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mrstsung · 6 months ago

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Shang tsung imagine/blurb/hcs:

*note: after some kind words from a mutual. And fellow shang fan. I'm making something to cheer me up and if anyone else feels the same. I'm not gonna let my brain be mean to me. And keep doing what i love*

Cw: i guess maybe warnings of anxiety,mental illness,and or just brain being mean? Either way reader is feeling down. So shang tsung is helping reader cheer up. Angst,hurt comfort? Slightly spicy mention

Reader is technically gn

💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚

Imagine:

You weren't feeling so well and you're sitting down by shang's island shoreline. You often come down to the beach to meditate or think. But usually you're accompanied by a guard or by shang,your lover, himself. But this time,you're alone. All with your thoughts,they ate at you. Doubt spilled into your mind as tears fell. Why must your brain hate you?

Shang was worried when he didn't see you come into the bed chambers you both shared. Usually you're not out this late. Let alone,outside the main palace. Perhaps you're at the private teahouse? Shang wondered.

*(To put perspective,i hc shang's main palace keep,where he lives and is the living quarters for him,his lover and his personal guards,warriors and servents. All of the others usually stay in a separate area and smaller buildings near the dock port. The palace gardens lead to a pathway leading down a staircase behind the main keep,where a beachside tea house is,shang uses this teahouse as a personal one. Instead of the ones used by kombatants during tournaments. This teahouse is secluded,quiet,and peaceful. It is a mix between Japanese,and Chinese architecture. The reason being is him and raiden often do business when discussing anything related to tournaments. Despite being rivals and sort of enemies. They are respectful of one another and often discuss things as would any master of the martial arts would or even as an emperor or lords of their respective domains. In short. They aint always barking at each others throats,so to have them in petty squabbles all the time is boring and pointless. Anyways. You often might come to this teahouse to get away so to speak.)*

Shang tsung got on his silk red robe. A garment that was decorated by images of dragons and Phoenixes. Etched in gold and yellow. The flame patterns danced along with shades of deep purple and indigo at its base. A fine clothing fit for a man such as he. Simple black slippers he wore as he stepped out the doors to the bed chambers. Into the garden. He followed the stone path through the gardens,enveloped in moonlight. It danced through the trees. The warm summer air,not too hot surprisingly despite being an island. But there had been rain recently,so it was much cooler,but not by much. There was sweet smells of flowers. Tropical hibiscus,Asian lilies,and little lotuses in the pond all filled the night air. Soft sounds of crickets,frogs and other nighttime summer creatures also sang. As shang tsung made his way to the staircase,he heard soft whimpers from below,at the bottom. He swiftly but carefully descended the stairs. As he got closer. He saw you on a large rock. Weeping. The rock was adjacent to the teahouse. He carefully approached you.

"My dear? What are these tears? Why are you out here by yourself this late in the hour? Is something wrong?"

Shang asked softly but in a concerned manner.

As you struggle to make eye contact. And in a small cracked voiced stated

"I just don't understand why you love me? Why would you choose to spare me? I'm not the best warrior,even with your training. I'm constantly worried,i second guess myself,I'm a mess,im not as beautiful/handsome as some people,im just so...meh,i feel like I'm not worthy of anything even kindness. I just don't get it. Besides you could find better I'm sure,a better person than boring,average me."

You lay your head back down on your crossed arms,over your legs you propped them upon. Still crying.

Shang was taken aback. Where did this come from?! His beloved? Doubtful of his love? Who would dare put those thoughts into your head!? But shang tsung thought about it. Perhaps it is not of another,but of a troubled mind. One filled with the anxieties and stresses and struggles of life itself. He walked over to you,first removing the slippers as not to track sand. Barefoot he walked on the warm sand. When he got to you he placed his hand under your head,lifted your chin with his fingers and spoke with the most earnest,soft,and loving voice.

