#when central casting attacks

[biiistre]

Diana’s cast system including Barbara Ann Minerva, Etta Candy, and Steve Trevor for 90s Wonder Woman :P They exist in a universe where Steve isn’t a soldier, Etta headlines an (eventually) famous band, and Barbara is a talented anthropologist with an abusive biochemist fiancé who eventually transforms her into a monster. Refs and extra thoughts under the cut :)

-I really like the idea of Etta and the Holliday Girls being a band like they are in Legend of Wonder Woman #11, I think it would provide a lot of opportunities for Etta to be more central to the story whereas in comic canon she’s often tragically shafted in my eyes. It would give her more ambitions and an internal world, and also provide a justification for Diana’s international adventures that is lost when you remove the heinous military propaganda. I think her and Diana would meet when Etta is a small-time musician and form an instant connection because their hearts are mirrors of each other <3 and Etta’s subsequent skyrocket to fame would become a central plot point because of the dangers and adventures being in the public eye bring

-Steve is a runaway who washes up on Themyscira by chance and maybe a bit of magical interference. He’s very secretive about who he is and what’s happened to him and when he does talk it’s very jumbled and nonsensical. I think this would make him an interesting first outsider for Diana to meet, given she’s grown up in a paradise where truth has always seemed simple. Someone who struggles to tell the truth both because it’s painful and it’s hard for they themselves to understand would be an interesting contrast and immediately allow her to broaden her perspectives and explore the theme of truth telling common in Wonder Woman stories. His numbered outfits are ideas for how he’d look first meeting Diana and his leftmost outfit is how he ends up looking in a healed state

-Barbara is an anthropologist with a specialization in the Bronze Age Mediterranean. She’s done a lot of research on Linear A and Linear B syllabary and Indo-European languages, so even though Diana’s lasso allows her to communicate with others who don’t share her language, her and Barbara are able to form an instant connection built off that understanding. Barbara is a deeply closeted lesbian in a relationship with an abusive biochemist, and even though she’s incredibly smart and assured in her knowledge, Diana watches her confidence slowly deteriorate until a final violent attack from him transforms her into the Cheetah

[moralityandmusings]

DP x DC: Crossover with (CW) The Flash

Danny wasn't sure whose idea it was to go to Central City for the launch of the new S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator, but he was not going to complain about not having to worry about ghost attacks for a couple of days. Since it was just his class going, Jazz was in charge of monitoring for ghost activity and preventing his parents from causing too much property damage or physical injuries. Danny, Tucker, and Sam followed their class as they exited the bus in front of S.T.A.R. Labs main building where a tour guide was set to meet them and show them around the labs and give them an special look at the particle accelerator before it was set to turn on that night. Danny was practically vibrating with excitement at the opportunity to dig into the engineering and construction behind the accelerator and ask the scientists in charge of building it questions. Sam and Tucker could really care less, but they entertained all of Danny's ramblings with minimal complaint because they were glad to see their friend truly enjoying himself without the looming threat of a ghost attack. Danny would have said the tour was going fantastic up to this point. He'd asked his questions, seen the accelerator tunnel up close, and even got to look at some other projects S.T.A.R. Labs was working on as they toured some of the laboratory spaces. Then, Dr. Harrison Wells stepped into the room, and Danny felt something in his gut drop. The man was a genius, the mastermind behind some of S.T.A.R. Labs latest and greatest scientific achievements. But something about the smile he had cast towards the tour group as he greeted them and introduced himself just didn't feel right to Danny. He knew it wasn't something ghost-related. He would have sensed another ghost nearby. But he felt something nudging the back of his memory, like a word on the tip of his tongue he just could not quite grasp. The tour finished without issue, and the class went outside to join the crowd waiting for the particle accelerator to turn on. Danny kept feeling that gut instinct that something was going to go wrong. And then, it exploded.

__________________________________

Ten months later Danny's phone dinged with a video sent by Tucker. The video, titled "Central City's Flash: Who is He?", showed a red blur rush past the cameras into a burning building and a lightning speed evacuate what appeared to be the entire building. It was only a couple months after that when Clockwork warned Danny that something was messing with the timelines and requested he go to Central City to investigate how to stop the breaches from occuring. Much to Danny's suprise when he is floating invisibly through the remainder and partially rebuilt buildings of S.T.A.R. Labs, he sees Dr. Harrison Wells enter a secret room via a panel in a hallway wall. Danny, curious, follows him into the room and is shocked to discover that Dr. Wells is moonlighting as who the public knows as Reverse-Flash. Danny is even more surprised when Dr. Wells turns around and looks directly at him before saying: "I was wondering when exactly you would show up."

[fanaticsnail]

I Like Matching

Masterlist Here

Word Count: 1,600+

Synopsis: Returning home from an away mission for your boss, you are immediately spirited away to the nearest unoccupied space and met with the lips, hands and grasp of Corazon. He missed you, and it was showcased in his neediness in every kiss and motion planted against you.

Warnings: Corazon x gn!reader, MDNI, 18+, Smut, NSFW, lap riding, grinding, premature ejaculation, Corazon whining, Corazon whimpering, neediness, kissing, little bit of angst if you squint, almost confessions, secrecy, wordless communication.

Notes: Just warming up with some Rosinante to write some more Rosinante. This is him being a little Subby, in comparison to the Dommy fic incoming.

Tag List: @since-im-already-here @writingmysanity @sordidmusings @gingernut1314 @i-am-vita @feral-artistry @indydonuts @skullfacedlady @mfreedomstuff @daydreamer-in-training

Hands curling over your ass, you sit flush over his lap as tongues and teeth clash against one another's. Lips mouthing and gnawing on each other like animals starved and fighting for dominion over a kill, he bucked his hips up to meet with your own as you grind down against him. Huffing and panting, you collect his soft whimpers and whines in your mouth as his clothed cock meets with your pelvis. 

Unsure of when it exactly happened, and perplexed as to why it even started, Donquixote Rosinante had a way of summoning you to him with a single look spared your way. His hazelnut eyes had a playfulness in that golden band interweaving around his pupils, something incredibly rare to find in amongst the Donquixote Pirates. His smile would curl at the corner, a hidden intent weaving within the small indent where his lips met. 

Returning from an away mission at the bequest of Doflamingo, you began readying yourself for the evening communal meal. Refreshing yourself and donning clean clothes, you exit your room and click the door shut behind you. Making your way down the hall, you were harshly tugged into the small corner of the library by a large hand clasping around your wrist. Your eyes had little time to adjust to the darkness, the towering silhouette lingering in the shadows was the only clue you found yourself with before the attack was mounted against you. 

Before you even had a chance to speak, his lips were on you, marking your face and staining your skin beneath the red tint of his painted smile. His broad fingers lifted you by your ass as he attempted to wrap your legs around his larger frame, only to knock his knees with the plush surface of a velvet lounge chair and fall immediately backwards onto it.  

That is where you found yourself, your kisses pouring from your lips like cooled honey and hungrily consumed with an unbridled neediness from the man beneath your thighs. Corazon tilted his chin, his brows meeting in a raised peak central to his forehead as he non-verbally whimpered into your mouth. While no sounds fled from his lips, your hands planted on his chest felt the vibrations indicating his small whines alongside his elevated heartbeat. 

Corazon was so patient, waiting for you to return from your covert operation assigned by his older brother. Although he initially desired to become closer to you to gain information to sabotage his brother’s maniacal plans, he found a great comfort in you. You were like the warmth of the sun to cast aside the chill of winter, a small kindness he found amongst the brutality and chaos. He had become reliant on you, seeking out your touch, and stealing your kisses in the shroud of secrecy between meeting spaces. 

Kisses were simply not enough this time. Each time you rose to reposition yourself on his lap, deepening the kiss and pinning him back against the frame, the need deepened in his abdomen and propelled him to grind you harder against his steely cock. His breath flew past his lips in huffed pants, his hands anchoring you to his pelvis as he rocked you on his lap. 

Smiling against him, you matched his movements and allowed muscle memory to take the reigns of passion between your bodies. Cracking your eyes partially open, your gaze darkened as you noticed the rising blush on his cheeks and ears. His tongue enthusiastically lapped at your lips, pleading with you to give him more. Obliging, you parted your lips and stole a soundless moan from deep within the chasms of his chest. 

Seeking out dominion of one another's kiss, you placed your hand at the base of his trachea. The hum of his larynx vibrated against the pad of your thumb, his voiceless whimpers growing needy and desperate as he pawed at your hips and ass while you bore down against him. 

Elevating your hips from his clothed cock for a brief reprieve, he sucked in a shaky breath and allowed you to grasp a fistful of his golden hair to deepen your claim on complete control over him. Finally planting your pelvis back down over his cock, his eyes snapped open and his body stilled in petrification beneath your medusa's gaze. 

A dark patch of staining fluids pooled beneath you as his trembling breath attempted to gulp air between the onslaught of perpetual kisses. Feeling his body freeze beneath you, you ceased your rapid kisses and halted your rocking as he rose out the final waves of blissful ecstasy. 

His thighs shook, his abdomen tightened and the coil whipped like the crack of lightning as ropes of his cum flooded his pants. Trembling while his toes curled, his eyes glazed over as the unexpected release spilled from the slit of his cock and sprayed against the material beneath you.

The soft choke of a shocked moan flew through his lips as he gazed up at you with blown pupils, overcome by the deep lustful release of neglected need shooting hot spurts over his knob and down his shaft. Each twitch and bob of his release expelling was matched by a soft silent whine sobbing and keening for you. 

“Did you-...?” you started, looking down at your lap and noticing the soft twitches of aftershock tensing and releasing in a tantric bob. He softly nodded, a bashfulness overcoming him as he curled his face away from you in a bid to hide his shame. 

“Corazon,” you whisper softly, calling to him with an arch of your back and a smile on your lips, “Corazon, look at me, honey.” His lips pouted as he acquiesced to your demands, gazing up through his eyelashes at you. You smiled down at him, noticing the smear of his paint over his lips that you were likely mirroring on your own face. 

He hooked one of his arms between your shoulders, while his other sought out the fingers placed on his chest, and drew them up to his lips. Tightly shutting his eyes and furrowing his brows, he held your fingertips over his bruised and swollen lips, pressing a warm kiss against your digits. Your brows rose as you felt his lips move against your skin. 

“Missed you,” his lips depicted, no voice following his soft confession. His lips returned to their prior engagement, trailing a kiss down to your palm and the ball of your wrist in slow and intentional kisses. Climbing down your arm, his lips mapped your skin as if holding you for the first time: testing, exploring and hesitant, but always meeting the target. 

“We're going to be late for dinner, Corazon,” you warn him, your tone holding a playfulness within your scold. He smiled against your skin, raising your arm and placing his lips on the bone of your elbow. Shaking your head, you attempt to pull away from his kiss, his lips tracking you and chasing your withdrawal with a smile. 

“We have to fix up this mess,” you whine at him, gesturing with your unoccupied hand between your clothed bodies before pointing between your faces, “I'm likely matching your smile.” He grinned playfully at you, his lips meeting with your cheek and mouthing words against your skin. 

“I like matching,” you felt the puff of breath and curl of his tongue darting out to taste you with each word. Gently reaching beside you on the table, he scribbled against his drawing pad and held it to you. Finding his lighter, he flicked the flint to light the soft flame. 

“You're right. Let's go to my room for a bit before dinner,” you read his words, gently thumbing over the corners of the tanned paper, “I'll repay you for my hastiness a few times. I'll make it quick, I promise.” You rolled your eyes, handing him back the paper and gently leaning down and blowing out his flintlock light. 

“You're being exceptionally needy today,” you nudge the tip of his nose with your own. He cupped your ass and molded the muscle within his broad hands and fingers, collecting a whine from you in response. He smiled, pressing his lips to your chin before picking you up and walking you away from the library chair towards his quarters. 

Soft laughter was shared between you as he carried you in his larger frame towards his quarters. Nuzzling softly against your neck, you acted as his guide as you steered him towards the correct direction. Corazon ignored the squelch oozing down his legs, instead focusing on how good it finally felt to hold you in his arms once again. 

He wanted nothing more than to form his own little world with you, remaining within the armorment he sought to cloak the two of you in. His need to talk with you, reveal his voice to you, and expel your name as the source for his bliss was growing ever stronger the more attached he became to you. 

Kicking open his door and stepping the both of you within, he made a pact to himself that the day would come. When his trust and security was finally enough to live with, when his assignment was finished, when his brother was sabotaged and cut back from any chance of rising to power: he could finally relax into you completely. All he continued to chant like a prayer was the penance of his confession, hoping and pleading you could forgive him for his secrecy once it was all over. 

He reassured himself as he placed you on his mattress, crawling over you and pinning you beneath his thighs, was with a soft repetition of his unspoken promise. Meeting your lips and rolling his hips against you, he claimed a soft whimper that spilled from you to him. 

Soon.

He will tell you soon. His past, his mission, his love and devotion to you and you alone. All of it, soon. 

[bywons]

⋆ DOUBLE SHOT ESPRESSO — YJW

╰—— “ say you can't sleep? baby, i know, that's that me espresso ” — where jungwon still remembers the way to your heart

🪽 𝖾𝗑-𝖻𝖿! 𝗒𝖺𝗇𝗀 𝗃𝗎𝗇𝗀𝗐𝗈𝗇 x 𝖿! 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝖾𝗋 g . 𝖿𝗅𝗎𝖿𝖿, 𝗈𝖿𝖿𝗂𝖼𝖾 𝗋𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾, 𝖾𝗑𝖾𝗌𝟤𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌 1855 𝒘𝗈𝗋𝖽𝗌 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗂𝗇𝗌 ! 𝗌𝗄𝗂𝗇𝗌𝗁𝗂𝗉, 𝗄𝗂𝗌𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀, 𝖼𝗎𝗋𝗌𝗂𝗇𝗀 ✦ ◞ CATALOGUE

๑´ ³`) ﾉ pls leave feedbacks if u liked it ♡ REBLOG !!

ib — espresso by sabrina carpenter ♡ for @okwonyo ’s celestial ballet event!

“jay?”, you pause your typing on the desktop, groaning as you massage your temples. “can you grab my usual drink from the cafeteria?”

“double shot espresso”, a mellow voice floats to you from the cubicle to your left, “am i right?”

“yeah, you're righ—”, wait. this doesn't sound like park jongseong. his voice is more serious, and besides you never had to repeat your order for jay. then whose voice is this? it sounds so familiar, so close. almost as if you know the face behind it.

you push your heels against the cold office floor, propelling yourself backward in your swivel chair, rolling away from your cubicle. it's dull, the atmosphere inside the office. the central AC cranked to the coolest setting, contributing to the dim lighting to make you squirm on your seat. outside, the sky is overcast, heavy with the promise of rain.

the wall separating you from the unknown man's cubicle, is now visible. behind it you can only see the outline of his black shirt, sleeves rolled up, fingers pretending to type.

“uhm”, you clear your throat, now just behind him, “you new here?”

“new to the office,” he finally spoke again, this time turning around in his chair, only to give you a heart attack, “but definitely not new to you.”

yang fucking jungwon. this cheeky bastard. you wish you could punch that sly smirk out of his face. the way his arms are crossed together with his head held high, eyes glinting with a mischievous hint while he holds his smirk on his lips.

is he trying to challenge you? but the last time you saw him was 5 months ago, in a desperate cry of getting you back in front of your apartment doorstep, with a bouquet of roses and baby's breath he bought in a rush. you had a hard time shooing him away that night. but then again jungwon is a fishy player, always at the node of your suspicion.

he has you banging your head against the wall, internally of course, yet again after 6 whole months.

jungwon leans back in his chair, head resting back, that teasing smile never leaving. this nonchalant asshole. "new job, same floor. didn't expect to see me, did you?”

“what do you want, jungwon?”, you try to keep your cool, arms crossed with a bored expression.

“ouch!”, he places a hand over his heart, pretending to be in pain— all the while having a smile attached, “jungwon? where's won? wonnie, my love? can we not do that?” what a drama queen.

you furrow your brows, a suspicious look casting over your face, “are you stalking me now?”

jungwon chuckles, sitting up straight in his chair, “stalking? no, i just happened to get a job here. pure coincidence.”

you narrow your eyes, not buying it for a second. “really? pure coincidence?”

“okay, maybe i pulled a few strings,” he admits, raising his hands in mock surrender. “but can you blame me? i missed you.”

“seriously, get out”, you whisper-scoff, loud enough for him to hear and frown. pushing your heels against the floor again, you return to your cubicle.

you cannot believe this man right now, did he actually stalk you enough to know your workplace? is he that desperate? heck, you can't even remember why you broke up with him in the first place. not with that pretty face of his following you to your cubicle, on his own swivel chair. and oh you can already predict his whines and horrific shenanigans to impress you back.

not to say, you do enjoy his company. he's a charming devil, always knowing how to make you laugh even when you don't want to. but you refuse to let him think he can just waltz back into your life without any consequences.

jungwon rolls his chair up beside yours, the wheels squeaking slightly. “ever since we've broken up, i can't sleep y/n. you're there in my dreams.”

you let out a chortle, loud enough to echo back to you, as you turn your head to jungwon— still laughing sarcastically. “i know, that's me, espresso. it's my kinda effect.”

“c’mon babe, let me have a chance to prove myself—”

“...i need to check this paperwork”, you stand up abruptly, collecting the messy papers filled with sticky notes all in a bunch and hurrying to the desk at the corner of the office.

before even putting the paperwork down on the desk, you feel his presence again beside you. he is speed, didn't waste a second of his time right after you broke up to show up at your door with your favourite plush toy he won at the claw machine in 5 minutes paired with his horrible guitar skills. to be very honest, you enjoy jungwon's antics. maybe even love it, he is an incredible person to be around. but he just can't be your hype boy, and you crave hype in your life.

you sigh, rummaging through the paperwork.

“remember our dance nights?”, you gasp at his sudden proximity, his lips nearly grazing the tip of your ears, the strong smell of his perfume ghosting all over. he moved a tad bit closer, the soft outline of his abs pressing gently against your back, “or the karaoke ones? or our late night swimming session? when have i ever bored you out, baby?”, his voice drops to a whisper.

thank god the office was empty, you don't how you would've explained your flustered face. you try to ignore the butterflies in your stomach, let them fly around, yang jungwon's going to mess up anyway. find some absurd antic of his to give you the ick and then you're gonna shoo him away again.

no more yang jungwon, no more headache, no more drama.

but what is life without a little drama? you've given the poor guy a fair chase of 6 months. he loves to chase hard to get, you love to play hard to get. it's a simple equation really, a match made in heaven. you can't deny the void you felt in your heart all these months when jungwon was away too. you were eager, longing, almost manifesting for his touch, for him to come back in your life.

and the universe listened, so you shouldn't complain now.

“i've been thinking of you, every day, every night”, his voice becoming huskier, now standing just behind. his fingers threaten to close in your waist; he plays with the fabric of your shirt.

