on a hopeful note, a reminder of the peace he had worked tirelessly to maintain.

When you finished, Jing Yuan’s usual calm expression softened into a rare smile. “That was beautifully played,” he said, his deep voice tinged with gratitude.

“It was composed for you.” you replied, bowing again.

“A lullaby for a dozing general,” he mused, reclining further against the tree. “You have my thanks. Perhaps you’ll play again sometime?”

The icy wind of Snezhnaya whipped through the open training ground, where Childe stood, his Hydro blades dissipating as he concluded his sparring session. Sweat glistened on his brow, but he greeted you with a wide grin as you approached with your violin case in hand.

“You’re braving the cold to play for me?” he asked, his tone half-teasing but warm.

“Someone needs to balance all that fighting with a little culture,” you replied, setting up your instrument.

The music you played was fierce and dynamic, mirroring the intensity of Childe’s battles. Rapid, fiery strokes of the bow captured the thrill of combat, while the deeper, more mournful tones hinted at the sacrifices he made for his family.

Childe stood motionless, his eyes fixed on you as the music stirred something deep within him.

By the time you reached the climax, a triumphant crescendo that spoke of resilience and hope, a rare stillness had settled over the Harbinger.

“That…” he began, his voice uncharacteristically soft, “that was incredible.”

“It’s a song for a warrior,” you said, meeting his gaze.

“For me, huh?” He grinned, his usual cocky demeanor returning. “You’ve got a knack for this. Next time, though, maybe play it during one of my fights? I think it’d make a great soundtrack.”

[fiftysevenacademics]

I've seen a few posts critical of the plot of Fangs of Fortune, and other comments elsewhere about it being style over substance.

On some other post, I commented that if you're looking for a tightly constructed, linear plot, you'll be disappointed. The plot is fine, but a large part of the story is told through what people too easily dismiss as "style" instead of witty dialogue or whatever.

You can tell a story through different mediums, and in this show, visual storytelling reigns. The music does a lot of heavy lifting, too. We shouldn't shortchange the writing: there is some amazing dialogue that is skillfully deployed to develop characters.

But it's true that plot devices sometimes appear from out of nowhere and there is one thing that, to me, is borderline ridiculous. But by the time it happens I was so emotionally invested, I chose to just roll with it.

But this is the difference between telling a story in straightforward narrative style, and telling a story using the language of dreams or myth. We've all had dreams that affect us profoundly, that convey a message even if they sound nonsensical when we try to explain them. And myths frequently involve characters having sudden knowledge or being sent on a task or quest that doesn't make sense as a way to solve a problem.

The point of both dreams and myths is to make sense of contradictions and dilemmas in our personal lives and in our cultures. This is why dreams have emotional resonance even when they don't make sense, and why myths sometimes resonate over centuries or even millennia.

Fangs of Fortune is based on ancient Chinese lore about mythical creatures, and it would have been a shame to shoehorn them into a narrative limited to human motivations, goals, and abilities. I hate media that tries to rationalize mythical beings, and love Fangs of Fortune because it refuses to do this. It takes the viewer on a gripping emotional journey through the lives of characters whose motivations are partly relatable and human, and partly in the less knowable realm of gods and demons that humans have always used when pondering the great mysteries of life, like the nature of love and sacrifice, and how we should behave in the face of loss and injustice.

A lot of people try to make "dreamlike" shows and movies and few succeed. Fangs of Fortune, for me, sets a new standard in how it can be done.

[eponymous-rose]

Some (many) thoughts on Arcane s2 while it's still fresh in my mind:

(tw: discussion of fictional depictions of suicide)

I'm gonna do some nitpicking here, but only because I really did like it overall - I think for me s1 was a solid 10/10 and this season was an 8.5/10, so I'm certainly looking forward to rewatching it! The animation was a big step up from s1's incredible work, the music was great, the performances were fantastic. I do think the overall writing/story fell down a bit, though.

It's weird, because my go-to when character arcs feel rushed is to want more episodes, but I don't think that necessarily would have solved my issues with this season.

Cait turned on Ambessa on a dime - we love to see it, but I think we maybe needed a few more overt hints of her discomfort with her position, maybe a sense of wrongness in their adoptive relationship and some parallels with Jinx & Silco given what Vi says early on ("why are you the one acting like her?"). Ambessa believes her daughter to be lost, and Cait has lost a mother - they were certainly playing on that substitution, but the eventual turn, while fun, felt a bit quick and unearned. I saw someone joke about the word "Cupcake" flipping Cait back like a sleeper agent, but that's kinda how abrupt things felt.

I think Mel's plot largely hung together okay, although it was pretty disconnected from everyone except Ambessa - would've loved to have seen some acknowledgement that Cait was filling her shoes as Daughter for a while there.

Isha was sweet and I liked the parallels with the Powder-Vi relationship (LOVED Jinx running with the pink chalk and Isha with the blue), but I think the sacrifice metaphor got a little muddled. The parallels with Powder charging in and killing everyone around her, versus Isha charging in and saving everyone but herself felt a little forced and I struggled to see how they served the greater narrative. The whole point of Powder's failure was a messy combination of bad luck, overcompensating for what she perceived as a lack of confidence in her, etc. Isha had Jinx's confidence on her side, I guess, and now of course we have the foreshadowing of Jinx dying to save someone else, which she's been trying to do since Act II.

Suicide was a pretty heavy concept throughout the first season. We had the parallels of Jayce and Viktor, we had the little-remarked-upon moment where Viktor hesitates before cutting the wire on Jinx's bomb. I actually think this season did pretty well with those two (although I'll talk about a couple things that irked me below), but the concept that we can't escape the things that we've done and we instead have to find salvation in those around us felt kind of contrary to Jinx's finally finding a way to die for her sister. I don't know that Jinx's story was necessarily supposed to feel satisfying or complete, but without another season there's not much to dig through there.

And that brings up the main reason I don't think more episodes would have resolved my quibbles with this season: it was pretty prone to overexplaining. To me, one of the most exceptional things about that first season was how little it explained. You had these gorgeous, evocative flashes of Vander trying to kill Silco, Silco stabbing him and fleeing into the night, and that's all we needed! That's it! We didn't need to know the specifics, we didn't need more backstory than that - the whole point of the season was that these kids are trying to make their own stories, and these guys have set the stage and are in the process of bowing out. Much as I loved the glimpses this season into the past generation's adventures, it felt like it was pinning something down that was more effectively left to the imagination.

