#“Therapy with a Gunslinger”

[poorlytunedukulele]

Day 1 - Dissect

October 30, 2873; Near Old Accra, Old Ghana, Earth

“Jax,” Jaren Ward said, more of a demand than a question.  “What’s wrong?”

Azra looked at him sharply, the question obvious on her face- What the hell are you talking about?  But her body… she just wasn’t a good liar.  She was always telling on herself.  There was a sag in her shoulders, a shift of weight in her feet, that told Jaren that yes, there was something wrong, and she knew it.

“You’re all over the place,” Jaren said.  “Ain’t no use in fightin’ with an unsettled heart.”   She was young, and a far sight from the efficiency and precision of a veteran Huntter, but she wasn’t normally this sloppy.  She wasn’t watching her six, barely aiming at times, giving up and resorting to mele with the drop of a hat.  It was obvious her mind was somewhere else.

He didn’t have to push further.  Her eyes went down.  “…It’s complicated.”

Jaren found himself a rock to hunker down on and gestured for her to do the same.  “We’ve got plenty of time to talk.” 

She shot him a frustrated look.  “I’ll be fine.  I know what the problem is.  It’s not- I really shouldn’t be bothered by it.”

Ah, the innocence of youth.  Jaren raised an eyebrow at her.  “Funny thing.  In my experience, tellin’ yourself you shouldn’t feel bad don’t really stop you from feelin’ bad.  Kinda the opposite, actually.”

Azra sighed and gave in, sitting down on a rock of her own.  “I don’t see how just telling you I feel bad will make me stop feeling bad, either.  Isn’t that called dwelling?  Don’t dwell on the past, they’re always saying.”

Jaren shrugged.  “Sometimes you just gotta dissect things.  By takin’ it all apart and layin’ it out, you can find out what your real problem is.  Or you find there ain’t much of a problem at all.  Not many of our fears survive the light of day.”

“Fine,” Azra said.  She was already fidgeting, picking burrs from the hem of her cloak.  But it’s….” She trailed off, at a loss for words.

“Complicated?” Jaren joked.

Azra just nodded her head.  “Something… happened.  A couple of days ago.  I’m still thinking about it, I guess.  I’m sorry it’s distracting me”-

“What happened?” Jaren asked.  “If you really don’t wanna say, don’t, but I won’t tell nobody.”

“Promise?”  Azra asked.  Jaren nodded at her, and she took a breath.  “Cayde and Andal.  I got back early to Camp and they were.  Uh.  Messing around.”

“Like in the ‘scheming, up-to-no-good’ way or the ‘casual sex’ way?” Jaren asked.

Azra’s face was beet red.  “The second one.”

Jaren waited.  There were a million and one troubles that could come from that one piece of gossip, and it wasn’t any use jumping to conclusions.

Azra was not looking at him.  “I’m.  And I’m.  Asexual.  I mean, I don’t”-

“I know what that is,” Jaren said.  “So, Cayde and Andal were doin’ the cha-cha and that’s not something you’re interested in.”

“I didn’t even know it was on the table,” Azra said.  “I guess… it just hit me all at once.  And I’m suddenly re-evaluating everything.”

Jaren had been there before.  “You talk to either of them about it?” he asked.

Azra nodded, still staring at the ground.  “The next night.  With Andal.  And he was… reassuring.  Like.  He promised me it didn’t change anything between us.  And he’d always be there for me.  And if I wanted to, I’d find someone- or someones, someday, and things would work out.”

“Don’t sound to me like you believe it that much.”

Azra looked up at him, and he saw a fear there.

Jaren had been there before, too.  It wasn’t a pleasant thing, being scared to lose someone- not because of what you did, but because of what you were.  “You think they’re all just holdin’ out on you?  That sex is actually important and expected and they’ve been keepin’ quiet?”

“No,” Azra protested.

Jaren wasn’t hearing the confidence that should be there.  “Look me in the eye and tell me Cayde-6 could keep quiet about this.  Not even that he would- you think he could want to jump someone’s bones and not be annoying as all hell about it?”

Azra snorted at his colloquialism.  But still, there was something else there.  Even if she believed everything Andal had told her with all her heart, she still wouldn’t be settled.

Jaren picked his words carefully.  “Kid, it’s painful obvious how much they all care about you.  But lookin’ at it, laid out… that’s not what’s really gettin’ you, I think.  It’s something else.”

Azra just sat, hugging her arms, staring at the dirt like it held some mystery she could unravel.

“What are you feelin’ right now?”  Jaren asked.

Azra’s mouth opened, then closed.

“Give it a name.  Name it and it becomes more real.  You can’t fight shadows, Jax, but make it real and you can at least get the shape of it.”

“I’m… scared,” Azra said haltingly.  “And… I feel alone.  And I know I’m not really alone.  I know I’m not just gonna be tossed aside like a used rag, but…”  She put her face in her hands.

Jaren waited.

“It’s too much,” Azra said, slightly muffled.  “I’m already freak enough.  This too?”

“I think that’s unfair,” Jaren said.  “Plenty of people”-

“Plenty of people?”  She took her face out of her hands to glare at him.  “I’m a fucking- I’m an Arcstrider.  The only one.  Everyone is Bladedancers now.  I’m never going to be a normal acquaintance to anyone in my goddamn life.  You should see it- I always get these, like, veteran Guardians, Dark-Agers, way above my pay grade, signing up to be on strikes with me.  And they look at me.  Like they’re dissecting me.  Like they expect me to pull off a mask and suddenly be Himura Shinobu or something, and when I’m just me they look so disappointed.  Nobody ever calls me up twice.”

“That ain’t fair,” Jaren said.

“There’s nothing I can do about it,” Azra said.  “I can’t live up to their expectations.  And it’s just… strangers.  I shouldn’t let strangers bother me.”

Jaren raised an eyebrow at her.  “You’re really makin’ a lot of moral judgments, today, about lettin’ yourself feel things.”

Azra just frowned at that.  Jaren conceeded the point.  “That does sound real frustratin’, though.  I can put in a word with the Vanguard about it.  Alaia Ruse listens to me.”

“I don’t need favoritism,” Azra complained.

“You need the Vanguard to do their job,” Jaren countered.  “You’re a person, not a curiosity.  It ain’t right to string you out like a circus act.  Y’ain’t one.”

“I guess it just doesn’t feel like that,” Azra said.  “I don’t know.  It just hit me all of a sudden.”

“You might be the only Arcstrider, ‘least right now,” Jaren said.  “But you’re far from the only Guardian who’s asexual.”

“I’ve never met one,” Azra said.

Jaren raised his eyebrows at her and waited for her to get it.  To her credit, it only took three seconds of sustained eye contact for her expression to change.

That was guilt.  Her face went red.  “Oh.  I’m sorry,” she blurted out.

“Sorry for what?” Jaren said.  “Not like you could’ve known.  Ain’t really come up before.”

She was still all hells of apologetic.  “When I was calling myself a freak, I… I was calling you one, too,” she explained haltingly.  “That’s not fair to you.  You shouldn’t have to listen to someone say stuff like that.”

Jaren laughed.  “You’re a good kid.  Always eager to see the other point of view.  I always liked that about you.”

They both let that hang in the air for a moment, before Azra’s face set in some sudden revelation.  “God dammit,” she muttered, standing suddenly and beating the dirt from her cloak in frustration.  “Now every time I start judging myself, I’m gonna have your puppy-dog-eyes staring at me in my head.”

Jaren stood himself, grinning.  “Gotta start respecting yourself, now.  Else I’ll be real disappointed in you.”

 “Screw you,” Azra called over her shoulder.  She was already walking away.  “We got a bounty to earn, don’t’ we?  Can’t sit around all day.”

AO3 Linky!

[kingjasnah]

i know that the writers were already setting up worf/deanna in season six (or trying to) but i loooooove that SHE was the big secondary character in fistful of datas. layers of marina sirtis doing an accent aside. they shoved in so many vaguely sexist plotlines at deanna throughout the show im sooooo happy that for the sake of a silly and shoehorned relationship the writers were like "and uh. and she's obsessed with the ancient wild west and that's a normal trait for our obligatory catsuit hot girl character to have?" and you know what it DOES make her hotter <3

[phaedraismyusername]

Happy International Lesbian Day! Here's some super brief book recs to celebrate

Books dealing with love, loss, longing and abandonment

This is How You Lose The Time War is a short but beautifully written epistolary novel between two agents on opposite sides of a time war as they slowly fall in love.

Our Wives Under the Sea is one of the most beautifully written debuts I've ever read about a woman whose wife comes home wrong after they thought she'd died at sea and how it feels to grieve the loss of someone who's still in your home.

Lucky Red is a western novel about a young girl working in a brothel who meets her first female gunslinger and falls head over heels for her, and the consequences that come with loving dangerous people.

Body horror galore

Camp Damascus is about a young woman living in a super conservative christian town built around the worlds most successful conversion camp and the horrors that are uncovered there when praying the gay away fails.

To Be Devoured is about a woman whose fascination with the local vultures turns into obsession and the urge to know what carrion tastes like overtakes her life and leads her down stranger and stranger paths.

Chlorine is about a girl whose entire life revolves around being a competitive swimmer, and how abuse, neglect, and obsession with being the best takes its toll on the young women caught up in these destructive cycles.

Flawed character studies

Big Swiss is about a woman who has a kitchen floor reset in her 40s, moves away and starts a new life as a transcriber for a sex therapist and becomes obsessed with one of his clients before inserting herself into this poor woman's life.

The Seep is a speculative sci-fi set in a future where there's been a quiet alien invasion that has given people the ability to make almost any changes to their own bodies and what that world feels like to someone who doesn't want to partake.

Milk Fed is about a woman in therapy who feels cut off from almost everything until she meets another woman who triggers in her a melding of sex, hunger, and religion and where that takes her. Huge trigger warnings for ED content. It gets tough, y'all.

Fantastical wlw books

Bitterthorn is an amalgamation of fairytales retold as a slow burn sapphic love story between a sad young girl from a cursed land and the evil witch who takes her as a companion in the latest of the generational sacrifices made to appease her.

All the Bad Apples may be set in contemporary Ireland but it is a fairytale following a young girl as she travels across the country looking for a sister she refuses to believe is dead and the people she meets along the way.

Gideon the Ninth needs no introduction on this site but for the sake of formatting - lesbian necromancers in space who find themselves in an isolated murder mystery plot. It's not a romance but it is a love story and this series will change your life if you let it.

Translated novels

Boulder is a short character study following a free spirited woman when she accidentally settles down with the woman she loves and how love and resentment can take up the same space in your chest when life doesn't turn out the way you hoped it would.

Notes of a Crocodile is a cult classic coming of age story about queer teens in Taipei in the 1980s. It was written in the 90s so please keep that in mind if you choose to read it.

Paradise Rot is about an international student studying in Australia and her growing obsession with her housemate as they share a space that allows no privacy. I've never read anything that feels stickier.

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

Hit ‘Em Up! (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Cowboy!Gojo Satoru x Cowboy!Geto Suguru x Black!Cowgirl!Reader (Slow Burn/Enemies to Lovers)

Synopsis: You get to meet Geto & Gojo the Gunslingers, the notorious outlaws that have every town and law enforcement in a twist, when your bum-ass BF offers you as payment to avoid going to prison. Little do they know that this is only a part of your plan to get what you desire. But when you realize that the infamous gun-slinging, smooth-talking cowboys could be everything you want and more when they offer you a deal to team up with them, will you successfully be able to go through with it? 

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINOS GTFO); poly!SatouSugu; Reader is Black & Fem; Mention of other JJK characters; Porn with Plot; Tragic Backstories; T/W for Childhood Trauma, Parental Death, Violence, Panic Attacks & Torture; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Hand Kink; Masturbation; Voyeurism; Gay Sex; Polyamorous; Double Deepthroat; Mutual Oral; Fingering; CMNF; Spitroast; Riding; Unprotected PiV Sex; Creampies; Outside/Public Sex; Shotgunning; Multiple Positions; Spit Kink; Facials; MDom/fsub Undertones; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen PT I & II. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four. Epilogue + Soundtrack.

