#unrelated but i love them so much it was fun seeing them all grow up and fall in love with volleyball and make friends 🖤🤍😭

[s4nguiine]

—mydeimos, oh mydeimos

mydei x reader - saying goodbye

» rating: sfw, angst, hurt no comfort

» notes: look.. i know this took a while, but i have an excuse!! you see, i had a whole drabble almost ready to post. but then the new patch came out and it changed the way i saw mydei entirely, and since it was wildly ooc, i had no other choice but to rewrite the whole thing. anyway i'll stop yapping now have fun

“so you’ve saved me for last?”

you don’t need to turn to know that your lover is standing behind you. his figure casts a long shadow from the doorway to your feet. you hear mydei’s footsteps grow closer, yet still your eyes remain focused on the eggplant that you’re dicing on the cutting board.

finally his hands clutch your shoulders, making you freeze.

bitter. you feel bitter. there’s the usual anger, but what’s truly fanning the flames is hurt and sadness. mydei’s palms are warm against your skin but all you can really think about is their fleetingness. you hang your head.

“why you?” you mumble.

mydei’s hand glides over your arm until it stops at your wrist, where he envelops your hand and forces you to let go of the knife. you hadn’t even realized that you were clenching it so hard. he turns your hand over and pushes his fingers through the gaps between yours, fingertips digging into your palm.

this pushes you over the edge. you grit your teeth but it does nothing to stop the tears from overflowing.

“so you know?” he asks. his voice his deep but soft. this is him, the real him that he usually hides under a layer of rough masculinity.

“phainon’s told me,” you reply, doing your best to still the tremble of your voice. “he loves you, you know.” your free hand comes up to wipe at your eyes.

“and you?” mydei lowers his head. your shoulder dips under the weight of his forehead. “do you love me?”

your lip trembles. your wiping is pointless now, the tears flow endlessly. a sob wracks your body.

“of course i do, you fool. you kremnoan oaf. what am i to do without you?”

despite your sobs you know that he is smiling. mydei’s body already towered over yours, but now that you are hunched over and crying you seem much, much smaller. the redhead’s lips hover over the skin of your neck, and he presses a soft kiss into it.

“that is enough for me.”

but what about me?

then, he wraps his arms around you, pulling you tightly into his embrace, almost as if trying to etch the curves of your body into his very flesh and mind.

yet you can’t stay still for long. you whirl around in his hold and you spot a minuscule twitch in his face when he sees your pained expression, a falter in determination that, much to your dismay, quickly steels itself once more.

mydei closes his eyes.

“i have to do this. it has to be me,” he says. then he speaks your name, a soft sound spilling from the plump lips you’ve had the pleasure of tasting.

the warrior, the love of your life, reaches for the knife that was pried from your hands, and with a quick and calculated slash, he severs the braid in his hair. mydei then presses it tightly into the palm of your hand and wraps your fingers around it, squeezing.

“remember me.”

always.

“pray for my victory.”

with every breath i take.

no words manage to get out through the tightness in your throat, so you opt for nodding instead. mydei smiles and cups your cheeks, thumb tentatively brushing your lips before he captures them in a salty kiss.

when you part, there is melancholy in his eyes. many words seem to linger just past the threshold of his teeth, yet he settles for one: “goodbye.”

and he lets you go. an attempt at chasing after him is made; you try to hold his arm just a split second longer, but he is unrelenting and his bicep slips from your fingers. your knees buckle under you as mydei steps out the doorway and disappears from your sight without another glance back.

damn this war and these circumstances; damn the black tide and what it’s taken from you. you crumple to the ground and grieve the loss of your love, tears soaking up the braid that he’s left behind.

[littlemissstel]

Troublemaker- Shiu Kong

What is Shiu to do when he gets a call from his daughter asking to be picked up? But he thought she was at home...

dividers by @saradika-graphics

You and Shiu loved your kids. You did. However you had never known any others to be quite as monstrous as they were. Everyone said that they would eventually grow out of their mischievous ways, however after your eldest entered her teen years the untamable spirit she retained only grew and you came to believe they were just your karma personified. Your first was sneaky, the second was loud and hyperactive - causing a mess wherever he went- and your third...well you were lucky if she even gave you the time of day, rolling her eyes, she tended to use her face to express more than she did her words and was ever so cunning.

You tried to keep up but the weekends offered no respite as the chaos you normally got to hide from six hours a day continued at an unrelenting pace and left you as nothing but a mindless ghoul at the end of it as you collapsed into your bed.

Shiu would normally be right behind you in doing this, but tonight he managed to exert the last of his energy into tidying the remaining miscellaneous items that littered the dinning table before settling limply on the sofa, eyes closed and head tossed back. The idea was to secretly finish the remaining episode of a series you both binged, however the low rumble of your sons gaming console acted as white noise that tempted him into a deep sleep, the darkness becoming a blanket over him as he sunk further and further into the cloud cushions.

All was well. All was calm.

Was. The sound of his phone ringing pierced through the once so soothing atmosphere and he sprung up, reaching for his phone with such urgency he worried about throwing his back out. He waited a second, eyes adjusting to the brightness before recognising the name on the screen. His eldest daughter. Now was the time to sigh. The most she could want was a glass of water and a pack of sweets and he inwardly teased himself for acting so exaggerated.

"Hi, honey" he says though he was not welcomed with the same greeting. Instead a cacophony of unintelligible sounds blurred in his ear, forcing him to move back in both pain and confusion.

Well that certainly wasn't coming from here. The house was silent, the sound of a pin dropping could count as a disturbance, so what on earth was going on?

"Honey? Are you there?"

"Yeah" her uncharacteristically small voice calls out, and he can't help but notice the way it shakes. Sitting up and leaning forward, elbows on knees he gives her his full attention, acting as if she were sat in front of him.

"What's going on? You're not home are you?"

"No--and I'm so sorry", She breaks fully, "Can you please pick me up? I swear it's not that far a-"

"Send me your location. Are you hurt?"

"No..."

"Okay."

And the line continues without another word spoken. Though Shiu's mind was far from peaceful. The moment she had sent where she was he stepped on the peddle driving an inexcusable amount over the speed limit which was prompted by his sweet girls muffled cries.

The address seemed to be a house, at least she was in a residential area but what was she doing there? Who had she gone to see? Most importantly how did he not notice? A detective all those years and yet he couldn't figure out when his own daughter was in trouble. No, he couldn't figure out why she snuck out. He had tried his very best to give his children the freedom they deserved and he'd much rather know about their mistakes than have them make it alone. It's not like he ever denied them of going out and having fun without rational reasoning and they knew that- so why was he driving to an unknown location at 2 am to pick up his weeping daughter?

Unlike his previous experiences, the adrenaline spike he felt was anything but pleasant and his blood rushed with anxiety. Eventually he neared the location looking around hastily for any sign of his daughter.

"Where are you? Can you see me?"

And suddenly a figure emerged out of the dark from one of the porches, alerting a sensory light to come on where he saw his daughter in a state he would wish to erase. Stepping out of the car meeting her will-less body halfway he engulfed her into his arms, one wrapped securely around her head as he pressed a soft kiss into her hair. He was sure they were hugging for different reasons, him in deep relief that she was safe and hers for reasons unknown but it didn't matter now as she looked up, tearful, mascara smudged eyes meeting his and he felt his heart break once more. Quickly taking off the jumper he wore, he opened it ready for her to put on, she wore a lacey top and a skirt two inches too short - both of which he had never seen before- but perhaps now wasn't the time to bring it up, it was a wonder she didn't catch hypothermia before he arrived in the first place.

"I'm so sorry"

"It's alright" he assures, guiding her to the car, "Let's get home before you freeze."

The night continues with the two of them in the car silently, Shiu driving much slower than before as he cautiously looks at his daughter through the mirror. He wasn't quite sure what to do, if this would be the time were he says something to try and put her at ease, maybe berate her for doing something so careless. He wasn't quite sure he'd be speaking to the same daughter he was used to, never had he been warned about this kind of situation before when people teased him about having such a fiery child but right now it seemed that fire had been extinguished completely and he yearned for the slightest sight of a flame.

"Is there anything so undoing as a daughter?" Shiu repeated inwardly but it wasn't a question. He felt himself slip the moment she was born and now he grovelled in the helplessness as she grew.

He had been relying on muscle memory throughout the car ride as he thoughtlessly pulled into the driveway slowly and lowering the lights so as to not alert anyone inside. Ah...What was he to tell you? He would tell you, of course ,but now? Would you be mad if he waited until the morning, would your girl still be in such a sorry state when she woke up? A thousand more worries came up in Shiu's mind and what could soothe them?

"Thank you, Dad" The girl spoke out cautiously, already looking at him as he turned and he couldn't help but view her ten years younger.

Still at a loss he repeated the same phrase, "It's alright, Love." and gave a squeeze to her hand to which she gave a slight smile.

He sighed.

"I will have to tell your mum..."

The girl looked down and away.

"I know..."

"You know we aren't evil..."

"I know...but can we talk about it in the morning? please?"

"Okay."

And Shiu hoped that somehow, through the exchange and his eyes, she knew that he would always be there for her.

Catch the arcane ref? I'm so happy with how this turned out!!!

Please feel free to leave any recs/ideas x

[alittlebitofloveliness]

Darry Curtis hc because I love him

-Absolutely 100% has undiagnosed anxiety (it’s the 60s so no mental health awareness but I know it when I see it)

-Is actually as strict with Soda as he is with Pony, Pony just doesn’t see it

-Has crazy nightmares like Ponyboy, just wakes up in a cold sweat instead of yelling

-Has a high pitched scream and has been RELENTLESSLY teased about it by the gang

-Of everyone in the gang he clashes with two-bit the most, because two is almost the same age as him and refuses to ever take responsibility for anything

-Hates driving to work with Sodapop because Soda is a reckless driver, even after what happened to their parents

-Loves fried chicken

-Worked overtime for three weekends to save up to get Ponyboy a really nice birthday gift when he turned fifteen and didn’t say a word about it.

-Before his parents died he actually got into a lot of fights, usually defending his little brothers, but sometimes just for fun. Obviously, that ended as soon as he became Pony and Soda’s guardian (except when someone hurts his brothers- then he’ll flatten them)

-Knows Ponyboy is tough but forgets sometimes because Ponyboy is SO much smaller than him, and always has been, and it was already Darry’s job to protect him before their parents passed and before Ponyboy started growing up. To Darry, Ponyboy will forever the wide eyed kid who used to look at him like he was a superhero

-Him and Soda got a lot closer after their parents died and he clings to that fact, because it’s the only sort of good thing that came out of losing them

-Never goes to the hospital, even when he’s literally dying, but if Soda or Pony get anything worse than a sniffle he forced them to go

-Sometimes when he tells the gang he’s going to the gym he just drives around for a while so he can get a few minutes of peace and quiet to himself (bonus: sometimes he finds somewhere to park and just cries for a while because no one can see him and he’s TWENTY and this is too much)

-His first girlfriend told him he smelled nice once and it stuck with him. He likes fancy(ish) colognes and Soda and Pony pool their spending money to get him a new one every holiday

-Actually loves helping Ponyboy with his math homework

-Was the original Curtis heartthrob. Girls used to chase him a ton in school, and he was proud of Soda when girls started liking him too 

-On the topic of relationships, Ponyboy went to him instead of Soda the first time he had a crush and Darry was secretly really pleased (until he found out WHO Ponyboy was interested in and then he was HORRIFIED)

-On an unrelated note, he once had to physically restrain Soda from straight up murdering Curly Shepard (but he let Soda get a few good hits in first)

-Loves baking, but rarely has the energy when he gets home from work and Pony and Soda only ever want cake so that’s usually all he makes

-Eats chocolate chips out of the bag

-Checks on Soda and Ponyboy at least three times a night because anxiety is a bitch and he’s TERRIFIED of something happening to them so he needs to make sure they’re ok

-Has tried everything under the sun to try and get Pony to quit smoking and never succeeded 

-Visits his parents graves once a month, and just talks to the headstones as if they can hear them because he misses them so much but feels like he has to be strong for his brothers

-Has a scar on his palm from burning himself pulling a pan out of the oven

[mymarifae]

aventurine headcanon compilation

because i want to talk about him.

