#this fandom keeps on giving high quality

[jayla-fire-gal]

I need to share this because I need other people who love the character to see this series and know it's happening.

Noah Beyer has taken it upon himself to make the content the fandom needs and started a series about Red Hood. He's working hard to deliver a high quality project with very little in the way of budget and, honestly, he is succeeding!

Red Hood: Resurrection has a based take on Jason Todd's origin story and a cast that breathes life into the characters in the way that you always need in a live action adaptation. In the two episodes out so far, they have consistently been revealing parts of the background goings on of their universe while keeping you engaged with the characters and the story they wish to tell.

Noah made a video talking about the series and how he got started, give it a watch if you'd like to know more:

[hisnumber1]

Devil's Embrace

Paring: Lucifer Morningstar x reader

Summery: (Y/n) had found herself at the hazbin hotel. She never thought of redemption but she got a free room while she does her work. (Y/n) made outfits and tailored for people if they pay enough. She loves trying to make unique dresses for balls or for higher class. Keeping her name in the high class of hell, she tailored for the king of hell himself. Finding herself tailoring for him in the hotel of his daughter is an interesting situation.

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Genre: fluff, slowburn, close proximity.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

I find myself leaning back in my seat, sighing. Watching AngleDust flirt with Husker and he growls in response. Charlie is putting more stuff on her board as she tries to figure out how to make the hotel work. I jump back on feet, strolling down the hallway ways to get to my room. I walk into my room filled with drawing and projects I've worked on. I fall flat on my face into my bed, I turn my head, looking at my recent project of a dress.

The dress was a long ballroom dress, with a long v going down the chest. The sleeves were mesh, and at the top it came off the shoulder. The skirt came out and poofed out, with the back covered in a long black mesh. The dress was white, with highlights of red, all of the mesh was black, giving it a dark energy.

Something just seems off, I don't know what it is but it just does. I hear a ping come from across the room. Lifting up my head and seeing my phone light up, I groan as I pull myself up. Walking to my table, I grab my phone and sit on the table. I read the notification, it was an email. I tapped on it, scanning over the text.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

I hope this email finds you well. I recently purchased a suit, while I am pleased with the quality and style, I find that it is slightly larger than my measurements. Therefore, I am writing to inquire about the possibility of having it tailored to a smaller size.

The suit in question is a white Shawl Lapel with red highlights, the fabrics are jacquard and velvet, and I purchased it about a week ago. I have attached a copy of the receipt for your reference.

I would greatly appreciate it if you could provide me with information on the process and cost involved in resizing the suit. Additionally, if you require any further measurements or details, please do not hesitate to let me know.

I am eager to have the suit adjusted so that it fits perfectly, and I trust your expertise in handling this matter. I am available to schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your attention to this request. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Warm regards,

Lucifer Morningstar"

I sigh as I look at the photos he sent. It is a beautiful suit, but if I did it, the style would be better, but it is not mine. Thinking of what the price is, I need to get his exact measurements to tailor it correctly. Pressing the reply button, I started typing out my reply.

'Dear Mr. Morningstar,

Thank you for reaching out and for providing the details regarding your suit purchase. I appreciate your trust in our tailoring services.

I will be more than happy to assist you with resizing your suit to ensure a perfect fit. Before proceeding, could you please bring the suit to my studio for a fitting session? This will allow me to accurately assess the alterations needed and provide you with a precise cost estimate.

Once I have examined the suit, we will discuss the adjustments required and provide you with a timeline for completion.

Please let us know a convenient time for you to visit our store, and we will schedule an appointment accordingly. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or concerns.

Looking forward to seeing you soon and assisting you with your tailoring needs.

Best regards,

(Y/n) (L/n)'

I read over the email before hitting send. 'Wait, isn't Charlie his daughter?' I thought as I look back over his name. I press another reply button and put the the address, letting him know where he could meet me. Tossing my phone onto my bed, I walk out into the lobby again, sitting on the bar stool. "A shot of anything strong." I grumbled at Husk, he was cleaning a glass when he heard me. "What's the occasion?" He asked grabbing a shot glass before pouring some. "Work." I groan with my head on the bar, keeping my eyes shut, my headache gets worse with light.

"Ever thought of getting anything for those migraines?" Husk asked when he placed down the shot, I look up, grabbing the shot and downing it. "Another please. I've looked into it, but I don't need to, I'll just deal with it." Sighing as I push the shot towards Husk. He shakes his head as he pours another one, pushing it towards me. Taking the glass and downing it again.

I hear Charlie in the lobby talking to Vaggie about something, I turn to her. "Hey Charlie. Your dad is gonna come in a few days." I slur out, catching her attention she turned me wide eyed. "What?" She asked as she walked closer. "I'm tailoring a suit of his, I told him I need to take measurements cause he could have grown in the last year." I replied to her. "So he's coming to the hotel?" "Yeah, I think so." Replying to her she chuckled a but before pacing back and forth. "He's only gonna be in my room, just to get measured. He's one my highest paying customers." I chuckle, feeling the alcohol get to my system.

"He emailed me a few minutes ago about getting a suit tailored. I told him that I needed for take his measurements and then I would come up with the price." I explain to her. Charlie's pacing got faster, but she's stops when Vaggie puts her hand on her shoulder. "When would he be here?" Vaggie asked me and I shrugged.

"I can go see if he answered if you would like?" I got up from my seat, walking to my room. Opening my door, I walk to my bed, grabbing my phone. I look at the notifications, seeing a email. I walk out to the lobby, opening the email.

"Dear Ms. (L/n),

Thank you for your prompt response and for offering to assist with resizing my suit. I appreciate your attention to detail and professionalism in addressing my tailoring needs.

I will certainly bring the suit to your studio for a fitting session. I propose scheduling the appointment for this Friday afternoon around 2:00 PM. Please let me know if this time works for you, or if an alternative time would be more convenient.

I look forward to meeting with you and discussing the necessary alterations. Thank you once again for your assistance, and I am confident in your expertise to ensure a perfect fit for my suit.

Best regards,

Mr. Morningstar"

I read out loud. Charlie pauses and starts pacing again. "He can't come. We don't even know if this works. If he comes he'll know I failed." Charlie said lowly, Vaggie hugs her and kisses her cheek. "It'll be fine love." She said as she pulled away from the hug. Vaggie looked over at me and sighed. "He'll be here in two days, just make sure he is only here for that a not going anywhere else. Charlie isn't ready to face him at the moment." She said as she looked up at the clock to check the time.

I nod, I grab the shot glass and down the last one before walking to my room. Falling onto my bed, a breath left my lungs as I hit the bed. I turn over and pick up my phone, unlocking it and looking at the photo of the suit. Thinking for a second, it looks a lot like the dress. Looking between my phone and the dress on the lay figure, they would look together.

Standing up from my bed, I tiptoe to the sewing mannequin. I run my finger across it, looking back at the photo and then back at the dress. A light bulb lit up and I ran to my desk, grabbing safety pins. Taking out my sewing needles, turning on my machine, grabbing buttons. I pull the mannequin next to the desk, sketching out the idea in my head.

A bang woke me from my slumber, I jerk up and look around. Standing in my door way is AngleDust, he looks out of breath. "(Y/n)! My shirt is ruined!" He said as he walked closer with his torn shirt. I groan and put my head back on the desk. "You alright toots?" He asks as he puts his arm on my shoulder. "I'm fine, I finally figured out what was wrong with the dress, and I fixed it. There is a problem though, Lucifer is gonna be here tomorrow and he's kinda matching with his suit." A groan left my mouth, Angle walks over to dress. "It's gorgeous. I mean it's always been." He said as he looked over it.

Sighing as I felt my eyes closing. I stayed up all night working on it, adding new fabrics, adding the details. I felt myself falling asleep again as Angle looked over the dress.

My eyes slowly open, I groan as I sit up. "My back hurts like hell." Groaning as I stood up. It looked dark out, I must have slept all day. Walking out of my room into the lobby, the lights were still on so someone was awake. Yawning as I walk to the bar, my eyes saw Alastor, he was sitting on the couch as he read a newspaper. "Morning Al." I yawn as I pour myself something to drink.

His head perked up at my voice. "Morning, you know it's in the late afternoon right?" He asked as he placed his newspaper down.

"Yeah, I didn't sleep last night. So I slept all day." Yawning as I walk over to the couch, sitting next to Alastor. "Why didn't you sleep?" He asked as he sipped his drink. "Working on that dress." I groan. He hummed in response. I downed the rest of my drink before standing up. "Well Lucifer is coming over tomorrow, so I need to sleep. Night Al." "Oh goodnight (Y/n)." He grinned.

I step into my room, closing the door behind me. Sighing as I walk over to my bed, sitting on the edge before falling backwards. Grunting at the sudden stop, I throw my arm over my eyes, slowly drifting off to sleep.

Waking up to my alarm, I groan. I slowly sit up and turn off my phone. I whimper as the sun hits my eyes, I have to get ready and clean up for the appointment. I pick up my phone reading the time, but I saw that I had a email.

'Dear Ms. (Y/n),

Hello, I hope this email finds you in good health. I wanted to make an appointment to have a meeting. I want some new clothes by your hand. If you have the time for a meeting please contact me.

Love,

Valentino <3'

I read over the email before putting my phone down. I really don't want to deal with him right now, I sighed as I went to my drawers. Pulling out some presentable clothes, then walking to my restroom to take a shower. I turn the knob letting the water start, after I pull my clothes off of me, letting it hit the floor. Pulling my undergarments off before sliding into the shower. The hot water hitting my skin and wetting every inch of my body.

I put shampoo in my hair and scrub it in, soap going down my body as I rinse my hair out. Grabbing the bottle for conditioner, letting my hair run under water. Pouring some into my hand before scrubbing it into my scalp. I let the conditioner soak, I wash my body before rinsing off everything. Turning off the water, I grab a towel and put it around my body.

Walking into my room, striding to my bed, where I put my clothes. Taking the towel and drying off my hair before dressing myself. After wards I look at the time, it read 12:47 pm. I sigh, I still have almost two hours before he gets here. I look around the room, seeing my room is a mess, knowing us have to clean it sooner or later.

Cleaning up my room, putting everything in place before he gets here and picking up trash and dirty laundry. I organized everything and I looked at the time, it was 1:36 pm. My eyes widen as I look at the time. "Shit he'll be here soon!" I yelled at myself and I got a new mannequin out for the suit, making sure I knew where everything I needs was. Keeping track of time, I brushed my hair and put on light makeup, so I didn't look like I was dying.

Getting myself mentally prepared to see the sin of pride. He was cocky everytime you saw him, not a bad cocky but like 'he knows he's hot and he's not afraid to show it off' cocky. The man was hot, I can't denie that.

I walk to the lobby waiting for the knock, not a second later I hear it. Walking to the door, slowly opening it to reveal Lucifer. "(Y/n), it's been to long." He grinned as walked in to the hotel, his eyes shifted all over the lobby. "We will be working in a room back here, just follow me." I say as I lead the way to my room. He gladly follows along behind me, still looking everywhere. We make it to my room and I close the door after he walks in.

"Now if you would please stand here." I ask him to stand on a X mark on the floor. He looked down and nods with a smile. "So how have you been (Y/n)? I haven't seen you in about a year." He asked as he gave me the suit. "Eh, tired. I have been working on a new dress over that year, I finally finished it the day before yesterday." I reply, setting the suit on the mannequin.

"Yeah? May I see it?" He asked as he looked around my room. I nodded and I walked into my other room, I have to rooms attached to each other for my bed room and my studio. Rolling the mannequin out, the jewels sparkled in the sun light.

"That is gorgeous." Lucifer said as he walked over, feeling the fabric. "It looks a little familiar." He said as he put his hand on his chin. His eyes caught on the suit and he gasped. "It's like a set! The dress and my suit." Lucifer stated as his eyes light up. I chuckled and nodded. "I noticed that when you sent me the photos."

"I would love to buy it." He said as he looked at it. I stopped in my tracks. "What?" I asked with a chuckle. "How much, I could gift it to my daughter." He stated as he started pulling out his wallet. "I'm not selling it right now. I actually made it for myself, kinda a dream dress." I chuckled nervously.

You could practly hear his face light up. "I've never seen you wear a dress." He said surprised. "Well yeah, I don't like wearing them." "You should put it on." He said. "No." I said flatly.

"Oh come on (Y/n). You even match with the king if hell, why not put it on?" He asked. "Lucifer, I need to start measurements, please stand where you were." I said with no tone. He was a persistent man. "Come on, I would love to see you in it." He purred out. "Lucifer arms up." I said with a measuring tape in my hands. "Come on." He whined out.

As he is begging me to put on the dress, I just ignore him and measure his body. As I measuring his bust to his groan there was blast and the hotel shaked. Causing Lucifer to tumble over and fall on me.

I closed my eyes at feeling of the rumbling, so I didn't know how close he was to me. "Well hello gorgeous." I hear Lucifer say, I open my eyes to see his face a few inches away from mine. "Oh you're wearing makeup, it looks good on you." He complemented me. "Lucifer get up." I say as I start pushing him. "I am darling." He chuckled. Standing up, he offered me a hand, which I gladly took.

"Well that didn't sound good." He stated as he dusted himself off, I nodded in agreement. "I actually finished measuring you, I would probably charge you about $230." I said as I looked over my notebook, adding the measurements. "Always straight to business. That's what I liked about you." He chuckled. Taking money from his wallet, handing it over to me, before I pull away he takes my hand, bringing it to his lips. Kissing my knuckles for a moment before pulling away. "Well I'll see myself out, and you should probably check what that sound was." Lucifer said as he started walking out of my room.

Watching him walk off, I felt the heat leave my face. When did that happen? When did my face get so hot? I asked myself, but just blew it off as me just getting hot. Placing down my money on the table, and I hear another bang. Groaning as more rubble falls down in my room. "Ughhh! What is that!?" I yelled out.

A/n: My first story on here and I plan to write more. Sorry if I update slow but I'll get around to doing it!

[raguiras]

Mionn's art & writing ship trade event

(Click the art for better quality!)

I'm hosting an art & writing event centered around ships & duos (multifandom)!

🖤 REBLOGS ARE SUPER APPRECIATED

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

I've recently reached 200 followers on this blog, 900 on my meme blog, and 100 on Instagram!! Honestly, I don't even know what to say... I feel so damn honored and am so grateful for the support!! 🖤🖤🙏

As a multi-milestone celebration as well as an event for the official Spade of Storms (Deuce x Allen) day, which is on the 27th of July, I decided to host a TRADE EVENT!!!

Basically, this event is going to be an open art/writing trade that's all about ships (or platonic duos).

The event starts on 7/23 (today) and lasts for rest of July as well as for the entirety of August. For every Allen x Deuce art/writing that I receive during this duration, you get one of your own ship from ANY FANDOM back!

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Why am I hosting this?

it's a way to thank everyone for three different follower milestones

a contest/DTIYS/raffle wouldn't promise that everyone gets something back, so I went for a trade event

the event allows me to post more about other canon TWST characters and draw them while not having to neglect Allen x Deuce

I wanna make new mutuals & friends, get to know more ships, and strengthen friendships with mutuals I already have!

Artfight is/was tons of fun, but I only do/did colored sketches there & ships are a tricky subject. Meanwhile, I'll do ANYTHING here!

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Basic information:

Make a drawing/writing/comic of Allen x Deuce. (Ideas can be found in this post's pink "starters for my ship" section.)

Post it on your blog, tag me in it, and refer to my event. (While posting is by far preferred — especially for bigger artworks and written stuff — you can also just DM it to me.)

In return, you'll receive a gift of the same type for your own ship from any fandom (OC x canon, canon x canon, OC x OC)! I'll DM you about the ship, so make sure that your DMs are open.

For example: If you submit a sketch, you'll get a sketch back. If you submit a fully shaded drawing, I'II make a fully shaded drawing for you, too. If you add a background, I'll (do my best to) do the same. If you write a drabble... You know the drill!

ANYONE can join, whether you follow me or not! However, new followers through the event are super appreciated!

EVENT TIME: July 23th (today) - August 31st

Anything submitted before or after this event duration will not receive anything back (unless we explicitly do a trade), but be held in high regard nonetheless!

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Rules:

The portrayal of Allen x Deuce must be shippy/romantic.

Please keep angst at a minimum unless it has a happy ending. Comfort is allowed.

Please DO NOT add your own OC or another canon character to the submission. Including them in the background as a wingman or something is alright, though. Additionally, any kind of romantic implications between Deuce and another character/OC are NOT allowed.

Please no NSFW. Harmless implications and slight spice are okay, but keep in mind that these characters are both minors.

AUs are very much allowed! All the previous rules apply here, too, and I'm willing to give an overview of some AUs via DMs.

Please no genderbending.

Please DO NOT draw Allen or Deuce as a standalone character. This is a SHIP event for a reason.

Please don't change their appearances too much, especially when it comes to the color schemes & body types.

