#what is an old soul like me doing in a world like this

[nickssidewitch]

The Sturniolos and Activism

I know people hate talking about politics on here because this is a safe space meant to be about lusting over whoever we want while posting silly goofy memes and shitposting and vibing amongst each other. 🤷🏾‍♀️

But I’m a 23 year old black non-binary person who’s a first-generation kid to immigrant parents. My whole entire life is politics. My existence is political. And it frustrates me (and I’m sure many others who share my stance or my minority backgrounds) when people try to sweep whatever I, and other minorities, say under the rug. So I’m going to talk about it. I’m just getting my grievances and concerns off my chest.

The triplets and some of those around them have posted about the fires going on in California and have shared resources to help those affected, which is absolutely beautiful!! What’s happening there has to be highlighted, as many people who aren’t celebrities or rich are being misplaced and harmed by this natural disaster.

However, I find it quite saddening and disappointing to see how easy it is for them and others to pick and choose what things they want to highlight versus others. The fires personally affect them, since they live in California, so obviously they’re going to post about it. But, what’s going on in countries like Palestine, Sudan, Congo, Lebanon, and other areas of the world within the last year have also been huge events that, while they may not directly affect you, still affect many others, including entire bloodlines being destroyed.

This pick and choose behavior isn’t surprising at all to be honest. It’s just very disappointing.

Do I expect them to post anything about Palestine or other affected countries? No. They’re rich white kids from the suburbs who are now making the big bucks! They aren’t obligated to post about any sort of real-life event. They’re not obligated to post about politics and their views. They’re just normal people who happen to make a lot of money and have a huge following. These are very obvious things! We all know this!

But it just would be nice. It would be morally nice, especially with the platforms they have.

And again, this isn’t just regarding the triplets. It’s any influencer/celebrity/person with a platform. Duh.

That’s all I have to say about it. If you don’t like this stance, that’s okay! You’re not obligated to. But at least open your heart, mind, and soul to understanding this viewpoint, even if only a little bit.

[riririnnnn]

To know that Sae doesn't think he is having any kind of fight with Rin and he, in fact, watches BLTV too makes me think that this post of mine wasn't that far from the tracks.

Yes, of course, he might not be watching BLTV solely for Rin and the reasons might also be Isagi, Shidou, Kaiser, and maybe even Lorenzo, Charles, Loki, and Noa. However, I just like to believe that he never stopped looking out for his little brother, Rin. And in a very strange way, I think he was looking out for Rin in that Snowy Night too.

First thing first, something was wrong with Sae in that flashback.

As the saying goes, "Eyes are the window to one's soul," he looks so worn out—miserable, in fact. And I highly think that around the time of this flashback, it hadn't been that long since he lost his dream—or maybe got his dreams crushed. And I got two reasons to think this way:

To repeat my words, he looks miserable, which is a given when you lose a dream, compared to his later appearance like in the U-20 match. And judging by the timeline, the flashback and U-20 match have 1 year-ish gap which is an ample amount of time to cope up and get a hold of yourself.

Rin kept close tabs on Sae through news and all. The younger Itoshi would definitely be the one, if not the first, to know that Sae was now aiming to be the best midfielder instead of the best striker. But..

...Rin didn't know shit.

Now, you might be wondering why in the world I'm focusing so much on the timeline, right? Like, Sae got his dreams crushed, then he return to Japan and confronted Rin—what's the big deal about it even if these events happened in a short amount of time?

...

And that's where you'd be wrong if you think this way.

We all keep forgetting that to be the world's greatest striker was Sae's dream first before he decided to share it with Rin. Sae has been playing this sport since he was one year old. Soccer, probably, came into his life before Rin did. Rin gave his teen years to this game, but Sae has nearly given his whole life to this dream.

Now imagine yourself in Sae's position. Imagine devoting your whole childhood and teen years to something only to not be able to achieve it in the end. Won't you be devastated? Won't you be a mess? Won't you need some time to collect yourself together? Now do you understand why the timeline matters so much? And why the timeline is such a big deal? Hm?

Secondly, Sae has never been a visibly sweet person, even to Rin.

Yes, Sae took care of Rin, but did we ever see him go, "Aww! My lil baby bro Rinnie! Cutie patootie! My baby bro <333333" Did we? He had always been rather.. emotion-less and blunt. After the above panel, too, his words were, "You can be the most amazing, after me."

He just has been like that.

Always.

That's why I have always believed that he never changed as a person, even after Spain. He has been like this from the start, which is also why I think that his harsh words in that Snowy Night was just another way of him looking out for Rin because guess who has known soccer longer? Who has gone out of Japan and seen the outside world's soccer with his own eyes?

Yeah.

In a way, Sae's dream had more weight than Rin's. The older Itoshi had soccer in front of his vision, meanwhile the younger one had his Nii-chan in front of his eyes. Despite being so focused in this sport, Sae just couldn't be it, so what makes you think Rin could've made it when his sole focus was his Nii-chan instead? Wouldn't have Rin struggled so much in the outside world with this kind of mentality?

And this is something, I think, Sae knew too—on that Snowy Night, he actually realised what Rin's real mindset was like and immediately knew that it just wasn't going to fly in the world stage. Sae was just saving Rin from the hardships he himself must've went through during his time in Spain—Sae was just looking out for Rin.

"What about those mean things he said to Rin?" you may ask, and that's exactly where the timeline comes into play—Sae was just a mess, and Rin's words were the breaking point for him.

"What words?" you may ask now, and these are the words:

Repeating myself, eyes are the window to one's soul:

Sae never broke his promise—Sae never stopped looking out for Rin.

[valentine-cafe]

im drooling for some haoyu 9948v ANGST

maybe haoyu getting bored of reader and decides to just. (kill) get rid of them. he's like 'ok whatever not my problem' then sometime after it just SNAP! clicks.

he killed you and now hes not gonna find anyone like you again

˖⁺. ﹙ bloodthirsty phantom  x gn reader. ﹚ .𖹭 ݁

. . . dull eyes !! 🍒 :  phantom ˖ yandere ˖ vngeful spirit character﹙ verse 9948v hàoyǔ. ﹚

you always knew that someone like him would eventually be your demise. what happens when a being such as him gets bored of you ? | cw: reader death 

It had all been nice at first. Well, that’s how you remembered it.

The inafmous phantom of your world, hauntingly beautiful, yet dangerous, murderous. With all the intent to snap anyone’s neck that came in his way. Bathe in their blood.

You remember the first time his eyes landed upon you, the obssessive gazes and the suddeness of when he stole you away. Kept you in his abode for none to see or visit. His beautiful prize. Your soul most addictive to him.

He huffed you like you were a drug to get high on after every murdering spree.

It got to your head that he never once hurt you. No, he protected, kept you safe and sound. Sure, he was and is manipulative but. . . You could manage, you had him, right?

Why should you miss your old family and friends— You are his, and he is yours. He wouldn’t get bored of you.

Alas. As malicious and godlike as he is. His animalistic hunger convinced him otherwise. You weren’t much more than a toy. You weren’t his cerise, nor were you that interesting to begin with.

A past-time soul to take away the boredom.

And when you suddenly no longer took that boredom away — that’s when you noticed the signs, his nonchalance around you. The sudden threats to snap you in half, the agitation he suddenly displayed to you like it. The same he shows to everyone.

What was it you had done wrong? You never really figured it out. An impossible task to do so nontheless.

It was incomprehensible for your mortal brain to understand his.

You lay in bed now, sleeping soundly. Yet to know the fate coming for you.

Oh how the angels weep for it, whichever poor guardian that wards you, begs for you to awake. It is not possible to hear. Not with the barriers of the realms.

And your intuition has been shattered long ago.

The door creaks open. Heavy footsteps moving towards the side of the bed, alongside the strong smell of iron that reeks off of your beloved.

Blood covered fingers trail down your spine, while a freezing pair of lips press against the lobe of your ear. Breath sighed onto your warm skin.

“How unfortunate you cause me such boredom.” He whispers. Might as well take you out in your sleep. The screams may have been delightful. But why not let you dream instead. They say the dead can still hear a bit before their soul has gone away.

Doubtless he will have any use of that either way as well. Perhaps he should simply suffocate it when it floats aimlessly above you. Awaiting reaping.

No reaper comes into this household.

“Hàoyu.” You groggily call, as you rouse from your sleep. Eyes groggy and full of heavy sleep still.

