#which for a show where the characters come from all around the world is just. sad. i think

[lynxgriffin]

You know, asriel showing up in chapter 5 would go really hard for 2 reasons imo.

1. One of deltarunes themes is about roles and stuff right? Who your meant to be, vs who you want to be, and who your viewed as, shit like that, and asriel, in deltarune, is sorta potrayed as this golden boy, who everyone likes and thinks the world of, but obviously, toby doesn't really write his characters to be perfect beings, so asriel NOT being who everyone idolizes him as, would really play into that theme, especially now that he's coming back from college, and is now familiar with a world where people presumably treat him normally instead of like, this figure as he's potrayed as by the townies.

2. If he and dess dated, it would parallel asgores refusual to move on from toriel, asriel ALSO had to let go of someone he loved, just like his father, only he didn't turn into a creep because of it, and unlike asgore, he probably doesn't even know if dess is okay, or even ALIVE, so i think it would be awesome to see him low key pissed at his father for not moving on, when he HAD to, like he didn't even have a choice on whether to move on or not, life literally just went on, and he had to, vs his father, who still could have been friends with toriel, who he still could have had some sort of closure with, when asriel literally was never given a chance to. But thats just fan fic shit since we haven't even heard him speak a single line of dialouge (Unless you want to include the crumbled up invitation to the dance with catty, thats in his church clothes, but thats written, and it sounds so fucking forced like my god dude, what were you on? Dude sounded more regal then ralsei and he's an actual prince in this world lol). Point is uh, he has a lot of potential, and i hope he shows up before the end of the world and shit.

Ooooh yeah, with how Asriel's been set up so far as the golden child, that's absolutely ripe territory for him coming back and unravelling all that idolizing. I want to see him be kind of a weirdo, occasionally a loser, someone with that awkward distance that comes between you and your family when you leave home for the first time and start to establish yourself. Just a normal person rather than this perfect child everyone's built him up to be!

Based on what he's said, it seems like Asgore feels that he's doing all this conspiracy stuff and "getting the family back together" for Asriel's sake. Which honestly, would make it really interesting if he tries his hardest at it, and then Asriel is the one critical of what he's doing! I lowkey want to see that happen now, honestly. Everyone's got this image of Asriel built up in their heads, including Asgore, and I think it would be fascinating for Asriel to turn that around completely. That he has grown up, he's tried his best to move on despite how hard it is, and he doesn't understand or respect Asgore trying to just drag them all back to the past. There's definitely potential there!

[yeslikethewizard]

【 A Cat Among Wolves - Ch. 19 Update!】

LINK: Chapter 19 - things unsaid FANDOM: The Scum Villain’s Self Saving System RATING: M, full tags and content warning on A03 PAIRINGS: Shen Yuan | Shen Qingqiu/Luo Binghe, One sided SQQ’s harem hopelessly in love with him

SUMMARY:

Shen Yuan never expected to be transmigrated—who DOES expect that sort of thing!? But here he is, in the world of Proud Immortal Demon Way as some NPC demon child who is at the complete mercy of the cultivation world around him. When he runs into Luo Binghe it is like fate itself plucked him up and set Shen Yuan into the world to be with the Protagonist. Keep him safe. Make sure that Luo Binghe won’t ever have to be alone in the world.

But staying at Luo Binghe’s side will be easier said than done, even if his mysterious heritage lands him in the good graces of the Scum Villain, Shen Yuan is still a demon. One living in the middle of a cultivation sect. Not to mention that something—something darker and stronger than Shen Yuan—seems to be messing with the plot, and not changing things for the better. Like Shen Yuan didn’t already have enough on his plate to deal with.

EXCERPT:

“Little bro, you have no idea how confused I was when the protagonist didn’t show up at the ceremony to join the sect! I was gonna have a heart attack!” Shang Qinghua says, “That was you back then too right? Wait, how old were you before you transmigrated? You weren’t… you know.”

“I wasn’t—I’m not actually a kid,” the boy seethes in a manner that makes him very much seem like a kid. Shang Qinghua nods knowingly though.

“I transmigrated into a baby when I first showed up! I get where you’re coming from,” Shang Qinghua says, all but flopping down next to his table and grabbing a trusty bowl of melon seeds. He tosses some into his mouth, “What was your user? It’s been ages but if you were active I might remember you.”

A pause, then, “Peerles Cucumber.”

Shang Qinghua’s mouth opens and he has to stop himself from laughing. Still, he can’t help his grin of delight at that, “Oh man! My ultimate anti-fan in the flesh!”

He realizes the second that the words are out of his mouth that maybe he should have kept some of that to himself. Cucumber’s eyes seem to sharpen as he stares at Shang Qinghua, and even though he knows—pitiful cultivation or not—that he can probably kick a fourteen-year-old’s ass, he can’t help the cold sweat he breaks into. He tosses some more melon seeds in his mouth to soothe himself, which is why he ends up choking when Cucumber launches himself at him.

“You’re Airplane!? Y-you! Great Master—you fucking bastard! Plot holes by the hundreds! Characters never fleshed out! Potential not just waited but fucking gutted and left to rot in the street! Not to mention the terrible amounts of horribly written porn!” Cucumber yells, smacking the top of his head like a particularly incensed cat. Shang Qinghua has to pick the kid up by the back of the robes and hold him at arm’s length to get him to stop. Cucumber pauses, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

“Bro you’re really small,” Shang Qinghua can’t help but say. The boy in his one handed grip starts to squirm and Shang Qinghua yelps when the kid manages to grab onto the arm he’s holding him out on. Then—like a feral little animal or some shit—he fucking snaps at him like he is going to bite. Shang Qinghua hastily drops him before that can happen, “Bro! I knew you would get heated in the comments but chill!”

“I’m not small,” Cucumber grumbles. Shang Qinghua decides not to point out that he himself is not a tall man, and he was able to lift Cucumber-bro off the ground like he was a little kitten. A feral kitten that bites.

“Right right!” Shang Qinghua says with a nervous laugh. He holds his hands up in front of himself defensively as Cucumber looks at him through narrowed eyes for a few moments. Then, as if he hadn’t just attacked him like an animal, Cucumber simply sits down at the table primly.

“Fine, I suppose it can be useful that you’re the one here,” Cucumber says, and Shang Qinghua again thinks of the boy’s in-world uncle. He’s a little curious about how Cucumber feels about that— considering all the cries for castration he led in the comments section. Wisely, he decides to keep his mouth shut.

“Bro you can’t believe how excited I am to meet another transmigrator though,” Shang Qinghua says, “You’re related to Shen Qingqiu right? I cut his sister from the plot because I didn’t think she really fit, since she was married and all that but she must be your mom right?”

“I—you just cut her because she was married!?” Cucumber sputters, his voice breaking again. Ah, puberty. Solidarity to his little bro for that.

“Happily married,” Shang Qinghua corrects. “I figured everyone would want Binghe to lay her if she was around, because older sister of the villain. You know, I fucked your sister—except I didn’t really have that much interest in Shen Qingqiu’s backstory overall so… yeah. Cut her, along with a ton of other stuff bro.”

“...Don’t. Don’t ever say that about her or Binghe ever again,” Cucumber says, his eyebrow twitching before he buries his face in his hands. “I already am cursed to think of your terrible porn, don’t make me confront things like that.”

“Hey! A lot of people paid good money for what I wrote!” Shang Qinghua says. Including you! He adds to himself silently. He doesn’t say that bit out loud though, if only to avoid another situation where the kid throws himself at him. “Though! Wait, her husband was supposed to be a demon…”

[theside-b]

BL Review: The Sparkle in Your Eye 🇸🇬

This one is special for obvious reasons, the fact that we are dealing with a chinese production so unabashedly gay is a feat in itself — the fact that team behind was resourceful enough to score an uncensored release through Singapore is also another mighty achievement.

The Sparkle in Your Eye is like an onion, a layer being peeled each episode, the protagonists tragic as they come. Pei Jia, the former idol now actor always embroidered in scandals and Su Yi, the wide-eyed newcomer with something to prove, we learn quite early on that they share a connection and the path they are going to follow is clear, what really stands out here is what happens in the periphery of their romance, because soon hits them with full force.

In one side we got a life-threatening tumor and on the other a higher-up in their company who is out to destroy them. Both very unsavory plot points which promise a world of pain for the characters and audiences, and while they do inflict quite a lot of anguish, the show also provides heavenly moments between the leads despite the dire situation they find themselves in.

Biggest gripe with the show: It needed more time. The initial conflict takes a good chunk of the runtime, and then the show compress four major storylines in the back half and suddenly we have to rush with certain beats. The finale tries to cram every single thing it can in under 40-minutes and while it does succeed with the main story it does leave a lot on the table when everything is said and done. The side story for one, there was so much more gas in that tank, the conflict interesting and engaging but left untouched in the back half of the season only to get minimal attention on the final minutes.

One flaw story beat that really bothered me was the pacing with the sequence that culminates with Su Yi being abused. Suspension of disbelief was necessary to buy that he got completely smashed, dragged around a hotel, assaulted, photographed for blackmail, humiliated by the villain, got himself back together and went home all the while nobody noticed his absence from the party being thrown for him (his brother and brother-in-law were there, supposedly to keep an eye on him while Pei Jia could not).

On the technical side most of the shortcomings will be overlooked, to a trained eye is pretty easy to clock where the limitations are made known, which is a compliment really, I've to be actively looking for them since production was capable of overcoming what is a pretty tight budget. One of my major pet-peeves with C-Dramas is the mandatory dubbing, and while in here it still pretty present at least the actors sounds distinctive enough with the leads taking charge of their own VA.

It's hard to ignore what this show is doing, being bold and daring like very few from it's country of origin. Chen Yesheng (or as I like to call him Charles Tu' Younger Brother) and Huang Xiao don't hold back, their kisses alone already make this one stand out among the crowd and it's when both characters find themselves just being in love that they really shine.

Don't let the seemingly tragic destiny and tough road ahead stop you from enjoying what could easily be one of the best shows of the year.

[sglossmin]

Bewitched | JJK

In a world where magic pulsed quietly beneath the surface, he showed up. Too curious. Too kind. And maybe just a little too familiar. The closer he got, the harder I pushed him away. And in this place built on secrets, even the smallest spark can unravel everything. Maybe having him by my side isn’t that bad…

Pairing: Jungkook x Reader

Genre: WITCH!! Fluff(?) matured(?), fantasy, angst(?) slow burn, hate->?

This is a work of fiction. Events, characters, and depictions are entirely imagined and do not represent the real-life actions or personalities of any real individuals, including the idols mentioned.

A/N: Reader is MEANY MEAN at first (?) I like my oc's a girlboss hehe ^^

(Wattpad link)

LIKE, REBLOG or COMMENT (I really like hearing ur thoughts guys)

ctto (divider) @kodaswrld @anitalenia

Thanks for reading!!

“What do you mean I have to take care of… it? I’m not a babysitter, you know?” I huffed as I eyed the man—who is twice my size, if I must say. But knowing myself, no matter how big he is, it didn't matter. With a simple spell, he could be flying out of my house now. He had his bag on his shoulder, and the other two bigger bags on his hands. He really seemed like he planned to live here—as if I'd let him!

This place is my sanctuary, definitely not for someone like him.

“I'm 26 years old… not a baby,” he muttered, which made me roll my eyes. 

“Well, I’m 248 years old. Do I look like I care?,” I replied as I smiled at him mockingly. 

His eyes widened as he met my gaze in a snap. I raised a brow at him, analyzing why he would react like that. If my trusted ally brought him here, he wouldn’t have reacted like that.

Jin cleared his throat to get our attention. “I’m not asking you to babysit him. I’m telling you to let him stay here and teach him some of your spells. Just enough that he could protect himself,” he said calmly, but his tone had that authority I’ve always known.

His statement made me pause and think. Crossing my arms, I eyed the youngest again. “Are you sure he’s… a witch? I don’t sense any mana in him.”

“There’s more than meets the eye, Y/n,” he said with a deep chuckle, smirking briefly before it fades right away. “And he’s a half-blood.”

I let out a loud laugh upon hearing his last statement. “A half-blood? Which moron would fall for a trap and fall for a… human?” I uttered with pure disgust, especially on the last word.

Laughing like there’s no tomorrow, Jin cut me off by the name I made sure I won’t hear again. “Lyra. His mother is Lyra while his father is a man-”

“Who betrayed her. You know I know him.” My jaw clenched at the mention of them. Memories of my best friend suddenly flooded my mind, and as for the man… My blood boiled just by hearing about him again. “The great Jeon Hyunsoo… The only human who somehow tricked the leader and made her leave all of us. Turn her back as if we were nothing but old comrades.” I spat, disgusted by the words that were coming out of my own mouth. 

Never have I ever thought, after all these years, I would hear from them again. Moreover, seeing their… child.

No wonder he looks familiar...

“W-what do you mean? My dad loved my mom. He would never...” The youngest chimed in, looking at me like a lost sheep.

“Oh, really?” I said before laughing sarcastically. Laughing like a maniac that I had become. “He loved your mom? Hmm… interesting… He loved her enough to betray the clan of her lover…”

Smirking, I walked closer to him, leaving some space—enough that he’d feel my maddening mana. “Say… do you remember seeing me when you were around… eight, perhaps? No? Ever wonder why?” My tone and voice were laced with deadly poison—clinging to the sharp prick of my words.

“Y/n, that’s enough.” Jin said sternly from behind which I completely ignored.

The young half-blood looked at me with uncertainty, shock… with fear, just how I like it. Thousands of questions must be running in his head by now, and who am I to not give him the answers.

Smiling like a creep, I asked him, “Tell me, are you fond of necklaces?”

“N-no…” He breathed, afraid that if he stepped with the wrong foot, he’d vanish through the air.

My brows narrowed while I pouted in a mocking manner. “That’s… sad. Anyways, do you wanna know what my necklace is made of?” 

He didn’t utter nor did he breathe. The corners of my lips tugged upward, forming a sadistic smile. A normal human—or any witch who knows me—would have their knees trembling, and they would immediately kneel and bow, begging for my nonexistent mercy. 

Even with his fear, he stood still. He surely is the son of Lyra—both are amusingly stubborn. Not even death made her falter. I knew it, because I saw it.