********

FIFTEEN: STARTING FRESH.

“A little more, sugar,” Geto pants. “C’mon, you can do it. Just give me one more.”  “Deeper,” Gojo whispers to you. “Don’t fight it, darlin’.” 

Sweat gathers on your brow and you grip the nightstand beside you as you press your foot flat onto the ground. “Ow, shit!” you shout, your entire ankle burning. With your other hand, you grip Geto’s hand who gives you moral support while Gojo sits in front of you, ready to catch you in case you fall. 

“And time,” Nanami says, looking away from the clock hanging up on the wall. “You broke your record for last week. Nicely done.” He jots something down in his notes, standing near the door in his coat and glasses. 

Gojo claps his gloved hands while you finally sit down on the edge of the hospital bed, panting. Geto passes you a glass of water which you greedily slurp. “Who would’ve thought a damn snake bite would knock my whole foot out of commission?” you sigh. 

You stare down at your wrapped foot, glad to see your toenails looking less icky, but your foot still burns like a bitch. However, it isn’t as bad as when you first woke up since Nanami has been giving you antibiotics, infusions, and physical therapy. 

It’s been almost two weeks since you awakened in Nanami’s infirmary. Two weeks in Willow Springs. Two weeks of quietness and living life without being on the run or paranoid. Since then, Nanami, the Gunslingers, and your parents have been here to check on you every single day. You appreciate it more than words can express. 

The Gunslingers have been especially supportive for the past two weeks: bringing you fresh clothes; sneaking in late a night to tell you jokes; sitting with you while you sleep, etc. You try not to let these little things mean so much to you.

Gojo smirks at you from his chair, his hair slightly flat from his cowboy that. You think it’s cute. “Not bad, little darlin’,” he chuckles. “Soon you’ll be able to ditch this and get back to wearin’ those sexy boots.” He lightly taps your wrapped-up foot with his, making you swat him away. 

“Please,” you scoff. “But yes, they are sexy.” 

Geto gives a big, bellied laugh at this, the sound filling you with butterflies. You are now at the point in your “relationship” where that easiness and comfort feel so natural. It’s kind of frightening but you also like it. 

Luckily, these thoughts are pushed aside for the time being when there is a knock on the open door. There, in the doorway, stand your parents. “Knock, knock!” Yuri calls. “We come bearin’ gifts!” She carries a pan inside the room, Eren walking in behind her carrying a gift bag. 

Yuri pecks you on the forehead first before greeting the Gunslingers by uncovering the pan, revealing a batch of her famous oven-baked lemon custard pastries. Gojo jumps up immediately, ogling at the delicious goods. “You bought ‘em!” he giddily shouts. “And these are homemade, right?” 

Yuri tosses her head back and laughs. “Why, I’d hope so,” she cackles. “I was the one who made ‘em!” Geto knocks Gojo out of the way, bowing as he takes the pan. “Ignore him,” he sighs. “Thank you kindly, Mrs. Tokiyami.” 

Your mom just about swoons and you resist the urge to roll your eyes while Eren kisses you on the cheek. “And we have somethin’ for you, Dr. Nanami,” he says, smiling at the stoic doctor. He passes him the gift bag, much to his shock. “It’s just somethin’ small to show our appreciation to you,” he explains. “Y/N insisted on helpin’ us pay for it.” 

Nanami looks at you, shocked. “Seriously?” he asks. “You didn’t have to.” You shrug, smiling pridefully at doing something good. “I know I didn’t, but you deserve it for takin’ care of me.” 

You had planned it in secret with your parents during their visits, thinking of a good gif for he doctor. You finally decided on a glass plaque titled with his name and Number #1 Doctor. Nanami peers down at the plaque before looking up at you, touched and bashful. “This really wasn’t necessary, but thank you.” 

Your smile brightens and unbeknown to you, it causes Nanami to blush. “You’re very welcome, Kento.” Your parents share a look while Gojo glares at his partner. “They on first name basis now?” he asks before getting shushed by Geto. 

“So what brings you two here?” you giggle, your attention now on your parents. Yuri helps Gojo open the pan and passes you a pastry. “Well, me and your father been talkin’,” she explains, “and we figured that now you’re recoverin’ and you’ll be stayin’ here for a while, maybe you’d want to be more comfortable in our home instead of an infirmary…no offense, Doctor.” 

Nanami shakes his head, holding the plaque near his chest. “None taken,” he chuckles. “I would say yes too.” You slowly bite and chew into the sugary, lemony pastry. “You want me to come stay with y’all?” you ask. Eren nods, groaning from his old knees as he akes a sea on your bedside. “And your friends too, if they accept.” 

You blink at him, shocked by his willingness to let outlaws in his house considering how he feels about them. “Us?” the Gunslingers ask in unison, both shocked. Gojo beams, crumbs from the pasty all over his mouth. “Sure, we’d love–” 

Geto stops him, placing a hand on his mouth. “What my partner meant to say, ma’am, is that we’re so honored and grateful for the offer, but we should let Y/N spend time with y’all alone and enjoy her recovery. We wouldn’t wanna bring no trouble.” 

“Me either,” you agree. “Mama, Papa, as much as I want to say yes, I think I’d be best if I stayed here.” 

Eten looks at his wife, then at Nanami, and then at you, his expression darkening. “Is someone after you?” he asks, his eyes serious.

You bite your lip, struggling to answer. Even though Benji and his people haven’t shown themselves in weeks and Nanami told you no one outside of Willow Springs knows of your whereabouts, you are still weary. You can’t get your family involved. 

“Who isn’t after us?” Gojo wryly chuckles. “Sherriffs, police, rival outlaws…we’re walkin’ targets basically.” 

“Here, you aren’t,” Nanami replies, placing the plaque in his gift bag. “As I said before, this county is fairly quiet, but only because the sheriff chose to be quiet about your whereabouts. He and the people here respect your work despite the violence.” He locks eyes with you, holding them. “Trust me; no one knows you’re here.” And you believe him. 

Eren takes your hand in his, encasing it in his calloused, aged ones. “After all these years, we want to have you back with us again,” he softly says. “And we’d like to invite the men who protected you and saved your life to join. It’s the least we can do.” 

You gape at him, shocked at his kindness, and then look at the duo for their opinion. “We’ll pay you back,” Geto offers. “I can cook and Gojo can clean.” Gojo side-eyes him, still chomping on his snacks. 

“Oh, the money won’t be necessary,” Yuri chuckles. “But the help will be needed for us old folk.” And so the decision is made. You can’t believe how easy it is, feeling like you’re dreaming. 

An hour later, you are discharged from the hospital and using a cane for the time being. “At least for a week,” Nanami explained as he handed you the medicine for your bite. “Make sure you take two twice a day, morning and night, with water. I’ll give you some ointment to help clear it up.” 

You hold all of your snake bite medication in a little paper bag while you stand outside of Nanami’s infirmary with him. Eren is packing your things in the backseat of his automobile while Geto and Gojo are busy getting their horses so they can get their items and meet you at your parents’ house later. 

“So this is it,” you laugh. “I know you’re probably happy to get me outta your hair.” Nanami cracks a smile and shakes his head. “Not at all,” he says and again, you believe him. 

You awkwardly shift on your cane, still getting used to it. You can’t wait until you can finally walk and stand on your own without feeling any pain. “Thank you again for your help.” 

The doctor clears his throat, probably not used to receiving such gratefulness. “Don’t mention it,” he says. “And…” He pauses, his eyes quickly flitting over your parents and the Gunslingers. He leans in, his green eyes soft. “You know that if you need anything, you’re welcome here at any time…for your wound, that is.” 

His cheeks tun a light pink that you pass off as being an effect of the heat. You smile, touched by his kindness. “Thank you, Kento,” you whisper. “You’re a great man.” You lay a hand on his atm and gently squeeze it. Nanami looks down at yout hand, taken aback by the slight, fiendly touch. 

You then release him and begin to slowly walk away, leaning on your cane for support. “Y/N,” he says, stopping you short. You turn around, noticing how fitm his expression is, his lips pressed in a thin line. “Be careful with them.” 

You have no idea what he’s talking about at first until you hear a horse whiny from behind you. You turn, watching the Gunslingers gallop on their horses down the road and you see Nanami watch them, his mouth fixed. You realize instantly that he doesn’t trust Geto and Gojo. Not to the extent you do anyway. He probably still sees them as your father does: nothing but no-good outlaws. 

You immediately feel the need to defend your friends and so you do. “They should be careful with me,” you chuckle, “but thanks, I will.” You give Nanami a wink before you head towards your parents. 

Eren takes your cane to put in the back while Yuri helps you into the backseat, looking back at Nanami who stands there still watching you. “Oh, my,” she swoons. “You’ve got gunslingers and a doctor wrapped around your finger? I taught ya well, my dear.” 

“Mama,” you whine. 

********** 

That sunny afternoon, you venture out of your parents’ house to go looking for the horses in their stable. 

It is a pleasant, sun-filled midday, about 82 degrees with blue skies and fluffy, white clouds that look soft to the touch. A perfect day for riding. You haven’t been riding since your snake bite and have been itching to do so since your father told you that there are pastures just beyond the farm. 

You just finished unpacking your items and settling into your new home…for the time being, that is. Your parents’ home is a fifteen-minute drive away from town square which makes going for errands, supplies, and emergencies very convenient. Your parents live on a 500-acre farm in a cozy house with a brick roof, chimney, a fireplace in the living room and bedrooms, and a porch for warm evenings such as this one. 

The farm comes with a barn full of animals and a vegetable garden that Eren is very proud of, each separated by a wired fence. Each neighbor’s home is a couple feet away from each other, serving for privacy but also community, and a forest behind the farm that stretches on for yards that Eren often walks to stay limber. 

Yuri had fixed you and the Gunslingers lemonade and ginger snap cookies to celebrate you moving in while Eren put your horses out in the stable where the barn is so they would be more comfortable. You took your lemonade and cookies up to your bedroom located on the left side of the hallway. It is quaint and small with cherrywood furniture, a private bathroom, and horse plushies sitting up a flannel quilt. The plushies were Yuri’s idea, apparently. 

It truly is a cozy, wonderful little life that your folks live. One that you’ve been craving for. One that you hope to get later in your more seasoned years. 

You realize just how much you wish for it when you were given your own bedroom with your own bathroom and vanity for “lady things” as Yuri calls them. When you unpacked your things for your drawers, took a hot bubble bath, and dressed in the fancy sundress Yuri bought you, you felt normal. Human, even. 

You feel it now in your bones as you wobble on your cane with a book to the horse stables near the fire-engine red barn housing all of the farm animals. The sun warms the skin exposed by your sundress that sways slightly against your legs in the cool breeze. You paired the dress with riding boots and your cowgirl hat, panting from the effort it takes to travel with your cane.

You don’t know if horseback riding is allowed with your injury, but you’ll take an earful from Nanami and your parents later. You need to enjoy this moment while it lasts. So you wobble into he horse stable and immediately spo your girl in her own clean sall between Geto and Gojo’s huge Brancos. Your parents already own three horses, one of them much too old for riding or racing, so she’s used as a petting animal for kids who visit. 

You say hello to the three horses–Charlotte, Johnson, and Mable The Old Lady–before you make it to Reneigh. She knows your presence immediately and begins flapping her ears. “Hey, girl,” you whisper, gently patting her behind. “Whatdya say we take a ride, huh?” 

“I’d say you’re not supposed to be doin’ that,” a familiar, deep, velvety voice replies. 

You let out a terrified shriek and jump, nearly dropping your cane. You turn sound, finding Geto and Gojo standing off in the corner like two serial killers with cowboy boots and hats. Geto is sitting on a sool, his big, sexy thighs sptead wide while he dusts off a riding seat while Gojo is feeding his horse some oats from the front of the stall. No wonder you missed him with horse ass in your face. “Jeez!” you gasp. “You two come with a bell or somethin’?” 

Gojo full on laughs while Geto stifles his. “Sorry for the scare,” he chuckles, though he doesn’t seem too apologetic. “We were just tendin’ to our rides. They’re fittin’ in quite nicely here.” 