“isn't that sweet?”, you reply, unable to move a muscle— you're under his spell, or is he under yours?

“i guess so,” he scoffs, “everything about you is sweet.” his hands finally close in around your waist, chin resting on top of your shoulder.

god, why aren't there any people in this office! it's only giving yang jungwon more courage to pull you closer, until your back pressed against his broad chest. a wave of nostalgia, dangerous for both of yet more for him. he has missed you, your touch, your voice, your daily espresso. god knows how bad he waited for this, again.

feathery lips brushing against the tip of your ears, a shiver down your spine. are you in for it again?

“why now?” you ask, exasperation creeping into your voice. “why after all these months?”

he takes a deep breath, his expression turning serious, arms tightening around you. “because i’ve had time to think. time to realise how much i screwed up and how much i miss you. i know it won’t be easy, but i'm willing to do whatever it takes.”

you shake your head, feeling the weight of his words but unwilling to give in just yet. “jungwon, we broke up for a reason. we both needed space and time to figure things out.”

“i know,” he says softly, turning you around. “and i've used that time to work on myself. i’ve changed, love. let me show you.”

you look into his eyes, searching for any hint of deception. but all you see is sincerity and determination. it’s the same look he had when you first fell for him.

a moment of bliss, before jungwon makes it even more euphoric. he pulls you in, in a long awaited kiss, lips desperately in search of the lost taste of espresso in yours. the bitter sweetness that he misses so hard. his hands grasp around your waist and pull you in closer, tongue running past your lips.

a bold move. all of this. a serious kiss with your ex on the first day of your new job? jungwon knows you like this type of bold.

“so..”, you pull away from the kiss, hands resting behind his neck, “...what now?”

“you still taste sweet,” jungwon lets out a breathy laugh, brushing his thumb against your lower lip, “just like i remember, like your double shot espresso.”

you can’t help but roll your eyes, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “you and your cheesy lines, won. some things never change.”

“some things shouldn’t,” he retorts, his gaze softening. “like us.”

you open your mouth to respond, but the moment is interrupted by the sound of a familiar melody playing from his phone. jungwon grins, pulling back just enough to fish his phone out of his pocket.

“speaking of espresso,” he says with a playful glint in his eyes, “remember our dance nights?”

before you can protest, he’s already hit play, the catchy beat filling the otherwise quiet office. he holds out a hand, eyes twinkling with bliss. “may i have this dance?”

you glance around, ensuring the office is still empty, then take his hand with a resigned sigh. “you're impossible, jungwon. impresaing with dance steps now?”

he pulls you close, swaying to the music. “impossible to resist, you mean.”

you laugh despite yourself, letting him twirl you around the small space. jungwon’s dance moves are as ridiculous yet fabulous as ever, over-exaggerated and comically dramatic, but it’s exactly what you needed. he spins you out and back into his arms, dipping you low as the chorus hits.

“you always did love this song,” you say breathlessly as he pulls you back up.

“because it reminds me of you,” he replies, his expression softening. “strong, bold, unforgettable.”

your heart flutters at his words, and you find yourself leaning into him, the familiar comfort of his presence washing over you. maybe, just maybe, giving him another chance wouldn’t be the worst idea.

as the song ends, jungwon holds you close, his forehead resting against yours once more. “so, what now?”

you smile, feeling a warmth in your chest that you haven’t felt in months. “now, we take it one step at a time.”

“deal,” he agrees, his smile matching yours. “but can we start with that double shot espresso?”

“i'm more of a one shot espresso girl now.”

“one shot, double shot, triple shot, anything to get you back now”, jungwon presses a soft kiss against your lips.

espresso and jungwon will definitely be your favourites in the world, for a long long time.

a/n — omg i had so much fun writing this, i hope i brought out the best meaning of that song through this writing ^^ once again, happy 3k jiah pie,, love ya loads always mwah mwah ><

© bywons, 2024. do not copy, translate or upload any of my works without my permission.

📌 :: TAGLIST IS OPEN! nets. @/k-labels tags! @leaderwon @dimplewonie @wonfilms @heartswonn @jwonistic @aaa-sia @ashtxrie @kgneptun @flwrstqr @haechansbbg @river-demon-slayer @in-somnias-world @teddywonss @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @mylstserenade @branchrkive @aishigrey @nctislifue @greyminyoon1 @ro-diaries @rikibun @sleepyxxhead @belovedsthings @moond1or @oddracha @shinrjj @nishislcve @luvlyhee

[incorrect-green-lantern-quotes]

A Brief Introduction to Planet Oa

Nestled in the very heart of the cosmos, at the center of Sector 0, the planet of Oa serves as both the homeworld of the Green Lantern Corps and a symbol of order for the universe at large.

Oa is one of the oldest planets in existence. Its parent star, Sto-Oa ("Light of Oa" in the Maltusian language) is a red hypergiant that formed shortly after the Big Bang. There are eleven planets in the star system (five terrestrial, three gas giants and four ice giants) most of which serve as farmland and resource mines.

Oa is the fourth closest to the star, and it takes approximately 574 Earth days to complete one revolution around its star. The planet is actually tidally locked in its orbit, meaning that it does not have a natural day-night cycle.

However, the Guardians of the Universe have constructed a massive ring of solar arrays that slowly revolves around the planet. The shadow cast by this megastructure simulates "night" by blocking out Oa's parent star from the hemisphere that it shines upon, while simultaneously refracting Sto-Oa's light to the far side to create an artificial "day."

(Would it have been more practical to simply force Oa to spin in its orbit? The Guardians are certainly powerful enough to induce planetary rotation. When asked why they chose this as a solution instead, they declined to comment.)

The Guardians chose to set the length of Oa's "day" equal to their ancestral home's, exactly twenty-and-a-half Earth hours. There are no seasons or months, as the planet does not have any natural moons and only has an axial tilt of about 3°, so the Oan year's subdivisions are almost entirely arbitrary and exist purely for the purpose of timekeeping.

It takes 672 Oan days for the planet to complete one orbit around Sto-Oa. The Oan year is based off the old Maltusian calendar and consists of eight months, each of which is twelve weeks long. Coincidentally, the Maltusians also had seven days in a week.

(That the Oan/Maltusian week has the same number of days as Earth's does is merely coincidence, not an indication of any shared cultural history.)

Oa was a barren rock before the Guardians came and terraformed it into a lush oasis with four oceans and nine continents that host a variety of biomes, ranging from polar to tropical to downright toxic for most life-forms. It has the most varied environments of any world, again thanks to the Guardians’ technology. They engineered Oa's biosphere in this way because the planet also serves as a safe haven for species from all across the universe.

(The Green Lanterns seek to preserve every inhabited world, or failing that, evacuate the populations to safety. But they do not always succeed.)

This myriad of environments on Oa is what allowed Appa Ali Apsa to create the Mosaic World. Even in the throes of his insanity, he was able to utilize the extant biomes to house the cities he kidnapped. In most cases however, those who are brought to Oa are refugees who only live on the planet temporarily until the Green Lanterns find a new home for them.

Consequently, the only permanent settlement on Oa is the Emerald Citadel, which is located directly at the center of the starside hemisphere. It's a grand city consisting of enormous skyscrapers that are built to varying scales to accommodate the many body shapes and sizes of the Green Lanterns- as well as any diplomats who come to seek an audience with the Corps or the Guardians. The Central Battery of the Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians' Council Chambers are located here.

Oa has been attacked and even destroyed on multiple occasions. The Green Lantern Corps and the Guardians of the Universe have had many powerful enemies over the centuries, such as the Empire of Tears, the Reach, and various other Lantern groups. Some have questioned the wisdom of maintaining a static headquarters in a known location, even with all the power that the Guardians can bring to bear.

But the value of Oa extends beyond the mere strategic. It is not the nature of the Green Lanterns to hide in the shadows. Their light is as symbolic as it is functional. For all that the Guardians have their skeletons in the closet, the Green Lanterns are the defenders of justice and peace for the universe at large. No evil shall escape their sight, and in turn they will not hide themselves from the sight of those they protect.

Of course their homeworld is the shining jewel at the center of the cosmos.

[colormepurplex2]

Now I'm Yours | Feel It In Your Soul

↳ Alpha!Jungkook x Omega!f.Reader ⤜ A/B/O, Established Relationship/Mates ⤜ Rating: MA 🔞 ⤜ WC: 6,697 ⚠️ Vulgar language, fingering, knotting, creampie, discussion of violent acts, fighting/physical altercation, alpha challenge, knife violence/attack, blood, injury, bond sex, dick licking/oral, slick eating, biting/marking, blood/wound licking, surprise pregnancy

A/N: Read Make You Mine, the first installment of this series, here!

⇽Previous Chapter ◅ Back to story masterlist

When you meet Jungkook’s family in the garage the next morning, the sun isn't even up yet. His parents are waiting next to the large SUV that’s idling by the open door when you enter through the side entrance from the laundry room.

After a hasty shower, you threw on jeans and a t-shirt and are now helping Junghyun load the back of the vehicle with a few boxes from the storage room. The tops of the boxes are labeled with various things, mostly boasting medical supplies or nonperishable foodstuffs.

“Did Jungkook say why he wanted us to bring all of this stuff?"

Junghyun looks up at you from under his brow as he bends over to retrieve the next box, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose. “Donations. We’re going to be close to The Sanctuary, and we try to donate once a quarter if we’re able.”

This is the first you’ve heard of the Jeons donating to The Sanctuary. You’re intimately familiar with the place. It’s exactly what it sounds like: a sanctuary for abused or neglected omegas and their children. Mari was one such omega, cast aside by her original pack when she didn’t match with any of the alphas within it. It wasn’t until Roland, having just taken over as pack Alpha of your old pack, started up his own annual donations to The Sanctuary that he met Mari. Your old pack made at least a donation every six months after that, helping as many omegas and children as possible.

It’s not that you wouldn’t think the Jeons are a pack that would help those less fortunate; you’d just not given it much thought, considering you grew up thinking they were run by power-hunger alphaholes. Not that Jungkook isn’t an alphahole, he’s just…maybe not as bad as you once thought—even without the rose-tinged view you have of him now from being your mate.

The duel is taking place on neutral territory, which happens to be an old warehouse that’s been converted into a performance theatre in the entertainment district of the central city. The warehouse was renovated a few decades ago by the council when enough of the surrounding packs hounded them for a space to meet en masse.

It’s about three hour's drive, the view filled with the sun peeking over the mountains and trees with their leaves changing in preparation for winter. You sit in the passenger seat, head resting against the window while you try not to stress too much over the events of the next twenty-four hours.

“Come on, dear,” the soft voice of Jungkook’s mother drags you from your rumination. She’s leaning through the gap between the front seats, her hand lightly squeezing your shoulder. “We’re here.”

You hadn’t even realized the vehicle had stopped and that Junghyun and Jungkook’s father had gotten out already. 

“Sorry,” you mutter, popping open the door and sliding out.

She meets you along the side of the SUV, a concerned look pinching her brow. “Are you feeling okay?”

Now that she mentions it, you are feeling a bit off-kilter. Though, it’s probably just the nerves. “Just worried, that’s all,” you explain, pressing a hand against your stomach.

“Did you skip breakfast?” she asks, hooking her arm around your other one and slowly leading you to where Junghyun and his father stand near the elevator of the parking garage.

Breakfast was the last thing on your mind this morning. “Yeah. I’ll be okay, though.”

“Nonsense,” she tuts, producing a whole-grain protein bar from the bag slung over her other shoulder. “You’ll feel better with something in your stomach. Now, let’s go find my son. Being near your alpha will do you a dose of good, as well.”

You nibble on the protein bar, looking to simply placate her, but find yourself suddenly ravenous and consume the whole thing in three bites. It sits like lead in your belly, and you immediately regret wolfing it down so quickly.

“This foolish display will start at precisely noon, not long now,” Jungkook’s father states, the clip of his cane hitting the linoleum flooring of the elevator echoing the disapproval that’s evident in his voice.

Junghyun presses the button that’s labeled ‘theatre hall’ on the control panel and the cabled car begins a swift ascent up to the fifth floor. You caught sight of Jungkook's motorcycle in the parking garage, sitting next to Jimin’s red sports car. A few other familiar vehicles lined the rows, but there were dozens more you didn’t recognize.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, and you feel a familiar humming warmth bloom in the center of your chest. It’s the same feeling you’ve learned to associate with being nearer to Jungkook. Peeking at your phone, you see it’s a message from the alpha, letting you know he’s waiting for you just on the other side of the elevator doors.

“There you are,” Jungkook exhales, not even waiting for you to get off the elevator before he’s gathering you into his arms. His scent engulfs you, immediately putting you at ease. Jungkook is all alpha, and as much as you hate to admit it, he’s exactly what you need; your stomach and nerves are instantly soothed.

Jungkook’s father clears his throat, drawing Jungkook’s attention. “What news do you have?”

Jungkook sighs, releasing most of his hold on you, but keeps an arm over your shoulders and ushers you out of the elevator and into the hall. “Most all the other families have arrived. Jimin is with Daehyun now. I haven’t managed to lay my eyes on either Raiden or Demetrius. According to the council, they’re supposed to be in the eastern dressing rooms. I have seen Kiel skulking around the halls, though, creepy bastard.”

“Have you seen Hyunsoo?” Jungkook nods in answer to his father’s question. “I’d like to have a word with him.”

“Last I saw him, he was inside speaking with the council.”

“Perfect, I could do with a word for them, too,” Jungkook’s father grumbles before starting toward the entrance to the performance hall proper. Junghyun follows closely behind, after dipping his chin at Jungkook. You’ve never seen Jungkook get bent out of shape over designation deference, as some alphas do. He doesn’t force those below him to bow and scrape; he just asks for as much respect as he affords them in exchange. It’s just another tick you’ve had to add to your ‘Jungkook isn’t as bad as I once thought’ list.

“Are you feeling okay?” Jungkook asks softly, his eyes flicking between yours.

You do feel much better now that you’re with him, which would normally grate on you, but you can’t seem to muster up the typical ire for some reason. “I’ll be fine,” you assure him. “Just nerves.” That seems to satisfy him.

“Come on, let’s go before Dad causes too much of a scene.”

“Umm, I’ll be right there. I’m just going to go to the restroom real quick.”

He continues to stare at you for a moment longer before slowly nodding. “Okay. Mom, we’ll be right back—”

“No, no. It’s okay, you don’t have to come with—”

“Jungkook,” his mom interrupts you both, giving her son an amused smile. “She might be your omega, but I promise she doesn’t need you to hold her hand while she uses the restroom. I’ll wait here for her. You go on ahead with your father and Junghyun.”

Pink creeps up Jungkook’s neck and kisses his ears. “Right. Okay. I’ll see you inside,” he mumbles, pressing a quick kiss to your temple before reluctantly taking his arm from across your shoulders and heading toward the door his father and brother disappeared through.

“Thank you,” you say to his mom. “I’ll be right back.”

You’ve only been here a handful of times over the years for various events, but you’re able to follow the signs well enough to the restrooms located on this side of the venue. However, when you get there, the door is locked, and there is a janitorial wet-floor sign posted right outside.

It’s just your luck, right as you’re starting to feel a light wave of nausea wash over you. Taking a few deep breaths to try and calm your inner omega, who isn’t helping the situation at all, you turn to retreat back to where Jungkook’s mom is waiting for you a few halls over. Maybe she’ll have something that can calm your warring stomach and nerves.

“I can break the lock if you need to get in there,” a voice calls out from further down the hall just as you take a step to go back. “You look like you need it.”

You swivel toward the voice but can only make out the silhouette of someone standing in a darkened doorway a few doors down. They pull out a phone, and the blue light illuminates the ceiling for a moment before it’s plunged back into darkness. “I’m fine, thanks.”

“You don’t look fine to me.” The words come with a chuckle that slithers over your senses and sets you on high alert. You’ve heard that voice before. “If fact, you look like a helpless little omega that’s about to sick up all over the floor.”

That’s a thought. You might just do that, considering who steps out from that doorway, the face fitting with the name screaming inside your head. Kiel Barton. He’s every inch the viperous bastard he’s known to be. Despite being not much taller than you, he’s thicker through each arm and leg than both of yours combined. His bald head glints in the overhead light, and the jagged scar on his right cheek is bright white against his red-flushed face. He swaggers into the hallway, just a few feet away, twirling a switchblade through his thick fingers.

“I’m not helpless,” you seethe through your teeth. You don’t necessarily mean for the words to come out so aggressively, but they do. Years of not taking shit from anyone don’t seem to have worn off too much from your time of being mated with Jungkook. And if it’s one thing you’ve always hated, it’s how everyone thinks omegas are weak and soft—helpless without an alpha.

Kiel grins, and it reminds you of something you might see in a horror film right before the psycho killer attacks. “Oh, sweet, sweet omega,” he crows before sucking in a deep lungful of air, “I don’t think you realize just how helpless you are right now.”

You’re about to turn on your heel and run when he leaps. It’s like a strike of lightning; he moves so fast—faster than your reflexes can keep up with. Pain thunders through you as his burly form knocks into you and sends you hurtling a few feet down the hall to land in a heap on the floor.

He’s back on you in an instant, cold steel pressed against your neck. “Get off me!” you scream, trying your best to buck him off despite the disorienting feeling still reeling inside your head.

“I promised my brother as long as he did his part, I would do mine,” Kiel sing-songs in a demented tone, his words trailing off into another one of those spine-chilling chuckles. 

“Fuck you!” You struggle under his weight, your knees and elbows trying to get any purchase along his thick-muscled body that they can. You manage to catch him along the neck with your hand, nails scoring bloody lines through the devil tattoo he has there.

An ear-splitting roar, the sound of loud banging, and running feet sound from somewhere down the hall, making Kiel’s laughter trail off. “Looks like my time to play is—” A small, sneakered foot meets the side of his ribs, turning his words into a grunt. The hit barely rocks him, but you can’t be sure of who it is, though, around his bulk.

“Get off of her, you snake!” snarls a familiar feminine voice, only it’s dripping with far more acid than you’ve ever heard before.

“FUCK! I don’t have time for this!” Kiel thunders, rearing back and bringing a fist around right into your temple, sending you careening into hazy darkness.

There is so much noise and movement that when you first come to, you think you’re dreaming. But then the very real pain lights up along your side, and you’re reminded that this is very much not a dream. You’re laying on the floor in the hallway outside the bathroom, side smarting hard from the impact of hitting the floor and the memory of a meaty fist stark in your mind.

You go to sit up, only to have your hand slip through a puddle of warm, sticky liquid. The scent hits you a second later, thick and metallic. “Oh gods,” you whimper softly. Your hand is bright red when you bring it up in front of your face.

“Please,” comes an even more pitiful whimper from beside you. Adrenaline kicks in, and you flip onto your hands and knees, letting your eyes swing over the scene around you.