Giving them different outfits — especially event outfits — is absolutely cool (yes, you can draw Allen in a skirt if you wanna), and changing their hairstyles is okay as long as they still look like themselves.

This is NOT A DTIYS event, so please DO NOT redraw one of my Allen x Deuce arts. Please come up with something original.

If you have any more questions, please DM me!

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

What CAN you submit?

drawings // comics // writings // animatics

For drawings, anything from a quick sketch to an extremely detailed drawing with a background is allowed! You'll get something of the same quality back. The same also goes for writings/fanfics.

Animatics will receive a drawing in return.

What CAN'T be submitted?

Gacha videos // edits // memes

-> You can theoretically submit all of these and I'd appreciate them, but I wouldn't be able to give you anything back.

Memes refer to funny pictures that simply have Allen & Deuce's faces in them. DRAWN memes/meme redraws count as DRAWINGS.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Starters for Allen x Deuce

Got no clue what to draw/write about?

Check out the few already existing Allen x Deuce posts on this blog for proper lore and facts.

Check @spade-of-storms for fun facts, shorter rambles and additional info.

In any case, you can't go wrong with simple fluffy, romantic scenarios! Dates, kisses, cuddles, whatever!

For information about Allen himself, please check my pinned post.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Q&A:

I want to join the event, but I don't have any ship (OC x canon, canon x canon, OC x OC) you could draw/write about for me in return.

That's okay! In that case, I'll gladly draw/write about two separate characters or a platonic duo for you.

Can I do multiple submissions for this event?

Obviously, and every single one will be "revenged"!

Can I get something of another type/quality back? For example, can I get a fully shaded drawing for my sketch, or art for my drabble?

Unfortunately not, as I prefer to always give something of the same type back. There are only the following two exceptions that I AM willing to do:

you do a drabble/oneshot —> I do a sketch

you do any type of art —> I write a drabble/oneshot

Is there anything you refuse to draw/write about?

Deuce ships (other than Deuce x Allen). NSFW. Family x family. Minor x adult. Any ship considered to be problematic.

How do I tell you about the ship I want you to draw/write about for me?

I'll DM you after you post your event submissions.

Do you prefer to do OC x canon, canon x canon, or OC x OC?

I have a bias towards OC x canon and canon x canon ships. However, I'm willing to do any ship that's not problematic! In the case of OC x OC, I simply need you to provide information on two OCs instead of one only.

Will you do poly ships?

In order to keep things fair, no. But I could include the third party as a plush or chibi head.

I want to make Allen x Deuce content for you, but not receive anything in return.

That's also super appreciated anytime (and totally doesn't make me freak out /pos)! Simply share it as a gift and don't mention the event.

How long is it going to take you to finish your "revenge" on me?

It depends on the type of submission you make & what I'm giving you back. Some things can be done within a day while others may take much longer, but either way, you WILL get something of the SAME TYPE back & that's guaranteed.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

Personal notes:

My health isn't the best and I also have a job. Please be respectful and don't rush me nor get mad when I'm being slow.

Please do not start a discussion nor get mad at me if I refuse to draw/write about a ship I deem problematic & want you to pick another one instead. Preferably pick a ship that's by far NOT problematic from the beginning.

I'm unwilling to draw/write about any Deuce ships other than Deuce x Allen because I kin Deuce a ton and tend to feel uncomfortable with many of his ships, so please don't ask for any. I'm asking you to not start a discussion over this, either.

I won't post everything I make for the event on this blog. Sketches and writings will either be DMed to you or posted on one of my other blogs.

♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤♤

That's it for now! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to DM me.

And again, thank you so much for 200 followers!

♤ Happy trading! ♤

[cantfuckbracket]

#ok listen. I would argue that 'having unfuckable energy' is different than simply not fucking or not knowing what sex is #even though Ken re:barbie trailer doesn't know what sex is. he's an absolute sweetheart. my point is he COULD fuck #LD Curtain on the other hand. I genuinely would rather explode. fling myself into the sun #he just exudes loser energy while thinking he's The Coolest #on top of being inconsiderate of others and repeatedly gaslighting people #he explains his evil plans via shitty magic tricks that he clearly expects you to be impressed with (they are NOT swag) #he does a lil victory dance to Stand Back by Stevie Nicks and it genuinely looks like the mating dance of some exotic bird#he's evil but he acts all offended when people call him out on it #'Evil? MOI? [pearl clutching gasp] Whyever would you say that? (said to a kid he's kidnapped and is currently in a STRAIGHTJACKET) #if he tried to fuck he'd end up talking about his own accomplishments or his new evil startup for 3 hours #also important that he attempts to manipulate someone via a salad #will not explain how. anyways #sorry for rambling. you get the point #ld curtain

Can't Fuck Bracket. Round 1, Side A

Ken (Barbie) versus LD Curtain (The Mysterious Benedict Society TV)

[ID: The unfuckable pride flag overlaid with the "no bitches" meme. Over it are pictures of the contestants. Ken is a blonde doll, and is shown screaming; and Curtain has hair slicked to the side and is shown pursing his lips and throwing his hands back. Over them are sparkles and a heart with a butt, and in between them are peach emojis crossed out with the word "vs" in them. End ID]

Propaganda:

Ken: "he's built like. well. a ken doll perhaps. also re:barbie trailer ken doesnt know what sex is so. he cant fuck its canon godspeed"

LD Curtain: "He's both a cringefail loser (See: 1. repeatedly beaten by a group of literal children, at one point even saying "they have proven to be my only worthy adversaries" (<- man talking about a group of eleven year olds), 2. screaming at a child, while visibly tearing up, "I AM NOT SAD! I AM *FINE!*", 3. genuinely thinking he can simply say no to having narcolepsy, 4. keeps little painted figurines of his brother and co and does magic tricks with them to intimidate an eleven year old, sincerely thinks this is an extremely cool thing to do), a bad dad (terrible both in the sense that he's emotionally abusive and in the sense that he thinks he's doing suuuuuuuch a good job and he very much isn't), and just like. evil?? but not in the sexy way. and also he's in denial about it which makes it even LESS sexy. Negative sexy if you will. "I'm not bad. who thinks that" sir you are standing in your mind control machine. "Sticky! Friend! Evil is a bit harsh!" sir you psychologically tortured him. anyway he does stupid little magic tricks and is a complete failure but somehow manages to convince everyone that he's charming and actually very cool. while obviously like, starting a cult or being just visibly a cringefail maniac two seconds from flying off the handle. anywya this got out of hand the point is: UNFUCKABLE."

[owlsie-hoot]

ACGAS series 5 in general.... (thoughts about 5.6. later)

Where to begin? (that I said I would write no more essays?)(beware this is not really positive)

Maybe with this: The writers seem to have completely forgotten the entire character development from four previous series. I don't get how you can come up with such a series after series 4 (and I mean series as in "season") ?

Harsh words, sorry, but I am annoyed and frustrated and after episode three I had sadly lost faith in series 5. Slowly, but for reasons I try to explain in this very lengthy text post (not everyone will agree with me of course and that's ok).

So far ACGAS has really managed to keep up very high quality writing for four consecutive series. There was the odd episode that I didn't like that much but there was never such disappointment involved.

First: usually the episodes feel well balanced, the storylines are all interwoven in a way, all characters have an equally strong story arc for each individual series and continuous character development. There is also a good balance between heavy and light topics. ACGAS is very good at giving us meaningful quiet scenes that show a character's depth without overdoing it. To me almost all of this was missing in series 5. Mainly because they changed the structure and therefore also the balance of the episodes. Instead of connecting the characters, each episode featured and focused heavily on one couple, giving them a lot of space with one long storyline and the other characters were pushed into the background.

Episode 1 focused on James with an almost 20 minute long sequence of scenes that only featured him and his crew. Usually (and this applies to all subsequent episodes) the show switches back and forth between the different storylines and never lingers too long on one character. That creates a good balance. Because you feel that all characters are treated equally even if the main focus in an episode is only on one character.

Episode 2 focused on Audrey and her new role as warden. The main focus were her and Siegfried in this episode.

Episode 3 put the focus on Tristan's return but also had the christening and Helen's struggle with Hannah and until after the christening the episode felt well balanced to me. But then we didn't see Audrey anymore for almost 15 minutes and focused only on Helen and Hannah as well as on Tristan and Siegfried.

Episode 4 made the same mistake episode 1 made: a very long sequence of scenes that only features Tristan and Carmody. Siegfried was not seen for about 25 minutes.

Episode 5 introduced a potential "love interest" for Siegfried, something I absolutely hated and was extremely annoyed at. After the first two episodes, Audrey and Siegfried's interaction in episode 3 and the couch scene in 4 it felt like a huge step backwards and an ignoring of Siegfried's reaction to Audrey's entire series 4 storyline. Convinced that nothing would come out of this I tried to brush this away as a misstep. A plot device to show Siegfried how important family is for him. This episode also pushed all other characters, except him and Carmody, into the background and although it felt better balanced than ep 1 and 4, the other characters didn't move forward.

Episode 6 was actually the one that stood out from the others and felt like the episodes I love. There was a focus on two couples this time (Tristan and Siegfried / Helen and James ) and they balanced it really well with a fun and a very emotional storyline. Suddenly they remembered how to do it! But only in episode 6. But the entire "love interest" plot was a bit too much through the Tristan and Siegfried scenes, which feels like a disservice to the entire fandom after series 4 when we saw how important Audrey is for Siegfried and when even the press finally realised that these two should be more than friends. The ending sadly felt unfinished to me. No conclusion, no real denouement at all. It felt like it needed two or three more scenes to finish the episode.

I have never complained about an entire series of ACGAS before and I hope this will be the first and last time I am doing this. As much as I love my ship and have of course also watched series 5 from a shippers point of view, it also failed to deliver for James and Helen (until episode 6) and also for Tristan. We knew James was struggling, we saw glimpses of that every now and then but everything felt rather shallow and was not given that much depth. Mainly because this heavy topic was buried underneath a lot of fun and happiness and laughter and silliness that seemed to be the main theme of series 5 (as opposed to the more angsty series 4). Yes, that topic was resolved in episode 6 and also in a good way but the way towards it felt a bit half-heartedly.

Same goes for Tristan. I was so looking forward to his return and they did a great job with that in episode 3 and also in 4 (although episode 4 dragged a lot, and felt a bit repetitive in the end) but after that I would have loved to see the cracks in his mask, see how he really struggles, see him in quieter moments, unobserved by others. This is what made ACGAS so good in the last 4 series! And it was totally missing. Siegfried and Tristan's talk did not really get to the bottom of his troubles at all. I felt that Tristan was not really telling the truth here.

Take Helen. She's a new mom, we saw her struggle a bit with her new role at the beginning but then they did not give her a storyline for herself at all. Throughout series 5 she was mainly used as a plot device to crack single cases. Like the poisoning of Bingo, the poodle incident in episode 3, Frisk's death and resurrection. We only really saw her shine in episode 6.

Audrey had an amazing start with episodes 1 and 2 but from episode 4 onwards she was more or less degraded as housekeeper, busy in the background. Of course there was the "bomb" incident in episode 5 which was fun but in previous series they would have connected that story with the other storylines of the episodes, used it to show what a strong woman she is, how no one can tell her what to do. In interviews it was hinted at that she would get a storyline that tests her mental health. We have not seen any of it at all. Nor have they managed to use her role as Warden to bring the reality of war closer to Darrowby. It was funny, even ridiculous in episode 5. The seriousness of her war effort was wasted almost entirely. And the other major failure was the complete omission of Edward. Which further underlines my main complaint about series 5: lack of depth, lack of character development, lack of meaningful progress. What bothered me most about her storyline was that they separated her completely from Siegfried in the last two episodes. The scenes they shared were mainly her working in the background, except for that moment about going to the Drovers. Suddenly they felt like employer and employee again. And she was a housekeeper. Not a family member. This is something that I really cannot take. Sorry.

And at last Siegfried. We saw him struggle here and there, we saw him embracing his found family in the first 3 episodes. He was the most emotional in episode 3 but after that his character development also kind of stopped and even went backwards with the "love interest" storyline they forced him into. Throughout the last four series, Siegfried has slowly moved from overcoming his grief to testing the waters again with Dorothy and Diana, then his focus slowly shifted back to Audrey. And especially in s4 we saw how much she means to him in more ways than housekeeper/friend. All this was now disregarded in the Miss Grantley storyline which would have fitted into s3 when Audrey and Gerald were not yet a thing but serious enough for Siegfried to react to it every now and then (the "not date" and his reaction to the kiss). At the beginning of the series, the interviews made us think that Siegfried felt left out, as if his work was not important enough. We saw very tiny glimpses of that but only if you look closely. This was another storyline and development left floating on the surface instead of really delving into it and developing it properly. (and I might write an entire essay about Siegfried + Audrey soon) In the end he felt very far removed from Audrey and the married banter was completely gone in the last 2 (maybe 3 episodes) as if the writers decided to extinguish the slow burn all of a sudden.

So overall s5 started well with the first 3 episodes but then started going downhill (for me) halfway through episode 3. A lot of potential was wasted. The focus was mainly on making sure everybody had something to do but they forgot to go deep, to show us what makes this new adaptation of ACGAS special:

It's the much more real, rounded characters, their feelings, their experiences, the way the storytelling goes much deeper and makes the characters more relatable than in the old series.

And when you take that away, you lose bits of the soul, you lose what makes this version of ACGAS so special. It was still there, partly, but not in the way we have seen it in series 1-4.

Now: We still have a Christmas special and it was written by a writer I really trust. However, I have always trusted the writers and they have let me down this year so I am now sadly really anxious about the final episode of series 5. I never thought I would feel that low about a favourite show and my ship again after Downton s6. But I guess there is no escaping that in fandom. Ever. I just want my "giddy anticipation" back :(

[crazylittlejester]

im in such a yapping mood today and i feel like ive made a post like this before but this is how i personally think the Links would dress in a modern era

Time: in a casual setting I know he wears the dark jeans + black band shirt combo and sometimes he’ll tie his hair up if he gets hot. it’s not an intentional fashion statement, he’s not trying to dress a certain way on purpose by any means he just dresses like a guy who plays guitars but says its “just a hobby” (he owns at least three.) and its just the shirt and the pants, there are no accessories, he’s just your father who hasn’t listened to new music or gone clothes shopping since the 80s (/j) but he can absolutely clean up nice and looks good when he needs to

Warriors: Possibly the sluttiest thing a man can wear (/j) is a cardigan sweater and he owns like. 12 of them. and generally just a lot of very nice sweaters, and there are a lot of dark grays and blues in his closet with the occasional green. he always dresses his best, he wouldn’t be caught dead leaving his house in like, a t shirt and jeans. whether or not he’s actually wealthy, he certainly dresses like he is, he pours all of his money into high quality coats and scarves and nice shoes

Twilight: Dean Winchester. Next. (but seriously, the jeans, boots, plain gray shirt and a flannel is EXACTLY how he’d dress)

Sky: Whatever he’s got on, he looks so fucking comfortable. Definitely big fluffy sweaters, I know he’s a guy who likes to be snug and cozy because why face the horrors of the world without feeling like your sweater is giving you a mom hug? I can see him in a lot of white, ivory, orange, brown, and green. Not super bright colors, he definitely has a sort of fall vibed color pallet and sense of style

Hyrule: He’s the personification of those “forest core” outfit collage boards you see on pintrest but he���s not just doing it for aesthetic, it’s all functional. Like he has a little bag he keeps tied to his belt because he goes out and hunts for berries or mushrooms in the woods. he has a leather bound journal that also clips to the belt because he likes writing about what he finds in the woods. He’s your friend who calls you after going missing for four hours like “hey can you come pick me up?” and when you get to his location he’s covered in dirt and says “i got lost…”

Legend: his EXACT style varies quite a bit, but he’d define it as alt. he wears skirts a lot, not all the time but a lot, and has a lot of layers and jewelry. he definitely will go on pissed off rants about how he got bullied for his clothes in middle school and high school and he’s mad that now people are dressing alt because they think its “quirky” and buying things like bags or pants with patches and pins already on them, and he will rant about this twice a week. hes sick and tired of getting called emo not because hes against being emo, it just seriously annoys him when people see someone with dyed hair wearing dark clothes and call them emo based on that alone

Wild: It depends on the days activities, but he likes to look cute. Lots of pretty hairstyles and earrings, bright colors too. DEFINITELY A BIG PANTS LITTLE SHIRT KINDA GUY, and he’s absolutely made a few of his outfits by hand. and ofc he has “gremlin outfits” for when he goes off exploring with Hyrule

Four: Similar to Time with the band shirt + jeans combo, but on the opposite end of the spectrum because he’s bright and colorful. He’s also the most likely to walk around with a shirt with mothman on it and then when people ask him about it talk about it as if he 100% believes mothman is not only out there, but there to get HIM specifically no matter where he goes on the planet

Wind: memes. he has tshirts with memes on them, and he’s the most likely to wear fandom merch and stuff like that. he’s 13/14 he doesn’t put a whole lot of thought into what he’s got on, he’s just against shoes. he’s the one kid who’s always got sandals on even if its fucking snowing because he’s anti socks and shoes

[dairy-farmer]

Was thinking about what would happens if an author on Ao3 I loved died and their subscribed readers never knew why they stopped uploading. I mean it happens all the time for various reasons not just on Ao3 either. People grown out of interests. Life gets in the way or something as simple as getting locked out of an account.