“My necklace is made by hundreds of humans’ and witches' memories. Some asked me to do it so that the pain they felt would be gone, while some were… Let’s say I had no choice but to take a certain memory.”

I stepped back, my grin earlier also faltered. “But do you know the curse of having this ability? I can’t take mine, or else my memory would ruin the others and it will break the necklace. All of the memories will scatter and float around like ghosts. Someone has to keep it. Sometimes, out of boredom, I play those memories like a video—using my necklace as a projector.”

“So… you’re saying that you have a certain memory of mine?” He uttered in disbelief.

“Bingo!” I winked at him, mocking him even more. “You’re not that dumb after all, I guess.”

“Why?! What is it about?” His voice raised a bit. The earlier fearful gaze turned into… something. A flicker of defiance in his eyes as he stepped closer.

Did I see it right? No… It’s impossible. From what I know, I’m the only witch left who has that trait.

“It’ll be better, if you don’t know.” Jin chimed in, stepping to stand in between us.

“He’s right, kiddo. Even though I’d love to torment you with the memories—I can’t. I can’t make you watch it nor give back the memory itself to you.” I shrugged casually before walking away to plop myself on the couch.

“Why?” he asked in a stern tone.

I chuckled sarcastically as I turned on the TV. “I’ve never tried, and… I don’t wanna try. Who knows if the consequence is way worse.”

Sensing that he’d ask more, I murmured a simple spell so that he’d fall asleep. I closed my eyes as I vividly imagined his face before whispering, “Extovea…” (eks-to-vi-yah)

Soon, a loud thud echoed across the room that left me smirking. Changing channels as I couldn’t care less to bother to even check on him. Before I could find something to watch, Jin stepped in front—blocking the screen.

He’s gonna nag, isn’t he?

“Y/n? Really?” Jin groaned and snatched the remote in my hand. “Now I have to carry him to his room,” he said as he glared at me.

With a scoff, I raised a brow and stood up to meet his eyes that bore into me. “What room? I never agreed to let him stay here.” 

“Y/n, this is not up for discussion. He'll stay here,” he said sternly, his eyes throwing daggers at me. 

“Then why does he have to stay here? Why here?”

“Because you can protect him.”

I took a step back, not expecting him—out of all people— to ask me such a favor like this. “And what made you think that I'd protect his—their child?” I spat as I gritted my teeth.

“Because I know you. You won't let the past ruin the future,” he said, his voice remained neutral and calm. 

Hypocrite…

I scoffed, “Fine. Protect him from who exactly?”

I could see the hesitation in his eyes… But why? 

“I… I can't tell you yet.”

“Wha—No. Tell me or I'll feed him to the wild boars.”

“Oh, you wouldn't do that.”

I snorted and smirked at him—daring him to push my limits. “We'll see…”

“He can shapeshift into any animal...? The young half-blood asked as he stared at my bruises.

We're sitting in the living room where the situation all started.

He had just woken up from his sweet little nap an hour ago. I told him that if he ever does something stupid, I'd turn him into a frog—good thing he's stupid enough to believe it. 

Then I asked him how he met Jin, and no wonder that dirty shapeshifter was away from me for weeks—he had been the kid's pet, a cat, to be exact. 

“Yeah… And this is all because of you! He turned into a bird and pecked me nonstop… Witches don't heal like humans do, you know?” I hissed when I dabbed the drenched cotton on the bruises. 

Of course he doesn't.

“Anyways, I didn't get your name.”

“Oh- I'm Jungkook…”

“Such an ugly name… I bet your father chose it, huh?” I snorted, trying to focus on my wounds.

His brows twitched before he calmly replied, “My mom did, actually…

Whatever.

I scoffed as I finished treating my wounds.

Jungkook just stared at me the whole time. I didn't know why, but even his breathing irked me so much.

Gritting my teeth, I turned to him and frowned. “What?”

“Aren't you… uh… a witch? Can't you make a potion and heal yourself instead?” he said with a rather genuine curiosity that annoyed me even more.

Patience, Y/n… Jin told you he'd do it again if you won't teach this kid a thing or two.

"Witches don't work like that." I rolled my eyes and sighed. “Okay, listen. Witches have different special traits. 

First, Florohex (flor-oh-hex). They're the nature witches. They take care of the balance of nature in this world. Since humans like to destroy anything that breathes. They make potions to plant, or in rare areas they make barriers.

“W-witches do that?” He stuttered as he hesitated—seeming like testing the waters.

I scoffed, annoyed by how much explaining I needed to do. “Humans portrayed us as the ones that destroy everything—the wicked. But, I think you're old enough to know that humans are, right?”

“Well… kinda…I mean, not all.”

“Yeah, whatever. Next is, Faunex (fow-nex). They guard and can communicate with animals. Some can even transform into them—like Jin. They also ensure ecological balance.

Next is the stereotype witch, Nocturex (noc-tuh-rex). They practice black magic.”

“Like, cursing people?”

“Exactly—cursing people. They are the last type of witches you'd want to meet. Don't you ever mess with them, got it?”

Even with fear in his eyes, he nodded—understanding the possible consequences.

“And the last one, is Sanohex (sah-no-hex). They're practically the healers. Can cure everything but can never revive the dead. But the thing is… it's probably the most useless one.”

Jungkook frowned and tilted his head. “Why is it useless?”

It's weird to see that face looking so… naive.

“Because that kind of witch can heal others but not themselves. It's a curse, I think. That's why some use Sanohex as their slaves—a lot have died from it.” I said bluntly as I put away the medicines that I had used. “But Sanohex can heal a fellow Sanohex too.”

“Then… What kind of witch are you?”

I smirked, turning my gaze to him. “Why don't we test my powers on you to know?”

He quickly looked away. It's kinda odd to see a grown man like him looking so scared… or flushed? 

As I let out a dark chuckle, I walked away to put the things in the small drawer next to the TV.

“Every witch is born with mana. It is the only way someone could practice these magics. Without mana, no matter how many times you chant a spell or do those ridiculous gestures you see on TV, it'll be useless.” I paused, looking back at him. “Thinking about it… I don't sense any mana in you…”

“How do you know if a person has mana?”

I walked back and sat close to him—where he quickly scooted away, making sure there was enough space for him to escape. I snorted, and got closer to him again. Before he could scoot away again, I forced him to look at me. Grasping his face with both of my hands as I leaned in closer.

“Stay still. Look at my eyes,” I said softly but still had that commanding edge. Jungkook did as he's told, then I asked him, “What do you see?”

“Uh… eyes?”

My patience was wearing thin with this kid. It took more than just courage to keep myself from rolling my eyes at him.

“What color are they?”

His eyes widened—probably because of the realization. “P-purple..?”

“Technically amethyst purple, but sure.” I shrugged before losing my hold onto him and leaning back. “Witches have different types of eye color, depending on their mana or what type they are. Other than that, you'll just feel it. Like… spider sense. Have you watched that movie? Excellent, if I must say.”

Regardless of my babbling, Jungkook remained still—as if looking so confused.

“We're the same,” he uttered.

“Wha-”

“Our eye color—it's the same.”

I snorted, waving him off dismissively. “It's impossible. Witches like me are rare.”

“No, wait,” he said before touching the inside of his eye.

“Oh fuck—What the heck? Why are you taking out your eyeball? Put it back! For fucksake, put it back!!” I snapped as I was too disgusted to even look at him.

He choked on his laugh, and handed me something, but I refused and remained looking away. “If that's your fucking eyeball, keep it.”

“It's not my eyeball. It's a contact lens.” 

I slowly turned my gaze to his hand, still frowning disgustingly. “A what?”

“A… contact lens..? You've been living for years and never tried to use one? How do you buy stuffs or go outside without people batting an eye on you?”

I huffed, staring at the thin plastic. “I never had to buy my stuffs, I ask Jin for it. And… I only hangout in safe places.”

“So you've never tried to hang out in crowded places?”

“Yeah, what's so good about it? Especially since there's a bunch of useless humans.”

This time, he didn't suppress it and let out  a chuckle, showing his bunny-like smile. He must've gotten comfortable. 

But that didn't last.

When my eyes met his, I suddenly felt the surrounding blur. He wasn't bluffing at all. It was true—his eyes are like mine. The only thing is… it's only the left eye, the other one remains black like the ones humans have. 

In a beat, I came closer to him—pushing him that made his back hit the backrest. I pinned him to the couch and leaned in closer, staring deeply in his eye. 

His laugh died out and his breathing hitched.

“Why are your eyes like that?” I asked sternly.

“I-I don't know… It's been like this since I was born,” he said softly, his eyes flickered to my lips.

“Impossible… Lyra is a florohex… Y-you can't…” My words faltered and my hold on him loosened. I stood up, pacing back and forth as I tried to think of every possible reason why I didn't sense it right away. 

I stopped my track, looking back at him. I met his innocent gaze—contrast to my icy glare. “Then why the fuck I don't sense your mana?! You've been walking around freely all this time when you're—UGH!”

Sensing my panic, he looked at me confused. “I'm what?”

“You're a Sanohex—like me.”

He gaped, nodding slightly before he replied. “So what?”

I scoffed, “ ‘So what?’ You don't know half of the ability us Sanohex have. If any human or Nocturex find out… You'd be dead—worse, slave.” I paused, only to see his reaction still looking at me with those big doe eyes. 

I despise how you got his eyes…

“And the fact that you're a child of Lyra…” I paused, feeling a tight knot in my chest. 

and Hyunsoo…

“..doesn't help at all. Is this why Jin brought you here? Because he knows you're a Sanohex?”

He nodded slowly, “M-maybe..? He never really told me why he brought me here.”

I snorted, finding how ironic it is. “What a good kid you are, huh? So you just follow random people?”

“I don't really have much going on in my life, and he said he'll bring me somewhere where I belong...” he uttered softly—still pouting like a sulky child.

“Well obviously, he's a fraud. You don't belong here. Not in my place at least.”

I sat on the couch once again—far from him. With crossed arms, I thought of all possible things that could happen if I kicked him out.

First and foremost, I'll have my peace. Second, I won't have to deal with him nor teach him. And lastly… I won't have to see the face of the constant reminder of where it all went wrong.

But all these excuses are nothing compared to the consequence of him living out there. Because one thing for sure, Nocturex will be out looking for him, and who knows what would they do as they use his limbs for potions—not that I care—or use his ability to do cruel things to other witches… 

It'll be like the Midnight Times again.

After a long dreadful silence, my train of thoughts were cut off when Jungkook spoke. “Just… let me stay. Please… Just for a month…”

His words were faint but audible enough to pull me from the abyss of contemplation.

With gritted teeth, I replied as I made up my mind. “Fine… But you'll do as you're told. No buts and especially—no complaining.”

His eyes lit up like a puppy seeing his owner. He nodded as he smiled. “Got it. Oh—by the way… what should I call you? Master?”

I frowned, feeling weird about someone calling me a ‘master’. “Just—just Y/n.”

“Okay… Y/n… Can I ask a question?”

Raising a brow, I replied, “Already?”

Jungkook rubbed his nape as he looked away. “You told me you're 248 years old, right?”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“You… weren't lying about it..?”

He believes that I'm a witch, but not about my age? Kids these days...

“Why would I lie about my age like some teenager wanting to watch porno?” I deadpanned.

“H-how come you look so… young?”

Ah… I see…

Instead of answering right away, I stood up and walked towards him. He watched my every move as I did so. When I'm right in front of him, he looked up at me with the same naive, wide-eyed doe eyes. I smirked as I crouched down—enough that our faces were inches apart.

“What? Are you…” I paused, leaning even closer that I saw how his eyes flickered to my lips then back to my eyes again. “attracted to me?”

His Adam's apple bobbed, and immediately looked away. “Wha—Why would I be attracted to a granny,” he said as he scoffed.

Did he just scoff at me? Called me granny?

Jungkook’s eyes widened—probably at the realization of what he did and called me, but my grin only widened. 

I traced his cheek down to his jaw with the back of my hand. “You know what?.. I think you're right. I'm starting to look like a granny again… Your skin is soft, by the way…Oh- Do you wanna know how I keep my youthful face?”

I knew how much my touch affected him and sent a shiver to his spine by how his breathing hitched. He hesitated but faced me anyway. “H-how..?” he asked, gulping once again, seemingly finding it hard to speak without stuttering. 

My hand went downwards toward his chin, tilting his head a bit. “With a cauldron… I heat up a lot of water…” My voice that was once soft went stern with my next words—wanting to scare and mock him more. “and boil the young half-bloods. Peel their skin after, then eat it.”

His eyes went wide. His body froze—eating my bullshit once again.

I leaned back, laughing out loud as I genuinely enjoyed his reaction. It might be the first time in a while someone made me laugh like this.

How can someone be so naive?

I clutched my stomach as it started to hurt from laughing so much. “You should've seen your face—wait—my stomach hurts.”

He frowned and stood up, “Then—were you lying about your age too?”

My laughter soon died out as I noticed how he easily towered over me. I sighed, looking at him deadpan. “Why are you so curious about my age—”

He cut me off before I could even finish my snarky reply. “Just— Earlier… you seemed like you know my parents a lot… So, I was wondering how you knew them that much when you look…like the same age as me. I've never seen you my whole life…”

“I really seem like I know a lot about them, don't I? I thought I knew them… I was wrong. Besides, it's in the past. I don't really care about them anymore.” I bluntly said as I shrugged, hoping he'd drop the topic.

Despite my flat reply, he remained unfazed and curious about it. Standing on his ground, he looked at me pleadingly—so eager to hear some answers.

“So, you knew them? Were you close? How come they never mentioned you once?”

If you only knew how much I want to sew your mouth… Be thankful to Jin, half-blood.

I snorted. “They didn't, huh? That… Well, I'm not really expecting anything from them. But yeah, let's say, we were friends… Also, I told you, we met once. I just erased your memory of it.”

“Why?”

I shrugged again—this time, in a mocking manner—as I grinned at him like a maniac.

“Give me a break, kid. You think you're the only one trying to adapt this new infos? Nuh-uh. What I feel right now is much worse. Some things are not meant to be answered.” 

