#we're nothing if not suspicious XD

[3hobbitsinatrenchcoat]

[addicted-to-dc]

Jekyll/Hyde Part 3 - Taskforce 141 x Reader

< Prev Chapter

(A/N) HELLO!! We're finally delving into Jekyll's backstory. Nothing like seeing a character before their life falls apart. I'm still planning out THE mission that changed everything, but we'll build up to that XD.

Content Warnings: Flashback, smut (fingering, piv), PTSD, vomiting, smoking. (Let me know if I missed any tags tyyyyy). About 2k words.

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Sunlight leaks through the curtains, lightly dancing around the room with your laughter. It’s warm despite the winter season. Hot hands burn through your pajamas, toying with the seams until he just slides them under the fabric. You sigh, burrowing deeper into his grasp.

“G’ mornin’,” you mutter, sliding your arms over his. “Time?”

“Early enough, wanted more time with you,” Dane grunts beneath you, hands roaming and squeezing wherever they please. “I have a bad feeling about this one.”

It’s been more noticeable these days, each step you and your team take feels weighted. Slowed down. Made inefficient. Losing that quality has cost lives, leads, and your fucking sanity. Your well-oiled machine is stunted, as if someone is actively sabotaging it.

A harsh squeeze brings you back to him. “I fear there’s a weed in our garden… and it’s going to get all of us killed. You’ve noticed, haven’t you?”

Your stomach drops. Of course you’ve fucking noticed. Too many coincidences that result in failed missions. Injuries that cause delays. Bureaucratic red tape was the recent gimmick, but you recognize it as a red flag. You have a bad feeling about this one too. Your alarms have been ringing for months now, the warnings growing less and less effective against your phantom threat.

“I contacted some old friends, told them to keep an eye out for suspicious activity,” you grunt, pushing yourself up. Dane has other plans, pulling you back down. His hands begin to wander again.

“Did they find anything?” His scorching hands against your cold skin leave goosebumps in his wake. It forces you to shiver, stealing back the blanket he stole during the night. “I’m surprised you didn’t tell me about this.”

“I don’t need to remind you about keeping our professional and personal lives separate,” you huff, batting his hands away as soon as they delve lower, “and of course they haven’t found anything. Whoever is involved in this knows how to cover their tracks. They’ll slip up soon, they have to.”

Your joints pop as soon as you stand, taking a few moments to stretch out. Oddly, no aches or pains greet you this morning. It’s difficult to slip into the dark mindset that even the closest and most trusted individuals around you may be plants. Your eyes drift back to Dane, peering over your shoulder mid-stretch. Of course he’s staring at you. Rolling your eyes, you start getting ready.

His arms engulf you, pulling you back into the bed, “Get back here.”

It’s too easy to melt back into him.

“Need coffee,” you grumble, fighting his cuddles. You’ll fall back asleep at this rate. “Need t’ feed th’ dogs.”

He shakes his head, wet kisses following a path up your neck. “We’ll get Auggie to do it.”

“Not sure if passing responsibilities to my team is – AH!” Your words cease as his teeth sink into your flesh, body jumping as he maneuvers himself between your legs. “Fuck, do I need to muzzle you?”

His only response is a nip to your skin, teeth tracing along your collection of scars. The boxers he’s wearing barely provide a barrier as his hips meet yours. Bulky arms wrap around your figure, keeping you still as he grinds directly onto your core. Your nails digging into his flesh only spur him to add more weight behind his movements, your breath quickening with the increase in pleasure.

Dane’s lips meet yours as he slides a finger in, absorbing your noises after every single drag along your walls. His touch lights your skin on fire, only making you more desperate for him. Tightening your hold on him, a strong push sends him onto his back. “Sit.”

He quickly pushes himself against the headboard, boxers left behind at the drag of cloth on cloth. Crawling to him, you take your rightful seat on his lap. You guide his hand back to your wetness, “Get wet f’me, gonna make this quick.”

“Fuck yeah, baby, please,” he whimpers, quickly following your instructions. “Need this. Need you, fuck, please.”

Pleasure zings up your spine as you line him up, knees descending slowly to let him in, “Love it when you beg. Good boy.”

Then you sink down completely, relishing in the burn from him splitting you open. His hands fly up to your waist in a flash. You relish the view of his gasping breaths, veins bulging and tense muscles. Poor man’s trying to not blow his load the second he slips in. Chuckling, you grind yourself against him and entertain yourself with his reactions.

“Can’t take what you dish, love?” you snark, nails dragging across his scalp until you have a good grip on him. Adjusting your position, you push his face into your chest. “Be good.”

His lips wrap around your nipple, sucking and licking as you finally start moving. You close your eyes and focus on the feeling of him inside of you. Your grip on his hair remains tight as you force him to switch breasts, the new stimulation causing your pace to falter slightly. Adjusting yourself, you switch to a roll of your hips and gasp.

“Am I being good?”

You open your eyes and recoil, attempting to push yourself off, but his harsh grip on your waist prevents any movement. He ushers you to continue, but the image of him alone makes you freeze. The smell of blood fills your nostrils, smoke soon follows as you push him away from you.

He’s torn apart, nose long gone and chunks taken from any exposed flesh. Laughter rattles your brain as he rubs in the blood across your chest, hand traveling downwards to circle your clit. “C’mon, Huntress, don’t hold back on me know.”

Dane’s usual smile is gone, replaced by marred lips and opening wider and wider until it surpasses his jawline. His fingers puncture your waist, digging in deep until he grabs ahold of something inside. He bites your ear, gnawing on the wound he gave you.

“You’ve made your mark, Darlin’, s’ only right that I make mine.” His teeth sink into your flesh just as air is forced out of your lungs.

Your eyes snap open, mid-way through a scream as you slam onto the floor. Battling against the blanket, you wrench it off and push yourself back until you hit the cold wall behind you. Everything blurs around you until you reach for the trashcan next to your bed, emptying the remnants of last night’s dinner into it. Thankfully it has a trash bag in it.

A cold nose to your arm pulls you out of the veil. You take a deep breath and spit the lingering vomit from your mouth. Blinking rapidly, you finally take in your surroundings. Shitty beige walls, cheap office furniture, the light switch on the wall with duct tape over it-

“Fuck,” you groan, slamming your palm on the side table to shakily push yourself up.

You don’t look into the mirror once you enter the bathroom, quickly rinsing the leftover taste in your mouth. It doesn’t take long to toss on your boots and jacket to leave. The dogs follow.

You’re not sure how long you walked into the forest. The wind swaying the leaves replaces Dane’s raspy drawl. The scent of soil and flora soothes your mind, erasing any thought of his cologne. Sir and Ruse march ahead and clear a path for you. Bear remains by your side, her cold nose tapping your hand every now and then.

You decide you’ve reached your destination at the sight of a fallen tree. “Ruse dig.”

The pup barks and excitedly digs into the wet soil. Sir barks when the dirt smacks into him, moving to join your side with a grumble. You take a seat against the trunk, leaning against Sir to watch Ruse wreck the ground. He whines when he finds a rock, pawing at it for a few moments before leaning in and biting it out of the way.

He whips it out of sight, stealing a chuckle from you. His face is completely muddy, but that doesn’t stop him from panting giddily from exertion. “Good Ruse.”

Patting his head, you dig into your jacket pocket to retrieve the rings. You find the chain first, tugging it out when it gets caught on a loose thread. The rings jingle against each other even as they land in the freshly dug hole.

“Sir, bury. Ruse to me.”

Ruse lays down in Sir’s previous spot, groaning when your nails scratch his belly. You draw random patterns while playing with his fur, eyes fixed on the rings until they’re out of sight under the dirt. A deep breath escapes you. The tension in your shoulders lessens.

A new beginning, that’s the label Laswell slapped onto your current predicament. How can there be a beginning when the cycle repeats? Your trust in anyone has significantly decreased, but you can’t help but wonder if this will be permanent.

Huntress. A title you buried long ago. You glare at the disturbed dirt. Your memories can’t help but playback in your mind, Mohawk’s question rattling in your mind. Why the name change? A simple question with a painful answer. Bear’s rumbling growl tears you from your thoughts, eyes meeting Price’s. Your stomach drops. Fuck, how long have you been out here?

You run your fingers through Bear’s fur, calming her down enough for him to comfortably approach. He offers a cigarette, lighting it before depositing it between your fingers. The first inhale is long, sucking in the smoke before blowing it away from the dogs. Price takes a seat across from you, grunting once his ass meets the downed tree.