"My dear sweet y/n. Why did i spare you? Simply because i chose to,i could have killed you,taken your soul,and that would be it. But i didn't. But in that choosing i found one of the most kindest of souls. A soul so genuine and true. And you never once tried to be anything but what you are. Your training has served you well,as you are alive aren't you? *chuckles* obviously the woes of kpmbat has not forsaken you yet? Why? Because you're warrior spirit isn't one of physical prowess. It is not of duty of honor. It is simply love. And love is the most powerful energy of all. Love for life,love for being,and the perseverance of it despite of the world around you. You study hard,love hard,and even play hard. You have the soul of a champion,regardless of frivolous titles given by gods. You are a beautiful soul. Inside and out. You worry of others before yourself,you always put others before you. Even when it's hard to. You stuck at my side,even when You had every right to leave. But here,you remain. I'm obviously doing something right my dear. I know that the dark clouds of your mind get to you,but they too will pass. And that beautiful bright glow from you will shine once again. Even now as i look at your tear soaked face,red,and all full of sorrow."

You couldn't help but giggle at that,he always knew exactly what to say.

Shang continues as he sits beside you,comforting you the best way that he could.

"My darling,i simply adore you,all of you. Even the messy parts as you said. Hell I'm messy myself, *chuckles* I'm a sorcerer of soul magic and dark arts after all. But even a devil such as i can appreciate a flower that blooms in adversity. It is the most beautiful,and the most colorful and bright. And no matter what your mind may tell you,your soul never lies. Just as you have been there for me,i will be there for you. And you are deserving just as much as any other. Even more so as I'm concerned. And you are already worthy. Words fail me to truly encapsulate how my heart feels for you. But what i adore the most is your company,simply put. I admire your presence,your existence is enough. But i prefer it more when you're filled with innocent wonder,joyful laughter,and full of life and love. A hunger for knowledge and a pursuit for purpose. Your strive for perfection isn't the way. What is, my love,is the strive to be better than you were yesterday. But if words are not enough to show you i indeed love you. Than perhaps this would suffice..."

Shang tsung then placed his hand upon your cheek,and kissed you passionately. With all the yearning and intensity that ached in his heart to soothe the storm in yours.

All melted away,no more worry,all doubt ceased. All that was. Was you and him. The sounds of the ocean waves crashing softly,the crickets nearby the paths end. All was calm. Your tears of sorrow turned to tears of joy. How silly you felt for doubting your lover shang,let alone yourself.

Of course he loved you. And he loved you in his own way. As did you.

You both sat and talked a few more hours in the teahouse over some tea. Laughing at old stories,on occasion making flirtatious comments,thus leading into a spicier moment. And you both fell asleep soundly in the teahouse.

By morning you awoke to being wrapped only in shangs silk robe.

He with just his silken pants and hair pulled back. Sat at the opening,doors slid open. The warm summer sun outside,hot but ocean air came through the teahouse so it was cool enough.

You just sat there admiring the view. Of both your lover,and the sea. You went over to sit next to him. And layed you head on his shoulder.

He kissed your forehead. And as you both gazed at the ocean. All of your troubles were gone,you were ready to take on anything the day offered you.

Shang helped make you stand proud and firm in who you are. And for shang? Well you get to see his softer side,not many get that chance. How lucky are you?

🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍💚🐍

This was highly self indulgent. Sorry if it's longer than what i originally planned. But i got so sucked in as i was writing it.

Again no matter if others also self ship with shang, i know that my self ship is unique. And i gotta remind myself that and not be discouraged by this. And i love writing for him. And even if its very self indulgent.

I shouldn't be afraid to post my work. Even if one person likes it. Even if it gets zero recognition. I created something,and i need to remind myself. This is how i grow. Both as an artist and person. Those that matter don't mind,and those that mind dont matter,so to speak. And im glad that people do like my work. Even if its super self indulgent and specific at times.

Again sorry for rambles. Ugh.

Admin is in the feels ok?

I feel shang would want me to keep creating. And keep doing what i love. Him. Lol.

Anyways. I hope you like this. And i hope that this could cheer you up too if you're ever feeling down about yourself.

It helped me when writing it. <3

With love as always

🐍💚 -mrstsung

Hope y'all have a nice day/night.

