#three quarter lenght

[royalty-nobility]

Maria Josepha, Archduchess of Austria

Artist: Anton Raphael Mengs (German, 1728-1779)

Date: c. 1767

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Museo del Prado, Madrid, Spain

Maria Josepha, Archduchess of Austria

Archduchess Maria Josepha of Austria (Maria Josefa Gabriella Johanna Antonia Anna; 19 March 1751 – 15 October 1767) was the twelfth child and ninth daughter of Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, and Empress Maria Theresa. She was engaged to King Ferdinand IV of Naples and Sicily, but the marriage never materialised due to Maria Josepha's death due smallpox. She was buried in the Imperial Crypt in Vienna, Austria.

[onedoesnotsimplywriteafanfic]

Just a god

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Summary: Years of being a prisoner yourself, you returned home to watch one of your own. But to what lenghts will he go ones they take you again.

Warnings: angst, mention of torture fluffy end (part 2)

Word count: 3,916

What started as a peaceful dream was soon corrupted by agonizing night terrors. Bone chilling screams echoed trough the halls of Stark Tower. From the highest point of the tower to deep down in the basement your screams sounded like a siren singing their song, a banshee screeching in the night.

It was nothing new for the long term residents of the tower, how ever it pained them to hear you like this. No one could help you get rid of these nightmares, no technology or powers were strong or advanced enough to take away the trauma that caused this.

Waking up in a fright, cold sweat covering your body. Panic written all over your face, scared, afraid even. Afraid to be back there, back in that horrible place. Back with men like monsters. Jarvis automatically turned on the lights when you would wake up from a nightmare, to ensure you that you were in the safety of your own room.

Tears fell unnoticed down your face, gazed locked with the wall in front of you. “Miss Stark, would you like me to notify your father?” Jarvis voice echoed trough the room. With a simple shake you gave your answers as no words left your lips. “Very well.” Jarvis replied leaving you to yourself.

Going back to sleep was out of the question, knowing that going back to sleep meant going back to that place. Throwing your legs of the bed you got up and got dressed. Silently making your way down the hall to the elevator. The sleeping quarters were three stories above the main living floor.

Upon entering the elevator Jarvis asked where to go. “Living floor.” You said while waiting for your decent. In less than a minute the elevator doors opened again, stepping foot on the floor the lights automatically turned on. The entire floor was a combined living and kitchen.

The floor was an open plan, almost no walls and doors. The kitchen was at the far end of the floor, so you were met with the living room first. A large circular couch sat in front of a large TV, provided with game consoles and every film provider known to men.

Walking past the seating area you had to pass the luxurious dining area. A large oak table, able to seat twenty four people, was placed with a view to the outside. And once you had passed the dining area you were met with a restaurant size kitchen.

It was too early for a full breakfast so a simple apple would still the hunger for a couple hours. It was still dark, the sun had yet to set on the horizon. With the apple slices in hand you walked back to the living area.

The comfy cushions from the cough engulfed you with sense of ease. The earlier feeling of discomfort and pain slowly washed away. Sitting on the end of the cough gave you the perfect view of the skyline outside. Watching over the buildings to the horizon where the dark night sky turned into light pastels. Announcing the morning sun to rise.

The later it became in the morning the more people started to wake. Tony, your father, was the first to rise and step foot onto the floor. “Morning kiddo, another nightmare kept you awake?’’ He asked as he stood next to you. “Yeah.’’ You said with a weak smile, not knowing how else to respond.

Placing one hand on your head your father bowed down to kiss the top. The two of you had an unspoken agreement of not talking to much about the nightmares. There was nothing to that could stop them, so why dwell on the fact. Life went on.

Steve followed soon after Tony onto the floor, greeting you on the way to the kitchen. Glancing his way, you saw he had just come back from his morning run and was probably going for breakfast. After Steve, Natasha and Sam stepped onto the floor and not much later the floor was filled with all the residence of the tower. Well almost everyone then.

The morning briefing was soon to be held so you too made your way to the kitchen. “Thank you for joining dear.’’ Your father said, a cup of coffee in hand. “There is a mission planned for today. And I kinda need everyone on this one so,’’ he turned to face you and asked. “Can you watch Loki when we are gone?’’

It happened often that you had to look after their prisoner deep within the tower. Thor had brought him here a little over a month ago. He had been prisoner back at Asgard but due to shortage of space. Asgard had Loki captured for a couple months but a recent battle brought more prisoners then they anticipated.

So to make room they had to relocated some prisoners and what better place to sent the god of mischief? Earth. Better yet, your home, the Stark tower. Odin only allowed it once Thor had insured the ruler of Asgard, and his father, that we were more than able to hold him.

We have a special cell that hold in all magic. Loki could use his powers all he wanted inside of the cage but it had no effect on anyone on the outside. And most days lately it was you who had to watch him.

“Again?” You asked a bit irritated. There was a schedule made for who had to watch Loki when. But recently you sat down there more than the others. It became a so much of a frequent task that you had made yourself comfortable down there. A nice big brown leather chair and a side table holding your comfort book ‘The Hobbit’.

Tony sighed and looked at you a bit pained. “I know honey, I know I’ve been asking you to watch him a lot lately,” he paused for a second before he continued. “And it’s not because I or we don’t want you on the missions with us.” He tried to sound clear of that fact but still went into details of his dissension. “Cause you are a strong fighter and your powers would come in handy on so many of the missions, but it’s because we have been hitting old Hydra basses and I don’t want to put you trough that.” He spoke softly, knowing he only had the best in mind for you.

He wouldn’t want to put you trough that again, knowing those places could set off a negative reaction from within you. And you did understand that, but it still hurts, being left out on missions, feeling like you are only good enough to baby sit a Norse god. “Fine.” You said short cut. “I’ll watch the inmate again,” the words were loaded with bitterness.

Because Loki wasn't as unpleasant to be around as the others had claimed, you didn't despise him. While he was irritable and furious with the others, he was quiet and peaceful with you. Yet he always claimed to despise you. Trying to get on your nerves, but all of that didn’t vase you. You let him rage on in his cage, watching him as he tries to use his powers on you. Trying to get inside of your mind but he could never, not only because of the cage he was in was magic proof, but also because you didn’t let him.

It was a neat little trick you had developed, shielding your mind from mindcontrolers. So now the two of you would sit in silence for ours, whilst you read he just sat or even laid down on his cot. Loki was a restless sleeper, he never seemed to be able to fall asleep comfortably. His mind was constantly thinking, similar to yours, keeping him awake most of the nights.

As every one else was getting ready to leave for the mission, you got ready to babysit. Dressed in a tracksuit, you made your way down. Entering the code to the room you stepped trough. Walking the long bridge to the middle of the room where Loki was held inside of a circular cell.

He laid awake on his cot, turning is head to smirk at you. ‘’Look who got left behind,’’ He taunted with a devilish grin. ‘’Again.’’ He sat up as he added that final blow. All you did was look at him unamused and sat down without saying a word.

Picking up your book beginning to read as soon as Loki started to yap about god knows what. Shutting him out from your mind and focusing on your story. After some time you looked up and saw that Loki was getting frustrated. ‘’Don’t you get tired of yourself?’’ You asked, no emotion shown in your voice.

That pissed off Loki some further. ‘’How DARE you speak that way to a god.’’ He spat, some saliva hitting the glass. ‘’You may be a god, but you are not my god. Keep that in mind.’’ Agitated he looked at you, a visible huff filled his cage.

He sat upwards, facing you, his eyes burning a hole in your skull. This meant he was trying to get into your mind. And just to mess with him, you let him. Giving him a false sense of power. He didn’t know you were magical just like him. Artificial maybe, but magical nonetheless. While you continued reading you allowed him to read your mind.

The tension he had created moments ago slowly cleared. Loki secretly liked hearing you read in his mind. It calmed him down. His mind was always racing, always loud and chaotic. You read his mind more often than you let him read yours. Mirroring his powers was something you developed while in captivity.

The place of your nightmares. The place where they created you into a weapon. Not did it only calm down Loki but also yourself, it kept you from drowning in flashbacks. Reading gave you peace, it was a healthy distracting. It was the only time lately that you felt a bit of happiness.

The day passed by, unnoticed by you. To deep invested in the story of The Hobbit. No matter how many times you have had read it, it never lost its spark. Loki never complained when you started the book the second you had finished it. For him it meant hearing you read and you being happy.

It was your dad who pulled you out of your focus. The sound the doors made upon entering the holding unit went passed you. He knew better than to tap your shoulders, so he called out for you. ‘’Sweetheart?’’ He called out calmly, trying not to scare you. Only you didn’t hear him.

Tony walked in your line of side, stopping until he stood in front of you. Blocking Loki’s view of you with his body. Loki couldn’t help it but sniff out air trough his nose annoyingly. Grouching down he tapped the top of your book. This snapped you out of your story real quick. Eyes, battle ready, hyper focused on the target in front of you. ‘’Easy kiddo, it’s just me.’’ With his hands held up in surrender and speaking in a soft voice, your dad tried to calm you down.

Once you didn’t sense any immediate danger, you allowed your body to relax again. “Sorry.” You said softly, slouching back into the chair. ‘’It’s oke, sweetheart. Just wanted to let you know the team and I were back.’’ Your dad would always come by to let you know personally that he had returned rather than Jarvis announce it.

Closing your book and placing it on the table, you got up. Reading the time from your phone you realized you had spent the majority of the day down here reading. The team had left around breakfast and it was now past dinner.

Heading upstairs to grab a bite to eat. Leaving Loki alone with your dad without saying goodbye to him. Only to your dad. ‘’Bye dad. Good luck, he has been quite all day so he may throw a tantrum now that you are here.’’ You joked, giving Loki a side eye.

You could sense Loki fuming in his cell. Taking a quick glance in his mind, before you were to far out of reach, you could hear him raging in his head. With a small smirk of achieving mischief of your own you walked out of range and lost the connection.

Having powers was great but not when you had to relay on others to use it. Mirroring was all fun and games but all you could do on your own was shielding yourself. There were days you wished you could turn back time to where you were just a magic less little child.

Days went by after that. The same as any other. Most days you stayed home from missions, only a few you attended. The nightmares had gotten worse again. Nearing the “anniversary” of your capture.

Having woken up by yet another bad dream, you looked for the time. 2:04 a.m. With a sigh you got up and made your way down to the laboratory. Your dad had to be still awake by this our. He never slept before 3 AM.

It felt weird standing in front of the lab. Not knowing whether to enter or walk away, so you just knocked. After a moment of silence you heard your dad yell. ‘’Enter at own risk!’’ That could only mean one thing, he was tinkering on a new project that was most likely to explode at any moment.

By entering the lab you could hear gears spinning, see sparks of a welding machine and smell something burning. A chuckle left your lips as you walked deeper into Tony’s lair. ‘’Dad?’’ You asked, trying to be heard over the sounds the lab was filled with.

He couldn’t hear you, to busy in his own word and the sounds deafening ever noise. ‘’DAD!’’ You yelled this time but without avail. He was just too far gone in his project. You wondered how he could have heard your knocking but not your screaming in his ear.

With a sigh you walked closer and tapped him on his shoulder. He jumped slightly and turned to look at you startled. ‘’Oh sorry honey, I didn’t hear ya.’’ He said as he catches his breath and turned off every machine. Looking back at you with a smile plastered on his face, which soon faded. He was happy to see you down in his lab but the visit was everything but happy.

‘’You oke Sweetie?’’ He asked, concern written all over his face. ‘’No.’’ You said with a cracked voice. You couldn’t hide it anymore. Every one saw you were losing sleep, you barely ate. ‘’The..,’’ you said as you hugged yourself and gasped for the words. ‘’The nightmares.’’ You continued, as tears pricked your eyes.

Tony let out a sad filled sigh and stood up. He pulled you into a hug and just held you. No words needed to be said further, he knew what you wanted to tell him. ‘’I know sweetheart, but you are safe here.’’ He reassured you. Rocking you slowly back and fort in the hug. ‘’They can’t get you here. Or out there.’’ He whispered in your ear.

The tower was on of the safest places to be. Most of the times that was. And on the missions you knew how to protect yourself and the other of the team would let you get hurt. ‘’That is why we are hitting so many Hydra bases, to wipe them out.’’

Slowly you wrapped your arms around your dad. ‘’I don't want to have to look over my shoulder every time I leave the tower.’’ It has been 6 years since your rescue, and the last two you had the confidence to bear back out in the world and join in on missions since last year.

‘’I’m just scared dad.’’ Admitting that was on of the hardest things you have done, besides enduring years of torture. Tony held you close, his left arm around your back and his right hand on the back of your head. Holding you ever so gentle, ensuring you that way, that you are safe.

For some time he held you like that. It wasn’t until you let go he pulled back too. He knew you needed him, that you needed a hug from your dad. So he held you until you were ready to let go. Once you had pulled away fully and let out one last sniffle, Tony wiped away a lonely tear.

‘’You are allowed to feel scared, and I would be too. But you are safe now. This family will always be here.’’ He cupped your face with his hands. ‘’We are doing our best to wipe them out, destroy them and everything that has to do with Hydra.’’ He looked you in the eyes, showing you that he was serious. ‘’So that no one has to go through what you’ve been through.’’

