#there was no reason he just attacked her????

[raaorqtpbpdy]

"Crazy" and "insane" have largely (though I acknowledge not entirely) fallen out of use in regard to mental health, even in non-professional circles. Plus, their slang usage having a positive connotation as often as not. Like I understand the logic behind calling them problematic language but I still use them because I've yet to meet a person irl who was offended by them. Even people campaigning online to stop using it aren't offended by it themselves, as far as I can tell, they're just virtue signaling.

On the other hand, a huge number of symptoms of neurodivergence and mental illness, not to mention physical disabilities, fall into the category of what abled neurotypical people would call laziness. "Lazy" is an extremely ableist term for all the reasons listed above, and I could probably come up with a few others if pressed, and if you doubt the reality of that statement, I have some anecdotal evidence.

All of my friends are disabled and/or neurodivergent and none of them are offended by the word "crazy", and they all use it as slang with varying frequency. "Lazy" on the other hand, has traumatized many of them, and at least three of them refuse to ever use it to describe a person.

One of my friends will work himself half to death despite chronic pain and serious health issues because he's terrified of being perceived as lazy, despite the fact that he is both mentally and physically disabled in like five ways I can think of off the top of my head—wait, six. Maybe more. My older sister with severe ADHD is prone to anxiety attacks when she gets called lazy because of over 20 years of people who couldn't wrap their heads around her executive dysfunction.

The word "lazy" is exponentially more harmful to neurodivergent and mentally disabled people than "crazy" is. There are no doubt individuals for whom that isn't the case, but for the community at large, it most certainly is.

honest to god i think "lazy" is a far more ableist term to throw around than "insane."

like, there isn't a slang definition for lazy that ISN'T just saying hard work is inherently moral. at least "insane" and "crazy" are often referring to things OTHER than "you are fundamentally worse than me as a person because I can do more than you."

[aliumfungus]

I just wanna make a note here in response to some of the reactions to SE01 E06. People have said things like: 1. Mensah shouldn't have her panic attacks this early. and 2. MB wouldn't say it enjoys killing.

I honestly wonder if y'all have read the books. I have read the books in the past few weeks because I liked the show so much, so they're all very fresh in my mind. MB definitely enjoys killing in certain circumstances--and why wouldn't it? It was trained to do that, and MB is (to put it mildly) a control freak. When killing allows it to take control of a situation, it kills with relish. Not even quickly. There are scenes in the books where it breaks limbs, inflicts pain/humiliation, or cripples targets just because it wants to. Not for any tactical reason, but because doing so is what it desires and what feels good.

MB is vengeful, sadistic, and cruel. It is also wounded, sweet, gentle and kind. It is a person. People contain multitudes.

As for Mensah's panic attacks, they're present from the very first book and get systematically worse until she's required to attend treatment. I also find it very... sad, that people think that a capable leader can't have such a weakness.

As someone who struggled with CPTSD for years, I am very capable and intelligent and emotionally aware. I also had flashbacks and panic attacks and once I was so triggered by fireworks that I literally got up and fled the room I was in and ended up shaking in a stairwell hyperventilating. It happens. It happens to even intelligent, capable people, because PTSD is not a moral or personal weakness, it is a disease.

And if you don't believe my story, how about another famous media depiction: Captain Picard in ST:TNG. He is tortured for weeks and suffers long-term effects, including flashbacks and panic attacks--but no one thinks he's a less capable leader, and no one thinks he's been done dirty. Instead, people applaud his journey and say, "Oh, what a complex and wonderful character!" Why isn't this same courtesy extended to Mensah? Because she's a woman? Because she's black? You tell me.

[bullet-prooflove]

The Problem With Winning The War: John Carter x Reader

Tagging: @kmc1989 @anna-bailey @ofsoapsuds @queenslandlover-93 @gemofspace

Summary: The problem with winning the war is that you don't expect the second attack.

Companion piece to:

Dreamer (NSFW) - John dreams of you when he's with someone else.

Little John - You try to keep John's mind off the task at hand.

The First One Is Always The Hardest - You comfort John after the death of a patient.

Forget-Me-Nots - John wakes up hung over in a strange bed and with an unexpected memento of the night before.

Speak Your Truth - John speaks his truth in the aftermath of a tragedy.

Trauma - John makes a realisation after his confession.

Fever - John gets more than he bargained for when he attends a friend's stag party in a Chicago Speakeasy.

Minx (NSFW) - John had no idea he had such a deviant little minx on his hands.

Always - You and John discuss the reasons behind your dancing.

Diamonds - John's friend and rival makes you an offer you can't refuse.

The Stethoscope - John's world is turned upside down when he finds your stethoscope in his locker.

Elderberry Wine - You come home to find John waiting for you.

Sex, Lies and Cocaine Dreams - John takes his revenge on the man that shattered your dreams.

By The Grace of God - An unexpected ally goes to bat for you during your beard hearing.

Choices - You and John discuss your options moving forward.

The Sexual Revolution (NSFW) - You decide to give John a private show before the event.

A Love Story - Your performance sparks an unexpected conversation with Gamma.

The problem with winning the war is that you don’t see the next attack coming. You become complacent, enjoying the spoils of your conquest. You’re not looking for the literal knife in your back, not until it strikes.

That’s what happens to John in the parking lot of his apartment building. He’s just dropped you off at the door because it’s beginning to rain, watched you run up the steps to safety with that glittering tuxedo jacket over your head to fend off the weather before heading into the lot.

It’s as he’s locking up the Jeep that he feels the blade sink into his skin, that sharp burst of agony sends shockwaves through his nerve endings as warmth blossoms across the back of his shirt. Blood, he realises as he tastes the copper tang in the air. His blood. The knife plunges in again, twisting this time and his knees buckle at the white hot pain that sears through him.

The earth rushes up to greet him as he falls forward into the tarmac. He tries to brace himself, his keys digging into his palm as he ends up on all fours, trying to suck in a breath. It comes out in a wet rasp and that’s when he knows how bad it is, that his lungs are starting to soak up the blood that’s ebbing into his abdomen.

The rain pelts down on his back, a relentless and harsh pounding as fingers slide through his damp hair, gripping it tightly, yanking his head back so hard he hisses in pain.

A familiar face appears in his mottled vision.

Ryan Burkefield II.

Burkey.

The knife in his hand glints wickedly in the light from the streetlamp overhead, the only one illuminating the parking lot.

In that moment John is thankful for two things. The fact he made you get out of the car to avoid the rain, and the knowledge that you’re locked safely in his apartment.

“Is she up there waiting for you?” Burkey asks him, his voice raw as he crouches down, picking up John’s keys. “Is she up there right now, undressing for you, hoping that you’ll make love to her into the early hours of the morning?”

John grits his teeth, trying to wrench himself away but his limbs they’re starting to tingle, another sign that he is losing far too much blood. Buckey’s grasp on his hair is the only thing keeping him upright, holding him steady.

“I’m going to leave you here to bleed out.” Burkey tells him, shoving him forward. His head bounces off the tarmac, the crack echoing underneath the sound of the rain as black tinges at the edges of his sight. “I want your last thoughts to be of me fucking your woman before I slit her throat in your bed.”

He kicks him in the face then and John feels his nose break under the force of the impact, fresh agony ripping through his features. His eyes sting and his breathing comes in short, ragged pants as he watches those boots walk way, toward you, the love of his life.

He tries to crawl, to raise the alarm, but the rain makes his clothes heavy and his body refuses to coordinate with him. He makes it a few inches before collapsing from exhaustion, his blood intermingling with the puddles that are starting to form underneath him.

“I’m sorry Crys.” He whispers, tears rolling down his cheeks as the darkness rolls in like storm clouds, death's icy fingers caressing his spine. “I’m so damn sorry.”

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[winkofcharm]

Spinning, Spinning, Spun - Chapter 3

Uhhhhhhhhhh

I'm sorry it's short and kind of jumps around,

but I think you'll love this anyway. tw: blood, swearing

batfam x reader [platonic]

[previous] Stephanie and Damian find the private jet easily enough. It’s in a private hangar at a New York airport, hidden away from public view. From the outside, it looks normal. Not a thing out of place - no signs of forced entry, of a struggle outside. It isn’t until Damian activates the biometric scanner and opens the door that they find anything wrong. 

The smell of rotting copper and iron hits them full force. Stephanie is grateful her mask muffles the smell, Damian doesn’t have her luck, and as used to the smell of blood as he is, still finds it too much. However, it’s not just the smell that is too much, it’s the amount as well.

Brown blood, well oxidized, is soaked into the carpet, into the curtains, into the chair by the far window - where it has not soaked in, it has splattered. There are still bright red spots, but only where there is so much that it hasn't yet dried. It is not simply a crime scene, but a horror show. 

Damian moves quickly to look for clues, even if it means stepping into a puddle of your blood, he is determined to find anything he can that may lead to you. The chair at the far window is your favourite place to sit, he knows, from your many snapchats from that exact place. No doubt it was where you sat when the attack began, as the blood outlines a body of your size. Beneath that seat he finds his first clue, your phone. 

It’s dead, likely having been for several days at least, but if he charges it, he may find some sort of idea or hint as to what may have happened. It’s unlikely you wouldn’t have at least tried to call for help, and he hopes you may have tried to describe your attacker in such an emergency plea. 

Stephanie has moved towards the cockpit, the jet is pilotless, fully automated, but there are cameras aboard - just in case. They’ve never really had reason to look over them until now, and she hopes that whoever took you didn’t know about them. Her hope is dashed, when she realizes the cameras had failed. The few moments of footage were of you, sitting quietly as the plane landed and pulled itself into its dedicated hangar. You were on your phone, texting or scrolling, just getting ready to unbuckle and stand when it cuts off. 

It’s a clean cut, no static, just a cut to black. There is no sign of who approached the jet from the outer camera, and no sign of you being assaulted on the inner one (which is both a relief and a pain, she didn’t want to see you getting hurt, but then, at least, she would know who did it). 