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unfortunatelyilikebnha · 2 days ago

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The best tdmd moments/things (to me; vaguely but not entirely chronological) (also I haven’t read the manga in ages and I’ve only - recently at least - rewatched bits and pieces so some of this is paraphrased while some of it I went back through to get exact quotes and NO I’m not going to do that for all of them it would take too long) (readmore bc it’s a lot):

- “As the crowd shouted, trying to make Sero feel better, Todoroki took a moment to melt his opponent from the ice prison he’d created. For some reason, in that moment, he looked very sad to me.” Ok so this is not the sports festival moment everyone talks about but it LIVES in my head ABSOLUTELY RENT FREE. It’s like, we know Todoroki’s been watching Midoriya for a while, mostly due to his obvious connection with All Might, but in this moment, while everyone is focusing on Sero, Midoriya is Watching Todoroki Back. He Sees Him.

- MIDORIYA TELLING ENDEAVOR THAT HE IS NOT ALL MIGHT AND SHOUTO IS NOT HIM. Midoriya is freeeeeaked tf out bc endvr is intimidating + he’s worried he’ll discover the secret of OFA but the SECOND endvr starts talking like an asshole, Midoriya SHUTS THAT SHIT DOWN. Again, Midoriya has had like ONE conversation with Todoroki and actively Really Wants To Get Away From Endeavor, but he just gets so mad about the way that Endeavor’s talking that he pauses his retreat to correct him and I think that’s beautiful.

- One of Todoroki’s episodes/chapters being titled “The boy born with everything” and how you could easily contrast Midoriya as “The boy born with nothing” (I could not find a definitive answer on whether canon actually calls him that but like). The juxtaposition of their opposite struggles and the underlying understanding that underneath it all they are really not that different. That they have both suffered, and are both trying to make the most of a power with a difficult legacy. (This brings me to the next point because -)

- “It’s your power, isn’t it?”/“It’s yours! Your quirk, not his!” Yeah. I don’t even have to explain this one I think, everyone knows it’s THE tddk moment. I’ll forever die on the hill that Todoroki should’ve found out about OFA sooner and we should’ve had a direct reversal while Midoriya was still struggling with thinking of OFA as his quirk instead of All Might’s and Todoroki repeats Midoriya’s words right back at him. I mean, Horikoshi LOVES to do that (see: repetition of “body moved without thinking”, “meddling when you aren’t asked to is the essence of being a hero”, “that’s what friends are for, right?” etc) the setup was RIGHT THERE, like taking my shipping goggles or whatever off for a second I think it would’ve been a great addition to the story regardless bc it’s an example of how Midoriya has helped other people AND a reminder that he has not quite conceptualized the advice he gives others for himself! Even without that though, we see how important this moment was to Todoroki literally throughout the rest of his arc, to the point that

- “Midoriya, this is my power. Thank you.” IF WE DIDNT GET TDRK TELLING MDYA THAT OFA WAS HIS QUIRK, AT LEAST WE GOT THIS. MY GOD. I was trying to go mostly chronologically, but since we’re talking about a follow-up to “It’s your power, isn’t it?” I HAD to mention this scene next. It’s a really lovely moment because 1) it’s an acknowledgement of how much Todoroki’s grown (which he did on his own! Midoriya reminded him of why he wanted to become a hero in the first place, and he had a lot of support from friends (& teachers/family) but TODOROKI decided to put in the work to become the kind of hero he wanted to be!) and 2) it’s a reminder to Midoriya that he has made a positive impact and helped the people around him, which I think he’s probably struggling with since this is like. Soon after his dropout arc iirc. (Also: it’s a cool new super move that Todoroki developed himself to try to create a better future for his family!! Which, setting aside how beautiful it is that Todoroki has crafted his fire into something that won’t hurt, is also fun bc Midoriya loves quirks and gets to nerd out over Todoroki’s cool new move lol)

