#to the point everyone has an expectation of understanding amongst their followers and mutuals even when they maybe shouldn't

[emiliosandozsequence]

being just Slightly 'more' autistic than the average tumblr user is fucking hard actually

[mordigen]

Unpopular opinion: Christians are not witches

I said it. Fight me.

There has been a trend that has been growing ever more problematic recently: overbearing, hyper-zealous, hyper-vigilant "acceptance" This means the pagan community is an absolute free-for all, and you are not allowed to so much as even feign the possibility that you do not agree with absolutely 100% of everything, lest you be named a gatekeeping, ignorant bigot.

Whether you like it or not - there ARE paths out there that have specific rules...regulations...stipulations...tenets - whatever the hell you want to call or classify them. End. Period. There's no other colour that comes in - that's it. Sorry for you, but they DO exist. In fact, there are many of them.

If you do not follow those rules, tenets, etc..., then you are not of that path. Point. Blank. And there is nothing wrong with that - it simply means that you are of some other path. That's it! That's all that means! It may be *nearly* identical to the path in question - but it is not, hence the 'nearly'.

If you happen to be a part of one of these paths, there is absolutely nothing wrong with saying so. If someone claims to be a part of one of these paths, but are absolutely, blatantly not - there is nothing wrong with saying that, and explaining why that is. Some people just honestly don't know there is a difference, or that these certain prerequisites are indeed a definitive factor - so they learn something, they broaden their horizons. Everyone seems to be all about educating themselves about being sensitive to other cultures and customs - except the pagan community, apparently, because this mentality does not translate across that pagan/witch line. Instead of taking it as a learning experience, you are immediately pounced on with notions of 'there are no rules!' 'you can't tell someone what to do on their own path!' Or, simply, the name calling. Well yes, while all of that is true - it still remains that how ever you want to practice or whatever you personally decide to do, may just simply not be what you are claiming, or calling it. It may just be semantics - but semantics matter when dealing with nuance. And paganism is extremely nuanced.

You can call a tomato an orange all you want to - but that thing will never be an orange, no matter how much you believe in it. And people are not wrong for informing you that you may have the wrong name, that is in fact, a tomato. If you go on deciding to call it an orange, you can do that - but that is willful ignorance. So, in your fight to be unapologetically accepting of every ridiculous notion, you are perpetuating willful ignorance - whilst being directly in opposition of your goal and being, *GASP*, unaccepting to those who follow a path where distinction and definition matters. You are completely invalidating those people's paths and beliefs while trying to defend another's (another who may, in fact, actually be wrong) and actively using their path & beliefs as the very reason to berate and ostracize them. Pretty fantastically hypocritical of you. Now...on to the second problem. I do not, at all, in any form, believe in "ritual magick" - as perpetuated by Aleister Crowley hardons. And no, that is not a knock on Crowley, just the idiot followers that don't understand half of what he taught and latch onto the superficial.

When you look at the origins and make up of magical beliefs, and magic itself as a separate entity - no matter which particular branch - they were all created by religion. They all have roots in highly spiritual cultures and customs. So, I absolutely do not believe for one second that you can believe in magic without SOME form of religion - whatever one you adhere to is your choice, but you cannot have the first without the latter. You cannot. Even if you claim that you have no religion, or spiritual faith, your practices absolutely do. You are calling on elements and agencies that absolutely have divine ties and connections one way or another. Oh, how many atheists I see calling on the seals of Arch Angels.... are you fucking shittin me? Really?? So let's bring it all together now - with the fact that many faiths DO have prerequisites, AND the fact that magic is religious/spiritual -- Christians are not, and cannot be witches or pagans. They are mutually exclusive. Not only because so many various paths have such prerequisites, and very define religious/spiritual beliefs that are contradictory to others - but simply because Christianity DOES, very much, have very clear and stringently defined Do's & Don'ts, and obviously the religious aspect itself clashes with the religious beliefs of others. Their religious beliefs clash with people who believe in their same god - so how could they not with those who believe in other gods?? Considering this, no other path would even need such stipulations themselves for them to be mutually exclusive, as Christianity already covers that issue so completely, but the fact that so many pagan paths do only exacerbates an already existing problem. That being said - that does not mean you cannot believe in the Christian 'god', by whatever name you know him by - or that you cannot believe in Jesus, and also be a witch or pagan. In fact the latter has an even bigger argument for believing in both, as paganism, generically, in itself is polytheistic, so it is very fitting to simply have the Christian god and Jesus amongst the many deities being worshipped. But those two things alone is not what makes Christianity. A good start, yes, but that is not all it takes - in fact, there are many that are shunned, excommunicated, banned, condemned and moreso whilst having those very two qualifying factors. You can find this in *every single* sect of Christianity, so...the proof is in the pudding, as they say, that it is much more than simply believing in 'God' and Jesus that makes a 'Christian'. And if you take that to heart and follow all those rules - you cannot be a witch or pagan, many times over, as you would be in direct opposition, or violation, of a number of their teachings - both on the aspect of simple 'rules', but also on a much deeper spiritual level of the entire foundation of their faith. Cannot serve two masters, and all that... If you do not follow those rules, then sure, you could be a witch or a pagan - but then you cannot be a Christian. That is just the facts.

Many people like to argue the use of magic and mysticism in the bible - but the issue is what parts of the bible they are found, and all the amendments of the further books. Again, what really carves out being a Christian vs. any of the other sects of Abrahamic beliefs. As, news flash - there is far more than just Christianity. And some of them, do, in fact, do hand in hand with magic. The Kabbalah is an astounding example of that - and, in fact, where a lot of the so called *ahem* 'non'-religious 'ritual magick' comes from. In this same vein, I would like to note that I have never had any issue or seen conflict with the Hebrew or Jewish take on shamans, mystics and witches, as they really do go hand in hand - They have their own very in depth, detailed, spiritual and sentimental form of mysticism that was a natural progression from pre-Abrahamic religions and culture, and grew into their teachings and belief system, so it does not go against their core beliefs the same way it very stringently does in Christian theology. Considering their ethnical histories and cultural heritage - this is a brilliant example of the natural evolution and progression of faiths - not simply ripped from the hands of the brutally oppressed and rewritten as a mockery to wipe out the preexisting notion of faiths -- as the Church has a history of doing. The Book of Enoch is another shining example of Biblical magic, or Angelic magic. But, this also also turns my point into a self fulfilling prophecy, as in the fact that it is accepted amongst all denominations as heresy, and it is taught that these magics - though they do, in fact, exist, were for the angels and completely forbidden from mankind. So, thusly, if you are a follower of Enoch, you are not a 'Christian', by name and membership, as you are outright going against it's teachings. You are a heretic, a blasphemer. Perhaps you may be one of the many other forms of the Christian god's followers - but not a Christian, as being Christian denotes a very specific set of beliefs and tenets - end of story. Magic, and paganism, is in direct conflict with those teachings, and therefore, cannot coexist.

On top of the logic - there is also the emotional issue. Christianity has a long history of abuse towards various pagan, tribal and indigenous faiths, while stealing our beliefs as their own, and demonizing those they couldn't successfully acclimate into theirs. To now be expected to be OK with this faith, yet again, latching on to *our* sacred rites and practices as being a part of their own is a hard pill to swallow at best, a slap in the face to most, and flat out perpetuating trauma at worst. Once upon a time, people sought out these very same communities and groups within their pagan circles as an escape, a safe space, and a shield and guardian against the Christian onslaught, torment, oppression, or just exhaustion - and now, we must not only tolerate them invading our private spaces, but must now welcome them with open arms and expected to be happy about it? Forgive me if I don't sympathize....

If we are going to now be forced into being shoulder to shoulder with them, the very least you can offer us is neutrality. You can be accepting of all and still be neutral grounds - not taking any one side anywhere, all you have to do is be respectful to each other. Disagreement is not disrespectful. Could someone who disagrees with a certain viewpoint *become* disrespectful? Sure, of course they could. But simply the act of disagreement is nothing hateful or hurtful in any way shape or form - in fact, good discourse is how progress is made. So we need to remain neutral grounds and normalize the acceptance of different viewpoints - we need to recognize and accept that, yes, there are paths out there that do have specific requirements, expectations and limits - there are paths that are going to disagree, or just flat out not believe in something. Instead of name calling, when someone of those paths decides to speak up and enlighten and elaborate on information that may be inaccurately described or depicted, you need to LISTEN and learn, and not just bludgeon them with presumptive judgement. You also need to accept that there are many, various different closed practices out there - beyond Native American & Voodoo practices (as those seem to be the only ones the pagan community recognizes) and if someone of those closed faiths tell you - no, you are not xy or z, that is also not being judgmental or hateful or hurtful - that simply is. ....a very important side note here is that acknowledging closed practices is also not a carte blanche for screaming about cultural appropriation. Please shut the fuck up about cultural appropriation. Not being of a specific faith is not equivalent to cultural appropriation - Telling someone "no, you're not xyz" is very different from telling someone "no, you can't practice xyz" (looking at you smudge-Nazis) You can enjoy, practice, learn or celebrate anything you want of any faith you want while not actually being apart of it - that's the beauty of sharing and learning. And I think that is where all the trouble boils down from:

Yes, you can do whatever you want and can create whatever path you want for yourself...just don't misrepresent it, don't call it something it is not, and don't deny those who are more educated & experienced in that particular department. We get enough of that from outsiders to start doing it to each other.

[min-jpg]

Hi!! Can you do they boys getting kidnapped but its Diluc, Childe, and Kazuha? Thank you!!💗💗

Note: I just want to point out that there's no actual reason on how I choose for the reader to beat up the kidnappers since part 1,, it's totally random as long as I'm trying out different ideas whatever fits ehe. Enjoy! 💖

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Kidnapped Genshin Boys x Fem Rich!reader pt.2

Part 1 (Kaeya, Zhongli, Xiao)

Characters: Childe, Diluc, Kazuha

Genre: fluff, established relationship, some woman kicking ass action, (TW: mentions of blood and violence)

---

CHILDE

Your boyfriend would definitely try to go head-to-head against the shady group of people who abducted him. The gang accountable must be living under the rock for even considering one of the most dangerous Harbingers as their prey to carry out their schemes.

However, Childe learned that there would be ramifications if he tries to be rash without gathering solid intel first. Having no knowledge of your current circumstances and whereabouts troubled him to the core. They could have already sent out a corresponding group towards you and endanger you if he failed to listen.

Being wealthy is not a foreign concept to Childe as he is also a wealthy man himself. That said, the premonition of being a target for a ransom would not be unrealistic to him. For now, he is glad that he is the victim here instead of having to witness you kidnapped.

"You know, you could've asked me nicely for some money. I might just give it to you, instead of doing all this for my girlfriend's money." Despite being in a position far from desirable, Childe leisurely sat on the chair that he was bound to, crossing his legs. He was making small talks to push away the worst scenarios happening to you. Are you safe? Are you crying? Did they hurt you?

"I don't know who you are to be running your mouth, but you should value your life a little more." Their leader emerged from the group.

Childe's ocean eyes squinted as menace casts upon his pupils, his voice lowered, "Is that so? Ironic, because you guys seem to value money more than your lives."

The head stepped back slightly, "Enough with your empty threats! You should be aware of the current situation you're in. We're not fooling around here."

"I'm not fooling around either."

As sparks were thrown back and forth, you made your way in through the main entrance. Tapping the shoulder that belongs to one of the men, "Excuse me, I need to get to my boyfriend." Your fist sunk into the side of his face when he turned towards you. He collapsed on the ground with a few broken teeth and blood spewing out of his mouth. Moving on to the next adversary in your path, you fought with full faith in your abilities no matter how intimidating they were.

Soon, the leader and people further ahead finally took notice of it. You pave your way towards your boyfriend and eventually, both your eyes meet each other. Childe puffed out a breath of relief when he finally saw you, but also registering the fact that you just took down most of the men with your bare hands.

Kicking away the men who tried to grab you, you then waved enthusiastically at Childe, "Hey girlie, hold still." Rushing right ahead to the leader, you brought your arm near your face, elbow pointing outwards. The sharp edge from your elbow jabbed his throat, causing him to choke and lose balance.

As his reaction dulled, it was your chance to strike again. Thus, you gallantly overthrew their leader and the entire gang by yourself.

After helping Childe, he stood up abruptly and placed his hands on your shoulder with eagerness written all over the face, "I never knew you could fight so well! How about a spar with me right now?" Expect your boyfriend to continuously bug you to indulge in his rampant itch to fight anyone that comes across as a worthy opponent. Though, the real takeaway from this experience was the way your hair clings to your face with sweat as the adhesive and the triumph look in your eyes. It was a rather attractive sight to relish in his taste.

DILUC

Your boyfriend would be infuriated that crooked people like these exist, much less target him to extort money from you. Just another validation to add up on how incompetent the Knights of Favonious is, he thought. Someone will have to clean up their mess, that someone being him. What better way to do that than to follow them to their hideout to seek out the whole organization?

Diluc is renowned for being one of the richest men in Teyvat. Naturally, the group thought they hit the jackpot on not only holding him for ransom, but potentially garnering some money from him as well.

The only concern he carries is your wellbeing. Diluc fears that this incident will affect you mentally. His head started filling up with formulations on ways to resolve this matter without causing any uproar to guarantee your safety.

When the head was introduced to him, he gritted his teeth to suppress every ounce of his might to not reach for his claymore. Diluc still has to prioritize gathering information first regarding the gang. His patrons at Angel's Share are usually the ones providing him with promising intel of any evildoers, but some things are just meant to be obtained by himself.

"Is this the only hideout you have? Quite in a shambles, don't you think?" Diluc's eyes shifted around the dilapidated building, observing the surroundings to know his enemies better.

The leader rolled his eyes, "It wouldn't be so bad once we get some funding from you and your girlfriend." Diluc hummed. Judging from his answer, it is safe to assume that the organization is rather a small scaling one. Defeating them right now will result in uprooting the source once and for all.

As Diluc was about to do so, a lackey of the gang ran frantically towards them, panting labored when he reached and trying to catch his breath. "What is it?" The leader question.

"T-there's... there's someone." He pointed towards a direction with fear layering his voice.

"What? Why are you so scared?" They all glanced towards the spot.

"I swear there was a woman! I don't know who it is, but she took out some of our guys on guard outside."

In disbelief that a woman could have done anything so reckless, the leader trudged to said location. As it is a spot lacking light, the darkness and shadow made it challenging for him to pinpoint if anyone is there. When he moved closer, you crept out behind from his blind spot and kicked the back of his head, causing his head to spin. Your arm lunged forward, gaining a tight hold onto his nape. You put everything into pushing him, his forehead hammered down to the floor. Creating a loud thud, it gave him a concussion.

"Looking for me?" Your foot stamped onto his back, just making sure he stays down.

Everyone, including your boyfriend, had their pupils dilated at the scene. You sighed at the silence, "All of you just messed with the wrong couple." Lifting your foot away, you stomped forward without giving them a second thought. Your arms and legs are all warmed up for many rounds against your foes.

Diluc watched you from afar as you drove your way towards victory. Although he could step in to help, he admits silently to himself that he would like to observe you a little longer. Putting his trust in your calibers to carry you far, his eyes never left your brave figure.

Once you cleared the group, the next thing to do is checking on Diluc. Already unfastening the restrains himself, he walked to you, "That was well executed. Your abilities shouldn't be underestimated. Don't join the Knights though." He stressed the last remark, scoffing. You chuckled and held his hand to guide him out of here, "Thanks. Glad to impress you, Master Diluc. Let's go home."

KAZUHA

Your boyfriend is a rather hard target to impose on for their plans of kidnapping him. His senses are just too refined for an ordinary person to challenge. Basic tactics, such as overthrowing him with the element of surprise have proven to be futile. Thus, Kazuha will always be able to evade falling prey into their hands.

The only way Kazuha could have been kidnapped is through falsifying evidence of you being in a life-threatening situation. Although he has successfully saved his own skin, not the same could be applied to you. Feeling his resolve shaken, what other choices could he have? Prioritizing your safety is the most important thing right now.

Kazuha may have faced similar situations in the past when out in the sea, encountering pirates of other crew aiming for the Crux Fleet's fortune. Being in the position as a captive for ransom is new. He actually found it amusing, rather than having thoughts of blaming you. It is not your fault that you are blessed with wealth. It is the fault of the criminals.

"Ain't you that the kid who's with Beidou? You're part of her crew." The leader questioned his target, to which he was greeted by Kazuha's silence. "Tell you what. You're just like the rest of us. We want to be rich. How about you ask your girlfriend to bring some more money and we'll give you a share as well?"

Kazuha's face darkened, "I don't know what you've heard, but it must be really valiant of you to assume to worst out of the Crux Fleet and myself. I'd appreciate it if you cease lumping me together with criminals like you."

The Crux Fleet does put up with an infamous reputation amongst the Qixing. Perhaps the abductors concluded that Kazuha has a negative conscience just like them, as in upholding a relationship with you to have a taste of your assets. Still, if he tried to talk his way out of it, barbarians like them will never reach a mutual understanding with him. Kazuha shut his eyes, ignoring any further confrontations to preserve his energy as he contemplates a plan.

He was interrupted when he thought he heard your voice nearby, carried by the wind. The others around him did not hear it since it was just something only Kazuha could pick up. Applying full concentration, he managed to form what he heard, "Get out of my way, please, while I'm asking nicely."

Opening his eyes, he turned to stare at the entrance. As if on cue, the door swung open when you kicked it down, announcing your presence. Some men fainted below your feet.

The others instantly reacted by storming towards your direction to stop your advancement. You stood still in your position, taking a mindful deep breath. One thing you learned from Kazuha is to always remain cold-headed before engaging in a fight.

Kazuha wanted to get out of the restraints to rescue you, but instead, you started dishing out few moves against the men.

When you thought you finished with the remaining numbers, their leader was about to declare his victory, "I got you!" Encircling his arm around your neck in an attempt to strangle you, you huffed and grinned towards Kazuha to signal him you have it under control.

You elbowed his stomach and felt him loosen his grip when he winced. Making enough gap between his arm and your neck, you slipped away and swiftly kicked in between his groins. The color drained from his face and tumbled to the ground, passing out in pain, "Hmph, this is what happens when you touch a lady without her permission." You brushed away the hair from your face after an arduous fight.

Jogging towards your boyfriend, "Kazuha!" He brisked towards you as well and held you in his embrace, softly rubbed your nape, "You're giving me plenty of inspirations for a haiku after such a wonderful performance." Kazuha would appreciate you refraining from such a heedless approach next time. He was comforted to see you safe and knowing the threats were nothing more than to use you, his weakness, against him. After witnessing that, Kazuha will be slightly ashamed he even doubted you in the first place, so he trusts that you can watch out for yourself next time.

[ouyangzizhensdad]

Phoenix Mountain Kiss and Consent/Boundaries in MDZS

The following opinion, expressed in the recent mdzs controversial opinion thread on twitter, is actually one I’ve meant to address for a while:

Even if most of fans loves the 'stolen kiss scene' in the Phoenix Mountain in the novel, that was a sexual harassment.

People in the fandom, especially those who were introduced first to the novel through cql, have a tendency to criticize the Phoenix Mountain kiss scene, saying it was non-consensual. My problem is not that they are wrong. The kiss is (or starts as, at the very least) non-consensual. My problem with this criticism is that people point this out as if it were a mistake. As if mxtx had meant to write a romantic kiss and had instead fumbled it all up and made it not consensual by virtue of not being woke, not being a good enough writer, or being too influenced by bl tropes. And that readers are too unsuspecting or not educated enough to realize the wrong mxtx committed. 

Here’s my hot take: The kiss is non-consensual because it was written to be non-consensual. mxtx is not trying to pull the wool over our eyes. The reason why we, as readers, can infer that, is because the non-consensual aspects of the kiss are important to the events of the plot, some of themes explored in the book, lwj and wwx’s relationship after wwx’s return, and lwj’s character arc. mxtx uses this moment and its aftermaths, amongst others, to make a point about consent and communication in relationships--one of the central themes of the novel. Shocking, I know. Arguing that consent and communication are a main theme in mdsz: now that's a controversial opinion.

Now, I won’t argue mxtx always manages to develop this theme with utmost finesse. You can critique and disagree with her treatment of the theme throughout the novel (taking into consideration, as well, how it’s not just explored through lwj and wwx’s relationship). That being said, isolating events in the novel like the Phoenix kiss scene to mark them as Good or Bad without considering the context in which they happen and are explored within the novel is just bad literary analysis :/. 

Let’s first consider this simple statement: the non-consensual aspect of the kiss is not accidental--mxtx knew it was non-consensual when she wrote it, and she wasn’t trying to hide that fact. 