“Have we introduced you to ‘em?” Gojo questions. Then he gasps like you just murdered somebody. Dramatic ass. “We didn’t! Y/N, this is Goro”–he pats his horse's side–"and this is Riku! Say hi, fellas!”

The horses flap their tails as if to say ‘hello’. “So what brings you out here, little miss?” he asks. “Shouldn’t you be followin’ the doc’s orders and layin’ that pretty little ankle on a pillow?” 

He raises a brow at you over his shades, a knowing smirk on his face. You ignore the way your stomach flips at him calling your ankle pretty. “I’ve done enough of that,” you scoff. “Besides, he didn’t say anything about horseback ridin’. I haven’t taken Reneigh for a while in a minute, so I feel guilty for that.” 

You gently stroke your darling horse’s side, pouting at her. You know she’s been just as eager to have the wind in her mane and the world whistling in her ears as you have been. You crave it: the warm sun on your face; the wind in your hair; your heart pounding along with your blood as you feel your horse’s body move beneath yours. 

Gojo pouts at you, feeding reneigh and riku oats before lowering the bucket down. “Aw, you ain’t the only one, darlin’,” he tuts. “Actually, that’s a great idea! Your papa said the pastures here are beautiful and the fields make ya feel like you’ve entered heaven.” 

You can just picture those rolling hills and endless fields now. “So you’re sayin’ y’all are comin’ with me?” you ask.

You don’t why this makes you feel so weird. Your head is pounding like a migraine is coming on and your stomach is fluttering with annoying butterflies. You can’t understand why. You’ve been horse riding with duo plenty of times before! But then again, those times were for traveling and survival purposes. 

Geto passively shrugs as he stands up with his saddle and moves to strap it on riku’s back. “If ya want. Besides, what if you need the help if your ankle starts givin’ you trouble?” He gives you a megawatt smile that makes him look so boyish and cute. “We’re just bein’ good partners.” Gojo eagerly nods, agreeing with his partner's reasoning. 

Despite wanting this time for yourself, he does have a point. Feeling cornered by the two cute idiots, you give in. “Alright,” you sigh. “But I have to be back in time to help my mama with supper.” Gojo excitedly claps and you damn near laugh. “I’ll get the snacks!” he shouts and quickly runs back to the house. 

Silence falls upon you and Geto, but neither one of you try to fill it as he positions Gojo’s saddle on his horse too. You don’t attempt to do yours or ask Geto to do it for you. You should be fine without a saddle, right? Quickly, you realize how wrong and how stubborn you are when you attempt to mount Reneigh once you coax her out of her stall. You have to awkwardly put your cane in the crook of your armpit while you grab Reneigh’s side. 

You go to hook one leg over her back, grunting as you do. You flinch at the sharp throb of pain, emitting a slight gasp from you. You try to bite it back, but Geto hears you anyway and immediately comes over. “What’s wrong?” he asks, his tone “no nonsense”. If it wasn’t for the pain, you’d find it kinda of hot. 

“Just my ankle,” you sigh, rolling your ankle around. “S’fine, Geto. I just forgot the saddle and I need to use my other foot.” You give him a reassuring smile, but it fades when you get a look at his pursed lips. He isn’t happy. 

Without a word, he finds your saddle sitting on a stool and hooks it carefully on Reneigh’s back along with her reins. Then he turns to you and wraps his arms around you, bending his knees slightly to reach your height. “Whoa, hey!” you shout. You step away from him, putting your cane between his body and yours. “W-What are you��“ 

“Puttin’ you on your horse,” he replies as if it should be obvious. You scowl at him, suspicious, and he rolls his eyes. “You obviously need the help or you’re gonna mess your progress up. I’m sure Nanami wouldn’t be too happy with that.” 

Though he looks sick of your shit, you see a glimmer of something in his eyes. You aren’t sure what it is, but it doesn’t make you feel the least bit unsafe or concerned…and that makes you feel unsafe and concerned. What is it about these men that makes you feel so unarmed? 

Despite still being hesitant, you lean your cane against the wooden stall and let Geto take hold of you. He is gentle in the way he wraps an arm around the small of your back and the other hooking under your legs, bridal style. You go as stiff as a board, your heart pounding madly in your chest. His scent of sweat, mint, and wilderness—the sun, the trees, the grass—are tattooed on his skin and clothes, invading your nostrils. 

You unconsciously turn your head and breathe in the scent of his hair. It smells so sweet, like crisp apples, yet twinged with evergreen leaves. “Are you…smellin’ me?” Geto laughingly asks. 

You flush, embarrassed at having been caught. “I smelled somethin’ bad,” you reply, bite in your tone. “Thought it was you, but it’s just the horse stalls.” The outlaw chuckles in response to your retort, his broad chest rumbling. It makes your stomach flip. 

You’re so glad to finally be away from him when he carefully places you on Reneigh’s back, securely holding your hips as you place one leg over each side of the horse. Once you’re finally settled, he steps back and smirks up at you. “Comfy?” he asks. 

Even with you finally on your horse, he doesn’t immediately step away. It’s as if he’s making absolutely sure that you’re okay. Such a gentleman. “Yeah,” you grumble, gripping Reneigh’s reins a little too hard. “Thanks.” 

Geto nods, fixing you with a rather intense gaze that makes you feel uneasy. Luckily, Gojo comes back so you don’t have to spend too long alone with him, completely oblivious to the chemistry exploding between his two partners. 

“I’ve got the snacks!” he happily announces, waving a brown picnic basket around. “Ginger snap cookies, Granny Smith apples, and sweet tea. Now let’s head out, kids, before the sun leaves us.” 

Once all horses are mounted, you all ride them out of the barn and into the beaming sunlight. You ride in silence away from your parents’ arm, traveling up the small hills of rolling grass blades that sway softly in the summer breeze. The only sounds are from the rustling leaves of the trees, the buzzing of bees, and Gojo’s soft whistling. 

As you get farther away from the farm, you get closer to the pastures. The sight is beautiful and glorious enough for a painting: green hills and wheat fields grace your eyes as far as they can see, stretching to meet the blue sky coated in fluffy, white clouds that make you think of cotton candy. The breeze is cool against your face, sweetened by the scent of grass and distant flowers. 

Reneigh’s back shifts underneath you as she walks among the pastures, her main waving softly in the wind. Feeling her muscles and soft fur under your hands makes you feel somewhat emotional. You think about if you had died from those train tracks or that snake bite, you would never be here to experience this beautiful day that others may take for granted. You’re so happy to be sharing this peaceful moment with her. 

The Gunslingers too. You look over to them, catching them ride their horses slowly and lazily, their hats pulled low to block out the sun. As if sensing your eyes on him, Gojo turns to you, wearing his shades, and smiles. “Isn’t this perfect?” he asks. 

‘Yes,’ you think. ‘This is perfect.’ 

For the first time in a while, you feel a sobering sense of peace and happiness. It makes you feel warm and giddy all over like a kid on Christmas Day. Suddenly, everything is perfect and you can’t stop the smile that stretches across your face. 

With adrenaline coursing through your veins, you gently snap Reneigh’s reins twice. She knows the drill. She picks up speed and takes off in front of Geto and Gojo who look on in confusion as you speed off through the rolling glades. ”What are you doing?” Geto calls after you. 

You turn to look at them over your shoulder, your hair in your face and your hand gripping your hat so it stays on your head. “Race me!” you laughingly shout. “Whoever’s last up that hill is a rotten egg!” You point to the biggest hill in the distance where the wheat fields are. 

Gojo and Geto share a bewildered look before breaking out into a smile. Gojo whoops and sends his horse running after you while Geto tosses his head back and laughs. “You’re so childish,” he cackles, but snaps the leather reins on his horse and follows after you. 

The outlaws chase after you, hot on your fields as your horses bound through the grass, up and down the slopes of hillsides. The only sounds are of the horses’ hooves pounding against the ground, your pants, and the wind rushing through your ears. All the sounds, tastes, and feelings mix inside of you, creating a high and a rush that zips through your fingertips and toes; splashes warmth all over your brain; makes your heart pump. 

This is life. This is what living is about. Not running from the law or murderous criminals. Not survival. You can’t help but laugh and scream, raising one hand up to let the wind slip through your fingers. “Woooo!” you shout, your joyful scream carried among the wind. 

You tilt your head back, close your eyes, and laugh at the sun, letting it warm your face, basking in its light. When Reneigh finally slows to a stop, you open your eyes and find Gojo already at the top of the hill. “I win!” he laughs. “Guess you’re the rotten egg today, little miss.”

Geto makes a close second, telling Gojo that he cheated. You’re too happy and content to be sour about losing, breathing heavily and still in the high that nature and good company gave you. 

You walk with Reneigh the rest of the way up until you meet the outlaws and scout the fields for a good spot. “Here’s a good spot,” Geto says, nodding at the quaint area beneath a canopy of trees to block out the sun. “Let’s give those hooves a rest.” 

You leave the horses to graze while you set up for lunch. You sit beneath one of the trees, your legs folded carefully underneath you so as to not irritate your ankle. Geto and Gojo sit an arm’s length from you, enjoying the weather and the food. Gojo lounges on his side, chomping down on the cookies and downing a bottle of sweet tea while Geto sits against a tree, his hat sitting on his lap as he chomps into an apple, creating a crunch sound every time his teeth sink into the flesh. 

It is silent, but it’s a peaceful, content silence. You don’t need to try to talk or make any unnecessary noises to make you all feel comfortable. The sounds of nature do that for you—the buzzing of bees; the chirp of birds; the slight chuffing of the horses. 

To anyone who may venture across you three, they would simply pass it off as three friends having a picnic. 

Or a date. 

Gojo is suddenly beside you, nearly scaring you to death because you didn’t sense him fast enough. “Whatcha readin’?” He asks, poking his head over your shoulder. “You’re awfully quiet. It must be good.” 

You roll your eyes and show him the cover of the book you got from Eren’s study. He’s been letting you have free range of his book collection since you moved in. “It’s about a pirate who stored away a prized treasure that everyone is after,” you explain. “The ‘One Piece’, it’s called, and it’s apparently based on a true story.” 

Gojo nods, looking interested or at least pretending to be so. He peers up at you from over his sunglasses, his blue eyes twinkling with sunbeams. The sight is almost devastatingly beautiful. “I never took ya as a bookworm,” he says, humorously, smirking. “It’s cute.” 

Geto chuckles from his spot, still chomping on his apple. You turn away from Gojo, shooing him away like he’s a bug. “Is flattery embedded in your DNA?” you scoff before going back to your book. You try to follow the words on the page, but the feeling of some damn eyes on you makes your brain short circuit.

Fed up, you turn, finding both men staring at you. “What?” you demand, raising an eyebrow at them. 

Gojo puts a hand up in defense, quickly looking away. Geto, however, doesn’t, his dark eyes soft as they regard you. “You just seem so…relaxed,” he says. “It’s a nice change, y’know? I like seein’ you like this.” 

The corner of his mouth peers up into a half-smile. Gojo agrees, nodding like a bobblehead. Butterflies flap around in your stomach at Geto’s sweet and genuine (and almost intimate) words. But isn’t this what friends are like? They like seeing each other happy, don’t they? And you do consider Geto and Gojo your friends, despite everything.

“Well, I like it too,” you quietly admit as if the very realization just came to you. 

Gojo puts his hands behind his head, settling into the wheat stalks below him. “Me too,” he yawns. “I could get used to this kinda life. The easy-like-Sunday-mornin’ life, y’know? No fuss, no muss, no runnin’ for our lives…” He tilts his head up to look up at the sky. “That would be a pretty sweet future.” 

You look at him and then at the sky, wondering what he sees in it. “What about you, Y/N?” he asks, smiling at you. “What does your future look like? You wanted to come to Willow Springs for a better one, right?” 

You blink at him and Geto who also looks interested in your answer. “My future…” You take a moment to truly think about it. You weren’t expecting that question. Though it’s so simple, it seems to take you forever to answer it. What does your future look like? 

“You said before that this place meant freedom to you,” Geto says, gently coaxing you to think. “Is it still that?” The two patiently wait for you to respond. 