There were reports of other children going missing around the same time they abducted you, and to this day they haven’t been found. Hydra was good in covering their tracts. The children either were worthy soldiers or they were disposed of accordingly.

Sleep was out of the question for that night, so you staid in his lab until morning. Watching him thinker on a project was calming. Giving your mind something else to think about. Eventually you helped.

Tony was amazed by how handy you were with his tech. ‘’I picked up a thing or two from you and back in captivity.’’ It wasn’t the most pleasant memory but the ones of your dad were. ‘’Glad to know you are just as smart as your dad.’’ He said with a chuckle.

Later that following morning you headed to your room due to exhaustion. ‘’I think imma try to sleep now.’’ You said through yawning. ‘’You do that kiddo.’’ Your dad said with a smile. Happy to have bonded after two years.

With a happy heart you and an empty mind you walked back to your room. This amount of happiness was something you hadn’t felt in years. It was like your old life coming back. Sleep came naturally this time. No nightmares that haunted your dreams, just a peaceful slumber.

Waking up rested for the first time in forever, you felt good. Good about yourself and good about life. The talk with your dad helped a lot. He promised to stay home for a couple days so that he could be there for you. He admitted that he was barely home when you needed him and wanted to make it up to you.

Helping out in the lab was your new favorite thing to spend your time with. It felt nice being around your dad. However, all good things come to an end.

A lead had presented itself about a mayor hydra hide out. One so big it acquired the whole team, your dad included. ‘’I know I promised you I would be home for a while,’’ He started, feeling guilty even considering going on this mission. ‘’But this one may be the end of hydra.’’ You looked at him understandingly.

‘’I know, dad. You should go.’’ He worked day and night, finding each and every hydra location to wipe them out, and this one may be the last mission if they were to be successful. He smiled at you, as if saying thank you.

He kissed your forhead before the team headed out. ‘’It will take a couple days before we are back.’’ You nodded, these missions were the worst. Being all alone in the tower, except for Loki. ‘’I’ll be fine.’’ You tried to sound confident, and you did, somewhat.

Soon after the left you seek comfort by the only other person left in the tower. Loki. Making your way down to his cell you took place onto your chair and picked up your book. ‘’Long time no see.’’ Loki had said, a hint of sadness in his voice, as if he had missed your company.

Truth be told you kinda did miss his. He always seemed to calm you down. ‘’Missed me that much?’’ You teased with a sly smile, never looking up from your chapter. ‘’Maybe.’’ He said inside is mind. Too proud to admit.

A blush creep-ed up your cheeks after reading that in his mind, so you hid your face deeper into your book. ‘’The old men out on a mission again?’’ Was his attempt of making small talk. ‘’What does it matter to you?’’ You tried to sound genuine but failed. The question sounded like a verbal attack. ‘’Sorry.’’ You said quickly after once you heard his heart pang.

What you said really matter to him, you made him feel human. Feel liked. Quietly you went back to reading. Sharing your mind to him so he could hear you read inside your head. ‘’You know I let you read my mind.’’ You said out of the blue. He looked up to you confused.

‘’Can’t I always’’ he said cocky, still thinking he held all the power. You smirked and locked him out. ‘’Try again.’’ You said as you continued reading. Loki looked at you, eyes squinted. Thinking you were playing him by not not reading but your eyes moved over the pages.

‘’Impossible. You mussed be tricking me by not thinking at all.’’ It was a foolish statement cause you could never really not think. ‘’Alright,’’ you said placing your book down and looking at him. Locking eyes. ‘’What am I thinking of now.’’ You said, eyes connected as if this way he could look inside your head.

You thought about your book, how Bilblo was going on an adventure, finding the ring and how the story ended back in Bag End. But Loki couldn’t read it. ‘’Impossible, now one is able to shut me out. I am the all mighty Loki Laufeyson. This must be one of Starks newest installments.’’ He thought, not knowing I could listen in on him.

You let out a small laugh. ‘’No, it’s not one of my fathers installments. I can shut you out and let you inside my mind. Just like I can read yours.’’ You admitted, feeling nervous of sharing this detail of yourself with him.

With a crooked head he looked at you. Puzzled by what you just have told him. ‘’In fact,’’ you started. ‘’I can mirror all of your powers.’’ You looked at him shocked by your own honesty. ‘’What do you mean mirror my powers.’’ It was more of a demand to know than a question.

With a sigh you stood up, there was no turning back now. ‘’I can yield the same powers you can. Including your Jotun side.’’ This shocked him slightly, cause no one that wasn’t from Jotun could turn like he could.

Taking a deep breath you showed him. Focused on his Jotun side you mirrored his transformation. Slowly you started to turn blue, eyes turning red and letting the temperature drop below freezing. ‘’See.’’ You said, avoiding his gaze. ‘’Amazing.’’ He said in his mind. Making you look up, seeing Loki looking back at you in his Jotun form. ‘’How?’’ He asked, baffled by your performance. ‘’A little trick I learned a while back.’’

End of part one

Read part 2 now! Just a puny god

[wawamouse]

hi wawamouse,

so, i don’t have a personal experience with tattoos so these are propositions without any pretension, just ideas, lol (most of them may not even be appropriate for the characterizations you’re contemplating so it’s really just to contribute) :

for Miguel

Neck : a christian cross on the side of the neck in black and grey. maybe on the left side of his neck since his cross made of circles is on his right upper arm.

Back of the neck + Upper back : tribal linework.

Left pec : family portrait (mother + sibling(s?), miguel included) from when he was a child. it is the reproduction of a real photo, in ‘realism’ style, in black and grey. (from what i’ve heard and seen, these can be stunning, but they can also easily turn out quite ugly if the tattoo artist isn’t a specialist, lol).

Right pec : half-lenght portrait (or so) – or just upper part – of a virgin mary, eyes closed, head cast slightly down and hands joined in prayer, turned three quarters towards the left pec.

Abdomen : in ‘american traditional’ style, or in ‘neo-traditional’ style, in colors (?), a composition with a classic car (maybe even the seville) bursting towards the viewer, the front big, turned slightly to the side and maybe seen at a low angle, and a scantily clad pinup lady leaning sexily against it, holding a milkshake in one hand and daintily bringing the cherry that was on top of it to her lipsticked lips with her other hand, or something (lol).

Right forearm : since his naked pinup is on the inside of his left forearm, something for the bros on his right forearm, lol : the hands of two people dapping up or something.

One elbow : ‘biomechanical’ style, with gears appearing under shredded skin (maybe for when he feels powerful at the wheel of his car, being one with the machine, but also for when he has episodes of feeling like an empty sad automaton (… if he has them)).

Somewhere (rib ?), a holy scripture quote about redemption or about penance.

(2nd message)

for Chico Neck : a kind of neck sleeve tattoo with a sacred heart (flaming and/or crowned and/or pierced) in the front, on the throat, and the bones of the cervical spine on the back, maybe bordered with a shredded skin effect, as if we were having a peak inside. Back of the hands and fingers : the skeleton underneath, too. (the skeleton imagery maybe to represent an idea of death and indicate that he will (/he wants to) do whatever needs to be done for the gang (maybe for whoever is precious to him even), no hesitation no fear for his life, so he puts himself under god’s protection and otherwise considers himself a dead man walking…) maybe the beads of a rosary tattooed around his neck, with the cross falling on his chest. Left pec : thespian masks. maybe a ‘Carpe Diem’ quote next to it. Right pec : in ‘neo-traditional’ style american or mexican, a pinup lady’s face, with flowing hair, a bandana covering the bottom half of her face, and one of her hand next to her face and holding a gun. maybe some linework (or other filler) added later to try and give it some cohesiveness into a breastplate, to make it flow from under the chin to the bottom of the pecs. Just under the pecs, transversally : cursive script, ‘La Familia es Todo.’ or something. One forearm : gang affiliation tattoo. is the rose on the back of Miguel’s hand it ? if so, then a rose in ‘american traditional’ style, with colors maybe. The other forearm : in ‘realism’ style, in black and grey, the face of someone in the act of sucking on a joint, with the joint to their mouth and pinched between the fingers of one hand ; from under their lashes, they have a languid but piercing gaze looking directly into the eyes of whoever is looking at the tattoo. An upper arm : barbed wire encircling it. Other upper arm : a classic car, maybe in a simplistic style, just the lines, no shading. and maybe, if it’s appropriate for him as you envision his character in this fic, maybe a tattoo serving as the reminder of some personal secret truth, hidden on the sensitive skin on the inside of his left arm (level with his heart), small, coded (abstract geometrical construction or otherwise) and camouflaged among other tattoos. Also, for either of them, some random tattoo – on the arm for example – that is a cover up job (identifiable as such or not) for the name of an ex-lover ; maybe it’s even a wolf or a panther, or any ‘apex predator’ represented looking pissed off and aggressive, lol.

Anon these are awesome! And as to the third message you sent, no worries! I'm TOTALLY open to people sending me asks about Oz or dumping headcanons on me (especially about these two 👀). (I also hope I don't come off as intimidating or something to anyone... I don't bite! I swear!)

These tattoo ideas are INCREDIBLE. The reason I was asking for suggestions was because I've been working on a silly little drawing for a tattoo artist!Chico AU. I have tats myself but I suuuuuck with coming up with ideas. These ones are super cool and I think they definitely could fit both characters depending on the AU set up. The idea of them having cover-ups in particular is great! And I like the torn skin effect idea for Chico (haha, because it'd match what he did to himself in the show). Although, that said, while I adore the idea of Miguel having a car tattoo, I probably won't be able to give him one (or include many of these)... due to my inability to draw cars (:laughsob:). But it was so much fun reading your ideas, truly! These are all ones that could be fit into a fic easily :D

In my drawing so far, I've only gotten a couple tattoos drawn:

Chico has some decorative thorns on his face, a knife on his neck, and a quote on his forearm. I liked the idea by @merelyafigment of giving him a colorful tattoo; I want to draw either an Aztec or Incan god on his arm. I'm sort of on the fence on which... Generally I headcanon Chico as Mexican, although I'm pretty sure the actor is Peruvian, which is why I was thinking of maybe adding an Incan nod. Could do Inti (Incan sun god) or I'm leaning towards a sexy/scary tzitzimitl, star demon from Aztec mythology lol. Will have to see which I can do with my drawing ability...

For Miguel so far, I've given him a more American traditional version of the sexy lady on his forearm, plus an updated sacred heart for his bicep... I'm giving him a pair of swallows for a chest/collarbone tattoo, which is what tattooist!chico is in the middle of tattooing in the picture. Besides that, they're both a little blank right now... But your message has given me more inspiration, or least stuff to think about :)

[septimaseverinawannawrite]

How the Relationship Begins

Fandom: Star Wars

Type: Headcanons

Pairing: Cassian Andor x F!Reader

Warning: Late night writing, so, no beta. Writer is being overwhelm and under Taylor Swift's Lavender Haze (As you can see title's colours). A little bit OOC.

Rate: T

A/N: This idea happened when I rewatch Andor for fourth time. Now, I'm heavily in the writer-block state, but I don't want to abandon this blog. I believe this dilemma is gonna pass, if I keep writing. So, Enjoy!

🌹Click to My AO3

(Divider by @saradika)

Okay, let's start!

You met him on Yavin IV. Both of you were new to the Alliance's main base.

Since it was the main base, that meant you both had to train for necessary skills.

From the Alliance's levels, he was 'good to excellent', while your far-lenght shooting skill was not reaching the requirement. You stayed at training ground, after all new recruits leaved, to improve your skill.

Cassian saw you practising. He volunteered to help you, because he had feelings toward you.

It was the impression at first sight.

He couldn't clearly answer what kind of feeling, but as you were around him, smiling at him and saying thanks, he felt like he was teenage boy - who had a first crush - again.

While you had been grateful for his help and feeling like butterflies were in your stomach, especially when he adjusting your stance.

Not only his help drove you crazy, but also his smiles, his touches and his whispers into your ear - how to shoot and hitting right at the target.

As you hit all targets in all rows, you jumped and hugged him with happiness and exciting.

Yes. It made you blushing hard like tomatoes, while Cassian's heart skipped a beat. So, you two bounced away.

"First time is a beginner luck. You have to practise everyday." He said. "Meet me every day after dinner."

You agreed. You and Cassian kept meeting at training ground, every evening.

And after the semi-private session. You returned to your quater with many questions in your head. The big question was; 'Did you fall for him?'

You shaked them off and switched with the thought until you falling asleep.

Now you had been practising every evening for 2 weeks, until he challenging you to shoot all targets within 30 seconds. You accepted and you did it.

Jumping and hugging him again. But this time you both lingered. His face and yours were close, enough to feel the breathes. His brown eyes bared his soul, you could not fight them.

"Thank you so much, Cassian. I think tomorrow I will pass the test with flying flag." You mumbled.

"I think so, but, why do you looking to another way?"

You still looked down at the floor, almost startling, he was tilting your chin up to look at him. His thumb gently fondled your lower lips, your lips part a little.

"Cassian...I-I.." You stuttered, "I don't know what to say..."

"Kassa, call me Kassa."

Cassian's raptured voice got you, finally you gazed upon him, whispering 'Kassa'.