Damian is still in the rear of the plane when she hears it - sirens. All approaching quickly to their location. They need to move quickly, lest they be caught, and investigation hindered. They move as quickly as they can, taking with them your phone, and leave, disappearing into the night - back to Gotham. 

Stephanie can’t help but wonder, how, or rather, why, the police were only showing up now. At this exact moment. Why had they not come earlier, but rather once the scene was disturbed? Had it been a trap? A trigger of some sorts they had unknowingly pulled, that had called them? She doesn’t know, but she will find out.

Tim has no idea who you are. He knows of you, knows about you, but knows nothing of who you are as a person. It’s usually an easy job, finding out who holds a grudge against who, but with you it’s nearly impossible. He follows internet trolls, paparazzi reporters, your fellow celebutantes, trying to find anyone that may have hated you, may have held even a drop of enmity - but there’s nothing. He’s used to stalking people, it’s what landed him the role of Robin, after all. He’s able to find out anything, about anyone. 

You… you are a perfect mask. Even better than Batman, he surmises - because he was able to track down and identify Batman. He cannot identify you. 

There are no scandals, no rumours, no drama or fights or fallouts. You seem to be exactly what you appear. A wealthy philanthropist with a side job of modeling for haute couture brands. He tries to dig deeper, moving on to shitty celebrity gossip blogs that exist only to throw mud - and still, there’s nothing. Perhaps Babs did her job too well, and wiped a little too much from the internet regarding you. 

Speaking of Barbara -

Oracle: Check the news 

The ping drives him to do as she commanded, and he is overwhelmed immediately. 

“Wayne Heir Missing!”

“Gruesome crime scene at centre of Wayne Heir disappearance!”

“Cover up? Wayne family silent as Heir missing for days.”

The headlines are flooding in, and with them come your fans, your friends, your coworkers - all saying the same, that they miss you, hope you’re found safe, that they haven’t heard from you in days but thought it was just a brief get away. In minutes, your pages are flooded with concern - and Tim knows immediately he’ll be in for a long night when his own social media starts getting attention. So does Bruce’s, Dick’s, Damian’s - everyones is starting to be overrun, but unlike the kindness that pours onto yours, he sees the vitriol first hand. 

The public is demanding to know why nothing was found earlier, how you could be gone for so long before they noticed, how could they go about their daily lives without a shred of despair regarding your disappearance. Did they not notice? Or did they not care?

Wayne Enterprises and Drake Industries stocks are already beginning to plummet. He’s getting calls from every member of the board of each company, the free-fall and ramifications are piling up, and he’s doing his best to ignore the outside world. He’s trying to focus so hard on finding you, that he almost blocks out the alarms.

Reporters are flocking to Wayne Manor, newspapers and tabloids, from The Daily Planet, to the sleaziest of sleazy mags. He tosses his phone aside, and rubs his hands on his face. He and the others had hoped to keep this under wraps, out of public scrutiny for as long as possible and yet, in the 24 hours they had known you were gone, the secret had already been blown. 

Tim groans as he pushes away from the Batcomputer, and heads up out of the cave to the main Manor - he’ll have to change, something dark to impress how seriously he was taking your abduction. Bruce is with Dick, dealing with the Red Hood stuff, and Damian is still heading home with Stephanie, so Tim will have to be the one to release a statement. 

What will he even say? 

“Yeah, no, we had no idea they were gone, and could be dead??” Especially if that amount of blood in the pictures Damian sent over was all yours. “Sorry, I know we look like besties online, but I have no fucking idea what happened?” Not like he had actually laid eyes on you in the month leading up to this. “Half the time I forget they even exist, so how was I supposed to notice???”

Alfred waits for him in the foyer, as Tim puts the finishing touches on his suit. Best to play this as formally as possible, best to lie his ass off and hope no one calls him on it. 

Alfred’s eyes are rimmed in red, he hasn’t cried, but he wants to. A stiff upper-lip, Tim thinks, is expected of the man. He wouldn’t blame him, however, if he did cry. Alfred was the closest to you, and everyone knew there was a special bond there. The older man was always extra gentle with you, gave extra care and attention - perhaps to make up for what the rest of them didn’t give. Tim does feel a little guilty in thinking that Alfred’s distress will make whatever snake oil he’s about to sell easier for the press to buy. 

They walk side by side down the long drive that leads from the Manors front gates to the actual building itself. The crunch of their footsteps slowly being overwhelmed by the chatter of the reporters waiting for them, and Tim is temporarily blinded when they finally spot him and start snapping pictures. He keeps walking forward, until finally he is in front of the grand gates, with only a few feet between him and them. 

He waits for the rapid fire of first questions to die, for the cameras to start rolling and pictures to stop clicking, before beginning his address. 

“We were made aware yesterday of the disappearance of one of our own -,” Tim starts, “We have since been made aware that they may have been gone for longer than initially thought. Currently we are working with the police and investigators as they work towards finding them. We are certain they will be found soon, and brought home, and only ask that whoever did this comes forward and releases them.” 

It’s an automatic speech, one he’s practiced, but never thought he’d have to ever give. Sure you’d been taken before, they all have, but usually that was solved and you were home within the day, long before any of this sort of attention was demanded. 

“We ask that you give us our privacy at this time, and allow us, as a family, to work through this. We appreciate your concern, and please rest assured, that the police are doing all they can.” He finishes his statement, and the flurry of questions and cameras starts up again. It’s only polite to answer a few questions, and will project a better image of the family to do so. He scans over the crowd, trying to decide which reporter he will answer when his eyes land on a familiar face. 

Lois Lane stands beside a cameraman for The Daily Planet, her face set in a frown as she listens to Tim speak. She’s met you several times, mostly in passing, but enough to know that whatever happened to you is bad, really, really bad. You’ve always been kind to her, and sweet to Jon whenever he visited Damian. Clark had even brought you home once for a meal after a kidnapping, she remembered how you laughed and smiled, how polite you had been - so when she learned that you had been taken, violently, she had immediately volunteered to be the one sent to Gotham. She studied everything she could on her way, including your latest posts and had only one question - 

“Drake, according to their post history, you were the last one to see them -,” She began, but she knew the truth. You and Tim hadn’t spoken in weeks, despite what you had posted. Lois had left her phone number with you the second or third time you’d met, so had Clark, mostly just in case - but you messaged back and forth frequently about little things. 

You’d often send her clips of Jon and Damian together, running about in the back of the grounds, but sometimes you’d ask her questions. Questions that let her know everything wasn’t as it seemed. Questions about what to do when you felt ignored, or unwanted. Things a mother or father should have talked to you about, not an almost, but not quite, stranger. 

Tim ended up dodging her almost-question, made an excuse about how you had met up shortly before getting on the plane but he hadn’t heard from you since. It was enough to plant a seed in the rest of the reporters though. That maybe you weren’t as close as your posts made you seem, that maybe Tim was lying, or you were. It was enough, Lois decided, and she turned back to her cameraman. They’d leave as soon as this impromptu Q and A was over, and she’d be contacting her husband. Maybe he’d be able to help find you, or at least try and convince the Batman to let him help. 

—----------------------------

Jason and Red Hood.

Red Hood and Jason.

His son is alive, alive and filled with rage the likes he has never seen before. Perhaps that is why he took you? For revenge? Another way to throw Bruce’s failings back in his face, to hammer home the point that Bruce has done nothing but hurt those he was meant to protect. He hopes at least that Jason has been kind to you, that your brother may have still held some warmth towards you, despite how he had tried to drive you apart. That Jason may recognize you for what you are, a civilian, an innocent caught in the line of fire. 

He has followed his lost son, to a warehouse where the freshly beaten Joker lies, where his son points a gun at his head, and where you, thankfully are not (but where are you?). 

Jason lashes out, demands his pound of flesh, demands he kill Joker - but Bruce knows he cannot, that if he were to kill, even once, he would be lost in a flurry of violence and death.

There is no perfect time to ask about you, to demand Jason send you home safe and sound - but he does anyway - forces out the words, demands to know where your brother has taken you, and in doing so, he’s made another mistake.

“The fuck you mean Bruce?” Jason demands, “You think I’d hurt them? That’d I’d go after them just to get to you?” He sees Jason get angrier as he talks, as he realizes that Bruce has lost another kid. “You did it again, didn’t you? You fucking lost another one of us! But unlike me, they’re untrained, they’re weak, because you left them defenseless, and now look at what you’ve done!” 

Jason doesn’t have you, never even thought of using you against him.  Joker didn’t take you, he had been in Arkham up until this final confrontation. He doesn’t have time to ask anything else about you, not when the clock is ticking.  Bruce refuses to kill the Joker, and Jason escapes, leaving him alone. 

Joker is brought back to Arkham, and he turns his comms back on, and is overwhelmed immediately by all that has occurred outside his crusade.

You are still gone.

Joker doesn’t have you. 

Jason didn’t take you.

The police are swarming the jet.

Reporters are flooding his driveway. 

The internet is rife with speculation, with rumours and tales, some of them pointing towards an inside job. 

He is a failure.

—----------------------------------------------------------------------------

The ocean is warm this time of year, the sand almost burns with the heat. It’s unfortunate you can’t get in the water yet, not until the doctor clears you completely. The scab on your stomach itches as it heals, but at least you can go outside with it covered. 

The drink in your hand is sweet, fruity and fresh, just as you like it. A brand new phone, registered in a fake name, in your other hand scrolling rapidly through news site after news site. 

A smile plays at your lips. 

“Damn,” you whisper, “If I knew it would be this easy, I would have gone girl’d them years ago.”