“You solid?”

A dry huff escapes you, “Gaseous at best, Sir.”

Your fingers dance along your pups’ fur as you trace the unique patterns. The smell of nicotine drowns out the scent of soil. It grounds you enough to look back at him. He’s already lit his own cigar, cold eyes analyzing you. It hasn’t even been a week and you’re already a visible nutcase. More so than normal. It’s been some time since you had a nightmare like that.

“You’re not the first broken soldier that’s been sent my way. By fate or otherwise,” Price rumbles, flicking off some ash. “M’ gonna take care of you. All of us will.”

“That’s nothing you can guarantee,” you whisper, wiping away your unwanted tears. “I appreciate the sentiment.”

“You want to die?”

Your eyes snap to his, unable to read his expression. What a loaded question. Can you simply walk amongst the living with the weight of death upon your shoulders? This isn’t a life, it’s borrowed time. You should have died that day.

“I have been defiled and betrayed by those closest to me, Captain,” you chuckle, your grip on the dogs tightening. “My team, my husband…”

The dogs skitter away as you push yourself up, graciously providing space to stand. You gather up saliva and spit on top of the packed dirt. Fuck him. Fuck the nightmares. They remind you of the weight on your shoulders, the promises you made to right the wrongs of the world. An impossible burden to bear (alone).

“It’s not about wanting to die; it’s about making it count,” you finally answer, blowing away the veil of smoke gathering around you. “I want to see it through. Watch them burn.”

“And after?” Thinking about the future is a dangerous thing. Do you dare allow hope to fester in your scarred heart?

“My dreams of a future are gone, John. It’s best to leave dead things alone.” You walk away, whistling loudly for your pack to follow. “Thanks for the cigarette.”

There’s rustling behind you and he’s by your side. So much for walking away from this conversation. The dogs run ahead and leave you alone with him. Fucking great. Furry little traitors.

“What did you want, then?”

A stupid, foolish dream. “A family.”

[good7luck]

My quick personal thought on Noe in VNC manga latest chapter 61.5

(more under the cut)

.

I do NOT think Noe "pretended" to not notice the racism towards Dham in the office because he didn't "want" to accept the harsh reality that his "good" fellows are being bad / racists. It didn't happen...yet, at least.

I'm rather sure Noe simply, sincerely had NO "concept" of the racism ITSELF towards Dham AT ALL. "They probably still don't know their individual name each" was the ONLY and "best" guess Noe could ever make ON HIS OWN, within HIS (extremely limited) "common sense".

Noe does NOT realize the word Dham was being used like a slur purposefully in THEIR context, because Noe believes it's "by definition" not inherently an offensive term. They're Dhams, it's who they are, what's the problem? Vani is a human, so there's nothing wrong to call him human, cuz it's what he is, isn't it? But yeah, it's weird to keep calling all of them as just Dham when they all have their own name, let's fix it now!

Well, Noe does not have the same view / experience as other characters, much less we audience. He tends to listen well, but he's not always good at catching the hints / full context quickly. Of course, Noe hated to be called only "vampire" on and on by Vani in the previous arc, but Vani was clearly super hostile and seriously fighting Noe to death at that time, while this is happening "in peace", so Noe couldn't possibly imagine the people were hostile, "too", just in a different or "softer" form, perhaps? Or Noe failed to notice it because it's not directly about Vani lol

I get that it's very tempting to call Noe "stupid / annoying" etc for not noticing the "obvious" malice. But it's NOT obvious to him, unfortunately; he's plain ignorant and oblivious for real, because he literally has had NO chance to learn until now. He can't magically know what he doesn't know. He isn't even a genius character. This is the first time Noe witnessed the subtle and explicit racism, and honestly...I highly doubt if even now he truly understands that he watched people being openly bigoted and that it's never from their "innocent ignorance" as he first believed. Sadly, it indeed doesn't help that those people are the ones who Noe does NOT see as an enemy.

Noe never heard of Ruthven, who "can't" be unknown to anyone. Noe genuinely believed everyone else (Vani & Domi) was lost, when it's actually him alone who was lost. This is the Noe we're talking about!

Shapeless One didn't teach Noe anything about Dham and the prevailing racism (which is surely suspicious and irresponsible). It seems he at least didn't tell Noe that Dham should be oppressed / hated, and thankfully Noe has grown up not to discriminate people merely for race. Since he arrived in Paris, Vani has never bothered Dante and others for being Dham in front of Noe, either. But yeah, now Noe should get to know more and face the unjust reality that the Dham has to deal with.

"Noe should've known better because, Archiviste!!" I feel he believes that it's NOT the same and mostly the matter of the "rightfully creepy" (he thinks) "ability" of the memory-reading (for now, at least). When you think about it...no VNC character has negatively reacted to Noe for being Archiviste so far (and like, most of them barely know in detail or get interested a little) - except Vani XD and we all know Vani currently doesn't care, as long as Noe doesn't try to drink his blood. Astolfo hated Noe, but it's because he equally hates any "vampire".

However, in regards to Dham, people are loudly making "the existence ITSELF" a huge problem, including their mere "appearance" difference. People "discuss" their "right to exist", which is similar to Jeanne, Bourreau, the slaves. Yeah, I suppose Noe has been kinda "lucky" not to be the target of discrimination...until now. I won't be surprised if Noe still doesn't understand what makes Dham "deserve" all the disgust when they don't even have any "disgusting" ability "like his". I'd like to also add that...Noe might've been safe solely thanks to his (problematic) "guardian" Shapeless One, the (in)famous & powerful vampire that no one can casually ignore, similar to Ruthven ^^;;

In short, I think Noe did NOT "forcedly" "choose" to "ignore" the racism and try to make an "excuse" for his "cannot-be-racist" fellows "instead"; how can he "choose" to believe "otherwise", when he doesn't even notice the deep racism "specifically" towards Dham in the first place? Though I can agree that it'd be hard for Noe to properly process what's going on in the office because he unconsciously believes the fellows he trusts wouldn't be "weird" or "malicious" to other fellows "for an unreasonable reason".

.

This was written quite quickly, and I might regret it and remake a similar post later...or not XD

Thank for you reading my current personal opinion!!

[kingofthewilderwest]

Top five books?

Oh, cruel, cruel, prompt! How do I pick!? I almost asked you the same question ahaha.

In no particular order:

Fahrenheit 451: That book changed me, yo. It impacted my understanding of how to write. I wouldn't be where I am today without it. And yeah, I loved it.

Fullmetal Alchemist: We're going to call this one book. ;) Some of the best literature I've read. And I do mean literature. XD I don't own multiple complete copies of the series for nothing.

Hero Tales: Also suspiciously touched by the illustrious Hiromu Arakawa. Lesser-known, five volume manga. But I love how much heart and emotion is shoved into those chapters! It is my little heartfelt emotional baby series.

How to Train Your Dragon: [hides twelve books into one bullet point] [I don't know what you're talking about I'm only putting five books in this answer]

The Wheel of Time: This is another one of those series that just sticks with me. It sticks where other materials have faded from memory.

Honorable mentions, mostly ones that impacted me growing up: Warriors Cats Series #1, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, The Daystar Voyages, Into the Land of the Unicorns, Sam: The Cat Detective, Perloo the Bold, Rurouni Kenshin, Much Ado about Nothing, The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales, Great Expectations, Plato's Republic

[hacked-by-jake]

Hi! I wanted to leave this with a comment but I had to send it in multiple parts so I decided to make an ask :)

So SPOILERS!

I wanted to comment about the ask where anon talks about how no one questions us and I totally agree but doesn't Eric call them all before? Like in Duskwood, Thomas just brought everyone in without anyone's consent in a group chat? Eric alerts them and they probably just wait and see what will happen with us? I know if I were one of them I'll be cautious about the new person but I wouldn't ultimately get mad at them without knowing more? And Eric is on his own in the forest, while Adam has disappeared. The settings are different and they are more worried about their friends than about that stranger, especially if Adam had sent my contact to his friend and there was a letter with my name on it. Ash asks about us and the others will probably too at some point but I think they are shocked that their friend is missing. XD

Sorry if I didn't explain myself well and it wasn't a criticism about the previous ask! Because I totally agree with the fact that no one really questions us not even Eric but they just discovered the disappearance of their friend so it's not the most important thing at the moment? Especially at 00h27...