There were also some weird fumbles with discussions of disability, especially in that last episode. I loved so much of what season one did with it - the older generation of Zaunites almost all had some form of disability due to the way they'd been systematically poisoned and their constant exposure to danger, and that was a really in-your-face way to challenge the early "why can't we all get along" stuff. And so much of Viktor's and Jayce's arcs are tied in with the sense of time running out and how Heimerdinger's long-term goals are incompatible with helping the people suffering right now. But instead we get this weird "you didn't like your imperfections so you tried to eliminate all imperfections", which doesn't quite ring true.

We just fundamentally didn't get to a resolution that I think was heavily implied, especially in Act II. "No one in power is innocent" is a great, raw line, but we didn't really see it play out. Instead, we have everyone stopping from othering each other in order to band together against an even bigger Other. As a side note, I don't think that Sevika's ending is meant to be a positive thing - we see from the skeptical looks of others that she's got a long road ahead. The revolution we saw coming just sort of fizzled out, and I think it's still on the horizon, which makes things feel incomplete.

There were also a lot of notes that repeated instead of echoing or harmonizing. We had variations on the theme of Vander dying three different times. We had Vi being unable to kill her sister several times. The repetition felt a bit like it was filling time instead of moving things forward the way s1's plot kept pushing.

This season is also the first time I felt the hand of League of Legends Canon shoving the plot into place. We knew Vi was heading for that enforcer uniform, but after the initial conflict it sometimes felt more like we just unlocked a new skin for the character. The Vander-as-Warwick stuff was kind of silly and out of left field, although it was executed pretty well and certainly pulled at the ol' heartstrings. Ekko getting his time abilities was fun and impacted the final fight, but I feel like we were missing something there as well that I'm having a harder time putting my finger on. Some of Viktor's lines felt designed to make the League players in the audience go "HE SAID THE THING". And I hate the feeling of setting up the Next Installment in the Cinematic Universe, probably just because I'm exhausted with Marvel stuff - I'd love for an adaptation like this to be able to really and truly stand on its own.

Overall, it just felt less like the characters were driving the story and more like they were ticking off boxes, which is just something that any good finale has to contend with one way or another.

Anyway, that's a lot of nitpicking. Fundamentally, this felt almost like it was a really strong fic that did a surprisingly good job of wrapping everything up and was stunningly put together in places... but still lacked the spark of the original.

Stuff I loved: Vi/Cait getting a pretty strong arc and certainly the first lesbian sex scene I've ever seen in a TV-14 cartoon. Animation and score was stunning. I did love the what-if of episode 7 - something I've been waiting for them to acknowledge is that literally everything that happens in the show follows from that one break-in during episode one. I actually think Vi and Jinx's reunion and reconciliation felt earned.

I'm curious how I'll feel on subsequent rewatches - the first time I watched s1, I remember being blown away but not in a "this is the best thing ever" way, and it wasn't until the second time that it really clicked for me.

[blueishyellowish]

im sorry but as much as I love yall in the arcane fandom, the jayvik shippers kinda irk me, mostly because this show wasn’t about them from the beginning.

This show from s1 was a small story about the conflict of two sisters. And in s2 these same sisters were shoved to the side for a half-asses ending that was rushed due to jayce and viktor taking the spotlight. I don’t care if the shippers got their moment. It is once again another case of female characters being shoved aside for male characters in a show that somehow went from a simple political conflict to humanity vs god.

The scale of the story is too large and does not fit s1, nor give a satisfactory conclusion.

The small scale conflict with Jinx and Vi is what made the story so endearing, and as much as I enjoyed the Viktor and Jayce story I don’t think it should’ve overshadowed Jinx and Vi.

It sucks coming here on tumblr to just see only Jayvik and no discourse on the show at hand.

But, their scenes were cool I have to admit, I was just more distracted that Jinx and Vi were just pawns in the plot device of Viktor’s Glorious Evolution.

I think thats a big takeaway from this season is that everything “looked cool,” and thats pretty much it. And I think it was lost in translation what Viktor’s true goal was, I understood it sure but it was just muddled with fancy words and hoo-hah as he explained his motives.

There definitely had to have been at least another act or season because this show was rushed and overall missed the mark for a good follow up to s1. They feel like two entire different shows.

I think episode 7 was the best from this act and it gave me high hopes for the rest but I was disappointed.

Episode 7 was very reminiscent of how episodes were in s1 which is why I liked it so much. Straight up cinema, needed more Ekko.

The rest of the act lowkey sucked and the creators were hyping up that they spent so long coming up with the ending for Vi and Jinx and that is what they came up with. A “fall off the cliff sacrifice letting go of the hand?” oh c’mon, I was shaking my head at the screen, I am tired of “letting go to sacrifice themself” trope.

And Jinx survived I guess, but that type of ending is so unsatisfying as her and Vi never really talk about anything (ever like this entire season). (It was really cool at the end I haven’t heard anyone talk about how they played her music she hummed at the end, very happy I caught that.)

Don’t get me started on Vi either, so upset that she kinda just moved with the plot. I always saw her at the main character in the show, but she was in many scenes but never really did much. And I needed more CatVi, like much more then Jayvik which isnt even a canonical ship. Like what??

Ok I’m done ranting. Im just upset at this dark stain on the legacy of arcane. I think it’s not horrible but it could have been so much better.

[frankieroslefttesticle]

HAPPY LATE BDAY DANGER DAYS

so im a little late cuz ive been busy doin a little something

---

The story of Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

In the album, the first half focuses on battles in the desert and memories of the Helium wars (specifically in "The Only Hope For Me is You"). Midway through the album, in "Traffic Report," Jet Star and Kobra Kid are seemingly killed, leaving Party Poison and Fun Ghoul alive. The latter half of the album shifts to heavier themes like sacrifice, a broader "message," desperation, and rebellion against authority. "Vampire Money" is the sole track set in the "real world," as indicated by the use of their actual names at the beginning.