By the time we reach the Phoenix Mountain competition, lwj has accepted his feelings for wwx, and that these feelings will not be returned. After all, in the xuanwu cave, wwx took great pains to ‘reassure’ him that he is super-straight-and-totally-would-never-flirt-with-him. Yet, wwx continues to ‘flirt’ with him--tossing a flower at him just before the competition--which we can gather is a source of, um, great torment for him. 

We are not privy to lwj’s thought process leading to the stolen kiss. What we know for certain, however, is how he reacts to and perceives his own actions after the fact.  Through wwx’s unreliable narration, we can still understand that lwj immediately regrets his actions and feels uncontrollable anger towards himself and his lack of self-restraint. While wwx has more complicated and contradictory feelings bout the kiss, lwj clearly sees his actions as wrong and disrespectful. He is scared of what he has been capable of doing unto another person--pushing wwx away the moment he sees him after the kiss. 

The person spun around. It was Lan Wangji after all. However, right now, his eyes were bloodshot, his expression almost frightening. Wei Wuxian was startled, “Wow, so scary.”

Lan Wangji’s voice was harsh, “Go!”

Wei Wuxian, “I just came here and you want me to go. Do you really hate me that much?”

Lan Wangji, “Stay away from me!” [chapter 69]

As readers, we are told that the Phoenix Mountain kiss, nor its implications, is not something to consider lightly. The fact that lwj’s reaction after the kiss is written in, and that it is so intense for someone usually so reserved, or the fact that we learn that more than a decade later he is still ashamed of himself and describe himself as having done something wrong (or, very wrong 很不对 ), all prove that the non-consensual aspect of the kiss is not an accident and is not downplayed as something to expect from someone in love with another person. 

蓝忘机闷声道：“我，那时，自知不对。很不对。” [chapter 111]

I can already hear some people ask: even if it was not an accident, why chose to include a non-consensual kiss between the two romantic leads? if not because it is a bl trope/weird kink, why did mxtx chose to put this in her novel? what do we gain by including dubious consent or non-consensual interactions in our fiction?

The long-short answer is: because the act of crossing boundaries is a very productive story-telling device for any piece of media focusing on any type of interpersonal relationships. Crossing boundaries--willfully or unintentionally--is a source of conflict, internal and/or relational, which can drive the plot forward, shape character development and relationships, as well as be useful for certain thematic discussions. 

Current discourses regarding consent in English-speaking, mostly-western spheres of the web tend to be very polarized, painting people who cross boundaries as bad. The solution presented (i.e. how to not be a bad person) tends to be an invitation for everyone, within any relationship, to constantly negotiate consent verbally and honestly: to constantly disclose boundaries, to constantly ask for permission, etc. While I do not dismiss the value of these suggestions, it is an ideal representative of certain socio-temporally specific cultural expectations of what communication is, how communication should happen, and how relationships should be like, etc.. Human relationships are messy, people are flawed and hurt each other, and we have complex internal lives (for instance, someone might not realize their wants or limits until they are faced with them). Instead of having media show us only a specific type of idealized relationships where boundaries are never crossed, ever, they allow us to explore the implications of boundaries within interpersonal relationships. Or, sometimes, media and fiction just aim to represent or are influenced by this very real part of human relationships, and use it as a way to create conflict within the narrative and relationships (sometimes in a interesting manner, sometimes in a very gross manner).

In mdsz, the Phoenix mountain non-consensual kiss is a two-fold source of conflict:  internal (lwj) and relational. While wwx remains unaware until he and lwj are together of the identity of the person who kissed him, the implications of the kiss ends up shaping their relationship both before and after wwx’s rebirth. 

A source of (unknown) conflict between lwj and wwx after he is summoned back from the dead is the fact that lwj believes wwx is aware of his feelings. But this conflict is further compounded by the fact that lwj has once forced his feelings unto wwx, and is utterly afraid that he would dare to ever do it again. That is why, every time wwx initiates physical contact, or flirts very deliberately with lwj, lwj never goes further than what wwx has initiated. Sometimes, he even de-escalates their proximity or level of intimacy (usually by asking wwx to “ 别乱动”  or, famously during Drunk#2, by literally knocking himself out) --out of fear that he, again, would lack self-control and do something wrong to the man he loved.  He never presumes he has the permission to push their relationship further than what wwx is offering. Without that added source of conflict, would it have been reasonable to expect lwj and wwx to have realized their mutual feelings earlier, even with the issue of lwj not being aware wwx does not know of his feelings?

“In the beginning, the reason for behaving in such a manner was to let Lan Wangji be disgusted with him and kick him out of the Cloud Recesses, and they would never have to meet again, going their separate ways. Lan Wangji couldn’t possibly tell what his real intentions were. Yet, [..] even when faced with Wei Wuxian’s various actions, tricks, and pranks, Lan Wangji never once lost his temper, reciprocating with restraint and courtesy.” [chapter 99]

That is all true, of course, until Drunk 3. Here again, the ghost of the stolen kiss plays a part in accentuating the conflict. Without it, would lwj have jumped to conclusions as quickly? And, plot-wise, the shared perception of wwx and lwj that they have taken advantage of the other is a source of conflict that does multiple things--it gives wwx an incentive to go look at the temple at night to distract himself from his guilt and sadness, instead of going the next day with lwj (at which point jgy would have had perhaps already left) and it keeps wwx in the dark about lwj’s feelings until lxc reveals to him the events of the past he has forgotten. Here again, issues of consent are clearly taken into consideration as a source of conflict, shaping both characters’ motivations and the events of the plot.

Finally, the theme of consent/boundaries is an important aspect of lwj’s internal struggle, particularly in relation to his father’s choices. The kiss is part of his journey. 

It is not coincidental that the Lan motto is “Be Honorable”/”Self-restraint,” and that lwj is presented as the model Lan disciple. This element is part of the context that gives narrative and thematic meaning to the non-consensual kiss. When lwj forces a kiss on a blindfolded wwx, lwj goes against the values he holds dear and the teachings that were imparted unto him--prime internal conflict. 

But what is also interesting, to me in any case, is how consent is the thing that ultimately differentiates lwj’s choices from his father’s. 

How willing was Lan-furen to be saved by Qingheng-jun? to be taken to live in seclusion in the Cloud Recesses? to be married to him? to have children with him? The novel never tells us clearly. However, the novel gives us an idea of how lqr, lxc and lwj perceive their parents’ relationship. For lwj, we are given an insight into his perception indirectly during the following conversation between him and lxc.

[Lan Xichen] spoke, “Wangji, is there something on your mind? Why have you been so tense?”

Of course, in most people’s eyes, the ‘tenseness’ probably looked no different than Lan Wangji’s other expressions.

Lan Wangji’s brows sunk low as he shook his head. A few moments later, he replied in a low voice, “Brother, I want to take someone back to the Cloud Recesses.”

Lan Xichen was surprised. “Take someone back to the Cloud Recesses?”

Lan Wangji nodded, his expression pensive. After a pause, he continued, “Take them back… and hide them somewhere.”

Lan Xichen’s eyes immediately widened.

[…]

“Hide them somewhere?”

Lan Wangji frowned softly. “But they are not willing.” [chapter 72]

Indirectly, we come to understand that lwj draws parallels with his father situation: they both want to protect someone by taking them to the Cloud Recesses, but these persons are unwilling. The unsaid question here is, would I choose to do as our father did? 

The non-consensual kiss is part of lwj’s journey, through which he comes to understand that, despite his strict upbringing and disciplined lifestyle that was supposed to keep him from becoming like his father, he is capable of being his father (or at least who he thinks his father is). He learns that he can understand what sort of passionate feelings could bring someone to do something that goes against not only the wishes of his clan members, but the very wishes of the person they love, for the sake of keeping them safe or for the sake of having them by their sides. And at the end of that internal journey, lwj chooses not be like his father--to put wwx’s decisions and wants and needs first. After buyetian, lwj offers his protection and confesses his feelings--and wwx rejects him. lwj respects wwx’s choice, while still going against his clan to protect him. He brings wwx back to Mass Grave Hill knowing full well that wwx would not survive long the wrath of the four great sects seeking revenge against him, and goes home to receive his punishment.

Overall, what I tried to say in many many words, is that the Phoenix Mountain kiss is not non-consensual by accident. It is not because mxtx is an awful person or is not educated enough, or because she thinks dubious consent is romantic. The fact that it is non-consensual is addressed within the narrative, fuels internal and external conflicts, and is as well woven into the plot structure and the themes of the novel. The kiss is not an outlier element, added to titillate a readership--it exists as an integral part of the novel.

I’m not saying it’s not okay to decide that you do not want to engage with any content that includes non-consensual interactions or dubious consent because that triggers or irks you regardless of the way it is handled. It is totally valid to not personally enjoy or have criticisms about choices mxtx made in exploring these themes, in presenting the internal and relational conflicts around consent/boundaries, or even in the way she decided to write the scenes that figure dubious consent. However, it is not really helpful to divorce an event from its context within a piece of media in order to brand it as either Problematic or Unproblematic, Good or Bad.

Note: Much more could be said about the theme of consent/boundaries in mdzs; this is not exhaustive in the least. 

Note2: Much more could be said, in relation to the question and theme of consent, about: the cultural limitations of Westerners to engage fully with a text written for a chinese audience; the limits of fan translators to fully understand  the nuances and themes of a novel and to communicate them in a different language; about the place dubious consent and non-consensual interactions has had in the romance/erotica genre for a long time, and no, not only because Misogyny or Homophobia. 

[writingfortoomanyfandoms]

Penny For Your Thoughts (II)

Pairing: Young!Sirius Black x Reader

Series Summary: Y/N Y/L/N has lived in the Potter household since she was eight years old. Even amongst the Potters, whom she knew loved her, she has never felt truly accepted, never felt like anything other than a burden. Until she went to Hogwarts. For the first time she had friends who weren’t forced to act as such, she had a family who loved her by choice. There, she met Sirius, the first and only person to ever truly understand what she was going through, to listen to her and not judge.

Chapter Warnings: Ummm not sure - maybe swearing?

A/N: And here’s part two! I hope you enjoy - here you’ll meet some of my OCs created for the series, characters who I genuinely love a lot so I hope you also like them! Please let me know what you think - especially if you’re on the taglist, hearing your comments always inspires me to keep on writing, so please do let me know. If you wish to be added to the taglist send me an ASK, replies to the parts asking to be added onto it won’t be responded to

“I told you - I have the worst sense of direction!” Y/N groaned as herself and Beatrice managed to take another wrong turn on their way to the Great Hall for breakfast.

“I thought you were exaggerating or - or being modest!” Beatrice laughed, nudging into her gently with her elbow. Y/N pulled a face at her.

“That would be rather Hufflepuff of me, wouldn’t it?” 

“Hey - this looks familiar!” Beatrice exclaimed as they turned another corner and Y/N wrinkled her nose, taking in the painting of a fruit bowl that they had stumbled across.

“B?”

“Yeah?”

“We’re back by the kitchens - we’re back where we started.”

“What’re you two doing here?” They turned to face back down the hallway where the Hufflepuff common room was located hidden behind a pile of barrels. Liane, Jessica and Eric were approaching them, grinning at their obviously lost friends.

“Waiting for you?” Y/N suggested.

“Forget the way to the Great Hall?” Eric teased.

“Maybe a little,” Y/N agreed.  The group continued on, led by Jessica who regularly looked over her shoulder as though to check that her newfound friends were still following her, worried that they may disappear.

“It’s a good thing we left so early this morning,” Beatrice commented to Y/N. “Otherwise we might not have made it to breakfast in time.”

“Why did you leave so early?” Liane asked as they entered into the Great Hall, which was already at least half full with students eating their breakfast.

“I was aware I’d get lost - B just came along for the ride.” Beatrice nodded solemnly at those words as they found themselves seats at the Hufflepuff table.

“I was under the impression that she knew what she was doing,” she admitted. “And I’m ashamed to admit that.”

“You’ve known me less than twenty four hours!” Y/N protested. “For all you know, I could have planned all of that.”

“Why would you have planned getting lost on the way to breakfast?” Beatrice asked in bewilderment.

“Oh, yeah, I’ve known you for less than twenty four hours and you expect me to spill my master plan to you,” Y/N scoffed.

Eric was watching the two girls interact, his brow scrunched together in confusion but a twinkle in his eyes that showed he was more amused than anything else.

“You’re both rather strange.” 

“Well that’s just rude,” Beatrice huffed, pouring herself some juice as Y/N picked up the water pitcher. 

“Do you think the professors will be nice?” Jessica blurted out the words, cutting off their conversation. Two spots of pink appeared on her cheeks when all four of them turned to face her. “Sorry,” she muttered, looking down at her plate. 

“You remember what Mum said, Jess,” Eric said calmly. “When she was here she loved all the teachers - she was even taught by McGonagall and Flitwick.”

“Who are they?” Beatrice frowned and quickly added: “my parents didn’t much like talking about Hogwarts,” Y/N thought she saw a hint of embarrassment in her expression and she noted how Beatrice refused to meet any of their eyes.

“McGonagall teaches transfiguration and Flitwick teaches charms,” Liane explained, buttering a piece of toast. “My parents told me that McGonagall’s a complete hard-ass though,” she added and Y/N saw Jessica’s eyes widen.

“Really?” Beatrice asked, staring at Liane.

“Yeah - really strict, apparently,” she confirmed. “Especially if you’re not in her house.”

“That’s not true,” Eric sighed, shaking his head. “The teachers aren’t allowed to favour those in their house,” he insisted but Liane shook her head defiantly.

“None of the teachers stick to that! All the heads of house are lenient towards their own students!”

“So d’ya think Sprout’ll give us a load of house points for like… breathing?” Beatrice asked and she shared an amused look with Y/N.

“Alright - laugh all you want now, we’ll see who’s right,” Liane scoffed, but there was traces of laughter in her voice.

“What do you think we’ll have today?” Jessica asked in her quiet, soft voice, her nerves about their first day seeming to override the shyness that she had shown the previous evening.

“I hope we have Potions,” Liane said eagerly, her voice completely changing from her previous tone of disbelief.

“Do you think you’ll be good at it?” Beatrice asked interestedly.

“My Dad’s fantastic at brewing potions - Mum says that he’s been waiting for me to go to Hogwarts so that he can help me learn how to properly do them myself,” Liane explained through a bite of toast.

“I heard that it was a really hard subject,” Jessica worried.

“I’m sure you’ll be fine,” Y/N mustered up as much of a reassuring smile as she could manage. “What’re you looking forward to?” Jessica didn’t reply immediately, clearly thinking carefully about the question.

 “I think I’ll enjoy herbology,” she decided, nodding her head to confirm her thought. Beside Y/N, Beatrice completely lit up in delight.

“Really? I think I will too - I used to love gardening when I was at home!” She enthused. Jessica brightened at that and it wasn’t long before the two of them were talking excitedly about what they were most looking forward to studying - both of them, apparently, having already read through the text book that had been assigned for their year.

“What about you, then?”

“Care of Magical Creatures,” Y/N’s response to Liane’s question was immediate, the words out her mouth before she had a chance even to think about them.

“But… we can’t study that yet,” Liane pointed out, raising her eyebrows and Y/N let out a sad sigh, nodding her head.

“I know - sucks, doesn’t it?”

“I don’t think I’ll be taking it,” Liane admitted with a slight shiver. Y/N frowned at her, confused, and her new friend offered her an apologetic smile. “I’m not… great with animals. They make me nervous.”

“All animals?” Y/N questioned in disbelief.

“Pretty much - they don’t trust me, I think. And so I also don’t trust them. We’ve got a mutual understanding going on.”

“It’s okay, I’ll change that,” Y/N reassured her with a mischievous smile. “I’ve been told I can be rather persuasive.”

“Why does that sound like a threat?” Y/N ignored Liane’s sigh and looked over at Eric. 

“What about you?” She inquired, but Eric wasn’t listening and was instead looking at his sister and Beatrice with what was almost an expression of concern that Y/N didn’t quite understand. “Eric?”

“What, sorry?” He was snapped back into the present, trying his best to feign attentiveness as he returned to the conversation.

“What subject are you excited for?” Liane repeated, rolling her eyes a little and running a hand through her scarlet hair, pushing it away from her face.

“Well… everyone’s excited for Defence Against the Dark Arts, right?” He pointed out with a ‘duh’ expression. 

Their conversation speculating over their new classes carried them to the end of breakfast, the food disappearing from the platters in front of them, the heads of house descending from the professors table at the front of the hall all carrying piles of parchment. 

Professor Sprout was a squat woman with greying curly hair with a tattered wizards hat perched on top. Her fingernails had dirt underneath and the skin of her hands looked rough to Y/N’s eyes, presumably from the many hours she spent outside in the Greenhouses. Her eyes, despite being tired-looking, were warm and welcoming, smile lines beginning to be etched into the skin around them.

She practically beamed at Y/N and her fellow first years.

“I didn’t get to say it last night - but welcome all of you to Hufflepuff!” Her words caused quiet cheers and giggles from the first years surrounding them. A freckled boy that Y/N didn’t know the name off looked as though he was going to pass out from joy. “For anyone who doesn’t know - I’m Professor Sprout. Your head of House and also your Herbology teacher!” Jessica and Beatrice exchanged yet another excited look.

Sprout handed out the parchment, one to each student, asking each for their name, welcoming them to her house.

“And your name?”

“I’m Y/N, Professor, Y/N Y/L/N,” she smiled. Professor Sprout’s face fell just a little and she nodded, her warm eyes softening even further.

“It’s lovely to meet you - welcome to Hufflepuff,” she said, her voice more gentle than it had been when talking to the other first years.Y/N took her timetable from her, staring down at the little squares labelled with her lessons, not wanting to meet the inquiring gazes of her new friends who Y/N could tell had picked up on Sprout’s change in mood.

“Charms first,” Y/N muttered, reading the writing. “And then Herbology,” she looked at Beatrice who was watching her carefully. “Pretty ideal for you, huh?”

Beatrice cracked a smile and nodded her head.

“Alright - we should probably get going. With Y/N’s complete lack of any sense of direction at all it’ll take us a good fifteen to thirty minutes to find the classroom,” Beatrice declared, standing up and stretching her arms out, smirking at her new friend who rolled her eyes, standing up as well.

“Well Jess has a thestral’s sense of direction so I’m sure we can use her as a guide.”

“I don’t…. understand?” Jessica asked, looking at Y/N with an apprehensive expression.

“It was a compliment,” Y/N assured her as their little group of friends made their way out of the Great Hall, clutching at their timetables. Y/N’s heart was racing with nerves, though she didn’t want to admit it aloud.

They walked together to charms, speculating excitedly about what they thought the lesson could hold for them, what Flitwick had in store to teach them. 

Unsurprisingly, considering how early they had left from breakfast, they were the first ones to find the classroom and lined up outside it, Liane talking animatedly about the different charms that she had already read up about. 

“Who do we have it with, anyway?” Eric asked, leaning against the wall.

Y/N glanced down at the timetable still clutched in her hands and her heart leapt in her chest.

“The Gryffindors,” she relayed, beaming. 

“Why’re you so pleased?” Beatrice asked.

“I already know some of them!”

“You already have other friends?” Beatrice gasped in feigned offence.

“What can I say? People love me.”

“Hey Y/N,” Lily tapped Y/N on her shoulder, who whirled around to grin at her.

“Hi! How are you?” 

“Good thanks,” Lily grinned. “How was your first night?”

“It was fun! Oh!” Y/N turned back to her group of Hufflepuff friends. “This is Beatrice, Eric, Jessica and Liane.” They waved at the Gryffindor girl, whose smile seemed to become shyer with the introduction. “And this is Lily - we met on the platform yesterday and sat together on the train.”

“Nice to meet you,” Lily said, taking Beatrice’s hand.

“Who’re your friends?” Y/N whispered to Lily, looking over at the three other girls dressed in red-hooded robes that had arrived with Lily.

Lily giggled at Y/N’s lowered tone.

“That’s Marlene, next to her is Alice and then that’s Dorcas.” Lily introduced quietly, pointing at each girl in turn. Y/N nodded her head but didn’t get a chance to respond further as James’ booming voice rang out from down the corridor, where he had just turned the corner to the hallway where the charms class was located.

“Y/N! Hufflepuff! Mum called it! Have you written to tell her yet?”

Y/N let out a heavy sigh, removing herself from the company of her friends and walked towards James, who was accompanied by a group of boys - one of whom she recognised from the platform to be Frank Longbottom.

“I haven’t, no - did you write to let them know you’re in Gryffindor?” 