There was that Stan ((maybe a swifty or Arianna fan on twitter maybe?!)) account that went to prison and posted to say they wouldn’t be active for a while a few years ago and everyone was joking about it. Or another example; that famous screenshot of a blog saying ‘ sorry I haven’t been posting I got diagnosed with bpd and I take meds now and I don’t like BTS anymore’ or something like that.

I just think it’s hilarious and Ao3 authors are kinda knows for being comically unbotherd. Like ‘sorry I didn’t upload this week, my house burnt down’. Or something that crazy. I know it’s a running joke but think it a great prompt for identify porn.

Like Tim as a huge Batman and robin fan with unsupervised internet access definitely had read and subscribed to all kinds or ao3 content. Maybe one of his fav Batman authors stops updating there ongoing fic randomly dispite having weekly uploads. Turns out the updates stopped the week Jason Todd died. Tim never figured it out or maybe he does or just has a hunch about it. No wonder he likes the writer so much they always had such an accurate depiction of the Batman and his dynamics with others. Tim liked that this author wrote Crackfics that put Batman in the stupidest situations, or wrote the most heartbreaking sentimental masterpiece about love and found family and robin and Batman’s dynamic 😍🥰😩

Either way I bet Jason never touched our thought about it again after comping back to life pretty much blocking it from his brain and pretending it never happened.

Tim on the other hand though about their work years and years later even after becoming robin would go back to that authors page and wonder what happened :(

//

Or later in life Tim being a writer/blogger/art account* with a big following and being alarmingliy honest when he updates his like;

‘sorry this is late :( got kidnapped again’

‘Not going to post next week bc I think someone is planning on bombing my school”

‘Update early today because I won’t be in a good mood later because I have to fire some people in a meeting this afternoon. Yes I’m a CEO’

‘Sorry ending this story because I’m depressed again bc my dad died. #officiallyanorphan’

‘Quick one shot that came to me in a fever dream while I was recovering from a stab wound’

*((obviously in the hero fandom, who are we kidding)the weirder and more obscure the better like he likes to draw Condiment King making out with different JL members. And exclusive writes batcest))

People LOVE his stuff and he gains fans anda reputation for posting very accurate and high quality stuff. People make fan pages and discussion his posts and works. His occult following notice he has a tendency to accurately predict things like Bane bomings and Arkham breakouts. They know he’s obviously a Gothomite and people like that they don’t know who he is. Either way he’s a Gotham legend in his own right.

Or maybe he has several different accounts non of them linked

I just love to imagine little Timmy becoming famous/gaining notorotiry in different ways over the year for different reason without people knowing it’s all the same person

He’s a child actor/model/ comercial baby 👼- (your au)

He’s an omen to criminals, a ghost a legend. A sighing of him means Batman is close by ((little Timmy with his camera running around at night)🥷 -(another of yours I think)

He gives anonymous tips to the GPD the news and the general public about rogue attacks to keep pls safe.🕵️‍♂️

ROBIN obviously. 🦸‍♂️

He’s a twitter art account 🧑‍🎨

Maybe has a porn account too! 🥴

A tumblr conspiracy theorist 🧑‍🏫

An Ao3 author 👨‍💻

Hes also Timothy Drake COE and Gothams youngest Bachelor 🕴️

He maybe even streams with his face covered on twitch or something stupid👾

All of these different identities have a huge fan base and no one ever knows that Tim is like famous 10 time over. Then he goes looking for Bruce after his ‘death’ and all his followers from separate fan bases are like :(((( oh no he probably died in a Gotham attack!! 😫😭 bc Gotham



so i actually do have an answer for the first part of your ask! there's such a thing as a fannish next of kin on ao3! where you can choose someone and they can get access to your account after you're incapacitated or pass away!

but tim becoming famous like a million times, some of which the family knows about and some of which they don't (like when he became the poster child for no man's and they're all so wild and different only a handful of people on the internet probably put it together. im also losing it at the idea of tim being known for 'predicting' things in gotham with his fics because it reminds me of this meme:

the idea that some fic author is managing to accurately predict bad things happening in gotham BEFORE they happen 😭 tim getting kidnapped because some shitty criminal was paying too much attention to fan forums and actually ended up believing the 'this fic author can see the future'. tim absolutely beats the shit out of them before anyone notices he's gone so it doesn't get discovered why he was kidnapped because he'd never live it down.

and the baby tim as a commercial/little tv star au!!❤️❤️❤️ i love that au so much but i can't take credit for it, it was actually created by orlovbats on twitter!!!!

also the tim as an omen also isn't mine- i don't think i recognize it either but the closest thing i found was this tumblr post so i think this is what you may have been thinking of?

i LOVE the thought that time never stopped being a fanboy- he just got better at hiding it because he knew he'd be teased ❤️!

[oakenshieldbaggins]

xedgin fic rec list

so because i binge read a ton of fics these last two months, i thought why not make a rec list if it can help people find out great fics.

i just wanted to say i came across so many good fics, like comparing to other fandoms i find the overall quality to be quite high. so what i'm trying to say is you guys are really talented and we're lucky to have you in this fandom. and thank you for sharing your work.

now the recs:

Post-Movie:

Three words everybody knows by violet_pencil

Speaking the words of an oath isn't what makes you a good paladin, and knowing how to tell lies is only part of what makes a great con man. Where do they find common ground? Well, turns out they both know how to commit to the bit.

Sunlight is a Kind of Burning by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

Ed's excited to get his life back on track in the wake of saving Neverwinter. He's less excited at how a certain paladin keeps popping up everywhere he goes. Except for how he's starting to miss the guy when he's not around. Yeah, let's not think about that too hard.

a ballad from a reverie by forsworn

On a cold evening, the party stop to drink at a crowded tavern. Xenk tries to ignore the way his chest tightens when Edgin squeezes close to him. But that gets much harder when the tavern's bard starts singing a love song. About a paladin. And Edgin seems to recognise it…

tys hard to be a seinte in the cytie by indigostohelit

“The Material Planes are not realms of punishment,” said Xenk. “The gods no more deny us the warmth of physical pleasure than they would the warmth of the sun. They only warn us, through each, of the dangers that lie in excess.” “…Huh,” said Ed again, and, lacking further retort, grabbed up the new tankard and swigged deeply. Then he spat it across the bar. “This is water, though,” said Xenk peacefully. “You are going to have a hangover in the morning.”

Universal Glue by Korwwa

Edgin and Xenk get stuck in a glue trap. The close-quarters situation forces Edgin to decide if succumbing to the charms of certain overpowered paladin is more likely to ruin, or elevate, the plan of his life.

Polyphonic by Geese_In_Flight

Ed can’t stand Xenk. Xenk keeps showing up anyway. It’s not entirely clear how that became everyone else’s problem.

Muses lost and found anew by Mikhail

Edgin Darvis never considered himself to be a hero. Of course, he was full of dreams and ideals back when he was still young. He wanted to save the world. But the world, as it turned out, didn’t really want to be saved. Instead, it barged into Edgin’s life uninvited and made him a widower, a thief, and an escaped convict. As he was looking back at his life and naivete, he couldn’t feel but contempt and bitterness. That is until he crossed paths with Xenk Yendar, a paladin whose sword was only nearly as strong as his righteousness. Confronted with Xenk’s tragic past, the bard realized they were both touched by the same evil. Before he could dwell on some uncomfortable truths, however, Xenk disappeared from his life just as suddenly as he first appeared. When they meet for the second time, it’s clear the two of them have much more in common than they first thought. Well, it’s clear to everyone except for them. The question is, are they going to realize this before it’s too late?

in the absence of truth by floralprintshark

Five times Ed says that he hates Xenk and one time he doesn't.

Perception Check (Roll for Romance) by kaydeefalls

"I bet Xenk fucks like a metronome, too. You know." Holga makes a highly suggestive, repetitive gesture. "In, out. In, out. No variation. Same exact rhythm every time. Boring." Edgin stares at her, torn between horror and fascination. "You've really thought about this, huh?" (So has he. Unfortunately.)

give me two damn minutes (and I'll be fine) by PH03N1X_360

Xenk Yendar is a hero. It’s his job, his identity, his [life]. It comes as easily as breathing. Saving children, fighting hordes of undead, it’s always come naturally to him. As each new challenge arises, people look to him to protect them. The warmth of their gazes never fail to fill him with pride. No matter how many scars he acquires, how many nights the horrors of his past rouse him from sleep, or how many people he fails to save in the process, it is always worth the price. Yet sometimes, when the darkness around him feels too oppressive and tight bandages make his bones ache, he wonders how much more he can take before he cracks under the pressure. Or: Xenk sees the Beckoning Death spell from afar. Even upon realizing the party took care of it, it still fucks him over severely... not that he would show it. Edgin knows a mask when he sees one.

Falling For The First Time by Powderpuff

In retrospect, falling in love with Edgin was inevitable. There was no recourse for Xenk; no guild nor court to appeal to, and even Ilmater could not return his property to him, nor Ed himself; for you cannot return something you do not know you have.

O happy dagger! This is thy sheath by Kabbal (Aledane)

"Ed wants to bash his face in with his lute, just to shatter that perfect, flawless skin, see if there’s flesh and blood running under that pristine marble. He wants to flee to the end of the world, to never be reminded of the existence of a being who seems to never have failed at anything, ever. He also wants to crush his lips against his, cling to that steady neck and feel the weight of all that perfection over him, spearing him like it could make him holy‒ Hm. Strange thought to have. Let’s forget it ever existed."

Affection and Love by AkataLily

Edgin is affectionate towards Xenk. Not love, affectionate, because those are two very different things! Xenk is oblivious and uninterested, that is, until Edgin fucks up and the cat is suddenly out of the bag. Things get akward, then they get complicated, but eventually, we all have to admit what goes on in our hearts.

Winning Prizes for Rotten Judgment by letmetellyouaboutmyfeels

In which Ed admits he's in love with Xenk, woos Xenk, and sleeps with Xenk, all in completely the wrong order. To be fair, it's only half his fault.

keystone by weatheredlaw

key·stone noun | a central stone at the summit of an arch, locking the pieces together. or: edgin dies, but there's magic for that. holga and xenk make good on a thirty-five year old favor to bring him back from the other side.

So Deep As the Love I'm In by Geese_In_Flight

Holga takes a step forward and claps Ed on the shoulder sympathetically, which is a terrible sign. “Swept you right off your feet, did he?” she asks, with a grin. Five times Xenk courted Ed, and one time Ed decided to take matters into his own hands.

the weight of fingers pressing deep by forsworn

When Xenk slips his fingers into Edgin's mouth during sex, they're both surprised by how good it feels.

you'll find us in the meadowland by audenrain

He was standing at Xenk’s desk, tucked into the corner and lined by shelves stacked with holy texts. Not his most valuable, of course - he wouldn’t be so careless as to keep the most precious of his collection here - but any one of them would feed a hungry man for a few days, at least. And yet this man wasn’t hungry, and he was no ordinary thief. Xenk judged this not only by the strong slope of his shoulders and broad back and the fine weave of his coat but also by the fact that he had recently been awarded the highest honours the Lord of Neverwinter could bestow. No, Edgin could want for nothing; even he could not have spent his rewards so quickly. There was only one explanation. This was an affliction of the soul.

To Touch The Divine by New1Romantic

Xenk asks for Edgin's help to retrieve an evil artefact from a cult. The fact that the cult is definitely just a front for the elite of Waterdeep to have kinky sex is, presumably, just happenstance.

Freely given (Wanted) by sb_essebi

Ed can’t. He can’t anymore. Can’t take the fervour in Xenk’s words, the shine in his eyes, the way the light of the sunset plays across his skin. He’s just so beautiful at sunset, Xenk. He is. To the point of unfairness, to the point it makes Ed almost angry, makes him want to cry, to scream. Ed kisses him. Or: Ed steals a kiss. Xenk shows him why he needn't have.

Edgin Needs to Get Laid and Edgin Gets Laid by Isoltan

There was a pause. "And that's when you started the one night stands," Holga said, only a hint of a question in her voice. Xenk raised his tankard in her direction and took a long swig. "You have sexual desire?" Simon asked. Doric turned to him and exploded, "Jesus, do you ever think before you speak?" "Tell the truth, you thought he was celibate too. Edgin sure did!" Simon said, gesturing to Edgin. "Hey, leave me out of this," Edgin said. "Exactly!" Simon continued. "Tell me, out of the two of them, you'd have pegged Edgin as the celibate and XENK as the whore!" -----------‐ Very loose f*ck-or-die fic. Basically, Edgin's magic needs to improve and the group decides he needs to get laid. But he reveals he's demi and can only be intimate with people he trusts. This was meant to be a one-off but I got caught up with the group's banter.

this distance between us by forsworn

Xenk and Edgin have to share a bed. It’s not even a big bed. The perfect time for Xenk to have a nightmare…

Origin Point series by Neyiea

“It wasn’t a risk. I knew that if I jumped you would catch me.” Xenk’s pinched expression becomes thoughtful, then turns serious. “I see,” he intones solemnly. “I am honored to have earned your trust.”

close to the skin by forsworn

Edgin's going undercover; Xenk's determined to make him look respectable. But Edgin finds submitting to a flat-razor shaving at those steady hands to be far more intense than he expected.

Solitary Burdens by cupiscent

Edgin's wife died years ago, but he's only just now letting go. He can't talk about it with any of the others, but Xenk - aggravatingly - understands. Perhaps neither of them need to carry these burdens alone.

in for a silver by weatheredlaw

Edgin was, at the very least, two things: a great kisser, and a phenomenal liar. or: xenk gets hit by something weird in the jungle. edgin lends a hand.

Canon Divergence (happens during the movie):

We Are So (Not) Breaking Up by murdertrashbabyrat

Edgin isn’t mad because of the idea of a kind Thayan, he’s mad because it’s Xenk Yendar his lightly insufferable not-ex. They didn’t break up because they were never together thank you very much Holga, so Xenk is his…his something that isn’t his anymore. It’s fine he’s not dwelling on it he has to get his wife back and stop thinking about the man he’s been sharing a bed with for years. Denial is a hell of a drug OR they are exes when they meet up again in the movie

AUs:

A Cherry When It's Blooming by Geese_In_Flight

Lord Yendar, once a paladin of Ilmater, has been called back to Waterdeep in the aftermath of his father’s death. Upon his arrival, he discovers he must reckon with an untrustworthy executor, an estate in shambles, and a wholly unexpected stipulation in his father’s will. Edgin Darvis is trying to find the one big score that will let him build back a life that went off the rails years ago. When he hears the rumors that a young and inexperienced Lord Yendar has come back to town, he knows just what he has to do.

Romance in the time of LoveChat by cicia3

What's worse than being a loser writer reduced to releasing third-rate romance novels for Forge Publishing? Being an uninspired writer with three months' back rent to pay. Driven by desperation, Edgin, a single father who's also perhaps juuust a tad too much anchored in the past, signs up on the nation's largest dating site. The goal? To find a character unique enough to inspire him for his new novel. And then Xenk Yendar shows up.

[hurpdurpburps]

Astoria: Fate's Kiss Is Getting Re-released On 25 July, Here Are Some Things You Should Keep In Mind

Most people don't know it (until now I guess), but I'm the founder of, and have been running the @ls-salvation-squad project since Christmas 2021. I hardly interact with the LS community outside of the project server in a personal capacity as I've largely left the fandom around 6 months before the announcement of the app's closure.

I was pretty late to the game (pun intended), having only learnt about the app in 2020, but managed to be around for 'milestone events' such as the writers' strike and the DMCA rampage on YouTube/tumblr. Thanks to certain friends and technology, I've also had privileged access to a quasi-'insider look' into Voltage's workings (and failings) as a studio, both in real time and through secondhand horror stories of the past.

This culmination of experiences has spurred me to make my first, and last, personal opinion piece regarding LS on tumblr, a corner of the community that I haven't really interacted much with.

While I understand the sheer joy, relief and excitement that comes with revived, legal access to some of the most impressive, unapologetically queer stories to have ever graced the internet, I want to point out the ugly truths that are intertwined with the revival of this troubled app:

Buying the game =/= supporting the creators. Not a cent of your money goes towards them. Even when Voltage USA used to be a thing, barely any of it went towards the employees in general either. The writers were paid 3 cents/word, and producers were working twice as hard but only paid around half of their counterparts in other companies. AFAIK the artists have kept quiet but it would be more of a surprise if they were treated any better than their peers.