The EP, The Mad Gear and Missile Kid, features three songs by a fictional band that the Killjoys would have listened to during their travels. 1) sex with porno-droids 2) hooking up with older men in punk clubs and 3) makes a reference to drinking juice while killing, which is what Val Velocity says in the comic, perhaps copying Party Poison.

In the music videos "Na Na Na" and "Sing," the Fabulous Killjoys are seen in the desert alongside The Girl, battling dracs. Eventually, Korse confronts them, leading to a shootout where the Killjoys are stunned and The Girl is kidnapped. They embark on a suicide mission into Battery City to rescue her, ultimately finding her captive with The Director and fighting to escape. During the chaos, Party Poison realizes the dracs are actually people, which causes him to panic. Korse kills him first, and the others are also killed during their escape attempt. The Girl is successfully rescued and returns to the desert, while the Killjoys are left in body bags. There was supposed to be another music video after "Sing," but it was scrapped due to budget limitations. Gerard has stated in past interviews that he thought that the Killjoys never truly die, suggesting they might regenerate like characters in a video game.

The comics are divided into three parts. The first centers on The Girl, revealing that the Killjoys protected her because they viewed her as a kind of messiah. By this point, the Killjoys are long gone, and a new group of teenagers called the Ultra V's has modeled themselves after the Killjoys. The narrative focuses on The Girl’s relationship with them and her journey of self-discovery.

The second part follows two android prostitutes from Battery City as they make their escape.

The third part centers on Korse, who is gay and must conceal his identity from Battery City officials while also fighting for freedom.

---

yeah im very bored

research is fun

[thelovelyblark-barg]

help I'm thinking too hard about outer wilds again

[qprpbj]

oh thank god ppl aren’t crucifying me for saying i like it better that darry dropped out of school over just not going at all i feel so vindicated. i think it makes sm more sense for his character and—-

[velvetjune]

judging people who played alan wake 2 solely on if they loved the musical sequence or not

[worthlessandembarrasing]

[rexcaliburechoes]

"I want to live" and "sacrifice, of the self or of others" are not themes that require one to be built upon another, but are instead longitudinally related rather than laterally in baldur's gate 3; they support each other rather than detract from one another. in this essay I will-

[whatcannotbesaid-shallbewept]

Why The Genderswap Is The Best Thing About Warriors

Here's another post on The Warriors genderswap because I’m still not over how good it was!!!

You've got to understand that changing the Warriors to women was a sacrifice. No matter how good a choice it was, it alienated a lot of the people who would otherwise be obsessed with it.

Warriors is already a cult 70s movie - it doesn't have a huge fanbase. Making the main characters women basically alienated that entire fanbase. Because Warriors is very much a movie about masculinity.

The fans liked it because it was about masculinity, and masculine themes (courage, honour) done masculine-y.

You can find megafans of the movie on reddit or tumblr, who are very much annoyed that the story is no longer about men being men. The story isn't the same anymore, and they aren't interested.

But the change wasn't made without reason.

Lin Manuel Miranda previously thought it was impossible to turn the Warriors into a musical, despite it being one of his favourite movies. The thing that changed his mind? The genderswap.

The Warriors album was made because of the genderswap. Lin thought it was the only interesting way to tell the story in the modern age - and you know what? He was right.

Everything just hits harder when they're women.

Orphan Town and We Got You are hilarious because they're women.

Turning a male/female seductions on their head. Male seduction is a k-pop Ballad about being a nice guy? Genius.

Moments like Call Me Mercy and Park At Night are empowering and emotionally charged because they're women.

Mercy looks at the Warriors and for the first time in her life sees women that have empowered themselves, and drops everything in her life to join them, because she wants to feel like that too.

Ajax sees a catcaller sexually harassing all of her friends and thinks "I need to teach this guy a lesson, because no one else in the world will ever do that"

The story feels more intense - it feels scarier.

On some level, every women is afraid to walk home at night, and Warriors is just that feeling elevated to a musical. The threat doesn't just feel more real - it feels intimately relatable.

The genderswap was heavily inspired by gamergate. Warriors is now a story about women not being believed, being falsely accused and taken advantage of.

But the story's moral still ends up being that these women need to keep their pride, need to keep pushing on. Through everything they still hold their heads high.

God it just works so well.

Re-intepreting Luther into an incel-type villian who wants the women out of his "space"? Brilliant. Turning the controversial Swan/Mercy romance into a lesbian love story? Fantastic! Shifting the story from being about courage, to being about the courage to hold your head high even after being attacked with gender-charged abuse? Life-changing.

The emotions just... work better when they're women. Reversing the genderswap now would be taking the story's teeth away.

You can't reverse time now guys!

Much like Warriors evolved the book - the musical evolved the movie. The dudebros are scratching their heads - angry they can't relate to the musical, without realising that they aren't supposed to.

Warriors is no longer a story about masculinity. It's about femininity now and I couldn't be happier.

[ficandkaboodle]

Analyses of Most Ghost Characters be like…

Terzo was a tragic and extremely deep figure who, based off observations provided by his ghouls and Bishop Necropolitis, was a brilliant mind whose ideas were bastardized and squandered, which resulted in a disappointed and bitter husk of a man who still made an effort to display kindness. However, we will likely never truly know the full story of who he was because he lied so damn often.

Most of how we perceive Secondo is arguably the result of Sister badmouthing him as well as ghouls being brutally candid about how he acted in interviews. However, there’s reason to believe Secondo might’ve been just as multifaceted as Terzo, in that he wasn’t being his complete self to the audience. There’s evidence that could suggest Secondo did not enjoy being Papa in its entirety so much as the perks, which were ironically also hindered by him being Papa at the end of the day. It’s not hard to interpret him as someone who might not have enjoyed being a part of the bloodline at the end of the day because of what it meant he had to sacrifice.

