#yea this is about you know who's 'review' again. it's on my mind now that i'm trying to finish the series. sowwy. ;9

[lyssafreyguy]

God . . . imagine thinking Laios is a bad person who doesn't care about people. actual insanity.

[lexiene]

═ 𝕆𝕦𝕣 ℂ𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 ° . •° .

W/r: fluff, pregnancy, mentions of body changes insecurities, Megumi's paternal instinct, clingy Gumi, baby talk, mentions of de*th word, but overall more smooch of fluff FLUFFINESS

S/m: in which your husband aka your lovely Megumi had this clingy type to your rounded belly that he couldn't stop rubbing and showered with kisses as well the baby they love to hear their daddy's voice and they were kicking lovingly.

A/n: my first full fic after a year not publishing and became hiatus so here it is hope ya like it! (σ ´-ω-`)σ

edited: instead of waiting the right time to post.. I written this as tribute to Megumi's bday since I had been waiting for this for long months to do so here's the first ever fic of mine I didnt put my dividers yet bc s there's a sudden doubt of me again so need to review it again so yea...hope yall like it (•́ω•̀) also @greycaelum this for you in advance bday with fluffiness of baby fever 😖💜

W/c: ( 1.1k )

Finally, a long day you have been waiting for your day to rest due to your extreme shifting of pregnancy hormones. They're really extremely kicking in and that makes you shift moods at times.

Day and night kept you busy eating, watching, playing with your husband's Divine Dogs, and even morning to evening sickness.

Your OB-GYN told you that you were expecting a baby boy during your second ultrasound she also told you that she had also experienced lots and lots of morning sickness during her firstborn and thought she was gonna die but she reassured you that it is completely normal and your health stability maximizes the baby's growth in your tummy which was your relief.

The mood swing changing can be challenging too, since this is both you and Megumi's first child, a first miracle, and blessed by the Gods, can lead you to a roller coaster mood swings. Which is the sign of healthy and normal for the baby.

You'll tell Megumi the gender of the baby tomorrow since you don't wanna miss this father and 'son' moments on how precious it is.

Your husband's head is currently pressed in your growing belly for an hour now not releasing you from his embrace, since he told you in the morning he's on off duty today and gladly for that to not get too much overload of work which was his adoptive dork adoptive father bragging about the situation at the Jujutsu Tech nonstop.

You maybe knew that he have already prepared for this day to come, at last it came true. You also thought about for a quite some time now that he is finding your pregnant belly a comfort and reliever to his mind which made your heart swell and happy even though with pinch of insecurities from month changing leading you in teary state. Are you still beautiful? And getting uglier?

"You're crying again Y/n, what are you thinking?" you slightly flinch from his voice and snapped out from your thoughts again when Megumi breaks the silence you giving him.

Megumi always noted that everytime you spaced out with your thoughts that clouding your mind, he always knew where to cut off the silence and help you at ease by hugging then slowly rocking you and kisses your temple as you release all your tears out while holding him even your belly is occupying half of the embrace.

"It's nothing, Gumi," you sniffed "My hormones are kicking again and got me into tears, don't worry I'm okay." You smile and caressing his unruly hair signifying your love to his hair all the times a reminder of his style and comforting sight.

"You look adorable while talking to our baby~," you teased him in order to ease a bit his worries to you and the baby.

"No I'm not, I'm just...fine you got me," you laughed heartedly and vibrates your belly giving a slight shake to Megumi's face and he smiled seeing you happy again. He is happy too.

"Who knew the strongest shikigami user can be this affectionate?" you teased him again earning a groan from him as his face glow with red. You really love teasing yet of course with love out of it.

"You're dork you know that?" he now is the one teasing you back he do starting to learn something from you he also might got it from his friends but overall he learned it from you.

"Hey! At least I'm cute though!" you pouted and try to make him let go as if your telling him 'you making me angy at you' but he didn't.

Megumi shook his head when his wife starting to display her signature pouting again. He is always prepared again.

"Do you want some chocolate crepe with strawberry and sprinkles on top?" you gasped and your eyes shines in glee and small drool began to form, Megumi got the hint.

Your hungry now. Time to get ready.

You nodded fast like a puppy who wags in excitement and ready to be fed "Add some extra syrup too, Gumi!" you added but your husband shook his head in no.

"Did I told you not to add too much extras? The baby might adopt your sweet tooth and I don't want to have 'second' to handle the sweetness obsession." he's referring Gojo Satoru. Oh boy.

"You mean our baby, Gumi~ and why are you getting annoyed when our baby is not even born yet," you rub your belly telling your unborn baby to them or rather baby boy, him 'don't listen to your papa you'll be healthy once you're born' .

"And are your referring Gojo-san again?" shoot she got him.

"Oh Gumi, don't be!" she motions him sit down with her again and wrapped her arms around his neck since he stood up and he was already preparing your crepe "You know our baby will be more healthier if you feed me food with love and give me massage when your not occupied with work, you don't have to worry everything just always remember I'm doing great and this little angel," you point your tummy "Is happily kicking since morning, telling me that their Daddy is amazing and working hard to give me and mommy lots of love!" imitating baby voices making your husband hide his face into your neck in affection and get flustered.

"You might wanna put your hands now because they're kicking already as we speak," you grab his hand and place where the baby's kicking, and there. He felt it again.

The sensation of his child, the nudge gives him the brightening spark and different feeling of love when his hand place on it.

"See? They love their papa so much!" you giggled and kiss your husband's hair since he was He was still hiding his face into your neck and his hand on top your tummy and yours is placed on top of his.

He then leaned down and talk to his baby. "Hey there little angel," he whispered saying his favorite baby names to your baby "I guess your dad here being..overprotective again and I'm sorry, he was just following the doctor's instructions to keep your mom healthy and stable," rubbing your belly with his thumb "From now on I'll follow your request but still there are still limits and need to be follow, is that okay?"

Baby nudge into his hand in agreement saying 'it's a deal daddy!' and Megumi chuckled rubbing it again where the kick came.

"Great, I'm going to make your mom's request now, love you" he whispers and kisses your tummy. You swear your heart is going to explode from his paternal heart growing even more.

You're more happier than ever to be with him.

© Do not repost, refrain modifying any Lexiene works to any other soical media/platforms.

[theroseredreaper]

Hi hi

May I request Azul with a reader who loves to take photos? Like they have a camera and love capturing memories of those around them with it

again if you have any questions about these let me know

Azul With A Reader Who Loves Taking Photos

Word Count: 946 Words

(A/N): I hope you like it! Reader was written to be Yuu/Player character. It’s, uh, also a little more hurt/comfort than intended. Oops.

Azul has a vendetta against you and your camera.

When you first arrived at Night Raven College, he hadn’t paid any mind whatsoever to your proclivity to photograph absolutely everything that moved with the ghost camera that Headmaster Crowley had bestowed upon you. Photography was a task that was placed upon you - supposedly - and he hadn’t known you as anything other than the magicless student from another world that had been moved into Ramshackle Dorm.

And then you were a sort of acquaintance that insisted on friendship with every sorry student that went through an overblot and the sight of you at Octavinelle with the ghost camera on a lanyard around your neck became a near permanent fixture of his everyday routine ever since he’d paid you back during the whole winter break incident. At first, he didn’t mind your constantly asking for photos. Having a tangible remembrance of occasions like the school festivals and events was something Crowley had asked of you, after all. It didn’t hurt to pose for photos when you were a natural at photography, either.

Lately, however…he could not seem to go more than a few minutes without you constantly calling out to him: “Azul! Hey, Azul! Let’s take a picture together!”

He simply could not wrap his mind around how it had become routine for you to photograph every little thing so incessantly. The constant sound of the shutter on your camera had set him so on edge that he’d even gone as far as banning photography from the Mostro Lounge for a full week, until the protests of the students that enjoyed being able to show off their meals on Magicam had done a hefty blow to his profits for the month.

Even today, during your near daily visit to Octavinelle, you photographed everything from the twins escorting you to his office, the tea Jade served you before exiting with Floyd in tow, to even him retaking his seat to resume working after greeting you. He could hardly focus on the numbers he was reviewing in the lounge ledgers in anticipation of what he knew you would inevitably ask him.

“Azul! Hey, Azul! Let’s take a picture together!”

Sighing, internally chastising the part of himself that could not bring itself to be terse with you, Azul set his pen down.

“Prefect. I am trying to work. You visit knowing that you can keep me company as long as you do not interrupt my work.”

“Yea, but,” you fidget and he decidedly does not smile at your pouting, “you should take a break now and then, Azul. I’m always telling you that. Besides, it’s bad for your eyes to be staring at such tiny numbers for so long.”

“And your suggestion to take a break comes in the form of asking me for yet another photo?”

You huff, as he expects. You fidget with the buttons on your camera as your pout deepens into a frown, which he also expects. He does not, however, expect you to curl in on yourself like a blown out candle, gaze dropping to the floor.

“I just want to have proof of the things that made me happy while I was here, Azul. I…hadn’t realized that I’d been asking you for so many pictures. Sorry.”

It’s such a simple, innocuous apology. Remorseful and definitely something that he did not want to hear come out of your mouth. The reminder of your temporary residence in his world, the realization that you treasured him more than he had thought and he’d belittled your feelings for him, hit him with the cold slap of instant regret.

“No,” he stood abruptly, startling you just as much as the instant regret left him reeling with the need to make amends. “No, there is no need to apologize. I’ve had a long day and I took it out on you.”

He beckons you to him, opting to walk to you instead when he sees how you hesitate with your camera in your hands.

“I hadn’t realized I was something that made you happy,” he sits beside you on the couch, adjusting his glasses to avoid eye contact. He clears his throat when you scoff at him. “Okay, yes, it’s very clear in hindsight how much you care about me. I am just…not well-practiced in things like this.”

You stare silently at him while he struggles to compose himself. He sighs and sits up straight when he sees that you’re not inclined to speak anytime soon, very clearly steeling himself for some sort of grand declaration.

“I’m…sorry.”

You don’t think anyone would blame you for gaping up at him as you do now.

“I really am. It was rude of me. I hadn’t even stopped to consider why you would take pictures of every little thing, even outside of what the headmaster had asked of you. I’ll take as many pictures with you as you’d like from now…If I could ask you to refrain from photographing every single object in the dorm every time you visit?”

Grinning, you press your shoulder up against his as you peer up at his eyes that now squarely look back at you. “Yes. I can agree to that.”

Smiling in return, Azul scoots closer to you so that the two of you can fit into frame as you lift the ghost camera up to snap a picture.

“Thanks, Azul.”

In the photo, Azul is focused entirely on you instead of the camera, eyes soft and full of adoration. If he asks you for a copy of the picture and keeps it framed on his bedside table from now on…well, quite frankly, that’s no one’s business but his own.

(A/N): I hope you enjoyed! Apologies that it’s not all that lighthearted, it just kind of ended up that way…

[samandcolbypost]

Sam stop being stubborn and listen to Colby for once. DONT GO ALONE. 3 years ago taught you nothing? 😭

I don’t really think it’s accurate but at least the first part meats the first part is what I’m talking about.

Sagittarius

“It's not that they are stubborn per se; it's that they won't listen to anyone who tells them what to do. Sagittarians are adventurous and open-minded, so they're willing to consider new ideas and learn from people. It's just these free-spirited individuals cannot be controlled or manipulated.”

Sam really needs to listen. It wasn’t fair for Colby because it was supposed to be both of yours big moment, but I don’t think it’s right to judge Sam especially because it was something he needed to find out too. He could’ve just woke up Colby and at least let him know, especially for safety since no one else was awake during that time and something could’ve happened. Colby was mad and he had every right to be, also because Sam casually mentioned it while they went to the basement. 🤦🏻‍♀️ But they communicated in a healthy way so that’s something at least. (I’m actually glad to see that because now we know what they do when they fight and it’s even more of a reason to love them) yea show us how it’s done! Some thing we all need to learn from.

—

Colby threw the tick down only to go back in and grab water. 💀

—

Okay everything I just wrote didn’t even save soo I’m going to have to try again. 🙃

—

I love this down to earth moment after what they were told about “were okay” moment.

—

I hope Colby is okay going into the woods especially since they’ve been warned. We see him running at the end so I’m hoping that means he goes back to the house.. also hoping they have walkie talkies just in case.

—

We all know Colby is some kind connection because he feels energy sometimes, but can we talk about how twice Sam has done the Estes method he started shaking. I don’t know if it’s a connection per say, but it’s definitely weird. He felt like something was pushing him down, and the last time he felt he couldn’t even move. (I felt like Colby was still mad from the prior conversation because when he said “what were you doing” I was like 👀 I’m glad he realized to take him out of it at least, because I couldn’t even see him shaking on camera) I might be over analyzing why I think Colby said that too but anyways.

—

I don’t mind Larray and Bella. I don’t think it added anything to the video like some have said, but overall it wasn’t horrible.

—

I still am sticking to my box theory with Cody and Satori. I don’t think they’re horrible people but I also think they are lying up a storm. I feel somehow sound can be manipulated to sound closer and further away, and a lot of the sounds comes from Cody’s area..

—

Sam and Colby tried the method and it didn’t work except for what they heard at the very last moment. I kinda wished it worked for them but I figured. 😕

—

The camera equipment not working was kinda freaky I won’t lie. The fact it does this a lot even with their batteries being full. Also who or what was coming up the stairs?? I feel it could be the 4th tour guide or Zach, but how Colby responded on Twitter says otherwise. I guess the spirit just wanted to make an appearance in the video.

—

I’m rewatching clips as I do this to remember (which is how this got deleted to begin with 🤦🏻‍♀️). Anyways, someone just posted a clip and you can see something outside the window when Colby is standing by the window, either about to go into the well or when they finished the Estes method idk.

—

Props for them staying in the rooms by themselves I could never. Especially when it’s a haunted house and knowing anything could happen.

—

I could never go to the graveyard like they both did, and Colby going in the next video. Hell no. I don’t do bugs, ghost, the dark, and especially when I am warned.

—

Dave being a Dave 🤪😡 I’m kinda scared of Dave but I hope it’s just messing with them.

I don’t know how spirits can travel through the water? I thought they can’t leave the house unless they died outside or something. So I’m not sure how the aquifer could let them travel.

Somewhat of an Ep 2 review because I didn’t do it

Believe: Josh getting touched because he wasn’t even moving, the scrapping noise, the door opening.

Not believe: Satori and Cody, the one small door opening on its own. Do the owners/caregivers just stay there or something? I can’t say anything about this house if they are just chilling in a random room while S&C investigate. I think they stay in a different house but I also don’t know for sure.

I’m on the fence about the noises again I wish I could know the truth.