Now that I am reading this, it's not that important I just wanted to say something about the game. :)

Thank you for reading and thank you for giving your opinions

Have a wonderful day/evening

Hey Ho! :D

First of all, thank you a lot for sending the ask, I really appreciate it.

Well, you're absolutely right about the call and I forgot about it.

But I think in Duskwood is was like, they knew the number already and even wanted to go to the police with it. So they all were aware that the number existed and they still were super suspicious. But also not completely in the first chat. Also more like in private chats. Richy and Jessy, for example. Also Richy and Cleo and Thomas and Cleo as well. They all wrote about us. But in the group no one really did. And also not in private chats with the characters. So it's not that different.

I think they just were surprised when Thomas really wrote to us and then started the group. Since Dan says something like "so you really did it, huh?"

And as I said, I forgot about the call in Moonvale. But it's true. And Eric explained everything to them before. I do believe they should be more careful and not trust our opinion right away. But I think another reason is that the other didn't know it Adam was the victim of a crime. He disappeared on his own. That is what we know so far. So there wasn't much time to ask questions. And I can imagine this will become more of a topic in the next episode.

And Charlie doesn't even realise the seriousness in the beginning and Violet didn't say much at all.

I don’t know. With the call it definitely makes more sense gut they should have been a bit more careful, at least. Maybe another thing is because Eric already called the police and if we had something to hide we wouldn't be happy about it.

I don't know, I don’t think it's a huge problem, a bit odd, but nothing too much. And at least Ash questioned us.

And after she told Charlie about it, it's also not a wonder why he's not questioning us. I mean, for these two it's more clear why we're there. Violet is very passive and probably doesn’t say anything about it either.

It feels a little weird, yes, but is not a doomsday that somehow disturbs the course.

Thank you for sharing your opinion and also thank you for the reminder about the call. I think you explained it very well and there's nothing to misunderstand, don't worry. 💚

And I wish you a good day/evening/night, as well! Take care! 💚

[kunikinnie]

*knocks knocks* tao poooo

request are open, so! and I love Yukichi sm guess we're both a Fukuzawa simping blog

may I ask of Yukichi and how he would deal with his s/o's ex-boyfriend/lover 🤔 (like giving signs of wanting to get them back but of course we're not interested we won't replace Yukichi)

XD

a/n: galing ng prompt mo alavet HAHA hope this is ok! was writing the next part of Nabe and this is giving me ideas oop

dealing with your ex

featuring: Fukuzawa x GN!Reader

Your ex was trying to initiate contact with you a little more frequently than they should. You didn't think much of it, but right from the get go, Fukuzawa's suspicious. Of course he is - how could he not be? But it's not like there was reason to act on that hunch... at least not yet.

Because of how busy he is, he didn't even dwell on their presence at first. Every moment he spent with you was singularly for you and you only.

It was when their name and perhaps your slight discomfort became a regular occurrence that Fukuzawa decided to not ignore the issue any further.

Being your partner gave him the right to assert himself if needed - that much is undeniable. Yet at the back of his mind, he's worried that you might have lingering feelings for them. What should he do, then? The thought causes a certain pang in his chest that he dispels any speculation before asking you first.

Thankfully, you had the same thoughts as he did.

"Maybe I'm just overthinking things," you added after rambling your feelings on the matter. "It's not like they'll do anything, right?"

"Nothing will happen as long as I'm here," Fukuzawa replied with a firm but gentle voice, determined to fulfill that promise.

Now as protective as he may be, he's not the type to confront anyone less absolutely necessary. The most he'll do during this period is walk and accompany you more often (if possible) and to spend more time with you in general.

Most likely, it is the ex who'll confront him first.

"I still love Y/N," they say without shame. "Let me take a chance with them again, please." The audacity-

"It is their decision to make," Fukuzawa said calmly. Internally, however, he's already thrown him onto the speeding traffic. "And it's theirs alone."

If that wasn't clear enough, then God grant him patience. It wouldn't end well if he was granted more strength. Fortunately, leaving the rest to you was more that enough.

Your ex never showed up again since you talked to him. Fukuzawa would like to claim that during the period in between those incidents, he remained as stoic as ever. You knew that wasn't the truth, however.

If there's one thing you've learned from being with him all this time, it's that what your lover couldn't say in words he said through his eyes. The long and frequent stares at you when he thought you weren't looking spoke volumes about his true emotions.

"There's no need to get jealous, Yukichi."

The cough that followed nearly choked him. "I-I'm just worried he won't take it well."

"You said nothing will happen, right? As long as you're here, it'll be fine."

It's strange how the tables turned easily like that, he mused at the time. But once it had all passed, he could only be relieved that all that was promised remained unbroken.

taglist: @irethepotato, @kisara-16reblogs, @dazaee, @menshusband, @celestair, @bloobewy

[dokidokitsuna]

Hey, have you watched the anime "senki zesshou symphogear"?

It's a very great magical girl anime and if you haven't watched it yet you definitely should! I think you would like it.

...This has got to be a trick. ^^; You already know, don't you?? I can't remember talking about anything remotely similar to Symphogear lately...I mean, unless you just really like the anime and want to recommend it to everyone, in which case 🆗

Anyway, short answer: Yes, I have. ^^

Long answer: I used to be a Symphogear SUPERFAN. I watched all 5 seasons of the anime and the OVAs, I read the S1 companion manga (and did some panel recolors~); I archived the whole S1 soundtrack, I memorized all the girls' activation songs, and I was an active contributor and later a translator on the FANDOM wiki. If the new people haven't completely rewritten everything, you can probably still find a few of my articles there. I focused mainly on episode summaries and the introductory blurbs for the XD Unlimited mobile game events. I'm pretty sure my song translations have all been edited out, unfortunately...=_=

Anyway, I also used to review the series as it aired on my DeviantArt account. ^^ It was a big part of my life for a while there, and I still keep tabs on it occasionally...nothing's really been happening lately, though. Even the mobile game is shut down at this point...I really hope all their recent attempts to keep the hype alive are actually leading up to something, because if not...I mean, either do something new with the series or just let it die gracefully, y'know?

Like, instead of getting normal promotional things-- merch drops, pop-up cafes, sponsorship collabs-- we're getting DJ shows and chiptune remixes (that weren't even that good...) with pretend videogame visuals...it's making me suspicious. If we're gonna do this, the 'cinematic production' they're talking about better be good. I don't want 90 minutes of 'grown-up Hibiki with long hair reminisces about her earlier missions (so we can fill the runtime with flashbacks)'...because if they do that and it flops, they're not gonna recoup the money they're spending on these...things, and then the series really WILL die. Sadly and un-gracefully...

...It probably shows that I have a complex relationship with the franchise. ^^; I have seen Symphogear at its best and its worst; I have loved it at times and I have hated it at times. I agree that it's a high-quality anime...unfortunately, I think a large part of the reason that I kinda fell off it is because its final few episodes were some of the most disappointing. I loved Season 5, but they really didn't have any creative ideas for the actual end of the series and by golly it showed. ^^;;; Left a bad taste in my mouth that remains to this day.

Because of that, if I ever do talk about it again-- maybe after that 'cinematic production' finally releases-- it's gonna be with a critical lens. Symphogear deserves its flowers for its consistently beautiful animation, A+ character design and action-packed story...but it also has a lot of problems that I've never seen anyone mention. Like its bad habit of "redeeming" villains with deathbed gestures...or its occasionally sloppy handling of trauma (*cough* tomato metaphor *cough*) that honestly got progressively sloppier over the course of the series. How do you start with Tsubasa's and Chris's incredible character arcs and end with Maria thanking her mother for abusing her...? o_O

Also, and this is a big one: there's a lot of fanservice, some of it honestly NSFW, and a some of it actively detrimental to the story. I don't mind bath scenes and pool scenes during the casual moments of the story, but I do mind gratuitous boob jiggles during the hyper-serious final boss fight. T_T Pick a tone, please. To Symphogear's credit, it handles its fanservice with a rare level of maturity-- now that I think about it, there's a lot of nudity in the series too, but they tend to do it so tastefully I never thought to point it out. But that means when it DOES start doing more immature stuff I can't really forgive it...like, come on; you're better than this.

^I say all of that because if any of you read this ask and want to check out the anime that changed my brain chemistry, you deserve to know beforehand. I really hate how when people talk about anime they only ever say "its good, it's really good!" without addressing anything that happens in it that might be uncomfortable or triggering (Symphogear is included there, just FYI: most of the abuse the characters have suffered is offscreen (like Chris being sex trafficked as a child) but it does get brought up, and you will see a bit of it occasionally). It's gotten to the point where I simply don't trust people when they recommend anime anymore; even if it's something as simple as having really excessive fanservice (for example: Mai-Hime. Great premise, fun characters, interesting story. Not watching it again, tho) I know they're not going to mention it. They never do.