- oh my god he does not have BPD. he has NPD

- he also has DID. i've come to understand his encounter with his past and future selves as the high memoria concentrations and sunday's order fuckery coming together to manifest two of his most important (and most feared) alters. it wasn't just a symbolic thing; both of them are people in his head. "past" is very small and very, very dissociated from most of the trauma; he holds the memories of family and love most clearly. and he's also extremely repressed / was near dormant until everything that went down on penacony forced aventurine to properly acknowledge and embrace him again. "future," on the other hand, is the epitome of Aventurine The Stoneheart. he's the person kakavasha had to become to survive the awful fact that he's now perpetuating the cycle of exploitation that took so much from him. he's the person kakavasha hates most

- his hair is curly and naturally dark brown, but he got into the habit of bleaching it not long after becoming a stoneheart. a little while after penacony, though, he starts letting the natural color grow back! i think he still bleaches (and then maybe dyes) the tips for fun and because he likes being colorful

- he has freckles... a very cute smattering of them across his cheeks and nose, and some dotted along his shoulders and back. he doesn't intentionally hide them, but he likes doing his makeup and they just happen to get caught in the crossfire

- he's a morning person! if it wasn't for his insomnia and nightmares he'd be out cold before 10 pm and wide awake again at 5 am

- he buys a lot of expensive jewelry to flaunt his wealth and what he's made of himself, but he's secretly really into making his own. he learned how when he was a child and thus (because of the DID thing) he struggles with it at times. beadwork is soothing for him, though

- on that note, all the extravagant gifts and money he showers people in? yeah that's all just to curry favor. ass-kissing. purely transactional. a REAL gift from him would be a handmade piece of jewelry or some kind of good luck charm

- he LOVES math. he genuinely loves probability and statistics. he looooves spreadsheets. this is one part of his job he genuinely has fun with

- he's wired to be a cuddler. but the trauma, the distance he has to keep between himself and everyone else to feel safe, and the image he has to maintain as a stoneheart has kind of killed that inclination. buuuuuut if someone manages to work their way past enough of his walls and they can establish an honest, trusting relationship... well, that person is not going to be able to detach him. he has burrowed himself into their side and he lives there now. he wants to be held. he wants to feel safe. the first time he manages to relax enough and let himself fall into someone else's embrace he probably cries from the sheer relief (top candidates are ratio and - platonically - stelle and topaz)

- he's a very messy sleeper. this is unrelated to his nightmares, although they certainly don't help. but even if he's sleeping peacefully he's going to kick and thrash and roll around. all of his blankets end up on the floor. he throws a pillow or two. it's a whole ordeal to share a bed with him. because he also HOGS the whole damn bed. he may have a smaller stature and a king-sized bed and you would think he'd basically be drowning in a mattress that big but NOPE he manages to take up every inch of it

- he has a lot of shirts exposing the middle of his chest but you actually won't see him wearing anything more revealing than that. the rest of his body is covered in scars and only the people he trusts the very most can see

- he wants kids! pre-penacony this is nothing more than a stupid, selfish pipe dream. post-penacony, however, as his life starts to take a turn for the better and he starts healing... well. maybe he can have a family again after all. i think this would make him really happy

- i like to think that in the meantime sometimes he tags along with jade when she visits orphanages. (this is also the closest either of them get to lowering their walls and properly bonding with each other - but not quite. his relationship with jade will never be exactly Good. but in these moments they're offered a glimpse of what could have been, maybe) he buys luxurious gifts and toys for the kiddos and throws money in to renovate the facilities. he keeps his distance during most of these visits, taking on an ultra businessman front. but every once in a while... he indulges. he sits down and gives the kids little jewelry-making sessions. it's nice. he has fun. an ache in his chest eases ever so slightly

- he observes kakava every year, but he doesn't celebrate his birthday. and his kakava "celebration" is a heavy, grieving thing. it takes him a loooong while and a lot of healing before he starts to accept birthday wishes and before he starts to see the day as something to truly celebrate again

- he kept the brand on his neck as a power move (look at what i've survived and now look at what i've made of myself) but somewhere along the line it does turn into a source of self-loathing. so i think finally getting it removed would be a nice step forward for him to take. at some point

[auguryofjellyfish]

‎‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎Everything felt fine, when I was half of a pair.

speculative character study on Hasegawa, his inner life, mentality, social issues, and connections.

applicable as of day 24, 2nd day of Chapter 4.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[The World]

Hasegawa Ken is in love with the World.

His entire being is of service to appreciating every single detail of it.

It's a complex sort of love. A calm and quiet constant, but also energizing and jittery at times. It thrums beneath his skin, to the rhythm of his heart. It makes him want to know everything. Absorbing as much knowledge as he can- that is what he lives for.

He adores some topics more than others, of course. He has a particularly soft spot for marine life. But he loves, most of all, to look back. Who, how, where, when, why? How did we get here? Where did that come from? Everything has a history. And “history” is about as dense a field as you can get- It's practically endless, and endlessly fascinating. Countless events led us to our current moment in time. Everything that exists came from somewhere. Isn't it just so interesting, to know about the origins of even the most mundane of matters, things people just accept as given without a second thought? Well, he wants to know. Besides...the past is safe. The future is a dangerous unknown, but the past is done, he can learn about it all he wants, and it can't hurt him, and anyone else, anymore. It's already happened, and so, he doesn't have to be scared of it. Helps that he's so good at dealing with it, too.

He loves the World. As for the people in it...well...

It's complicated.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[The People]

Hasegawa is not very fond of interacting with people.

If he has to, he can do it. He doesn't hate others nor especially minds them, he can be polite and respectful! Even then, he'd still rather be doing anything else...When most interactions make you feel uncomfortable, who could blame you for your lack of enthusiasm? He can have small talk, or a light conversation sometimes, it's not that big of a deal. He just won't really go out of his way to have them.

But in truth, Hasegawa loves to talk. Especially when he gets to share his knowledge, his passion, about the World that delights him so. When he immerses himself in it, his nervousness disappears. Hasegawa is oriented more conceptually than socially. That is his way of connecting. Whether it's about something that interests him, or a thing that exists in the same vicinity as him and the other person- when he talks about it, it's like he's saying “Hey, look! You and I, we're both here, in the World.” They are not just random fun facts, or unrelated anectodes- it's him. His passion is him, and when he's sharing it, he's sharing himself. It's as natural as breathing.

Or, was. It's just. He knows better now.

Kids can be cruel. To kids who prefer to stay in and read instead of play. To kids who can ramble endlessly about things that are completely irrelevant to people's everyday lives. Starting every other sentence with “Did you know...?” To kids who seem much more invested in random concepts, instead of their actual conversation partners as people. But he's not- he isn't-

He is interested. He'd love to learn about them, too. To know them as deeply as he could.

How many times did he get called annoying? A know-it-all? How many times was he shut down when he was only getting started? How many times was he told to be quiet? How many times did he see people grow bored and tired of him? He doesn't want to be irritating, he just wants to share himself with people. Is that so wrong...? Over time, his eyes lowered more and more, his shoulders hunched as he got taller, his voice grew softer as it turned deeper. He knows better now. He grew up, and he learned how to do this whole social thing better. Don't be overzealous. He still can't help himself sometimes....But he also remembers...and is always ready to apologize. Every conversation is a potential minefield. Arms in front of himself, always. Bracing for impact.

It's okay. He still has about everything else.

Now, he just prefers to keep himself on the down-low. Quiet, subdued, just in case. It's not ideal, to constrict himself to this degree, and it makes interactions more of a chore, to suppress his instincts, but... well. It's safer. It's less painful. He's already too sensitive either way. And he really, really doesn't like confrontation.

He doesn't really like going to school. He studies for hours everyday as a passion, so- definitely people related. He's not outright bullied, per se. People might be trying to buddy up to him now, because of his wealth, and it's clear that's the only reason they want to befriend him. Maybe he gets too much attention. Or, on the contrary, he has no one to talk to. He doesn't reach out, others don't reach out to him, he doesn't mesh with anyone, he doesn't even get the chance to grow comfortable... and that's that. It just has to suck to be amongst big groups of people and be constantly reminded of how you're lacking, of how alone you are. You can't learn about people like you'd learn from a book.

He has his issues, but, it's not like he's particularly unhappy...

Well...He might be a little lonely...

...

B-but...He still has his family! They're always there for him.

They love him and accepts him for who he is, he gets to utilize his passion in the most lucrative way possible, and he wants for nothing. He couldn't be more fortunate. He's still so worried about everything, about his family, about what's going to happen in the future, but what he has now...It has to be enough.

For a time. Because family is not supposed to be everything you have, forever. In Hasegawa's student log, there's a lot of emphasis put on his future. He himself is worried about it. As people grow up, they're supposed to go out into the world, to branch out, have their own place, have a job, get married. His family wondered whether the last one was in the cards for him. It might not be up in the air only because he's gay, though it's a big factor, but also because it's so hard for him to build connections in the first place. He...maybe he'd also like to have that last one too, one day-

Then again... this difficulty makes the times when he does find a connection all the more special.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ [Kamimura Kazutoshi]

It's very late. Hasegawa's sitting in the dining hall, barely able to keep his eyes open. And then, look at that. Kamimura is out too, in the dead of night. Their previous interaction was pleasant enough. Good, even. And, Hasegawa's so tired and sleepy it makes him relaxed, more than he would be otherwise. His defences are down.

They're in a “game of life and death”. He's supposed to feel paranoid about everyone and everything, he should to be wary of his own shadow, but...right now, he just isn't. Kamimura is so nice and friendly.

This conversation is going well, too. It's flowing steadily. Calm. Comfortable. Easy. Easy smiles, easy laughter, easy lightness.

Then, Kamimura says that he's glad Hasegawa's there.

And he tells him he can call him by his first name.

And that was that.