Tag list:

@holybatflapexpert @electricgg @xoyumiqls @holderoflostmemories @sleeptimes @galaxypurplerose @sassam @pearlyribbons @bellelamoon @fortunatelydifferentqueen

@randomlyappearingartist @c4xcocoa @whyiseveryuseenametaken @myjumper

@magdalenacarmila @noone1233nobody @bbmgirll @degenerates-posts

@rinkydinkythinky @ithoughtthinks @rtyuy1346  @s1mppp @yokesmam @cssammyyarts

@overlyobsessivefangirl @paastaboi @dakotali @mysh-lynnn @hai-there-how-are-you

@sadeem575 @lettucel0ver

(please let me know if the tag didn't work)

[eggrollforyou]

Wait For Me

Zoro x F!reader x Law

Summary: you, a fellow Straw Hat, and the crew are separated at Sabaody. Saved by Law, you have to decide if you’ll accept his help or cut your losses and handle things on your own until your crew reunites.

CW: MDNI, NSFW, Angst, slow burn, Canon divergent, eventual smut, AFAB reader, use of Y/N, hidden baby trope (kinda? Not by choice lol), descriptions of violence, blood, and vomit, pregnant reader, self doubt

A/N: Not proofread. I hope you enjoyyyyy!

Series masterlist : Previous chapter

Chapter 5

It’s been a month since you kissed Law. Weeks of agonizing awkward glances, quiet moments, and chastising yourself for your messy vulnerability. You spent the first week worried about what this would do to your relationship with Zoro. He’s pretty laid back, but this….this is different. Would he forgive you? Would he see reason when you had an opportunity to explain or would he see red? You weren’t going to keep it a secret from him but you had to figure out how to deal with the situation with tact. He was already going to be dealing with a lot when you reunite.

You continued to train relentlessly, hoping to lose yourself in that instead of your own thoughts. It was easier to deal with. You had four more months until you were due back at Sabaody. Still behind on your training and still feeling sorry for yourself that you haven’t gotten further along in training, despite the graces that everyone gives you. It’s far easier to extend that same grace that you so willingly give than to accept it yourself. 

Law has been taking the whole thing surprisingly well. He hasn't made you feel bad about the situation. Hasn't pressed for any conversations. He's simply been…there. Steady. At least you can count on that.

“Y/N-ya,” Law calls out, snapping you out of your thoughts. You shift in your seat in the galley, turning to the door. Law walks into the room with Ayumi in tow. Her sleepy eyes are searching for you. She reaches out as soon as she sees you across the galley. “She just woke up. She was crying for you,” he says as he passes her to you. “Sorry, if she interrupted your work. I just wanted to grab a bite before she woke up.” He glances down at your plate, food clearly uneaten, just moved around. 

“Ayumi,” he calls her. She snaps a side eye to him, “Let's go see Bepo, yea? Let your mother eat,” he attempts to coax her from your embrace. You chuckle as you look down as her grip tightens, “No!” Her side eye grows fiercer, “Mama.” He puts his hands up in surrender, eyes wide as he glances at you. “I’m beginning to see where she gets her attitude,” he smirks. You glare at him, matching her scowl, and he chuckles as he walks away.

Another two months have passed. You're counting the days until you can see your crew again. You've docked on another island to restock as you make your way back toward Sabaody. Law mentioned splitting up soon to move forward with plans on an island he said was imperative for his next mission. Something called Punk Hazard. You couldn't recall exactly since most of the planning didn't involve you. He seemed more stressed about it as the date got closer, though. 

“What are we gonna do without this little Princess here to keep us company?” Ikkaku coos as she tossed Ayumi into the air and delighted baby giggles fill the air. You're sitting on the beach, taking a break from training. All the hard work has finally begun to pay off. You feel stronger. Finally able to give Law a run for his money when you spar. Your observation haki is finally ahead of your armament, you can mostly predict an attack. Enough to get ahead of it. 

It's made you more confident in your ability to protect Ayumi. Not that you were ever in a situation when you needed to, but it certainly helped when she was wobbling into trouble on the ship. She's a year and a half old now and FULLY mobile. You've found your observation skills supremely handy to keep her out of trouble. 

“Ugh! What am I gonna do without YOU, Ikkaku?!” You reminisce how she's been the only other woman on board. Of course you two have gotten close. “Pfff. You'll be FINE! You have Nami and Robin, right? You're just gonna have to teach this little lady how to beat up those stinky boys,” she says in baby talk to Ayumi. You laugh watching the two of them play. I hope ‘Yumi adjusts on the Sunny. 

“I'm worried,” you quietly contemplate. “About what? What's there to worry about? Everyone will be so happy to be back together. Surprised, I'm sure, but happy.”

You sigh. You haven't told Ikkaku anything about your conflicted feelings for Law, nor about your kiss. “W-well….the last few months I've…I feel like a terrible person.”

She cocks an eyebrow at you, “Go on.”

“I don't know. The relationship I have with Law has gotten complicated. It's so messy Ikkaku. At first I thought I had feelings for him because of the hormones. And after ‘Yumi he was SO helpful, and supportive, and well GREAT.” You pause. 

“But lately they felt like they were growing into something more. And I don't know if those feelings are real, or if it's because he's just been there for me when I needed it and those lines just got blurred. And well….a few months ago, I….” You trail off.

“Out with it already, woman!” She pleads. “You sigh again, “A few months ago, I was feeling really vulnerable, and weak, and doubting myself and this whole situation. What if Zoro doesn't want kids…or me? Any of this. And I kissed Law.” Her eyes wide in shock and she stops dancing Ayumi on her lap. “I-I still love Zoro, and I want to make this work if he'll have it, but I feel like SUCH a shitty person. And I'm terrified he won't forgive me.” You look at her, clearly shaken. “Does that make me a terrible person?” You sheepishly ask.

She looks down at Ayumi and back up at you. “No, Y/N. That doesn't make you a bad person. It makes you human. We're messy, and confusing, and sometimes do stupid shit. But you own up to your mistakes. Apologize, make amends, and move forward. I mean, I don't know Zoro. But I know you. And you're a good, kind person. If he can't see that, then that's on him. Did Law say anything to you?” You let out a breath you didn't realize you were holding. 

“He said he would be here for me and ‘Yumi, no matter what.”

“Well, then there you go! If Zoro is a dumbass and doesn't see what he has in front of him…then come back. We're all here for you.” She beams a smile at you and you lean over to rest your head on her shoulder. “Thank you. What did I do to deserve you.”

You're fighting your stomach as it twists in knots as the Polar Tang approaches Sabaody. It's been two years since you were last here. Part of you finds it hard to push back the panic that you feel in your gut, remembering the fight that you thought was the end of your journey. Walking with Ayumi through the mangrove shifts your attention. You smile as she attempts to run, chasing the bubbles. “Let's go, baby. We have to find Daddy.”

Law and the rest of the Heart Pirates follow you as you go from one grove to the next to get to Shakky’s. Bepo scoops Ayumi up to bask in her snuggles along the walk as she excitedly points out the new sights. Law notices how tense you are, pushing back his own tension at the prospect of losing something he never thought he wanted. Fighting the lump forming in his throat he quietly asks, “Hey. Things will be ok.” Will they though?

You clear your throat, pulling your arms up to your chest, “Y-yea. I think so too. I missed everyone so much. You guys are so serious,” you joke trying to fight the anxiety lighting up your chest. Law rolls his eyes but fights a smirk. Shakky’s is suddenly in front of you and you stop. Bepo brings Ayumi to you teary eyed, “I’ll see you soon, ok ‘Yumi?” he sniffles. Propping her on your hip you turn to Law, “T-thank you….for everything. From both of us. We wouldn’t be here without you.” As you lean in to hug him goodbye, you’re squished as the entire crew embraces you and Ayumi. She delightedly giggles in the group hug, reaching out to touch everyone within her grasp. Law leans down, “I meant it. We’ll be here another day. You know where to find us if you need it.” You nod in quiet acknowledgement and a heavy heart. Finally released from everyone’s grasp, you turn around and slowly walk into the bar, unsure of what to expect.

It takes you a moment for your eyes to adjust from the brightness outside to the dimmer light inside the bar. “There she is,” Shakky calls out. “Oh? And who is this?” as she sees Ayumi. No real confirmation needed to be said who Ayumi’s father is. With her bright green hair and suspicious glare. She is very clearly her father’s daughter. You smile, “This is Ayumi….Where is everyone? Am I the first one here?” Shakky tips her head to the side, “He’s here, back room sweetheart.” 

Your heart jumps at the thought, palms growing clammy, butterflies in your stomach, but an overwhelming sense of warmth overtakes you. Your excitement at seeing him, that this moment is finally here brings a skip back to your step, overriding your anxiety. You walk past the bar, pushing open the door, you see Zoro standing at a window, looking outside. He hears your footsteps and turns around. He’s changed so much. He’s stronger. You stop in your tracks as he makes eye contact with you. Surprised you have a baby in tow, but his gaze softens when he sees your lip trembling. Shakky clears her throat behind you, “Let me see this little Princess,” as she reaches out to hold Ayumi for you for a moment. 

As soon as you see that Ayumi isn’t throwing a fit, you turn and run to Zoro. Jumping up into his embrace, wrapping your legs around his waist as he catches you effortlessly. You’ve wrapped your arms around his neck in a tight embrace, locking your face into the crook of his neck as you fight back the ugly cry you really want to cry. Zoro chuckles, “Don’t be a crybaby already. We were supposed to get stronger, you know,” he teases. You lean back, placing your hands on both sides of his face, your thumb gently ghosting the scar over his left eye. He glances away for a moment, trying to fight his insecurity about how you’d react to it. He shifts to wipe away the tears on your face. “I missed you so much,” you hiccup. 

He leans forward and kisses you, fiercely. The butterflies and hot ball of anxiety in your chest dissipate immediately as you kiss him back. His lips still felt the same perfectly slotted against yours. “I missed you too,” he whispers as he rests his forehead on yours. Ayumi breaks the silence calling out to you, “Mama! Mama, up!” she reaches out to you in Shakky’s embrace. Zoro’s eyes widen again, “Mama?” he questions, slowly letting you back down onto your feet. “Um…yea. Zoro, this is Ayumi….your daughter.”

Did you like this? I'm flattered! Wanna read more? Here's my Masterlist!