As anime slowly becomes more mainstream, though, I'm hoping that culture is going to change. Action anime in particular routinely handles heavy, sensitive topics with graphic visuals, and not wanting to be surprised by that doesn't make you a 'tourist' or whatever they're calling people these days. Content warnings harm no one; they only help.

[grigori77]

Critical Role, Campaign 3 Episode 86

Matt: "Don't ask." Yes, probably best ...

Maps! Yay! I love maps! Oh! Czepeku! I love these guys! Nice! And now the costumes make sense. Matt: "What's happening?" Yeah ... we're with you. And now he won't say their name ... Marisha: "Say it, bitch!" LOL

A Luxon D20 with a LIQUID CORE?!!! OH MY GODS ... so cool ... O.O

Liam O'Brien delivered a truly BIZARRE Jester impression there ... cue OG turn from Laura to show us how it's really done ..

Oh yeah! Fearne's in another dimension ... so where is she?

Perception check? Nat20! Nice ... oh yes, US the portal still there? It is ... oh thank fuck ... in she goes ... and she's BACK!!!

Yeah, actually sleep sounds good. They really need it. Goodbye mist form, but still ... like they really are on the verge of exhaustion ...

BTW I am going quietly nuts over Marisha's look tonight ... it's genuinely adorable ... :3

Through the mouth? Is that an EXCUSE, Fearne? Are you being sneaky flirty?

Yes! Anchor a line with the rod. Good idea. It WOULD probably pay to check this out. Be a good retreat point if needed ...

Oh yeah, good point. Would that transfer thing be a potential beacon for Otohan?

So Imogen gets an extra Sorcery point? That is pretty cool ...

Ah yes, Chetney's tools. Affixing a piton for thd rope. Meanwhile Fearne takes the tethered Immovable Rod ... while still a leaf sheep sea slug? Not gonna work ... no, Orym takes it while she guides him through ...

Wow ... Liam STILL doesn't know zll his stats that well ... XD Messy ...

They're trying SO HARD to make Matt accidentally describe this as passing through a weird magic butthole ... XD

Travis: "Chetney's leaving to pursue his fortunes elsewhere."

Aha ... so they ARE on Exandria? Interesting ... but WHERE?

Turning into clouds while still in the water would probably be a bad idea ...

Discussing Fearne and Werewolf Chetney's "sexy time" ... yeah ...

On the shore of this strange lake ... ah yeah, Nature Check! Smart ... pine-trees ... higher altitude ... this is VERY NEW to them ... interesting ... are they on Tal'dorei, perhaps? Near Vasselheim, maybe? THAT would be interesting ...

Mist once more ... heading UP!!! So what do we see?

T-shirt shenanigans ... oh Samuel, you are playing with fire ... XD

A village! Nice ... heading down again ...

Street level! Here we go ... well into the evening ... the place seems to be abandoned ... strange ...

Dusty empty general store ... looks like it's been empty for a while ...

FCG suggests they're in an alternate dimension ... unfortunately much what I was considering ... not that I LIKE this idea any ...

Overgrown gardens ... yeah, another suspicious sign ... some of the buildings are collapsed ...

Ria'doin village ... Lake Umamu ...

It's somewhere in Marquet? Issylra, maybe? Hmmmm ...

Ashton checks out the most expensive house ... which seems to have been ransacked ... but a long time ago ...

Imogen picks up shoreline pebbles snd loose bits of wood from the town.

Grim Psychometry! Here we go ... no joy ... hmmm ...

Chetney joins Ashton, starts checking the house for hidden rooms, etc. Small compartment under the bed, but already emptied ... yup ...

Laudna finds mention of people disappearing ... a whole slew of families leaving ... no, DISAPPEARING ... rumor, conjecture ... then nothing? Weird ...

It's all very X-Files, really ...

FCG casts Speak With Animals on a local bird ... oh, he really does HATE birds, clearly ... talk about trauma ... XD

Matt Mercer ... master of creepy looks ... LOL

FCG has to mark off a Stress Point ...

People walk into the lake? Oh boy ... yeah, this place is CURSED!!! I fucking knew it!

Chetney DEFINITELY wants to sleep here now, just to see what happens ... yeah ...

Aha! Yes, is Imogen picking anything up with her telepathic abilities right now? Nothing ... hmmm ...

Deciding to sleep in the expensive place. It's serviceable fir the night, at least. Setting in ...

Oh dear ... worst time for intrusive thoughts ... XD

Examining spoils ... a Ring of Life Awareness ... whoops ... well THAT'S not a good thing at all ... does thr Ring have tracking? Crap ...

His new feat? Oh yeah, his deal with Nana Morri ... of course ... Master Craftsman! Ooooooòoooooh ... O.O

First watch, Fearne and Chetney ...

Nothing happens ...

Second, Orym and Imogen ...

Orym is attempting to communicate with Caleb Widogast ... oh fuck me it WORKS!!!

CALEB!!! THE DIRT WIZARD LIVES!!! I mean obviously WE know this already, but still ...

Imogen casts Sending to Caleb ... and it WORKS ... then tries to Send to Keyleth ... fuck, it worked AGAIN!!! Sweet!

Catamaran Reach in Issylra! Yup! They were right!

Okay, so she's gonna try snd meet up with them? That's smart ...

Awwwwwwww ... such a sweet moment for these two ... :3 Orym DESERVES a break, so he needs this.

Holy fuck, it's Jester! Oh my gods!

Yeah, she is as adorable as ever ... I love how she can just keep it up now with Unlimited Sendings ... XD

Orym tries to get through to Dorian ... gods I want this to work SO BADLY ...

No response, but he's sure he heard something OUTSIDE?!!! He thinks it might be Dorian ... oh fuck! Creepy horror movie vibes! DO NOT GO, ORYM!!!

No, Orym is just GOING TO THE DOOR ...

Laudna sends Pate to look for him ... literally CHUCKS HIM out the window ... oof ...

Yes, this is a super creepy situation and NOBODY should go ANYWHERE ... and now Ashton can hear something ...

Oh right, of course, clearly there is something IN THE LAKE that's trying to draw people in ... they need to IGNORE THIS FREAKY FEELING!!!

Hunter's Bane? Oh, smart ...

Chetney and FCG are going to investigate ... for fuck's sake ... and now more of them are going ...

Yeah, this is all going south SO FAST ...

Imogen casts Detect Thoughts ... oh shit there IS something IN the fucking lake! Great ...

Liam: "We are in Derry, Maine." Of fucking COURSE they are ...

Imogen tries to Command them all to return to the house ... it works, but not on Ashton ... CRAP!!!

Laudna sends Pate after him ...

And now the other two are going in again! Shit! And NOW Matt decides to call a fucking break? SERIOUSLY?!!!

Welcome back to SHEER FUCKING PANIC!!!

Imogen tries to hold onto Orym ... strength check? Somehow he STARTS TO BEAT HER in that, so they're now BOTH going in! Aaaaaaaah!!!

Fearne tries to Scorching Ray all of them ... but they're ALREADY underwater! Crap!

Laudna sticks her head UNDER THE WATERro try snd see boats? Hmmmm ... amazingly, there are FOUR sunken boats here! Wow ...

She PULLS ONE UP out if the water ... oh fuck she's BROUGHT IT TO FUCKING LIFE!!! And it can talk and crawl around ... bloody hell ... as is THE ROPE ATTACHED TO IT!!! She sends both to collect the others ...

FCG's going down to try and help ...

Weird underwater growth? Oh for FUCK'S SAKE it's some kind of twisted monster! Lovely!

Damn, it's COLD down here! And it's starting to have an effect on EVERYBODY down here now ...

Oh shit it's fucking HYPOTHERMIA!!! They are in DEEP SHIT right now!

Bones. Lots of bones. Yup, this is definitely NOT GOOD.

Mind Sliver? GO IMOGEN!!! 16 points of Psychic damage to this ... THING ...

Fearne bamfs out Mister ... who DOES NOT HAVE WATER BREATHING right now! Crap!

All but Ashton manage to snap out of the trance ... lovely. They are back in control but VERY MUCH lost in darkness and icy cold right now ...