As I was about to walk away, I couldn't help but answer his earlier question. “Oh—and, us—witches—don't get old. I stopped aging at the age of 25, and you seem like that too.” I paused, as I saw his lost innocent gaze at me. Him biting his lips a bit as he sulkily pouted. “248 years old sounds ancient, huh?… In human years, think of me as 24 years old…”

I huffed before turning my back at him and walked away—not giving him the chance to respond. I locked myself up in my room and threw myself on the bed.

“Why did I suddenly feel the need to empathize with him…” I mumbled, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

(Jungkook POV)

<1 month ago>

After I resigned from my shitty job, it's been a while and I've been applying for another—better—job everywhere but none of them accepted me. I guess this is what I get for becoming a college dropout. 

But was it really my fault? Or was it society's? 

I've been lost for a while now—too confused on which path I'd take. The only savings I have left is the only thing that kept me alive.

Walking on the sidewalk, soft light by the lamp post illuminates the dark street. Each step of mine felt heavy as I dragged myself toward the only thing that was left to me. The house that used to be lived in by the three most cheerful souls in the world—our family house. 

Actually, if I'd sell the house and lot, I'd get enough money to survive for three more years—but I won't. I promised my mom to keep this house and never leave my dad's side.

But not all promises are meant to be kept. As much as I love my dad, there's no fucking way I’d stay with him on his grave. I mean—of course I visit him and mom from time to time. Besides, why would he need me there when his grave is literally beside her.

That's why the house is the only thing I have that reminds me of them. 

When I was younger, they never liked to get us a picture. Even if we did, my mom would immediately burn it. She told me to never keep a picture of us three.

But did I listen? No. I kept at least one; stuck it in my journal to have at least a reminder of their faces—their existence.

As I neared my house, I saw a black cat on my way to it. It looks like it's shivering from the cold, but he also doesn't look like a street cat. His fur was shiny and smooth—as if he was taken care of by the royals.

Thinking about it, he might be lost… just like me.

I crouched down, petting its soft fur. The cat purred at my touch, leaning even more to it. I chuckled, feeling soft at the sight of the cat.

Wait—Aren't black cats considered bad luck? Well… Who am I to say that.. Between me and this cat, I’ve had so much bad luck, I might start producing it too.

“Are you cold, buddy?”

It seemed like he understood me, and jumped to me. I was surprised but caught him just on time. “You like me, don't you?” I chuckled, and stood up with him in my arms, starting to walk again.

I brought him inside the house, putting him down as I went to the kitchen. I took a container and filled it with water and let him drink. 

He only sniffed it, walking graciously back to me. “You don't like it? It's water. You can never go wrong with water.”

The cat looked up at me, looking at me dead in the eye. I pouted slightly as I lifted him up, and put him in my arms. “Okay, Mr Attitude… You're choosy for a stray cat, huh?”

I walked back to the living room as I plopped myself on the couch—the cat was still in my arms.

“Do you have a name?” 

The cat only stared at me.

“Right… That was stupid. Anyways, I should give you one!”

But can I even afford to take care of a cat? 

I shook off that thought. I certainly can't just let him stay there freezing.

“Hmm… Let's see… I'm Jeon Jungkook… I should name you after a food—Kimchi! So, it'll be Kimchijeon, get it?” I laughed loudly, and the cat slapped me.

HE SLAPPED ME??  

Not even scratch or bite—but slap. Of course since it's a cat, it rather felt like a hard pat.

“Ow… Bad kitty,” I muttered as I frowned at him. “Fine… I'll call you kitty for now since I'm too tired to think of names.”

I put him down the couch and went to my room to get a towel. With a soft towel in my arms when I came back, I placed it around him. I'm not gonna lie, he's pretty much obedient and behave for a stray cat.

“Don't pee nor poop in here, got it?” I said as I pet the cat once again. “Good night, kitty.”

After petting him more, I walked back to my room and threw myself on the bed—too tired from today's event. I sighed as I stared at the wall clock.

9:30… and I haven't even eaten.

“Just breathe today and hope to breathe tomorrow.” I murmured the phrase that I always say whenever I have a hard time. It was my way to keep me sane and keep on going every day. It pretty much works, I think. 

Murmuring it a few more times before I drifted off to sleep.

“Just breathe today and hope to breathe tomorrow…”

Weeks have passed, and I was sitting on the couch while watching TV when the electricity suddenly went off.

“Ugh… Shit.”  I groaned as I turned to the cat beside me. “Sorry, buddy. No electricity for now…”

The payment was probably due today, and if you ask me? I don't really mind. I knew it's going to happen anyway.

I reached out for my phone and went to my email. Constantly refreshing it to check if I at least passed an interview. 

Still, none.

I didn't know if it's because of the headache I've been having for a while, but I heard soft voices chanting in the back of my head.

“Sotamul… Sotamul… Sotamul…” (SOH-tah-mul) 

Their chants made me feel like I'm getting hypnotized—even if their voices sound too far away.

“Don't listen to it, kid.”

Another voice brought me back to reality. My head snapped to look where the voice came from since the sound was loud enough—as if the person was literally beside me.

But I found no one. 

After those voices, the house fell completely silent. I could even hear my breathing.

“Great. I'm unemployed, my electricity got cut off, and now I'm starting to hear voices… Just great.” 

Then just right after I paused, the same voice of a man echoed across the room. “Life's hard, huh?”

I whipped my head to the side where the voice came from, but I still saw no one.

I swear… it sounded so close.

“Hey, eyes down here.” 

I did as it said, but all I saw was my cat staring at me.  

“D-did you…”

“Boo..?”

My eyes widened, and before I fainted, I heard him mutter, “What a human thing to do. Still amazes me every time this happens.”

When I gained consciousness, my eyes fluttered open. I felt someone poked my cheek, then a voice echoed through my ears. 

“Are you awake? Whoa… You guys really have the same eye…”

My head snapped toward the side, only to find a strange man looking back at me. I sat up immediately, shifting into a guarded stance—even though my limbs feel weak. “Who are you?!”

“Calm down, kid. Those stupid witches’ spell is still working a bit on you.” 

“Answer my question! How did you get inside?!”

“Ooh… scary,” he muttered, a subtle smirk formed on his lips. “You know me as kitty,” he paused, rolling his eyes before he continued. “but my name is Seokjin. Kim Seokjin.”

“Wha—Are you kidding me right now??”

He shook his head, and replied bluntly. “No. I'm a witch, and I turned into a cat to see if the rumors were true.”

“A witch? Rumors? I-i don't understand—what rumors?”

“That you have a different eye color on your left eye. A rare one, if I must say. But, dear great heavens, you were always not at home and even if you are, I barely see you without your contacts.” He huffed as he crossed his arms.

I didn't put my guard down, still not able to understand what was going on. “I don't believe you.”

“Really?” 

Then he took something from his coat that made me even back away. Who knows if he has a gun in there.

He chuckled as he saw my reaction, and then he took it out.

“A stick?”

“It is a wand. Now, watch.” 

With a swirling gesture, he uttered a spell and pointed it at the glass of water on the table. The water soon turned red. The glass was a clear one so I saw how it subtly changed to red until it completely transformed.

What..?

He walked towards it, taking the glass and he lifted it up to his lips. “Hmm… A pretty good wine made by a pretty witch. Wanna taste?” he said, offering it to me as he extended the glass.

“No.”

“So you believe me now? Or do you want me to turn you into a frog so you would?”

I frowned, putting my guard down, and sat back on the couch. “Fine.” I sighed as I slowly processed whatever was going on. “But why are you here? Why are you interested in my left eye?”

As I thought he would snidely reply to me, he did the opposite instead. He smiled and sat on the chair across from me. “I'm gonna be honest with you, Jungkook. You're not safe here. Especially since you're alone. Sooner or later, they will find you.”

So that smile was supposed to be a reassuring one…

“Who's 'they' ? Why am I not safe? Who are you exactly?” I tried to ask as calmly as possible, not wanting to show how scared I am right now.

“I can't explain the full details, but all I'm asking of you is to trust me. I'll bring you somewhere you truly belong.”

“Okay… So, she's kinda mean, but trust me, she's a softie behind her rigid armor,” Jin hyung chuckled as he rubbed his nape.

Yesterday, I found out that I'm half witch. To be exact—I just found out that my mom was actually some type of leader of the witches. I also learned that me being a half witch means my mana is twice more powerful than an average witch—given that my mother was also a powerful one.

But weirdly, Jin hyung said he doesn't sense any mana in me, nor do I feel anything odd.

It was still a lot to process, but because of it, I somehow realized why my mom was so strict back then. 

After Jin hyung mentally prepared me, we went inside of the house. As soon as we entered, a dagger flew across the room, and nearly hit me—right beside my head to be exact. It got stuck on the wall behind me which left me frozen.

“Where were you?” A voice of a woman echoed across the room.

And as I searched for where the voice came from, my eyes landed on the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. My eyes widened, heart beating fast as if it wanted to burst out of my ribs—I even forgot how to breathe.

Whoa… She's really pretty…

“Yah! Don't you know how I've been craving for buldak??” she exclaimed as she put her phone in front of Jin hyung's face—showing a mukbang video. 

It seems like she didn't sense my presence yet as she kept on nagging at him.

“Where were you that you were away for weeks, huh?! Tsk.”

“You're so dramatic. Anyways, I was away because I was sorting some stuff,” Jin hyung calmly replied.

“In this age? What ‘stuff’ were you sorting?” she scoffed as she eyed the man.

Jin hyung shrugged and he pointed at me. “This stuff.”

She turned her head towards me, raising her brow as she did. “And… Wait—Is he a human?”

“He's not. He's a witch. I brought him here because I trust you that you will take care of him.”

She snorted, then eyed me from head to toe. “What do you mean I have to take care of… it?” The way she uttered the last word—I could feel her disgust.

Okay… That was rude…

“I'm not a babysitter, you know?” she added.

Damn… for a pretty woman, she's really mean. Jin hyung was right.

I refrain from scoffing or react anything negatively. I'll be living in here from now on after all. I want to be closer to her—maybe a little too close. 

The way she acts so rudely for someone who looks younger than me doesn't sit right.

So, I decided to at least mutter my age to let her know that she should at least give me some respect, and  show that I'm at the age where I'm a bit responsible and I won't be a nuisance for the time being that I'd stay here. “I'm 26 years old… not a baby.”

“Well, I'm 248 years old. Do I look like I care?” she sneered.

My eyes widened, not expecting her to say that at all.

248 what?! No wonder she's mean… The last time I worked in a nursing home, old people were mad—mad, at first. They eventually warmed up because who doesn't melt with this face?

Jin hyung cleared his throat. “I'm not asking you to babysit him. I'm telling you to let him stay here and teach him some of your spells. Just enough that he could protect himself.”

Crossing her arms, she eyed me again. “Are you sure he's… a witch? I don't sense any mana in him.”

“There's more than meets the eye, Y/n,” he said with a deep chuckle.

Why don't just Jin hyung say that my left eye is purple?

He smirked briefly before it faded right away. “And he's a half -blood,” he added.

Unexpectedly, she let out a loud mocking laugh. “A half-blood? Which moron would fall for a trap and fall for a… human?” Her words dripped with an immense disgust that made me wonder, Why does she seem like she hates humans that much?

Even with her sarcasm, she kept laughing like there was no tomorrow. But it soon died down when Jin hyung cut her off. 

“Lyra. His mother is Lyra while his father is a man-”

“Who betrayed her. You know I know him.” I could see the way her jaw clenched; her eyes having this visible irritation just by the mention of my parents.

They know each other?

“The great Jeon Hyunsoo… The only human who somehow tricked the leader and made her leave all of us. Turn her back as if we were nothing but old comrades.”

Okay… Something bad really happened. 

Even though I sensed something wrong, I couldn't help but feel a sting hearing her bad mouth my parents.

I grew up seeing how much they loved each other. No one knows them better than I do.

At least that was what I knew.

I tried to remain calm but it only made me stutter as a result. “W-what do you mean? My dad loved my mom. He would never…”

“Oh, really?” She laughed out loud again before continuing. “He loved your mom? Hmm… interesting… He loved her enough to betray the clan of her lover?”

What is she talking about? What clan?

Hundreds of questions ran through my mind but I couldn't voice them out because the next thing I knew, she was so close to me.

 “Say… do you remember seeing me when you were around… eight, perhaps?”

I stood still, holding my breath as she was too close.

We already met each other? What is she talking about now..?

When I didn’t answer, she continued. I could tell by her voice that she wanted me gone. “No? Ever wonder why?”

“Y/n, that’s enough.” 

My eyes flicked to Jin and saw how he gripped the bridge of his nose. While on the other hand, the woman in front of me remained unfazed—grinning eerily as she stared at me.

“Tell me, are you fond of necklaces?”

I blinked, confused by her antics—and kinda scared of her at the same time. She’s a powerful witch after all—based on what Jin said, at least.

“N-no…” 

Why does my voice keep trembling? Man up, Jungkook!

She frowned as she pouted. I had to bite the inside of my cheek just to suppress my emotion.

It’s unfair how she’s mean and cute… But something really feels off.

“That’s… sad. Anyways, do you wanna know what my necklace is made of?” 

I didn’t reply, too scared of what I’ll find out with her next words.

“My necklace is made of hundreds of humans’ and witches' memories. Some asked me to do it so that the pain they felt would be gone, while some were… Let’s say I had no choice but to take a certain memory.”

Wha— Okay… This is getting out of hand.

I frowned, looking everywhere but them. My mind couldn’t fully register what she said as my confusion and curiosity rose. 

“But do you know the curse of having this ability? I can’t take mine, or else my memory would ruin the others and it will break the necklace. All of the memories will scatter and float around like ghosts. Someone has to keep it. Sometimes, out of boredom, I play those memories like a video—using my necklace as a projector.”

After a long pause, I found my voice.

“So… you’re saying that you have a certain memory of mine?”

“Bingo! You’re not that dumb after all, I guess.”

As she kept mocking me, I couldn’t help but feel that pit in my stomach—the one I used to feel whenever these things happened. The one that made me fall into a void of madness and made it hard to crawl back. It was a feeling that was too hard for me to explain, but also the feeling that was too familiar—like it clung to me since I was a child.

When I looked back at her, she was already a few feet away from me.

I took a step, glaring at her—no—pleading her to give me some answers. 

“Why?! What is it about?”