Tags: @shy-writer-999 @dreamcastgirl99 @guridoodles @ibuch7 @praline357 @chaixsherlock @lunafrisk303999 @starchild-unnamed

MDNI banner by @cafekitsune

Heart banner by @saradika-graphics

[icarusinstatic]

Murderbot Episode 6 review

Non-spoiler review: highly enjoyable, but there is a definite non-small amount of body horror in this episode. It actually gives me hope for Season 2 (if we get it) Murderbot having its operation/alteration done by its future non-human bestie and that scene being done justice. But seriously, no joke, if body horror / scene’s of a medical procedure make you uncomfortable, please be cautious.

Spoiler review under the cut

Mensah and MB’s developing (non-romantic) relationship definitely feels different than the books, but also very similar, if you catch my drift. Yes Mensah, you are still going to be MB’s favorite human, but it’s going to be a relationship founded on a little bit of snark, a definite difference of opinion on the quality of Sanctuary Moon, and a whole lot of understanding of each other’s (not flaws, but points of sensitivity) weak points.

I loved that MB used an episode of Sanctuary Moon to help Mensah come down from a panic attack, and at the same time let Mensah see one of the main things that gives MB a point of reference for humanity. (This is important later in the episode imo).

The body horror of Mensah having to do spinal surgery on MB and being horrified by it, but also seeing that MB is right, this needs to be done for the two of them to get back to the team. She is going to need so much therapy. (MB should get some too, but it’s not there yet).

I have a lot more thoughts on Mensah and Murderbot’s points of view on each other, but those thoughts are currently rotating in my head like a rotisserie chicken, so I might post about that later.

Oh LeBeeBee we hardly knew you - thank god for that.

I will say, despite my genuine distaste for her continued sexualization of MB, I did like how disgusted Gurathin and Baradwaj were hearing LeBeeBee do it. I feel like if Baradwaj and Gurathin were in the hopper to hear he make those first comments about MB while it was unconscious then they would have told off (Gurathin) or gently chided (Baradwaj) LeBeeBee right away.

Gurathin absolutely suspected LeBeeBee of shenanigans from the start, but didn’t have time to warn the rest of the team before Mensah and MB left to launch the beacon. That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.

I cannot wait for the threesome to fall apart, please let it happen already. Ratthi basically inserting himself into a moment that he was not invited into was just really off putting to me. Yeah, he’s definitely emotionally into Pin Lee and Arada, but they gave him some pretty obvious “we need some time alone” vibes when he asked them if they wanted his help packing and he still came in later to join them. It’s not just Ratthi’s fault though, because Pin Lee can’t be honest with Arada, and Arada is obviously not ready to terminate the threesome contract. In short, it’s a mess.

Baradwaj, you are my favorite non-Gurathin survey member for a reason, and that reason is your emotional honesty and your desire to see the best in everyone.

Obviously she was never going to get LeBeeBee to turn over a new leaf, that was just not in the cards. But her willingness to try even after LeBeeBee had shot Gurathin and it not feel like just a ploy to save the team, but to help LeBeeBee was really refreshing.

She has spoken to Gurathin about feeling compassion for others before - makes me think he was a real mess when Mensah found him in the CR. I cannot wait for next weeks episode, because I heard it was supposed to be Gurathin heavy.

The ending… OMG the ending was everything to me. (Okay I have one gripe, but that can come later). I feel like MB shooting LeBeeBee while she held a gun to Gurathin’s head was completely justified. Gurathin freaking out because he could have been shot to, was definitely in character, and MB’s pretty blasé response was very in character. Obviously MB wouldn’t have shot Gurathin on accident, but Gurathin was freaked out and MB doesn’t really like him, so fair’s fair. Though, I will say that once he has a chance to think about it I think that Gurathin will be the member of the team that’s not Mensah to really understand MB.

Mensah probably thought that all the work she and MB had done to understand each other went down the drain as soon as MB shot LeBeeBee, but I think this is something that HAD to happen, because MB is right Mensah was treating MB like a human, and that’s not what it is, and is not what it want’s to be. Mensah, by the end of this season, may not be all the way there, but Ideally will be in a good place to get to an understanding of MB in the future. She needs to really “see” MB to be a good friend to it.

Everyone else’s reaction to MB was very visceral, and also very necessary. MB just killed someone in front of them, and these guys are NOT used to the level of violence that MB is. This is NOT normal, and that’s genuinely a good thing for PresAux. There is a reason we say the CR is hell after all. This act of violent protection is outside the norm for PresAux but they are not in a normal situation right now. They are being hunted by another entity (Evil Survey) and they don’t want to hold hands with PresAux, they want to kill them. I feel like this made everything real to the team, and it’s about time they get with the program.

Finally, MB realizing that its clients will not be acting like the Blorblo’s from its shows was really spot on. MB has been using it’s media to understand human’s and it’s self, which is a good thing, but It hasn’t really made the connection that that media isn’t based in real life human’s reactions to those types of situations. It’s going to be a rocky road for MB to walk, but if it wants to self actualize (and it won’t admit it, but it does) then it needs to have these experiences to be able to grow.

I maintain that MB didn’t feel good killing LeBeeBee for the hell of it. It felt good about it, because it was protecting its clients, and getting a bit of revenge for how LeBeeBee had treated it.

I am excited about the rest of the season, and pretty curious to see how everything is going to play out considering the changes that the show is doing, but so far so good. (If someone else sexualizes MB before the end of the season I will throw hands though).

*I wrote this at like 1 in the morning, I tried to keep MB’s It/It’s pronouns but If I messed up at a part, please let me know so I can correct any errors. Thank you guys!

[yukioos]

Hey Kali!!! Love your writing 🫶

I was wondering if you could write something by for Hitoshi Shinsou x Fem!reader with a healer quirk and is really clumsy and Shinso just is really protective of her in general and does not let any man get too close to her lol 🫶

pro-hero!hitoshi with a clumsy s/o who has a healing quirk

as a hero with a healing quirk, you don't often engage in combat unless necessary, as your quirk isn’t suited for violence against others. instead, you work alongside hitoshi. after he’s done capturing a villain, you’ll heal anyone if there are hostages or victims trapped under rubble. the thing is, sometimes you need to heal someone immediately, and while hitoshi is buying you time, you need to be stealthy.

well, that’s one thing you need to work on.

so when you skillfully sneak around a couple of villains who blew up a building full of hostages in it, you know they won’t survive long, if they didn’t immediately get crushed by the weight. quietly, you step over rubble, and hitoshi tries to talk, trying to mask the sound of your footsteps with his voice.

though when you accidentally trip over some rubble and let out a little ‘damn it,’ you hear a belittling laugh come out of a villain’s mouth.

you look back to see hitoshi’s terrified face, and a grin on all of the villain’s faces. just as quickly as one charges at you, hitoshi grabs them with his binds and pulls them tightly, anger surging through him.

he shouts at them, “just what the hell do you think you’re doing, huh?!” and for a moment, you think he’s scolding you, but he stares down the villains all trapped in his scarf.

they were stupid. they dare to try and attack you while he’s right there? how idiotic could they be? hitoshi thought, if you’re gonna be a villain and attack people, at least do it smartly and with a plan.

but when you’re technically out of harm's way, and hitoshi has all of the villains passed out and lying on the ground, and the police are coming to detain them, you help out the trapped civilians. once the police take the villains away with a struggle, he comes over to help you pick up the rubble and take the civilians out from under it, healing them quickly so they can be driven home by assistants.

after the two of you helped many workers who were trapped, you sit on some rubble and joke, “think i need to work on being stealthier.”

he grins, mask off, and his dark eyes have a certain playful glint in them, “you’re the reason why we had to baby-proof the whole house.”

“hey!”

glad you love my writing! also, someone else requested a healer reader too so ig it’s kinda popular! thanks for requesting this

[adoringaffliction]

Mascara Pt. 2

Rafe Cameron X Naive!Reader

"It's too bad… it's too bad you're married... to me."

Series Warnings: Manipulation to the highest degree, toxic!rafe, naive!reader, reader just wants love bro, other warnings to come…

Series Summary: Rafe's in a bad situation and needs a way out, and his ticket to his generational wealth comes in the form of a shy naive girl that would make the perfect trophy wife. Rafe just needs to whip her into shape, that's all. 

MDNI +18

1, 2, 3

Rafe's POV

I pulled out of the hotel parking lot grinning. It was all falling into place. She was perfect. Naive, young, and seemingly untouched. She acted like she’d never seen a real man before. And so obedient too. I laid it on thick for her dad. Something I was so used to doing on my own. Feigned politeness and concern. Such a sweet girl. Sarah really knew how to find them. Y/n would be my way out. Something I’d been looking for for a long time. I don’t think she realized that when I saw her from across the room, that that was it. That she was mine the moment she entered my vision. Looking so timid and out of place. No doubt I’d make her the happiest girl in the OBX. I had anything a young girl could want. And she had everything I needed. She would make the perfect trophy wife. I knew a diamond in the rough when I saw one.  

Meeting Top and Kelce

She woke up in the morning to find a text from a number she didn’t recognize. 

“Hey, I’m coming to pick you up, be ready by 11:00.” 

She furrowed my brow and wondered who it was. Could it be Rafe? Would he have texted her? 

“Rafe?” she messaged. 

“The one and only.” 

“🙄.”

She got up when she saw the time read 10:05. She got dressed and groomed herself, making sure she looked decent enough to see him. 

“Where are you going?” her dad asked. 

“Rafe’s coming to pick me up, is that okay?” 

“I suppose, but please be back by the agreed time tonight, I don’t want to have a panic attack again,” he chuckled. 

“I won't do that to you again, I’m sorry,” she said. 

“It’s alright, it happens.” 

There was a knock on the room door. Her dad went to open it and there stood Rafe. He stood solidly, wearing board shorts and a white polo. 

“Hi Mr. Y/l/n,” he smiled. 

“Call me y/d/n,” her dad stated. They shook hands like they had the night before. “Where are you taking her?” her dad asked. 

“I wanted to show her around the country club here,” he smiled at her. 

“Wow. Fancy,” her dad turned to her with an approving look. Rafe smirked in triumph.