Buying the game =/= supporting queer content/community. This might come as a shocker, but homophobia ran rampant within Voltage's management. The best evidence of this can be found in their history of 'peculiar' business or creative decisions - and they've made a fuckton of bad choices. Fun fact; the first queer routes were only made possible via sheer force of will of a particular producer. I'm not at liberty to share the nitty gritty on this public platform as the stories aren't mine, but maybe if you asked some of the former staff nicely, they might give you cryptic hints.

You're gonna be paying them a THIRD time. Many of us have already shelled out hundreds of dollars on heart choices - not once, but twice. Putting the whole version on Steam/Switch had always been a valid option from the beginning of the end, but they chose not to do it. Why? Because users scrambling to make bulk purchases of tickets and hearts to record routes as a last hurrah meant a last, fat cash-in. Not to mention the fact that they're selling the game at US$30 per series, for almost decade-old content, presumably without any new additions. At this point, throwing your hard earned money at them AGAIN is just rewarding scummy management and unscrupulous business models.

Do you really need to? Our team of around 100 archivists worked tirelessly in Q1 of 2022 to provide you high quality recordings of every single route. We've gone so far as to acquire recordings of pre-LS Voltage content such as Queen's Gambit and all of the soundtracks. We've put assets up for download. There are a dozen passionate creators out there who have been updating their Ren'Py recreations so that you can scratch your itch - and all for free!!! What more could you possible want or need that only the greedy bastards at Voltage can give you - apart from seeing your custom MC name on the screen and the absolutely inconsequential choices B & C that our videos didn't cover?

Is this a call for a boycott? I guess not really, or at least I didn't consciously set out to make it like this. Dissuading others from purchasing legal access to media when it's easily available goes against my general principle about responsibly and pragmatically supporting creators. And as one 'em Gays™, I know the preciousness of possessing Queer Stories Written By Queer People.

But I was concerned at what seemed to be a wave of happiness and eagerness at news of the revival, without any mention of the absolute shit show that has led us to this very point. There's a very big part of me that's absolutely pissed at being taken for a ride. News of the revival has been a bittersweet development for us all, especially those who have poured their time, money and energy over the past 2.5 years into salvaging what was thought to be a lost piece of queer media - only to find out that all that effort might only get them a slap to the face in the form of a DMCA from the grave. So yeah, fuck you Voltage.

TLDR: You should really save your money for more ethical, indie developers who have the decency to not mock your consumer intelligence. I don't think it's a crime against humanity if you end up buying it after all, but just think about it yeah?

[onnahu]

Why Bruce and Jason can't have a relationship we all want them to have

Disclaimer: I mostly ignore things that new-52 changed about their backstories bc new-52 is dumb when it comes to it

The thing about relationship between Jason and Bruce is that their upbringings were so different, and they both are so stubborn, they never could've agreed on some things.

Bc let's be real. Bruce went through a traumatic even as a child, and that was terrible. But before, he had two loving parents, and even after, he is a white, rich man. He is the definition of privilage and that's what made him Batman. I assure you, if he was poor, or even in middle class or whatever, he would never become Batman. Not only for a lack of funds.

On the other hand, we have Jason. From comics, even if fandom kinda streches it, his parents did everything they could. Jason for sure loved them, taking from his reaction at Willis's death, and everything about Catherine. We know he loved them, and they loved him. There is no hint for abuse in his early life (beside new-52 but new-52 is dumb), even if classist beliefs make us assume that. They had many problems, not much money, and Catherine was sick, and later an addict. So even in their poor financial status we can assume Jason's childhood was as good as it could be. He never complained about it, at least. Also, I personally headcanoned it earlier, and in the Hill it was pretty much confirmed, that Jason's latino.

That leaves us with two differences between them already, that gives them opposed perspectives on life. Bruce could never understand Jason's life no matter how he tried. Then, we have Catherine's death. It's a similiarity. Traumatic even where they lost their parent/s. But it's also very different. Even in their reactions we can see how they're not the same. Because as Dick's and Bruce's were similiar, Jason was complitely different.

Jason knew he doesn't have time for grief. He did what he had to keep himself alive, and took care for himself, that he in some way did already. He even menaged to do well for himself. We know that he survived on the streets alone for at least few years, and didn't really need Bruce's help for that. Although survival is not the same as life.

The other, propably more important thing: there was noone to blame for Catherine's death. He could blame her dealer, but he didn't really murder her. Dick and Bruce had the person that murdered their parents. They wanted revenge and they worked for it. Jason hadn't had anyone to take revenge on. He had no one to avenge.

Then, Jason got adopted, and could taste Bruce's life in some way. He learned how it is to have money to throw everywhere, and be priviliged for high quality education, food and entertainment. His poin of wiev on it was of course screwed up, but he got to expirienced it. Also saving people. Because saving people is a privilage.

If you struggle to keep yourself alive, you can't keep the others alive, unless you have a martyr complex. We, as animals, are programmed to keep ourselfs going no matter what. We have to be our own priorities, and if you can prioritiez others it's because you no longer need it for yourself.

Anyway, Jason saw how it is to be Bruce. To be a hero. But Bruce bever knew how it is to be Jason. How to be anyone that's not him. He can have empathy, he can try everything, but he could never understand. Some things you can know only if you expirienced. The same way I know I, however I want to, I will never really understand some things.

Also the whole thing with dying. That's important to. Jason knows how it is to die. He knows how it is to kill. Bruce doesn't know either.

Anyway, it's all kinda messy, but the point is - they could never see eye to eye in some matters. They can try, but especially after Jay's ressurection, they can never have a relationship we wants them to have, not in canon, at least.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

[luffyvace]

AAAAAAA I WANNA GIVE YOU A BIG PLATONIC SMOOCH I LOVE YOUR WORK SO MUCH

ok ok recently I have been infected with eustass kid and was hoping you could write for him with a male reader nothing specific I feel like he would be so angry if his testosterone filled crew made fun of him for it. Love your work ❤️

AWWW THATS SO SWEET OF YOU DEAR! 💗

PLATONIC KISSES 😚😚

thank you so much!! I’d love to write for you but I simply don’t know much about kid!! I’m on the marineford arc- 😭😭 I usually turn down characters I don’t know much about him but you seem like such a sweetie! After having done some research..Here ya go!~

As stated I’ve chosen to research as much as possible in fandom and other’s headcanons! This may not be the most accurate but I sincerely hope your satisfied with my attempt dearest!~

I feel Kid would think of food as a sort of affection

so technically gift giving??

but it’s like his love language is food

his favorite is cabbage rolls right?? Welllll he loves to eat them together!

not…together together

he buys it for y’all separately

I doubt he’d want to share his favorite food 😭

if you beg for his in a case where he didn’t get you some...

“what?! No! This is my food get your own!….ugggghh FINE! You get a half! This was supposed to be for me”

(● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾

I also feel he’d be better off witth someone who’s either all for his rambunctiousness or (somehow) able to calm him down (like killer)

if your just as reckless as him great! Your adventures are now considered dates :)

not necessarily, but he’s fond of them as if they are

he’s always recalling on past times you’ve fought together

you know how people say someone you’ve fought a war with knows you better than a friend?

yeah, I feel like that’s why he has such high respects for his crew

And of course because they’re his crew

so yeah he feels closer to you every time you fight together

if you want you can listen to the song ‘one thing’ by amerie- the lyrics remind me of him idk why (keep in mind I don’t know this guy well :3)

kid would allow you to ride on his shoulders

you could just kinda hop up there casually and he won’t say anything

privileges

but I feel like if he’s in a foul mood or busy he’d grab you buy the waist and sit you down somewhere LOL

another way to spend time with him would be to do your make up at the same time (if you wear it)

(love that it’s casual for men to wear make up in one piece)

he seems like he would be anal about his so you’d be doing your own and he does his, but it’s still fun to do it together

he’s kinda like that with most things

which now that I realize it that could count as quality time

so the conclusion I’ve come to?

his love languages are gift giving or quality time

but thinking about it now I feel he may also do acts of service

now this isn’t as intentional

he just takes pride in likes to help you with things he knows he could do better

aw man you broke your ___? Well I’m sure he could fix it! 😼💪

If you initiate physical touch his reaction will range based on where you are/who’s around and how much it is

if there’s barely anyone/no one around and you give him a peck on the cheek? Fine. He’ll just half smile at you

if it’s a public area and your trying to kiss him on the lips? “Cut it out! Don’t get distracted we’re here to (xyz)!”

he can’t display the weakness of not being masculine

besides he hates cute n’ cuddly crap 😒

he’d be so proud if his boyfriend physically strong

It even boosts HIS ego

especially since your his ♥︎

he takes care of you in subtle ways

such as making sure your eating, not over working and getting enough sleep

”hey! I haven’t seen you eat all day! Get in the kitchen and tell killer to make ya’ somethin’!”

”how long have you been at that!? Get up and come over here!”

”what on earth are ya’ still doing awake?! Go to sleep! Captains orders..”

killer occasionally asks how your relationship is going

kid’ll tell em a few things but he tries not to get sentimental

trust that’s a lot more than what he tells other people..”

”screw off! mind your own business..”

this is really random but he seems like the type of guy who’s always grumbling

idk I just had to say it..

would enjoy headrubs (IN PRIVATE)

and it has to be casual, don’t baby him about it :P

”your hairs’ really fluffy/soft” *casual headrubs*

like that

you have to compliment stroke his ego so he won’t get angry then pat him

to be more specific about reader being a male :

Even if you don’t hc kid to be straight (idk what i hc him to be idk em enough)

his ego is HURT when he realizes he’s in love with you

love?! What is such weakness?! such DISEASE?!

the fact that he’s in the lgbtq bc of one guy kinda makes him angry

cuz like now (some) people are gonna categorize or even ridicule him for even liking you

even though he’s angry about it, it’s not for the same reason

he’s upset because he fell weak to love in general

homophobes may be upset because he likes a man

what does it matter?! He sure never cared..

you can tell the first thing this guy sees is NOT gender

it’s—threat? Or no threat?

so ya- essentially what I’m saying is he doesn’t care for gender- except when it comes to homophobes

then he’s angry 🙂☝️

and as for his crew making fun of him?!

oh he’s absolutely livid. 😄💥

”SHADDUP’ YA STINKIN’ MAGGOTS! I AM NOT WEAK!!”

Actually- they didn’t call him weak. That’s just what he hears 😂

btw that is not what he said I censored it bc I headcanon him to have a potty mouth (and I don’t)

his skin and hair is the same color from how angry this dude is

HE’S LITERALLY LIKE ‘😡’

HAHAHAH

He always storms off whenever they bring up his ‘sOft SpOt” for you 😋

he’s not even soft really he just goes out of his way to do stuff for/with you

its not they’re business anyway?!

right killer?!

while I was researching I saw that the flower he resembles is a tulip! That’s my favorite flower!! 🌷♥︎♡

Enjoy! I did my best 😅

[rainbowmoonstonestories]

Why The Caged Bird Sings | Chapter 7

Chapters: 7/? Fandom: One Piece (Liveaction) Rating: Explicit Relationships Vinsmoke Sanji x F!Reader Characters: Vinsmoke Sanji, Patty, Red Leg Zeff, Original Characters, Strawhat crew. Warnings: 18+ content (minors DNI), explicit sexual content, minor POV switching. Summary: One night, you were brought to the luxurious Baratie Restaurant Ship, renowned for its exceptional cuisine that your family had been intrigued to sample. A particular blond and comely waiter captured your attention with his charming smile and gentle eyes, but while your beauty and sophistication intrigued him, Sanji also observed the profound nervousness that caused your jaw and body muscles to tense whenever your fiancé made contact with your hand or your parents delivered a humiliating criticism towards you. One dinner at the Baratie soon turned into a recurring event, and then more. As your friendship with Sanji slowly evolved into something that burned from within, you strove to make your longstanding dream come true; freeing yourself from a constricting existence. ------------------------- As Sanji looked at you curiously, the gentle smile never leaving his face, you asked him, "Do you know why the caged bird sings?" He thought about it for a moment before answering, "Because it has a song to give?" You chuckled at his response and shook your head. "You're not entirely wrong, but no."

Divider by firefly-graphics

Feel free to read this on AO3 if it is more comfortable for you due to its length. I only ask to support me with a like and reblog if you enjoy my work. ☺️

Tagging: @nerium21

Author's note: At last, the new chapter is complete. I apologize for the delay, but I strive to maintain high standards. Recent life events have slowed my progress considerably, and I remain committed to prioritizing quality over quantity. I don't want to deliver a mediocre product solely to keep my stories updated monthly.

The steamy content continues from the previous update, but I included a bit more action this time around to make things a little more interesting and less repetitive. I don't expect the story to go on much longer, perhaps two or three more chapters until its conclusion. Nevertheless, you can expect to see more smut and romantic themes, along with some minor drama and introspection.

Warning: This chapter includes detailed SMUT!

Your first night with Sanji was the best moment of your life, his care and adoration filling your heart in a way you never thought conceivable. Balancing your relationship with work shifts and random incidents at the restaurant presented obstacles, but Sanji was the kind of man worth keeping by your side.

Sanji nestled atop you, cradling your smaller form close while dotting your cheek with tender kisses. The juxtaposition was striking—his gentle care allowing you to recover and regain your senses, while the unmistakable evidence of his arousal pressed insistently against you. His ability to contain such intense desire without complaint or seeking relief seemed almost superhuman.

Your arms encircled his back, your forehead resting against his shoulder. As your breathing steadied, you inhaled a delightful blend of aromas: shampoo and sea salt mingled faintly with familiar kitchen smoke. His skin, warm and smooth as silk, exuded a refined scent of soap and cologne, with subtle notes of tobacco and sandalwood.

Despite his obvious desire, Sanji remained still, content to simply be near you as your breathing steadied. His lovable nature shone through, and—contrary to his earlier statement—he would have released you and stepped back immediately had you asked, even if it meant finding relief alone.

Fortunately, you were so enthralled by him and keen to reciprocate that you couldn't bring yourself to do something so unbearably cruel.

"Sanji," you whispered into his ear. "You can release me now."

He stayed put, savoring the scent of your hair. “Should I do that? ‘Cause right now I feel like I could hold you for the rest of my life.”

You chuckled softly. "I can't say I mind, but it seems you could use a hand... quite literally, in fact."

He laughed gently, his eyes locking onto yours with a wide smile. “Don’t concern yourself with me, beautiful. This is all about you.”

“Seriously, Sanji? Come on. I’m not just going to lie here and let you do all the work for my sake.”

He shook his head resolutely. "You deserve everything. Allow me to take care of you."

You lost track of how many times your heart had dropped and soared again. How could one man possess such an immense heart, as vast and deep as the ocean beyond? Given your father's cruelty and the pervasive masculine arrogance you'd endured, you never imagined finding such a rare treasure during what you had expected to be one of the most harrowing outings.

Sighing happily, you took his face between your hands, brushing his blond strands aside. "You've done that every single day since I first arrived at the Baratie. You always take care of me, Sanji, even when I'm unaware of it. So, just this once, would you allow me to do the same for you? Please?"

He ducked his head shyly, unable to hide his beaming expression of pride. When was the last time someone had lovingly pampered him?

“Is that what you want, Y/N?”

"Yes. This isn't just about me; it's about us. You've held back long enough. Let me help you."

Until that moment, neither of you had ever been part of an "us”. The word felt unfamiliar yet perfectly fitting, as if it had been waiting for this moment to reveal its true meaning.

Sanji's lips met yours in a deep, passionate kiss as he shifted to give you more room. With gentle guidance, you eased him onto the pillows, positioning his hands at his sides. Wordlessly, he followed your lead, his eyes never leaving yours as he settled onto the mattress.

Your fingertips traced his collarbones, skimmed over his chest, and followed every sculpted contour of his muscles. As you caressed Sanji's abs, they tensed beneath your touch, drawing a shaky exhale from the cook. His hands clutched the sheets tightly, lips pressed together, and Adam's apple bobbing visibly.

"You truly showed extraordinary restraint for me," you said, kissing his chin. "You didn't need to, you adorable man."

Sanji's eyes sparkled with unbridled joy, his smile broadening to reveal a dazzling set of pearly whites. "You merit nothing less than complete respect."

"Well then, allow me to express my gratitude to my chivalrous knight in shining armor."

A genuine, harmonious laugh filled the room as the two of you surrendered to the pure happiness that had blossomed between your hearts. You snuggled up beside him, trailing kisses along his shoulder as your hand journeyed down his torso, finally reaching the snug elastic of his briefs. The sight before you was incredibly seductive; the plush tip of his erection peeked out from beneath the fabric, straining against its confines as if ready to burst free at any moment.

Your mind flooded with ideas of what you wanted to do: touch it, kiss it, lick it, engulf it entirely with your mouth until not an inch remained exposed.

You mentally doused yourself with a cold shower, determined not to appear overeager. Sanji had shown exceptional care and attentiveness. You longed to reciprocate, offering him the same devoted and gentle treatment he'd bestowed upon you.

With delicate precision, you traced the outline of his arousal through the cotton fabric, relishing the soft gasp of pleasure that escaped his lips. You repeated the motion, increasing pressure and broadening your touch, encircling his length and sliding upward. A tiny, glistening bead formed at the tip, shimmering like a diamond in the moonlight.

