#very responsibility focused kids who need to let themselves be kids

[deadbeandrop]

oh it is truly is a Squirrel Scout brainstorming day today (wipes a tear from my eye

i'm still thinking about patsy rn. to me she's a little girl who had to grow up and take on way too much way too fast, she's had so much on her shoulders and continues to keep stacking it all on herself at any opportunity cus she's always on the go go go. and, see, you'd think it'd be easy for gretchen to be the one with a complex about being "strong/tough enough" but i think gretchen is an IDGAFer tbh. her issues are unrelated to that. to me it's patsy with a tragic backstory and hoo-ha for a dad over here

[cooliofango]

SEBASTIAN SOLACE FLUFF you walk into his shop looking like death, at first he acts snarky as usual, but he feels bad. you were never flashing him with flash beacons or pissing him off. he gives you a med kit for free, and lets you stay to rest. he lets you sleep cradled against his tail, and doesnt want to admit it but he enjoys it.

Not So Expendable

Pairing: Sebastian Solace x GN!Reader

Word Count: 1.2k

Synopsis: Reader has had a bad run and needs to catch a break.

A/N: NERVOUS!!! 😂 I want this to be a good start to the Pressure fandom so I hope I did well! Thank you for requesting to help me get started! (And so quickly too!) I hope I’ve portrayed Sebastian well! If anyone who reads this has any positive constructive criticism feel free to share!

TW: Mention of injury, slightly graphic but nothing incredibly gory!

The familiar sound of someone pulling themselves through the vents pulled Sebastian’s attention towards it, the soft light blue glow of his three eyes settling on the rather ragged figure of the expendable making their runs for today. They breathed heavily through parted lips, a bloodied hand returning to their side to return to applying pressure to the deep red soaked material of their suit-- the right side, he noted.

“Oh my!” A baiting tone left his lips, sharp, pearly white teeth visible as he smirked down at them. “Aren’t you a sight to see?” A deep chuckle filled the air that quickly began to fill with the thick smell of iron. He’s seen wounds similar to the ones this expendable had on numerous occasions. This early in the run, they usually stem from a very specific monster here in the Hadal Blacksite. “I thought you would be smart enough to avoid such simple trickery. They’re only Good People, after all.” The emphasis on the monster’s name was spoken condescendingly, humming in amusement at his own play of words.

There was no response from the expendable. Their hand only pressed more firmly on their wound, limping towards him without so much as a glance in his direction. They only seemed focused on the items draped along the length of his tail. Sebastian frowned in slight annoyance, an emotion that showed vibrantly in his tone, “Fine, fine! Straight to business are we? And here I thought we had something special.”

That line was said tauntingly, though his frown softened. The expendable before him was definitely different from the others he has come across- special is quite the stretch, though, no? The first time you came with a group was a memory that stood out to him in that moment of reminiscence. A large and rowdy group of eight came in to purchase what they wished, with a rather infuriating kid thinking it was a good idea to use the flash beacon right there in the room with him. The sudden bright light stung his eyes harshly. He was about to lash out at the kid, a hand raised to rub the stinging sensation away. But a certain expendable’s voice beat him to it.

“Come on! Is that really necessary? You’re wasting the uses on it anyways!”

While it wasn’t necessarily a direct defense for him, there have been many other occasions where you would put your little group in line whenever you went out as a team. Likewise, you would remain courteous when interacting with him when you would make runs alone as well- no matter how much he would try to tease and annoy you.

A slight tug against his tail brought him back to reality, watching as your face went from relief as you placed a hand on the medkit settled dead center of all of the wares he had up for offer, to a heavy sense of worry as your hand moved to grab the price tag set above it. “Something not to your liking?” Though his tone still held a bit of mockery, it waned into something a little softer.

The expendable quickly shrugged off their bag, struggling for a moment to pull the zipper open with their free hand before digging through its contents frantically. Their face grew paler as an empty flashlight and old keycards toppled out the sides of the open bag. A few files were tossed onto the ground, as well as a couple of DNA samples- but they weren’t even half of what the medkit cost.

Sebastian cringed at the sight, an unpleasant feeling bubbling in the pit of his stomach. Sympathy? His jaw locked in place at the thought. No way. Sympathy for an expendable who will only be sent back once again when they’re on the brink of death, only to be healed to be good as new for the sole purpose of doing all again until the people of UrbanShade were satisfied? Absolutely not, was what he decided. It was nothing more than a slightly sick sense of pity.

The expendable in question dropped onto the ground, seemingly too weak to keep themselves up anymore. Their chest rose and fell with each heavy and shaken breath they took, leaning against an empty spot on his tail.

God, they looked pathetic..

Sebastian scoffed irritably, that same awful feeling that started within the pit of his stomach now crawling up his spine. They looked pathetic. He ripped the medkit off of its hook, tossing it in the expendable’s direction. It clattered loudly when the plastic box made contact with the stone floors, only stopping when it had hit the expendable’s leg and bounced off of it, landing it a few inches away from them.

Tired eyes moved quickly to the box and then to him, leaving only a second to wonder before it was hastily scooped up into their hands. Their hands shook from how weak their body was, and their hands slipped from how bloodied they were- but they managed to open it with an audible pop. The gauze wrap was in their hands in mere minutes, struggling to unzip the scuba suit they wore in order to make their most life threatening wound more accessible.

It was then that Sebastian was able to get a clearer view of the wound you so desperately were trying to keep from draining the expendable completely of their energy. He’s unable to tell if the wound was as deep as it looked, or if the wound was just large, causing the blood loss to make it appear deeper than it really was. It was definitely way worse than the smaller cuts littering their arms- most of which have already healed on their own- as well as the large bruise on the left side of their jaw.

Relief caused Sebastian’s shoulders to relax momentarily, his shoulders dropping with each second he watched the expendable patch themselves up to the best of their abilities. He scoffed at himself upon realization. He shouldn’t be feeling that way towards an expendable. He shouldn’t have helped them to begin with! He keeps telling himself this. And yet, here the both of you are.

The gentle pressure against his tail pulled him from his thoughts once more. The expendable rested against his tail again, eyes fallen shut and breathing more evened out than before. They looked far more relaxed than they were mere moments ago. They appeared almost too relaxed.

“Hey, now! Who said you could get some shut eye?” He initially began to tease, moving his tail to start wrapping around the expendable’s body with the intent on lifting them up to wake them. But he stops himself. His tail is wrapped completely around them, but it hadn’t tightened enough to safely lift them up without the risk of dropping them. The relaxed state, in comparison to moments earlier, eased his nerves. Much to his own dismay. A feeling of defeat washed over him, sighing to himself in slight annoyance as he crossed two of his three arms across his chest.

“Very well..” His voice was soft as to not awaken them, watching over them carefully as the room rumbled with the passing of an Angler just outside the room.

[fancyfade]

Difference between Bruce and Dick as Batman.

So I know that there's a lot of temptation to compare Bruce as Batman to Dick or Damian, and Dick as Batman to Damian, often with a "oh well obviously Bruce was meaner/Dick was nicer", but I do think they have a neat contrast that fandom often overlooks (as well as some parallels).

Robin: Year One #3

Batmatn #408

Batman and Robin #6

Dick and Bruce both will deal with whatever current threat exists, before fully helping wounded Robin, getting a verbal "I'm fine" confirmation. They clearly do care about Robin. But they also have an obligation to protect people Bruce tries to physically stop joker. Jason's not fighting Dick, but he is trying to talk him down and talk him into getting help, like he did in Battle for the Cowl. The characters also generally avoid a wounded Robin -- it's just easier to see for Bruce, because Leslie calls Bruce out on it "you're leaving (to go deal with this?)" whereas no one questions Dick leaving Damian once he's got medical care and doing his own mission to revive zombie bruce. I imagine this is partially from guilt (we do see Bruce blaming himself for Dick's close call, and Dick framing Damian as his responsibility in Battle for the Cowl) and also possible due to the whole 'batman has a job, robin's physically OK now so time to help protect people' thing.

A strong difference is after the character's get injured and treated. Bruce becomes overprotective, and continues being emotionally distant, which understandably upsets Dick. He is so overprotective he benches Dick each time he is wounded seriously, and that creates friction between them.

Robin: Year One

Batman #408

Contrast this to Dick's general lack of protectiveness. Nothing changes when Damian gets wounded as Robin. Which works well (emotionally) for Damian and it works for the conventions of the genre.

Dick is generally not portrayed as very emotionally overprotective when Damian is injured, and when Damian is captured, he often expresses more verbal concern for the people who captured Damian than Damian himself.

Batman and Robin #9 - Damian, with a new metal spine, got thrown off a building by the zombie batman dick accidentally revived.

Batman and Robin #13

Detective comics annual #11

I should note: I think it would be uncharitable to assume that Dick expressing more verbal concern that Damian will hurt the supervillains who have him kidnapped means Dick doesn't care about Damian. We see in Batman and Robin some of Dick being worried when Damian is shot, and we see Dick telling Azrael they need to find a quicker way to get to Damian when Azrael is talking about how to find the guys who took him. And also, you know. I just don't think Dick would care more about the supervillains that Damian. But Damian is regarded as a tough kid, he'll be fine no matter what, and he represents a threat to other people (interestingly, something I've seen fans accuse... Bruce of doing to damian? Even though Bruce was much more protective and wasn't worried about Damian killing Nobody when Damian was going with Nobody, or Damian killing the Saturn Club guys when Damian let himself by kidnapped by the Saturn club guys to find civilians to rescue)

But I am analyzing here the actions he does and the words that he says, and what the writer dedicates panel time to. I think it's interesting that Bruce and Dick's similarities with regards to Robin getting injured involve emotionally removing themselves from the situation and focusing on cases, and then their differences are in the follow up. Dick often maintains a status quo, which is satisfying to the Robin character (he does not feel like he's being fired or judged) and fits with the conventions of the genre. Bruce often becomes overprotective to a degree where the Robin character feels estranged from him, and is excluded, resulting in alienation from robin and coming across as the "bad guy".

I find it very interesting that Dick avoids repeating mistakes of the past that Bruce made (becoming overprotective of Robin to an alienating degree and firing him) by doing things that would be read as callous or uncaring to the reader if he wasn't Dick, I guess.

P.S. I know some people say this is why they regard Morrison's Dick as OOC, but I didn't have any place to fit that acknowledgement in the above paragraphs, but I think it's important to note that this was not just Morrison's Dick. In general Dick as Batman era was way different than Nightwing Rebirth era Dick or even post 2011 Dick.

[drdemonprince]

hey there! in regards to ur last ask (about adults in kink spaces online having status quo ideas about kids in those spaces and such, sorry this isn’t a great summary), do you have any ideas on how to combat that? this is a genuine question - those disclaimers of ‘no minors can follow’ and such have always made me a little confused whilst i understood the statement behind them objectively you know? and now that i’m adult (legally - i turned eighteen a couple of months ago), i’m having trouble figuring out how to talk about kink and sex online in a way that doesn’t hurt kids or exclude them. like, i want to post some explicit stuff i’ve written on my blog or ao3, but i know that i have kids subscribed to me since i used to post relatively bland kids stuff for years before that. so like… how would one navigate kink spaces online and general spaces with an attitude of understanding that trying to close off these spaces to kids completely is harmful but that kids can also be harmed by people in these spaces? if that makes sense?