Since then, they were inseparable. Still practically strangers, but they were already...of, each other. Their beings tied together. It was an almost insant connection. And all it took was Kamimura reaching his hand out to him. Kamimura trusted him in some way from the get go, didn't include him in “I don't know any of these people, and I don't want them to know me”, and clearly enjoyed talking and being with him. Hasegawa was very fond of Kamimura as well. He was definitely comfortable around him, enough that it automatically improved his social skills tenfold. He wasn't a perfect friend, but he always, always tried to be there for him. To help him in any way he could. Taking on his punishment in the Decision Game wasn't even a choice, it would be unthinkable for him not to take it. He comforted him during a breakdown. When he betrayed Kamimura's trust, he didn't skulk off with his tail between his legs, he'd tried his hardest to make it right. He revealed his vulnerabilities in turn. And he never made the same mistake again.

He wanted to keep him safe and protected, to look after his well-being, to be kind to him, because he truly cared.

They didn't make each other perfectly happy always, that's not what it was about. They bickered, teased each other, miscommunicated, fought, made up. But the mere fact of just existing in the other's presence- talking, exploring, or doing their own separate activities together in silence, was much more important. If they were suddenly rescued, there would be no question of whether they'd want to stay in each other's lives.

We know that Kamimura was completely alone for years. And yet, it still felt natural and easy for him to be in Ken's presence. He trusted him. He felt safe with him. Always.

And Hasegawa only thought of him.

He was invested in his problems and feelings only. Always worried, about nobody else, nobody but him.

Hasegawa wasn't especially obsessed with Kamimura, or incapable of functioning without him, or any other extremes like that. He was his own person outside of the relationship, and they weren't unhealthily codependent. They sometimes separated, to have their alone time, apart from each other. Ken just made that “time alone” more literal.

With 100% certainty, they grew to love each other as close friends, at least. They were both quite lonely individuals who generally don't have an easy time of connecting with others, so when they encountered a connection that felt so easy, it only makes sense to hold onto it. They could show each other the sides of themselves that are normally hidden from the world. Honest. Vulnerable. Real.

Their relationship wasn't a problem. When they were together, it was good....Whatever Hasegawa had with Kamimura, it was more than enough for him. Enough to not try and seek “more”, to actually make an effort and cultivate other relationships on his own. That's not the sort of thing he normally does, anyway. He likes to keep his friend group small, after all.

In this short period of 21 days, Kamimura became the best friend he's ever had. Maybe even something else.

And that's when it ended.

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎[The End]

it was beautiful, until it wasn't.

Kamimura is gone.

And Hasegawa was left with zero meaningful relationships and social ties besides him. Whenever he interacted with others, it was always either forced by circumstance, or he was with Kamimura - conversing with people from the place of being as a unit. It was easier, because with someone, he was never the sole focus. On his own, he had never initiated a conversation, not once.

There's a reason that when you're, for example, married, your spouse shouldn't be the only person you have. Even if it's a great relationship, things happen, people leave, people die, and when you put all your eggs in one basket, you are left with nothing.

No one even knows how to approach him. Some people try, but their attempts fall flat. The person who would be the most qualified to try and reach him is gone too. He doesn't seek out anyone nor accept their support, just...retreats. He was barely even a part of the wider group, and now he's barely anything at all.

Hasegawa didn't “just” lose a loved one, his best friend, someone he cared about a lot, someone he was with always. He also lost the only regular source of social interaction, good feelings, engaging conversation, laughter, care, warmth, and belonging he's had for almost a month.

Kamimura didn't “just” die. He was tortured. Desecrated. His life and being were treated like worthless trash specifically to fuck with him.

And Hasegawa was left behind with all of this, things that are beyond traumatizing, with no one whose support he wants, with no one he trusts, with no one he's very comfortable with, or especially likes. No one who brings him joy.

Ken has never been on his own to this degree. He has no one.

He somewhat blamed himself for Isono's death and he had nothing to do with it. He had made no promises to her.

But Kamimura was his to protect.

He's normally so anxious, but with him, he was strong. Because he had someone to be strong for.

“They were always together” rings in his ear. If that's true, then why not then? Why? How could he have let him down like that? Why? Why did he leave him alone?

Why didn't he think of what a hazard it is, for someone to have a completely separate and unattended food supply?

He was in a room right across the hall. He was so close, and he didn't hear a thing. He just sat there, blissfully unaware, while Kamimura was being tortured not even 30ft away.

He died in horrible pain, choking on his own blood, just because he was close to him.

Because of him.

He had so many chances to save him, and he lost each and every one.

It's all his fault.

Kidnapped, ripped away from his family, in an uncertain and stressful environment, he's had the security of being with someone, with Kamimura, since the very beginning.

He had considered the possibility that either of them might die. But it was never more than a vague sort of anxiety, brought by the logic of their environment. He was more scared for Kamimura because of his health problems. Still, if he'd died, Hasegawa knew that he would be devastated.

He never could have imagined that it would happen like that.

What is he supposed to do now?

Hasegawa Ken still has the World, like he's always had.

But, what is the World worth now?

Everything felt fine, when he was half of a pair.

Now through the fault of his, there's no other half there.

He just wants to go home.

‎

[beigetiger]

I get that other people might not see them in the same way, but Fletcher and Valkyrie are really, REALLY sibling coded to me (and for unrelated reasons, I hated them dating and am glad they broke up).

There is, of course, the playful and affectionate way they treat each other in phases 2 and 3. They’re silly, joking with each other, giving each other advice, and exchanging snacks. Stuff like that, it makes them SO fun to watch and I need more content that just is the two of them hanging out.

But the other part, and the aspect of their relationship that I’ve been thinking about nonstop for the past twelve hours, is the fact that they were both kind of adopted into the same abusive circle of adults when they were teenagers, and they were pretty much raised side-by-side for two years before Fletcher peaced out. Valkyrie showed up first because her uncle died and Skulduggery thought she showed potential, and Fletcher showed up later due to dire circumstances (and then nobody really bothered to get rid of him).

And that’s why I think they started dating, too. Not necessarily because they would’ve formed a healthy relationship in any way, but because they were LITERALLY the only child that the other was hanging out with. Everyone else was decades, if not centuries, older than them. And that’s not exactly a healthy basis for a relationship, so it does stand to reason that they would inevitably break up (which, GOOD). They’re also both in a better place (somewhat) as adults, which is why they then have a healthier form of interacting with each other.

Another thing about their relationship, and something that has stuck out to me since BOOK THREE, is the way that the adults around them treat them. Valkyrie is the parentified golden child, the one who’s so young but already so capable and mature, of course not taking into account the sheer amount of abuse she went through in order to act like a full-fledged adult at the ripe old age of FUCKING FOURTEEN.

Fletcher, on the other hand, was considered a failure and a fool, only useful for his teleportation ability. But if you actually look at his behaviour, you’ll realize the only crime this teenage boy committed was…acting like a teenage boy. By that point in time, the only other child present already acts like an adult, and so he’s considered the worthless and immature one, ESPECIALLY by Skulduggery, which totally doesn’t have any negative effects on Fletcher at all.

Because that’s ANOTHER thing, the fact that Fletcher considers Skulduggery to be something of a father figure. It’s implied by Valkyrie all the way back at around book four (I think) and is all but confirmed in book fifteen (UtE). Fletcher had daddy issues before, but they are CERTAINLY worse now. Skulduggery is really not vague about Valkyrie being the favoured child, and he constantly belittles and insults Fletcher, both to his face and behind his back, all the way into Fletcher’s adulthood. He doesn’t really care about Fletcher. CADAVER never cared about Fletcher, he simply acted like it to get Fletcher to trust him more. And so Fletcher actually leaving at eighteen, at refusing to be a soldier after the war is over, to instead become a TEACHER and generally avoid talking to Skulduggery, is fantastic! He’s growing as a person and is learning to cut one of the more toxic people in his life from it as much as possible. He gets to be his own person and love his own life without Skulduggery’s judgement hanging over him.

But VALKYRIE still isn’t free of Skulduggery, and he will pressure her into doing stupid shit. Such as, for example. Sniping a fascist while he gives a speech. Valkyrie agrees to it against literally all of her better judgement, and her trying to convince Fletcher to help them only leads to a confrontation between the two, where Fletcher brings up the scathing words of their shared grandfather-figure Kenspeckle and says that he was right. About Skulduggery, about Valkyrie, and about their relationship. The man who helped them both, who died when they were only teenagers.

The scene does such a good job highlighting their shared history and their lives as teenagers. They spent years growing up together, and that’ll always be there, even as they go down very different life paths.

There’s also something to be said about Fletcher having to repeatedly watch his sister figure turn into a god, as well as slowly lose her humanity over time because of the bullshit Skulduggery is making her do. Just like Kenspeckle said would happen.

[ren-054]

Messy analysis notes for the Kitsunes relationships based on voice lines (unrelated to any AUs)

☆*:.｡. >> 🍁🌸❄️ << .｡.:*☆

Aki : looks up to Haru a little but prefers making fun of him obv /// fears Fuyu since he saw him commit war crimes at 19

multiple times Aki brings up that Fuyu doesn’t treat him kindly which could have nuance. Aki was an impressionable young adult (honestly a baby in terms of kitsune lifespans) and having to behold the strict and disciplined Fuyu, especially after the war, definitely could’ve done some emotional damage

Aki has a habit of copying/mimicking Haru a lot (the fake sword, random pickup lines), which I find cute. I don’t think Aki would ever admit that he seems to have some aspiration toward Haru, he has way too much fun making fun of him

Haru : Sees Aki as immature (it’s probably just trying to boost his own image in comparison) but has a soft spot for him in an almost fraternal way /// Thinks Fuyu is a total stick in the mud and probably isn’t capable/desiring of passion or love

Like Aki does to him, Haru likes making digs at Aki but they’re pretty shallow, especially compared to Aki’s thoughts on Fuyu. It’s a bit complicated because Haru definitely doesn’t see Aki as mature or capable of being genuine sometimes (“Are you sure he’s not doing some long con [joke]?”), but he also has a line about Aki’s second tail where there’s sort of a fraternal softness about it? So he cares a little, at least

All his lines about Fuyu are about how stuffy and boring he is, as well as digs at Fuyu’s ability to love (“heart of stone” and preferring a “cold bed”). Haru seems to have this weird thing where he struggles to comprehend other people showing passion/love differently from him. Maybe it’s just his free-spirited mindset or smth idk

Fuyu : has beef with both of them because of his ego and personal code most likely

Okay so I really don’t know why Fuyu exactly has such mean lines about both guys— there’s So much more mockery and venom to some of them than I was expecting from him tbh

Idk if it’s Fuyu just being a drama king or maybe he’s overcompensating with the insults in a retaliation sort of way, fueled by existing prejudice due to his pride and value of tradition and discipline. It also doesn’t help that he’s already a loner and Could have insecurities about being socially othered, but that’s just an idea

Also the way the war turned out with the curse and stuff could have possibly made Fuyu lash out at the others/grow bitter, since Fuyu is known to have an issue with reflecting on his own actions in context to situations and focuses more on correcting the people around him.

OVERALL: They don’t seem that close, almost more distant than I expected. Like they definitely know each other and interact, but only enough to like have maybe 2-3 conversations a week during meetings and the odd chance encounter

Haru and Aki definitely feel more community-oriented based on their lines expressing their enjoyment with being out and about (I’m being vague because I can’t rember specific lines), so it makes sense they both express a little more softness toward each other at least

Fuyu on the other hand is the king of giving people the worst impressions and not wanting to adjust his ways because tradition means that much to him (lighthearted). Fuyu is very self reliant and prides himself in that, so it makes sense that he’d be frustrated at people who don’t take themselves as seriously—think loner raised as a gifted kid/prodigy energy.