Form of Dread! Undead pirate style! Sweet! And they DIVE!!! It's all gone very POTC with the crew of the Flying Dutchman ...

Dimension Door! Nice one Mister! FCG is now free ...

Laudna (pirate voice): "Arrrr! All aboard the Queen De Rolo!"

Imogen stand again, more psychic damage!

Blood Maladict! Chetney does some damage too ... it does not have blood, but he does hurt it. Now he's swimming for his life ...

Orym makes pushing attacks and succeeds ... he's got some "breathing" room ... and he sees the bones ... tries to grab a skull, but it manages to grab him again in the process! Crap ...

FCG grabs the boat's bough ... grabs his coin snd tries to Turn Undead ... BOOM!!! Unfortunately the creature manages to resist ... but LAUDNA IS EFFECTED TOO!!! Shit ... Nat19! Oh thank fuck ... she resists because "she's a dope underwater captain." XD

The rope grabs Chetney and pulls him up. Laudna: "Give yerself to the Kraken!" LOL ... He unleashes Turmoil and Blasts the beastie ... POW!!!

Marisha: "This is THE BEST SPELL and I'm so glad I took it!"

Now she's trying to frighten the thing with her Form of Dread. Travis: "You CAN intimidate this kelp!" Whoa, a fucken NAT1!!! Jeeze ...

This has become SO VERY SURREAL ...

Somehow BOATY SAVES HER LIFE ...

Shocking Grasp! Go Imogen! 12? Balls ...

Fearne tries to swim in to rescue Ashton ... that's a SHITE roll ... yeah, he is just TOTALLY obscured still ...

Orym breaks free, and now he can BARELY make Ashton out ... wait, HOW THE FUCK did he just move like that? He slashes through snd now Ashton's free ... but he just starts trying to claw his way back in again? Fuck ... Orym tries and fails to break him out again ...

Chetney swipes with Turmoil again ...

Fearne tries to snap Ashton out of it ... NO JOY, and it's BECAUSE OF THE HERO'S FEAST?!!!

FCG tries to flip the coin underwater ... and loses it! It sinks ... but then ACTIVATES!!! BOOM!! Somehow that manages to break Ashton out of the trance! Yes! He books it!

Laudna breeches the boat back to the surface!

Big boom! Everybody run! But YES!!! That's a good point! They need to stay and warn about the thing down below ...

Crap ... the bost and rope are NO LONGER alive ... they swim back to the shore ...

Well, at least they're all out again ...

Balls ... they can't send any more messages ... Chetney carves a warning on the dock. A very obscure warning ... hmmm ... oh, leave the skull for people to talk to?

Orym (spooky voice): "Dead gnomes make no toys!"

They're all so tired ... wait, they're going BACK IN?!!! Hmmm ...

They set up signs matking where yo go, then go back in ... the creature is not there at this time, so they can safely go back through thd portal ... back jn the cave, then ...

Laudna sets up for a watch ...

Orym wonders why Dorian didn't answer the stone ... oh no, don't do that to yourself, wee man.

Wow ... Laudna is having a weirdly profound existential conversation with Pate ... hmmm ...

Oh for fuck's ... DO NOT talk to Delilah, Laudna!

Disturbingly, the ruthless evil bitch is actually giving her some pretty good advice ... oh boy, and here comes the seduction, right on time ... back off, Delilah ...

Laudna: "Are you Pate?" Oh boy ... thankfully no ... oh for fuck's ... now she's SEEING HER ...

Thank the gods ... FINALLY a long rest ... morning comes ...

Oh fuck, greasy takeout sounds SO GOOD right now ... damn you, Ashton ...

Going up sounds like the smart move ... yes, as Orym's saying, "stay curious."

Leaving an arrow to follow ...

A Ring of Protection? Nice. The Tiny Tank (aka Orym) takes it ...

Laudna puts the Harness on and drains the other ring ... whoa ... she gets a permanent 2 extra HP! Sweet ...

Time to climb ...

Group Athletics Check ... great ... 2 Nat20s? Automatic success ... phew ...

FCG tries to Scry on Ira ... the connection fails ... interesting ... communications are once again buggered ... even more interesting ... seems like the Latticework is blocking the signal between worlds ...

Bane-worm? Crap ...

The tunnel just ENDS? Balls ... it's just a hard compacted collapse, no way through.

Oh yeah, can Ashton do something about this? Oh wow, he's doing it ... Ashton activates his Shard and goes all Dragonball Z again ...

Sweet, our boy is now a burrowing GOD ... that's VERY COOL ... he just powers his way STRAIGHT UP ... and surfaces headfirst into a massive dust storm ... he goes back down ... SUPERHERO LANDING!!!

Chetney ATTACKS ASHTON by chucking his chisel at him ... and HITS!!! Oof ... he just POPS IT BACK OUT and stabs it VERY DEEP INDEED into the wall ... that is VERY COOL ...

So they're going up? Okay ... he carves another diagonal tunnel for them up to the surface.

Still a storm up here, but lighter now ...

Scry balk is dark ... phew ...

Imogen tries to reach out to scan the area, Ruidusborn style ... now they have a path, but may also have broadcast their location ...

So goals ... find the Friends of the Volition ...

The Scroll? Ah crap ... read it! Put the protective magic up ... now they're theoretically undetectable ...

Imogen leaves a triggered message that can only activate if an ally passes by ... a Mind Egg? Hmmm ...

So now they're walking through the chappy dust and wind ... charming ...

A vibration in the air? Oh hell what's THIS SHIT?

EVERYTHING'S lighting up? Oh fuck ... IT'S A FLARE!!! FUCK!!!

Imogen and Fearne and now just PULSING OUT ... weird shit ...

It passes and Fearne's still glowing but Imogen's gone ... crap, she's HOVERING IN THE AIR and just SUPERCHARGED ... she snaps out of it and drifts down ...

They BOTH now have 15 temporary Hit Points? Awesome ...

Ashton is just CRUISING THROUGH THE GROUND ahead of them. Like a land shark ... O.O

Eventually he pops up and changes back ... and now he is A WRECK ... great ... TWO WHOLE POINTS OF EXHAUSTION?!!! Holy shit ...

FCG casts a 4th Level Greater Restoration to bring him back up to health again ...

Fearne turns into a direwolf and scouts on ahead.

A carved valley? Hmmm ... oh, an actual CITY ... that's Kreviris, then ...

And that's it for the night ...

Phew ... at least it's s chilled out end for once ...

[blackjackkent]

Stepping into the Szarr Palace Southern Tower, we're immediately accosted by some super friendly people:

"This is the palace of Cazador Szarr. Entry is forbidden. Leave now, citizen."

Narrator: The guard's words are clear, but spoken without thought or intent. Behind her eyes you see - nothing. She must be one of the charmed thralls Astarion mentioned.

This one's a bit interesting because we do have a deception check available and Hector doesn't want a fight with potentially innocent thralls if he can avoid it. But we also know he hates lying - to anyone.

And I think on some level, he registers the complete blankness of the guard's expression and wonders if this poor woman is even able to comprehend anything he might say to her. And... even if she can, whether she might welcome their intentions as a potential avenue to freedom for her.

"I'm here to kill Cazador Szarr," he says matter-of-factly.

The woman's deep red eyes peer up at him impassively. Her voice is flat, emotionless, entirely counter to the import of her words. "Blasphemy against the master. Blasphemy."

Well, it was worth a shot.

----

Four of the combatants in this fight are giant rats. Honestly the most surprising thing about this is that we haven't fought MORE giant rats up to this point, since they're kind of a staple early-game DND enemy. But they're certainly here now, and presumably Cazador has them on the payroll.

Not a hard fight thought; Hector is cloud-giant-strengthed up and mostly one-shotted the vamps.

One of them is carrying a note:

Seems we're just in time. XD

-----

"Really? You just announced it like that? 'I'm here to kill Cazador Szarr?'" Astarion rolls his eyes. "Who needs cunning and guile when you have Hector Carlisle to blow your cover wide open at once?"

"What cover?" Hector says dryly. "Do you think anyone was likely to believe we were simply here to deliver a parcel or something? "

"Well, you could have at least tried. Just a little bit of lip service towards subtlety? For me if not for yourself."

"I'm only here in the first place for you," Hector points out, raising an eyebrow. "If you'd rather do this on your own, you're more than welcome to."

-----

The next door up takes us into a library area with another note from the Chamberlain:

We then pass out onto the ramparts again and towards an area transition door... which emits a soft, unlocking click as we approach.