He breathed your name with a desperate, pleading whisper, "Y/N..."

“How does that feel?”

"Oh, it's incredible," he replied, breathless. "Absolutely incredible."

"I have to say, you look like a masterpiece."

“Nah, I'm finding it impossible to take my eyes off you right now.”

His cerulean eyes darted back and forth, absorbing every detail as your hand worked wonders on his most sensitive area. Unwilling to miss a single detail, from the gentle bite of your lower lip to the sparkle in your eyes, and the way your fingers expertly teased his covered hardness. Your touch alternated between gentle squeezes and feather-light strokes, enticing and tantalizing.

“How is it possible for you to be so many things at once?” you mused aloud. "Handsome, sweet, loyal, and caring—not to mention skilled in the kitchen, on the battlefield, and in bed. Honestly, such a combination should be illegal."

Your compliment made him bashful again, yet he couldn't help but find your remark amusing. "You always know just what to say to make me the happiest man alive."

“Well, I suppose your influence has rubbed off on me.”

His smile gave way to a desperate groan as your hand continued its ministrations. With slow, purposeful strokes, you massaged his shaft from base to tip in a rhythmic movement. Sanji surrendered to the sensation, his eyes fluttering closed as his erection pulsed and twitched the more you toyed with it.

Emboldened by your mounting desire, you glided your fingers past the waistband of his underwear, making direct contact with his sensitive glans. Sanji's hips bucked involuntarily, his pelvis jerking as his breathing became labored and shallow.

Pushing his undergarment down his sides, but not fully removing it, you enveloped his bare tip with your hand. You pumped it delicately, struck by its silky texture against your palm, incredibly flushed and engorged.

It was all-consuming, yet still left you wanting more.

Unable to restrain your impulses any longer, you tugged his briefs down completely, revealing his full erection and feeling the firm muscles of his legs as you went. Your eyes lingered, drinking in his magnificent, nude form, his length standing proud and commanding as it bobbed slightly at the sudden freedom.

You became unstoppable, as ravenous as someone who had been starved for a lifetime. Gripping the base, you slid your hand up to the tip before stroking back down, establishing a regular tempo with increasing speed. Sanji's eyes locked onto your hand, gazing intently as you caressed every nerve and ridge along his length. It was the most sensual, beautiful scene you had ever witnessed, both of you utterly devoted to pleasuring each other in the most exquisite ways.

Never before had you felt so compelled to touch a man, to be so forward and cast aside all your inhibitions for him. Sanji possessed the remarkable ability to reveal hidden facets of your personality, aspects you hadn't even realized existed within yourself.

He whispered your name like an endless prayer, softly repeating it as he took your wrist to halt your attentions. His body ached for you to continue, the urgent pulsing in his hardness growing more insistent. His furrowed brow betrayed his overwhelming need for release—a need that, regrettably, had to be delayed for the two of you to proceed.

“I think you should stop, my lovely. Otherwise I won't last much longer.”

You were torn between two choices. On one hand, you could have persisted indefinitely, aiming to bring him to climax as he had done for you. On the other, the alternative was just as tempting, if not more so.

Ultimately, you realized that waiting for his recovery was not an option your aching body could endure.

You eased your grip on him, attentive to his breathing as he swallowed and swept his hair aside. Reluctant to pause your momentum, you nonetheless allowed him to gracefully reposition himself, his movements fluid and swift. In mere seconds, you ended up on your back once more, with Sanji knelt on the mattress between your parted legs. Your bodies intertwined closely as he teased your sensitive skin with delicate touches, sliding his length along your slick folds to heighten the tension.

“Please tell me that bloody knob never did this with you.”

Intoxicated by your stimulated senses, you struggled to comprehend his words through your passion-clouded mind. As understanding slowly dawned, an unsettling image formed, one you'd rather not entertain.

"If you're referring to my ex-fiancé, absolutely not. I can't even stomach the thought."

Relief washed over Sanji's features, though a glimmer of possessiveness flickered in his eyes. “Sorry, love. I knew you wouldn’t have done that.”

"No, no, I completely understand," you reassured him. "To be honest, I can't bear the idea of you with other women either."

How could you even entertain such a scenario without transforming into a primal, jealous beast?

Sanji's gaze softened at your words, his thumb gently tracing your hairline. "You're the only one I could ever do this with, my lovely."

“You promise?”

His warm breath danced across your face as his voice flowed smooth and sweet as honey. "How could it be any different when you're the only one I want? I may be courteous to all ladies, but you alone hold my heart."

You hummed in contemplation. "There are countless beautiful women out there, indeed. Many of them far more talented than I could ever hope to be."

He furrowed his brow in confusion. "What are you talking about? Of course you’re talented."

"Sure, I can clean, but what else? You're an incredible chef and a skilled fighter. What can I possibly offer someone like you with my limited abilities?"

His tongue darted out, moistening his lower lip as he prepared to speak. "Y/N, you light up a room without even trying.”

“Really?”

"You see me for who I truly am, support my culinary creativity, and inspire me to never lose sight of the All Blue. You could demand anything, and I'd journey to the ends of the earth to get it for you."

Tears welled in your eyes as you cupped his cheek, your smile radiating pure adoration. "The world is truly fortunate to have you in it."

His emotions coalesced, forming a lump in his throat that he quickly swallowed. "I'm the lucky one to have you in mine."

“Aw.”

Laughter bubbled up between you again, filling the cabin with a joyous melody as your lips met in a series of affectionate kisses. Your bodies and souls merged together like two halves of a whole finally reunited, your tongues melded in a passionate dance that you wished could last forever.

Sanji's arousal brushed against your clit, now even more sensitive yet still exquisitely responsive. He persisted relentlessly, rocking his hips back and forth to build a delicious anticipation.

As he slipped his left arm under your head, you felt the tip of his length begin to penetrate you, your bodies poised on the precipice of intimate union.

He paused, feeling the gentle resistance of your lower lips enveloping him. "If I cause you any discomfort—"

“You won’t.”

His smile grew, even wider than before. “But should that happen, let me know and I’ll stop right away, okay?”

With just a few heartfelt words, Sanji could make you feel as if you were floating through the heavens, weightless and euphoric.

"Okay. But please, don't stop now, I really need you."

Your personality had transformed dramatically, as if you had suddenly awakened from a lifelong nightmare that had ensnared you since birth. For the first time, you felt truly liberated to become your authentic self, embracing a future with the one man who had made this metamorphosis possible.

Sanji's heart swelled at your sincere, unguarded words. “All right, sweetheart. Are you ready?”

"I've been ready for you my whole life."

Sanji advanced, gripping the base of his hardness with one hand, his breath hot and heavy against your cheek. “Oh, beautiful. The things you say to me.”

You felt him enter slowly, stretching and filling you perfectly. Even halfway in, ecstasy consumed you, your eyes closing in in sheer pleasure. A faint burning sensation accompanied the initial intrusion, but it quickly faded as you adjusted to his presence inside.

Sanji let out a deep, primal groan, luxuriating in the feeling of your walls embracing him, far surpassing his wildest fantasies. Gathering his resolve, he delivered a final, powerful thrust, driving his length as deep as it could go.

It was toe-curling, the experience sending waves of euphoria through your form and leaving you utterly breathless.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly, tracing your cheekbone with the back of his index finger. His other hand clutched the pillow fabric beneath your head, which rested in the crook of his elbow. His fingers curled tightly, knuckles whitening with nervous excitement.

“I’m great,” you replied, your voice catching. “I need you to move. Please.”

Sanji drew a sharp breath as your walls contracted, gripping him even tighter. He withdrew slightly, then plunged back in, igniting a dazzling display of fireworks behind your eyes. Repeating the action, he maintained a slow yet precise and powerful pace, losing himself in your soft moans and the wet sounds that filled the space around you.

You noticed his struggle to keep his voice steady, breathing deeply through his nose and straining his throat when pleasure peaked. Fortunately, your cabin was situated far enough from the other quarters that your colleagues were unlikely to overhear your nocturnal activities.

"You feel wonderful, sweetheart," he whispered, his lips brushing your ear. "I wish I could stay like this forever, but I'm not sure how much longer I can hold out."

You entwined your legs around his waist, your lips fusing in a devouring kiss. "Honestly, I'm right there with you."

Your hips moved in perfect synchronization with his, his fully engorged tip striking your G-spot with unerring precision. The cabin echoed with erotic sounds that bordered on indecent, yet they only caused your clit and inner walls to throb with escalated desperation for release. He shuddered, gritting his teeth and pressing his lips into a thin line, before parting them to let out a series of deep groans—each one a symphony etched into your memory.

You whimpered, moaning his name as your fingers tangled in his hair. He slowed his pace, attempting to regain focus and steady his breathing.

Sanji was robust, well-trained, and ready for any physical challenge. His stamina was undeniably impressive, but despite his rigorous exercise regimen, nothing had truly prepared him for something so incredibly gratifying and positively heavenly. The way he touched you, brought you to orgasm, and made love to you highlighted his expertise.

Sanji quickened his tempo, surprising you with a sudden, gentle flick of your nipple. His fingertip traced lightly over the sensitive bud before his hand cupped your entire breast, holding it with a soft yet firm grasp.

"Ngh… shit," you gasped, your voice barely above a whisper.

Concern for your well-being immediately arose as he heard your exclamation. "I'm sorry, love. Is this too much?"

“No! Don’t stop, I—ahh—need more.”

A mischievous glint gleamed in his eyes as he savored your eagerness. His lips curled into a playful smile, brimming with unbridled exhilaration. “More?”

“Yes.”

Emboldened by your response, Sanji carefully withdrew his arm from beneath your head, gently resting it on the pillow. He straightened, securing your right thigh around his waist, and drove into you with renewed vigor.

“You’re so beautiful,” he reiterated. “You’re driving me wild.”

Choking back a moan, you replied, "Then promise me you'll never turn away."

His eyes shimmered as he leaned in, touching his forehead to yours. With deliberate care, he moved slowly yet forcefully, each precise thrust reaching your core.

As he continued caressing your breast, the sensation transcended the physical realm. It felt as if he were embracing your very essence, his touch reaching directly into your heart.

“Turn my back and let another man take you from me? That’s never going to happen.”

“You’re not talking about Patty again, are you?”

“My lovely, any man would be mesmerized by your eyes alone.”

How could he view you with such reverence, regarding you as the most captivating woman across all the seas?

“No one could ever compete with you,” you clarified.

"Oh, I'd send them flying off the Baratie with a single kick."

You chortled. "Sure, but that's not exactly what I was trying to say."

The ardent look on his face transformed into something else as he halted his movements. “I know. I have complete faith in you. Your sweetness, the way you look at me like I’m the only man around."

Sanji’s adoration was something you’d always perceived, but hearing it spoken so earnestly made it undeniably real.

And without question, he was indeed the only man in existence meant for you.

“You give me hope,” he continued. “You give me everything.”

"Sanji..." you began. Your voice quivered with emotion, words cut short by a sudden kiss. The pulsing of his manhood inside you sent shivers of rapture rippling up your spine, obliterating any ability to speak.

You smiled as a tear rolled down your cheek, which he promptly wiped away with his thumb. “No one has ever said anything like that to me.”

"I'll spend every second proving myself to you," he declared with steadfast determination. “No one will ever take you from me. Not now, not ever.”

What appeared as possessiveness was, in fact, Sanji's deepest insecurity laid bare. This principled man, who had journeyed far from his roots, harbored the same fear that had haunted you for weeks—the dread of losing him to other women and your love going unrequited. This fear had planted a seed of doubt in his heart, which was now beginning to sprout, revealing his vulnerabilities.

And now, hearing his confession, you felt a sense of love and protectiveness. He was your anchor in the chaotic world you navigated daily, the one person who brought you peace amid the storm of your life as a former slave.

You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him close for another kiss. His hands glided down from your breasts, tracing the curves of your sides, as a contented hum vibrated against your lips.

Without another word, Sanji resumed his lovemaking, thrusting in and out of you with even more zeal than before. It felt unparalleled, evoking the thrill and wonder of a first-time experience.

He altered his position repeatedly, holding you in myriad ways that left you certain you'd be walking funny around the kitchen the next day. You met his thrusts halfway, stars bursting behind your eyes as he lavished attention on your neck, teased your nipples, and stimulated your clitoris anew.

“Sanji, I… ngh… I think I’m close.”

“Me too, my lovely. This feels so good.”

His hot breath tickled your ear as his voice rumbled with a cacophony of low growls. The bed's creaking joined the private chorus, and you silently hoped the sounds wouldn't carry through the ship's quiet night.

“Ah!—”

"I'm right here, sweetheart. Let go. I want to feel it all."

As his thumb rapidly flicked your clit, your legs spreading wide, a new wave of bliss engulfed you. You felt submerged in a sea of gratification, your nerves quivering and tensing, your hips bucking and spasming guided by his touch.

It took several moments for you to descend from the euphoric heights he sent you to for the second time, your entire body trembling with residual pleasure as your legs turned to jelly and the warmth in your abdomen gradually dissipated.

Sanji, ever attentive to your needs, followed shortly after. His own climax built rapidly as your inner walls clenched around his throbbing length. Within moments, he finally reached his coveted peak, his entire form tensing above you. To muffle his passionate cries, he buried his face in the crook of your neck, his lips grazing your skin as he let out a series of guttural moans. You felt his powerful back muscles ripple and quiver, his hands closing into fists against the sheets.

To say Sanji was in total ecstasy would be an understatement. He collapsed onto you, his weight carefully distributed to avoid causing discomfort as you embraced him. His manhood continued to pulse intermittently even after he withdrew, softening and relaxing, until it returned to its natural state and rested gently against his thigh.

He presented a satisfied sight as he rolled onto his back, keeping you close with an arm draped around your shoulder.

“That was amazing," you whispered, still catching your breath.

Sanji's face beamed with genuine elation, equally exhausted but nonetheless satisfied. “Yeah?”

“Mhmh.”

Curling up against his chest, you felt his heart's rapid beating as his fingers traced intricate patterns on your upper arm. His lips embarked on a tender journey, placing soft kisses on your forehead, nose bridge, and cheekbone before concluding with a gentle peck on your upper lip.

"Stay with me," you murmured, your eyes meeting his. "I don't want you to leave."

"Even if I wanted to, I couldn't tear myself away from you, beautiful."

As he pulled the bed covers over your entwined bodies, you rested your leg across his and exhaled contentedly. "This is the most incredible night of my life,” you confided. “I needed you to know that."

He nuzzled your hair, his fingers gently squeezing your arm. "The best," he whispered, his voice filled with warmth and blissful fulfillment.

Wrapped in each other's embrace, you drifted towards slumber. The gentle lull of waves against the ship's sides created a tranquil melody, while moonlight softly illuminated your peaceful faces through the window. His breathing settled, his chest rising and falling in a steady cadence. Every so often, he'd plant a tender kiss on your forehead, a gentle reminder of his devotion for you.

You were cradled in a sea of unconditional love, one you never imagined could exist in your life.

Waking up next to someone in your bed felt surreal. The warmth of Sanji’s skin against yours, the intimate closeness, and the soothing sound of his breathing created a symphony of sensations that made you feel truly alive. Throughout the night, you had repositioned yourself onto your left side, and Sanji had instinctively followed, molding his body to yours.

As your eyes opened, your cabin was already bathed in the familiar orange and golden hues of dawn. Blinking repeatedly to clear the fog of sleep, you gradually adjusted to the early morning light.

Your gaze settled on Sanji's right hand in front of you, his arm laid gently over your shoulder. You smiled, gazing at his silver ring, admiring the finely crafted details. The Baratie skull symbol stood out, meticulously carved into the precious metal.

Although you longed to bask in this moment indefinitely, the reality of your situation demanded immediate action. Sanji's presence alone posed a significant risk, and you both had responsibilities at the restaurant to attend to within the hour. The last thing you needed was Zeff bellowing at him again for being late, and potentially holding you accountable for his tardiness.

Reluctantly, you stirred and pushed yourself up, trying to be as discreet as possible. Yet, the moment you attempted to move his arm away, Sanji reached out from behind, tugging you back against his chest with a soft exhale into your hair.

"Sanji," you coaxed, gently rousing him. "We need to get ready."

"Mmm. Good morning, beautiful. Just a few more minutes."

You chuckled, shaking your head. "Come on, I mean it. We really can't risk oversleeping."

You turned between his arms, finally meeting his face again. His eyes were half-lidded, and his lips curved into a smile that rivaled the sun's radiance outside. His tousled hair only added to his breathtaking handsomeness, giving him that rebellious look that simply enhanced his authenticity.

"Don't tempt me too much," you playfully chided. "Otherwise I'll never be able to leave this room again."

His lips found your cheek, grazing it lightly before seeking your mouth with loving urgency. The kiss was brief and delicate, yet it filled you with an extraordinary energy, empowering you to confront any obstacle life might present.