Like the gravity around you two sent the colossus magnets pulling you both to capture each other's lips.

After few seconds, which felt like hours; you both withdrew for air, leaning the temples together with wide smiles and small laughing.

When you passed the test and registered as an officially rebellion officer, Cassian was waiting for you.

You hopped and hugging him tightly. He praised you and guiding you away from the chaos around hangar and commanding table.

"Would you like to move into my quarter?" He asked, kissing your temple.

"You should ask me out before asking me to move in with you." You teased him. This time was his turn that his cheeks were reddening.

He knew too well, your both works were not certain. The missions after would take his own or your life. Also, his first mission as Captain Andor had been assigned, he must leave in three days from now. So, he had to rush things like this.

But you had a point. He should ask you out for an official date. He made up his mind and asking you to survey the ancient ruins on Yavin IV with him.

You accepted with conditions and terms;

"Okay, I'm going out with you, but about moving in--"

"But what?"

"But after your first mission succeed and our third date. Because I need the assurance that you are gonna return back safe and sound. Promise me."

Cassian smiled sweetly, kissed you before he speaking.

"I'm certainly gonna get back to you, my love, I promise."

Then you hugged him again and kissing his jawline, just like a seal to guaruntee the new chapter and adventure in your both lives was full of happiness, joyous and bright futures. Even those three words did not slip out yet.

[lehengaforwomen]

Green lehenga choli Green blouse, three-quarter sleeves Green ready to wear lehenga, curved hem Lehenga Length: 1.12 metresLehenga Waist : 1.10 metresLehenga Flare :2.50 metresBlouse: 0.8 meterDupatta Lenght: 2.5 metresDupatta Width: 1 metre Flaunt your ethnic side in this beautiful Lehenga choli from MOKSHA DESIGNS. Team it with a pair of metallic-toned sandals and ethnic jewellery for a glamorous look. Blouse fabric: Satin Lehenga fabric: Satin Lehenga lining fabric: Satin Dupatta fabric: Poly Georgette #lehengalove #lehengasmumbai #croptoplehenga #whitelehenga #heavylehenga #lehengalover #lehengawear #rufflelehenga #lehengaa #indianfashion #fashionblogger #lengha #indiantraditionalwear #sangeetoutfit #indianattire #allthingsbridal #desiwear #duppatta #kurthis #lenghasmumbai #engagementlehenga

[globe-limited]

White Cotton Dress Embroidered

Designer Dresses Online

Designer Kurta Online

Best Party Dresses For Women

Best Cotton Kurtas Online

Designer Blouses Online

Sustainable Brands Women

Best Indian Wear Brands

Designer Clothes Online Shopping

Ladies Sustainable Clothing

Sustainable Fashion Brands Women

Sustainable Clothing For Women

Top Online Designer Clothing Websites

Best Fashionable Clothes Website

Best Websites To Shop For Women's Clothes

Top Online Women's Shopping Sites

Women's Ethical Clothing Brands

Sustainable Brands Women's Clothing

Best Party Wear Suits For Ladies

Best Quality Online Women's Clothing

Sustainable women’s wear

Sustainable women wear

Sustainable women’s wear online

Sustainable women wear online

[the-raven-dhampir]

Current Status:

Indefinite RP hiatus

(I'm randomly around to scroll and reblog sh*t that gives me vibes. If you want to write with me, I'd be happy to share my Discord!)

-----

So... where were we?

Curious?

GUIDELINES

#1: Before interacting, please consider that Raven is not a nice character. He is cold, depressed, self-centered, sadistic and pathologically Narcissist. Dark themes, smut and angst will be constantly present too.

#2: I'm not my Muse. Please read several times and let it sink in! Just come and talk to me, I strongly encourage that! Also, feel free to reblog memes from me - I consider us players as a small community here, let's help each other! 🖤

#3: Both Mun and Muse must be 21+. Please, take this seriously. 

#4: Open to NON Mutuals. If you are passing by and feel inspired, PLEASE interact with me. NO, you won't bother me.

#5: Multi-para/novels strongly preferred. You don't need to match my lenght, but if you leave all the plotting to me, I lose interest very fast.

#6: If you want to god-mod, please talk to me about it first. Raven is highly unpredictable and I like to keep it this way.

#7: I'm not an English native speaker and I may be slow with replies, I have a full time job and a family. Tumblr is a hobby to me. Also, I am on my phone 99% of time, so don't expect fancy formatting.

#8: If you want to interact, just do it! Send me a starter, meme, anything! Please avoid DM over and over with "Let's play." messages, just throw one of your Muses at Raven.

#9: I usually prefer going with the flow, I find it much funnier, but I’m eager to plot together.

#10: This blog is absolutely ANTI JKR and a safe place for everyone, except racists, bigots, incels… In short: bring your hate somewhere else. 

#11: At the moment, I prefer playing on Tumblr, I find it a better ice-breaker. But feel free to ask me for my Discord. 

#12: Let your fantasy run free!

MUSE

[Name] Raven du Rêvenoir. 

[Age] 200+ (Mid 30s look) - Will vary according to AU

[Species] Dhampir (part human/part vampire) 

[Family] Child of a Wallachian vampire (alive) and a French pure-blood noblewoman (deceased). 

[Alignment] Chaotic Neutral

[Face claim] Tom Sturridge as Dream of the Endless

[Height] 185 cm

[Weight] 80 kg

[Sexual preferences] Pansexual; men leaning

[Dom/Sub] Switch

[Bottom/Top] Both

[3 positive traits] Caring, generous, creative

[3 negative traits] Depressed, selfish, narcissist

DHAMPIR FEATURES

Not immortal, but aging very slowly. 

Mildly pronounced fangs. 

Pale skin, always cold to the touch. 

Occasional blood feeder, almost only for pure fun. 

Can survive without blood and solely on food like humans. 

Daywalker, but shade preferred.

WIZARD FEATURES

[Wand] Larch with a Phoenix core. Eleven and Three Quarters. Flexible. 

[School] Hogwarts

[Hogwarts House] Ravenclaw

[Patronus] Cat

BACK STORY

Born from a Wallachian Vampire and a French noblewoman, Raven was raised by both his parents in his father’s mansion, and he received a Patrician landlord title from his father. When he was eight, his Mother got murdered for “alleged witchcraft” by the rough justice of the local peasants.

Right after his mother died, his father became emotionally detached from him, till he got sent to his mother’s house in France. 

Adopted by his grandfather, whose pure bloodline dates centuries back, he was sent to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in England under a false identity to elude the 'Magical Being' laws in force in France, where it was extremely hard for part humans to get jobs, receive proper education, proper medical care or any sort of justice. 

Sorted into the Ravenclaw house, he was an average student awfully fascinated by the power a broad knowledge could bring - and by Dark Arts as well. 

Before dying, his grandfather named him heir of the large majority of the family fortune, seeing in a nearly-immortal grandchild the possibility to keep the family assets intact.

After his Hogwarts years, his family's wealthy background allows him to travel around the world, and study the arts of Magic from some of the greatest modern wizards. 

He was forced to change identities many times to escape the great deal of prejudice against "Half-Breeds", and he rarely remained in the same place for more than a decade. 

PRESENT

Once back in the western world, he chose the name Raven to honor the founder of his Hogwarts House, whom he always felt very close to.

After years and decades of being told and believing he was an "inferior", an "abomination", a "half-breed", Raven developed an ultimate love for himself as a kind of self-defense mechanism. He seeks to be perfect and flawless to the limit of pathetic. 

His wealthy family’s background allows him to dedicate himself to his hobbies and deviations without any concern.  

He can be stubborn with quite a childish attitude towards his "preys" and he considers "preys" anyone he can get something from: knowledge, blood, bare good company. 

Raven has been taught to keep his true nature secret and will not disclose it until necessary. Same goes with his native name or his family of origin: some secrets are meant to be kept.

MUN

Mun is 30+ and my pronouns are She/Her. 

Raven is a character I've created for a 30k-word FB3 fanfiction that will never see the light. Since I've traced his personality very well in my mind, why not try role-playing with him? 

I've role-played for years as several fantasy characters (elves and vampires mainly).

I’m also a visual artist, which basically means I have a lot of fun with Photoshop. Most (or even all) of the very simple edits you see here will be done by me. 

I'm a very easy-going and open-minded person. Feel free to drop a message anytime, both for role playing and not!

[a-pirate-my-hearties]

The Preparations (Hook x adult Wendy fanfiction), chapter 2

DISCLAIMER: I don’t own Wendy Darling, Captain James Hook or Smee, I merely write my own interpretations of their characters. I also don’t own the song “Jolly Sailor Bold”.

FACECLAIMS: Captain James Hook - Jason Isaacs as Hook in “Peter Pan” 2003

Wendy Darling - Rachel Hurd-Wood (examples: her role in “Dorian Gray” and in general her looks as an adult person)

Smee - Richard Briers as Smee in “Peter Pan” 2003

You can find the first chapter of my fic here!

Jolly Sailor Bold - this is my beloved cover of this song! 

*********

Throughout his existence in Neverland James Hook had rarely dreamed. If ever, then those were the nightmares of that blasted, insolent boy Peter Pan, the crocodile that ate his hand and would gladly feast on the rest of his flesh, or simply flashes of images, like scattered glass, that made no sense to him. But the last couple of nights were different.

He has been having the same dream on repeat.

James saw a person standing in front of a full lenght mirror, at first the image was blurred, but soon enough he could see clearly. A girl in her nightdress, brushing her long, wavy, honey brown hair. She was standing with her back to him so James couldn’t see her face directly, but it was reflecting in the mirror. He saw jade green eyes, their gaze level but undoubtedly fierce  and inquisitive, now slightly softened by sleepiness as she was preparing for bed.

He recognised that face and those eyes. How could he not?

Wendy Darling.

But no, no longer a girl, those eyes were the eyes of a young scholar, he thought in his dream –

A woman.

Out of nowhere, as if he were deaf before, he heard a female voice singing, gradually surrounding him, as an echo in a well. He realized Wendy was singing.

Softly, mindlessly Wendy was singing.

My heart is pierced by Cupid I disdain all glittering gold There is nothing can console me But my jolly sailor bold…1

******

Suddenly the soft voice was replaced with shouting and swearing of his crew and his bosun was babbling nervously at him. A groan escaped Hook’s throat as he was waking up, still face down on his desk.

‘Capt’n? Capt’n? I was tellin’ ‘em dogs to get back to work  but ‘ey wouldn’ listen – ‘

‘I was dreaming, Smee.’

Smee’s eyebrows went up. ‘Of Pan, capt’n?’

With a heavy sigh Hook finally rose from the desk and gave his bosun an unreadable look, then walked to the window of his cabin to stare outside and there was such longing painted on his face, even Smee hasn’t seen him like this in a long while, and he knew Captain Hook  for, well, forever.

‘No, Smee. Of Wendy Darling.’2

Smee’s brows went even further up, but then he smiled fondly, remembering The Storyteller. ‘That Wendy lass, eh? Awful good at tellin’ stories. Must have grown quite lot since – ‘

‘Yes.’

Smee knew well  enough when not to provoke the captain, so he said no more. He just stood there a bit awkwardly, awaiting for the orders.

James Hook stood at the window, arms folded behind his back, but he wasn’t looking at anything in particular. His mind was filled with questions. What about those reoccuring dreams? Why Wendy Darling? Surely, when he met her she was a bright and daring child, but back then he used her just as a bait for Pan, nothing more. He didn’t like children anyway, not to mention he tried to kill Pan, of whom she was fond of (‘tis just a timble’, she said to Hook, before giving Pan her hidden kiss), her and her brothers, and about that he was sure, she never forgot. And wasn’t Wendy a part of his own demise, when he disappeared in the belly of the crocodile? (‘Old, alone, done for!’, oh, you cruel, cruel child). He managed to claw his way out of that damned beast with his hook, because in the cursed place called Neverland he couldn’t even rest. He couldn’t even die.

Maybe the fact he was still alive and those dreams meant something.

Maybe there was a chance for him.

Hook scolded himself in his mind for such thoughts. Years of loneliness, bitterness and dissapointment have taken their toll and he felt a wave anger taking over him, red flash reaching his eyes.

‘Capt’n?’

The wave was over as soon as it began. He had to make a plan. He had to –

Wendy...

With a sigh Hook turned around to Smee.

‘What are you standing here for, you old fool?’, he waved his left hand in a dismissive manner.

‘The orders, Capt’n – ‘

‘I will be on the deck shortly, that bunch of scoundrels – just help me with this bloody thing, Smee.’

‘Aye aye, capt’n.’

Smee helped James put on and fasten the leather harness that kept the hook in place. When James attached the hook with a loud „click”, he felt the same click in his head. The plan was beginning to form.

Bosun helped him comb his curls and then dress into trousers, shirt and his favourite red brocade frock coat.

Smee was ready to leave Hook’s quarters but was stopped by his voice.

‘Smee?’

‘Yes, capt’n?’

‘I think  I have a plan, concerning our dear Wendy Darling. And I think it’s time we put that Neverhell’s magic to work. To our advantage. I need three seamstresses, the best ones you can find me. They are to be paid well  and equipped with everything they need. We will need fairy dust as well… in vast amounts. A boat that will fit three people at least.’