"Well, that's suspiciously welcoming," Astarion comments sourly.

[gloryride]

WIP WHENEVER

I was tagged by @alphanight-vp @chevvy-yates @just-a-cybercroissant @rosapexa thank youuuuuu !

I have things but not visuals, just ideas and talking.

>> VP

I have anything to show, the last big project was the CP Birthday and took all my energy. I cleaned up my vp idea and i have ... 72 lines XD If you want an idea (sorry it's in french) :

>> WRITING

I'm in mood for writing, but it's chaotic, i have many MANY drafts on my phone and pc with some paragraph, just idea, a dialog, nothing full. But i can show you one of them

So, just another snippet of Virgile/Eve fic, i really need to finish this chapter, but translation takes lot of time (i can't full write in english)

"You never asked me what's my job." He coughed several times under the glare of the other disdainful customers before catching his breath, avoiding her look. This must have made him suspicious in the eyes of the woman in front of him; he always looked like a child caught at fault when confronted with moments like this. Virgile remained silent and Evelyn resumed, resting her elbows on the table, not giving up. "Because you're not interested? Or you know and you don't want to talk about it?" More than red, he was turning crimson. His gaze was on the restaurant's décor, the sleek modern style, the chrome accents to underline the white walls where hideous gaudy pictures were hung to make it look like art … everywhere but on her. Unable to escape, trapped by his chair and his lunch, he finally took a breath, and whispered, "I already know". She didn't seem offended, quite the opposite. "Thanks to NetWatch or…?" He cut her off with a firm gesture, finally turning his gaze towards her. "I would never use my job to get information on someone. We're adults, we can… talk." He sighed, his leg trembling and his hands twisting as if he were telling a shameful secret. "Because I've been to Clouds before and met you there." He thought he'd never have this conversation, Evelyn talked little about her private life and he'd hoped she'd continue to do so without having to justify anything. His heart raced and his hand caressing the back of his neck betrayed his nervousness. For her part, she continued to smile, almost amused, then took on an air of conspiracy as she moved a little further forward. "And you're ashamed of something?" Her steady voice sought information, perhaps she was imagining what they might have done. Virgile had difficulty swallowing before answering, his gaze shifting. "I don't know," he replied. "Is it wrong to take advantage of someone's unconsciousness to get rid of problems?" "By get rid of your problems, do you mean … sex?" Virgile's face froze and he opened his eyes wide. With a sudden movement, he almost spilt his drink. "What? No! No ! " He saw her laugh as he tried to calm down. "I never wanted to… with a doll."

>> MODS

I have ... 5 XL mods waiting to finish XD 2 old mods i port in XL, 2 clothes and 1 thing. I don't like to talk more about it bc they're not finish, not much pics And now i'm done with npv commissions until february, i can mod for myself. So i need to :

update NPVanessa (new tattoos, new clothes, new hair)

update NPV Oscar (new clothes - young version)

redo NPVirgile (with his style i created for him)

redo NPV Isao (i borked him and now he has a wardrobe)

redo NPValentin (new body with Gymfiend, new clothes)

finish NPV Mieko

Would like to finish Enzo's scars on his hands too, and so update his npv too. I also want to finish my custom npcs for Eve for example (maybe release it ? idk) i want to learn to do props, i failed for CP bday, i found a plan B I want to learn to port clothes, i bought some because they were on sale but that's it I want to learn custom poses bc i have ... 3 sets in mind ! ... i will never have time until february XD

tagging (no pressure of course !) : @breezypunk @medtech-mara @cybervesna @nananarc @mhbcaps and anyone who wants !

[tobiasdrake]

This is either going to be a jackpot or the biggest (and possibly last) mistake of Yuma's career.

We're about to go up and visit the CEO, but Kurumi needs to pause a moment to go, "Wow, this hideous fucking abomination is way more gross and disgusting in person."

I feel you, Kurumi. If we do wind up needing to hurl Makoto from the top of this tower, I trust you'll have my back.

Security's only tight when they don't want you to be assassinated. Makoto's not on good terms with the guy who makes those sorts of decisions. This is an act of passive-aggression.

Oh, no, I had that backwards. Other way around. Since the people who would provide security are in the pocket of the power-hungry general that covets Makoto's throne, their presence in his living space would be an intolerable threat.

Did you design the tech yourself or have R&D do it? Because if someone else made the machines then that presents as much of a threat as human security.

Makoto doesn't merely have an extensive spy network feeding him information on every time someone takes a shit in Kanai Ward, but he also feels the need to flex said knowledge by introducing other people to himself on their behalf.

It's a subtle power-play. Everything about this scenario has "power-play" written all over it.

Like the way he's lounging casually throughout this scene as if to seem unassuming and hapless, but he's nonetheless in Full CEO Attire. As if to say, "Even relaxed and letting my guard down, I am still in full control of this conversation."

He has automated security, and we rang a doorbell. He knew we were coming up here. He's glamour-posing on purpose.

That's so obvious that I have trouble believing it. A secret lab inside Amaterasu HQ isn't a secret lab. That's just a lab. Having a lab in the building where labs would naturally exist makes it a lab. That's not secret, it's just classified.

Just like that, he's trying to turn the conversation around. Now he's pressing us to find out how much we know, rather than us pumping him for information.

That was a dangerous level of information to disclose, Yuma.

Oh, we should not have introduced him to Kurumi. If things with Makoto go south, we've given him a primo arm-twisting hostage to snatch up.

Right after bragging about knowing everything that goes on in this town, then telling us the "secret" lab is just a normal research lab in Amaterasu HQ.

Yeah, I don't trust a word he's saying. This was a mistake.

Now that he's weaseled out the extent of our knowledge, he's trying to downplay it. HEADLINE: Company CEO has looked into it, and decided company has done nothing improper!

Assuming, of course, that the lab you're going to take us to is the lab. I'm getting so many bad vibes about this.

So that means we can't bring Kurumi or Vivia, who we're due to hang out with in this chapter. Sucks. But sure. Show me what you've got.

Oh, I'm sure you do. Can't go now; You need some time to move the jaws of the trap into place.

Watch, Makoto winds up being the victim for this case. XD

RED FLAG. The suspicious man wants us to separate from Kurumi and tell no one where we're going before we come meet up with him. Would you like me to bring my own body bag as well?

This is going to get ugly.

[xatsperesso]

I don't know at what Baal thought when he choose Atori to go with Shiida at Babyls. It was the worst choice.

He was creepy since the very beginning. he told right to Balam's face "we're gonna destroy the school lol" before saying "in a educational sense". And he told that, knowing that Balam can see liars and cheaters very easely.

Dude you have done everything to be suspect since the beginning.

I dont' know what make him snap during the heartbreaker exam but he has snapped without any special reason and tried to hurt deeply Sabro, to kill Allocer and four first years and finally to try to kidnap Iruma.

Meanwhile Shiida did nothing suspect or weird. She promised "as teachers, we never hurt the students" which is the truth because for her, they were not going to hurt the kids. Even if I think that everything stopped to be "the plan" when she has decided to kick Atori to save Iruma.

Bonus: I love that Baal is totally wrong at the end because he says "Shiida kicked you to save Iruma and then have the trust of the school staff" and meanwhile Shiida is looking at Iruma and says "i'll never let ANYONE hurt you" Dude you are losing a six fingers member XD

Any member of the six fingers would have be better than Atori. Like the number one? It was the one who was with Iruma's group during the Walter Park Episode. We see him being super patient, playing with kids and all. It was also the one who managed to convince Poro to change side. He would have been a perfect "teacher".

But if he's Purson's brother (by the way it means that he has witnessed Soi's performance during the music festival, i wonder if he was proud), it would have been risky. Even if Purson doesn't remember him.

(By the way, don't you think that he also looks like Dantalion? What if it was not Purson's brother but DANTALION's brother. It would be totally a reason to not be choosen XD)

But no Baal chooses the unstable one, the one who was very creepy and who acted suspiciously from the start and who has even not hide it to Balam.

I actually think that this was his plan all along, he just didn't think it'd happen so soon

Because all they had to do get something of delkira. That's what baal said, that's what atori did.

So why send two people instead of one? Why let them stay there for more than a day if all they have to do is retrieve something delkira touched?

And why is Shiida still there? Atori brought baal what he asked for, so why do they still need to shiida to act undercover?