"You're so beautiful and sweet that I'd hold you for the rest of the day, making love to you until our bodies give out."

You giggled with delight. "Tempting. Again. But as great as that sounds, I'd rather not face Zeff's wrath."

His expression flickered with defiance. "Screw the old shitbag."

"You know that's not an option."

With another quick kiss to his lips, you extricated yourself from his arms. This time, Sanji acquiesced, loosening his hold and watching as you slid the sheets aside. Your naked form basked in the warm light, his jaw clenching as your figure's graceful contours ignited thoughts he knew he ought to suppress for the time being.

You reached for a silky robe draped over a nearby chair, slipping it on and cinching the belt around your waist. As you gathered your clothes, you stole another glance at Sanji, the sight of his muscular chest sending unbidden shivers straight to your core. The way his skin glistened in the soft morning light, his eyes sparkled like sunlight on the ocean, and the mattress cradled his form as the sheets draped perfectly around his waist...

"For heaven's sake, Y/N," you admonished yourself internally. "Pull yourself together and stop gawking."

Taking a steadying breath, you padded to the bathroom door, one hand holding the front of your robe closed. As you caught sight of your reflection in the mirror, you stifled a groan of dismay. Your forgotten makeup was slightly smudged beneath your eyes, and your hair was a wild tangle, resembling a windswept bird's nest after a tempest. How could he find you remotely attractive in such a disheveled state?

With his keen perception, you weren't surprised when Sanji's voice drifted from behind the wall. “Is everything all right, my lovely?”

"No, I look dreadful," you sighed, frowning at your visage. "I forgot to take off my makeup last night."

The rustling of bedcovers and the soft whisper of fabric signaled his movement, followed by the sound of his trousers being zipped up. "If this is what you consider dreadful, I'd be curious to see you try and look bad on purpose. ‘Cause I doubt you ever could."

You smiled warmly. "Thanks, but I'd better wash this off before someone thinks I've been in a boxing match all night."

His melodious laughter filled the air, wrapping around you like a warm cocoon. It transformed the moment into a cozy, intimate scene, making everything feel wonderfully natural and just right.

He strode across the wooden planks—already dressed but sans tie, his shirt buttons casually undone at the collar—his fingers combing through his hair. "Anyone who dares lay a finger on you won't live to see another day."

Cleaning your face with a wet cotton disc, you flashed a playful grin. "Right, what was it again? 'A rule that's existed since the age of dinosaurs'?"

His arms encircled your shoulders as he nuzzled the flushed skin of your neck, his nose tracing a gentle path along its curve. “Yeah.”

Sanji remained composed yet affectionate, sliding his hands down to your elbows and intertwining his fingers with yours. His ability to infuse every action with poetic grace astounded you.

The mirror reflected an almost dreamlike image of you two together. It was remarkable how quickly you had discovered such profound happiness and sincere love with someone who had only recently become part of your life.

"You're always beautiful. Whether you're bare-faced or made up, in your uniform or dressed for a night out, or just wrapped in a robe at dawn. That's simply who you are."

You melted against him, arching your neck and turning to capture his lips in a delicate, whisper-soft kiss, your palm cupping his cheek. "Your kindness never ceases to amaze me."

"I'm truthful, my lovely. You could walk out with seaweed in your hair, and I'd still find you more breathtaking than a sunrise over the Grand Line."

How could anyone hold such enduring adoration for another person? It was moving and unbelievable, something you had always considered unrealistic. And yet, here you stood, living proof of its reality.

He tilted his head, admiring you as if committing every detail to memory. “I wouldn’t change a thing about how you look right now. Not one bit.”

Your knees weakened, nearly causing you to collapse. "You make me want to trust every word you say about me."

"Then I'll keep reminding you of your blinding beauty until you finally believe me."

With that, you welcomed the new day in the most enchanting, thrilling, and delectable manner imaginable, until you regretfully parted ways to attend to your respective morning routines, secluded from watchful eyes.

Composing yourself in front of him at work was going to be the greatest challenge yet, particularly due to the noticeable ache and twinge in your muscles, evident in the way you walked.

You fervently hoped your newfound gait wouldn't attract unwanted attention, but if given the choice, you would gladly relive that night again and again. Making love with Sanji was worth every ache, every moment of lost sleep, every tousled strand, and every trace of smeared makeup on your face.

Indeed, it was worth more than the entire world combined.

Arriving at work with Sanji's scent clinging to you would have been highly inappropriate for both your position and his. You entered the dining room only after meticulously cleaning yourself, ensuring your appearance was impeccable and bore no trace of your intimate escapade.

Sanji emerged looking immaculate, his hair neatly styled and his skin exuding a captivating aroma of fresh shower gel. The subtle, meaningful glances you shared were impossible to overlook. You sensed it wouldn't be long before Patty—or perhaps even Zeff and the entire team—would discern the truth about your relationship.

The day unfolded as usual, with a steady stream of customers filling the Baratie and keeping the kitchen in constant motion. Fatigue settled in, the result of your scant sleep making itself known. As your shift neared its end, you battled to stifle a series of yawns while wiping down counters and polishing tableware. Your feet felt leaden, and your muscles ached in protest as you moved methodically around the room.

When you and Sanji found yourselves alone again, he seized the private moment to plant a soft kiss on your cheek as he passed. This simple gesture instantly brightened your face with joy, briefly dispelling your mounting weariness.

Being with him was truly extraordinary. If not for your exhaustion, you would have eagerly pulled him into your room for an encore of the previous night's amorous rendezvous. You resisted the urge, albeit with difficulty, as vivid and not so modest memories of your time together flooded your mind.

Sanji, ever understanding, found contentment in simply being in your company. Noticing the dark circles under your eyes and your frequent, unconscious sighs, he gently urged you to rest. Though retreating to your quarters alone felt almost sacrilegious, you recognized the importance of acting responsibly, both for your own well-being and your duties at the Baratie.

You kissed him on the lips, an action he immediately reciprocated, his arms wrapping around your back. Time seemed to stand still as you remained entwined in each other's arms, your fingers gently woven through his silky hair, savoring the warmth of your prolonged embrace.

Finding the will to disentangle, you hesitantly stepped back. Before pushing the door open, you turned to meet his eyes, which were brimming with adoration as a wide smile graced his features.

As days turned to weeks, your attraction to Sanji intensified, making even short separations during breaks or after work feel almost unbearable. Eventually, you both reached a point where hiding your relationship seemed unnecessary, as everyone on the team became aware of your developing romance. The crew began referring to you as Sanji's girlfriend and him as your boyfriend, a progression neither of you contested or denied.

Although you hadn't formally discussed your relationship status, Sanji's proud smile whenever others referred to you as a couple spoke volumes. You concluded that your bond had naturally evolved into something official, with no formal declaration necessary. Sanji demonstrated his commitment to you daily, especially in your intimate moments together.

He was an affectionate and considerate romantic, yet he transformed into a ravenous lover in the bedroom. He grew more confident as you delved deeper into your lovemaking, fully understanding your openness to his touches, kisses, gentle caresses, and fervent movements. He knew the boundaries he shouldn't cross, ones that he, out of love and respect for you, would never dream of overstepping.

As another month passed, your self-restraint was continually tested. You were determined not to disappoint Zeff, who held you in high esteem—not only as a valuable employee but, more importantly, as a woman deserving the utmost admiration. You were fully committed to your job and consciously avoided displaying excessive affection towards Sanji in front of others. He maintained equal composure, but at times, his gaze alone was enough to jeopardize your focus.

As fate would have it, a new source of adrenaline found its way onto your plate one night, which ironically helped divert your attention from your romantic preoccupation. Since your parents' last visit to the Baratie, things had been relatively peaceful, with only the occasional customer dispute. Nothing Zeff couldn't handle on his own, allowing tensions to quickly dissipate.

As part of your rotating duties, you had taken on the waitress shift instead of your usual kitchen role. The dining hall was bustling, even more crowded than customary, prompting Zeff to kindly request your assistance there. While some patrons proved difficult to manage, you'd honed your ability to project self-assurance and let snide remarks slide off without internalizing them.

The day had progressed seamlessly until you spotted a peculiar individual seated alone at a distant table. The mysterious man was tall and well-built, his face hidden beneath the shadow of a large hooded cape. You felt his eyes piercing through you, as if he could see into your very soul and beyond. However, as you turned back, you dismissed the notion as mere imagination, concluding that he was likely just another patron seeking a meal.

Despite your reservations, you approached the table cautiously, notepad in hand. He remained motionless, barely acknowledging your presence, his hand resting on the table.

"Good evening, sir. Welcome to the Baratie. May I take your order?"

His head barely turned, shifting only a fraction, his expression obscured beneath the hood. "Wine," he murmured. "Your finest vintage, if you please."

"Certainly. What would you like for your main course?"

He hummed thoughtfully, not bothering to glance at the menu. "Steak," he said. "A large cut. Juicy."

"Would you care for any side dishes or appetizers?"

"That will be all for now."

You nodded and jotted down the order, your wrist twinging slightly from overuse.

His rough, guttural voice spoke again before you could turn on your heel and walk away. "Thank you, ma’am."

Most men who looked far less intimidating barely spoke to you, except to demand more courses or drinks with an irritating flick of their fingers. A patron genuinely expressing gratitude to you or any of the waitstaff was as rare as finding a perfectly cooked medium steak elsewhere.

This simple act of politeness seemed to validate the old adage: "Don't judge a book by its cover."

"You're welcome, sir. I'm at your service."

After verifying he had nothing further to say, you observed as he redirected his attention to the empty glass before him. Satisfied, you pivoted and strode back to the kitchen, deftly tearing the order slip from your notepad as you went.

"New order for table 15," you announced crisply.

Patty was the one who took it, a grimace appearing on his face as he read it. "Man's quite pretentious, ey? I hope he's aware of the hefty price tag that comes with such fine dining."

"Somewhat," you replied distractedly, peering through the round porthole on the door. The man sat stock-still, as if carved from stone, seemingly lost in deep meditation.

Sanji, ever attentive to your moods, instantly picked up on your distraction. Abandoning his cooking station, he glided over to you, his hand finding its familiar place on your back as his concerned face met yours. “Is everything all right, my lovely?”

"Yes, it's just... that man at table 15. Do you see him?"

Sanji glanced through the glass, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spotted the man in question. "Did he do anything to you? I'll make sure he regrets it."

You shook your head with a smile. "No, quite the opposite. He was surprisingly nice with me. He’s just a bit strange, though that might not mean anything significant."

"Would you like me to take over serving him instead?"

"No, I can handle it. Besides, I'd never ask you to wait tables."

Sanji gave you a playful wink. "You know I'd move mountains for you."

Patty, witnessing the scene, rolled his eyes skyward as he flipped the food into the pan with a deft motion of his wrist. "Hey, lovebirds," he called out, "if you're finished with your romantic interlude, we've got customers to feed."

You winced, mouthing a sheepish "sorry" to Sanji, who dismissed it with a cheerful grin. "Relax, man. We've got everything under control."

"Yeah, sure. Why don't you go tell that to Zeff?" Patty retorted sarcastically.

"Someday you'll find love too, my friend," Sanji quipped.

As their lighthearted exchange subsided, Sanji resumed his position at the stove. Meanwhile, you carefully chose an exquisite vintage from the restaurant's premium wine collection, reserved for the most discerning customers. Pushing open the kitchen doors, you cast a loving look your boyfriend’s way before returning into the dining room, the requested bottle in hand, ready to be uncorked.

You struggled to pinpoint the source of your unease; was it the man's presence or some vague threat this figure might represent? Your experience at the Baratie had sharpened your intuition, allowing you to detect subtle changes in the atmosphere.

Sanji possessed a magical quality, able to infuse a sense of calm throughout your being whenever anxiety crept in. Regardless of the circumstances, you decided not to dwell on your concerns, still feeling the residual warmth of his touch on your skin.

Good heavens, you absolutely adored your job.

"This is one of our finest wines, I hope it meets your expectations, sir."

The client turned to face you, his obscured eyes focusing on the bottle's label. Interpreting his expression proved daunting, like trying to read a deck of face-down cards.

With a subtle smile, he said, "Quite satisfactory. It will do nicely."

You proceeded to open the bottle, removing its cork and pouring the wine into his glass with gentle precision. Once again, the man remained impassive, his attention fixed on the crimson liquid as it flowed. He seemed acutely aware of his surroundings, his ears perked to catch every rustle and clink while he indirectly scanned each person in the room, taking in every detail.

"Your steak will arrive shortly," you informed him. "Please enjoy your wine."

"Indeed, I shall," he replied in a low voice. "Your service is much appreciated."

With a respectful bow, you excused yourself, ready to return to the kitchen and assist with other patrons' orders while the steak was being prepared. However, you caught sight of a cluster of men seated near the hooded figure, their heads angled in his direction and eyes darting suspiciously. They whispered among themselves, clearly discussing something secretive. Their hands rested on their belts, where weapons—guns and knives—seemed to be holstered and ready to be used. Their appearance was ominous, not quite like menacing pirates, but rather like bounty hunters preparing to pounce.

You were unsure which group posed the greater threat.

No, this wouldn't do. Whatever these men were planning, you couldn't allow them to disrupt the tranquility of dinner time, causing havoc and violating the restaurant's rules. You hurried back to the kitchen, weaving past your colleagues to reach Sanji, maintaining your composure and avoiding unnecessary commotion. Swiftly, he turned off the stove and spun to face you, giving you his undivided attention.

"Something's not right out there," you whispered urgently. "Several men are intently observing the guy at table 15."

Sanji let out an irritated sigh, removing the cloth from his shoulder and walking to the doors. As he observed the scene, you noticed his entire form stiffen, his posture becoming rigid. "You shouldn't be out there," he said firmly.

"What excuse could I give? They're not actually doing anything yet."

Sanji's jaw tightened as he assessed the situation, his eyes flicking between the kitchen and the dining area. Taking a deep breath, he turned back to you; gone was his usual carefree demeanor, replaced by a fierce, protective determination.

"No one will endanger you. Not here, not anywhere." His hand brushed over yours, a silent reassurance, but you sensed the tension coiled within him.

"I won't abandon you to handle this alone, Sanji," you asserted, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze. "We’re a team, remember?"

Sanji's lips curved into a smile, though his eyes remained serious. "We are. But if things take a turn, promise me you'll let me handle it."

"I promise," you replied, your voice wavering with uncertainty.

Sanji had always been your protector, rescuing you from emotional abuse and an overly aggressive Marine who wanted to marry you solely for your family's status. Now, as your feelings for him deepened and your heart grew more reliant on his presence, you found that same protective instinct blossoming inside you, mirroring his own.

In the past, you might have cowered in fear, feeling ill-equipped to manage any situation that could lead to potential conflict. Now, things were different. You had changed, having become an integral part of Red-Leg Zeff's crew.

Despite Sanji's apprehensions, you persisted with your assigned duties, delivering the remaining orders to patrons until the hooded man's steak was perfectly cooked and awaiting service. The dining hall appeared seemingly tranquil, with no concerning activities worth reporting. The hunter-like men could have simply found the hooded figure as intimidating and unsettling as you initially did, without any actual intent to cause trouble. It was entirely possible that you had accidentally misinterpreted the situation from the beginning, imagining threats that didn't exist.

As it turned out, your intuition was right on the mark.

It wasn't until later that you noticed the group leaving their seats one by one, slowly approaching table 15 with casual indifference. The hooded man had all but devoured his entire steak, nearly gnawing on the bone itself. Unfazed, he sipped the last drops of wine as the strangers effectively blocked any escape route, licking his lips with relish as his fingers twitched subtly against the tablecloth.

"Well, well, if it isn't our dear Obsidian Crow, worth 300 million berries," said the apparent leader of the group.

You inhaled deeply, squaring your shoulders as you keenly watched the unfolding scene from a nearby vantage point.

"Enjoying your meal?" the man inquired with a sneer.

The Obsidian Crow's lips curved slightly upward. "How kind of you to ask. This is undoubtedly the finest establishment in the East Blue."

"Indeed, it is.”

The voices around you began to fade, replaced by a curious silence that settled over those present.

"Say, why don't you join us for a little excursion?" the leader suggested with a menacing smile.

"I'm afraid I must decline your generous offer," the Crow replied with a hint of sarcasm. "You see, my schedule is rather packed; places to go, people to meet."

A boisterous laugh erupted among the men, each one chuckling in a way that boded ill.

"Oh, I'm sure you're a busy man. But you see, I'm afraid we won't accept 'no' as an answer."

The hair on the back of your neck stood up, and an eerie aura suddenly enveloped the Baratie. It was a bold decision, you realized, one you might come to regret. Yet, as other employees cautiously distanced themselves from the hunters, you chose to do just the opposite.

"My apologies, gentlemen, but I must ask you to return to your seats. You should be aware of our rules, we don't welcome fights at the Baratie."

While some of the men shot contemptuous looks your way, the leader didn't even deign to pay you any attention. "I suggest you comply unless you want to be dragged out of here by force, bastard."