[hudine]

Still don’t have a name for this fic. Will put on AO3 when I got one. Anyone got any ideas for a name feel free suggest them.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 4

60 years later

Jules was in the human realm again for the first time since the sacking. He had wanted to go home long before now but his mother wouldn’t let him out of her sight at court. He became an adult by fae standards ten years ago but that didn’t mean his mother couldn’t find other means to keep him from leaving. Eventually though he got hold of a lute, some bard clothes, snuck back into the human realm and took up the name Jaskier to make it harder to find him. He’s been wondering the continent as a traveling bard trying to hear anything he can about what was left of the wolf school ever since.

Finding out knowledge of any Witchers yet alone a particular guild of them was easier said than done. In the past year he’s only managed to find two, one viper and one cat. He didn’t get much out of either of them but the viper and cat schools got never along the with the wolf school in the first place so it wasn’t that surprising.

He was going to give it a few more months then actually pluck up the nerve to go back home to Kaer Morhen and see what is left and go from there. Right about now Jaskier wishes he didn’t put such a good anti tracking spell on the medallions or he could find anyone he wanted. The majority of those who where out on the path during the sacking wore medallions he had enchanted in the first place so it wouldn’t have been hard otherwise.

He was playing in a small tavern at the edge of the world in the town of Posada when it happened. Jaskier was playing a set that was pretty much designed to get food thrown at him so he wouldn’t have to pay for lunch. Also he didn’t want to stand out so he didn’t want to showcase his true talents. Then seemingly out of nowhere Geralt of fucking Rivia unexpectedly walked in and took a seat in the back corner where no one would see him. The bard almost missed a note in shock. So knowing how literal minded his old friend was he started singing in metaphors using monsters that don’t exist or at least shouldn’t exist.

He finished his song and on queue got bread thrown at him. He started muttering at the crowed as he stuffed bread rolls in his pockets. He looked up to see Geralt hadn’t bothered to even look up at the spectacle. Didn’t surprise him much. He had enchanted the medallions to ignore his magic so he could get up to magical mischief as a child and Geralt always had been particularly resistant to magic even for a Witcher. It’s why Reidrich singled him out for his ‘experiment’.

The fae stood up, took a tankard from a passing barmaid, had a drink to brace himself and walked up to Geralt. “I love the way you just sit in the corner and brood.”

“I’m here to drink alone,” Geralt replied not even looking up.

“Good. Yea, good.” Jaskier ignored the Witcher and sat down across from him. “No one else hesitated to comment on the quality of my performance… except for you. Come on. You don’t want to keep a man with bread in his pants waiting. You must have some review for me. Three words or less.”

“They don’t exist.”

“What?”

“The creatures in your song, they don’t exist.”

“And you apparently still wouldn’t know a metaphor if it bit you in the ass Geralt.”

Geralt really looked at him for the first time, brow furrowed. “Do I know you?”

“Gee thanks. Nice to know I’m that forgettable. It’s been sixty years I know, but I hadn’t been able to get away from my mother until now. She had guards watching me and a tracking spell for when I slipped the guards. She was convinced if I came back here to see what was left of Kaer Morhen I’d be killed. Took me finally reaching age of majority and another ten years of court responsibilities she made up, before I managed to slip the leash. Anyone asks, my name is Jaskier and I’m a perfectly normal human bard, thank you very much. Really don’t want to be dragged back there. Court is boring.”

It took a moment for Geralt’s brain to catch up with the rambling and put it together. “Jules? You’re supposed to be dead.”

“I got out. Managed to make a portal and took the children with me to the fae realm along with Birman and Deglan who dragged my unconscious father along with them.”

“Vesemir said he was the only one left alive in the keep. Does he know?”

“Considering he shoved me through my own portal when I tried to talk sense into him about coming with me, yea. I would have jumped right back through there and dragged his ass back through with me but I hit my head on the other side and got knocked out. So Vesemir is still alive?”

“For now. Might be a different story when I get back to Kaer Morhen and have a ‘talk’ about him letting me think you’re dead for the past sixty years.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. He was probably just covering for our escape, didn’t want any rumours any of the mages made it out. The brotherhood was behind everything. Saw some of their council members, not just mages, among those attacking.”

They got interrupted as a farmer walked up to the table. “Excuse me… master Witcher. I need your help. I have coin. A devil has been stealing from our grain stores.”

“A devil?” Geralt asked sceptically.

“Well I don’t know what else to call it. It looks like a goat that can run on two legs.”

“And it’s been stealing from your grain stores?”

“Yes. I have a hundred and fifty crowns for you to go take a look.”

“Alright. You coming Jules?” Geralt asked as he got up.

“Sure. Maybe I can write a song about it or something, Eric,” Jaskier replied, getting up and following.

“Don’t call me that,” Geralt snarled annoyedly at Jaskier.

Jaskier haven grown up around Witchers, didn’t find it in the least bit intimidating. “Don’t call me Jules and I’ll not call you Eric.”

“Fine, Jaskier. What kind of name is that anyway?” Geralt asked as they left of the tavern.

“A whimsical one like you’d expect a bard to have. Also kinda fae, it being a plant name and all. They’re weeds. Hardy, will grow anywhere, near impossible to get rid of, and poisonous,” Jaskier proclaimed proudly.

“Hm. Put that way, very you,” Geralt replied as he got Roach out of the stable.

They walked out of town a bit before Jaskier couldn’t help asking, “Isn’t that one of the horses I grassed?”

“Her name is Roach.”

“And she lets you ride her? I remember most those horses becoming like demonic hell spawn afterwards…”

“Took a while but she trusts me. She makes a good Witcher horse; fast, lots of stamina, isn’t afraid of pretty much anything, won’t let anyone steal her. She’s also older than me and still going. Why did you grass horses anyway?”

“Oh. They had me practice on animals before they let me preform the trail of grasses on a person. I take it you haven’t come across the rats… those sneaky little bastards are why they decided we should move on to bigger animals who can’t hide as easily.”

“Rats? Is that why we have a colony of half feral mutant cats?”

“I only grassed two… to catch the rats. How was I to know the cats could still have kittens afterwards? Most creatures mutate so much they’re not compatible with the same species anymore and renders them infertile,” Jaskier explained exasperatedly.

“What happened the people you escaped with?”

“They decided to start over. Got the fae to take them to a new part of this sphere far from the continent. After all it’s not just here that has a monster problem. They’re thriving last update I had, and far away from the influence of the brotherhood. People actually look up to Witchers there and don’t have the superstitious beliefs about them so less die each year because of humans.”

Geralt had a far away look for a moment. “Must be nice.”

“I could take you there.”

“Maybe… someday. I can’t just abandon those that are left here.”

“How many are left?”

“The number dwindles every winter. Last count there where about twenty that came to Kaer Mohen to winter, not all of them wolves. There are also a few stuck in wolf form who live in the woods around Kaer Morhen. We’ve tried to help them but nothing seems to work.”

“I can change them back. I turned Varin into a giant chicken once because he was being an asshole. So transforming them back to their Witcher state shouldn’t be a problem. The problem is if they’ll stay that way. Might be that they’re not stuck. Might be that they’ve grown tired of life on the path and decided they’re better off as wolves. Seen it happen a time or two. Usually from the mistreatment they get from humans. I could quite happily do some really horrible things to whoever started the rumour that Witchers don’t have feelings.”

“They’re supposed to have been burned out of us during the trails.”

Jaskier actually smacked Geralt upside the head. “Don’t. That’s a load of nonsense. Actually if anything emotions are heightened because believe it or not that is a sense and all senses are heightened. You feel things more intensely than humans. Sometimes though it gets stuck inside and they get trapped where you’re unsure how to express them or are too overwhelmed to do so. Makes it hard to speak for some too. Of course the cats are the only ones who openly admit this. The rest of you all pretend otherwise because of a toxic culture that sprang up long before I was around. You think you had it bad as a kid? It was a lot worse in the past. Most the outright abusive ‘training’ was stopped.”

“I find it hard to believe with Witchers like Varin training us.”

“They used to all be like him… except Vesemir. He was always fair from everything I heard. Varin was just an asshole they had to confine to the keep and had to give him something to do while there. He learned not to mess with me though. The chicken incident just being the last in a long line of shit I did to him when he was being an ass.

“Actually I was the reason a lot of it got stopped. The mages never paid much attention to how they trained new Witchers until Vesemir decided I was old enough to be put in training with them. They where horrified by the shear number of boys who died before the grasses just because they hadn’t been fed enough, or exposed too long to the cold, or beaten for no good reason. Dad didn’t believe me at first when I told him about it, so I went to Dagobert, then Reidrich. Eventually I made enough of a fuss with them they checked it out, watching through magical means.

“They pretty much unanimously told Rennes they where leaving if they didn’t stop all of that. He came up with some bullshit excuse about selecting the toughest of the boys. Then my father informed him that there is nothing tough about surviving all that, mostly just luck. They wanted healthy boys for the trails and if they stop killing them off maybe they’d have more pass and their low success rate probably has everything to do with malnutrition. He wasn’t wrong about that. That was just part of the puzzle though. The rest was in quantity of elder blood, freely given, and different mutagens, and a touch of original genetics. If you have some elven or fae in you you’re more likely to make it. Or some chaos.”

“Like Eskel. He’s always been good with signs.”

“It’s also how I was able to teach him how to do some minor magic like glamours. Same with you. Actually you got more raw chaos than Eskel. Just Eskel has better control of his,” Jaskier proclaims to Geralt who just looks sceptically at him, “It’s true. I’ve had a closer look at both of your magical cores than most. I did the grasses on you twice, and the dreams on Eskel. Did my best to make sure you both maintained access to it. Hence why you both can do more than signs. I’m just surprised you both still talked to me after, yet alone became my friends.”

“If you didn’t do it one of the others would have. You where also known for being gentler about it than the others, actually trying to dull the pain, and had the highest success rate. It’s why I begged you to do my second round of grasses. Never trusted Reidrich. Besides you may have been one of the mages officially by the time I came along, but you where always one of us. You didn’t hold yourself above us lowly Witchers unlike Reidrich or Dagobert. Your father wasn’t so bad either, if a bit scatterbrained. But you Jules, you ran the walls with us as punishment like the rest of us when we got in trouble. Got stuck in the middle of whatever childish mischief that was being planned. Protected us from people like Varin. I’m also convinced you’re responsible for most of Vesemir’s grey hair. After all I can quite reliably say you’re responsible for my own hair going white.”

“It really wasn’t supposed to do that.”

“Relax it’s a joke. I have been known to make those on occasion. I got used to it a long time ago.”

“You joke? Actually you’re communicating in more than grunts. Are you ok? You haven’t been cursed with gift of the gab or something?” Jaskier asked sarcastically.

“Hmn,” Geralt grunted also sarcastically.

“Now that’s more like the Witcher I know and love,” Jaskier replied, grinning.

@xxx|}::::::::::::::::::::> <::::::::::::::::::::{|xxx@

[timothylawrence]

OK P4 thoughts.... now that it's been like 18 hours...

overall... solid 8.5/10. i loveee murder mysteries

the dynamic between the characters carried the game more than anything

multiple moments where I laughed out loud so s/o to the writers

AND despite guessing the big twist from day one, I was pleasantly surprised by various other twists and turns in the story so yay :)

never before has a silent protagonist literally swayed my heart in such a way Yu Narukami you are my angelll

ok spoiler-y review below :)

okay. serious review time but keep in mind im fasting so like these are the rambles from that. i'll start with the positives :)

did not believe jordan when she said i would be adopting these children by the end yet here i am. every single character you met had such a sweet and profound relationship and dynamic with one another... it was so so sweet. truly the high point of the game is how the characters interact. Yukiko and Chie, Rise and Naoto, Rise and Yu, Teddie and Yosuke, Naoto and Kanji... even Yosuke and Yu..... like they were all so so so wonderfully crafted with one another... AND RISE WAS THE SHINING STARRRRR

Dojima and Nanako.... the way i thought they wouldn't have such a big role and then by the end i was crying . yeah. big bro . i love u .

I KNEW IT WAS ADACHI!!!! I LITERALLY CALLED IT FROM DAY ONE!!! DAY ONE!!!! I just couldnt stick why he was choosing the teenagers,.... hence why the twist with Namatane was so fucking good. S/O to Jordan and Fil who had to listen to me scream about how he was the killer without being able to shut me up.

Okay but in all seriousness Teddie becoming human was like the wildest part of the game like did no one else go ??

The soundtrack bangs. to be expected.

Yosuke's SL was my favorite... i dont know how teary eyed i got but whew. it was teary. the ending scene on the grass... yea... yea...

man. the icon. the star. Yu Narukami. I NEVER thought I would like the protagonist, at least not more than "he's cool", and yet by the end I was more sad than anything to say goodbye to him!!! i had so much joy playing as him, he was so funny, so loyal, his dialogue options we're just phenomenal. He felt like a real character in his own world despite never even talking. I think I'll miss him the most/

ok time for the bad stuff:

okay like atlus why do you do this thing where you create such a good amazing storyline about humanity and what makes you you only to drop the ball and opt to make things creepy or some form of phobic !!! like WHY!!!!!!!