So you think. Really think. You try to picture yourself in five, ten, twenty years from now. What would you be like? What would life be like for you? Would you still live in Willow Springs after wanting to come here for so long? Finally, after a moment of silence, you nod and lower your book. 

“Yeah,” you answer after some consideration. “I want my future to be…freedom, peace and happiness. To be able to walk around without hidin’ my identity. To have a real, honest job that doesn’t involve lyin’ and killin’ to survive. To own my own home with a red brick roof near a lake and a bunch of land for horse ridin’. To…I dunno, fall in love, have a family…” 

You trail off, flushing when you realize you’ve been rambling. But the two don’t look at all bored or uncomfortable by it. In fact, they look genuinely interested like you’re a movie they want to see the end of.

“That’s beautiful, Y/N,” Geto says and there isn’t anything teasing about it. He is genuine, his smile and eyes warm like a toasty fire. “I’d want that too.” 

You can’t help but smile back. “Hey,” Gojo suddenly says as if a thought just popped into his head. “Can we be in your future then?” 

You blink at him, your brain slowly processing his words. Even when they successfully do, you’re still confused. Is this a proposal or something? “Huh?” you ask, voicing your confusion. 

Gojo sits up, the sunlight turning his silver hair into spun gold and illuminating his handsome face. “Well, it seems to me that we both want the same future—peaceful, content, and super boring. So maybe we can achieve that together.” He turns to you, his smile damn near blinding you. “Ya think?” He asks. 

He sounds so hopeful. So sure that you’ll say yes and that everything will be fine. You sit there quietly, unable to speak or to think. You never even thought about the Gunslingers staying in your life longer than now. Could it be possible? Would they even stick around? 

Sensing your conflict, Geto jumps in. “Well, you think about it,” he says with a comforting smile. “And for the record, that kinda life ain’t boring. Gojo’s just a whore for action.” The white-haired outlaw pegs an apple at him that Geto catches with ease in his big hands. 

You close your book, suddenly not interested in what’s in it anymore.

Finally, you answer: “I’ll think about it” is all you say, but it’s enough for them....

For now.

[terminasoulscramble]

AU Character Skills

Tanaka, Yellow Mage

Thought the yellow mages were like a confidence thing, went to the dungeon expedition cause he thought it was a self development retreat, found nas'hrah and begrudgingly accepted magic as real.

-Counter-magic

-Vulnerable

-Rugged Good Looks

-Spice Forge

-La Danse Macabre

Daan, Salesman

After his parents left him, he turned to odd jobsinstead of working for the baron, some of which were not legal. He however still met elise but it was more of a week long fling. Later on, he found his way to a job as a typewriter salesman. He is still equally miserable.

-Typewriter Toss

-Lockpicking

-Magna-Medical

-Masturbate

Samarie, Therapist

Was spared from the worst of the ninth circle because the mob saw potential in her. She ended up with Marina, but had complicated emotions about loving her as her girlfriend but fearing her as her boss. She resented the jobs they had her do, and ultimately ran away. She started an independent therapy practice, using her mind reading abilities to help people.

-Steal

-Mind Read

-Persuade

-Diplomacy

Leviticus, Dark Apprentice

After Marina left, Father Domek still wanted a kid to mold in his image, so he adopted the first kid he could find who looked vaguely like marina, adopting him as his new son and heir. Trans levi is canon in this au, Domek was relieved to finally have a son, he is a trans inclusive radical misogynist

-Warding Sigil

-Melee Proficiency

-Slow Metabolism

-Bury the trauma

Abella, Lieutenant

One way or another joins the NLU, ends up getting sent on a deep cover espionage mission to put down the Kaiser. He kept avoiding her, as if he somehow knew, so when she caught wind of the endgame for the Bohemia campaign, she deserted and tried to cut him off at Prehevil.

-Weaponcraft

-Gunslinger

-Analyze

-Intimidate

Henryk, Dreamer

After family friend Pavel Yudin moved in, nothing in this man's life has gone right. Pav outshines him in every way, and his family loves him more doesn't believe in his dreams of becoming an ac-tor. He has tried to deal with this problem in various ways, failing in increasingly unlikely manners. In short, he wants this twink obliterated. Traveling to Prehevil is just the best way to kill him without suspicion. Plus, if he gets a role in that new movie being made, all the better.

-Undergrowth Awareness

-Toxicology

-Bloodlust

-Killing Intent

Olivia, Hunter

Following her injury, she was visited by a yellow-clad family member she's never met who helps her become more independent from her family. Her relationship with her sister was still strained, but for the opposite reasons. Her sister was suspicious of this supposed family member, but Olivia thought it was just jealousy. Now, she makes money as a big game hunter

-Trapcraft

-Marksmanship

-Gun Proficiency

-Devour (can't be gained through intro)

Marcoh, Field Medic

Marcoh faked his way into a job as a medical assistant, eventually being drafted once the war started. He did his job dutifully, up until the first whispers of the war having ended, making a mad dash to reunite with his sister.

-Diagnosis

-Medicinal

-Organ Harvest

-Fast Attack

Marina, Mobster

Marina's mom suspected that Domek wouldn't give up on making her a dark priest, so she sent her off to live with an uncle for a bit. This uncle had a debt to the mob, which he repayed by giving them Marina. She was adopted by a man named Ricardo, who claimed she was the child of one of his many mistresses. She bided her time, slowly gaining the fear and respect of her peers, eventually arranging an accident for her adoptive father at 14. She did not end up taking power, but instead installed a puppet leader to keep her spot for a bit. It was around this time where she met Samarie and saw potential. She rescued her from the ninth circle and put her to work in interrogation, eventually catching feelings. When Samarie betrayed those feelings by leaving, she was furious. She is now in Prehevil to tie up some loose ends, being her father, and upon learning she's here, her ex. This is basically a sold to the mob wattpad story taken 100% seriously.

-Precision Stance

-Counter Stance

-Order, Charge!

-Order, Defend!

August, Biologist/Broadcaster

Basically David Attenborough, never home for different reasons tho. Loves nature and photography, known to spend hours getting the perfect shot. Slightly less buff than he is in canon, due to less parkour.

-Advanced Botanism

-Sisu

-Leg Sweep

-Camera Flash

Karin, Mechanic

Was ousted from her job as a reporter due to digging too deep, and now works as a mechanic. Connected to the NLU by learning about their meeting place and quite literally breaking down the door to beg to join, but she won't admit to the last part.

-Explosives

-Short Circuit

-Whistleblower

-Bob and Weave

Pav, Chef

After getting too close to the Kaiser and losing an arm in an incident he won't talk about, he layed low at his old buddy Henryk's place, paying for his stay by working in his restaurant/hotel. He quickly picked up cooking as a skill, even starting to see Henryk's parents as his own. When they die, Pav will get the hotel, and Henryk will get most of their money and non-hotel posessions. They are on their way to the Big City™ to get their ducks in a row.

-Masterchef

-En Garde

-Adrenaline Rush

-Perfect Guard

O'saa, Dark Priest

Instead of joining up with the yellow mages, O'saa found his way to the Vatican and became a dark priest. Trading one group of selfish bastards for another.

-Meditation

-Engrave

-Greater Occultism

-Advanced Occultism

Caligura, Boxer

Fucked with the wrong person and got demoted to a grunt, being sent to the meat grinder boxing ring, somehow survived each time.

-Escape Plan

-Bare-Fisted Proficiency

-Quick Jabs

-Poison Tip

[voidwritesstuff]

Distant Gunsmoke

Cw: grief,guilt, strife has complicated feelings towards Death.

Summary: Strife thought he would go about his night watch duty calmly,but it shows him just how much he needed a genuine act of kindness.

A/N1: my entry to strife september,hosted by the brilliant,talented @darkdemeter check her stuff out shes so cool yall. Also hi Dem this is Jer (in one of my many side blogs) I can finally show you one of the 2 (and soon to be 3) full fics i wrote. This one is ONE MONTH OLD. IVE WAITED SO LONG OH MY GOD.

A/N2: Hi new readers, I write character studies. X Readers are not really something im good at (for personal reasons i wont get into here),for X readers check out Dem and many other cool fic writers in this community (moodymisty,grandaughterogg,etc)

Beauty Is in the eye of the beholder ,or so humans say.

Well,Strife can't help but agree.

The gunslinger sits on one of the high branches of the Maker Tree,sunset casting golden light across the barren,sundered remains of The Kingdom of Man. He breathes in the crispy air of late afternoon and relaxes just a little as purple-ish blue shadows harshly blanket over the cityscape And his tall,imposing form.

He's well aware none of his siblings ever sat down and appreciated the Beauty within humanity's craftsmanship. From cozy,warm homes where bonds were formed and nurtured, to tall buildings reaching for the sky-Appropiately Named 'Sky Scrapers'-,Man could make things other beings would only dream of.

Not that all this surprises Him, he knew from day one that these frail beings were important and capable. He's seen it all in his travels across this wasteland and his stay as a 'refugee' here in Haven.

If only his siblings,specially Death,could see what he sees.

...If that were to be possible,he might get along better with his grump of an older sibling and the rest of his remaining bretheren.

The reaper would never admit it, but up until now hes seen humans as things. He May know that they are important,but the specifics are lost on his grief-addled mind. No matter how much the spirit of timeless unrest tried to explain, all his words are absorbed by the high walls of thick despair Death has built around him,his heart,his mind And,dare Strife say it, soul.

By now he doesn't bother,waste of breath and energy.

Yet a part of him still hopes the pale rider finally changes his view on things.

Family,though sometimes less than functioning,was still family. At least to Strife.

Sure,he had been raised alongside the old reaper,but when you're one of the four remaining nephilim....Well family acquires a whole new meaning. One the gunslinger still has to figure out.

He sighs loudly,wondering if any human within the trunk of the tree could advice him on how to get along better with his siblings. He doesn't doubt for a moment that one of those answers might just be "therapy"

Now he'd never admit it...But Creator,he'd like to go to therapy some day.

...Could human therapists even handle The ammount of trauma he's got?

Could he handle it if it ever came up?

Jokes and bravado was all fun and games until the chips are down and him opening up might just save him,his siblings, and mankind. He desperately wants Fury to shut up and listen to what he has to say,but he knows his sister well and she's not going to stop until she hits her head against the wall...repeatedly.

He just hoped she didn't have to go through all that pain to finally see things as they are.

But his sister's...his siblings actions are something he can't control,or make himself responsible for. And he's still yet to make his peace with it.

God,Why were bonds so...difficult?

Anxiously he taps on his helmet,now resting on his lap,as night falls. Here, under the starlet blackness above,is where danger begin to plot,scheme and -Creator forbid- strike.

The horseman rubs the exhaustion out of his yellow eyes. As he does so,he remembers young War couldn't discern Strife's yellow sclera from his actual ochre colored eyes.

It makes him chuckle with endearment, tiredness dissipating for a few seconds before returning with full force.

He's so tired...

He's tired of being lied to,he's tired of him and his siblings being in their head instead of focusing on the now.

Grief stuck to them all like Spiderwebs on corners,leaving them two options: face their past and move on,or wither away in bitterness. 

For now,he can guess that three out of the four that they are Will make it out of that web.

And still,he worries for the one less capable of doing so.

Upwards does his gaze go, noticing the smallest,dying star struggling to light up the darkness. No other of its bretheren help, so its left to agonize into an uncertain future.

The image makes his eyes burn,he feels his chest tighten and....

--You've spent a long time up there...--Comes the voice of Ulthane from a small balcony/platform underneath the branch he's sitting atop.

Strife leads his thumbs to wipe the corners of his eyes--Right...right...--he winces at how his voice breaks. He sniffs loudly and grabs his helm

--Y'alright?

Like he's done a thousand,million times,he puts on his helmet over his chiseled,handsome features,effectively shutting off his emotions--Jus' peachy-- He replied--Jus' peachy...

With a gesture of his hand,the disguise of Jones comes up,and he pushes away the memory of Death teaching him illusion magic. The tenderness of the moment is too much for him to bear right now,the smile of his child self all too bright against the monster he is now.

And the smoldering warmth in his oldest brothers eyes...