If it's about my parents, I have to know it.

“It’ll be better, if you don’t know.” Jin chimed in, stepping to stand in between us.

“He’s right, kiddo. Even though I’d love to torment you with the memories—I can’t. I can’t make you watch it nor give back the memory itself to you.” she shrugged casually before walking away to plop herself on the couch.

“Why?” I kept my voice grounded but my fists clenched on my side.

She only chuckled sarcastically as she turned on the TV. “I’ve never tried, and… I don’t wanna try. Who knows if the consequence is way worse.”

As I opened my mouth to reply, a wave of dizziness hit me. Everything sounded so muffled, my limbs felt weak—and before I knew it, I collapsed on the ground.

“B-but… we need you, Lyra. Everyone is dying out there a-and you—you chose him? His kind??” 

It's been months since she cut herself off from us—the one she used to call her family. Even I didn't want to ask for help from her, but we knew we'd be too helpless to fight back with the Norturex, especially now that they forged an alliance with the humans.

“I have a family now, Y/n. I have to protect them too,” her voice was grounded, the kind that she only used to talk with the people she considers an enemy—never for me.

“Y/n… please leave. We're sorry,” Hyunsoo pleaded but not one bit it sounded sincere.

I took a step back, my lips trembled as I tried to form my thoughts into words. Frowning, I looked everywhere but them. I felt something flowed into my veins. My vision became blurry, my head hurt so much I couldn't bear it.

This is beyond betrayal. 

“But we were your family too!! Innocent witches are dying out there, and all you care about is if your family is too happy to care in the world!!!” I yelled as I felt my mana overflowing in my core. 

Turning my hand into fist, I closed my eyes. I felt so hopeless… so alone. 

“I trusted you, but you tore me apart.” 

The ring in my finger started to crack, and I felt my body starting to heat up too. 

As I opened my eyes, I never felt this kind of rage before. It hurts so much, yet it feels good.

“Y-y/n… Calm down… Y-you're turning to—” Lyra's voice cracked, her eyes widened in panic.

My senses became too sensitive; I even heard a small voice coming to the side. I turned my head towards it, and I saw a small child peeking from his bedroom, his big does eyes looking at me with awe and astonishment.

“Wow… you're beautiful…” 

“Jungkook, go back inside! Now!” Lyra commanded that made him flinch. “Take our son, I'll take care of Y/n,” she muttered to her husband, but before Hyunsoo could even take a step, I muttered a spell to freeze him on his spot.

“Y/n, don’t.”

She tackled me with her spell as she whipped her wand. I quickly fought back making her stumble.

Never once in a hundred years I had hurt her like that. I didn't know why but I felt that my power overflowed.

No… This is not good…

I snapped my head to the mirror on the side, and my eyes landed on the monster that was looking back at me.

No… This can't…

I felt my chest tighten—worsening the pain that I feel emotionally and physically.

My eyes glowed into deep red, and black lines slowly ran down to my face and body, like a cursed, etched ink. 

I felt a hand softly tugging my pinky finger. I looked down on it, only to see the kid's innocent eyes again—looking at me with confusion but the awe in it never left.

“Why are you crying?”

“H-huh?” 

I didn't even notice that tears flowed down on my cheeks as I felt my rage overflowing in me more.

I crouched down to meet his eyes, confused by this bizarre kid. 

“Aren't you scared of me? I literally just made your mother fly across the room.” 

Even my voice sounded so different in my ears. I felt so disgusted.

The kid chuckled a bit before replying. “ I think I'm not. Also, my mom is strong so she'll be fine. But… I don't know about you…” he pouted, his hold on my pinky tightened.

“You're weird. You're not scared of me? With this look? Not even a bit?” My eyes narrowed at him but he looked rather amazed.

“You look like a superhero character I'd see in comics, so why would I?” he cheekily grinned.

I didn't know why, but the longer I had contact with this small human, I felt more at ease. My mind that was cloudy became clear, and so does the ink on my skin.

“Oh- It's gone? Your eyes changed too.” He looked at me in confusion before he cracked a smile again. “You look better in this. You look more of a fairy than a superhero now, though..”

Coming to my senses, I pulled back. “You're weird.”

“But cute?” he grinned.

I let out a soft chuckle as I shook my head.

He's weird… Or maybe it was just me for feeling this calm sensation when we touched.

Taking a step back, I swished my finger as I muttered a spell. “Extovea…”

Soon as he was out of his consciousness, I held my necklace and hovered my other hand on his head. I said the spell three times to make it work and make sure he won't remember anything of this day. 

“Scordomemora… Scordomemora… Scordomemora…” (skor-do-me-MO-ra)

The last thing I want—even though I hate his kind—is to traumatize the innocent.

+* +*+*+

I should've known since then. You saved me once again.

A/N: Comment your @ if u wanna be added to the taglist^^

A/N 2: I really thought deep and hard bcz the trope might be "weird" but I promise, it won't be. hehe

[clumsypuppy]

i feel like im not making any sense but does anyone else feel like there are stories that let u run with them and ones that spell everything out for you

[suliigwp]

HIII omg i love your writings!! got this idea while i was in the bathroom blasting alchemy by taylor swift and you were the first writer i thought of that i know would slay this! Reader is a known singer but she doesnt really write love songs which charles is completely fine about. His friends ask and tease him about it and he brushes it off then one night on one of her tours she sings alchemy for the first time while charles is watching from the crowd. His whole world stops and maybe even tears up then he just goes on for days bragging about it. HUMOUR AND FLUFFF WHATEVER U WANT THANK YOU SO MUCH

WHERES THE TROPHY?

Charles Leclerc x Singer! Reader | fluff

SULI: hiii omg you have no idea how much it means remembering me first🥹 thank you soooo much!!!!! — very cool because I actually do have a singer!readers series coming up but none of the love interests is Charles sadly— but I really love singer au's and this was so much fun to write! Thank you so much for requesting, love you, hope you enjoy🫶

I'm absolutely obsessed with this song — stream "The alchemy" now!!!

Warnings: none, short and sweet, Twitter post at the end

Charles liked to think he had you figured out.

At least, the version of you the world didn’t get to see — the quiet one, the tired one after long studio nights, the version that wore his hoodie to bed and snuck kisses onto his shoulder when you thought he was sleeping.

He liked being the silent inspiration, the person behind the curtain. You were his in private — that was more than enough.

"She doesn't write love songs."

That was the line Charles Leclerc had come to know and love. He’d heard it in interviews, read it in headlines, and smiled through every late-night talk show where someone inevitably asked, “So, do you really not write about him?”

The camera would zoom in, the crowd would laugh, and you’d flash that sly little grin. “Don't worry, if I wrote a love song,” you always said, “you’d know it.”

Charles didn’t mind. In fact, he was fine with it.

You were his.

Even if the rest of the world liked to think you belonged to them.

The fans, the cameras, the interviews — they all wanted pieces. But Charles had long made peace with being the part no one else got to hear in the songs.

Because you didn’t write love songs.

Everyone said so.

You said so.

And Charles believed it. Until the night you didn’t.

...

back, first year of dating

“You still haven’t written a song about me,” Charles teased from the couch, bare feet on the floor, one arm lazily slung around your waist. His eyes were half-lidded, lips curled into that soft smile he only gave you when the world was quiet.

You rolled your eyes, brushing your fingers through his curls. “You say that like you’re not already in every other one.”

“Yes, but I want the main character treatment,” he said, dramatically pressing a hand to his chest. “The standing ovation. The bridge that emotionally ruins people.”

You just laughed, kissed his cheek, and said, “Maybe when you win Monaco.”

He groaned. “Cruel woman.”

...

He hadn't told you he was coming.

You were in the middle of a sold-out run through Europe, and Charles was drowning in simulator sessions and car debriefs. But when he saw the gap in his schedule, he booked the ticket quietly, packed light, and told his engineers he was leaving for “something more important than tyre degradation.”

Barcelona was a quick flight from Monaco. Your show there had been sold out for months, and he knew better than to try and sneak in through backstage. So he did what no one expected:

He lined up like everyone else.

He didn’t tell you. You were always happiest on stage, and he wanted to be just another face in the crowd that night. Just a quiet, anonymous dot in a sea of lights and sweat and noise.

Hood up, cap low, a simple black tee that did nothing to hide how gorgeous he was. He bought a pit wristband from resale (triple the price, but whatever), pushed into the crowd, and waited.

His heart beat harder the closer it got to showtime.

He didn’t know why. He’d seen you perform dozens of times. Hell, he’d watched you rehearse in sweats with a tea bag hanging out of your mouth. He lived with you.

But something about tonight buzzed different.

The lights dimmed.

The crowd erupted.

And then you appeared.

...

You always had a certain way of standing still — calm, rooted, like you didn’t need fireworks to be the most magnetic person in the room. Charles felt the shift the second you stepped up to the mic.

“This one’s new,” you said softly.

The crowd stilled.

“I wasn’t planning to play it live yet, but…”

You paused, and smiled.

“He’s here tonight.”

The girls around Charles screamed.

He went still.

No.

You’re not—

The opening chords were simple, soft. A rhythmic pulse like a heartbeat.

"Shirts off, and your friends lift you up over their heads, Champagne sticking to the floor"

The lyrics felt so close, so personal, Charles swore you were staring right at him, even though you couldn’t see him through the crowd.

"Cheers chanted, cause they said, There was no chance, trying to be The greatest in the league"

And then.

Then.

“Where’s the trophy? He just comes running over to me.”

Charles’s knees nearly buckled.

The lyric struck him like a punch to the gut.

He didn’t even breathe for a second — chest tight, hands shaking, mouth parted in stunned silence.

You remembered.

Monaco.

That day.

The crowd, the flags, the win — his first home win. The one he had chased like a ghost for years.

He remembered the noise, the champagne, the cameras flashing. But more than anything, he remembered you, standing behind the barrier, tucked to the side — quiet and glowing and waiting.

He hadn’t even thought.

He just ran.

Straight to you. Through the crowd. Past everyone. Helmet barely off.

You caught him in your arms like you’d been waiting there your whole life.

“Where’s the trophy?” the reporter had asked him after.

And he’d smiled before glancing over at you.

...

By the time you hit the final chorus, Charles had completely given up pretending he was okay.

His eyes were glassy. His cheeks were damp.

A teenage girl next to him elbowed her friend and whispered, “That guy is, like, sobbing.”

He didn’t even notice.

When you sang the last line and let the guitar fall quiet, Charles couldn’t move.

The stadium exploded in sound.

You bowed.

The lights went out.

And he just stood there — one hand pressed over his heart, whispering the lyric under his breath like a prayer.

...

Backstage, everything felt like static.

You were mid-change when a tech knocked on the greenroom door.

“Uh… sorry, there’s a guy trying to come back here. He says he’s your boyfriend? Hoodie, cap, extremely beautiful—kind of panicked?”

You laughed, heart already racing.

“Let him in.”

Charles barrelled into the room like a man possessed.

“You—” he said, voice raw.

You turned, makeup still smudged, hair frizzing from sweat, and barely had time to open your arms before he was there — pulling you into him like he hadn’t seen you in years.

“Monaco?” he whispered.

You nodded against his chest.

He pulled back just slightly, hands cupping your face, eyes red-rimmed and earnest. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did.”

“You wrote about it.”

A breathless laugh. “You wrote about me.”

You shrugged playfully, nose brushing his. “Guess you’re the main character now.”

His grin cracked wide and helpless, and then he kissed you. Soft, slow, deep — the kind of kiss that says thank you and I love you and I’m never letting this go.

“You’re screwed now,” he whispered, grinning against your mouth.

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to brag about this forever.”

...

And he did.

The next morning:

And for the rest of the season, no matter how many podiums he earned, Charles had one answer to every post-race interview:

“Where’s the trophy, Charles?”

“She’s probably watching from home.”

Taglist, comment to be added;

@angstynasty @cryinghotmess @mits-vi @dramaticpiratellamas @mimisweetz @mrssaturday @chiara8104 @moonlight-girls-posts @linnygirl09 @rue-t @danielricroll @the-vex-archives @trees-are-books @blodwyn4u @yoruse @ccrickett-t @l-a-u-r-aaa @multifans-things @woderfulkawaii @azrinableuet @mayax2o07 @everyday-is-sunday365 @devilacot

Make sure you can be tagged!

[rafesslxt]

slytherin boys hc realizing they were to rough after an argument and comforting you?😭🙏

thank u for requesting, have fun reading <3

✧.*𝑺𝑳𝒀𝑻𝑯𝑬𝑹𝑰𝑵 𝑩𝑶𝒀𝑺 𝑯𝑬𝑨𝑫𝑪𝑨𝑵𝑶𝑵 | 𝑨𝑭𝑻𝑬𝑹 𝑨𝑹𝑮𝑼𝑴𝑬𝑵𝑻 + 𝑵𝑺𝑭𝑾

characters: mattheo riddle, tom riddle, theodore nott, lorenzo berkshire, draco malfoy

warnings: fighting, arguing, fluff, mention of make up sex, so a bit smut

Mattheo Riddle:

let‘s be honest, he would definetly take a moment to realize he actually hurt your feelings

his pride and stubbornness would be in the way at first

but when he sees the first tears rolling down your cheeks he slowly walks towards you giving your forehead a kiss while hugging you tightly and swiping your tears away with his thumb

"I am so sorry princess, I swear you‘re right. I didn‘t mean it like that, you know that, right? I love you so much I would never want to hurt you on purpose. Can you please talk to me again, baby?"

he would pull you onto his lap and rock you slighty while whispering sweet things into your ear telling you how sorry he is and that it won‘t happen again

Mattheo would just cuddle you for the rest of the night and maybe have make up sex with you If you‘re not too mad at him

"I‘m gonna show you how sorry I am princess." he would be a MUNCH and eat you out, never stopping no matter how sensetive you got.

"Want me to stop? Come on baby, one more just one more I promise." his tounge would flick relentlessly over your clit over and over again, his green ties around your wrists making it hard to protest.