I think it is a really challenging thing to navigate. The way that I handle it personally is that I don't regard it as my responsibility to monitor and police the ages of people following me. I want the information that I put out into the world to be freely available to the people who need it most; one of the ways that I ensure that is by not paywalling any of my writing, and another is by not age restricting things except for when circumstances mean that I absolutely have to. for example: during some of our live streams that have been particularly focused on kink or sex, Maddie and I have flagged the stream as 18 plus out of necessity, and if a member of our chat identifies themselves as being under 18 during such streams, we have to ask them to leave. but in terms of my own private attitudes, I recall accessing porn and sexual writing from a very young age and learning a great deal from it, and I don't think there is anything wrong with a young person doing so. and if a young person has questions around sexual health and safety and they direct them to me, I would generally be comfortable answering those questions or at least directing them to resources. I do all I can to normalize talk about these things and de-exceptionalize sex, and I don't let myself get intimidated by puritanical accusations about that being inherently evil and improper. but I also have really firm digital boundaries in terms of not giving a stranger on the internet much access to my life or getting too overly involved in theirs. I do this because I'm a public figure and people can be very inappropriate with me, but another benefit of this approach is that I'm never really having any kind of conversation with an internet stranger that would immediately turn inappropriate if I would find out that they were a minor. strangers on the internet are strangers. I can pass along resources and share my opinion if they ask me for advice, but I am not developing a close relationship with them or developing anything involving emotional or sexual intimacy with them. or with any, like, fan either. obviously some of this is different from your own situation, but you can probably see the logic here and how you might apply it to your own ways of relating to the subject online. I think there is never any harm in making information available, being aware of what a platform's terms of service are just for the sake of protecting yourself, and maintaining good boundaries with people you do not know while still being friendly, helpful, and cordial.

[pumpkinstrawbrew]

"can it be, that you actually CARE about those creatures!? you are just as crazy as they are!"

and yeah, he sure does care. so let me present you, batman n' his 'creatures' aka you become forever responsible for what (who) you’ve tamed.

...

(i remember watching the lock-up ep as a child, and rooting for bruce to save the rogues. i always was a villain-lover type of kid, n' those 3 were one of my fav characters in the whole show, so naturally, i wanted them to be saved. but that aside, it also simply felt idk, ‘right’ for bruce to intervene? at that age, i didn’t fully understand the complexity behind the topic, but it was one of those episodes that stuck with me for years. it’s actually pretty mature for a kid’s show to show smth like that.

i honestly wish, that the ep was fully focused on inmates and/or bruce investigating the abuse vs how it went into bolton kidnapping gordon n’ other folks. but hey, what we got was nice too!  there is something very lovely about the hero protecting their villains from anti-heros/villain-slayers. it’s a thankless job, clearly. but they still put themselves in harm's way, bc they don't approve of the abuse/murder. even if it’s their enemies. *or in some cases* esp if it’s their enemies.

now about the art...

idk, if the first one *the meme itself* was already done for lock-up ep or not. i mean, probably? maybe? either way, if it was done before, now there is another version for it.

n' ah. the second one is kinda just happen'. i was thinking about batman hanging out with every villain, who was in that ep. and how different it would have been, if it was actually about idk, batman, his rogues n' bolton trying to kill/capture them all or smth like that, rather than how it went in canon. anyhow, batman still wins in the end *naturally* and tries bring them all back into arkham, which is.....yeah, it prob will be difficult. mostly bc no one wants to go back lol. harley wants to see her trash man the joker, jon want to gas the city, wesker *actually* wouldn't have minded to go back, but the scareface wanna do crimes. n' bolton doesn't think, that he did anything wrong, so clearly he doesn't wanna be locked up *hehe, get it* with crazies as one of them. so basically, batman's battle for justice slowly turns into pokemon hunt.

in other words, bruce will have a long night ahead of him, with crane yelling into his ear the whole time. f in chat for our man bruce. he really needs it.)

[whetstonefires]

See I don't necessarily disagree with what seems to be the primary reading that Yue Qingyuan's shifu fucked him over, caring nothing for his needs or preferences and only for whether he was useful. That makes sense, it ties into plenty of the generational and societal themes of the story. It fits.

But iirc we don't actually get enough information to know that's what happened.

And the thing is it would be so in-character and also thematically appropriate if Yue Qingyuan absolutely did not explain his goals or why he was working so hard, because it was private and shameful and he didn't expect any sympathy, and there was a high risk of losing everything if he blabbed.

And also if he engaged with the existing ruleset with which he was presented, i.e. 'can't go off on your own on personal business until you've mastered your sword,' in the most negative and controlling manner possible, as absolute commandments.

He's a different kind of guy but he comes from the same background as Shen Jiu! It fucked him up also!

He is very very very not a guy who trusts the system to make allowances for him--even once he has all the power he 'does what he wants' and 'makes selfish choices' as a conscious transgression; not something he has a right to do, just something he can get away with so he's gonna. (And ofc he spends almost all the latitude he grants himself on sqq.)

And even less is he a guy who opens up easily.

He isn't too proud to ask for help or pity, so much as he just doesn't expect to get any.

So in this interpretation, he understood that rule as a non-negotiable barrier in his path, the target to overcome, and focused all his considerable will and talent on overcoming it through the sphere of action he felt he had control over.

And fucked himself up bad.

Whereupon his teacher, possessing absolutely no context for this dumb shit their star pupil pulled, did the only thing they thought might work to save his life, paying in the process no attention to the raving of someone deep in a psychotic break.

Like, I feel like there should have been a better, kinder medical option, but I don't know for sure that there was, so I can't say with certainty this was the kind of cruelty that derives from not caring enough.

And it really would be kind of elegant and so typical of Yue Qingyuan's fundamental tragedy if the real mistake was 'not confiding in anybody' the whole time.

And he was just so deeply sunk into the understanding that explaining and asking were useless that, even looking back, it never really occurred to him that maybe his mistake wasn't 'fucking it up when trying too hard to solve everything on his own' but 'assuming there was no help to be had, and that he had to do it all on his own.'

Like. What if this really could all have been avoided if he'd just trusted and communicated with the adult in charge of him? But of course, of course his history of trauma (neglect, child abuse, exploitation, being the One Responsible for the younger kids whom he could not keep safe) meant he was absolutely not going to do that.

It was basically impossible. For the person he was, the person the world had made of him. And that's always been the core tragedy the whole novel circles back upon.

People can only ever be themselves, and so very often the elements of self that let them survive until now are that which dooms them, that means they need someone else to intervene if they're ever going to be saved. Because your personal doom is always the thing from which you can't save yourself.

[onelonelyghost0]

Ok, something I thought of while waiting for my college stuff and doodling, how would Dipper and Mabel react to eyes/paranoia/geometry? Like I’ve read so many good Mystery Twin aus that do so much justice to them but like… there’s varying reactions to that.

Hear me out; I recognize that most people do very much turn into hermits or try their best to avoid cameras and eyes and stuff but, being someone who constantly thinks something is watching them, what if they went the complete opposite? For me, if I know what’s watching me is mine/watching out for my good, it’s better. I routinely draw eyes on myself to act as “watchers” and tbh it helps with the anxiety for some reason. What would the twins do for this?

I completely see them hating the Eye of Providence, crossing out triangles on their homework, finding every possible way to protect themselves, but again, what if they employed their own “watchers”?

We have no idea if this could work in universe (at least I don’t) and again, it could just be for comfort. I love it when I know people are watching me, but if there’s none of that, I’m convinced something is watching me to bring about destruction. Yes it’s awful and I’m working on it but the eyes help. I’ve sewn eyes onto clothes, drawn them on my notebooks, hell I usually have them somewhere on my actual skin because I feel that they watch out for me.

Give me Dipper who tattoos his own runes and eyes on himself, taking them back and warding himself for his paranormal research. Who slowly becomes more and more eldrich the more time he spends with the creatures, who is constantly aware of everything because the eyes he has can see for him, at least slightly. Give me Dipper who knows everything about everyone, who has panic attacks because of what he Knows, who has to be careful of what he says to people, who begins to question if he is now like Bill, if he will use this the wrong way, who begins to seclude himself, because he would never cheat the world with this, but he would help it.

Give me Mabel who does the same, but more quietly. She always puts an eye on her sweaters and jewelry, for herself and for others. Who doesn’t delve into the world that Dipper loves, but still sees it. She doesn’t need anything to see the Fae now, nor the creatures who take measures to never be seen by humans. Give me Mabel who becomes like a protector, a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear for the kids who don’t know what to do. She can see their emotions, and can push them towards the right decision, but always remembers that if she goes too far with her new skills she could still create the next weirdmaggedon. The knowledge crushes her as she draws another eye, this time across her collarbone, she cannot afford to hurt others again. She squares her shoulders and goes out to help again, to stabilize her brother, and to Watch. She knows Bill, knows his tricks, knows how he used everyone around her, and she will never let it happen again.

Give me Mystery Twins who become not so human anymore. Not on purpose, no, they never wanted this. But they will not put the responsibility they picked up on anyone else’s shoulders. Give me the twins who cannot back down, who negotiate with the creatures of this world to not wage war against the humans, who work behind the scenes to better the lives of human and nonhuman alike. Give me the forbidden knowledge they lay claim to. They stop aging after a while. No one notices. They are too focused on keeping the bad away. Too focused on keeping Bill out, trapped, and keeping themselves safe.

Give me Mystery Twins that become cryptids. They protect their homes, and they do so with tooth and nail. They will fight dirty, and they will play every hand they have, but they will not cross certain lines. Mabel can manipulate someone into doing whatever she wants, but she will never push them too far. Dipper could lay out your darkest fears, push them into your brain, forcing you to live them over and over, but he will never stoop as low as Bill.

Anyway, this went way further than I thought it would and if people like it I’ll write a fic ig, the ideas are all swirling around in my brain, but I just had this idea and had to share. Being someone who deals with wondering what is good and bad and how people feel and what is convincing vs manipulating, I saw myself a lot in the twins, and also in Bill, and I’ve worked to make it better. But I love the idea of the eyes I draw looking out for me, and I wonder if the twins would like it too.

And how everyone else would react when the eyes end up actually watching them.

Maybe I could call it the Watcher AU?

[dearly-somber]

get high | h.it

-> pairing. it-boy!intak x female reader

-> genre. high school!au, acquaintances-to-???, pwp plot what plot (this fic is vibes only)

-> rating. 13+

-> w/c. 2190

-> warnings. weed, making out, kind of dub-cony ngl 😭, suggestive ending

-> a/n. I’ve never smoked weed before, so if anything’s inaccurate feel free to edumacate me🤡👍🏻 Also: I have nothing against weed or the people who smoke it as long as it’s done responsibly and in a safe environment 😌

-> collection. misc

-> started. Mar. 19th, 2024 @ 22:40

-> fin. Sun., Oct. 20th, 2024 @ 22:48

-> edited. Tues., Oct. 22nd, 2024 @ 13:20

-> divider credit. @xxbimbobunnyxx

You‘ve never understood the “hype” around weed.

Granted, you’d grown up in a very anti-drug household, so you went into high school with the mindset that whatever long term negative effects occurred after smoking weed would far outweigh the momentary high you’d heard people talk about on so many occasions.