Poor you, barely able to process the teeth that rip out your throat and the long talons that rip through your skin and bones like they are nothing.

What quick and painful death, the blood spraying everywhere. You don’t get to see it, as he so violently tears you apart. Like a feral animal. Laughing as though it is some funny joke to him.

And when it is all over, and he is holding your corpse in his arms. He strokes a thumb across your face and tuts. “Its nothing personal, hm?” A little chuckle rumbles through his chest as he drags you out to the yard, where the rest of his past loves lay beneath the earth.

Yet. As day by day pass by. And he returns from the long sprees with his cultists. He settles down in the lounge of his manor, and awaits your presence each and every time.

A strange feel arises in his chest. Is it sorrow?

No, surely not. . . He was bored, why would he suddenly begin missing? What had been that different about you in contrast to all of his other lovers?

And as a month, perhaps two? What does perception of time matter to him - passes by, it dawns upon him. He was missing you. He was grieving the loss of you of which he bore on his hands. The murder of you.

Waiting, you had been waiting for him to come join you that night. After all of the ruthless threats, ignoring and snapping he had been taking out on you.

Was it boredom? Or had it been the part of him that just thirsted for blood instead?

He no longer knew.

One thing was for sure, you weren’t coming back. Your soul left without a trace after your death. The violent and malicious magic that tore through you suffocated it completely. There is no afterlife for you. There is no you anymore—

And he can try as much as he wants to, to find you again. In every cultist, person he may randomly stumble into. Someone with your eyes, your smile, your laugh, your kindness. But he can’t. Because it isn’t you.

He wants you.

[baji-sideblog]

A drink with a god

Cw dubious consent, noncon (reader is drunk), no gender mentioned

༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻

The night was peaceful as always, Dio took in a deep breath. He typically traveled at night when visiting the mortal world less busy then. Easier to travel around too since no one would notice him. Walking into a local bar he sat in the corner by himself to drink in peace.

The CandleBoat was a very small bar that Dio often went to. He enjoyed it a lot it was rustic and charming run by an older man and his family. Unlike other bars he’s visited throughout his life the family who ran this one never bothered him. Most other folks would tried to smooze up to the god thinking he was a rich patron that they could get more money from. It annoyed him he comes to bars to be alone to drink not to be hassled by more people. So the CandleBoat was a diamond in the rough since they just let him be.

“A nice break from the little idiots. Good old beer my friend how I missed you.”

Ten drinks in and Dio was still very much sober and very aware of you walking in fast hurrying away from a man following you. Dio wasn’t one to get involved in mortal’s lives, but he’d make an acceptance tonight. Walking over he stood by your side staring down at the man. It was obvious you didn’t know who the creep was following you.

“Sweetheart you kept me waiting. I was worried about you I was just about to go looking for you.”

He noticed how nervous and overwhelmed you looked, and a hint of relief in yours eyes that he was helping you out. Dio gently wrapped his arm around you pulling you close. Looking at the creep following you it was obvious he wasn’t sure what to do now that Dio came over.

“Let’s go sit down, okay?”

Leading you to his booth he had you sit on the inside and he sat down on the outside on guard. He lowers his voice talking just loud enough for only you to hear him.

“You okay?”

“I guess…just scared.”

“Of course. You can stay as long as you need by my side. Rest assured that man won’t bother you anymore.”

The god gave you a gentle smile subtly waving his hand in the direction of the creep casting a curse on the man. Oblivi would have fun with punishing his soul soon. His yellow and pink eyes look deep into yours, he had to admit you were a gorgeous mortal inside and out. He could feel his heart racing from being nearby you how odd, this was definitely new for him. The god thought to himself.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a mortal that’s peaked my interest like this one before.”

Dio turned away from you to watch as the creep left the bar, he started counting in his head. After 45 seconds he could hear the thud of the man’s body falling to the ground dead in the alleyway. With another subtle wave of his hand Dio made the body rot so fast it was like it was never there, all while he was still in his seat. No mortal would have any clue what happened which was for the best.

“He’s gone, you’re safe now. Here you can have a sip of my beer if you want, you look like you need something to take the edge off. Warning you it’s strong and hits fast since this one is brewed with giants in mind.”

His hand gently pushed the cup to you there was only a quarter left, before looking away to raise his right hand to order a water for you. He kept his left arm around you even though the man was gone Dio didn’t want to let go. Looking back Dio was a bit taken aback to see you had almost finished the beer that he had left.

“Haha looks like I was right about you needing it. Never seen someone chug a beer that fast before.”

He smiles at you gently, before noticing how red your face was getting. You were swaying a bit your eyes drooping. He sighs shaking his head and gets up gently taking your hand and leads you out of the booth. Paying his bill he takes you out the bar and walks you home. He kept his arm around you to support you. Dio was glad he could just know where you live with his abilities since he wasn’t sure how well you would talk in your state.

Once he got to your apartment he opened it up and laid you down on your bed. Before he could pull away you grabbed onto his arm.

“Please stay..”

“You’re drunk, you don’t want me too.”

“I do, I really do. I neeed you please.”

Hearing your needy voice made the man want to fold right there. He never heard someone ask for him so intimately, so tempting it was. His heart ached. Dio goes to take your hand off of his arm when you sat up and kiss him. The god froze he wasn’t use to this, but he doesn’t pull away.

“I can’t, they’re a mortal. But this feels so right. Is this what Obelix always drones on about..love? If it is then what’s the harm in indulging I can just fix anything need be.”

He kissed you back joining you onto the bed quick to undress himself. Your hands messily take off your own clothes leaving yourself nude to him. Dio let his second pair of arms appear grabbing at your hips rubbing them. As his first pair holds your cheeks as you two made out. He groans through the kiss feeling your hands touch his cock it harden under your touch. You could feel it was rather thick and had pronounced veins. Pulling away he leaves kisses from your lips down to your neck before biting into your flesh leaving a mark. Once he knew it wouldn’t fade any time soon he pulled away Dio and licked the area.

“So delicious, spread your legs now.”

Once your legs were spread Dio grabs your thighs and pulls them up and over his shoulders. Your back was on the bed one pair of hands on your hips the others your thighs. His long thick tongue teased at your sensitive hole before forcing his way in. The man took his time to eat you out making sure to get you nice and prepared. Your moans echoed through your bedroom and only grew louder when his tongue hits that special spot. He chuckles the vibrations made you squeal. Using his tongue he curls it up in you to make your toes curl.

Pulling away for just a moment he spat at your hole to make sure it was wet before going back for seconds. Dio had never tasted something as divine as you before. He could feel your legs quivering as you got closer to your release. And just before you do he pulls out his tongue from you licking his lips.

“No, not yet baby. You’re going to cum when I tell you to. So be good and hold it for daddy.”

Pulling your legs off of him and setting them down, he grabs onto shoulders and hips flipping you onto your belly. He forced you onto your knees positioning himself behind you. Dio felt a shiver of pleasure run down his spine seeing you like this for him. His cock twitches and aches from excitement. Slowly he entered inside of you doing shallow thrust. His hand finds its way to the middle of your back putting enough force on you to keep you down.

His thrust get faster the sounds of wet slaps and yours moan turned the god on more. He could feel your body cling onto his cock with each hard thrust. With the speed he was going at it made you feel like your insides were being rearranged. Dio could get use to this having you by his side constantly.

“Good baby, good baby. Fuck I’m never letting you go. You’re mine now. Forever.”

The god’s chest lays against your back his hand reaches under you touching your chest. Lost in the pleasure, possessiveness clouded Dio’s mind. He didn’t want to stop, didn’t want to lose such a prefect person, he just wanted to have you forever. Casting a spell he linked your soul to his as soulmates. Pulling up from your back Dio presses your chest against the wall to help get leverage to let him hey deeper in you.

“I can feel your body quivering, you’re going to cum baby? Well then cum. Cum while daddy fucks his cum deep into your slutty body.”

Pleasure took over your body as you climax hard your body shaking and tried. Dio growls as he cums in you, he wraps his arms around you lying down while keeping his cock inside.

“Look at you, good job. You did so good taking all of me. I never felt like this before. Damn I didn’t ever realize how pent up I was till now.”

You could feel his cock twitching as it continues pumping you full of his cum even after a couple of minutes have passed. He kisses your lips lovingly watching you as you drift off to sleep.

“Goodnight…my love. I’ll be here once you wake forever.”

༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻ ༺𓆩❦𓆪༻

[calirph]

𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐒𝐘 𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐐𝐔𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐒. all these sentences come from a search on goodread's keywords for fantasy romance and romantasy. please change names, locations and pronouns as you see fit. some of these might be suggestive.

“Rejection is an opportunity for your selection.”

“But I will not run. I wouldn't be standing here if I'd quit every time something seemed impossible to overcome. I will not die today.”

“There is no me without you.”

“They say the soul cannot rest until it finds its match. Then it ignites.”

“You don't love someone because they're a dream of perfection. You love them because of the way they meet their challenges, how they struggle to overcome. You love them because together, you bring out the best in each other.”

“Do you make it a habit to compliment everyone who's trying to kill you?"

“Do you really want to put yourself through this? Is loving me really enough to endure everything you have to just to be with me?"

“Make no mistake, little human. You are under my protection now, and I protect what is mine.”

“Love is when you’d rather see someone one last time and die, than never see their face again.”

“You are sweet to be so concerned over my love life, but I’ve decided only to date guys who have bigger swords than me.”

“Laire, get back here! You do not drink before we meet with our mortal enemy.”

“She's magic, Cassandra. A single flower blooming in an endless desert.”

“I bring you the whole of my heart at the rising of the moon and the setting of the stars.”

“You're exquisite. You're transcendent. And you are mine.”

“Fight me, love. You'll need the strength at the pass. Let that power fly."

“Gods, there seemed to be nothing more humiliating than being attracted to someone who didn't feel the same.”

“Call him. Claim him. Speak his Name. Make him thine before all others.”

“They were all short lives. She'd just wanted to spend more of hers with him. She'd just wanted more time.”

“You could never hate me as much as you want me.”

“That’s the thing about life. To know there’s an end, to be unable to run from it, but to live anyway.”

“I would fetch you the moon if only to spare your tears again”

“I am Death. And you are a fool. I hope revenge is worth it.”

“They despise us because we are Immortal, but it is the blood that runs through our veins ...That they fear.”

“The time for hiding is over. The time for fear is over. The time for action is now.”

“You are powerful by birth but have it in you to be good by choice.”

“It's not protection, little dragon. It's a claim. You're mine. No one touches what belongs to me.”

“Maybe you’ve know what it’s like to be at the bottom, but I doubt you’ve known hell.”

“How can I even look at any other guy on campus when you’re always on my mind? Literally.”

“Love is a not a weakness.”

“My future had been set for me before I was old enough to question it.”

“No one doubts your honourable nature, most noble of kings and best of brothers.”

“When you erupt, girl, make sure it is felt across worlds.”

“Be everything you truly are. That’s all I’ll ever ask of you, my silver one.”

“But if we don’t have peace, we shall have you.”

“Oh, Gesela, do not pretend you despise my attention.”

“He was beautiful and cold, like winter…”

“Answer my question. Send to my will. Why have you come, sweet one?”

“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begin's to stare back at you.”

“Iron is made stronger in the hottest part of the fire, Seth. You didn't break me, you forged me.”

“The whole damn world could burn, and I would still love you. When everything dissipates, you're the only thing I see. You've always been.”

“I’ll happily play the villain if you’re my reward, Mareina.” 

“This realm’s moon hung on the skies, mine laid beside me, smiling and radiant.”

“If you're going to lie, make it a good one.”

“No one is killing my king tonight.”

“My beautiful Olivia, you are the moon of my night sky, beaming light and beauty into my life.”

“That’s it, my bride. Take your pleasure.”

“Perhaps, but the mind is also a powerful force. What you believe, you often see. And what you hope, often comes to be.”

“Patience is about as foreign to me as mercy."

“Remember that you are a wolf. And you cannot be caged.”

“I would have suffered a thousand more years to be with you.”

“It’s not easy to ignore an unfinished day that has been set on reminding you of its bitterness.”

“We aren't anything like strangers anymore, and certainly nothing like enemies. Compassionate like friends. Tender like lovers.”

“All or nothing. In dreams as in life.”

“You need me because I am the Queen of Ithicana.”

“You are mine, mo krrá. The same way that I am yours. From now until the end of time.”

“She would not be mastered by anything again; she was the master of herself.”

“When will you see I'm not your enemy, but your weapon. Wield me..”

“I may be evil but I do have a heart, Princess. It belongs to you. “

“There's no room for doubt on the wings of birds, let alone on the mane of moon dust.”

“I'll say it again. I don't care what you are. I care about who you are.”

“Your wish is my command, my queen.”

“I thought all you princes wanted was demure virgins you could pluck for the first time."

“Power was poison, one that slipped beneath the skin and which could turn even the purest soul into a wicked monster.”

“Love was a lethal weapon that rivaled the sharpest sword. It cut directly to the heart.”

“Morgan Pendragon is far from insignificant. She's a force of destiny and you would do well not to trifle with her or ever let her name cross your lips again.”

“I don't think I've ever met anyone as vexing as you,"

“That was what it meant to have power, wasn't it? You could simply destroy that which didn't serve you.”

[gardenladysworld]

Starbound hearts

Status: I'm working on it

Pairings: Neteyam x human!f!reader

Aged up characters!

Genre/Warnings: fluff, slow burn, oblivious characters, light angst, hurt/comfort, pining

Summary: In the breathtaking, untamed beauty of Pandora, two souls from different worlds find themselves drawn together against all odds. Neteyam, the dutiful future olo'eyktan of the Omaticaya clan, is bound by the expectations of his people and the traditions of his ancestors. She, a human scientist with a love for Pandora’s wonders, sees herself as an outsider, unworthy of the connection she craves.

Tags: @nerdylawyerbanditprofessor-blog, @ratchetprime211, @poppyseed1031, @redflashoftheleaf

Part 11

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

Part 12: To feel

The distant sound of wings slicing through the night still echoed faintly in your ears, long after Neteyam and his ikran had disappeared into the starry sky. You stood there, frozen in place, your arms crossed tightly over your chest as if to hold yourself together. The cool night air pressed against your skin, but your face burned, a betraying heat crawling up your neck and settling in your cheeks.

You could still feel the ghost of his touch—the brief, fleeting graze of his hand as he took the bag from yours. The warmth of his skin, the steadiness of his presence, lingered like a soft ache in your chest, a longing you didn’t know how to name. Your gaze was still fixed on the spot where he’d disappeared, your heart fluttering in a chaotic rhythm you couldn’t calm.

Behind you, Kate’s voice shattered the fragile silence.

“Wow,” Kate’s voice broke through the haze of your thoughts, her teasing tone slicing through the night air like a playful arrow. “I mean, I’ve seen people look lovesick before, but you’re taking it to a whole new level.”

Your head whipped toward her, heat rushing to your cheeks so fast you swore your face might catch fire. “What?” you sputtered, your voice higher-pitched than you intended. “I’m not— I wasn’t—”

She raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You looked like a character from one of those old romance vids. All soft eyes and dreamy sighs, like he just galloped away on a white horse instead of flying off on a giant, terrifying death-bird.”

“I—what? No, I didn’t,” you stammered, feeling your cheeks grow impossibly hotter. “I was just... watching him leave. That’s all.”

Kate laughed, the sound bright and merciless. “Uh-huh. Sure. Watching him leave. With literal stars in your eyes. Girl, you are gone.”

Brian smirked, giving a small shake of his head. „You’re standing there like he just flew off to war and might never come back.”

Max didn’t say a word, but the twitch of his lips spoke volumes. Norm raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between you and the distant sky as if to say, Really?

You groaned, turning back toward the outpost to avoid their prying eyes. “I was just... making sure he took off safely. That’s all.”

Kate let out a bark of laughter. “Yeah, okay. And I’m Eywa reincarnated. Sweetheart, you might as well have hearts floating around your head.”

“I hate you,” you muttered, your face burning.

“Oh, you love me,” Kate shot back, her grin widening. “But not as much as you love a certain tall, blue warrior, huh?”

You whipped around, your mortification growing. “Kate!”

Kate rolled her eyes, stepping closer with a theatrical sigh. “Listen, I get it,” she said, placing a hand dramatically over her chest. “He’s tall, blue, and brooding. It’s like the ultimate forbidden romance package. But girl...” She reached out and flicked your forehead gently. “Do you honestly not see how obvious it is?”

Your mouth opened, then closed. Words failed you, and all you could do was stare at her like she’d just grown a second head. “I—no, it’s not like that!” you sputtered finally, waving your hands. “He’s just—he’s just kind and helpful, that’s all.”

