#the premise for her character is sound and there's so much potential there

[adventures-in-mangaland]

Yet Another Dead Boy Detective Fic Rec List

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

I've been having so much fun with these, so I've decided to make another! See above for links to my other fic rec lists. ♥️

Like We're Gonna Die Young (Again) by RoseGanymede95

The latest installment in the superb Codependency World Cup series has the boys attend a nefarious house party and grapple with old frenemies, 90s fashion and temporary amnesia. Also fleshes out their achingly sad backstories, but compensates with the triumphant return of Pierre the rabbit.

When I Picture You by Gruoch

Charles gets braceleted by the Cat King instead of Edwin and receives his heart's desire... being alive again. This author has a special gift for taking fun sounding premises and turning the angst up to 11. So excellent.

young blood (never get chained) by ghostinthelibrary

University AU in which half-demon Charles intervenes in Edwin's ritual sacrifice and inadvertently binds their souls together... I'm genuinely obsessed with this AU, it has so much potential for tons of delicious tropes. Human!Edwin getting a crash course in supernatural shenanigans! Soulmate vibes!Found Family! Demon lore! What's not to love??

Ghosts and Monsters by justafandomfollower

Charles is also sacrificed and the boys meet in Hell! Fantastic premise and executed really well. I loved Masterful Edwin taking charge and protecting Charles while inwardly despairing. Highly recommended.

back to back they faced each other by ShanaStoryteller

The Night Nurse has a theory about how Charles was able to rescue Edwin from Hell so quickly... I'm genuinely shocked I haven't recced this one already. Sorry guys, I forgor. Anyway, this has interesting "Guardian" (angel?) lore, great meta and we even get some temporary amnesia as a treat.

boyfriend jacket by skadii

5+1 times Edwin borrowed Charles' jacket. The characterisation is on point, and it has some great OCs (Kyle the snarky seeing-eye cat!) and really sweet payneland moments. Plus Charles' jacket doing its most to annoy the Cat King.

Looking Like the Sunrise by letters_of_stars

Edwin thinks he's cursed so he and Crystal must team up to solve the case of his Mysterious and Suddenly Appearing Rizz. Funny and sweet friendship fic with some quality Edwin-Crystal bonding and discussions of trauma.

The Case of the Anonymous Confession by Mayarenerose

College AU featuring Charles posting an 'anonymous' online confession about his complicated feelings for his bestie. The closet is glass, but Edwin is oblivious and Crystal is in pain. Cute and funny epistolary social media fic done really well.

the middle of something wonderful by KiaraSayre

Does what it says on the tin and gives us a trope salad of cosy vignettes, including a time loop, temporary amnesia, sudden corporality and Crystal and Edwin trying to get a good grade in Party. Wholesome.

My heart is like a haunted house (series) by halffulljampot

Charles (unknowingly) befriends the ghost of Edwin's mother and constantly gushes to her about his amazing best friend/boyfriend. Beatrice is a great OC and it's just nice (though extra tragic) to read a fic in which Edwin had loving parents. Read it for Family Feels and wholesome intergenerational friendship.

the first rule of fight club by e_va

The boys are captured by an evil underground fighting ring. The fic is from Charles' PoV, so the prospect of having to fight Edwin was especially stomach-churning. Still, we get Edwin being a badass and a brilliant surprise cameo I don't want to spoil.

The Case of The... by sophisticatedyet

Edwin borrows Niko's negligee and Charles' brain breaks. There's also a case and giant squids, but Charles' Distracted By The Sexy crisis is the main (hilarious) event.

in those heavy days when love became an act of defiance by aletterinthenameofsanity, JUBE514

Daemon AU and first meeting fic! Loved the worldbuilding, insightful character work and lovely use of Greek mythology. Honestly, this fandom needs more daemon AUs.

spinning around and around in an ocean of grief (your ladder came down to the sea) by Ingi

Prequel to DontOffendTheBees' excellent College AU, expanding on the boys being alive and in school together. Also has its own prequel about their first meeting from Edwin's point of view. This one, though, is a Charles' Bisexual Journey/Feelings Realization fic. So lovely.

head in the clouds but my gravity's centered by shadowquill17

Face Touching: The Fic. I just love non-sexual intimacy in fics and this one is so tender. I also love Accidental Kissing and Feelings Realization so my cup runneth over.

i don't want to rest in peace by handwrittenhello

Different First Meeting fic featuring Poltergeist Charles! Loved the concept, even though it made me sad.

the great snogging debacle of '95 by thatgayprince

Edwin disguises himself as a girl and Charles starts and then defers a sexuality crisis for 30 years. Funny, steamy and emotional.

a beautiful day to say goodbye by ofstitches

The agency take on the case of a depressed house. This is another bittersweet Edwin backstory fic with discussions of grief.

Smitten in the Stacks by cordelianoir

Adorable prequel to lolotr's equally adorable library AU. Meet cute featuring (platonically married) Dad!Charles crushing on the hot librarian who leads Children's Storytime.

Jenny Green: Butcher, Hot Mess, Reluctant Queer Elder by Money_Maker

Jenny-centric fic! The focus is on Jenny and her financial, mental and emotional struggles post-canon, but mentoring Edwin through his queer self-discovery becomes a big part of that. This turns into a really sweet friendship, plus Found Family Feels and some fun outsider PoV of the boys' dynamic.

I've always got more recs so watch this space! ❤️

[thecheshirerat]

On TAZ-

Wow that sounds like I’m about to summarize some sort of discourse but I promise I’m not. I guess I’ll say that I really like this show and I will keep listening even if my worst fears come to pass, so keep that in mind!

For reference, I started listening near the end of Amnesty.

I’ve noticed, with the past few arcs- really since Ethersea- the narratives have just… not been fulfilling their promises, so to speak. They’ve been placing a lot of guns that don’t go off. What I mean by that is, the characters are great. Excellent, really. Lady Godwin? HELL YES. Emerich Dreadway? Fuck yeah! And so on! And the settings and premises have been epic- the goofiness and also horrifying nature of Engrave, the mad and thrilling world of Steeplechase- these things are COOL AS FUCK.

and then the actual narratives keep flopping?

And honestly, I notice it most in the endings, because you can really tell when an ending doesn’t land. You feel the sense of disappointment. But with vs. Dracula, for example, I could kinda see leading up to it that the ending couldn’t really BE anything special, because they lowkey didn’t set themselves up for it.

They spent the campaign fucking around in Engrave, finding clues and solving problems and not really experiencing any particularly meaningful character arcs or growth or, idk, forming relationships? So there wasn’t much to pay off, I’m not gonna lie!

Of course it doesn’t feel quite as dissatisfying when you’re in the thick of it, because they’re funny and the stuff is cool and- oh hey! Lady Godwin’s been turned into a werehorse against her will?? that’s got some real potential for a LOT of allegories and exploration of some fun character development! And then it’s kinda played as a joke. And then they do that again and again.

And they actually said that that was a move they made intentionally, in the TTAZZ. I’m not quoting them perfectly here, this is from memory, but I do remember them mentioning that they wanted lighthearted comedy without the burden of real life story stuff. And I get that, honestly, but… it’s not the choice I would’ve made. I do think you can keep a lighthearted tone while also, idk, forming relationships and wholesomely engaging with some amount of emotion. And sometimes going way too deep is funny as a tone shift!

But I digress. One thing that’s also popped out to me is the almost complete lack of any kind of romantic storyline or even references. This becomes obvious if you’re in a fandom because everyone is always dying to ship SOMEONE, and you can tell when people are really getting desperate. I don’t blame them for not wanting to roleplay romance with their family, and I do think stories lacking romance are COOL and SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED!

However if you can’t find ANYBODY to ship together… that may mean you just don’t have character bonds. The growing popularity of the PC polycule is interesting to me; I wonder if it’s partially because

a) none of the pcs have significant relationships outside of their party and

b) even within the party, there doesn’t seem to be much chemistry between any given pair of characters…? I hope I’m making my point well here- the PCs all seem equally close and have more or less the same relationship to all of their compatriots with little distinction, meaning, essentially, no shipping fodder that doesn’t involve just all of ‘em.

Either way, it makes me wonder if I can blame the “Graduation has too many NPCs!” critique. They really stopped giving the parties tag-along main NPCs after graduation, with the exception of maybe.. Urchin? Kodira? Shlabethany? Poppy? and even they get relatively little “screen” time. Steeplechase has great NPCs, I love them to death, but none of the PCs seem to ever have one on one conversations with NPCs or each other that do not explicitly focus on the plot. And I think that’s part of why the characters feel so underdeveloped despite having spent a lot of time with them- because in this character-driven genre, we get very little insight into their feelings or motivations or even their rudimentary backstories.

I started watching Fantasy High recently and it made me realize a couple things about TAZ.

1) Recently, TAZ has sooo few core NPCs, and it’s weird that the characters aren’t doing more one-on-one purely character based scenes. And that makes it really tough to develop them.

2) TAZ is- and I should have realized this before- one of many good dnd podcasts. They’re probably looking for a niche they can master.

And it sounds like they’re trying to get back to that old “Here there be Gerblins!” energy. They’ve referenced it so many times in recent TTAZZes- they wanted to be job-focused, allowing story stuff to happen organically, so they tried a more open world vibe with Ethersea. They wanted to be less afraid to kill stuff, so they tried playing criminals (and were still afraid to kill stuff). They wanted to be silly and light on character, as they tackled with taz vs dracula. Now they’re trying to bring in the silly cartoon vibe with Abnimals. I think they’re trying to make that family-friendly, funny and goofy show their niche. Something other actual plays can’t be better at them at.

And honestly it kinda makes me sad, that they keep trying to go back to Balance while ignoring everything they learned during it. Because I loved Dust. Because I loved Amnesty. Because I loved Ethersea. I loved these past arcs! But they keep doing their brilliant characters dirty for some reason!!! And i don’t know why!!!!

You know that meme about people who ask questions in movies and then the person responds “Have you ever been to a movie before? You watch them and the information is revealed.” There have been so many times in TAZ recently where information has Not been revealed and if they keep doing it the audience will stop bothering to suspend their disbelief, because the trust just isn’t there.

What is Montrose’s deal? What on earth was Carmine Denton’s whole thing? Tell me more about Zoox’s feelings, about Devo’s past, about Amber’s future. Show me how Lady Godwin feels about the body horror that is her life- like, seriously! WHY DID WE HAVE TO COMPLETELY DISMISS THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS GENERATIONAL TRAUMA IN MUTT’S LIFE FOR A JOKE??

Do you remember in Steeplechase where the boys were getting medical attention or something- i don’t remember, but they were all in one room and only talking about The Plot. And Poppy literally banged on the door (speaking for both Justin and me, tbh) and was like “does anyone want to share any feeeeelings??” and they were like NOPE! and they moved on!!

like. cmon. you can’t just put a character like montrose out there and then leave them severely underdeveloped to the point that what would be interesting in proper context, with audience insight, becomes confusing and chaotic.

I just wish they would take their stories as seriously as we do.

It feels to me like they don’t believe in themselves, and it makes me sad. Maybe they didn’t get the response they wanted from Ethersea and so they’ve been trying to pivot, hoping to recapture whatever it was that earned them a loyal audience.

Again, I love them. They’re so funny and I’ll keep listening until the day they stop making this show, and when it happens I’ll cry.

But i KNOW they have more in them. Remember the “we’ll grow gills” monologue from Justin in the Prologues? Remember Travis’s SOLID acting with Devo? Or his awesome choice to give Lyndon/Beef a clearly delineated work/irl identity? His excellent narration and prose? Remember when Montrose described being lonely?! Remember all those moments where Shit Got Real and you cared??? The nanofather said some dope shit! dracula and victor and sweater dracula had such a wild dynamic! Clint’s acting in Dust 2- I can’t remember the characters name right now- was ASTOUNDING, I genuinely didn’t know he had that in him and it blew me away!

I’m not referencing Balance on purpose, both because the fandom is way to hung up on it and because I want to prove that you don’t even have to look at Balance, or even Post-Balance arcs, to see this kind of good cool stuff!

GAAAAAAAGHHHH!!! I want them to have fun. But also. We’re starving out here.

[familyagrestefanblog]

I can only hope the new Paris special won't force Marinette/ Toxinelle into the role of the "chaotic baddest bitch" for superficial praise and keeping Adrien/ Griffe Noire as nothing but her unconditional support again and the "good" one. Because literally from the way the powers of Ladybug and Chat Noir work that's bullshit and the MUCH weaker story premise character wise.

Toxinelle has no offensive powers. She can be as smart as she wants in this scenario her powers are needed for AFTER the Butterfly akumatized someone to save the city, so she can prevent said saving from happening.

Griffe Noire would be required to first nuke the city so the butterfly can react to something and that means alternative Adrien/ Griffe Noire would - the longer all that went on - have needed to let go of all morality he once had and agree to become the moster of the two so SHE can remain level headed and get the Butterfly from the hero.