‘Don’t think I follow, capt’n.’

‘We’ll have a masquerade ball in the Black Castle, Smee. But for that, I need you and at least another one  to transport Wendy safely here.’

Smee didn’t understand. But he was a bosun, and Hook was the captain, and Smee was proud that captain trusted him with such an important task. He puffed out his chest proudly.

‘Aye aye capt’n!’

Hook gave Smee a nod that meant he could leave.

His plan was time consuming and it required a lot of scheming, people and magic. But it had a chance of success. He was, after all, Captain James Hook of The Jolly Roger.

‘And Smee?’, Hook turned around, the corners of his lips curling up slightly.

‘Aye?’

‘I will  deliver her her invitation myself.’

1A piece of lyrics from „Jolly Sailor Bold”. I don’t own the song.

2So here I’m using that scene from Peter Pan 2003 where Captain Hook is first introduced to build my own scene. Paraphrasing it, if you will, or paying it a hommage. :)

@wisp-of-a-spook @bela-leerox @peritwotone @trierarchuncus-prairiensis @rosesandglitter @sephirayne I hope you will enjoy this chapter :)

[adultwithoutsupervision]

Barbie Princess and the Pauper

I want to talk about what might be the greatest movie ever created: Barbie the Princess and the Pauper. I’ve been in love with this movie since I was three years old, aka when it came out, as you can propably tell. Beware that spoilers are below.

Barbie movies tend to get a lot of shit in the media, mostly for not being inclusive seeing as the characters generally are white and thin, and I don’t mean to invalidate those issues because I do see them. However, in this ’essay’ I want to tell the story of why they, especially the princess and the pauper, are still such amazing and nurturing stories. I’ll focus on what parts I think makes it such a story and perhaps you’ll find ways to incorporate them into your own stories, or at the very least be inspired by them.

In case there is anyone who hasn’t seen the movie I’ll summarize it;

Barbie is Princess Anneliese, only child of the Queen to a kingdom who is running out of money. Their main income has always been there gold mines but they have secretly been emptied by the Queen’s advisor, Preminger, as he wants to force the Queen to marry him (so that he will be king) to gain access to his immense wealth (the gold from the mines). The Queen choses to arrange a marriage between Anneliese and a neighbouring rich King, Dominick, instead. Erika on the other hand is a poor seamstress who dreams of being a singer but is stuck paying of a loan that her parents took from an evil dressshop owner. Both her and Anneliese are driven by their sense of duty and when they by chance meet and realize that they’re identical except for their haircolours and a birthmark they instantly become friends. Before Anneliese and Dominick can meet, Preminger kidnaps Anneliese and makes it look as if she has run away to avoid the marriage. Erika pretends to be Anneliese in order to keep the proposal available and thus save the kingdom while Julian, the man Anneliese actually wants to marry, tries to find her. As you’ve probably figured it eventually ends well with Preminger imprisoned and the arranged marriage called off. During her capture, Anneliese is held in the mines for sometime and realize that the stones in it are actaully jewels so they don’t need Dominick’s money anymore and she can marry Julian instead.

Now, as for why this is an amazing story:

• The friendship between Anneliese and Erika. When they first meet Erika is singing in the street as she tries to earn money to pay off her debt, Anneliese gives her a bit off money and they start talking. They are both shocked when they see that they’re practically identical and start talking about their lives. It quickly becomes apparent that neither is satisfied with their current lives, Erika doesnt want to work as a seamstress and Anneliese doesn’t want to marry King Dominick. What I personally love the most about this scene is that it’s Erika who points out their similarities, despite how obvious it is that Anneliese lives a much more privileged life. I think that it shows what a caring and emphatic character Erika is that she is able to see through that and still see their similarities. Later on in the movie, it is ultimately their friendship and the lenghts they go for each other as well as their senses of duty that saves the kingdom.

•The pets. While the humans fight against Preminger, Anneliese’s cat Serafina and Erika’s cat Wolfie both go above and beyond to help them as well as get their own character arcs. The most obvious of them being how Wolfie comes to terms with the fact that he barks instead of meowing like normal cats. Serafina’s arc is more subtle, she is very strong and confident throughout the entire movie but if you pay attention it becomes apparent that she becomes less vain throughout due to the rough situations she goes through to save Anneliese. The two of them even get their own enemy in the shape of Preminger’s arrogant dog. Oh, and Wolfie and Serafina also fall in love and have a litter with super cute kittens!

•King Dominick. When he is first introduced, he has disguised himself as a servant because he wants to see what it’s like when they don’t know that he is king. This speaks to the fact that he doesn’t want to marry just anyone, he actually cares about the person and not the title. His first meeting with ’Anneliese’ is actually Erika and it is clear that be becomes smitten. Shortly after he hears her sing to Wolfie in her quarters when she thinks that she’s alone and that only strenghtens his feelings for her. Later on in the movie when it is revelead by Preminger that Erika is an imposter, Dominick refuses to believe the lies he spews about her and Julian and even goes so far as to assist Erika when she flees from the dungeon. Even after he knows that Erika isn’t the princess he thought that she was he still wants to marry her regardless, showing again that it isn’t the crown or power he loves. That creates a powerful opposition to Preminger btw who does everything out of deisre for power and status. Erika originally turns down his proposal as she wishes to travel the world and try her chance at singing now that she is finally free from her debt to the shopowner, still Dominick continues to love and support her. He waits patiently for months until she returns and only then do they live happily ever after together.

•Now that I’ve talked about Dominick I simply have to gush about Julian as well. He’s the servant who fell maddly in love with the princess despite knowing that they couldn’t be together. He knows Anneliese so well that he realizes she is kidnapped based on the SCENT of the letter ’Anneliese’ aka Preminger left claiming that she had run away. I mean, anyone who recognizes the fricking scent of your letters is instantly marriage material. He then goes out of his way to bring Erika to the castle and teach her how to act like Anneliese so that the marriage arrangement doesn’t fall through, a marriage that would have no doubt broken his heart but he still fights for it because he knows that Anneliese would never want to see their kingdom fall apart even if it means that she will have to sacrifice herself. He is selfless and supports Anneliese constantly, his love for her is complete and incredibly beautiful. When Anneliese confeses her love to him in the mines he still can’t believe it despite that he is such a wonderful person and that makes him very human to me.

•Preminger. I hate the man, but I love the character. His only motivation is power and that is something I find incredibly realistic now that I’ve grown up. He doesn’t care for either Anneliese or the Queen despite trying to get them both to marry him, which becomes extremly clear when he tries to murder Anneliese and Julian out of his own convinience. Preminger is actually quite smart and strategical and if not for the fact that his two goons are complete morons [Noun: loving] he might have actually succeeded. Don’t get me started on those two, they are so ridicolously comedic that I can’t handle it.

•The soundtrack. I’m a sucker for music in general, especially in children’s movies but the songs in this one are my favorite. They’re emotional and raw and play in extremly well with Erika’s ambitions to become a singer once she is free to live her life as she wishes. She, for example, uses a song to lull her prisonguard to sleep in order to escape which is not only clever but also teaches kids that words are powerful.

•I could continue ranting about this movie forever but I’m going to conclude by talking about how strong both Anneliese and Erika are. I’ve mentioned previously how responsible they are because of their duties but I want to evolve further on why they are such amazing role models. Anneliese doesn’t just do the right thing when she thinks that she has to, when mistaken for Erika and locked in by the shopowner Erika works for she helps the other seamstress with the dresses because Anneliese simply refuses to let her do them all by herself. And Erika, she shows that you can follow your dreams even if you fall in love and that sometimes taking risks is worth it. Erika stepped in as Anneliese despite knowing that if caught she would be tried for treason and possibly executed, but she did it for her friend and for her kingdom. Back to Anneliese, when she was stuck and left to die in a mine she kept calm, found a way to save her kingdom, confessed her love to her best friend (Julian) and came up with a genius idea that saved their lives. If those things don’t scream bad ass female role models to you I don’t know what to tell you.

Thanks for reading! I’m @youraveragebooknerd on IG

[witcheswritings]

Rest in me

Summary: (Modern!AU) In the aftermath of a terrible accident, Hinata and Sakura struggle to start anew. 

Lenght: 3098 words 

Author: CireneMQ (Nohara-Cirene)

Translator: Rainbow.feathers (Rainbowfeather)

Fandom: Naruto

Relationships: Sakura Haruno/Hinata Hyuuga

Warnings: Descriptions of severe injury, descriptions of recovery. 

Disclaimer: This fanfiction was written as a commission for the very creative @wombatking who was kind enough to prompt us this beautiful idea! If you want to commission us anything don’t be afraid to ask!

September and the leaves lose their color by fall. In a tenuous way, as, little by little, the greenery gives way to ocher tones.

Intricate parallelism with reality that is not yet assimilated; the irrecoverable loss of everyday life and the illusions that take rot like leaves on the ground. Compost for pain, distant hopes that try to sustain the impending collapse of the will.

And the juxtaposition of effort and resentment, of resignation and denial.

Sakura leaves the hospital, withdraws from the care and the smell of antiseptic that for three months have kept her in a different world and now they’re part of a bubble that no longer exists. She returns to the real world with that involuntary feeling that she is living in a very long nightmare, but that sooner or later it will end.

During her recovery, she repeated herself that although it was all bullshit, life would be lighter when she finally returned home. She missed the fresh air, the school, her friends and Hinata.

Yes, her girlfriend had done almost the impossible to stay by her side.

During her stay in the hospital there was not a single day where she did not visit her, even with the pressure that Hiashi exerted on the schedule and mandatory activities for his first-born. Sakura, aware of the peculiar family situation, kept repeating to herself about how lucky she was to have her. There was nothing she could ask for that Hinata hadn't done for her. For that reason, seeing her waiting in front of the door was not at all surprising.

Hinata was there, with the kindest smile in the world and affection coming out of her pores..., and everything that Sakura anticipated that she would feel, the happiness of being free, of returning to "everyday life" with her, turned to bile in her throat; life was not lighter, the nightmare was not going to end.

She tried to smile, but the joy didn't reach her green eyes. Hinata understood instantly, trying to dilute her sadness in the subtle touch of her lips, a moment of tangible calm.

“Let's go home, Sakura.”

Suddenly the world turned upside down. Ordinary details became unrecognizable, from the drive home to sinking into the mattress; the air was different, smelled of cracked faith and a chaotic form of suppressed despair.

“Are you comfortable?”

“Well... it's not like I feel anything.” Vinegary smile that Hinata sweetened with the warmth of her own.

She arranged cushions behind her back, taking special care not to move her abruptly. Sakura gritted her teeth, annoyance stemming from the boredom of being treated with the fragility of a dry leaf, yet she said nothing. It was the truth, the plainly crude and revolting true.

The time, when "Sakura! Sakura!" was chanted by those who attend the soccer games and the adrenaline of scoring a goal ran through her blood, would never return. She was a brittle leaf under the sole of a world that was hers, but that no longer recognized her as someone capable of setting the pace.

Still in grief, she held Hinata's gaze and invoked the iron of her own character; she couldn't give up.

“My mom says the wheelchair they ordered has arrived. I'd like you to help me set it up, it'll be fun, don't you think?”

“Of course! Your strong lungs will do a lot...”

The months of hospitalization were filled with "solutions" to her situation, such as the new computer that, based on voice commands, allowed her to communicate with the world in the same way as she did before. Sakura's mother had taken the time to research all the rehabilitation therapies she could, including pseudo-sciences that promised fantastic results. Sakura agreed to practically all of them, even though they were mentally exhausting.

“I plan to go back to school, although I'm not sure how I'll do it. Mom has her doubts, and I don't want to depend on anyone for that.”

Hinata sat on the mattress, tilting her head and giving her a look full of tenderness. She had known her long enough to know that dependency was unthinkable for the usual Sakura, so she preferred not to pull that string. The Hyuga's hand raised to Sakura’s cheekbone to give her a sympathetic caress that said everything that the pink-haired woman did not want to hear in words; namely, compassion.

“Then, we will have to hurry up so you can handle that chair.”

However, things do not always turn out as you imagine them, Sakura would learn this as soon as her inert body was secured by the security straps to the device. What began with the excitement of starting over ended in tears and anger.  

Her lips were dry, and she was annoyed at the failed attempts to get the wheels to obey as Hinata, standing in front of her, urged Sakura to reach her.

“Blow again, Sakura. Remember; a loud puff is forward.”

“I know, I know.”

The lips formed an "o" again and stuck to the bulb. Instantly, the girl released the air forcefully and the wheels began to move, but again drew back as she took a breath before withdrawing completely.

“You have to inhale when you have already removed the mouth from the bulb, otherwise the reader interprets it as you want to go backwards.”

Her jaw was trembling. She had already memorized the theoretical instructions, but putting them into practice was something totally different, something Hinata couldn't understand as much as she wanted to. Sakura clenched her eyelids wanting to calm down, until the sweet voice of her girlfriend pierced her eardrum with the annoyance of a bell.

“Let's see again what the manual says...”

“I already know the fucking manual, Hinata!”

The girl's eyes widened, and she recoiled from her girlfriend's outburst. The anger was evident and even understandable. Sakura Haruno, the one who was a star and was always going a thousand an hour, tied to a chair and without the immediate patience to assimilate it. Hinata looked down and fiddled with her fingers.