Copia is a manchild, likely as a result of how he grew up: Orphaned, likely a social outcast, very likely undiagnosed. As a result, he might’ve become convinced that the only way to rise above it was to become someone worthy of adoration: Papa. But even after he ascended, his troubles didn’t stop: He had to learn his parentage, didn’t address the fact that his brothers were now dead, and spent the last few months he had with the woman he now knew was his mother dissociating because he developed a fear of death. This fear, mind you, that easily ties back into the theorized likelihood that he placed his self-worth into his success. And this is before getting into his willingness to be a puppet —

Papa Nihil’s complexities come in the form of his tendencies to escape reality and the consequences these brought. He was very likely an absent father, which would have had effects on his sons (say, attention-seeking tendencies; a distrust in authority; abandonment issues). In fact, the only things he seems to seek from his youth is his extremely short-lived music career and his unstable relationship with a woman who ultimately kept quiet about their son(s) they conceived together and ultimately played his lust and delusions against him to play nepotism. And by leaning into this, he got his own children killed. He only “became a father” after he died, and it’s sad that he actually seems his most lucid then. What’s all the more mind-boggling and makes you wonder about his tenure is his ability to be in the moment and try and convince Cardi to learn to do the same. It makes you curious: Was Nihil actually a good Papa when he wasn’t distracted?

Sister Imperator is willfully emotionally constipated and will justify it as being “for the good of the church”. She has definitely been affected by her decisions and what she’s done, from her relationship with Nihil to her giving up her babies and watching them at a distance, only interacting from a work standpoint. She lies, keeps secrets, has people killed off, all to tie her spawn into the position as Papa, which is curious considering her position means she’s already above the station of Papa. She does care about Cardi, but she doesn’t care for him the way he needs to be and, as a result, arguably only exacerbates his anxious tendencies. She’s an extremely interesting character but it’s so easy to water her down to just being manipulative and evil.

………………

Analyses of Primo —

Primo is fucking crazy man I don’t — Like, he might be a serial killer; he would punch a panda for profit; we aren’t even entirely certain he’s human like I would legit headcanon that Primo is a changeling and the fandom would run with it because what choice do we have, he honestly actually could be!!!

[dangergays]

as per my last post. the thing i really love about epic the musical and a lot of tragic stories in general is that almost all of the problems are reactionary, but in a way that makes sense for the human characters.

of course odysseus doesn't want to kill polyphemus. he just killed a baby that he didn't want to because zeus forced him to. obviously after that he isn't going to want any more unnecessary bloodshed. and of course he's gonna shout out his name and address, his best friend and multiple other men were just brutally murdered in front of him, he's not thinking straight and there's no way he could've known it was poseidon's son.

of course eurylochus opens the wind bag. iirc, odysseus in the music doesn't actually explicitly tell anyone what the bag is except for perimedes and elpenor (edit: after further inspection he does tell people other than those two, but it's not clear who exactly he tells). his captain is being weird and shady about this bag and not letting anyone else touch it, to the point where he stays awake for nine days straight to keep everyone else away from it. that's shady as fuck and after odysseus did nothing to quell his doubt, of course he's opening the bag.

of course odysseus sacrifices his men to scylla. it's been years now and he's so desperate to see his wife and son, especially since they could see the coast of ithaca when the wind bag was opened. this is the only true concrete way to get almost all of his men home that he can think of, of course he's going to start to grasp at any opportunity he can see to get home. and, he's just had his whole revelation about how he would do whatever it takes to get as many of his men home as he can.

of course eurylochus would stage a mutiny. his captain just sacrificed six men to a horrific sea monster.

of course eurylochus would kill the sacred cow. the men are starving, and they're not going to take odysseus at his word anymore because he just sacrificed six men.

of course odysseus chooses himself over his crew. they all just betrayed him and literally stabbed him in the back, and didn't listen to his warnings about killing the cow. everything he is doing has been to get back home, and eurylochus no longer believes they'll be able to make it home. he has to keep trying. he has to meet his son.

[beaulesbian]

Every once in a while I think again about the end of Thriller Bark and feel completely insane and ill about Zoro's sacrifice, FOR LUFFY, specifically (you know, the character Kuma's threat was directed at). It wasn't even that long into traveling together, a few months maybe, yet Zoro was ready to give up everything in that moment - in the chapter with Kuma appearing being titled The End of the Dream ! - to protect his crew and Luffy, so he could continue in his journey.

Since Luffy and Zoro met, they always understand how words and promises were imporant to them - with Luffy punching Helmeppo in ch. 3 for lying to Zoro. Zoro learnt how serious Luffy was about his dream, and soon he realized he backed up his words with actions as well - untiying Zoro and giving him his swords back - his biggest treasures. It meant that Zoro could be honest and honor-bound in the same way to Luffy, to gain this mutual respect and trust between them since day 1. To wield his swords to protect both Luffy and later their whole crew, and to step in a way between Luffy and danger.

He was being actually more upset that Sanji got up from the previous Kuma's attack and interrupted their fight - Zoro was trying to keep the whole crew safe by this exchange for Luffy's head - if Sanji was offering his life for Luffy half dead and without much strength left to fight for himself (he started the offering of his own life already believing he woudn't survive, with a "you should find a new cook"), then this very specific sacrifice would be meaningless to the crew (- if this arc was taking place post WCI, then it would turn out very differently, with the strength of Sanji believing in Luffy, but it wasn't his moment during this scene) - it would hurt them more than help them, because as much as Zoro was prepared to die as well, he was prepared to keep fighting until the last breath.

Zoro was thinking he might die - Kuma's words were pretty certain he WOULD die - but he still had the willingness and strength to take on the deal for Luffy, for his captain and his crew. ("if i die here, it just means I wasn't worth much to begin with" this line he says times and times again during the overall story, like in Rogue Town throwing Kitetsu and waiting if it would cut off his arm, up until standing against King in Wano "it's my power that was lacking", and all the other times he was questioning his worth - it's something he tempts the fates he doesn't believe in, to actually harm him, to take his strength away if he doesn't deserve to survive. and it's him saying he knows and accepts his own weaknesses - of not being strong enough (in comparison to Sanji in this example), and always fights through them.)

He threw away his swords, including Wado Ichimonji - literally throwing aside his and Kuina's dream, to compell Kuma into a duel (with the anime playing 'The Very Very Very Strongest' when Zoro bowed down and pleaded Kuma, offering him his head instead of Luffy's) so Kuma wouldn't go after the crew and specifically Luffy later - no matter the outcome if Zoro would surive or not.

And then, he was actually strong enough to survive taking his captain's fatigue, agony and pain! Possibly being the only one who could survive taking Luffy's pain.