That's still alot of pressure and burden on Toxinelle's shoulders, being the one who has to be the light at the end of the tunnel for both of them to get their happy ending in a better world. But for the love of God, Adrien throwing out his humanity and only holding onto her and his dead mother

If this is to be believed:

Is ALOT worse and fitting as the conflict's heart piece.

I can only hope the special will be reasonable enough that Toxinelle will be the lesser evil of ShadyClaw and not waste so much story potential for another round of "Chloé the awful bitch". There is so much more interesting stuff you can do with Marinette than that, especially in the Toxinelle field.

Already as Ladybug Marinette showcases extremely dangerous anti-hero tendencies where she becomes so strategic that everyone involved stops being human beings or mattering in the moment because she needs to get something important done.

Most crucial examples are how Emilie Agreste's dead body was used as a mere inhuman tool by her in "Recreation" to defeat her insane husband, by cataclysming the lift and letting it crash down on Emilie to force Gabriel to stand still. Only though that Marinette then barely gave Gabriel enough time to throw the lift sideways and he only managed to save himself and Emilie from being crushed in the nick of time.

Or you know, all of Marinette's horrifying plan in "Destruction" that put several life in danger by sending Monarque to helpless civilians (even to ANNOY HIM) and Chat Noir was literally turned into a non-human object served on a silver plate to Monarque. He couldn't move an inch like a human is to be expected or even BREATH while Monarque went to grab for his throat while Marinette herself stood save and sound in the back because all she actually thought about in that plan were the Kwamis and herself (not even bringing up how fucked up it was to not even let Chat Noir know that her plan involves him having to possibly live with having cataclysmed a person.)

Everyone else MONARQUE had to keep save in her plan by not being the awful and sadistic monster they thought him to be. Tolerating all kinds of disrespectful bullshit and not using any Second chance or other miraculous powers besides voyage, or for the lols quartering Chat Noir's statue for example in a second's notice.

Marinette's plan in "Destruction" was horrifying and impossibly irresponsible in how she instinctively dehumanized everyone but herself and the Kwamis in it without noticing it and 100% relied on MONARQUE to be a decent and reasonable enough person underneath so she could get away with the insane endangerment and dehumanization of everyone but herself (especially Chat Noir).

Her final battle with Monarque had Marinette come back to this questionable morality when she pulled a low-blow anti hero move by dragging the dead spouse of the villain further into the fight, and risking to take any human dignity away from Emilie's remainings - who never wanted any of this being done in her name - by making it GABRIEL'S job to save and preserve her from Bug Noire.

Marinette 100% has some serious anti-hero tendencies in how she dehumanizes people sometimes as side-effect of her strategic mind and when she's either to caught up in her head or she thinks her goal justifies the means.

Jfc, quit the bullshit and let Toxinelle be the escalation of that side of Marinette because she and Adrien know their identities this time around - truly THEM against the world - and she's stuck in a position where Adrien was forced to let go of his humanity and other emotional attachments for their cause, is way too far gone by now and she has to make sure they actually win so all of this wasn't for nothing.

Give me a Marinette/ Toxinelle who made it out of her having been bullied alot worse and that's how she got into this, but by now she deep down fully regrets ever having started this and wished with every inch of her heart she could stop

but she knows she herself already hardly could live with herself after all this so she would never ask Adrien/ Griffe Noire to let go of the only hope he has at this point and live with the fact that he became an actual monster to preserve HER humanity, so she can save them both with the wish.

A Toxinelle who believes they already went too far to possibly go back and because of that she detaches herself from morality in the way it happened in "Recreation" with Emilie because in her (and Adrien's) mind they only have to win and everything will be okay again.

Adrien won't be a monster anymore and will return all together to the boy she once loved - and only still behaves like around Marinette or while thinking of his mother - and Paris, it's citizens, the entire world and THEMSELVES wont remember anymore what happened or that Toxinelle and Griffe Noire ever did any of this to them.

Give me TAHT Marinette/ Toxinelle please. For the love of GOD.

[brynnmclean]

saw a post questioning shipping Senua and Thórgestr and started to reblog it with a tag novel-- felt weird about doing that since this is lengthy and potentially derailing, so making my own post instead. Spitballing under the cut:

First off, any time someone is like, "the real reason people ship this is because they find the dude attractive," this is SO funny to me as someone who doesn't find men attractive IRL and has fiercely loved Senua since I played the first game, like-- actually I find the dynamic between those two characters to be compelling and interesting precisely because of all the baggage between them re: their backgrounds, the rough (put mildly!) beginning of their relationship, all the things they don't talk about, and them finding a common enemy/common ground to work with. The explicit parallels between them stated in-game scratched an itch in my brain. The minute they pointed out the dark rot on his arm, it was like, "oh! hello there! NOW I'm interested in whatever your whole deal is" for me. Also, idk man, I too would follow Senua around after she knocked me into the dirt and then showed me a way to fight the giants that I very much wanted to fight instead of appease.

The idea that Thórgestr was part of the Orkney Raid that killed and mutilated Dillion is VERY interesting food for thought, even if I don't personally have that headcanon (surely there are more viking raiding groups than just the Bjorg). I think the Furies or the Shadow said something similar about Fargrimr (his kin murdered yours, you shouldn't save him, etc.) so I completely get that line of thought, but I think the game left it ambiguous enough that it's up for interpretation. Would I read fic with that premise? Yeah, I'd check that out. Could Senua forgive Thorgestr if his people were involved? Sounds fun to explore.

If (ha, when?) I write fic, I'd have to think more about it especially wrt timelines, like when did the Bjorg start specifically raiding for slaves for giant food sacrifices vs. killing people for resources and wealth? How far off are we from the old gods "dying" and the volcano erupting? Was it indeed a different group of raiders who made a deal with Zynbel, attacked Senua's home, and made the sacrifice at that time to Hela?

At the very least, I think there's a time jump between the end of Hellblade I and the beginning of Hellblade II since Senua wasn't alone on that slave ship and at least one of the (brief) survivors knew her by name. I wouldn't mind exploring that gap of time, too.

In any case I do agree that it would take a VERY long time for Senua to consciously catch feelings for anyone let alone Thorgestr with all their collective baggage. The idea of them having a relationship beyond friendship in the far off future of an AU where he survives is the only one that can make sense in my brain, personally. It would take time! Time they didn't get in the game! But I think there are a lot of different roads that could take, and some of them might be healthier than others. Shipping them certainly isn't forgetting or excusing what happened to Dillion-- or even mutually exclusive from still shipping Senua and Dillion. Or, frankly, also shipping Senua and Astridr, because I can see that ship too.

One of the nice things about all the details Ninja Theory didn't expand upon and that they left that ending so open is that the sky's the limit. I'm VERY interested in seeing fandom tackle this game as we get farther from the initial release.

[olivialau]

Shadow's Embrace Ch.22

Sukuna x Reader

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fanfiction based on the universe of "Jujutsu Kaisen," created by Gege Akutami. The original manga, anime, and characters belong to their respective owners and creators.

Notes:

This story unfolds in the Jujutsu Kaisen world, set in a slightly altered universe where Sukuna inhabits his own vessel distinct from Itadori Yuji's body, making him a separate entity.

Summary:

Ryomen Sukuna, the King of Curses, becomes fascinated with a female sorcerer rich in potential but lacking control. Initially seizing her for his destructive plans, Sukuna aims to bind her abilities through a contract. Yet, as he tries to dominate her, he finds himself intrigued by her strength and determination. Over time, his interest evolves from strategic advantage to a deeper, personal connection.

---------------------------------------------------------

CHAPTER 22 - Liquid Courage

The evening air bit at your skin as you stomped out the alleyway, your breath still coming in short, angry puffs.

But the cold wasn’t nearly enough to cool the fire raging in your chest.

It wasn’t just his harsh and cruel words that fueled your anger—it was the way he cast a toxic shadow over everything that mattered to you, poisoning every thought, every moment, every connection you tried to hold dear.

You desperately felt you needed to reclaim something—anything—of your own. If you couldn’t confront Sukuna’s power directly, then at least you could defy it in some small way. You deserved that much, didn’t you? A few hours of freedom, away from his suffocating presence.

With determination settling in, you reached for your phone, scrolling through your contacts. Your thumb hovered over Itadori’s name, and the thought of his infectious smile softened the sharp edges of your anger, just a little.

You hit the call button, and the rhythmic ringing on the other end seemed to mirror the pounding of your heart—until it stopped abruptly.

“Hey! What’s up?” Itadori’s voice came through, bright and familiar. It was just what you needed right now.

“Itadori, hey,” you said, your own voice still rough from the earlier confrontation. “I was thinking of grabbing some dinner. Are you free? Maybe we could drag Megumi and Kugisaki along too?”

There was a slight pause, and you could almost picture him, his face lighting up at the prospect of food and company. “Yes, that sounds great! There’s this new fried chicken place I’ve been dying to try—they’ve got a promo meal for Earth Worm 4, and—”

“Perfect!” you cut in before he could ramble on about this godforsaken movie he’d already told you the entire premise of days ago. “Text me the address, and I'll meet you there in thirty minutes.”

“Will do! I’ll make sure to get Megumi and Kugisaki on board too,” Itadori added, his grin so vivid you swear you could see it through the phone.

With that, Itadori hung up, and within moments, a text with the address pinged onto your screen. You set out toward the location, hoping the evening would be enough to distract you from the storm raging inside.

But as you walked, your fists kept clenching involuntarily, your thoughts spiraling back to the confrontation with Sukuna. That taunting grin, those hollow crimson eyes devoid of any understanding—they haunted you, replaying in your mind like a relentless, mocking echo.

In a surge of frustration, you lashed out at an empty soda can, sending it skittering across the pavement with a loud clatter. “Fuck him!” you shouted, the words echoing off the walls around you.

As if on cue, someone rounded the corner just in time to witness your outburst. You quickly ducked your head, embarrassed at being caught mid-tantrum, and hurried on your way, hoping to put as much distance as possible between yourself and that moment.

You arrived at the restaurant not long after, spotting Itadori, Megumi, and Kugisaki already settled in a booth near the window.

They waved as you approached, but their attention quickly returned to the menus in their hands, their hungry eyes carefully scanning the options.

“Hey, girly!” Kugisaki greeted, her smile bright as she moved her bag to make room for you. “We’re starving. Good timing.”

You chuckled, sliding into the booth beside her. “Glad I could make it before you all wasted away.”

“Perfect timing, really,” Megumi added. His tone was as dry as ever, though a hint of mischief sparkled in his eyes. “Itadori was about to start gnawing on the table.”

Itadori pouted. “Hey, I’ve been good! I waited.” His eager wave toward the waiter, however, revealed just how much he was looking forward to finally placing an order.

The restaurant buzzed with life, the clatter of dishes and the murmur of conversations blending into a comforting hum. It struck you then just how long it had been since you’d last enjoyed the simple, comforting sounds of normalcy—far removed from the world of curses and jujutsu.

Before long, plates of crispy, golden fried chicken arrived, each piece steaming hot and perfectly seasoned. The table quickly filled with the sounds of enthusiastic chewing, bursts of laughter, and the occasional playful argument over who got the last wing.

For brief moments, you almost forgot about Sukuna entirely. Though your vigilance kept you glancing over your shoulder now and then, just in case he decided to make an unexpected entrance and tear the place apart.

As the evening wore on, Itadori and Kugisaki exchanged a mischievous look, the kind that always meant trouble with those two. Kugisaki leaned in with a smirk. “You know what would go perfectly with this chicken? A nice, cold beer.”

You raised an eyebrow, catching on immediately. “You mean so you all can sneak a taste, don’t you? You’re all too young to order, but not too young to mooch off me?”

Itadori didn’t even bother denying it, his grin widening. “Just a taste! We’ve got to at least try it.”

Kugisaki, in turn, added a dramatic pout to her plea. “Come on, don’t be such a buzzkill.”

With a resigned sigh, you waved over the waiter. “Fine, I’ll order one. But just one sip each, got it?”

When the waiter asked if you wanted a small or large, you opened your mouth to order the small, but Kugisaki cut you off in the middle. “She’ll have a large!”

Itadori snickered at your expense, and even Megumi’s lips twitched in what might have been the hint of a smirk. You shot Kugisaki a mock glare, but in the end, you relented. “A large it is, then.”

When the beer arrived, it was surprisingly refreshing, and you found yourself downing it faster than you’d expected. True to your word, you allowed each of them a sip—no more, no less—before finishing it off.

The beer, coupled with the easy company, started to slowly loosen you up, and with each sip, laugh, and shared memory, the anger and anxiety that had plagued you earlier seemed to melt away.

Before you knew it, another beer was ordered, and then another, and another.

The conversation shifted to tales of your drunken escapades with Ayumi, and Itadori and Kugisaki couldn't resist egging you on, daring you to prove your claim of being able to chug a beer in one go. A large glass was soon placed in front of you, the golden liquid glistening temptingly under the warm restaurant lights. You knew it was a bad idea, but the night had already taken on a carefree momentum, so why resist?