A dozen bodies are packed in the hall, fists flying and mouths opened in concussive bellows. It’s pandemonium. Everyone is fighting, familiar faces and those of strangers alike. All the sounds combined make you want to crawl into a corner and cover your ears, but the form lying beside you keeps you right where you are.

Jungkook’s mom lies on the floor. Her body turned at an odd angle, with her hips going one way and her torso the other as if she was flung around like a ragdoll. You realize the whimpering is coming from her. She lifts a trembling hand toward you, and you grab onto it, crawling closer to kneel beside her.

The blood covering your hand, now seeping through the knees of your jeans, is coming from her. A familiar-looking switchblade is protruding from the upper right area of her chest, between her clavicle and shoulder, and there is a cut over her left eyebrow that blood is steadily oozing from.

“No, no, no!” You quickly rip off a strip from the bottom of your t-shirt and press it around the blade, trying to staunch the wound. The cut above her brow doesn’t look deep; all the blood is a bit alarming, but you know headwounds are the worst in being deceptive; they bleed so much. You’re also scared to take your hands away from her chest. “What did you do?”

Her eyes flicker open, rolling wide until they land on you. “Had to”—she pauses, whimpering in pain as someone stumbles backward and knocks into her splayed legs—”pr-protect the baby.”

“Protect the–protect the wh—”

“NO!” The alpha roar echoes through the hall, as loud as a thunderclap.

In the same instant that your hands are moved aside and replaced by the older, more gnarled ones of her mate, arms come around you from behind and you’re lifted up off the floor. Fear grips your throat, and you flail, aiming your elbow backward at whoever grabbed you.

“Stop, calm down!” Jungkook’s voice snaps you out of your fight instinct, and you sag in his arms. The fighting around you has turned into pockets of isolated struggle.

You blink a few times, clearing the panicked haze from your eyes, finally able to piece everything together. There are a few busted lips and some already swelling eyes, but there are at least a handful of familiar faces around you. Each one is executing some form of hold over individuals with less familiar faces; headlocks, arm bars, and others that look just as effective, if maybe more painful.

Then there is the scene at your feet, right out of a horror movie. Jungkook’s dad and brother are kneeling beside his mom, the knife still sticking out of her chest. It looks like the blood has stopped pooling around the blade, but you can’t seem to remember if that’s a good or a bad sign.

“Jungkook! Your mom, we need a medic!” you urge, struggling in his arms again.

A sinister, wet, cackling laugh cuts through the hushed din of the hallway before it turns into a hacking cough. You can hear the distinct sound of flesh hitting flesh and pained grunts.

”Shut up, you sick bastard!” The ragged cry comes from further down the hallway, where you see Seokjin with his arms wrapped around Kiel’s upper torso and Yoongi throwing fists into his stomach. “How dare you!?”

“Yoongi.” Jungkook doesn’t have to raise his voice at all. The other alpha stops, fist poised mid-punch, his shoulders heaving. “That’s enough.” The coldness in Jungkook’s tone has the hairs on the back of your neck prickling. You’ve never heard him sound so utterly emotionless. “For now.”

Pounding footsteps sound from the other end of the hall, and a few betas come skidding into view, medical bags in hand. “Out of the way!” one of the betas shouts, shouldering his way down the hall before dropping down beside Junghyun and beginning to work. “I need to get her stabilized before we can move her.”

Everything is still a bit cloudy for you; all you have are flits and flashes of memory, but it’s not hard to piece it together. Kiel came after you outside the bathroom, and then Jungkook’s mom tried to interfere. “Is she, is she going to be okay?” you ask, voice soft, your lips trembling around the question.

Jungkook hooks an arm under the backs of your legs and hoists you up against his chest, and you get your first good look at his face. There is a dribble of blood coming from the corner of his mouth and mild swelling coming up around his left eye.

He’s about to open his mouth to say something when a group of grey-haired alphas cut around the corner at the end of the hall, and the one in the front gasps dramatically, “Good gods! What has happened?” You groan at the loud sound, burying your face into Jungkook’s chest.

“This is what happens when you entertain absurd demands from a known trouble-making pack,” Jungkook’s father states with barely veiled malice.

“This is your mess,” Jungkook says, directing attention to the elders shuffling their feet at the end of the hall. His words are acerbic despite him speaking at a normal volume. It’s an alpha statement, carrying the cutting edge of an unspoken command. The entire hallway stills, the air thick with tension.

“Our mess?”

“If you had listened to me from the start about how utterly ridiculous this whole duel bullshit was, this”—he nods down at his mother, who is still being worked on by the betas—”wouldn’t have happened. I’ll have all of you off the council before the week is over, mark my words,” he seethes. “And, if she doesn’t recover fully, I’ll have more than just your titles. Yoongi, Seokjin, you know what to do.” With that, Jungkook turns and stalks down the hall, carrying you with him.

🌙🌙🌙

Jungkook

There is so much rage simmering beneath Jungkook’s skin that he thinks he might explode if he doesn’t let it out somehow. However, the only outlet he wants right now is you—to get lost in your body and your soul—but you’re in no state to take the brunt of his emotions.

“Jungkook.” Your soft voice draws his gaze down to your face. Seeing the swelling around your eye makes him want to turn around and finish what Yoongi was starting. Jungkook isn’t violent, but he could level the entire city right now if he weren’t so focused on getting you checked out. You bring a hand up and lightly trace the break in his lip. “What happened?”

“Raiden and Demetrius. I think this was their plan all along. One minute, Father and I were talking to the council while we waited, and the next, Raiden and Demetrius, along with a half dozen of their pack, came bursting into the theatre and attacked us.” Jungkook sighs, shaking his head. “I felt you, I felt the…” the trails off, not wanting to voice those feelings aloud. The pure terror he felt through his mate connection to you. The tie between the two of you has never really been an open street, he’s never been able to feel your emotions so viscerally before. It was almost enough to take him to his knees. If he didn’t need to fight off a pack of rabid alphas, it nearly might have. “I’m sorry,” Jungkook rasps.

“You don’t have anything to apologize for. We knew they were up to no good. I should have been more vigilant or, at least, taken you up on your offer to escort me to the restroom.” You try to laugh, but it turns into a groan as your head pounds.

“Let’s get you to the hospital so they can check you over.”

No amount of protests from you will deter Jungkook from getting you to a doctor. Junghyun texts him shortly after he places you in the backseat of the SUV, letting Jungkook know that everyone else is on their way to the hospital and an ambulance is en route to get their mother but that the betas are hopeful.

Several hours later, you’ve been released from the hospital with confirmation of no lasting damage, just a recommendation to get some rest. Jungkook’s lip is patched with a butterfly stitch, per your insistence, and it itches as he sits on the edge of the bed in the hotel room he booked before leaving the hospital. Even though you aren’t concussed or anything, Jungkook didn’t want to risk taking you all the way back to pack lands.

Besides, his mother was admitted and is still there for observation, and he doesn’t feel comfortable being too far away while she’s in recovery. She went in for surgery immediately upon arrival and woke up not too long ago. Junghyun and their father are staying at the hospital with her until she’s cleared to go home, which will hopefully not be more than a few days. Apparently, her wounds looked worse than they were, and she was fortunate Kiel didn’t get her an inch further to either side. Otherwise, it might be a very different outcome.

Jimin texted him a bit ago, letting him know the entire Barton pack is being detained at the local precinct, and the authorities are awaiting word from Jungkook about charges. The council sequestered themselves behind closed doors, but the duel was considered null due to the circumstances. Jimin feels bad about being part of the ruse, even if he was just being used as a means to get close to the Jeon pack.

It’s come to light that the Bartons decided to use their feud with the Parks because they knew the Jeons wouldn’t sit idly by. One big, elaborate plan, all to get close to Jungkook’s Luna and try to tear down the hierarchy. If Jungkook lost his Soulmate, he’d lose his foundation of power as well. Or so, that’s what the buzz was when some of the Barton betas were interrogated, according to Jimin.

Jungkook knows everything is going to be okay, that you’re going to be okay; the doctor told him as much. But, despite that assurance, he can’t seem to relax. You’re curled up in the bed, facing him, and you look so peaceful, even with the swelling on the side of your face, but all he can feel is rage when he sees that…rage and so much guilt.

He never should have let you go to the restroom on your own. If he has his way, he’s never going to let you out of his sight again. It’s such an alarming realization, going from one polar sensation to the next. The fact he could give two shits less about you just a few months ago, and now here he is wanting to murder someone for touching you, is hard to wrap his head around.

Yet, here he is, fisting the edge of one of the blankets as he battles this feeling inside himself. The fact his alpha has been mostly silent since Jungkook laid eyes on you in that hallway is just as alarming. It’s almost like his alpha is giving him space. For the first time since coming into his designation, he feels like a giant void separates him from his alpha; he doesn’t like it.

There’s also the pile of papers sitting on the desk, a few feet away, that hold another key bit of information that won’t let him relax. It was standard testing, just something to help rule other things out and see what kinds of tests they could and could not perform to assess your head.

You’re pregnant.

Now that he knows, Jungkook can tell. There is a distinct, underlying change to your scent. It’s sweeter somehow, more alluring in the sense that you now smell partly like him. He should have known before. He knows that if he hadn’t spent so much time away from you, he would have realized it sooner.

You were surprised, but your shock seemed more subdued. When questioned, you told Jungkook what his mother had said to you. Somehow, even his mother knew before he did. Jungkook feels like a failure, like he’s done nothing right by you. It had to have happened the night of your designation celebration. Neither of you had bothered with any preventative measures that night, too lost in the touch and feel of each other to care.

And now, here you are, pregnant without a bite on your neck and a knot on the side of your head. If anything were to have happened to the baby…Jungkook isn’t sure he can even think about that right now. Not without wanting to put his fist through the wall.

He’s spent weeks worried about staying away from you when all along, he was clearly concerned about all the wrong things. The doctor assured him that even the most attentive of alphas take several weeks before they can smell their own child in the womb. But that doesn’t make Jungkook feel any better.

He thinks back on all the curt and what he thought were nagging messages he had gotten from his mother the last few weeks and can see them in a different light now. She wasn’t just trying to chastise him about his duty; she was trying to coax him home so he could be there for his mate in a way he should have from the start.

Jungkook knows what he needs to do now. There is no question about it. Though, it’s not because he feels obligated…no, he truly wants to solidify that bond with you. As soon as you’re ready, he’s going to offer himself to you, finally and fully.

“Jungkook, are you okay?” your sweet voice breaks him out of his thoughts and makes him release his tight hold on the sheets.

Your eyes look so big and bright even in the dim light of the hotel room as you sleepily blink up at him. How he never wanted to give himself over to you so completely before now marks him as a sure fool.

He sighs, exhaling a slow breath. “Yeah. How are you feeling?”

You stretch, wincing only slightly as your arm brushes along the side of your face. “Better, I think.”

“Can we talk?” he asks after a pause of silence.

You give him a guarded look as you slowly sit up and gather some of the blankets in your lap. The doctor told him you might start feeling the need to nest and gather comfort items, so he had specifically requested the Omega suite, which comes with complimentary brand-new fuzzy blankets and extra pillows that guests are allowed to take home when checking out.

“Sure,” you finally say.

Jungkook watches as emotions cross your face, echoing the pulse he can feel emanating from his chest. His alpha perks up, rousing for the first time in hours it feels like.

“Okay.” Now that he’s been given the go-ahead to talk, he’s suddenly feeling very self-conscious and uncertain. “I know you told me I don’t need to apologize, but I’m going to anyway.” Your lips form a thin line when he says that, so he hurries to continue, “Not for”—he gestures vaguely in your direction—”but for everything else. I want to apologize for everything before this. The way I’ve treated you and how I’ve acted. You’ve deserved better than what I’ve offered you these last few weeks—for being an asshole and a fucking dick,” Jungkook uses your own choice of words for him, and that earns him a small smile from you.

“I want to apologize, too, then. And before you can protest”—Jungkook was 100% about to—”just let me finish. Sure, you’ve not been the greatest the last few weeks, but I know I haven’t either. I should have tried harder, fought you on you being gone all the time, stood up for what I wan–er, needed, and been honest with how it was making me feel.”

Jungkook shakes his head, unable to believe how you’ve yet again turned the tables on him. “I, uh, there’s something that…there’s something I want to do,” Jungkook barely manages to get the words out as anxiety spikes at the prospect of you refusing.

“What is it?”

The look of intrigue on your face turns into pure shock as Jungkook prostrates himself on the bed in front of you, deliberately turning his head to expose the side of his neck to you, an act of submission. “I’m giving myself to you, wholly and completely. All those weeks ago, I claimed you and made you mine, and…now I’m yours.”

🌙🌙🌙

You stare at Jungkook, not sure what to say. “I-I don’t need,” you begin, reaching for Jungkook and encouraging him to sit up, “you to do that. You don’t have to bend to me…as long as you promise never to make me bend to you either.”

Jungkook shakes his head. “I can’t promise I’ll be perfect, but I’ll never force you to be something that you’re not ever again. I’m sorry I didn’t realize this sooner, I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you asked to come with me to Jimin’s. From now on, I’ll listen to you, and I’ll not dismiss your concerns or voice. I don’t want you to feel like you’re beneath me simply because you’re my mate. I want you as my equal instead.”

The truth behind Jungkook’s words is evident in the fervent way he delivers them but also in the way your omega mews in satisfaction. A bite for a bite, an equal. Even though you wouldn’t be leaving a permanent mark on his neck like he will on yours, it’s still the intention, and it’s completely unheard of in your world. There are stories, myths, really…but nothing wholly substantial.

You shift on the bed, gathering your knees underneath you. Your jeans went into the trash, and all the hospital had was a thin pair of shorts and a t-shirt for you to wear. You fluff out the blankets absently as you mull over his words. “Your equal?”

“Yes,” Jungkook resolutely declares.

“I think I would like that,” you whisper, eyeing Jungkook’s mouth with a quickly burning hunger.

“Are you sure?” Jungkook asks, swallowing hard as you lean in closer to him. “If you need more time to think, that’s okay.”

“Are you sure?” you counter, raising a questioning eyebrow.

Jungkook responds by kissing you hard on the mouth, wrapping his arms around you, and dragging you against his chest. He tastes like home; his tongue is warm and wet against yours, and you’re certain you could drown in the sensation if he let you. But, he comes up for air, breaking the kiss for a moment before pressing open-mouthed kisses along your jaw.

Even with the aches in your face and body, you respond to him. With every teasing nip of his mouth, you feel yourself growing wet. The fragrant cream of your slick blooms in the air, melding with his masculine and spicy scent to create the perfect, heady bouquet.

“I’ve never been more sure about something,” Jungkook whispers the affirmation between kisses until his warm breath ghosts over the scent mark on your neck. “You smell so damn good,” he groans.

You can feel his lips part over the skin there; his tongue laves out and swipes up the side of your neck, sending shivers down your spine. With trembling hands, you help each other discard your clothing, finally coming back together skin to skin. Jungkook pulls you into his lap, his thick cock sitting snugly against your ass. You can feel the bulge of his knot already as if his body is automatically responding to just your closeness.

“You can say stop at any time,” you tell him, earning a surprised grunt when you shove him back against the pillows and deliberately slide your ass slowly over his cock as you move backward.

There is a challenge in his eyes as you meet them. You move until you’re kneeling between his knees, cock sitting prettily before you. “Where, ah,” Jungkook sucks in a stilted breath when you take the head of his cock into your mouth, swirling your tongue around it, “did you want to?” Pink tinges Jungkook’s ears as he looks down at you, mouth full of him. You tap the inside of his thigh and raise your brows in silent question. “O-okay, just…just be gentle.”

That makes you chuckle, the vibration coming up your throat, and you can tell it sends a shock through Jungkook; his head drops back, and his mouth opens with a loud moan. “Gentle says the man about to put a permanent bite on my neck. An act that is none too gentle, I might add,” you say, letting his cock slip out from between your lips.

“Okay, that’s fair,” he relents, his words breathy as you trace along the underside of his dick with your tongue. “Be as aggressive as you want, then.”

Feeling egged on just a little by that declaration, you plant your teeth firmly into the meat of his inner thigh and bite as hard as you dare. Your teeth pinprick his skin, and the metallic tang of blood leeches onto your tongue. Jungkook grunts; his whole body shivers against your mouth.

“Was that okay?” you ask tentatively once you’ve pulled back to admire the twin crescent impressions you left behind. There isn’t that much blood. The two small wounds from your teeth are already clotted.

Jungkook lets out a heavy exhale as his body finally relaxes back against the bed. His cock twitches beside your face, producing a thick string of pre-cum that has your mouth watering for a taste.

“That was,” he pants, “hot as fuck.”

Pride fills you, and your body kindly reminds you with an intense throb in your clit, how much it turns you on when Jungkook talks like that. “Your turn,” you urge, desperate to get his teeth on your skin and his cock in your pussy.

Jungkook growls his approval, letting his alpha strength take over, and maneuvers you easily into a kneeling position in front of him. Using a gentle hand in your hair, he pulls you up until your back is pressed against his chest, giving him unfettered access to the front of your body while being able to tease your clit with the tip of his length.

“Are you ready for me?” he asks, using the hand in your hair to angle your head sideways so he can lick along the side of your neck. “Let’s see.” His other hand slides down the front of your body, tweaking your nipples on the way, until his middle finger grazes over your swollen, aching clit.

“Don’t tease me,” you say between clenched teeth. Your omega adds her indignation to your own, making your words come out laced with additional grit.

“I just want a little taste,” Jungkook whispers as he hooks his finger lower and massages it along your slit, collecting a generous amount of slick as he does so. You watch as his finger comes up and disappears beside your face.

The wet laving sound of Jungkook sucking his finger sends a shudder through you. You reach down with your hands, cupping Jungkook’s cock in one and using the other to part the lips of your pussy so you can fit him against your entrance. “Fuuuck,” you drawl out as the broad head of his cock slides in.

“I love the way your pussy tastes,” Jungkook moans, dropping his hand to your hip and using it to guide your ass back against him, forcing him deeper. “It’s almost as good as how it feels.”

His fingers prod along your hip, sliding until his palm rests over your lower belly. You whimper, rocking your hips the best you can, and place your hand over his. “How do I look?” you ask. “You once told me I’d look so pretty once I was pregnant with your pup. Do you still think that?”

“You are,” he starts, “the single most”—he emphasizes the words with long, rolling strokes of his cock that have his knot kissing your lower lips with every forward motion—”beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on. Even before I fucked you raw and knocked you up.” The beautiful, endearing words contrast so wildly with the dirty confession he tacks on at the end. Proving once again that Jungkook knows exactly how to wind you up and have you begging for more.

“Prove it,” you goade, intentionally dipping your head to the side to expose your neck further to him.

The moment his teeth touch your skin, you both freeze. It lasts only a second, the time it takes for them to sink into the tender expanse of your scent gland. It’s like a double punch to the gut; you can feel it all the way in your soul. The bond snaps into place the same instant Jungkook fits his knot inside you, and you explode, disintegrating into a million tiny little points of pleasure.