Kate groaned loudly, throwing her head back in mock despair. “Oh, Eywa, give me strength. She doesn’t even know she’s in love.”

Your stomach twisted, and your cheeks burned hotter. “Kate,” you hissed, glancing nervously at the others. “Could you not—”

Brian chuckled from behind her, his grin annoyingly wide. “She’s got a point. You looked ready to swoon.”

Norm shook his head, but there was a knowing smile tugging at his lips. Even Max, usually the most reserved, glanced at you with an amused look before turning back to the equipment.

“Guys,” you groaned, burying your face in your hands. “Can we not make this a thing?”

Kate rolled her eyes so hard you thought they might fall out of her head. “Oh, please. You’re not fooling anyone, least of all yourself. You’re not just worried about him—you’re in love with him.”

The words hit you like a punch to the chest, and for a moment, you couldn’t breathe. “I’m not,” you said weakly, but even you could hear the lack of conviction in your voice.

“Yeah, you are,” Kate said bluntly, stepping closer. “And honestly? It’s written all over your face.”

“I—” You faltered, your heart pounding. “Even if I was, it doesn’t matter. It’s not like he could ever feel the same way.”

Kate groaned loudly, dragging her hand down her face in exasperation. “Are you serious right now? He literally just volunteered to fly into the middle of nowhere at night, for you. If that’s not a guy screaming ‘I care about you,’ then I don’t know what is.”

“That’s who he is. He helps people. It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Doesn’t mean anything?” Kate repeated, her voice rising. “Girl, have you seen the way he looks at you? The way he always makes sure you’re okay, or how he just happens to show up wherever you are? That man is smitten, and you’re too busy overthinking to see it.” Kate’s voice softened, but her determination didn’t waver. “You’re scared,” she said simply.

You froze, her words striking too close to home.

“You’re scared that if you tell him, he’ll pull away,” Kate continued, stepping beside you. “That it’ll change things, and you’ll lose him completely. But keeping this bottled up isn’t doing you any favors either.”

Tears pricked at your eyes, but you refused to let them fall. “I can’t risk it, Kate,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I can’t lose him. Not even as a friend.”

Kate sighed, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “I get it,” she said softly. “But you’re also risking losing something amazing by staying quiet. You think he doesn’t already know? He’s probably just waiting for you to give him a sign.”

Your throat tightened, and you shook your head. “And what if he doesn’t feel the same? What if I tell him, and it ruins everything?”

Kate hesitated, her voice gentler now. “Then at least you’ll know. At least you won’t spend the rest of your life wondering what could’ve been.”

The weight of her words settled heavily in your chest, and for a long moment, neither of you spoke. The others had gone quiet, their knowing smiles fading into something softer, more understanding.

Your thoughts swirled in a chaotic mess of doubt and longing. Could Neteyam ever love you back? Did he already? Or were you just fooling yourself, letting your heart get carried away with something that could never be?

And yet, as you stood there, staring at the horizon where he’d disappeared, a small, rebellious part of you dared to hope.

Because no matter how much you tried to deny it, you couldn’t stop loving him. You couldn’t stop wanting more than stolen glances and fleeting touches.

But could you ever be brave enough to tell him?

“I don’t know, Kate,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “I don’t know if I can.”

Kate gave your shoulder a reassuring squeeze. “You don’t have to decide right now,” she said. “But promise me you’ll at least think about it. Because I’ve seen the way you look at him, and trust me—he’s worth it.”

You nodded slowly, your gaze still fixed on the sky, though your heart was far from ready to face the truth. And yet, deep down, you knew Kate was right. It was only a matter of time before your feelings couldn’t be denied any longer.

*

The night air was crisp as Neteyam guided his ikran, Tawkami, through the skies. The twin moons cast a silvery glow over Pandora, illuminating the floating Hallelujah Mountains in the distance. The towering cliffs suspended in midair, connected by tendrils of glowing vines, looked almost unreal��a sight that never failed to stir awe, even in someone who had seen them countless times.

But tonight, Neteyam’s mind wasn’t focused on the beauty of his surroundings. His thoughts were firmly tethered to you.

He had barely thought before agreeing to your request. When you had looked at him, your wide eyes filled with that mix of nervousness and hope, the word "yes" had come out of his mouth before he could even consider the implications. And when you smiled—no, beamed—at him afterward, he felt like he’d been struck by lightning. Then there was the hug. Eywa, the hug. You had wrapped your arms around his neck, your tiny human frame pressing against him in a gesture so pure and joyful that it had completely unraveled him.

How could I have said no?

Tawkami let out a low trill, bringing him back to the present. Neteyam reached down, stroking the ikran’s neck reassuringly. “I know, girl. We’re almost there,” he murmured.

It’s for the research, he reminded himself, though the thought felt hollow. You had been careful to phrase it that way, to make it sound like this was about the team’s work and not about him doing something just for you. But Neteyam knew better. He had seen the nervous flicker in your gaze, the way your fingers twisted together as you waited for his answer. You didn’t want to burden him, but even if you had, he wouldn’t have cared. He would have done it anyway—because it was you.

*

When Lo’ak had found him preparing to leave the kelku at before midnight, his younger brother had been full of questions.

“Where are you going?” Lo’ak had asked, his tone teasing but curious. “Off to rescue the sky girl?”

Neteyam had ignored the jab, tightening the strap of his hunting knife around his waist. “I have something to do.”

Lo’ak had raised an eyebrow, leaning casually against the doorway. “Something? At midnight? Let me guess—it has to do with her.”

Neteyam had shot him a warning look, but it only made Lo’ak grin wider. “You don’t even deny it anymore,” Lo’ak had said, his voice low but amused. “You’ve got it bad, big bro. Just don’t do anything stupid.”

Neteyam hadn’t replied, turning to leave instead. But Lo’ak’s words had lingered, echoing in his mind as he mounted Tawkami and took off into the night.

*

Now, as he approached the cliffs where the rare flower bloomed, his thoughts shifted back to the moment you hugged him. He hadn’t been prepared for it—the way you threw your arms around his neck, your smaller frame pressing against his as if he were the only safe place in the world. The warmth of your touch had spread through him like wildfire, leaving him rooted in place, unsure how to respond.

His arms had hovered awkwardly at first, his mind racing with questions. Should he hug you back? Would it be inappropriate? Would you think he was taking advantage? But then you’d squeezed him tighter, your joy spilling out in a way that felt so unguarded, so pure. It had undone him. Without thinking, his arms had wrapped around you, pulling you closer, his chest tightening with something he couldn’t name.

It had been... overwhelming. A rush of emotions he wasn’t prepared for. He could still feel the faint press of your fingers against his neck, the soft weight of your body leaning into his. The memory sent a flicker of warmth through him, one that he quickly tried to suppress.

The flight to the Hallelujah Mountains was long but uneventful, the familiar terrain passing beneath him like a living map. As he approached the floating peaks, his ikran let out a soft, eager chirp, its connection to him through tsaheylu buzzing faintly in his mind. Neteyam reached out, running a hand along the creature’s neck in silent reassurance.

The Hallelujah Mountains were breathtaking, even to him. He had flown through these peaks countless times, yet their beauty never failed to strike him. The floating islands were wreathed in mist, their sheer cliffs adorned with glowing plants that shimmered like stars in the moonlight. It was here, amidst this wonder, that the elusive ulo’ateya bloomed.

Neteyam’s gaze swept the landscape, searching for the faint glow of the flower you had described. Ulo’ateya, or Midnight Bloom you had called it, your voice soft with reverence as you explained its importance. It only bloomed at one night, its pale blue petals shimmering like liquid moonlight. It grew in the crevices of the cliffs, hidden from the sun’s harsh rays.

Finally, his sharp eyes caught a faint glow near the edge of a jagged rock formation. “There,” he murmured to Tawkami, guiding her toward the spot. She landed gracefully, her claws gripping the rocky surface with ease.

Neteyam dismounted, his movements fluid as he approached the glowing flower. It was smaller than he’d expected, its delicate petals unfurling like a star against the dark rock. He crouched low, his hands hovering over it as he tried to remember everything he had seen you do.

Neteyam had watched you work countless times over the past year, your focus unwavering as you handled your strange human tools. He had often wondered how you could be so meticulous, so patient, even when the forest around you hummed with life and distraction. Now, as he reached for the tools in the pack you had prepared for him, he realized just how foreign it all felt.