“Alright dad, I’ll be back before curfew I promise!” 

“Alright,” he said. “You kids have fun.” 

When the door had been closed Rafe wrapped his arm around her shoulder. 

“I didn’t think you’d text,” she said incredulously. 

“Why wouldn’t I?” 

“Because you’re mister cool guy,” she giggled.

He rolled his eyes,”whatever that’s not my MO anymore.” 

“And what is your MO now Mr. Cameron?”

“I think I’m gonna make it ‘Rafe Cameron Y/n Y/l/n’s Man for all effects and purposes.’”

“Oh really? Did you ask her what she thought of this?” 

“No not really, she doesn’t really have a choice.” 

“Oh wow, here I was thinking that I was an independent and free thinking human being.” 

“Not anymore you aren’t,” he opened the passenger door for her,”When you’re with me you don’t have to think sweetheart.” 

She got in and giggled. He slid into the driver seat and drove them out of the hotel parking lot. 

“Can I have aux?” 

“Sure,” he handed her a cord to plug into her phone. 

She picked something that she thought fit the moment. 

“This The Backseat Lovers?” 

“Oh my god you know them?” 

“Yeah, a girl I used to know was obsessed.” 

“Oh,” she stated with disappointment. 

“But she was crazily obsessed, thought she was literally the Kilby Girl,” he scoffed. He looked over at her and noticed her frown. “You remind me of the girl in the song, not that other chick.” 

“That song’s the reason I got a nose piercing,” she replied softly. 

He smirked and took her hand and held it on the center console. “You look good with a nose piercing, it seems very you.” 

“Thanks,” she smiled blushing a little. 

“‘Course beautiful.” 

“Alright you have got to stop saying things like that to me,” she buried her face in her hands, letting his go. He was being so sweet. She didn’t know how to handle it. She didn’t know if she could handle going back home after meeting him. 

“And why should I do that?” 

“Because I live all the way across the country Rafe, and you are notoriously known for bad things.” 

“Okay first of all, I don’t care that you live across the country, I’ll fly you out here every weekend if I have to. Second of all, I’m not the bad guy everyone makes me out to be.” 

“Oh really so both Sarah and Kie were lying then?”

“God, you have got to stop talking to them, they're fake and liars y/n/n. You don’t want to be associated with those people do you?”

She looked down at her hands. Something was telling her he was wrong, but another part of her didn’t want to fight him. He knew more about them than she did, she guessed. 

“No…” she responded meekly. 

“That’s what I thought.” He pulled into the parking lot of a huge building. “Alright, we’re here.” He flashed a smirk at her and hopped out. She quickly unbuckled, but before she could open her own door Rafe was standing there with it open waiting for her to get out. He held out his hand for her to take. She took it and hopped out of the Jeep. 

When they entered the building she looked around in awe. Everything was so pristine and the place oozed of upper class energy. There was a bar off to the side where two guys were sitting, both looked around Rafe’s age and dressed similarly to him. Rafe looked down at her and winked. He dragged her with him up to the stand in the middle of the room. A young girl was sitting there looking up at him. 

“Hey Jenna, I’m just checking in,” he flashed his card and she nodded. She looked at y/n and then back up to him. Her face read confusion as she turned back to her computer screen. 

“Rafe, where’d you go last night?” One of the boys called from the bar. The boy looked at y/n with surprise and elbowed the boy turned around next to him. 

The other one whipped around,”Rafe my man, who’s this?” As y/n and Rafe made it to the bar, the boy sitting gestured to her. 

“Top, Kelce, this is Y/n.” “Y/n, these are my friends Topper and Kelce.” 

She nodded,”Nice to meet you guys.” 

Rafe squeezed her hand,”How about we get a table?”

“Sounds good to me man,” Topper shrugged.

When they’d all settled down at a table the boys all started talking. None of it pertained to y/n so she sat and listened for a while. Rafe had ordered her water and she gradually sipped on it. About an hour in she felt the need to pee. 

She tapped Rafe on the arm,”Hey I have to use the restroom where is it?”

“Down the first hall and to the left, there’s a sign you’ll see it,” he responded. 

She got up and left the table. 

She found the bathroom and went in to take care of business. When she was in the stall two girls came in. 

Y/n could hear them talking. A nasally voice spoke,”Oh my god do you know her?” 

The other responded,“No I’ve Never seen her before.” 

“Amy’s gonna be so upset.” 

“I’ll bet she’s just a distraction.” 

“Maybe… they did meet literally last night.” 

“She looks nothing like any girl he’s ever dated before. I mean she’s pretty, but you know…”

“No she’s not at all at Amy’s level. I don’t know what Rafe’s playing at.” Rafe? What about Rafe? Oh my god. They were talking about her. 

“You’re right, but I kinda feel bad for her.”

“Why?” 

“We all know how he is. He’s gonna fuck her and drop her like the last fifteen girls.” 

The girls giggled and y/n heard the sink run, ”Poor girl. She has no clue.” The one with the nasally voice hummed in agreement with the other and they both left the restroom. 

Y/n left the stall and washed her hands. She looked at herself in the mirror. 

She was her. Just her. Nothing extraordinary. Nothing super hot or different. She always thought she was okay looking, but now she was thinking maybe she didn’t even make it to that caliber. She left the restroom trying to breathe and fight back tears. 

She made it back to the table and Kelce was in the middle of a story.

 “And then he looked at me like he wasn’t on my property, so I cocked my gun and he scattered,” Kelce animatedly spoke. 

Rafe looked up at y/n and smiled,

”Hey y/n/n, you were gone for a while.” 

“Had a hard time finding the bathroom,” she pressed her features into a strained smile. 

Rafe chuckled under his breath,”my dumb girl.” 

She sat down in her seat next to him and went back to thinking about what the girls in the bathroom were saying.

[chibimui]

My 2cents on the KNH LN5 Epilogue Translation

Alright, here we go. I've written this post 10 different ways and at different periods throughout the year, but I think I just need to post it instead of letting it torment me in my drafts.

Every time I see people use "bad translation" as the reason why Japanese and Western fans have such a different interpretation of the LN5 epilogue I just... don't agree. Even when people try to provide evidence and their own alternative translations to prove that the scene is "sexier" in Japanese, I still don't think their examples are that different or even better than what the official English translation provided.

For me, I feel like English readers are just interpreting the text differently because dubcon just isn't as accepted by English readers than it is for Japanese readers.

(my thoughts continue under the cut if you wanna read my ramblings.)

Does the English translation have mistakes that make it confusing when JinMao kiss? YES. Absolutely! But honestly? It's not like the kisses are described in a particularly sexy way in Japanese. They're just as vague and nondescript. A Japanese reader is used to reading kiss scenes like this though--where you NEVER see the word kiss or are directly told that two people's lips are touching or even when their lips stop touching. You're just supposed to figure out from context. It's all just "breathes being exchanged" and "~something~ pressing against my lips" or "suddenly tasting a hint of cherry" or whatever.

English readers, however, are much more accustomed to direct descriptions and so when encountering kiss scenes described this vaguely I can see why many readers completely missed the kissing. The translation mistakes don't help, but I don't think the mistakes were actually big enough to completely misrepresent the moment.

Also, I feel like what most people actually have issue with in the epilogue is the violence. And the reality is that the violence is translated exactly as it is.

So it always seems a bit disingenuous when I see people say "The translation is bad. The scene is actually sexier in Japanese!" and then specifically only focus on translating the parts where they kiss, because I feel like non-Japanese readers take that and assume that the scene is less violent. But it's not.

Jinshi chokes Maomao. He does so without permission. When he wraps his fingers around her neck he is not doing so after having a carefully negotiated discussion--he does it out of the blue and on impulse. Also let me remind you--this is the image we are given for this scene.

Ya'll - the violence - the UNNEGOTIATED DUBIOUS CONSENT/FORCEFULNESS - IS THE SEXY AND KINKY PART. He chokes her and then kisses her. They argue, then Jinshi pushes Maomao down and kisses her again (cause she's being purposely obtuse with his feelings), and Maomao goes into autopilot and does god-knows-what with her mouth that results in... whatever happening to Jinshi and Maomao slipping away. (the Japanese word Hyuuga-sensei used to describe Jinshi's reaction at the end was a freaking onomatopoeia (ぴくっぴくっ). Seriously, don't go looking at the Japanese text for clarity because you will not find it).

Also for the second kiss, which morphs into the third, Maomao is monologuing the whole time about how to get out of it until her brothel instincts kick in. Would it have been sexier if it was more clear that they had been kissing the whole time? Sure! But even the Japanese text doesn't make this very obvious, which, again, is okay because Japanese readers are used to filling in extra context in a way English readers aren't so it doesn't matter, and b) regardless, Maomao is not enjoying the moment. She might not be having a panic attack, but my girl is not having a good time.

In the Japanese text all of this is presented in typical Japanese fashion with a side dose of Maomao's personal brand of detachment - this means using a lot of vague descriptors that quickly glosses over what is happening with the barest of details. The English didn't leave anything out on that front. It's not like we have entire missing paragraphs describing in detail what their make out was like - what you got in English was basically what you got in Japanese. Which is to say - not much.

Also, please remember this is a light novel. Light novels, in terms of writing level (not necessarily subject matter) are basically equivalent to YA novels in English. The language isn't meant to be super complex and the prose tends to more simplistic for quick easy reading. So honestly, there is no way this scene could ever be genuinely that sexy. The fact that people insist that this chapter is meant to be super hot genuinely confuses me because again, this is a light novel. They couldn't make the chapter genuinely sexy even if they wanted to!

Look. Translating a novel is hard ya'll. In many ways, much harder than other mediums like manga or TV shows where you have visuals to help provide more context. In novel translations all you have is the written word. You have no images to help readers picture what is meant to be portrayed in the original (and in this case, the visual we were given was not exactly a positive one). There is a much larger dilemma of how one can keep the stylized voice of the original author (pure translation) while also making the novel actually read well in English (localizing the text). You never want your translation to sound like it's a translation, and you also don't want to localize so much that you've basically re-written a whole new book from the ground up. And yet, a translator still needs to help an English reader envision the exact same thing a Japanese reader might be envisioning when at baseline, English literary writing and Japanese literary writing are completely different approaches to writing AND the tropes/cultural norms/backgrounds etc. are also wildly different.