“As if they need the confirmation,” James scoffed. 

“Wait - what do you mean your mum called it?” Y/N’s brows furrowed together as she registered what else James had said. 

“Ages ago! When you first-” James caught himself, “when you first started to ask about the House system. She told me and Dad that she reckoned you’d be a Hufflepuff.”

“She never told me that,” Y/N frowned and James shrugged.

“Well she told me,” Y/N gave him a withering look.

“I figured,” she met Sirius’ eyes over James’ shoulder and he gave her the same cocky smirk that Y/N was beginning to realise was a near-permanent fixture for him.

“Hey,” he nodded at her.

“Gryffindor, huh?” Sirius’ smirk seemed to fall briefly, a slightly worried look on his face as he responded, though he tried to cover it with a poor substitute of his previous confidence.

“My Mum’ll be so proud.” James snickered, glancing at his new friend.

“These are our other dormmates, by the way,” James said, gesturing to the other three boys who had joined in with the conversation held by the other Hufflepuff boys who had turned up shortly after the Gryffindors. “That’s Remus, Peter and - you remember Dad talking about Frank?”

“Your dad was talking about me?” Frank asked, breaking out of the conversation to shoot a confused look at James and Y/N.

“Mine was telling us that he went to school with your Mum,” James explained cheerfully, no hint of the embarrassment that Y/N was feeling having been caught in such an odd conversation. 

“Right…” there was still an air of unsureness in Frank’s voice.

“How was your first night anyway? You doing okay?” James lowered his voice a little, clearly knowing that Y/N wouldn’t want for their classmates to overhear him checking up on her. “You sleep okay?” He added knowingly.

“It was fine, James - I’m fine, I promise,” Y/N said with a smile and gave a half shrug, glancing back to her new friends. “They all seem really lovely.”

“I’m glad,” James smiled, nudging her shoulder with his. “And last night - you didn't…?”

“No - not last night,” she confirmed. Y/N suddenly looked to Sirius, who she realised had been standing with them as they spoke, looking interested. “I snore,” was the first thing she could think of as an explanation. 

Sirius started to laugh and Y/N’s embarrassment washed over her, not that she had time to dwell on it when Beatrice grabbed her arm and tugged her towards the classroom that Professor Flitwick had just entered into.

“You’ll sit with me, right?”

They found a table together in the middle of the classroom, Y/N sliding into the chair nearest the window, Liane and Jessica sitting in the row in front of them, Eric joining a fellow Hufflepuff boy at the table beside them. It was no surprise at all to Y/N that James and his new friends took seats right at the back of the classroom.

“Who was that?” Beatrice whispered to her as Flitwick started his lecture.

“I’m trying to listen,” Y/N returned and Beatrice fell silent.

“No you’re not - you’re doodling!” Beatrice accused, her voice still too low to be heard by anyone other than Y/N.

“Relevant doodling?” Y/N offered and Beatrice gave her a withering look, not bothering to reply further than that. 

“Now it’s over to you to have a go! Remember - swish and flick!” Flitwick announced, clapping his hands cheerfully.

“Any chance you were actually paying proper attention?” Y/N asked Beatrice as Flitwick waved his wand and feathers flew across the room to land one in front of each student.

“The levitating charm,” Lily whispered from the table behind them. Y/N looked over her shoulder at the Gryffindor girl who was smiling. “You know - Wingardium Leviosa.”

“Thanks,” Y/N whispered in return. 

“But who is he?” Beatrice repeated again, the classroom filling with noise as the eager First Years began to cast their first spells. Y/N got her own out of her robes and shrugged nonchalantly.

“Just a guy I grew up with - our parents were friends.”

[needs-to-stop-looking-at-yigas]

okay first off your writing is SO GOOD!!!!!! but i was wondering, since in most of the works so far some of the other yiga are kinda mean, could we get sooga and/or kohga bonding with a newer recruit? like they’re having a rough time adjusting and it’s just tender and sweet

One, the yiga aren’t exactly mean. It’s levels. See, the foot soldiers are very kind and respectable to Sooga, for his status, and devotion to Kohga. The Blade masters are hard on Sooga because he was once one of them. As such, they’re VERY competitive with one another, and accept nothing less than perfection from one another. The Blade master’s aren’t bad guys, they’re just way more heavy handed. Trust me, if push came to shove, these guys would have Sooga’s back.

And two, there’s actually a mission in aoc that kiiinda has something in those lines. It’s where a yiga member misses home, so you give him veggies to remind him of home (think it gives Kohga an extra heart???), so let’s do it based of that guy!

“Rounds, once more! Let’s go!”

Whenever Sooga wasn’t serving Kohga, he was busy tending towards the soldiers' training. He was busy training the newest recruits, and it was quite a solid lineup so far. Quick, devoted, opportunistic. Just what the clan needed. All but one. The one who seemed to be the most distracted. He was the newest one of the pack, having just joined the clan yesterday. He was slow, he kept tripping over himself, he kept fumbling. It was odd, given the fact that just the day prior, he was near the front of the pack. He tripped up yet again in the course, unable to dodge the obstacles set before him. He was about to get up and try again, when he looked up to see Sooga peering over him.

“Not you. Get up, follow me. Rest of you, follow HIS orders!”

He left the newbies to his own second hand, a man who was close to being Master Kohga’s right hand (long story). The footsoldier stood up, following Sooga. He stayed close to his side, less he got lost in the maze of the base. He then stopped into one of the storage rooms, shutting the door behind them. He looked down at the meager creature before him, and he couldn’t help but scoff. He didn’t look down on him for being on the lower rung of the yiga ladder, but for the fact that he wasn’t giving everything he had to the clan.

“Explain yourself.”

“I don’t, uhm-”

“You will look at me in the face.”

“You mean mask?”

He chuckled, but when Sooga didn’t do the same, he shrunk a bit. He fiddled with his fingers, clearly nervous under such an intense gaze. He went silent. Sooga fought the urge to sigh.

“You are now a member of the Yiga clan. Therefore, your devotion must be unlimited, and unwavering. Unless you are injured, you give all your body has to the clan. Do you understand?”

He messed with his fingers again, and Sooga couldn’t help but notice just how young he was. But a boy, in Sooga’s eyes. 

“I’m sorry. I know I said I wanted to join, and I’ve already sworn devotion to Kohga. But I just...I’m distracted.”

“Explain.”

The soldier hugged himself, clearly going into something uncomfortable.

“I...I dunno. I’m used to having a mom, and a dad, and my sister. I’m used to sitting down and having warm meals in my own bed, I miss playing with my friends. I miss my village, I miss the goats, the horses, even the cherry trees. I even missed being called by my own name, Alfo-”

“You do not speak your former name. You learn to look without a face, and to be silent, even when asking for help. You and your team must be in sync, and you could ruin it in your longing. Do you understand?”

He looked up at him, before nodding. Life in the yiga clan was not easy. He too, joined the clan, and felt the confusion. He too, yearned for his home way back when, and even now, he’d turn if he thought he heard someone speak his name. It was rough, especially at this young age. No one was to know of another member's past, aside from Sooga, but from what he gathered, his parents died, and his sister had gone missing. He needed resources, needed a place to stay as he searched for her. It was a noble dream, that much was certain. Sooga wanted to bark at him once more, before his heart seemed to recall what compassion was.

“Look. Perhaps you need independent training, until you grow comfortable with the other’s. I will train you myself.”

“Are you...serious? Really?”

The boy looked damn excited, but he stopped bouncing on his feet the second Sooga cleared his throat. This was going to take some work, it seemed, before this foot soldier could properly represent his clan. Still holding a chipper attitude however, he was sure to make the other aware of how important this offer meant to him.

“You will NOT regret this, Sooga! Not for one-”

He seemed to forget the door was closed, causing him to hit his face against the door, and swear under his breath. Sooga sighed. This was going to be a challenge, for certain.

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

“Good, good. Again.”

Sooga was surprised how effortless this suddenly seemed to be. The little one started their training with more rants of home, more longing for what was once his life. Sooga, instead of telling him to hush and focus, allowed him to rant. It improved his skills considerably. His feet danced across the floor, his dodge timing was perfect, and although Sooga blocked them, his attacks hit their marks every time. He even managed to dodge one of his attacks, which was rare on someone so low on the yiga clan ladder.

“Right!”

Armed with but a Vicious Sickle, the young one found himself standing toe to toe with Sooga, enough so, that when their weapons locked together, the boy didn’t immediately fall over from his massive weight. Course, Sooga eventually gained the under hand, shoving him, and forcing him to drop his weapon. He looked ready for backlash, cowering as he stood there, when Sooga nodded.

“Nicely done. You lasted far longer than most. Seems as though you just needed to clear your head, young one.”

He bounced a bit on his feet, picking up his weapon and spinning it in his hand, suddenly overflowing with confidence.

“Well I mean...I AM pretty strong when I put my mind to it. Never really got picked on during school. Pretty smart to, I’d sa-ow!”

Not paying attention, he nicked his finger with the blade. He dropped it again, putting his finger in his mouth. Sooga rolled his eyes, leaning down to pick it up, before putting it back in his hand.

“Another rule of the blade. Respect your weapon. It is meant to serve you, but it is useless without the same amount of care. It is a mutual respect. Do you understand?”

He nodded, taking the blade back from his hand, and tucking it back into his belt loop. The boy was young, dumb, and eager to prove himself to his elder. If that didn’t ring any bells. The boy seemed to be done with his finger, and he finally found his voice.

“So, what now? We gonna learn some of the poof stuff? I wanna teleport and stuff!”

“That takes displicine, and concentration. Two things you do not have yet. It’s also why you are not allowed on the field yet.”

“Which is not fair!”

He cried out, following Sooga as they made their way to the dining hall. Most of the clan was happy to survive on mainly bananas, but the boy looked none too interested.

“What’s the matter? You are not hungry?”

“No, I am. I just...I kinda missed the food back from home.”

Sooga scoffed. Figures. Sooga couldn’t blame the poor boy for dwelling so much in the past. Not everyone was like himself, longing to forget his old life.

“Let me guess. You want something like meat stuffed pumpkin.”

Sooga didn’t expect him to gasp, and nudge his arm, clearly excited.

“How did you know!? Can you read minds!? What number am I thinking of!?”

“No, it’s just predictable, given what you told me about your previous life. Bit of a ‘bumpkin’, as I’d put it.”

Sooga chuckled. Maybe it was the fact that he grew up with younger siblings, maybe it was his natural knack for being a caregiver. But regardless, Sooga found himself charmed by this little one, enough to at least not bark and tell him to eat what he was served. Oh, he was soft in the heart, just like Kohga said. Speaking of Kohga-

“Sooga, there you are! Been looking for you!”

The dining hall was abuzz from Master Kohga’s presence. Excitement that the young one hadn’t seemed to fully grasp, like some newbies. Before Kohga could continue, he pointed towards Sooga, as if accusing him of something.

“Did you know he could read minds?!”

Kohga cocked his head to the side, clearly confused.

“What? No he can’t. Love the guy, but he’s stupid.”

“Oh, can YOU read my mind then? What number am I thinking of?”

Kohga folded his arms over his chest, scoffing.

“Easy, 420.”

“....Is this yiga magic? I wanna learn that!!”

Kohga seemed to find him just as amusing, shaking his head.

“This one of the newbies, isn’t he? The one you said you wanted to train personally?”

“Yes, Master Kohga. While his mind races with frivolous things, he does in fact, have some skills. His reflexes are swift, as well as his feet, even amongst the foot soldiers.”

“Am I...skilled enough to get meat stuffed pumpkin?”

Kohga cocked his head to the side, and Sooga had to pull him into a bit of a side huddle.

“He misses his old home, Master Kohga. Not to mention, some variety in their diet COULD do some good in terms or morale.”

Kohga scoffed, arms folded.

“I like this kid, but you can’t sit there and tell me this kid is THAT special, Sooga. I’m not going all the way out there just so he can have special eats.”

“....Please?”

Kohga knew that look in his face. Sooga would NOT let this go, he could tell. He groaned, lightly shaking his head.

“Fine, just. Fine.”

The kid seemed to hear them, and whooped in celebration. Right before his excitement made someone fall over, and drop their bananas everywhere. Kohga sighed.

“I can’t believe I like this kid.”

“Neither can I, Master Kohga.”

They watched him scramble and try to pick everything up, before slipping on one of the peels, starting the mess all over again.

“We’re essentially adopting him, aren’t we?”

“Essentially, Master Kohga.”

“Oh well. Least I can call myself a dilf now.”

[rhub4rb]

Project: Null

AO3

Chapter 1 - [Chapter 2]

It’s here! Expect slow updates though.

-_-_-_-

“This is your apartment Marinette,” Audrey said, unlocking and opening the door. “I know this is probably a bit drab, but you will have plenty of time to decorate it and make it your own.”

It really was a simple place at the moment, a two-bedroom apartment with a living room connected to the kitchen. The windows in the living room where an attest to who Marinette’s employer was however, with a wide city view.

“I’ve added some things in one of the bedrooms so that you can work from here if you want. You won’t be with me all the time,” Audrey reminded.

Breathing in, Marinette took her first step into her new home. Or, well, what she hoped would become her new home. She was still incredibly grateful that her parents let her do this, but she supposed that after everything Paris had gone through, sending her away from the city would make them feel safer.

The apartment was mostly bare, save for some furniture like a gray, fabric couch and a coffee table. There was a kitchen island that separated the living room from the kitchen that Marinette was unsure what she would do with, but she supposed she would look at that later.

“A week has been put off for you to settle in,” Audrey said from the doorway. “Take the time to get to know the area. If you need anything, contact me or my assistant, and I’ll call you if there are any change of plans.”

Marinette turned to look at Audrey, and she nodded in affirmative. A week felt like a generous amount of time to get settled, but after how Paris was almost completely destroyed only just a week ago… Marinette clenched her fist and forced her thoughts elsewhere.

“Well, I’ll see you in a weeks time,” Audrey started, clapping her hands and walking out the door. “Oh! And, Marinette, I know that all this may seem like a lot but you have a lot of promise, I’m sure that by the end of this apprenticeship that you’ll have finished a wonderful collection. Au revoir!” And just like that, she was gone, leaving Marinette alone in the mostly empty apartment.

As soon as the door closed, Tikki flew out of Marinette’s purse and looked around the living room.

“Everything is really changing, huh Tikki?” Marinette asked, not expecting a proper reply. She put down her backpack and opened it, revealing an intricate red and black box. The sight of it made Marinette frown.

“It’s gonna be okay Marinette. Tomorrow you’ll meet your new team, and you’ll be able to practice your new powers with proper supervision,” Tikki said optimistically, Marinette nodding along as she put the box on the coffee table.

Marinette had tried out her powers a little before the move to Star City, and she had a basic understanding of them now, but that was only when she was transformed. It seemed like transforming put a damper on her abilities, or locked away her access to the rest… whatever the rest were. It was weird, but Marinette felt comfortable fighting when she was transformed at least.

Touching her newfound powers now, when she was just herself… it felt too risky. Unstable. She needed a little more practice and soul searching before she would begin to mess with any of that. Not that whatever it was wouldn’t act out at times.

“It still feels weird though,” Marinette said, sitting down on the couch with a sigh. She had some clothes that she would need to unpack, but that could wait for a bit. “Especially the new team thing. It’s not like in Paris where the others just trusted me, these guys will know even less about me than the Miraculous team.”

Which was really saying something, considering that the Miraculous team was made up of her closest friends.

Her friends…

She hadn’t seen them since “Armageddon” as the public had taken to calling it. Marinette didn’t have the heart to face them before she left. Maybe she would one day, but for now, the memories were still too clear for her to look them in the eyes. Sure, they didn’t know she was the one who caused all of that chaos, but Marinette knew, and that was enough.

“I’m sure your new team will be nice Marinette. They’re heroes!”

“So was Chloe technically, and she caused a train wreck and almost managed to get Hawkmoth all of the miraculous,” Marinette argued.

Tikki just shook her head, “Your new team won’t be like Chloe.”

“We don’t know that,” Marinette said, checking the time and getting off the couch again. “For all we know, they might end up hating me!”

Marinette hoped they wouldn’t hate her, but her previous experience with meeting new people in a place that could turn competitive showed her that it was most likely the case. It was part of the reason why she didn’t want them to know anything about her life in Paris, particularly her being Ladybug. The Young Justice team was surveillance and supervised by the Justice League, and while she envied them for that, she doubted that they would see it the same way.

That would be another thing she would have to get used to. She was following other peoples rules now, not her own or that of the Order. That didn’t mean she had abandoned the Order though. If the Justice League were to give her a mission that went against what the Order stood for, Marinette would simply refuse to do it. She doubted that would make her all that popular with the rest of the team either.

“Alright Tikki,” Marinette said, clapping in an effort to cut Tikki off before she decided to argue further. Marinette didn’t want to continue the conversation, even if it was a rude way to end it. 

“Food first or unpacking first?”

It was a good distraction.

-

“Tomorrow, Abyss will be introduced to the rest of Young Justice,” Batman said, as the meeting with the Justice League began. “She arrived at Star City today.”

The atmosphere was oddly stifled at the Justice League meeting, but Batman wasn’t surprised. Everyone in the room found it uncomfortable to talk about Marinette or anything surrounding her, but with her joining the Young Justice team tomorrow, it was hardly an avoidable topic.

“Isn’t the day after arriving a bit soon? I mean, doesn’t she need to settle down first, get over jet-lag?” Green Arrow asked.

“She insisted on it herself, apparently her internship with Audrey Bourgeois starts after this week and she wants to meet the team before then,” Batman explained.

“But why the day after she arrived?” Wonder Woman questioned, to which Batman simply shook his head.

“She wouldn’t say.”

The meeting continued on, with reports and missions being delivered, though it got slightly more lighthearted after moving away from the topic of Marinette. The topic was like a weird black hole in the Justice League, with no one being truly willing to talk about it, but forced to acknowledge none the less.

“Wally asked about our disappearance again,” Flash suddenly added. “I told him that it was still classified information, but I can tell it’s starting to get on his nerves.”

It had been mutually agreed amongst the Justice League that they would wait with discussing the details of where they had gone until Marinette felt ready, which they could understand. Black Canary had already made a plan to speak with the girl about her shame and guilt regarding the situation.

“We won’t tell them anything until Marinette decides to. She’s their new teammate, she should have the chance to tell them herself,” Batman said with an air of finality.

None of them liked keeping something like this secret, especially because to them, it must just seem like their keeping something from them because they may not be ready yet, even if that wasn’t the case.

Still, they would respect Marinette’s decision. Being introduced as the girl who brought Armageddon upon the city of love was most likely not the first impression that she wanted to make.

-

The diner was a nice little place, a surprise find by Marinette as she walked down the streets in the search for dinner. She would begin to make her own dinner after she had unpacked and everything.

Marinette fiddled with her straw as she kept her eyes on the dark phone screen, on occasion picking up a french fry to munch on. She had messaged her parents to update them on how she was doing, that she had been to the apartment by now, that she was eating dinner.

It was somewhat lonely, now that she thought about it. Next time, she would take the food home with her, then she would at least be able to eat with the kwamis. Still, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world, so at least there was that. It could have been worse. At least she knew an akuma wouldn’t attack.

Marinette sighed, looking out of the window dejectedly. She would be able to get out her pent up energy soon though. Not doing anything was really starting to make her antsy. She wanted to run across the rooftops, though she didn’t know if the Justice League would let her do that now.

The thought made her frown. After having looked after a city all on her own with a partner, not doing that anymore felt… unnatural. Maybe she could get them to allow her to have a little more freedom than the others when it came to that. She wasn’t inexperienced like them, not that she didn’t think they were capable! It was just different, she supposed, though that was probably something that was better kept for herself, rather than something to be said out loud with the rest of them there.

Nervousness bubbled in the pit of her stomach, but she trampled in down before it could truly grow, more out of habit and reflex than anything else. Maybe it would be like starting at a new school or a new class. They would probably be the only other people her age that she would interact with for a while, so for them to get along would be a dream come true. Sadly, the only aspect of her that she let herself dream that way was designing, but that was because she had genuine success in that part of her life. Everything else could probably handle an improvement.

She let out another sigh as she went up to pay. No point in staying for longer than she needed to, and she still needed to feed the rest of the kwami and unpack.

The setting sun was a nice sight to see though, and Marinette felt the tension in her shoulders slowly seep out as she took a deep breath, letting the little warmth of the sun rays kiss her skin as she walked towards her apartment, towards what she hoped would become her new home, if everything went right.

Things rarely did go right though, didn’t they? 