Tom Riddle:

bro would try to manipulate you at first and tell you you‘re overreacting and too sensetive but when you leave the room and don‘t try to reach out to him for a few days..

you got his head spinning

maybe he would wonder why you‘re ignoring him until he remebers your fight which he almost forgot because it was so unimportant to him

i think he would try to get closer to you so you had to talk to him

but when you still wouldn‘t and he notices the hurt in your eyes, he would wrap his arms around you from behind and whisper in your ear how sorry he is

he couldn‘t believe he really spoke these words but you meant too much to him to loose you over an stupid argument he couldn‘t even remember at first

"How difficult was that for you?" you ask when your little frown on your fave disappears and is switched with a smirk. He rolls his eyes and presses you against him, still whispering in your ear.

"Don‘t try your luck too much darling." While his fingers squeeze your sides

100% rough make up sex where he would punish you for not talking to him

"Fuck you think you can just ignore me? Act like I‘m not there?" while he pounds into you from behind, pushing your face down into the pillow.

"What was that darling? Couldn‘t hear you over all the noises you make."

Theodore Nott:

I have a splitted opinion on Theodore to be honest

on one side he would be the sweetest and comfort you right away without thinking twice about it

but on the other hand I also see him giving you a cold shoulder, also too stubborn and ignorant to realize how much he hurt you

but on either side, when he then would notice how you ignore him he would so something romantic to make it up to you

I just see him with a picnic prepared outside at the lake with your favorite snacks and a plushy for you.

"I‘m so sorry cara mia you mean the world to me, I never meant to hurt you. Please let me male it up to you."

After the picnic and you forgiving him he would pin you down, not giving a fuck who would see you If walking mear by

"Theo! Everyone could see!" you struggle against his fingers on your clit. "hmm let them see how sorry I am principessa."

he would pussy your skirt up and eat you out like Mattheo but without the whole overstimulation

when you come for the first time he wouldn‘t hesitate or waste any time to pull down his pants and fuck you next to the lake

"Fuck we should argue more often If that‘s the outcome of it. Me pounding your tight little pussy amore." You would shoot him a glare but moan his name right after, eyes rolling back

Lorenzo Berkshire:

He would be THE sweetest ever

but also he‘s someone who try‘s to stay calm during fights but then when he is really mad, he just explodes without thinking

as soon as he sees the first tear rolling down your face he would walk over to you and hug you so tight you almost couldn‘t breathe.

"God y/n I am so so so so sorry I swear it will never happen again! Shit I‘m so stupid I don‘t even deserve you baby."

when you would forgive him and already forgot about the fight you two had, he couldn‘t stop thinking about it.

he was just so sorry he had to show you somehow so the first thing that came to his mind was buying you something you wanted since forever

a fucking puppy

"Enzo! Oh my god you did nooot!" you said in a whiny tone about to cry from happiness

"No no no princess please don‘t cry I can bring him back If you don‘t – " "What? No!" you take him out of his hands and look down into it‘s cute face "thank you thank you thank you!"

after the day went by and you two got everything you need for your new baby, you wanted to thank your boyfriend

"Oh – fuck yes." he‘d groan while you ride him, bouncing up and down "Bloody hell I‘ll give you a whole damn zoo If that‘s what‘s going to happen after." he says while gripping your hips and fucking right up into your thankful pussy

Draco Malfoy:

he didn‘t know what to do at first, your cold shoulder towards him felt like a knife in his chest even tho he knew he deserved it

he said some things to you in an argument he wasn‘t proud of, too ashamed when he knew you only wanted the best for him

The only thing he knew was showering you in gifts which would work with little things but not this. You wanted him to apologize with real words.

after days of giving you gift after gift he realized for himself that it wasn‘t going to work.

"Darling? Do you have a minute?" he would ask to which you just nod slighty

He would take a deep breath before speaking " I am sorry for what I said. I truly am. And I never should have said that to you or let my frustration out on you I‘m really ashamed of what vame out of my mouth when everything you wanted was just the best mor me."

It felt like a stone fell from his heart after speaking what he had thought for days and your happy face told him it was just what you wanted to hear

"Shit y/n –" he groans when you take him deeper into your mouth, looking up at him with innocent eyes.

"Just wait what we‘ll do after that pretty boy." you chuckled before taking him back knto your mouth and sucking him for dear life.

thank u for reading I hope u liked it 🫶🏻

taglist: @justarandomcanadiantransdude @helendeath @thatonepansexual2000 @imabee-oralizard @supernaturaldawning @sofa-couch26 @little-miss-naill @kolsangel @itsarajr @jolly4holly @hisparentsgallerryy @slytherinscreamqueen @mixvchelle @littlemadamred @ummmmmmm-username @jeannie-beannie @belle-blue @izriddle @danaeneocleous @sagetakami [if you wanna be removed tell me 💞]

xoxo sarah <3

[spidermanifested]

another black sails fantheory ive seen around a lot is that silver is jewish, usually specifically sephardic, but despite its prevalence i havent been able to find anybodys actual thesis statements about it. so if there are Essays out there (especially by somebody with more historical-slash-judaism knowledge than i with my meager wiki-crawls) i would love Links

however once again ive pondered a bunch of the stuff ive noticed personally, about mr john "if thats even your real name" silver. and honestly at this point id be kind of surprised if it Wasnt the actual context the writers shaped his character around. everything just seems to come together really neatly

hes impressively literate for his circumstances/time period, and really good at quickly memorizing large amounts of text. a solid religious education could very well explain this

specifically– and this is one of the things that feels like a huge bit of intentional subtext to me– the scene where hes hiding with the lepers and memorizing the urca schedule REALLY seems to evoke someone reading scripture under a prayer shawl

not only does he not know how to cook pork, but does not even seem to know what pork looks like when finished cooking

the pretext flint used to get his crew to hunt down the hamiltons' ship was that it was carrying sephardic riches. this is a completely throwaway detail we learn secondhand, in a story where there are very, very few completely throwaway details

silver speaks at least some spanish. this comes up Once and goes totally unquestioned by everyone around him, likely because they think he just picked it up as a sailor. he almost certainly has not been at sea long enough for this to be the case. speaking ladino as a first language on the other hand would give him a huge leg up (so to speak.) in that department

further point. around the time period of the show, the biggest sephardic community in the world lived in thessaloniki in modern-day greece. it was:

a) one of the most major seaports in the ottoman empire

b) a famous center for learning, which boasted 100% literacy of its jewish population

and c) despite its long and prosperous history under ottoman rule, beginning to decline along with the rest of the empire, for many interconnected reasons, including but not limited to: Problems With the Governments Handling of the Textile Industry (where have we heard that before)

lotta unrest. religious schisms and doomsday prophecies. reactionary groups of overempowered soldiers attacking civilians for stress relief (again. where have we heard that before). people, unsurprisingly, started leaving

so if you did want, against john silvers express wishes. to theorize a backstory for a surprisingly educated stowaway of Mystery Origin, who has Mystery Trauma and doesnt want anybody to know who he is or where he comes from, and which would give a new level of relevance to all the greek stuff that permeates the show (down to the actual name of the thing!), along with containing parallels to several other backstories and events in the show proper,

Well this one make sense i think 👍

[date-everything-has-taken-over]

Hi hi hiii I wasnwondering if u could do a fic thing where reader is basically dating most dateables n one day they (the reader) basically ends up feeling extremely sick from not taling care of theirself properly, running around to fix stuff, starting a new part-time job, going out with new friends. Could some of the characters included be dorian, eddie & volt, hector and whoever else? Pls and thank uu!!

Gonna add Barry and Betty because I think they'd fit in very well with this case (And they're my babygirls)

Dorian🚪

● One of the first to notice something was off

●After losing your job at Valdivian, you had gotten two part-time jobs to make up for it, and it was beginning to take its toll

●He was the kne to see you before you walked through the front Dorian. Before you would take a deep breath and put on your best, "everything's okay" face

●He'd try his best to convince you to give yourself a break and get some well needed rest, but you kept reassuring him you'd be fine

●Well, he was right. After one too many overtime shifts combined with coming home to help everyone with their problems resulting in many sleepless nights, you come home and practically collapsed in the front hallway

●"Right, that's it. You're taking a couple days off work and resting"

●Unfortunately, he's still the front door, so he can't take you to bed himself, but bedroom Dorian will take things from there

●If you thought he was like a bouncer before, you haven't seen anything yet.

●A dateable wants to see you. "Are you on the list?" "What do you need with them?" "You're not gonna cause a fuss are ya?"

●He even contemplates moving the hanks downstairs. Sure, they're usually in your room, but they're so loud. He gives them a stern warning (which scares them just a bit) and let's them stay

●He makes sure the house is safe and that your room is the pinical of peace

●"Autherized personal only" Dorian blocks anyone trying to get in, but especially the more rowdy members of the house

●"Darling, you never believe what I heard about Hoove!" Scandalabra tries yelling through Dorian, which was followed by a suspicious thud (I'm sure it's nothing to worry abt)

���Until he sees you're 100% better, Dorian doesn't let you out of his sight (not that he does that anyway). Going to the kitchen for chicken soup? He's got an eye on you just in case

●When you actually do recover, he's making sure you don't get yourself in the same issue and makes you promise not to push yourself

●"It's not just my job to keep you safe from the outside world, love." He holds you close to him, enveloping you in a warm hug. "I will always be there to keep you safe from all danger"

●Even after you're better and going back to work, he's checking on you every chance he gets, reminding you to eat and sleep at a reasonable time

●He may not woo with words as much as other dateables, but he shows how much he loves you every day by being a safe and reliable presence for you

Eddie & Volt⚡️

●Work was short-staffed, and with it being busy season, you were picking up extra shifts almost every day

● They know overworked when they see it, so when you show up to the club, noticeably tired, they clock you right away

●Volt takes a seat next to you, placing his lips on the side of you head

"You know we're always happy to see you, live wire-"

Eddie cuts him off

"-But you look dead tired, go to bed"

● Volt chuckles, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you onto his lap

"Our live wire doesn't need to leave to rest, do they?" He brings you closer. "You can relax right here, live wire"

●After that night, Eddie stopped letting you help out around the club

"Don't worry about it, alright? You look like you're about to fall over anyway"

●Eddie acts tough, but he's checking on you and bringing you water every time you visit the Breaker Box after work

●When everything catches up to you and you actually do end up getting sick enough to take a couple of days off work while stuck in bed, they're both worried (and a little pissed)

●They've seen you running around the house helping everyone, fixing things around the house, settling arguments between other members of the house so they have a pretty good idea of how you ended up like this

●They check on you every day to make sure you're doing alright

●If you're not awake when they come by, you'll wake up to find a glass of water, Nyquill, and a note

'Rest well, live wire -E&V

●After a couple of days of bedrest, you return to the club, and they're happy to see you doing well

●They've both accepted you're too nice to say no to helping everyone in the house, so how do they remedy this?

●By practically keeping you hostage in the club for the next couple of days (Can't get exhausted again if they just keep you at the Breaker Box)

●Eddie still refuses to let you help out even if you insist

"And you get on me for not taking a break," he sets a glass in front of you. "Little hypocritical, don't ya think?"

●He places a gentle kiss on the top of your head, keeping close for a moment before going to the back to do maintenance

●They may be busy running the club, but never too busy for you, and they make sure to remind you

Hector💨

●Also, very quick to notice

●He was very worried when he noticed how much slower you seemed lately

●Asks how you're doing multiple times a day. Never believes you when you say you're fine but he doesn't wanna push it and upset you

●Fully panics when he sees you collapse after walking through front Dorian

●The temperature spikes for a moment until he calms down

●He doesn't leave your side for a moment

●Takes extra care to keep the temperature at a comfortable level for you

●You don't even have to say anything. Ate you pulling the blanket closer to you? Heat up. Are you kicking away the sheets? Air on.

●He so badly wants to be there with you. To hold you and comfort you. But he's still terrified to leave the vents

●He's slightly soothed knowing Betty is taking very good care of you (but also kinda jealous)

●In the middle of the night, when he's sure everyone is asleep, he sits beside your bed, watching as your breath rises and falls

● He brushes your hair aside, admiring your beautiful face (even though it's sick and sweaty, he doesn't care)

●Before leaving, he gives your forehead a kiss. "Feel better soon, my love."

● If someone tried disturbing you or kept you awake, he'd turn the heat up in the room they're in to be petty

●When you're well enough to get out of bed, he's overcome with both joy and anxiety

●Joy because you're well enough to see him in the attic now. He can hold you again (and you can watch him turn bright red as you kiss his face)

● But anxious because, what if this happens again? What if the human keeps pushing themselves? What if it's WORSE next time?!

●He begs you to slow down and not push yourself too hard. To give yourself more free time and rest more often

●The look he gives you is like a kicked puppy, and you just can't help but hold him close and promise to take care of yourself better

●He clings to you for a bit before you leave the attic to go to bed "Rest well, my love."

● When you finally go back to work, he anxiously waits for your return, watching Timmy just a little too closely

●When you finally return, he observes your every move to see if you look tired or overwhelmed

●If not, good. But if you look any kind of distressed, he's whisking you away to the attic to cuddle, then practically dragging you to bed at the end of the day

●You're honestly a little surprised since he's normally not this bold face-to-face

●Even long after recovery, it becomes a new routine. If you come home tired, he's attaching himself to you koala style

Barry💄

● Well, technically, he noticed pretty quickly when he'd see you so exhausted every morning, buuuuut then he forgot and would notice all over again each morning

●Feels terrible when you come home sick and remain bedridden for days

●He's almost too nervous to visit you, scared you'd be mad at him

●"Are you feeling alright, darling?" He peeks into your room, "Anything I can do to help?"

●When you tell him you'd just like to hear his voice and that you love it when he goes on little rants about whatever he's obsessed with at the moment, his whole face turns red

●"Oh! W-well, that's, um, very n-nice, darling." He laughs nervously. He takes a moment to compose himself. "I 'm-I'm glad you enjoy hearing me talk. I'm happy to keep you company, darling."

●Since you're stuck in bed with nothing to do, Baeey is happy to keep you company while you recover

● He'll talk about just about anything that interests him at the time. Makeup, toucans, history, lions, movies. He's also happy to listen if you have anything to yap about

● If you're not able to shower, he'll brush your hair so it doesn't get too knotted while you're sick, taking care to be extra gentle.

●It's so soothing you send up falling asleep. He brings the covers over your body and turns the lights off, letting you sleep peacefully

●Before leaving, he leans down to kiss your cheek "Goodnight, darling."