Zoro could have back out when Kuma offered him the 'taste' of the pain, with the realization of the scale of the hurt with the very possibility of dying from it. But that wouldn't be Zoro now, would it? He accepted and took all of Luffy's pain so his captain wouldn't have to suffer or die, and when they found him afterwards, he still kept standing, tense with the fatigue but alive! (again, with anime adding the music of 'Luffy's Fierce Attack' to underline the importance between these two).

He was training for this since the beginning - to become stronger to shoulder the pain of his crew if necessary. (And not only that - he was preparing for that so another Kuina incident didn't have to happen). He was the first one to fight one of the Warlords before anything really began: his fight with Mihawk at Baratie really set the tone and his own goals to overcome - a glimpse to see on how much different levels the Warlords actually were in comparison to Zoro, Luffy and the others, and if they were supposed to beat them so Luffy could become the Pirate King, that always meant to be ready and to get even stronger than them.

(small spoiler for egghead, ch. 1102: seeing Kuma (a Warlord at that time) remembering this Thriller Bark event later, during Egghead arc, and thinking that even he might have passed out from the pain, makes it all the more meaningful that it was Zoro who took the pain and withstood it - establishing how high was the strength of his willpower, already before timeskip.)

There could be so many other nuances and details from these last few chapters of this arc, and even what this deal meant for the following arcs! Zoro was still in pain on Sabaody, and because of that the crew wasn't as strong as it could have been (not to say they would have a chance anyway, knowing what all was in the motion).

The next is the tragedy and beauty of LUFFY never finding out about this. Half of the crew knew: Sanji, Brook and Robin knew the details, but would never tell Luffy - and that shows their loyalty to both Luffy and Zoro (and Zoro's decision). Luffy woke up and first thing he did was to jump up and down, excited not to be weighted down by his injuries, and only seeing his swordsman being down with injuries so severe he was out more days afterwards, knowing that something else attacked them (him = Zoro), after he was passed out from the fight against Moria, brought down his mood (even if it's not much noticable, but the change into subtle worry is there in the few next chapters).

"I can't explain it either!" - meaning he was thinking about it too, possibly how weird it was for him to move normally after such long fight. We don't really ever hear/see Luffy thinking about something, except when it's mentioned how he came up with a solution or idea, telling us there's more to Luffy than just being straightforward in his goals and speech. With Luffy being sometimes very emotionally intelligent when he wants to be, he could have figured it out from all these other people in the room asking similar questions and deducing. Even Usopp was putting two and two togehter. We might never find out if Luffy actuallly knows or not. Luffy probably wouldn't ask Zoro directly, especially if Zoro wouldn't tell first and didn't want to talk about it

- because for Zoro, nothing happened! Nothing, that would compromise his and Luffy's first promise. For Zoro to become the Strongest he couldn't back down from the duel with Kuma (just like before with his duel with Mihawk at Baratie. When he's faced with something he swore to overcome, he can't back down or evade. Even back then Luffy understood that as he held back Johnny and Yosaku, but Sanji was perplexed how far Zoro (and Luffy) would go to reach their dreams). When Sanji was asking him in front of Kuma "What about your dream?" Zoro was still thinking about his dream- it was just that the context has changed, it changed into a journey. His dream is the most important thing, but it wouldn't mean much, if, when on his way to accomplish that, he would betray his other words and promises.

[n0cturn4]

You choose… You choose to fail Part. 1

Character: Bruce Wayne x Daughter!Reader Summary: Bruce crouched down, arms open, and for a moment, found himself almost laughing nervously. Word Count: 3471 Music: Bring me sunshine

Her face, so small and illuminated, lingered in Bruce's memories like a gentle warmth, something he thought would never fade. He found himself back in the days when his daughter smiled at him as if she carried the sun on her lips. "Bring me joy," she would always ask, extending her small hands, demanding a new story or a laugh he always tried to steal. And for a moment, he was another man: a father, and she was just a child.

"Bring me happiness in your arms, Daddy!" She used to laugh and ask, as if pleading with the sun never to extinguish. Bruce could hear her voice humming through the halls, little songs about light and love, and he felt that those moments could fill the empty corners of his life. In those days, there was an innocent hope that he could almost touch. The weight he carried seemed to dissipate in her presence; it was as if his own shadow dared not disturb that little sun.

But now, as each of her smiles and laughter enveloped him in echoes of the past, a dark melancholy invaded him. Time, which once seemed so generous, had revealed itself to be a relentless thief. She had grown up, so quickly and without permission, taking on burdens and embracing the darkness he never wanted her to know.

He remembered when his arms, once a warm embrace and refuge, became a barrier. She was just a child, full of joy and sweetness, asking for more happiness, for more laughter. And he, foolishly, believed he could protect her merely by keeping her away from his own darkness. But she was drawn to his path, to the end, as if she were an inseparable part of that shadow.

"Bring me the sun, Daddy" he could still hear, like a faint echo almost faded away. And now, knowing the sacrifice she made for him to continue, Bruce realized that the light she brought would never return. Even in those tender memories, what remained was the melancholy of a love that sacrificed its own brightness, a happiness that, as it dissipated, left within him an eternal and indelible sadness.

He remembered when she was just a baby, so small and fragile in his arms, her warm and cozy body nestled against him with total trust. She was a soft and silent presence, and Bruce almost feared breaking that enchantment with any sudden movement. In the early months, he would spend hours watching her sleep, marveling at every peaceful sigh, at the tiny face that filled with expressions he could barely decipher. It was there, in his arms, that she found comfort, and he, a calm he had never known existed.

And then came her first steps. She surprised him one afternoon when she stood up, shaky and determined, holding onto a piece of furniture and casting hesitant yet curious glances at him. Bruce crouched down, arms open, and for a moment, found himself almost laughing nervously. He didn't want her to fall, but he knew he couldn't hold her forever. She wobbled, stumbled, but didn't stop, and he was there, waiting. Her little eyes sparkled as she reached for him, and when she finally fell into an awkward embrace, her laughter echoed like the purest music he had ever heard.

In that moment, as she smiled, her tiny hand clutching his shirt, Bruce believed he could always protect her. The feeling of her little arms around his neck, the sweet, childish scent, everything seemed eternal. And for an instant, the world outside, with all its darkness, ceased to exist.