- TODOROKI SHOWING UP TO THE STAIN FIGHT. Todoroki has been friends with Midoriya for like a week and gets a location pin with no other context and IMMEDIATELY deduces that 1) Midoriya’s not the kind of guy to randomly drop his location so 2) he must be in danger, and 3) IMMEDIATELY TELLS ENDEAVOR HE’S GOING TO CHECK OUT THE LOCATION AND TO BRING BACKUP TO THERE AFTER HE’S DONE FIGHTING BC HE THINKS HIS FRIEND’S IN TROUBLE. When he actually shows up the first thing he says is something like “Midoriya you should include more details at a time like this. It took me a while to figure out what you meant and I could’ve been too late” but we literally see in the flashback that he figured this all out in like 2 seconds and IMMEDIATELY came to support Midoriya AND SECURED BACKUP. Every person in Midoriya’s phone received the location pin and expressed various levels of curiosity/concern about it in hindsight but Todoroki figured it out right away and immediately came to help (this isn’t a knock on the rest of 1a btw iirc the rest of them weren’t even in Hosu so there’s not anything they really could’ve done about it besides report it - which iirc Kirishima did -, it’s just that Todoroki WAS in Hosu and DID figure it out so he immediately went to help and it was that simple for him). Todoroki also just like. Instantly accepts that ok, Midoriya and Iida were fighting a serial killer, Guess He’s Also Fighting A Serial Killer Now. ALL THIS FOR HIS FRIEND OF A WEEK. This is one of the core tenets of tddkism to me: they are as ride-or-die as they come. Also notable: Midoriya is not generally in the habit of asking for help. The fact that he did, knowing nothing might come of it, AND TODOROKI SHOWED UP EXACTLY WHEN HE NEEDED HIM??? Can we acknowledge how much that probably meant to Midoriya. Also the start of tdiimd as a trio, which this post isn’t really about, but I can’t completely leave Iida out when talking abt the stain fight that’d be fucked up :(

- “We’ll protect them together”. Yes ik, another Stain fight moment, but I believe this line deserves its own point because, again, Todoroki has been Midoriya’s friend for like a week. Immediately prior to Todoroki saying this, he tells Midoriya that his plan is risky. It’s one thing to recognize Midoriya’s text as a call for help and run to be his backup, it’s another thing to let Midoriya take the strategic lead when he’s already injured and the plan itself could be dangerous. But Todoroki puts his trust in Midoriya and says they’ll protect them together, showing his confidence in Midoriya’s strategic prowess AND battle planning ability.

- “You’re a kind person, Todoroki”. Ok I’ll get this out of the way: I have issues with how the writing of this chapter could be read as implying that being a kind person automatically means you have to forgive the person who hurt you. Ik Midoriya tells Todoroki that it’s ok not to forgive Endvr if he doesn’t want to, but the way he follows it up with the fact that he’s a kind person and the assumption that he wants to forgive Endvr...aren’t my favorite. I think it kind of makes sense for Midoriya to think like this given his own experiences (and also. Midoriya is 15, some of his wording is gonna be a little bit awkward sometimes, so I don’t think that’s the only possible interpretation of what he said), but I wish that if that was the intention, there’d be a moment later on where this view was challenged and Midoriya really internalized that you can be kind and still not forgive someone who’s hurt you. THAT BEING SAID, of all the things that Todoroki is called on a regular basis, and of all the qualities Todoroki associates with himself, I don’t think “kind” is necessarily one of them. “Kindness” was not exactly a virtue that Endeavor seemed to prioritize instilling in him (and though Rei probably would’ve, she WAS absent for much of Shouto’s childhood), and he spent so much time building his walls and striving to defy his dad that it’s not something people tend to immediately pinpoint about him. Todoroki really IS kind though, and Midoriya recognizes that AND makes it a point to tell him. For Todoroki, who has worked on himself quite a lot, and just invited friends to his house probably for the first time ever + gone through a tense family dinner in front of them, I think that probably meant a lot (and his expression in that panel is so cute. Ough).