Shiida is a perfect candidate for infiltration. She's an honest person, and she likes children. She's strong so will be able to get out of there if she gets caught. Having someone to back her up will be beneficial in case the worst scenario happened, but that's all she needed. A Backup

But all throughout the heartbreaker, Atori acted like he was the main guy, while Shiida acted like the backup. That doesn't make sense, because as you said, Atori was the worst choice possible.

Atori grabbed everyone's attention while shiida lurked in the background.

Atori stole the misfit's result while shiida just watched

Atori was the very suspicious person balam was interrogating while shiida is the honest but kinda nervous teacher

Atori is someone who likes fighting, while shiida is someone who helps kids in trouble

And like, baal must know this. He is one of the thirteen crowns, he must be clever if he has such a high ranking. He must've known that sending atori was a bad idea

But I also think he did that on purpose

Sending atori with his loud personality with shiida, exciting him with the permission to kill a few kids, so atori would make the 'mistake' of attacking the kids, and shiida would have the opportunity to help the kids and seem trustworthy

He didn't tell atori nor shiida because honestly they look like they're bad liars, so he made it seem like the mission was for both of them to infiltrate the school

Now atori thinks shiida attacked him to gain the school's trust, shiida thinks she's rebelling against the Six Fingers. Now what? Hiw will baal get anything from shiida if she's no longer with him? (I'm going with the assumption that shiida isn't taking part in a very long elaborate plan to get iruma/get rid of sullivan)

Isn't it weird that shiida never seems to be enjoying her time with the six fingers? She's never happy or thrilled with the idea of hurting others, so why is she with them and following their orders?

Two possible reasons

Either she was found from a young age and brought up by someone in baal's cult, or baal holds something over her head. Something that she doesn't want to lose, or maybe a secret she doesn't want to go out. Something that she'd do anything for

So she can't disobey them

She can't escape

Maybe at the end of the day, baal owns her, so she must do as she's told

.

.

.

Or maybe baal went " aright! Shiida is perfect for teaching, but she needs backup. If I choose anyone but atori he'll whine until shiida gets back so better send him" and that was that

Also you're right it's like they're twins

Just change the haircut and bam! Basically the same person!

[skyloftian-nutcase]

Link's Parents Play Breath of the Wild... sort of!

(@goosekee @ludoluck @artisticgamer @wildsage00 just poking since y’all wanted to be tagged for stuff, lmk if you want to keep being tagged for this because I don’t want to spam you)

Part 1 // Part 2>> Hey so if you've been with me for a hot minute you might or might not because it's pretty obscure remember when I said "hey what if Link's parents survived the initial Calamity and Link got woken up a little earlier than expected? Like... 90 years too early??"

WELL GUESS WHAT

For the two (2) people who are interested in this, I decided that I'd replay BotW and just do it from his parents' perspective XD So HERE WE GO

The Great Plateau - The Damaged Shrine

It was a quiet morning as Tilieth wandered the plateau. She made her usual pilgrimage to the Temple of Time to pray at the statue for protection over her family and the princess. Her husband, Abel, had already gone hunting and foraging for the day.

As she knelt in front of the statue, her mind wandered to her son, who lay sleeping several hundred feet away in the stony fortress that locked him away from her and the rest of Hyrule.

Hylia, please grant him healing.

After reciting a few memorized prayers and listening to the morning birds, Tilieth rose and made her way to the entrance of the Shrine of Resurrection. She passed the same pond she'd passed every day for the last ten years, but... something was strangely different.

The lily pads. They were in a circle.

That was... new.

Her body stiffened, and she was immediately on edge. She and her husband had spent ten years living on this plateau and guarding their son. She knew every inch of this place. Anything out of place meant something was afoot.

Creeping ever closer to the pond, she saw nothing out of place in the water itself. She observed that the ring was situated perfectly below the little cliff she occasionally dove off of.

How odd. But something in her compelled her to jump and land in the ring. If nothing else, just for the satisfaction of it.

Looking at her area of approach, Tilieth sprinted and dove off the little cliff, perfectly slipping into the water below. When she arose with a laugh as the cool water startled her body awake, she then yelped upon seeing a bizarre little wooden creature.

"Yahaha! You found--oh," it said as it hovered in the air with a little twirling leaf. "You're not Hestu. But... you can see me? I didn't know your kind could see the children of the forest."

"Children of the forest?" she repeated, bewildered.

"Yes! We're hiding in lots of different places! Don't be shy about poking your nose in suspicious places!" the little critter continued. "Oh, and if you see Hestu, give him this!"

The creature reached under its little leaf mask and pulled out a golden... nugget? It had an unpleasant shape, but it was smooth and had an earthy, wooden smell to it.

Tilieth reached out hesitantly. "What is it?"

"A Korok seed!" the child of the forest answered. "Bye bye!"

"Bye, wait, I--" Tilieth looked up to see the little creature floating around merrily and laughing to itself.

Korok. Like... like the Lost Woods? What was it doing out here?

Causing trouble for this Hestu person apparently.

Tilieth swam to the edge of the pond, still in shock that she had spoken to a breathing creature that could reply to her. It had just been her, Abel, and Link for the last decade.

What a bizarre day.

After the encounter, she finally started to make her way to the shrine when--

What was that rumbling?

"Til! Tilieth, run!!"

Whirling around, she caught sight of her husband and--and--

Goddess above, was that a Hinox?!

"Abel, what the hell did you do?!" she yelled.

"It wasn't my fault, just run!!" he shouted back, dodging a rock large enough to crush him. The rock flew over him entirely, and Tilieth gasped and ducked, though it was clear the Hinox fired too high to really hit either of them.

But it did hit the shrine's entrance.

Tilieth cried out in horror, and it caught her husband's attention. When he realized what had happened, he halted in his tracks. Turning, he faced the Hinox head on, pulling out the bow and arrows he'd been using to hunt. Tilieth's heart stopped at the sight of it - her husband was excellent with a sword and shield, but archery--

She rushed towards him, pulling the weapons out of his hands and shoving him as the Hinox through another stone.

"Til, get away, that thing will kill you!" Abel hissed.

"You can't fight it alone like this!" she argued. "I'm better with a bow, give that to me and take your sword!"

"My sword is at the house!"

Til gawked at him. "Why did you leave it at the house?!"

"BECAUSE I WASN'T PLANNING ON FIGHTING A HINOX TODAY!"

The earth shook and Tilieth screamed as the Hinox nearly stepped on them. She ran far enough away to get a clean shot and aimed for the monster's giant eye. When the shot fired true, her husband looked around wildly and grabbed the nearest thing he could find.

A tree branch.

Tilieth called out to him as he smacked the hinox into submission and then gawked as it actually worked. When the creature stayed unconscious, she stared at him, watching him turn with a triumphant smile and a shrug.

"Whatever works, right?" he offered.

"A tree branch?"

"It worked, didn't it?"

"Oh my Hylia," she muttered, rubbing a hand down her face. "Get your sword."

Abel turned as if to do so, but his eyes trailed beyond her, up the path to the shrine's entrance. His brow furrowed in worry. She followed his gaze and saw the damage to the stone, and her heart leapt into her throat.

Both parents rushed to the entrance and tentatively poked their way down the stairwell. The dark, narrow pathway was usually pitch black, locked away by the sealed stone doors at the bottom of the stairs.

A blue glow was filling the room.

"Oh goddess," Abel whispered, and Tilieth rushed ahead.

When the couple reached the bottom, they found the door half collapsed, and Tilieth was able to squeeze through first. Her husband grunted and struggled a little behind her.

Goddess, please, just let it be this door, please don't--

Tilieth felt her blood freeze. The second door had shattered under the pressure, a pile of rubble the remains of what should have been Link's last protection.

Abel moved faster this time, and she was on his heels as they entered the room.

The hum that still haunted her nightmares was erratic and lower in pitch than she remembered. Walking slowly, her eyes fixated on the large overhanging structure above the bath in which her son was laying.

Its blue hue was flashing orange.

"What do we do?" she asked helplessly as Abel ran to their son.

"The shrine's damaged, there's nothing we can do about that," he muttered, his voice trembling as he brushed a hand over Link's face.

Tilieth finally dragged her feet to the bath itself, and she looked down, afraid of what she would see. Link was still unconscious and mutilated, canyons of cauterized flesh carved into his torso and left shoulder, burns tracing up his neck. The cavernous, gaping hole that had been in his left leg was now a divet, still showing fatty tissue but no longer ripping to the bone and shattering it. The cuts, bruises, and scrapes that literally covered his entire body, though, were gone.