Heavy boots clatter on the balcony. Strife...Jones, looks up at the maker and he hates how in this form he's the small one.

--Y'dont seem right t'me...--Ulthane said with something akin to a fatherly concern.

But the rider shrugs and finds his bravado that he pulls over his face like curtains behind a Window.--Doesn' matter,the scenery really jus' stole my attention.

And he leaves for the entrance to Haven to begin his nightly watch as he usually volunteers to do.

Ulthane watches Strife go,eyes narrowing with a glint of pity. He still remembers the hard time he gave to the gunslinger when he first sneaked into the tree, posing as a human.

Old as he is,the Black Hammer could smell his nephilim nature a mile away. But after a brief-albeit agressive- chat,his antagonism of the rider lessened over time and quite quickly.

Tender heart Strife's got.

Well,his siblings do call him the 'delicate one'

Isn't it concerning how much his siblings haunt his mind?.

Behind his hood,feeling like a cheap imitation of his youngest of kin, Strife walks to the entrance with one of the makers that wait with him for this routine. She also knows who-what he is.

--Hey! Evening!--Comes the voice of the female maker,blonde hair and carrying a gigantic battle axe. He feels a little guilty he doesn't remember her name.

--Howdy!--He drawls, a big grin on his face.

--Took you a bit...--She pointed out,a bit concerned--Y'usually 'ere before nightfall..

With lips a little pursed,he shrugs and adds--I...fell asleep.

--But you dont need sleep?

--It's uh...pleseant --Which wasn't a complete lie,he liked to sleep...but he wasn't sleeping up in that branch.

More like....wallowing?

Thankfully the maker drops it, knowing all beings were quirky like that. Makers most of all,but Strife wouldn't be surprised if Nephilim won in that regard- They're a mix of Angel and Demon,surely something in their internal wiring has to be a little janky.

Like that one time he got stuck in his Anarchy form. He was a little too crazed with bloodlust, and then he thoroughly freaked out when he realized he couldn't get back to his normal self.

Fury and War were a little worried,if not amused.

But it was Death who sat down with him and actually helped him calm down and return to normal. Bitter,old and grumpy reaper sat infront of him and in his sardonic way guided him to a point where he was calm.

To this day,he wonders if the pale rider was talking from experience-He'd give anything to hear the story if that was the case.

Yet the sentiment is not lost on him,the implicit,crushing worry in the actions of the eldest nephilim. He really tries to hate him,he really does try...

His pondering takes up most of the night,he's silent and thumbing his guns reflectively. If the maker beside him noticed,she didn't say anything.

But he is taken out of it when he hears a set of slow,Tiny steps behind him. He turns with his brows furrowed,its a bit past midnight- all kids should be asleep by now,and adults too.

Yet he sighs in recognition at the child. Matted,messy and long light blonde hair,grey eyes and pale skin. He can see the lines of the sheets and pillows pressed into her features,curling around her eyebrows,forehead And the beggining of her nosebridge.

--Angie...--Chided Strife,slowly walking up to the kid and kneeling infront of her--Whats the matter,Kiddo? What're ya doin' up so late?

The girl leaned into his touch when his hand went to push away her thin and almost platinum hair. --Uhm...I...I couldn't sleep.

He held back a sigh,he hopes she doesn't wander off--D'you know why?

--I..i worry..--Angie whispered,looking at the ground--Mama says we'll be fine but..--She sighs and rubbs the exhaustion out of her eyes--When..when I worry I get nightmares, i don't...i don't want nightmares

--You can stay for a bit--He resolved, patting her shoulder gently--Calm down,and then back to bed, young Lady

The girl smiled a little and nodded,waddling over to the spot at the edge of the balcony/entrance of the tree had. Both sit and watch the barren world shadowed in darkness with little Glimmers of moonlight-Like how hope feels when it finally begins to peek through the black clouds.

Strife feels the kid lean on him,looking at the world that once was her home. His brown eyes look down at the messy head of hair and he sighs. With a gentleness thats so unbecoming for a horseman, he begins to untangle the strands that gleam with white highlights.

--You remind me of someone...--He murmured--His hair always gets messy,even as a full grown adult.

Angie giggled--Well,uhm..I Like playing in the mud, and Rolling around...mom says thats why Its always like that

He let out an amused scoff--Yep,that'll do it. --He grinned--Rowdy thing arentcha?.--The kid shrugged. --I can't say you'll grow out of it, my brother sure as hell didn't.--Heavenly are the giggles that the kid lets out, he wonders how the world can be so cruel to spoil such a pure thing. Fills him with rage.

Eventually he finished with his task of untangling her hair,now it curls and falls past her gentle face. Her eyelids begin to fall closed and her body rests against his, he sighs and Gently he begins to softly sing a lullaby.

Its old,older than mankind, older than him.

How old it is? Strife isn't sure. All he knows is that Death sung it to him,and the gunslinger sung it to war,and Now he sings it to this human. Who is unaware of the milenia old culture being imparted upon her right now.

But it does the trick,working like a charm as Angie falls asleep not soon after. He sighs in relief and returns to watch the cityscape for a little.

--Angela...!--Came the voice of the kid's mother,soft as to not wake anyone but loud enough for him to hear. She pushes back her own bed-head, messy blond hair and her green eyes narrow with motherly disdain.

He chuckled and said--Took care of it already,Gabriella.

The older human woman Gently picked up her sleeping kid and sighed--She scared me to the death just now,I woke up and couldn't find her...Thank you,Jones.

Strife shrugged--Jus' doin ma job.

Gabriella nodded with a tired,small smile--Do you want some tea? It's getting cold.

Really? He hasn't noticed.

Well...he does run naturally warm so...no surprise there.

--Sure--He answered,to Keep up appereances mostly but he did enjoy a good cup of tea. --Hey uh- there's probably more supplies now after our last run so...--His request dies on his tongue as shame creeps into his throat.

But the woman's eyes widen with recognition,which confuses him a little--Ah,yeah I'll Check that. First I'm putting this trouble maker to bed and I'll get to your tea

He nodded--Alright

Gabriella walks out,murmuring something about how she "Hopes the tea she makes tastes exactly how he described it". He pays it no mind,Specially as the female maker he had as a companion chuckled and joked--Your big brother instincts came out on that one...

The rider scoffed and rolled his eyes,dismissing her words with a hand gesture. But it's clear from his silence that he's giving her the reason.

And his silence lingers even after he hears the human woman walk into the main chamber of the Maker Tree, her soft steps barely echo even in the graveyard like silence of the world she finds herself in.

--Here...--She said softly,handing Him a mug of brick red,handmade. He can see the small handprints that denote that a human made it.

--Since when do we have mugs?

Gabriella chuckled--I made them

His brows raised with pleaseant surprise--That's really awesome! Where'd you find the clay though?

--Last supply run before the one you did the other day. Ulthane helped me Cook It and glaze it.--She laughed softly--Angie wanted to come with and...

--Let me guess,she toussled 'round in the dirt and mud?--he asked with a Snicker.

--Yup...--Smirked the human.

--Sound's a hell lot like my youngest sibling

He holds the warm cup between his hands,rough and a little scarred. This disguise only reflected his true self,this human visage was covered in scars from battles. And even if nobody could tell what he was in this magic ruse he's concocted, his story still told itself through the little things.

As humans say,the devil's in the details.

--You've never talked about your siblings--Gabrielle noted, a little worried--or you,for that matter. You only mentioned that one anecdote about the tea and--She stopped herself as if she had a spoiled a surprise-- Doesn't matter. Your siblings...Are they okay?

He nodded--Just peachy,trust me. They're hard to kill--He half joked,but then he made a brief and pensive pause. He can see the humans brows arch and her lips purse,so unlike Him to go quiet mid-sentence-- Maybe I'll tel you an' lil' Angie about them some other time,Gabi.

--Of course--the woman smiled with warmth,motherly warmth--I have no doubt they're as resilient,and good, as you are

Within his disguise,he winces.-- we...We aren't good.

--I'm sure you've done your fair share of bad things in these trying times..but your actions now show how far you've come.

He sighed--You know? My youngest brother had said something like that once. --He smirked as he remembered the wild goose chase him and War had been sent on back when they were still chasing Lucifer-- He sat me down at this beautiful, beautiful cliff. We...we had some bad memories attached but we couldnt really leave...

Strife had inherited Death's talent as a storyteller,and hes not surprised to see Gabrielle sit and listen attentively.

--We...we were on a job,we had done a thing there..something I'm not proud of. That we aren't proud of,no matter how much some of us lie to ourselves--He scratched the bridge of his nose anxiously. Unconciously including himself in the fact that he also lied to himself quite a lot-- I had said something bitter about how that place was a testament to our failures

Gabi put a hand on his wrist and squeezed it fondly--D'aw,Jones...

He shook his head--Dont worry,My lil' brother Wa--He stopped himself mid sentence,biting his tongue--Wah- William looked at me in the eye and said "Let this be a reminder of how far we've come, and how much we yet have to achieve" an' lemme tell ya,for a guy built like a brick shit house...well he can be quite insightful

The human woman scoffed--Often the youngest tend to see things in a way us old farts don't-- she half joked,throwing a conspiratorial wink his way as both begin to hear a set of small steps--And speaking of...

Both turn to see Angela run at Jones to give him a tight,loving hug--Goodnight Mr.Jones! Thank you for protecting Us--Then she faced her mother--I know you said I had to sleep but...I didn't want to go to bed without saying goodnight!! He stays up all night to watch over us and...

--Okay,Wee one,y'said yer goodnights,C'mon--The female maker picks up the kid and gestures to the older human woman--You too,Gabi.

Gabriella nodded at her "fellow" human and wished him a calm evening,then she follows the maker into the tree. He's rendered alone,with himself and his thoughts.

Strife scoffs out a chuckle,wind pushing the leaves to rustle Gently and making his ears twitch. Even now,he's alert.

Then he returns to face the sundered city and he tries to push down the wave of feelings that threatens to break on him and drown him in foam. To help combat this,he drinks from the tea that hasn't gone cold given his furnace temperature that he carried.

But it turns out that it only helps to finish forming the tide that was looming over him.

First comes the taste,earthy,spicy,a bit rudimentary. Then,the smell of manually grounded spices and herbs...

His mind flashes to happier times,how he traveled with Death,Back when they were both young and the masacre was ways away in time. It was cold, neither felt it but the gunslinger could see his breath fog in the air.

Death was a complete different person before the erradication,still sharp and deadly but with a soft side reserved to his siblings.

At that time,both took shelter within a cave. He made a little Fire and brewed a batch of tea for both of them, he taught his brother how to make it.

Tasted just like it does now,the flavor swirling in his tongue with pleaseant nostalgia. Didn't he make that same tea for Fury and War when they got back?

Didn't Death ruffle his hair and gave him one of his half-assed compliments?.

It's all so vivid. Those clawy fingers that messed with his locks,that raspy,endeared and endlessly, purely warm tone as he said "For a rascal like you,that's quite a good tea." His gaze was melted honey behind those firey eyes that look so much like the gunslinger's, the slight quirk in his lips back when his face wasn't always covered.

He misses seeing his brother's face,the face he always seeked when he had a bad dream,the face that offered comfort and safety and un-ending love for him and his siblings.

He misses his family.

And finally,the tide breaks to swallow him whole.

Strife,Spirit of timeless unrest,the white rider,horseman, cries. 

[disneytva]

Big City Greens Plants Season 4 Premiere For September 23 on Disney Channel + Guest Cast List

Bingo Bango! Disney Branded Television has set primetime premieres for Big City Greens Season 4 slated to debut Saturday September 23 at 8:00PM EST only on Disney Channel and streaming October 25 only on Disney+.

The episodes airing on September 23 – 'Truck Stopped / Jingled' – have "Tilly and Cricket wrestle with indecision at a truck stop between Big City and the country" in the former, while the latter sees Tilly becoming a Big City jingle writer and rising through the ranks. In addition to premiering on Disney Channel, episodes will also be added to Disney Plus on October 25, 2023.