 -_-_-_-

@skyel0ve 

[theholycovenantrpg]

CONGRATULATIONS, BELLE! YOU’VE BEEN ACCEPTED FOR THE ROLE OF EVANGELINE TRAME.

Admin Rosey: Whew - okay - I absolutely adore Evangeline. I always and always will because she is the character that I expected so many to look and undermine. But Belle...whew, I loved this application so, so much. You understand her down to the very bones that build her up and make her the shining pillar that she is, while also adding different nuances to her that I had never thought of or considered myself. One of my favorite quotes that I h a v e to highlight is actually from your plot points, and it encapsulates her perfectly: “ But perhaps she’s a blacksmith of a different kind. Perhaps she does not deal in the business of forging weapons, but forging empires.”  And I think that’s all that needs to be said, don’t you? Please create and send in your account, review the information on our CHECKLIST, and follow everyone on the FOLLOW LIST. Welcome to the Holy Land!

OUT OF CHARACTER

Alias | Belle

Age | 21

Personal Pronouns | She/Her

Activity Level | My activity is a bit of a mess. I don’t live at home for a few days in the week, and I rarely have my laptop with me, but I think I can manage bringing it with me sometimes. When I am home, however, I am definitely active. I’m almost always around my phone, though, so if anybody needs to message me, I’m typically around.

Timezone | GMT +2

Triggers | N/A

How did you find the group?  | Through the tags, and then I started seeing a few of my mutuals reblog the promo posts.

Current/Past RP Accounts | I haven’t been in a group in over two years, and I don’t have any of my old accounts, sorry!

IN CHARACTER

Character | Evangeline Trame

What drew you to this character? | I have a particular soft spot for pawns. My favorite thing about Evangeline, above all else that I grew attached to while reading her biography, was that as strong as she is, as cunning as she has grown to be, as capable as she has forced herself to become, she is, in the end, another chess piece to be moved and—if need be—sacrificed. Perhaps the best part is the duality of her character that this presents; I see Evangeline as possessing a sort of tunnel vision, one that only allows her to see her own goals, and although she sees everything else, it’s her own endgame that she is fixated on. But her story is so much larger than the life she’s lived for the past twenty-eight years and she doesn’t know that. When I say Evangeline is a pawn, I don’t mean that she is a piece created to be cast aside. I mean that she serves a purpose, whether she knows it or not.

My love for Evangeline stems from my love for characters that belong to themselves, yet have layers that belong to others. I like that Evangeline is a product of her upbringing, of her relationships with others, of the life she once lived that she doesn’t know anything of, the life she only revisits in dreams and nightmares. I’m captivated by the idea of a reincarnated Eve who is not Eve.

What future plots do you have in mind for the character? | Where do you see this character developing, and what kind of actions would you have them take to get there? 3 future plot ideas would be preferable.

i. PHANTOM MEMORY. HOW I’D LOVE TO KILL YOU—

I don’t particularly like the idea of Evangeline being a slave to her past life. What I mean by this, is that I don’t want her to follow Eve’s story to the letter. I believe that Eve left behind a skeleton that is now shrouded in Evangeline’s blood, and those are two different people. However, those are two different people that are ultimately tied together, and I think that when Evangeline’s phantoms begin to cling to her ankles, claw at the hem of her dress in order to keep up with her steps, wrap themselves around her wrists while she dreams at night of memories that don’t belong to her, she will eventually succumb to them. Her phantoms can be perceived in many ways. For me, they are the byproduct of everything that Evangeline has ever been denied. To put it simply, they are the manifestations of Eve’s downfall and Evangeline’s awakening: Desire, covetousness, yearning, want. It’s this particular area that I believe the two women begin to bleed together, and the more Evangeline allows herself to get wrapped up in her phantoms, the sharper I believe her focus will become. Sharp enough, perhaps, to break through the cloud that has been fogging her memory all these years. Sharp enough, perhaps, to allow herself to put the broken fragments of her world and another together.

ii. I WILL EITHER FIND A WAY, OR I WILL MAKE ONE—

The Trame legacy has a long, respected history that holds them up in high regard in the Holy Land. Evangeline is not the person to look to for a sword. But she is the person to look to if you wish to be adored. Her beauty wasn’t the only thing that caused the citizens of the Holy Land to fall in love with her—it was her charm, her charisma, the captivating air she had about her. She is so much more than just a pretty face, and that point hasn’t been argued once before. The doubts that people have about her is that she won’t live up to her family name’s reputation. She isn’t a blacksmith, but she’s a diplomat, one who can negotiate and one who believes, ultimately, in peace, even if the shadows that clog her heart sometimes try to pull her in the opposite direction. I think that Evangeline’s shroud of ignorance that she allowed to blind her vision for many years took its toll on her, and now she is simply impatient.

She wants something great. Something greater. She wants to build a lasting memory of herself, one that will echo for centuries to come. Something that lasts longer than any sword or shield ever would. I think that Evangeline’s desire for greatness is tied to a desire for individuality. Her family name has lasted so long, and she knows her lineage like the back of her hand, but she wonders if others do. She wonders if they only acknowledge the Trame name because everyone that came after that first sword to fell a celestial did what they have always done—forge. She wonders if a single individual stands out amongst the rest, and she wants to be that person. She wants to be known for her actions, not her name’s history.

Evangeline doesn’t carry on her family name’s history of weaponry because she is not a traditional blacksmith.

But perhaps she’s a blacksmith of a different kind. Perhaps she does not deal in the business of forging weapons, but forging empires.

iii. “DON’T YOU FEEL LONELY LIVING IN YOUR OWN LITTLE WORLD?” “DON’T YOU FEEL POWERLESS LIVING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S WORLDS?”—

I think that Evangeline possesses a certain fear of being forgotten. Maybe this is because she is the reincarnation of a figure whose name was on everyone’s lips at one point in time, maybe this is because she is so used to being adored by anyone and everyone. But whatever the reason may be, Evangeline is terrified of being left behind. She has so many visions of the life she wants to carve out for herself, and she does believe that if she wants it to happen, carving is the exact thing she must do. Whether it comes in the form of wrapping her fingers around her grandmother’s bejeweled neck until the pulse stops thumping so strongly underneath her hands, or by showing compassion for the impoverished people of the land that has given everything to her. Everything is a struggle to Evangeline—she had grown used to being locked away, hidden behind a veil that kept her from truly coming into her own, so she learned to fight whatever ways she could without letting anyone know that she did not intend to follow quietly into submission.

Her ambitions and goals are loud and fierce, but there’s always something holding her back. I think Evangeline’s breaking point would be to come at odds with a path to greatness. She wants to flourish and she wants to do it her way, but she does not want to be left behind in the dust. A lesson that I would love to teach Evangeline is the idea that the problem with wanting everything is that nothing comes free. Eventually, you have to sacrifice one of your desires. And though I go further into this later on, Evangeline’s selfishness is a force that drags her under with the help of those ever-present phantoms. So what would happen when she gets tired of playing pretend for good? What happens when she gets tired of waiting patiently for her due? What happens when she gets tired of living powerless in someone else’s world?

Would she decide to forgo her fear of being left behind and make a world of her own? Would she take a bite of the forbidden fruit, allow herself to be seduced by temptation? Or would she settle on the life she already has?

Are you comfortable with killing off your character? | Yes.

IN DEPTH

Driving Character Motivation | Evangeline's motivations are primarily herself and, by extension, those who she believes belong to her. Not in a possessive way or in a selfish way (though she can be selfish), but those she believes are drawn close to her heart. That being said, just because some people reside in the confines of her soul, doesn't mean they get to stay there forever. Her grandmother, for example, was a driving force in Evangeline's life that ultimately resulted in her giving into the shadows that trailed behind her every step. And while Evangeline believes in remorse, she doesn't necessarily entertain it. She doesn't feel particularly guilty—rather, she feels that she acted in her own best interests. The love she had for her grandmother was strong but beat her own desires, and that's where the root of Evangeline's motivations lie. She desires plenty of things in her life—one might even say that she desires to want forever just to give herself meaning—and though she doesn't look to harm others in order to gain it, it remains a blind spot in her vision. She isn't a cruel person, but she possesses a certain sort of selfishness, a self-serving type of quality that is only a breath away from it.

Character Traits | OPTIONAL. Please list 3 positive traits and 3 negative traits that you identify in the character you’re applying for. 

(+) COMPASSIONATE. Listing compassion first was not a mistake or a coincidence. Evangeline is good, but who said only good people are compassionate? Who said only heroes get to be solicitous? Perhaps the thing that separates everyone is the cause they choose to show their compassion to.

(–) SELFISH. As I explained before, Evangeline has a savage type of selfishness within her, one that can very easily crack open to reveal something wilder, less contained. As dignified as she is, the selfish part of her is not. It seems to be the part of her that grows more and more every day, festering and latching on to her bones with each passing hour. She doesn’t seem to mind their presence. In fact, she’s not only grown used to it, but she’s begun to welcome it.

(+) ASTUTE. Shrewd doesn’t seem like the appropriate word to use to describe Evangeline, but astute feels just right. She knows how to read people, every good diplomat knows how to, and she’s no different. She possesses a very keen ability to detect tension in the atmosphere, and she’s also very capable of either building it up or taming it down.

(–) CUNNING. Though it’s true that Evangeline is not as cunning or as sly as she likes to believe herself to be, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t possess any wits about her. She didn’t get to where she is today by simply smiling prettily. Had she decided to take that route, she would still be sitting across from her grandmother sipping tea that made her want to gag and convincing herself that false happiness was better than nothing. But Evangeline shook her head and said no, and she gathered every bit of cunning she had in her, and she wielded it as best as she could. And perhaps it’s her pride talking, but she thinks she’s done a fine job.

(+) DEVOTED. Above all, Evangeline is devoted to those she cares about. Though this is widely considered to be a positive trait, it’s a double-edged sword. Her devotion is something of a two-way street. She believes that those she cares for are hers, and she, in turn, is theirs. Evangeline doesn’t do anything by halves, and she has just a little flair for the dramatics, and this is no different.

(–) DISHONEST. Evangeline has been lying for so long that it’s become second nature to her. Maybe she hasn’t been lying with her words, but every action is just one more piece in the carefully curated veil of ignorance that she draped across herself. But even though the veil has begun to slip with her permission as Evangeline grows more comfortable with herself and her new role, she can’t stop the dishonesty. The worst part is that she’s lying to herself more than anyone else, feeding herself lies that she needs to keep herself upright because no one is there to do it for her anymore. When all is said and done, Evangeline only had people willing to lay their life down on the line for her in order to keep her in the dark, and the truth is, she doesn’t know how to live without that. Not for lack of trying, though, but old habits die hard, and this one is especially hard to break.

In-Character Para Sample | Trigger Warnings for: Murder, suffocation.

She’s seven years old, and she’s otherworldly.

Her legs are splayed out around the bedspread underneath her, wrinkles forming in the fabric under her weight. Behind her, she feels the pull of a hairbrush through her dark hair, the sound of her grandmother’s bracelets knocking together on her wrist. Evangeline breathes steadily through her nose, her eyes fluttering shut every few seconds, fighting to stay awake at such a late hour.

Maids circled the grounds like bees, multiplying and forming as if they simply appeared out of thin air, and yet Lady Trame never allowed anyone else the privilege to brush her granddaughter’s hair before bed each night. Evangeline would undress and slip a nightgown over body and then she would wait until she heard a strong, sharp knock that was undoubtedly her grandmother’s, coming to brush her hair for her before she would kiss her cheek and bid her goodnight, locking the door behind her and telling the guards standing outside to watch over her like their lives depended on it.

They already knew that, of course, but Lady Trame inspired a sort of fear in people that did not leave room for error or question. Evangeline watched her often, her wide, unblinking eyes taking in every inch of her as she commanded a room with her mere presence, and she felt her fingers itch to grasp that intangible power in her fist. She wanted to see it, wonder what color it would be if it came into focus. Maybe a deep, rich red, one that pulled the eye in the exact same way Lady Trame did.

Evangeline watched her grandmother, and she wanted to do what she did.

A particularly sharp pull on her hair startled a gasp out of Evangeline’s mouth, and she met her grandmother’s eyes in the mirror. “Yes, grandmother?” she asked, her voice high-pitched and breathy, the exact way she knew would get the best response from people. She knew because she liked to study people, liked to watch the different ways they reacted to different parts of her. It was almost like a bit of theatre, playing a part she never intended to try on again if it wasn’t well-received. Evangeline thrived on praise, loved to see the world fall over itself in order to make her happy. She liked the feeling of being adored.

Her grandmother looked at her with that steady, keen gaze of hers. “You know,” she said, pulling the brush through Evangeline’s hair once more. “One day, this will all be yours.” She gestured around the room Evangeline was lucky enough to call her own, but she knew that when Lady Trame said this meant the entire thing—every room, every corridor, every inch of the place she called home just as so many other Trames had in the past.

“Yes,” she said, feeling her skin prick in anticipation for the inevitable day. “One day,” she breathed, “I’ll be Lady Trame myself.”

Her grandmother didn’t answer, only kept her eyes trained steadily on her granddaughter like a hawk, as if she could see right through her. Evangeline pretended not to notice.

It’s the memory that stays with her for the rest of her life. Through every single lesson and every single meal, it hangs over her head almost as heavily as the phantoms that start clinging to her body, her dresses, her sheets, her skin. It comes to her at seemingly random points throughout the day, remembering the way she’d so eagerly announced her future title, shaping the words in her mouth as if they already belonged to her, longing for the day she could taste them again and hear the truth ring in the title.

It’s the reason why she pours her grandmother tea every single evening in her room.

It’s the reason why she snaps, in the end.

One reason out of many, truly, but a reason nonetheless. Evangeline sits in her chair across from Lady Trame and watches her throat work around the bitter tea that’s hard to get down, watches as a sallow undertone begins to contort her once-lovely face. She remembers the feeling of guilt, of remorse. She remembers thinking that it has no place in her heart, not right now, not in this situation.

“There will be other men, of course,” Lady Trame says, picking up a sentence she had almost abandoned, her insistent coughs punching each word. “Many men will catch your eye, and some of them will leave, some won’t.”

Her fingers clenched around the teacup, aching to spill the liquid on the floor and crack the teacup in hundreds of pieces. She wanted to grind the porcelain to dust.

She didn’t.

When Lady Trame asked her for a kiss upon the cheek before she retired to her room for the night, Evangeline did as she was told, as she always did. She pressed her lips to the woman’s papery skin, smelling nothing but perfume used to mask the scent of sickness, and straightened, ready to leave. She cast her eyes around her grandmother’s room once more, looking at the fine gowns, the gorgeously crafted furniture, the silk bed sheets, and she wanted to scream. After all this time, Evangeline wanted to scream.

Instead, she whispered.

“Grandmother,” she began, “are you feeling alright?”

She doesn’t really hear the reply. She’s sure Lady Trame offers up some sort of excuse before waving her off, telling her to get some sleep. All Evangeline could hear was the sound of her own voice, so many years ago, proudly declaring that this would all be hers one day. She could hear her grandmother asking her if she knew what that meant, staring at her as if she could read every thought inside her head.

The only thought she’d had was greed.

She wanted, and she wanted, and she wanted, and Evangeline was sick of wanting. She wanted to take.

It wasn’t as hard as she thought it would have been. Once she had her hands wrapped around Lady Trame’s neck, it wasn’t as difficult to apply pressure as one might have worried. Evangeline was hardly aware that she was doing it, yet she could feel everything, felt so keenly in tune to her own body as she did it.

It was all so sudden, she could hear herself saying tomorrow morning when everyone crowded around her to console a tear-streaked Evangeline. She was fine at tea last night. But that was the thing about sickness, wasn’t it? It took you eventually, and no one could do anything to stop it.

It would have happened one way or another, Evangeline told herself as she watched Lady Trame’s eyes widen, her mouth opening on a silent gasp, a plea for help, a plea to stop—Evangeline didn’t know, and she didn’t care. She pressed harder, and harder, and harder, and she didn’t even think about stopping, not even once. She could feel the phantoms curling around her bare ankles, urging her on, whispering in her ear to push harder, claim what was hers by right, get some revenge after so many years of being suffocated herself.

It was a cruelness she had never felt before, a bitterness and a rage that swept her up in its embrace and left Evangeline breathless in its wake. But instead of lying motionless on her back like her grandmother’s lifeless body, she had never felt more awake, never been so aware of her own heartbeat. She’d never felt as alive as she did right in that moment.

Even after Lady Trame had stopped breathing, stopped her feeble struggle, Evangeline didn’t unwrap her hands from around the old woman’s neck. She continued pressing down, using every ounce of anger she’d ever felt and channeling it into her iron grip. Only when she felt the phantoms finally recede did she let go with a gasp.

And Evangeline felt free.

It would have happened one way or another, she reminded herself once more. Lady Trame was sick, everyone knew it. It wasn’t a falsehood; the woman’s breathing had become ragged, her face had taken on a sickly sort of pallor, her legs trembled with every step and she needed to grip Evangeline’s arm just to rise from bed. Yes, it would have happened one way or another.

Now that the phantoms had eased their hold on Evangeline, closer than they had ever been before, close enough that she could have reached out and touched one had she not been so consumed by the fury that had driven her actions, she wondered if she could convince herself it was a kindness.

A kindness, yes. Mercy.

Mercy for the woman who had kept Evangeline hidden away from the truth for her entire life. Mercy for the woman who had refused to answer any questions, forbade anyone from ever telling her anything that might give Evangeline some sort of satisfaction. Mercy for the woman who had done nothing but drive away the man she had loved, driven him out of her life and this world, never to be seen or heard from again, never to be touched by Evangeline’s fingers or brought close in her embrace once more. Maybe it hadn’t been a deep love, maybe it had only been superficial, but it had been hers, and her grandmother had taken it away from her.

“Mercy,” Evangeline whispered to herself, tasting the word on her tongue as she walked down the long hallway to her own room.

A surprised laugh jolted out of her lips, catching her off guard. She quickly covered her hand with her mouth, smothering the noise and hiding the smile that had come upon her mouth.

Mercy.

And as Evangeline welcomed sleep, allowed the phantoms to return to her with a ferocity she hadn’t yet experienced, allowed them to invade her dreams and introduce to her a new meaning of the word desire, she knew it hadn’t been mercy.

It had been justice.

Extras | pinterest board

[venxmedina]

hellllo family :~) guess who’s baaaack !! it’s chelly, with my sassy little babie venice, whom i love very much and hopefully you do, too !! she’s a fun one to go out with, will flirt with you, takes up dance studio time whenever she can, and isn’t afraid to voice her opinions. i’m so excited to get her back into the swing of things, since i am bringing her back from a smol hiatus !! like this or shoot me a message if you’d like to plot :pleading fc: :~)

— && guests may mistake me as ( camila mendes ), but really i am ( venice medina + cis female + she/her ) and my DOB is ( 3/31/1995 ). i am applying for the ( housekeeper ) position as part of the EHP and would like to live in suite ( 213 ). i should be hired because i am ( charming & witty ), but i can also be ( cunning & dramatic ) at times. personally, i like to ( go shopping, attend dance classes & practice self care ) when off the clock, but that won’t interfere with work.

okay before this gets waaaay too long lmfao here’s a TL:DR of venice, her pinterest board, and her connection page 

venice is a spoiled rich girl who mommy & daddy never really paid much attention to except when it came to succeeding in life and she responded to that by partying and being a wild child tbqh, resulting in her parents cutting her off and forcing her to take on a real job at the malnati. she’s returning after her grandfather passed, which essentially turned into just another instance of her parents controlling her life and not trusting her to take care of herself or the medina family name. she’s resentful of them bc they never rlly believed in her and instead treated her more-so as a pawn to advance their family's position which is a lil dehumanizing as a daughter and she's now determined to prove them wrong and actually make something of herself. her parents put her into ballet classes from such a young age and although most of anything they made her do has mostly been tainted now, dance is the one thing that's stuck and brings her so much joy and purpose so she still takes classes & is in search of a permanent partner to compete with.  she’s more than just a pretty lil rich girl, like she does have a heart ( kind of a big one but lowkey tho asdlfj ), but she's also got a bit of an identity crisis now that she's fully on her own and not under the influence of her parents or with the comfort of her brother, and that's ... different. kind of a cold bitch, but she’s charming and sociable and has a good heart but she’s guarded and afraid of getting hurt.

here is her pinterest board & her connection page <3 i’d especially love some hookup buds, a dance partner, childhood enemy, one night stands, fake relationships, fiesty friends, frenemies, and just about anything tbh :~)

tw: drugs & alcohol mention, neglect, death

*:･ﾟ･✧･ who am i?: the medina family fortune was founded during the gold rush era in which the family immigrated from brazil and were talented metal-workers who could turn such raw materials into works of sheer beauty. jewelry, picture frames, gold plated toilet seats and architectural elements alike - everyone in hollywood wanted something made by the medinas. their prominence never weaned, either. throughout the decades, the family fortune has amassed well beyond anyone’s wildest dreams and therefore money is barely to be considered to the medinas despite them still understanding the value of a dollar earned. given the diversity in which the wealth is spread, and the investments that it has been used to make, it is obvious that they are a family of considerable wealth making up the upper class. their high-rise in the upper east side really says it all. this was the world that venice was introduced to, and quite frankly, it was all she had ever known. her guarded building was as much as she was allowed to venture out into for many a year, where the doorman was a babysitter and mrs. winters’ dog a few floors down was a friend. of course, there were a few other kids in her building whose parents were either fond or jealous of the medinas, so until she went to school venice did get to socialize with kids her own age too. her older brother, lucca, was one of her biggest saving graces. he was one of the only people in her life that truly gave her the time of day, and as much as it pained venice to be constantly overlooked by her parents in favor of lucca, he was her best friend. for all intents and purposes, he was the only medina who made her feel like she even had a family, and if there's anyone she's more loyal to than anyone else, it'd him. but per her education, venice attended private schools in the city throughout her life, even being tutored by some of the most highly reputable and paid retired teachers in the entire state for extra attention. getting a proper education was more important to her parents than it was to venice, so she put in the minimal effort needed. it wasn’t as if she was ever going to be given a failing grade, and it wasn't as though an A on a paper was going to garner her parents' attention for long ( if at all - it was what was expected of her ). the girl knew of her influence and the power her family held from an early age. whatever she wanted, she got, and that was the precedent that had been set from infancy. whatever would get her to stop whining, that’s what she got.