“I'm sorry… it wasn't my intention.”

“It’d be better if you go home, I’ve had enough of feeling useless ... For today.”

“I’m really sorry, I…”

“Please, Hinata.”

Although what Sakura said sounded more like an order than to a request, Hinata did not add anything, except for the goodbye kiss that her girlfriend received coldly.

That same cold ended up keeping the girl awake until dawn, but it was the debacle in conjugated tears that each one kept in their respective beds, which encouraged them to do something for the other.

Sakura to apologize for her attitude, Hinata to change her empathy for the love that covers everything, even if she doesn't understand it.

With their hearts set on each other, they recalled the tragic events that led them to end this way.

********************* ********************* ********************* *********************

********************* ********************* ********************* *********************

The darkness was beginning to beat the light. It was getting dark, but visibility still revealed the silhouette of two girls playing next to the pier. Sakura and Hinata, with joviality and tenderness on the cusp of falling in love at their short sixteen, sitting with their feet in the water.

“I will do it! I'll swim to the rock and show you that I could also be the star of the diving team; I don't care what Ino says.”

In between stolen kisses from Sakura and laughter that was heard alongside the first crickets. Hinata was smiling softly, enjoying her girlfriend’s energy that used to fill her with warmth.

“You don't have to prove anything to me, plus you already know Ino.”

Sakura stood up, letting go of her girlfriend's hand. Her will and the desire to feel the adrenaline that conquering every challenge left her, led her to jump into the water and submerge to start swimming to the huge rock that was on the other side.

Hinata looked at her, while she shook her head at the audacity she manifested in everything. That was one of the things that made her fall in love with Sakura; the freedom she lived with. It was a pleasure just to watch her exist, an extreme fascination that the Hyuga couldn't ignore, just like that moment.

The mauve eyes watched her girlfriend's head come out every so often to take a breath, while the distance between them grew. At last, Sakura touched the rock with her hands and instantly turned to look at Hinata and smile at her. The damp feet began to help her climb slowly, making sure twice to hold on firmly to some protrusion and fitting her feet in every nook and cranny.

The effort ended when she was able to sit on the rock and then pull herself up until she was standing on it. Hinata narrowed her eyes, barely appreciating the movement in which Sakura blew her a kiss with her hands and lowered herself to jump.

Sakura, for her part, watched the dark water and her mind made quick calculations of how far she would have to push herself in order to rid herself of the bulging rocks looming below. It was at least five meters high, and the race would have to be sped up to go far enough and land at the proper depth.

She stepped back again, counting back five steps. Good thing the rock was big enough, otherwise no one would have the courage to run and jump, as she was about to do.

3, 2, 1…

The initial impulse was good, Sakura perceived it the same as when she started to run from three quarters of the field towards the goal. It was going from zero to one hundred in just a fraction, but she was more than used to that lift off. The floor was about to run out and with that she prepared to bend her knees a little and take as much momentum as possible in the last two steps.

However, when the right leg leaned against the edge of the rock, the moisture left by herself before, betrayed her in the most brutal way possible.

The foot slipped. Sakura's momentum was nullified and she violently rushed down. The worst of the case is that she already had her center of gravity positioned forward, just a fraction of a second before she slipped. The inertia did its job, Sakura fell headfirst into the water, while the last rays of sunlight allowed Hinata to watch the crash.

Hiashi's daughter's scream occurred as she threw herself into the water to go after her girlfriend. She was never the best at athletics, but this time she didn't give up. Her arms worked their way through the water, swallowing some liquid that she ignored in her desperation to advance.

When she finally arrived, Sakura was sunk beside the rocks, inert as a scandalous amount of blood swirled around them in the scariest landscape she had ever witnessed. She took her in her arms and dragged her so that her head could be in the open air, then she gave her the kiss of life and luckily, the pink haired girl responded promptly. However, what gave her some peace soon turned into a different nightmare.

“I can’t move,”

Hinata's screams overshadowed the crickets, the sound of running water, and the music of some friends who were also enjoying the first party of the summer. Immediately, several approached the lake in order to respond to her call for help.

The next thing Hinata could remember would be the blue and red lights and the sirens that beat her intermittent crying. Paramedics who with a grimace, revealed the terrible state of her girlfriend. Upon arriving at the hospital and after the respective medical tests, Mr. and Mrs. Haruno received the sad news.

X-rays and the subsequent tomographies as well as complementary resonances that confirmed what the doctors had already anticipated: Severe neck injury.

Fourth and fifth vertebrae fractured, with oppression to the spinal cord and consequent injury to it. Loss of mobility and sensation from the neck down, on top of what all of it entailed; paralysis.

The collapse of illusions and dreams. The severed wings of the young woman and the despair and fears that came with it... In addition, guilt on Hinata, the same guilt that brought her down in the hospital corridor when her girlfriend's mother explained the situation to her.

The debacle of a newly blossomed button and the broken heart of whoever witnessed it right before their eyes.

********************* ********************* ********************* *********************

********************* ********************* ********************* *********************

With the rays of the sun lighting up the sky, Hyuga left the comfort of the sheets to gain ground on all the tasks that her father overloaded on her shoulders.

She fulfilled this, yearning to make Hiashi change his mind and give her dreams a chance. The same dreams that, with what happened with Sakura, took on greater strength and filled her psyche with decision.

Hinata would be a nurse, she’d take care of people's lives with her characteristic tenderness, but she would spice up her courage with the strength that her girlfriend showed... And she would start immediately.

She changed her clothes to more decent ones and descended the stairs with renewed will. The sleepless night and the memories strengthened her walk and she tried to stay that way.

In no time, she was, once again in front of the Haruno's front door and they let her in with their usual kindness. If they had anything to be grateful for, it was the time and heartfelt support she provided for their daughter.  

Hinata knocked on the door of her girlfriend's room and the characteristic "come in" didn't wait, nor did she have to say anything before Sakura spit out the same thing that hadn't let her sleep the night before.

“Before you say anything, I need you to forgive me. Yesterday I was..., it's no excuse, but...”

“You don't have to say anything, I'm sorry to pressure you like that.”

“No, Hinata, listen to me...”

“I don't want to hear it. Just tell me what clothes do you want to wear, let's go out.”

Sakura frowned. Although she understood what was coming out of Hinata's mouth, she couldn’t digest the intention behind it, nor that firmness in her voice, something completely out of the ordinary in her.

“Go out? Where?”

“On a date.”

With more love than Sakura thought she deserved, Hinata took time to help her get dressed. As they did so, she kept talking about the activities she had planned to do together at school. Sakura's green eyes scrutinized her girlfriend's movements and expressions, her throat tightened in a knot and the feelings that threatened to break out of her orbs, condensed into tears.

Gritting her teeth, she drowned out the tears and blamed the sunlight for crystallizing her eyes. Hinata smiled, she knew she was hiding behind a lie, but she wasn't going to dig; she wasn't going to expose her.

“Alright, dear. Let's go!”

Ten minutes later, they were walking down the sidewalk on their way to the park. It was the first time that Sakura had transcended the world from her wheelchair and that filled her with an inhospitable vulnerability.

She barely spoke, the silence was filled by the banal comments of the other, in addition to the noise of the cars moving down the street.

The habit of going for an ice cream before taking a seat on their favorite bench, was a routine that both maintained as something sacrosanct, and this time would be no exception.

Hinata asked for two cones, the same flavors as always, the vendor handed them to her while looking curiously at Sakura in the chair. Hinata caught that and directed him her sharpest gaze, intimidating him with the hostility he perceived in her.  

She paid and turned around, suppressing the kindness that characterized her in order to teach a lesson to the vendor who was watching Sakura with that rude curiosity. But when she got to her, she realized that it would be difficult to maneuver with two ice cream cones and at the same time push the chair.

Sakura looked away, not wanting to see her struggle accommodating both ice creams in one hand and taking her to their bench with the other. Feeling humiliated, she endured the grief of the situation until they were both face to face; Hinata on the bench, Sakura tied to her hopelessness.

“Do you want to try mine?”

In a simple question, the pink haired girl broke down. She was not even able to eat a little ice cream on her own, something so easy and absurd became impossible in her situation and that was only the watershed for everything else that would come; school, life… Bullying.

People like the ice cream vendor, who were used to seeing her energetic and unstoppable, now looked at her like a freak. Sakura's sob could no longer be contained and Hinata could see in the foreground the cry of defeat and doom that split her girlfriend in half.

In another time, she wouldn’t have thought of having the emotional strength to give a word of comfort to anyone, she’d always considered herself as a nerd without charm, a crying girl who depended on everyone; weak, invisible. But since Sakura came into her life, her perspective on herself had taken a momentous turn. That pink-haired girl, with beautiful green eyes, had supported her when needed and taught her every day how valuable she was.

Hinata could never put into words her love for her or her gratitude for everything.

Sakura had built bridges of steel in between Hinata and her inaccessible willpower. It supported her in the fight for her dreams and diluted the negative feelings that stemmed from her father's continued disapproval.

Rising from the bench, she reached for one of the wildflowers growing in the grass. She knew she couldn't ease the pain, but at least she would try to give back a little of everything Sakura had given her. Hinata squatted in front of Sakura, filling her eyes and her smile with love trying to lighten the situation.

“It's going to be difficult, but I'm not going to leave you. I love you.”

With the utmost delicacy in the world, she brushed the cheeks bathed in tears, tracing the path of the salted drops that now trickled like a spring. Sakura paused at the feeling, stunned by her girlfriend's actions.

“Go ahead and get it out. I will hold you, you can rest in me.”

[eternalengineer]

Also can you please do “  be patient with her/him. they’re trying. ”  for Ben and Mel and Javi too? Trying to give you options in case you don’t have ideas for certain prompts.

“Be patient with her/him. they’re trying.” Javi & Melanie & Ben

“This is a bad idea” Javi hummed as she entered the engine, wearing the hospitality uniform for the first time.

They were three days down the track when Ruth had stopped Melanie in the corridors and asked her who was supposed to be Head of Hospitality after Kevin, sadly, never boarded. She had muttered that she’d need to ask Mr Wilford and that she’ll be back with an answer shortly.

“We don’t have a choice, Javi. Or maybe you want to be the one wearing teal?”

“Nope.” He said popping the “p”.

It made sense for one of them to join Hospitality, it was the best way to have eyes and ears everywhere; and despite how much she hated it, it made sense for it to be her. She had been the one closest to Wilford, and he loved to introduce her as his “protégé” instead of acknowledging her position as engineer, so much that most outside of the engine didn’t know what she did.

“Still think it’s a bad idea, you’ll be the first one they’ll attack once they find out Wilford’s dead.”

“If they find out.” She pointed out.

“Keep telling yourself that.”

“C’mon. Can we not fight about this?” She was tempted to add again to her sentence but she understood that Javi was entitled to his emotions. They had kept something huge from him, and she knew he wouldn’t forgive them so soon for putting him in this position. They were all on edge in the engine, from loss, anger, grief of a world they won’t ever see again. A sense of betrayal.

“And why not?”

“Because there’s no point. What’s done is done.”

“And it was done without once consulting me.”

“Oh, cry me a fucking river.” Ben finally spoke up, fist clenched as he got up from his chair.

“Ben.”

“No, I’m tired of hearing him whine like what we did was easy.” She didn’t need him to remind her, it was barely a week ago.

“Fuck you, Bennett.” Javi spat out.

“Javi.”

“Whatever.” Javi got up from his chair, heading to what Melanie assumed would be his quarter, not many places to take shelter in for an engineer.

“You need to be patient with him.” Melanie finally said, in the dead quiet room. “He’s trying.”

“We all are.” She sighed at his words, she was so tired of all the fighting.

“We had time to process what we were going to do, we talked about at lenght. He didn’t, he trusted us and we betrayed that trust.” She explained, hoping Ben would finally understand. “So I need you to help me mend that relationship, not destroy it more. We need Javi and I don’t want to lose him.”

“I was being a dick, wasn’t I?” She watched as Ben’s face softened in understanding.

“Not the words I would have used but, yeah.”

“I’ll apologize as soon as he is ready to get back.”

“Thank you.”

[smarti-at-smogwarts]

First Year Profile

Taking a page from the lovely @carewyncromwell​ who’s the blog that introduced me  to HPHM and encouraged me to play. 

While I’m still in year one [ im trying to catch up as fast as possible T-T] I wanted to jot some stuff down about my MC and  maybe have ppl meet her. 

There’s stuff missing but that will be added as I progress through the game. 

[ Image ID close up of a girl with shoulder lenght brown hair, a round nose, and blue eyes. She’s smiling at the camera. End ID]

NAME | Marta Beatrice Venturi

NICKNAMES | Marti -Goes by that everywhere, actually doesn’t like her full name, and only gets called it when she’s in trouble-. Smarti [ Jacob called her this. Off limits] Munchkin [ her dad] Venturi. [ Snape and Merulla] 

Pronouns | She/Her 

ORIENTATION | Bi

[PERSONALITY] Marti is a bit capricious due  to being the baby of her family and tends to want things to go her way. She’s a bit mischievous because of this and can be rather childish though also very playful and sweet for the same reason. She is also incredibly empathetic and always there for her friends, becoming very protective of them. She’s highly social and outgoing often known for befriending people at the drop of a hat. Despite this first impressions tend to stick to her and once she makes up her mind about you it can take a lot for her to change it. [ ie both Snape and Merula are already in a bad light for her after one meeting with each while both Flitwick and Hagrid are in a good light.] 