- “Thank you for being Shouto’s friend”. I think the fact that Fuyumi recognized how meaningful their friendship was and thanked Izuku for it was so significant for both of them, like neither of them, as far as we know, HAD a lot of friends prior to attending UA so the acknowledgement that it is a big deal that they befriended each other is special <3

- Tdrk catching Mdya (and bkg and endvr but this ain’t about them) during the first war arc. He doesn’t know shit about OFA at this point but he followed Midoriya to the front lines anyways.

- Todoroki tucking Midoriya in in 327 and putting a hand on his shoulder in 32…8? 9? Fuck if I know I haven’t read the manga in ages. Anyways. These are both tiny moments but I’m grouping them together bc they really show how Todoroki is there for Midoriya, in the way that he’s always noticing things about him, that he’s RELIABLE, he WANTS to be there for Midoriya like Midoriya was there for Todoroki and that manifests both in following him into terrifying fights and in the small gestures of support. Todoroki NOTICES when something’s wrong, and when he has the necessary context he steps up to help.

Bonus mentions:

- the “are you all might’s secret love child or something?” convo in its entirety. Between the Todoroki Family Trauma Dump, Midoriya sympathizing with Todoroki and realizing that despite how different their lives have been, they’re very similar, the beginning of Midoriya’s desire to help Todoroki, and the beginning of Midoriya really Seeing Todoroki, it sets the groundwork for the start of something beautiful

- AFO: “pay close attention to them, tomura shigaraki. These two could prove to be formidable obstacles to you one day”. / AM: “they may have more in common than they realize. They both have such an intense vibe about them.” The fact that both AFO and AM comment on the tdmd sports festival match leads me to believe that originally their relationship (in the original story I’m talking about the platonic sense but read this any way you will since. This IS a post abt why I ship them) was supposed to be more central to the plot, in this essay I will - (<- ramblings of a crazy person but like!!! Both AM and AFO!! And you’re telling me it didn’t mean anything??? Come on!!)

- Also “you’re helping your opponent. You’re a fool.” Their matching maniacal grins after Midoriya prompts Todoroki to use his fire. Todoroki’s softer smile and little tear. Mdya’s “Amazing…”. Them immediately deciding to go full force regardless if it kills them (IMPORTANT FACT ABOUT THEM IS THAT THEY’RE INSANE <3). “Midoriya…thank you.” (OUGHHHHHHHHH 😭😭😭)

- MDYA YELLING “DONT GIVE UP” DURING THE TDRK/BKG MATCH AND FOR A BRIEF MOMENT TODOROKI STARTS USING HIS FIRE AGAIN. Ik he ultimately doesn’t end up using his fire, but that makes SENSE, you can’t process all that trauma immediately, it takes time!! The fact that for a moment, Midoriya’s voice was enough to allow him to use his fire so soon after his life-altering revelation in the tdmd match is so important to me though :( (and the fact that Midoriya’s willing to 1) root for Todoroki and 2) root for him loud enough that both Todoroki and Bkg can hear,,, ohh tdmd are so special to me)

- their little convo at the training camp. “You have a habit of sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong” lol (paraphrased). Underrated tdmd thing is that they’re willing to tell it to each other straight. But also, the genuinely good advice of “words themselves aren’t enough, actions are also needed to get through to someone” (again, paraphrased) (reminder of how Mdya helped Tdrk!! W/ words AND actions!! And now he’s helping Mdya help Kota!)

- “I don’t know, I think heroes cry when they need to probably” - acknowledges Mdya’s crying as a positive trait bc when he’s not crying it means he’s repressing things, also serves as a reminder that heroes are people too (a similar sentiment to Uraraka’s “who will save the heroes when they need saving?”). Serves to remind Mdya that his crying doesn’t make him less of a hero + it’s ok to feel things. Also Tdiimd.