By the time the clock struck ten, your legs felt wobbly, and your thoughts were pleasantly fuzzy. The day’s worries had lifted, replaced by a warm, hazy feeling that made it incredibly easy to smile, to laugh, and to forget.

Megumi, who often took on the responsibility for the group, noticed you were getting progressively more drunk and gently suggested it might be time to call it a night. “You’ve got classes tomorrow, and I doubt you want to show up smelling like a brewery.”

You wanted to protest, to stay in this pleasant bubble of peace a little longer, but deep down, you knew he was right. It was better to end the night here. After all, you still had to face him when you got home.

After paying, you and the others stepped out into the cool night air. They offered to walk you home—a sweet gesture, but the thought of what might happen if they ran into Sukuna made your stomach twist.

You shook your head firmly, nearly losing your balance. “No, it’s okay. I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to drag you guys out of your way. I’ll be fine.”

They exchanged concerned glances, but after you insisted, they agreed. “Alright, but take care of yourself, and text us when you get home,” Kugisaki said, giving you a stern look and a pointed wave of her finger.

You watched them go, with a mix of gratitude and lingering warmth in your chest. The street outside was quiet as you began your walk back to the apartment. Your steps were slightly unsteady but your mood was lighter than it had been in a long time.

As you wandered through the streets, you embraced the solitude—the simple pleasure of being just another person walking home after a night out. It felt incredibly, beautifully normal.

Humming a tune, you let your steps take on a playful rhythm. But as you turned into an alleyway near your apartment, your easy spin came to an abrupt halt when you collided with something—or rather, someone.

The alcohol must have dulled your senses more than you realized, because you desperately wondered how you could have missed the overwhelming, suffocating cursed energy now looming before you.

And you knew—without a doubt—who was behind it.

Sukuna.

Slowly, and with great reluctance, you forced yourself to look up.

His crimson eyes burned into you with a rage so intense, it felt like the air around you might catch fire. This was different from anything you'd seen in him before—more all-consuming, more personal.

It truly felt like you were being swallowed whole.

In a flash, Sukuna's hand shot out, gripping your collar with an ironclad grasp. Before you could even react, he slammed you into the brick wall behind you with such force that the impact knocked the breath from your lungs. Pain flared up your spine as your vision swam, slowly coming back into focus.

"Where the hell have you been?"

Sukuna's voice was low and dangerous. His breath felt hot against your cheek as he leaned in close, his knuckles grazing your throat. "Who gave you permission to disappear all night, huh? Did you forget your place, you insolent brat?"

He inhaled deeply, and the sneer on his lips grew more pronounced as he caught the scent of your breath. "You even reek of booze. What a pathetic display."

Pressing his body against yours, he pinned you so tightly against the wall that you could barely breathe. "Nothing to say? Or did the alcohol fry what little brains you have?"

It wasn't fear that was driving you right now, not really. The many beers in your system had taken that fear, dampened it, and turned it into something else entirely: reckless anger. It drowned out the rational part of your mind, and without thinking, you drove your knee into his upper leg with all the strength you could muster.

"Fuck you! Get away from me!"

Sukuna's eyes widened in surprise for a split second. But the shock was fleeting, quickly replaced by a seething, murderous rage. "You little—" He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, his expression darkened dangerously, his grip on your collar tightening to the point where it felt like he might crush your windpipe.

A cold sweat broke out as you struggled for breath, realizing just how close you were to death.

In a desperate move, your hand scrambled for the cursed dagger Gojo had given you. With shaking fingers, you pulled it from its sheath at your ankle and thrust it between you and Sukuna.

Sukuna glanced at the dagger with a puzzled expression before erupting into mocking laughter that reverberated through the narrow alley.

“What’s that pathetic little toy supposed to do? Who gave you that?” he taunted, extending a hand to seize your wrist.

But you managed to dodge, awkwardly swinging the dagger in his direction. Your movements were slow and sluggish, dulled by the alcohol and the effects of his cursed energy, causing your strike to completely miss its mark.

However, your attempt did succeed in one thing—further fueling Sukuna’s rage.

He slammed you into the wall once more, pinning your hands above your head with one hand while effortlessly snatching the knife from your grasp with the other.

"I swear I'll kill you for that, little sorcerer."

You fixed him with the fiercest glare you could manage, and he met your eyes with an equally deadly stare. For what felt like an eternity, you locked eyes like this. It was as if an invisible thread stretched taut between your gazes, poised to snap at any moment.

"Shit, if you're gonna kill me, just do it. I have nothing left to lose—I threw it all away when I formed that damn contract with you," you spat as the thread finally snapped.

For a moment, something shifted in Sukuna's expression, his grip on your wrists tightening as he leaned in so close that you nearly fainted from the cursed energy he was forcing you to take in. He raised the cursed dagger to your throat, the blade cold against your skin as he pressed it there with just enough force to draw a thin line of blood.

This is it, you thought. He's really going to kill me this time.

You squeezed your eyes shut, thankful for the numbing effect of the alcohol. Somehow, it made the prospect of death a bit more bearable. But just as his grip on your wrists tightened to the point where you were sure they would snap, he released you and turned around, growling under his breath.

"Tsk. You're not even worth the effort."

His voice was grating and full of disdain, but there was something else there too—a certain frustration, an anger that seemed directed more at himself than at you. He stopped at the wall opposite from you, slamming his fist into it with such force that the entire building seemed to tremble.

For a moment, you were too stunned to react, your body trembling from the aftermath of adrenaline, alcohol, and cursed energy overload, all at once. But then something inside you rebelled—liquid courage, they call it? Or perhaps it was the simmering resentment that had been building for so long.

"What's the matter?"  you taunted, taking a step forward despite the trembling of your legs. "Too scared to kill me? Some King of Curses you are."

Sukuna's back was still turned to you, but you could see the tension in his shoulders, the way his entire body seemed to vibrate with barely contained rage. And then, to your surprise, he let out a harsh, bitter chuckle.

“Scared? Don’t be absurd,” he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. “It’s not fear. It’s...”

He snickered to himself in frustration, his anger erupting as he threw another punch at the wall. The impact nearly shattered it, causing spiderweb-like cracks to spread across the entire side of the building.

“Every time I try to end your pathetic existence, it’s as if some damned force is holding me back. My chest feels like it’s weighted down, my movements stiffen.”

He kept his back turned, fists clenched tightly, as if gritting his teeth through an internal struggle. “Must be some strange side effect of the binding vow,” he muttered under his breath.

It was a surprisingly honest revelation, especially coming from him. Somewhat reassuring too, though you didn’t remember including any such conditions in the vow.

Maybe, for once, luck was simply on your side.

As you stared at his back, an odd impulse gripped you—to reach out and tug at his robe, to force him to face you. You desperately wanted to see his eyes, hoping that this unexpected honesty might reveal an unexpected trace of humanity as well. It was a desire you didn’t fully understand, especially amidst your anger. But it was a desire that was becoming increasingly more familiar to you.

Or perhaps it was just the alcohol clouding your judgment.

If not, you hoped Ayumi couldn’t witness you from the afterlife; she’d be deeply disappointed in how far your standards had fallen. Was a tiny glimpse of humanity really all it took for you to feel something...more, toward a monster like him?

God, you prayed it was just the alcohol.

---------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for reading everyone!!!❤️ This chapter made me wanna get drunk lol

If you want to be added to the taglist, so you don't miss any updates, please let me know in the comments or with a private message. Thankyou!

Taglist: @sukunasthightattoos , @tomiokasecretlover , @6demonize6me6 , @blindbabycadder , @domainofmarie , @marcoschuitmaker , @geniejunn , @chanaaaannel

[tossawary]

Hey! You've mentioned female!SQH in passing a while ago and that concept has been living rent-free in my brain ever since. I'd love to read your thoughts on it if you have more/are interested in sharing. Hope you're having a nice trip! :)

Thank you! I don't have many concrete thoughts on Fem!SQH (or Fem!MBJ or F/F!Moshang for that matter) besides the fact that I would try my best to make it a hot fucking mess. I would probably write it as a cracky one shot and I would want Fem!SQH to cause constant secondhand embarrassment on multiple levels. Not that Airplane Bro as Fem!SQH would be especially oblivious, no, she knows what she's doing and it's hugging thighs, committing crimes, and making other sect leaders walk out of conferences asking themselves if women should really be allowed to cultivate.

I'm exaggerating a little, but also not really. Airplane Bro is wily and genre-savvy and an apathetic bastard, at the same time that he's a clingy idiot who needs to pay more attention to what he's saying, and I resent assumptions that a female character is automatically the one "carrying the braincell". I would want to write something outrageously funny in which Airplane Bro transmigrating into Fem!SQH causes some chaos and gives MBJ even more issues than MBJ already had.

(I'm talking about a Male Airplane Bro transmigrating into a Fem!SQH here because I think a Female Airplane Bro transmigrating into a Fem!SQH sounds a little too OC for me to write that, though a woman writing an incredibly successful stallion novel like PIDW is very fun to think about. Even Airplane Bro growing up as Fem!SQH would inherently shift his character at least slightly, but that would be a firmer base for me to start on and I'm growing more comfortable with the idea. There's lots of room to explore Airplane Bro's relationship to gender and women by having him transmigrate into a female character in his stallion novel world.)

As for the idea of a Fem!SQH in PIDW... the details all depend on what kind of story you want to write. Only changing SQH's gender inherently has very different vibes to doing a full genderbend on the entire cast of PIDW/SVSSS. In a full cast genderbend, I personally don't really see the plot beats of the original SQH changing much. In a SQH-only genderbend, things could stay the same still, but if you wanted to switch it up, I suppose that in PIDW, the premise could instead have been an ambitious Fem!SQH trying to (maybe successfully?) blackmail MBJ into marrying her, but also resenting the necessity of having to marry for power, especially to a demon, and so hating MBJ's guts. Which would be mutual.

Lots of potential themes for a Fem!SQH's storyline in PIDW about how power can be given and taken away, the pros and cons of the legal situation of marriage, the intersection of sex/gender and class, and all sorts of interesting things.

Okay, now that I'm thinking about it, I kind of like the concept of PIDW Fem!SQH blackmailing MBJ into marrying her or something and then PIDW MBJ later on murdering his own wife. That seems sufficiently dark for PIDW. It would also be a stark contrast for PIDW MBJ to be a murderous widower when Luo Bing-Ge has so many wives. Putting Airplane Bro into that particular Fem!SQH situation for the SVSSS version of those events has strong Bluebeard fairy tale vibes. But that's also probably a slightly more serious story than the cracky vibe I was originally envisioning.

Mmm, I don't have any specific thoughts besides that at the moment. It's all fun to think about, though. ❤

[dimetrodone]

Inside out

Already talked about it a bit here but I guess I’ll talk more about the first movie specifically

I remember before it came out all my friends thought the idea sounded dumb but I thought it had the potential to be the first really good Pixar movie in a while. It came out, and most of said friends said it was great, while I thought it was…meh. Rewatching it recently and my feelings on it have definitely softened since 2015, but my issues with it are still mostly the same.

I think it’s critical praise is similar to Up’s and Coco’s where a lot of it *really* hinged on how much people liked the emotional parts. The infamous first 10 minutes of Up is great, and despite being hit and miss on Coco it did make me tear up. The emotional parts in Inside Out however never really hit me. Riley feels too much like a generic non character for her parts to get really enwrapped with her struggles, and Bing Bong’s stuff feels too…manufactured to be sad I guess.

After revisiting it I think I’d actually rank it higher then Up and Coco among other things just cause I think the story overall feels more consistent and overall solid movie even if it doesn’t reach the same high points. It’s not perfect but it’s cute, I like the premise of happiness learning the importance of sadness I guess.

Like all fine Pixar movies including and especially Cars thinking about logistics of the premise raises so many questions, which at this point I feel is a feature rather than a bug. The fact that other people’s emotional look the same as Riley’s but given all the same hair and outfits of the person is still dumb.

[jasontoddenthusiastt]

I think fans want Jason to be a good person or be becoming one. To have a character that is well meaning and compassionate but decided murder is ok and to stand against main heroes who’s beliefs and actions go against the people he cares about and wants in his life. It’s confusing for people. People want their fav characters to be happy. But Jason can’t have his family’s support and follow his moral code. He’s cares about people and Gotham, and he’s an asshole who kills. It’s messy. It’s not black and white. I don’t even think Jason cares about being a good person or in the right anymore. I think he cares about what will save the most people instead.

Oh my goodness gracious I’ve been bamboozled

Batman’s definition of Good is not synonymous with absolute good/right no matter how much dc insists it is. Torture, battery/assault, surveillance, those are all condemnable actions too. I won’t get into the exhausting and frankly dumb debate of comic book morality wrt killing because I’ve already reblogged plenty of posts from other people who explained my thoughts on the matter far better than I ever have the patience to sit down and articulate. I also just think the notion that there’s something to be done about fictional characters who kill nazis and senseless murderers is stupid. Jason’s point is that the “main” heroes’ sanitized definition of right has its unaddressed holes and flaws which ultimately result in more preventable fatalities, and that he’ll work to correct those missing spots.