Kanji's treatment was actually vileeeee . I hate how they chickened out in the last moment because instead of having a whole discussion abt homophobia internalized and otherwise you've just created a homophobic ass arc in the game that serves no purpose. like UGH. just go the full mile!!! go !!! let him understand there's nothing wrong wit him being gay!!! stop backing out!! You quite literally would've had a near perfect arc if you just went that extra mile and didn't make things weird !!!

also naoto........ don't even wanna trudge into the discourse here but he/him Naoto is where I stand idk. his story kinda felt really similar to my own when i was in my teens but... again...Atlus...

hey atlus can you make ONE game where there isn't 10 scenes of teenage boys being creeps or has some form of teenage fan service. please.

rlly sucks that i cant reccommend this game without caveats because atlus is.... ugh. but yes. i did enjoy it. it has some moments that are genuinely uncomfortable and made me go :///. but i can fix things as is my will as a writer etc etc.

yeah i think thats what i have for now. i loved playing this game but i think i'll love thinking abt it and plotting even more..... <33333

[amagicdoctor]

Hello Mun, Archangel fan over here. Glad to hear from you again. Hope you doing alright

It's been two months since Dark X-Men started so my review so far on the run (2 issues in) is:

They really did my boy dirty. He had one line of dialogue before going down, without a fight, in the very first issue and got ditched by his whole squad while he was still bleeding on the floor (sounds harshly hyperbolic but there was a teenager right next to him whom they all had the time to take with them as they left). Now, the "Archangel gets mind-controlled after being kidnapped on a mission" plotline is nothing new but they at least follow up on in the very next issue so no time is wasted. I could see an improvement on his situation so I'm not so mad

Other than how they treated my fav, I'd say every other character is pretty much in-character? It's been forever since any mutant's been written this way so I'm genuinely happy. Havok (Alex Summers) still has the same characterization from Dark Web tho which is a bit disappointing because it was rather reductive of who he was. I get it tho, this run is very much a follow up on that event sadly so they can't really stray on what it established even if that wasn't a good story in the slightest

I like the concept because it's pretty much what the X-Men used to do/be : Rescuing mutants in need. Being dramatic. Having feuds. Not always seeing eye to eye. Interesting settings. I really missed that and with a team this messy and uncoordinated, those things were a given

The worldbuilding is really really interesting. So far, nothing contradicts what we knew about 616 during Krakoa and things only get deeper in the Fall of X setting with DXM. We get information on both mutants, Orchis, humans, allies and enemies, magic and technology. It's pretty extensive

I still raised a brow a few times while reading but seeing how fast paced everything is (only a few hours passed at best and everyone is always doing something) I can forgive that. It's their first missions on their first night and, again, they're naturally uncoordinated

There's a few mysteries here and there to be solved and I can't wait to see what's in store

It was way less graphic than I expected. I know it was advertised as a violent horror series (and it does deliver) but with everything Kitty Pryde has pulled in X-Men since Fall of X started, DXM looks... erm... tame in comparison? "Graphic violence" is a bit subjective of a description sure, however Kitty is more sadistic in her solo approach than 4 long established vilains (Zero, Emplate, Goblin Queen and Azazel) who have little to no limitations in the amount of chaos they are allowed to bring. So yea

Overall? Good read so far. It was more fun to me than Uncanny Spider-Man which just came out... That one left me more confused than anything (the exposition dump didn't help) and felt so disconnected from everything around it: I can't tell when it's supposed to take place in, be it for Spider-Man (who's currently bad after being stabbed with Norman Osborn's evil essence and still has bad rep with the FF and Avengers), or the whole Fall of X deal (there are solo mutant heroes and full on teams going around New York right now but no one contacted Kurt yet even tho his costume is that obvious?)

Hi!! This is a pretty good review and I have the same feelings. After reading Dark X-Men in one sitting I completely forgot Archangel was a thing, I'm so sorry but he really was that absent from the story. It WAS super weird they just left him when the next day Maddie went out of her way to save her trophy boyfriend but ok Marvel 🤣

I don't have any issues with Uncanny Spider-Man yet but I do agree if you at least look at it from the X-Men's storyline it IS disconnected. And not in a way where we get that Kurt is aloof on purpose, but the writing does not help link it to any other parts of the FOX storylines 😅. Dude is really just on his own

[doomandgloomfromthetomb]

Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band - Tubby's, Kingston, New York, December 9, 2023

I mentioned that recent Uncut issue with the great On The Beach spread ... if you pick it up, you'll also get to read my full-page review of Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band's Dancing On The Edge, which emerged as a late-breaking 2023 fave. Feels like a total classic, pretty much everyone I play it for falls in love.

Here's the kick-off to my Aquarium Drunkard compadre Chad Depasquale's rave: Ryan Davis is tipping his beer to a world in moral and constitutional decline. Ruminating shortcomings, both inward and out, that seem to have settled into the standard, the Louisville-based journeyman defiantly declares he and his crew “the new vigilantes of the two-drink minimum” on “Free from the Guillotine,” the dryly pugnacious opener to Ryan Davis & the Roadhouse Band’s Dancing on the Edge, the latest and perhaps greatest notch in the storied songwriter’s belt.

Just in time, NYC Taper (which might want to consider renaming itself Kingston Taper) popped up with a very nice Eric PH tape of Davis and the Roadhouse Band at Tubby's. The gang sounds magnificent here, plenty of energy, plenty of style, pleasingly loose.

And hey, my Uncut review had a very brief Q&A with Ryan, chopped down considerably. Below, check it out in all its, er, uncut glory.

You seem to have mastered the art of the "long song" — the tunes on the new record sprawl, but they keep listeners hanging on every word. What's the secret? Did you have any songwriters who also go long in mind? Did you set out to write "epics" or did that just happen? What's it like playing these tunes live? 

I wouldn't say I've mastered anything, but yea I've learned to comfortably inhabit a song of substantial length. It's not something I ever set out to do. In fact, every time I sit down to start writing new songs, I consciously tell myself that I will make a concerted effort to be more direct, to write more impactfully without dragging the listener through such winding trenches. But here we are now discussing my 7-song 2xLP and further into the trenches we appear to be going. I've come to accept that maybe that's where I flourish, in some ways? A better songwriter than myself could derive a similar vehemence with far fewer words. But I do what I can within the space I know how to carve out for myself.

I don't feel strongly enough about this to warrant saying it out loud, but it's possible that Van Morrison or more likely Dylan or less likely Springsteen could be some deeply seeded points of reference and/or permission for the long song thing. Like in a strictly embryonic way. Not in terms of craft or studied approach, just things that were soaked into my brain by a certain age. Playing the songs live, in their current state (I'm on tour with a full-band as we speak) has been infinitely less punishing than I may have once envisioned it would be, specifically in regards to that. I'm pleasantly surprised every night by the time we finish playing Flashes of Orange that I somehow never feel buried beneath it or praying for an early exit from its brakeless 10 minutes of lyrical shelling. But I also think that's just a testament to how much I love playing these specific songs with this specific group of friends.

In the liners, it says you were taking a hiatus from writing "song songs" – was that a healthy thing to do? Why do you think inspiration took hold again? Do you have a particular favorite song on the new record, where it all came together? 

It was an imperative thing to do. I started writing songs for what became the first State Champion demo in summer of 2005. I was living abroad as a college student, shy and alone, far from home and without much reason to be there. I had just turned 20. I wrote and toured those kinds of songs for the next 14 years. I put so much of my life and identity into it, and I owe a lot of who I am to that work and those experiences, but I ultimately felt like I reached a point of terminal velocity with the completion of ‘Send Flowers’. I'm incredibly proud of that record, we all pulled a lot out of ourselves in order to make it, but it felt like an organic and necessary end to that phase of my life. It isn't entirely easy to talk about or explain. I just knew it was time to take a break from putting my mind through the endless song cycle, without really knowing what would fill its void. I started spending most of my time making experimental electronic tracks at home, just learning everything I could about 4-track recording, exploring new instruments, making freeform improvisational compositions with friends, while simultaneously returning to a disciplined visual art practice for the first time in well over a decade. Not only were these processes filling the songwriting void satisfactorily but they were also starting to shape me into a new and better version of myself, a re-wired or at least a re-prioritized version. For the first time in my adult life, I wasn't thinking about touring or promoting or even any sense of "community” whatsoever. I just wanted to *make* new things. Almost obsessively. And the more I sharpened those instinctual tools, the more I slowly started circling back toward the unexpected desire to return to "song" form with a clear and conditioned mind. It certainly didn't come easy. It was painful, actually. There was months if not years of struggle and self-doubt, of giving up and eventually trying again, but once I finally positioned myself to fully re-enter into that mode, I wrote the song "Bluebirds in a Fight." After that, I was like "ok, I think I understand how to do this again." Much of the battle was getting to that moment, but from there I was able to have some fun with writing the rest of it.

You're kind of a Louisville hometown hero — what is the music community like there these days? Who are your favorite local artists/bands/etc?

I think any kind of "hometown hero" attitude that could be applied to me, if that's even an accurate suggestion, would be based on my years of organizing a beloved music festival in Louisville, KY called Cropped Out (2010-2018). I can objectively say that it was a really special, magical, life-affirming thing that people truly cared about, but I'm not sure that can be said about most of the other things I've done throughout the bulk of my life spent there. I will say, however, that the Roadhouse Band show in Louisville on this tour (which was essentially the record release party) felt different. It was so fun and convivial and emotionally charged. The room felt full of love in a way that I wasn't expecting nor had necessarily felt before. Perhaps due in part to some sort of post-Covid communal/subcultural alchemy, you know. I essentially hadn't played songs in front of people there since 2019. So the overwhelmingly positive reception to the new record was not taken for granted.

It's an interesting place, Louisville... Endlessly frustrating, in a multitude of ways, especially as a person who tried very hard to "make things happen" there for so much of my life. It ebbs and flows between feeling electrified and stagnant, but even at its sleepiest there are so many brilliant, talented, strange, inspiring aliens who inhabit it. Even now in my peak years of introversion, I can appreciate that about it and inevitably feed off it in incalculable ways. If it weren't for Sapat alone, my musical trajectory would be different and likely lesser. All the bands born out of that band, all the freaks I've met through just surrounding myself with those people since moving back home from Chicago back in the late '00s, not to mention the actual music and all of its various modes of creation. They somehow continue to be a perennial source of joy, wonder, discovery.

[destinyc1020]

I love how everyone switched up on jacob elordi after having a few positive reviews for performance ( mind you hes overshadowing the leads barry keoghan in saltburn who has been getting rave reviews and cailee spaeny who also delivered why is that being ignored. The same cailee who just won a prestigious acting award at venice)

Im happy for jacob elordi but also why is that that when black actors and poc actors get positive reviews for there for performances they get neglected or never the given the respect that white actors who do the bare minimum get. Like people really be putting white men on a pedestal for doing the bare minimum. Where is the kelvin harrison, nicole beharie, brian tyree henry, riz ahmed, kiki layne, etc love they've given amazing performances and yet havent even got the same amount of love as JE. Again Im happy JE its amazing to be praised for your work but can we also not reserve that praise only for white men.

I love how everyone switched up on jacob elordi after having a few positive reviews for performance ( mind you hes overshadowing the leads barry keoghan in saltburn who has been getting rave reviews and cailee spaeny who also delivered why is that being ignored. The same cailee who just won a prestigious acting award at venice)

Oh wow, I didn't realize that he's overshadowing even Barry's work in Saltburn. 👀 That's interesting, because judging from the trailers, it seems like Barry is going to have the tougher acting performance lol. But we'll see I guess? I mean, I hate to say it, but JE being one of the very FEW actors to be able to promote his work ("Priscilla") right now is definitely working in his favor. Plus, he's SUPER tall, and based on who you ask, probably more "conventionally handsome" than Barry.... 👀 I'm not surprised in the least if he's getting attention. The Devil works hard, but JE's publicists work HARDER! LOL! 😅🤣 I kept telling y'all that when they were calling JE "Generation Z's Leading Man" in that magazine article a while back that they were stretching things and just trying to make him HAPPEN sooo harrrrd lol. Most people were like, "HUH?? Did Tom Holland and Timothee Chalamet up and die that we don't know about?" (Technically, Timmy is a Millennial though lol 🤭)

His team was also trying to put his name out there for James Bond rumors, and for the role of playing the new Superman lol. Like geez.... they don't take a break! Cuz I swear, noooobody was checking for him like that in order to cast his name out in the ring for these two huge franchises. Now, maybe after THIS year, I can see his name swirling and circulating more in these circles. But last year? Psshhht... please lol 😅 The man has never even led a film or even BEEN in a film on the big screen before "Priscilla", let's be honest.

I think we should just wait to either see these two films, or just wait to see what OTHER moviegoers say about the films and who really stole the show before we judge too quickly. Either JE is just getting a bunch of shine simply because he's the only one who can really promote stuff right now lol, OR, he really does shock people by how good his acting really is, and we just are yet to see it onscreen. 🤷🏾‍♀️

Im happy for jacob elordi but also why is that that when black actors and poc actors get positive reviews for there for performances they get neglected or never the given the respect that white actors who do the bare minimum get.

❤️❤️ Yea girl, I know what you mean. 😔 We all know what type of society we live in, so it's not even surprising at this point. But you're right, it's just annoying that poc actors get ignored ALL the time, even when we're acting our tails off in several roles. There's usually very little fanfare.

Like people really be putting white men on a pedestal for doing the bare minimum. Where is the kelvin harrison, nicole beharie, brian tyree henry, riz ahmed, kiki layne, etc love they've given amazing performances and yet havent even got the same amount of love as JE. Again Im happy JE its amazing to be praised for your work but can we also not reserve that praise only for white men.

THIS!! Like, don't get me wrong, I'm happy for JE, and I'm happy for anyone who can make it in this cutthroat, sometimes back-stabbing and corrupt industry tbh..... But you're so right! Sooo many black actors and actresses put in awesome performances year after year --- and yet, where are their Oscar noms and wins? Everyone you mentioned are great actors. I'll also add Jharrel Jerome to this list.

You know good and well there is going to be some phenomenal acting in "The Color Purple Musical" when it comes out this year (*crosses fingers*), but let's see if it gets any mention/accolades.

POC actors are definitely NOT playing on an equal playing field in Hollywood. That's just the sad truth about it... 😔

[speakyskelly-1999]

okay so

kill la kill

i watched kill la kill when i was 15 and i loved

i rated it a 9 on mal

it was the show that got be back into anime

(i initially watch one good show and then quite a few mid ones and so stopped watching for a while and then when this came to netflix i watched it and afterwards cowboy bebop and well the rest is history)

becvause i liked it so much and because it had a good reputation, my friend who was getting into anime tried it

and she hated it

it's so far the only anime she dropped

she subsiquently asked me why i liked it so much and then told me to watch it again now and erm

yea it's not aged well

as a side track

i like to say i have a good memory and i do. most media i can recall pretty easily. the main factor on recal being how long it's been since i watched something, and even then if i start rewatching a thing i can often remeber how the rest of it will pan out after watching a small percentage of it

with that in mind i did only watch the first episode and scan through the rest of the series so this "rewatch review" (honestly i can't even really call it that, let me know if you think i should re watch it properly and give my full thoughts on it) is gonna be far from perfect but like enough for what i'm going for

oh and spoilers from this point on

so for my previous memory of the show i love mako, ryuuko, and satsuki and on looking at it again i remembered how much i liked ira. i think all thoes characters fun and i still like them. i don't think i really have any issues with them. the music girl and the tech guy are two characters in my mind that i remeber liking somewhat but finding issues with them but i don't remember what. the other thing i really like from it was the dumb plot twist of clothes are an alien race trying to ensalve humanity by (and i think this is right i could be wrong. reading has always been difficult for me and, while i've improved over the years, i can still miss a lot of plot stuff when they suddenly dump it on me in anime. note of i watch mainly subs which is why i struggle. i tend to not like dubs) getting people to ware clothes. i also really liked how vibrent the show was and again on scanning through it again i remembered the really cool stills and artistic choices they made.

and i think thats were the positive part of this "retrospective" ends

erm yea so i think even as a kid i was initially weirded out by how little ryuuko wore but when they explained 'oh more the skin you show the stronger you are' i just accepted it and hell i was 15 and most of the characters were 15 i just let it wash over me. NOW THO man it makes me feel really uncomfy. and like i'm somewhat desensities to this stuff cos, lets be real here folks, anime can have quite a bit of that kind of stuff. either depending on when it came out or it's genre, writers, intended audience etc. but like ryuuko is initially really uncomfortable showing this much skin. and like i know she comes to accept it, and as a teen i just accpeted that she was fine with it, but Now i'm like she should never have had to accept that, she's FITHTEEN.