Guest Stars on Season 4 include musican Michael Bolton as Rick Razzle on Jingled where Tilly wants to become a Big City jingle writer and rising through the ranks. Other guest stars for Season Four include June Diane Raphael (Marvel "Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur"), Tom Green ("The Tom Green Show"),NHL player Brad Marchand,Margo Martindale (Sony Pictures "Cocaine Bear"),podcaster Justin McElroy, Tim Meadows (ABC Network "The Goldbergs"), Dean Norris (AMC "Breaking Bad", "Better Call Saul"), Comedian Ms. Pat, Amy Seradis (Netflix "Bojack Horseman", Lucasfilm "The Mandalorian") and comedian Trevor Wallace.

Since it's debut on 2018, Big City Greens has been one of Disney Television Animation recent hits with multiple shorts, a NHL game -themed broadcast special in collaboration with ESPN and a animated feature film based on the series is on production slated for a 2024 release, the series spawned a new legacy of Disney TVA creators like Natasha Kline with chicano lead-driven animated comedy series "Primos" slated for 2024 and more animated shows on development for Disney Channel by Big City Greens Alumnis. (Cheyenne Curtis,Monica Ray, Amy Hudkins,Raj Bruggemann and Houghton Brothers mentor C.H Greenblatt) who will be getting series orders in the coming months.

The new season will include the show's 100th episode, which is a major landmark for any animated series, but especially for a Disney Channel series with few ever making it quite that far. "Season four is pure insanity," says Chris Houghton, Big City Greens co-creator and executive producer. "Tilly becomes a commercial jingle-writer, Cricket tries stand-up comedy, Bill loses his mind like six times, and Gramma dabbles in minimalism. The fact that we have such a fun arena to play in when it comes to these characters is not lost on us or our crew. Even though we’ve told so many stories with these characters, this season feels fresher than ever." "There are some very funny and silly episodes in this season," adds Shane, "like 'Handshaken' where country folks act like western gunslingers, but assert their power through firm handshakes. There are also a few emotional episodes that reach out and give your heart a good squeeze – 'Family Tree' is one that makes me tear up every time I watch a cut of it. And biggest of all, Chip Whistler is back! This season may have more action, adventure, and thrills than any previous season! And here's a couple rapid-fire teases you’ll see in season four: Gloria hires a new café employee, Vasquez goes to therapy, and the kids meet a long lost family member."

Additionaly Big City Greens will continue with new shorts trought the Disney TVA multi-platform division trought Chibi Tiny Tales, Broken Karaoke,Theme Song Takeover, How NOT To Draw & Random Rings.

Big City Greens characters will continue to host on the Disney Television Animation's crossover compilation series "Chibiverse" as it's second season is slated to debut Saturday September 23.

[growthgoddess]

Welcome, my children. My name is Helena, and I am the Growth Goddess. I scour the world altering the fates of worthy women and grow them into unstoppable giantesses. 🏢🚺🏢

I hope you enjoy my work! You can find written records of my displays of power listed below:

Most of these women's stories have open endings. Feel free to reblog and continue any one of their stories <3 in fact, I highly encourage it!

EVENT ONGOING (3/20-3/27): With the destruction wreaked back in the previous games, we were forced to move our games to the open ocean in the meantime! Catch Deific Dames II and start betting for your favorite multi-storey giantess!

Giantess Calculator

COG: Cause of Growth

Case Ω: Helena Turner the Goddess (Size: Galactic) - COG: A Mix of Brilliant Sciencse, Ancient Magic, and a bit of Desperation

Case #001: Ysolda the Witch (Size: 80ft.) - COG: Vengeful Enchanted Brew

Case #002: Maria the Liberator (Size: 120ft.) - COG: Botanical Growth Accelerator

Case #003: Lily the Gunslinger (Size: 175ft.) - COG: Ancient Native Growth Stimulant

Case #004: SooYeon the Executive (Size: 1500 ft) - COG: Experimental Super Soldier Serum

Case #005: Megan the Undergrad (Size: 140 ft.) - COG: Extraterrestrial Mineral Crash

Case #006: Lisa the Patient (Size: 225 ft.) - COG: Untested Surgical Procedure

Case #007: Jessica the Intern (Size: 100 ft.) - COG: Unknown Cocktail of Chemicals

Case #008: Rachel the Sleepy (Size: 80 ft.) - COG: Hormone Therapy

Case #009: Sophia the Lupara (Size: 150 ft.) - COG: Underwater Wishing Artifact

Case #010: Eleanor the Maid (Size: 30 ft.) - COG: Witch's Enchantment

Case #011: Grace the Cowgirl (Size: 100 ft.) - COG: Radioactive Milk

Case #012: Nehru the Protector (Size: 25ft.) - COG: Sacred Jungle Fruit

Case #013: Gwen the Attendant (Size: 350ft.) - COG: Smuggled Growth Serum

Case #014: Anne the Drunk (Size: 180 ft.) - COG: Unknown Drug Reacted with Alcohol

Case #015: Leah the Bashful (Size: 85 ft.) - COG: Livestock Growth Inducer Overdose

Case #016: Amelia the Teacher (Size: 70 ft.) - COG: Just the right dose of lethal radiation

Case #017: Tamara the Mambo (Size: 7550 ft.) - COG:. Favor of the Lwa

Case #018: Lamia the Loyal (Size: 1800 ft.) - COG: Dr. Vander's Legacy

Case #019: Beatrice the Glutton (Size: 40 ft.) - COG: Curse of Gluttony and a Witch's Spell

Case #20: Amy the Biologist (Size: 394 ft.) - COG: Unknown Marine Animal's Venom

Case #21: Cassandra the Slytherin (Size: 230ft.) - COG: Swelling Solution overdose

Case #21: Alice the Unhinged (Size: 80 ft.) - COG: A mix of several medications and a trigger drug

Case #22: Daisy the Clown (Size: 75 ft.) - COG: Enchanted Coin from a Mysterious Woman

Case #23: Celestine the Incarnation (Size: 130 ft.) - COG: Possession by an Unknown Entity

Case #24: Sunrise the Bodyguard (Size: 90 ft.) - COG: Experimental Growth Injection

Case #25: Elara the Queen (Size: 100 ft.) - COG: Eldritch Magic

Deific Dames GTS Game Show:

Ep 1 Polls: Maria, Grace, Jessica, Megan

Ep 1 Results Post

Ep 2 Polls: Rachel, Leah, Alice, Daisy

Side Giantesses:

Hobby Project #1: Cosplay Conundrum

Hobby Project #2: Dominance

Hobby Project #3: Teasing Titaness

Hobby Project #4: Totally Spies Spinoff Synopsis

Hobby Project #5: Delilah's Dilemma

Hobby Project #6: Dueling Damsels

Hobby Project #7: Kaiju Haiku

Hobby Project #8: Not Anymore

Hobby Project #9: Courtney Doesn't Swim

Hobby Project #10: Anything for You

Hobby Project #11: I Will Never Be Small Again

Hobby Project #12: Engorgio V2

Hobby Project #13: Anzu's Ascension

Hobby Project #14: Poem to the Sun

Hobby Project #15: Trampling Tiddies

Hobby Project #16: Wizardry in Work

Hobby Project #17: Jumbo Julia

Hobby Project #18: Wish You Well

Hobby Project #19: Helena's Random Lab Growth

Hobby Project #20: Overgrown Olivia

Custom MTG Cards:

Day 1: Kalemne and gals

Day 2: Aliessa's bearer of the heavens

Day 3: More giant gals

I will try to diligently grow women every weekday, for this goddess rests on the 6th and 7th days of the week 😁😉💗

I use NovelAI to generate my images. Its not free for me, but I really want to make my stories come to life! If you are interested in supporting me, I will be posting a Patreon soon to help fund my interventions 🧚

Stay tuned for my next endeavors! 😊

[mediocres-writing-blog]

MK Legends: Blood Bound

Chapter 10: Truths and lies

Our group would finally make it to the palace. The guards let them through. As they got closer, Amara would whisper to Nico. Her voice was stern. Her words were harsh, as if they were meant to be a threat.

MUCHACHA: Listen, when we get in there, I'll do the talking and you shut up.

ROBIN: How about you stay on the sidelines, doing your actual job, which is protecting those who can't themselves, in this case, the boy?

MUCHACHA: I am sorry, Robin, I truly am. But he must stand trial for what he's done.

Nico's tone shifted, from being a sarcastic asshole tone, to a genuine, concerned one. His eyebrows lowered, and his frown became more obvious. He looked back at the general, with a look of concern, and maybe even sadness.

ROBIN: What does he have to be put on trial for? He looks barely 18, and he looks like he's seen some shit.

KOUNTERFEIT: I would like a word.

MUCHACHA: Zip it, boy, unless you'd like a knife in your leg. We're talking.

ROBIN: Look, see? That's exactly what I'm talking about. You need anger management lessons.

MUCHACHA: Well, my anger management is shoving swords into bastards--

Before she could finish, Sabbia would make a wall between the two, pushing them away from each other.

SABBIA: Yeah, I am going to be the only voice of reason here and say absolutely not.

ROBIN: Oh, shut up, Jason Statham, we don't need therapy from you. The writer does that for us already.

Sabbia, not knowing what he's talking about, looks a bit confused, and turns to Amara, who is a bit confused as well.

MUCHACHA: Well, if your "author" is doing that, then why are we still arguing like idiots?

The caped crusader extended his hand out to the general with a light smile, and she looked back at him as she did the same. Then, the two shook hands. Nico looked at Sabbia, who put his hand on the two before him to do the legendary "three-way handshake".

ROBIN: Well, I suppose this could work. Now, let's take this kid to the kahn-- and he's gone.

Robin pointed his finger in front of him, to the entrance, to show the kid was not there. As Sabbia and Muchacha looked around, Nico started running out of the palace. After a few seconds, he was out in the market, standing in front of Erron Black.

ERRON: So, you gotta be this blood bender I kept hearin' 'bout. 

ROBIN: ERRON! Whatever you're gonna do now, DON'T!

The gunslinger looked up at the caped crusader. He responded with a simple chuckle.

ERRON: Well, if it ain't the flushed goldfish.

Nico, a bit pissed from the comment, responds.

ROBIN: Firstly: Rude. Secondly: Don't touch this kid. He didn't do anything... on purpose. I hope.

Erron, ignoring his plea, walked up to the boy. He was a bit shorter, so the boy had to look up. The gunslinger reached his hand for the gun that he wore. But before he could pull it out, Nico threw a rock at the gunslinger, so that the blood bender could get away for a bit. Could've used your daggers which are more versatile, but whatever. Erron, angered, took a gun out. The blood mage was cornered. Erron Black took his revolver, and pointed it at the caped crusader.

ERRON: Alright, punk. You wanna be a puddle? Be my guest.

ROBIN: Hey, captain fang-face, double team?

He turns to see Muchacha and Sabbia helping the kid get away.

MUCHACHA: Hell nah, you're on your own now, pal.

SABBIA: Sorry, bud, but you're the one that wanted a fight, so now you've got one. Let me know if you lived though.

ROBIN: You've gotta be fffu--

He didn't finish his sentence. Instead, as he turned, he took a bullet to the other half of his mask. While the gunfire scared the outworlders and the bullet should have spilled Robin's brains on the floor, this time slightly denting the mask, proofing that Muchacha's cranium is mightier than the gun.

ROBIN:

ERRON:

ROBIN: 

ERRON: How.

ROBIN: Two words: Lazy. Wri--

Erron would shoot at the head, with Nico turning his head as he was yapping, the bullet once again bouncing off the mask.

ROBIN: Aight, Marty Robbins, that does it!

The crusader jumped forward and tried to punch Erron, who ducked under the blow and kicked the crusader in the stomach. He would grab him by the cape, and throw him into a building and walk away IN the direction in which the three idiots went.

ROBIN: God.. that is such lazy writing...

The crusader slowly got up, and followed Erron as fast as he could with a few shattered ribs. As the gunslinger walked into the alley, the boy was nowhere to be seen, and instead, Sabbia was sitting on a barrel, drinking some beer.

ERRON: Where the hell did that little shit go?

SABBIA: Oh, he ran away with the girl. I just sat here, enjoying my drink.