Since her first steps, Dick's presence was like a beacon lighting the way for his sister. He was not just a brother; he was a guide, a companion, a smile that made every day a new adventure to be explored. With a touch of humor and a wealth of laughter, he encouraged her to explore the world, to embrace life without fear, as their laughter resonated through the house like gentle music.

Dick had a special magic: he made his sister feel like the only person who mattered in a vast universe. He was the first to play, to offer words of courage when uncertainty enveloped her. "Come on, little one! You can do it!" His words danced in the air, imbued with confidence, as if every encouragement was a spell that dissipated the shadows of fear. He taught her to ride a bike, running alongside her, always ready to catch her before a fall became real, his gaze a mix of concern and joy.

In training, Dick transformed into something more than just a brother; he was a mentor who inspired her to be strong, to break barriers, always respecting her pace. He knew the world could be unforgiving, and so he made a point to show her that there was beauty in the little things, even amidst the chaos.

When Bruce set out to patrol the city, Dick became her shield. With stories of heroes and villains, he enveloped his sister in a world of fantasy, turning fear into something magical. "Everything will be alright," he would whisper, embracing her with warmth and protection. In those moments, she felt immune to danger, safe in her realm of dreams.

Dick was also the bearer of laughter, the one who brightened cloudy days with his comedic imitations and carefree jokes. There was a sparkle in her eyes, a palpable joy when he was around. And when she tried to mimic his acrobatics, her boldness was always covered by a protective gaze. "Be careful, little one! You don't want to end up on the ground!" He would catch her before gravity could claim her, and together, their laughter mingled, creating a symphony of love and joy amidst the shadows of life.

Tim was the anchor amidst the whirlwind of emotions that life brought. To his sister, he was more than just a younger brother; he was the safe harbor where she found comfort in the storms of the city. When the world around seemed a maze of challenges, she always knew she could count on him. With his curious gaze and sharp intelligence, Tim offered a sweet and calm refuge, where reality became lighter.

From their first exchanged smiles, there was a special connection between them. He watched her with admiration, as if she were the light illuminating his shadows. In their conversations, he encouraged her to dream, to believe that even in the darkest nights, there was a glimmer of hope waiting to be discovered. Together, they created imaginary worlds, and he was always willing to listen to her stories, her joys, and her concerns, becoming a loyal confidant.

When responsibilities and challenges weighed on Tim's shoulders, she was the presence that reminded him that, behind the masks and symbols, there was still a boy with dreams and insecurities. She made him laugh with her silly jokes and affectionate gestures, and Tim didn't hesitate to reciprocate, taking her on adventures that made her heart dance with joy.

There were sunny afternoons when they would explore the nooks of the mansion together, laughing and creating memories that would become eternal. He taught her to see the world differently, showing that there was beauty even in the simplest things. He never saw her as a vigilante, but rather as a sister, someone who brought light to his darkest days.

In moments of anguish, when the city seemed intent on swallowing them, she became the calm amidst the storm. Tim remembered how her words were like balm, healing his invisible wounds. She comforted him without needing words, a tight hug that said everything he needed to hear. In those hours, he realized that, although life was filled with shadows, there was still light—a light he could find in her eyes.

Their relationship was a delicate balance between support and playfulness, where both felt safe to be who they truly were. Tim, even amid his struggles, found in his sister the courage he needed to face the world, while she saw him as her refuge, the assurance that together, they could conquer any challenge life threw their way.

From the moment she entered Damian's life, a new world opened before him, a universe filled with emotions he had never fully understood. To him, she was not just a sister; she was a silent revolution that rocked his existence with laughter and fragility, a constant reminder that life could be lived with more lightness.

Damian, with his serious and often restrained demeanor, found a strange comfort in her presence. She brought a sweetness that softened his hardened heart, like a ray of sunshine breaking through dense clouds. Their connection was a subtle dance, marked by playful moments and competitions that transformed training into adventures. He challenged her, as if he wanted to shape her into something strong and untamed, but at the same time, it was she who shaped him, showing him the beauty of vulnerability.

There were days when the mansion seemed filled with shadows, but she always managed to bring a smile to his face. With her curious and cheerful gaze, she drew him out of the cocoon of seriousness in which he took refuge. "Come on, brother! Show me what you can do!" she would say, her mischievous tone reflecting a challenge he couldn't resist. Together, they would run through the garden, laughing and tumbling, with the lightness of children who only knew the freedom of the moment.

Damian felt more human beside her, as if the barriers he had built to protect himself dissolved with every shared laugh. She was the only one who could see him, not as the heir to a dark legacy, but as a boy who just wanted to be accepted. With her, he didn't need masks; the acceptance she offered was an invaluable gift.

As the training grew more intense, he never failed to protect her. Damian knew that life's struggles were not just physical; he wanted her to be strong but also understanding. "Life can be unforgiving," he would often whisper in serious moments, "but you must always fight with your heart." And in his own internal struggle, he found strength in her, in the silent courage she carried, even without needing a cloak or a name.

On the darkest nights, when nightmares came to visit him, it was her presence that brought peace. She would find him, without the need for words, simply being, like a beacon that never extinguished. And so, in the chaos of Gotham, she became the sun that lit his path, a reminder that there was beauty in being vulnerable, a treasure they both shared in their small moments.

And then there was Jason.

Jason had always been a charming mystery in her life, an enigma unfolding in whispers and glances. From their first encounters, there was an electricity in the air, a connection that seemed to transcend friendship. He, with his unassuming demeanor and teasing smile, made every moment by his side a dance of emotions.

It was as if the universe conspired to create little moments that revealed the depth of their feelings. She remembered the afternoons they shared secrets, the looks they exchanged as if searching for something deeper. The fine line between friendship and love began to blur, and they became accomplices in more than just laughter and playful banter.

He taught her to see beauty in rebellion, courage in fragility. Jason was a sun in a cloudy sky, a flame illuminating the darkest corners of her soul. With him, she felt alive, as if she could embrace the world without fear. Each touch, each laugh, was a note in a melody that grew increasingly familiar, and the idea that this could merely be friendship began to dissipate.