AND IT REALLY DOESN'T HELP THAT SENKETSU IS TOO INTO IT. like i get that he's trying to make her stronger and he wants to eat her blood or whatever. but like it's so weird. i think as a kid i just chose to ignore it/became desencitised to it/could read it properly but i did also not like him. so much so that i forgot he could fucking talk, hell was even sentient, till i rewatch the first episode. like if senketsu was a woman it would have been better. NOT BY MUCH, but idk it feel a little more bearable to me now if i was gonna rewatch it.

i don't even really want to mention ryuuko and satsuki's mother. can i just not think about it. she was disguysting to me as a kid and i hated her and what she did to not only ryuuko, satsuki, her husnabd and the pink girl (what the fucks her name nui) has always started with me (even if the exact details of what she did from my memory vary from charcter to character) and i'm glad she died. i'm not gonna go into wwhat she did and the order of characters is not in an order of which thing is he to them i find most ogreegous. i just. imma move on i can't deal with that bitch

what else... oh yea i forgot how pervy mako's dad brother and dog is towards ryuuko. that sucks.

there are other reasons that it now just kinda makes me uncomfortabnle. again i might rewatch it to get my full thoughts on it but like idk if i should. let me know if you think i should comit to the bit

but like so now

now i don't know what to do. it's had been one of my favoruites fro ages and it was like the first one i put on my mal favorites list. i had to take it of cos like it can no longer hold that placxe in my heart now cos it makes me feel icky. it sucks re watching a show and thinking it's not that bad, my was a little weird in places but shows from then were like that, and then finding out it's so much worse than you remember.

whats really bezarre is that i don't know if i can recomend itanymore. like the my friend who watched and dropped it can handle like wierd scenes, some nudity, darker topcis, the works. i can handle a little less than them but still a lot (liike i watched the worse parts of elfen leid before stopping and that was beceuase it was doing all these things with nothing to say about it. it was just to be edgey) but this just both of us just feel so aaaaah now

i think watching it at 15 and having thoes 5 years of really likeing it was fine. like i think 15 is probaly the only age i could have watched it at for me to enjoy it as much as i did. i'll still hold ryuuko, mako ans satsuki in my heart as i really liked their charcters (hell ages ago i considered getting ryuuko and satsuki's figures in their normal school uniforms, or the ones in the last end credit scene when everything is hunky dory again. NOT and i repeat NOT their fighting outfits) but ultimatly the shows not aged well and even for the time they should have made from different creative choices

[azoreaneve]

Well you asked for it… [cracks knuckles]

Fuck if Tats’s tantrum is the same as in the webcomic then it’s not the end of the world to read… all in a row. There, it was some light-hearted character growth which, given the bleaker nature of that story, is generally welcome. But then add the Fubuki shit with Psykos and that part of the manga looks so unpleasant to read through. Fuck I wasn’t reading it and it was still annoying to live through (can you tell I hate the manga renditions of the psychic bitches? Yea)

Still, big lmao at you just deleting the review. For how long was that WIP sitting around?

My issues with Genos’s design atm are that we’re losing his original characteristics. One of the most enjoyable things about seeing the kid return from the car shop is seeing his new wardrobe choices. The cowboy boots, the Genocide T-shirt, that amazing white jacket from the MA arc, the hoodie from the Garou fight, the black turtleneck…. He’s proud and he enjoyed looking good, and we had that repeating joke of seeing his fashion get ripped/burnt/dissolved whenever he got into a bad fight.

So now we see him wear less and less clothes (in both versions of the story) and it’s sad to see that side of him go, as much as it makes logical sense, what with all the shit he can have on his back and arms now and him probably getting real tired of buying new clothes. Additionally, in the manga his design is… like a generic non-descript skintight suit kinda armour….. there’s no soul to it, no intricate hardware details for me to jack off over… I literally have tons of saved panels from early OPM of like closeups of Genos’s hands because of how cool they looked and now the thought of doing such a thing doesn’t even cross my mind, he just looks very meh. ALSO we already have a guy who pulls off the final form of that look with much more flavour.

I don’t think these 2 things will get fixed the next time Kuseno gives him a makeover.

The brunt of my issues with the webcomic vs manga changes are the ending of the MA arc. It was too over the top in a completely redundant way. You know how we all go through a phase of enjoying “what if cute fairytale…. but edgy dark, amirite?!”. Well OPM manga doesn’t need it because we already have the slightly darker world in the webcomic. The manga also especially doesn’t need it when you then go “lmao syke!!”, insert some bogus time travel shit, and then make everyone involved forget it AND THEN MAKE GENOS LEARN ABOUT IT THROUGH THE POWER OF LOVE OR SOME BULLSHIT WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT ABOUT. Like, I’m sorry, but my suspension of disbelief ain’t reaching those levels. I called this resolution when Genos FUCKING DIED and I hated it from that point already because now the next time he dies, or anyone else important dies, we’ll all have copium ‘till the end of days because WHAT IF WE GO BACK IN TIME AGAIN GUYS, WHAT IF SAITAMA PUNCHES THE BADDIE BACK INTO LAST TUESDAY AND EVERYTHING IS FINE!!!.

And after that we go back in line with the webcomic, you know, the universe where Genos and Saitama are kinda more jerks towards one another? Because they had less teambuilding experiences? So anyone who’s not aware of that just sees their relationship fluctuate like hell in the manga for seemingly no reason, one day Saitama is like “wow you’re great you’ve grown so much” and on the next he’s “I remembered I’m tired of living with you so I don’t wanna see you bye”. You can argue that Saitama’s mental disposition easily leads to avoiding ppl like this but hhhhhhh idk man I still don't like it…

Also obligatory “Fubuki looked tons better in the webcomic” comment. And I’m worried about what they’re gonna do to the new cyborg girl because knowing Murata she’s also gonna have huge tits now or something, le sigh.

hungry fans

It sucks to be an OPM fan with a keen interest in only one or two characters. Because ONE will make sure that there's enough of your favourite characters to give you a feast and hook you, and then he'll move on and you're left starving for ages.

So far, I can identify several hungry tribes of fans:

A: The Sam Fam Crew

Recently been fed, so they're not weeping too much. But unless Iaian finds a way for them to stick around now that Atomic has declared a training camp from hell, they'll shortly be tightening their belts again.

B: The Nin-Nins

A few appetizers here and there, but nothing solid of late. True to their nature, the ninjas are proving elusive.

C: The Absolut Zeroes

Ah, Drive Knight, when shall we see your black and shiny shifty-eyed self again? You left so suddenly and quite broke our hearts.

D: The GrooGroos

Now ONE has been known to drop characters like a needy friend when he's done telling their story. With Garou still having work to do to understand himself and actually do better, this tribe got its hopes up of seeing Garou regularly. So far, this is the last he was seen (a full year ago):

There are many other smaller tribes, but these are the loudest ones on the internet, bravely boycotting new chapters until they get what they want.

Me? I may have my favourites, but I love them all so I'm always fed. :) OPM doesn't work without a large cast of well-realised characters.

[lilyswh0re]

after - adrian pucey

date: july 22, 2022

summary: the aftermath

note: second part to strings. race and apperance isn't mentioned but y/n uses she/her

warnings: a couple swear words

a/n: two posts in one day is crazy for me. Ameila is giving Murray from ST hehe. The grammar is correct this time because I wrote this on my computer instead of my phone like i normally do. Also I learned how to do the keep reading break

tags: @limerenze @loverssfevers @ghostofscarley @dayangestre

Come morning time, y/n was alone again. Alone with hardly any recollection of what happened a few hours ago. Instead of breakfast, the families opted for brunch, which y/n had walked into. 

“Sit!” Her father encouraged her. The only open seat, unfortunately, being across from Adrian. While she didn’t remember exactly what she said, she knew it wasn’t nothing. He was so passive this morning it almost hurt to watch them interact.

“Toast?” He offered her the plate.

She nodded and took a half slice, “Thank you.”

“We’re going down to the beach later.” Adrian’s mother informed them. Y/n just nodded.

Y/n’s mind was still on last night, everything was in place but it wasn’t right. Amelia–Adrian’s oldest sister–seemed to notice too, as she could not stop giggling into her tea cup. 

Adrian wasn’t kicking or pushing her, he was being awfully gentle. “Orange juice?”

“Sure, thanks.” It was becoming unsettling, not just for her but for everyone else at the table. Their mothers were overjoyed by the sudden change, as their lifelong dream of their children being together might actually occur.

“DId you have fun last night, Y/n?” Amelia asked. Y/n’s eyes went to the side to look at her before turning her head to respond.

“Yea, I might go out again tonight.”

“I bet, let me know so I can join you. You should come with us, Ade.”

“I’m still tired from last night.”

“Didn’t sleep well?” Amelia pouted.

He squinted at her to stop, “No, not really.” He hadn’t slept at all. He couldn’t believe he pushed Y/n away completely. She had been around for so long, put up with all of his antics, or so he thought. Truthfully, she put up with it because she had to but she would complain about it every chance she got.

“I’m going for a bike ride before we leave,” Y/n stood up from her seat. She went up to her room to change and to review what could have possibly happened to prompt Adrian’s sudden sickly sweet behavior. Staring at the posters on the ceiling, she fell back into her bed. 

They went to the party, that part she remembered clearly but as the drinks rolled in, her memory faded. Adrian brought her home, she got in bed, she told him that she hates him- SHE TOLD HIM THAT SHE HATES HIM. Her palm came down to her forehead. 

Stupid, stupid, stupid. 

She meant it though. All Adrian had ever done since third year was terrorize her and her friends. He wasn’t that 11,12 year old who wanted her to help him with transfiguration. He was now the 16 year old who flirted with girls he knows Y/n doesn’t like. He was the 16 year old who did everything in his power so Y/n couldn’t be able to bring home any boy who wasn’t him.

There was a knock on her door. “Come in.” It was him.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

“You still wanna go on that bike ride? You’ve been up here a while.”

“Yea, I’m gonna go in a bit. You’ve been acting weird all morning.”

“To be fair, you were asleep all morning, it's past noon now.” Adrian smiled. It faltered when he realized you didn’t find it amusing.

“Adrian?”

“Yea?”

“Why are you like this?”

“Like what?”

“Like this! You’ve spent the past three years doing everything and anything to make me mad, to get under my skin. And then you act like you’re the picture of innocence!”

“You make me a jealous mess, Y/n! I’m sorry I’ve pushed your boyfriends off their brooms and hex them whenever they’re away from you!”

“You’re not entitled to me!” “I know that.” His voice was barely above a whisper. His head dipped back against the door frame.

“Just because our mothers want us together doesn’t mean it’s going to happen.I told you that as long as you treat me the way you do, I won’t go out with you and I meant it.” Her voice was firm but even if it had been wavering, Adrian knew it to be true.

He nodded and left.

Not long after, Amelia slipped in, giggling as she had been during brunch. “Lovers quarrel?”

“No.” Y/n pulled her new shirt down, “Your parents and my parents aren’t arguing.”

“Oh I know that. I was talking about you and Adrian.”

“We aren’t lovers and will never be.”

“Whatever you say.” She slipped out as smoothly as she slipped in, only her head was still inside the room, “Your brother and I have a bet, don’t let me down.” She winked.

“Get out. Amelia!” She chucked a pillow at the door.

Y/n rushed out herroom to the backyard, hoping no one else wanted to give their unwanted opinion. She got a running head start before hopping onto her bike.

“Bit mad, huh?” Her brother called out.

“Shut up, asshole!” The wind carried her string of insults to him as Y/n peddled away.

At the beach, the families set up a good distance from the water. Y/n had no intention of getting in the water so soon. So when she was asked to join a game of volleyball, she agreed almost instantly.

Adrian, on the other hand, got into the water as soon as he put his stuff down. He almost didn’t even realize when one of the boys wrapped his arms around Y/n to fix her form. He wouldn’t have noticed if it hadn’t been for his youngest sister who pointed it out. 

“Ads, who’s that with Y/n?’

“Just a friend.” He dove in, making Annabelle, who was on his shoulders, shriek at the cold water. 

They didn’t speak the entire time at the beach, until the very end.

“Adrian, can you please tell Y/n it’s time to go?” Her mother asked. Although he didn’t want to, he nodded and made his way towards her.

“Y/n, we’re leaving.” Adrian kept his distance from the pair. She turned to look at him as he stuffed his hands in his pockets and looked at the shining waters.

“Bye,'' she said softly to the other boy. 

The car ride home was full of chatter and laughter but Adrian was miserable. Though Y/n was doing much better than him, she also wasn’t doing amazing. 

Amelia leaned into her, “Why the long face? New boyfriend wasn’t adequate?”

Y/n scowled, “He’s not my boyfriend and he was…fine. And it’s his last day here before he goes back to America so…”

“Huh seems you were robbed of a summertime romance.” Amelia leaned back in her seat.

“I don’t want anything with him! He was just fun to talk to!” Y/n whisper yelled. Adrian whipped his head back to look at them and accidentally made eye contact with Y/n, who quickly turned to look out the window.

“Ah to be young and dumb,” Her brother sighed. He laughed at the thud from Y/n kicking his seat.

“You’re three years older than me dipshit!”

“Language!” One of the adults called out.

The rest of the summer continued like that. Barely any acknowledgments between the two.

They were now in their sixth year and Adrian had been made headboy. Y/n now found herself in an empty compartment, waiting for her friends to arrive. Adrian stepped inside, sitting in front of her. “Look, I know I’m a total arse to you and you will never date me but if we could just be friends.” 

Y/n looked at him for a moment. He was being sincere, something that wasn’t very common towards her. She nodded, “Friends.”

Maybe even more but all in due time.

[larrysballetslippers]

Annual Writing Self-Evaluation 2022

I wanted to this again as I had so much fun last year. And I have grown so much since last year hheehe. Let's see how this year turned out.

1. Number of stories posted to AO3 this year: 20 (+1 coming)

2. Word count posted for the year: 100,386

3. Fandoms I wrote for: One Direction

4. Pairings: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson/OMC

5. Story with the most:

Kudos: If You Forget Me

Bookmarks: If You Forget Me

Comments: Caught In Between Love

More under the cut.

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): 

When I Say Give Me (I mean the world). It was the first Girl Direction fic I have written and the first longer fic in a long time (19k is a lot for me). In the middle of this fic my crush broke my heart, but I sat that aside to write it and I still don't know how I did it. I even improved my writing speed. Couldn't have done it without @thebreadvansstuff, so thank you sweetie!!

7. Work I’m least proud of (and why):

Printed Against The Sky. It's a good fic, I don't mind it, but I think I could have done better. I wanted to write Age Play for a while so I think I overhyped it myself. It's still a great fic, but just not what I hoped it would be.