He doesn’t not care about doing what’s right. What he doesn’t care about (at least during his Winick characterization) is whether Batman thinks he’s right or wrong, because he sees the flaws in Batman’s methodology (and since he has a mind of his own). Batman’s methods alone cannot address Arkham’s revolving door and the rogues that come and go through those doors who have no intention (or capability from the doylist pov) of ever changing or undergoing redemption. Jason knows that he’s minimizing the number of preventable deaths by killing his targets, typically Characters Who Simply Do Fucked Up Shit Just Because, Why The Fuck Not?

Secondly, Jason is compassionate … to a fault. That was his fatal flaw. If he wasn’t so hell-bent on saving his potential birth mother he just met from that bomb despite everything she did to him prior, he could have protected himself instead, however slim his odds of survival were. What about his relationship with his other parents? He was a caregiver during his early childhood years for Catherine, until her death. Even mature adults who are financially stable find being a caregiver to a dying parent to be extremely burdensome on their bodies and minds, but he never complained about it or resented Catherine for being unable to care for him. Despite how none of his parents have really been what he needed them to be, he doesn’t blame them for their failings, and even continues to think highly of them (Bruce included).

And post-death? Enter Lost Days. Despite being dead set on plotting his revenge on Bruce, he constantly sidelines this in order to save other victims who are helpless like he once was. His own anger, trauma, and mission don’t remain his priority. (Sound familiar? Something something my own trauma above my son’s, mission above all else, etc.). Why would he waste precious time and risk his own life to do this if he wasn’t empathetic towards these victims or didn’t care about doing the right thing. He is simultaneously horribly traumatized and full of rage, and also incapable of ignoring what’s happening to victims around him (even as he claims that it’s indeed not his priority). And in that same vein, the entire premise of his rebirth outlaws run was that he doesn’t care if the public views him as a villain, an outlaw, so long as he can protect Gotham. And anyway where is this portrayal of him not caring about being in the right anymore. Almost every modern Jason story is about him grappling with where he stands with Bruce/Batman. During the early 2000s was probably the last time he did not care (hello, tentatodd??).

Jason has very evidently been portrayed as a kind and compassionate character. He is also simultaneously a calculated killer who doesn’t hesitate to kill when he deems necessary, and does so without remorse. It’s called being a Complex Character With An Edge™ that as you said, people so often claim to love. However when he fulfills that latter part, that seems to upset people because “killing bad”, and they then try to shave off and round out all his edges and claim he shouldn’t be that angry. In that case I guess you should just stick to liking traditional one-dimensional characters instead of claiming to like Jason but then encouraging his character assassination attempt by dc. Lol.

Lastly, who said anything about the batfam making Jason happy? Just because he’s written nowadays to want acceptance from Bruce (a shoddy attempt at forcing a non-existent nuclear batfamily), doesn’t mean that it’s a sound decision or that it does his character justice. I certainly don’t empathize with the idea that Jason needs the family’s approval or acceptance to be happy. (And anyway he has enough outlets for angst and pain aside from the batfam hello explore his other sources of trauma and do more deep dives into how he thinks when he’s alone). I don’t want them to magically make up and become one big happy family. This is not disney Lol. Besides, there are plenty of stories from dc that have that type of “wholesome” (hate that word utilization) characterization for Jason (Li’l Gotham, Tiny Titans, wfa, and even new stuff like the brave and the bold mini) and that is sufficient imo. Jason fans who are invested in the character deserve accurate, nuanced characterization and well-written stories, whether they be from his robin days (e.g., Batman: The Cult) or as red hood.

[kandisheek]

FIC REC WEEK 9 – AUs

Cold Space, Warm Welcome by Annie D (scaramouche)

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: T Words: 15,572 Tags: Sci-Fi, Misunderstandings, Pining Steve

Summary: Tony’s spent a couple of years flying around the galaxy in his best friend Rhodey’s spaceship the Iron Advance, doing what could perhaps be counted as ‘hero’ work. Among their allies is Steve Rogers, captain of his own crew, with whom Tony has a… potentially friendly relationship. When Steve’s ship is irreparably damaged, Rhodey takes him and his whole crew onto the Iron Advance to recover. Tony’s not at all nervous about this, because so what if this is the first time Steve will see him without the Iron Man armor?

Reasons why I love it: Steve is so whipped for Tony, oh my god. I adore their dynamic here, and it's so much fun to see all of Steve's fumbling attempts to make his interest known from Tony's point of view, who is utterly oblivious. And the setting itself is fantastic, it really paints a picture of what their lives in space are like. I love this fic to bits, and I bet you will too!

The Scars of Your Love by blue_jack

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: M Words: 5,462 Tags: Scars, Angst with a Happy Ending, Breaking Up and Making Up

Summary: On the day Peggy moved out, Steve stood naked in front of the mirror and looked at all the ragged lines running over his body. He felt like someone had taken a knife to him, slicing every inch open, and he didn’t understand how there wasn’t any blood. He traced one particularly thick scar on his stomach, gritting his teeth against the pain, the memory of the first time he’d brought Peggy over to meet his family and all the teasing that had accompanied it burning through his mind. He couldn’t imagine her marks ever disappearing, and in that moment, he didn’t want them to, didn’t want to ever expose himself to that much hurt again. Once in a lifetime was enough.

Reasons why I love it: Having heartbreak leave actual, physical scars on your body is such a kickass concept. Emotional pain is so real it often feels like it should leave scars, and Steve sure hasn't been spared during his lifetime. I really like how the whole later conflict with Tony is set up because of Steve's relationship with Peggy. It feels very true to Steve's character that he acts the way he does. And oh my god, poor Tony. I love this one, please go and check it out!

Missing and Ravished by SailorChibi

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 8,760 Tags: Serial Killer Steve, Officer Tony, Gore

Summary: Officer Tony Stark really did not mean to fall in love with a serial killer.

Reasons why I love it: This might sound weird, but if canon Steve ever became a serial killer, I imagine that it would be exactly like this. I love the whole premise of the fic, of Tony being torn between his duty, his morales and his emotions, and the moment it all comes crashing down is immensely satisfying. I love everything about this fic, so I hope you give it a shot!

Steve Rogers' Life Is Not A Romance Movie (He Wouldn't Get The References, Anyway) by someonelsesheart

Pairing: Steve/Tony, Pepper/Natasha Rating: T Words: 7,909 Tags: High School AU, Humor, Enemies to Lovers

Summary: Steve hasn't always had this ridiculous crush on Tony Stark. (Or, the one where Steve is his polite old self and doesn't really hate Tony Stark (unfortunately), Tony is a child progidy and apparently a cab driver now, too, and high school is still high school, even when you are the son of a billionaire.)

Reasons why I love it: Steve the spitfire makes an appearance! They're both such dorks in this, and the way they stand up for each other in front of bullies legitimately makes my heart melt. Also, Pepper and Natasha are queens, and I adore them with my whole heart. Definitely check this one out, it's adorable!

Stellar Love Affairs by AvengersNewB, BladeoftheNebula

Pairing: Steve/Tony Rating: E Words: 5,407 Tags: A/B/O (Omega Tony, Alpha Steve), Mating Cycles, Space AU

Summary: Captain Steve Rogers gets assigned to command the starship Avenger. Everything is going as expected until he sets eyes on Tony Stark, who happens to be the first omega Steve's ever met.

Reasons why I love it: A Star Trek fusion, A/B/O, fuck or die fic written by two of my favorite people in this fandom? It's like this fic was written for me! I love everything about it, from the worldbuilding to the smut to them getting their heads out of their asses and finally communicating. It's fantastic, and I highly recommend you check it out for yourself!

[rockinlibrarian]

Post-Umbrella Academy S4 Reaction Part Two: Still Not a Show Write-up, a Fraction of a Fanfic Instead (spoilery)

I mentioned yesterday that I'd been toying with a TUA/Legion Crossover Fic idea, and that the finale of the former (particularly as it reminds me so much of the finale of the latter) has made me determined I really should do it and definitely set it post-Season 4. It's a perfect fix-it for TUA and I can actually work in a bit more fix-it for Legion, too. Anyway, it was stewing in my head all night, and this morning I woke up with IDEAS, and I ended up sitting down and writing 1,334 words-- a whole scene, a chapter basically, but it would be a chapter in the middle, which who knows when I would get to post that as a whole on AO3, and I feel like I need to post this part RIGHT NOW, even though it is essentially the MIDDLE of the story.

The basic overarching premise is that the Hargreeves end up at Summerland, the haven for troubled mutants (Marvel-style) in Legion. Summerland is co-run by a psychologist who's made it her life's work to help mutants reach their full potential, healing the traumas of living in a world that fears them, the traumas of everything being born Weird gives them.

You can, uh, see how this place might be good for the Hargreeves, right?

You don't need to know much more about Legion for this chapter-- there's some references to characters, but primarily THIS snippet is just my two favorite Hargreeves, who also did not get ANY time together this season, having a Feelings talk (AND WHOM I MANAGED TO WRITE A TENDER SCENE FOR WITHOUT IT TURNING NON-PLATONIC, BE PROUD OF ME) (yes for the uninitiated I am a pathetic Fiktor shipper, please see FAQ post to not hate me), so here, have Feelings with me!

PORTION OF A FUTURE MULTICHAPTER LEGION/TUA CROSSOVER. The working title of the Scrivener sheet for this particular chapter is "This willl NOT be Fiktor I SWEAR," but that will not be the final title. ;)

Viktor walked down to the lake, savoring the woodsy sounds and the gentle adagio behind it, when he spotted a familiar figure sitting at the edge of the dock.

Well, relatively familiar. He wasn’t used to seeing Five sit so still.

“Hey.” He sat beside him.

Five shifted slightly, as if to make room, nodded, and said, “Hey,” back, then drifted back into his odd silence.

After a minute, Viktor cleared his throat. “Beautiful here. Ever want to try fishing?”

Five sighed. “I’ve done a lot of fishing, wasn’t exactly a party.”

“Yeah, I guess not.” Viktor sat in the awkward vibes. The vibes. Who knew silence could be so loud?

“Hey.” He paused. “Five. You okay? You’ve been really quiet lately.”

“Is there something I should be saying?”

“Normally you can’t keep your mouth shut, that’s all. But ever since we came here I think the only person I’ve seen you talk to is that Dr. Loudermilk. You’re avoiding everybody, and, granted, I think I hear Diego growling every time you come near and that would put me off, but still, are you okay?”

“Heh.” Five ran his fingers into his hair and held them there, staring into the murky water at their feet. “Guess you didn’t hear about what happened, did you.”

“Um, I guess not?”

Five sighed even more deeply, and lay back on the dock. “So, Lila and I got stuck in an endless timeline-hopping subway system for nearly seven years.”

Viktor laughed before he could stop himself.

“What?”

“Only you! Only you could answer ‘what’s been with you the past few days?’ with ‘Well it’s ACTUALLY been seven years.”

Five finally cracked a smile, albeit a sad one. “Yeah, I guess I can see how that could amuse you.”

“So how old does that make you now?”

He shrugged. “Seventy? Seventy-one? And god I feel so much older than that, Vik. I should have been annihilated in that Cleanse. I should be dead. I should have died so long ago.”

“Don’t talk like that.” He left Five to pick the conversation back up. He seemed to be composing his thoughts.

After another minute, he spoke. “I… know… what Delores was. I know it was all in my head. But she was all I had, and I needed her. I needed her there, loving me, so I loved her. Now, I find myself stranded in time again, but this time with a real human being by my side? A real… friend? I—.”

He broke off, but Viktor could fill in the rest. “Oh.”

“She belongs with Diego.” Five sat back up abruptly, voice harsh. “Not me. I don’t get to be loved. I don’t get to be happy. I am…fated to wander from universe to universe, alone. I can’t even get annihilated from existence properly!”

God. Dramatic, poetic Five. He was in rough shape. Tentatively, Viktor offered, “If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never managed to keep a single relationship for more than a month. And I lived a relatively…ordinary life. I just suck at relationships.”

Five looked up at Viktor from the corner of his eye, smiled from the corner of his mouth. “Don’t we all.”

“The only time I’ve ever felt truly loved was with Sissy.” Viktor poked him. “And somebody made me put an end to that.”

“Now, come on, we were—.”

“I know, I know, we were in the wrong time, it would have wrecked the timeline. It DID wreck the timeline. But still, I’m just saying.”

“So, what, we can start a ‘The Only Person Who Ever Loved Me was an Already Married Woman’ support group?”

“I bet they have one of those here. Along with their ‘I Have Caused Not One But Multiple Apocalypses’ group.”

Five actually laughed— short, subdued, but a laugh nonetheless. “I’ve missed you, Vik.”