The sampling tray was awkwardly small in his hands, and the fine-tipped tool you’d included felt like it might snap under his grip. He frowned, his ears flicking back slightly as he tried to mimic the movements he had seen you perform. His large fingers struggled with the tiny instrument, and for a moment, frustration bubbled in his chest.

But then he thought of you—your careful instructions, the way your eyes lit up when you talked about the plants you studied. You had trusted him to do this. That thought steadied him, and he took a slow breath, adjusting his grip.

“Okay,” he muttered, carefully pulling out a pair of tweezers. They felt ridiculous in his hands, like trying to hold water with a net. But he adjusted his grip, focusing on the flower before him. He reached out, the tweezers clinking softly against the stem as he pinched it gently and clipped it free.

The flower was lighter than he expected, its glow pulsing faintly in the darkness. He placed it into one of the small containers, securing the lid with careful precision.

He repeated the process, moving from flower to flower, collecting samples with a focus he usually reserved for tracking prey. It was... strange, this work. It wasn’t like hunting or crafting, the skills he had mastered as a warrior. But it mattered to her.

How do you do this so easily? he wondered, his brow furrowing in concentration.

He gently clipped one of the flowers, placing it in the sample tray with as much care as he could manage. His hands felt too big, too rough for the task, but he pushed through, determined not to damage the fragile specimens. With each movement, he thought of you—how your hands moved so gracefully, how your focus was always unwavering. He had spent more time than he cared to admit watching you work, captivated by the way you seemed to lose yourself in the process.

Neteyam gathered several samples, ensuring they were secure before standing. He looked down at the glowing flowers for a moment, a small smile tugging at his lips. He had done it. It wasn’t perfect—he knew you would have done it better—but it would be enough.

*

The cool grass beneath you was damp with dew, but you hardly noticed. The blanket draped around your shoulders was meant to ward off the chill of the night, but it was more a comfort than a necessity. You sat cross-legged, gazing up at the vast expanse of the Pandoran sky, its twin moons casting soft light over the clearing. Stars blinked faintly, their light woven into the bioluminescent glow of the forest around you.

The outpost hummed faintly in the background, its lights a stark contrast to the natural beauty that surrounded it. But your attention was far from the familiar structure. You were waiting—for him. The team was already back in the outpost. You bet Norm and Max was already in the quarter, Brian in the rec room already sleeping and Kate is in the canteen trying to get a decent amount of coffee. Every passing minute stretched out, your thoughts tangled with equal parts excitement and worry.

He’ll be fine, you told yourself for what felt like the hundredth time. Neteyam knows the forest better than anyone. He’s careful, skilled. He promised he’d come back.

But the unease lingered. Your fingers toyed with the edge of the blanket, twisting it absently as your mind conjured scenarios you didn’t want to entertain. What if something happened? What if the forest’s dangers, no matter how familiar to him, caught him off guard? The thought made your chest tighten, and you exhaled slowly, trying to calm the storm of your thoughts.

The faint screech of wings snapped you out of your reverie, and your heart leapt as your eyes darted toward the sky. A shadow moved against the moons’ glow, growing larger as it descended. You rose to your feet instinctively, clutching the blanket around you, as Neteyam’s ikran came into view. Its sleek, powerful form glided effortlessly through the air, its patterns shimmering faintly in the dim light.

Relief flooded through you as they landed, the ikran’s claws gripping the earth with practiced ease. Neteyam dismounted in one fluid motion, his movements graceful even after what must have been an exhausting journey. The satchel holding the ulo’ateya samples hung securely at the ikran’s side, but it wasn’t the sight of the precious plant that made your chest swell with emotion—it was him. He was safe, unscathed, his golden eyes sharp and alert as they scanned the clearing before landing on you.

The blanket slipping slightly from your shoulders as you crossed the short distance to meet them. The ikran tilted its head, watching you with intelligent eyes, and let out a low, melodic chirp as you approached.

“You did such a good job,” you cooed softly, reaching out to stroke the ikran’s scaled neck. Its skin was cool and smooth under your fingers, and it leaned into your touch, letting out another pleased sound that made your heart swell. “Thank you for keeping him safe.”

Neteyam’s lips twitched into a faint grin as he watched the interaction, his tail swaying behind him.

“You’re back,” you breathed, a smile breaking across your face as you stepped closer.

Neteyam’s lips quirked into a small, tired smile. “I told you I would be.”

Your eyes flicked to the satchel, your heart lightening further. “You got the ulo’ateya,” you said, unable to hide the excitement in your voice. “That’s incredible.”

He nodded, glancing briefly at the bag. “It was difficult, but manageable.”

Relief and gratitude swirled within you, and you reached for the bag but hesitated, your gaze meeting his. “I don’t know how to thank you for this,” you said softly, your voice trembling with sincerity. “I can never repay you, but I’ll try.”

Neteyam tilted his head slightly, his ears flicking in a way you’d come to recognize as quiet amusement. “There is no debt between us,” he said simply, his tone gentle but firm.

You looked up at him, the weight of his words settling over you. There was a sincerity in his gaze that made your chest ache, and for a moment, you couldn’t find the words to respond. The blanket slipped further down your shoulders as you stood there, caught in the warmth of his presence.

Neteyam’s expression shifted slightly, his ears twitching as he noticed your shivering. Without a word, he crouched down in front of you, his large frame folding with ease. His long fingers reached for the blanket, pulling it snugly around you with a tenderness that left you breathless.

“You shouldn’t be outside at night,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s cold.”

He reached for the blanket you’d let slip earlier, wrapping it around your shoulders with a care that made your heart ache. His hands lingered briefly, adjusting the fabric to ensure you were covered.

“There,” he said softly, his gaze meeting yours. “Better.”

You opened your mouth to say something—anything—but the words caught in your throat as he reached for your hand. His large, warm fingers engulfed your smaller palm, his touch gentle as he held it between his own. Your breath hitched as he brushed his thumb over your knuckles, the motion slow and deliberate.

“You worry too much, tanhì,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

The word—tanhì—sent a shiver through you. It was the first time he had called you anything in Na’vi other than your name, and the endearment hung in the air between you, warm and intimate. Your eyes widened, searching his face for any hint of what he meant, but all you found was a quiet tenderness that made your heart ache.

“Neteyam...” you began, your voice trembling slightly, but you didn’t know how to finish. The intensity of his gaze, the warmth of his hand holding yours, left you feeling exposed, as though he could see every thought, every feeling you’d tried so hard to hide.

He tilted his head, his thumb still tracing slow circles over your knuckles. “What is it?” he asked, his voice soft, almost coaxing.

You shook your head, a small, shaky smile tugging at your lips. “Nothing,” you said, though your eyes betrayed you. They lingered on his, filled with a depth of emotion you couldn’t put into words.

His own gaze softened further, and for a moment, it felt as though the world around you had fallen away, leaving only the two of you in the quiet glow of Pandora’s night.

*

Neteyam guided Tawkami, through the cool night air, his sharp eyes scanning the clearing below as they neared the outpost. The twin moons bathed Pandora in silver light, illuminating the familiar structure nestled amidst the forest. The journey had been long, and his muscles ached from the tension of navigating the cliffs, but none of that mattered now. His focus, as it so often was these days, was on you.

The faint figure sitting near the edge of the clearing grew clearer as he descended, and his heart stirred at the sight of you. You were clutching a blanket around your shoulders, your face turned skyward, your eyes filled with anticipation. You were waiting for him.

His ikran landed gracefully, its claws digging into the earth with a practiced ease. Neteyam dismounted in one smooth motion, his movements quiet despite his fatigue. The satchel of ulo’ateya samples swung at Tawkami's side, a tangible reminder of the reason for this trip, but his thoughts were far from the delicate flowers he’d risked retrieving. His gaze fixed on you, and for a fleeting moment, the weight of his responsibilities, and the countless expectations placed upon him faded into the background. All he could see was you, your form glowing softly in the moonlight.

You crossed the short distance to meet him, the blanket slipping slightly from your shoulders. His ikran tilted its head, letting out a low, content chirp as you approached, and Neteyam’s lips curved into a faint grin. You cooed softly to the creature, your hand reaching out to stroke its scaled neck with such tenderness that it made something in Neteyam’s chest tighten.

“You did such a good job,” you murmured to Tawkami, your voice filled with genuine gratitude. “Thank you for keeping him safe.”