In moments of silence, when words weren't necessary, there was a deep understanding between them. He looked at her with a gaze that spoke more than a thousand declarations could express. The chemistry was palpable, a silent dance unfolding under the cloak of night. And even in the dark hours, when the weight of Gotham felt unbearable, Jason was the refuge she never knew she needed.

And so, amid laughter and looks filled with meaning, their friendship began to blossom into something deeper, something more intense. Each shared moment became an indelible memory, a promise that, regardless of the storms they might face, they would be together, like two lost stars that had finally found each other in the vastness of the universe.

.

.

.

The words hung in the air, heavy as laden clouds, as Bruce's daughter confronted him. The silence of the mansion was broken only by the sound of their hurried breaths. After the tragedy, pain echoed in every corner of the house, transforming home into an emotional battleground.

"You could have saved him!" Her voice was a mix of ferocity and despair, as if each syllable were an arrow shot directly at Bruce's heart. "You had the chance to end this! But you chose to do nothing!"

He felt the weight of the accusation, as if she were stripping him of his vigilante mantle, revealing not only the man he was but also the father who had failed. "I couldn't... That's not how things work," he replied, his voice tense, battling the guilt that consumed him.

"But you knew who he was! You know what he did to Jason!" Her crying was more than a simple expression of pain; it was a storm of accumulated hurt, a cry for justice echoing in his mind. "You let the Joker live, and now Jason is... not here anymore!"

Bruce's eyes, usually so firm and resolute, softened as they met hers. "I didn't want to lose anyone else," he murmured, the truth breaking apart in his mouth. "I thought that if I stopped acting on impulse, I could prevent more suffering. I thought that..."

"You thought you were stronger than the pain, didn't you?" She interrupted, disdain mixing with sadness. "But now it's us who are paying the price. And while you refuse to act, they continue to live. The Joker keeps haunting us! He's still out there, laughing at us!"

The anger burned in her chest like fire, but behind it was an emptiness. She had lost a brother, and the pain transformed her reality into an unbearable place. And even as her powers slowly consumed her, the idea of losing another loved one was intolerable.

Bruce moved, almost instinctively, but hesitated. "I don't want you to carry this weight. I want you to live!" The declaration sounded like a plea, a last remnant of hope.

"Live? How can I live knowing you didn't have the courage to do what needed to be done?" The bitterness in her voice turned into desperation, and her gaze became a mirror of what she truly felt. "I'm not invulnerable, Dad. I'm not like you. Being alive just means carrying more pain."

"Don't talk like that! You have to understand—" Bruce began, but the words faltered, the intensity of the conversation causing the walls he had built over the years to begin to crumble.

"Understand what? That your compassion turns into weakness? That you prefer forgiveness over justice? Jason had no choice, but you did," she exclaimed, her voice trembling with a mix of anger and pain. "And you chose to fail."

The silence that followed was deafening. Time seemed to freeze as they both faced the unspoken truths, the open wounds that defied understanding. She knew that words could be a sharp weapon, but the pain of her loss was stronger than any caution.

"Either way, I can't stay here anymore," she finally declared, determination replacing sadness. "I can't wait for you to do what you should have done. I will seek justice for what was taken from me."

And with that, she turned her back, leaving behind a conflicted father, struggling against the chains of his own guilt.

. . .

How pain can be the fuel for many things...

Amid the chaos that had become her life, there was a moment when the sun still seemed to shine. Memories of laughter, play, and the lightness of just being a daughter echoed in her mind like whispers of a time that felt so distant. However, that light was slowly extinguished, like a flame that flickers before going out completely.

The powers that once made her feel special began to transform into a prison. Each explosion of energy, each surge of strength she unleashed, was accompanied by a growing weakness, as if an invisible parasite was devouring not only her strength but her essence. She had become a spectator of her own life, each forced smile a reminder of what she had lost and what was yet to come.

At first, the powers were a blessing; a way to help, to feel alive in a world that always seemed on the brink of darkness. Every time she used her gifts, there was a sense of freedom, as if she could touch the sky. But as time went by, that freedom became a curse. The echoes of her own achievements turned into screams of pain, and the euphoria that once accompanied her was now just a shadow, a bitter reminder of a potential that was slowly destroying her.

It was on one of those heavy days that the conversation with Bruce became inevitable. The pain of losing Jason still lingered in the air, like a mist that never dissipated. Bruce was distant, wrapped in his own shadows, but the truth she carried could no longer be ignored.

"You don't understand," she began, anger boiling in her veins like poison, "You chose a side long ago and continue to choose it every time you leave the Joker alive. How many lives must be lost for you to care? Is one death worth the lives of thousands?!"

The darkness of that abandoned building seemed to absorb her words, each one echoing against the worn walls, now witnesses to a conflict much deeper than the mere clash of heroes and villains. The smell of rust and mold filled the air, but nothing compared to the pungent feeling of loss that hung between them.

Bruce looked at her, the pain in his heart mixing with frustration. "I... I can't be the judge of life and death. I can't become what we fight against."

"But you already are!" She screamed, the weakness in her body mingling with the ferocity of her words. "You've become a prisoner of your own morality, a spectator while the Joker continues to get away, a predator in the dark, taking more lives! You should have ended this, and now Jason... he's dead!"

Jason's name sounded like a dark echo, a reminder of the pain that cut through their hearts. And she knew that, although Bruce had raised and loved her, there was something in him that still clung to his code, even when it meant losing a son.

The tears, previously suppressed, now threatened to overflow, and Bruce's expression grew heavier. He wanted to scream, wanted to say that all of this was his fault, but instead, the truth was that there were no words that could soften the grief. He had lost Jason, and now, before his daughter, faced the possibility of losing once again.

"You can't leave me, not now," he murmured, his voice choked. "I can't bear this pain any longer."

She shook her head, feeling the weight of the gravity of her words. "I have no choice, Dad. Can't you see? With each passing day, I feel more distant, more lost. These powers... they're consuming me, and with every struggle, every attempt to protect myself, I lose a piece of me."

Bruce's eyes widened in horror, and the realization of what she was saying hit him like a blow. "What are you saying?"

"I'm dying, Dad," she replied, her voice weak but firm. "And you can't do anything to stop it. The Joker has left scars on me that won't heal. I did this to feel alive, but now it's a curse I can't bear."