“I’ve missed you, too.” Viktor squeezed his knee. “Anyway, you’re not alone, and you’re not unloved. Maybe not in a romantic way. But we do love you, and you do deserve to be happy.”

Five rolled his eyes. “I spent 45 years longing for nothing more than to get back to my family, the people I loved, and when I did, what did I get? Not again, Five, stop harshing the vibe, Five, why can’t you FIX this, Five, are you sure you’re not just batshit, Five? I love my family more than life itself, but they sure don’t love me.”

“We do—!” Viktor caught himself. Tried to see it from Five’s point of view. Realized he’d barely seemed to notice he was talking to one of his family. It felt like a revelation. Melanie would be proud. Viktor gave Five a gentle, sheepish smile. “Okay, when I said I suck at relationships, I don’t just mean romantically. I love you as a feeling, I’ll have to work on loving you as a verb.”

Five echoed Viktor’s smile. “What happened to us, me and you? When we were kids I could talk to you about anything…everything. I spent decades longing to talk to you, and then—there we were in the same timeline again and yet we’ve barely spoken in thirteen years.”

Viktor ducked his head, tutting. “Well, every time you tried to talk to me I brushed you off, and then I ran away to Nova Scotia for six years. And …you, apparently, got lost in an interdimensional subway system for seven more.”

“Intertemporal, not interdimensional. Cary—Dr. Loudermilk— and I have been trying to map out the different subsets of the multiverse and it’s a lot more comple— see, you’re laughing at me!”

“Just because I’m laughing doesn’t mean I’m not listening! I promise. I’m just laughing because…you’re so YOU. I’ve missed you, too. And I do love you. As bad as I am at it.” He bit his lip. “I’m sorry. For not being who you needed me to be. Melanie says— she says I need to work on my anger issues, that I’m too prone to vengeance. That my subconscious need for payback is too liable to slip out with my powers. Like the time I attacked Allison’s voice box for Rumoring me. Payback, you know. And I— I’ve been mad at you for leaving me for so long— so this time I ran off first. Payback.”

“Yeah, but sometimes you’re right. Like how determined you were to save Ben, bring him back, save the world.”

“Only because he saved me to save the world, first. Payback, Just more positive.”

Five gazed at him, steadily, thoughtfully. “Viktor, I’m proud of you. You’ve been making progress with this stuff all along, years before we got here. I remember wishing you had the guts to stand up for yourself just enough to claim the last doughnut.”

“Thanks. And you’ve got— you’ve got a lot of shit to work through, still, and you haven’t really had the chance to make progress. But just knowing you need to is a good start. I believe in you. And I promise, from now on, I will always listen, whatever you need to work through.”

“Thanks to you, too. I guess…I guess I feel just a smidge more hopeful now.”

“So, that girl who’s always hanging around Dr. Loudermilk….”

“Who, Kerry? They’re, like, symbiotes or something.”

“She’s technically his age, right? And that’s about the same age as you?”

“Yes?”

“And yet she also looks like she’s in her twenties. Like you.”

“Uh…huh?”

“I’ve also heard that she’s been known to leave dozens of bodies in her wake.”

“So what are you…? OH. Nah. No. Stop. She’s also off her rocker.”

“Says the man who fell in love with Lila,” he teased, gently.

“Kerry has the emotional maturity of a thirteen-year-old.”

“Says the man who lost contact with all humanity at the age of thirteen!”

“Viktor!” Five laughed. “You are not helping!”

“I am SO helping! This is the first I’ve heard you laugh in days! Or maybe years, on your end!”

Five’s laughed whined to a pause, and he dropped his head on Viktor’s shoulder. “We are so fucked up.”

“Yeah.” Viktor held him, rocking slightly. “But I don’t know, this Summerland— I think here we might actually get better.”

[moodymisty]

Hello, this is a request only if you are interested, I understand if you don't wanna do it. It's really hurt/comfort stuff with the intention of softness and comfort at the end. It's meant to be a Samael x s/o drabble. So basically, Lilith kidnapps s/o (seeing them as the horsemen's pet) and winds up torturing them so she can give them as a gift to Samael, not knowing how he really feels about s/o. (You don't have to be descriptive of what Lilith does, the overall premise is blood, pain, tears, and stuff. She's a mean bitch). Samael is given his s/o in really bad shape (not dead). It's up to you how it plays out, but I imagined he shows s/o a gentleness that's only for them as he tries to help them and take care of and assess their injuries. Lilith meanwhile is either jealous or disgusted by the show of mercy, (not what she expected). Maybe Samael flies into a rage upon seeing the human in such a pitiful way or he plays it cool and waits for an opening to be alone with them so he can help. It's up to you, I just wanna see Samael be all soft and gentle and show he cares about s/o. Thank you again for your generosity. I also have a different more smutty idea if you don't wanna do this one. Completely separate from this one.

Author's Note: I've never actually written for Samael at all before, I love his character but I'd never considered it, so this was a fun exercise. This is my first time writing Samael, so please excuse anything that may seem a little OOC while I get the hang of his character.

Summary: Samael saves his little songbird from the mouth of a cat.

Relationships: Samael/Fem!Reader

Warnings: Canon typical violence, Bruises, illuding to torture but no actual torture, Stockholm syndrome??? I guess, Fluff, Some brief references towards the Darksiders book 'The Abomination Vault' which is good go read it,

"Well now,"

His voice carries through the stone laden room, a booming deepness that even when he's only speaking casually, sounds almost as if he's addressing a group.

Samael.

You know the name; Lilith has mentioned it more than once when she talks to her servants and lesser demons. Those few snippets pale in comparison to seeing him, seeing how he towers larger than almost every other demon you've seen; Though still maintains a humanoid-esque shape.

You were apparently- in a way- his gift.

Lilith had cooed it to you more than once before, though she'd mostly been talking at you, as if an ornament. Rarely does she give things that don't amuse her the time of day; And simply chattering to a being she considers far inferior without inflicting some sort of suffering doesn't qualify.

It's the better of many other potential outcomes, at least. You'll take it. It isn't as if there's a choice anyhow.

Samael briefly glances in your direction, one large finger presses on the bottom of the cage that confines you as if to stop it's slow swaying, before his eyes turn back to Lilith. You've noticed her watching with intent, clearly focused on his reaction. If you had to guess, she wants something, and is hoping this will be the ticket towards pulling that favor.

"Where did you get this?"

The links of her chain belt 'tink' against each other, as she walks closer, glancing up towards the larger demon for but a moment.

"Just a little bit of sport; I know you've always been interested in Humanities, goings on."

Lilith finds it all dreadfully boring; At least anything that doesn't benefit or at least amuse her in one way or another. The demon lord takes another glance in your direction, the sharp points of the teeth visible behind his just barely parted lips.

Samael would've been quite interested in knowing how she managed such a feat, especially around the Council's watch, but Lilith seems too disinterested in the human she's captured to answer. She's much more interested in his reaction, or whatever she can get out of it. Even as boundary pushing as Samael can be, he isn't too eager to have the Council hot on his back. As well as the Horsemen; They are quite eager to keep Humanity protected, and are more than willing to obliterate anyone who goes against The Council's rulings.

Samael isn't too eager to deal with the mess of that; Particularly if it involves the youngest.

"You can do whatever you wish with it," Lilith says, her tone lightening and stringing the second half of her sentence with an almost singing tone. "Consider it a gift."

Her eyes move from the large openings in the wall revealing the dreadful hellish sky, an unreadable expression on her face. One might assume it's sultry, and that wouldn't be entirely wrong, but there is far more there; And it goes far deeper.

"You should come by more often. I have far more interesting pets than little humans." Samael's gaze turns from you to her.

"That, I am already well aware of." She seems unhappy with his response, though it seems positive on pure words alone. Maybe there's an undertone that exists only between them.

When she's departed, it's impossible not to feel the way your heart drops in your chest when you see Samael's full attention turn to you. It's just his head turned your way at first, before he fully turns and with loud, thundering steps against broken cobblestone, does he make his way towards you. The cuts and scrapes on your hands hurt as you support your weight, but the pain pushed to the back of your mind in place of fear.

The last time you had a demon's full attention was Lilith, and she isn't one who's attention you want.

"Tell me,"

You don't miss the way his tone of voice seems to change a bit now that he's speaking directly to you; Though it's easy to just assume it's purely manipulative.

"Do you sing, little songbird?"

You don't answer, mouth and throat dry. Fear is a permeant emotion to you now, and you feel it rising up more and more as you feel his glowing eyes focus on you. The way your heart hammers on your collarbone, breath short and ragged. Your jaw hurts from how tense it's been for ages, lips split and cracked.

Samael gives the cage a soft 'bonk' with one knuckle, just enough to send it shaking back and forth. It wobbles and forces you to hang on, watching him as he watches you stumble about. He can see the perpetual fear in your eyes, the way your body is slowly giving away to the amount of hazards it's been through. He's not sure how long you've been here, but it couldn't be that long, if you still have your wits about you.

Lilith always did enjoying playing with her toys until they broke.

Samael has never really made sense of it. In all of his centuries he's always operated with a goal in mind, doing whatever he could to get to it. Lilith's motives sometimes seem, short-sighted. Maybe even a little dull.

But this, now this is interesting.

Samael hasn't seen a human in many years, and while the clothing you wear is different, humanity still maintains the form the Creator originally shaped them in.

That form is, soft.

He can see the tops of your hands and wrists are dirty, covered in small bruises, the same sort running along your neck and cheeks. Your eyes are wide, darting over every inch of him in fear.

Samael stops.

Maybe it's boredom. Maybe it's the desire for something a little bit different.

Samael is old. Far older than your realm, and anything that's been built on it. But in all of those years, Earth has remained a tantalizingly forbidden fruit. The Council forbade access centuries ago, and as such, Samael has been restricted to hearing of Humanity's accomplishments and fumbling through stolen artifacts and hushed whispers.

So he's, curious.

Everything he's ever heard of humanity has been what they lack in strength they make up for in ingenuity, and creativity. And depravity; Depending on the demon you ask.

The long, clawed hand that had just rapped against the cage's bars now holds the lock, fiddling with it before he snaps it between his fingers. When the shattered pieces fall to the ground, the cage's door slowly creaks open. You eye the giant demon, as he seems look at you expectantly. There's no shortage of amusement on his face, either.

"What, you think I won't try to run?" Samael laughs, a deep baritone you can feel in your chest.

"By all means, go right ahead. Whatever you run into out there will be far less inviting than myself." He can see the thought run through your little head, until you make a choice.

You move closer towards him, hedging a bet that he'll be better than Lilith, and whatever she had in store for you.

You've seen that throne of Lilith, and her pets. Her creativity knows no bounds. Whatever end you might meet with Samael, is far better than that.

You let the larger demon take you, leaving one unknown for another.

It might've been easy for someone to scold you on not hearing him coming up behind you, but in your defense, it's easy to miss; Especially when one is distracted.

His footfall is softer than one might expect, though one probably wouldn't exactly call it soft at all. It's his voice you end up hearing first anyways, looking over your shoulder the minute it hits your ears.

"So this is where you've been off to."

You turn around, looking up as Samael approaches. His wings are casually half-folded, watching as you fiddle with a large decorative vase.

Samael's palace is huge. Enough so that it's quite easy to get completely lost.

Far better than a cage; At least in your opinion.

You don't know exactly how long it's been since you left Lilith, but it's not been enough time. The improvement has been astronomical, and you no longer feel the constant, heart pounding fear that had been permanent for so long.

Samael is, oddly nice. You'd expected it to be mostly a ploy, but while you know he's a demon, one capable many, many things, he hasn't tried anything yet.

And so you find yourself almost enjoying his company, and the idea of leaving him now almost seems like a negative. You'd miss him.

"I just wanted to take a look around."

You don't think it would qualify as a 'treasure room', but the large open space is littered with a variety of things; From broken weapons to odd pieces of art that seem clearly inhuman. Most seem to be stolen from battlefields judging by the overall wear and tear, but it' hard to be sure. Some seems like it almost hails from Hell itself, much to your surprise.

Who would've thought demons would be so artistic.

"There is far more worth seeing than whatever rubbish you were throwing around. Let me show you." He kneels just enough to gesture towards you with his hand, and you know what he's asking you to do.

As step closer Samael's eyes rake over your body, taking note of the way most of the bruises and cuts have faded away. What's left is a much more fresh face, one that isn't battered and showing of fear and fatigue.

He lets you up onto his shoulders with a gentle boost, and you take roost quickly. He can feel the gentle touch of your hands on his scale-like skin, as you hold on. He'll show you sights that Humanity has yet to see, or hasn't in millennia.

Glancing up towards you he sees the way you're eagerly waiting, and begins walking.