How can you do that with a scene like this - where on a baseline level Japanese readers are going to be much more okay with what is happening, and they know the game. They know they're meant to fill in some (hundreds of) missing blanks. Whereas your average English reader (who I'm assuming is Western and disproportionately North American) would set up a scene like this very differently, and be expecting different rules in how to engage. The expectations are entirely different from one language to the next--and yes, this is true even if you understand both languages. I think and approach reading Japanese texts differently than I approach reading English ones because they're fundamentally different ways of writing.

So yes, unfortunately some of the "sexual tension" was lost in translation for the epilogue--I don't disagree with this sentiment. But I personally don't think the reason is "bad translation" as it is folks reading the scene differently because Japanese readers are used to reading scenes like this, are okay with what was presented at face value and are happy to fill in the blanks themselves, whereas English readers aren't. It's like trying to convince a modern day person that seeing someone's ankles is ~scandalous~. A translator can only do so much to bridge a gap that wide.

Overall personally, I give the KnH LN translations as a whole an 80/100. Perfectly passable leaning towards the better side. Not outstanding, but I think the translator captures Hyuuga-sensei's tone pretty well, and a Japanese fan and an English fan could easily talk about this series and come away with the same understanding of the characters, and the overall arching themes/plots of the novel without any issue.

As for this chapter specifically? 75/100. There are mistakes in crucial areas that definitely make the chapter slightly more confusing than it needs to be, but overall, it gets all the important stuff across.

[bloom-of-zeros]

Oh my gosh I love these two, they were like the only characters I learned to draw other than Raz, Sasha and Milla because their mental words are so good they made me cry. (also helmets was the intro of my favourite enemy, the panic attack)

One thing I do want to point out is that Bob’s main source of trauma is abandonment or loss, not just from Helmet but also from his mother and Truman. They are complex to the point their relationship is one of the least characterising parts of them. Nothing about Bob’s story relies on his queerness and it is treated with no fanfare other than the realisation he was married to a psychic 6 member. It’s really refreshing to just see genuine connection portrayed in such artistry without having to have them explicitly explained or marketed, it was a pleasant surprise. Also the lead up and music for the funeral sequence, ough, it was so perfect, it made me sob, it perfectly captures the somber feeling of grief. These two have arguably, two of the best designed levels storytelling wise.

I love the reverse kill the gays and how it explores Bob feeling like he was only valued due to his relationship and he manages to realise he’s wrong with his own agency, not Raz, compared to how the first game was handled. The fact Bob is the first to hug Lucy when he has the most reason to hate her is so beautiful too, and how Helmet immediately backs him up.

All of this is just a round about way of saying just how thought out even the overlooked partner is and shows the passion put into writing them and the direction they took their mental worlds.

I could talk forever about how good the levels are on a game design and art direction standpoint (this game was robbed at the game awards I’m still salty) and I’m so happy to see someone talking about them shjsjsmslsla

This game is a masterpiece and I hate how little it is talked about (God my 3-4 year singular special interest phase with this game is showing)

Honestly it is so masterfully made and avoids all the pitfalls that effect other character examples I can think of (such as Bugsnax’s Snorpy and Chando. They are fan favourites for a reason and the fact they are the way to unlock the DLC is great but Unfortunately Chandlo often feels like a jock extension of Snorpy that’s it. it sucks because they have incredible potential (I say this as a massive bugsnax fan who likes these two))

I’m sure I’ve said this before but Helmut and Bob from Psychonauts 2 are probably one of the best written gay couples from a piece of media that isn’t overtly a romance/exploration of queer relationships and I’m mad I never see anyone talk about it

They are explicitly depicted as gay (you even go to a mental recreation of their wedding) without needing to stop and explain to Raz/the player what gay people are. No reliance on queer coding or room for interpretation.

They’re major characters (though not main) in the story and their relationship is a big part of Bob’s arc. It’s not like they’re only part of an optional side quest with ultimately no impact that can be skipped/patched out in other regions.

They have distinct personalities outside of just being The Gay Couple™

Their sexuality/queerness isn’t used as a source of angst, it’s just part of who they are. While they both clearly have their own issues and personal demons, so does everyone else in the game (Bob’s main source of angst is that Helmut seemingly died during the battle against Maligula, but that has nothing to do with them being gay. It’s not like either of them deal with overt homophobia and continue the narrative of “being gay sucks because people will always hate you for it”).

Helmut starts off the game essentially dead, but by the end he’s able to live on as a brain in a hamster wheel with the promise of him eventually getting his body back. I think for a lot of folks but especially queer people, the hopeful message of enduring through difficult and sometimes even deadly times is very poignant and inspiring. It’s kind of like a reverse fridging/bury your gays lol

Their sexuality was never used as a marketing gimmick during the game’s prerelease period (in fact, I’m not sure it was ever mentioned during the marketing at all). This is especially noteworthy because Helmut got a lot of press otherwise because he’s voiced by Jack Black and gets his own song.

Everyone please play Psychonauts 1 and 2 they’re so good even if 2 ruined my headcanons

[meganwasbored]

let’s talk about the hidden world

not the entire movie, because it would take forever to point out every problem in that monstrosity, but just the concept of the hidden world itself. there are many inconsistencies but i’ve narrowed it down to a few points.

1. it introduces some sort of “magic” into the httyd universe

let me be clear, there has never been any sort of “magic” in the httyd universe. dragons are not these mystical, magical creatures that httyd 3 makes them out to be, they are just normal animals. they think of dragons how we would think of lions or bears.

this is the issue with the writers suddenly trying to bring the books into the picture after completely ignoring them for a decade. they tried to incorporate the books into the third movie, but at this point, the books and the movies are so vastly different that they take place in completely different universes with completely different rules and completely different worldbuilding. the book universe has some elements of magic in it, the movie universe doesn’t, so the idea of a hidden world at the end of the earth where all dragons come from might have fit if it was included in the book universe (which it wasn’t even), but it just makes no sense in the movie universe, so them basing the whole ending of the movie and the whole concept of the hidden world on nothing but the prologue of the first book (yes i’m convinced that that’s the only part of the books they actually looked at) is so stupid and caused the writers to have to destroy everyone’s character to even make that ending work (which it still doesn’t).

2. the earth is flat now???

they have been making flat earther jokes throughout the entire franchise, it’s a running bit and it’s funny every time. but it’s not funny anymore if that’s what actually happens. the whole joke is that even these smart people think the earth is flat because they’re vikings, but if they’re right then it’s not even a joke anymore.

the movie httyd universe has always been just our normal universe but with dragons, but with them suddenly making the earth flat and adding in the hidden world, that completely changes everything we know about this universe up to this point.

3. stoick knows about the hidden world

stoick says in one of the flashback scenes that someday he wants to find the hidden world and “seal it up” to stop the fighting, and it even pretty much says that that was his mission the entire time. but, we know that that’s not true because he directly says what his mission is in the first movie, which was to “find the nest and destroy it” so the dragons will “find a new home” and stop bothering them. he’s not talking about the hidden world, he’s talking about the specific nest that the dragons that have been attacking them are coming from. he doesn’t know where the dragons come from and he doesn’t care where the dragons come from, he just wants them out of his face. he doesn’t see the dragons as the creatures that they are, he still just sees them as monstrous beasts that need to be killed for the protection of his village. he never cared about peace because he never thought peace was an option. if he did then the first movie would’ve have happened because he would have listened to hiccup in the first place. hiccup (and valka, but more on that later) is the only one who believed that peace was possible because he’s the only one who was able to see the dragons for what they really were. that’s literally the whole point, that everyone looked down on hiccup because of his differences when those differences are the reason he was the only one who could finally stop the war.

him being so different from valka is important, too. a lot of people overlook that and act like he’s exactly like her and the exact opposite of stoick when it’s much more complex than that (see my valka defense post). people blame valka for leaving but if you think about it you see that even if she stayed she would not have been able to do what hiccup did. she didn’t create peace with the dragons, she became one of them. hiccup was the only one who thought that humans and dragons really could coexist. httyd 3 makes it look like stoick thought that stopping the fighting was possible, when hiccup (not even valka) was actually the only one with that mindset at that point.

the fact that hiccup is so different from both his parents and yet so similar is a crucial detail in not only the plot but also his character in general, and the fact that they changed stoick’s mindset and tried to gaslight us into thinking that that’s how he was the whole time is crazy.

4. they find the hidden world almost immediately after they start looking for it

hiccup and astrid literally find it by accident while looking for toothless. they and the gang have been exploring very far outside of the archipelago for the entirety of race to the edge and they never even found valka’s sanctuary. valka has been out there for 20 years and she never found it. stoick suddenly has been searching for this thing his entire life and he hasn’t found it. and they find it just like that? boring. yawning. sloppy. lazy. they clearly couldn’t think of a more interesting way for them to have found it so they just decided to take the easy way out. idk how long it takes for them find it from the time that they leave berk, but it’s fast. way too fast.

[3lliana]

any angsty Sodapop and Pony headcannons?

AHHH I SCREAMMMEEDDDDD WHEN I GOT THISS!! YES YES YES!!!

okay so I don't know if you mean as brothers or just in general! so I'm gonna do just some general ones!!

soda:

when he got his knee messed up in the rodeo he was HEARTBROKEN. like he didn't speak, eat, drink, barely got out of bed, didn't go to work, for at least a week.

Harassment goes both ways and there's a time and a place, and since he only is known by most girls because of his looks (cherry and Marcia for instance) it gets uncomfortable sometimes when that's all hes known for, especially random guys not liking him because their girlfriends think hes cute.