Your body opens for him, both physically and mentally. What was once a small trickle of feeling now becomes a deluge of intensity. You’re vaguely aware of Jungkook groaning as he meets his own release, throbbing heavily within your walls. You can feel him beneath your skin, feel the way your own body is wrapped so tightly around his knot, and the infinite pleasure that’s flooding through both of your systems.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Jungkook mumbles against your neck, his teeth finally pulling free from your skin. “I can feel everything.”

It’s hard to tell where he begins, and you end. There is a sense of middling permanence, the perfect balance between alpha and omega. You once feared that submitting to him completely would change you in some cataclysmic way. And, it has…only, you don’t feel damned. In fact, it’s far more empowering than you ever thought possible.

Jungkook brushes his tongue along the fresh bite, tending to your wound in a tender way that has you slumping over. He follows you down, gently rutting his hips, which forces his knot to rub and grate inside of you, flooding you with another luscious rush of dopamine, like a second orgasm.

“Jungkook?” you ask, trying not to fall asleep as he continues to nuzzle your neck, and his knot keeps you secured so close to his warm body.

“Hmm?” he hums. Jungkook settles you both on your side, holding you against his chest with one hand and stroking and petting with soft, sensual strokes along every inch of your body that he can reach with the other.

“Thank you for taking care of me.”

“I promise never to make you doubt me ever again. You are my soulmate, my Luna…the mother of my child. You are my everything.”

And just as Jungkook said, he made you his, and now he’s yours. Forever.

⇽Previous Chapter ◅ Back to story masterlist

◅ Back to Master List ©️    2024-02-14    ColorMePurplex2  

[rainbowsky]

Hello, loved watching Weibo 2024 last night, both GG and DD were looking so handsome! 😍😍❤️❤️I see so much talk about DD's seat situation, and how it's related to the 227 incident, I was wondering whether you had any hot takes on it? Thank you, luvv your blog!

Hi sasukeforhokage! Thanks so much for your kind words, I'm glad you're enjoying my blog! 😊

Yes, they both looked amazing! It's always nice to see them out at an event, especially both of them on the same night.

I actually got a few asks about this seating issue. I'm sorry for those I didn't answer, but hopefully everyone will get what they wanted from this response.

Background

For those who weren't aware of what happened, here's a bit of background.

On Weibo Night, when the room had been set up for the celebrity guests, photos of the seating arrangement leaked on social media. It showed that GG and DD were assigned to sit 4 seats away from each other. I posted about that on the night of the event, which you can find here.

As I said in that post, GG and DD's assigned seats at these events are largely irrelevant, because they haven't appeared in the room at the same time for years. They seem to coordinate it so that they take turns being out there and being backstage. Generally they're only out there when they need to be - basically when they're about to get an award, or any of their cast and crew are about to get an award, or if/when they're performing.

This has been the case for a very long time, and there have also been events where neither of them has taken their seat in the main area for the entire night (so no, this wasn't the first time seats weren't taken).

Why would they not want to be out there in the main room? Well, there are plenty of good reasons for this.

It's boring, cold and uncomfortable.

There is too much focus on them when they're in the room, and they wouldn't want to be a distraction from other artists, particularly young artists who rely more on the spotlight to build their career. This is also why we always see GG and DD trying to move to the margins when group photos are being taken, so that up-and-coming artists or industry seniors can get prime placement.

The less they are seen in proximity to other stars, the less chance of a scandal, gossip or fan wars due to their perceived facial expressions, body language and other behavior.

This is especially important when it comes to them being in the same room at the same time. There is far too much emphasis on their reactions/behavior toward each other, which can cause fan wars and public scrutiny on their relationship.

When there's a lot of scrutiny on their relationship, it becomes all anyone talks about on the night - even bystanders - and this takes away focus from other artists. As I said before, they wouldn't want to be a distraction. Not only would it make them uncomfortable to be the central focus, it can backlash against them, because Chinese audiences can be harshly critical of those who take up too much public attention. Fans of other artists would also be given more incentive to attack GG and DD and wage fanwars if their idol was forced into GG and DD's shadow.

When they're in a room like that they are going to have dozens of cameras trained on them, so they have to be in 'celebrity mode' completely, which must be extremely tense and stressful.

Ultimately these appearances are a performance, and there's no incentive to perform for any longer than they absolutely have to.

Etc. etc.

What happened?

At some point in the evening people took notice of the seat numbers that were assigned, and realized that DD's seat was row 2, seat 27.

Anyone who has been following GG and DD for any amount of time will likely be aware of what those numbers mean. 227 was the name given the big scandal that happened back in 2020 (because the main scandal broke on 27 Feb of that year), where fans and antis nearly got GG cancelled over a fan fic that portrayed him as a transgender sex worker in a relationship with an underage DD. There have been countless posts and articles written about 227, so I'm not going to dig into that here.

In some ways 227 also became an attack on DD, because a coordinated group of antis tried to frame him for all of it, claiming he and his team were behind the whole thing and were trying to get GG cancelled. His team has been fighting these claims for years, so any association of DD with that number is extremely harmful, even suspicious. It inevitably brings up questions of whether someone is intentionally trying to harm DD by seating him there.

I'll get to my thoughts on that later.

There was a flurry of activity around his seat at one point in the evening, when staff members (later identified as Sina staff) were seen ripping the number off (or trying to, but proper removal would have required scissors, so they ended up rolling up the number to hide it from view). They also took photos of the rolled up number, presumably to show DD and his team what had been done to remedy the situation.

There was also talk that the seating arrangement was changed so that Li Xian would switch seats with DD, putting DD in seat 228 and Li Xian in seat 227, although the numbers/labels were not changed.

Edit: @maurice-dandi shared this image (thanks) of how the seat labels were arranged at the end. They'd cut away the numbers from some of the seats and swapped his name with Li Xian's, moving DD's assigned seat from 227 to 228.

All of this was talked about in various ways by fans on the night of the event, framed by all sorts of theories about what was happening, and why, and about who was making these decisions and changes, and why. Ultimately we don't know for sure who drove these changes, but at the very least it's safe to say that DD and his team were involved in those conversations.

I also feel it's likely they were the ones initiating all of this by lodging a complaint about the number. The seating arrangement was in really poor taste and potentially very harmful to DD and his reputation had he been seen sitting there. Imagine the hotsearches! "Wang Yibo in seat #227." Ugh.

DD never did take his seat that night. I don't find that remotely surprising. Although to be fair, I wouldn't have been surprised if we never saw him in his seat, regardless of which number he had been assigned. He tends to put in the bare minimum for these events - and I don't blame him. The less consequential an event, the less invested he seems to be in it unless he's promoting a project. This is the kind of very common sense, no BS approach that DD is known for.

Why did it happen?

There are a lot of fans who believe this was an intentional attempt by Sina Weibo to spark drama on the night of the event, and to generate audience engagement on the platform.

The theory isn't without merit. All social media platforms benefit greatly from negative engagement. Studies have shown that negative engagement is by far the most popular and long-lasting. The more that people go to war over topics, the more they post about it, the more frequently they check back in for updates, the more they post and comment, and the longer the whole thing lasts.

If someone posts about a cute baby panda it might make the rounds for a few days, everyone might make one comment on it, give it a share and then move on.

Adversarial issues and arguments, on the other hand, tend to rage out of control for days, weeks - even months. People will typically make many comments as they argue back and forth, and they'll even draw others into it.

So yes - Sina Weibo does have something to gain by sparking a war. And they have been known for shamelessly profiting from scandals in the past. For example, by letting antis pay to rank up hateful hotsearches about an artist, and then making the artist pay to have those same hotsearches taken down. They're by no means a noble organization.

However, I also feel they have something to lose by intentionally pulling a stunt like this.

Weibo Night is just a big PR event, both for Weibo and the stars who attend. None of the awards given out are consequential. They're all just a bunch of fluff and flattery, with no real substance. The entire event is just a huge charade meant to make Weibo look important and relevant, and to give artists a platform to boost their status and promote their latest projects.

While it's true that events like this give artists a good opportunity to be seen and to promote their work, Weibo Night needs the artists a lot more than the artists need Weibo Night. The only legitimacy/relevance this event holds is granted entirely based on which artists choose to attend. If big artists didn't show up, the event would rapidly lose any interest or value for audiences.

Weibo Night needs top stars like GG and DD to attend the event. They're by far two of the biggest draws for audiences, and big artists like them legitimize the event through their attendance.

Artists like GG and DD agree to attend events like this based on a trust that the event will be conducted in a professional way that will not bring harm upon the artists and their reputations.

If artists started to get the sense that Weibo Night will intentionally pull stunts that would be harmful to their careers and their reputations, they would stop attending. While I am not naive to how shameless corporations like this can be, I am also well aware of how risk averse they are, and how driven they are by money.

I just don't feel convinced that there's more to gain for Weibo Night by pulling a stunt like this, than there is to lose by doing so. Therefore I'm not convinced it was intentional on the part of the event organizers.

I also subscribe strongly to the old saying, "Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence." I genuinely believe that people are easily this clueless, and that cluelessness is sufficient to explain what happened that night.

The organizers would have been focused on ensuring GG didn't end up seated in 227. I doubt it would have occurred to them that anyone else would have an issue with that number.

But we will likely never know.

Fans lap up persecution narratives like so much sweet pablum, so this story is never going to die and will likely continue to be spread and framed as an intentional attack on DD, or on both GG and DD, but I'm personally not fully convinced either way.

What about DD's reaction?

Did DD refuse to take his seat because of the number he was assigned? And if so, was that because he was trying to protect GG, or was it because he was trying to protect his own reputation?

Was it a romantic gesture, or was it an act of self-preservation?

These are some of the questions being hotly debated among solos and turtles on various platforms.

My personal opinion is that it was inevitably a bit of both.

There's no planet on which he and his team would want to be associated with that number, given how intensely coordinated anti groups have been trying to frame them as the architects of GG's downfall. They would not want to hand these antis a photo op with DD sitting in that seat. They would not want to appear to be OK with that number. No way.

But there's also no planet on which DD would sit in a seat marked 227. It just would never happen. There's also no planet on which he wouldn't seize an opportunity like this to show his devotion to GG.

Both can be true - and in my view, both are.

And this is totally unwashable. It's blatantly clear that DD is not OK with that number. Anyone can see that, which is why so many new turtles have been hatched over this incident - DD's solos because they've seen his refusal to be connected to an anti-GG number, and GG's solos because of DD's apparent protectiveness toward GG.

And DD's intent was only made clearer when he posted later that evening with the kadian 228.

DD almost never makes personal posts. The fact that he made this particular post on this particular night with this particular kadian is not an accident. He knew what he was doing. He was making reference to that seating issue, showing that he was aware of it and that he did intentionally refuse and reject the number 227.

DD doesn't tolerate BS, nor does he set aside his principles in order to bow down to politeness and expectations.

Of course we can and should also recognize it as a loving thing. Of course. DD is extremely protective of GG. More than of himself. He wants the world to know it. We've seen this time and again - especially after 227.

Anyway, this is just my take on the whole thing. Others will have their own. None of us knows anything for sure. Let's be realistic - none of this is going to be openly disclosed or explained by anyone involved.

Edit: Regarding the speech

I forgot to address his acceptance speech when he received his award. This is another issue that is being discussed among fans. A lot of fans are saying that his speech was short and brusque because he was angry about the seating issue.

This is not a credible theory as far as I'm concerned, for a few reasons.

He is a professional, and when he is on stage he will behave professionally. He will not project his emotional state in a situation like that, in front of an audience of industry professionals. It's just not going to happen. He has his head screwed firmly on his shoulders, he's not going to do something to damage his reputation or disrupt the night by throwing a little microtantrum onstage.

He is not so emotionally volatile that an incident like this would make him visibly angry. He tends to have a flat affect (he doesn't tend to show a lot of emotion, good or bad), so I don't think anything can be read into his demeanor on that night.

He is a man of few words, and his acceptance speeches are always very short. This is nothing new.

I suspect that he was likely aware that this seating issue was an unintentional oversight, not an intentional insult against him. As such, he would be annoyed, but it's unlikely he would have been truly angry.

Related posts/posts of interest:

My initial post about this topic

GG 2/27 Statement

Why did DD never make a statement about 227?

Tencent 2020 rehearsal time slot candy

A recent post where I talked a bit about 227

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Historical Fiction Book Bracket: Round 2A

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Radiant Emperor duology (She Who Became the Sun, He Who Drowned the World) by Shelley Parker-Chan

Endorsement from submitter #1: "extremely nuanced portrayals/discussions of gender and sexuality within the relative historical context; very primarily historical, secondary genre is arguably more magical realism than straightforward fantasy"

Endorsement from submitter #2: "A cast full of queer characters who do awful things to get the throne"

In a famine-stricken village on a dusty yellow plain, two children are given two fates. A boy, greatness. A girl, nothingness…

In 1345, China lies under harsh Mongol rule. For the starving peasants of the Central Plains, greatness is something found only in stories. When the Zhu family’s eighth-born son, Zhu Chongba, is given a fate of greatness, everyone is mystified as to how it will come to pass. The fate of nothingness received by the family’s clever and capable second daughter, on the other hand, is only as expected.

When a bandit attack orphans the two children, though, it is Zhu Chongba who succumbs to despair and dies. Desperate to escape her own fated death, the girl uses her brother’s identity to enter a monastery as a young male novice. There, propelled by her burning desire to survive, Zhu learns she is capable of doing whatever it takes, no matter how callous, to stay hidden from her fate.

After her sanctuary is destroyed for supporting the rebellion against Mongol rule, Zhu takes the chance to claim another future her brother’s abandoned greatness.

Setting: 14th-century China (1345), Yuan and Ming Dynasties

Fantasy, historical fiction, alternate history, epic fantasy, 1340s, series, adult

The Bedlam Stacks by Natasha Pulley

In 1859, ex–East India Company smuggler Merrick Tremayne is trapped at home in Cornwall with an injury that almost cost him his leg. When the India Office recruits him for an expedition to fetch quinine—essential for the treatment of malaria—from deep within Peru, he knows it's a terrible idea; nearly every able-bodied expeditionary who's made the attempt has died, and he can barely walk. But Merrick is eager to escape the strange events plaguing his family's crumbling estate, so he sets off, against his better judgment, for the edge of the Amazon.

There he meets Raphael, a priest around whom the villagers spin unsettling stories of impossible disappearances, cursed woods, and living stone. Merrick must separate truth from fairy tale, and gradually he realizes that Raphael is the key to a legacy left by generations of Tremayne explorers before him, one which will prove more valuable than quinine, and far more dangerous.

Setting: 1860s in Peru

Historical fiction, fantasy, adventure, mystery, magical realism, mid-Victorian, adult

[sharpsuite]

AiB Characters + flower symbolism (part 1)

This is just a fun little mini series of thoughts I've had for characters & plant symbolism. While with Chishiya we go get some manga-canon symbolism, these are all just my personal picks for them that I think symbolize the characters well.

Chishiya & Water Hemlock & Lily of the Valley

In both cases, these flowers are extremely deadly if ingested. Incidentally, the manner in which they're deadly is significantly different and in some ways can have symbolic parallels with Chishiya.

Water hemlock is considered the most poisonous plant in North America and is often confused with other flowers like wild parsnips and other medicinal herbs that ARE safe to consume. Both humans and animals are easily victims to this plant - which is rather fitting for Chishiya. Compared to other characters we meet, Chishiya isn't overtly dangerous. He seems safe - especially to those characters who are gullible like Arisu and Ippei. He sets himself up in this light from the beginning in both the manga and the show by helping the main cast in tag, and then offering words of caution to Ippei. Consciously or not, people do remember gestures like that and will be inclined to trust someone associated again. Water hemlock also grows in the same environment as some harmless or even healthy plants, so organisms who perhaps luckily ate the right thing before might try again. Incidentally, water hemlock has a carrot-like smell to it that tends to lure both people and animals towards it. Chishiya presents a tempting idea in the form of both stealing the cards as well as the simple initial idea of CHANGING THE TIDES at The Beach. The lure to pull Arisu in to the plan - and then we get to the poison of Chishiya's plan, just like the poison of the plant itself.

Chishiya doesn't care what happens to Arisu. USE AND DISCARD. But Arisu takes the plan and ingests the poison of Chishiya's scheme. While the entirety of the plant is poisonous, THE SEEDS AND ROOTS ARE ESPECIALLY POISONOUS. In a way, much like the carnivorous plants that canonically are tied with Chishiya, this ties into Chishiya's history from childhood. It was the foundation that gave rise to the Chishiya we know, though genetics certainly also play a factor alongside nurturing - or lack thereof in his case. Chishiya plants the seed with Arisu and lets it take root, knowing he and by default Usagi will play right into what he wants them to do. The toxin tht makes water hemlock so dangerous is CICUTOXIN. Cicutoxin attacks the central nervous system, although how is not entirely understood despite it being a very well known violent toxin due to the instability and ever-changing nature of the toxin. In essence, it's unpredictable. Like Chishiya, you never quite know what he's going to do. Even if you know he's going to be up to something, how, why, or what is rarely known until he does it. Like burning, when there's so many other options. It is known to try to target the brain just like Chishiya targets people's mentalities. Cicutoxin and it's effects are also is known to linger in the body of those who manage to survive it (ahem, Niragi) for prolonged periods of time, and it is presently unknown how the body can get rid of it or how to truly treat it since it has no antidote. It can also cause long term or PERMANENT symptoms such as restlessness, twitching, muscle weakness, or other neurological damage. But most people and animals die. Symptoms of poisoning include extreme nervousness, rapid pulse/breathing, twitching, sweating, frothing, confusion, seizures, coma, as well as heart issues and skeletal muscle breakdown and respiratory problems. This is often the most common reason for death - cardiopulmonary arrest. Which, at least given the live actions direction of Chishiya being a cardiovascular physician, is rather fitting. We can also look to the case of Ippei's slow breakdown over the psychology of the hearts game, and while not directly responsible - Chishiya's plan led to Arisu's punishment at the militants which led to many of the same symptoms due to his situation. Even water touched by hemlock roots is dangerous, and Chishiya's connections to others can be just as dangerous.

LILY OF THE VALLEY is a generally more well known flower for it's toxicity and often described as an alluring trap. Less so for the reasons of water hemlock (mistaken as another plant that is harmless) and more so for the visual appeal. Which, lets be honest, often plays a large role in character appeal. Chishiya draws many eyes to him . Thematically, lily of the valley is known for its poisons, cardiac glycosides, TARGETING THE HEART. As mentioned above, this goes well with Chishiya's specification in medicine in the LA. But it also serves well to work with the fact that Chishiya plays with people's hearts and head. He KNOWS how to use emotions and mental states to his advantage ; we see him do it in the six of diamonds where he trusts the old lady to shoot the other man - despite her having the option not to. We see him do it knowing Usagi will follow Arisu. The red berries this flower has parallels the carrot smell of the water hemlock in that these are often appealing to children and animals - take the idea and you're a fish on the hook.