Except, you’d never expected yourself to acquaint yourself with Hwang Intak: one of the most popular kids in senior year, Intak was well-known for his chill house-parties and phenomenal dance skills—a total catch and in with the so called “it-group”, he wasn’t someone you saw yourself ever interacting with, let alone befriending.

That was, of course, before you realized you shared nearly half your classes with him.

You weren’t very popular—sure, people knew you (it was impossible not to when you’d befriended a hoard of social butterflies and were known at least visually for your intimidating, no-nonsense RBF), but you’d never truly made friends with any of the kids higher up in the social hierarchy than “is friends with popular kids but isn’t actually popular themselves”.

So imagine your surprise when, on a seemingly random Tuesday morning during one of your double accounting periods, Hwang Intak strolled up to your desk with a friendly smile on his face, his voice light and airy as he asked, “You’re Y/N, right?”

From there, you’d started talking more and more, until one day he cornered you on your way to your locker after your sixth period, leaning against the wall as he spoke.

“You free this weekend?” he asked.

You raised your brow skeptically, looking warily over your shoulder at people making grouchy faces at having to step around you to get to where they needed to go. “I don’t think so, why?”

He grabbed your forearm and pulled you into his bubble and out of the way of the bustling student body.

You gulped up at him, cursing the heat you felt crawling up your throat at the closeness between you.

“I’m having a small get together with some friends to celebrate my birthday,” he said, putting his hands in his pocket as he tilted his head against the brick wall next to you. “I was wondering if you’d wanna join.”

Your eyes widened. “Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Uhm… I mean, I—yeah, sure, I’ll be there,” you coughed, thanking the heavens above he seemed not to be focusing on your neck; you could feel how hot you’d gotten without needing to check first.

“Cool,” he said. “I’ll see you this weekend.” He smiled charmingly and began walking towards the staircase (where you belatedly realized a group of his friends were waiting for him), but panicked a little realizing you had no idea where to meet him.

“Intak!”

He turned around with a hum, his eyebrows raised ever so slightly.

You cleared your throat, rocking on the balls of your feet. “Where are we meeting?”

“Ah,” he laughed, walking back to you with a grin so captivating you were surprised your mouth wasn’t hanging open. “You have a pen?”

“A—uh, yeah, hold on, lemme just” —you dug around in your bag for your pencil case before pulling out a black pen and handing it to him, perplexed.

Your eyes widened when he reached once again for your forearm, ducking his head as he shook the pen out and began writing what you assumed was his number on your exposed skin, drawing a weirdly symmetrical, grinning heart with little devil-horns and a tail at the end.

“There we go,” he said, tucking the pen into your emblem pocket with a boyish grin.

He laughed at your bewildered expression as he backtracked toward his friends, the look he gave you sending a hoard of butterflies loose in the pit of your stomach. “See you soon, Y/N! I’ll text you the details!”

“I, uh” —you pinched yourself— “yeah, okay!”

Now, you’re probably wondering—what does any of that have to do with weed?

Well… maybe it’s easier to just show you.

“Y/NNNN!” Intak grinned at you from his couch, shamelessly eyeing you up and down as you walked sheepishly into his living room.

You waved awkwardly, feeling heat creep up the column of your throat when he giggled and waved back, a dumb grin on his face.

You fiddled with the hem of your white skirt, tugging the sleeves of your black Kuromi sweater over your fingers as one of Intak’s older friends, Choi Jiung, ushered you to sit between Intak’s legs.

“So…” You cleared your throat, crossing your spread legs at the ankles so you didn’t have to worry about accidentally exposing anything you didn’t want exposed. You forced a relaxed smile. “What are we doing?”

Jiung laughed good-naturedly, pulling a girl you didn’t recognize into his lap. “We’re smoking,” he said with a smile, his eyebrows furrowing in curiosity as he asked, “Have you smoked before?”

You hummed uncertainly, fiddling with your fingers—the heat of Intak’s legs against your arms was making it incredibly difficult to think. “No, I don’t really smoke…”

The girl in Jiung’s lap’s eyes widened. “What? Never?”

You shook your head.

“Not even once?”

“No,” you whispered, resisting the sudden urge to spring up and dash for the door.

“Ash,” Intak reprimanded, shifting in his seat.

Just as you were about to turn your head to look at him, his breath hit the back of your ear, his hands on your shoulders and a smile in his voice.

“You don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he assured you. “It’ll help you relax, though.”

He massaged your shoulders to emphasize his point and you tried very hard not to squeak in surprise.

Since when was Hwang Intak so good with his hands?

“You wan’ a hit?” Jiung offered, holding a joint out to you with wide eyes and raised brows; weirdly innocent-looking considering the situation you were in.

You swallowed a lump in your throat.

On the one hand, you were kind of scared. What if all those things your parents had said were true? That one hit meant you’d be a goner forever and start doing hardcore drugs because you’d started with the “Gateway”? That if you started now you’d become immediately enslaved to the high and never recover?

But, despite those worries, despite those fears…

Intak hadn’t stopped massaging your shoulders—rather, he’d dragged his hand to the base of your neck, gently pressing his forefinger against your pulse-point before sliding it down to brush across your exposed collarbone.

Thank the heavens he chose not to comment on the shiver that shot up your spine, but it was clear in the little huff of air behind you that he found your reaction amusing.

Really, you were curious. And maybe you wanted to impress him.

Just a little bit.

So you nodded, smiling awkwardy as Ash—Jiung’s girlfriend(?)—whooped and clapped with an obnoxious laugh of encouragement.

You took the already-lit joint from Jiung, holding it between your pointer finger and thumb, inspecting it.

Intak giggled, “Just put it to your lips and pull.” His chest expanded with the amount of air he sucked in through his teeth, letting out an exhale with an exaggerated grunt of relief.

You nodded uncertainly, releasing a nervous breath before bringing the joint up to your lips.

“There we go,” he whispered next to your ear, his chin resting on your shoulder as his hands ran up and down your arms; bold from the cannabis or because you were in his house, you didn’t know.

Not that you really cared, anyway.

You mimicked Intak’s movements and set the roll down in a coughing fit, waving your hand in front of your face like it’d stave off the aching burn traveling from the back of your throat all the way through to your lungs.

It took a couple of seconds for you to stop coughing, looking around the room with your hand fisted in front of your mouth and tears pooling in the corners of your eyes.

You met the expectant eyes of Ash and Jiung—and then you… laughed. And you laughed a little more, and some more, until you were giggling dumbly because why were they looking at you like that!

“Atta girl!” Jiung hooted, leaning far back into his chair before taking another hit from his own blunt.

“How d’you feel?” Intak asked, his eyes lighting up when you turned your head to look at him proper. His pupils were visibly dilated, sucking you in a little like a black hole.

You grinned, leaning back against his knee.

“I feel good,” you slurred, letting your eyes roam his face and grinning when he seemed to smile brighter because of it. “Really good,” you admit.

“Yeah?” Intak said, licking his lips. “Calmer?”

“Mmm…” You dragged your lower lip between your teeth and indulged in the wonderful cartwheel your stomach did as Intak watched the motion with rapt attention.

“Now,” Ash clapped her hands together, wiggling her eyebrows with a devilish smirk. “Let’s play truth or dare.”

“Y/N!” Ash yelled, completely indifferent to Jiung’s lips attached to her neck, “truth or dare?”

You hummed playfully, still leaned back against Intak’s leg.

You’d mellowed out considerably since you had your first pull around twenty minutes ago—you were leaning against Intak like it was normal and the hand he was running through your hair didn’t even make you bat an eye.

“Dare,” you said with a grin, light and happy and relaxed—more relaxed than you’d been during summer break!

Ash grinned mischievously, bringing a hand up to pull at Jiung’s hair, looking at him over her shoulder with a vicious smile. “I dare you to kiss Intak.”

“That’s boring,” Jiung panted, his cheeks tinged pink as he licked his lips and watched Ash with a furrowed brow, head tilted back with her firm grip in his hair.

She rolled her eyes, but turned to you and said, “Fine. I dare you to kiss Intak’s tongue.”

You licked your lips with an excited giggled, using Intak’s knees to push yourself up before turning around to smile at him with a happy sway in your step.

Intak watched you with a lazy grin as you walked between his legs, setting your hands beside his waist and leaning forward at a 90° angle to connect your mouths in an easy kiss.

“Yah!” Ash laughed, the sound breaking the two of you apart. “That’s not his tongue!”

You giggled and waved her off, looking down at Intak with hooded eyes.

“Stick your tongue out,” you ordered, staring at his mouth like a starved animal.

Intak grinned, watching you like a puppy watches his owner as he obediently stuck his tongue out, leaning cockily back into the couch.

With a surprising ease, you leant down and touched your lips to his tongue, so intrigued by the feel of it you gave it a little kitten lick of your own.

Intak groaned as he grabbed you by the back of your neck and pulled you in for a very heated kiss, sticking his tongue in your mouth and tilting his head for better access.

You were on cloud nine and vaguely floaty, setting your hands on his upper thighs to keep yourself from wobbling over.

You only pulled away after Jiung let out a low whistle, Intak, lips red and swollen with a possessive hand on the nape of your neck and a hungry, nearly insatiable look in his eyes.

“Well, shit,” Ash laughed, leaning back against Jiung’s shoulder. “Didn’t think you had it in you, Y/Nie.”

You licked your lips as Intak leant up to press a chaste kiss to the corner of your lip, a confused noise leaving you when he suddenly pushed himself to standing.

You felt a little flip in the pit of your stomach at how tall he suddenly felt now that you weren’t towering over him, biting on your lip as he grabbed your hand.

“Let’s go to my room, hm?” he asked, not really waiting for an answer as he lead you to the stairs. “Get some privacy.”

You waved to Jiung and Ash (though neither of them waved back because they’d opted to start sucking each other’s faces off), watching with a growing fire the way Intak’s back muscles moved when he walked.

“You’re a good kisser,” you complimented as he lead you upstairs, laughing when he brought you into his room. He shut but did not lock the door behind him.

“Yeah?” he smirked. “How good?

“Very,” you assured, eagerly standing on the tips of your toes and wrapping your arms around his shoulders so you could keep kissing him.

“Mmm,” he hummed against your lips, guiding you back until the two of you were laying flat on the edge of his bed, his hands running up to trace the bare skin under your shirt. “You’re not so bad yourself.”

You nipped his lip, sighing into his mouth when he gave your waist a little squeeze. “I’m a little out of practice,” you panted.

He chuckled, pulling away to give you a devilish smirk. “We can practice.”

And so practice you did.

[lucielmars]

Why I think Geto's "meaning" is love and why Gojo failed to really understand him.

As I was writing the last chapter for my fic, I thought a lot about what Geto meant when he talked about "meaning" in the infamous KFC break-up scene. "You can kill me, there would be meaning in that."

Here is my theory : First of all, we know that as a teenager, he thought that being a sorcerer was meaningful because "the strong must protect the weak." I saw a lot of people interpret that as him meaning that the strong are responsible for the weak, due to their strength.

While I don't think that's what Geto meant by it, I do think that's how Gojo interpreted it.

See, Gojo was raised to become a sorcerer because he is strong. His strength is the justification for his exploitation since birth (the recent Gojo interview having confirmed that he was working even as a child.) He's also been brainwashed into thinking he tipped the balance of the universe and has to set it straight. So to him, although he's initially pissed off that he has to bear this responsibility, he interprets what Suguru says this way because it makes sense to him.