They all feel like very petty coworkers to me, except they’re political/community leaders which makes everything more volatile pkwjdk

Either way, I do very much love the nuances in their relationships with each other. I feel like not enough people actually talk about how they see each other as independent adults rather than the bundle they come in, because it also kinda shows where the clan tensions probably started. Pettiness, damaged egos, all that kind of stuff.

Anyway I’m shaking all of them around in little jars >:333333333

[eluxcastar]

Number 13 and 14 with Arlecchino

Arlecchino being comforted by her s/o

── ୨୧：arlecchino x reader

୨୧﹑synopsis :: arlecchino comfort drabbles yesyes

୨୧﹑genre :: sort of fluff

୨୧﹑content :: gn reader, possibly ooc because it was written pre fontaine quest, not very proofread, arlecchino is implied to have issues with self-image/perception

୨୧﹑words :: 2.2k

"I could see the worst parts of you and still think you are the most beautiful person I've met." "I'm going to ask you how you are and I would like you to answer me honestly."

IT'S HERE you guys always spoil me 13 is my favourite prompt and you are the first of two to request it. completely unrelated but this is so familiar to what Kae said a few days ago (months now omg 😭) when we were talking about One of Repetition and it fits those two so well 😭❤️

to the anon who requested furina it'll take me a minute to figure out how to write her because I haven't played the archon quest but I'll watch some cutscenes and do my best for you

I'll also be using this because I got it in the middle of writing this and thought it fit the idea I had going super well 🙏 that makes three Arlecchino requests with prompt 13 😭 also second anon you're fine dw you guys are free to do with your requests with these prompts as you like, mix them together, add extra descriptions and rambles it makes it more fun 👍 thank you btw 😭❤ feel free to give yourself a name for future requests if you want ❤️ I love having new anons

prompt list

It is not often that Arlecchino shows her doubt, maintaining that half-pleasant façade to hide it all. If all people see is a ruthless woman with no regard for loyalty, then the details don't matter. There's no need to question, no need to dwell. She is one thing and nothing more, and she much prefers for nobody to notice the hesitancy in her drastic decisions, the thin-veiled regret as she watches the children she witnessed grow up go on to become valiant children of the Tsaritsa.

If there is anything more, it is disregarded as her unpredictability. She is a roach in the eyes of others, and perhaps she's ok with that…mostly.

To hear someone say "I love you" is strange to her, though it shouldn't be by now.

It shouldn't be unusual to wake up tangled in the sheets with you by her side or the struggle it ends up being to leave that mess as you try to convince her to spend five more minutes with you. It shouldn't be odd to discover that you've gone ahead and made her tea in anticipation of the time she will wake up or to have you remind her every morning that you hung her coat up to dry after she dumped it over the back of a chair the night before or to see you wandering around going about your own job.

But those events all feel surreal to her, even though she has watched you walk your patrol path a thousand times now, and she has seen you slack off where she sits by the window of Zapolyarny when you think nobody is looking.

You are very real, there's no doubt about that.

The things you do never click with her, however.

Perhaps you are real, but she made up these fantasies after watching you loiter by that one spot in the garden a little too long.

Yet every evening, you meet her in her office after you're officially let off for the day, and you usually bring snacks. You are most definitely there, then, as she watches you struggle to get through the door without damaging whatever you found for her to try, usually only small, a pastry you managed to get that you absolutely mustn't knock from your hands.

"I tried to get something that wouldn't make a big mess all over your stuff," you usually say, sometimes hacking on a 6guilty little "But~ these just looked so good…" to try and excuse you for bringing something that would cover her desk in crumbs.

Arlecchino doesn't mind because you went to the trouble of getting her something.

She got you a special chair to pull up and everything, and anyone else who uses it can deal with the death glare they get or find a different one.

But perhaps she made that up too, conjuring the image of someone fumbling their way through her office door to greet her with a smile, sometimes with jam on your mouth from taste-testing the gifts that she'll point out to you that you hurriedly wipe on your sleeve and pretend it was never there.

Maybe she put that chair there for nothing, and it never really moves, and each time she thinks this, she is sure this fantasy will all disappear.

However, every evening, without fail, as the sun begins to set out the window and the room is dyed an orange hue, the door opens, and there you are again. Delusions can't possibly be that persistent, and you would've scowled at her when she approached you in the hallways if you weren't aware of this relationship.

So it must be real, which she's well and truly aware of. There must be a person out there who sees what she cannot, someone who, by some miracle, manages to see past the things that block out all of the good. How can a person see anything but someone unworthy of their love?

What else is there to see? 

The idea of a person who deserves to be loved beneath bloodshed has become unthinkable.

For a person who has been exposed to Arlecchino's worst sins, who has seen everything, and whose worst offence in life is a little laziness on the job, how is it possible to look at her and smile?

Arlecchino often wonders as she watches you. She how you go through your routine of placing your things down, whether on the desk or beside them, then all too happily mosey on off to get your chair and drag it over to sit across from her. She doesn't know why it's this particular day that she asks. Perhaps the fact it was weighing on her mind after a recent mission had her list of redeeming qualities shrinking further and further. It is in her job description, and there are plenty of worse people in this world.

But do you deserve to be stuck with one of them?

"Did you ever feel pressured into accepting my feelings for you?" Arlecchino asks the question so suddenly as you're halfway through walking back with your chair that she sees the exact point you register what she said, freezing in place from the shock. "Whether through status or power," she adds.

You blink a few times before all the motion in your world resumes to greet you with the image of her staring you down from the other side of her desk, patient and waiting for your response. "Sorry?" You let the chair go to return alone to her, standing in the place where you always put it. "I don't, uh…follow? I'm sorry, I just— I'm not sure what you mean?"

She hesitates, momentarily glancing down before her age returns to you and your uncharacteristic expression riddled with worry. She must've made you upset again.

"You want to be in this relationship? With me, that is…" Arlecchino struggles to think of the words, saying them as soon as they appear in her mind. "Even though you know the kind of person I am, you still want that?" 

She studies your face as carefully as she can, watching the way you react as you absorb everything you just heard and assumedly try to put a response together in your head. Arlecchino has noticed before how you take longer to speak than her sometimes, but it tends to make everything you say more thought out, though you may end it like you're unsure.

"Well, I mean…if I didn't, wouldn't I just—" you pause for only a second— "break up with you?" There's silence after you finish. She doesn't say or do anything. To Arlecchino, that strangely almost makes sense, but you must be far too bold to admit that to a Harbinger. "It's not that I want to! I'm a little--…well, I think I'm just a little bit confused where that's coming from."

"I was thinking about it." You frown when she admits that. "Some of the things you have seen of me are…" Is there even a word to encompass that? "unbecoming of a lover."

Is that the right way to phrase it?

Again, you pause, and the telltale signs of consideration cross your face. An intense focus that barely lasts, and Arlecchino waits through it all to allow you your chance to answer, intent on allowing you that much. A few seconds more, and your features relax, looking back at Arlecchino with a tender gaze. "There's not really one 'right way', is there?" Your question, though rhetorical, strikes a chord with the many impulsive responses that flood her mind, all of which she keeps to herself. "You just kind of...try your best. Things might work out, or maybe they don't— the point is that you mean well and put in the work."

"That's not enough," she argues, "you deserve better."

"I deserve what I want." Your rebuttal makes sense in theory, but what do you want? She struggles to make sense of that part, the answer muddled by all of her thoughts and lost in her doubts. 

You could ask anything of her, and she would do it. Any material possession, every feeling, more love than you know what to do with in any form you desire—physical, emotional, intimate—and yet you never do. You accept her awkward hugs, that it takes her time to relax when you lay your head on her chest, the fact she sometimes snores, that her clothes may very well be covered in bloodstains when she comes home depending on uncontrollable circumstances.

You never ask for the things she has plenty of power to give you in return for those flaws.

She shakes her head, "but surely you want more."

"I don't."

"There is a lot wrong that you deserve compensation for." 

Arlecchino clenches the pen in her hand tightly, feeling the slight distress of pressure around it. She can't articulate what, not in the way she understands it; flaws is too broad of a term to use. You would instantly know and understand what she meant in a perfect world, but the world is not so generous.

"Like what?" you question. You feel that it’s obvious that nothing Arlecchino will struggle to say will shake you. She opens her mouth, prepared to refute it, headstrong and frankly stubborn as ever, but nothing comes out.

There is silence for a moment, and no one rebuts what you say. Nobody can. The only other person in the room fights with herself to yield and give in to your unwavering loyalty. In your mind, she is everything you want. There is nothing else you can ask of her than to simply accept that you wish to remain with her if only she will allow you to through her own emotional turmoil.

"Are you listening to what I’m saying?" you ask, frown creeping back onto your face as it tugs the corner of your lips down, seemingly against your will, "I could see the worst parts of you and still think you are the most beautiful person I’ve met."

Another chord is struck, her heart beating so loud it thrums in her ears like suddenly becoming aware it’s been threatening to beat out of her chest the entire conversation. She breathes, shaky and caught up in her own surprise. Somehow, she didn’t expect you to be so sweet in your words or throw her off guard so abruptly. She finds it hard to believe them. Arlecchino’s worries haven’t disappeared, only dwindled. It helps, if not completely. There is a reprieve in listening to you.

You have seen the worst of her, every crease she hasn’t ironed out, her sometimes rotten personality, her stained clothes, the weapons she cleans in your home. You have seen her walk to greet you covered in blood and gore from a savage fight, kneel before you and hold your hand with the same hands she uses to kill vagrants and petty criminals, kiss your skin with those lips that spill the vilest of curses against her enemies.

Before she realises what she’s saying, she blurts out a question, "Do you really believe that?" 

It is quiet, reminiscent of how gently you looked at her earlier as her voice barely breaks a whisper, and she can’t bring herself to break eye contact with you once she finds the courage to make it.

"I do." 

You smile at her, hoping she will smile back. A faint smile graces Arlecchino’s lips, ever the handsome picture. Her sincerity is comforting after such a scare. You still worry, and perhaps you will never stop with the way her mind likes to trick her. How long had she thought you secretly looked at her with disgust this time? You fear you won’t have an answer again, though you desperately wish for one. As much as you notice her awkwardness, dismissing some of it and observing other parts with more scrutiny, it is hard to make her talk to you at times.

"Thank you." It is all Arlecchino can think to say in response as she forgets what else she was going to challenge you on. It will return eventually, and she will face it again, but for now, it settles. Arlecchino can reasonably bury her doubt for a time.

"Can we keep talking?" you ask. 

"About anything," she confirms with a nod.

You turn away, walking across the room in pursuit of retrieving your chair from its designated spot by the wall. You pull it along, dragging it over the floor, and set it down across from her on the other side of the desk you’ve been talking across. Your seat welcomes you as it always does as you settle into place, now comfortably at eye level with her.

"In that case," you begin, taking the pen she holds and wriggling it from her hands. She relinquishes it without much of a fight, allowing you to place it off to the side out of the way. "I’m going to ask you how you are, and I would like you to answer me honestly."