Lily of the valley is ALSO known to be extremely deceptive. Despite it's name, it's not a lily at all, but part of the asparagus family. But it's also significantly hard to tell death by lily of the valley. While the SYMPTOMS are obvious, if no one has seen or is unaware that they potentially ate something dangerous, it is usually only discovered post-mortem by finding parts of the plant in the system. Chishiya's own nature reflects well - especially the LA where things are more subtle (to make him more palatable to many compared to the manga counterpart). Touching it seems harmless, it can cause rashes with some people and it WILL infect anything you touch after unless washing your hands, and even dried flowers are still toxic - and Chishiya's influence lingers whether he's around or not, albeit more heavily with some characters than others. Interestingly, lily of the valley prefers PARTIALLY SHADED or FULL SHADE to grow in. Chishiya himself is very cynical and not an optimistic character. Even at the end, his half-hearted declaration of potentially changing was weakened with a "or something like that." statement. And Chishiya was more than willing to participate in the shootout, noting it's more his style than the King of Diamonds situation was. Chishiya leans more towards the negative and darker aspects, though he's not without his own optimism and light, like the flower preferring partial shade rather than complete shade even if it will still grow. Chishiya persists. While there's chances for change, there's also plenty of room to slip right back into old ways that might even be exacerbated post-borderlands. But lily of the valley was traditionally used in herbal medicines, and while no longer often used, a critical component of the toxins in lily of the valley is now often made in labs (rather than the plant) to use for important medications. Chishiya CAN and does help - in small does and brief times, or for the right situations, he's extremely beneficial to have. But too much, get too tangled, and the poison hits.

Niragi & Larkspur & Snake Lily

Similarly to the above, these flowers are ALSO dangerous and can be fatal. But these plants can cause problems simply by being touched, though ingestion is inherently the more DANGEROUS way to feel the effects.

LARKSPUR is a more commonly seen flower, especially as a key to gardens or bouquets, but is no less dangerous for that. All parts of this flower are poisonous to consume, and rather well known to be very irritating to the skin. It's keystone status is almost a reflection of Niragi's own status within the militants. While Aguni is the MAIN force (similar to how other flowers end to be the 'main' flower of the bouquet'), it's Niragi who often spurs on the other militants. And at least live action wise, we see he has his own mini squad that tends to be QUITE ACTIVE. While he isn't the main star, he is the pop, the flash of color like the larkspur that draws eyes to the group. And it's violent burst of color is not unlike Niragi's distinct shirt patterns. In a shift from the effects of the flower on an individual ( which we will discuss), larkspur is known to cause HUGE CASUALITIES among livestock, with millions of dollars lost as a result of this flower being consumed. Most of the beach could be considered a herd, and we all know how the 10 of hearts game went with Niragi happy to go along and even driving others to in the LA like with the tiger-shorts militant who was hesitant. AND THEN THE FIRE SCENE AFTER BEING BURNED. Niragi was intent to take the whole Beach down as well and caused even more mass casualties during that time before Aguni dealt with it.

On an individual level, larkspur produces several toxic alkaloids, thoughh the dominant one is called methyllycaconitine that makes it so dangerous. Just 2 MILLIGRAMS can kill a human if ingested. While some people can handle larkspur with little effect (arguably like Chishiya, especially with the bonus meeting room scene LA gave us), others are victims on contacts, similar to how Arisu was almost immediately put up against and consistently shown to be on the losing hand when put against Arisu till the end. Like at the pool scene, and of course the betrayal outcome, each time Arisu is both a reactant but also victim. Larkspur is also known to occasionally be used to kill parasites, as Niragi serves a role as a militant to kill traitors to the Beach. As for the toxins itself, the main alkaloid causes neurotransmitter issues, which effect the muscles and nerve cells. Ultimately, victims of poisoning (human, cattle, and otherwise) quickly feel the onset of rapit heart rate and trembling that elevates to muscle weakness to the point they can't move, bloating, and death. Remember, it was Niragi's idea to torture Arisu. He could have killed him. Instead, he bound him to a chair to wait till death came. It mimics the muscle loss ; Arisu can't move any of his limbs and has to wait for his death the same way those who consume larkspur do. All with a pounding heart, sweats and chills, and nausea. INTERESTINGLY, THE ROOTS ARE NOT THE MOST DANGEROUS PART. Rather, it is the new growths and seeds that are the most dangerous parts of the larkspur flowers. And doesn't that seem familiar? Niragi in the past was not dangerous. We see how he was bullied and tormented ; his past is full of trauma and lays roots for the new version, but it's not the most dangerous part. THE BORDERLANDS LETS NIRAGI BE NEW, it's his new growth. It comes from a place rooted in his past and his experiences, but the teenage Niragi wasn't dangerous. But the new Borderlands Niragi is.

One other flower that I also think is also very fitting is the SNAKE LILY, also known as Dragon Aram, specifically the Dracunculus vulgaris. And no, this isn't a joke because it's known as one of the corpse flowers and Niragi's burned, shambling state. But i know those jokes are coming so i'm beating you to the punch. Yes, when this flower blooms, it smells like rotten flesh or roadkill. This flower only blooms generally for about a day before it once again is sealed for another year. In some ways, it mimics what we see of rare sides of Niragi. Like his active engagement in wanting to be a part of the team in the King of Clubs game and offering his strategy. Yes, it was self serving, but he seems to genuinely like it, at least in the live action where we got to see more of his reaction with the high-fives, although even in the manga his tone takes a more positive turn as his plan works out. But, in the end, it is a BRIEF MOMENT. One that comes and goes as quickly as the flower blossoming. And similar to lily of the valley, it prefers full shade or partial shade, but this one has a HEAVY PREFERENCE to the shadows. Niragi actively plays into his role and the image he's presented of himself in the Borderlands. The trigger happy, the ruthless. It's what the real world taught him, but here he can crush the past that's haunted him.

All parts of this plant are dangerous, and the sap can be poisonous through the skin. Gloves are a requirement to handle this plant safely, as touch alone can cause irritation, rashes, and poisoning. One can say the same of those who get caught with Niragi. Almost all of those we see interact are left affected by him in their own way. And like the sap's touch, his mere presence is enough to irritate others - like Kuina who instantly wants to punch him upon seeing him alive. INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, and a coincidence I stumbled on, burning this plant is extremely dangerous. ( How this was discovered is anyone's guess.) Burning it doesn't always kill it unless its thorough, but the process ALSO releases toxic chemicals into the air. Niragi survived fire and in the process became more actively hostile as he fought against death while playing the games. Enough to want to do his own players-game. Consuming the flower is dangerous because of the chemicals, but also because it causes thousands of micro-wounds due to the microscopic needles that can lead to infections and other wounds and health problems, like breathing and swallowing. While not something I contemplated when picking it, the needle-inflicted wounds are almost like the piercings; wounds placed into the body. However, many aspects of this plant and its toxins remain unknown due to a lack of studying ; its occasional unpleasant odor often making it a less appealing choice to many despite the unique appearance. Despite this, this plant is known to be quite resilient and grow even under unfavorable conditions - much like Niragi continued to thrive in the face of absurd odds and his own hard past.

[bbcphile]

The Yin Leaves Threat Is a Bluff (MLC Meta)

Mysterious Lotus Casebook fans: Are we ready to talk about how the yin leaves threat was a bluff?

So many people seem to be taking Di Feisheng at his word that he wanted to make Li Xiangyi eat the yin leaves of the Wangchuan flower to regain his martial arts for one last glorious fight and that he was fine with Li Xiangyi dying very painfully from their poison after. And I see why: after all, LLH took him at his word, too, and LLH is famously smart and a good detective.

However, LLH has a history of jumping to false conclusions about DFS and, like the rest of the jianghu, assuming the worst of him: in fact, his mistaken belief that DFS broke the peace treaty and had his shixiong killed is the central misunderstanding that nearly destroyed both their respective sects and each other. So, since LLH is canonically very bad at telling who actually wants him dead and who loves him, it’s worth investigating this further. And looking at DFS’ history of bluffing is a good place to start.

DFS and Bluffing

Di Feisheng has a history of bluffing and/or threatening to kill or torture people when he doesn’t mean it. Here are some of his most notable examples (but click here for a much longer list of things he’s lied about or withheld info about):

Threatening to kill Qiao Wanmian to convince LLH to let him find a cure for Bicha (he doesn’t kill women)

Threatening to torture Gao Qian for information (he searches rooms instead)

Threatening to kill FDB when LLH says he’s trouble (the smirk after shows he was joking)

Threatening to kill Xiao Zijin at the wedding if LLH doesn’t help him get into 188 prisons (LLH walks him into a trap and yet DFS doesn’t even try to hurt XZJ in the fight)

Lying about poisoning and curing QWM to protect LLH’s identity and pretending to kidnap her

In all of those examples, DFS is trying to help or protect LLH, albeit in a very dysfunctional way. In the first example, he’s trying to blackmail LLH into living; the second example is to solve the case to find Shi Hun to expel the Asura Grass so he can find a cure for Bicha; the third is a joke, but also one designed to make LLH admit he does care about FDB because LLH is pretending he doesn’t care about anything as a prelude to giving up once he finds SGD’s body; the fourth is to get evidence that someone framed the Jinyuanmeng so LLH will trust him again and want to live to figure out who really killed his shixiong; and the last is to protect LLH’s identity (even though he only agreed to protect it until the Asura Grass was expelled. He’s trying to prove to LLH that LLH can trust him and he wants to help him, not harm him.)

All that to say: DFS has a history of bluffing about threatening to kill people if he thinks it will help Xiangyi live, and will take on the role of the villain—role the jianghu regularly casts him in—if he thinks it will help. And as some of those examples show, he also doesn’t share his plans with LLH until after the plan has been completed. And just look at all the things DFS withheld from LXY at their first donghai battle if you need more examples: he doesn’t mention that he knows it’s a frame job or why he stole SGD’s body. In all these examples, it’s not just that DFS has control issues and doesn’t want to share theories until he has proof: it seems likely that he knows/assumes LXY wouldn’t have believed him, because LLH already proved he didn’t trust him when he fell for the frame job, broke the peace treaty, and attacked the Jinyuanmeng. DFS assumes that there’s no point in presenting information to someone who won’t listen to it; he’d think it’s a waste of time and energy that could be better spent actively solving the problem.

But Why Bluff About the Yin Leaves?

Yao Mo’s Questionable Loyalty:

When DFS says he just needs LLH to live long enough to compete with him, he’s not talking to LLH himself: he’s talking to Yao Mo. In fact, the entire yin leaves plan was Yao Mo’s idea. And that changes everything.

Why? Well, for starters, Yao Mo is the one who invented the Bicha poison and gave it to JLQ to use on LXY (without DFS’ knowledge or permission). That alone is reason enough for DFS to not know if he can trust him, and this lack of trust explains why DFS never told Yao Mo that the mystery patient was LXY/LLH or that he was poisoned by Bicha. Since JLQ poisoned LXY because DFS paid so much attention to him and to fighting with him, it makes sense that DFS would try to protect LLH by hiding his identity and not drawing attention to him. 

But of course, as soon as Yao Mo figures out the mystery patient was poisoned with Bicha, that secret is blown. The pained face (and Throat Bob of Emotion) DFS makes while Yao Mo is having this realization shows not only how upset he is that they don’t yet have a cure, but also how worried he is that Yao Mo now knows it’s LLH, which makes everything more complicated.

DFS was right that Yao Mo would figure it out, since the first thing Yao Mo does after this realization is tell DFS he’s thought of a way “to heal him so he can compete with you.” DFS had pointedly NOT mentioned competing with him in front of Yao Mo yet (to hide LLH’s identity), so this is definitive proof that his cover is blown and that DFS needs to find a new way to keep LLH safe. 

This new plan is to downplay how much LLH means to him, and that motive explains so much about this scene. We know from watching him grieve and tear up while mourning LLH at his personal waterfall after his enthronement ceremony that DFS is miserable because of LXY’s supposed death and that he doesn’t see the point in fighting anymore without him, so we know that one last fight with LXY wouldn’t fix that: he’d still be dead and DFS would still be devastated. 

(Here are some screenshots of him mourning at the waterfall.)

But this isn’t common knowledge. In fact, it seems to be a closely guarded secret; he’s mourning in private, with only Wuyan as a witness. In public and to the rest of his subordinates, he’s trying to project the attitude of the unemotional, unflappable, heartless demon of the jianghu because his reputation is part of his armor that keeps him safe. It lets him seem like he doesn’t have any weaknesses (since “a swordsman shouldn’t have weaknesses”), and it keeps people from knowing that his primary weakness (other than the mind control bug) is LXY/LLH. 

(NOTE: He’s not even comfortable with anyone other than Wuyan and the three kings knowing he cares more about reaching the pinnacle of martial arts than he does about the Jinyuanmeng itself, and it’s not clear if any of them know that he mainly wants to increase his strength and power to free himself from the mind control bug. That’s how closely he guards his vulnerabilities.) 

With that in mind, if he wants to keep Yao Mo (and therefore JLQ) from knowing how important LXY is to him, there’s only one possible answer to Yao Mo’s question about whether he’d mind if LLH dies from the yin leaves after the fight: pretending he wouldn’t object. If he said he’d give up a fight rather than let LLH die from the yin leaves, then Yao Mo would know LLH matters to him more than fighting, which would be revealing a weakness. If DFS said he would give the entire Wangchuan flower to LLH to cure him and would therefore be sacrificing his chance of getting stronger, it would be painting an even larger target on LLH’s back and showing Yao Mo that endangering LLH would be the key to controlling him. The only safe option for both LLH and DFS is for DFS to claim he doesn’t care if LLH dies after they fight and to give orders to find the flower.

Here’s a gif of his command about the Wangchuan flower:

Notice his furrowed brow, the tightness around his eyes and mouth, the way he’s almost wincing as he gives the order? He is miserable about having to play this game and his incredible poker face is barely up to the task.

Here’s a still image of right after the pronouncement; you can still see the barely suppressed wince.

After this command, he dismisses Yao Mo from the cave immediately so he doesn’t have to keep pretending he’s going to sacrifice LLH. The entire time Yao Mo is present, even while he’s walking away, DFS holds himself completely motionless, staying in character from the bluff and desperately waiting to be alone with LLH. The instant Yao Mo is gone, DFS slumps in relief, or at least, does his version of a slump: he bows/droops his head as though the weight of what just happened was too much to shoulder. 

Here’s a close-up of his reaction:

DFS’s relief at being alone with LLH shows that he believed LLH knew him well enough to know when he was bluffing.

He was wrong. 

LLH: Believing the Worst of DFS (again)

LLH’s belief that DFS wants to kill him for a duel makes sense, since at this point, he still thinks DFS did in fact have SGD killed and broke the peace treaty, and he’s pissed off, feeling betrayed, and also in pain (from the medicine and the Beifeng Baiyang transfer that made him cough up blood, and from all the snake bites–he’s primed to read those as exclusively aggressive and cruel attempts to heal him at all costs for the fight, and not to realize that DFS would absolutely do all these things to himself to heal his own martial arts without batting an eye. And he’s in too much pain to see the horrified look on DFS’s face when LLH coughs up blood and DFS realized he almost killed LLH while trying to cure him.) 

But that doesn’t mean LLH is right. 

DFS, upon seeing that LLH has again cast him as the heartless villain, doesn’t try to dispute it. In the same way that he didn’t explain about why he took SGD’s body at the donghai battle, he doesn’t explain himself about the flower, possibly because he thinks he doesn’t have time to waste arguing. His goal is to get LLH to live–he grieved him for a decade, after all, and doesn’t want to have to do it again–and he is painfully aware that he is running out of time. LLH hasn’t exactly been subtle about only staying alive to find and bury SGD’s body, and now that they’ve accomplished that, he wants to make sure LLH doesn’t give up. Growing up in Di Fortress, DFS probably learned how to recognize what it looks like when people give up on life, and seeing those signs in LLH would explain some of the desperation behind his actions.

So, what does he do instead of trying to convince LLH the threat was a bluff? Here’s a gif of his response:

He swallows his disappointment at being thought a heartless killer–bowing his head again and shaking it, then looking up at the cave roof in exasperation–and takes a long, long inhale to collect himself and to quickly brainstorm a new plan. Once he’s figured it out, he says LXY’s name and launches into stage 2 of his plan to convince LLH to live: correcting the initial misunderstanding that first led LLH to not trust him anymore. 

DFS tries to convince LLH that someone conspired against both of them a decade ago–the truth he thought LXY wouldn’t believe him about on the ship–because if that worked, then it would solve two problems: 1.  LLH might believe him that he doesn’t want to kill him for the rematch if he knew he hadn’t had SGD killed, and 2. LLH would choose to stay alive to find SGD’s real killer and get revenge. 

And when LLH doesn’t believe his initial attempt, he gives what is possibly his longest speech in the entire show detailing the evidence supporting his claim that they were both set up and offers to help him find the truth in exchange for their rematch. While he definitely does want a rematch, DFS mentions it here in part because LLH thinks it’s all he cares about; if he were to offer to help without requiring the fight, LLH would be less likely to believe him and even more suspicious of his claims, especially since LLH currently thinks DFS would kill him for said rematch.

But unfortunately, his plan for them to team up fails as he thought it would all those years ago, so he decides to play along with being the heartless villain LLH thinks he is, and it’s only then that he threatens to kill FDB (revealing FDB’s parentage in the process), because he knows that LLH would stay alive to protect FDB. 

I have another 2000+ words worth of thoughts about his talk and fight with FDB–the way he tries to “kidnap” him first instead of fighting him, the way he looks miserable during the fight instead of enjoying it the way he did during the fight at QWM and XZJ’s wedding–but it will have to wait for another meta because this is already way too long as it is. The point, though, is that he’s not fighting FDB because he wants to or is enjoying hurting him: he actually hates every second of it and of performing the role of jianghu villain LLH has once again cast him in. But he’s doing it because he thinks it’s the only way to keep LLH alive. 

These aren’t the actions of someone who just wants to sacrifice his old rival for a fight; they’re the actions of someone trying everything he can think of to keep the person he loves alive. It’s an incredibly convoluted way to show his care, but given that he’s desperate, out of time, and can’t get LLH to trust or believe him, it makes sense that he’d fall back on a reliable skillset that’s kept himself alive despite all the odds: bluffing, keeping his true goals a secret, adopting the mantle of villain, and letting himself be hated for things he hasn’t done.

With both the fight with FDB and with the yin leaves threat, DFS plays the villain to try to force LLH to live, because he’d rather LLH hate him and live than love him and die. 

Because Di Feisheng has never wanted Li Xiangyi–or Li Lianhua–dead.

[elemom]

okay i caved and decided to draw a little bit of my three sides au. Specifically, the side that i think is the most unique, the side where Euclid and Scalene Try To Avoid Being Jailed For A Murder They Did Not Commit And May Not Have Even Happened. Have fun!