Erron, not liking this answer, walks up to the serpent with malicious intent, and he walks up to the snake with a gun at his head.

ERRON: I won't ask twice. Where, the fuck, are they?

SABBIA: Oh please, Erron. You and I both know you wont kill me. I've read a handful of books in my time and in those books, I've realized that a new character never dies first.

As he's saying that, he's forming a big pile of sand right behind Erron, without him noticing. As the gunslinger's patience is running thin, he's getting angrier.

ERRON: Listen, you fucking bastard. I've got no patients for you, so tell me.

Sabbia is quick to respond with a quip that feels like it's straight out of a Jason Statham film.

SABBIA: Well, Erron, before you do pull the trigger, do you remember the three things that slip through fingers if you try to hold them?

ERRON: What the fuck are you on about?

SABBIA: I'm talking about water, blood...

Erron finally turned around, to notice a big pile of sand right above his head.

SABBIA: ...And sand.

Sabbia would drop the sand on Erron, causing him to try and dig back. Muchacha and Kounderfeit see this happen from a window and get away. Sabbia drops into the sand, escaping and returning to the group.

MUCHACHA: Nice job, Sabbia.

SABBIA: Thank you.

They all look back at Erron, who was still trying to dig out of the pile of sand.

KOUNTERFEIT: We should run?

MUCHACHA & SABBIA: We should run.

They would all run in the opposite direction, away from the gunslinger. They were all in a room. The three looked at each other, and the boy looked up at them. Muchacha took a knee, and looked the boy straight in the eyes, and sighs and looks away emediately.

MUCHACHA: What am I doing? This is ridiculous. I was just doing my job to protect the khan from a boy who can't even control his powers and now I'm protecting said boy from the only gunslinger in all of Outworld.

Erron then kicks down the door entering the room.

ERRON: And the best one there is.

Sabbia would then turn to Erron, saying two things.

SABBIA: Okay, firstly, doesn't being the only gunslinger make you the best by default? But also- HOW DID YOU GET OUT SO FAST?!

Erron then shoots Sabbia in the leg, knocking him to the ground as he groans in pain.

ERRON: I have my own ways. Now then, general, the blood mage. If you won't hand him over, then you're gonna pay.

Sabbia looked down at the bleeding wound on his leg, and then turned his head to Muchacha, nodding at her.

MUCHACHA: Well, if you want to get to him... 

She says as she draws her sword.

MUCHACHA: ...Then you're gonna have to get past me.

Muchacha then runs towards Erron, and swings her sword, which the gunslinger quickly dodges.

ERRON: Alright, missy. If you're gonna be difficult, then I guess I'll have to shoot ya down too.

She turns to him, and as she swings at random, Erron shoots his gun and on complete accident, she splits the bullet in half.

ERRON: What the hell?

As Amara runs to him, he counters by kicking her in the stomach (god, I swear, boots are her cryptonite or some shit) and knocks her back. 

ERRON: Times up, kiddo.

As the Night Rider turned to the gunslinger, and the Gunslinger removed the mask of the boy, he saw something strange... himself. He stepped back, in complete shock.

ERRON: What the...

Before the gunslinger could finish his sentence, a fist collided with his jaw. The child's face resembled his and one of another character we'll get to later. He looked around, seeing everyone knocked out, not knowing what to do, but one thing.

ERRON: Look kid, I know I might have caused you some more trauma, but you gotta come with me. The Kahn will never know, promise.

The boy, while scared, nodded and took Erron's hand and escaped through another exit, while Robin finally came back and noticed that Amara and Sabbia were on the ground, possibly dead. Outworld guardsmen then walk in, and Nico falls to the ground, as the guardsmen take them to the nearest medic. After what seemed like hours, Robin woke up in a bed, seeing Amara and Sabbia nearby. He got up, and went to the door. 

ROBIN: Oh god... well at least my ribs feel less like rubber.

As he was walking out, he bumped into Kitana Kahn. She looked at the caped crusader, and sighed, walking away. He did a double take, and ran after her.

ROBIN: Uh... hello, Kitana. I just wanted to thank you for sending your guardsmen after me.

KITANA: You know, I was certain you wouldn't mess this up, and you return with  an injured general and a Saurian that was shot in the leg.

ROBIN: Okay, listen, it was going smoothly and then it wasn't.

KITANA: Yeah, no kidding. I don't care what happens. You failed me, Nico. And now, you, the general and the saurian will report when they wake up, and get out of my sight.

She left, leaving Nico there. He looked around, seeing Sabbia and Amara wake up.

SABBIA: What a nice sleep... Wait, why are we in a room together?

MUCHACHA: The boy... Did you see where he went?

Nico sighs, knowing he can't lie.

ROBIN: No, Erron got away and now the Kahn says I gotta report and gtfo.

Muchacha sighed and walked out of the room, with the others following. He looked to the left, and the right, and sighed. they stood infront of the Kitana, Mileena and Rain, all three kneeling.

KITANA: So, what have you to say for yourself, Muchacha?

MUCHACHA: Well, your highness, the Blood bender has escaped. We tried to fight him off, but we were outnumbered.

Robin raised an eyebrow, knowing fully this isn't what happened, but not saying a word.

KITANA: Very well. Nico, Sabbia and Amara, you are excused. Leave us, and don't let me see you again.

ROBIN: Yes, your highness.

The three walk out, and Robin, knowing what's happening, consults Muchacha.

ROBIN: I know you lied, what really happened?

MUCHACHA: I'd rather not say, Nico.

She turned her head, not looking Robin in the eye. Sabbia and Robin looked at each other, and Nico grabbed her, making sure she didn't walk away.

ROBIN: Amara, tell me what happened.

Amara sighed, knowing he won't let her go until she says.

MUCHACHA: Erron happened. He took the kid, I don't know where. But right now, that's not my concern, what is, it’s getting away from you.

As she said that, a machine flew in, and Nico knew this was his ride home.

SABBIA: Well, guessin’ this is goodbye, Robin.

ROBIN: Guess so. And before I go, next time I come back, you can call me Nico. Nico Ghai.

MUCHACHA: You never told me your name.

ROBIN: Sorry, can’t talk now, got a flight to catch. Byyyyyyeeeeee–

He said as he went closer to the hovercraft, with the door closing and taking off. Sabbia would walk away, going away from the general and waving goodbye to the general, who would salute the saurian, showing her respect.

Meanwhile… At the Black Dragon base

Erron and the blood bender would arrive at the Black Dragon base, where Kano and Skarlet would stand at the door.

KANO: Erron.

ERRON: Kano.

KANO: What brings you here?

ERRON: Child.

He says, as the Night Rider walks out in front of the Aussie and Blood mage.

KANO: And why have you brought him here?

ERRON: I’m not built to be a father. You two on the other hand have experience with parenting. Why he looks like me and Red, I have no clue, don’t ask me.

Kano and Skarlet look at eachother, shrugging, and accepting the boy as if he were their own.

KANO: Alright, Erron. Thanks. Now leave. I don’t appreciate you here.

ERRON: Well I don't like your voice. Anyways, see ya never, ‘wanka’.

He said as he mounted his steed and went back the way he came from. As he rode off into the sunset, the three would walk in and welcome him to the klan. As they’re walking, Skarlet notices something on the mask that hangs off the boy's belt. A label that she knows she saw before, but she brushes it off, as probably a coincidence.and they keep on walking all the way to Billie’s room to introduce her to her so-so brother.

SIRIS: So, what you’re sayin’ is, he’s gonna be with us?

KANO: Yes. And I hope you two get along nicely.

SIRIS: Well, I’m cool with that.

SKARLET: I’ve thought of the name Tomek for him, but you always call him Tom for short.

And so, with that, they showed Tom around and introduced him to the other members, and took him to his room just in time for the sun to fully set.

[burnwater13]

Grogu sitting in the cloth bag on Din Djarin's left hip. Image from The Mandalorian, Season 2, Episode 5, The Jedi. Calendar by DateWorks.

The Mandalorian often carried Grogu in the sack and as modes of transportation went it wasn’t all bad. It was soft, just the right size and it mostly hid him from view. He was a happy passenger most of the time and if he planned properly he could bring snacks with him and, as long as they weren’t stinky, the bounty hunter really didn’t care.

Grogu was grateful for that. The Mandalorian had enough stress in his life. He didn’t need Grogu to add to it. The Jedi he had known would have found it very trying to be faced with gunslingers, prisoners, pirates, heiresses and marshals in such a short period of time. And they didn’t even have to take a child with them everywhere they went. It just wasn’t how the Jedi did things. They were more of rescue one person at a time kind of peacekeeper. 

Grogu was grateful for that as well. Mandalorians had a very different perspective on foundlings, whether they were from a Mandalorian world or just some place that had been a sanctuary for people trying to avoid the conflicts of the galaxy. Foundlings were to be taken care of, regardless of their sins, and brought up to believe in the Creed and return to the covert between missions. The Armorer would complete some sort of reckoning, taking the beskar, or other artifacts from the mines of Mandalore and redeeming them for additional armor, or a flight pack, or ammunition or whatever else the bounty hunter might need. It was an efficient system. Mostly.

For his part, Grogu missed the slow days at the Jedi Temple. Days when he and Ian would pretend that they were spies and try to figure out what sort of tragedy they would prevent during their mission. Sometimes they pretended that they were guns for hire, which Grogu thought was strange since neither of them had any weapons on them ever, at all. Then Ian reminded him that Jedi were weapons. 

“If you can use the Force to catch someone, you can use it to drop someone. Never forget that. It might come in handy one day.”

Sure. If Grogu wanted to get kicked out of the temple. He’d seen that happen to some of the other younglings and padawans. They couldn’t maintain the rules of the order and soon found themselves under siege with evaluations, behavioral therapy, and lectures happening no matter where they went or what they did. At least that’s how Ian had described it the one time Master Yoda scolded him for taking a double helping of dessert. 

Grogu had patiently explained that you didn’t just become apostate because Master Yoda lectured you. If that were true, the ancient Jedi master would have been wandering around the temple all on his own. Since that hadn’t happened yet, Ian was safe. 

That mollified Grogu’s friend for a while, until they had to say good-bye because other people were about to make everyone’s life miserable. Grogu wasn’t sure how Ian knew that his time at the temple had come to an end, but he was glad that his friend had been lucky enough to leave before the Clone troopers had become the first wave of stormtroopers. They had lost many other friends that day and had lost contact with each other as well. 

Grogu knew that one day he and Ian would meet up again. Maybe when they became ‘one with the Force’ or more likely when they happened to bump into each other someplace they had never expected to see one another. Like walking into the cantina on Tatooine and findings him cheating at Sabacc. Or maybe on Takodana. Or, given Ian’s luck he would have ended up on Lothal and was adopted by the Loth wolves because they liked a challenge. Anything was possible.

He wondered what Ian would think about Din Djarin. Would he be frightened by the Mandalorian or would he just think it was some sort of joke? Probably the later. He’d also think that Grogu had it pretty easy. All he had to do was occasionally heal the bounty hunter and he’d be fine. Protected. Fed. Given a place to sleep. It was a lot like being at the Jedi Temple, except for all the fresh air. 

“Hey buddy, you okay in there?”

Grogu looked up at the Mandalorian and considered how he should answer. He just really wished that he had an umbrella or a hat. The direct sunlight was making him a little warm. But it would have been petty to complain about it. He was safe and had a friend and like Ian said, that’s all you ever really needed for a good life.

Grogu coo’d at his friend and protector. He was fine. This was the Way, after all. 

[wildwinterlunas]

The Archer

Divergences from Canon;

Whether you think the Shimada clan wanted Genji dead or not in canon there is something to say that unlike Hanzo, The Archer was never ordered to kill Genji, in fact he was exiled for it.

The Archer seems a lot friendlier then Hanzo, seemily looking for friendship with the other travellers, he even suggests that they should al get drinks after the job is done.

The Archer also significantly more optimistic, thinking they'll end up winning in the end, joking around with the Gunslinger, even trying to scare him a bit in one voice line, asking genuine questions. Honestly The Archer just seems like a version of Hanzo that got therapy.