- “You can’t even cry”/“Let us share that burden together” (this is like. Veeeery paraphrased I’m sorry I don’t have access to the chapter and I’m too lazy to rewatch). The whole class said very meaningful things to try to get Midoriya to come back, but even though he wasn’t ultimately the one to fully get through to him (SHOUTOUT TO IIDA ILY IIDA THIS POST ISNT ABOUT HIM EITHER BUT JUST KNOW I CANT WATCH THAT SCENE WITHOUT TEARING UP THEY R SO DEAR TO ME) Todoroki’s is one of my favorites bc sure maybe he doesn’t understand what it’s like to have no quirk and then suddenly have a quirk that’s actually seven quirks and have a pretty much all-powerful supervillain hunting him down but he DOES understand the burden of trying to shoulder the crushing legacy of a top hero, and here he reaches out to Midoriya once more reminding him that his tears are a good thing and offering to share the burden and help Midoriya like Midoriya’s helped him.

- Light novel moments: Mdya teaching Tdrk how to make AM origami and Tdrk sending it to Rei, Tdrk going to return Mdyas pencil and admiring Mdyas AM figure and Mdya trying to give it to him bc he has another one but Tdrk refuses bc he doesn’t want to damage it so he suggests he just come visit it instead (I haven’t read the light novels but I’ve seen these excerpts and I love them dearly) (these are just all really cute it’s nice to see what they’re like outside of doing hero stuff)

- Todoroki’s “Midoriya Sense” (yes this is a fandom joke based on like the stain incident + noticing smth was up during the “heroes cry too” incident + Todoroki asking abt him before the cultural festival etc but it IS genuinely very sweet that Todoroki is always looking out for Midoriya and trying his best to help when he can)

- TODOROKI TELLING MIDORIYA TO REMOVE THE BATTERIES FROM HIS PHONE SO THE GOVERNMENT COULDNT TRACK HIM WHILE HE WAS ON THE RUN BC HE WAS A MURDER SUSPECT. Now I haven’t watched the third movie so I may be wrong about the details but it was VERY funny of Tdrk to be like “did you kill people??? Never mind that actually here’s how to avoid the government” (paraphrased for comedic effect)

-“Midoriya and the others” (cute, something Shouto says…several times lmao) (Izuku has also said “Todoroki and the others” at least once (in the first movie) but I’m not aware of it being a recurring phrase like “Midoriya and the others”)

#this is so varied in quality I’m sorry lmao. but I wrote this at like 4 am and I don’t feel like editing it #(…that much. I edited it a little bit)#tododeku #todomido #tddk #todoroki shouto #midoriya izuku #‘Julia this is basically every time they interacted’ well yes!!#its 2025. I’m barely even into bnha anymore. but I’m still insane about them.#also this post isn’t about iida BUT IT COULD BE. I COULD PUT HIM IN HERE TOO. TDIIMD MY BELOVED.#it killed me a little to not mention him that much bc this post is abt tdmd as a ship bc they r my. sighs. otp.#(I’m almost 23 years old it feels so dumb to use that word and yet)#(edit: oh shit I am 23 I left this in the drafts too long)#but tdiimd both as a ship and the hosu trio friendship is sooooooo important to me tdiimd are sooooooo important to each other #both bc they care abt each other as people and have been through a lot together and in how they’ve affected each other’s growth #(see: Tdrk inspiring iida to ‘be the hero you want to be’ after Mdya inspired him to do the same #& iida being the one to catch Mdya during the vigilante arc w/ help from Tdrk + 1a & repeating the ‘that’s what friends are for’ line)#(and don’t get me started on the iida/mdya/uraraka trio & how canonically important to each other they are.#or the shouchako friendship that exists mostly in my head. bc this post is about tdmd.)#(but it’s also important to me that you know Iida and Uraraka are so important to Midoriya and Todoroki and each other as well okay? okay??#sorry I have chronic ‘have to yap in the tags’ disease.#anyways to me tdmd is about:#1) the ways they parallel and contrast each other #2) their deep understanding of each other in a way that imo no other character really has #(and the ways that they DON’T understand each other despite all their similarities)#3) their ride-or-die nature that manifests in both grand dramatic gestures and tiny moments of support #oh yeah and how well they work together as a hero team is pretty cool too #anyways we’re freeing this from the drafts idc #I just need yall to know that I never moved on and likely never will

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