BREAKING NEWS!

“In today’s news, the mysterious disappearance of a young child casts a shadow on beloved detectives. Citizens are left asking: Did They Do That? Here’s Lexy Hex with the story.”

[The screen changes, showing a green hexagon holding a microphone. ]

“Thanks, Tetra. I’m currently standing in front of the scene that’s left the people of Euclydia scratching their points and asking themselves, just who could be responsible for this?

Just last night, a child was reported missing from this very location. Bill Cipher was only three years old when his parents claim he “suddenly disappeared.”

[Footage of Euclid and Scalene Cipher plays.]

“Our son was sitting in the middle of the room when he started acting strange. I believed it to be his visions acting up again, until a bunch of circles suddenly materialized and surrounded our poor Billy!”

“Six, there were six of them.”

“Thank you, dear. It was downright peculiar. Impossibly, the group of six circles started to grow. My wife and I tried attacking the intruders, to no avail. Just as quickly as they’d arrived, they vanished again.”

“And Billy…”

[The screen changes back to the hexagonal news reporter.]

However, not everyone is convinced. Chief Officer Pointe Pentagg of the EPD seems to doubt the Ciphers’ story:

[The screen shows a red square in a police uniform.]

“Kids don’t just disappear into thin air. That’s just not possible. And to claim that this was the work of not one, but six circles? It’s outlandish at best, and treasonous at worst.”

[The screen shifts back to the hexagon.]

“Their possible motives are unclear, but some suspect that their son’s birth defect could have contributed.

The Cipher family is currently being detained at the Central Euclydia Detention Center until further investigations are completed. Tetra, back to you.”

[The screen changes back to the newsroom.]

“Thank you, Lexy. This has been Tetra Abcde with Euclydia News Network.”

[ Complete transmission. ]

[voidfalcon]

How Supercorp and shipping at large, damaged the Arrowverse fandom

This isn't meant to be an attack on any actor or ship in any form from Supergirl, just an analysis of shipping culture and toxic fandom

In the sprawling metropolis of National City, Supergirl soared through the skies, an emblem of hope and justice for all. Yet, beyond the bright lights and soaring capes, a darker narrative began to unfold in the digital realm. The Supercorp fandom, a fervent subset of the Supergirl fanbase, coalesced around the romantic pairing of Kara Danvers and Lena Luthor, two of the show's central characters. Initially a celebration of friendship and the potential for love, the movement grew a sinister underbelly as some of its most vocal members turned toxic. Their insatiable thirst for validation and the desire to impose their narrative onto the show's trajectory began to cast a shadow over the very essence of the show they claimed to cherish. The once harmonious fan community transformed into a battleground where dissent was met with vitriol, and the creators of the show bore the brunt of the harassment.

The Supercorp shippers grew increasingly aggressive as the show progressed without affirming their desired relationship. They bombarded social media with demands for "their" couple to become the central romance, often targeting the show's cast and crew. The intensity of their campaigns grew from hopeful fan art and thoughtfully crafted analyses to vicious personal attacks on those who disagreed with their perspective. The actors, who had once engaged with fans with grace and enthusiasm, began to withdraw from social media, citing the overwhelming negativity. The writers, caught in a crossfire of expectations and creative vision, were vilified for their narrative choices, regardless of the complexity and depth they sought to imbue into their characters. The atmosphere grew so toxic that any deviation from the Supercorp narrative was met with accusations of queerbaiting and betrayal, silencing any nuanced discussion about the show's themes of friendship, redemption, and identity.

When Tyler Hoechlin's Superman, a symbol of truth and moral fortitude, appeared to give his blessing to the burgeoning romance between Kara and Mon-El, the fury of the Supercorp shippers was unleashed like a torrent. They saw it as an affront to their own version of the story, a storyline they had grown so invested in that it had begun to overshadow the very essence of the show. The character they had once revered as a paragon of virtue was now vilified, his every action dissected for signs of "anti-Supercorp" sentiment. Hoechlin, known for his portrayal of the stoic and noble Man of Steel, found himself at the center of a maelstrom, his personal life and professional credibility questioned by a fanbase that had grown to resent his very presence on the show. The backlash was swift and unforgiving, with some going so far as to claim that his portrayal was intentionally sabotaged to diminish the Supercorp narrative.

Melissa Benoist, who brought Kara Danvers to life with a blend of earnestness and charm, faced a similar plight. Her portrayal of the heroine's journey was no longer appreciated for its complexity, but rather scrutinized under the unforgiving lens of the shippers' obsession. When she dared to express excitement over the show's new developments, she was met with a deluge of anger and accusations of being complicit in the "erasure" of the Supercorp relationship. It was a stark contrast to the early days of the show when her interactions with the fandom were characterized by mutual admiration and joyful exchanges. Now, every smile and every word of hers was twisted into a weapon to be used against her, a testament to the tragic transformation of a community that once championed love and inclusivity into one that embraced hostility and division.

The situation came to a boiling point when Jeremy Jordan, known for his role as Winn Schott, dared to perform a light-hearted song at a Comic-Con event, poking fun at the intense shipping culture surrounding the show. The song, which playfully affirmed Kara and Lena's friendship without romantic undertones, was intended to be a moment of levity amidst the intense fan debates. However, the reaction was anything but amusing. The Supercorp shippers took his jest as a declaration of war, and Jordan soon found himself on the receiving end of a barrage of death threats, his inbox flooded with messages that were far from the love and support he had once known from his fanbase. The line between passion and obsession had been crossed, and the consequences were dire for all involved.

Mehcad Brooks, who played James Olsen, became the next target of the Supercorp shippers' wrath when his character entered into a relationship with Lena Luthor. Despite his character's longstanding friendship with Kara and the natural progression of his story arc, the mere existence of a romantic option outside of the Supercorp pairing was seen as an affront. The racial undertones of the backlash against Brooks were impossible to ignore; a Black man daring to pursue a romantic interest with a white character was met with a deluge of racist vitriol. The harassment was relentless, with some fans even going so far as to digitally manipulate images of Brooks to vilify him further. The joy and camaraderie that once defined the Supergirl community had been replaced by a toxic brew of entitlement and hate.

The showrunners, too, were not spared from the wrath of the Supercorp shippers. When James and Lena's relationship grew stronger, the show's creators faced a barrage of accusations that they were "forcing" a narrative to appease a non-existent "anti-Supercorp" agenda. The creators' inboxes were flooded with threats and demands to change the course of the show. The once-celebrated diversity and inclusivity of Supergirl's cast and storylines were now weaponized against them, with the show's very ethos of fighting for justice and equality being twisted into a narrative of oppression and exclusion. The irony was palpable, yet the toxic shippers remained unmoved by the harm they were causing to the very fabric of the fandom they claimed to love.

Chris Wood, who portrayed Mon-El, found himself an unwilling participant in a sordid drama that reached beyond the confines of the screen. As Kara's romantic interest, he became the object of the Supercorp shippers' scorn, with many accusing him of being a homewrecker who had stolen Melissa Benoist away from her ex-husband, Blake Jenner. The accusations grew increasingly personal and spiteful, with some fans even going so far as to claim that Wood was the reason for Benoist's divorce. This spiteful narrative painted Wood as a villainous figure, a heartless usurper who had dared to stand in the way of the "true" love between Kara and Lena. Little did they know that the real-life events were far more complex and tragic than their fictional grievances.

Years later, Melissa Benoist bravely came forward with her harrowing story of abuse at the hands of a former relationship who is believed to have been Blake Jenner. Her revelations sent shockwaves through the fandom, shattering the illusions that had been so meticulously crafted by the Supercorp shippers.

In the aftermath, a disturbing pattern began to emerge as it was discovered that almost immediately following Benoist's public disclosure, certain factions within the Supercorp fandom had twisted her personal tragedy into a twisted narrative that served their own purposes. These shippers took to the digital realm, crafting fanfictions that painted Mon-El, and by extension Chris Wood, as the abuser, rather than the supportive partner and friend he had been in the show. It was a macabre display of how deeply their obsession had distorted their moral compass, using real-life pain to fuel their fictional vendetta against a character they perceived as a threat to their preferred narrative.

The new fanfics spun a sordid tale of Kara, the quintessential heroine, being saved not by her own strength and resilience but by the love of Lena, a narrative that not only trivialized Benoist's experiences but also reinforced harmful stereotypes about women in need of saving by other women. The audacity to appropriate such a sensitive and deeply personal revelation was met with disgust by many, particularly Karamel shippers. Yet, these toxic shippers remained steadfast in their belief that their imagined reality was more important than the actual lives and well-being of the actors who had brought their beloved characters to life.

Chris Wood, now cast as the villain in their warped narratives, faced a new wave of abuse. His social media accounts were inundated with messages that not only vilified him as Mon-El but also claimed that he had been the one responsible for Benoist's suffering. The leap from fiction to reality was a chilling one, and it illustrated the extent to which the Supercorp shippers had lost touch with the distinction between the show and the personal lives of its cast. The once-supportive environment had become a cesspool of projection and spite, with the actors' personal lives being used as fodder for their fanatical fantasies.

In an effort to maintain their sanity and protect themselves from further harm, both Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood made the difficult decision to turn off comments on any Instagram posts that mentioned the other. It was a silent declaration of the boundaries they had to enforce, a digital barricade to shield themselves from the relentless tide of harassment. The vibrant conversations that once filled their social media feeds with excitement and camaraderie had become minefields of toxicity, and the joy they once found in connecting with fans had been tainted beyond recognition, even on posts about their engagement, wedding, pregnancy and birth of their son.

Katie McGrath, who played Lena Luthor, had always been an advocate for fan expression and a vocal supporter of the Supercorp ship, appreciating the passion and creativity of the fandom. However, as the harassment grew, she found herself caught in the crosshairs as well. Her genuine support for Benoist and Wood's relationship was twisted by the toxic faction into a tacit endorsement of the abuse they were facing. The irony was not lost on her; the very essence of the ship she had championed, the love and friendship between Kara and Lena, had been corrupted into a tool for attacking the very people who brought those characters to life.

When McGrath was one of the many Supergirl cast members to model for Wood's mental health help organization, I Don't Mind, it was a gesture of solidarity that highlighted the importance of mental well-being and the need to break down stigmas surrounding mental health. Yet, even this act of kindness and advocacy was not immune to the distortion of the toxic Supercorp shippers. Some fans, blinded by their obsession, claimed that her participation was a covert declaration of love for Wood's character, thereby "betraying" the sanctity of Supercorp. The twisted narrative grew more convoluted as they accused her of using her platform to promote an "anti-Supercorp" agenda and asking if Wood forced McGrath to help campaign, despite the clear intentions of her involvement in the campaign. The very essence of I Don't Mind, which sought to foster an environment of openness and support, was hijacked by a vocal minority who could only see the world through the lens of their own narrow desires.

Jeremy Jordan, who had been a staple of the show since its inception, decided to take a step back from the series after his character, Winn Schott, was written off. The decision was met with mixed reactions from fans, with many questioning the timing and whether it was due to the relentless pressure from the Supercorp shipping community. His exit was not just a loss for the show, but also a symbol of the destructive power of toxic fandom. Jordan had once been a beloved member of the cast, his performances celebrated for their humor and heart. But as the show progressed and the shipping wars intensified, he had become a pawn in a larger, uglier battle that had nothing to do with his own artistic choices or the story he was helping to tell. His departure was a stark reminder that even the most well-intentioned creators and performers could not escape the wrath of those who felt entitled to dictate the course of the narrative.

Chris Wood's exit as Mon-El was perhaps the most contentious of all. His character had been a polarizing figure among fans, with many feeling that his relationship with Kara detracted from the perceived "true love" between her and Lena. As the abuse grew more vicious, it was evident that Wood's experience on the show had been deeply affected. His decision to leave was met with both relief and anger, with some Supercorp shippers claiming victory while others lamented the loss of a character who had grown so much since his introduction. For Wood, the experience had undoubtedly left its mark, a testament to the power of fandom to shape not just the narrative but the lives of those involved in the storytelling.

Mehcad Brooks faced a similar fate when his character, James Olsen, was written out of the show. Despite being a founding member of the cast, Brooks' portrayal of James had often been sidelined in favor of the Supercorp narrative. His character's growth and development were often overshadowed by the fervent desire for Lena and Kara to become romantically involved. When the showrunners allowed James to find love and success outside of the Supercorp dynamic with his relationship with Lena, it was seen by the toxic faction as a betrayal. The joy of his character's evolution was lost in the sea of anger and entitlement. Brooks' exit was not just a loss for the show but a stark reminder of the way in which toxic shipping can diminish the contributions of actors of color, reducing them to mere props in a white-centered romance.

The show's cast and crew, once a tight-knit group who reveled in the love and support of their fanbase, now found themselves navigating a minefield of accusations and hostility. The Supercorp shippers had become a force to be reckoned with, capable of turning any positive interaction into a battleground. The atmosphere at conventions and press events grew tense, as actors and creators alike were forced to tiptoe around the subject of their characters' relationships. The joy of collaborative storytelling and fan interaction had been tainted by the relentless pursuit of a single narrative, leaving a bitterness that was palpable both on and off-screen.

As the final season of Supergirl approached, the anticipation of the Supercorp shippers reached a fever pitch. They were certain that the showrunners would finally succumb to their demands and make their ship a reality. Yet, as the episodes unfolded, it became clear that the show had a different ending in mind. The narrative arc that the writers had been carefully crafting over the years culminated in a finale that saw Kara and Lena's friendship not just endure but flourish. It was a poignant reminder of the show's core message: that love comes in many forms, and that friendship is one of the most powerful and enduring bonds of all.

Everybody lost their minds when Supergirl's series finale didn't give the Supercorp shippers the ending they had so fervently demanded. The fallout was swift and brutal, with the toxic faction of the fandom unleashing a new torrent of abuse and anger. The cast and crew, who had worked tirelessly to bring the story of Kara Danvers to life, were vilified for not bending to the will of a vocal minority of toxicity. The actors who had dedicated years of their careers to the show were vilified, their personal relationships and mental health dragged through the mud by fans who claimed to love them. Yet, amidst the chaos, there was a sense of relief among the show's broader fanbase, who had watched with horror as their community had been hijacked by toxicity.

The Supercorp shippers screamed their grief into the digital void, feeling betrayed by the very show they had claimed to champion. The irony was not lost on the rest of the fandom; here was a group that had claimed to fight for representation, yet when it was given to another character in the form of Alex Danvers marrying a woman, it was deemed invalid. The cries for diversity and LGBTQ+ inclusion had been weaponized, wielded like a cudgel to bludgeon anyone who didn't adhere to their narrow vision of what that representation should look like. The reality was that Supergirl had been a bastion of LGBTQ+ visibility since its inception, with characters like Alex, Nia Nal and Maggie Sawyer paving the way for more nuanced and complex portrayals of queer relationships in mainstream media. Yet, the Supercorp shippers could only see the world in terms of their own desires, dismissing the value of any narrative that didn't conform to their narrow viewpoint.

In stark contrast, the introduction of Nia Nal, played by the charismatic Nicole Maines, was met with an outpouring of love and acceptance from the majority of the Supergirl fanbase. Nia, a transgender woman with the power of dream manipulation, brought a new dimension to the show's ensemble, embodying hope, strength, and courage in a way that resonated deeply with viewers. Maines, the first transgender superhero to appear on a CW show, became a beacon of representation and a symbol of progress in a genre that had often fallen short in this regard. Her portrayal was met with applause and admiration, not just for her acting chops but for the authenticity she brought to a character that was so much more than a token gesture towards inclusivity.

But not all were as welcoming. On Tumblr, a transphobic radical feminist Supercorp shipper, unable to reconcile their narrow worldview with the show's evolving narrative, lashed out. They posted a blog entry questioning Nia's identity, using hateful language and misgendering her as a "him." The post was a blatant act of disrespect, not just to the character but to the entire transgender community. It was a stark reminder that even within the LGBTQ+ spectrum, there were those who sought to diminish and erase the experiences of others.

Evidently showing that while racism and bullying was okay for Supercorp shippers, transphobia wasn't a card they were willing to play, the backlash against the transphobic blogger was swift and severe. The Supergirl fandom rallied together in defense of Nia Nal and Nicole Maines, using their collective voice to drown out the hate. Fans from all corners of the spectrum, including those who had once shipped Supercorp, banded together in a display of solidarity that was truly inspiring. They recognized the importance of genuine representation and the impact it had on the lives of transgender individuals. The incident served as a stark reminder that while the love for a fictional couple could be intense, it should never come at the cost of real people's identities and experiences.

The IMDb trivia section for the 2021 Mortal Kombat film, in a bizarre twist, had become an unexpected battleground for the Supercorp saga. Twice listed as a "fun fact," Mehcad Brooks' name was associated with being "toxic and rude."

Why is this interesting? Because the Supercorp fandom was shocked when Mechad Brooks snapped at Supercorp shippers on his Instagram when one of them told him to stay away from Katie McGrath. The fandom exploded with accusations of his rudeness, which spread like wildfire across social media. It was a rare moment where a celebrity broke the fourth wall and addressed toxic fandom behavior directly. But what's even more intriguing is the persistence of the narrative. Despite Brooks' portrayal of James Olsen on Supergirl being widely praised for his charm and grace, his name is now tarnished with a label that seems to stick like a stubborn piece of gum on the sole of a shoe. The IMDb trivia section, typically reserved for light-hearted anecdotes and behind-the-scenes tidbits, had been appropriated by a faction of Supercorp shippers to perpetuate their grievances. It was as if they had claimed a piece of internet real estate to broadcast their discontent to the world.

Hayley, known online as Redkrypto, was one of the most notorious Supercorp shippers. Her digital footprint on Tumblr was a minefield of anger and bitterness directed at anyone who dared to support the Karamel or Guardiancorp ships, which involved Kara with other characters. Her blog was a toxic stew of accusations, manipulation, and harassment. She had a knack for turning the most innocuous interactions into fodder for her crusade against perceived threats to her preferred ship. Her followers, a small but vocal group, eagerly lapped up her rhetoric, creating a echo chamber of negativity that spilled over into the wider Supergirl community. The line between critique and bullying had been crossed, and the effects were palpable.

Following the comic con "incident" as discussed above, Jeremy Jordan suffered severe food poisoning following lunch at Chipotle with the rest of the cast and was hospitalized, Redkrypto "joked" that someone who worked at the restaurant was a Supercorp shipper. Whether she was legitimately joking or being serious is unknown but this could've gotten the employee fired if the joke went too far. Hayley's digital crusade had grown so pervasive that even the most innocent of events were now seen through the lens of her toxic worldview.