He watched as you soothed his ikran, your voice gentle and sincere. How was it that even his ikran, a creature that trusted only him, seemed to find comfort in your presence? Neteyam’s tail swayed unconsciously, a subtle sign of his own contentment as he took in the scene before him.

“You’re back,” you breathed, your voice carrying a smile that made his chest feel light, as if Eywa herself had blessed him in this moment.

“I told you I would be,” he replied softly, his voice steady despite the quiet storm inside him. His gaze flicked to the satchel at the side, and he nodded slightly. “It was difficult, but manageable.”

When your eyes lit up at the mention of the ulo’ateya, he felt a warmth spread through him that had nothing to do with the effort of his journey. You looked at him with such trust, such admiration, that it made the ache in his muscles vanish. How could he think of anything else—his place in the clan, his duties, his future—when you were standing before him, your sparkling eyes drawing him in like the light of the forest?

“I don’t know how to thank you for this,” you said, your voice trembling with sincerity. “I can never repay you, but I’ll try.”

Neteyam tilted his head slightly, his ears twitching as a small smile tugged at his lips. “There is no debt between us,” he said simply, his voice soft but firm. He meant it. You could ask him to climb every cliff in Pandora, to face every storm, and he would do so without hesitation. Not because of duty, not because of obligation, but because it was you. You trusted him enough to ask, and that trust was worth more to him than anything else.

As you looked up at him, the moonlight catching the faint glimmer in your eyes, he felt the familiar yearning settle deep in his chest. He wanted to tell you—to hold you and confess that there was nothing he wouldn’t do for you. That he didn’t care about the expectations placed on him, the traditions that dictated his future. But he couldn’t. The words caught in his throat, weighed down by the impossibility of it all. Instead, he watched you, memorizing every detail—the curve of your lips, the way the blanket framed your figure, the quiet strength in your gaze.

When he noticed the blanket slipping from your shoulders, he frowned slightly. The nights on Pandora could be cold, and though he knew you were stronger than you looked, he couldn’t stand the thought of you being uncomfortable. Without thinking, he crouched down in front of you, his large hands reaching for the fabric.

“You shouldn’t be outside at night,” he said, his tone gentle but with a hint of reprimand. “It’s cold.”

As he wrapped the blanket around you, his fingers brushed against your shoulders, and he lingered for a moment longer than necessary, adjusting the fabric to ensure you were fully covered. The softness of your skin beneath his touch sent a quiet thrill through him, but he forced himself to focus on the task, to keep his movements steady.

“There,” he said softly, his gaze meeting yours. “Better.”

You looked at him then, your eyes wide and filled with something he couldn’t quite name. Vulnerability, perhaps, or maybe gratitude. Whatever it was, it made him want to pull you closer, to shield you from every danger this world had to offer. But he held himself back, his hands retreating as he straightened.

Then, almost without realizing it, he reached for your hand. Your smaller palm fit so perfectly in his, and the warmth of your skin against his sent his heart racing. His thumb brushed over your knuckles in slow, deliberate circles, a motion he wasn’t sure was for your comfort or his own.

“You worry too much, tanhì,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

The word—tanhì—slipped out before he could stop it, and for a moment, he froze. It was a word he’d never used before, not for anyone. It meant "star" in Na’vi, a term of endearment reserved for someone who brought light into one’s life. And that’s what you were to him—his tanhì, his guiding star.

Your eyes widened, and he saw the question in them, the unspoken uncertainty. Did you know what it meant? Did you understand how much weight that single word carried?

“Neteyam...” you began, your voice trembling slightly, but you didn’t finish. Instead, you looked at him, your gaze filled with something so raw, so vulnerable, that it nearly undid him.

“What is it?” he asked, his thumb still tracing soft circles over your knuckles. He wanted to coax the words from you, to hear whatever was on your mind. But more than that, he wanted to hold this moment, to stretch it into forever.

You shook your head, a small, shaky smile tugging at your lips. “Nothing,” you said softly, though your eyes betrayed you. They lingered on his, filled with an emotion he dared not name but couldn’t ignore.

For a moment, the world around them fell away. The hum of the outpost, the distant sounds of the forest—everything faded, leaving only the two of them standing together under the twin moons. Neteyam couldn’t think of his responsibilities, his place in the clan, or the expectations that weighed on him. Not when you were here, looking at him like he was something more than just a warrior or a leader.

Not when you were looking at him like he was everything.

Part 13: To kiss (Soon)

[gh7stly]

EPILOGUE — poly 141 x immortal gn!reader

<not proofread or anything, been sitting in my draft for the longest time! i hope someone'll enjoy>

The blood that painted your body itches, you noticed. It irked you, really, so the idea of spending one more hour on the same clothes you had on when you left for this mission was a torture by itself. As the helicopter shook one last time while landing, you immediately started making your way to the community bathroom, ignoring every greetings of other soldiers, previous mission partners and privates in the way. Muppets. 

“I thought the military taught basic etiquette, soldier. Been looking forward to making it home?” A voice not so strange called after you, slowly turning around as if scared to scare it away, Kate Laswell enters your vision. “Happy?”

You make a false discontent face. “Last time I saw your face I had 7 less lives in my hand, happiness is not the right feeling…. More like a bad omen?”

“I’m glad You're here and alive, then. You even taken a bath yet? There's subjects to be taken care of and I need you available as soon as possible, and, yes, I'm making the proposal again”, you take notice of how she avoided the responsibility and somehow proved your “bad omen” point, Kate's proposal didn't mean good things to come. “This is not the place to talk about it, Spook, but it is the right time. We need y-”

You bark out a laugh. “Fuck no, Laswell”, patting her on the shoulder, you turn around and start walking. “Coronel is not agreeing, plus, I have no interest in your suicide inhibitions against the US. Give up!”

“Spook. The time is running out. You know why you'd be the most important thin-”

“Thing?” 

Laswell makes a disapproving sound from getting interrupted again. Aware of the sudden seriousness of the moment, she grabs your arm to go further into the corridor away from the crowds and recruits.

“You are not a 14 year old girl, Spook. You are a soldier, a soldier responding to one of the biggest special forces in the world, and you have the ability of doing what I could only wish to do”, she stopped walking abruptly and stared down into your soul, this discussion is your least favorite one to have. “You can fuck up. Has this not internalized into you yet? Dead boys are sent to their mamas everyday for a tiny mistake but you have the ability of throwing it all into the air and walking away unharmed, so why not use who you are for the better cause? We need you”

Her words punctuated your gut, your frustrations boiled up deep in your stomach and revealed itself by the shaking in your hands; they've gotten worse recently, you've come to notice. There wasn't much to do about it except put them into fists and dig your nails deep into the palm of your hand until it made you grounded enough to find your voice, stuck in the back of your throat. This subject, this proposal and its implications had enough force to make you crumble easily, Laswell of course knew nothing about it – just that you were stubborn and kept refusing. 

“I am here because you asked me to make you useful, because you wanted to help. I know you're a human, Spook, but you're in the military and not a playground. What you want is not what you're getting sometimes, not because you don't matter, but because you are a useful trick we could have up our sleeve. So I'm going to ask you again, are you going to fucking help or not?

Staying in silence, you bit your tongue to stop from getting an insubordination letter. Part of you, the human part you guessed, felt talked down still. Did you ask for this life? Who made you this way? Wanting to help didn't mean killing yourself on purpose on missions, didn't mean getting used by superiors like an unbreakable toy. You're here because you wanted to be a hero, but right now, you're afraid of having more blood on yourself than the villains.

The other part, the freak one as you called, knew that that's exactly what you were. A puppet. From the moment you joined the military, it was better to devoid yourself from feelings, needs, or any basic thought. You liked it, even. Getting pushed to the limits of morality, treated like a piece of a big chess match. A cold air passed through you both until you finally had swallowed enough ego to speak.

“Let me at least change clothes and then you can go through your little plan." That was the closest thing to a yes you could've gotten before puking bile, but it was enough for her.

“Thank you, Spook. 1700 sharp” nodding, you let out a sigh you weren't aware of holding.

“You're a bad omen, Laswell. After today, I hope it'll be a long time until we meet again.” Even with the harsh words, a project of a smile showed in your face. Kate Laswell was probably the closest thing to a mom you'll ever have in your life. “I agree.”

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Worst's Chapter 389

Brief summary: Gun Mok tells how he met the monster 50 years ago. Cale discovers a new effect of his powered-up DA.