"Anything for you, my love."

[dasketcherz]

Thoughts on Hugo & Varian as Odysseus + Penelope from Epic The Musical? (Not directly, but like, their songs at least. Especially "Would you fall in love with me again?") I APOLOGIZE FOR LONG INFODUMP </3 Like, which ones do you think would fit who? Imo, I believe both fit either side really well. Varian as Ody is basically him doing all the bad things he did in Corona and asking Hugo if he'll forgive him and love him, because at the time, he thought he had no choice but to do those things. Hugo never cared about what Varian did that deeply because he had his own qualms too, he was fine with waiting for him because he wasn't a monster, he was just a boy who was hurt. He was, and is, just Varian. They're both beautiful yet broken and Hugo's gonna help pick up those pieces. The "bow" that people would use for suitors is actually just a giant machine that one of them broke and if they're gonna get married to someone other than each other, then at least they can find a mechanically competent partner LOL (This goes both ways, no matter who is Ody or Penelope, thought I think it'd be fun if Hugo was Penelope, the bow would be switched out for a gun he made that nobody knew how it worked) Yet, imagine Varian as Penelope in a way. He's already gone through all of that pain before, he's just been waiting for love to find him. Waiting for Hugo. Hugo in "Would you fall in love with me again?" asking Varian if he'd still love him even if he made mistakes, did horrible things, things that he thought nobody would accept him doing even though he had no choice. Like growing up on the streets or doing dirty work for Donella. There was an inherent pyramid and where he stood was not high enough. I think Varian in Penelope's position would be exhausted (lovingly) waiting for Hugo for so long only for him to go "Would u still love me if I maybe did these bad things and there's POSSIBLYYY blood on my hands?? :c" to THE ALCHEMIST WHO RAMPAGED ACROSS CORONA FOR HIS DAD'S SAFETY!! Like... he knows what it's like to do that Hugo. Probs worse. You'll be okay.. <3 It would also be a fun parallel for Varian & Cass tbh. If he was Penelope he'd be waiting in a similar fashion to Cass. They're tired of waiting for something they want, they want it now, but it's just not possible unless something magICAL happens. Either way, they'll do what they need to do to keep it in their favor. For love or not. And finally, mildly unrelated topic, if we're taking the whole storyline out of context for Epic & just picking a song that fits them- Ofc "Would you fall in love with me again?" would be the Varigo song, but I ALSO PROPOSEEEE Varian & Cassandra's song to be "We'll Be Fine" with Cass as Athena talking about Raps & Varian as Telemachus. THAT IS ALL TY FOR READING!!

OH MY GOSH PLEASE DONT APOLOGIZE FOR THE LONG POST, THIS IS STELLAR OMG IT'S SUCH A PEAK DEEP DIVE AAAA THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE SCRUMPTIOUS FOOD AND SHARING IT WITH ME!!

Both alternate takes on the odysseus/penelope: varigo roles is so good!! And the talking points on why the roles can really work both ways is spot on!!

I think what's so fascinating about varigo's dynamic when it came to their misdeeds is how Hugo had stopped thinking too much about the crimes he committed because he grew up in an environment where everyone does it (to survive) hence it comes off like it's just a normal activity (that prbbly is not anywhere else) among ingvarrians (who are less fortunate) meanwhile Varian thinks about his a lot, like a constant shadow of his past that never left him and will constantly follow him no matter what path he takes in life.

So when Hugo begun to care for Varian... when Varian's opinions and how he sees him begun to matter to him—that's when he suddenly starts to genuinely reflect on his own past actions—because he wants to be good for Varian, wants to be someone worthy of his love, wants to be someone Varian deserves, wants to do better for Varian. But to Varian, he is good enough as he is, as just Hugo.

And when Varian confesses about his past, he still expects a shift to their relationship because he's afraid, afraid that he wont be accepted fully for both the good and the bad sides of himself. But Hugo doesn't let that change the way he thinks of him—because its all in the past, and he understands, like truly he gets it. And he is set on making sure Varian knows that, that he'll still love him all the same. Cuz like you said, he never saw him as a monster, he's just Varian—the silly, clumsy-prone, passionate, brilliant and kind person he came to know.

And they'll embrace each other wholeheartedly for who they are and it's just aghhh, god gay ppl man !! i cant stand them!! /VPOS

ALSO ouuughh the challenge being "figure out how this complicated mechanism that I created works" is just genius!! Like PLEEEASE they fucking would !! Its smart, its sneaky, its such a subtle way to say "fuck you im waiting for the love of my life to come back and thats not yall" and its so them-coded behavior, eating it up so hard

(and the We'll Be Fine as a Cass/Varian song is pretty fitting as well yeh! I can totally see that, I see the vision!)

[mari-lair]

Let's talk about terukaneaoi! I love them too much to be normal, so expect everything to be based on canon but without the polish of a 'proper analysis'

Let's start with something simple: Aoi is scared of thunder, Teru can create it.

Teru's presence puts her on edge when he uses his powers, but slowly I can see him make her get used to lightning.

Teru's bracelet already gives her a connection between lightning and protection. She seems troubled when she uses it, but she does appreciate this protection, to the point she wears it in school even on her play outfit.

The more she gets used to Teru lightning, and the more her fondness for him as a person grows, the stronger this association will become, and with time I can see her fear of storms disappearing. She associates Teru with a big doggy after all, it's not a very scary view.

Akane will stop being worried about Aoi every time it storms, and start associating lightning with something that makes his partners happy.

Speaking of which, Teru and Aoi have similar interests: Aoi likes shark movies, and teru is cool watching horror movies with people he treasures. Aoi likes sweets and games, Teru likes arcade games and places that sell sugary sweets.

Teru has a more 'out of home/extreme' version of Aoi's hobby.

Teru would force her out of her comfort zone which can be wonderful, specially with how gentle he is with Aoi but I can see him getting too excited when he have fun and going overboard.

Thankfully Akane is the kind of guy who will take bullets for Aoi, so if Teru carries the Aois around like he does with Kou and Nene, Akane would either offer himself a sacrificial lamb so Aoi can rest or protect her from his more extreme ideas. Protecting Aoi is like an instinct for Akane at this point.

(unrelated but Akane calling Teru 'sir', and Aoi always holding to Akane's sleeve when she wants to get closer to him is very cute to me)

Now let's talk about something that would make their relationship a tad complicated and all the more interesting: their view on romance.

Aoi and Akane have jealousy issues and are too proud to admit when they are being possessive.

The romance in their head is super old-fashioned, they don't do casual dating, and if there is romantic interest involved they expect a marriage: Akane immediately imagines Teru and Aoi getting married when teru threatens to ask her out on a date in chapter 59, and Aoi's excuse not to date Akane is that she can't marry a guy that will make her be named Aoi Aoi.

Teru can fix this issue by making the two adopt the Minamoto surname, erasing Aoi's best excuse and likely forcing the poor coward to take a step.

However, if the Aois eventually cave in to Teru barging into their lives, and include him in their hopelessly romantic standards they would gain a problem, a very annoying problem called "Teru has a lot of fans and he actually likes the attention and doesn't wish any harm on them, so Akane can't hit his admires with a baseball bat like he does with Aoi's ." cause teru wouldn't like that and Akane is the kind of guy that would get horrified if he learns he is hurting a loved one and immediately try to fix it.

With nothing else to be done, the two would be very salty about it.

Aoi would easily be hit the worst. Her whole day gets ruined when Akane gets 1 admirer that he bluntly rejects, refusing to even take the chocolate, much less the girl's feelings.

So dating Teru, who smiles sweetly at his fans and does not care about his class making a pavilion of him with merchandise available, would be her worst nightmare.

Just picturing how she would react to moments where Teru is adored is so pitiful to me, cause I guarantee teru will still have a million fans after they starts dating, he has celebrity status. His fans love him even after they give up on a relationship with him, even Nene, who is far from his biggest fan, takes time to fully let go of her worship with him.

Aoi is also very self-conscious, the poor girl acts like people's perception of her doesn't matter but she is extremely arrogant, she will fight her crush on Teru harder than her crush on Akane because she refuses to believe she is on the same level as his fangirls.

She look down on Teru's fangirls, to some extent, telling people teru is the kind of boy every girl can fall in love with, but making sure to establish he is not her type. She used to only ever mention him to try to connect with Nene, acting so fake it's straight up condescending.

So geting a crush on Teru would give Aoi a gigantic crisis.

Both Akanes love to pretend they aren't the jealous tipe, but since they have no issues looking after each other, they would consistently use each other as excuses to reprimand Teru. So we have both Aois going "I am not bothered, not at all, but think about how much Ao-chan/Akane-kun is affected by it."

I feel like Teru would make the Aois jealous on purpose at first because he likes to torment them, and because it makes him feel special, he adores attention, but when he realizes how much it bothers Aoi he'll try to set boundaries with his fans, while simultaneously calling her out for being overly insecure, something Akane is too smitten to do when not in extreme scenarios.

Teru is not nearly as possessive as the Aois: As of now in the manga, it realistically doesn't matter if Teru likes Aoi, Akane, or the two, cause his chance of scoring a date with either is zero. At the start of the manga, he doesn't seem jealous when Akane gushes about his undying love for Aoi or when guys throw themselves at Aoi's feet. Teru is chill. It's not like anyone is making any progress so why worry?

BUT the second he catches Aoi and Akane near kissing he does not even think about doing the whole 'oh I will suppress my feelings so I do not burden them' cliché, he slams himself into their relationship, while simultaneously pushing Aoi and Akane together.

Teru talks a lot about stealing Aoi from Akane but he has no intention of doing so: He waited until the two resolved their issue in chapter 69 before barging in. He let them have a moment in the tunnel despite knowing it could be Aoi's last day 'alive'. He tries to hang out with both whenever possible. He let Akane go after Aoi in the rescue, and so on. It's not like he wants them away from each other, he just wants to be there with them.

Unrelated, but Teru's shocked "whoa" is so funny to me, cause it was revealed in the relay interview that the one thing Teru has issues with regarding Akane is his approach to win Aoi's heart.

The approach he is talking about here is before the grim reaper arc, when Akane used to tactlessly confess his love everyday and treat her like an untouchable goddess. So the 'male lead of a romance manga' approach Akane has going on in chapter 69 must truly have been a shock to Teru.

"whoa." feels as if he is shocked, appalled, but also reluctantly impressed.

Aoi and Akane are so pretty in Teru's eyes, is insane actually.

In short: I think Teru would not care if people flirt with Aoi and Akane, but he will get jealous and more clingy if Akane gives Aoi too much attention, or Aoi neglects him. The only people he can ever be jealous of are the Akanes themselves.

They all have interesting connections separated too.

Akane bonded with Teru about their mutual duties as student council members, which makes them used to work together, and also bond over their core belief when it comes to human life: both value it, albeit for different reasons, and share a similar kind of hatred for the supernaturals that endanger it.

Akane and Aoi bond about being childhood friends and having the same core belief when it comes to romance. They are fundamental parts of each other's life, witnessing the other grow, how they changed and how they stayed the same. They know each other better than anyone.