The situation grew more alarming when Redkrypto took her rhetoric to new lows. In a series of blog posts, she launched a scathing attack on asexual fans, claiming they "belonged in the sewer". The irony of her words was lost on her devoted followers, who echoed her sentiments with a fervor that was both disturbing and disheartening. The Supergirl fandom, which had once been a haven for all, had become a battleground where even sexuality was a point of contention. Her diatribes grew more extreme, as she began to target bisexual fans who dared to date men, insisting they were "straight-washed" and not truly part of the LGBTQ+ community. The division she sowed grew wider, fracturing the once unified fanbase into a fragmented mess of accusations and spite.

The toxic environment that Hayley had created was not limited to social media. Her influence had seeped into the real world, where her words had tangible consequences. Conventions, once a place of refuge for fans to come together and share their love for the show, had become battlegrounds where alliances were drawn in the sand. Panels were no longer about celebrating the show but about interrogating the cast and crew on their personal relationships and narrative choices. The joy of the event was replaced by tension as actors and creators tried to navigate a minefield of hostile questions and accusations, all while maintaining the façade of a happy, inclusive community.

When the final season of Supergirl aired, Hayley's anger grew with each episode that did not bend to her will. Her blog posts grew longer, her words more caustic, and her accusations more personal. The showrunners, actors, and even fellow fans who dared to disagree with her were vilified in a relentless stream of vitriol. It was clear that for Hayley, the ship had become more than just a fictional romance—it was a battleground for her own identity and self-worth. The validation she sought in the arms of her "OTP" had consumed her to the point of obsession, and the realization that she may not get the ending she craved was unbearable.

As the finale approached, Hayley's digital presence grew increasingly erratic. She posted feverishly, crafting elaborate conspiracy theories about the show's narrative choices and the motives of the cast and crew. Her followers grew more desperate, clinging to her every word as if it were a lifeline in a sea of disappointment. The tension grew so thick that even the most devoted Supercorp shippers began to feel the strain, some questioning if the fight was truly worth the cost.

The night of the finale, Hayley's blog remained eerily silent. The anticipation in the fandom was palpable, with fans across the globe waiting for her reaction. As the credits rolled and the reality sank in that Supercorp was not to be, the digital silence was deafening. The Supergirl community held its collective breath, waiting for the storm that was sure to come.

A few Supercorp shippers turned on her for getting their hopes up for years only to watch them crumble before their eyes. Some accused her of being a "sellout," while others claimed she had lost touch with the "true essence" of the fandom. The accusations stung, but Hayley remained steadfast, her resolve to fight for her ship unwavering. Yet, deep down, she couldn't ignore the nagging doubt that whispered she had gone too far, that her obsession had turned from a labor of love into something dark.

Whether her blog was forcibly deleted by Tumblr for the harassment or her ego being damaged for the show not bending to her will, Redkrypto's account was deactivated shortly after the finale. The absence of her toxic voice was a relief to many in the fandom, but the scars she left were not so easily erased.

Part of me feels bad for the shippers who genuinely didn't bully anyone in the cast or crew or fandom and wanted Supercorp to be canon, who had their love story validated. They're the true victims here. They didn't deserve the toxic behavior from Redkrypto and her ilk. The damage done by a few radicals had cast a pall over their innocent love for a TV couple.

But the aftermath of Supercorp's end was a reckoning for many. Fans who had been swept up in the ship war took a step back and reflected on the community they had become. The joy of shipping, of rooting for a couple, had been twisted into something ugly and harmful. The cast and crew had become pawns in a game that had grown out of control, and it was time to dismantle the toxic structures that had been built.

Looking to other fandoms, one could not help but draw parallels to the Olicity and Snowbarry ships. In Arrow, the tumultuous relationship between Oliver Queen and Felicity Smoak had once been the epicenter of fan adoration. Yet, as the showrunners wove a narrative that didn't always align with the shippers' desires, a toxic undercurrent emerged. The Olicity fandom, much like Supercorp, had become a force to be reckoned with, their influence extending beyond the confines of fanfiction and into the lives of the actors and creators. The relentless pursuit of their "endgame" led to a frenzy of entitlement, with any deviation from their desired plotline vilified.

Credit to the Olicity fandom, their ship was canon and remained the main couple until the end of the series but at the sacrifice of Laurel Lance and her actress Katie Cassidy's relationship with the show and fandom. The Snowbarry shippers, on the other hand, faced a rollercoaster of emotions with the on-again, off-again romance between Barry Allen and Iris West, hoping that would lead to Barry getting with Caitlin Snow.

In the Arrowverse, the Olicity shippers had their way, often at the cost of the show's narrative coherence. Storylines were manipulated, characters were sidelined, and any potential romantic competition was vilified. The once-promising character of Laurel Lance, who had been an integral part of the show's foundation, was reduced to a tragic plot device to fuel the Olicity relationship. The toxic rhetoric grew so intense that Katie Cassidy, who played Laurel, found herself in the crosshairs of the fandom's rage, her every move scrutinized and criticized, no matter how much she tried to rise above it.

When Laurel was controversially killed off in the show's fourth season, the Olicity shippers celebrated, viewing it as a clear path for their preferred couple. Yet, the fallout from this narrative decision was profound. The Arrow fandom was irrevocably split, with many feeling betrayed by the showrunners for sacrificing a beloved character to serve a romantic plotline. The death of Laurel Lance became a symbol of the toxicity that can fester within a fandom when the desire for a specific romantic pairing overshadows the integrity of the show's storytelling and character development. The subsequent treatment of Katie Cassidy, who was vilified for playing a character that had been written to challenge the Olicity narrative, served as a stark reminder of the real-life consequences of fandom entitlement.

For those who had invested themselves in the Laurel-Oliver relationship, known as "Lauriver" shippers, the loss was particularly acute. Laurel's canonical last words to Oliver, urging him to be with Felicity, felt like a slap in the face. It was a narrative twist that seemed to cater directly to the Olicity fanbase, a knife twisted in the heart of those who had rooted for the original pairing. The anger was swift and decisive; a boycott of the remaining episodes of the season was organized, with hashtags like #NoKatieNoArrow and #NoLaurelNoArrow trending on Twitter as fans rallied around their fallen heroine. The boycott was not just a statement of dissent but a declaration of war, a battle cry against the perceived tyranny of the showrunners.

The CW network, noticing the seismic shift in fan sentiment, stepped in and instructed the Arrow showrunners to bring Laurel back. But the damage had already been done. The trust between the show and its viewers had been shattered, leaving a fractured fanbase in its wake. The showrunners, in an attempt to appease the disenchanted, brought back Katie Cassidy not as the beloved Laurel Lance but as Earth-2's villainous counterpart, Black Siren. The move was met with more fury than relief, as it felt like a cruel twist of fate to those who had invested so much in the original character's journey.

The decision to rebrand Black Siren as the new Black Canary was a strategic one, a move that sought to rekindle the love lost by the Olicity narrative. The transformation was a slow burn, with Katie Cassidy delivering a powerful performance that showcased the character's complexity. Initially, her character remained a villain, a constant thorn in Team Arrow's side, but as the seasons progressed, she began to grapple with the echoes of the Laurel they had lost. The writers delicately wove a narrative of redemption, one that allowed her to embody the essence of the hero they had so fervently loved without betraying the integrity of the original character arc.

Through a series of heart-wrenching episodes, Laurel's doppelgänger faced the consequences of her actions and the weight of her identity. She was forced to confront her past as a villain and the pain she had caused, particularly to Oliver Queen. The dynamic between them grew taut with tension, a dance of regret and resentment that slowly evolved into something more. It was clear that the writers were treading a fine line, not wanting to diminish the memory of Laurel Lance but also eager to give the character a second chance at heroism. The journey was fraught with emotional turmoil, as the fandom watched with bated breath to see if this new iteration of their beloved character could truly atone for her past sins.

The transformation of Black Siren into the new Black Canary was not instantaneous. It was a meticulously crafted arc that showcased the depth of Katie Cassidy's acting and the writers' commitment to redemption. Each episode was a delicate balance of light and shadow, revealing the humanity beneath the hardened exterior. The moments of vulnerability she shared with the team, particularly with her father Quentin Lance, served as a poignant reminder of the love that once existed in her heart. The scenes of her training, her struggle to control her powers and find her moral compass, were a testament to the complexity of the human condition and the endless capacity for change.

What does this have to do with Supercorp? Because it shows what happened when the writers of a show listened to the fandom about a popular ship. It was a cautionary tale that Supergirl's showrunners had to navigate carefully. The aftermath of Laurel's death and the subsequent fan revolt was a stark reminder that the pursuit of "endgame" happiness could come at a steep cost. They had to balance the desire to appease the vocal minority with the need to serve the story and its diverse cast of characters.

In the end, the shipping wars in the Arrowverse proved that the ultimate fate of a couple on a CW show was not the be-all, end-all of a character's story. Characters evolved, relationships grew, and even the most steadfast of ships could change course. The real beauty of these shows was not in the romance but in the friendships, the growth, and the journeys of self-discovery that each character embarked upon. Supergirl, like its sister shows, had a multitude of narratives to explore beyond romance, from Kara's development as a leader to the complexities of Lena's redemption arc.

Maybe the Supercorp fandom will eventually be deader that Clark Kent and Lois Lane after their finale of Superman and Lois, but for now, the wounds are still fresh. The shipping wars had left a gaping chasm in the heart of the Supergirl fandom, one that threatened to swallow any semblance of unity and camaraderie whole. Yet, amidst the ruins of the fractured fanbase, a quiet revolution began to take shape.

Some fans, tired of the toxicity, started to re-evaluate what they truly loved about the show. They turned their focus back to the themes of empowerment, friendship, and family that had drawn them in from the beginning. They found solace in the unbreakable bonds between Kara and Alex, the Danvers sisters' unconditional love serving as a beacon of hope amidst the chaos. They celebrated the nuanced portrayal of Lena Luthor's moral compass and her struggle with the weight of her family name. They even dared to explore other relationships, like Kara's blossoming romance with Mon-El and Lena's partnership with James Olsen. It was as if the fog of shipping had lifted, revealing a rich tapestry of narratives that had been obscured by the obsession with one ship.

I conclude that this may have been a tad biased in its stance against the Supercorp toxicity. After all, who doesn't have a favorite pairing or two? But it also argues that the love for a show shouldn't come at the cost of its cast, crew, or fellow fans. So, thank you, dear reader, for wading through this minefield of emotions and emerging unscathed. I hope you've gained a newfound appreciation for the power of shipping and the importance of maintaining a healthy fan community instead of resorting to bullying and death threats.

[imtrashraccoon]

I had fun writing this chapter, up until the mid point. Maybe you'll understand why when you read it... Anyways, I think it turned out pretty well.

@owl-bones

First, Previous, & Next Day

Bad Sansuary II: Nightmare - Royalty

Word Count: 1,447

Something felt off. It took a few seconds to realize what, but by then you were out of the small barracks and in the larger chamber again. You had been expecting to be immediately assaulted by spells or even rushed with blades, but nothing happened.

Your eyes picked out at least eight of the cultists mingling about, notably blocking the way out and any other exits. They were all just standing still, although some had weapons drawn while others held a spell in their hands, ready to cast it at any moment. All eyes were on your little party of three, but no one made any attempt to attack. Sensing movement out of the corner of your eye, your fur stood on end as you turned, just in time to witness the beholder slowly float up into view.

It's presence was overwhelming. While technically correct, Dirk's description of the beholder hadn't done it any justice. It was bigger than you had expected, easily as wide as the average man was tall, and covered in a smooth bright purple skin. Its central eye had a yellow oval-shaped iris and a red pupil, and below this, a mouth filled with large pointy teeth. You also counted ten tentacles protruding from its rounded mass, four being shorter and thicker than the others, but all ending in nearly identical eyes as its central one.

Donovan's ward spell suddenly fizzled out, but he didn't look at all surprised, instead scowling at the now intrigued looking beholder. Your meteor hammer also vanished and you came to the horrifying realization that something was preventing you from conjuring it again. Having this many eyes on you at once was a freaky feeling and made you want to look away, but you didn't dare break eye contact for fear of being attacked.

Just then, you felt an itch in the back of your mind. It was subtle, like someone had poked you with a sewing needle, but just as you reached up to rub your scalp, it disappeared. Next to you, Dirk suddenly let out a small growl, also reaching for the back of his skull as if he had just experienced the same thing.

The beholder narrowed his central eye and let out a huff of frustration. "Bummer, my magic has no effect on any of ya. Totes wack, magic man!" he growled at Donovan, who only narrowed his good eye socket in response.

"Of course it has no effect. Your own anti-magic cone is in the way..." The slightest hint of a smile tugged at the corner of the dark lord's teeth, but he restrained himself, keeping up his unamused tone.

The beholder looked confused for a moment, glancing between the three of you and then over at the cultists by the exit. You felt the itching sensation return, but this time resisted the urge to react. Thankfully, it disappeared just as quickly as before.

"Well, that's what I would say if I hadn't come prepared to deal with psychic attacks," Donovan finished. His tone of voice had noticeably taken on a snarky edge and he smirked. "I thought your kind were known for their...intelligence."

The beholder turned back, letting out a low snarl and gnashing its teeth together. "Take a chill pill, Gandalf, or I may get not-so-friendly with ya." His tone was low and yet somehow grating on the nerves, like nails on a chalkboard.

For a moment, Donovan looked truly taken aback. His tendrils stiffened, the tips forming sharp points that he directed at the beholder and he clenched his fists. He grit his teeth, taking a step forward towards the floating monster.

"Now see here-!"

The beholder laughed, merely floating back and focusing all his eyes solely on the dark lord. "Care to finish that thought, magic man? Or are we about to throw down?" he taunted.

It was then that you noticed several of the cultists by the exit raise their hands as if to cast the spells that they had prepared. Rushing forward, you grabbed onto Donovan's shoulder in an attempt to pull him back. "Love, be careful..."

At the sound of your plea, Donovan stiffened up. He didn't look at you, but he also didn't continue being aggressive, slightly lowering his tentacles although not backing down entirely.

The beholder suddenly turned his attention to you, his central eye glimmering with interest. "What's this? A pup playing dress up?"

You bared your teeth at him in response, having half the mind to give him a good tongue lashing. If one of Donovan's tentacles hadn't coiled around your wrist, you might have actually done it too.

The beholder chuckled and looked at Dirk. "And what are you supposed to be? A freak show? I'm afraid the circus left town a long time ago, " He turned back to Donovan with a snarky grin. "And where are the other dweebs? I was majorly looking forward to adding them to my...collection."

As the beholder continued speaking, you noticed Dirk was quietly fuming. His soul glitched and flickered, becoming more and frantic as the moment stretched on. His grip tightened on his weapon until you were certain his knuckles would have gone white if he had skin.

"who do you think you are?!" he suddenly demanded, stepping forward as well and brandishing his dagger.

"Who am I?" The beholder laughed, although you could tell it was forced. "The name's Balor..." He paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "Remember it, cuz it'll be the only name you'll know for the rest of your lame lives!"

You felt a chill run down your spine as the beholder laughed maniacally. What could you do? It seemed magic had no effect wherever the central eye was looking, meaning you would be forced to fight with only your dagger. There was also no way you could hold your own against eight possible spellcasters with only a small blade.

"I know exactly what you are," Donovan suddenly cut in. His voice was low, as if he was deliberately choosing each word he said.

"Oh?" Balor hummed, moving slightly closer again. "What do ya think I am, magic man?"

The dark lord remained still, staring at the beholder with an unamused expression. "You're nothing but a pathetic parasite who has to resort to mind control if you want anyone to serve you."

The beholder only looked at him. "How else would anyone get this many followers?" He chuckled and studied the dark lord for a second. "Before I destroy you and these major losers, I think there's more to ya than meets the eye, isn't there? Tell me your name."

Donovan said nothing for a moment, but you felt his tendril tighten around your wrist ever so slightly. "Fine," he sighed. "Normally, I wouldn't bother even conversing with rabble like you, but I'll humour you just this once. I suppose it's the least I can do..."

The dark lord paused to take a breath before squaring his shoulders as he looked up at the beholder. "I am Lord Donovan, master of the arcane arts, destroyer of kingdoms, and god of negativity. I am the only surviving prince of the lost Phantasium Kingdom and I will not rest until I have reclaimed what was once mine. I have traveled the world for the past five centuries, learning from the finest magicians everything there is to know about the arcane and not even your magic is a mystery to me. Remember my name, cave dweller, for it will be the last thing your mind comprehends."

The tension was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. No one said anything for a long moment. No one even moved, save to draw the occasional breath. All were waiting to see what Balor would do.

The beholder had a strange look on its face. At first, he had looked utterly bored, but as Donovan kept monologuing, his central eye widened and his tentacles began to flick erratically. You thought he almost looked intimidated actually. It was funny because Donovan's intensity had intimidated you a little bit, but it also had the effect of firing you up and instilling confidence in you once more. Maybe there was a chance at winning this?

Balor's central eye narrowed and he began to float slightly higher. His teeth were bared in a snarl and you inadvertently held your breath, trying to anticipate what the next words out of his mouth would be.

"Wicked! That gave me chills for real. Like, I'm totally buggin' over here!" Balor finally remarked, putting on a brave face. "You've convinced me, so you're all free to go - not! Dust 'em!"

Author's Note: Can you tell who Balor is? He was a pain to write! His name actually means "deadly one" in Irish and was also the name of a one-eyed giant in Celtic mythology who brought death to anyone he looked at. I think it's a fitting name for him, don't you?

[fourgods-nobrakes]

Summer Fest is here! I'm nominating a bunch of things from relatively rare bits of canon, but perhaps one of you would like to read one of these things and get to know some of these characters. I'm not discussing the Black Legion or Fabius Bile books, because you already know about those (read them read them read them they have great ensemble casts, please ship some of the less common pairs with me), but here are some of the less-discussed ones:

Harrowmaster, by Mike Brooks: Solomon Akurra is an Alpha Legionnaire who wants to see his Legion become a force to be reckoned with again. He has some plans to give them a reason to rally around him, and he has a very cool ex-imperial psyker on his side, which is good because he also has a number of enemies both within the Legion and otherwise. Fun twisty plot and an excellent read for people who enjoy when an Astartes has a solid working partnership with a mortal ally; she's capable, dangerous, and very willing to give him shit when he needs it. There's also a secret bonus ship option that I don't want to talk about too much because of important plot turning points, but it hit me hard in the brotherhood and trust places.

Shroud of Night, by Andy Clark: the Unsung are a small Alpha Legion warband who've been in a warzone for long enough to develop a wide variety of I Can't Believe It's Not PTSD. Now they have a mission to perform a high-stakes reverse heist, delivering a mortal to a key location on an embattled planet while trying not to get killed by either the imperial defenders or the Khornate berserkers besieging the place—and, of course, trying not to fall apart from the growing tensions among the team. I'm here for the poor mortal, who has clearly never gotten the hugs he needs, but there are a variety of cool dynamics among the group. ...Followers of either Celestine's or Khârn's careers should know they both turn up here, though they're both mostly here to be terrifying forces of nature that our lads try not to get killed by.