Gojo's moral compass will, inspired by Geto (but not properly understood), be focused on this idea of responsibility. That's why he kills Toji before he becomes dangerous, and that's why he takes Megumi and Tsumiki in not long after. That's why he became a teacher, because he felt responsible to make sure what happened to Geto doesn't happen again. That's Gojo's strength, but also his weakness. He doesn't really question the dangers his students face for most of the manga because he believes that they are also responsible for the weak (he's morally grey partly because of that).

However, what Geto actually means by it is that a society in which the strong don't protect the weak is a failing society because it is a society without love. It means we let the weak die just because they can't fight for themselves. He is correct, as many historians believe the first sign of civilization is a healed femur, a proof that we cared enough to protect someone until they healed.

When Gojo and Geto are friends, this difference in 'reason for being sorcerers' doesn't impact them negatively. When they protect Riko together, Gojo thinks he has a responsibility to let her make her own choice and help her, since she is weak compared to him. Geto, on the other hand, does it because he's grown attached to Riko. It works out. (Initially he agrees to it because he loves Gojo and wants to please him, he's the biggest simp fr.)

However when Riko dies and the cult claps they consequently analyze the situation very differently. Gojo asks Geto : Should I kill them ? (Meaning, I'm the strongest, it is my responsibility to kill curses and dangerous people). Geto tells him there would be no meaning in that, which means no love. Gojo would only be doing it because he has to, but it wouldn't save Riko, it wouldn't help anyone at the moment.

But then, while Gojo goes on thinking of this as his failure (he didn't protect someone he was responsible for), to Geto this event is life-altering. To someone who does things because of love, the idea that there could be people who clap for a kid's death, that Gojo almost died because Toji needed money, it's a brutal realization that they are being used. (Geto is kinda innocent for not realizing that sooner, Gojo isn't as naive.)

I think the whole "monkey" thing, refers to his understanding that non-sorcerers have a utilitarian relationship to sorcerers. They use them, they let them die. Even if most of them are unaware of that fact. To Geto, that makes them inferiors (unloving).

It also ties to Geto's deep-rooted feeling of being unloved (from his childhood I imagine, although we don't know that for sure, the fact that he killed his parents can't be random.) That's why when Gojo distances himself from him, he's deeply hurt by that.

Then Haibara dies and Geto, I think, gets even deeper into this spiral of anxiety that he will die unloved. At this point he's already suicidal, having lost what he thinks is his reason to live (+ his bff, who he doesn't understand anymore). But to know that two kids younger than him died as mere tools makes him realize that he will die like that too.

Then he finds Nanako and Mimiko, and he decides to love them. Since it's his way of functioning, it works for him. He can finally kill the people he hates, it is justified. There is a reason and a meaning to it (his daughters / the young sorcerers that he would save.)

He leaves Satoru with a last piece of philosophy, in two parts.

"Are you Satoru Gojo because you are the strongest, or are you the strongest because you are Satoru Gojo ?" To him Gojo is by definition associated with love. So what he's asking him is, is love driving you to become strong, or are you just willing to let them use you for your strength like a tool, give their meaning to your life ? Gojo has the wrong answer to this question (still does until the end)

"You could kill me, there would be meaning to that." Love, he means there would be love in that. Geto is willing to be killed by Satoru. He wants to die by his hand, because that would mean his life has meaning, and that he was killed for love (because Gojo didn't want to let him become a monster.)

That brings us to JJK0, when Suguru is acting all insane and attacks Gojo's student. I think he expected to die by Gojo's hand long ago, and he hates himself more and more with each passing days. There is no real love in what he's doing, it doesn't work for him and the system remains the same.

So he declares war and attacks Gojo's students, hoping Gojo will kill him (unconsciously.)

In the end, he gets to give his life "meaning" by dying by Gojo's hand. The person he loves preventing him from becoming a monster. It is love, and it is a curse.

As soon as he sees Gojo he is relieved. He is so ready to die by his hand. That's what he's been waiting for all along.

Gojo still believes he has to do it because it's his responsibility. He doesn't get it. He thinks he's giving justice, when in fact, he's giving mercy.

Which is also why I think Gojo says some version of "I love you" in that scene. I just know Geto got exactly what he wanted before he died, reassurance in every way, "meaning."

I could go on as to why it's also these differences in philosophy that made them love each other, but this is about to become a book SO.

[henrioo]

✦ ── ANYTHING FOR YOU: SHANKS

Part one — Parte two

Child! Shanks x Child! Reader ( x platonic! Edward Newgate)

Synopsis: "A confusing encounter with a red-haired child ends up changing his day completely."

Warnings: None

Word Count: 2,6k

Notes: Pronouns should be neutral but because of automatic translation they are masculine, I'm sorry, it was written with a neutral reader in mind. Forgive the bad English too, Google is not one of the best

Revision: @waitingmydemons

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ• ────── ✦ ────── •

Today would definitely be your day! After weeks of trying to convince your brothers and especially your father, you had managed to get permission to take a tour all alone around the next island the ship stopped. It might seem silly, but living surrounded by men who saw danger in everything made your freedom being compared to one of a bird in a cage. Of course, you were more than grateful for all the effort they put into protecting you, but sometimes you just wanted to run around and play with other kids instead of being followed by famous pirates who scared anyone who came near.

That's why you couldn't hold back the anxiety of finally being able to live a little adventure completely alone! You've prepared very well, choosing fresh clothes that won't get in the way of playing or running, took a purse with a generous amount of money that you collected according to the days and choose the best and most resistant shoes! Everything was perfect, you couldn't even swallow your food during lunch. You were so busy, as soon as the meal was over, you said goodbye to everyone and ran towards the port, excited to explore the place.

Even if walking around and spending money on silly things wasn't exactly the most fun thing in the world, just being able to experience all those new things by yourself and maybe even make a few friends was enough to get you excited. There weren't many young people in Whitebeard's crew, you ended up being the only child and the youngest member which left you a bit alone. Of course no one refused to play with you, Marco and Thatch would spend hours distracting you if that made you happy, the point was that they were adults and eventually needed to take care of their responsibilities, leaving you alone.

Your plan was to buy some candy and maybe find some kids your age to play with, you couldn't wait to get some attention from people who would also like to play. You walked carefree through the big city market, there were countless merchants, mothers, workers, all walking around in their own worlds and duties. You'd eventually stop and look at the fruit, jewelry, or anything else that looked like fun, but you weren't focused on shopping. You were humming absently around, not really caring about your surroundings when you started to hear footsteps approaching.

When you turned around to try to figure out what was going on it was too late, a person collided directly with you but before he could knock you to the ground, he pulled you by the arm away from the main road. You were dragged into an alley and soon a hand covered your mouth, when you regained your senses you could hear more and more footsteps approaching, a crowd running! You frowned in confusion as you listened to what people were saying. "Are you sure you lost them?" You tried to peek down the alley and you could guess they were sailors by their blue and white outfit. "Shit, those little brats! I can't believe they robbed us…" they argued among themselves "Let's keep looking, they can't have gone far".

So when the men walked away you decided to pay attention to the situation you were in. You looked to see who your captors were and came across two… children? The boy holding you had blue hair and a huge red nose, he was holding your mouth while his face had a terrified expression. Next to him was a boy with red hair and a nice hat, he was carrying what looked like a bag of coins and he also looked extremely nervous about being chased. Whoever they were, you knew they'd robbed the sailors, but that didn't mean they weren't a risk to you.

When you were sure the sailors were gone you used all your strength to step on the boy's foot and then bite his hand. You might be small but you weren't harmless, growing up with powerful pirates had taught you a trick or two.

"Ouch! You bit me!" The boy screamed as he held his own hand.

The redhead finally seemed to notice that they'd dragged someone else into the mess and looked at you confused.

"You kidnapped me!" You countered by crossing your arms.

"You kidnapped them?!" The redhead exclaimed looking at his friend in shock.

"They were in the way!" The other tried to defend himself "And you bit me! I was about to let you go!" He was still angry but you didn't care.

"Think before you kidnap me! You're lucky I only bit you, if I told my brothers they would do a lot worse!" You exclaimed proudly of your family.

"Sure, like I'm going to believe a snotty brat" the blue haired one rolled his eyes.

"You called me what?!" You exclaimed with fury as your cheeks burned.

"Snotty brat" he said again with a smirk, looking satisfied with having turned the tables.

The problem was that the boy had underestimated you, one thing you definitely lacked was patience. You learned very early that you shouldn't tolerate offenses against yourself or your family, so you let anger win that fight. You quickly punched the blue-haired boy in the middle of the face, the one who fell on his butt with a scream.

"Buggy!" The red-haired friend screamed and went to help him.

"I'm not snotty!" You said stomping your foot on the floor.

The red-haired boy looked between you and the companion, his gaze showing shock and… fascination? He looked at you like you were a bedtime story hero, someone amazing and you couldn't understand. Shouldn't he be angry? You had just hit his colleague and he seemed fascinated by it?

"Wow…" he exclaimed looking you up and down.

"Humpf! Idiot" you said without patience and then you turned to leave the alley "You're lucky I won't tell my brothers, Marco would finish you off" you said and then left the place ignoring the red haired boy who kept calling you .

You were nervous and frustrated that visit to the city had not gone as you planned, so you decided to go back to the ship earlier. Luckily you would stay a few days in that place, there would be other opportunities to explore and meet kind and fun children, no more children who irritated you. It wasn't long after returning to shore that the crew set up a small camp to store the new supplies while the ship was refueled. There, you found Marco fiddling with some papers and further away you could see his father giving orders to some other members.

You sat with a sulky face while eating a candy you bought in town, Marco looked at you curiously and approached with a characteristic smile.

"What's wrong birdie-yoi?" He smiled and sat down next to you.

"I… I met some annoying kids" you decided it was better to omit what had happened, as much as you wanted revenge, you understood that the confusion had been a misunderstanding and you didn't want your siblings worrying about something so silly.

"Wasn't that fun?" He nodded when he saw you deny it. "Don't worry, you can still meet other kids in the next few days" he smiled trying to calm you down "And if nobody wants to play with you, let's get Visa and Jozu and have a tea party, how about that?" He offered, knowing you were always happiest spending time with your brothers.

"Promise?" You looked at him sullenly.

"On my honor" he smiled as he saw you clearly getting more excited about the idea.

After a little chat, Marco had to get back to work and you decided not to bother him anymore. So to distract yourself until dinner time you decided to walk along the nearby beach and look for some shells to collect, you were still thinking about the boys from before, especially the redhead. He was looking at you with so much emotion that you couldn't help but feel your stomach churning, no one had ever looked at you like that… It was so weird and it made you so confused, what was that? Some noises in the nearby forest caught your attention, being curious that you were, so it didn't take long to approach and look for who was there.

"It 's you!" You said in recognition of seeing the red hair from before.

"Shhhh!" He asked for silence and you covered your mouth, looking around for any threat "Are your brothers here?" he asked quietly.

"They're over there…" you pointed into the distance and he seemed to agree silently "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you again" he admitted looking at the floor, his cheeks were slightly pink and you felt your body getting warm.

"Why?" You asked timidly.

"Because your punch was super cool!" His eyes sparkled "You hit Buggy right on!"

"Is he not your friend?" You asked confused.

"He is… But you were just defending yourself! He shouldn't have called you snotty… You're not snotty, you're too cute to be!" He confidently admitted.