Teru and Aoi bond over feeling alienated from their peers. They don't understand each other, and their experiences and reasons for feeling this way are incredibly different, but they understand the feeling of being different better than any other human character.

One of the things the three share in common is that they are all petty with each other.

Teru wants to be a good guide in chapter 70, but both Aois are still salty about the kiss he interrupted and refuse to take his hand. Akane is always delighted to drag Teru down, just as Teru is to bully him, and Aoi looks happy propositionally making Akane jealous.

It combines into the best kind of 'wow they are awful, I love them' interactions.

It's like Teru's mere presence brings the worst out of the Aois, but despite Akane and Aoi's confusion when it comes to Teru a lot of times, they don't hate him. They grow fond of him.

Akane grow to respect Teru. I would go as far as to say that deep down he always admired him a little, because his perception of Teru changes from "a demon" to "a nice husband that would make Aoi happy" in the span of 20 chapters.

The three can be unconventional about their care for each other, but to me, it is undeniable they value each other opinions and well being.

Even Aoi grows a soft spot for Teru, and this strange but prevalent display of care in their actions speaks volumes.

Terukaneaoi can make each other better just as easily as they can make each other worse. They balance each other out while leaving space for a lot of conflicts that can be explored, honestly, they are plain fun, and I adore them.

Bonus: Their height difference is beautiful, just look at them!

[stringsbasement]

Hey so did family odd parents get a new series? Who’s the purple hair guy you ship with who I assume is Timmy. I just stumbled upon you blog by chance and I want to know what’s up with your blorbos.

Who are these people and why do I recognize them?

welcome, welcome! i'll be happy to tell you all about it :) i'll try to keep it short:

to recap, the original fairly oddparents show mainly revolved around timmy turner, a 10-year-old boy who was given magical fairy godparents who'll grant his every wish to help him cope with his miserable life. in the show, his found family of fairies consists of cosmo (godfather), wanda (godmother), and poof/peri "purple hair guy" (baby godbrother). the show aired on nickelodeon from 2001 - 2017, and it was popular enough that even people who didn't actively watch it might recognize it

the new series, fairly oddparents: a new wish, takes place decades after the original show's events. it follows a similar premise with a (mostly) new main cast of characters: hazel (protagonist), dev (deuteroganist), and their fairies. cosmo and wanda came out of their 10,000 year retirement to godparent hazel, and dev later on acquired a now-adult peri as his godparent

peri (originally named poof), for the entirety of the original airing, was only shown as a perfectly marketable sphere baby. so when he showed up as an actual adult with design elements taken from both his parents blended in a unique, balanced way, with a personality reminiscent of pilot cosmo (suave gentleman)... something changed inside me

and now here i am

as for the ship, i think you've mistaken dale with timmy

it's the brown hair and blue eyes. don't worry, if i didn't know the lore prior, i could believe this was the same character too!

timmy is peri's brother, and they've been raised as such since peri was born. they were separated after timmy lost his godfamily (and his memories) sometime after growing up and becoming independent. godparents are only ever temporary, afterall. these siblings are made especially tragic by the fact that timmy is the reason peri was born— fairies were banned to have children, until timmy wished for cosmo and wanda to have one because he wanted to see them happy

meanwhile, dale is dev's father, completely unrelated to timmy. He's an antagonist, a terrible father, and the reason for dev's misery. he first appeared as a one-off character in the original show as a poor child laborer who got trafficked into a sweatshop working for a lemonade factory (i cannot make this up). in the current show, he's an irredeemable rich jerk for who i hold absolutely zero respect for. but, from a character perspective, he's fun to watch, and i love it when he shows up to ruin my mood

the shipping comes from the fact that peri and dev gets separated by the end of the first season, so lots of people headcanon that peri came back for dev by disguising himself as his human babysitter, which he'd of course have to be hired for...

those circumstances make for very interesting potential conflicts and dynamics, so it's not hard to see why some might take to it

(lots of people have shouted at me and made it abundantly clear that i may have accidentally fanned the flames for that one, whoops

it's hilarious, because i don't actually care much for the peridale ship at all. i might draw more, but it's far from what i like about the franchise)

a new wish was well received because it took many issues people had with the original and improved upon it. they gave cosmo and wanda a healthier dynamic, for one (it essentially used to be full of "i hate my wife" and "my husband is a moron" jokes, which didn't work well in the long run). the people working on it has also shown clear passion for the project, which i don't see much with show revivals these days. the jokes land and the emotional moments have their weight, and above all, it does it's job at being entertaining

for a show i didn't think much about as a child, a new wish has done well to revive my passion for absolutely overanalyzing and reading up upon every little thing within a franchise. it's kind of rare that i rant and rave about a show this often. the only other contender that reaches this level of insanity being... well, niche enough that i dont get the chance to talk about it online, unfortunately

but yeah, that's the gist of it! i hope i was able to satiate your curiosity

:)

[happyk44]

Thinking about that post I made about "would they acknowledge their PD is a thing and go to therapy about it" and, since I wrote it before I slapped Leo with AVPD, wanted to make one with him. As a reminder, my thoughts are:

Annabeth would probably go to therapy for something unrelated (depression/PTSD/whatever) but refuse to accept NPD or acknowledge that her behaviours associated with it are a problem and likely end up ditching her therapist as a result

Piper would not go to therapy or accept HPD as a suggestion from anyone because she does not see any of her behaviours as a problem and as long as she receives attention, she's fine, always forgetting quickly about all the times she's crashed or freaked out because she wasn't receiving attention

Clarisse would go to therapy specifically for her ASPD symptoms, is the only one officially diagnosed, and would actively work on it with the help of her therapist and loved ones

Percy would not go to therapy but would accept BPD as a suggestion from other people and try to work on it on his own/with help from people closest to him

So thinking about Leo and AVPD. I think he might go to therapy if forced by another person or if his problems surmounted too much for him to handle, even when isolating from other people. If AVPD was ever suggested to him as a possiblity, even outside of therapy, or just brought up, unrelated to him, by someone else, I think he'd immediately be like "I don't have that" because he perceives himself to be fun and outgoing, so he can't be avoidant of social contact. He loves social contact! But I think he's fairly introspective and so he'd notice patterns in his behaviors that align with the diagnostic criteria. Eventually he would recognize that he masks heavily to be perceived by others in direct opposition of how he feels internally.

So denial first then later acceptance. He might go to therapy sporadically for it, but ultimately tries to fix it by himself, growing frustrated because he's not a robot and he cannot rewire his own brain over night. He becomes hyperaware of his own self-destructive behaviours and grows even more agitated when watching himself engage in them. Which only feeds into his inferiority complex and self-loathing, which he knows and recognizes but is unable to really stop as it happens because, unlike Clarisse or Percy, he lacks the external support to handle it.

He can't drop the mask, no one will like him if he does (not that people like him very much with the mask), and he knows this line of thinking is part of the whole problem, but he can't do it, so he refuses to ask for help or tell anyone about it, so he never gets the external support he needs. Over time he has varying levels of success in stifling certain behaviours before they become harmful to him and others, but it doesn't always work.

Still he's distrusting of authority and doesn't like talking about his problems (like Percy) so going to therapy about it remains out of the question.

[rotomartsblog]

Stories I want to base Ever After High OCs off (an ever growing list)

Hans My Hedgehog (One of my favourite ‘obscure’ fairytales. Already decided her name would be Hannah M. Hedgehog. To fit the design aesthetic of eah she wouldn’t literally have the upper body of a hedgehog and the lower body of a human, she’d be more of a hybrid. She’s a rebel because she rejects her destiny of becoming fully human at the end of the story and embraces her hedgehog side.)

Boy Who Cried Wolf (See my last reblog. Lies a lot but because of their destiny no one tends to believe them anyways. Also accidentally right a lot. Not lying maliciously just doing it for shits and giggles)

The Frog Princess (Because I think it’d be funny for there to be two royals who turn into frogs but are completely unrelated to each other. Also there’s so many variants of this story from region to region that it’d be fun to write this girl)

Speaking of, The Frog Prince (Specifically the daughter of the princess from the tale and the son of the prince’s gayass servant. Princess Girl does not want to be Hopper’s princess but is slightly willing to enact the version where she gets to throw Frog Hopper at a wall instead of kissing him. Dislikes frogs a bit but plays it up as a seething hatred to scare Hopper. Kind of a bitch if you couldn’t tell. Sporty girl. The servant boy is 100% in love with Hopper, like father-like son, and has the iron bands around his heart. Maybe he could be Hopper’s real true love :x)

Pinocchio (Daughters of The Coachman and Mangiafuoco, and niece of Lampwick. The Coachman’s daughter has a pet donkey that everyone thinks is a turned boy, but nope it’s just a regular donkey. She’s a rebel because she doesn’t want to go down the route of her father. Mangiafuoco’s daughter is scary and off-putting, but actually a genuinely nice girl. Would love to perform onstage but she has stage fright and is just so shy in general, so she resorts to puppet theatre instead. Always uses a hand puppet to talk through. Lampwick’s niece is a rebel because she’d rather not turn into a donkey thank you very much. Low-key resented Cedar up until Legacy Day because she believed if Cedar didn’t exist she wouldn’t need to turn into a donkey. Now they’re on better terms since Cedar decided she’d become human in her own way)

The Wolf and the Seven Young Goats (Youngest son of the youngest goat. Really I just like people with goat features. He’d feel tense around Ramona, even though he’s pretty sure she’s probably not the wolf from his story)

Puss In Boats (Daughter of Puss In Boots. Would probably be able to transform between an animal and human form like Bunny Blanc. Doesn’t really align herself with Royal or Rebel, but has slipped into thoughts like ‘if I can make someone else royalty, why can’t I make myself royalty?’)

The Prince and The Pauper (It’s not a fairytale but the books included King Lear’s daughter so I feel like I’m free to do this. I just think designing two boys that look identical would be fun)

Mwindo (One of my favourite tales because of how entertainingly OP Mwindo is. I imagine that his son would be equally as OP and like half of the student population is scared of him. But that fear often gets subsided because he’s not that keen on using his powers like his dad was)

Commedia dell’arte (Not a story but kids based on the stock characters could be fun. They probably wouldn’t attend Ever After High since they wouldn’t have actual destinies, they’d attend another high school. I had the idea of Cedar doubling as the Burattino stock character, and it developed into all the stock characters being based on different dolls/toys, ie Pierrot being a rag doll, Pulcinella being a wind-up toy, etc. Really I just want Cedar to have people who could understand her whole ‘Am I even real’ situation better, is that too much to ask?!)