(after the events of the book) after he got drafted to Vietnam he was genuinely horrified and played it off as excitement because he didn't want his brothers to worry about him not being okay

the only person he really opened up to was Steve, especially because they got drafted together so that kinda made their bond stronger if that even was possible.

wrote to Sandy until she had the baby and the only letter he got back was from her grandmother telling him to stop writing to her. (the baby WAS his trust)

having to help calm pony down after panic attacks and nightmares TORE. HIM. UP. seeing his baby brother like that.

(oh also he SO re messed up his knee in the war btw)

ponyboy:

after the events of the book he had a hard time doing things he used to be really good at like track and reading and it made him feel useless.

he would wake up from nightmares of seeing johnny and dally dying over, and over, and over again and it would cause him to be restless and not able to sleep more than 3-4 hours in a night.

he would frequently hallucinate johnny sitting on the floor in his room, or when he walked by the lot johnny laying there asleep, and a lot of the time he would catch himself saying "let me go tell johnny" or even find himself "talking to" johnny.

the first time he went back to bucks house after dally passed he looked into his room and saw everything the way it was the night he and johnny ran away and that solidified in his mind that "he was the reason they were dead"

After soda got drafted he was a wreck and stayed by his side until the night he left, even him and Steve talked more often.

when they had Johnny's funeral, pony had to be DRAGGED away from the grave and into the car.

he decided to visit bobs grave one time and he couldn't stand to be there more than five minutes because he knew he had played a part in his death.

[novankenn]

Card Trick

Jaune sat on the roof of Beacon Academy watching the newest batch of hopeful initiates exit various bullheads and airships. He had seen in all before, and in fact it became something of a tradition for him to sit upon the roof to watch. Beacon was his home, or had been for the last eleven years.

It had a been a freak accident that took his family from him at the tender age of six. How he survived the bandit attack, and subsequent grimm horde, no one knew. He just had. Jaune didn't understand it either, though he was positive his friends Medy was the reason he was the lone survivor of Orleans.

"The one in the cloak?" Jaune chuckled as if he just heard someone say something funny. "Not a chance. She looks like she's about to faint. No it'll be the blond that was with her."

Jaune sat in silence for a moment.

"I'm serious, Medy. That blond is going to cause trouble, probably already has." Jaune chuckled again. "Fine I'll ask mom, and if the blond hasn't done something stupid then I'll swear of Pumpkin Pete's for a week."

The sound of the access door opening had Jaune turn his attention from the meandering groups of students, to look over his shoulder. Stepping out from behind the door Glynda Goodwitch appeared.

"That time of year again, Jaune?" Glynda asked softly, a warm smile on her face.

"Yep. best seat in the house mom." Jaune responded with an equally warm smile. "You going to join me?"

"Sorry, sweetie I have to work, like always." Glynda moved and then carefully took a seat next to her adopted son. By blood he was her nephew. Her sister's son. But they were both all that was left of their families. "Maybe for just a minute. The Brothers know I need a break."

"Then take one." Jaune chuckled. "Let the Headmaster do some work for once."

"Jaune don't say things like that!" Glynda fake admonished him. "Even if they are true."

"Medy and I have a bet, that I need your help with." Glynda's eyes narrowed at the mention of that name.

"Really? What is it this time?" Glynda asked, a veil of concern filling her eyes. "Let me guess which girl has the best butt?"

"No!"

"Then what is this bet?"

"Medy things the red-head in the cloak is more trouble than the blond girl she was hanging around with."

"I see. Lert me guess you want me to out which one caused... a problem before coming here?"

"Yep."

"What is at stake?"

"A week of Pumpkin Pete's"

"Oh! Well, that is very high stakes."

Jaune laughed, at the faux look of concern his mom put on. Glynda couldn't keep it up and also burst in to laughter.

"Well?"

"Truthfully, they both caused problems... so I guess it's a draw."

Jaune just laughed and shook his head. Glynda smiled, and reached out to pull him close. They were all that was left. They only had each other... but even then Glynda had concerns, and questions.

[ NEXT ]

[antianakin]

This also so very clearly isn't about Mon Mothma. Mon actually DOESN'T really go into hiding after rebuking Palpatine, she runs off and almost immediately decides to bring together the different rebel cells into the Rebel Alliance and then is very publicly leading said Alliance afterwards. There's no "in hiding" for her at all aside from just generally trying to keep the Alliance's bases hidden from the Empire so they aren't attacked, but her loyalties and allegiances are SUPER public. She also, as far as we know, does NOT spend 20 years after her rebuke of Palpatine doing that kind of work. Her rebuke of Palpatine happens TWO OR THREE YEARS before the Battle of Yavin. The war against the Empire only lasts another seven years or so. This person's timeline for Mon Mothma (and also just for Rebels in general I assume) is radically off if they think that her arc in Rebels happened at the BEGINNING of the Empire's reign and not the end of it. Mon spends most of the 17 or so years leading up to this moment trying to keep using the same political system to try to fix the problems with the Empire as the one she used in the Republic, and it doesn't work. THAT'S what she spends 20 years doing basically. And she's not in hiding for any of it, she's right there in the Senate, very publicly being a Senator.

But the characters who DO have to immediately go into hiding, which the original post is so so clearly actually talking about, are the JEDI, most specifically Yoda and Obi-Wan.

Yoda and Obi-Wan don't even immediately go into hiding, they literally go out and attempt to assassinate both Palpatine and Anakin immediately after they realize what happened and who was responsible for it. And while Anakin lives through that, it's by a VERY lucky turn of events because Obi-Wan does manage to chop off three limbs and leaves him to burn alive. He had every reason to believe Anakin was super duper dead after that, even if Yoda failed to stop Palpatine. And while Anakin DOESN'T die here, you can make an argument that he's somewhat more diminished as a result of what was done to him, so Obi-Wan does still manage to make Anakin slightly less of a threat to the galaxy than he would've been otherwise.

And then when they discuss Luke and Leia's fates, it's not really about waiting until they're old enough to fix the problem themselves, but about KEEPING THEM SAFE. Even with Anakin dead, there's no way these two kids aren't still powerfully Force sensitive kids, and Palpatine just proved himself super inclined to kill Force sensitive people that aren't Sith. Anakin and Padme's kids are either going to be forced to be raised as Sith themselves or killed so they don't become a threat. Obi-Wan goes into hiding in order to PROTECT Luke, that's quite literally his stated intention.

Let's maybe refocus on defending the characters who actually need it instead of making up things about Mon Mothma to defend her against people who aren't even talking about her in the first place.

[audreyscribes]

Ω PJO MISC. DEMIGOD HEADCANONS:⌛ KRONOS “KING OF THE TITANS, TITAN OF (DESTRUCTIVE, ALL-DEVOURING) TIME, EVIL, AND HARVEST” ⏳ {Wave 5.0}

A/N:  Here’s to that one anon that asked that Kronos ask and now it has wormed itself into my brain since then. I wasn’t sure if I could write something good about it so this was my attempt. Hope you all enjoy it regardless and thanks for reading. Also if this was weird, yeah that was my feeling towards Kronos. This is totally reflected in the story portion.  MISCELLANEOUS DEMIGOD H/CS MASTERLIST LINK: [TUMBLR] || [AO3]  

Your entire existence made everything seem like time had stopped unironically. No one was sure you were real and someone tried to argue that maybe you were a child of Khronos, the primordial god of time in the Orphic Theogonies, but Chiron flatly told them they were now both subsumed into each other as one.

No one was sure how or why Kronos would have a demigod, but you could sense there was an unspoken conversation as they looked upon you, whispering about how you looked just like him. You noticed a girl with grey eyes look at you with distressed eyes and analyzing you but there was confliction in her eyes, before she left in a hurry. You caught the name ‘Annabeth’ as someone yelled while chasing after her.

Zeus and all the other olympians weren’t very happy with you existence as it meant a fraction of Kronos’ power existed and as a demigod of Kronos, a hero that could act on behalf of a deity, they thought you could be an agent of Kronos; or worse, be an avatar that would hasten Kronos’ existence once more and become another host for him.

Strangely, you could see Hermes look at you with not only contempt but also confliction, as if he was seeing someone else in you.

As you hadn’t technically slighted the gods and offended them, and no Themis, the Titaness of Law, Order, and Custom, said your existence wasn’t enough reason or many demigods would’ve been killed as soon as they were born if that was an actual crime (Everyone looked between Hera and Zeus and wordlessly knew).  Plus as the god of Hospitality, Zeus could not smite you because technically you were a family member by their shared father whether they all liked it or not-

Eventually, it was decided you would remain at Camp on probation to prove yourself you were on the side of the gods, but when you got there, you could feel hostility and other negative emotions towards you. If it weren’t for the fact you really wanted to prove them wrong that you weren’t like Kronos and you were innocent, you could feel yourself tempted to give in to your emotions and enact vengeance onto them.

Kronos, as the Titan of Destructive Time, and as someone who is mortal, you can’t freely manipulate time without it applying to you as well nor without consequence. You can make time stop, reverse, or fast forward, but you will also be heavily affected as well as manipulating the flow of time goes against the order. For example, you can slow down time, but it will slow down your heart rate and you can only do it for a short amount of time before you suffer the effects of the lack of blood and oxygen flowing in your brain and body, and can make you faint or worse die. You can make time flow faster but it places a great stress on your heart as it beats rapidly and you can overstress it into a heart attack. You can make time stop, but only for a few short seconds at the risk of your heart not beating for a few seconds and I don’t need to tell you why that’s a bad idea. Doing one of these or all of them repeatedly in consecutive succession is also a threat to your life so use your time and power wisely.

As the demi-titan of destructive time, you can accelerate plants and objects to speed up degradation from passing time, and as they decompose, they can leave a pile of golden sand as a reminder of what was once there.

You’re situated at the Hermes cabin because you aren’t exempt from every other demigod who doesn’t have a cabin to call their own, but as you were brought in to a bunk bed, you could hear a few of them blurt out that are they sure this was the only bed left and there was a bit of back and forth. You did offer to sleep on the floor and while you could see them consider it, in the end they did tell you that there was no need to sleep on the floor if there was a perfectly good bed for you to use and they weren’t crammed full of demigods that were unclaimed or didn’t have a cabin.