But the larger wounds...

They were bleeding.

Link winced, his face pulled taut with clear pain, his breathing shaky.

"Oh goddess," Tilieth whispered, nearly sobbing. "Goddess, what do we do, what do we do--"

"We have to get him out of here," Abel said, reaching into the bath.

"No!" Tilieth pulled him back frantically. "This is the only place that can heal him!"

"The shrine can't heal him anymore, Til!" Abel argued. "We have to get him to the house."

Tilieth watched with tears streaming down her face as Abel pulled their boy into his arms. Link hissed but didn't awaken, and the water he'd just been in started to drain, though not quickly enough for her to miss the clear reddish tint it had taken on.

"Get the Sheikah slate," Abel added as an afterthought as he headed for the exit.

[earlgreytea68]

What did they cut because of the curfew? I know they cut the last of the real ones but I thought that was because Patrick was sick, and that’s a more demanding one (that was what I saw someone say anyway idk if it’s a theory or actually true). They played 2 magic 8 balls yesterday, if they were gonna cut any because of time you’d think it would be one of those? But also I’m not sure, idk what exactly went down, I always feel like a detective the next day figuring it out xD

Yes I guess they cut LOTRO to add GINASFS but it seems suspicious to me only because Patrick before his medley deliberately said, "we're always running short on time and right up against the curfew for some reason so I'm not going to talk much" and then right after that skipped LOTRO, hence the casualty in my brain that Patrick was feeling stressed because of the curfew enough to bring it up and so i thought they had decided to skip a song to make up time.

But maybe they had always planned to skip LOTRO and it wasn't a curfew issue and it had nothing to do with Patrick bringing up how they were short on time.

I do think Patrick's right though they are constantly talking about the looming curfew on this tour, I'm always so stressed out on their behalf. But maybe this is a strategy on their part to remind everyone of the curfew or something. But I can't shake the feeling that idk a day after making a big deal about Patrick insisting everyone get the full set they skipped a song. It might have been his voice couldn't handle it but he actually sounded much better to me and it just stood out to me that it happened right after he said they were up against curfew, like the time crunch was on his brain. Maybe it was on his brain because they had decided ahead of time that to do an extra magic 8 ball song meant cutting LOTRO because they run so close to curfew that they can't just add an extra song in without cutting somewhere else.

[icy-watch]

Fun fact: Look at Wukong's little blue boy scout cape in the flashback :) yeah it's blue, some unexpected red/blue duo coding with Macky there. AND the one he has in the future is red. In fact, one might even say it's the exact same one Macky was wearing. Gee, wonder what happened there. Also the him!! the white horse dragon Ao Lie who is unexpectedly really derpy and OWO UWU for someone we thought was going to be a grumpy old man at first XD I was just going "haha very Macaque of you Mei" when she was saying "you're nothing!" @/herself kind of in relation to other people also being if so and so expectation isn't met. Y'know *jazz hands towards The Winning Side again* we do say Mei and MK are just ShadowPeach but healthier. but the hero and the warrior- were like...the sea and sky...? And then she did the "ugh this guy" facepalm and I had to pause bc lmao??? Macky does that too......my sincerest apologies to hero!Mei truthers, which could still be very valid and sure was at the start + MK having a bit of Macky's fighting style someone said once, they do swap and share traits a lot but I get the sneaaaaaky feeling we're in for a ShadowPeach 2.0 sometimes. Tang finding Mo is so cute and silly, and Macky is so stressed and tense you can hear it in his voice...hehe, what are all those options btw and did they have anything to do with Point B aka your possible death....whatdya do Mac? If option "Wukong is a traitor" isn't what you subscribe to. Then perhaps its "Wukong is an unwilling participant" cue the theory that Macky attacked Tripitaka and gang bc well, he did it in JTTW anyways but we're expecting the reasons to be different. But there's an extra layer to why he would, almost like *gets dragged off stage* anyways. Tang's face when he realizes which part of the story the magic river water is XD and then we flash to, I think Chang'e floating to the moon? Nezha's fight against that one dragon oh no so they're keeping that plot line, I mean of course they are. Nezha's story is so dark tho, its def implied they're keeping the whole thing I think. Not and LBD jumpscare...I thought that was Princess Iron Fan on my first watch whoops. but hello??? She was part of the Celestial Realm at first??? HMMMMM. well that definitely doesn't make things all the more suspicious. It's kind of funny how much they talk about Monkey King being MK's dad bc the writers are fully aware of what the fandom might think, or was thinking before anyways, but they confirmed it on twitter that's not the case. I just checked ep 6 and its got a nice fun cliffhanger for you to chew on. build up expectations and ideas.

Hmmm... interesting 👀

[quinloki]

omg I'm like actually a little crazy over this like I'm still thinking about it it's still in my brain help

omg just imagine none of the brothers will get in between it, but they start slowly doing things to encourage whichever brother they support more. or they go the way of ace/luffy and accidently cockblock (or purposefully in Izou's case bc he's a little shit)

OMG AND AFTER THE DREAM YOURE AVOIDING ALL THREE and they pick up on it bc they're not dumb and ace is the first one to come to you all sad like did I do something wrong and hes so sad and you break down and tell him and he's like ew but fair and somehow the other two overhear or something (convienient vent trope prolly) and so they're like trying to figure out how to approach it bc they're both too gentlemanly to just come straight up and say wanna fuck? and also there is always brothers around thatch clings to marco and luffy clings to sabo so it's just like… lingering touches or glances and you're all flustered from it and finally it's like damn gotta get laid so you go on tinder or hit the bar up with friends

and you got all dressed up and luffy/deuce saw you and were like uh??? and report in to marco/sabo and then just a group of the bros show up at the bar and cockblock and that's the snapping point or something

idk I gotta do some chores so I may have more thoughts about this but my brain is going wild with this jfc I'm so bad at putting it into words tho but I had to share

PURPOSEFULLY IN IZOU'S CASE CAUSE HE'S A LITTLE SHIT

I am dying XD It's so true though.

He thinks you're cute too, and he's getting to a point that if Marco or Sabo don't pipe up, he will, and despite the beauty and grace he has no desire to beat around the proverbial bush. (heck this got long)

And no convenient vent trope, I imagine all three were grumbling about it and Ace was like "Screw this I'm going to ask." And Marco and Sabo kind of want to stop him, but they don't, and they're SHAMELESSLY eavesdropping in the hallway.

And Thatch is definitely accidentally getting in the way like Ace and Luffy (and sometimes cause Izou sends him off toward Marco >.> )

And I think maybe you don't decide to go blow off steam, so much as you get invited. Girls' night out or something, queue Nami and Vivi and maybe a couple more, and you head out.

Thatch works at the bar, and you didn't realize that. He just sends a text to Marco, cause he knows that he'd said something about wanting to take you out to help you get out of the house, and there's nothing behind Thatch's text, just a sort of "good job getting her out of the house" kind of deal.

Marco's confusion causes a quick back and forth series of texts and he's changing and running out the door before his usual demeanor kicks in enough to even slow him down and Sabo's on his heels like "You are acting suspicious, brother dear." and comes along and halfway there Marco's like

"Shit... what was I thinking? We're going to look like total creeps."

"Nah, we can just wait until she's leaving on her own an give her a ride home, her and her friends if they need it. Apologize for being over-protective, calm down old bird."

They get there in time to see trouble going into the bar (some variety of either Kizaru/Teach/Worst-Gen/etc.) and they're both just like, "Well, fuck" cause now they're honestly worried.

Nami's the target (maybe it's Arlong?) and you, cute little not-a-part-of-this-side-of-the-world person that you are, doesn't see danger - you just see some asshole who can't get a clue. So you step in on Nami's behalf, and her and Vivi are trying to keep you out of it, but one of the reasons you and Ace get on is because you're both a little more likely to punch first, diplomacy second.

You don't want to assault someone on your night out, but this douchebag isn't getting the hint. His fist goes back and you're ready to deal with him, but suddenly there's Thatch's chef's knife at his throat, Sabo's in front of you with a steel pipe, and Marco's already twisted his fist behind his back.

You've been living with these guys for a while, and you've NEVER seen them all look so angry. Even Thatch looks ready to murder someone and he struck you as a goofball.

The Entire Bar is dead silent.

Anyway, that's how you end up going to a hotel with Marco and Sabo, and becoming an enemy of some mafia or something in the story and we move from a few chapters of fluffy prep and world-building to a far more charged story >.>