She’s very protective of and tries to do right by those she considers friends and can be highly protective of them. 

[Image ID; Marti standing between a girl with dark skin, ling black hair and glasses [ her friend Rowan] and a girl with  short brown hair. The text reads under her ‘’get away from her’ End ID]

Jacob is her berserk button as she loves him dearly and still hasn’t let him go. Anyone talking badly about him instantly goes on her sh-t list and will cause her to lose her temper.  

[Image ID- Marti looking angry as a text box below him reads ‘’expelling him was completely unfair; and it was just as wrong of him to run away without telling. End ID]

[BIOGRAPHY]

Marti is the third child of Abigail Rowle and George Venturi. Both purebloods. They had two boys before her, Jacob [ ten years older than Marti] and Edwin [ four years older than Marti]. Most of Marti’s early memories include her family either together or separately and are good ones.  She was specially close to her oldest brother as he often babied her and had a soft spot for her. 

There was a rough patch when Abigail and George after months of arguments and the relationship being rocky, separated. However, Marti was both too young and sheltered by both her brothers for it to affect her too much.  Their father, a wizard world attorney, kept full custody of the three of them which Abigail was okay with.

Raising three kids was a handful for George and while he tried his best and the family was very loving [ with all three Venturi kids being unequivocally Daddy’s Girl/Boys] there were a lot of times when Jacob and even Edwin eventually  picked up the slack. Being the baby, Marti was coddled and never wanted for much attention not in the very least because while Jacob tried to not have favorites between his siblings he undoubtedly had a soft spot for his baby sister.[ not that Edwin ever begrudged her this. ]  

While Jacob went to Hogwarts when Marti was still really young [ which led to more than a few tantrums specially in his first year] he remained an important figure in her life and the three Venturi remained close, reuniting every break the school allowed even after Edwin joined his brother [ starting his Hogwarts career when Marti was  six ]

Unfortunately this wasn’t to last. Jacob vanished during his sixth year which sent the small family into turmoil. Edwin, who was about to start his first year, became withdrawn and sulked on his own, closing himself off to everyone including his own family. George was distraught at losing his oldest son. His relationship with Abigail became strained since they separated amicably enough but the loss of a child led them to be unable to be in the same room without assigning blame. [ though Abby still keeps her visits with her children she just..doesn’t speak to their father.]

And Marti lost her big brother.

The family grieved and eventually seemed to move on though none of them have completely let Jacob go. George still blames himself and harbors a lot of feelings of failing his son. Edwin is hugely withdrawn and refuses to speak on the matter. Marti in particular refuses to let Jacob go or give up on him returning and refuses to believe the things said about him. Jacob was and still is her hero, she had him on a pedestal before he left and still wants him to come back. Something that puts her at odds with Edwin who wants to forget and move on. 

A few years down the line, George married a muggle named Nora who herself had a magical child and a muggle one. Both Edwin and Marti took this as a sign things would get better and that the family could heal, and both were happy to have additions to the family. 

However this also added to Marti’s feelings that she was the only one who still remembered and hadn’t given up on Jacob as Edwin befriended Nora’s magical daughter [ her being the same age as him and a Hufflefpuff and the two becoming best friends as well as siblings] and her father seemed to move on with the help of his new wife.  

Because of this she even more stubbornly clung to Jacob, to the happy memories she had of him- which she seemed to be alone in as his name was tarnished- and the more the family tried to get her to give up on him coming back, the more she dug her heels in. 

Now going to Hogwarts, Marti is excited to start at the school and learn new things. She’s also determined to use the things she learns to bring her brother home someday. 

WAND |  blackthorn wand with a unicorn hair core. It is eleven-and-a-quarter inches and described as "slightly springy and flexible.

Blackthorn, which is a very unusual wand wood, has the reputation, in my view well-merited, of being best suited to a warrior. This does not necessarily mean that its owner practices the Dark Arts (although it is undeniable that those who do so will enjoy the blackthorn wand’s prodigious power); one finds blackthorn wands among the Aurors as well as among the denizens of Azkaban. It is a curious feature of the blackthorn bush, which sports wicked thorns, that it produces its sweetest berries after the hardest frosts, and the wands made from this wood appear to need to pass through danger or hardship with their owners to become truly bonded. Given this condition, the blackthorn wand will become as loyal and faithful a servant as one could wish.

Unicorn hair generally produces the most consistent magic, and is least subject to fluctuations and blockages. Wands with unicorn cores are generally the most difficult to turn to the Dark Arts. They are the most faithful of all wands, and usually remain strongly attached to their first owner, irrespective of whether he or she was an accomplished witch or wizard.Minor disadvantages of unicorn hair are that they do not make the most powerful wands (although the wand wood may compensate) and that they are prone to melancholy if seriously mishandled, meaning that the hair may 'die' and need replacing.

HOUSE | Slytherin 

[MISC]

♦  Marti loves animals especially those often not considered cute [ bats, reptiles, bugs]  and has a pet snake she left at home as she didn’t see anything about snakes being acceptable pets in the letter. She plans to ask about it at some point in her first year. Her pet snake’s name is Mickey. 

♦  Marti has 2 siblings in Hogwarts. Lizzie Mcdonald in Hufflepuff and Edwin Venturi in Ravenclaw. They don’t interact that much however due to the age gap [ they’ll graduate by the end of year 2] and the fact  that they have different social groups [ well Marti and Lizzie do. Edwin’s more a withdrawn Loner] as well as being in different houses. 

♦   This is also in part because of Marti’s own feelings of perceived exclusion. While they love her very much and don’t mean to do it, the unmistakable  synergy between her elder siblings and the friendship that immediately sparked from it often leaves Marti feeling left out or looking from the outside. It makes her miss Jacob and cling to the idea of him coming back all the more since she remembers having a close relationship with him/being closer to him than to Edwin. 

♦  The Venturi’s are very protective of each other[ and of their step siblings] specifically because of what happened to Jacob. It affected them both very badly though differently.  

♦  The Venturi’s are considered blood traitors by most purebloods due to their lax views on Muggleborn wizards especially now that George married a muggle. [ their view of George was already low due to having separated from his pureblood wife]. 

♦  More to the point, all three Venturis [ George, Edwin and Marti ] are hugely defensive against anti-muggle and anti-muggle born sentiments due to Nora and her daughters being part of their family and are likely to react violently to it, especially if directed at them. 

♦  Marti has a love for old rock bands due to Jacob often listening to them when she was little/when he was still around. 

♦   She wore cat ear headbands as a kid and sometimes still wears them [ specially in first year second and third  as she’s still a child but I can definitely see her wearing them for fun as a teenager] 

♦  Marti has a list of spells she wants to learn specifically to prank Merula. And she might be trying to remember what pranks Edwin and Jacob used on each other before Jacob went missing. 

♦  Marti has -undiagnosed ADHD- and RSD [ Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria] which itself is a sympton of ADHD. This often leads to her not focusing in long classes sometimes and spacing out a lot or thinking of other things in class. 

♦  RSD in particular makes it hard for her to regulate emotions and makes her incredibly sensible to perceived [ or real] rejection. She sometimes ends up crying even when she doesn’t want to  [ ie when Snape blamed her for Merula’s prank.] It’s specially going to be harder in her younger years. 

♦  While this won’t happen for a long time, Marti’s first exposure to a boggart will reveal her biggest fear to be her family forgetting about all Jacob. 

♦   Her mirror of erised by contrast is her whole family including Jacob with Edwin smiling like he used to and her dad not looking so worn and sad as he does ever since Jacob went missing. 

FC  Emily Rudd

Older

Friends In Game:

Rowan Khana

Ben Cooper

Penny Haywood

Chiara Lobosca

MC Friends:

Vixen Mcmahen ( @rosievixen​ ) Ryan O’Donnell,  Cara O’Donnell,  Sara O’Donnell,  Conor O’Donnell ( @unfortunate-arrow​)  Finnick -Finn- Moran ( @ljbard121​ ) Cato Reese ( @catohphm​ ) Henry Mclarnon ( @that-ravenpuff-witch​ ) Lyra Wilson ( @cursebreakerfarrier​ )

If you wanna talk about your MC being friends with Marti let me know

[its-moopoint]

I have to say her clothing choices are interesting. I probably shouldn’t say anything because I’m a very casual dresser. I can see where she would not get recognized when she is out and about. Especially when she is not that well known in the first place. 🤷‍♀️

Actually I kid you not when I tell you I have seen 3 different women today wearing that same style and colour of coat, with three quarters lenght pants and shoes. It must be it right now. 

[madaboutmerlin]

Merlin Writer Month: Round up

Hello Merlin fans! We hope you’ve had an amazing week and that you found some new fics to enjoy! 

Again, we want to remind you to use the hashtag: #MerlinWriterMonth2018, so that we may reblog all of your wonderful recommendations. Also, we noticed that some of you recommended authors instead of specific fics, so you’ll find them at the end after the GEN cut.

And without further ado, enjoy!

Arthur/Merlin

1. Rules For Roommates by Pickitup  Length: 41,235 Summary:  Modern AU. Arthur works in publishing and is ashamed to tell anyone he’s secretly editing erotica, and being bullied by one of his authors - the arrogant ‘Lake Anders’. He’s also just taken in a new roommate, the adorable Merlin Emrys, who is definitely Not His Type. Or is he?

2. The Oncoming Storm by  Diana_Prallon Lenght: 133,914 Summary: The only thing the Republic isn’t ready for, is war. Everything in their power is being done to appease the systems that have joined the Separatist Movement, to try and keep the peace among all. The Jedi Knights have been sent all over the Galaxy, trying to solve conflicts and stop more and more planets from leaving the Republic, with mixed success. King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, however, doesn’t believe that avoiding war will be that easy and has devised a scheme to help boost the Republic’s defenses – if he can survive the many attempts on his life and remain hidden under the custody of Jedi Padawan Merlin long enough for his master, Mordred, to figure out who is behind the attempts.

3. Let’s Ruin The Friendship by silver_etoile Lenght: 24,564 Summary:  Desperate to get Merlin over his breakup with Lance, Arthur makes a suggestion that surely can’t backfire–sex with no strings attached. Arthur’s perfectly capable of controlling his own feelings, so why does this feel all wrong and more than a little bit right? 

4. Close Quarters by RocknVaughn Lenght: 3,948 Summary:  Albion University’s rather unique “Get to Know Your Roommate” exercise has Merlin seeing red…and blue, and yellow, and green. 

5. The Dreams Inside by winterstorrm Lenght: 9,959 Summary:  Arthur had always held back, not trusting himself. After all, he’d been in love with Merlin since he was eighteen years old—and Merlin had been with his sister. Now that Morgana was off the scene, could Arthur be blamed for taking his chance with Merlin?

6. Everything by beckybrit Lenght: 5,970 Summary:  Arthur wants Merlin to let go and hold nothing back. The result isn’t quite what he expected.

7. Arthur Pendragon and the Philosopher’s Sword by  a8csock (ladysockalot), ladysockalot  Lenght: 60,941 Summary: Arthur Pendragon was living a normal, mundane life, when he received a mysterious letter inviting him to the magical University of Camelot. Despite his scepticism before long he found himself being whisked of to a world of magic, mystery and destiny. His life would never be the same again.

8. Crisis Muffins by flowersheep Lenght: 2,334 Summary:  Merlin needs to stop having crises at ungodly hours of the morning.

9. Meant to Be Heard by jessicamdawn Lenght: 4,768 Summary: Arthur Penderson meets the eccentric Merlin Emrys when he is twenty. While getting to know him, Arthur happens to hear strange things coming out of Merlin’s mouth when he isn’t looking but can’t figure out what they mean. Reincarnation fic.

10. Clouds On The Horizon by Diana_Prallon Lenght: 49,975 Summary: The Golden Age has arrived.It’s been three years since King Arthur Pendragon legalised magic once again in Camelot. Side by side, magical and non-magical folk have worked to rebuilt the land that was torn in the war against magic just as the King and his sister try to heal the rift between themselves. In times of peace, Albions prospers. Prosperity, however, brings a new threat to the land, one that Camelot cannot face without the aid of its allies. Meanwhile, Arthur and Merlin have to figure out how to live with each other now that there are no more secrets between them.

11. Sail Thou Forth (The Untold Want Remix) by fifty_fifty  Lenght: 37,070 Summary: Trapped in a marriage of convenience, Merlin Emrys doesn’t believe in love at first sight - or true love at all, for that matter.That is, until he meets Arthur Pendragon, an extraordinary man whose courage inspires him to begin the career that he has always longed for, and in whose arms Merlin begins to hope for better things.But society isn’t kind to men like them, and both must overcome tremendous obstacles before they will be free to live the life they’ve been dreaming of.

12. Touch by autumdragon Lenght: 2,596 Summary: It’s not black. Not really. It’s more shades of blacks: constant silhouettes floating in and out of his vision. It’s all he’s ever known. Black. But then he meets Merlin. And he sees colour for the first time.