*:･ﾟ･✧･ attention to detail: half of the battle for venice, though, throughout her life, was garnering her parent’s attention. her father was a proven, accomplished businessman who was often out of the state or city to tend to whatever firm needed his attention. her mother was a socialite who was more concerned with keeping up the image of a perfect household than actually tending to one. it wasn’t that there was a lack of love for her, from her parents, it was just rather that care was seldom expressed when venice so desperately needed it. she had spent more time with nannies and tutors and tennis instructors than she did her own parents, and that left a vacancy in her heart. naturally, her relationship with her brother was one that she worked on every day; they were thick as thieves and everyone knew the medina siblings. but, she couldn't follow her brother all day for the rest of her life, and as much as his love helped fill some of those voids in her heart, it wasn't always enough, either. she sought out their attention in so many different avenues. whether that be through ballet dance recitals, throwing temper tantrums if she wasn’t getting her way, leaving notes on her mother and father’s pillows … venice really tried all of it. and sure, she would occasionally get some kind of attention in return, but it was usually fleeting and uninspiring. they favored lucca in just about every aspect, and expected him to carry on the family name, line, and company so in a lot of ways - he took precedence. and this wasn’t dissimilar to the experiences of some of the people she called her friends at the time. her parents were busy people who didn’t have much time to deal with the handful of a daughter that they had.

*:･ﾟ･✧･ to be needed: this is where much of venice’s neediness has stemmed from. she truly does seek out those who are more likely to give her attention, to feed into her, even though she has been taken advantage of time and time again over the years. it’s not something she is even consciously aware of, it’s mostly just something that happens. or at least that’s how it started out. even to this day it can be difficult for venice to understand what a mutually beneficial relationship looks like, but that doesn’t mean she’s incapable of learning. for a long time, the people who wanted to be in her life also wanted access to the lavish lifestyle that follows her. this often meant that so many of venice’s ‘friendships’ were hollow, and merely existed to the benefit of the other person. it took awhile before venice started to realize that all of the trips she took people on, the random shopping sprees, the VIP bottle service, the ‘borrowed’ gucci and hermes - it was all for nothing. it wasn’t until she graduated that all of this dawned on the girl, but it did. and while she still feels that aching need to be surrounded by others, to be validated in some way, she is far more guarded now and protective of herself; she isn’t just going to be used by anyone ever again, and that lesson is one she holds very close to her heart. which she’d personally describe as a cold one if only to protect it.

*:･ﾟ･✧･ reckless abandon: but … speaking of, like so many of our favorite little rich girls, venice has always been a rebellious one. it started when she was a sixteen year old who had access to her own limo and could go wherever the hell she wanted. she had met plenty of other affluent sons and daughters of her parent’s pals by that point, and they had their own sort of ‘code’ amongst them. she started experimenting with drugs and alcohol at an early age and since it was what everyone else was doing, it allowed her to be a part of the club, and that’s what she was searching for. it warranted attention from the paparazzi, from these other so-called ‘friends’ of hers. her beach house in the hamptons was her playground every weekend during the summer and it was good she had a maid service on speed dial because after her friends were through on a sunday night, it was necessary. she'd grown to essentially need a bottle of titos if she were going out or a few bumps to get her through a night, and it was incredibly unhealthy, but it was one of those staples that made her feel better. even for a little. even in fleeting moments.

when she was graduating from her private academy and just turning 18, the need and desire to escape her family's imposing pressures and lack of care grew deeply. she knew that she wanted to escape to the west coast, and after spending far too many weekends jet-setting all over the country, the dry heat that filed the arizona air was appealing to her. she was miles away from her parent's, but still close enough to the beach and access to all the funds she could ever ask for. she was a party girl who barely attended classes and it was her family name that mostly got her through the couple of years that she even attended. she spent most of her time shopping, getting high, and drinking all night long. perhaps what was the most shocking was the relationship venice found herself in. he was a football player, older, undoubtedly gorgeous, and one of the kindness people venice had ever met ... up until meeting mason, she had basically only been surrounded by people who wanted to use her and didn't genuinely give a shit about her at the end of the day; they were in it for themselves, and mason was the exact opposite. he considered her, was far more mature than most of the people she'd ever spent time with, and she latched onto that breath of positivity and openness that was mason davis. even till this day, her relationship with mason was the longest one she'd ever found herself in, and to put it simply: she fell in love and she fell hard. some of her fondest memories were cheering him on at every game, celebrating the wins, and introducing him to anyone she could who was in the professional scene because she believed in him more than anyone else. he was unlike anyone she'd ever met before and cared for him more than she could understand; he was her first true relationship, someone who deserved to be her one and only, and while it terrified her how much she felt for him, she thought it was all reciprocal - so what was there to worry about? well, the night to worry came. and it was when mason broke up with her - supposedly, with his graduation date coming, he wanted to spare her the hurt ... but, in reality, all it did was shatter the girl's heart at twenty years old and it's never fully recovered since.

it didn't take long for venice to go off the deep end after the breakup ... being at the university of arizona was way too much, and every memory that used to bring her nothing but happiness was tainted. every ounce of personal growth that she had worked on seem to vanish overnight, and she was just angry, and hurt, and it was like all of those moments her parents made her feel like she wasn't enough - they were right. and still ... she needed home, to go home, to be surrounded by people who she was familiar with and who she knew would let her lean on them ... even if there were only a couple of people back home who'd comfort her, even if it was just lucca, she needed to go back to the city she knew like the back of her hand. even to be surrounded by people who'd pretend to care about her just for a night in her lifestyle. so she put in a transfer application to NYU, and yet again, it was her family name and pedigree that got her into the school. and attending NYU ... well it wasn't much better and when she first started at UoA. she’d hook up with anyone who she deemed interesting and the next night she was onto someone new. she was almost desperate in getting over mason in the only way she knew how ... getting under someone else. and she did a whole lot of that. everyone knew who she was on the party scene and you either hated venice or loved venice - but no matter what, you knew who she was. and that's how she survived her last two years ... making the rounds, living it up, partying and relying on her favorite substances .. it wasn't good, and it wasn't pretty, but it was what she knew best and that's what she reverted to at the time.

*:･ﾟ･✧･ riptide: anytime she could garner his parent’s attention with her reckless escapades, it was a win. that’s what she wanted. she wanted their attention, no matter what way she could get it, and there was something extremely fun in the process of getting it. but as she got older, her parents stopped caring as much. they knew venice wasn’t making healthy choices, spent too much time partying and out all night rather than studying, that she probably was crying over for something or someone, but that wasn’t what they were most concerned with. no, they were more concerned with the tabloids and the family’s reputation - that’s why they weren't paying venice any attention while she was away at NYU. they’d threaten to cut her off and that she would no longer be apart of their family if she continued to act this way in public. whether it was in a headline or on social media, she was being filmed and photographed acting out and being a truly spoiled brat which wasn’t the image that her family so desperately sought to protect.

*:･ﾟ･✧･this is growing up: it has been a true emotional rollercoaster between venice and her parents - constantly struggling to support their daughter and ‘set her on the right path’ versus venice’s ‘devil may care’ attitude. so many of her parents threats have been empty, and she had never truly thought that in all of their attempts to get her to be the picture perfect daughter that they wanted that they’d cut her off and force her to fend for herself. but, that’s exactly what happened. after graduating NYU with a degree in marketing, venice figured that her parents were get her in to one of the top agencies in the city and she would be able to live out her life with the top dogs like her father had. and for a long time, that is exactly what her parents had promised her. but then her graduation came and it was just after that she had pulled her biggest stunt and had stripped down on top of the bar at one of her parent’s fundraising events during a drunken stupor. that was truly a turning point in her relationship with her parents, considering just how badly she embarrassed them at their own fundraising event. and truly it all stemmed from that desire to be seen by them, by anyone, to be considered at all. the most they were concerned with when it came to venice was where she was going to be working and later living. they didn’t care that she was depressed, covering it up with partying and alcohol, that she wanted their love to be expressed and to feel as though she belonged to a real family. and she’s always known her life is wonderful compared to so many others, and there is guilt that comes from that, too, but still she couldn’t stop herself from acting out when she needed attention the most. and that is when her parents ultimately decided to cut her off - freeze her accounts, reposses her car, and force her to get a job that would actually put her back into the real world.

*:･ﾟ･✧･out here on my own: and really, that is how venice has ended up in chicago in the first place. the medinas are friends with the malnatis, and they agreed to take her on as an employee through the employee housing program and to ( most importantly ) get her away from mommy & daddy and out of The City. it’s the first time in her life where she’s without friends, money, or any sort of support. honestly, she feels quite abandoned by her family, as she looks at it like they got sick of dealing with her so they shipped her off elsewhere to be someone else’s problem. the resentment is there, and now more than ever venice is determined to show her parents that she doesn’t need them or their money, that she’s going to be capable of being on her own and working a medial job like being a maid without crawling back to them. sure, she’s going to hate cleaning up after people when she used to have a nanny who would tidy up her own place, as she truly has been spoiled, but she’s determined to grin and bare it before going back home. besides, so much of her life has been focused on gaining their attention, approval, to be validated by anyone, to be seen as something more than just a pretty face with a fat bank account … and while she hasn’t always helped herself to be seen in any other light, she’s consumed by the idea of doing so now. this is the first time in venice’s life where she isn’t under her parent’s thumb. where she isn’t constantly under the influence of some substance. where she isn’t doing something insanely foolish or unhealthy to try and gain the favor of someone whos approval requires chasing. she’s really just getting to live within her own skin, be herself and figure out what that looks like.

after working at the malnati for a handful of months, it was a family emergency that landed her back in new york ... her grandfather had passed, the true patriarch of the family, and that came with a lot of 'passing of the guard' within the medina family enterprise. it meant funerals, and meetings with lawyers, and memorial services, and rekindlings with her brother, and public appearances, and making statements and being interviewed for magazines, and it was then that venice had truly learned of her position in her family. while her grandfather had left her stock options in her name when he passed, and plenty for her to be able to live comfortably off of for the rest of her life, it was so written that it was contingent upon her father's disbursement of the stocks when he deemed she was so fit to handle them. so it was even in death, her family did not trust her enough to be able to handle herself. she was still considered reckless, unreliable, and unworthy of holding a stake in medina international ... while it wasn't anything new or surprising to venice, it still hurt just the same. because she'd spent the past year working on herself, away from the pressures of being a medina, separated from her family and essentially disowned by her own parents and even still, she found herself at their mercy once more. it would come at no surprise that she decided to leave it all behind her once more ... which is why she's returned to chicago, not as a guest at the malnati, but as an employee. as someone with aspirations and desires to move up in the world, once more on her own, once more with a heart she's nursing from lovers she's had to say goodbye to, once again without the support of her family, and furthermore with the wrath and persistence only a medina can procure.

*:･ﾟ･✧･it’s a new dawn: she still gives into her pleasures, whether that be sex or art or dancing, all of which she’s never been able to kick but she manages them well and enjoys them all the same. she is still a good time, someone fun to be around, and is always willing to get the party started no matter where she is. she’s kind of done it all, and while some of that has been left behind now that she’s got some different focuses in life, venice knows what makes her feel best and doesn’t want to deprive herself of that, either. she’s currently obsessed with her taking dance classes and is constantly updating her instagram followers on all that she can show them when she’s in the studio. after taking ballet classes for most of her life, she is quite good and likes to indulge in those, but her latest passion has been in salsa and hip hop. it’s not only a great workout to keep herself in shape but she likes the way she feels when she’s doing it, too. and piano lessons were big in her household, as her parents wanted her to be educated in the arts too, so she’s kept a keyboard lying around her things in case she ever feels a spark of desire to mess around on the keys.

*:･ﾟ･✧･it’s a new day: mostly, venice is a guarded gal who loves to have a good time and will absolutely give anyone a hard time when they deserve it. she’s dramatic, to a fault, and she knows it and could not care less. to quote, “i am who i am, and if you don’t like it then there’s the door.”. she’s loyal to the people that she decides she wants to have in her life, but will be very cautious about those she doesn’t trust right away, which can stem from some kind of experience of her own judgement since she does tend to operate off of preconceived notions of people until proven otherwise. and despite being crass, she can also be rather charming, and is a sociable person at her core so she will be willing to strike up conversations with whoever - but whether the conversation goes well or not is another thing. her ultimate weakness though is pretty people, as she is attracted to both men and women, and likes to engage in all kinds of relationships with anyone she thinks is attractive and interesting. so if she starts flirting with you, she has every intention on getting to know you one way or another. in truth, venice has a good heart, and it’s simply masked by a lot of vibrato and insecurity. her biggest fear is not being enough, and that’s so much of the reason why she’s never really tried to be anything. but since being cut off, and repeatedly cast aside by her family, she’s found this rejuvenated sense of desire to prove everyone wrong - that she is worth a damn, that she can work her way up the ladder and break out into the ‘real world’ on her own, that she’s enough.

also if you got this far honestly thank you asdkfalf i do not deserve you lmfao this has been a journey and if you had to suffer through all the typos i’ve likely made, i owe you <3

[mytwilightimagines13]

The new Denali (Tanya Denali) part 6 (final part)

Word Count: 2088

Suddenly, Edward stiffened at Bella’s side. "Yes!" he hissed. You risked a glance at him. His face glowed with an expression of triumph that you didn’t understand. There was a low reaction from the guard, an uneasy murmur. "Aro?" Edward called, nearly shouted, undisguised victory in his voice. Aro hesitated for a second, assessing this new mood warily before he answered. "Yes, Edward? You have something further... ?" "Perhaps," Edward said pleasantly, controlling his unexplained excitement. "First, if I could clarify one point?" "Certainly," Aro said, raising his eyebrows, nothing now but polite interest in his tone. "The danger you foresee from my daughter - this stems entirely from our inability to guess how she will develop? That is the crux of the matter?" "Yes, friend Edward," Aro agreed. "If we could but be positive... be sure that, as she grows, she will be able to stay concealed from the human world - not endanger the safety of our obscurity . . ." He trailed off, shrugging. "So, if we could only know for sure," Edward suggested, "exactly what she will become... then there would be no need for a council at all?" "If there was some way to be absolutely sure," Aro agreed, his feathery voice slightly more shrill. He couldn't see where Edward was leading him. Neither could you. "Then, yes, there would be no question to debate." "And we would part in peace, good friends once again?" Edward asked with a hint of irony. Even more shrill. "Of course, my young friend. Nothing would please me more." Edward chuckled exultantly. "Then I do have something more to offer." Aro's eyes narrowed. "She is absolutely unique. Her future can only be guessed at." "Not absolutely unique," Edward disagreed. "Rare, certainly, but not one of a kind." You felt a shock going through you. And hope. If it was true, then there would be a future with your mate. "Aro, would you ask Jane to stop attacking my wife?" Edward asked courteously. "We are still discussing evidence." Aro raised one hand. "Peace, dear ones. Let us hear him out." Jane bared her teeth at Bella; and Bella couldn't help grinning back at her. "Why don't you join us, Alice?" Edward called loudly. "Alice," Esme whispered in shock. "Alice!" "Alice!" other voices murmured around you. "Alice," Aro breathed. You turned around as you heard them running through the forest, flying, closing the distance as quickly as they could with no slowing effort at silence. Both sides were motionless in expectation. The Volturi witnesses scowled in fresh confusion. Then Alice danced into the clearing from the southwest, Jasper was only inches behind her, his sharp eyes fierce. Close after them ran three strangers; the first was a tall, muscular female with wild dark hair - obviously Kachiri. She had the same elongated limbs and features as the other Amazons, even more pronounced in her case. The next was a small olive-toned female vampire with a long braid of black hair bobbing against her back. Her deep burgundy eyes flitted nervously around the confrontation before her. And the last was a young man... not quite as fast nor quite as fluid in his run. His skin was an impossible rich, dark brown. His wary eyes flashed across the gathering, and they were the color of warm teak. His hair was black and braided, too, like the woman's, though not as long. He was beautiful. As he neared you, a new sound sent shock waves through the watching crowd - the sound of another heartbeat, accelerated with exertion. Alice leaped lightly over the edges of the dissipating mist that lapped at Bella’s shield and came to a sinuous stop at Edward's side. Bella reached out to touch her arm, and so did Edward, Esme, Carlisle. There wasn't time for any other welcome. Jasper and the others followed her through the shield. All the guard watched, speculation in their eyes, as the latecomers crossed the invisible border without difficulty. The brawny ones, Felix and the others like him, focused their suddenly hopeful eyes on Bella. They had not been sure of what her shield repelled, but it was clear now that it would not stop a physical attack. Edward, despite his absorption in the coup he was directing, stiffened furiously in response to their thoughts. He controlled himself and spoke to Aro again. "Alice has been searching for her own witnesses these last weeks," he said to the ancient. "And she does not come back empty-handed. Alice, why don't you introduce the witnesses you've brought?" Caius snarled. "The time for witnesses is past! Cast your vote, Aro!" Aro raised one finger to silence his brother, his eyes glued to Alice's face. Alice stepped forward lightly and introduced the strangers. "This is Huilen and her nephew, Nahuel." The Volturi witnesses hissed amongst themselves. The vampire world was changing, and everyone could feel it. "Speak, Huilen," Aro commanded. "Give us the witness you were brought to bear." The slight woman looked to Alice nervously. Alice nodded in encouragement, and Kachiri put her long hand on the little vampire's shoulder. "I am Huilen," the woman announced in clear but strangely accented English. As she continued, it was apparent she had prepared herself to tell this story, that she had practiced. It flowed like a well-known nursery rhyme. She told the story of how Nahuel was born, and how he changed her. How they were living their lives, everything the Volturi needed tob e sure Renesmee was no threat. Huilen bowed her head when she was finished and moved back so she was partially hidden behind Kachiri. Aro's lips were pursed. He stared at the dark-skinned youth. "Nahuel, you are one hundred and fifty years old?" he questioned. "Give or take a decade," he answered in a clear, beautifully warm voice. His accent was barely noticeable. "We don't keep track." "And you reached maturity at what age?" "About seven years after my birth, more or less, I was full grown." "You have not changed since then?" Nahuel shrugged. "Not that I've noticed." "And your diet?" Aro pressed, seeming interested in spite of himself. "Mostly blood, but some human food, too. I can survive on either." "You were able to create an immortal?" As Aro gestured to Huilen, his voice was abruptly intense. "Yes, but none of the rest can." A shocked murmur ran through all three groups. Aro's eyebrows shot up. "The rest?" "My sisters." Nahuel shrugged again. Aro stared wildly for a moment before composing his face. "Perhaps you would tell us the rest of your story, for there seems to be more." Nahuel frowned. "My father came looking for me a few years after my mother's death." His handsome face distorted slightly. "He was pleased to find me." Nahuel's tone suggested the feeling was not mutual. "He had two daughters, but no sons. He expected me to join him, as my sisters had. "He was surprised I was not alone. My sisters are not venomous, but whether that's due to gender or a random chance... who knows? I already had my family with Huilen, and I was not interested" - he twisted the word - "in making a change. I see him from time to time. I have a new sister; she reached maturity about ten years back." "Your father's name?" Caius asked through gritted teeth. "Joham," Nahuel answered. "He considers himself a scientist. He thinks he's creating a new super-race." He made no attempt to disguise the disgust in his tone. Caius looked at Bella. "Your daughter, is she venomous?" he demanded harshly. "No," Bella responded. Nahuel's head snapped up at Aro's question, and his teak eyes turned to bore into Bella’s face. Caius looked to Aro for confirmation, but Aro was absorbed in his own thoughts. He pursed his lips and stared at Carlisle, and then Edward, and at last his eyes rested on Bella. Caius growled. "We take care of the aberration here, and then follow it south," he urged Aro. Aro stared into Bella’s eyes for a long, tense moment. And then something in his face changed, a faint shift in the set of his mouth and eyes, and you knew that Aro had made his decision. "Brother," he said softly to Caius. "There appears to be no danger. This is an unusual development, but I see no threat. These half-vampire children are much like us, it appears." "Is that your vote?" Caius demanded. "It is." Caius scowled. "And this Joham? This immortal so fond of experimentation?" "Perhaps we should speak with him," Aro agreed. "Stop Joham if you will," Nahuel said flatly. "But leave my sisters be. They are innocent." Aro nodded, his expression solemn. And then he turned back to his guard with a warm smile. "Dear ones," he called. "We do not fight today." The guard nodded in unison and straightened out of their ready positions. Aro turned back to you, his face was as benign as ever, but unlike before, you sensed a strange blankness behind the facade. As if his scheming was over. Caius was clearly incensed, but his rage was turned inward now; he was resigned. Marcus looked... bored; there really was no other word for it. The guard was impassive and disciplined again; there were no individuals among them, just the whole. They were in formation, ready to depart. The Volturi witnesses were still wary; one after another, they departed, scattering into the woods. As their numbers dwindled, the remaining sped up. Soon they were all gone. Aro held his hands out to you, almost apologetic. Behind him, the larger part of the guard, along with Caius, Marcus, and the silent, mysterious wives, were already drifting quickly away, their formation precise once again. Only the three that seemed to be his personal guardians lingered with him. "I'm so glad this could be resolved without violence," he said sweetly. "My friend, Carlisle - how pleased I am to call you friend again! I hope there are no hard feelings. I know you understand the strict burden that our duty places on our shoulders." "Leave in peace, Aro," Carlisle said stiffly. "Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect here, and keep your guard from hunting in this region." "Of course, Carlisle," Aro assured him. "I am sorry to earn your disapproval, my dear friend. Perhaps, in time, you will forgive me." "Perhaps, in time, if you prove a friend to us again." Aro bowed his head, the picture of remorse, and drifted backward for a moment before he turned around. You watched in silence as the last four Volturi disappeared into the trees. It was very quiet. "Is it really over?" Bella whispered to Edward. His smile was huge. "Yes. They've given up. Like all bullies, they're cowards underneath the swagger." He chuckled. Alice laughed with him. "Seriously, people. They're not coming back. Everybody can relax now." There was another beat of silence. "Of all the rotten luck," Stefan muttered. And then it hit. Cheers erupted. Deafening howls filled the clearing. Maggie pounded Siobhan on the back. Rosalie and Emmett kissed again - longer and more ardently than before. Benjamin and Tia were locked in each other's arms, as were Carmen and Eleazar. Esme held Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace. Carlisle was warmly thanking the South American newcomers who had saved us all. Kachiri stood very close to Zafrina and Senna, their fingertips interlocked. Garrett picked Kate up off the ground and swung her around in a circle. Stefan spit on the snow. Vladimir ground his teeth together with a sour expression. Your smile broke free from your lips and you turned around, jumping into Tanya’s embrace, wrapping your legs around her waist. Tanya laughed and caught you before kissing you hungrily. It was truly over, and the two of you would be together forever. “Stay with me? Forever?” She whispered against your lips. “Hmm, (Y/N) Denali. It does have a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?” You whispered against her lips. You felt Tanya smile. “Yes it does, my love.” She said before kissing you again.