● You may or may not have woken up with a lipstick smudge on your cheek, but you certainly didn't mind

●When you're feeling better, Barry helps you through your post-sick self-care routine. Warm bath, skin care, hair care

●Helps you with your bath so you don't fall asleep, definitely not because he wants to rub your soapy body noooo definitely not

Betty🛌

●She noticed right away. You've barely been sleeping and even when you do, you toss and turn all night.

●She tries to get you to come to bed early, but you're busy helping around the house. Then she tried getting you to sleep in, but you got called into work early.

●This repeated a couple of times until you stumbled into your room and fell onto her.

●She's happy to be able to spend so much time with you, but she wishes it weren't under such conditions.

●She holds you close, your head just under her chin and your face against her chest (awooga). She's somehow the perfect temperature for when you're cold or overheating.

●She'll gently stroke your head and hum softly until you fall asleep.

● When you wake up, she looks down at you and brings a hand to your cheek. "Good morning, lover." She presses a gentle kiss on your forehead. "I'm afraid I can't let you go anywhere until I'm sure you're better." Her gentle voice makes it seem like a joke, but you know she's serious.

● You wouldn't have thought to leave anyway, you could barely move, and your whole body felt achy but more importly Betty was just so damn sweet and comfortable.

●Ngl it's mostly sleeping and cuddleng with you and occasanaly getting food

●When you finally felt better, she convinced you to take an extra rest day with her "just in case"

Sorry, Betty's is so short! I couldn't think of much for her

[prokopetz]

Something I love about The Far Roofs is how much of a swerve its premise is if you're coming to it uninitiated.

Okay, so there's these talking rats with a culture of swashbuckling heroism – basic Redwall/Reepicheep stuff.

Also, there's a magical realm called the Far Roofs which exists above every human community, and that's where the rats go adventuring; a little weird, but you can see the precedents in popular fiction. It's like wainscot fantasy taken to its logical-yet-absurd conclusion.

By default, the game wants you to play as a fictionalised version of your (presumably human!) self and go up onto the Far Roofs to have adventures with the rats. All right, now it's coming together: it's like isekai fantasy meets The Muppet Show, with you as the obligatory human character, right?

Then we get to the nature of those adventures: the rats have this whole culture built around questing against beings they call "the Mysteries" – beasties with names like Harpy and Goblin and Unicorn. So basically it's a bunch of muppety rats on the roofs fighting Dungeons & Dragons monsters, and you go up and help them do it. Great.

And then you get to what the Mysteries are actually like, and... well, I'm going to let the following excerpt carry the weight here. (This particular bit of text also appears in a previously published work by the same author, so I'm not giving anything away that's still under wraps.)

Unicorn, which is named Numinous, dwells three steps away and beyond the world, but most often in the Farthest Roofs, where the Steppes of the Sky come down to touch the Vast and Earthen Court. There it is stepping upwards from the world, as it has always been stepping upwards from the world, caught in a moment of transcendent glory that does not complete. It simply is. Melanthios heard the footsteps of Unicorn. Melanthios heard the ringing of Unicorn’s bells. So Melanthios chased Unicorn off to the Farthest Roofs, and Melanthios did not return. Anton and Karel, who were his sons, were wiser than their father. They heard the bells but they did not follow. Instead, they memorized the scent. They gathered swords, and ropes, and nets, and they went out. They brought food and water and all manner of gear. They clung to the roofs with all four feet wheresoever after Unicorn they went. It proved no good. Anton looked up, and Karel to his brother. The world came down— That’s what Karel said. He had time to look away. He had time to bury his head in his paws. He did not see the fullness of Unicorn’s presence. He only saw Anton his brother become unreal. In the light of the moment of the Unicorn, Anton became as a paper figure in the fire. His reality burned out. His shadow seared into the roofs behind him. Where he’d stood, for just a moment, the Steppes of the Sky came down to touch the Vast and Earthen Court; and Anton was gone away. So Karel ran and Karel ran and Karel ran from the Unicorn; and all his life, he envied but was more fortunate than his brother.

These are gods. You're going up there to kill God.

Like, it's still silly wainscot fantasy with funny talking rats, but there's that tension. It's like if Fraggle Rock occasionally took a hard turn to serious cosmic horror – Lord Dunsany by way of Jim Henson – and that tonal juxtaposition was treated as something unremarkable.

Basically what I'm saying is go back The Far Roofs.

[beanxiv]

˗ˏˋ ꨄ︎ ─── THREE BEATS .ᐟ ˎˊ˗

d. wayne al-ghul x fem!reader , just under 1k word count

note: sorry for taking forever to drop this!!! btw this is partly a character study and partly me needing to output my love for damian wayne .ᐟ mood board linked in the title is edited by me but pics aren't mine obvi ! content: use of pet names, arabic petname translations: qalbi = my heart, hayati (my personal fav) = my life, i think that's all I used in there, but if not lmk and i'll translate!! 🏷: @wiseavenuelove && lmk if anyone else would like to be added :3 [main masterlist] . [dc masterlist]

“ and suddenly, everything that happened becomes easy. « و فجأة يهون كل اللي فات » ─── ”

damian is not soft. he’s the grandson of ra’s al-ghul and the son of talia al-ghul and bruce wayne. he’s ibn al khufach, trained by the league of assassins and honed to be the greatest assassin – to tame the world.

correction: damian was not soft. past tense. even when he tried his damn hardest not to be.

you bring out the best worst in him.

if someone had told him just a few months ago, that he’d be laying with his head in the lap of the most beautiful girl in the world— he’d scoff in their face. and yet—

“look at this one, dami,” you hum, one hand carding through his hair and the other tilting your phone down so he can see the tiktok on your phone. “isn't it so cute?”

you’re sitting on the couch in your apartment, and he’s laid up taking the rest of the space, head propped on the plush of your thighs.

“do you want it?” he asks, lifting his gaze from his sketchbook to look at the video then at you. it’s a toy— he thinks. he’s not actually sure what it is, but it looks like a toy.

“no!” you answer quickly, because you should've seen where this would go, “well, yes, but i just think they’re cute. do not buy me one, damian.”

he ignores you, instead clicking his tongue and lifting his phone to his face. “hirono dolls?” he mutters after a few moments of typing and scrolling.

“damian.”

“i purchased four of them,” he hums, not flinching when you shake your head and say his name scolding again. “my finger slipped.”

“they're like twenty dollars each!” you huff, to which he frowns.

“twenty? you’re right, i should get you more.” he mumbles all to himself, swiping at his phone again.

“damian!” you say for about the millionth time, reaching for his phone. naturally, the demon’s son’s reflexes are too quick for you and he jerks it just out of reach.

“you want the doll and i want you happy,” he offers like that makes complete sense— and in his mind, it does.

“i am happy without you spending all your mon—”

“it's my father’s money.”

“even worse!” you sigh in half amusement, half exasperation.

“i don't see how,” he shrugs, sitting up now.

“i dont wanna watch you spend money on me every time i open my mouth about something, dami.” your gaze follows him as he straightens.

“then close your eyes,” he smirks like he always does when he comes up with a smart quip.

you swat at him playfully, “oh, you are so insufferable.”

instead of responding to your insult, he catches your hand, brings it to his lips to kiss your knuckles.“i bought five more. they’ll be here tomorrow morning, hayati.”

you open your mouth to say something— another retort he assumes— but before the first syllable even leaves your lips, he tugs you down by your hand to flop against his chest. “don’t,” he murmurs. “let me show my affection.”

you melt against him, arms looping around his neck, “you know, there's a lot of other ways to show affection, robin.”

“is that right?” he mumbles, moving his sketchbook and pens out of the way with his left hand— right arm still circled around your waist— so that he can lay back against the arm rest, taking you with him. “enlighten me.”

and so you lean in, press a kiss to his jaw, then his cheek and nose, until you're peppering kisses all over his face— save for his lips, to his light frustration.

“i think i’ve been enlightened,” he says, taking your chin to pull you in for a real kiss. it’s soft, slow, and entirely unexpected of a man who learned to kill before he learned alif baa and taa. it also serves to show that this side of him is reserved for you, and you only. when your eyelids are fluttering shut, forgetting the world around you– remembering only this boy in front of you who's not perfect in the slightest way but tries for you. this boy who would drop everything to be at your side, who would drain his pockets for you inverse to the way you fill his heart. a boy who'd never think he'd ever belong to someone— or, more so, have anyone to ever belong to him.

and yet here you are, in his lap with your mouth on his, reverent and like a prayer on his tongue.

damian wayne al-ghul is rarely ever speechless, and right now— when your fingers are curling in his hair— his brain feels too foggy to come up with words. forunately for him, words go unneeded when you kiss him, because he finds himself speechless every time you do.

you’re pulling back all too soon, and your eyes are sparkling in a way that makes him feel like there’s a sparkle in his own chest. the silence isn’t uncomfortable, but his heart is beating enough in a way that makes him exhale, “honestly, i would have never thought you would be interested in small toys, though i suppose i shouldn’t put it above you to be so animated over odd things and knickknacks.” you blink at him for a moment, still caught between the phantom feeling of his lips against yours, and the way it makes you feel as if you’re floating. “what?” then your expression slackens into a deadpan, “oh, seriously? you kiss me silly and then insult me?”

he smiles again, the sort of smile that tugs at his lips when he’s trying not to smile, and he laughs a bit– a sound you’ll never get tired of. “i can kiss you silly again if you’d like.” “i’d like very much,” you mock playfully, already pulling him in by the front of his shirt.

© beanxiv — all rights reserved. copying, reposting, feeding into ai, translating, and modifying on any platform or by any means is not allowed.

reblogs with tags are highly appreciated!

[theinsideofablackhole]

Dissecting the Watcher's story & characters

⚠️ BIG EDIT ⚠️ I want to share a much, MUCH more compelling reading of the DLC's primary ending, courtesy of @characteranalysisthethird. You can find it in this reblog, spoilers of course.

I've seen a number of people claiming that the Watcher DLC has no story and that the slugcat has no characterization, but I definitely think it's there.

(SPOILERS FOR THE WHOLE DLC!) There are no spoilers for the secondary ending until about halfway down, where there is a warning.

Adventurous...

Since this post gets a bit meandering, I will spell out the general framework of the story here:

The Watcher is a shy, lonely individual who desperately struggles to find companionship after their childhood was cut short. They will go to great lengths to achieve this connection.

Timid mouse

"And through the middle of it all, a lonely lost slugcat trying their best to outlast the ravages of a warped world."

Why are they called the Watcher? It's due to their nonconfrontational, withdrawn demeanor. This is immediately apparent in the intro dream:

When Watcher's parent steps up to fight the aggressive slugcat, Watcher's sibling joins in. But Watcher just hides away, afraid to confront the danger. It's unclear if their family survived the tussle, but they never reunite again. Watcher's shy demeanor has severed them from their family.

Time passes and Watcher grows a bit older, wandering around in what seems like a futile search for their family. Here, they meet Spinning Top, the child Echo.

A desire to bond

Within the DLC's story, youthfulness is tied to a fear of isolation & loneliness.

Spinning Top has been lost & drifting for a long time. When they ascended, they feared the loss of connection to their old life and their loved ones. So they remained on world, searching for a sign that their loved ones still miss them.

This desperate pursuit has led them to travel across reality for eons and eons. By the time Watcher meets them, Spinning Top is now combing through places that have no relation to their life. Spinning Top won't find any sign of grief or remembrance in Coral Caves or Rusted Wreck, so why are they drifting along these pointless locations?

Spinning Top's loneliness and persistence arose because, as a child, they lacked the experience of maturing and could not handle the radical acceptance required to ascend. They are scared to accept the truth: their childhood has come and gone. Their loved ones eventually moved on and also left the world behind. Spinning Top is the only one holding onto this long-defunct family.

Shadow reflecting radiance

Watcher and Spinning Top are very similar characters. Both are lonely children that have been severed from their parents and siblings, and wish to revive the childhood that was ripped away from them. They're desperate to rekindle some kind of connection.

Throughout the campaign, Watcher continually searches for Spinning Top because they're the only individual that Watcher has seen who could bring a greater connection than chomping, fleeing, or stabbing. They even give Watcher the gift of infant godhood!

These childlike characters both find companionship in each other. In fact, Watcher's companionship is what gives Spinning Top the strength to return to the location of their actual memory, and confront the truth of their loneliness.

"All my mothers and fathers and crechemates who went along without me… Do they note my absence? I've traveled from the furthest future to the very seed of our past, and I see no evidence. Only echoes and strays. Aloof. Alone. Afraid."

Spinning Top accepts that it is best to grow up and move on, and so they disappear, finally ascending for real. Watcher, however, does not seem to learn the same lesson from this journey.

I NO LONGER AGREE WITH THIS READING! Instead, I believe that the ending shows Watcher having accepted their isolation in the same way that Spinning Top did, which is why they're content... and alone. I discovered this reading courtesy of @characteranalysisthethird, and you can find a reblog of it here.

While they may seem happy playing with toys, it's still a symbol of juvenility. Despite everything that has happened to them, they still embody a desire to recapture their lost childhood.

And now, Watcher is alone once more. Soon, they will seek out a new companion.

Ripplespace as a symbol of isolation

Before I discuss the second ending, I want to talk about Watcher's abilities and the symbols they embody.

The ripple-world that Watcher is (accidentally?) transported to by Spinning Top is a continuation of the aching, drifting nature of these two characters. They are unable to stay in place for long, constantly seraching for a sign of connection.

Watcher's "gift" of invisibility is a clear extension of their characterization. They tackle threats by hiding away, slipping past unnoticed. As their Ripple level rises, the cloak begins pushing Watcher further out of their typical plane of reality, creating tears into a wholly different plane. And when they reach the (as of now) maximum Ripple level, Watcher is fully pulled out of the material plane and into Ripplespace. Here, they are truly alone except for the primitive, gnawing voidspawn.

Every gift seems to give way to a curse of isolation. Watcher has to detach themselves from reality itself to survive, and the gift-giver Spinning Top leaves them behind.

Endless hunger

SPOILERS FOR THE SECOND ENDING.

SPOILERS FOR THE SECOND ENDING.

Here's a cool divider.