Two miscellaneous additions that don’t actually align to specific stories; a Warrior Girl and a Forest Witch. (The Warrior Girl is the daughter of a warrior tribe leader. My idea for her story is that it’s an ancient epic that is so old it has lost its exact name, having been repeated so many times. Also, her reason for following her destiny is less ‘we have to or we all disappear’ and more ‘I have to so I can prove myself worthy’. Her warrior kingdom’s society is very different from Ever After’s society, which she learnt the hard way. She feels awkward hanging out with the other girls because of cultural differences, and she doesn’t like hanging out with boys because they tend to underestimate her. She was only supposed to attend for Legacy year so that she could sign the Book of Legends because Milton Grimm would not stop bugging her father about it, but she decided to stay after the shit show that happened on Legacy day. I didn’t base the Forest Witch of a specific fairy tale because goddamn it there are too many witches living in the forests in these tales for me to choose just one. In universe she probably has a specific destiny, or a few, I just haven’t chosen it yet. Very closed off from others. Actually lives in the Enchanted Forest with her mother. She also likes archery but how much of her skill is genuine and is magic is up to debate)

The Devil (He appears in a lot of fairytales. The OC is a girl who is clearly the daughter of the devil, but it’s never said so no one actually knows it. Every time someone asks about her destiny she’s like ‘it’s nothing important don’t worry about it :)’)

[unsleepingtales]

Return of the reaction posts!!! It’s time for Cloudward, Ho!!!!!!!!

This is a long one because I’m so excited and also I love first episodes and learning world things :)

New intrepid heroes season yayyyyyyyyy

Love the intro already

I’m Brian I do… puns.

If anybody reads these they know I love First Episodes I love meeting everybody and getting a sense of the world and the season

Love me a transatlantic accent

This is so fun already yay

Normal air balloons!!

Hiiiiiii van chapman how are you doing 🥰

I LOVE HER

HOORAY FRUIT SNACKS

Hiiiiiiiiiiii marya junková and marya junková’s labret piercing how are you doing todayyyy 🥰🥰

It’s so interesting to see the film filter over very hi def recordings it looks so weird

Hiiiiiii montgomery lamontgomery how are you doingggggggggg 🥰

Babygirl what are you talking about

HELLO??

Okay. Uh. Fun!

Clive returns to the ocean from whence he came 😭

Hiiiiiiiiii daisuke bucklesby i hope you’re having a good dayyyyyyyy 🥰

Okayyyyyyyyyyy

I love them so much already holy shit

Hi maxwell gotch!!!! 🥰

Mhmmmmm

Hi baby macleod! 🥰

Oooooooh stat sheet!!!!

So Brennan my guy uh. 1363 to 1382 is is fact not over 20 years. It is 19!

Oof

Unrelated to anything else. Cloudward Ho is a win for the hot murph club

His FACE

Conservatively. A light trawl.

Hatwell 😭

Brennan said it and had to commit to Rowdy being a pejorative in this world.

WINS FOR THE HOT MURPH CLUB.

Nat 20!!! First roll of the season!!!

Trans Olethra?????? 👀👀👀

WEALWELL????

Oh my god wealwell is such a dandy look at himmmmm

I love how this is where we are Starting The Season.

Oh miryam is so pretty.

I love Olethra so much already

SHE HAS A MECH!

The lasso I’m so obsessed

Oh my god I’m so excited about this. She’s so fun.

The mechleod !!

Oh this is so exciting. They’re great.

Oh noooooo

It’s always that one guy that the players latch onto.

Maxwell gay?? Mayhaps??

Amazing. Just amazing.

In my mind the kitchen looks like the one from chitty chitty bang bang with all the tracks and inventions around it

We think it’s a possibility that she’s alright. 😬.

We’ve got uppers downwards and sideways.

Brutal!!!

Murph just having so much fun trashing Lou’s fake book series.

Oh my god. Oh that’s great.

She’s so nimble!

Yeah my dads a fucking psycho what’re you gonna do about it 🗣️🗣️

Oh no transphobiaaaaa

DAISUKEEEEEE

Little sunglasses on his nose!!

Excuse me?

YOURE TOAST GET FUCKED

I’m just gonna shoot them uh. With my gun.

Fuck I’m so immediately enchanted by another Zac pc

Oh god he’s so good

Holy shit hiiiiiiiiiii

!!!!!!! He protects their family oh my goddddd

Zac and Ally work so fucking well together

It was all set to be an emotional moment and then “like my mom at a tjmaxx”

Why does he sound like that 😭

Awwwwwwwwww oh no

Zac loves having a dog. Brennan loves killing those dogs. Oh no!

Marya’s Toys and Trinkets and Other Drivel to Distract You From Life’s Tragedies: A Toy Store

I’m obsesseddddd

God. Her.

Rat with clockwork wings!!

This is so so sweet

Make your staircase more fun!

The rat has a mech and he has art of him in the mech

I have broken my covenant with the sky. Augh.

Dangling a carrot in her face and making her want a salad. So real honestly.

Not all of us have the luxury of blood flow 🙄

Take your salting/I refuse to be salted

Ooh okay getting sleepy but gonna press on

The rusty nut!!

God. Hi. Literally hi.

That was just Ally. That wasn’t Olethra that was just Ally talking

Van Chapman the woman you are…..

He loves writing the quiz

Cloudward Ho original soundtrack when

Not the Normans oh god

Poly win? Van Chapman/Bert/The Sky?

Oh that’s instant regret on Siobhan’s face

A burrata oh nooooo

Did Siobhan like. Practice this. Because this is amazing. Also love the fucking whistle.

This is another Lou pc who writes novels which is so funny

The guy!!! The last guy!! Monty!!!

The deadpan on “It did not grow back.”

I straight up forgot that he has a thing with animals over the past two hours

Ally’s shoulders get so high when something is happening

Has he turned into like a Mr Rogers/Steve Irwin kind of person because that’s so sweet

I’m actually normal now !!

God I love characters who have history with each other and really entwined backstories

And some of them to other people!

God Siobhan is so good at this.

Harry Ergh? Also hot.

All of them are hot.

Augh. They compel me.

Leave me for dead 😭

NOOOOOOOOOOOO oh my god I’m so immediately obsessed

LOOK AT THE BATTLE SET OH MY GOD

So excited to see Siobhan’s British Lady outfits over the next. Twenty weeks. Oh my god guys we get twenty weeks of this. Oh my god.

[cebwrites]

since you wanted some uncommon character requests; could i request some sfw and nsfw relationship headcanons for penguin x reader and shachi x reader? If they're not too out of the way for you (～￣▽￣)～ I rarely see those two requested for, so I'd love to see you're take on them! [I'd ask off anon but i can't ask from a non-primary blog - I'll be reblogging to @remisloves if you wanted an identity (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.)b ]

a/n: surprisingly they aren't around these parts, I've gotten quite a few requests for the boys lol - but since you asked nicely, sure <3 [thank you so much for including your blog too, it feels nice to actually put usernames to people （；´д｀）ゞ]

Relationship Headcanons (Penguin, Shachi)

gn reader, trans penguin, nsfw under the cut self-indulgence unrelated to pen and shach at the end cw; blood, funky OP-verse sex toys word count: 1.1k

Penguin

Penguin was the oldest of the original Heart Pirates quartet, he's always been the oldest even when it was just him and Shachi, before and after the tsunami that left them with Shachi's horrible, horrible relatives

It's made him protective over the people he holds dear, incredibly worrisome even if he tries to hide it, but also surprisingly nurturing for someone who seemingly goofs off as much as his counterpart does

He makes snacks, he checks up on the crew, and has a bad habit of taking too much onto himself, although not nearly as badly as the notorious Heart captain, Penguin still struggles with that "eldest sibling" mentality even if most of the crew is quite a bit older than him; he vehemently denies any teasing you or the crew give him about passing on those traits to Law

When it comes to you, Pen likes to keep a close eye on you even when things are calm and everyone's having fun, not that he doesn't trust you to take care of yourself, but he'd just like to make sure no one's getting hurt or too carried away when his crew mates' usual brand of shenanigans kick into high gear

There's a cute kind of shyness when he opens up to you for the first time; yeah agreeing to being in a relationship is one thing but it's another to actually know the person you love and with Penguin, it's tentative, almost scared, but genuine

He's hesitant to let you come too close at first, become too physical, an insecurity that you do your best to quell but it isn't easy, Pen's become used to protecting himself and his own so much that vulnerability is alien

Being topless with the guys on the Tang's deck, whacking each other on the ass with freshly laundered towels is one thing, but being intimate with his partner in a private room is another entirely

Still, you're patient with him, you don't react poorly when he gets overwhelmed at the protective layers of clothes hitting the floor, you allow him space, and eventually, maybe even agonizingly slowly, he lets you in - starting with a held pinky while Penguin catches his breath with his shirt off, his nerves getting the best of him after getting a little more handsy than usual that day

When the dam finally breaks, when he's comfortable showing himself to you in his entirety, you're surprised at how ravenous Penguin actually is - he's insatiable, betraying the composure he carries himself with throughout the day

In the bedroom, against the wall, in the communal bathroom and over the Tang's railing when everyone's asleep, hell, even in an alleyway once when the both of you had time to kill on a random island while everyone else was getting wasted, he can't keep his hands off you

Penguin loves watching you eat him out, one hand in your hair while the other shakily props himself up, but what he loves more is the view he gets when you're sucking him off

The Grand Line is.... an anomaly, neither you or Pen are here to dispute that - weird as it is, however, it's often resourceful once you can get past the initial recoil; all that to say—Penguin got his hands on seeds that, once "planted" between his vulva, allowed him to temporarily grow a fully functioning phallus

By god, Pen loves the way you look bouncing on it

He digs his nails into your waist, laps up the sweat on your skin, his grip is hard enough to bruise but you're no better, egging him on to take you after you've done such good work prepping his cock, prepping yourself for him

And really how could he say no after all that

Shachi

The MOST live in your hoodies mf to ever; he's clingy, he's affectionate, he mock-whines if you've been apart from him for too long like a pup with separation anxiety

To some degree you both know it's an act he puts on to vie for your attention, but there's also a real part of him that worries if he lets his hold on you slip a little too much, you'll disappear

I like to think Shachi's part fishman too, so there's a quiet part of him that worries his partner would leave if they found out, or couldn't handle the treatment you'd get by proxy of being so close to a fishman, even if he wasn't full-blooded - yet every day you find ways to reassure him that'll never happen

In return, he'll climb to the top of the Tang's mast to yell about how much he loves you and how perfect you are, he's a little obnoxious in the Maes Hughes "look at my adorable family" kind of way but you can forgive the mild embarrassment when he flashes his award-winning smile full of razor-sharp chompers

Shachi takes incredible pride in being the one who takes care of the Heart Pirates' hair, his little summer job on Swallow Island for the few years that he spent as a stylist really did turn into a passion for him, even if his occupation on paper is "pirate", but hey, who's keeping track anyways?