"Are you truly willing to disrespect this lady and the esteemed patrons dining in this restaurant for your own selfish gain?"

"That's precisely why I'm telling you to come with us. Nobody needs to get hurt here. The choice is yours."

You recognized that the prudent course of action would have been to retreat, allowing Sanji, Zeff, and others with more combat expertise to defuse the situation. Nevertheless, an inexplicable compulsion kept you rooted to the spot.

The pirate's head lifted, revealing a pair of emerald green eyes. They were so light and sparkling that they resembled precious gems set into his sclera. A long scar stretched across his forehead, a battle memento from someone who had likely tried, and failed, to crack his skull open. "I won't be going anywhere with you lot. And as long as I draw breath, no one here will come to harm."

This time, the man looming over the Obsidian Crow growled, drawing his pistol and aiming it at the hooded figure's head. The other men followed suit, brandishing their guns, daggers, and swords in a chilling symphony of metal and clicking barrels.

In an instant, pandemonium broke loose.

The hunters charged, their battle cries echoing off the walls. Patrons scattered in panic as the Obsidian Crow rose to his feet, deftly dodging and disarming his opponents. Tables overturned, and the once-lively restaurant transformed into a chaotic battlefield. The Crow maintained an unsettling calm, even as the enemies closed in with raised fists and guns.

Within moments, Sanji burst from the kitchen, immediately positioning himself in front of you. "Hey, this is a place for food, not fighting!" He shouted, but his words were swallowed by the chaos.

In a blur of motion, the Obsidian Crow gracefully evaded the attacks with an agility that belied his imposing stature. He was no run-of-the-mill pirate, his techniques revealing a man of extraordinary power and skill.

“That’s enough!” Sanji's voice thundered as he unbuttoned his chef's jacket, tossed it your way, and strode forward purposefully.

The scene erupted with dizzying speed, making it difficult to track each movement. The Crow dispatched the group leader with remarkable fluidity, while Sanji's powerful kicks sent two other hunters flying across the room.

You tried to stay out of harm's way, clutching Sanji's jacket as you checked on the frightened customers huddled behind or beneath the tables. Taking a few careful steps, you inspected the extent of the damage inflicted, your heart sinking at the sight of food strewn about the floor, wasted and ruined.

Absorbed in your disappointment, you failed to notice a hunter, desperate and reckless, reaching for you from behind. He grabbed you, yanking you upward to use you as a human shield while advancing. "Back off, or she gets it," he hissed, pressing a blade against your throat.

Sanji's jacket tumbled to the floor, landing atop the dispersed remnants of food. The cook whirled around with such velocity you feared he might injure himself, his eyes darkening and brows knitting together in fury. The dagger's cold edge pressed perilously close to your skin, its icy touch sending shivers through your veins.

The Obsidian Crow halted, showing no signs of exertion, his gaze fixed on you with vigilance. His hood had fallen back, unveiling short, tousled hair peppered with gray. Frozen with fear, you staggered forward as the hunter shoved you ahead, your arms hanging limply by your sides.

The assailant failed to grasp the gravity of his error.

“You picked the wrong woman to mess with,” Sanji snarled, his face contorted with rage.

With lightning agility, Sanji vaulted over a table, using it as a springboard. His powerful kick landed squarely on the hunter's nose before the man could react, sending him hurtling painfully onto his back.

You lost your footing, but Sanji's protective arms quickly caught you, steadying your balance. “Are you hurt?” he asked, his voice softening with concern as he looked into your eyes.

You shook your head, still trembling slightly but unharmed. "I'm okay, thanks to you."

As the tumult subsided, Sanji exhaled with relief. The Crow continued to grapple with a particularly tenacious opponent who refused to yield, gunshots ringing out, their echoes thundering around you.

Suddenly, you spotted something Sanji had missed: one of the bounty hunters, overlooked in the earlier skirmish, was charging towards him with murderous intent. The man's face contorted with vicious anger as he brandished a gleaming sword, poised to strike Sanji down while his back was turned.

While the cook was undoubtedly capable of defending himself, your heart raced at the impending danger. Without a second thought, you sprang into action, seizing the nearest object within reach.

“Watch out!!” You shouted, shoving Sanji aside with unexpected strength and swinging a hefty vase with remarkable force.

Sanji barely had time to register what was happening as the ceramic vase collided with the man's head. The impact shattered it, sending shards and flowers dispersing in all directions and the attacker crumpling to the floor, unconscious.

The room fell silent, as if time itself had paused. Patrons and staff alike, who moments ago had been seeking shelter, now turned to witness the aftermath of your unexpected feat. Even Sanji, a seasoned fighter in his own right, stared at you in wide-eyed amazement, a smile of admiration slowly spreading across his face.

The group leader attempted to regain his footing, still reeling from the blow. "I-it's not over yet, Crow," he sputtered. "You're leaving with me, one way or another."

The pirate's jaw clenched in annoyance as he adjusted his stance, ready to counter the impending assault. However, before the situation could escalate further, another gunshot rang out in the room, this time from behind you.

The familiar thud of a wooden peg on the floor was all you needed to identify the newcomer.

“Stop right now.”

There stood Zeff, visibly enraged by the disturbance and squandered food, his recharged pistol aimed directly at the hunter. "Take your pathetic crew and get out of my restaurant," he commanded.

The leader gritted his teeth, drawing his own gun and leveling it at Zeff. Sanji maneuvered you out of danger's path, ensuring the weapon's barrel wasn't pointed in your direction.

"We're not looking for trouble. We came here for him," the hunter said, gesturing towards the Obsidian Crow.

"Whatever business you have, it's not my problem. My restaurant's rules are very clear."

The defeated hunters groaned and stirred, some still incapacitated from the brawl. Those who could move managed to stand, though unsteadily, shame emblazoned across their features, gathering their weapons and sheathing them in silent resignation. Without a word, they dragged their fallen comrades away, limping towards the exit. The fish-man clapped his hands, and your colleagues rushed in, hurriedly righting the toppled tables and sweeping up the debris.

The leader's hand trembled as he held Zeff's deadly stare, not yet ready to concede defeat. His bravery in the face of the renowned chef was admirable. However, with Zeff's formidable reputation preceding him, the man was wise enough to recognize his capitulation. With a frustrated growl, he finally surrendered.

"Watch your back, Obsidian Crow," he spat, his voice dripping with venom. "Sooner or later, you'll pay for this."

The Crow's lips curled into a wide grin. "I look forward to your next attempt."

At last, silence descended upon the restaurant. The bounty hunters had vanished, leaving in their wake a scene of destruction; broken plates, ruined meals, and the hushed murmurs of bewildered patrons.

A couple at an adjacent table observed the three of you, whispering to each other. "That was quite impressive, wasn't it?"

"Indeed! Quite thrilling to witness!"

The Baratie was famous for welcoming all customers indiscriminately, be they pirates, hunters, or Marines. This diverse clientele didn't deter those who made reservations; on the contrary, they flocked to the Baratie not just for the mouthwatering cuisine, but also for the chance to witness an impromptu spectacle.

The Crow raised his hood, settling it back into place. Turning to Sanji, he offered a slight, almost respectful nod. "Impressive skills," he remarked with a hint of admiration. "You've earned my respect. No small feat, I assure you."

Though visibly pleased by the man's compliment, Sanji refrained from excessive self-praise, true to his character.

"I offer my most sincere apologies for the disorder I have caused. They must have tracked my route and intercepted my transponder call. Please, allow me to pay for the damages and the drinks those 'gentlemen' haven't settled."

Zeff crossed his arms with a weary sigh, his pistol still in hand. "Those bottles don't come cheap."

"Aye. That won't be a problem."

The Crow reached into his cape, producing a metallic clatter from a concealed pocket. His fingers emerged clutching an impressive bag of coins, which he tossed unceremoniously before Zeff's peg leg. The Crow waited patiently as the head chef inspected the offering, a single look inside telling that the pirate's payment far exceeded the cost of his meal and the hunters' drinks combined.

"They had no intention of paying," the Obsidian Crow stated. "It's a shame, really. Your service is exceptional. I couldn't find anything like this even in the Grand Line."

Zeff's weathered face showed a mixture of irritation and reluctant approval. “Long as you don’t make a habit of bringing your baggage here, you’re welcome to stay. Just don’t make me regret it.”

While profit wasn't everything, the pirate's readiness to compensate the restaurant commanded respect. The unexpected settlement of the hunters' tab was an added boon, one that would buoy the Baratie's mood for weeks to come.

The tension in the room gradually dissipated as a low murmur of conversations resumed. Diners who had moments ago braced themselves for violence now eased back into their seats. The Baratie crew, ever-professional, moved to replace the interrupted meals, guaranteeing that each affected patron would still savor the full dining experience they had anticipated, despite the recent upheaval.

With a final bow of gratitude, the Crow pivoted on his heels and strode away, his cape billowing dramatically behind him. "I'll take my leave for tonight. Should I return to your establishment, I'll keep your words in mind."

You observed as he made his way to the door, halting momentarily to deliver a parting statement. "Thank you for the meal. The steak was absolute perfection."

With that, he disappeared into the night.

You stooped to retrieve Sanji's jacket, which had fallen victim to the consequences of the fight. An unmistakable sauce stain marred the left front lapel, and it was only then that you noticed a few droplets of blood spattered across your own uniform, likely from the hunters' injuries.

Zeff shook his head, a wry smile breaking through his sterness. “Little Eggplant. Remind me why I let pirates and vagabonds in this place?”

“Because even pirates need a good meal, old man. And we’re the best in all the Blues.”

Zeff let out a low, gruff chuckle, genuine despite its roughness. His eyes softened as he looked at you, his hand gently resting on your back. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," you assured him with a nod. “The blood isn’t mine.”

A crease formed between his brows. Another sigh followed, the tension in his shoulders easing only slightly. "Good. The Baratie may be many things, but it's not a battlefield. I don't want you risking your safety every time a scuffle breaks out.”

Zeff had always considered the crew as family, and witnessing one of his own in danger was never easy for him to bear.

“You’d do well to remember that too, Eggplant. Next time, try not to start a fight with half the clientele.”

Sanji rolled his eyes, a hint of his usual playfulness returning. “You know me. I’m always aiming for peace, until someone forgets their manners.”

A smile tugged at your lips as you listened to their familiar banter. Sanji caught your expression and reflected it, his eyes twinkling with shared amusement while conveying a hidden, intimate message.

“Come on, we owe these people a proper conclusion. You two, go clean yourselves up. You can't serve customers looking like this."

With a gentle pat on your back, Zeff hobbled towards the kitchen, clearly intent on overseeing the preparation of fresh meals. The restaurant's lively ambiance quickly returned, with patrons resuming their conversations as if the earlier fracas had never occurred.

Sanji took your hand, guiding you away from the dining area as you both navigated through the remaining shards your colleagues were clearing away. The restroom door clicked shut behind you, and Sanji's jacket slid onto the sink as you turned on the faucet. Water trickled from the tap, its gentle splashing the sole sound piercing the silence surrounding you.

The stain on the white fabric was so prominent that you doubted even a thorough wash would be enough to remove it.

"I'm not sure this will be enough, it looks pretty bad. Maybe we should—"

Without warning, Sanji's lips collided with yours, his protective arms enveloping you against his chest, causing you to relax instantly. He cradled the back of your head with one hand, the rhythmic beat of his heart a calming counterpoint to the residual adrenaline in your body. His lips were warm and tantalizing, his tongue the sweetest caress.

He pulled back just enough to meet your gaze, his hand trailing down to inspect your neck, where the hunter's blade had nearly nicked. He brushed a strand of hair away from your face, his eyes still glistening with unspoken emotions. "What you did back there for me..."

"Oh, that. I, um... I was just reacting on impulse. It's not as if you truly needed my rescue."

"You were incredible."

"I owe Zeff a new vase, though," you said with a sheepish grin. "But I guess I owe you so much more than that for saving me again."

"The only thing I’d ever want from you is another kiss.”

A chuckle shook your shoulders as you gently brushed his hair away. "Why so modest? You could ask for other things. Not that I'd object."

He pressed his lips together, his Adam's apple bobbing. "I could never do that."

“Why?”

"Because I care for you too much to act on the thoughts racing through my mind right now."

You sighed blissfully against his jaw, breathing in his intoxicating cologne, and weaving your fingers in his silky strands. "Oh, Sanji," you spoke against his skin, "How many times do I need to tell you that there's nothing to worry about?"

“Y/N—”

"Shh," you purred, your voice seductive. "Try me. I bet your thoughts perfectly match mine."

He closed the gap between you, capturing your lips in another kiss that melded tenderness with urgency. Instinctively, you wrapped your arms around his neck, a soft, ecstatic hum escaping your chest as you clung to him. The delicate, wet sounds of your kisses were masked by the still-running water, which you couldn't be bothered to turn off. Your mouths locked in an ardent dance, tongues intermingling as your heartbeats quickened in unison.

"Mh. Maybe we shouldn't be doing this here," you uttered against his lips. "What if Zeff catches us?"

"I'll tell him that I couldn't stay away from the woman I adore a moment longer."

"He'd have our heads for this."

"I'd like to see him try."

He grazed your lips with his again, reluctant to break contact. "Let them all knock, let them shout. I won't respond until I've made it crystal clear that you're the only one on my mind. Here and now."

His words sent a shiver down your spine, evoking a soft gasp. Sanji flashed you an appreciative smile, his eyes sparkling with that unique blend of mischief and adoration so distinctly his.

"This is reckless, you know that?"

“I know.”

"We still need to clean our uniforms."

“Yeah.”

“…And you don’t care.”

"No.”

He carefully eased you out of your vest, the blood stains less noticeable on the dark fabric but still stubbornly present and beginning to dry. It joined his on the sink's edge, both garments momentarily forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Your breaths quickened, filling the room with a carnal chant. His fingertips traced the buttons of your shirt with shy trepidation, deftly unfastening the top two buttons near the collar before moving lower to undo three more.

The atmosphere crackled with undeniable electricity, signaling that desire would soon triumph over caution.

"Forgive me, my lovely, but I have reached my limit."

Your veneer of professionalism crumbled entirely. A muffled moan slipped from your throat as he latched onto your collarbones, tracing a trail of amorous pecks that ignited a fire crackling throughout your very core.

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 (currently reading) Go to Chapter 8 (coming soon) ->

[sgiandubh]

On leadership

This is a personal comment on @luhafraser's last post, where she wrote, in plain English:

'But I can't help but notice that since I joined this fandom, what we have in all the groups in this fandom are "leaders", they come and go, new ones appear, or reinvent themselves. There are people that stand out and lead others to follow their ideas and statements. It is these people that receive information, have sources, receive pics, and are fed by "anonymous" (Sorry, but a lot of things that have already appeared could only have come from someone "inside"). I know we are all adults, but there are those who know how to influence or who are led to be influencers, there are those who understand that and there are those who don't.'

Dear @luhafraser,

You wrote a couple of things with great confidence, as you usually do, and I feel I have to say something,

I have invited you already to name names, not allude to persons in your posts, as you so transparently seem to be doing right now. So yes, I felt looked upon and judged. By you (and not only you). Since Day 1. You thought I was never going to respond, well - you were wrong. The day has come and the day is now.

Dear @luhafraser, while I do immensely appreciate your real qualities (intelligence, humor, sleuthing, etc.), I am less a fan of this kind of little games, both in public and behind the scenes. My sudden apparition seems to have bothered you, with Anons asking you (June 20, 2023) if I was really a new person joining in and you denying it without taking the time to talk to me:

This is simply not done, my dear. I have openly and transparently engaged with people since Day 1 and never lied about my own circumstances. Your answer started a flurry of speculation that kept people interested all summer long and forced me to dox myself. So kindly prove me and all the others I am not a newbie (something completely impossible to do), do it in public and own the things you post in here.

I am not a leader of anything, @luhafraser , and I have no wish to be regarded as such. Ever. I have learned, in 20 years of my high-level public service career, that being the boss corrupts and exposes. But yes, I did want to be a disruptively positive voice in what I felt to be an intimidated community. I wanted to bring more clarity and all those research skills to all of you. I wanted honesty. And I, above anything else, wanted to help. And I am sorry that people agreeing or liking what I post seems to bother you. It is not something I can help you with. It is what it is. There is a place for all our voices to be heard in here. Every single one of them.

I have no inside information on SC and never did. I have not betrayed anything that was shared with me in DMs and only posted things when adamantly asked to do so, after careful vetting and only from people I knew. However I am a hell of a bloodhound when I am set to find something and I am rather good at what I do, also in real life. I also know when to stop and will never share things that would be legally questionable. It would expose us and it is a risk simply not worth taking.

I am not here for clicks and likes. My block list is three or four times bigger than my dash. I do not care for fame, but I do care for a couple of trusted people that became real friends. It is for them and for them only that I am not giving you satisfaction and quit.