8. Share or describe a favorite review you received:

On To Voice My Love. Let me just share it because I was smiling so much when I read it again:

Oh my god, this was so so good! I am not an active part of this fandom, but I saw this on my dash and read it. Also, I never read about smut in polyamorous relationships in general because I'm a little uncomfortable with that idea. But DAMN, this was so BEAUTIFULLY written! I loved how you portrayed the communication problem and need for emotional support for Harry, and how Louis is such a sweet supportive dom. Overall, it's such a healthy and precious demonstration of BDSM and also super hot. Loved it! Would really love to read more about these three! A small request, can we get a bit more dominant side of Andrew too, that would be hot af, but that's completely upto you. Overall, loved this sm.

The fact someone who wouldn't read this kind of story READ MY STORY AND LOVE IT!!!! I can't, I love it!!! it was a first for me, and honestly it was a bit weird to write at first, but now I am so used to have my three boys, I don't know to let them go (why the series is still going).

9. A time when writing was really, really hard:

Well it was around October, beginning of November. I was feeling really really stressed with uni and writing and all my responsibilities. I didn't really know why? But it was really hard to smile.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you:

ANDREW MY BABY BOY!!! Andrew is my OMC for my For My Lovers series. I didn't know I would love him so much. He is my precious little bean. Well... he's very bratty and a smart ass pain in the butt, but he's MY pain in the butt. He came together nicely, like I didn't plan much, it was so natural. Love him so much.

11. A favorite excerpt of your writing:

When Love Is Enough... it's just something I wish someone will say to me one day...

Andrew let go of his body for the first time in a long while to hold Harry’s face. “Harry, listen to me. You’re our world, our everything. You’re not your sister, you are perfect just the way you are. We wouldn’t want anyone else. You are enough for us.” “Yes, you are the most caring and thoughtful person in the world, always putting us before yourself. Even before your own sorrows.” Louis kissed Harry’s forehead and sighed. Harry bit his lip again, it was uncomfortable and he wasn’t sure if it was bleeding or not. “Of course, you’re both so amazing, I umm… I should feel thankful to just be around-” Louis interrupted Harry. “You’re worth a thousand stars, a million suns and all the moons in the universe. Don’t let me catch you thinking you’re lucky to be around us, because we are the ones who should be thanking the heavens that we have you.”

12. How did you grow as a writer this year:

Omg, I thought I grew so much last year, this year is on a total different level. I started writing faster, make better plot progressions, dialogue got better. BODY LANGUAGE got so much better. I am much better with pacing, don't need to worry about it so much anymore. Short fics stay shorter, because I have been practicing with my fic commissions. I don't know, I write Girl Direction now, I feel I even have grown as a baby bi because of that! I am not so scared to say... boobs lol. I have gotten so much more confident.

13. How do you hope to grow next year:

Well, tone it done a bit... I have written a bit too much this year. I wanted to write 9? fics, because I wrote 8 last year.... 21 haha oopsie. I have definitely overworked myself and that's not good.

Besides that, I want to get better at writing. I want to better at grammar and imagery, less repetition. I want to grow. Be better at longer fics. My modelling au for the @notjustsmutficfest will be a longer one and I already feel overwhelmed haha. And a kid fic that I won't say too much about.

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc):

Well I think I couldn't have done anything, if it wasn't for @onlythebravest. Julia has helped me get through this year, I don't even know what would have happened if it wasn't for them! One thing, For My Lovers wouldn't have been here haahaha. At least not the way it is now!! Thank you for always hearing my whining and overexcited 2pm fic ideas.

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year:

Hahahaha, ummm. Almost all the emotional scenes in my fics have some form of self insertion hehe.

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers:

Well, have fun. Write what you want to write, don't be scared. If you want to write a fic where the one dee boys are butterflies, do it bestie.

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: 

Well I have a few.

My Modelling au for @notjustsmutficfest. My girl direction religion fic for @1dreligionfest. Next season for For My Lovers. A pantyhose fetish fic. My kid fic. And a fic for next round of the @1dastroficfest, that's coming in January!!

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read.

@onlythebravest @thebreadvansstuff @huggieshalo @kingsofeverything @harrysmaison @thedevilinmybrain @lunarheslwt @momrryrights @larry-hiatus @polaroidlouis @cyantific @parmahamlarrie @haztobegood @faithinwalls369 @panye @zanniscaramouche

[weasleylangs]

if you don’t know, let me go - f.w

Pairing: Fred x Fem!Slytherin!Reader Summary: It’s always seemed like they’ve been dancing the line between friends and more, so why does he take a different girl to the ball? Warnings: Some swearing, pining that one character is too much of a dummy to see, a bit of angst but it eventually becomes fluff I promise, jealousy but nothing toxic, underage drinking but it’s like one line. Word Count: 5.8k

A/N: This is my first fanfiction in literally forever, so any feedback is always appreciated! Requests are open if you like this and want more! Also this got stupidly long fast, I can barely write book reviews on Goodreads without writing a novel so my bad, I’m sorry if you don’t like long fics. (Also cross-posted on AO3 as the tumblr tags don’t seem to be my friend right now.) 

- Also, thank you so much to @lumosandnoxwriting for answering all my questions on how to get back into writing!

Send me an ask or a dm if you would like to be added to a tag list!

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

“Do you think he’s going to ask you?” 

It’s Wednesday afternoon, late enough for class to be over but too early for dinner and Y/N’s attempt at understanding anything in her potions textbook is broken by Alicia Spinnet talking to her. Despite the fact she hadn’t said a name, Y/N knows immediately who she was talking about and she shrugs in response, closing her book and accepting that studying was not on the table for the rest of the night now the ball has been mentioned. 

“Probably not.” She deadpans. Y/N’s been trying not to get her hopes up that Fred would ask her to the Yule Ball since it was announced three days ago. Alicia’s already been asked by George- who immediately did a dramatic reenactment of some muggle proposal he’d seen in a movie as soon as Dumbledore announced it. But Fred had been more reluctant to ask anyone, despite people’s assumption that he could get anyone he pleased. Y/N only hoped this was because he was too shy of taking whatever they were from friends to lovers.

No one really understood how the outspoken and mischievous redhead became friends with the snarky Slytherin girl, but 6 years into their schooling people have stopped questioning it. They had formed an unexplainable bond the second they met on the train to Hogwarts when they were eleven years old that may have included both shouting at blood purists and now it seems to have evolved into something beyond just a friendship. 

Lingering stares, soft touches, the fact neither of them had really dated anyone else because they were too caught up with each other. Everyone, including their friends, have all placed bets on how long it’ll take for the two of them to ‘fess up and finally get together.

“What makes you say that?” Alicia asks, genuinely. She’s heard first hand the teasing George and Lee give Fred over his feelings for Y/N in the Gryffindor common room when they think they’re alone so she finds it hard to believe he hasn’t even hinted at them going together yet. 

Y/N shrugs. “I just think if he wanted to go with me, he’d ask me by now… Y’know?” Alicia can’t really deny her logic. Fred’s never been the one to shy away from being outspoken about anything really in the whole six years she’s known him, so even she can admit it’s weird that Fred hasn’t asked her.

“Maybe he just assumes you guys are going together?” Alicia starts, and before Y/N can argue back, she holds up a hand, “I’ll ask him after dinner tonight. I can guarantee Lee or George will join in and you’ll have your date by Transfiguration tomorrow!” Y/N shakes her head and laughs, and starts packing her things, mumbling about Alicia is a meddler and that she’ll see her later.

-

Y/N’s walking to the Great Hall for dinner when it happens. Adrian Pucey, star quidditch chaser for the Slytherin team slinks up next to her and scares her enough to almost drop the books she has clutched in her hands. She’s never had a problem with Adrian- their parents are in similar friendship circles so she sees him at family friend events outside of school, but she’s never considered him a friend either, which is why his approach to her is so odd.

“Sorry about that,” he laughs, shoving his hands in his pockets as Y/N clutches her chest. “I didn’t mean to scare you.” 

“No, no, it’s fine,” she starts, “You’re just very quiet. I’m used to being almost tackled to the ground when I see friends.” She laughs, but she doesn’t miss the awkward tension in the air and she can’t help but assume what’s coming next. 

“I just wanted to ask if, uh, if you don’t have a date to the ball… If you’d like to go with me?” 

Y/N gulps. She knows she shouldn’t be putting all her eggs in the Fred Weasley marked basket, but she can’t help but remember her conversation with Alicia only an hour ago.

‘You’ll have your date by Transfiguration tomorrow!’

Adrian senses her hesitation and lets out a breath that sounds like he’s almost laughing. “You’re waiting for one of Weasley twins to ask you, aren’t you? Fred, right?” She hates how easily he caught on.

“Adrian, I- Ugh, I’m sorry. But yeah… I am.” She feels her cheeks heat up in embarrassment at someone she’s not even friends with pointing it out. She can’t help but think maybe this is a sign though, that if everyone else is expecting it, why hasn’t he asked her yet? 

“No, it’s all good. But the offers on the table if he’s too pussy to ask you out.” He gives a kind smile as he walks off to catch up with Marcus Flint who’s drilling Malfoy about quidditch plays.

She exhales slowly and finally makes it to the Great Hall. She scans the tables looking for her closest friend in Slytherin- Daphne Greengrass and once she finds her, she quickly makes her way over to her. Dinner is relatively uneventful since she’s sitting with her house, and George manages to catch her eye at one point and mouths ‘miss you’ to which she laughs and says she misses him back.

She’s about to get up and leave when the last thing she expects to happen, happens. She hears Ron exclaim loudly that Fred can’t make fun of him for not having a date because he doesn’t have one either. Y/N feels her heart start to race, knowing if anyone’s going to prove a point to Ron, it’ll be Fred Weasley. She doesn’t hear what Fred’s reply is but Harry and Ron both scoff, and one of them says ‘ask a girl out if it’s so easy then.’ 

Y/N’s about to approach the Gryffindor table when George’s eye catches her, and he shakes his head. Fred has already thrown a scrunched-up piece of paper at Angelina and her heart sinks. 

“Angelina! Will you go to the ball with me?” 

As Angelina laughs and says yes to Fred, it feels like the whole Great Hall is either watching their altercation or watching Y/N in pity. Her heart now feels like it’s in her throat, and she needs to get out of the room before she cries or yells at Fred. She pivots on her heel and is met face-to-face with Daphne, who nods in silent agreement that they’re going back to their dorm. 

Y/N is halfway down the long tables with the door in her sights when she spots Adrian out of the peripheral of her eye. She can tell he’s looking at her in pity and in a weird way, she feels the need to show defiance against Fred Weasley. She needs to show she doesn’t need pity, especially right now, that she can get a date herself. So she stops in front of the Slytherin quidditch team and slightly smirks. 

“That offer to the ball still on the table?” 

-

Daphne spends the night taking Y/N’s mind off the Weasley family. They sit in their dorm together, once again trying to study for potions which eventually leads into ball talk yet again. Daphne can tell the idea of going to the ball with anyone who isn't Fred is unnerving for Y/N, but there’s no backing down now.

“That was kind of a badass move, y’know?” She starts, treading lightly as they eventually reach the elephant in the room, ‘Asking Adrian after what happened.”

It doesn’t feel badass to Y/N. She feels like she’s cheating on the redhead that owns her heart, but she knows that’s ridiculous. Fred clearly has no form of feelings for her and she’s decided to get over him. 

“It’s nothing…” She starts and she sees Daphne’s eyebrows raise. They’ve been roommates every year since they started school together so they’re both aware this is a big lie. “I didn’t want to go alone. Everyone else had dates already and Adrian’s nice. Plus, he did ask me before…”

Daphne nods, not wanting to press further. “Have you got a dress yet?” It had said on their packing list for the school year to bring a dress or dress robes so everyone’s already well prepared. Y/N nods and walks towards the closet before pulling out a floor-length silver gown with lace detailing. She smiles shyly as Daphne gasps in awe. 

“Eat your heart out, Fred Weasley!” For the first time all night, Y/N laughs. She knows she’s going to look stunning in the dress and while she has no ill resentment towards Angelina for agreeing to go with Fred, she can’t help but feel a little bit coy knowing Fred’s going to see her in it. 

- 

She’s sitting at her desk in Transfiguration the next day when he finally acknowledges her presence. She’s twiddling her quill in her fingers, dreading the moment the troublemaker waltzes into the class. His usual seat is the one next to her, while George and Lee sit in front of them but she can only hope Alicia takes the hint and sits with her before Fred does.

She doesn’t get her wish. She’s about two seconds away from dozing off when the seat screeches against the hardwood flooring below them and she looks to her left to see Fred smirking.

“Hi love,'' he starts, the nickname not feeling out of ordinary, “I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages.” He says, and it’s true. He hadn’t seen her since class yesterday. He had looked for her before dinner to tell her about the prank he’d pulled on Filch with George while she was studying and he’d barely seen her during dinner. 

Her heart starts to speed up at the nickname, and she forces down the bile she feels growing in her throat. “Yeah, I just ate dinner and went to bed yesterday. Been studying for potions. Sixth year is hard.” She’s trying to be short and sweet and maybe a little blunt but Fred doesn’t pick up on it. “Heard you asked Angelina to the ball too.” She’s hoping to whoever’s listening to her prayers that the jealousy isn’t evident in her voice and by the dopey smile that grows on Fred’s face, her prayers were answered.

“Yeah! Ron was being such a prat, telling me I couldn’t make fun of him for…” But she drowns his voice out. It might be a bitch move, but she really doesn’t need to hear the who, where, when and why he asked Angelina out. It’s clear to Y/N that Fred didn’t even notice her existence at dinner and that stings more than she’d like to admit. 

She can barely concentrate during class. Fred has never really shown to care about any academic success, so he spends the entire period trying to entertain Y/N and get her to speak to him but she’s being stubborn and Fred can’t help but wonder what he did wrong. He starts to think maybe she’s just had a bad day, but when the bell rings and she storms off without even saying goodbye to him he’s dumbfounded.

“Trouble in paradise, brother?” George teases when he sees the frown adorned on Fred’s face. 

“Have I done anything to upset Y/N?” He questions and he sees the way George and Lee both give each other a look. They know something he doesn’t and that leaves a feeling of uneasiness in his chest. Y/N and himself have always been closer than her and George and especially her and Lee. He was there for her when her parents were fighting constantly when she was 11 and when Marcus Flint started bullying her in 3rd year. He was even there when she cried to him last year about the guy she loved and how he was so stupidly blind to her feelings and while she didn’t give a name, Fred was dying to go punch whoever it was for not realising he had his best friend’s heart.

“If you have, it’s not up for us to tell you, mate.” Lee states and he hides behind George when he notices the scowl on Fred’s face. Lee knows better than to get between him and Y/N, but he isn’t wrong. 