Eventually you properly met with Percy Jackson and you both knew that he was there to evaluate you. It was awkward for a long while but eventually you got the conversation going and you revealed yourself to him, not leaving anything unfiltered, even as it felt foreign. Even though you didn’t feel like baring yourself to the guy who defeated your godly parent and you knew they expected him to do the same to you based on his own decision, you couldn’t hold anything back because that would only add suspicion to you. If you were going down, you were going down as innocent and truthful.

Chiron, bless him, did his duty and earnestly taught you like every other student and demigod under his care, but you can tell by the nervous shifting of his hooves and tail, you did make him slightly uncomfortable. You also knew he was a son of Kronos himself but was shunned by your shared father, so you weren’t sure how to feel any kinship towards him or not.

Eventually Percy revealed to you that it was awkward, not just because Kronos had a demigod? Demi-titan but those who were there during the Second Titan War, knew how he did it. Eventually, he pulled out a photograph and when he showed it to you, you saw a boy whose facial features seemed to resemble yours. If you weren’t told or weren’t aware of the second Titan War, or you were aware at your time during Camp, you came to realization that you were also yes, Kronos’ demi-titan, but your facial features and appearance came half from the host Kronos used…you looked just like Luke Castellan, former demigod son of Hermes, And thus everything made sense.

Percy promised you (not on the River Styx though) that he would help you as best as he can and he was going to do by good to Luke Castellan, who he promised to help all those years ago, that he was going to give you the best chance possible and that you weren’t Kronos, and you were your own person. You felt so tired and relieved that you had someone in your corner, and out of the corner of your eye, you saw a shimmer before Annabeth Chase stood before you, in her hand, a Yankees Baseball Cap. Surprised and shocked that she was probably there this entire time, Annabeth confessed to you about her connection to Luke and apologized about her reaction to you, as you looked like just him, her pseudo-brother, and that she was going to make it up to you as well. 

It’s not the best start or situation, but you felt a little bit hopeful that you weren’t entirely alone and you weren’t set up to fail intentionally.  · • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·· • —– ٠ ✤ ٠ —– • ·· • —– ٠ ✤

“So people have been weird to me, not because I’m the demigod of Kronos, the Titan of Time, who came back to life to restart another titan war against the gods that happened not that long ago,” you started, a headache already throbbing, “but also I look like Luke Castellan, who was greatly beloved at Camp, rebelled against the gods and became the host for Kronos, but also was your son too?”

You didn’t want to count all of that on your fingers and looked instead at the person in front of you. Hermes, the messenger of the gods, god of roads, travellers, merchant, thieves, and many other realms…including being the father of Luke Castellan, who also may or may not have actual blood relation to you.

“Yes, that sounds about in order,” said Hermes, clearing his throat. 

“So…does that mean that I’m related to you? I apparently look like your son…” you furrowed your face in cringe, “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be rude but I find this to be a bit awkward-”

“This is also a first for me, and I am a god. You can imagine how rare that is” admitted Hermes as he nervously played with his caduceus, George and Martha smoothly adjusting themselves and moving along with his fiddling. 

You shared another awkward pause before Hermes spoke. 

“Kronos himself was cut into pieces and tossed into Tartuarus, so he does not have a corporeal form so to speak. Many who are condemned to Tartarus cannot leave but there have been times of gods appearing in places regardless where they are tied to and were able to have demigods.”

“I’m sensing a ‘-but’ here-”

“-but if he could’ve done that, Kronos wouldn’t need a host in my son then” said Hermes bitterly, “So it is a high possibility that you are both my son’s and Kronos’ child.”

“...I don’t know how the genetics work and I am very afraid to ask but also curious” you admitted. 

“Normally, god genetics don’t necessarily work in the same way as human genetic” he tried to say. 

“It still doesn’t change the fact I’m very likely your grandchild and Krono’s child too in premise” you argued. 

“Technically you are a legacy but you will be known as Kronos’ demigod…demi-titan?” Hermes said in confusion. 

“Oh that makes me feel better that demi-titans don’t exist” you groaned. 

“Well, technically there have been mortal children of titans but even Hecate’s half mortal children are called demigods, even though by and large, she is also a Titaness-”

“Not helping”

“Yup”

More awkward silence filled the space between you before the gnawing feeling of dread was becoming too much. 

“So what happens to me now? I get Kronos was a bad guy but I didn’t have anything to do with what he did.”

Hermes sighed as his face turned sad yet affectionate. “My father Zeus has always been rather…judgemental but he is fair (at times). He won’t strike you down for merely existing since you haven’t done anything wrong. Yet. However, he doesn’t like the fact that Kronos has a demigod and he fears you could be used another host or as an extension of Kronos’ will.” 

“So, I’m under supervision. I can’t mess up or Zeus will strike me regardless.”

“He is the king of the gods but Themis won’t let him break laws and order” he said, “and it may seem shallow for you coming from a god, you look like my son and I don’t want to lose my son again, so know I’m supporting you as best as I can and we’ll prove to Zeus you are innocent.”

You stared at Hermes and you started to see yourself in him, the fatherly persona now coming in and you wondered if Luke ever saw it. You sighed at the mix feelings but gave a tired smile. 

“You know what, I’ll take it. Thank you Hermes.” 

“Don’t thank me just yet. I haven’t saved you or my son yet.”

[lexirambles]

Azuretime has changed my brain chemistry, so I'm going to ramble about some headcannons I have about their relationship. Hold onto your hats, this is gonna be a doozy!

The reason Two Time is always smiling is because of Azure. He always said to smile no matter what, that it makes hard times easier, that it lifts people around them up, that their smile is so, so beautiful. So they did, if anything, just to see Azure's face light up. Even after they killed him, they kept smiling. Even in purgatory, they kept smiling. It's kinda similar to Alastor's mentality on smiling. No one has ever seen Two Time's without that manic grin, only ever fading rarely when experiencing nightmares. The moment that smile breaks, the last piece of Azure that they have left will die, and then he'll really be gone. So they can never stop smiling, no matter what happens.

Azure's garden is a secret, a secret garden, if you will. The thing about cults is that they take everything that makes you an individual, everything has to involve the cult. Your relationships, your hobbies, your thoughts, your feelings. If everything you do isn't in the name of what you follow, then there's room to doubt. Azure doesn't garden because the cult wants/needs him to, he does it because it's his hobby! It's an attempt to hold onto his own individuality, to be his own person. Of course, he wants the same for his partner, so they sneak away to hang out where no one can judge them. It's where the whole "Quiet, Two Time! They're not supposed to see in here," came from. They thought it was secret, but being very close to Two Time, Amarah caught onto what they were doing. She didn't really interfere, though, as she knew Azure would be a "problem" anymore.

EVERYTHING IS AMARAH'S FAULT! She was the one that got Two Time into the cult, and served as their mentor once a member. She gave Two Time the dagger. Once she found out what they and Azure were doing, she knew it could be a very big problem. If this continued, he could convince them to stray away, or ever run away together. Well, one must take a life to gain their second, why not take out two lovebirds with one stone? She convinced Two Time of what they must do, one cannot love someone more than they love the spawn, they must get rid of him. And as we know, everything went exactly to plan. Also, I use She/Her for Amarah, I just prefer it, female villains are so much more fun. We did it with 1x, WE CAN DO IT AGAIN! Gaslight gatekeep girlboss!

Azure shows affection through gift giving. It's his way of showing that he's thinking of them and how they see him. Objects are symbols of their memories, the moments they share, and he wants to remember all of them. So whether it's a picture of them together, a pendant of The Spawn, or matching scarves, he loves giving Two Time random, useless stuff. He is very sentimental, and will keep anything Two Tiem gives them. The feeling is mutual, Two Time has a special place in their room for keeping all of Azure's gifts.

Two time is very physically affectionate, but only with Azure. They're always holding hands, brushing against each other, holding each other, touching the other's face, smooching galore! But they're only like this around Azure, they're pretty jumpy if anyone else tries to touch them. But with Azure? Full body hugs! Two time is also very small, especially when compared to Azure, who is pretty built. So they just get ABSORBED into Azure when they cuddle! In Forsaken, they are very touch starved, but doesn't feel comfortable being touched by any of the other survivors. Part of them don't think they deserve to be loved like that again... In fact, they actually enjoy being attacked/killed by Azurewrath, just to be touched by him again.

Azure loves tea! His favorites are floral teas, of course. He'll hold lil tea party dates in their secret garden with Two Time. He is on a personal quest to try EVERY SINGLE TEA THAT EVER EXISTS! He's even made his own blends. Are they good? No one knows! Two Time doesn't have the heart. Two Time's favorite is earl grey.

I see Two Time is AFAB, again because there are like NO WOMEN IN THIS GAME! Thus, they are inflicted with The Blood Curse (we all know.) Azure immediately enters Caretaker Mode every time. He'll take over their duties, get them chocolates, tea, a heating pad, and something for the cramps. They 100% have tried using their own period blood for a blood sacrifice and got scolded for it!

In similar regard, Two Time has a VERY high pain tolerance. They kind of have to, with how painful the second life process is, all the blood ledding rituals, and dying over and over again indefinitely. They has definitely creeped the other survivors out with this. They can break their own arm and not even flinch. They've ran off with greivous injuries they didn't even notice were there. Pain is no deterrent for them, and he holds no fear of death, making them incredibly reckless with absolutely no regard for their physical health. While certainly not to the same degree, before being Forsaken, Two time was still very durable and completely uneffected by pain. Azure would often be the one to nurse their wounds and keep them from throwing themselves into something too dangerous and getting hurt. They have absolutely tried to eat an extremely poisonous plant Azure was growing and had to be stopped.

ALRIGHT! That's all I got in me for today. Honestly sounds fun to just write a line of episodic one shots with all these ideas, but that's a project for another day. Enjoy your fluff and angst, fellow Azuretime shippers!