Despite his enthusiasm about most everything else, he's incredibly delicate with you initially, constantly checking in to see if you're alright, making sure boundaries aren't crossed, confirming that you are, in fact, enjoying yourself like the big shell-conchus dweeb he is, Shachi just wants to make sure you're alright

Not that he doesn't still check up on you now, he absolutely does, but now with a decent amount of shared time between you two, he's a lot less jumpy about things, more confident in his stride - or rather stroke, I should say

He's loud, peppers you in kisses all over, hell if other people can hear, Shachi needs you to know that he adores every part of you - it does result in an addition of both of your chores (takes two to tango), so whenever the sub drops anchor the both of you try to sneak off to a love hotel given the option of free roam at least once if possible

Shachi answers to you completely, he marks you up at your command and eases whenever you show the slightest discomfort; still, when you do manage to convince him to let loose, he definitely takes the phrase leaving his mark literally - with those exact teeth

He laps at the wounds he leaves as he makes love to you, smearing crimson and words of praise against your body like hymns of devotion, pulling you impossibly close and sharing your taste when you pull him in for a kiss, still trying to hold back that animal desire

The aftercare is just as tender, just as sweet, but maybe a little awkward the first time around when he has to explain to Law why he's sneaking medical supplies away while you sit in the middle of blood stained sheets like you're the victim of a murder

And a bonus for me since writing this had me thinking about it-

I know Law goes down on their man like a champ; inexperienced initially? Yes, but they learn quickly and spite from being teased is a good motivator as any, plus, pleasing their partner, of course

Kirin's got his dick out? Not a problem, they're making him beg for it, the E, As, and T on their fingers might not see the light for hours, not until they're satisfied with edging Kirin until he cries

The only one who beats them at that is Zoro but realistically, no one's topping the King of Cock, not unless Zoro finds it in his heart to not power-bottom Sanji for the night

[aworldforastage]

A Totally Subjective List of Favorite Danmei Novels I Read in 2023

Joyful Reunion :: 相见欢 by 非天夜翔

Governor's Illness :: 督主有病 by 杨溯

The Return of Cambrian Period :: 寒武再临

The Plays of Lips and Teeth :: 唇齿之戏 by 张佩奇

Blazing Armor :: 火焰戎装 by 水千丞

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine :: 残疾战神嫁我为妾后 by 刘狗花

Wilderness Vegetation :: 荒野植被 by 麦香鸡呢

In Name Only :: 有名 by 木更木更

Placid Chang’an :: 太平长安 by 盐盐 Yany

Eternities Still Unsaid Till You Love Me :: 欲言难止 by 麦香鸡呢

Joyful Reunion :: 相见欢 by 非天夜翔

“相见欢，原本是我们的曲子。” "'Joyful Reunion' originally belonged to my people."

[action, political intrigue, coming of age] -- At its heart, Joyful Reunion is a young man's coming-of-age, as he grows up in a war-torn world and decides on the type of man and leader he wants to become. This novel isn't easy to read with it pacing and length, but its reputation as an iconic historical political danmei is well-deserved. There are no "good people" and "bad people", just humans trying to survive in a harsh world and live their own truths. The main romantic arc is fairly light, while the most controversial (i.e. beloved) "second male lead" in all of danmei is lurking in the background. But I love that Duan Ling finds someone who supports him through his worst days, and they give each other strength and hope to stay true to their best selves.

Governor's Illness :: 督主有病 by 杨溯

“去吧，”沈玦道，“你生，我去找你。你死，我去陪你。” “Go,” Shen Jue says, “If you live, I’ll come find you. If you die, I’ll go with you.”

[wuxia, secrets and conspiracies, revenge plot] -- The powerful Governor of the Eastern Depot has a massive bounty on the head of an infamous assassin. Who knew it's because they are childhood friends who want to find each other? Despite a tiny bit of palace intrigue, this is mostly a wuxia story, focusing on the complicated bonds between masters and disciples, and far too many blood debts and sect secrets. The first part of the novel is brutal. I love plot-heavy stories but I intentionally ignore parts of this one during re-reads because it is just so heartbreaking (unrelated to the romance arc). But Xiahou Lian never stops seeing the best in Shen Jue and Shen Jue never stops wanting the best for Xiahou Lian. And that strong bond gives them -- and readers like me -- some hope and comfort as secrets and enemies from the ghosts of Xiahou Lian's past continue to launch them into one action-packed challenge after another. (My review here)

The Return of Cambrian Period :: 寒武再临 by 水千丞

这就是末世，个人的悲伤在全世界的悲伤面前，渺小无比。 This is the apocalypse, and the grief of an individual is utterly insignificant compared to all the grief in the world right now.

[apocalypse, action/adventure, superpowers/mutations] -- I don't know how to summarize 1.7 million words briefly so here's a much lengthier review. It's an action-adventure with super-powered humans and mutant "monsters of the week". It's a mystery and heroic epic trying to solve and conquer the cause of the apocalypse. It's a social commentary sketching out what humanity keeps and saves and becomes when modern society crumbles. It's a love story -- many love stories, romantic and familial and platonic and more-- that reminds you what gives humans the courage, purpose, and determination to stand up in face of overwhelming adversity is love for and from the people we keep in our hearts.

The Plays of Lips and Teeth :: 唇齿之戏 by 张佩奇

周辰瑜回到舞台中央，说：“这出《乌龙院》，我和贺辰烽常说，不过这还是我头一回演阎惜娇。” 说着，他转过身，对身旁的晏朝说：“人家第一次都给你了，你要对我负责。” 晏朝：“……” Zhou Chenyu returns to the center stage, and says, "I have performed 'Wu Long Yuan' many times with He Chenfeng, but this is my first time playing Yan Xijiao." He turns to Yan Zhao, who is standing beside him, "I'm giving you my first time, you need to take responsibility." Yan Zhao: "..."

[ celebrities, comedy, traditional arts] -- This is a novel for when you want stories about celebrities, with all the fun of "CP fans" and Weibo drama, but also a break from actors and idols. A TV host and a Xiangsheng actor meet in a reality show that teaches them about each other's careers. While they are expected to provide some fan service to boost ratings, they also develop genuine respect and fondness for each other. With a comedian as a main character, this novel kept me laughing with xiangsheng performances and the main couple's funny antics. There is a bit of angst when the main characters struggle with their careers and their relationships with their respective families, but luckily, they find each other and a path forward together.

Blazing Armor :: 火焰戎装 by 水千丞

可那个"孩子"，他又天真又残忍。 But that "child", he is so innocent and cruel.

[mystery/procedural, romance, firefighters] -- A departure from the norm in the 188 Boys Club, this novel is a plot-heavy slow-burn romance, following the work of fire captain Ren Yi and police officer Gong Yingxian. I got really drawn into the "cases" (fires) that Ren Yi deals with, and learned so much about fire trucks, rescue protocols, and fire risks of various materials. Gong Yingxian is a traumatized genius orphan with a large inheritance, weird hobbies, and no social skills. He repeatedly hurts Ren Yi's feelings and betrays his trust, for reasons ranging from uninformed callousness to intentional manipulation, but technically none of that is about their romantic relationship. I don't want to downplay the seriousness of his actions, but there is something precious about the guy who confesses his feelings with the bones of his dead pet lizard, and gets frustrated because Ren Yi can't decipher the romantic symbolism of the lizard's heart-shaped tail bone.

After the Disabled God of War Became My Concubine :: 残疾战神嫁我为妾后 by 刘狗花

“瞧好了，他，靖王，我是他的妾，他是我夫君。” "Look carefully! Him, the Prince Jin, I am his secondary concubine, he is my lord husband."

[transmigration, romance, political intrigue] -- History professor Jiang Suizhou fails a student paper for using unofficial records, and ends up transmigrating into the wild events chronicled in the paper. Like any decent protagonist of a transmigration novel, Suizhou saves himself from a gruesome fate, falls in love with the coolest person in their universe, and change the world for the better. Despite the setting, the political plot is kept light and simple. A great treat for when you want sugar-pie feel-good comfort read with a tiny bit of plot.

Wilderness Vegetation :: 荒野植被 by 麦香鸡呢

如果可以，谁不想体体面面的，体面地爱人，体面地被爱。 If given the option, who wouldn't want dignity? To love with dignity, and be loved with dignity.

[scum gong crematorium, reconciliation, mental illness] -- My favorite HE crematorium novel! Xu Yan dumps emotionally abusive boyfriend Shen Zhi whom he has loved and tolerated for years, and starts a new life and career with supportive friends and family. This is finally a sane universe where no one retcons or minimizes or excuses Shen Zhi's actions, even if there were genuine misunderstandings and he genuinely loved Xu Yan. During the crematorium phase, Shen Zhi respects Xu Yan's boundaries and refusals (though he does repeatedly return to ask again). It takes time, but he works hard to grow as a person, to think and behave differently, and eventually lets Xu Yan go out of love and respect. When Xu Yan initiates the reconciliation, it feels like they have a chance this time because they have both changed and grown in meaningful ways.

In Name Only :: 有名 by 木更木更

“当他落在了我这儿，我这儿就是春天。” "When he lands where I am, where I am becomes spring time. "

[actors/celebrities, fake relationship, mature characters] -- Two award-winning actors fake a relationship to quash a scandalous rumor. They gradually get to know the real person behind the other's accomplished career and polished public persona, and fall in love. The tone of the story veers is mostly sweet and funny, with a splash of angst that they conquer with their own strength and each other's support. It's so comforting and relaxing to read about the love story of "mature men" in their early 30s who know how to communicate productively, take care of the people they like, and really accept and empathize with each other's imperfections. (I wrote about the novel here.)

Placid Chang’an :: 太平长安 by 盐盐 Yany

“你既然选择了大理寺，查找真相、还原真相就是你的事，而我身为摄政亲王，稳定朝局，制衡天下是我的事。你做你该做的，剩下的我来处理。” “Since you have chosen to join the Court of Judicial Review, investigating and uncovering the truth is now your duty; I am the Prince Regent, so stabilizing the court and governing the nation is my duty. Do your duty, and I will handle the rest.”

[mystery/procedural, court politics] -- The newest Zhuangyuan Su Cen has a sharp mind and keen eye for solving mysterious. As a high-profile rookie official, he is soon swept into the factional rivalries at court -- and the Prince Regent's bed at night. The plot is mainly driven by a series of cases Su Cen investigates for his work and at the behest of people around him, and many mysteries point back to a few old cold cases and a secret organization. The grand finale feels a bit underwhelming compared to the set up, and the side characters are somewhat flat, but the individual cases and the main couple are engaging. The relationship arc is a sweet but measured exploration into the charms and woes of a relationship with large gaps in power and age (40-ish vs early 20s). They are both capable but not overpowered, leaving the story with believable suspense throughout.

Eternities Still Unsaid Till You Love Me :: 欲言难止 by 麦香鸡呢

其实他知道不应该用‘等’来形容。许则像只风筝，没有人握着线，风筝在高空被吹得飘摇不定，但还是竭尽全力地留在原地，不是等谁来牵那根线，只是希望能再看某个人一眼。 Actually, he knows it shouldn't be called "waiting." Xu Ze is like a kite with no one holding the string. The kite wobbles as it flies high in the sky, but it still tries so hard to stay in place, not waiting for anyone to pick up that string, but just hoping to see that certain someone on more time.

[ABO, Alpha/Alpha, (temporarily) unrequited pining, amnesia] -- Scholarship kid Xu Ze has harbored a secret crush on Golden Boy and fellow Alpha Lu Heyang for years. They eventually begin a secret relationship in high school, but it ends after Lu Heyang gets amnesia, and they don't meet again until years later. The pining in this story is absolutely suffocating. Xu Ze has always prepared for his feelings to remain unrequited, and Lu Heyang is far from forthcoming and reassuring about his own feelings and commitment during their high school relationship. After adult Lu Heyang risks everything to recover his memory of their relationship, it's devastating to see Xu Ze break down in Lu Heyang's arms, finally coming to terms with how desparately he has wanted and waited for this reunion, and finally getting his Lu Heyang back. (I wrote more about this novel here)