==========

Remember Old Man Baek, the one Cale met in Central Plains who asked Cale if he wanted to become a god? He was the one who first told Cale about how he met the king's heir (vessel of the omnipotent god) of the hunters at a festival held by the Transparent Bloods, and saw in Cale a world inside him.

Gun Mok was in that very festival itself, as he was working part-time with the festival preparations. Gun Mok's story was as follows:

Fifty years ago, Kang Gun Mok was hired to do part-time work for a festival held by the Han family. He was headed to the food warehouse, a little away from the Han family mansion, to get some food ingredients. A child wearing a hood stood in front of the food warehouse, and said, "I am hungry." An employee there told the boy, "Why don't you go to the cafeteria instead?" But the boy repeated, "I am hungry." Gun Mok suddenly had an ominous feeling that he should not approach the boy. Thus, he hid on one side of the warehouse. And witnessed it. The boy stretched out his hand, and all the employees standing in front of the food warehouse suddenly fell to their knees, their gazes becoming vacant. The child spoke, "Become my meal." Everyone fell down to the ground alike puppets whose strings were cut. They had died. Their souls separated from their bodies. The child giggled, and pointed to each soul, one by one. "You are sadness," he said to one soul. "You are joy," he declared to another soul. Joy, anger, sadness, pleasure, love, hate, and desire. Each soul was assigned one of these seven emotions. The innocent-looking child slowly opened his mouth and ate the souls one by one. As if eating something very sweet and delicious. Every time the boy ate a soul, Gun Mok had a vision. When he saw the soul assigned as anger, he witnessed a face full of anger yet had a vacant look. And beneath the boy's feet, his shadow enlarged and a pit of anger appeared. The pit of anger was like hell. Everyone inside was angry. But at the same time, they were crying out for help. They were deep in despair. Gun Mok didn't hear any sounds, but he could feel the emotions of the souls inside the pit. The souls with other emotions also fell into their assigned pits. A pit full of souls who were laughing. Another pit full of souls in pleasure. But all the seven pits had one thing in common - everyone inside were crying and in despair. The seven pits contained countless souls, and it felt like each pit was like a world of its own. The child stood atop those seven worlds beneath his feet, looking like a god of hell. Gun Mok then felt someone grab his shoulder. He turned around and met that man - Han Taek Soo. One of Han Taek Soo's men knocked Gun Mok out, and when Gun Mok woke up, Han Taek Soo spoke to him. "If you betray me, you will become that child's meal." Ever since that fateful day, Kang Gun Mok worked for Han Taek Soo.

Scary... 😨 So this child was the final boss of the hunters, the king's heir, the vessel of the omnipotent god that Cale would have to defeat in the future. If Cale was described to only have one world inside him, the king's heir had seven worlds inside him.

What Gun Mok saw that day followed him like nightmares, so he obediently followed Han Taek Soo in fear. But when Cale used DA on him and he saw Cale's eyes, he felt like he had escaped from that nightmare.

Yes, he was really scared of Cale. But at the same time, he felt saved by Cale's power. As if that power was strong enough to oppose the power of the king's heir that haunted him.

Thus, Cale discovered another effect of his powered-up DA. But his and the reactions of everyone else was hilarious. 😂😂😂

Cale: What did you see in me that made you think I can save you? Gun Mok: Your eyes. Seeing your eyes saved me from that nightmare. What power is that? Cale: … (What power?) DA: My power has no relation to the eyes though? Cale: (Yeah, I only used DA, right?) Wind AP: Cale. The GoC's eyes. Cale: !!! DA: Huh? Oh. Cale: (Come to think of it, powered-up DA resembles the power of GoC.) Cale: (Wait. No way. No, it can't be. Impossible. That can't be true…) Cale: Perhaps what you saw was an illusion? I don't have that kind of power. Gun Mok: If you say so. Cale: ??? (What's with his reaction?) Rosalyn and Alberu: ... *looks at Cale strangely* Cale: What? Why? I didn't do anything! Rosalyn: How far will you go? *smiles* Alberu: …This is driving me crazy. *shakes head* Cale: N-No! *felt wronged* DA: Hehehe.

Cale and DA imitated the power of GoC's eyes so closely that even Cale's eyes could now exert a similar effect. 😂😂😂 But unlike GoC's eyes that made you feel negative emotions, Cale's eyes had a positive effect.

Poor Cale in heavy denial that he was becoming so god-like powerful. 🤣🤣🤣 Meanwhile, Rosalyn was in awe while Alberu was shaking his head at his dongsaeng who kept destroying his own slacker life dream. 🤣🤣🤣

Ending Remarks So the "monster" Gun Mok saw that the honorary chairman was raising was the king's heir. Next chapter would be Gun Mok spilling the honorary chairman's secrets. But considering that Cale still needed to get the secret lab password, steal the research in the secret lab, wake up Count Lupe, and learn Count Lupe's lost memories, I guess it would be a while before we get the chapter of Eden's birth, haha. 😅

[kissingmensbiceps]

Thinking about virgin!loser!Satoru Gojo who is a complete and utter poindexter, who just prays to the heavens above that an angel will fall from the sky (aka you) and into his bed to fuck him raw. His mama always told him to pray before bed. “Don’t forget your prayers sweetie,” she’d say. So that’s what he did, locking his bedroom door to conceal his acts from the rest of the world, hoping that God couldn’t peer through the cracks. He’d get on his knees, looking at the stars in the nighttime sky and pray for you. His goddess, the one and only woman that would give him life. You just looked so gorgeous, so sexy, so fuckable—but that reminds me! Silly Satoru is only a pure little virgin, a nineteen year old virgin.

His only dream is to get fucked by a pretty lady, just like how Suguru or Kento had described their countless hook ups. Satoru didn’t want to lie anymore. 8 bodies. That was the lie he told. Why would he admit that he was waiting, waiting for his girl, the one that was meant to take his pureness, his good religious faith? He wanted to give it all up to you.

Satoru swears that it’s wrong but he can’t find a bone in his sweaty body to care, pumping his fist to the mere thought of you. God, you looked so damn pretty. He’s a poor, horny boy who can’t wait to get his filthy little paws on his meal, a meal that’s been on his mind; the tip of his tongue, and teasing him by just gently grazing his tastebuds. His brain consists of only one thing: you riding his rock hard cock over and over, squeezing whatever liquids he had left in him, he wanted you to leave him dry. He wanted you to grab his chin, jerk his head so roughly that a trip to urgent care may be needed in the morning. Satoru wants you to be mean.

Don’t go easy on him, of course he’s sure he can take the heat. “But it’s your first time, I don’t want to be mean!” Like your words could even make him reconsider. He doesn’t give up, begging you like a pathetic dog, a whimpering needy mess on his sheets, covered in sweat, yet you haven’t even touched his poor throbbing cock yet. It makes it seem all the wrong. Fucking him ruthlessly in his childhood bedroom. “What time did your mom say she’d be home?” Satoru doesn’t answer, he wants your hands, your soft delicate hands to trace and caress his body, nails dug into the creamy skin of his back. He wants to hear you scream, scream his name, please.

Satoru has yearned for this night, the night where it would all be lost, forgotten, be apart of his past. He would have you. Do anything you want to him, he wants you to have no mercy, rip him apart, rip his soul apart. Peel his skin open, crawl your way into his heart and lay there to rest. Manhandle him, hunt him down. Take away his purity, cum on his cock however many times you want, baby. He is yours for the taking. Tear him apart and nip at his body, wear him down to the bone until you are completely satisfied. That would be his ecstasy, help him reach his utopia, make him feel euphoric.

[nadzhosny2]

The Rantings of an Old Soul

Does anyone else feel as if they were born in the wrong era? I do. Constantly. My ways of viewing aspects of life are so categorically different from how society views them, that I feel as if I've been plucked from the past and slammed into the present with no recollection of how I got here. So being the nerd that I am, I decided to do some research into this and see if there is any coherent explanation for it.

Thankfully there was. The term for this feeling is ‘historical nostalgia or vicarious nostalgia’.

Whatever else you can change about your life, one thing you can’t do anything about is the time. If you don’t like where you live, you can move — if you don’t like when you live, well, tough shit.

Complaints about being born in the wrong era come up a lot online, often in the context of decrying modern culture and yearning for bygone days. Whether it’s memes about being misunderstood, lambasting other “kids of today” spending all their time on their phones or endless YouTube comments on Nirvana and Queen videos written by teenagers complaining that music today is bullshit, it’s a common yearning. Also if you don’t know who those two bands are, I am SERIOUSLY judging your music taste and you need to update your playlists IMMEDIATELY.