[fishingfordreams]

manga recommendations pt. 3

memory, melancholy, and maturity

Totsukuni no Shoujo (The Girl From the Other Side: Siúil, a Rún) by Nagabe

A harrowing and beautiful grim dark fairy tale set in a world populated with monstrous creatures that can curse people with a single touch. The story follows a young girl named Shiva and her otherworldly Teacher who live in a vacant village on the "outside." The story explores the dichotomy of light and darkness, good and evil, body and soul, and those who linger in the quiet spaces in between. Nagabe’s dreamy story book illustrations capture the fantastical and eerie world vividly, crafted together in fine lines and careful contrasts.

Dungeon Meshi (Dungeon in Delicious) by Ryoko Kui

A charming medieval fantasy story about, well, dungeons, dragons, and delicious food! The premise is simple: kill the magician of the dungeon and the golden kingdom shall be yours, or so the former king declared before fading to dust. And so, we follow a group of adventurers as they traverse the dungeon and, after losing their supplies and friend to a red-scaled dragon, meet a dwarf who teaches them how to prepare and cook monster ingredients. The story delights in monster designs and their anatomies and ecosystems, and boasts a diverse cast of characters that are as equally complex and well-developed.

MagMell Shinkai Suizokukan (Deep Sea Aquarium MagMell) by Kiyomi Sugishita

A gorgeously illustrated story following Koutarou Tenjou, a janitor and assistant keeper at a deep sea aquarium in Tokyo. The story quietly opens up a hidden, dreamlike world filled with strange and wonderful creatures that dwell in the dark depths of the sea. Sugishita beautifully captures the fleeting, tender moment of fondness and rumination that people experience while watching the majesty of the ocean and her inhabitants.

BECK: Mongolian Chop Squad by Harold Sakuishi

An absolute classic! A soul-stirring, coming of age story about music, brotherhood, and the angst of adolescence. It features a group of colorful teenagers who come together to form a rock band and the story focuses on their love, trials, and tribulations as they struggle to fame. The protagonist, Yukio “Koyuki” Tanaka, embodies the raw, honest, confronting, and liberating feeling of self-discovery and self-expression that young people often go through. His growth is slow and subtle, but so genuine and measured, and he becomes the force that eventually pulls the groups’ sound together.

Medalist by Tsurumaikada

A heartfelt story that explores the familial, social, and economical pressures of competitive sports, specifically figure skating. We follow Inori Yuitsuka, a fifth grader who is desperate to become a skater but has been constantly criticized by those around her and told that she’s too old to begin training competitively. All except for down-on-his-luck former figure skater Tsukasa Akeuraji who sees her potential and decides to coach her with the promise of winning a medal. Despite the somber premise, this is an incredibly uplifting story about building confidence, realizing your self-worth, and pursuing your dreams regardless of when you decide to start. The athleticism and elegance of figure skating is also portrayed beautifully through dynamic and expressive artwork and paneling.

Holyland by Kouji Mori

An intense, character-driven story following high school student Yuu Kamishiro who, after being driven to isolation by the abuse of his peers and with no place in society, ventures out into the night in search of his "holyland." He finds acceptance through violence and solace in the lawless brutality of the streets. The author meditates on human nature and explores the nature of one's emotions, particularly grief and hatred, and how they define us. Make no mistakes though, this is also very much a martial arts story and Mori balances both the technical and impassionate aspects of combat seamlessly.

(Includes depictions of self-harm, depression, bullying, violence).

[justworthlessreblogs]

scattered thoughts on kirapika

this has taken me way longer than it should've tbh, i have 4 different essay drafts in my docs but none of them felt satisfactory. in the end it's probably better to make a list anyways, because there isn't really an overarching through line to any of these

putting this under a read more because it's Long. there's going to be a (much shorter, hopefully) part 2 because i hit the character limit oops

fair warning that there's going to be a lot of complaining about ciel (i don't hate her i swear i just have beef with how her character's framed in the show)

i think the most frustrating thing about their arc is the wasted potential. like they're both really great characters, there's some really great setup, and the series initially takes the angle that the conflict isn't completely black and white. and then 23 happens and rio gets kicked out of the narrative and the writers decide that actually no, ciel can't do anything wrong in her life ever because she's their precious golden child

i've said it before and i'll say it again: the coma was literally the worst decision the show could've made, because it robbed rio of basically all of his character development and it left ciel floundering around without anything to do. like genuinely when watching her episodes during the coma era i was sometimes like "...what is her arc here supposed to be again? because it really just kinda feels like she's fucking around" and it doesn't help that the writers were still on their Ciel is Morally Right in All Situations kick so any conflicts she got into were kinda boring, tbh? this usually isn't an issue for me in precure except this is a season where characters *do* fuck up (aoi, himari, yukari all had episodes where they fucked up/weren't totally in the right/did some morally gray [for precure] things in this same stretch!) so it makes ciel stick out like a sore thumb (i am still salty about 34 robbing me of an actual disagreement between ciel and yukari)

i think i mentioned it in wv 7's author's notes but episode 41 is kind of a disappointment for me. i thought the premise sounded fun (rio gets framed because of an evil clone! there's so much fun you can have with that!) but the actual execution kinda flops. we barely get any evil clone shenanigans, first of all, but my bigger issue is with the kirapika dynamic and conflict in the episode. i think it drags both of their characters down.

in 41, ciel suddenly regresses and starts being kind of an ass to her brother again, but the problem is that... she doesn't really start doing this until *after* the emotional conflict is supposedly resolved? at some point she goes "and i nearly messed it all up again" and i was like Girl. What Have You Done Up To This Point. like she's literally done *nothing*, hasn't said anything hurtful - the "worst" she's done is telling her brother that she'll go with him if he leaves, and then backtracking in private (the backtracking does feed into another issue i have, but in isolation there's nothing wrong with it! i do think it's perfectly reasonable to not want to uproot your entire life!). the actual regression comes when they're on the bridge, when ciel tells rio that they both made cure parfait

the cure parfait line is genuinely cruel. pov you are rio kuroki, you just got out of a 4 month coma 3 days ago, you got cool powers for 15 minutes but then got beat up super badly and lost them almost immediately after *and* were told you'd never be a precure (a dream that you've tried and tried to achieve but nothing ever seems to work) and then here's your sister on the bridge telling you that you both made *her* a precure and it was a super cool and awesome event when all you got out of it was that four month coma. if i was rio i would've lost my shit then and there

the line just feels so ooc for ciel to be saying at the EMOTIONAL CLIMAX??? THIS IS THE EMOTIONAL CRUX OF THE EPISODE. if it was a line that had happened early on and caused the conflict i'd be more forgiving but it *isn't* and that's why it fails! at this point she's supposed to have learned that disregarding others' feelings and thinking only about what's good for herself hurts others!

also rio once again takes the blame for everything, just like he did in 23. why is rio constantly always the bad guy in the conflict (even though the show pushed a "they both did things wrong" angle at the start) it makes their relationship feel really lopsided

their relationship just feels really lopsided overall, tbh. i think part of the problem is that we never really get any positive interactions between them in the series - we get the flashback with the waffles, and then there's that brief moment when rio comes back in 40, and ciel complimenting rio in the christmas episode but that's barely enough to go on when most of their major interactions in the present timeline are them fighting with one another. the show wants me to think that kirapika are the Best Siblings Ever but doesn't really do the work to actually *show* it, which makes it feel hollow. where are the sibling shenanigans, toei. where are the moments where they share a single brain cell. i just want kirapika sibling fluff, dammit!

part of this lopsided feeling also comes from how it feels like rio would move heaven and earth for ciel (he outright sacrifices his life. if it wasn't for luimere he'd be dead, and he had no way of knowing lumiere would intervene) but i don't get that same vibe from ciel even though the show tries acting like she would. shit happens and she's like "oh no! anyways". even a large part of her angstfest in 23 is more about her thinking that she's thrown away her chance of being a precure (it's literally one of the first things she says after julio's purified. not really a great look tbh).

lopsided 3: ciel's feelings are always seen as more valid over rio's. it's especially frustrating when rio actually does have a point (see 22-23)

honestly overall it just feels like the writers had something against rio. genuinely what the fuck did he do to them to make them toss him around like that

ciel's angstfest in 23 is really funny to me it's literally the equivalent of when you slightly mess up so you turn your discord pfp and banner all black and change your username to "gone" and claim you're never going to log on again but you're back 2 days later. i would love it if she was the one who actually broke herself out of it instead of rio and ichika having to do all the emotional labor

just... let ciel have flaws! we're shown a ciel with flaws in her introductory arc! and it's amazing! but then after 23 they all disappear and on the rare occasions where they come back they're never treated as something for her to work on, they're just there, or they're unintentional on the part of the writers. and a character without flaws obviously isn't unheard of for precure but in a season that takes great pains to remind you that its main cures are all very flawed people it feels a little jarring to have ciel never learning anything because she was in the right all along

i don't think rio becoming ciel's satellite post-coma would've annoyed me as much if we hadn't been given a taste of rio as an actual defined character during the julio arc. like once he comes back he only exists around ciel and it's a bummer because i really liked his dynamics with ichika, yukari, bibury, etc and i wanted to see more (we do get that one riobib scene in 41 but it's like 30 seconds). pretty much all of his dreams and aspirations evaporate, too, most notably The Precure One

rio's dream to become a precure never being brought up after 23 (except to be mocked by grave) is so, so jarring when it was originally a huge part of his character. 41 tries to act like he only became julio because he wasn't as good at sweets as ciel and it's like... no? wanting to become a precure was a big part of that too? sometimes i feel like 41 is an episode from some alternate universe where rio's precure dream was never part of the plot and it somehow wormed its way into ours. it'd make the cure parfait line a lot less worse if that was the case tbh

see you all in part 2 i guess

[blue-slxt]

Two Can Play - Chapter 5

🔞Minors Do Not Interact🔞

A/N: We have finally reached the finale! I legit cannot thank you guys enough for all the love and support on this series. Especially since this is my first Lo'ak fic. Writing this really made me fall in love with him. Of course, like I say in every part, I have to give a HUGE thanks to @pandorxxx for inspiring me to write this fic. Her fic Search & Rescue was a big inspiration for the premise of this story. Two Can Play would not exist without her. So, I hope you guys enjoy the end of this fantastic journey. All characters are aged up.

Previous Part

Pairing: Lo'ak x Fem!Omatikaya!Reader

Warnings: This chapter contains potentially triggering content for suicidal ideation so please proceed with caution. Mentions of death, Angst, Dissociation, Depression, Smut, P in V, Creampie, Oral (M receiving), Mentions of scenting, I think that's it

Word Count: 5.1k

Summary: The aftermath of the incident plays out.

Staring up at the opening in your tent, the night stars bounce in your vision with each thrust given by Tenye above you. He holds on to your hips while he ruts into you. Clearly, he’s feeling good from all the sounds he’s making. You can’t really feel much right now. Your head is too far lost in the sky to be present enough to enjoy yourself. Your mind is back in that space where you’re not really in your body anymore. It’s as if you can actually see your own face peering up at the sky dead-eyed while you force moans from your own mouth to help him finish quickly.

“Ah…Gonna cum!” he says

‘About damn time’ you think to yourself.  You use your hand to push him out of you before he finishes and just pump him with your fist until he cums.

He lets out a dramatic groan when he finishes and doesn’t move an inch while he comes down from his high. Meanwhile, you immediately use a spare cloth to wipe your hand off with.

“Eywa, that was so good” he says between pants trying to catch his breath.

“Yeah…” you pick up his loincloth and toss it to him, “See you around.”

He stares stunned at you for a moment, “That’s it?”

“Yup, pretty much. Bye.”

Tenye scoffs at you and he mutters ‘bitch’ under his breath as he gets dressed and leaves.

It doesn’t even phase you at this point. Nothing phases you anymore. You don’t feel anything anymore. It’s been like this for 2 whole weeks now. You hid out in your tent and retreated into yourself. For the first few days, it felt like you never moved from the spot on the floor where you initially collapsed. You nearly dehydrated yourself from your tears. Ako came looking for you after you disappeared from the festival and the sight of you broke her heart.

And just when it felt like your mind was going to snap from all the overwhelming distress…it suddenly went dead quiet. Your mind and body ceased to process stimuli properly anymore. And before you knew it, you fell back into your old habits. Desperate to feel something—anything, you regressed into seeking comfort in sex. But that did nothing for you either. Not anymore. No matter what, the only person your body responded to was Lo’ak.

You found fault with just about every other male now. This one kissed too rough, that one came too quick, he used too many teeth when he ate you out, and he was too small. One after another, the disappointment seemed never-ending. Lo’ak had utterly ruined you for anyone else. None of them could hold a candle to him and how he knew your body.

And even worse, you still had his bracelet. The one that he made for you. You were too blinded by your rage to have the sense to throw it out that night with the rest of his things. But once you calmed down and registered that it was still on your wrist, it was like your fingers physically couldn’t take it off. As much as it pained you to look at it and remember, you couldn’t deny the comfort it also brought you. Fidgeting with the small beads day in and day out mindlessly.

You curl up on your hammock and fight to keep the tears at bay. But you fail today again just like every day since the incident. It doesn’t take anything to bring the sadness on at this point. It just sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Even with a totally blank mind, your subconscious still remembers every ounce of the pain that still lives there.