13. A Rose in Spring by daylighthour Lenght: 3,746 Summary: Merlin is fed up with doing all the hard work and getting none of the credit. When Arthur lashes out at him in a fit of anger, it’s the last straw.

14. Death Invades Camelot by yourrockyspine Lenght: 19,665 Summary: Camelot’s Police Dept. is facing a multitude of problems: A) A series of brutal murders in a small town. B) An exhausted DCI connecting said murders, much to the derision of his fellow officers. C) A homeless, petty criminal hoping to share his observations (and possibly land himself the DCI in question). D) The DCI’s half-sister, who senses someone is following her.

15. Silhouette by rotrude Lenght: 12,409 Summary: Though his father objects, Arthur wants to become a poet, not a lawyer. Moving from London to the country, he finds his muse, in more way than one.

16. The Sidhe Prince by Caite Roswen Lenght: 67,207 Summary: When Prince Merlin of Avalon visits Camelot, King Arthur is confident that everything will run smoothly. He does not expect to come face to face with a destiny that never was, or to find his most closely guarded secrets unravelling around him. Merlin disarms Arthur with his unexpected charm, lays bare his charade as easily as if Arthur’s whole kingship were made of glass, and accompanies him on a journey which will change Camelot forever.

17. The Door at the End of the Hall by tamerofdarkstars Lenght: 6,998 Summary: Sometimes, what the human mind perceives as reality is different than what is actually there. A debilitating virus has decimated the nation, turning people into vicious, bloodthirsty creatures, and for Merlin and Arthur, trapped in the complex they used to work in and racing together to find a cure before the worst befalls them both, the line between reality and perception is blurring. 

18. M.E.R.L.I.N. by Lunadeath02 Lenght: 30,666 Summary: Captain Arthur Pendragon mail orders for a companion robot to keep him company and provide him with sex while he’s exploring the galaxy for unknown worlds; he didn’t plan on getting MERLIN. 

19. Time’s Up by Detochkina * Lenght: 31,700 Summary: Is there anything in common between drugs and excellent grades? Or business and psychology?  The answer is simple – in the world of big money a lot can happen when you’re bored to tears. Under pressure from his father, Merlin becomes involved in a strange relationship. At first, he can’t get out of it; on second thought – he doesn’t want to. “When they ask me in court how I got into this,” Merlin said slowly, trying to recover from the initial shock, “I’ll just tell them I was too busy snorting crack to notice. Think that would move them to tears?” Gwaine tossed his head back and laughed.”

*You’ll need to log in to AO3 to read this work. 

20. To You I Pledge by beren Lenght: 45,009 Summary: Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman’s axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them. 

21. Learning by Touch by Capriccio Lenght: 802 Summary: Arthur might be a simpleton, but he’s not stupid. He sees the look in Merlin's eyes: soft and fond and sad, like he wants something he can't have. (Set during 4x12.).

22. One Sheet to the Wind by Capriccio  Lenght: 753 Summary: Merlin is just a plain white sheet, happily drying on the clothesline, until a gust of wind tangles him with the arrogant blanket next door.

23. Where This Road May Go by batgurl88

Summary: Arthur is a royal who can’t remember his past. Merlin and Gaius are con-men, hoping to return Arthur to Uther for a hefty reward. Little do they know they have the real deal on their hands.

24. I Win. by Kitty_Kanneas Lenght: 4,476 Summary:  At the summer faire in Ealdor, Arthur tries his hand at what he terms a 'peasant' game. When he isn't pleased with the outcome, he makes sure everyone knows it's just not really the way things are.

25. The Untold Want by Cookie Lenght: 18,572 Summary: Arthur Pendragon was the down-trodden son of the Duke of Camelot. After a break-down he goes to Cascades, a sanatorium, and begins to learn how to live his own life. That becomes even easier when he meets aspiring architect, Merlin Emrys.

26. Cold as the Wind Blows by arthur_pendragon Lenght: 1,780 Summary:  Every year on the first day of spring, Uther lets Arthur and Morgana and the rest of the nobles and servants do as they please, just for the day - and this year, Merlin finds himself invited to the best picnic of his life.

27. Ydill by arthur_pendragon Lenght: 2,955 Summary: One serene day where they're all as happy as they can be.(In which Merlin and Arthur are abysmal at hiding their emotions, Gwen has a big heart for her friends, and Morgana does, too.)

Arthur/Gwen

1. Shatter into the Hope of Tomorror by Mara93 Lenght: 48,000 Summary: Arthur casts Guinevere out of Camelot for the treachery of his heart. When the true treachery begins, and his beloved Camelot is lit ablaze, he is forced away from his home. Without kingdom, his heart must face fate’s greatest fear.

2.  Sound and Smoke by sneetchstar Lenght: 27,129 Summary: The newly-crowned King of Camelot gets some assistance in his rule from an unexpected source. With unexpected consequences.

3. Striking a Balance by sneetchstar Lenght: 75,807 Summary: Princess Guinevere and Prince Arthur are promised to one another as toddlers, but never meet again until their wedding day.

4.  Growing Up with Benefits by scarlettpeony Lenght: 46,949 Summary: Arthur and Gwen have always been close. As children, they were secret playmates and as adults, they are secret bed-mates.

5. To You, An Admirer (Remastered) by sneetchstar Lenght: 6,376 Summary: When Guinevere and Arthur unwittingly exchange love letters not only do they fall in love but also their entire world is set to change forever as the Kingdoms of Albion teeter on the verge of war. Many obstacles stand in their way, especially once they come to the attention of King Uther Pendragon and Arthur’s aunt, the powerful Queen Anna Lothian. Elsewhere, Merlin tries to help Morgana decode a recurring dream prophesising imminent doom.

6. Be of Good Cheer by schweetheart Lenght: 935 Summary: Canon AU. Camlann is over, and Arthur reigns triumphant over Albion. Gwen basks in the beginning of Camelot’s Golden Age.

7. Here by loveandthetruth Lenght: 422 Summary:  It’s barely past midday and there’s not nearly enough shade here to hide them but Arthur just doesn’t care.

8. Plus ca change (plus c’est la meme chose) by loveandthetruth Lenght: 35,649 Summary: Merlin’s hopes to have left the past behind come under fire when destiny intervenes and history appears to be repeating itself. Chaos and adventure ensue as Merlin tries to stop this story ending in the same tragedy. 

9. The Moment I Saw You by sneetchstar  Lenght: 62,777 Summary:  “Hi, I’m Arthur. Will you marry me?”

10. Broken Shackles by AngryPurpleFire Lenght: 26637 Summary: An invasion on Camelot leaves everyone in shambles. Unlikely alliances unfold in hopes of rebuilding what has been lost.

11. Touch by sneetchstar Lenght: 7,259 Summary: After a car wreck, Arthur needs to see a massage therapist.

Gwaine/Merlin

1. Dust of Snow by AkakoDukes Lenght: 503 Summary: Merlin and Gwaine during the first snow of the season on their way to Ealdor. Fluff.

2. Discovery by Luthorchickv2 Lenght: 1,371 Summary:  Arthur follows Merlin on an herb picking trip and discovers the source of Merlin’s good mood.

3. Riversong by ViridianJane  Lenght: 402 Summary: Merlin’s hands are soaked in blood; poison seeps under his nails and turns his dreams against him. He’s killed with these hands. He’s held death between them and couldn’t bring himself to mourn when he felt nothing inside of him shatter.  But Merlin’s hands are also loving.

4. A Type of Heaven. by leashy_bebes Lenght: 2,685 Summary: Gwaine has to be off doing knightly things. Merlin pines. But then "Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.” Canon future-fic.

5. The Gravity of Love by VTC Lenght: 9429  Summary: Gwaine zeroes in on the burdens Merlin seems to carry on his shoulders, and embarks on a mission to discover them and alleviate them. It does not go as planned, but it is so much more.

6. This is Just To Say by Heronfem  Lenght: 4,510 Summary:  Merlin can track all of his relationships through the books on his shelves.

7. Time Enough by CanaryPaper Lenght: 738 Summary: “I always feel like we’re trying to conquer time,” Gwaine whispers into the soft shell of his ear. Darts his tongue out for a taste.

Balinor/Hunith

1. Back To Where It Began by LittensTinyMittens Lenght: 818 Summary:  After Kilgharrah has been sent away, Merlin takes his father back to Ealdor.

Gwen/Merlin 1. Kiss Me When I’m Down by sadpendragon Lenght: 937 Summary: We were each other’s first after all.

Freya/Merlin

1. The Love That Binds Us by rubberglue Lenght: 3,593 Summary: Camelot’s greatest strength was the love that connected her people. Nine snippets of love in Camelot.

Arthur/Gwaine/Merlin

1. Hidden Dragons by LittensTinyMittens Words: 103,388 Summary: When the Purge began, the Dragonlords fled to the mountains and created their own little society with the dragons. Merlin is born and raised with his family and his people, only learning of his destiny when he is 16 years old. No one knows how he will meet the Once and Future King, since these days leaving the mountains can be a death sentence.  Lucky for him, the Once and Future King finds him, but to everyone’s shock, it is Arthur Pendragon. Merlin can’t help but feel drawn to him and is then tasked with the mission of teaching the Prince all about magic and their people. Along the way, they’re joined by a handsome traveler named Gwaine, and Merlin feels the pull of destiny with him too…or is it really destiny?

Gwen/Mithian

1. A Delicate Thing by freezerjerky Words: 1,569 Summary: Mithian comes in person to give her condolences.

GEN

1. A Mother’s Eyes by SheWhoStumbles Lenght: 1,598  Summary: It had been three years since the messengers had brought news to Ealdor of King Arthur’s death. It had been three years since magic was restored to the land and Albion entered her golden age. And it had been three years since Hunith had last heard from her only son.

2. Don’t Drink if the Mead Tastes Funny by KaterinaRiley * Lenght: 7,155 Summary: It’s all Arthur’s fault! Merlin didn’t want to drink the mead -it tasted funny- but oh no, Arthur just insisted that Merlin quit acting like a girl. So what happens? They get kidnapped and Arthur’s about to be sold as a slave, that’s what! It’s all Arthur’s fault.

*Canon compliant pairing and hint of slash, but they’re not the focus of the fic.

3. Testament of Weapons by shamera Lenght: 3,569 Summary: Four years and Merlin still had a hard time keeping a sword in his hand for more than a minute in a fight.

12. Problems by MayGlenn Lenght: 40,216 Summary: “Gwaine’s sixth problem, which may have been and always would be the greatest, was his complete and utter refusal—nay, inability—to accept help from others. It tied into his hubris, yes, a bit, and also his pride—for Gwaine had a great deal of pride, contrary to popular opinion—it was shame he didn’t have, which was different."  Gwaine has had worse scrapes than this: he just can’t think of any right now.  A boar hunt with the knights goes terribly wrong, but as things progress, it turns out that that’s the least of his problems.

Writers

1.  AO3 user flammablehat 

2.  AO3 user triste

[bloody-fabre]

The Head Jailer of Abashiri has a part of the tattooed map – An essay.

Let me go straight to the topic. I believe there are more than 24 coded tattoos. And the convicts are not aware of the extra owners. So far, we have seen 17 parts of the coded map, and three of them belong to characters that we didn´t get to meet in the canon (Tsuyama, skin from Barato, Yubari miner). Add to that the details given by the first prisoner caught by Sugimoto and Asirpa, and we get that a few, probably one or two, were killed by the others right then and there. That leaves us with 6-5 skins left as of now. (latest released chapter was 153) With the -convict of the week- lasting less and less as chapters pass by, we can easily infer all the 24 parts will be acquired in no time. But I strongly believe this is not the end of the road. And not only because of the fake skins that were introduced by Tsurumi, or the key that Asirpa will awaken in due time. My guess is that there are more, authentic, pieces of the map being carried onto certain individuals, and these ones don´t happen to be convicts. Yet, they were at the same place, at the same time. Below, I will elaborate on my theory for this, and put most of my focus on one specific person, who, as unlikely as it may seem at first sight, I now believe is quite possible the (non) proud owner of another part of the tattooed map. And this man is Kadokura, the (ex) head jailer of Abashiri Prison.

As we know, some 5 years or so ago, Noppera-bou was sent to Abashiri prison, and once there, developed a plan to reveal the location of the gold. During his time at the prison, he tattooed 24 prisoners with parts of a complicated map, which made no sense until put together. At some indefinite point, probably a couple months prior to the current time, the prisoners managed to escape as they were being transported elsewhere. Among them, acting as the de-facto leader, was Hijikata Toshizou. He instructed the surviving convicts to "Head to Otaru."

This is what we know, from Hijikata himself. But I have my doubts. Hijikata did not know all the details about the plan. He didn´t know Noppera-bou´s true identity, nor Asirpa´s ainu name. 

Because of this, I believe there must be more things that Hijikata didn´t know, about the plan, and one of these was the following: There are more than 24 parts for the tattooed map. Or so Noppera-bou hoped. Hijikata knew about a 25th part. An ally he had within the walls of Abashiri Prison for a long, long time.