It should go without saying that almost any one of us, transported back even a few decades, would find the past to be unimaginably awful. Living in the Swinging Sixties or the Roaring Twenties probably sounds awesome — hello flappers and tie-dye shirts! — but it mostly just means foregoing the benefits of a huge amount of life-improving technological and medical breakthroughs as well as civil and women’s rights. You don’t have to go back that far for things to become utterly dire: Life expectancy among the middle classes in Victorian Britain (i.e., the 19th century) was just 45!

The sad thing about this though is that versions of a time period we didn’t live through are often idealised or romanticised, images of a simpler time, before tech dominated our lives, seem to show that people were happier then. Such periods are usually shown in film or other art forms in biased versions by avoiding the unpleasant, even painful, aspects.

But syphilis, tooth decay and dead-before-middle-age thing from the flu aren’t what people fantasise about, of course: It’s the dream of experiencing cultural milestones firsthand, even though the reality is that most people only become aware of the cultural significance of a moment many years later — just try asking the average Italian peasant how enlightened they felt while the Renaissance was actually happening. While Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo were busy creating their masterpieces of art, they wouldn’t come to prominence or even be unveiled until several years later. Also if you thought these people were the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, you need to be hit on the head. With a chair. Shame on you.

Putting all of this aside though, there are some things that used to be so powerful in the past that have utterly lost meaning in today’s world: language, art, music, love, marriage, MANNERS.

As a massive lover of Shakespeare and Homer (no, not Homer Simpson, because sadly that’s the first thing that will pop into people’s minds *HUGE eyeroll*), I developed a love for the older English language; a language that wasn’t spoiled by slang or oversimplified ways of speaking, that spoke in ways that resonated with your soul, using words that perfectly described a situation or a feeling. The language people use now is mostly sullied with cuss words or smut.

The language used to be dignified and elegant, Shakespeare’s sonnets are the prime example of this. The language flows beautifully and while it is drastically different from the way we speak today, the meaning behind the words is powerful. People just don’t talk this way anymore and it's a true loss. With all the trends and challenges that are flying around these days, is it too much to ask to have an Old English trend? Sigh.

Instrumental and classical music is something else that is missing from today’s world that used to be revered in the past. The works of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, and Chopin have been forgotten and shoved aside in vinyl records somewhere, collecting dust in favour of Ariana, Beyonce, Drake and Post Malone. I remember the first time I ever heard a piece of classical music; I was 13 years old and was visiting a friend at her house, her father had an enormous collection of vinyl records that he had been gathering for 30 years, which he kept in pristine condition in a shelf mounted on the living room wall. His record player, a large, old-fashioned brass gramophone (the man was committed) was in the corner of the room and the most exquisite violin music was playing. I remember just sitting down, right there in the middle of the room, facing the gramophone and listening as the music washed over me, giving me goosebumps as it vibrated through my body. I sat there, not moving a muscle, until the song ended and then dashed to the gramophone to pick up the record sleeve next to it to see which song it was. That was the first time I had ever heard ‘Concerto in Two Violins’ by Bach.

After that day I was hooked, I went down the rabbit hole and started listening to all the classical composers I could find. Fortunately for me, YouTube had an abundance of videos of orchestras from all over the world that were playing the music. As I grew older I found Yanni, a Greek/American composer and pianist who was bringing instrumental music back to the modern world with his concerts all over the globe. His song ‘Nostalgia’ has such a haunting rhythm which is just breathtaking that I always listen to it with my eyes closed.

Just recently I found a duo called 2CELLOS who were doing instrumental versions of modern songs. The blending of the past and the present was so perfect that it was hard to believe and brought me such incomprehensible amounts of joy. Now don’t get me wrong, I'm not decrying today’s music, I'm an avid listener of all genres but there is just a magnificent beauty in the classics and the way it reverberates through the soul that is unmatched.

Finally, the aspect of life that has been butchered the most by modern society is love. “I love you” is a phrase many people tend to throw out into the world, without realising its full impact and repercussions associated with it. The society we live in today loves love, just for the sole idea of it. We lust for the idea of being head over heels in love, so maybe that is why it seems to slip through our tongues so easily. Media exploits love in the sense that it is used as a patch-up for when the going gets tough, used as a way to have someone finally commit fully to you, and has begun to underlie lies and most shamefully, it gets someone into bed. Maybe this is just my perception, but it seems to me that emotions are muted, and are shown through materialistic things rather than our faces. We would rather buy someone a bear over writing love letters or poems.

A love letter was the main way men and women expressed their romantic feelings for each other back in the 19th century. To put all their emotions down on paper, pouring their hearts out so that the others would understand how deeply they felt about them. Something to be cherished and reread over and over until it's dog-eared and ragged. A physical reminder of the love the other had for them.

What happened to courtship? To developing a deep bond to ensure the relationship has a clearly defined direction and it’s going just the right way. When prioritising the mental connection over anything else by getting to know each other, thereby capitalising on emotions was the main reason people got together. How all of this has been twisted in today’s world.

Today’s world is infinitely better in significant ways than it was in the past, there can be no doubt about that. It just needs to remember. These are perils of being an old soul stuck in a modern time that baffles her.

[vaguely-concerned]

walking through lucanis' mind prison. the tam lin of it all

[sysig]

You could stay forever, if you wanted (Patreon)

[imminent-danger-came]

Gotta say my tags from this post are killing me

We're living past the end of our myth for a 3rd time. Number three. Triple of 'em

[vanweezer]

very very personal, just insight into where im at w my family and things that bother me/have encouraged me to move out

"i know youre moving out so im just gonna say no ones kicking you out and if you feel like this is something you have to do then ok"

thanks! i know im not being kicked out! but yknow i kinda yet a weird vibe when your out of touch husband takes me to a cemetery to yell at me, tell me im just like my father/dont give my father "the time of day", and that im "mean to people who care about me" in front of his dead mother's grave in a poor attempt at guilting me out of speaking my mind. but no yeah thanks for stating the fucking obvious that im leaving on my own terms

[332-442]

You know what's fucked up? The trauma really doesn't go away.

[toleen-hassouna]

Help me get my life back, achieve my goal, and save the rest of my family

Education, which was young Tulin's passion, now seems like a distant memory, as there is no school, no home, and no safe place. The war has forced us to abandon our dreams and our work. Life as we knew it has stopped, swallowed up by a sea of ​​uncertainty, loss and despair

• My daughter Tulane is a radiant ray of sunshine, bringing joy, warmth and boundless love to everyone she meets. She has been through many health ailments.

• My middle daughter, Wateen, who is five years old, suffered a broken leg as a result of escaping during the aggression against the area surrounding us. Wateen suffers from osteomalacia and poor growth. I hope that this incident will not be repeated and that I will not see anything bad about it

• This is our house, full of our memories and moments of joy and happiness, which has now turned into ruins. His destruction

broke our hearts

Despite the darkness that surrounds us, a ray of hope appears in our hearts - a longing to seek refuge in the embrace of safety, and to find solace in a land untouched by the scourges of war. Egypt beckons to us as a beacon of hope, promising safe haven and the opportunity to rebuild our shattered lives. However, the path to freedom is fraught with obstacles, and we are unable to afford the journey that might lead us to a new beginning.

My family and I are looking forward to evacuating to Egypt, but as you know, a lot of money is needed to pay for the coordination costs in order to cross the border, and we still need money to get the total amount required so that we can travel.

With each passing day, our burdens grow heavier, and our pleas for help become more urgent. We long for the warmth of a safe haven, an opportunity to regain what we have lost and forge a path to a brighter future

My family and I are about to embark on this journey of hope, but we cannot do it alone. Our situation is dire, and we need your support to rebuild our lives and provide a future for our children. Your kindness and generosity can make a big difference. Your contributions will help us provide safe shelter, access to medical care, and the basic necessities of life and we humbly appeal to you, kind souls, to extend your helping hand. Your generosity may pave the way for us to escape this nightmare, and give us a chance to start over

Please, consider helping us during these critical times. Every donation, regardless of size, brings us one step closer to safety, stability and the opportunity to rebuild our lives

With gratitude from the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for every donation, every engagement, and every ounce of compassion you provide to our cause. Your support means more than words can express. Together, we can turn our story of loss into a journey of hope and resilience.

My campaign number is 320

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your concern

My campaign was vetted by ✅90-ghost🫂