The silence between them turned into a wave of despair, the reality of their situation sinking like heavy anchors at the bottom of their hearts. The rain began to fall outside, the drops echoing like a lament for all they had lost. What should have been a refuge was now a cruel reminder that even the deepest bonds could fade away.

"You don't have to do this alone," Bruce pleaded, a thread of hope breaking through his voice. "We can find a way to... to heal this. We'll figure it out together."

But she smiled, a sad and resigned smile. "You can't save me, Dad. I'm not the same anymore. And when I'm gone, I want you to know that I did this for us, for Gotham. So you won't have to feel the pain of losing someone you love again."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Bruce in the darkness of that abandoned place, a father consumed by guilt, unable to save his daughter once more.

[gotham-daydreams]

Honestly, in a situation like not [] where they aren't willing to physically hurt the reader but psychologically mess with them? It's fucked but at the same time I have too good of an imagination. When it comes to neglect there's so many aspects of it that could happen and even if I'm pissed I could keep my mouth shut to the point I feel numb.

I mean they can't change you or break you if you just stay in your own head after all? Lil stories in your head to keep you busy, unholy amount of hours spent sleeping. I don't care if I waste away if it means not having to deal with people who won't even listen or admit that it's gonna take time to undo trauma and won't take the proper steps to undo it.

They take things up a notch and limit food or start doing things that prevent you from sleeping? Do it, at least the hat man will be a better friend. Can't break what's not there, the batfam always has this mindset that so long as they get their way that they would do what's necessary but that's entirely because they are all too selfish to actually really respect how you feel. And no amount of bugging me or yelling at me or trying to get a rise out of me will change the fact I can just slip into my mind and ignore it all.

The only way I'd ever stop being in my head and not even wasting time on them is if they actually tried to be genuine in fixing things and admit they fucked up and are doing it out of guilt. Either put down your pride or stay with a reader who will gladly stay tucked away in the crevice of their brain in an imaginary field of flowers with whatever lil character they make to enjoy the time in their head <3

Anyways I love your series and can't wait for more!! Please take care and hydrate!!!

I do agree! Especially in this scenario where they’re way more unwilling to physically hurt the reader, because... well, they want to hear your music! Like a little songbird, just tucked away from the public eye, just for them to hear you sing...

It'll definitely get on their nerves, and some will probably crumble under the pressure - but those that don't aren't actually the ones you should be worried about. I mean, of course they'll try to do everything else they can, and at that point - its a contest of willpower and to see who can outlast the other (and spoiler, most of them will definitely lose), but some are definitely more stubborn than others. After all, their 'love' is spawned out of guilt, obligation, and a messy mix of things that's turned into this ugly beast of a thing they see as love - if you aren't willing to take it, then that's fine, but you definitely aren't getting anything until you do.

Though, again, at some point the time and treatment definitely begins to effect them too. And that’s... not good, especially when some of them are known for their resolve, will, and general ability to withstand so much crap despite not even being superhuman (even if in all honesty, compared to the average guy, they may as well be). Them being insane does not help with that fact.

They'll begin to consider things they wouldn't have even thought of before out of sheer desperation and need. They'll think about it, plan it out a little, and before they even know it - they're losing hours of sleep trying to find ways to actually execute it. Hell - some may even act impulsively, and just flat out do it without giving it a second thought. Because they can't. They can't think. They can't sleep. Not without you - not after another month, another week, another day, another hour, another second without you.

They need it. Need you. Need your warmth, your presence - to feel like they're doing something right, even when its so wrong. Even if they've left you damaged beyond repair, some still want to feel like they can fix you, put you back together... and what better way to feed that delusion then to hold you in their arms? To do all of these things with you... even if you're not mentally there?

At that point, they'd sacrifice never being able to hear your music from you to get that. To have that fabricated connection. They'd give up that one thing that's been keeping them from harming you physically, and go all out.

[Which... descriptions of losing limbs, and general gore under the cut, it's not pretty but not super detailed either? Yes, it's towards the reader. Yes the reader is awake. There is no cut away, but some dancing around using some phrases repeatedly. Consider yourself warned and advised. Even if it's just descriptions - the family isn't playing nice.]

Maybe they'd start small... just a leg, maybe two, not even a foot- your legs from the knee down are going indefinitely. Maybe even the whole thing if certain people do it impulsively, and aren't thinking - aside from the fact that they need you close, but they just have to get these things out of the way. To lessen your struggle, to reassure themselves you won't run, of course - after all, you can't run if they just... take away that option, right? It's for the best, they'd tell themselves, they need to do this. They have to. You gave them no other choice- and now... now they had to make a tough choice. They have to do this.

If it's done impulsively, it's messy. I guess not having a lot of experience cutting off limbs or disabling someone isn't going to make things easier, who knew, am I right? Taking lives (for some of them), and beating people up is one thing, but cutting off arms and legs? It's weird to think about until you're the one doing it, and in a frenzy no less.

Some of the more impulsive ones you really have to look out for, because if they do it then it is painful, and that is no exaggeration. As much as they're thinking about you, they also aren't at the same time - at least not you in the present as they're doing the removal. You'll pass out from pain, or just the visceral sight right before you witness your leg getting torn off. Real messy stuff. It's not subtle at all, they barely hide it - if they even try to allow you that luxury. If anything, you see too much of it. Either way, you're out like a light, and left with whatever you saw as nothing is left to the imagination. Unless your fucked up mind makes it worse, to which- a lot is left to the imagination as that nightmare of a scene is messed with and mixed in your head like a toddler left in the kitchen.

Of course, the family will take care of the messy outcome, and get you to another room and everything (after all, they have one too many spar ones), but, well, that won't change the reality of the situation, will it? Hell, get one of the more rough ones pissed off or just do something one of the more impulsive ones doesn't like, and you'll lose your arms, and depends on who does it - you'll lose them just as you lost your legs, and you'll get to watch... before you pass out, of course.

Maybe they'll get you things to help, like robotic limbs and such, though its not that great and doesn't make things easier. Not even a little. They'll be able to control everything you do, essentially, down to what you can even touch or interact with.

You'll feel more trapped then you ever have before, as even your body, every limb attached to your torso is theirs. Theirs to control. To mess with, and just like before, they'll take it away if you do something that makes them upset.

They'll leave you more than just defenseless.