“Look, Alicia said she was fine when they left the library yesterday evening,” George starts, and he knows he shouldn’t be lying to his brother and best friend, but it’s not a huge lie, and maybe it’ll push his oblivious brother to realise what he did to upset his best friend, “She was at dinner last night when you asked Angie to the ball and then she went to her dorm with Daphne. Heard something about her saying yes to Adrian Pucey asking her to the ball…” While George made extra emphasis on the fact Y/N witnessed Fred asking Angelina to the ball, Fred’s eyes glaze over in rage when George mentions Adrian and he has a feeling his twin has got the wrong idea.

“I bet Adrian did something to her. Fuck him, honestly.” And before George and Lee can stop him, Fred’s stalking out of the classroom with Adrian Pucey in his sights.

- 

Fred doesn’t find Adrian until later that afternoon, standing on the pitch and clad in his quidditch robes, yelling at someone who Fred assumes is Montague. He thinks now is probably a bad time to confront him, but he's blinded by the thought that he’s hurt Y/N. 

“Pucey!” He shouts and when Adrian turns around, he chuckles and smirks at Fred. He was expected this later rather than sooner, specifically during dinner, but he guesses now will have to do. 

“What?” He asks, but they both know why he’s here and he’s just enjoying riling Fred up. 

“What did you do Y/N?” Adrian scoffs at this and shakes his head which confuses Fred. “What did I do to Y/N?” Fred stands his ground, chest puffed up. Adrian might be a fair bit shorter than Fred but Adrian hasn’t got anything to be scared of. Sure he’s seen Fred throw a punch or two and he’s definitely been on the receiving end of a bludger from the Weasley during a game, but he knows he isn’t the one that hurt Y/N here. 

“I think you should be asking yourself that, mate. Y/N only agreed to going to the ball with me after you asked Angelina out right in front of her.” This causes Fred to look at Adrian in confusion and Adrian laughs at Fred again. He’s confused, why would asking Angelina out hurt Y/N? 

It turns out he said that out loud, because two seconds later Adrian is responding to him, “Because she was expecting you to ask her, Weasley.” 

Adrian doesn’t even wait for Fred’s reply before stalking off to the Slytherin change rooms and Fred’s left standing on the pitch, wondering why the ache in his chest is almost debilitating at the thought of hurting Y/N and questioning why he feels the need to throw up knowing she’s happily going with Adrian Pucey. 

-

Fred’s next port of call is finding Y/N. After his talk with Adrian, he needs to find out why she expected him to ask her to the ball. He would’ve happily gone with her, but to Fred, she hadn’t even dropped a single hint at wanting to go with him and when she’s finally located, she’s in the library with Daphne. 

“This is my exit cue,” Daphne mutters as she notices the redhead roaming around the library looking for Y/N. She doesn’t even have a moment to question Daphne before the seat in front of her is suddenly occupied by the last person she was hoping to see again.

“Why are you going with Pucey?” Is the first thing that leaves Fred’s mouth, and it wasn’t what Y/N was expecting. She splutters, only for a few seconds, before eventually replying.

“He asked me.” 

Fred’s eyebrows furrow, but didn’t Pucey say she wanted to go with him? “A little birdie said you wanted to go with me. So, how come you’re going with him.”

Now Y/N scoffs and Fred can’t help but notice how many people are scoffing at him today just for asking questions and it’s getting annoying. “You didn’t ask me. He did. So, I said yes. Don’t understand why it’s such a big deal.” She’s intentionally being short, hopefully not spilling anything about her feelings for the boy in front of her. 

“I didn’t know you wanted to go with me, Y/N. How was I supposed to know?” At this, Y/N goes from feeling hurt to angry and she can’t explain why her hands start to shake. 

“How were you supposed to know?” She exclaims loudly which causes her to receive a rather nasty ‘sh’ from Madam Pince and a few O.W.L students surrounding her. 

“Have you seen the way we act around each other Fred?” She’s now whisper yelling and the confused look on Fred’s face as she says this just aggravates her further and she’s convinced no one is this daft and he’s pushing her buttons on purpose. “Because everyone thinks we’re fucking dating already, Fred. You have to constantly be touching me, we’re always together, you call me darling and love and you kiss me on the forehead when I fucking bring you sugar quills from Hogsmeade because they’re your favourite and whenever you have spare money you always buy me Honeydukes chocolate because you said you like seeing me blush when you buy me things. You’re telling me now that we’re just friends?”

If the ache in Fred’s chest was almost debilitating on the quidditch pitch earlier, right now it feels like he’s about to go into cardiac arrest. Her cheeks are flushed, her fists are clenched, pieces of her hair are falling out of her bun that’s resting on top of her head and, worst of all, Fred’s noticed the tears of anger and frustration pooling in her eyes.

She sighs before continuing, trying to compose herself so he doesn’t see her crying over him, unaware he’s already noticed the tears threatening to fall. Her voice is sad and broken, and it feels like the ending point for her. 

“I was just stupid enough to assume this year was the year we would finally admit we’re more than friends, Freddie. But I guess all this time it’s been one-sided. I hope you have a good time at the ball with Angelina.” 

Fred grabs her wrist as she starts to pack up her things and looks at her, scanning her face for any form of emotion. “Let me go, Fred.” She looks at him with pleading eyes and he lets go of the grasp he has on her wrist.

Fred doesn’t try to stop her again as she hastily packs up her things and he sadly watches her leave the library without turning to look at him. 

-

Y/N doesn’t care if it’s considered dramatic, but she lays in bed and cries for the rest of the day. While she hasn’t gone through a literal break-up, it feels like her friendship with Fred is over. At least, she’s decided, it’s over until she gets over her feelings for him. 

Daphne tries everything in her power to comfort her. She rubs her back, plays with her hair and even puts on ABBA to try and get Y/N to dance just to cheer her up. Y/N feels horrible she’s basically conned Daphne into babysitting her breakdown but Daphne constantly reassures her it’s okay. 

“Do you want me to go beat him up? I might be short and weak and he’s the size of a tree but I could take him.” Y/N sniffles a laugh at this, and smiles. She’s truly grateful for everything Daphne’s been doing for her and she makes a mental note to get her an extra special Christmas present next time she goes to Hogsmeade. 

However, it turns out essentially ending the friendship with Fred ends her friendships with most of the Gryffindors. She was expecting this, but when George can’t even meet her eye in class her heart breaks into even smaller pieces. George has always been like a brother to her, someone she could tell anything too without worry of being judged. He was the first person she told when she realised she liked Fred and Y/N was the first person, besides Fred, that George told his feelings for Alicia for. 

Y/N feels alone but she’s stubborn so she refuses to show it. She sits with Daphne in every class, essentially kicking poor Cassius Warrington who’s been pining after Daphne for 3 years into a different spot in class and she sometimes even sits with Adrian during lunch. It turns out they have a lot more in common than just the fact they’re in Slytherin and pure-bloods and Y/N’s pain in her chest is slowly but surely disappearing. 

While her feelings for Fred still exist, her heart slowly feels like it’s being mended. It’s only when she spots Fred sulking during lunch one day that the ache returns. She was usually the one who he went too when feeling bad- him being too embarrassed to go to George. She hopes he’s okay, but she shakes the idea of approaching him, knowing he’s got Angelina to keep him company. The pang in her chest stays a little bit longer that day. 

-

The Yule Ball arrives quicker than expected and Y/N and Daphne spend all day getting ready with a bunch of other Slytherin students. It’s nice, while they don’t all usually get along, the house loyalty between them is unmistakable. 

Most of them are acutely aware of Y/N’s ‘Weasley Situation’ and while some of them give her pity looks, most of the younger girls have expressed their jealousy that she’s going with Adrian. This makes her laugh and shake her head and she often replies that boys aren’t all that and no boy is worth being jealous over. She feels like a wise mother almost, never wanting them to feel the way she’s felt the past few weeks.

Daphne and Y/N arrive at the Great Hall together, giggling about how bad Y/N is at walking in heels and placing bets on how quick they’re going to come off. While Daphne is counting her galleons in her purse to confirm the bet, Y/N catches a glimpse of Fred and Angelina. He looks so handsome, his dress robes a mixture of gold and black and she can’t help but think how well they’d go together. But when she looks at Angelina she feels like she’s going to pass out.

Angelina is stunning, and there’s no doubt about it. She’s in a floor-length dark purple gown that compliments her skin perfectly and Y/N thinks if Fred was going with anyone to the ball, she’s glad it’s Angelina. 

Cassius and Adrian soon appear by the girls and take their arms into the Great Hall that’s been transformed to look like a winter wonderland. The roof tonight is bewitched to look like a winter, snowy day and Y/N can’t help but admire it. She’s grown up with magic her entire life, but she can’t help but constantly be amazed.

Adrian pulls a flask out of his dress robes jacket which makes Y/N snort and he smiles happily at her. Of course he snuck Firewhiskey into the Ball. The action reminds her of something Fred would do and she shakes her head, trying to get the boy out of her mind, tonight of all nights.

“You look beautiful tonight, by the way.” Adrian states as he takes a swig of the flask, and she feels her cheeks heat up. She can hear the sincerity in his voice. “You don’t scrub up so badly either, Pucey.” 

“A dance, m’lady?” He jokingly bows to Y/N and she smiles while she takes his hand and he leads her to the dance floor. As Adrian twirls Y/N around the dance floor, albeit messily because neither of them paid attention in dance classes held by Snape of all people, she forgets about the redhead who’s stare is burning holes into the back of her head.

“You’re a shit date, y’know.” Angelina laughs and Fred’s broken out of his trance. “Shit, Angie, I’m so sorry.” 

Angelina isn’t wrong. She’s a smart girl, and she’s well aware of Fred’s longing stares towards the Slytherin girl. “Did you know? That you wanted to go with her?” Angelina questions, out of sheer curiosity. Even she was shocked when Fred asked her, but she was too dumbfounded when he asked and with everyone watching at dinner, the pressure to say yes was immense but it was not worth all the pain and heartache she’s watched her two friends go through. 

“At the time? No, definitely not. She’s…” He trails off as he tries to find the right words, “She’s always been there, y’know? I just assumed she’d be in my life forever and what we had was what we’d always be… It felt normal, like I didn’t feel the way I feel about her with you, or Katie or Alicia but it felt like that’s how you’re meant to feel about your girl best friend?” 

He looks over at them again, and the gross feeling of jealousy rises in his throat. “But then she said yes to Pucey, and all I can think about is how no one should be holding her but me and that he'll walk her all the way back to her dorm tonight and probably kiss her and I feel like throwing up, and...” He pauses and looks at Angelina and the pity in her eyes is obvious. “And you don’t think about your best friend like this.” 

Angelina watches in pity as Fred clearly drowns his sorrows in pumpkin juice and she drags him onto the dance floor. She’s not letting Fred have a bad night and she refuses to have one as well. Fred is one of her best friends, and even though she might not be the girl he wishes he was here with, she’s determined to cheer him up somehow. 

Fred finally starts to have a good time when he spots George slyly leading Alicia out of the Great Hall and he loudly wolf whistles causing a red hue to form on both their cheeks and George to flip Fred the bird as they leave. Angelina spots Y/N grab her purse across the room while Fred’s distracted and she quietly leaves just after George and Alicia.

Alone.

“Y/N just left, Fred. Alone.” Fred’s confused why Angelina is telling him this when he looks over at Daphne and Adrian, who both look at him like ‘Go you fucking idiot’ and before he can even mutter a goodbye to his friends, he’s out the door almost as fast as George was.

-

He finds Y/N sitting on a bench in the courtyard. She’s looking up at the stars and Fred stars to recall last summer when she visited The Burrow. She spent all night trying to point out constellations to Fred and as he watches her mutter to herself, Fred wonders how he didn’t realise that they were in love this entire time.

He clears his throat, careful not to startle Y/N and when she turns Fred can see the hesitation in her face as she quickly goes to jump up and leave. 

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have stolen the prime make-out spot of the night.” She awkwardly laughs but then quickly realises Fred is alone. “Nevermind… Where’s Angelina?” 

Fred shrugs, and sits down on the bench she was sitting on originally. Y/N stands awkwardly before sitting down next to him. As much as she hates to admit it, she’s missed being close to him. The warmth that radiates off him despite it being the middle of winter causes her to shuffle just that slightly bit closer to him and Fred can’t help but smile. 

“You look beautiful tonight. I know Adrian probably told you already, at least I hope he did, but you deserve to know.” Fred could feel himself rambling and he doesn’t miss the blush that rises across Y/N’s neck and cheeks. It’s the exact same blush that appears whenever he buys her chocolates and his heart soars. 

“Thanks Freddie,” the nickname feels foreign on her tongue, “you look pretty handsome yourself. I hope Angelina told you.” She retaliates and Fred hates it. He hates the awkwardness between them. He wants nothing more to wrap his arms around her and hold her close but they feel like strangers. 

“Thanks,” he laughs and Y/N looks at him confused. “Did you have a good night?”

“Can we not have this awkward small talk? I’m sure Angelina’s waiting for you somewhere.” Fred’s taken aback by her abruptness and stares at her for a few seconds. “What?” She asks when she notices Fred looking at her like she has nine heads.

“Angelina’s not waiting for me. Is Adrian waiting for you?” He asks but he doesn’t want to know the answer. He’s gone through a rollercoaster of emotions these past few weeks and he truly doesn’t want to know if another man is waiting for her to sweep her off her feet and walk back to the Slytherin common room. But when she shakes her head, Fred lets out a breath he didn’t realise he was holding. 

“I need to apologise.” He blurts out and Fred wants to smack himself in the head. This was not the romantic moment he had envisioned in his head as he followed her outside into the courtyard. “I need to apologise for a lot of things. Mostly, for not realising how ridiculously in love with you I am, and also for not asking you to the ball and for ruining our friend-” 

“You didn’t ruin our friendship.” She cuts him off but she doesn’t know what else to say. “You didn’t. I did, if anything.” Fred has to stop himself from starting an argument on who ruined the friendship but he wants to backtrack. Did Y/N just ignore him confessing his love to her? 

“Well, I’m still sorry for not realising how ridiculously in love with you I am?” He tries again sheepishly and Y/N gives him a double-take. She heard him the first time but she was convinced it was just her ears playing tricks on her or Fred being a menace. After all, this is Fred Weasley in front of her, he’s always looking for a joke and as she’s about to accuse him of pulling a sick, twisted prank on her, she looks at him properly.

And he’s looking as serious as he did the day he told her he plans to open a joke shop with George after they graduate. 

“You’re in love with me?” She asks quietly and her heart is racing again. She thinks back to the day she accidentally confessed to Fred and how she’s spent the last few weeks trying to fall out of love with him just for him to admit he’s fallen in love with her. “Fred, if this is some sick and twisted joke I will never forgive you.” 