"Sacred Hate," short story by David Annandale: Mr. Annandale wrote this story for me specifically, I'm pretty sure. It centers on Cerastes, a teenager who's in training to be a missionary for the Ecclesiarchy, but who's been privately having a crisis of faith. Then the ship he's traveling on gets attacked by Word Bearers, and he discovers what he was looking for. (Spoilers: it's not the God-Emperor's light.)

The Red Tithe, by Robbie MacNiven: A Carcharodons company and a Night Lords warband walk into a bar prison planet... They're both looking to replenish their numbers from the teenage boys in the prison. And a psyker on each side has divined that one of the boys is an unsanctioned psyker whose power could be very useful if they can secure him. The boy in question just hopes he can get out alive. This one's definitely dark; the Carcharodons might be on the imperial side but they're brutal in ways that are usually glossed over for their compatriots. Most of the story takes place in the prison complex and the attached mines, so the whole thing feels claustrophobic at times. MacNiven also cares more about tactics than a lot of BL authors, so the battles are more interesting than "we charge into a hail of gunfire, fearless and unstoppable." Grim but very cool.

Day of Ascension, by Adrian Tchaikovsky: If you've read his other work you know he's interested in, and sympathetic toward, non-human POVs, and thus you know why I'm so fond of this book. It takes place on a forge world where the miserable living conditions of the non-Mechanicus work force have provided fertile ground for the growth of a genestealer cult. The cover blurb suggests that the power plays among the tech priests are the central plot, but actually the emotional core of the book is Davien, a young woman in the cult who is coming into her strength as the arrival of the cult's "angels" draws near, and whose passion for her people will wind up being key to their future. My big ship for this one doesn't sail until late in the book, but man, when it happens, it's so good.

[tallfroggieart]

The World

A secret santa gift I made for the lovely, wonderful @liesmyth ! So excited to get to finally share it!!! :D

(Tarot meanings for the World card and some extra ramblings beneath the cut for those who are interested)

The World

Upright: Success, achievement, accomplishment, travel, completion, fulfilment, sense of belonging, wholeness

Reversed: Shortcuts, delays, seeking closure, incompletion, emptiness

"To encounter the World in your cards is to encounter a great unity and wholeness. It symbolizes the moment when the inner and the outer worlds - self and other - become a single entity. In some traditions, this state is described as enlightenment, or nirvana. There is a recognition that the individual self is profoundly linked with all other things, and that we all dance and sway along the flow of life to one rhythm. Not only do you hear this rhythm, but you participate in it - following the dips and the rises, the joys and the sorrows.

The meaning of the World card is fulfillment, achievement, and completion. This shows that all the efforts that you have been putting in place are starting to pay off. It reflects that you have completed a major milestone in your life and you have built the resilience to withstand challenges. The World may indicate completion of a long-term project, study or any other major event in your life. It may also mean the birth of a child, marriage, graduation or any other thing that you have accomplished.

The World card shows that you have a desire to give back to the community in various ways. You have a commitment to make the world a better place because you understand that everything is connected."

- Labyrinthos, The World

Ok and now for my unhinged rambling about Jamie motherfucking Tartt. Ahem.

Like. GUYS HES LITERALLY THIS CARD IN HIS S3 ERA AND IM NOT KIDDING. he’s the central cog!!! He’s the fulcrum of the triangle!! He’s total football! He’s the world’s most specialest puppydog-coded central attacking midfielder!! He’s the conductor, the playmaker, the literal heart and soul of AFC Richmond’s whole tactic!!!!! He means soooo fucking much to me you don’t even understand.

Yes I did take the bisexual Fibonacci spiral from Sunflowers and make it a key part of this card. If the universe didn’t want me to do that then it would have killed Jason Sudeikis before he could make that scene because my molecules have been forever altered.

(ps: ahem. stay tuned for some more AFC Richmond tarot! I’ve got a Roy in the works and plans for the rest of the main cast, though idk how far I’d follow it through. you could follow me and see what happens if you want 👉👈)

[daichiduskdrop]

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Chapter 03

Pairing: BTS Ot7 X fem! reader

Genre: A/B/O AU, Fluff, Angst, Strangers to lovers,

Warnings: none for this chapter

Words: 3307

Taglist: @thelilbutifulthings @ilovemoneymorethenmen @singukieee @cherrysainttt @felicityroth

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„I want to come too!” Whipping his head around, Jimin was suddenly wide awake. The chance of seeing the sleepy state the girl was most likely in sounded just too good to pass up.

Shooting up from his seat, he rushed after his eldest hyung, taking the stairs two at a time. Hearing light snickers in the background. Meanwhile, Yoongi went back to the kitchen.

While waking up the omega did sound pleasing to his ears just as much as anyone else's, he knew that the girl could potentially be very grumpy and just want to go back to bed right away. A sure way to keep her up was a nice, filling meal that would warm her right back up.

He knew how annoying it was to leave the warm sheets on in the cold winter mornings. So he turned on the stove and started heating up the vegetable broth, stirring it occasionally while he prepared her a bit of kimchi fried rice.

He wasn't sure just how sensitive her belly was, and he hoped that the spice wouldn't be too much and wouldn't upset it. Listening to the TV play a documentary about the history of Egypt, he hummed softly to himself.

„I didn't know anyone sleeping for longer than hyung existed.” Teased the youngest, making Hobi burst out in loud laughter. The others chuckled too, agreeing.

„It's normal for omegas to sleep in if they feel safe. It's like a compliment; she feels settled here. That's a really good thing.” answered Namjoon, still typing on his MacBook, smiling at the thought, happy that they finally managed to calm you down a bit.

Standing near the guest room door, the two alphas quieted down. Slowly opening it, they calmly stepped into the dark room. The heater was on, so it felt cosy and warm inside. The guest room was pretty plain but still nicely put together.

The big window has rectangular glass panes with a black metal grid in between with long, heavy fabric curtains that stopped just about five centimetres above the parquet floors. There was a wooden dresser with dark knobs in the left corner of the room, and a big, spacy bed pushed up against the wall with the window. A bedside table had a cream-coloured lamp on it and a glass of water Hobi carried there yesterday evening.

A few plants were littered across the room too, some placed on the ground and others hung up above the window. The pack alpha loved gardening, even if he didn't get around to it too much with how hectic their idol's life often got.

They had a large garden behind the house with a terrace facing it, so they sometimes had a barbecue there too, when the weather allowed it. Namjoon took good care of all the plants there. During the spring to early autumn, he made sure to water them all, and once it got colder, he covered all the plants that were too fragile for the first frost bite.

A short flower placed next to the lamp that grew only to about 11 cm tall, with solid azure petals decorated with azure dots and a light grey central disc. Five small flower blooms grew on alternate sides along the length of the stem. It carried a faint scent that smells like rainy days, cleverly placed to bring peaceful sleep.

It must have worked at least slightly, given that the girl was still long asleep and breathing calmly and slowly. Cuddled up in the heavy duvet,covered with dark grey sheets that Jungkook recently bought, Your face was facing their way, your cheeks rosy with sleep, and your long lashes casting shadows.

Cooing softly, Jin stepped closer to your curled-up body. Just next to your face was the soft, brown hoodie, held close by you. Lightly shaking your shoulder, the older alpha started waking you up, not wanting to startle you.

„Cub.., baby, wake up, come on..” mumbling the words softly, he squatted down so he didn't have to bend so much anymore. Pretty much face-to-face with you, he watched carefully how your eyes fluttered open before closing back up again. Light shone in the room suddenly, the curtains pulled wide apart by Jimin, who stood looking outside for a minute. It was still snowing heavily, and the garden in view was completely covered in the soft, pattering snowflakes that had fallen long before.

Turning to also gaze at the small omega, he smiled, his eyes almost closing up. Giggling softly at how you whined at the sunlight, you curled up into yourself more. Walking back around the bed, he took a seat at the bottom of the mattress, caressing your legs.

When you made no move to wake up fully, the eldest once again softly rubbed your shoulder, cooing at how you hid your face in the jumper instead, softly protesting. You weren't ready to get up yet; why did they keep on bothering you? After so many years of not resting properly, you decided to take back all the time you could have rested but lost due to insomnia.

Pulling the sheets off of your shoulders, you weren't quick enough to roll out of the way before strong hands took a hold of your underarms, pulling you up against wide shoulders. Whining about the lost comfort, your fingers hung up on the shirt the alpha was wearing, your bleary eyes hardly even open. Too tired to kick up a bigger fuss, you just lightly kicked at your legs, earning a soft chuckle in return.

Brushing your fluffy bed hair, the younger alpha sighed out in relief. They were slightly worried that you would start to cry at the loss of the warmth, but you seemed to be just mildly annoyed. Your chin rested up against Jin's collarbone, and you gazed at Jimin while the eldest stood back up with you in his arms. Softly holding your tired body up, he walked with you out of the room, the other alpha following closely, keeping his eyes set on you. He knew the man holding you up would never allow you to drop, so he wasn't too worried, but with how cute and sleepy you looked, he couldn't help but stare.

The calm morning carried on after you were placed on the chair at the kitchen table. Rubbing your eyes with a fist, only to have it pulled away suddenly, you looked up just to meet Yoongi's cat-like eyes.

„Don't do that, kitty; it's not good for you. Here, I've warmed up some soup for you; come on, have some. It's hot still; you need to blow lots and lots, okay? Don't burn yourself, kitten.” handing you a large wooden spoon and a steaming bowl, you nodded slightly before slurping up a bit. Being careful with the heat, you made sure to blow before taking another spoonful.

With the warm broth in your belly and Yoongi watching closely over you, you were soon handed another glass of juice, this time made with oranges. Taking your bowl away for you, your feet brushed up against the floors, only now realising you didn't have any socks on. The rest of your clothes were the same as yesterday; you were glad they didn't change you, letting you be. It would definitely be more uncomfortable.

While you felt a bit awkward, suddenly realising your situation, it felt easy to let up and go with how the pack reacted to you, fully slipping into the dominant second gender they were assigned. Your soft nature just easily fitted right in.

Even though the pack was formed a few years ago and the boys did have a strong bond, that didn't mean they didn't sometimes argue here and there. It was mostly small stuff that resulted in them making up quickly. Still, with how touch starved they were and with how few occasions they actually had to talk with lower-ranking second genders, it was a relief to finally have someone to take care of and be responsible for.

Namjoon was used to taking on all their worries and troubles, but this still felt a lot different, like filling up a hole in their body they didn't know really existed until it was gone.

Omegas were highly appreciated and precious in most packs, with the rarity they brought making them considered even more special. Not all packs could have an omega, and it was common that even when a possible one was found, they just didn't settle in well with the packmates and had to leave.

Placing a small plate before you, the kimchi fried rice smelled delicious. A fried egg placed on top that was already cut up in bite-sized pieces for you, you dug right in. You weren't too hungry anymore, but you still wanted to eat it because of how delicious it seemed.

„Be careful, pup, it could be a bit too spicy for you. Slow down, don't choke." Said Taehyung, who just passed by to fill himself a cup of water. Your eyes didn't stay on him for too long. You were occupied with the food before you, and you intended to keep your focus fully.

The enoki mushrooms made a soft, crunchy sound, and while the food was made with only a small amount of spices, it really did feel just a little too hot for you. Biting into the egg that was salted just enough, you nodded with satisfaction. You only had a few bites before you pushed the plate away from yourself; not only were you full, but it really did burn your tongue quite a bit.

„Are you full already?” Looking at the alpha's face while he crouched down next to you, rubbing your knee in light circles. Meekly nodding, you felt a bit bad leaving so much of leftovers.

„That's okay. You can say anything anytime if anything isn't okay, yea? Do you understand my kitty?" Softly voicing his concerns, you looked into his eyes shortly before you mumbled a yes.

Being met with a gummy smile wasn't really what you were expecting for not finishing a meal, but it felt nice. You never met a pack that was so compliant with your needs and wants and patient like they were.

Pulling the chair out next to you, he slid the plate to himself, starting to eat your leftovers. He didn't bother to change the cutlery either; already used to sharing pretty much everything with his packmates.

You sat next to him still, your eyes occasionally closing in tiredness. The kitchen was to your left; your back turned to the living room, where some of the alphas were. Sometimes when they walked by, they left an occasional rub and pat on your head, greeting you sweetly and asking about your sleep.

Yoongi picked up a piece of egg, the part he considered the tastiest—the fried-up corners dipped in the still runny egg yolk—and with a hand underneath, careful not to burn you, he blew on it softly before encouraging you to eat it yourself. Quickly convinced, you chewed calmly.

„There you go, baby, it's tasty right? You want some more?” Cooing at how your eyes watched him closely, he took another bite-sized piece and held it up for you. „Of course you can, here kitty, slowly."

Watching your reaction, the alpha in him felt good about providing for you. It was something greatly satisfying for him—for all of them, to see you trust them enough to let them feed you, hold you, and keep you around. They valued the trust you allowed them greatly, keeping you close and safe at all times.

Once he finished your leftovers and fed you the last bite, he stood up to clean up, taking your now empty juice glass to put in the dishwasher for you. Getting up, you pattered towards the others, hesitating a little, not sure where to sit or even if you should sit with them. You had no idea what was going to happen in the future.

It was the pack alpha who noticed you the earliest, turning in his seat and smiling widely with his dimples showing. He had a pair of glasses on that were yellow-tinted with black top framing and bare wires at the bottom. His longer black hair styled into a shorter mullet-like hairstyle, with a few hair strands touching his forehead, made him look put together. The pyjamas he kept on earlier in the day were also exchanged for an earth-green crew neck and baggy jeans.

„Come here, pup, sit here. Come on, the movie is starting soon; hurry!” lightly ushering you along, your feet moved before you knew it, and soon you were resting on the couch between him and Jin.

The eldest ran his fingers through your hair, taming it down further. Sitting with your knees pulled up to your chest, you watched the screen before you. Some of the alphas weren't there at the moment, but they did walk by from time to time. When Jimin took a seat next to the eldest man, he gave you the brown jumper again; you must have left it back upstairs in your room, and he came to carry it downstairs for you.

Understanding that you still weren't truly out of your anxious and worried headspace, they were still trying to keep you as calm as possible. Having you cry like you did yesterday felt like torture to them, making them want to prevent it from ever happening again.

„Here sweetheart. Keep it close now.” He muttered while you held it to your nose, breathing in. It still smelled really clean, with only the slightest hint of vanilla and citrus. It felt calming.

The movie captivated your attention eventually, only slightly boring in the beginning. Whenever you started to fidget and move around more, they were quick to soothe you. Joon always easily pointed out something interesting in the movie, like the cleverly done product placement, a book he knew the author of, or the paintings hung up in the background of the shot.

„It's Cézanne; he painted that one.” You pointed your finger at the screen where a main character was currently talking about the prodigy he held. There, behind him in a simple brown frame, was a painting of tulips on a vase, their bright red blossoms contrasting with the forest green of the glass jar. While the movie had an interesting story, you were more focused on the small details regarding his so-called prodigy.

„Really? Wah,” said Jin from next to you. The four alphas sitting with you focused on the screen just until the painting was cut off from the screen.

 „What a smart cub you are, baby. It is his; you are right.” I approved the pack alpha, smiling proudly at you. You felt your cheeks heating up slightly, so you were quick to look away. Mumbling about how it's not that big of a deal, you squeezed your palms around the fabric you held.

In the corner of your eye, Taehyung typed the artist's name into Google, quickly finding the tulip painting he made.

„Oh, he was good; look, Hyung." Showing the screen to the alpha next to him, Jimin leaned in as the other man scrolled through the photos of his other art.

„He was a French, a postimpressionist artist, so the photos don't really show what he made well. The brush strokes are what you are meant to focus on, and with how flat it looks on the screen, it doesn't really work. He was a big inspiration for the cubism movement later on too,” you said, while looking over Jin at Tae's phone.

„You know a lot; do you like art?” asks Jin while softly petting your hair. You smiled, almost laughing at the question; it felt a bit silly to you.

„Yea, I study at an art school. I've been making art since I was really young.”

That caught their attention for sure, with how quickly their eyes turned to your face. In the morning, they collectively decided that it would be best for them not to ask why there was no pack alpha huffing at their entrance doors yet; after all, if you had a pack and didn't spend the night there, especially without discussing it before hand, it was going to make them worry for sure.

At least they knew that they would worry for sure.

But still, nobody knocked. They didn't see you pull out your phone even once, and they weren't sure if you even had it on you. You didn't smell like any other alpha or beta thought, so they were left in questions.

Whatever caused you to get so unsettled yesterday concerned them, but they didn't want to push you to tell them. If you wanted to open up to them, you would.

„Really? Which college?”

„Korea National University of Arts.” You answered the pack alpha quietly.

„Oh, I heard of that one; do you like it there, cub?” Tae shot up, looking at your face closely. Nodding hesitantly, you thought about your answer for a few seconds.

„Yea, it's okay.” You smiled softly. You were glad you could pursue the arts, and while not all your classmates were nice and some teachers gave you a hard time sometimes, you were able to learn a lot. And that was what mattered.

„What's your major?”

„I study fine arts.” You said, looking up at Jimin. Holding the jumper closer, they sensed you had enough questions for now and focused back on the movie. Even when it finished, the five of you stayed huddled close together on the couch, only getting up a few times and coming back again soon.

With a nagging question on your mind, it was complicated for you to focus on the cooking competition, and so you carefully leaned closer to Namjoon, lightly touching his forearm. Looking over at you quickly, he didn't take long to notice something was on your mind that made you anxious, and so without little to no hesitance, he pulled you to his side.

Leaning over slightly so he was face-to-face with you, the soft smell of flowers blooming covered the air around you. Calming you just the slightest bit, his hands held your shoulder and side, rubbing faint circles with his palm.

„What is it, pup? You can tell Alpha; don't worry, okay? What's wrong, little baby?” With the sweet words, you almost burst into tears once again, surprised at how sensitive you still were after yesterday. You felt startled.

Looking down, and when you didn't answer for a few seconds, the pack alpha pulled you to his chest once again. With your hip resting against his thigh, he held your other one, softly patting it in a rhythmic pattern. His other hand pulled your face close to his chest, where it was easy to listen to his heartbeat.

„Hm? Poor cub, you keep on getting stressed out over and over again; there isn't much time to rest up, is there? It's okay, I got you now." Cradling you up against his chest, he allowed you to sniffle for a few minutes and didn't push you to talk. With your legs getting carresed and placed over the eldest's lap, you eventually asked the thing that had worried you since yesterday dinner.

„When do I have to leave?” You mumbled, a whimper leaving your throat. It was quiet for a beat or two, the pack alpha just holding you close.

„That's up to you, cub. You are free to leave whenever you feel like it. You can stay too if that's what you want; we wouldn't mind.” answered Namjoon calmly, but you weren't fooled. His heartbeat fastened up for a bit there, and you noticed.

„I would like to stay please..”

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