Another cold night of crying yourself to sleep.

…

Ako grew concerned about you over the passing weeks. She couldn’t believe the story you had told her about what you witnessed. It didn’t make sense. The way Lo’ak was with you, there was no way it was just an act. Lo’ak may have been a lot of things, but cruel wasn’t one of them. It didn’t add up in her mind. She struggled with whether or not she should go confront Lo’ak. On one hand, she felt like it wasn’t her place to get involved. She doesn’t insert herself into your relations. But on the other hand, watching your body and mind slowly wither away with each passing day was sinking her heart. She needed to find answers.

That’s why she’s currently dragging Lo’ak by his arm through the forest right now. She needs to get to the bottom of this so that she can know how to help you.

“Okay, you need to start talking and I mean right now” she says finally releasing his arm once they’re far enough out of the way.

“What are you talking about?”

“What the hell happened the night of the festival?” she nearly screams at him

“Nothing happened! I was set up!” he says doing his best to defend himself.

“That’s not how she described it” Ako retorts crossing her arms over her chest.

“Look, I know that it looked really bad from her perspective, but I swear I am telling the truth! Fea said her friend hurt herself in the forest and I went to help, but then she cornered me. But I pushed her off immediately. You’ve got to believe me.  I would never do something like that.” His voice is pleading and his eyes are sincere.

Ako takes a deep breath sitting on his explanation. That story does make more sense in her mind, but she knows it won’t be any simple task trying to convince you of its authenticity.

“Did you explain that to her?” she asks still somewhat skeptical.

“She threw me out before I could. She didn’t want to hear it.” The defeated tone in his voice doesn’t go unnoticed.

“I…I love her. I could never do that to her. But it’s over…she hates me now.” He slumps back against a tree letting his head fall forward.

“You need to go see her.”

Lo’ak looks up at Ako with doubt, “How? She doesn’t want me anywhere near her.”

“Don’t care. I don’t want to hear it. You haven’t seen her, Lo’ak. She’s a mess these days. She won’t eat or drink or leave her tent. She’s a shell. Even I’ve never seen her this bad before. She needs something more than I can give her. She needs you. Now, move your ass!” her arm stretches to point in the direction of your tent signaling him to get moving.

Lo’ak lets Ako’s words sink in. He wants nothing more than to come running to your side. Thinking about how much you were suffering was torturous to his mind. But how would he get through to you? How would he get you to listen?

“Now Lo’ak!” Ako pipes up breaking him out of his swirling thoughts.

He decided he was just going to have to figure it out on the way. If he wanted this—truly wanted to be with you, shouldn’t he fight for it? He rises from his slumped position against the tree and let his feet carry him to your tent.

He still has no idea what he’ll say or how you’ll receive it, but he just knows he has to try. He owes you that much.

Your tent comes into view in the distance and his pace slows as he feels his resolve starting to fade. Your last night together replays in his mind standing outside of your tent. The anger and suffering in your eyes and the way you shouted at him to get out. It was like he was reliving it again at this very moment. Standing in the same place he stood while he collected his discarded belongings that you had thrown out of your home. A home that he had started to feel like he belonged in too.

His family was wonderful and they loved him and he loved them too, but with you, the two of you had filled the space together. It was both of yours. Losing it was crushing. He wanted to come home. With one big breath, he finally builds the courage he needs to walk inside.

He closes his eyes while he waits for your angry tirade to hit his ears…but it doesn’t. He hears nothing. Cautiously, he opens his eyes to look around and for whatever reason, you’re not home. That’s odd. Ako said you hadn’t left since that night. So where would you go?

He gingerly walks around letting himself reminisce about all the blissful mornings and heated nights he would spend here with you. He makes his way over to your hammock and something catches his eye. It’s the bracelet he made for you.

You never took off this bracelet. Not for one second. Not when you slept, not when you bathed, not even when you kicked him out. He didn’t see it among his things and it brought him a small comfort to know that you held on to it. But now, his heart sinks to his feet. Lo’ak couldn’t quite place why, but he had this awful feeling deep in his gut. Something was wrong. He needed to find you immediately.

He storms out of your tent looking frantically around everyone in the area trying to find your face. But he doesn’t see you.

Ako is walking towards him, “So, what happened?”

He runs to her, “She’s not home.”

“What? Where did she go?” “I don’t know! She was gone when I got here! And she left her bracelet. She never takes this thing off. We need to find her. Now!” panic seeps in and takes over his mind.

“Okay okay, I’ll search through the west side of the forest, you hop on your ikran and look through the east.” Ako tries to stay calm so that Lo’ak doesn’t completely lose himself right now. What they needed right now was not to panic, but to make a plan.

He nods his head and takes off to call and mount his ikran. He’s so frayed, it effects how his ikran flies. Its movements are rough and choppy in the sky, but they take off, nonetheless.

…

What is the point? Why bother keeping this up anymore? Everything is just so heavy. The weight of the grief sitting on your chest is nothing short of devastating. First, your parents, then losing Lo’ak, and now you can’t even find solace in your one simple pleasure. You can only take so much.

You’re completely dissociated from reality while you walk through the forest. You let your body just wander aimlessly through the foliage, around trees, through bushes, and over creeks. The soft moss is a welcome feeling under your feet as you let yourself sink deeper and deeper into the unfamiliar path you’re on. You let the colors of the various flora surrounding you guide you through an untrekked trail.

You didn’t know where you were headed. You secretly wished that your body would take you back to the pond. The same place where you would visit so many nights with Lo’ak just floating until all the world’s problems seemed like nothing more than ripples in the water around you two. Where nothing else mattered but being with each other. If only you could go back in time and warn yourself. ‘Don’t fall for it’. ‘Stick to your gut’. ‘He’ll only break you’. ‘Do NOT fall in love with him’. But that was only a wish and real life is not so forgiving.

Reality is cruel and merciless and does not care for your pathetic wishes of things to be different.

You continue your aimless stroll through the dense forest watching your feet place themselves one in front of the other. Until…the green of the forest starts to slowly fade. The green under your feet gradually shifts into a hard, stony gray. And there is no more soft moss and grass, but now there is harsh, sharp edges of rocks poking and prodding the soles of your feet. Where were you?

You finally find the motivation to lift your head and find out where you had travelled. It was a mountain? No, it was a cliff. Why had your body been called here of all places? Fear gripped your chest suddenly realizing how high up you were. Frozen. Even though you were far from the edge of the cliff, your body stood completely still as if taking even one more movement would result in your tumbling over the edge. And instead of misery, you feel gratitude. You are thankful for the fear because it is better than the all-consuming nothingness you’ve been feeling for weeks now. You’re so desperate to feel absolutely anything that you push the envelope even more and, with shaky legs, you take several steps forward.

One step and then another. You slowly, but surely, bring yourself closer and closer until you can see over the edge of the cliff. Below is a body of water, no doubt with some sharp rocks just under the surface or a shallow bottom. If you fell, that would surely be the end of you.

But would that be so bad? Putting an end to all the misery? No more tears, no more emptiness, no more loneliness, no more suffering, just…peace. You could finally be with your family again and you wanted so badly to be with your parents again. But what would they think of you? If they knew who you had become since their passing, how disappointed would they be? How could you possibly face them again as you are?

But the urge to just put one foot over the edge is…enticing to say the least. Your hand reaches for your wrist only to be met with nothing. That’s right, you took off your bracelet finally and left it at home. You had grown so accustomed to playing with the small beads that not having it now left you feeling more exposed and lonely.

You turn your face up to the sky hoping to find some kind of sign or message from Eywa on what to do. When you drop your head again, a shadow passes over you. When you look up, you discover Lo’ak flying overhead on his ikran. Of course he would show up here right now. He lands blocking your path back into the forest. You’re trapped between him and the edge that you were dangerously close to.

“I’ve been looking all over for you! What are you doing up here? You shouldn’t be here!” Lo’ak calls out before he can even fully dismount his ikran. He starts walking towards you, but you take a step back. “Be careful! You’re too close! Just come over here, please!”

You shake your head casting your gaze down to the ground. This was the worst-case scenario right now. Lo’ak pauses and stays where he is so as to not push you any further back. “Listen to me. Please. I know you probably hate me and I can’t blame you. From what you saw, I know it looked bad, but—”

“Bad? Bad doesn’t even begin to cut it, Lo’ak! You had another girl all over you! And—”

“I know how it looked, but listen to me for fucks sake!” he cuts you off and you hold your tongue shocked. Lo’ak has never taken this tone with you, but it worked in getting you to be quiet long enough for him to explain his side.

“I know how it looked, but you have to believe me, I would never do that to you. It was a set up. She cornered me because she was jealous of you. She wanted what we have, but there’s no way I could give myself to her like I have with you.”

He cautiously takes a step forward and you don’t step back. You let his words flood your head and process. Of course, you want to believe him, but could you really trust that? It would make sense. Fea was always giving you death glares after you and Lo’ak had got together. But you can’t bear it if this was just a ploy to get you back.

“I could never feel the same way about anybody else. Love only feels like love with you.” He takes another stride your way.

Your knees start to tremble under your weight and tears fall directly from your eyes to the stone beneath you. Your heart called for him, it ached for him to hold you. But your mind was still doubtful. But were those doubts heavy enough to outweigh the love you still held for him?

“Sevin…” he’s careful with his tone while he continues to approach you in the same way one would approach an unpredictable, wild animal. “I love you. There’s nobody else I could ever want.”

With that, your body finally gives out and falls to the ground. Lo’ak runs towards you and catches you before you fully hit the stone. He quickly drags you back further from the edge. A swell of emotions rushes from your body as you quake in his grasp. He smooths his hand over your hair and shushes you quietly in your ear. “It’s okay now. I’ve got you. I’m so sorry.” Every word he utters brings a fresh wave of emotions in their wake. It’s too much. It shatters what little composure you were clinging to. You let yourself completely fall apart in his arms and bawl into the empty sky.

…

You finally come to late into the night. You’re back in your tent, tucked into your hammock. There was no memory of you coming home. As a matter of fact, you couldn’t remember anything after Lo’ak confronting you on the cliff. How did you make it home? You finally sit up and look around your home and on the floor next to you is a sleeping Lo’ak. His knees are tucked into his chest and his head is resting on his arms.

After you had crumpled in his arms earlier, Lo’ak had carried you to his ikran and held you while he flew you back home. He tenderly layed you back in your hammock and cleaned your face with a cloth and some cool water. He sat and waited with you while you rested. He had silently vowed to himself that he wouldn’t leave your side.

Your body relaxes in his presence the same way it always did. What are you to make of this situation? Just as soon as you had started to try and think of an answer, Lo’ak had started to stir awake.

He instantly looks to check on you and notices that you’re awake. “You’re up. Are you hungry?” He stands and walks across the room to pick up a bowl of fruit. “Ako dropped this off for you a while ago. We figured that you would need something to eat.” He brings the bowl over to you and hands you a piece of fruit.

You mutter a small ‘thank you’ and take the food. It was true that you were hungry, but you also didn’t have very much of an appetite.

Lo’ak watches you while you eat and sits in front of you cross-legged. “Can we actually talk now?”

You rake through your endless piles of thoughts trying to find a starting point. “Did you mean it?” He looks at you asking you to elaborate with his eyes. “When you said that you…l-love me.”

His ears drop at your doubt, but he couldn’t blame you for that. “Of course. And I’ll say it as many times as I have to until you believe me.” His hand rests on top of yours. You force yourself to not pull away.

“I…I love you too, Lo’ak. But I’m so scared.” Just when you think you couldn’t possibly have any more tears, new ones appear glossing over your eyes. “I can’t take another heartbreak. I don’t have it in me.”

Lo’ak’s hands hold either side of your face while he rises up to his knees. He presses warm, firm kisses to your forehead, “You won’t, tíyawn. I swear it. Never.”

Fresh tears hit your lap, but they aren’t yours. You angle your head up to look at him and now he had tears streaming down his own face. It’s truly a heart wrenching sight. You wipe his face with your thumbs and he leans his face into your touch. “I want to come home.”

A small smile breaks through on your face. ‘Home’. You try to swallow the lump in your throat so that you can actually speak words. But all you’re able to give him is the smallest nod of your head. His smile from your answer is blinding.

“Oh, before I forget.” He looks around on the floor in the spot where he was sleeping earlier and grabs your bracelet. “You left this behind.”

He grabs your wrist and ties the bracelet back on. Feeling the tiny weight on your arm again filled you with a sense of content.

“Can we go to sleep? I’m really tired.”

“Of course, sevin.” You missed hearing that.

You lie back down facing the wall and Lo’ak shifts behind you to settle into the hammock with you. His arm hesitantly rests over your waist. He still radiates that same warmth and safety that you missed, but your messy thoughts prevented you from ever fully falling asleep. Lo’ak noticed too. Every time you would stir in his arms or shift around, he would snap back to attention even if he was dozing off. He didn’t want you to be by yourself through the night. So, if you didn’t sleep, then he wouldn’t sleep.