"Do you think I'm cute?" Your cheeks were now on fire.

"I do…" he smiled shyly "I'm Shanks, what's your name?" He approached.

"(Y/n)" you smiled.

"Cool, I didn't know Whitebeard had someone in the crew with my age"

"How do you know I’m in the Whitebeard’s crew?”

"You said you had a brother named Marco, I know him! And my captain said Whitebeard was in town, so that had to be it," he said with pride in his little investigation.

"Your captain? Are you a pirate too?" You were curious now.

"Yes! I'm from the Roger Pirates!" he exclaimed with pride.

That's when your face became sad... You had heard about this crew countless times, all your life you grew up hearing that they were your father's main enemies and that you could not, under any circumstances, approach them.

"I shouldn't be talking to you!" You finally realized and tried to run, but Shanks was quick and grabbed you.

"Wait! Please! I don't want to hurt you!" He begged as he held her wrist gently but firmly.

"How can I trust you? You kidnapped me this morning! And we are sworn enemies!" You snorted.

"But I don't want to be your enemy…"

"You don't?" You let your emotions get the best of you.

"No… I… I want to be your boyfriend!" He declared with fire in his eyes.

"Boyfriend!?" You stuttered in shock, your face was hot and probably red, your eyes were wide in shock.

"Yes! You're super strong and cute!" He said without a care and then let go of your hand "Unless you didn't like me…"

"No! I did like you…!" You admitted with embarrassment "But… I never had a boyfriend… What do they do?"

"They… They" he stammered in embarrassment "They hold hands… Kiss on the cheek and go on dates!" He said with embarrassment.

"Oh!" You exclaimed with as much embarrassment as he was. You thought about holding Shanks hands and your stomach started to turn, it would also be really cool to be able to play with him.

"It's cool, isn't it? We can be sweethearts!" He tried to convince you.

"(Y/n)?! Where are you? It's getting dark and we should go back to the ship" You heard your father's voice approaching.

"Shanks?! Where are you?!" Another unknown voice came from the middle of the forest.

Before you could run away the fearsome encounter took place, behind you was your father and behind Shanks must have been the much talked about Roger, his captain. You both widened your eyes in terror when you realized what was happening, but you didn't dare open your mouth to try to explain.

"Roger"

"Newgate"

"Can you explain why your brat is talking to my child?" He quickly put a hand on your shoulder and pulled you back.

"Good question, what's up Shanks? Did you come here to talk to the old man?" The captain chuckled, he didn't seem to be mad at Shanks at all.

"I… Well…" the boy mumbled incoherently with embarrassment.

"Did he do something to you?" Your father asked, looking at you calmly, he didn't seem mad at you at all, which calmed you down a bit.

"No…" you mumbled shyly and grabbed his leg.

"Hm, maybe they just met and had a chat" Roger theorized "Or are they secretly flirting, huh Shanks? You naughty, came for the riskiest one" the man teased.

"Don't talk nonsense Roger, (y/n) can't date you, brat" His father said as if that was nonsense.

"I can't?" You asked with some sadness in your voice.

"They can’t?" It was Shanks's turn to look sadly at his captain.

The two men stared at each other in shock, they seemed to slowly understand what was going on between the two of you.

"Don't tell me… Did you like this piece of junk?" your father asked in shock and nervousness.

"Hey! No need to offend other people's children!" Roger defended "Shanks isn't that bad… He's just… He" the man shrugged.

"Like you understand" Edward rolled his eyes.

"Come on, we were young once!" Roger laughed "Let the kids date and have some fun, nothing bad will come of it"

"No" Edward gave the final verdict, but when he felt you pulling his pants and making your huge lost puppy eyes with tears threatening to fall he started to rethink the idea "(y/n)..."

"Please?" You asked "I promise I'll help more often in the kitchen if you let me..." you tried to bargain, you liked Shanks, you didn't want to be banned from dating him, even if you didn't know exactly what boyfriends did.

"Heavens… Who knew having kids would be like this…" He sighed tiredly "You guys can date" Shanks smiled "With some conditions!"

"Conditions? That's not fair!" He huffed angrily.

"Calm down little one, he's the father, he has the right to decide that, you have to earn trust and permission" Roger said quickly, Shanks seemed more resigned.

"First you need to grow up a bit, I can step on you now and I won't let such a small and young brat date my child!" he said quickly.

"Uhum!" The redhead's eyes sparkled.

"Second, you need to be strong! I will not tolerate a weakling having my child as a partner, you need to be able to face me without fear to have their hand"

"Yes! I'm going to be really strong!" He smiled looking at you and you looked away shyly.

"And finally, when you have those two things, the most important one" Shanks listened attentively "You need their acceptance" your father put his hand on your head "If you have both requirements and my child still loves you then I won't be the one going to stop you" he chuckled.

You smiled happily as you looked at Shanks who also looked confident.

"You'll see old man! I'm going to marry them!" He proclaimed with pride.

Roger just laughed praising his apprentice while your father looked frustrated and stroked your hair. You smiled thinking about how cool it would be to have Shanks as your boyfriend, you really didn't see the time to be able to be with him.

Continue...

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ• ────── ✦ ────── •

Notes: I hope you enjoyed! There will be a part two showing what happened to them as adults, if you can leave what you think it will motivate me a lot because I'm new here! If you want to ask for something feel free! I'll make the best imagines I can, thanks for the support and see you soon

[txttletale]

This is not meant as a gotcha- and it's totally fair if the answer is 'idk' because it's not your responsibility to be the sole person who figures out all the kinks in the proposed idea, but if you already have thoughts on it I'm curious: you've mentioned a communal child-autonomy focused style of raising kids rather than nuclear family with stringent abusive "parental rights" and my only concern with that is healthcare. Kids don't understand why they have to get shots that hurt which keep them safe from polio, but because their parents are legally allowed to drag them to doctor offices and MAKE them sit there and get these shots, we almost eradicated polio entirely up until ableist anti-vaxx moms messed it up for everyone. But I digress.

I'm all for eroding parents rights which are used mainly for abuse. But what about dentistry, vaccines, life-saving surgeries, etc? It sucks that these are done through coercion and force, but that's the only way most 5 year olds will let it get done because these concepts are too complicated and long-term for most children to comprehend. Do you have any thoughts on a balance for that problem while still respecting children's autonomy more? Something closer to faith in community, blind trust to let them fill in cavities? I don't know that I'd agree with letting a kid stubbornly waste away because they can't understand wide-spread infection, in the name of autonomy, even though once someone does understand the concept I'm strangely okay with being sad but letting someone refuse to take care of that aspect of their own health without any forceful measures. I guess it's the knowledge gap that really gets me. For death with dignity you gotta have informed consent, which means the person has to truly understand the medical advice and treatment they're refusing, and many kids simply cannot do that. It's a wrench in the cogs of my understanding your ideas. Thoughts?

obviously i am very harshly skeptical of rhetoric that children need their autonomy violated 'for their own good' but obviously there are situations where, for example, extremely young children cannot feed themselves or locomote and are physically incapable of autonomy -- but i think this is where a family abolitionist view is most useful, because it prevents you from defaulting to 'family' as the solution -- strip all the cultural baggage from the institution of parenthood and you realise that when faced with the problem "sometimes, children cannot physically excercise autonomy, or might be too young to recognise their exercise of autonomy is harming others (e.g. vaccines)", it is actually an insane and silly solution to say "every child should have 1-2 designated Autonomy Violators, assigned at birth and for life, with no qualifications, training, etc".

[atlasdoe]

no bcs i think dumbles was a trash headmaster and i would've had him stepping down from the headmaster position OR solely focusing in that bcs i feel like he was biting more than he could chew (then again the british educational system has always sucked and nobody gave a fuck about kids so can i? entirely blame him? not truly), BUT blame him for everything???? EVERYTHING???? people are sick. or too young. and need to read more.

yeah i realllg don't understand how people truly believe that Dumbledore is the root to all evil. I swear people are more mad at him for certain characters deaths more then they are at fucking Voldemort.

The thing with Dumbledore is that he's morally grey. He's not the perfect mentor that we're led to believe he is but that doesn't make him a full blown villain. He is not responsible for every bad thing that's happened in the series

and it's SO ANNOYING cause it's taking away everything that made these characters interesting. Like acting as if everyone in the Order was manipulated into joining takes away so much from them.

And as for the Death Eaters don't even get me started. Evan and Barty in particular died because of their own actions. They committed crimes, they were supposed to be arrested but they resisted and instead were killed. Dumbledore has literally no hand in that because he's not apart of the justice system and has never shown any signs of wanting to be

And as for the people who died during the Battle of Hogwarts blaming Dumbledore is just plain dumb. Dumbledore was literally already dead at this point and speaking of Remus and Tonks as if they were fully adults doing their job (as part of the Order and in Tonks case literally her job. It's her fucking job to fight bad wizards. It's what she gets paid for. She's a fucking auror) with the kids it's more McGonagalls fault if anything for letting the kids fight in the battle to begin with. But the fandom love McGonagall so they'd never admit it. Either way Dumbledore was already six feet under and played literally no part in the battle or had a say in who fought it (HE WAS LITERALLY DEAD)

Also while we're here let's talking about everyone else

James and Lily Dumbledore literally put in hiding to protect them "but he took the invisibility cloak" no. James gave him the cloak. We don't know why but considering James and Lily were in hiding and their lives were in the hands of their best friend Peter it's not hard to imagine that they deemed themselves safe enough to hand Dumbledore a cloak that wouldn't have fitted all three of them anyway

Cedric Diggory died because of three people and their names are Peter Pettigrew, Barty Crouch Jr and Voldemort. Maybe at best i'll give you that Dumbeldore wasn't looking into the odd things happening at Hogwarts (like Harry being chosen) enough but then you'll have to be prepared to blame every other teacher as well

Marlene, Dorcas, Pandora, Alice, Frank, and practically every other marauders era character had very little cannon information about their death but none of their deaths mention anything to do with Dumbledore. How tf is Dumbledore to blame for Pandora experimenting with spells???

Regulus is the same with Barty and Evan. That man went into the cave by himself because of something Kreacher told him about Voldemort. IF DUMBLEDORE KNEW THAT REGULUS WENT INTO THET CAVE AND KNEW ABOUT THE LOCKET THEN WHY THE FUCK WOULD HE TAKE THE LITERAL CHOSEN ONE WHO HAS TO BE KILLED BY VOLDEMORT INTO A DEATH CAVE TO GET A PHONY LOCKET??????????

As i've said I don't even like Dumbledore like that but this fandom is killing me with all of this frankly stupid nonsense and it's killing my braincells

[randomfoggytiger]

hello I come to you with a fic question. What makes a good case fic in your opinion? What are the bare bones that constitute a case fic but then how do you make it good? Ty in advance

Hmmmm....

Casefile (case file? one of the two) isn't my genre, personally: I largely see it as a way for writers to explore and magnify the fleeting angst in the Mulder-Scully relationship, UST style. It's very easy to lose the plot in personal or petty jealousies and exacerbated-beyond-canon bickerings. On the flip side, it can be just as damaging to avoid focusing on their dynamic: too many side plots or side characters lose the core conceit (Mulder and Scully against the world.)

In fairness to the genre, I'm going to answer this question broadly (to the best of my abilities):

Cases that mold themselves to Mulder's or Scully's weaknesses are usually fraught with violent emotion, so I'd watch out to not overdo it.