Everything was fine. The world around you was perfect, and your best friend and you found your mates and would join their coven. Even though it meant drinking animal blood from now on, it was a sacrifice you were willing to make in order to be with Tanya forever.

And so, that was your first day until forever, filled with love and happiness.

[heligooddeals]

THE POSITIVE & NEGATIVE: MUN & MUSE

Fill out and repost ♥ This meme definitely favors canons more, but I hope OCs still can make it somehow work with their own lore, and lil’ fandom of friends & mutuals. Multimuses pick the muse you are the most invested in at the moment.

TAGGED BY: @sweet-talkin-gladiator (thank you ♥) TAGGING: @elitaxne, @unknownsoldiers, @one-shall-fall, @one-shall-rise​, @eloquent-music​, @coldbloodedcopter​, @you

MY MUSE IS.   canon / oc / au / canon-divergent / fandomless

is your character popular in the fandom? YES / NO / N/A

is your character considered hot™ in the fandom? YES / NO / N/A

is your character considered strong in the fandom? YES / NO / N/A

are they underrated? YES / NO / N/A

were they relevant to the main story? YES / NO / N/A

were they relevant to the main character? YES / NO / THEY’RE THE ‘PROTAG' / N/A

are they widely known in their world? YES / NO / N/A

how’s their reputation? GOOD / BAD / NEUTRAL / N/A

HOW STRICTLY DO YOU FOLLOW CANON?

I’d say it’s a 50-50 mix, although that’s probably not an accurate ratio.

I treat canon like a foundation - meaning it’s where I will get started with my writing and my lore creation, but I will not strictly adhere to it (for one reason or another, depending on the canon itself and my thoughts on it). I really like using canon because it gives me a “safe” place to start from, but it does not rule over my creation process either. I will disregard canon or adjust it accordingly to suit my needs, wants, desires, and story-world view reflections.

SELL YOUR MUSE! (aka try to list everything, which makes your muse interesting in your opinion to make them spicy for your mutual.)

Ex-Decepticon; Didn’t abandon the faction out of shame, anger, or a change of heart, she just simply didn’t want to be there. She had been coerced to join the army (which was a fairly common tactic for the Decepticons) and fled from her post as soon as she could.

Broker; You want something? She’s got it.

Neutral and toeing the line; Unfortunately, business and life in the modern world means appealing to both sides of the great war. Navigating that fine line is tricky, and could wind up costing her one of these days.

Unintentional Mom Friend; She doesn’t mean to dote on or cluck at everyone, but she worries about her friends and always tries to take care of them - even if they’re fussing about it.

NOW THE OPPOSITE! (list everything why your muse could not be so interesting (even if you may not agree, what does the fandom perhaps think?)

Possibly a Mary Sue; Held and written at the level of “If Swindle can have any useful item as his disposal and for sale, then so can Blackguard.”

Inaccurate trauma writing; Research and genuine effort is put into the writing whenever possible, but it’s all based on my understanding and personal experience of things too so it’s very likely not accurate and bad.

“Everybody loves Blackguard”; It’s unintentional, but none the less most of my partners and their muses wind up liking Blackguard so there’s very little confrontation or conflict between her and others.

Ruining your OTP; @mightymegatron​ and I are shipping Megatron and Blackguard. That means that my OC is shagging up with the problematic antagonist of the series. Die mad about it.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO RP YOUR MUSE?

I wanted to take another shot at the RP community with my OC after a couple of canon blogs I had been running passed their peak and were falling into obscurity amongst the community and my partners. Her first rendition had been terrible too, so I wanted to give myself more positive memories and a sense of pride in the character rather than shame and embarrassment.

WHAT KEEPS YOUR INSPIRATION GOING?  

Although it doesn’t seem like it because I’m not roleplaying I’m Tumblr, I’m still technically roleplaying on Discord because I want to. I want to push Blackguard, knock her down, and make her face challenges she hasn’t face before and likely can’t win because so far everything has generally worked out for her. I want her to fail, I want her to be taken back down to rock bottom and struggle to crawl her way out of it. I don’t want her to stay down there, but I don’t want her getting out of it easily. I want her to be tested, and to persevere.

SOME MORE PERSONAL QUESTIONS, FOR THE MUN

do you think you give your character justice? YES / NO

do you frequently write head canons? YES / NO

do you sometimes write drabbles? YES / NO

do you think a lot about your muse during the day? YES / NO

are you confident in your portrayal? YES / NO

are you confident in your writing? YES / NO

are you a sensitive person? YES / NO

DO YOU ACCEPT CRITICISM WELL ABOUT YOUR PORTRAYAL?

I genuinely have never received a criticism about my muse. I have been criticized for how I handle memes (TL;DR I have a tendency to delete/ignore memes if I only get one prompt for them), but never my character. I welcome criticisms though, if anybody has any and are looking to give genuine feedback on my writing and my muse, and not just passive-aggressively bully me to make themselves feel better.

DO YOU LIKE QUESTIONS, WHICH HELP YOU EXPLORE YOUR CHARACTER?  

I would probably cry if I got questions like that. Happily, of course.

IF SOMEONE DISAGREES TO A HEAD CANON OF YOURS, DO YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY?  

Absolutely! I may not budge or change anything, depending on the head canon, but I still want to hear other people’s thoughts on the ideas I propose. I would love to hear another person’s perspective on a matter so that I could look at it from a different angle and either combine our views, completely change my own, or bear in mind that how I see things isn’t the way other people see it.

IF SOMEONE DISAGREES WITH YOUR PORTRAYAL, HOW WOULD YOU TAKE IT?

It would depend on what they’re disagreeing about, because there’s definitely elements of my character that I could see people not liking. However, if someone dislikes my character as a whole then there’s little that can be done. This is my creation. You’re free to move on if it’s not your cup of tea.

IF SOMEONE REALLY HATES YOUR CHARACTER, HOW DO YOU TAKE IT?

Admittedly I’m going to be upset because I genuinely don’t understand what there is to hate, but if you don’t like my character then there’s nothing we can do. I'm not going to radically change her just to make someone happy.

ARE YOU OKAY WITH PEOPLE POINTING OUT YOUR GRAMMATICAL ERRORS?  

As long as you’re not mean or condescending about it.

DO YOU THINK YOU ARE EASY GOING AS A MUN?  

I don’t know.

I don’t think I’m hard to approach, but I also do know that I’m genuinely not that out-going or very receptive at times. I’m shy, cautious, and maybe a little bit guarded towards new people. I always try to be friendly, but I don’t like acting overly familiar towards people I don’t genuinely know either. I use the term friend loosely to help people feel more at ease and comfortable with me, but I rarely feel that way towards my partners.

In other words - I’m not some horribly aggressive cunt, but I’m not going to act like we’re old friends nor am I good at making friendships happen overnight. Friendship is earned with me. I’m perfectly capable of writing and plotting with people who aren’t my friends, and I don’t want to experience anymore people who confuse this ability as genuine friendship and then hold me to unfair expectations of emotional support in every crisis they have.

[wwounu]

One week; seven days; 168 hours until the concert.

It was probably best to take the day off after that midnight call from Mingyu, which you did, with it resulting totally how you didn’t want to.

Not when you see Mingyu trailing after his friends, laughing at something someone said before instantly spotting you from afar.

He briefly stares at his friends, lips moving as a sign to tell them something, then proceeding to jog in your direction.

“There you are,”

“Who, me?”

Mingyu nods, chest raising up and down. “I might as well owe you from earlier on.”

“Come on, I told you it‘s nothing-“ He interrupts you with a loud, whiny sigh. You sigh too to mirror his whininess, “You never give up do you?”

With a bit more mimicking from one another, you mutually agree to ice cream — the day was clear, sun high in the sky.

“Are you feeling better?” You ask Mingyu. He thinks to himself, pulling some facial expressions as he does so.

“I’m a little better now. Probably one of those in the moment things.”

“You didn’t have to leave your friends for me y’know. I thought you’d be sick of seeing me after spending everyday with me.”

“I wanted to, as crazy as it sounds. They were going to leave me, so you’re plan B.”

You tut, “Thanks for that info I guess.”

“Sorry,” he shrugs, thinking something through before he quickly turns to you, “hey, why don’t you find somewhere for us to sit while I get us something?”

“I’ll be nearby. Call me when you’re out.”

“Mint chocolate chip, right?”

Your lips curl a little, smiling the moment you see Mingyu’s delighted face when he was right. “Take care,”

Mingyu and you separate, walking in your own directions. The male pulls out his wallet, finding any remaining money inside — although his main goal is to find ice cream, he had other things in plan first.

He enters a shop, looking through the glass and its contents, drumming his fingers on the surface.

Finding what he’s looking for, he rushes to one of the shop assistants, pointing at an object enthusiastically yet nervously, eyes following every move the clerk very closely.

He’s asked if he wants silver or gold and Mingyu thinks — gold is overrated, silver will be fine — ultimately replying with, “Silver.” Whilst nodding with confidence.

Now at the counter, he pays, waiting for the assistant to put the small object in the bag, not missing the way she smiles at it.

“This is really pretty,” she comments and Mingyu nonchalantly nods, “for your girlfriend, sir?”

“Yeah kinda.” Again, Mingyu says without thinking but avoids the girl’s stare.

“Must be lucky, hm?”

Mingyu thanks the girl, taking the bag with him as he heads to the ice cream parlour to finish last task before he calls you.

“Hello? Y/N?”

“You took long, something wrong?”

“Not really. Just... Held back a bit.”

“Ah it’s okay. I’m at the park — it’s really busy — but I found a place to sit.”

“Alright, where?”

“About that...”

“Y/N.” Mingyu calls, stopping in his steps. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Hey, what did we say? It never happened!” Your voice quietens. “... Sorry Mingyu.”

“Don’t feel bad, I’ll feel bad for telling you off then. I’ll be there in ten.”

Mingyu hangs up first, holding in a breath as he directs himself to where you were, knowing the location of the fountain, the male’s heart dropping heavily.

And nothing has changed even with the children running unsupervised as their parents fan themselves in the hot weather. Most children are by the heart of the location, watching the water spit into the air and fall back down again before coins filled with wishes are tossed in, hoping the fountain can give them what their childish hearts desire.

More leaves have grown since the last time and people crowd around the vending machines, collecting their cold drinks and families sharing it amongst them.

And you — you were sat on that spot. The spot where it all happened. Whether it was intentional or not, Mingyu didn’t know, but Mingyu knew that maybe he wasn’t ready to let go of what really happened, knowing fully well that you wanted to.

Pathetic, Mingyu scoffs to himself, I’m getting ahead of myself.

He sits next to you without a word handing you the partially-melted delight. “Ah, you angel!” You cheer, stopping the mint ice cream to your lips. Using your spoon, you point at the tiny white paper bag. “What’s that you got?”

“It’s for you… I owe you after all.” He hands you the bag, motioning you to open it. Placing your ice cream to the side, carefully you pick up the item inside, opening a box matching the bag.

“Holy shit,” you slip the curse, “this is what I didn’t expect-“

It was a simple, single-banded bracelet that slipped onto your wrist snug, and dangling down was a charm of a silver violin between a quaver and semi-quaver, chiming together when you shook your hand.

“Dumbass — this must’ve been worth more than our food dates — what the heck Mingyu!”

Mingyu laughs at your reaction, pushing you a little. “Consider it as something for good luck.”

“I can’t believe my fated enemy is giving me something for good luck. Does this mean I win?”

“It means I’m more mature than you,” Mingyu retaliates and you groan at his reply.

“That doesn’t sound mature to me!” When you go quiet, back to staring at the children running and not thinking about every memory of the location, the late night, the kiss, everything, another question forms in your mind. “We’ve really disliked each other for this long, huh.”

Mingyu hears you, sitting closer as his eyebrows furrow.

“What do you mean?”

“You know what I mean. You and I, always fighting, never knowing why we ever did it.”

“I thought you did it for fun,” Mingyu answers too casually, your heart feeling like it’s being shot, “it’s… Our thing, isn’t it?”

“‘For fun’? When you call me names and pick on my playing, calling me the worst player ever and I should never touch a violin again, was all for fun, Mingyu?”

Rather than sad, you sounded more angry — hurt — feeling worse the more Mingyu carried on.

“You really took it to heart?”

“How else would I look at it?”

“Well you had every other time to stop me, but you only fought back.”

“You could’ve stopped Mingyu. I had to avoid you in November because I was so tired dealing with you.”

“I’m not a mind reader Y/N,” Mingyu sounds harsher, “half of the time I can’t understand you-“

Mingyu then goes mute, biting his tongue as he blinks at you.

“Sorry. It must’ve been a lot from your side.”

You nod, not wanting to look at the drummer when you put pressure under your eyes, hoping a tear won’t come through. “It’s… It’s fine.”

“Do you wanna know something?” Though silent, the other takes it as a yes anyway. “I’ll admit it, you’re a really good player. The best I’ve heard in years — at all.” He’s stammering, you don’t know why, but you suppress the urge to laugh. “Ysaye? Paganini? I don’t think they come close to you…”

“I’m surprised you know your violinists, but… All this time you’ve just been saying insulting things and it hurts, it’s hard to trust you sometimes.”

“Force of habit, sorry…” Mingyu apologises once more — him having to apologise felt worse than you expected — “It’s hard to forget things over night, I just hope you know that I didn’t mean any of it.”

“I understand.” Says you, although you wanted to say more. “Let’s confirm that we’ll stop this enemy business and become friends.”

“Enemy business, stopped. Friends? I’ll have to come back to that sometime.” You laugh at Mingyu, pouting at him. “Don’t do that, you look weird. Oh, and the teasing stays too.”

“Gosh, whatever you say.”

Even after finishing your ice creams you decide to stay, asking stupid questions and answering them with equally-stupid replies.

“Most embarrassing moment?” It was your turn to ask Mingyu, who’s eyes are rolled back and staring at the sky to form an answer.

His eyes perk up, turning to you with a playful smile, “The kiss—“

You cover his lips before he finishes his sentence, staring up at him with disappointed eyes as his breath hits your palm when he laughs. “That’s so boring! Been there, done that, I thought we’re past that!”

“Okay, I guess I have no choice but to say something else-“ Chokes Mingyu, pulling your hand away from his lips.

He looks down, staring at his fingertips or the fountain, never at you.

“Embarrassing? I think it was a concert during high school — a spring something, I can’t remember — but I was supposed to go up for a solo after my high school’s high school bland played. Then one thing or another, I tripped and walked straight into one of the orchestra drums and knocked almost every stand on stage… Everyone in the audience began laughing and the whole concert band just stared at me — and that’s when I went oh shit, I messed up, and in the end I couldn’t bring myself to play. I ran somewhere else.”

“I’m shocked the notorious Kim Mingyu did something that stupid.”

“And you’re the only one that knows about it.”

“Really?!”

“Yeah.” Mingyu stays silent for a beat. “Most embarrassing crush?”

And you’ve never heard Mingyu laugh so loud — real tears and rolling on the concrete, having to stop himself from almost bumping into a child walking down the steps.

“You’re telling me you had a fucking crush on Max? As in Goofy’s son?”

“Like you’re any better!” You knock your head into Mingyu’s when he sits up, fanning himself to calm his breaths. “You’re a big goof,” you scowl as he pats your head.

“Don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.”

“Whatever.”

You break a smile at the sound of Mingyu’s breathy giggle, going off on a tangent about his friends, going from complaining about his friend’s shit (Mingyu calls it) being left at his dorm because his friend forgets it all the time to another friend who apparently brings a child to his dorm every Saturday (but he doesn’t mind, he’s in love with the child).

And you watch him chat away, his hands moving and voice changing in different pitches whenever he needs to exaggerate a point, sunshine glowing on him.

Can moments be like this all the time? You say to yourself, having the slightest wish that the narcissistic drummer would agree if you asked.