While the purple Throne Rot seen across the campaign may not play by the same rules as Five Pebbles' Rot, its behavior is equivalent. The Rot is the ultimate embodiment of primal struggle, a collective consciousness of brain meat that forever hungers to consume as much of the world as it can reach. It is not unintelligent, but it is very one-minded.

From The Throne itself, a giant flower blooms and gives birth to the Prince.

The Prince is a piece of the Throne Rot that has partially separated itself from its collective consciousness. It is an individual connected to the Throne Rot, but it has its own mind. "STARVING, pressing, grinding, SQUEEZING against... us? But now... I? A... SELF. And… an OTHER."

The Prince is an imitation of an Iterator puppet. This part of his identity causes him to believe that he was born to solve the Big Problem, by assimilating the entire world into the Throne Rot. "The imperative that was in THEM [the Iterators] remains in me." "Imagine: a single substrate… Life! (...) Nothing lost. No one lost. From bug to god, all as one. A TRUE end to the pattern."

I personally don't believe this was the original goal of the Throne Rot, but rather the Prince instinctually assigning purpose to his new life as an individual. He rationalizes his intrinsic hunger to consume in the lens of a "higher" ideal.

You can see how the Prince reflects Watcher's desire for connection in a deeply twisted manner. They're both in an endless pursuit to connect—Watcher offers itself to others as a companion, while the Prince takes companions and forces them into himself.

Opposing will

The Prince loves Watcher. He considers them to be a great friend, as they are the primary individual responsible for spreading the Throne Rot and the only one to have witnessed their genesis. "You have done so much for me, I will not burden you with my troubles. Please, rest here as long as you wish. You are always safe here, my dear friend. You, who were there for me."

Watcher has finally found it—a new companion, who showers them with praise and affection. Out of an acute desire to retain this friend, they go on to spread the Throne Rot across all the threads that connect the ripple-world. Every viable world is corrupted.

Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—something goes terribly wrong for the Prince. "I can almost feel... a will... at odds with my own."

Karma is antithetical to corruption. When the Throne Rot sufficiently engulfs the "fringes" of the ripple-world (Outer Rim and the Rotted vanilla regions), these regions become unstable and you cannot create a warp to escape them. However, there are pockets in The Throne where a bed of Karma Flowers allows you to exit. It's unknown if the phenomenon is natural or intelligent, but Karma inherently opposes the Rot.

When Watcher returns after corrupting all the regions, Karma Flower begin sprouting from the ground of The Throne. The Prince attempts to keep them in, but he ultimately fails—he freezes up, and countless Karma Flowers sprout from the corruption. The Throne Rot might not be outright dead, but its power has clearly been drained. The Prince has failed.

Karma Flowers are all over the map now. The "unstable fringes" have also been stabilized by their presence. You can create a warp to leave Outer Rim and the Throne from anywhere, and the same goes for the Rotted vanilla regions.

Going by the tone of the select screen art, Watcher just seems to mourn their loss. Another new friend, unceremoniously ripped from them.

Moving forward

Watcher cannot seem to find connection. Their family left and possibly died. They helped Spinning Top mature, but Spinning Top left—given that they viewed corporeal and primal life as absurd, they were bound to do this.

Watcher may have attained infant godhood, but their powers encourage them to hide away and detach themselves from the world, concealing them in the desolate Ripplespace with nothing but occasionally violent voidspawn.

It's almost scary how this godlet is willing to go such great lengths to secure companionship, falling for the Prince and corrupting the entire accessible ripple-world to make their friend happy. This friendship ends fruitlessly, too.

Watcher will eventually have a full conclusion to their story. So where will they go from here?

Narratively, I don't think Watcher will get what they want. Their next (and final, I believe) venture for companionship will end in ruin once again... but possibly, Watcher will recognize that while other people come and go, the only constant who will always be there for them is Watcher themselves, and they will learn to overcome the trauma and yearning of their lost childhood.

^ (I think this theme is actually what the Spinning Top ending is already trying to say, andWatcher realizes this very principle thanks to Spinning Top.)

That's my slightly blunt prediction for the overarching theme of the Watcher.

Extra thoughts

Scav Prediction

I personally believe the next arc will involve Scavengers. In the old pre-release Watcher concept, Watcher journyed with an enlightened Scavenger. While James Primate has stated before that Downpour kinda stole the old concept's thunder (i.e. with Artificer), I get a strong indication that the next arc will still involve Scavengers because of the new Acolytes.

Acolytes are Scavengers who are BRIMMING with attributes that reflect a knowledge of Karma and Ripples.

Acolytes wear glowing golden masks and clothes

A faint Karma symbol between 6-10 surrounds them, suggesting that they are already enlightened (or their armor is imbued with some kind of karmic concentration)

When they are grabbed by a predator, they initiate a crazy karmic retaliation blast to free themselves (which I failed to get a GIF of)

The blindfolded Disciple Acolytes emit a sort of karmic echolocation ping that detects entities from a distance

The definition of an "acolyte" is "a person assisting the celebrant in a religious service or procession". The celebrant is someone performing a rite; often a priest. This implies the acolytes are carrying something out for a leader who is almost certainly not the Chieftain Scavenger in Downpour.

Overall, these guys know something, and I think we're going to find out why.

[centaurianthropology]

I’ve really enjoyed that the show is not only complicating the PresAux characters, but Preservation as a whole, and has done both with a lot of respect for the humanity of their situations.

One thing that gets brought up in the books is that Preservation is terraformed, and that by and large terraforming isn’t great. It’s usually half-assed, and done just enough to make a planet livable. One would imagine that Preservation as a society has sunk a lot of their efforts into making it far more than livable, making it the best planet it can be. They are actively trying to make a place where all citizens have their needs met, have enough to chase their dreams without fear of salary or losing health care or food or shelter. They are working toward a utopia.

But they don’t live in a utopia.

Their internal society is moneyless, but the external societies around them are not. And they don’t have everything they need. They don’t have magic replicators that create all their necessary resources from nothing. They are post-money, but not post-scarcity. They are stubbornly holding to their values to keep providing all their people with what they need, because that’s one of the non-negotiable pillars on which their society is built. These folks we’ve met especially are the true believers in Preservation ideals, in working toward building their society.

It would be easy to give in and join the Corporation Rim, and I like that some people want to take the easy way out. Because that’s people, isn’t it? Some people want what they don’t have, they want more or shinier or simply different. Just because your society is trying to build utopia doesn’t mean you’re all going to agree on what that looks like. And even in a communal society, you still have individual people who are going to want other things.

So they’ve come up with a workaround. It’s not perfect, but likely it’s the best way they can figure out to get external resources they can’t yet produce internally, while still holding to as many of their ideals as possible. They send teams out to do scientific work. That work either helps them further their internal goals—getting resources or knowledge that can make them more and more self-sustaining—or that work can be sold, likely in trade for goods or resources Preservation simply cannot provide at this point in time.

Even sending their planetary leader on these missions makes sense from the communal mindset. Of course the leader needs to do that work. They have to see the risks taken, the compromises made, the dirty parts of supporting their society. They have to be down in the dirt with everyone else, never above and able to ignore the realities of what must be done to make their better world.

They don’t have luxury space communism. They are a communal society with limited resources surrounded by corporate sharks. And some of their people want to become sharks, betraying the heart of their society. So they have to fight for their culture and their world through their actions and their decisions. They have to make compromises and work with outside forces they don’t entirely (or even remotely) agree with for the benefit of their people. And even in this group of true believers there’s internal disagreement! Bharadwaj sees this as scientific endeavor for the greater good, and she’s right! Gurathin sees it as selling knowledge to corporate fucks who will likely misuse it, and he’s right!

It’s sticky, it’s less pleasant than perhaps some book readers were hoping for. They wanted perfect luxury space communism with all scarcity problems already fixed and everyone living in harmony. They wanted the utopia rather than the pre-utopian work and compromise and challenges.

I don’t know, man, I just really like seeing a communal society of space hippies get portrayed with such care and respect for their humanity and their struggles. I like that they get to be people. I like that we get to see them doing the work and living by their ideals even when (especially when) it’s hard.

[ellipsus-writes]

Stories of resistance; communities of power

(Read over on the blog!) The first time I met a queer character was a literal flash in the dark: stumbling onto Maurice on the IFC channel, sometime around midnight—the Merchant-Ivory adaptation of E. M. Forster's novel where the two leads actually get a happy ending.

Before that, the only queer characters I’d ever seen were Scar and Ursula, camping, preening, and scheming their way to classic villainhood—swishy, fabulous, undeniably doomed. And then I found Oscar Wilde at the library: an actual gay writer (thrilling: I bought a poster on the nascent internet of the author lounging on a settee and taped it too my bedroom door—abandon straightness, all ye who enter here). And then I learned how it ended: destroyed by the state, dragged through a prejudicial court system—the ultimate doomed narrative, for the crime of being human.

There have been big strides in the, uh… how many intervening years? (Y2K was 10 years ago, right?) We no longer have to sit quietly, waiting for a flicker of queer joy on late-night TV, clawing our way through a wasteland of tragedy to feel seen.

Now, we make our own stories.

I wrote my own stories in high school; digging through the cracks to find historic queer spaces I could enter, rediscovering buried worlds and realizing we’d always been here. (Ask me about mid-18th-century gay life in Paris, or ‘20s Berlin... or don’t.) And fanfic, which went mainstream a little later, changed everything. It’s the way so many people carve out space for themselves—claiming stories that were never meant for us and making them our own.

Of course, it’s 2025. There are tragedies happening right now. Big ones, small ones, ones so personal they’ll never make the news; losses so massive they leave entire communities grieving. They can feel insurmountable.

But we have something stronger—community.

You’re already doing the work. You’re making yourselves visible—writing without permission, without waiting for gatekeepers to tell you what’s marketable or appropriate. You write anyway. You’re valid because you write. Your stories spread across the void, forming bonds when they most want to divide us. Instead of more tragedy, you’re making whole universes gay (literally).

Telling stories—messy, joyful, painful, honest, true—will always be a defiant act. Every time you write a queer character, spin a fanfic with queer headcanons, share a few lines that spring straight from your gut, you’re pushing back. The act of creation sets off a chain reaction—visibility, empathy, and the simple, profound reminder that you’re not alone.

That’s the gift of stories: to expand someone’s world, to help them see others—and themselves—more clearly, no matter what the world tells you. The power of storytelling has always been revolutionary, and the beauty of community is that it makes us unbreakable.

Our community proves this every day. You show up for each other—offering feedback, encouragement, shouting 2AM prompts and plotbunnies into the void (and the void answers back). You share your worlds, your ideas, your selves. You make space for each other, and you make Ellipsus stronger, more resilient, and more fiercely alive.

That’s why Pride matters. And why writing matters—more than ever.

For us, this work is personal. As a queer-founded company (myself—Rex—and my partner, John—hey how are you), we built Ellipsus as a home for creators who, like us, find deep belonging in community and creative expression.

With queer voices under attack—rights stripped away, books banned, Pride erased from calendars (FCK GGL)—we don’t need to tell you we’re worried. You’re worried, too. But together, we’re determined. We’re courageous and connected.

For Pride Month, we’re excited to give back to the community that gives so much to us—and to launch a few things along the way…

A new Pride theme for Ellipsus

Because queer joy should shine in every word you write. (Yes, it’s forever—not just for June!)

And coming soon…

You’ll be able to support your favorite little writing tool in more ways… yep, we’re jumping on the merch gambit. But it’s not all about us—50% of all proceeds from our shop will go directly to LGBTQ+ organizations fighting back against censorship, discrimination, and erasure:

The Trevor Project—Supporting LGBTQ+ youth.

Trans Lifeline—Providing life-saving resources for trans people.

The ACLU—Fighting for freedom of expression, trans rights, and against book bans and censorship.

... Pride is about all of us—so we want to hear from you.

What does Pride mean to you as a writer? How does your creativity reflect your community, and your hopes for the future? How does writing get you through it, help you make connections, and bring you joy?

Share your stories in our Discord, or shout into the void of Tumblr, Bluesky (and tag us!). We’ll be sharing some of your responses throughout the month. Our aim is simple: to give you a space to write freely, protect freedom of expression, and uplift queer voices—not just for a month, but for as long as it takes.

[yamujiburo]

Why I Love Hanamusa

I get this question very frequently but have never given a really in depth, definitive answer. All just kinda implied through my comics and spread out asks. So here's this I guess! Long post ahead:

First, as a Pokémon fan in her mid 20s, I love seeing a ship where the characters are both in their mid/late 20s. Already, they’re much more relatable to me and my current experiences. Most Pokémon ships are between preteens, which can be cute but ultimately don’t interest me as much as they used to when I was a kid myself. Not enough to get super invested in and draw a lot of fanart for anyways haha.

I’ll also start by saying that canon doesn’t always influence whether or not I’ll ship something. I’m much more drawn to potential. Could the characters work together? Do their personalities work together in a nice way? I feel like this so much of fanon is anyways. Especially with queer relationships because they’re rarely depicted in the first place. A lot of the context for these ships is usually up to the fans to piece together or make up in general. And that’s the fun part to me!

Jessie and Delia have only met in the anime a handful of times. Any interaction they’ve had has either been pleasant, or just a typical Team Rocket interaction, with Delia dismissing them/not seeing them as a threat. Already a great jumping off point for me since, truly, they don’t have any actual beef or true, ill feelings towards each other. It’s not TOO out of the realm of possibility for them to potentially fall for each other. “But Jessie chased Delia’s son around trying to steal his Pokémon!” That’s where that dismissive and aloof attitude that Delia has comes into play. I’ll go more into Delia’s whole deal a bit later but I do think this aspect of her personality is a large reason why this ship can work. It’s not that she doesn’t care that Jessie has a bad past, but she can tell that, on the inside, Jessie’s a good person. And, in a scenario where Jessie is trying to become a better person, is forgiving enough to give her a shot. I feel like this is such a solid foundation for a ship. A character who has done wrong but is trying to be better and another character who is willing to help them be better. A classic dynamic!

It’s not just one-sided though; where Jessie is the only one benefitting and learning from the relationship. I believe Delia could get a lot out of being with someone like Jessie. To understand why, I think it’s important to know these characters’ respective backstories.