Cases that stand on their own allow Mulder and Scully breathing room to analyze their work or each other's focus on the work, or to draw sympathetic (or pitying) parallels between themselves and the work, with more detached nuance. However, there is a great temptation to invent a connection between the duo and a disconnected case down the line, which can compromise the original intent of the message (unless you want a mytharc twist-- but then it wasn't disconnected, was it?)

Canonically, Mulder and Scully don't lie to each other, but their refusal to communicate can seem like deceit (and causes obvious friction.) Whenever these situations pop up, both tackle their personal problems head-on, iron them out in as few words as possible, and either drop the discussion until the case is resolved or until they're given a moment of calm to speak on it further. They don't ever let these frustrations compromise their work (which is why Syzygy was such an outlier) or the strength of their relationship. I think, overall, they're ultimately afraid to break the partnership or walk away from it: it's the one thing, pre-RST, they can openly acknowledge between them.

Usually casefiles always pivot to a twist-- which isn't actually a backbone in canon: the show has layers to each "villain's" abilities and motivations, but rarely does it conclude with an Agatha Christie surprise. (Home, for example: we knew the Peacocks were responsible all along-- we just didn't know Mrs. Peacock was the mother of the dead baby. We knew the D.P.O. kid caused the lightning in D.P.O.; we knew who kidnapped the girl in Oubliette; we knew Sheila's boyfriend was somehow connected to the rain in Rain King; etc. etc.) Twists are fun, but they can quickly devolve into convoluted, last second patchwork.

Most casefiles involve religion or religious elements, which makes sense for some of the episodes in canon (and the religious bent of the 90s.) But not every serial killer needs to be a cherry-pickin' Bible nut. Most X-Files monster need to kill for survival.

Most casefiles involve serial killers instead of monsters, likely because this forces Mulder and Scully to work with others and gives the writers an excuse to keep them apart after a huge fight or blowup. Be on your guard against these wicked temptations. ;))))

Mulder usually gets into trouble and Scully usually has to save him; or Scully is usually suffering from x/y/z thing and Mulder has to try (and fails) to keep an eye on her. That very easily leads into one of two traps: either Mulder is so stupid that he launches himself into an obvious trap without backup (whereas canonically he doesn't leap into danger unless he is convinced he can easily get out of it... and/or if he's on a suicide mission... or was maliciously duped)-- or Scully is so resentful of Mulder's attentions that she blows and distances herself from him (whereas in canon her furious anger is reserved for talking him down from his arrogance, not in her own self-defense. Further, she relies on Mulder's ability to poke and prod: it gives her an chance to open up, almost against her will.)

Those are my thoughts! I could proooooooooooobably come up with more... but I think these generalities pretty much cover it. :DDDD

[zeneveiva]

Egalan vivon chapter fourteen

The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when Omar and the group woke up, their sleep interrupted by the sounds of the waking village. Bititi had arranged for them to stay in a small, comfortable hut inside the village.

They all filed slowly out of the hut, bleary-eyed and a little dazed from the previous day's events. Bititi was waiting for them nearby, a smile on her face as she saw them come out.

"You all slept well?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with good humor. "I hope my village hospitality was adequate."

Omar gave her a smile back. "It was great, thank you. The hut was very comfortable." Haru stood next to him, still yawning.

Bititi chuckled at the sight of Haru's sleepy face. "Ah, someone is not a morning person," she teased, her tone light and friendly.

Mira, who was also stifling a yawn, grumbled under her breath, "None of us are morning people."

Bititi laughed again. "Ah, young people these days. Back in my day, we were up with the sun, ready to start the day."

Bititi gestures for them to follow her, leading them towards the communal fire area where a few villagers were already busy preparing breakfast. "Come on, come and eat something before your journey," she urges. "You all need proper fuel to face the climb up Mount Fikalimankaro."

The group follows Bititi, the scent of steaming food enticing them. The morning air is cool, and the promise of a hot meal is more than welcome.

At the fire, a selection of fruits, nuts, and grilled meats are laid out on large leaves. Bititi motions for them to help themselves, and the group gathers around, picking up food and sitting down in the grass to eat.

They eat in companionable silence, the only sounds being their soft voices and the crackle of the fire. Omar looks around at the group, his eyes resting on Zola for a moment. She's sitting between Mira and Hermes, chattering quietly to them both.

He's relieved to see she seems to have shaken off yesterday's incident with the village kids. He knows she's tough, but he worries about her all the same.

As they finish their meal, Bititi steps forward and claps her hands to gain their attention. "Okay, everyone!" she calls out, her voice clear and commanding. "It's time to get ready for the trek to Mount Fikalimankaro. We have a long journey ahead of us!"

There's a murmur of agreement from the group, excitement and a hint of nervousness mixing in the air. They all get to their feet, brushing off their clothes and preparing themselves for the climb ahead.

Bititi continues, her voice serious now. "Remember, the mountain is treacherous and unpredictable. We'll need to stick together and watch out for each other. We'll bring some supplies with us, but it's important that we all stay focused and keep our wits about us."

She goes on to outline the plan for the journey, discussing the route, the estimated time it will take, and the potential dangers they might face. The group listens attentively, the weight of the adventure ahead sinking in as they mentally prepare themselves for the challenge.

As Bititi finishes speaking, she gives the group a warm smile. "Are you all ready? We have a tough climb ahead, but I have faith in each and every one of you."

There's a moment of silence as everyone looks around at each other, gauging the group's readiness. Then, Omar steps forward, his voice firm and resolute. "We're ready. Let's do this."

The others nod in agreement, mirroring his determination. Even Zola, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, straightens up, her expression set.

Bititi beams at them, clearly pleased with their response. "Alright then," she says, a hint of pride in her voice. "Let's get started. The mountain awaits us."

The group had been hiking steadily for a couple of hours now. The air was thin up here in the mountains, and everyone was feeling the exertion, though they were faring better than they had feared. They had been walking in companionable silence when suddenly, Zola stumbled and fell, her foot catching on a tree root.

Mira quickly moves to help Zola, who sits up gingerly, a slight wince on her face. "You okay?" Mira asks, her voice soft and caring.

Zola nods, wincing again as she tries to stand. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tripped on that stupid root."

Mira reaches out a hand to help Zola up, her fingers wrapping around Zola's slender wrist. "Here, let me help you," she says, pulling Zola to her feet with a firm yet gentle grip.

Zola finds herself very much aware of the contact; Mira's hand is steady and reassuring, and her touch lingers just a moment longer than necessary. Zola feels a flutter in her chest, a strange mix of embarrassment and... something else.

"Thanks," she manages to say, her voice a little breathier than usual. She tries to shake off the feeling, blaming it on the lack of oxygen at this altitude.

As the group continues their climb up the rocky terrain, a few of them are starting to feel the effects of the thinning air at this elevation. Hermes, who had been walking in the middle of the group, suddenly pauses, leaning against a rock as he gasps for breath.

"Hang on, guys," he says, his voice slightly wheezy. "I just need to catch my breath for a second." The rest of the group stops, turning around to look at him with a mix of concern and sympathy.

Bititi notices Hermes struggling to breathe, and quickly rummages through her bag, pulling out a small flask of deep purple liquid. She hurries over to him, uncorking the flask and holding it out to him. "Here, drink this," she instructs, her voice firm but kind.

Hermes takes the flask from Bititi, not even questioning what the liquid is. He takes a big gulp, his eyes widening suddenly as the liquid hits his throat. For a moment, his irises seem to flicker an unnatural shade of purple before returning to their normal brown.

Bititi watches Hermes closely, a satisfied look on her face as he finished the flask. "It's a special tonic made from herbs native to these mountains. It should help you keep going a bit longer," she explains, taking the empty flask back and tucking it into her bag.

Artula, who had been walking behind Hermes and Bititi, discreetly watches the interaction. When Hermes's eyes change color, she instantly spots the change, her gaze sharp and observant. As Bititi explains the tonic's properties, Artula's brows furrow slightly in concern. She notices the now-empty flask and Bititi's calm demeanor, making her mind swirl with questions.

The group starts up again, the momentary pause quickly forgotten. Artula continues to lag behind, her thoughts filled with suspicions as she watches Bititi closely, her instincts telling her that there is more to the purple liquid than meets the eye.

Ipo, who has been keeping a close eye on the surroundings, suddenly points towards the distance. The rest of the group looks in the direction he's indicating, their eyes widening at the sight before them. In the distance, they can see what appears to be a small structure, almost blending in with the rock formations.

Bititi, who has been leading the group, nods, her expression serious. "That's our first checkpoint," she explains, her voice quiet but steady. "We're making good time. We can rest there for a bit before continuing the climb."

There's a murmur of relief from the group. The thought of a short break, even if only momentary, is welcome after the hours of hiking they've done. They pick up the pace slightly, the prospect of the checkpoint drawing them forward.

As they get closer to the structure, they can see that it's a small shelter, built against and partially into the side of the mountain. It's made from the same stone as the cliffs, blending in almost perfectly.

The group comes closer to the shelter, and they can now see that the walls are not as plain as they had first thought. Carved into the stones are intricate, ancient-looking symbols and designs. The carvings seem to cover the entire surface of the walls, each one different from the other, as if each has its own story to tell.

The group stares at the carvings, their eyes tracing the lines and figures etched into the stone. They're both amazed and somewhat spooked at the sight, the unknown language adding to the other-worldly aura of the place.

Ipo's voice breaks the group's silence, his question filling the air with its echo. "How old are these carvings?" he repeats, his gaze flicking over the intricate designs.

Bititi pauses, her fingers tracing one of the symbols almost reverently. "These carvings are ancient, older than this mountain itself," she responds, a note of awe in her voice.

Haru's tone is disbelieving, his brow wrinkling as he looks at Bititi. "That doesn't make any sense," he says, his voice tinged with skepticism. "How can the carvings be older than the mountain?"

Bititi's demeanor becomes more solemn now, her voice taking on a storytelling tone. "Long ago, before the mountain even formed, this land was once home to a race of people. They were known as the Zipporians, and they were the first to ever scale the peak of Fikalimankaro."

"But the Zipporians weren't just any people. They were protectors, guardians of a sacred gem, the Zipporah Gem. A gem said to hold powers beyond our understanding. The one, your looking for…”

Bititi pauses for a moment, letting her words sink in, before continuing. "The Zipporians dedicated their lives to protecting this gem, and they were gifted with powers to do so. Powers that allowed them to shape and mold the very mountain they live on, leaving behind these carvings as a testament to their presence here."

The group is silent, listening to Bititi's tale with rapt attention. The idea of a race of people who could mold the very rocks around them is both unbelievable and fascinating.

Bititi nods, signaling for the group to start moving again. "Come on," she says, her voice breaking the spell of the tale. "We still have a long way to go. We can discuss more later."

The group follows Bititi, the air heavy with the weight of the tale they just heard. They continue the trek up the mountain, each lost in their own thoughts, the ancient carvings and the legend of the Zipporians echoing in their minds.

As they walk, the landscape starts to change, the air getting thinner and the path getting steeper. The silence is only filled by their gasps and the sound of their steps on the rocky terrain.

After some time, they start to see that the path is becoming less defined, more rugged. The wind starts to pick up slightly, a low whistle passing through the rocks and making a strange music with the landscape.