Fred almost looks hurt at this, that she thinks he’s capable of something that cruel. So instead of speaking, he softly cups her face in both his hands and runs his thumbs across her cheekbones in a loving manner. He looks her directly in the eyes and Y/N doesn’t think she’s breathed in the last 30 seconds.

She’s been craving being this close to Fred for as long as she can remember. Their lingering touches were never this intimate and right now, she feels like she can look into Fred’s eyes and see into his core, his soul. And he can do the same to her.

“Can I kiss you?” He asks softly, and Y/N gasps before nodding, wanting nothing more than to feel his lips against hers. 

As he leans in his eyes flutter close, as do her’s. Y/N hasn’t kissed a lot of people in her life, but nothing could ever compare to the way she feels right now. The love and adoration Fred is pouring into this kiss almost brings tears to her eyes and she can only hope he can feel the love and adoration she has for him back.

Their lips move in perfect synchrony, neither of them pushing each other too far, but when Y/N drags her fingers through Fred’s hair and he lets out a groan, she can’t help but pull away and giggle. 

“I’ve missed hearing you laugh.” Fred’s arms are now wrapped around her middle and he’s leaning down to press his forehead against hers. Now he has her in his arms, he’s never letting her go. 

“I’ve missed having you make me laugh, Freddie.” She says sincerely and it’s Fred’s turn to blush. He knows they need to eventually leave their little bubble of happiness they finally have but he doesn’t want too. But he knows they need to talk about what happened, about them, what they are and Fred so desperately hopes this means Y/N is his. 

She senses Fred’s thinking and she looks up at him, doe-eyed and innocent and Fred’s heart melts. 

“Stop overthinking.” She mutters, running her hand through his long hair again and Fred almost looks like a cat purring as he feels her fingernails rake across his scalp and he leans into her touch. “Can’t help it. Don’t want to lose you again.” 

Her heart pounds, this is all she’s ever wanted to hear and now she wants to hear it every single day. So she tells him exactly that.

“I’m yours, Freddie. As long as you’re mine? If you don’t know what you want it’s okay, I promise we can take it slow-” Fred cuts her off, laughing as he kisses her again and he feels how warm Y/N’s cheeks are, as she blushes over Fred silencing her with a kiss. When he pulls back, her face is flush, her hair is falling out of her bun. It reminds Fred of that day in the library, except this time, the happiness in her face is unmistakably there, and finally he’s the cause of it. 

“Of course, I’m yours, darling. I’m never letting you go.” 

- 

Late the next morning, when Y/N is trying her best to sneak out of the Gryffindor sixth year boys dormitory with a dark purple hickey adorning her neck, she spots three 4th years whose names she doesn’t even know, giving Ron Weasley five galleons. 

Ron sees her, and smirks. “My bet was at the ball. Thanks, Y/N, you and Freddie boy have made me a very rich man.”

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

[tigerseye46]

Following in His Father’s Footsteps (Evil Peaches Au)

Summary: Years ago the Zhu-Sun family attacked, lost in their grief. Sun Wukong faced of against his former sworn brother who led the heavenly army to apprehend him. With his magical axe, the Demon Bull King managed to seal the Monkey King under a mountain. The Demon Bull King then disappeared from the public eye, leaving his son and wife to live their lives. Princess Iron Fan and Red have reunited with the king, uncertain of rather to find him and reach out. Red might have to find his father rather he likes it or not.

Ao3 link

Jin started with, “The thing you need to understand about the legends, kid, is that the story is never finished. Heck, just look at me and Yin! People know only part of our story and centuries after that we’re still going!”

“Now… emerging from Flower Fruit Mountain after years of being protectors, Sun Wukong and Zhu Bajie attacked. Heaven sent soldiers to apprehend them but none could stop them except… your dad! Using his axe, your dad managed to trap the Monkey King under a mountain. With that done, the Demon Bull King vanished, never to be seen again. Legend says his axe remains on top of the mountain, keeping our world from being destroyed. With the Monkey King sealed and Zhu Bajie in hiding, civilization was able to advance into the amazing world you see today.”

He placed a hand on Red’s back and guided him a few steps forward so he didn’t see Yin snag a bag of chips. “All thanks to the Demon Bull King,” he finished with his arm in the air.

Red narrowed his eyes. “Yes, I know. I know the story of how my father sealed the Monkey King.”

The gold demon ruffled his hair, Red growled in response and quickly waved him away. “Well, sometimes you could use a reminder. You’re too distracted by that gadget of yours.”

The younger looked at the object in his hands. “Well, it’s better than dealing with you idiots. You know mother will be mad when she catches you two.”

“And she is,” Princess Iron Fan hissed and ripped the bag away from Yin, attracting some attention from customers. “Don’t take things from my store! I’m not running a charity here, boys!”

The silver one replied, “Oh c’mon, Iron Fan! Lighten up! It’s not that big of a deal! Plus my brother was paying in wisdom!”

Iron Fan fumed, “WISDOM DOESN’T PAY FOR THIS PLACE!” She massaged her temples and turned towards her kid. “Sweetie, you’ve been slacking off all morning. Can you pick up the pace?”

“Actually, mom, I was about to take my break so…”

“Break? That’s all you've been doing. There is no break! I need you to go!”

She pushed her son out with a grocery bag. She heard a crinkle and spun around to face the two demons who had chips in their mouth. “BOYS,” she shouted and began her chase.

————

Red raised a brow as they fiddled with his invention, completely oblivious to their surroundings. The place they stumbled into was an abandoned construction site, planks of wood resting on the side, and rocks littered the area.

The demon paused when a noise reached their ears. “I’ve waited too long for this moment. Is everything ready?”

“Almost done, papa” came a response.

The demon gasped and hid behind some rocks. “Finally, after all these years, we finally have the method to lift the Demon Bull King’s axe” said the first voice.

Red peaked their head to see their father’s weapon, it shimmered in all its glory. “Father’s axe!” He hopped up onto some pipes to get a better vantage point. A purple bird squawked in surprise and gave a displeased look. Red paid them no mind.

He observed a pig demon in blue hanfu with golden cloud patterns and a crown, a monkey with a red bandanna, and a bunch of other monkeys crowded around the mountain. He clasped a hand over his mouth. It was the Monkey King’s husband, Zhu Bajie, and their son, Xiaotian.

“My love will finally return to me. Heaven has taken everythin’ from us but I’ll have him back the second we remove it. My handsome lǎogong…” Bajie paused when something caught his eye. A monkey climbed on top of the mountain and tried to pull on it when they received a bolt of electricity that sent them crashing against a wall.

Xiaotian pulled the other up. “Are you okay?” The other bobbed their head. “Good. And good job for trying but we already attempted that. It’s going to take more than that to get rid of that weapon. Only a few are capable of wielding it. But combined with my powers and the gauntlet I invented I should be able to free dad.”

“You’ve worked really hard. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks, papa!” He presented the golden power glove and got on top of the mountain. He grasped the axe, purple and golden sparks flying as he struggled to pull it off. The weapon broke away from it. “I DID IT,” he yelled in an excited and ecstatic tone as he lifted the weapon in the air, receiving praises from his subjects.

When nothing happened Xiaotian turned back to his papa. “Why isn’t it working? Papa, are you sure this is the right place?”

“Well I don’t know of any other mountain with a magical axe trappin’ my husband,” he huffed.

The mountain rumbled and the group stepped back with Bajie placing a hand in front of his son’s chest to shield him if need be. Wukong emerged from the mountain, fur ragged, some of it torn, and soot covered his armor. Xiaotian beamed. “DAD!”

The Monkey King gazed at himself with reddish-orange eyes, a pleased chuckle slipping past. He dusted the soot off and proclaimed, “I’ve finally returned.”

Red stared at the scene. No… no way was the Monkey King free. He had no idea what to do, maybe out of sight. Yea, that’s it, if he stayed out of sight then he wouldn’t have to face the Monkey King directly and could alert people. His thought was interrupted by the bird pecking his hands. “Hey! Go away! I mean it!”

Bajie grinned at his love, taking hesitant steps forward, tears began to swell. “My lǎogong, I’ve missed you so much.”

Wukong stared at him with eyes blown wide and a gasp. “BAJIE!”

They ran towards each other and gripped the other tightly. The king examined his partner’s face, their foreheads pressed together. “You’re safe,” the king’s voice quivered. “Last I saw… oh, my Bajie, you’re safe.”

The pig nodded, he sniffled. “Yes, love, I’m safe. I missed you…”

“I missed you too. I missed you so much.” They kissed passionately before Wukong broke away and asked, “How did you manage to free me?”

“It wasn’t me, love. It was our son.”

He gestured to their child who stood there shyly, the axe placed aside. Wukong ruffled the boy’s hair. “I’m so proud of you, bud. You’ve grown so much.”

Xiaotian grinned and hugged his father. “Thanks, dad! I missed you. I tried really hard to find a way to free you!”

“And you did an excellent job!”

Xiaotian flapped his hands at his father’s praise. “Now, us, the Zhu-Sun family, can get our revenge!”

Red Son held in another gasp, this couldn’t be happening. The bird continued to peck at him and in an instant, Red fell and landed right on top of Xiaotian. “Uhhhh… someone ordered groceries.” He smiled sheepishly as he held up the plastic bag.

“HEY! GET OFF! You ruined a nice family moment,” the younger monkey growled and shoved the demon off of him.

Sun Wukong curled a brow. “If it isn’t Red Son, been a while. Seems you’ve fallen into our midst.” He sighed as if resigned to the situation. “It seems a waste to crush someone like you right off the bat but it will certainly hurt your father.” He smirked, disregarding their past battle and focusing on the present. “And that’s what I’m counting on.”

He was about to strike when his son interrupted with, “I’ll take care of it, dad. Don’t waste your energy. I want to show you how much I’ve grown!”

The king placed his arms behind his back and agreed, “Alright, my son. Do what you wish.”

Red tried to tiptoe away when Xiaotian bragged, “Now you’re very lucky, grocery boy. It’s not every day someone gets crushed by the Zhu-Sun family!” Red stared at the axe, something called to him. “Are you listening? I won’t let my family be disrespected!” He attempted to punch the demon but he blocked it… blocked it with the axe.

All hell broke loose.

————

Red panted as Yin and he landed on the ground. Yin snapped a picture and went “Wow! That was fun!”

“Yin!”

“What a workout. Almost like a game of tag!”

“It wasn’t a game of tag,” he snapped. “I kinda almost died back there.”

“You didn't, so you’re fine! We should do that more often. Maybe play at the arcade, I’m hyped! Should invite your friend too.”

“Actually he was trying to kill me.”

Yin’s face turned dark and he looked at Red with murder in his eyes. “Where does he live?”

He was about to respond when a shout of “Red! Where are you? You are in so much trouble!” Iron Fan stomped up to them. “Would you like to explain why someone gave a zero-star review regarding your grocery deliveries?”

“Well, mom, what happened with that is…”

“Congrats, Iron Fan! Zero stars are still good,” he joked.

“Quiet, Yin! Zero stars are terrible! You better explain… wait where did my son go?” She spun around as Red ran into the store.

“Sorry, mom!”

———-

Meanwhile, the Zhu-Sun family was underground planning their attack. Xiaotian adjusted the technological armor he had made for his father. “There you go, dad! That should do it!”

The ruler hummed on his throne, his fingers tucked under his chin. “Interesting. What is it supposed to do exactly?”

“Well, it needs to be powered up. It’s a combination of science and magic, meant to activate your powers when it absorbs enough energy which it can also create. The best source would be the Demon Bull King’s axe.”

“Tch. The axe you lost.”

Xiaotian shirked under that statement. “It wasn’t my fault! It was the Grocery Boy-”

Bajie walked over, pressing a kiss against his husband’s cheek, calming him down. The king squeezed his hand. “Don’t be too mad, my peach. We’ll get it back. I sent monkeys to search the city. They’ll find it.”

“Alright, if you say so, dear. Hopefully they find it fast. I didn’t mean to get mad at you, Xiaotian. I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine! The furnace can also convert other things into energy.” He threw his welding mask in, it burst into flames. The Monkey King gripped the ends of the armrest as power shot through him.

Once he calmed down, he settled back in his throne and scrolled through the Internet to find something to strengthen his weakened powers. He stared at the screen with a smug expression. “Time to find something rare. Something to give us the power we deserve.”

————

Red glanced around the shop which thankfully contained no customers except Jin who was eating a bag of chips. “Hey, kid.”

“Jin! Remember how you were trying to distract me by telling me a story about my father?”

Jin swallowed his snack. “Yea?”

“And remember how it was specifically the story of how my father sealed the Monkey King? Well… something happened.”

“Red Son, we were not done talking, young man,” Iron Fan scolded.

“Hm? What is it?” The golden demon pondered.

“I found the mountain! The Monkey King is free! Dad’s axe has been removed! We need to find him! The world is going to be destroyed if-”

Jin pushed him back with an amused grin. “Jeez, did that story get to you? Calm down. Think you’re being delusional. The mountain is hidden and even if it wasn't, no one could just lift your dad’s weapon.”

“Delusional?!” Red’s hair burst into flames. “Is this delusional?” He revealed the axe.

Yin gasped in fake surprise. “Wow, Red. You found a stick.”

“NO! It’s father axe! Tell them, mother!”

The brothers cackled, his mom chuckled along nervously. Red stomped his foot. “Listen! We have to find him. I’ll prove it.”

“How?”

The weapon moved on its own and sliced the cashier counter, right near the golden demon. The three yelped and the golden one pounded his chest to prevent himself from choking on his chips. The second he recovered, he rasped out “Wow. You weren’t kidding. How do you have it?”

Iron Fan swallowed as she examined the weapon her husband once wielded. “That’s… that’s your father’s.” She waggled her head to snap herself out of it. “Okay. Where is the Monkey King now?”

“He’s at the shoe store,” Yin responded.

“What?!”

“I hope this is not one of those mindless prank videos you two always watch.”

“Oh there’s always time for a “mindless” prank video, Princess, but no. Look at what's trending. Hashtag Monkey King!”

Yin showed them a video of the Monkey King and his son robbing the shoe store, taking the one-of-a-kind shoe to power Xiaotian’s invention. “We have to find dad,” Red whispered.

Iron Fan crossed her arms in contemplation. “He should be in the Sky Scraping Cave but it’s been so long. Who knows if he’s even there anymore?”

“We won’t know until we try.”

“Let’s get into the car. We can find everything out on the way.”

She pushed all of them into her car, it swerved as she sped. “SLOW DOWN, IRON FAN! YOU’RE GONNA KILL US,” Jin exclaimed as he held onto the seats for dear life.

“Yea, mother, we have to get to Accumulated Thunder Mountain without getting into an accident. How do we get there?”