Ever since day 1 I wondered: How did Noppera-bou, someone who was MOST DEFINITELY on solitary confinement, manage to tattoo 24 well known inhabitants of the prison without being found out? The answer might be simple: EVERYONE wanted that gold, even the guards. It would´ve been easy for them to provide Noppera-bou with people to carry the clues to the gold, and then, as it happened, take them all elsewhere to gather all the leads. For this very reason, I believe it would´ve been very simple for Kadokura to get his very own tattoo as well. But why? Because I believe Kadokura had been plotting with Hijikata. I will elaborate on the reasons further below.

He´d convince some other guards to make it easy for the prisoners to release themselves while being escorted, getting a promise to share part of the gold in return. But, unbeknownst to everyone, he would be getting a tattoo of his own as well, so the puzzle would be unsolvable without his part.

"" That´s one big fat can of worms he opened there ""

Let´s begin tackling the points I discerned as clues of him being part of the tattoo puzzle.

The first of them being: He´s been succesfully hiding things from Inudou, most likely from day 1. Kadokura had been constantly acting behind Inudou´s back. Whether getting salmon bribes, lying about killing spies, or, you know, getting people from the outside into Abashiri to get Noppera-bou...

And yet, Inudou didn´t kick him out like he did with the other guards, who had been here for as long as him, if not longer. Because he completely bought the act of Kadokura being a "worthless, pathetic tanuki". *A small note: Volume 1 implies soldiers/police were in charge of the escort, as they also had the goal of finding out about the gold. However, on chapter 128 Kadokura himself claims the guards were blamed for the mass escape. As these two pieces of trivia contradict each other, I´ll proceed with the most recent one. Kadokura had been a guard in Abashiri Prison for seven long years. This is two years prior to the time Noppera-bou was taken prisoner.

"Any guard suspected of playing a part was kicked out. The only reason that I wasn´t was because I played the part of a useless, dumb, apathetic old tanuki." "Any guard SUSPECTED---THE ONLY REASON that I wasn´t--- BECAUSE I PLAYED THE PART---" In other words: Kadokura was involved in the escape of the convicts. And managed to keep his job by playing dumb. And he NEEDED the convicts out of Abashiri. For one, they were a danger, even behind bars. And even if a single one of them discovered he was tattooed as well, it was over. They would break him like a toothpick. Kadokura is weak. He´s old. He´s FRAGILE. Just a little smack of Sugimoto gets him to rub his hand. A non lethal shot on the shoulder from Usami gets him looking like he´s about to pass onto the next life.

"" He even gets his ass kicked in flashbacks unrelated to him ""

Imagine being on your own when the 24 criminals started killing each other then and there. The best option was to stay well away from all that chaos. Right now Abashiri was the safest place, as why would a prisoner that just escaped prison return right away just to murder a random guard that managed to escape from that carnage?? And two, if they were away, unprotected by the fortress, they would be hunted down. As EVERYONE wants to find that gold. A battle royale was bound to happen that very day. To summarize: Guards were blamed for the mass escape, and rightfully so. The convicts were a risk, especially if they figured out there were more tattoos. The guards needed them out. Preferably dead. But why would Kadokura go to such lenghts? Why risk himself like that? He´s Head Jailer. He´s got his own quarters, and even if he gets verbally bullied by his boss, this is quite the decent job, especially now that most of the crazy criminals are outside of the walls and not at arm reach. The answer is "because of the new government". Kadokura resents it, and all that implies, including Inudou and the previous wardens.

"Ever since the old days, most of the guards have had more in common with the prisoners than they do with the wardens." (I happen to consider this very line another item for my theory, in a literal sense, as if my theory is correct, he now has something in common with 24 of the former prisoners.)

The way he talked about his late father implies he was proud of him, and that he undoubtedly supports Hijikata´s goal and ideals. And wishes to join him once he gets what he came to Abashiri for (Noppera-bou, or, in worst case scenario, information about the gold) This leads me to think Kadokura might desire to help Hijikata find the gold, and with it, make true the wishes of the old soldier. And he´s been helping him from the very start of the gold business. And there is another reason. Kadokura might pretend to be a "worthless, pathetic tanuki". But there´s something he genuinely cannot hide. He´s a fucking coward.

"My philosophy is not to pick any fight I cannot win".

At this point in time most of the tattooed convicts are dead. And one of them, one he can actually trust in, has returned. Kadokura is ready to continue helping him in all the ways he can, even if he loses the relative safety of the Abashiri Prison in the process. After all, how would you feel if you had Hijikata Motherfucking Toshizou guarding your back 24/7? Pretty good I guess, he´s arguably one of the strongest characters in the canon.

While all this is nice and all, it has yet to explain why Kadokura, of all people, would have a tattoo. Right? I want you to consider this point, which I deem the most important despite it may sound outright silly. HE´S STILL ALIVE. This man is weak, unskilled, a coward, someone who gave up at the ripe age of (circa) 50. What purpose could he possibly serve after Abashiri Prison is no more? Do we need a Kantarou senior? Coming from a manga that is not afraid to kill its characters once they served their purpose: Why is Kadokura alive? To be further tormented by Usami? Hilarious, yet, not enough.

And since we entered Usami territory... -a cursed area on its own right, but that´s an essay for another day- I wish to point out that Kadokura is (rightfully) frightened of the Hokuchin Unit coming here and have a nice little chat with our good friend Noppera-bou. Is it because he knows most of them, if not all, are batshit insane and will shoot at the slightest provocation? Definitely, but... Is it enough? Would they kill a guard that willingly shows them the way to Noppera-bou? This good old man doesn´t seem to think so.

"" RIP good old man. "" Kadokura was wise enough to freak the absolute fuck out. But is getting out of the way/hiding in a corner enough to be spared by the Hokuchin Unit? Maybe (no, not really). But Kadokura is definitely not going to take that risk. And it wasn´t enough that he managed to escape. He wanted to make sure the Hokuchin Unit wouldn´t get out of Abashiri alive.

A good move. Because escaping alone won´t help keep Noppera-bou alive at all. And without Noppera-bou, there is no key to the gold. (or so would think most people) I´m not saying this particular tidbit was especially intentional, but instead of just escaping (he was shot in the shoulder, not his leg), he made a counterattack to get rid of the Hokuchin Unit, thus, protecting Noppera-bou (even at the expense of literally all the other prisoners), wherever he´s being hidden by Inudou. No man who calls himself a coward would give up on escaping just to protect one man completely unrelated to him or his goals

"I´ve got no real attachment to this job" This line right here contradicts his "playing dumb" act to keep his job back in the day. Sure, it can mean he wanted to keep putting bread on the table, but also that he knew where was the place to be as long as it meant a safe haven. And as long as Noppera-bou was still there, holding the information they needed.

A little something more, to finish my leads, as ambigous as it may be: Even after being in a -currenty- safe, well hidden place, and surrounded with trustworthy partners, he seems to be holding his pain instead of tending to his wound.

He´s still completely covered up to his neck with his shirt, which, as little a detail as it may seem, might imply he has his reasons not to treat the wound with people around. He does, however, seems to be wearing a makeshift sling to support the injured arm. The fact that he, as the Head Jailer, had his own quarters, would also provide a chance to keep a tattoo as big as the coded map hidden from everyone for as long as he needed.

I still can´t find a way on which he communicated with Hijikata before his group (plus Sugimoto´s) came to get Noppera-bou, but my guess is that they´ve been secretly in cahoots for a long, long time. Ever since Noppera-bou´s tattoo plan was put into motion. Kadokura, as everyone, was well aware of Inudou´s obsessive hatred for Hijikata, so he would´ve been an excellent ally, both against the Warden, and any other danger, if it came to that. And for that, he risked a lot, even as the coward he claims to be. And luckily for him, he survived this trial.

Below is a short summary of all the aforementioned hints. Which, I hope, helped convey the conclusion I reached, that there´s more to this Tanuki that he let us know.

-Literally the first thing we see him doing, is telling the new guy "Don´t get involved with Noppera-bou.” And boy, he should know about that by now. -Noppera-bou kept details away from Hijikata, why extra tattoos wouldn´t be part of it? -He´s definitely been in contact with Hijikata for a long, long time. -EVERYONE wanted that gold. Carrying a secret extra part of the map with no one else knowing was an advantage. If he/his allies ever manage to gather the rest. -Constantly hid things from Inudou, acting behind his back, being in cahoots with his ultimate enemy. -Was here before Noppera-bou arrived. Met him personally. -implied to be considered suspected in the mass escape, played dumb to keep his job and to constantly avoid suspicions from Inudou. -Resents the current government. -"i have more in common with the prisoners than the wardens" -Wants to help Hijikata in any way he can -he has literally no reason to be alive. We know what happens to GK characters when they fulfill their purpose. -Unlike the rest of the (unwise) guards, he was terrified of the Hokuchin coming here. -Stopped escaping to attack the Hokuchin. Kadokura, the self-proclaimed coward. -Not minding losing the job he played dumb to keep, once Hijikata manages to meet with Noppera-bou -Seems to be concealing unnatended wound despite being notably affected by it. -Had a place all for himself, the best when you need to hide something, like a big torso tattoo. -Might take the chance to add an extra item: I do not believe Inudou trusts him entirely, as Kadokura not only did not know where Noppera-bou was. He didn´t even know about the secret basement, after all this time.

This may seem far-fetched at times, because of his little exposition so far. I´m not going to deny I grasped at straws at some point. But if, in the end I managed to get some people to think "hey, it DOES sound plausible!" then I´ll happily call it a job well done.

*All the manga panels used for this essay are scanlations from EverydayHeroes Scans. Thanks to them I´m able to enjoy this manga over and over as I wait for the english volumes to be released and delivered to me :D

[kasperstromman]

Kasper Stromman Designs Summer House of the Future for Artek Summer Exhibition

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 6/6/2018 Artek gazes into the future in summer exhibition – Kasper Stromman envisions summer house of year 2020

In this year’s summer exhibition Artek takes a bold leap into the future. Company also shows fearlessness by letting Kasper Stromman try his hands at being an architect.

Tradition dictates that living conditions at the Finnish summer house should be as close as possible to those of one’s parents childhood. However, as time goes on this level of comfort is bound to rise. And more importantly – lately more and more people have come to appreciate the comfort of a dish washing machine. But if we for moment gaze into the future, what will our holiday homes look like in the faraway year of 2020? Stromman’s Mokki 2020 concept gives an educated guess.

Rooted in a time honoured tradition of experimental houses Mokki 2020 follows an ancient tradition of experimental houses by completely abandoning traditional ways of building that has worked well over centuries, and instead creates something new based on theoretical knowledge, childish enthusiasm and unfounded confidence. This is why Mokki 2020 has abandoned eaves, and is built on no sort of foundation. Indeed it is almost like the ”architect” has decided that the moist, swampy ground will not cause any problems. In addition to this Mokki 2020 is also definitely too small, in a fashionable micro cabin sort of way. The only sensible solution of the building would in fact be the pent roof, but even this can in no way be considered jaw droppingly exceptional. But Mokki 2020 looks great, which is enough. Conserving the DNA of summer houses In an ideal world architecure is a practise that combines mathematics with passion. That is why Mokki 2020 incorporates many of the architectural traits that have become synonyms with the Finnish summer house experience. The interior relies heavily on too short beds, which we all know is a beloved feature of the finnish mokki experience. You see, some things are just to deeply rooted to be messed around with. An insane amount of electrical sockets Noone has probably missed the fact that different gadgets requiring charging have increased exponentially in recent years. Mokki 2020 takes this into consideration as well as foreseeing the future by installing a ludicrous amount of electrical oulets throughout the little holiday home. This may feel excessice now, but is sure to come in handy in the future when each family member needs to charge their electric toothbrush and personal drone at the same time. No more roaring fire place We have all basked in the friendly glow of a log fire at some point. But if you have been following the news at all, you should know that burning wood is now a source of lethal micro particles, and should be avoided at all cost. This is why the (pent) roof of Mokki 2020 is completely covered in solar panels. This is of course also a necessity, due to the insane amount of power sockets. But hey, that off-road Segway is not going to charge itself, will it? Cooking also gets a make over If you have ever been to a park, you know that grilling is definitely not out of fashion. But deep inside everyone understands this is in fact not an effective nor practical way of preparing your food. However, a futuristic alternative already exists today, and is in use in literally millions of kitchens around the world as we speak: microwaves. Mokki 2020 wants to reclaim this futuristic and practical method of cooking. Pling goes the future. Recreational clothing also gets an overhaul What do a damp sweater with holes in it, neon ski jacket from the 80s and three quarter lenght trousers for men have in common? They are all totally acceptable items of clothing at the Finnish summer house. There is no reason why this needs to be the case though. Because if Kasper Stromman gets his way, we all will be wearing practical boiler suits in the future, which will solve the problem of keeping warm while at the same time holding mosquitos at bay. This is a necessity as everyone knows there will always be that one person who insists on sitting outside, although it is freezing cold. But as stated earlier – some traditions are just too deeply rooted to be changed. Kasper Stromman was elected Finnish Graphic Designer of the Year in 2013. Thanks to this project he also now worringly considers himself some sort of architect. Kasper thinks the summer house experience is best enjoyed when it has been taken indoors into a central Helsinki furniture show room.