Bititi stops, holding up her hand. "Hang on a minute," she says, her voice firm but calm. The group pauses behind her, their senses on high alert at her tone.

Bititi takes a deep breath, her eyes scanning the path ahead. "The terrain is getting more treacherous. We have to be extra careful from here on," she cautions, turning to face the group. "Stick together."

Everyone nods, their faces showing slight worry at her warning. They stick closer to each other, the tight path forcing them to walk in single-file.

The group resumes their trek, now much more carefully, everyone's eyes focused on the path. They navigate through jagged rocks, taking care not to slip on the loose gravel underfoot.

Bititi, who was in the lead, suddenly stops. Her eyes widen for a split second, her body becoming absolutely still. The rest of the group notices her sudden freeze, and they stop as well, their eyes on Bititi.

"What is it?" Ipo asks, his voice slightly on edge. Bititi is just staring ahead, her gaze unwavering, her eyes fixed on something none of the others can see yet.

Bititi doesn't respond at first, her eyes flicking from side to side, as if she's trying to identify something. Then, she whispers, her voice barely audible over the distant howling of the wind. "There's something ahead."

The group, already on high alert, tenses even more. "What do you mean, there's something ahead?" Artula asks, her voice low but taut with worry.

Bititi gestures ahead, pointing at something indistinct in the distance. "There's a... shadow, I think," she says slowly, her eyes never leaving the unknown form.

The group turns to look in the same direction, squinting against the wind to make out what Bititi is seeing. Sure enough, in the distance, they can vaguely make out a hulking shape, darker than the surrounding rocks.

The darkness engulfs the group as the ground suddenly cracks and gives way, everyone falling through in a panicked confusion. Screams echo off the rocks as they drop into the darkness.

Bititi is suddenly alone amidst the darkness, confusion and horror flooding her mind. The group, who was just with her seconds ago, now nowhere to be seen. She turns to where she'd seen the figure, but it's vanished, leaving behind no trace of its presence. Bititi's voice is a panicked whisper. "Kids? Where are you?"

They all fall, the air whooshing past them as they drop into the seemingly endless abyss. The sea swallows them, the pressure and weight of the water making it next to impossible to fight against the pull. They can see nothing but the water around them, the light becoming dimmer and dimmer as they sink deeper and deeper.

The water churns around them as they surface, the shock and surprise forcing them to gasp. They look up, and the sky is unlike anything they've ever seen. A vast, unending expanse of stars and galaxies spread above them, the water underneath them a perfect mirror reflection of it. The lack of land is equally as baffling, the endless water stretching to the horizon in all directions.

"Where are we?" Ipo coughs, spitting out water as he looks around at the confusing sight. The rest of the group is similarly shocked, their eyes wide with disbelief as they take in their surroundings.

The water is strangely still, not a single wave breaking the surface anywhere. It's eerily quiet, except for the sound of their own breathing and voices. The silence around them is almost oppressive, the absence of land making them feel small and vulnerable.

Amidst the confusion and shock, they hear a faint horn in the distance. They look towards the sound, and their eyes widen in surprise. In the distance, they can see a giant boat, looking very much like a Camakau vessel, its towering figure cutting through the water.

"What is that?" Artula asks, her voice a mixture of awe and disbelief. The others are equally stunned, the sight of the boat both ominous and intriguing.

They stare at the boat, which is slowly getting closer and closer. Even from this distance, they can see that the boat is adorned with carvings, the design and patterns looking ancient and mysterious.

Ipo breaks the tense silence, shouting out desperately, "It's a boat! Help! Help us!"

His shout echoes across the water, but the effect is minimal, the distance still too great for the sailors onboard to hear him.

Ipo keeps shouting, the desperation in his voice clear. The others join in, their voices melding together as they cry out for help. The boat continues its steady course towards them, but it's clear that the sailors are still oblivious to their presence.

The boat is now considerably closer, the details of the craft becoming clearer. It's adorned with intricate carvings, the wooden surface weathered but strong. The sail is large and billowing with wind, propelling the boat smoothly through the still water.

"It's a Camakau boat," Ipo says, his voice laced with awe. The others are silent, their eyes fixed on the approaching vessel, their cries for help still echoing out across the water.

The boat draws closer and closer, and as it does, they see that the people on it are not solid and real like they initially thought. Instead, they're faintly transparent, their bodies taking on an ethereal glow. The realization slowly dawns on them - they're not just seeing sailors on a boat. They're seeing ancestral figures, ghosts from the past.

The group stares in awe and a bit of fear as the figures on the boat move around, tending to the ropes and steering the boat. They look like they're in the middle of a long and hard journey, their faces filled with determination and resilience.

Suddenly they feel something solid beneath their feet, they look down to see the earth quickly rising up, plants, grass, and trees springing to life all around them. The water seems to recede to the edges, creating a small, solid island that they now stand on. The speed at which the land is forming is almost miraculous.

As they take in the sight of grass and plants beneath their feet, they also notice something else - more of the translucent figures are now around them. Some of them are familiar, like their grandparents and parents, people they once knew and lost. The sight is both surreal and heart-wrenching, seeing the figures of their loved ones walking amongst them but out of reach.

Haru's gaze locks onto the figures of his parents, the sight triggering a flood of emotions. His eyes widen, his breathing becomes shallow. He reaches out a trembling hand, his fingers stopping an inch shy of the translucent form of his mother.

Haru's voice is a whisper, his words choked with emotion. "Mama..." The word hangs in the air, the weight of his loss and the longing to touch his mother again palpable. His eyes fill with tears as he gazes at his mother's translucent form, his hand still hovering an inch away.

The others watch, the emotions in the air heavy and poignant. They see Haru, who always seems so fearless and strong, is now vulnerable, his heart laid bare for them all to see. They can feel his pain, his longing to reach out and embrace his mother once more.

The silence is absolute as Haru continues to stare at his mother, his mind filled with memories and regrets. He'd give anything to see her smile again, to hear her voice, to feel her embrace. But she's there, just inches away, yet unreachable, a cruel mirage of the past.

He reaches out again, his hand trembling even more, fingers straining to close the gap. Yet his hand seems to hit an invisible wall, the boundary between the physical and the ethereal preventing any contact.

Omar's gentle touch on his shoulder is like a lifeline for Haru. The dam bursts as tears start to roll down his cheeks, the sobs shuddering through his body. The pent-up grief, the longing, and the frustration pour out, each sob heavier than the last.

The others stand nearby, watching with sympathetic eyes. They've never seen Haru so vulnerable, so human. Omar continues to anchor him with his hand on his shoulder, a silent sign of support and understanding.

The figures from the boat make their way to the shore, stepping onto the newly formed land with grace and a sense of ancient dignity. As they do, Ipo's eyes widen in recognition. He looks at the figures, realization dawning on his face.

As the group watches, more of their deceased loved ones step forward. Zola's uncle, Artula's cousin, Hermes' little sister, Mira's father, and Omar's Aunt. Seeing these faces from the past brings a mix of nostalgia, joy, and sadness. Their faces they thought they'd forgotten, suddenly standing right in front of them.

The group is silent as they take in the sight of these ancestors and loved ones. The air is heavy with nostalgia and grief, but there's also a sense of wonder and awe. They're seeing people they thought they'd never see again, people who shaped their lives in countless ways.

Some are overcome with emotions, tears rolling down their cheeks. Some are just standing there, eyes wide, awed and scared at the same time. A few step forward, their shaking hands trying to touch the figures, their voices whispering out names long unspoken.

The ancestors and loved ones seem to smile at them, their eyes filled with a wisdom and love that transcends time and death. They're present, but not really, and this paradox makes the moment even more surreal and poignant.

Then, as the shock starts to wear off, the ancestors start speaking. Their words are not in the same language as the group, yet they can understand perfectly. The figures speak in hushed, wise tones, their words filled with timeless wisdom and advice.

The ancestors speak in turns, their voices soft but sure. They talk about life, about death, about time and its relentless passage. They speak about grief, about love, about the choices and actions that shape a life. They sound like elders, offering their wisdom to younger ears. But they're also mournful, there is a sense of sadness in their words, a tinge of longing and a hint of warning.

"Life is a woven thread, each moment a stitch in the tapestry of existence," the first ancestor says, his voice carrying the weight of years gone by.

A second ancestor chimes in, "Death is not an end, but a transition. A doorway that leads to another realm, another part of the journey."

A third ancestor, a woman, adds, "Time is a gift and a curse. Cherish each moment, for it slips through our fingers like grains of sand."

And in unison, the ancestors speak, their words echoing with power and compassion.

"Children of Gaia, the great mother, you have been through so much, and have come so far. We see your strength, your courage, your resilience. We see the journey you've taken, the challenges you've faced, and the wisdom you've gained."

"Now we give you the strength and wisdom to keep going. Trust in the world, trust in each other, and trust in yourselves. You are the future, you are the hope."

The ancestors form a circle around the group, hovering a few inches above the surface, their forms translucent and shimmering. And then, they start to sing. Each ancestor sings in the language and cultural way of their time and people, filling the air with a chorus of voices that is both heavenly and haunting.

As the ancestors raise their voices in song, the seven mortals also start to rise off the ground, levitating gently. It's like the ancestors' voices are lifting them up, drawing them closer to the ethereal plane. The singing grows louder, more powerful, and the air trembles with the collective energy.

A voice rings out, one coming from a very ancient ancestor.

"All energy is only borrowed, by all living things through which it flows. And one day, it must be returned."

The voice is powerful and commanding, like the echo of a distant past. Then, the words, "Go, save your people."

The words hang in the air, heavy with a sense of duty and destiny.

The powerful vortex of the whoosh envelops them, and in a flash, they find themselves standing in a stone room.

At the center of the room is a massive stone pillar that looks strangely familiar. As they look closely, they realize the gem embedded in the pillar is the Zipporah Gem.

Looking around, they see that the walls, ceiling, and floor are covered with markings, all similar to the Zipporian ones they've seen before. The symbols, geometric shapes, and lines seem to tell a story, yet it's one untold and mysterious.

The air in the room feels charged, the stones giving off an ancient energy. The markings around them seem to speak of a past long gone, yet somehow still connected to them. As they look closer, they might start to understand the story these symbols tell, their meanings slowly becoming clearer.

The room itself is circular, the stone pillar in the middle seemingly the centerpiece. Its presence is imposing, the gem shining even in the dim light. The markings, with their familiar yet foreign shapes, seem to lead the eye to the pillar, almost reverentially.

They might touch the markings, feeling the rough texture of the stone against their fingertips. Even the atmosphere seems to carry a sense of ritual, as if this room has been here for centuries, silently bearing witness to countless times and beings.

Hermes, with determination in his voice, breaks the reverent silence.

"Let's do this. Let's get the gem and get back to Egalan. We need to save our people."

[disneymbti]

Could you do the big three for the main 6 Gallagher kids from Shameless (US)?

Hi there, sweetie! I really hope you like this a lot!

Fiona Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ENFJ [The Protagonist]

ENFJs are high-energy people who dislike spending too much time alone. They take initiative and tend to talk more than they listen.

They usually trust their intuition and focus on the future. They are good at analyzing complex ideas. 

Protagonists are motivated by feelings and values. They work to avoid conflict and are very diplomatic.

They like to make lists and schedules, preferring to follow a plan. They are hard-working and responsible.