Jessie is an orphan/foster child who grew up in poverty. Her mother Miyamoto (from The Birth of Mewtwo) was a Team Rocket operative herself, who went on a mission to find Mew. In order to do this, she had to leave Jessie when she was just a toddler. Unfortunately, Miyamoto went MIA on her mission leaving Jessie to more or less fend for herself. Jessie went through life with zero stability, evident by her MANY different careers and constant moving around. It’s implied in the show that she went from foster home to foster home, and later in life tried being an idol, weather girl, florist, wine connoisseur, actress, most notably a nurse and finally a Team Rocket field agent. And even while in Team Rocket, she, James and Meowth were always doing odd jobs to get by. We see that Jessie used to be a sweet kid, and even adult, but the world and her circumstances repeatedly did her dirty, leading her to become the character we know today. Hot tempered, mean, selfish, etc. But despite this, her soft side does still shine through for the people and Pokémon she cares about. She is incredibly loyal.

Delia, unbeknownst to a lot of fans, also had a rough past (see Pocket Monsters: The Animation). Like Jessie, she had a lot of dreams and aspirations like wanting to be a model and even a trainer. But when she was 10, her mother didn’t let her, telling her that she had to stay home and learn to run the family restaurant (she’s an only child). Delia’s father left her and her mother to be a trainer, and never returned. When she was 18, she married Ash’s father and became pregnant shortly after. But right after Ash was born, he also set off to be a Pokémon trainer. And soon after that, her mother passed away, leaving Delia with just the restaurant and baby Ash. This gives so much context to Delia’s attitude in the show. We see that Delia is pained whenever Ash leaves on a journey, but she never shows that pain to anyone. ESPECIALLY Ash. She’s very quick to shoo him off when he shows any sign of wanting to go on another journey and even when he returns home, she acts more excited to see Pikachu than him almost every time. Without all this backstory, it’s easy to just read this as a funny gag, BUT with context, I think it really shows how quickly Delia shuts down and detaches in order to not confront her own feelings. She’s afraid of losing people and getting hurt again.

All that said, I think Jessie and Delia provide each other with EXACTLY what the other needs. 

Aside from becoming rich and famous, Jessie’s biggest aspiration is to get married. In my opinion, this is more so an underlying want for love and stability. There is no one more stable in the show than Delia. Delia’s lived in Pallet her whole life, she’s worked at the same restaurant since she was young and she is always there when Ash comes back home. She has all the love, patience and stability Jessie needs and craves. While forgiving, Delia’s not stupid and can keep Jessie in check. Delia’s also just an angel, which I feel, would make Jessie want to be better. And on top of all this, on more of a surface level, Delia’s a chef and excellent cook. She shows love through cooking and Jessie, who grew up poor, regularly starving and eating snow, happily receives that love. Jessie’s able to live a happy and healthy life with someone like Delia.

Delia, as stated, is very stable. Likely pretty monotonous and solitary, especially living in such a small town like Pallet. This isn’t a bad thing but it’s a little sad when you consider that Delia also had dreams of traveling, being a model and a trainer. She had to give up so many dreams in order to fulfill her duties as a restaurant owner and mother. And even now, when Ash is off on his journey, she feels the need to always be home and be that stable pillar, leaving behind any ambitions she had, thinking it’s too late for her (she’s only 29 btw). But then along comes Jessie, dangerous, passionate, an absolute firecracker. Someone who’s whole life has been about chasing dreams and either, never giving up on them or finding a new dream to chase. Upon learning about Delia’s past aspirations, I could see Jessie pushing her towards them, letting her know that life’s too short and she has nothing to lose from trying. On top of this, Jessie’s also loyal. She, James and Meowth are depicted as doing anything for anyone who gives them food or shows them kindness. Delia does both so there’s no way Jessie would leave her. This fulfills an essential need for Delia, who is afraid of the people in her life leaving her.

There’s so much potential for mutual growth and learning between these two and I adore that. They compliment each other, they help each other and they bring out the best qualities in one another.

I’m not really sure how to end this and I could truly talk about them even more but I don’t want this to be tooooo long haha. OH I could end it with maybe the most funny aspect of this ship that I've brushed over and also what drew me to it in the first place. Jessie. As Ash’s stepmom. THE END.

[theglassofmiddleearth]

Evenfall

Imagine you wake up in Twilight as a random side character. (Part 1)

Nullification!reader Human reader! SideCharacter Bella! Isekai au! Edward Cullen X reader. Eventually Jacob Black x reader. (2 endings.)

Next

Blinking her eyes open, Y/N’s gaze fixed upon the unfamiliar white ceiling. She wrinkled her nose, sitting up on her bed, feeling the cotton sheets beneath her crumple. The room seemed untouched, meaning that Y/N hadn’t been here long.

‘Where….?’ She frowned, ‘Where the hell am I?’ Y/N ran a hand over her face and swung her legs off the bed, feeling the carpeted floor beneath her toes. Huh, interesting rug. Glancing at the suitcase beneath her feet, she gambled that it was full of her personal belongings. This would mean she had most likely just arrived somewhere seeing as the suitcase was haphazardly unzipped, her clothes strewn about.

The plinking of the rain slapping against her glass window was comforting, grounding her from hyperventilating. It was cold and wet, the entire sky was tinted in a greyish blue. She couldn’t tell if it was early morning or evening, but based on the birds chirping, it seemed to be dawn. It also looked like it had snowed the night before. How pleasant. This wasn’t her first time waking up in a different world. However, the knowledge of where she resided was always quite slow to come. It was irritating, to say the least.

Stumbling her way into the bathroom connected to the room, she turned on the faucet and splashed the cool water on her face.

At least all her features were still her own, she noted, staring into her reflection in the mirror. Huh, she looked to be herself when she was in high school? Y/N shook her head and stepped back into her room, looking around somewhat frantically. Which world did she wake up in??

A ringing in her ears began, soft at first, crescendoing into a roar. She always hated this part, the memories, emotions and information, all rushing to cram itself into her mind. Overwhelming as it was, the process was short, swift and very much necessary.

Ah, she was Y/N L/N in this world too. A side character. Just moved in from Australia as a transfer student. Her parents had been friends with Charlie Swan before they moved. She called him ‘Unca’ Charlie when she was young. All her memories from the real world were merging into place.

‘Hey, kid! School starts in half an hour!’ A gruff voice called, flowing into her seam of thoughts.

She had gotten here the night before, she was staying in the room next to his daughter’s, Bella. She was moving in from phoenix apparently and would be arriving not long after Y/N.

Wait

Charlie Swan? Daughter named Bella?

‘Son of a bitch.’ She muttered, ‘Really? Twilight? How am I meant to survive here?’

‘Hey, everything alright?’ The voice was closer now, outside of her door. It was probably Charlie.

‘Yeah, m’fine just have a headache!’ She called through the door, slumping down, head in her hands.

Three raps came from the wood before the door slowly whinged open, revealing a handsome middle aged man.

‘Y/N, do you… is there anything….’ Charlie began, his eyebrows were drawn in concern.

‘I’ll be ok. When did you say Bella was coming back again?’ She sighed out, dropping her hands and looking up at the man helplessly.

‘Tomorrow! Did you wanna just start school with her on Monday?’ He asked with a small smile.

‘It’s okay, I’ll go today so I can at least show her around. After all today is Friday, i'll have the weekend to recover. It’s the least I could do.’ Y/N smiled at him, standing and moving to her suitcase. Charlie was empathetic. Kind. Y/N felt bad for him in this story. Bella wasn’t exactly a good daughter. She hummed, slapping on an appropriate outfit for school. Y/N narrowed her eyes at the drizzly sky before deciding to grab a sweater just in case.

Ah, highschool. What a fucking waste of time.

Charlie had driven her there and offered to take her to the office but Y/N shook her head. She didn't want to inconvenience him anymore than she already had.

‘I’ll be fine Charlie, thank you for the ride, I’ll see you tonight?’ She smiled at him. Charlie had offered for her to borrow the car that he had bought for Bella. Y/N however, did not want to drive to school seeing as she had no idea where said school was, and maps were a hassle.

‘Alright kiddo, give ‘em hell!’ He waved, before shifting gears out of parking and preparing to make his way to work. Y/N waved as he rolled away, allowing her smile to slip when he was well out of sight.

‘Alright Forks, do your worst.’ She rolled her eyes, trudging past the horde of teenagers and into the school building. There were a couple of stares here and there that Y/N fully ignored. She made her way through the pruned shrubbery and a walkway, following the sign that indicated she was going in the right direction.

The office was small, disgustingly warm, and stuffy. It was not so different from the typical office of any other school. The pastel yellow reminded her of hospital walls.

Y/N cleared her throat. Trying to catch the attention from behind the desk of the woman, click-clacking away at a computer.

The red-haired woman looked up, pushing a finger under her glasses. "Can I help you?"

"I'm Y/N L/N," Y/N informed her, watching the light behind the woman's eyes slowly blink on.  Gossips, all of them, Y/N grumbled in her mind. Forks was a small town and she had no doubt that everyone knew that she was an outsider. The girl who left her parents Down Under to come study in America! Hopefully she wasn’t asked any stupid questions.

"Of course," the lady from behind the desk said. She dug through a precariously stacked pile of documents on her desk till she found the ones she was looking for. 

"I have your schedule right here, and a map of the school." She brought several sheets to the counter.

‘Thanks very much ma’am. Have a great day.’ Y/N gave her a polite smile before pushing out of the office doors and into the cold, wet outside.

Following the sea of students, she glanced at her schedule and up at the classroom numbers, filtering through the rooms before finding her own.

Slipping into a classroom marked on her schedule, she slinked, silently to the back and sat down.

Ignoring all the people around her until the teacher would inevitably call out her name and bring the gaze of gossip hungry teenagers onto her.

Great.

She slumped into her table and pulled her hoodie up to cover her head. Y/N was heavily hoping that none of the Cullen's were in her class. ANY of her classes. She didn’t need the mind reading emo in her brain or the still flighty, ex-soldier who was struggling with his cravings. Alice would be alright, she seemed to be the nicest sibling in the family besides Emmett.

‘Y/N L/N?’ The teacher called, raising an eyebrow at the unfamiliar name. She could feel the scrutiny under his gaze, along with the rest of the class. Y/N could hear the whispers

‘Uh yeah that's me.’ Y/N said, in a whisper. Shrinking back into her seat as she felt eyes burning into her silhouette. Now, she felt almost bad for Bella. She would have it worse, being the chief's daughter and all.

Someone was staring, boring their eyes into her form.

Y/N looked up, shifting her gaze from the floor to her left slightly.

Black eyes glinting. Nay, burning a hole into her own. High cheekbones, reddish brown hair and pale perfect skin.

Shit.

The boy jerked his head back slightly, looking as if he had been hit. He gave a quiet gasp, shaking his head and gripping his desk. Y/N was in the same homeroom as Edward Cullen .

The bell rang, a nasally drone. Y/N stood quickly, grabbing her backpack and rushing to her first class. Stealing a look at her schedule she bumped against the crowd of people in the hallway.

She was lost.

‘In what universe does this map even make sense.’ She snarled quietly, as the hallways began to slowly filter out people, leaving her standing at a locker that she didn't own.

‘Are you lost?’ A soft, melodious voice, from behind Y/N snapped the poor girl to attention.

‘What in the flaming-’ Y/N whipped around, brandishing her schedule like a weapon.

‘Are you lost?’ The question was gentler this time, probing for an answer.

Y/N’s eyes widened, looking at the owner of the voice.

Edward Cullen.

Crap

‘I uh, yes but I’ll find my way thanks, don’t let me keep you from class!’ She sputtered out, backing away from the boy who gazed curiously at her. Y/N didn’t give a chance for the boy to respond, power walking away to a direction of which she was only semi-sure was correct. Seeing as Edward Cullen was meant to be a mind reader, Y/N wasn't too sure about being within a five foot radius of him. What if he killed her because she knew he was a vampire?

Finding her way to her classroom ended up proving difficult as she had walked in the wrong direction. She had managed to end up in English without being too late. Luckily for her, she had already finished reading all the books they would be studying. She knew the content and remembered the gist of all her essays. English would be a breeze.

American History on the other hand, would be a different story. However, she was confident that she would pick it up. After all, it wasn’t like she had to study for the other subjects. She had graduated highschool before. 

Lunch came around and Y/N had followed the rest of her gym class to the cafeteria. Edward was in the same gym class as her but she split off as soon as the coach blew his whistle. She ended up trying to think of anything that wouldn't draw his attention.

‘So, you found your way to class alright.’ Edwards' voice came from behind Y/N. 

‘I did, thank you for asking.’ Y/N stiffened, grabbing onto an apple hard, breaking the skin with her nails. She couldn't just dash away from the lunch line. Could she?

‘Hi! You must be Y/N! I see you've met Edward!!’ A girl from behind Edward hummed. She was shorter, hair in a manic pixie cut and a knowing smile. Behind her was another boy, blonde and just as chiselled as Edward.

‘Come sit with us!’ The girl grinned, as she gestured towards an empty table. The boy next to this new girl seemed to be in pain.

‘She won’t be sitting with us.’ Edward snapped, voice strained.

Y/N frowned and sneered at him.

‘Don’t worry, I wasn’t even thinking of it.'

The girl spun around and walked off to return her tray. Y/N had lost her appetite and her temper. She sent Edward one last withering look before grabbing her apple from the tray and storming off. Y/N didn’t need to be friends with the Cullen's to survive. She could just move away right after high school graduation. 

The rest of the day proved to be less interesting, thank goodness. Y/N flew through the rest of the day, avoiding the Cullen's at all costs. She had briefly made friends with Angela, Y/N remembered she was kind in the books. One of the only good friends Bella had. Jessica also proved to be just as much of a gossip as she was in the book. However she did introduce herself politely.

Y/N deflated slightly. Charlie was still at work. She would have to walk home. Not that walking was an issue, it was more like she didn't actually quite remember where home was…

Crossing the car park, she slipped on her earphones and walked towards the road. Bella would be arriving tomorrow and the timeline would continue. Everything would be the same and she woul-

The screeching of tires on gravel. Burnt rubber. Y/N heard a loud cry from in front of her and glanced up to see a vehicle heading straight towards her.