OPPOSITES ATTRACT PART FOURTEEN — Drummer!Mingyu x Violinist!Reader

(sorta important note:) i’d like to say that theres going to be no teaser for seungcheol’s au due to my messy schedule since i’ll be away on the 18th/19th, but hopefully i can queue posts and more-hopefully you made my dream requests~ if i calculate correctly, opposites attract might be taking a break until the end of august :( but dont fear! i’ll do my best to get through everyone until the end even if i die (ok maybe not to thAT extent.... but if you’ve seen that ymmdream cheol request, maybe you have an idea what’s gonna go down heheh)

(tl;dr - opposites attract hiatus possibly until end-august after mingyu’s au ends, fingers crossed ymmdream will be updated regularly)

one • two • three • four • five • six • seven • eight • eight ½ • nine • ten • ten ½ • eleven • eleven ½ • twelve • thirteen • thirteen ½ • fourteen • fifteen

masterlist

[beanzybrandon]

High School! PRETTYMUCH — Austin Porter

A/N: this isn’t even important i’m just overly amused by the fact that you can see my writing slowly devolve as this goes on

like, proper capitalization and punctuation who?? we don’t know her

literally, if it wasn’t for grammarly there wouldn’t even be apostrophes pFFT

• LOOK • I'm not saying Austin Dale Porter is the biggest nerd to walk this planet but that is exactly what I'm saying • Everyone and their grandmother knows that he watches more anime than any healthy individual should, but his interests delve far beyond the realm of Japanese animation • He's also extremely fond of all sorts of games • Computer gaming? Yes • Console gaming? All the better • RPG fantasy games? Ohmanohman, now we're getting excited!! • Magic and monster intensive card games that bring on more anxiety and competition than they should? Say no more!! He's right there screaming with the best of them • Given his penchant for these types of activities, he's actually one of the founders for the schools’ gaming club which includes, but is not limited to, various types of electronic gaming, card games such as Magic: The Gathering and Pokemon, and tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons • The thing that makes him the happiest is knowing that he's able to share his interests with like-minded individuals with whom he can share educated discussions and formulate genuine relationships • It's actually kind of interesting to see how much effort he places in the club. He cares so much about everyone who has joined and does his best to make sure that he listens to all the ideas and concerns that are presented to him. He does his best to ensure that each meeting is enjoyable and that special gatherings are well-planned and running smoothly • The club is lowkey like his baby and he's very proud of how wonderful things have turned out • Though a great deal of his time is spent focused on these types of activities that is not to say that they are his only priority • He's actually an active member of several other clubs, including robotics and the book club (mayhaps he made it a point to try and coax the president into incorporating manga into some of their group readings. it didn't exactly go the way he wanted it to, but it was a valiant effort indeed) • It's in the latter of these that Austin meets you • It's not uncommon for the group to get walk-ins throughout the semester, curious students wanting to sit in on a meeting to see how things flow or to pose whatever questions they may have • More often than not, those who wander past the doors of the senior-English teacher's classroom don't make a second appearance, but you and a few of your friends had proven to be part of the exception • The initial excitement he felt upon hearing that four students had come to join them melted into mild astonishment when his gaze came to rest upon you for the first time • If love at first sight is a thing, he was certain cupid had hit him with more than one expertly aimed arrow • If it were possible for it to do so, he was sure that his heart was about to beat out of his chest • He's a bit shy so he doesn't talk to you right away • If we're being completely honest, even doing so much as sparing a glance in your direction has his face flushing a shade of red he didn't even know existed • His friends have noticed what's going on by this point (in fact, the entirety of the club seems to have put two and two together...the exceptions being you, of course) and after some not too gentle coaxing, he's shuffling over to you and your friends, hands buried in the front pocket of his paint-stained hoodie • Seeing as though the giggle your friends let out upon seeing him was something you didn't quite understand, you chose to ignore it

• "Mind if I sit with you guys?" He asked, motioning toward the vacant chair beside you • You'd merely nod in response, shifting your own seat to the right some to accommodate his frame as he slipped between the chairs and sat himself down. A relieved smile would break out across his lips the moment the seat of his jeans met the rough plastic of the chair • "I'm Austin," he'd continue, offering his hand to everyone in the rough circle that had been formed. He seemed nice enough, and it wasn't long before all of you were chatting like you had known each other for years. Conversation flowed easily amongst everyone, and you found that you quite liked the adorably-awkward young man on your left • Time passed rather quickly, and before you could present the argument you had as to why Jonathan Joestar was the best JoJo in the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe (how ya'll ended up on the topic on anime is beyooooond me. It's totally not like it's some sort of mutual interest) the groups coordinator was standing, calling out that it was time for things to come to a close • "This discussion is far from over," you'd quip as you shoved your things back into your backpack, slinging it over your shoulder as it stood • "You're right," He'd answer, an amused lull clinging to his words. After a moment of two of silent deliberation, he'd hit you with a "You should give me your number. I've still gotta crush your argument and I don't think I can wait a week to do that." • And did you? • The only correct answer is yes • A cute boy with mutual interests and a great personality?? You'd be dumb not to

• The smile he offered you after tucking his phone back into the pocket was so sweet you could practically taste the honey on your tongue • You weren't really expecting him to reach out to you later that night, but he did, and sure enough, the argument the two of you had found yourselves in the midsts of earlier that afternoon kicked up, stronger than ever • The capabilities of fictional characters weren't the only thing you found yourselves discussing, though.   • As the night drew on, it became clear to see that you guys had more in common than you had anticipated • And goodness was he full of jokes • The better part of about five hours was spent wheezing into your pillow in a feeble attempt to keep from waking your family • You were insanely tired come the next morning, but that was okay with you • Because you made a new friend and couldn't remember the last time you had had so much fun just texting someone

• The progression of your relationship was a quick one. In a matter of months, the two of you had become the best of friends and were doing quite literally everything together. You were prettymuch (HAH) attached at the hip • By the time the year had come to a close, Austin was certain the feelings he held for you ran deeper than the fleeting crushes he had experienced thus far, and you were growing to realize that you liked him more than you let on • Had either of you mentioned this, though? • Of course not • Because high school is weird and what are emotions and literally how do you convey these things to other people without coming off weird or them looking at you like you ate their first born child • It's never really that intense, but that's what it fEELS LIKE and neither of you wanted to subject yourself to that type of humiliation • Or ruin the relationship that you had built

• the fact that your relationship had gone from being platonic to romantic at all was surprising • but not undesirable in the slightest • it had happened rather spontaneously. he had come over for your weekly movie-marathon, a bag of snacks in hand and a warm smile on his face • the night had followed the same pattern of those that had come before them, but the air that had fallen over the two of you as you huddled together on the couch was different • neither of you could quite describe what it felt like, just that it was odd and left you with a dry throat and a small knot in the pit of your stomach

• every so often, Austin would shift a bit closer, muttering something about being cold and you hogging all the blankets • which very well may have been true but?? You had laid claim to it first • After enough pestering, you'd let out an exasperated huff and throw your arm up, holding the blanket open • "Hurry up and get under it before I change my mind and let you freeze" • He wouldn't need to be told a second time

• honestly, he's not even watching the movie • he's pitching little glances in your direction every so often, gaze softening when it falls across your features • oh man • thisismorethanacrush.jpg • he's not exactly subtle about his staring, so it isn't long before you've caught him • uhoh.exe

• "why are you staring? is there something on my face?" • uHOH.EXE • ABORT MISSION • poor boy is broken though, he doesn't even know how to answer • "seriously, is there snot hanging out of my nose or something?" you'd ask, wiping fervently at your face with the sleeve of his your hoodie • nope, just beauty • but he doesn't say this • because his brain is BROKEN and all that's inside of his head right now is a pile of GOO • so what does he do instead? • the only thing any logical teenage boy would do, of course • he kisses you • and maybe it's his first kiss so it's rushed and unsure but it's a kiss all the same • and maybe, just maybe you kiss back • and then maybe dating doesn't seem like it would be so bad after all

• boyfriend Austin is honestly the softest thing in the world?? • like, being in love with someone is already a phenomenal feeling but sharing that type of relationship with your best friend is immensely better because you've already established a strong bond and you know each other better than anyone else • that doesn't mean he doesn't still love to learn more, though • if you thought he was interested in your hobbies before, you should see him now • he does his absolute best to learn about the things that intrigue you that way you're able to do more together •  has asked you to teach him how to do some of your favorite things on more than one occasion • it doesn't always turn out (you tried to show him how to bake a cake once and he had flour in his hair for at least three days afterward) great but he's making a genuine effort and the look that fills his eyes when he's working with you is easily the sweetest thing in the world • you being happy makes him happier than he knew possible • he loves showing you his favorite things, too!! • taught you how to skate, likes to paint and game with you whenever time allows

• 110% okay with you stealing his clothing • if we're being honest, he kind of encourages it?? his hoodies practically swallow you and he thinks it's the cutest thing in the world • he's also very fond of skinship • like, it doesn't matter what it is, he just wants to touch you. he loves how perfectly your hand fits in his, the warmth that rolls off of your body when you cuddle up to him, the way your lips feels against his

• spEAKING OF KISSES • they're this boys' biggest weakness?? • like, give him kisses and he will instantly become a pile of goo • he's especially fond of the sweet little kiss you press to the corner of his lips, or the ones he gets on his forehead and the tip of his nose when he has his head resting in your lap • he has no issue with pda whatsoever • he's not one of those dudes that try to shove his tongue down your throat in the middle of the hallway or anything like that, but he does like to show people that you're his • it's not even a possessive thing, he's just really happy to have you • his entire mentality is literally "lOOk aT mY pArtNer!" • "aRenT tHey So DOpE?!" • "iM DatIng LItErALLy The MosT aMaZInG PeRsOn In thE wOrlD!!" • kisses between classes • kisses after school • soft lil kisses just because • walks you to all your classes • carries your books despite you telling him it's cheesy and unnecessary • "it's cheesy but you love it" • you do love it, you can't even argue

• absolutely head over heels for you • and you for him • the likelihood of the relationship lasting until graduation is very high, and it's almost guaranteed you'll be together well into your young adult years • in short, you're the sweetest of high school sweethearts

[glarehand]

ranting a bit here bc as little as i interact w/ the rp community, largely due to focus issues, depression, and anxiety, i really do appreciate my mutuals, especially in light of being in different fandoms where things’ve happened and i just. Angery

so under the cut is a funny? irritating? text-wall about some star wars related stuff i’m bothered by lol

1. shipping; i like shipping. it’s fun, it’s interesting, i get to explore things in fiction that i don’t want to as strongly or at all irl as an aroace person, etc. first problem; i ship the clones bc i viewed them as, well, clones. an aggrandized version of that buzzfeed poll abt fucking clones, if u will. i view them as “brothers” in a wartime/militaristic sense because they’re... they’re clones. they’re the same person a million times that post-cloning, sought out ways to enhance their originality (tattoos, interests, etc) past their voices, abilities, personalities, and so on. they have originality but that isn’t compromised by their existence as people based off the same template. 

some people interpret them as literal brothers which is fine too! i only consider jango fett the father of boba fett/boba fett the son of jango fett, despite boba also being a clone. especially in mandalorian culture, adoption is as valid as blood, and boba fett’s relationship to jango fett absolutely strengthens this but it’s unique in that jango adopts one son/views the clones as the jedi army separate from himself and his son/dies without having any particular association with them.

but still, regardless, i can understand why people interpret them that way and i don’t have a problem with it and enjoy peoples’ differing interpretations. but when someone mentions that shipping the clones is undeniably incest (disregarding that cloning = incest is not by any means something that can be overlapped from fiction to real life so easily? it’s sci-fi so we also shouldn’t be seeking out real life parallels to things nor considering those parallels so hard proven?) it’s like... can you shut up for two seconds LOL like it... they’re... i don’t know how to explain to you that trying to draw hard lines between things unique to sci-fi and things in real life doesn’t work as flawlessly as that. if so, we could easily turn any other media into sci-fi or any sci-fi content into slice-of-life, deciding that of course the clones would be a million literal brothers and lightsabers would be 1000 degree knives and half the aliens would just be animals- like that’s stupid and disregarding the uniqueness of the media (though i adore aus- this isn’t a dig at aus or canon divergence bc that’s literally all i do)

and outside of some specific posts i’ve seen abt this, a groupchat i was in mentioned no rule abt this or any other ship related issues, meaning that i was existing inside the chat but with this heinous feeling secret? like i felt i either had to out myself for something someone else had decided was wrong or continue existing in the chat but not get too close to anyone, out of fear of a friendship being suddenly terminated over something as foolish as character interpretation (which can and should exist separately, at once).

in addition to the internal shipping/not shipping the clones debate, was clone/jedi shipping, preferred ships, and what this means in regards to what was left in terms of shipping options, if that was something someone wanted to engage in (which i do, and that they did as well)

2. for clone/jedi shipping, i understand the possible issues of a power imbalance or how the relationships are portrayed in media-only. but at the same time and as is mentioned above, we have to suspend our belief a bit for fiction, especially with sci-fi. the militaristic/war aspect of star wars is the point of that media; it doesn’t seek to glorify or mimic real life roles (ahsoka is a general at 14, amongst other things; that in particular allows for kids to feel like they’re part of the show, like they could do be a jedi and save people at age 14, because what would be the fucking point of it if we showed only adults saving the world/14 year olds with only 14 year old responsibilities? to an extent, it’s an escape and while it’s odd writing to hold ahsoka to the standards of mace, obiwan, even anakin, it should at least be a fantastical opportunity for self-insertion/daydreaming to an extent) it has a strong focus on rebellion which can be applied in non-physical/non-warlike ways, and isn’t without the fictitious aspect of fucking laser swords and telekinetic manipulation. the wartime aspects of star wars don’t need to be followed as closely as real life regulations and expectations; if done that way, even leia and han as a ship would involve a power dynamic seeing as he technically becomes a part of the rebellion under her leadership.

in terms of 3. show-only content and the above about power imbalances, that’s what fanfiction is for. in general and in relation to that chat, full of creators and writers and so on, fanfic is for elaborating on given content, filling in content that hasn’t been given, and for rewriting things you feel have been done wrong, artistically or just because you don’t like it. an example for me is barriss offee’s arc and timeline; not only does her timeline in the prequels differ from her timeline in the clone wars show but her character seemed to be thrown away so easily, her actions made out of character in addition to her fate being the opposite of what it had been in “higher” canon. there’s also the very valid interpretation of how bad it was that the show made the muslim-coded character a terrorist BUT even disregarding people’s headcanons of her as a muslim woman and just focusing on it in a sci-fi sense, it seemed very out of character, done just to create an antagonist and an opportunity for ahsoka’s development and disillusionment with the jedi/council so of course people gravitate to rewriting her arc/redoing her character/adhering to a mix of the canons, and so on. not that people who view canon as the most important aspect of a work are wrong but like, even fanfic that adheres to canon is in a way diverging from it; if what someone creates isn’t exactly how it happened on screen, canon-compliant, involves no ulterior emotions or added scenes, it’s based on interpretation. 

people who invest themselves in ships that have no basis (4) were also mentioned and that’s just as valid a part of creating. i understand in some cases, people will ship anyone together knowingly or unknowingly to fetishize gay relationships but it’s not a sin to decide you want to see two characters interacting more or want to elaborate on what canon didn’t discuss or want to create backstories and relationships out of the blue OR just outright decide you have two favorite characters and want to explore them together, even in just an nsfw sense.

so being anti clone/clone, anti jedi/clone, and anti any characters that don’t really interact is not only dictating what ships are “right” and “wrong” based on one’s own interpretation and willingness to strictly adhere to canon but what other options are you giving us to ship the clones???

again, not that nonromantic story aspects and single character discussion isn’t important but romance and romance options are important to people and if presented and possible, people shouldn’t be prevented from doing it just because people think it’s wrong with no legitimate basis OR don’t allow people to warp canon (especially canon they don’t like or think is contradictory and out of character) to suit what they wish to explore.

there was one option left though and i dislike the new association i have in my head of it now because of all the problems above, though i assume it wasn’t done on purpose: 5. disregarding in-show shipping possibilities for self inserts

i love self inserts and my love for them has been amplified by the chat i was in, making me feel more confident in doing it myself and i am very happy with that in that i can have more love for myself in writing myself and shipping myself with someone else. but it was odd that all other possibilities were almost struck down in favor of self inserts; if cloneshipping was automatically incest, disregarding that that’s not the conclusion everyone had come to? that my brain just didn’t assume it because it’s a sci-fi only situation?, jedi/clone ships were unhealthy and based off of power imbalances/characters not truly caring for one another, and shipping characters together for the fun of it had no value as characters apparently had to know one another enough/there had to be validity in it, the only option left was to rewrite canon but only for one’s own purposes, valid only in this one case.

that just annoyed my mildly and i know it most likely wasn’t intentional but overall, i’ve felt unable to have headcanons or do certain things at the risk of being visibly mocked for it; having different faves and ships and interpretations and kinks are all parts of people’s varying fandom experiences and to have people talking about how much they don’t like that on a very visible separate discord channel where i could go in and see? and just hope that something i adored wasn’t next? is not fun at all and genuinely impacted me to where i don’t really want to have fun with people i’d liked before, where i don’t really want to post and create like i was doing when i didn’t know people were deciding based on preferences what was morally appropriate.

one of the rules in the chat was essentially that anyone could have any fave character but that discourse still stood; yes but sometimes i just want to like a character or ship? without having to preface it with how i know x thing was bad and that i don’t condone it. 

kain highwind is my favorite final fantasy character- i don’t want to have to justify my love for him, in situations where i know he was in the wrong and in situations where i think the canon content contradicted other canon descriptions of him, creating two images of who they wanted him to be; i interpret him as i interpret him and it’s unique and dear to me. 

a lot of the time, i want to create and appreciate without having to make it right for someone else’s interpretation. i don’t want to approach a groupchat or even single person friendship assuming i’m going to have to defend my favorites as ultimately a representation of myself. when i do hold my favorites close to me as extensions of me, i don’t want to have to pit myself against someone else as if i’m invalid for how i feel and interpret and am.

in general, things quickly became not fun at all and i felt alienated by an entire group all at once. like it fucking SUCKS to feel like you’ve lost 6? potential friends in one place, 3 in another, in addition to having to be wary from now on when engaging with anyone else in that fandom and after losing two friends in real life over disagreements, both times because i was misinterpreted and had to then reconsider myself especially in relation to my mental illnesses and my neurodivergency. to then feel disliked for something as stupid as shipping preferences feels as it is- foolish and embarrassing and ridiculous.

i would like to make friends but i would like for friendships in fandom to stop being so circumstantial, especially on trivial things

[wieldbrave]

THYME’S PLOTTING CHEAT-SHEET!

Want new-and-exciting plots for your character? Long to reach out to more of your followers, but don’t know where to start? Fear not! Fill out this form and give your RP partners both present and future all the of juicy jumping-off points they need to help you get your characters acquainted.

Be sure to tag the players whose characters YOU want more cues to interact with, and repost, don’t reblog! Feel free to add or remove sections as you see fit. Template here.

MUN NAME:  Thyme ( won’t lie, I chose this alias for the sake of making puns ) OOC CONTACT:   I’m available through Tumblr IMs & Discord for mutuals ( thyme#5669 ), although I’m slower to reply using the former!

WHO IS THE MUSE/S?

TOMIOKA GIYUU: Water Hashira. Lost his parents, older sister and best friend to demons. Depression given human form, cursed with a resting b*tch face, completely lacking in self-awareness and has no idea how to interact with people ( often resulting in him unintentionally insulting them? whoops ). He hates speaking unless he absolutely has no other choice, would literally give his life to protect the Kamado siblings ( don’t test him!!! ). Created his own unique style, “Lull”. Surprisingly kind and lowkey empathetic deep beneath his blank exterior. Has a soft spot for siblings, especially sisters, mildly projecting his own feelings onto them. Values the lives of others well above his own. Views himself as an eyesore, unworthy of his status despite his strength. Keeps others at arm’s length because of this. Quietly sentimental, his haori acting as a physical reminder of the loved ones he lost. Likes animals, but they don’t like him. Basically, he needs more friends, please help him he’s so lonely???

KAMADO TANJIRO: Demon Slayer, Dance of the Fire God breath user, full-time older brother and firstborn son with an amazing sense of smell that defies all logic. The personification of compassion and empathy. Has likely known you for 0.5 seconds and will now die for you. On the flip side, if you threaten or hurt anyone he loves, he will absolutely decimate you, don’t even try it. Adores his sister and close friends more than life itself and doesn’t even stop to think if they’re ever in any danger. Driven, dedicated, has made it his mission to befriend as many people as humanly possible no matter their backgrounds or lifestyles. Won’t tolerate mistreatment of others and will stand up to anyone he views as wrong/a bully regardless of someone’s status. Has a strong moral compass and won’t hesitate to kill demons who excessively harm innocents, but expresses empathy towards his fallen opponents in their final moments. Can talk to and understand birds ( and likely other animals ). He’s basically a Disney Princess. A tone-deaf one.