The silver brother announced, “The Monkey King is destroying that one mechanic part store.”

“More reason to stop him. How do we get there?” He repeated.

The golden brother shrugged. “Hm… I’m not sure. Might as well turn back.”

“What?!”

The woman shushed them. “There’s someone who can take us there. Maybe we won’t even need someone to take us there… I hope,” she muttered. “There’s a fearsome, deadly warrior on par with the Monkey King himself.” She stopped in front of a boat. The boys shivered as the door creaked open. “Liu'er mihou.”

Liu’er was not what they expected, quite the opposite of what Red’s mother described. He was a gentle human, not some fearsome warrior. “That’s a lot to process. Do you know what I do to people like that? Put on plays and music for them!” He played music on an old record player and hummed along. He placed some drinks on the table.

“You’re right, Iron Fan. He’s so deadly, heck, he might kill us with cuteness,” Yin snarked and placed a rabbit on her lap.

“Sorry, I don’t have a lot to offer but these drinks are good for stress.”

Iron Fan growled, “Liu’er, what happened to you? What happened to the vile, angry, revenge-seeking friend I used to know?”

“Well, my therapist said that years of being angry weren't doing much good so I started finding healthier outlets to manage my emotions. Music does wonders and having a bunch of therapy rabbits helped. Isn’t that right, Huìlián?” A black rabbit with red spots nuzzled him.

The princess’s eye twitched. “Whatever, never mind that. Can you help us defeat the Monkey King?”

He trembled at the suggestion of fighting the king. “Sorry, Iron Fan but I’m retired. I don’t think I can help you beat him.”

She massaged her forehead. “Aren’t we all? Okay, that’s fine.”

Red requested, “Either way, can you please take us to my dad’s mountain?”

“Of course.”

“Really?”

“Yea, anything for Iron Fan. It won’t be easy but we can certainly do it.”

The boys cheered and Liu’er continued, “Alright, time to start this up. Just to tell you again, Princess. I’m different now, I don’t go around seeking revenge or picking fights anymore.” She bobbed her head in understanding, displeased at the possibility she might have to reunite with her husband after such a long time. “Now, launch sequence, Huìlián!”

“Wait, what?”

The rabbit pushed a button and the boat launched off.

——

Red groaned as he woke up, his vision spun until he managed to blink it away. Zhu Bajie had attacked them on their way to the cave. He snatched the axe from Red’s hands and sent him flying, thankfully he managed to land on his father’s mountain.

He hoisted himself up and marched forward to find his father. He rehearsed in his head what he would say to his father about losing his once prized weapon and how happy he was to see him again.

He entered the cave and spotted a mural of his family. It flashed and the pictures began moving, showing things like his father’s friendship with the Monkey King, his parents’ wedding, him as a baby, the fight between him and the monkey, then the bull’s arrest and his reform.

During that, Red caught a glimpse of his father smiling at him before running off. “Father!”

The demon chased after him, he searched around. A bug landed on his arm. “Hello” the bug greeted and the younger waved it off. The insect floated to the ground, “It is me, my son, the Demon B-”

And Red squashed him with their foot. “Die, stupid bug!”

The insect flashed purple, shifting to various forms, it finally changed to reveal the Demon Bull King in all his glory. “Father?”

“Yes, my son, it is me. So, where’s my axe?”

His child bowed his head. “I’m sorry. I tried but Zhu Bajie managed to take it.”

The bull chuckled as if his son hadn’t dropped something so significant on him. “I know. I’ve been watching.”

Something clicked. “That was you? Father, what the fuck?!”

The bull chuckled again. “You’re perfect for the job, my son.”

“Job? What job?”

“The job of becoming my successor.”

“What? Me? Are you sure?”

“Yes. You’ve fought Sun Wukong before and you were fine. You can face him again.”

“But… but that was years ago! I’m not sure if I can do it again!”

Placing a hand on his child’s shoulder, he said, “Yes, you can. You’re my son.”

“That isn’t enough of a reason! What about the Monkey King?”

“What about him? You can defeat him.” Red huffed. “You’re strong, you just have to believe in yourself.” DBK straightened his posture. “The axe was taken from you, you can take it back!”

Red shot his father a determined look. “Alright!” He was about to jet off when he stopped and asked, “Are you sure I can do this? Are you sure you wouldn’t be better? Don’t… don’t you want to see mother?”

DBK clenched his fists and looked away. “I’m not ready to see her and you… you would be a better candidate.”

“Alright, father. Whatever you say.”

Then ran off without another word.

——

Red screeched as he crashed into Xiaotian with his transportation. The Monkey King rampaged in his three-headed, three-armed form. “Oh, my sweet baby boy! You’re alive,” Iron Fan cried.

Yin said, “We saw you blast off. We thought you died. Guess that was kinda stupid thinking.”

“You think?”

“Heh, wait, where’s the Demon Bull King? Did you find him?”

“I did.”

Iron Fan asked, “Where is he?”

“He said it’s up to me, to all of us.”

“Well, that’s anticlimactic.”

“How are we meant to fight him?” Jin pondered.

“We have to believe in ourselves. Clean up the streets and I’ll fight him as best I can.”

“Alright, Red. Be safe!”

“I’ll try.” He approached the king, taking deep breaths.

Sun Wukong hissed at him. “If it isn't Red Son, back for more.” The monkey attempted to hit him with Red using their fire to block every attack. He focused on the furnace, that was clearly where the axe was.

Without hesitation, Red leaped into it. Wukong roared with laughter at the other’s stupidity. “I’ve won.” He clawed at his chest, feeling a sharp sting and his powers waning. The red-haired demon emerged with the axe. “You! How did you?!” Wukong lunged at him, throwing hits left and right.

Red grinned and taunted him, “Sorry! Missed me! Try again!”

They pushed him down with the axe then grabbed a nearby building. He was about to trap him with it when the Monkey King yelled, “Not this again! Not a third time!” He launched him back into a building, the windows shattered under the sudden impact. “You thought you could beat me a second time, huh? I am Sun Wukong! I am the Great Sage Equal to Heaven! I will not let you take this victory! You might have his axe but you are not the Demon Bull King.

“You’re right, I’m not. I’m Red Son!” He plunged the axe to the ground and it created a mech resembling a bull. He marveled at it. “I didn’t know it could do this.”

With the mech, he made quick work of the Monkey King who went back to his normal form.

“How… how did you manage…?”

“By believing in myself and this mech!”

Xiaotian screeched, “Hey! Get out of that mech and fight!”

Red scoffed and was about to pick him up when a gust of wind prevented him from doing so. Zhu Bajie landed on the scene, his rake swung down. He took his husband’s hand, his blue eyes glowed. “We know when we’ve lost but we’ll return.” The pig laughed menacingly and disappeared with his family.

“Come back here, cowards! You can’t leave when I was about to win!”

He exited the mech to receive hugs from the brothers, he tried to push them away before relenting with a sigh. The silver one congratulated him, “Good job, kid! You won! You kicked the Monkey King’s butt again!”

“It’s not every day someone beats him twice.” The golden one threaded fingers through the youngest’s hair. “And it took all of us!”

“I must admit I couldn’t have done it on my own.”

Liu’er hugged the three. “Well, that’s exactly what you did.”

“You’re like the second bull king now.”

“We gotta come up with a cool title for you!”

Iron Fan cupped his cheeks. “Oh, my sweet child, I couldn’t be prouder.”

“Thanks, mother.”

Liu’er asked, “What’s next?”

“Isn’t it obvious?”

“Fight more villains!”

“Or we could eat. I’m hungry.”

“That works too.”

The group laughed as they ate. The Demon Bull King watched the interaction with hunched shoulders. He mustered up a smile then flew off.

A new legacy has begun.

[neoaevis]

How Much I Love You/Hate You 3

Taglist: @ijuuy​ @brrrrrrah

Word Count:1689

Warnings: None

A/N: Aaah finally part 3 is up sorry if this is short and kinda fast paced but I wanna get into to it so yea expect part 4 is into it(the arrange marriage scene will start there proly) and I feel like the last part is really rushed but plss give me some feedback I ish need it alsoo plss chat me or ask me if you wanna be tagged.

Y/N’s POV:

The bright light of the sun hurts your eye the moment it tries to open up making you groan and stretch your arms as you were now getting up slowly from your deep slumber, you eye your room and notice the things you failed to notice the night of your arrival, your childhood room has undergone changes with example the colors that used to be in a pastel shade now in a dark shade to compliment your mature taste but you will never fail to see how all the pictures of your childhood were still on full display on the desk you used to use whenever you were studying, getting up you can’t help but smile how things change so fast the girl who was once playing around in this very room was now getting ready to enter the corporate world, you wash yourself up before coming down to the breakfast that your mom asks the maid to make every single time. The bath made you smell like a full bloom rose which is one of your personal favorites, the outfit you chose for today was the Versace mini blazer dress with a pair of black Louboutin heels and underneath is a sexy lingerie from Victoria secret, the scent you went in for today was from Giorgio Armani Sì.

As you went down everyone was in awe seeing you big smiles evident in their faces, when you were munching yourself with breakfast your mom can’t help but compliment from head to toe and tell you how much she misses you and things she plans now that you are here, her stories made you really miss her so you also told her stories about your stay in New York “Mom, did you know there was one time I was actually really drunk in this one party and when I went to class the next day with a massive hungover my shit ass professor dropped the bomb at how we have a quiz the next day because of that I had to cave myself up the whole day and review this much” you showed her your hand and she chucked at your story remembering how she was during her college days, more exchange of stories went on and that made you feel your mom’s warmth once more( well you were always close to your mom she was the only one you had growing up) the breakfast was special today not until your mom dropped a question you find odd “Honey, do you perhaps have a boyfriend or any potential husband right now?” she asks with a smile plastered on her face which makes you raise your brows “Mom, why talk about that you do remember me saying that I don’t want to get married right?” you tell her with a firm tone but she begins to sigh “You’re only saying that now Y/N, I was like that once but eventually I got married” she counters what you said but you feel frustrated “You got married and dad cheated” you tell her while eyeing her “Y/N not all men cheat, it doesn’t mean if your dad cheated all the boys cheat” she tells you to comfort you a little “Either way I have no plans on marriage, but why the sudden question mom do you perhaps plan to get remarried?” you ask her as you stand up to tuck the chair back in to leave but she replies “M-me no I prefer being single’ she said feeling flustered “ So am I mom” you tell her as you now finally make your leave to go to the company

Mark’s POV

Mark was awaken due to his alarm but truth be told he was never actually been able to sleep well ever since the day his heart got broken and maybe that’s the reason why he would drown himself from too much workload or sultry nights with different girls, as he got up he eyes his room that he never thought he would go back to because this was the room that witnessed his lovely passions to his miserable state but he knew he should not dwell into it much because he is different now, this room should no longer remind him of the girl that tore him, he should move on and be stronger to prove to her how she wronged him. Mark decided to take a shower to finally get ready for another dreadful work day, he did not really enjoy working in a corporate world rather he enjoys creating music but due to too much guilt towards his parents and how he gave up on the life he enjoyed with her he decided it was best to follow the footsteps of his parents, honestly it was hard at first but through time he learned that it was not that bad after all, today he wore a grey suit from Armani that perfectly showed his toned body.

Mark did not bother to have breakfast as it was not really his thing even though his mom insists he eats something, he was fetched by his secretary Taeil and the car ride was rather cold he did not bother to chat with Taeil like would do normally, arriving in the company he was greeted by different department heads right from the entrance and was escorted towards his office, his arrival was a gossip amongst different staffs some saying he was a “playboy”, “spoiled” ,”kind” and many different mixed opinions but one in particular has caught his attention “he got a girl pregnant before they say and the baby died” that caught him in his tracks and immediately diverting his attention towards the girl “What did you say?” he asked with anger filling his eyes making the girl feel small as she was caught red handed “N-nothing s-sir” she said stuttering “Let me just remind you, you don’t get paid to gossip you get paid to work” he said slamming the desk of the girl and immediately heading towards his office Taeil seems to catch on so he gave small apologies towards the people and then following Mark after “S-sir are you alright” he asked the moment he entered Mark’s office but Mark just signaled him to leave to which Taeil cooperated too, deep thoughts occupied Mark’s mind especially since every day he dreams of his baby that died, it always fills him with guilt how it died so soon not even given the chance to see the world.

When Mark’s father knew that he was now in his office he immediately wanted to see his son that he misses so badly, “Mark” his father exclaimed opening his door to which he smiled at “Dad” Mark replies while giving the same enthusiasm “You look great in the office son” he compliments his son to which Mark replied to with a small “Thanks” but since Mark has a meeting soon he tells his dad “I actually have a meeting in about 10 min, let’s catch up later dad” but his dad stops him as he has something really important to tell him and it’s about the most awaited event where there big announcement will be known “I actually have something important to tell you son” Mark raised an eyebrow towards his father at him being so serious suddenly “What is it dad” he asked “We are hosting a charity ball son and I need you to be present” he announced “Yes, you told me” Mark replied “But son this ball will not just be a ball but we will be merging with another company-“ but before his dad can finish his phone rings “Excuse me son” his father said but then left immediately cause he also has a important meeting, Mark just shrugged it and went on about his day as he did not really think of it as something serious.

Y/N’s POV:

You were chilling in your office when your friend Yuna barged in “Y/N,Y/N” he said with a full glee to which you chuckled at “Don’t you have a company to run” you ask her while welcoming her for a embrace, the embrace was rather long with how much you miss each other, well before coming to New York , Yuna was your best friend as you have known each other till you were in diapers “Well I do but it’s lunch time” she said with a smile on her face and a cute doe eyes, you can’t help but giggle at how adorable she is “What brings you here” you asked her while motioning her to sit while you page your secretary to bring you some tea “First of all I miss you and second of all because you are merging with the Lee family and third we need to go shopping for dresses for the ball” she said while pointing her fingers at you “W-wait what merging and what ball?” you asked her very confuse about what’s happening “Oh you don’t know?” she asked again as if she could not believe you don’t know “Well yes idk” you repeated “ Well your mom is merging your company with the company of the Lee’s” you were shocked as your mom did not even bother to tell you “Second they will be holding a charity ball to announce the merge” at this point you really don’t know anymore “When is it” you asked her to which she happily replied to “Saturday”, well it’s basically three days from now “My mom hasn’t told me about that” you tell her as you tea arrived “Thanks” you tell your secretary “Maybe she will, but at least I told you didn’t I?” she said while taking a sip of the tea. Your Mom did indeed tell you within the day that there will be a ball that you need to attend to and it’s with the Lee’s who she wants to merge with, the whole situation made you feel like you are in a very fast paced world because it’s just your first day in Korea yet there are too many surprises that awaits you.

“All Rights Reserved”  © sibehpoor  2021