I keep my promises. I will not go anywhere. If you do not like what I write, please unfollow and block immediately - this goes for anyone that feels bothered about me being here, in any way. I have no wish to start a war with any of you - that would make Mordor glee with joy for months. But please do me and yourself a favor: if in doubt, go now. I cannot stand duplicity, never could.

I hope that sets the record straight. Believe it or not, I have no hostility towards you. Not a single ounce.

I am not expecting an answer.

[Later edit;] I am glad I doxed myself. Very glad. But that is another story.

[sarahjtv]

My Hero Academia Chapter 430 Spoiler Talk: The True End of An Era (Part 1)

This is it, the final chapter of My Hero Academia. A series 10 years in the making has finally ended. It's really insane to think about. This series has done so much good for a lot of people despite the fandom's flaws. MHA was both people's introduction and even reintroduction to manga and anime. It's bittersweet to write about the final chapter, but I will do the best I can to honor the series I love. This is going to be a very long one. Also a lot of screaming.

Now, please, if you want to wait until the official translation releases on Sunday, PLEASE TURN AWAY NOW! Save this post and come back to it on Sunday when everyone has read the chapter. I will be using spoiler hashtags for this, so if you end up spoiling yourself because of my post, that's on you. THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING:

Here we go. We first start off with our Final Color page for the series! It's a gorgeous double-page spread featuring all Class 1-A (Now 2-A) kids that we've grown to know and love throughout the past 10 years including Shinso, Aizawa, and All Might of course. Izuku Midoriya AKA Deku, our beautiful MC who I will miss with all my heart and soul 💚, is leading the page and his friends towards the bright future they all fought so hard for. It's a wonderful way to conclude the series and I will make sure to get a high-quality version of it to use as my computer wallpaper.

The final chapter is titled "My Hero Academia" because of course it is 🥹. This was truly My Hero Academia.

OH FUCK WE GET A TIME SKIP TO THE FUTURE SOMEONE HOLD ME 😭

KOTA IS THE THE UA HERO COURSE AND IZUKU IS HIS TEACHER IT'S SO PERFECT FOR HIM!!!💚😭 I BET MR. AIZAWA AND ALL MIGHT WERE BIG INSPIRATIONS FOR HIM TO TAKE THIS PATH 🥹

IT'S ONLY BEEN 1 PAGE AND THIS CHAPTER HAS ALREADY ENDED ME IT'S SO JOEVER FUCK

BTW, Deku is saying a more optimistic version of the "Not all men are born equal" narration he told us at the beginning of the very first chapter of the series. Very nice way of bringing the story full circle.

Ok, the next 2 pages have a lot of things in them, so I'm going to try to sum it up as best as I can:

Izuku finally came home to see his mother, Inko, at their apartment and she looks happy 💚

All Might is out of his wheelchair and helping old Gran Tarino walk with a cane (how he still survived I have no idea).

All the kids running in their gym clothes in what looks like their second Sports Festival (god, what I'd give to see that in its entirety).

Miriko is very happy with her new prosthetics including one that looks like the Bullet Bill from the Super Mario series.

The kids struggling taking either mid-terms or finals written tests. Bakugo is still using his left arm to write, so I assume his right arm is still barely usable.

Shoji and Kota shaking some prominent mutant's hand I assume from their contributions towards the war.

Mt. Lady and Kamui Woods working together as usual!

Tokoyama meeting up with Hawks.

KOTA AND ERI HOLDING HANDS AND GETTING READY FOR SCHOOL WITH MADALAY'S APPROVAL THAT'S SO FUCKING CUTE 😭❤️🤍

Endeavor being followed around by his sidekicks and Hawks.

Aizawa and Present Mic visiting what I bet is Shirakumo's grave 😢

The fan translator says that the kids finally meet Melissa from the first MHA movie! We don't see her face, but I'll take what they say is truth.

Spinner's book selling and Compress reading it in jail.

Bakugo going through rehab to get his right arm back!

Deku and Ochako spending time in the snow.

OUR KID'S GRADUATION OH MY GOD MOST OF THEM ARE 18 THERE AND THEY'RE OFFICIALLY PRO HEROES I'M SO FUCKING PROUD OF THEM 😭❤️ Interesting though since none of them really look much older except for maybe Iida and Shoto, but it's hard to tell from the scans. And Bakugo and Monoma keep the crazy graduation tradition of blowing things up as their goodbye present to UA!

And finally, we see the embers of One For All slowly fade away in Izuku's hand until there's nothing left...

Oh, god. The time skip takes place 8 YEARS in the future geez. So, if this is 8 years since we left the kids in Class 2-A, they would be about 24-25 years old now damn. We're actually going to see them all grown up that's crazy.

The next page shows us a middle school class very similar to how we saw Deku and Bakugo at the very beginning of the series. The teacher asks them what they want to do in the future and we get to see small glimpses of other characters now such as Hatsume who has her own lab (go, girl!), and LaBrava who seems to own a company with Gentle!

The main kid we focus on in this class is Dai, the young boy with dark blue-ish dotted hair who was looking at the All Might statue in Kamino before the first war started (I don't blame you for forgetting; I had to look him up too). He says he wants to be a hero, but everyone else says that his Quirk is too weak for him to become one. Despite that, he still goes to the All Might statue (which sounds like has been rebuilt) for inspiration. Sound familiar? 🤔

Next we see Shoji accepting a prestigious award for his efforts in resolving mutant prejudice-based incidents! He looks SO BULKY HOLY SHIT DUDE 😳 And his hair got longer to the point of putting it in a ponytail! Also, Koda and the glue Class 1-B kid (I think his name is Bondo or something) are there to congratulate him too! I bet you that Shoji making it to the top 10 in the final popularity poll helped Horikoshi give him a little spotlight and it's a good way of following up on what happened after his bout in the Final War.

Next up, we see Ochako, Tsuyu, Momo, and Iida visiting schools across the country! Ochako has also set up a Quirk Counseling expansion project that's become one of the most essential things in the future society!

Ok:

1: It's hard to tell with Iida, but the girls all look slightly older especially with their hair being a little longer.

2: Their future costumes look great! It's not a 100% match to what we saw in Endeavor's vision, but it's still great! Iida's armor got more detail to them; Tsuyu's frog goggles got gogglier?; Momo is finally coving up her cleavage and showing less exposed skin took you 10 years, but you finally got there, Horikoshi; and Ochako's got updated headwear, the two dots on her outfit are side-by-side instead of on top of each other, and her collar thing looks similar to Deku's hero mask which I know was intentional.

3: Good for Ochako for doing something about Quirk Counseling. Definitely inspired by what happened with Himiko Toga. I hope this means that we won't have another incident like Toga had and that kids are now able to get help with their Quirks as opposed to being villainized. I hope Ochako's making good money out of this too for her family like she originally intended.

We also see a teenage Eri going to her music club with a guitar on her back! She has a normal girl's sailor uniform, so my best guess is that she's either still in middle school (I think she would be 14-15 at this point) or she's not in UA like a lot of us thought. Either way, she wants to pursue music instead of Hero work so I wouldn't be surprised if she didn't go to UA at all. It also looks like her horn did fully grow back, but whether her Rewind Quirk still works the same is up in the air.

And we see that Mr. Aizawa is still working at UA, BUT HE CUT HIS HAIR SHORT 😭 WHY DID YOU CUT HIS BEAUTIFUL, LONG LOCKS, HORIKOSHI??? OF ALL THE PHYSICAL CHANGES YOU GIVE OUR CHARACTERS THIS IS THE MOST DEVASTATING 😭

*BREATHS* But, he shows Deku and us a video of Bakugo SCREAMING AT A CIVILIAN FOR FILMING HIM TOO CLOSELY 😂😭 PLEASE NEVER CHANGE, KATSUKI BAKUGO 🧡 I'm also really glad he still got to be a Pro Hero despite his injuries.

AND NOW WE SEE MY SWEET FAVORITE BOY, SHOTO TODOROKI WHO CUT HIS HAIR A LITTLE SHORTER!!! I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS, I LIKE HIM BETTER WITH SHORT HAIR AND STILL LOOKS LIKE THE BEAUTIFUL PRETTY BOY HE ALWAYS WAS! STAY PRETTY, SHOTO!!! 🩵

Anyway, Shoto patrols day and night and is very nice to his fans! Kind king 👑! He's also become his own man to the public now as he's barley called "Endeavor's Son" anymore. That's a real relief because I know for a fact that that was haunting him for years. Also, there's a chance he'll pass Mt. Lady, Kamui Woods, and even Mirio in the rankings! I'm so proud of my fave! 🩵❄️🔥

GAH! I'm actually hitting a world limit here! I have to make a Part 2!

[harocat]

Perhaps this is inaccurate, but does it ever feel to you like general cdrama fandom takes the FL being a “mature” character as the end-all indicator of the show’s quality? Recently with legend of Shenli I see quite a few people start their praise along the lines of “unlike those other garbage xianxia with their annoying FLs”. And often it becomes clear they’re trashtalking Lbfad specifically

This is not just Cdrama fandom, it's fandom on the whole; the girlbossification of female characters.

I've generally always favored characters that get this treatment. Riza Hawkeye (badass) vs. Winry Rockbell (immature), Sango (badass) vs Kagome (immature). Sorry those examples are anime, but they're very well known so 🤷

These are also often healer characters, which is a trope that tends to be... sort of maligned. How dare a women be relegated to just being a healer! But IDK, I'd rather have a well written healer than a generic, flatly written warrior any day. XLH would definitely fall under the healer class.

(One good thing I've noticed is that while all the above mentioned girls got a lot of hate back in the day, as time has gone on, they've grown to become beloved characters. You rarely see hate for any of them nowadays. It's great.)

Keeping in mind fandom's general disinterest in women, so naturally the appreciation that does exist is often extremely shallow. Characters that tend to catch their attention because of this are ones that are 'badass' or that they want to 'step on them' or whatnot. A character that starts out more mature is more likable to them because they don't need to look beyond the surface to see how 'cool' she is.

This is not an implication that Shenli is a shallow character (I am only on ep twelve, so I'm not here to give any kind of overall impression), but just that she from the beginning has more traits that are easy for people to glom onto as a 'strong female character' Do these specific people (this is obviously not all fans of Shenli) who say 'finally a mature character' write meta about Shenli? Do they gush on her and share fanworks and create and all the like. Generally no, because in my experience people who like characters for 'girlboss' reasons don't really appreciate them beyond the surface.

These people will gripe about characters like XLH, sing the praises of 'strong female characters', then go back to only caring about male characters 90% of the time.

Xiao Lanhua takes too much work for these kinds of fans. Obviously we know she is strong, we know she is badass and brave, but the XLH we meet at the beginning is silly, immature, and boy crazy. To appreciate her character fully, you have to do more than just look for five seconds and go 'wow badass'. She's a layered, richly written character, but she doesn't start out as the kind of character that fits a girlboss reading.

On the other hand, almost because of this, you can find pages and pages of meta, fic, and fanworks about her, and almost any fan of hers can give you a plethora of reasons they love her that have actual depth.

On the subject of maturity, it's often a case of the kind of immaturity that's acceptable. Dongfang Qingcang is deeply immature at the start of the series. I don't need to explain why.

But his immaturity is appealing to fandom; cute, likable, and funny. It's good immature, cool immature. And I think this is because in addition to being a male character, we're also taught that being immature like Xiao Lanhua is--- is like... a horrible thing to be? But that's not the case at all. It's just normal! Again, back to girlboss feminism. Women and female characters are held to an impossibly high standard. Female characters that act in a way that might be seen as cringe (if they aren't also badass)? Yikes.

Yes, Xiao Lanhua starts out flighty and silly, but she's also a hard worker, and even from the beginning, she's courageous (despite her timidity when confronted with bullies). She's a good character, even at the beginning; she is lovable, charming, and so, so funny. People just refuse to see beyond their first impression.

The goal in writing a female character should be to make them well written, and in that sense, Xiao Lanhua is a great character. She just happens to also be extremely brave and badass, but some people are too shallow to see it. At this point in time I don't even argue with XLH haters. I'm just like 'well fine, I'd rather not have you here anyway.'

[nkn0va]

Could we please get some headcanons on what Ann, Makoto, Futaba, Haru, and Sumire would do to celebrate their s/o's birthday? Thanks a bunch and happy birthday!

The ol' five character hitter again. Thank god this is the only fandom where this happens. Does kinda tank quality though having to do it for a full five especially since it's not my main hyperfixation anymore.

-You better believe Ann is going all out for your special day. It's only the most appropriate thing to do for her S/O.

-There was that super nice hotel buffet she and the rest of the thieves went to after they successfully changed Kamoshida's heart. You hadn't joined the group yet so that'd be a nice place to take you to.

-Even if you aren't a foodie, there's no way you're able to turn down high class food like that, especially since Ann likely spent a pretty penny to get you two in.

-After stuffing yourselves to your heart's content (and likely getting a few extra pounds you'd definitely need to work off), she takes you to Inokashira park for a peaceful stroll under the sunset.

-Soon you two sit down a bench for a break, when she gives you a small, wrapped box. Opening it up you find an attachable charm inside. The lines and finer details are a bit uneven, suggesting this was something Ann made herself.

She quickly reveals she has another one just like it on her bag to match yours, having wanted to give you something that felt unique. It was extremely heartwarming.

(Makoto's birthday is the day right after this post goes up, which means it's the day after mine.)

-Makoto is a bit anxious. She hadn't really had a proper birthday celebration, whether doing it or receiving it ever since her father died. Sae was unfortunately too busy for any of that stuff 99 percent of the time.

-Now that you two were dating, she was hoping to change that. She can't do anything extravagant but that wasn't going to stop her.

-She keeps it relatively simple. Instead of taking you out somewhere like Ann, she makes a home cooked meal from scratch and invites you over to her place.

-She'll treat you to whatever movie you want to watch from the comfort of inside and bring out the blankets, popcorn, and any other movie treats you like. Just...don't ask for a horror movie. Please.

-Makoto doesn't really have any gift ideas she's all that confident in, so she opted to instead spend the day with you and give you the attention you deserve. She hopes that through her actions she conveys how much she loves you.

-Take Makoto's nervousness/cluelessness, and double it. Now you have an idea of what celebrating someone else's birthday is like for Futaba.

-She very easily gets in her own head about what she should and shouldn't be doing for her S/O's birthday. Her birthdays even when her mom was alive were never exactly normal due to how busy she was, let alone after she died both before and after Sojiro took her in.

-After some reassurance from both Sojiro and Joker, she decides to just let it come naturally to her and be herself.

-She invites you over to her room as she usually does for a majority of your dates to play some video games and watch some shows. It doesn't have to be anime, it can just be whatever you want. She'll go at least a little easier when you're playing games too so you can have a chance at winning.

-You've most certainly been able to share most of your interests with Futaba, she wants to know about them just as much as she wants to share hers with you. This makes it pretty easy to get you a gift you'd like.

A shirt, an action figure, maybe a music album, something relating to your interest that even you probably didn't know existed. Either because it's custom made or that Futaba just really knows her way around the internet far better than you.

-You've been at a decently comfortable point in your relationship with Haru for a while now, and she is absolutely thrilled to be able to celebrate your birthday however you want.

-One might expect someone of her social standing to treat you to the highest class date money can buy, and she absolutely can, but she would much prefer something more intimate and heartfelt.

-She invites you over to her place where she has a stack of baked goods waiting for you two to share. Some ordered, some homemade. Also to offset the sheer amount of sugar, a more healthy meal she made herself, even having grown most if not all the ingredients.

-If there was anything you expressed a want to have, no matter how expensive it is, that is now your birthday gift as well. Depending on the price, your jaw is probably going to drop as Haru presents it like it's nothing with the sweetest smile on her face.

-If your appetite rivals that of Sumire and you're still hungry she's more than happy to cook/bake together with you, playfully throwing flour or water on each other and bantering. She's more than willing to get serious and teach you how to cook if needed, she likely has enough experience to do so.

-Of course no date with Haru is ever complete with the softest, warmest cuddles of your life, under a blanket together as you drift off to sleep or watch a movie. It never fails to get your heart beating faster as her smaller body buries into yours.

-Despite her demure, sweet demeanor, Sumire can be quite the go-getter due to her athletic background. This naturally translates to celebrations of any kind.

-Your wallet is thankfully spared for today as she treats you this time. It may or may not be too much for you to swallow everything down but either way she's happy. Either for the extra food or that you enjoy everything she throws at you and that you can match her appetite.

-After that, it's time for a jog around the park to work off all those extra calories. Some form of exercise is typical when spending time with her but she's lax for today as the the point is to celebrate you and the fact that you're here today. She'll be fine with slowing down to a walk too if that's more comfortable for you as you two share leisurely conversation with each other.

-She did manage to also find a decent gift for you thanks to advice from her parents. She presents you with a special, designer made perfume/cologne. Since you're working out with her so much she figured you could use something to help with the stink of doing so, and she wanted it to be something special.

-From then on you make a point to wear it on all your dates with her. She notices this but doesn't bring it up, feeling a bit too shy to do so.