Big Three: Leo Sun, Capricorn Moon and Aries Rising

Leo Sun: The Sun rules the sign Leo, which is why Leo Suns all about ego, will, and character. They’re known to be creative, playful, and bold.

Capricorn Moon: The Capricorn Moon is reflective and contemplative, working to build a better foundation with those they care about.

Aries Rising: Aries ascendants are known as the go-getters of the zodiac. They don’t let anything stand in their way of achieving their personal goals.

Enneagram Type: 2w3 [The Host]

Basic Fear: Enneagram type two wing threes fear being unwanted or worthless. They usually avoid this by building personal connections with others and working hard to meet the needs of the community.

Basic Desire: Their most basic desire is to be loved and accepted. They may express this by being extremely attentive and attached to other people.

Hosts tend to suppress their own negative emotions, which, when done frequently, can lead to high levels of stress or unexpected outbursts.

Lip Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ISTP [The Virtuoso]

Virtuosos are generally more reserved and prefer being alone. They are self-sufficient, independent thinkers.

They are very observant and focus on the details of a situation, trusting facts and making decisions based on the here-and-now.

ISTP types favor logic and reason over emotional influences. They base their decisions on what makes sense.

They are also spontaneous and prefer keeping their options open. Virtuosos are often more adaptable and less aware of time.

Big Three: Aries Sun, Gemini Moon and Capricorn Rising

Aries Sun: The first sign of the zodiac, Aries is ruled by action planet Mars. When placed as the sun sign, the ram can motivate themselves to face on fears and blow past hesitation.

Gemini Moon: Ruled by winged messenger, Mercury, Gemini Moons enjoy discussing their complex feelings with others in order to gain a mindful and clear emotional perspective.

Capricorn Rising: Capricorn ascendants are known for their efforts and diligence when it comes to attaining success and prosperity. 

Enneagram Type: 6w5 [The Guardian]

Basic Fear: Sixes with five wings are afraid of losing their guidance and stability. This is often expressed through their skepticism of the world.

Basic Desire: They have a strong desire for security, which they tend to show by protecting themselves and others. They seek close and stable relationships.

Guardians tend to defend themselves by projecting their own feelings onto others, which can often enhance their distrust of the world.

Ian Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ISFP [The Adventurer]

ISFP types need plenty of personal space. Though they enjoy building connections with people, they need alone time to think and recharge.

They are very observant, especially focusing on the details more than the overall view. They live in the present and tend to base decisions on what they can see right now.

Adventurers also prioritize emotion when making decisions. They prefer to follow what feels right.

They don’t like schedules, but instead prefer to keep their options open. They are adaptable, spontaneous, and like to challenge the need for strict rules.

Big Three: Taurus Sun, Aries Moon and Sagittarius Rising

Taurus Sun: The Bull tends to be drawn to a creative and indulgent lifestyle — and we wouldn’t expect anything less from a Venus ruled sign. They're also thought to have a stubborn, loyal and grounded personality.

Aries Moon: Lunar Aries are known to be emotionally responsive and impulsive at times, as they lead with fiery passions over than logic or reason.

Sagittarius Rising: Sagittarius risings are jovial, optimistic, and full of energy. They sparkle with confidence, and you can't help but sparkle back when you're around them.

Enneagram Type: 6w7 [The Confidant]

Basic Fear: Six wing sevens’ fear losing their support system. This may be expressed through self-deprecating humor, in which they seek affirmation and assurance from other people.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to feel safe and supported. They show this by being loving and supportive to others. They honor their commitments and are very loyal to their friends.

Like other sixes, Confidants defend themselves by projecting their feelings, which may lead them to misunderstanding themselves and their relationships.

Debbie Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ESFJ [The Consul]

As extroverts, Consuls are talkative, energetic, and thrive around people. They prefer not to spend too much time alone.

Highly observant, their focus lies more on the details than on how everything connects together. They trust facts over theories—and they make decisions based on what they can see right now.

ESFJs are feelers who prioritize emotion rather than logic in their decision-making.  Empathetic and diplomatic, they do what feels right rather than what makes sense.

They’re structured and organized, preferring to plan ahead so they know what’s going to happen. They like rules, processes and schedules.

Big Three: Sagittarius Sun, Cancer Moon and Pisces Rising

Sagittarius Sun: Sagittarius is governed by the expansive planet Jupiter, and is known for a free-spirited, globe-trotting, philosophical mindset — and wild streak.

Cancer Moon: The emotions of Cancer Moons have no limits, restraints, or depths. This is a cosmic placement that often leads to sweetness, kindness, emotional awareness and responsibility. 

Pisces Rising: The Pisces ascendant commits fully to their beliefs, and has an active imagination.

Enneagram Type: 2w3 [The Host]

Basic Fear: Enneagram type two wing threes fear being unwanted or worthless. They usually avoid this by building personal connections with others and working hard to meet the needs of the community.

Basic Desire: Their most basic desire is to be loved and accepted. They may express this by being extremely attentive and attached to other people.

Hosts tend to suppress their own negative emotions, which, when done frequently, can lead to high levels of stress or unexpected outbursts.

Carl Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ESTP [The Entrepreneur]

ESTP types like being around large groups of people, whether they know them or not. They prefer being out in action to being at home by themselves.

They are very observant and detail-oriented people. They are practical and realistic, focusing on the here-and-now.

Explorers make decisions based in logic. They care more about following the truth than making other people happy.

They avoid schedules, preferring to make plans as they go. They are less aware of time and enjoy being adaptable.

Big Three: Aquarius Sun, Scorpio Moon and Scorpio Rising

Aquarius Sun: Aquarius is ruled by Saturn and Uranus, which makes them seek out unique ways to problem-solve and to approach life. They're known to be intellectual and innovative.

Scorpio Moon: Scorpio Moons are known for their brooding nature that exudes passion. Once you win them over, they are loyal and unconditional in matters of love.

Scorpio Rising: Prone to turning heads, Scorpio ascendents ooze with magnetism and dynamism. They're not known to back away from a challenge. 

Enneagram Type: 6w7 [The Confidant]

Basic Fear: Six wing sevens’ fear losing their support system. This may be expressed through self-deprecating humor, in which they seek affirmation and assurance from other people.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to feel safe and supported. They show this by being loving and supportive to others. They honor their commitments and are very loyal to their friends.

Like other sixes, Confidants defend themselves by projecting their feelings, which may lead them to misunderstanding themselves and their relationships.

Liam Gallagher's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: INTJ [The Architect]

INTJs like to have time alone to recharge and think introspectively.

They tend to listen to their strong intuition and love to see how everything connects together. They are focused on the bigger picture and may overlook small details.

Architects are very logical and rational. They base decisions on what makes sense and might have a harder time connecting emotionally.

They are organized and prefer following a plan. They love to set and achieve goals. 

Big Three: Virgo Sun, Aquarius Moon and Libra Rising

Virgo Sun: Governed by communication planet Mercury, Virgos are the thinkers of the zodiac. Virgos process information with diligence and use facts to solve problems. 

Aquarius Moon: Logic or emotion? Why not both. The Aquarius Moon integrates logic with sentimentality in order to attain a deep understanding of their inner lives.

Libra Rising: Finding balance in life is essential for Libra risings, who prefer things to be even-keeled and civil.

Enneagram Type: 5w6 [The Troubleshooter]

Basic Fear: Five wing sixes fear being useless or incapable. They seek to improve the world around them in order to feel worthy.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to be competent and useful. They usually show this by picking up new skills and pieces of knowledge that can be of benefit.

Troubleshooters may withdraw from others to cope with stressful situations, which can tend to make them feel lonely.

[presidentcircles-assistant]

Parallia/Renata Character Intro:

i apologize ahead of time, for this is very long.

Childhood best friend of R. Line, known as Renata at that time. Both around 11-12 years old. The two had quite different personalities. Parallia was always the more daring and ambitious of the two, determined to change the horrible conditions the Rural Villages were forced into and create a better life for her and Renata. She detested being deprived of resources and autonomy, and the way she saw it, she would push and shove with brute force until the world had no choice but to accept her. Parallia had come to accept that if she was forced to, she would be willing to die for her beliefs. But she was still just a kid, and was afraid of death all the same. Renata trailed along in her footsteps, afraid of going against authority, but also unwillingly to let go of the friend whose strength and ambition reassured her that they would make it out of here someday. They were practically inseparable.

There is always constant surveillance from Soldiers in their villages, but they are usually avoidable, lingering around predictable areas in the streets or buildings. No use spending more valuable resources than needed on Isosceles. When Inspection days draw closer, many more Soldiers are sent and are much more vigilant to make sure nobody attempts escape. It is an agreed upon rule that talk of the Third Dimension is forbidden during these times. Parallia resented having to hide her religion and beliefs just because somebody higher up said it was so. She viewed the entire village as being comprised of cowards, willingly silencing themselves instead of standing up for what the believed in.

When they went to one of the makeshift schools still open but run under tight restrictions, Parallia began to continuously talk of the Third Dimension and refused to stop after being told to keep quiet several times by the Teacher. After dismissing early, Parallia walked out with Renata, but was held back by the Teacher, saying she had to discuss something with her. Renata watched her walk into the school building. In a moment of panicked desperation to keep their village alive, the Teacher murders Parallia in order to silence her.

Renata is the only one who knows the truth of what happens, and is forced to watch the rest of the village dismiss it as an accident and quickly move on. She feels heavy guilt, thinking that she was responsible for Parallia's death. She had the feeling something was wrong, and could have led Parallia away before she could go with the Teacher. But she didn't. She was too afraid.

She attempts to tell her mother, but she gets chastised for trying to ruin a trusted community member with a horrible, unfounded accusation. The loss of Parallia wounds Renata in a way that she never recovers from, and she lives out her childhood reliving trauma that nobody will support her through. She spirals into a mindset of suspicion and animosity towards everyone around her, and becomes fueled by the ambition of finding a way out of her situation, not by taking steps to improve the world she lives in now, but by endlessly praying towards a place far away from this where she can leave all her issues behind without a second thought. Who cares what happens to the others? She loses sight of the original intention behind Parallia's actions, done to try to make a better world for her people to live in, and takes certain aspects of Parallia's beliefs and amplifies them until she is focused on exacting revenge without remorse. She adopts the truth the world has taught her, that brute force and cruel measures are the solution to any issues that arise.

The moment her cruelty begins to be engrained into her is with the Teacher. The Teacher's guilt for what happened only arises when she is forced to interact with Renata in her daily life and be held accountable for what she did. Renata pulls Parallia's murder up from the depths, forcing the Teacher to stare what she's done in the face and accept that this is the horrible thing she chose to do and that she must live with it forever. They are stuck in this village together, and Renata torments her every chance she gets. It's Renata's first real taste of the satisfaction contained in the ability to force suffering onto those you feel deserve it.

Renata takes on the name R. Line to separate herself from what happened. Renata let the one person that would ever be loyal to her die because of her own hesitancy and weak will. R. Line will not falter. Renata was ignorant about the true workings of the world and thought that one young line from a poor village could change anything. R. Line knows that there is nobody she can rely upon in this world except the steady truth that the Sphere will give her salvation after death. She puts all her faith into an idealized future in order to distract herself from the bleakness of her life in the village.

Parallia's death teaches R. Line she has two options in this world: to speak out and die, or to silently endure and live. She chose life.