SABITO: Dead, but I do what I want, so he has an alternate verse. Technically a Demon Slayer ( takes on missions from time to time ) but acts as a Swordsmen Cultivator alongside Urokodaki due to an injury in his Final Selection which has affected his abilities to fight for extended periods of time. Water breath user. Rough around the edges, quick temper, does not tolerate any whining or complaining. Typically keeps his true emotions close to his chest, but in moments of extreme stress, they come rising to the surface, especially when someone he cares about is hurt/in danger. A harsh trainer, an advocate of tough love. Under the guise of an abrasive attitude and a slew of insults, he’s encouraging and motivational. Confident, precise, dedicated, efficient. Wastes no time putting himself in harm’s way to protect others, even strangers. Refuses to let anyone give up or waste their life while there’s still so much they can do with it. Will Not Hesitate To Kick Your Ass. Dogs love him and he loves them. 

RENGOKU KYOJURO: Also dead, but I still do what I want, so he has an alternate verse as well. Flame Hashira ( recovering / retired ), focused on training a Tsuguko to take his place and bolster the Demon Slayer ranks. Loud. Rambunctious. Enthusiastic. Passionate. The type to wear a smile to bring comfort to those he aims to protect. Follows his strict moral principles to a T, will not falter or compromise for anyone or anything. Cares immensely for his younger brother and father, wants nothing more than to make his deceased mother proud. Keeps his negative emotions to himself, rarely opens up to those around him, but his friendly attitude attracts people to him regardless. The type to take kids in need of a role model under his wing and will protect them fiercely as he views it as his duty to do so. Animal lover.

POINTS OF INTEREST.

GIYUU is instantly recognisable by his haori. The maroon half once belonged to his deceased sister, the cube patterned half belonged to Sabito, his best and only friend. Other than that, he purposefully does as little as possible so as not to stand out. He prefers to go unnoticed and will rarely approach/speak to strangers unless given a proper reason to.

TANJIRO stands out from the crowd for a multitude of reasons: he wears hanafuda earrings that carry a certain weight amongst demons ( or, rather, Muzan himself ), he bears a scar-like birthmark on his forehead, he wears a bright green and black checkered haori over top of his uniform and, last but not least, he is often seen carrying a large wooden box, where his younger sister sleeps during their travels. His bright smile and friendly personality will undoubtedly draw you in from the get-go — he thrives on interactions with other people and willingly seeks them out.

SABITO is instantly recognisable by the peculiar fox mask with a scar by the right side of its mouth that he is often seen wearing, paired with peach coloured hair that reaches past his shoulders. Beneath his mask, there’s an identical scar by the right side of his mouth, but it is rare for him to take off his mask by choice. He holds little regard for social status ( he’ll only ever express respect for Urokodaki or those who have beaten him in combat ) and can be quite abrupt, regardless of someone’s rank or standing, doubly so if he feels someone is needlessly complaining.

KYOJURO is a man who stands out, whether intentionally or not. Loud ( seriously, his volume is permanently cranked to the max ), rambunctious, wearing brightly coloured clothes and possessing even brighter hair, he is the epitome of ‘out there’. It is hard not to notice him.

WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO.

GIYUU is embarking on missions issued to him by his Kasugaigarasu or attending meetings alongside his fellow Hashira. In his downtime, he keeps mostly to himself, either by training or meditating. His main motivation is to prevent innocent people from suffering at the hands of demons.

TANJIRO’S arc depends entirely on what point in the series I’m writing something for. His main motivation is to focus on finding a way to make his sister human again, defeating Kibutsuji Muzan and fulfilling his role as a Demon Slayer.

SABITO is either embarking on missions issued to him by his Kasugaigarasu, spending time with Makomo or working alongside Urokodaki as a Swordsmen Cultivator. His main motivation is to focus on keeping himself fit and healthy, coping with the lingering effects of his injury and fulfilling any missions given to him.

KYOJURO is focusing on his recovery and is eager to return to his status as Hashira ( or he’s in retirement, dependent on the partner ). His main motivation is to find and train a Tsuguko to take over from him in his retirement, preparing them for the duties and hardships a Hashira must face.

WHERE TO FIND THEM.

In between missions ( which is a very infrequent occurrence ), GIYUU can be found at his “estate” — a modest house by a pond at the edge of a forest that lacks any furnishing or personal touches. He views it as more of a place of rest between missions rather than an actual home and thus sees no need to decorate it. Typically, Giyuu is hard to pin down. He throws himself from one mission to the next, forcing himself to stay on the move. A lot of this is to help as many people as possible and fulfil his duty as a Demon Slayer, however, it’s also a form of self-punishment/self-harm. TW SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. By refusing himself proper rest, he can punish himself for his perceived failings, which is the least of what he believes he deserves. He wholly expects ( and, one some level, wants ) to die on his missions and fully believes it’s the best thing for him.

TANJIRO can be found all over the place, as he rarely stays still in one place for very long. He’s become a frequent visitor at the Butterfly Estate due to the injuries he often receives on his missions, but aside from that, he no longer has a place he truly calls home. He’s often on the move, his missions and duties as a Demon Slayer keeping him busy. Until he can help his sister become human again and defeat Kibutsuji Muzan once and for all, he’ll continue to fight for as long as it takes.

SABITO’S sole permanent residence is with Urokodaki at the foot of Sagiri Mountain, where he spends most of his time as he helps train budding swordsmen. However, when he’s called upon, Sabito will take to the road to fulfil his duties as a Demon Slayer.

KYOJURO frequently visits his estate to check in on his younger brother and ensure his father is doing well. Otherwise, he can be found all over the place, visiting his fellow Hashira, or any wounded swordsmen at the Butterfly Estate. When he’s called upon, he, like everyone else, will take to the road to fulfil his duties as a Demon Slayer.

CURRENT PLANS.

Arcs my muses will be going through already or in the nearby future.

GIYUU recognising that his lack of self-worth is harmful and trying to change the way he thinks about himself/interacts with those around him. Giyuu struggling with his attempts to change, frequently slipping back into old habits and slowly finding his footing again.

TANJIRO learning how to further utilise his Dance of the Fire God breath. Facing his feelings regarding everything he’s been through so far, as he’s never had the chance to truly acknowledge it all. 

SABITO continuing to work at his strength, despite many years having passed since his injury. Connecting with people rather than continuing to isolate himself due to his continuous struggle with depression. Helping to train other budding swordsmen or helping to polish the skills of already well-established Slayers.

KYOJURO building himself back up to his full strength. Depending on the partner, either returning to duty and training his Tsuguko or retiring from being a Hashira and focusing on bolstering the strength of any newbies to the Demon Slaying Corps while training his Tsuguko.

DESIRED INTERACTIONS.

**  If you have any ideas for any of my muses that aren’t listed here, I’m more than open to anything!! These are mostly things I’m thinking of off the top of my head.

GIYUU: I’d like to explore him attempting to connect with his fellow Hashira ( OC or canon ) following his chat with Tanjiro, overcoming his feelings of worthlessness and learning how to cope with his depression, or even forming an older brother/younger sibling dynamic with any of the kids ( OC or canon ). Experiencing symptoms of his PTSD. Any interactions ranging from emotional to lighthearted and fun would be great!

TANJIRO: I’d like to explore Tanjiro having a moment to properly grieve the death of his family and being forced to face the full weight of his feelings, especially around the anniversary of their deaths or any birthdays, particularly with a Nezuko, or anyone who may be interested! Tanjiro experiencing symptoms of his PTSD. Shenanigans at the Butterfly Estate/a house with a Wisteria Crest. Going on missions together. Having some downtime in a village/town. Someone educating Tanjiro on the more modern goings-on ( think his reaction to the train ).

SABITO: Having him meet other members of the KNY cast ( OC or canon ), whether helping them on a mission or offering extra training during the Hashira training arc. Sabito expressing vulnerability with someone, being able to smile and laugh with them etc. INTERACTIONS WITH A GIYUU!!! Sabito showing signs of struggling with the lasting effects of his injury. Experiencing symptoms of his PTSD.

KYOJURO: Expressing difficulty in recovering from his injuries after his fight with Akaza, verbally or otherwise. Struggling with his newly altered depth of field, expressing rare and mild frustration over it. Spending time with his fellow Hashira. Choosing a Tsuguko ( typically defaulting to Tanjiro, if fellow Tanjiros are okay with it, but this is open to other characters who would like to explore this!! ). Forming an older brother/younger sibling dynamic with any of the kids ( OC or canon ). Experiencing symptoms of his PTSD.

OFFERED INTERACTIONS.

AKA things my muses can offer to yours.

GIYUU: Extremely awkward, stunted, one-sided conversations! Yay! Hesitant attempts at friendship ( specifically for Hashira muses ), impassiveness, extremely mild contentedness around Tanjiro and Nezuko in particular. Sadly, without a solid plot/idea in place, Giyuu is pretty flat when it comes to interactions due to his personality. 

TANJIRO: Unconditional love and affection from the second your muse meets him for the first time ( and also if your muse already knows them, that much is a given ). Moments of reckless selflessness in which he tries to protect your muse, homemade food ( he’s really good at cooking ), endless and undying support, a friend who will stick by your side through thick and thin. He’ll stand up to your muse if they’re being an ass and tell them how it is while somehow being incredibly patient, earnest and kind about it ( well, mostly ).

SABITO: Training. As a Swordsmen Cultivator, Sabito is good at drilling in techniques to his unfortunate pupils. Backhanded encouragement disguised beneath insults and Sabito quite literally beating the stuffing out of your muse ( if talked over first, of course ). A friend who will aggressively support your muse, aggressively hype them up and remind them how worthy they are.

KYOJURO: AN OLDER BROTHER FIGURE FOR THAT MUSE! AN OLDER BROTHER FIGURE FOR THIS MUSE! EVERYONE GETS AN OLDER BROTHER KYOJURO!! He will take on anyone and everyone as his Tsuguko and offer to train them up. He’ll support your muse’s every endeavour, offer constructive criticism on how they can improve, make them hearty meals ( he’s an amazing cook ), a guiding hand against their back.

CURRENT OPEN POST/S.

N/A at present. I don’t typically post opens very often, as I’m more likely to throw out starters for people my muses want to interact with at random.

ANYTHING ELSE?

This blog is set to low activity! I’m a slow writer with extremely erratic bursts of inspiration because work kicks my ass and depression is a little b*tch. Some days I’ll write a lot, other days I won’t write anything at all. There’s rarely any in-between, but I’m working on trying to change that. I operate best with plenty of plotting and regular chats ( whether in the IMs/Discord/in the tags of threads ), as I find it extremely motivational to get to know the mun I’m writing with and maybe even plot out a relationship as we go!

I don’t mind if you favour a single muse over the others! I don’t mind if you want to write with every single one of them! I don’t mind threads with duplicates of my muses! I don’t mind multiple threads, even if we don’t always finish all of them and get hit with a new idea! I’m more than happy to go with the flow — so long as we’re having fun that’s all that matters.

My portrayals often involve the heavy use of headcanons, some of which haven’t been officially posted yet! Everything you see on this blog is likely a continuous work in progress, as my muses and ideas for them are always developing and growing.

For any extra info, please refer to my rules!! If you’re unsure of anything, hit up my IMs!

[sandpapersnowman]

@mobius-loop​ (!!! how are u!!!) i honestly feel like i wouldn’t be able to do the league of villains justice but aizawa and all might on a teacher appreciation day sounded good as h e l l. this ended up unreal long so it has to be mostly under a readmore

it starts with aizawa’s teacher appreciation day gift, but all might’s is the second half of the fic!

ao3 link

They’d started having teacher appreciation days a few years back; it’s good for morale as finals creep closer, and it serves as a fun distraction and a chance for students to get to know their teachers a little better. After all, they’ll be working alongside them as heroes in a few years’ time.

They have some reviews scheduled for teacher appreciation day, but Iida and Yaoyorozu had come forward the week before and asked if they could put aside a few minutes toward the end of their class to give him a gift. He’d been surprised; he figured with everything that’s been going on and all the turmoil of beginning high school, and in such an intensive hero course, they weren’t planning on doing anything.

He’d agreed, of course, which brings them all to now, huddled around his desk with just under ten minutes left in class.

“We all voted on what it,” Iida explains. “We wanted to combine praise for your abilities as a teacher and a hero, as well as sprinkle in a little humor so it wouldn’t come off too formally.”

“Kiss-ass,” Kirishima fake-coughs, but the rest of the class laughs with him, Iida included.

“You’ve taught us a lot,” Midoriya continues. “As a teacher and as a pro hero we all look up to.”

Something tightens in his chest at that; look up to, huh?

Iida removes the class gift from behind his back and holds it out to their teacher.

It’s wrapped in a plain yellow paper, the true shape of whatever it is obscured by the packaging, but the weight in his hand is familiar, and he has to hold back a small smile.

Aizawa’s amassed a collection of mugs over the years from his students. They’re a good staple, and he’d be lying if he didn’t enjoy being able to put off doing his dishes another day for every cat-themed novelty mug he has, plus every one he has proclaiming he’s the #1 Teacher or with a joke about needing coffee in the morning.

“Thank you,” he says, thumbing at the tape keeping the whole thing sealed. “May I open it?”

The whole class makes a chorus of affirmative noises, all apparently excited for him to receive it. It sounds like they had it custom made, so it’ll probably be something more personal than previous years, but he’s not sure if any of them actually know enough about him to make it something personal.

There’s a small card taped to the top, so he opens that first.

Sensei,

We all want to thank you for your dedication to our class and to us individually as students and as future heroes. We look forward to continuing to learn from the best for the rest of the year.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Day!

He wonders which of them wrote it, considering how extraordinarily formal it sounds and how neat the writing is.

“Iida composed it and I wrote it out,” Yaoyorozu points out.

“We decided she has the best handwriting out of all of us,” Jirou nods, and Aizawa mentally agrees. None of them write terribly sloppily, but Yaoyorozu has such a neat, composed script that it’s always something of a relief when he realizes her homework is next to grade.

He puts the card gently on his desk, propped up so the multicolored ‘From Class 1-A’ on the cover points out toward the room.

He continues to unwrap the gift carefully, flashing back to one year where it had been taped and folded in odd places and he’d dropped it, but successfully wrangles this one out of the mass of tissue paper and ribbons.

“We tried to wrap it pretty nicely but still cute,” Uraraka points out, apparently the one behind the awkward (but cute) bow scrunching all the paper around the middle.

“I see,” he humors her, carefully untying the bow so it doesn’t rip or crinkle.

The top of the mug reveals itself first, and it surprises a laugh out of him. There’s three gel packs stuffed inside, each in a different flavor, and there’s scattered laughter as he pulls them out and examines them.

As often as he replaces his meals with these, he thinks he’ll probably save these for a special occasion. Keep them in his office until the written portion of finals need to be graded, and live on them as motivation reminding him his students are worth it to sit through the same test 20 times.

“Thank you,” he says, out to all of them, and sets the packs on his desk.

Kirishima and Tokoyami both chirp out ‘you’re welcome!’ from somewhere behind the front wall of students.

“It was their idea,” Tsu informs him with a smile. “I don’t think the rest of us wanted to encourage you, though.”

He snorts at that, wondering if Hizashi had told them to give him shit about the protein packs if they saw him with one, but does still appreciate the thought.

They all look excited as he moves on to the mug itself, pulling paper away to reveal something printed on it. As the majority of the paper peels back, he realizes it’s their most recent staff picture; every instructor and professional working at UA, most either smiling or goofing around with their coworkers, wrapped around the front of the mug.

“It says something, too,” Todoroki pipes up. “On the bottom.”

Aizawa scans the blank edge under the picture, but doesn’t see anything.

“On the bottom bottom,” Kaminari clarifies. “Under it.”

Aizawa gives them all a questioning glance, but slowly turns the mug so he can check the underside.

And sure enough.

On the bottom of the mug, only visible at an angle tipped up to drink from, is a simple sentence in bold font.

I’d rather be having a cat nap.

It’s…

His eyes feel warm.

It’s perfect.

“I love it,” he blurts out, in genuine awe and fondness. “It’s true,” he jokes, shooting them all a tired look.

There are a couple very real cheers from some of the students.

“I told you!” Midoriya beams at Todoroki, who just smiles as though he also knew it’d be a great gift and just made Midoriya second-guess himself to… Fuck with him, or something? He knows the two of them are something like friends now, just like everyone that comes within a mile of Midoriya is eventually.

“Thank you all,” he says, still smiling softly at how thoughtful they’ve been. “Don’t tell the other classes, but this is absolutely the best mug I’ve gotten.”

To his surprise, there’s a very satisfied ‘HELL YEAH’ from the back of the cluster. He’s 99% sure it was Bakugou.

All Might doesn’t know what to expect for his first teacher appreciation day. As the #1 pro hero, he already receives appreciation on a daily basis.

“None of us could figure out what we could get you,” Midoriya admits. “So we just decided to all make you cards.”

All Might beams.

“Oh, I hope you didn’t go to too much trouble. Having you all as my students is already a gift every day.”

Someone in the class calls out “That’s cheesy!”, earning a couple laughs in agreement.

Midoriya seems to be their leader in this situation, apparently still the only one out of them all that’s comfortable approaching All Might, and the rest of them follow when he stands from his desk.

They form a practiced line, which is just as endearing as it is efficient.

Midoriya hands his card over first, of course. The front says Happy Teacher Appreciation Day, and rather than writing out a note within it, he’s drawn a picture of them both. They have lightning around them, their shared quirk imagined at full power, and they both look ready to save the day.

“I love it,” he gasps. “Thank you, Midoriya! I do hope that one day we’ll see this picture become a reality, and we’ll be able to fight side by side as pillars of hope.”

(It rings false in his head, considering his powers are waning, but he’s not ready to let Midoriya know that yet.)

All Might scoops Midoriya up in a hug and the boy yelps, then laughs as he hugs back. As expected, he has tears in his eyes when All Might puts him down, and All Might ruffles his hair before addressing the next student.

It goes on like that for each of them; they’ve all prepared a card, and while most do have a note in it thanking him for his dedication or gushing about how honored they are to be training under him, a few have also followed in Midoriya’s footsteps and made doodles as well.

Iida draws them both running together. Jirou draws them in a little band, with All Might wearing black and yelling into what he assumes is a microphone. Shouji just draws six little thumbs-up hands. Tsu’s features her crouched on his bicep as he poses, both in matching frog-themed outfits, and while All Might is gushing about how cute it is, he realizes he’s going to need to buy frames to keep these all in.

Almost every student goes for a hug, as well, when All Might opens his arm after thanking them for their card. Todoroki even considers it, but holds out a fist for All Might to bump instead.

He does, of course. He knows Todoroki isn’t supposed to like him because of his father’s grudge, but that doesn’t change the fact that Todoroki is a bright and talented kid, and All Might is here to help them all grow regardless.

Eventually, every student has handed over a card but one.

Finally, hesitantly, Bakugou approaches.

Most of the class have dispersed back to their seats, chatting amongst themselves and giving Bakugou space. There’s a mutual understanding that All Might is someone they all look up to, and it might be weird to have people hovering around while you try to tell your hero how much they’ve inspired you.

Bakugou looks just as annoyed as ever, but he holds out a card, too.

“I’ve looked up to you since I was four,” he rushes out. “I always wanted to be just like you so I could save the world and help people. I still want to be like you, but now I want to be even better.”

It sounds so rehearsed, like he practiced it in the mirror over and over. He almost sounds cruel, talking about wanting to surpass him instead of being like him, but All Might smiles wider. He knows exactly what Bakugou intends to say.

“I’m proud to have inspired such a strong young man not just to be like his heroes, but to improve where they did not,” he says softly, as though it’s a secret just between them. He takes Bakugou’s card in the same conspiratorial, I won’t tell if you won’t way. “You are determined and will only become stronger and faster as your training here continues, and I have no doubt in my mind that you’ll be leading a new generation of heroes toward greatness.”

The slightly horrified look on Bakugou’s face reveals he hadn’t expected All Might to say something heartfelt in return, if anything at all, and he wipes at his eyes quickly to keep a tear from falling.

All Might opens his arms to offer a hug just as he had with the other students. Bakugou hesitates again, and All Might wonders if he should let him know he obviously doesn’t need to feel obligated to hug anyone (and throw in something role model-y about consent and never succumbing to peer pressure), but then Bakugou lurches forward and wraps his arms around his waist as much as he can.

He squeezes so tightly All Might thinks this might actually be an assassination attempt, but then he’s pulling away, this time not wiping his eyes in time to stop a tear slipping down his cheek.

“Thank you,” Bakugou mumbles. “I promise I’ll kick your ass one day.”

All Might chuckles.

This dedication and talent will become the bar set for the next twenty years of heroes, and his heart swells knowing that he’s helping them reach for their full potential and further.

“I look forward to it.”