…

A week had passed and you were slowly starting to come back into yourself. Lo’ak never left your side. He stayed with you through your whole recovery period and he loved you the whole way through. He never let a day go by without reminding you multiple times that he loved you. Some days were better than others. Some days, you looked and sounded like your normal self again. Other days, you could hardly get out of your hammock. Either way, he supported you in any and every way you needed.

You were cautious about opening back up to him. It didn’t come easy. It took a lot of heavy conversations and long sleepless nights. You still loved him and you believe that he loves you. What more could you really ask for? But your mind still torments you with the memory of what happened. You need to forget it. You want it ripped from your mind.

‘Fuck it’, you think. You’ve finally had just about as much as you can take of this.

You sit up from your hammock with a huff and look at Lo’ak who’s carving up more fruit for you on the floor.

“Lo’ak, I need you.”

He stops what he’s doing and sets down the fruit and knife. “What do you need ma txe’lan?” He comes over to you ready to attend to whatever you ask of him.

“Lie down.”

Confusion flashes across his face, but he complies anyways. You stand from your spot and kneel down between his legs. You quickly untie his loincloth and tear it off.

“W-what are you—”

“Shhhh…please don’t talk right now. I just need this, okay? Just let me do this.” You say already starting to stroke him. He gets hard almost immediately at your touch.

Lo’ak decides to not challenge you on this and let you have your way with him. You use your tongue to follow the vein on the underside of his shaft up to his tip and swirl your tongue around it.

He sucks in a sharp breath when you wrap your lips around his tip. You slide him all the way into your mouth and bob your head up and down while hollowing out your cheeks. All he can do is watch in amazement you while you go to work on him like your life depends on it. “Oh shit…” He can’t hold back the groans that escape his lips. It had felt like a lifetime since he last felt you and being in this moment right now was like heaven.

Every flash that comes across your mind just motivates you even more. You’ll keep going all night if that’s what it’ll take to finally wipe the memory from your mind.

The sounds that fill your tent are obscene, moans, curses, and slurping.

Lo’ak is slowly losing himself in the pleasure and the smell of your arousal thick in the air makes him that much more dizzy. Your body begged to be filled. You needed that pleasure that you had been deprived of for so long. More, more, more.

You use one of your hands to untie your own loincloth and pop Lo’ak out of your mouth. He barely has a chance to fully take a breath before you’re already on top of him and sinking him into your needy pussy.

“Fuck…” you breathe out as he reaches all the way into you. Your walls spasm around him getting reacquainted with the full feeling.

“Shit, wait wait” he tries to say, but it’s too late. His seed spills out into you and the heat spreads in your core. You stare down at Lo’ak with raised eyebrows and the embarrassment is clear on his face. “Shit. Sorry, sorry. It’s just been so long and between your mouth and the squeezing and—ughh” his hands cover his face trying to hide his shame. But you feel no shame or judgement towards him right now.

“Lo’ak…” you move his hands so that you can see his face, “It’s okay. We’ve got all night.” You smirk down at him and his blushing face. It’s almost comical how fast he gets hard again inside of you. “Think you can keep up?” you tease already starting to roll your hips into his.

“Yawne, you have no idea.” With one swift movement, he had flipped you over so that you were on your back and he was hovering over you. He meant every word too. Lo’ak hadn’t had any type of relief since the last time you two were together and he fully intended on making up for all the lost time.

Your hands guide his face down to yours to meet in a heated kiss. Lo’ak thrusts into you at a slow and steady pace. Every roll of his hips is deliberate and precise and it reaches the spot you need it to flawlessly. He pulls away from the kiss and holds you close to him while he whispers sweet words into your ear. “I love you”, “You are perfect”, “I need you”, “I am only yours”, and so on. You can feel him just pouring all of his love into you. You can’t quite name the feeling that comes over you, but whatever it is drives you to sink your teeth into Lo’ak’s shoulder.

There is an overwhelming, deep-rooted need to have him completely belong to you. A need to make it clear to anyone who laid eyes on him that he was already taken. Even if over time the mark would heal and fade, you’d mark him again and again for the rest of your life if you had to.

The twinge of pain in his shoulder fuels the pleasure and makes Lo’ak pick up speed. You let go of his shoulder and lick the small drips of blood that spill from the punctures you made. He sits up to his knees and holds your hips level with his while he continues to rut into you faster and harder being spurred on by the sight of your bouncing breasts and parted panting lips.

“I love you, Lo’ak.” Your words are breathy and broken, but he still hears you clearly.

“Say it again.”

“I love you, Lo’ak. I love you” you repeat it while you feel your high approaching. “Haah…Lo’ak, I’m going to cum.”

“Do it. Let go for me, sevin”

Your body immediately obeys his command for you and your head falls back while the knot in your body snaps. Lo’ak keeps fucking you through your orgasm, “Just like that.” He can’t stop moving feeling the way your pussy was gripping his dick as if you were trying to milk him for all he’s worth. “Fuck…so good…” his eyes roll in pleasure as he chases his own high. You can tell from how he twitches inside of you that he’s close. You’re desperate for it already.

“Give it to me, Lo’ak. I want all of it.”

That was all he needed to take him over the edge and spill everything he had into you. His hips stutter and slowly come to a halt.

You both take a few seconds to catch your breath before he finally pulls out of you and watches his cum drip out of you and down your ass. You look up at him, “Don’t tell me you’re done already.”

He flips your body over by your hips and says, “You wish.”

…

For the rest of that night, you and Lo’ak went at it nonstop until you both were barely hanging on to consciousness. Afterwards, you both clung to each other while you slept half the day away.

Ako came by to check on you and was beyond relieved to see that you were well. And from the scent burned into your skin, she could tell that you and Lo’ak had finally made up.

“So, who officially lost the bet?”

Simultaneously, you and Lo’ak point at each other and make the same shocked face when you realized.

“You totally lost. You’re the one that said, ‘fuck the bet’ remember?”

“Yeah, but that was after you fucked me, so you lost.” He says lightly poking your chest.

“After you said you wanted to kiss me!” you blush trying to defend yourself.

“Kissing doesn’t count. But if it does, then you definitely lost that night after you fell off that branch” he says with an arrogant smirk.

“W-well, no because….you…I d-didn’t mean to…” you search for a rebuttal, but he had you cornered. You look to Ako for some type of help, but she only raises her eyebrows at you. “Sounds like you lost to me” she teases in a singsong voice.

“Shut up” your blush deepens while they both laugh at your flustered face.

“Anyways, I was going to gather some food. You two think you can leave your love nest for long enough to come help me?”

“Sure thing. Some fresh air will be good.” Lo’ak answers.

The three of you leave your tent and you and Lo’ak walk hand-in-hand into the forest.

[dungeons-and-dictions]

It’s Analysis Friday about precisely why Hazbin Hotel is such a stand out.

But first - this is probably my last Hazbin Hotel-related analysis until the next season; give me asks during this long dry spell!

Why on this specific topic? Because I’m tired.

Y’all.

Listen.

I’m all for subjectivity. People can just like or dislike things regardless of quality. Heck, I know Helluva Boss is part of the Hazbin world, but it gives me too much cringe and vicarious embarrassment to handle.

(Yeah, I’m weird. I know)

But I keep hearing people say Hazbin Hotel is mid or just relying on hype.

Those are fighting words!

We are getting quality on par with Disney movies for a tv series!

That’s crazy! Let’s break it down.

Musical numbers

Talented singers play the main crew. Stephanie Beatrix plays Mirabel Madrigal, Kimiko plays Izzy, etc.

There were 2 songs per episode! And because it is truly perfect for a musical, we even get thematic reprises and callbacks!

Does anyone recall when similar things have happened in animation? MLP:FiM had a glorious episode that was ALL musical with a reprise. That’s all I have at this scale outside of Disney.

Characters

I’ve always known Vivzie to put thought into her work, and this shines through so well in Hazbin.

Lucifer’s depression is similar to my own

Angel’s gradual changes and struggles are realistic

Charlie’s breed of passion is the same as mine in my career

Alastor’s extremely manipulative yet we all love him

Velvette had one of the best formal character intros I’ve seen in a long time

Hazbin Hotel works really hard to get away from stereotypes, and dives in past superficial traits.

Also, we get things like Valentino sounding like he’s squeaking because moths squeak. We don’t need these things!

Animation

You know what else we don’t need?

Airplane arms!

Complicated dance moves!

Cute leg swishies with cuter sound effects?

Every second you see is 10+ frames traditionally. (Idk the studio’s technical details). That’s wild to add in these complicated extra details! And they flow so nicely! This level of quality for 2D (and honestly 3D too most of the time) is unheard of in the West nowadays.

And on that, western adult animated shows typically are so poorly made, especially in the art. Even the few I have seen that have okay stories to tell absolutely stink in terms of visuals and movement.

Story

Yeah, this is the biggest weakness Hazbin Hotel has, no doubt. The story is actually an incredible premise, and truly done pretty well within the awful time constraints. I think everyone is valid in saying it was far too fast! Hopefully we get more (or longer) episodes in upcoming seasons.

But at the same time, this is also the nature of musicals. If you think this is fast, don’t watch the Les Miserables musical where everyone only sings. Idk why, but singing the entire time makes everything seem like you’re in a race car on autopilot.

Don’t forget; the symbolism just drips out of the screen in this show. The fact that I could still do more analyses even now is a testament to that with all the content I have done since it aired. Vivienne goes hard on the details.

But put yourself in Vivzie’s shoes. You do the impossible, shot for the moon while hoping for maybe the top of a 5-story building, and you were offered the stars. Your project has been a part of who you are before you even went to university, and a major company gives you a way to bring it to life? Why wouldn’t you settle for this good of a deal?

Innovation

People do not bring up often enough that Vivienne broke a glass ceiling separate from that of gender. She showed that YouTube animations can be taken seriously, and even be aired.

In this age, the Saturday morning cartoon blocks I grew up with no longer exist. There were tons of great shows, and I could talk with other kids about it. Nestled within these weekends were shows that ran short pilot episodes for potential series. The last time I saw one was Adventure Time’s pilot.

It’s been a whiiiiiiile.

So having a cutesy little indie pilot animation amongst thousands on YouTube be such high quality and get a mainstream platform? Spindlehorse made history!

Moreso, Helluva Boss is also demonstrating the capacity of indie studios like never before - and what may pave the way for the future of animation too.

Out of all the animated series running on YouTube, Glitch is the only creator who does 3D that I am aware of. Even Glitch’s work has only started within the past few years, ie after Vivienne managed the impossible.

So please, stop complaining about subjective parts so much. Hazbin Hotel objectively has some of the highest craftsmanship in western animation.

We are blessed that Vivienne’s dream has come true in such a glorious manner. When I discovered her back in 2012, I couldn’t have guessed the pilot would be so successful, nor that it would change what was possible for animation!

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

(library's haunted) for wip meme

Yippee!

Ok so this is one of my newest fic concepts, and as such, I don't actually have much written yet, but it excites me and I think it could be fun to do.

(library's haunted) - title pending lol - is a hxh fic intended to take place in that short gap between Yorknew and GI arcs. One thing about hxh is that there really isn't much spare time to insert fun little adventures into the main timeline - but I really wanted the main four to have a fun little adventure so... I tried to make it work here. You can consider it canon adjacent, I suppose. Just... just go with it please.

I also wanted to explore Melody - she joined the mafia as a bodyguard to find the Sonata of Darkness. I wanted to expand on that.

The general premise is that during the time Kurapika is recovering from fever, Melody finds a potential lead on one of the pieces of sheet music - apparently hidden in an abandoned library/archive on the outskirts of the city. Naturally, she's skeptical and wary, but decides it's worth checking out - Kurapika, still kind of weak but at least able to move around okay, decides to go with her as backup (he's thankful for her help earlier). Leorio tags along because Kurapika isn't fully recovered, annoyed and worried and muttering about it. Gon catches wind of a cool library and goes "hey that sounds cool and it shouldn't take too much time away from training so we should go too", which of course means Killua's coming too, begrudgingly.

Anyways they think it's going to be a quick thing but of course. It isn't. The library traps them inside. It's also a whole lot bigger than they thought it would be, and time seems to move differently within. Worse, it's almost like the place itself is alive.

I'm thinking it'll be about 3 to 5 chapters total - it's meant to be a fun little breather for everyone and kind of silly, but I also want to make sure each of the main four + Melody has their moment to shine, and take the opportunity to really delve into the characters' personalities.

It will feature such moments as

Gon and Kurapika having no clue about common horror tropes and making choices that scare the hell out of the other three

Impromptu camping

Leorio simultaneously being a dumbass and the only one with an ounce of common sense

An answer to the age-old question of "if your friend jumped into a pit, would you?" (...yes. the answer is yes, with much frustrated complaining but also zero hesitation.)

WIP ask game here!