General Lore;

Honestly not much has changed from canon, other then the fact that instead of killing Genji being encouraged by the Shimada clan, he was scorned and exiled because of it. Also something of note is that in his hero selection line it states; "An Archer from the east, trying to escape his past."

It seems to me that The Archer is trying to distract himself from The Swordsman's death, though he seems willing to talk about it in passing.

Again there isn't much changed about his lore other then The Archers attitude and the reaction to him killing his brother.

What is Implied;

Now I think everyone knows that Hanzo's canon halloween skin is his Oni/Demon skin;

Which obviously implies that The Archer is a demon or Oni. Something that I think is implied though is the fact that The Archer wasn't always a demon, but human.

Specifically because this is what The Swordsman looks like in the canon of Halloween Terrors;

He looks very human other then the usage of his mask.

So I think that after The Archer killed The Swordsman he was cursed into becoming an Oni.

[pirateflavor]

Alright, time for the ＭＡＳＴＥＲＰＯＳＴ✨

✴︎All about Eclipse✴︎

Ref sheet:

Basic info:

Height - 9’5 feet

Age - ~300 (full adult in demon years)

Voiceclaim (Eng) - Caleb from Blood (1997)

Favorite food - Raw steak (believes overcooking meat is a crime)

———

Bio:

Basically this demon got fed up with the underworld and revolted to the point of a war breaking out, so he’s completely rogue and definitely a little unhinged. He managed to escape and now lives like a drifter on the surface world.

Classic edgy brooding gunslinger who intimidates most people and is proud of that. Totally someone you’d see in a bar with his legs kicked up on the counter.

He’s an asshat and constantly pissy. Can and will beat the shit out of you if you annoy him. Usual method of quickly dealing with irritation is to throw one of his steel-toed boots, aimed right for the face. And yes he is super fucking strong and can throw bodies across the room no problem. He’s also immortal but can still get injured, and can only be truly killed by other otherworldly beings (i.e. other demons, angels, gods, etc.)

He still wears his helmet he used in battle for a couple reasons, partly since he’s uncertain if he’s got a bounty on him or not, but mostly cos he’s trying to distance himself from his identity as a demon. He does have low self esteem and a lot of unresolved issues (y’know since he was literally a servant of the devil and a battle survivor). Totally bottles up his feelings to the point they manifest in anger. Poor guy needs therapy and a good cry session.

But he still cares. He hides how soft he can really be. Only fully relaxes around people he trusts with his life. Getting past his tough shell rewards with a guy who’s got a passionate soul and a warm heart.

———

Trivia:

-He has his own insignia which he used during his revolt

-His eye turns red with fury

-His blood is black and tar-like

-When he’s happy his tail wags, and he does purr

-He eats raw steak as a way of weaning off the urge from being forced to feast on the souls of the damned when he served hell

-At one point he had an angel counterpart named Solar Eclipse (his previous full name was Lunar Eclipse) but he’s pretty much outdated and a dead oc now

-His prime design inspiration - the music video for the Vocaloid song ‘Alter Ego’ by Misumi

(Also I have no idea how or why this happens, but pretty much every time I’ve shown him off there’s always at least someone who finds him cute and attractive? Like there has been legitimate thirst for my guy before and it’s slightly concerning given this man will severely injure you if you aggravate him enough. I mean yes he’s a charming softy once you win him over but that’s near impossible.)

———

A few songs for him:

Vita // ビータ(Vocaloid version) - Kairiki Bear (Theme song)

Believer - Imagine Dragons

Alter Ego // オルターエゴ - Misumi

Animal I Have Become - Three Days Grace

Guilty Man - Nik Ammar

VOTE FOR HIM HERE

@original-character-championship

[daenerys-targaryen]

who needs therapy when i can roleplay as a gunslinging outlaw who rides horses all over mountains and through rivers for funsies.

[treasurechestrpmemes]

Character Tropes: Muse Name A few of tropes from tvtropes. They are (hopefully) linked correctly if you want to read up on them. Feel free to add more!    Tagged By: Tagging:

Asskicking Equals Authority / Deadpan Snarker / Bifauxnen /  Glass Cannon  /  Loveable Rogue / The Gunslinger  /   The Cynic  /  Ace Pilot  /   The Sneaky Guy  /  Mama Bear / Respected by the Respected / Cut a Slice, Take the Rest /  Rebellious Spirit  / Half-Human Hybrid / Achilles’ Heel / Nigh-Invulnerability /  Thou Shalt Not Kill /  Seen It All /Soul Jar / Kryptonite Factor / Involuntary Shapeshifter / Voluntary Shapeshifting / Living Lie Detector / Kaleidoscope /   Villainous Friendship  / Meaningful Name  /  Good is not soft / The Gadfly / With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility /  Eyes / Asshole Victim / Anti-Hero /  They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason  / Dark Secret / Sour Supporter / Ideal Hero / Kill All Humans /  Break the Cutie  /  Familiar / Stronger than they look  /  The Exile  / Organic Technology /   Older Than Dirt  / Ridiculously Human Robots /  Self-Made Man / The Medic  / Sticky Fingers / Become a Real Boy  / The Beastmaster  / Zen survivor / Cynical Mentor / Albinos Are Freaks / Ambiguous Robots /  Even Evil Has Loved Ones  / Weakened by the Light / Magical Eye(s) / Tall, Dark, and Snarky / Magic Music / Lady of War /  The Mole  / Expressive Hair / Walking Wasteland / The Heart / Spoiled Sweet / The Stoic / Bad Powers, Good People /  Archnemesis Dad / Battle Ballgown /  Villain Protagonist  / Shonen Hair / Cute Bruiser / Cheerful Child / Rapunzel Hair / Green Thumb / Caring Gardener / White and Red and Eerie All Over / Dark Action Girl / Mind Virus / Theme Music Power-Up / Training from Hell / Epiphany Therapy / Self-Made Orphan / Rich Bitch / Aloof Big Brother / Stalker with a Crush / Power Tattoo / Driven by Envy / Always Second Best / I Lied /  Medicate the Medium  / Big Brother Instinct / Fake Memories / Shell-Shocked Veteran / Survivor Guilt / Jerk with a Heart of Gold / Noble Demon / Alcohol-Induced Idiocy / The Power of Love / The Love Slap of Epiphany / Fantastic Racism / Fertile Feet /  the Quiet Big Guy  / The Power of Friendship / Good Thing You Can Heal / I Just Want To Be Normal / The Power of Hate /  The Paladin /  Mind over Matter / All powerful Bystander / Remember That You Trust Me / Dark Is Not Evil / Lovable Alpha Bitch / Split Personality Takeover / Dying Alone / Cursed / Heroic Sacrifice / Loners Are Freaks /  Badass Bookworm  /  Go Mad from the Isolation / NEET / Do Not Taunt Cthulhu / Curb-Stomp Battle /  There Are No Therapists / Cry for the Devil / Cradle of Loneliness /  Psychic Powers  /   Animal-Themed Superbeing  / Affectionate Nickname  /  Been There, Shaped History  /  Desperately Craves Affection /  Expressive Ears  / Hates Being Touched / Because You Were Nice to Me / No Sense of Personal Space / Et Tu, Brute? / Go Out with a Smile / Artificial Limbs / Super Senses /  Badass Adorable  /   Magic from Technology  /   Character Tics  / Blessed with Suck / Apocalypse Maiden / Enemy Within / Badass /   Old Soldier  / Warrior Monk / Freakiness Shame / Abusive Parents / Defied Trope / Fluffy Tamer / Born Unlucky / Nightmare Fetishist /   Too Kinky to Torture   / Bad Dreams / Talking in Your Sleep / Death Seeker /  Even Evil Has Standards  /   Lost Technology  / The Dreaded / All of the Other Reindeer / Heroes Prefer Swords / One-Man Army / Lightning Bruiser / Sanity Slippage / Roaring Rampage of Revenge / White Hair, Black Heart / Light Is Not Good / Unstoppable Rage / Too Clever by Half / Younger Than They Look / Older Than They Look / Well-Intentioned Extremist / Smug Super / When She Smiles / Bad Powers, Good People / Big Brother (Sister) Worship / The Virus / Emotionless Girl / 100% Adoration Rating / 0% Approval Rating / Magical Girl / Laughing Mad / My God, What Have I Done? / Sickeningly Sweethearts / Ill Girl /  Contralto of Danger / Bandage Babe / Too Good for This Sinful Earth / Brilliant, but Lazy / Motor Mouth / Beauty Mark / Psychopathic Manchild / Voice of the Legion / Mad Scientist / Our Zombies Are Different / Glowing Eyelights of Undeath / You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry / Nature Lover / A-Cup Angst / The Hedonist / Big Breast Pride / Absolute Cleavage / Genius Bruiser  / Blue Blood / The Tease / Cold-Blooded Torture / Cosmic Plaything / Jerkass Woobie / Anime Hair / Good Scars, Evil Scars / Unscrupulous Hero / The Snark Knight / Pragmatic Hero / Token Evil Teammate / Evil is Deathly Cold / Freak Lab Accident  /  The Necromancer / Magic Knight / Create Your Own Villain  / The Kingslayer / Badass Longcoat / Casting a Shadow / Troubled, But Cute / Used to be a Sweet Kid / From Nobody to Nightmare / Consummate Liar /  Secret Identity  /  Control Freak  / Badass Bookworm  / Affably Evil / Bastard Angst / Functional Addict / Jack-of-All-Trades / Combat Pragmatist /

[jazzthatonewriterchick]

HIT ‘EM UP! (18+ Fic)

Pairing: Cowboy!Gojo Satoru x Cowboy!Geto Suguru x Black!Cowgirl!Reader (Slow Burn/Enemies to Lovers)

Synopsis: You get to meet Geto & Gojo the Gunslingers, the notorious outlaws that have every town and law enforcement in a twist, when your bum-ass BF offers you as payment to avoid going to prison. Little do they know that this is only a part of your plan to get what you desire. But when you realize that the infamous gun-slinging, smooth-talking cowboys could be everything you want and more when they offer you a deal to team up with them, will you successfully be able to go through with it? 

Warnings: Smutty Smut; 18+ (MINOS GTFO); poly!SatouSugu; Reader is Black & Fem; Mention of other JJK characters; Porn with Plot; Tragic Backstories; T/W for Childhood Trauma, Parental Death, Violence, Panic Attacks & Torture; Angst/Hurt/Comfort; Hand Kink; Masturbation; Voyeurism; Gay Sex; Polyamorous; Double Deepthroat; Mutual Oral; Fingering; CMNF; Spitroast; Riding; Unprotected PiV Sex; Creampies; Outside/Public Sex; Shotgunning; Multiple Positions; Spit Kink; Facials; MDom/fsub Undertones; Aftercare

Disclaimer: I own none of the characters mentioned in this fic. However, as this is my writing, I do not give permission for my work to be reposted on any other sites that are not from my own accounts. Thank you!

Writer's Note: This chapter is LONG AS FUCK, so y’all have been warned! -Jazz

Chapters: One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten. Eleven. Twelve. Thirteen. Fourteen. Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen PT I & II. Nineteen. Twenty. Twenty-One. Twenty-Two. Twenty-Three. Twenty-Four. Epilogue + Soundtrack.

**********

SEVENTEEN: MISDIRECTION.

Dear, Shoko,  Hello from Willow Springs! Yes, I’m here and yes, it was one hell of a journey as you can imagine. Let’s just say waking up in a soft bed and taking a hot shower in the morning is MUCH better than dodging bullets and fending off nature.  I can’t complain though. Gojo & Geto have been a big help to me. We’ve helped a lot of people on our way here and we’ll continue to do so once we leave Willow Springs. Right now, I’m staying with my parents. They moved out of the South some time ago and moved here, so they offered us a place on their farm.  I’m safe if that’s what you’ve been worried about. And I’m happy. Finally, I can live without looking over my shoulder or lying. Speaking of lying, I’m sorry I never told you who I really was or what my true intentions were. I hope you can forgive me.  I just hope you’re safe and happy too. How are the others? How is the saloon? Valentine is in prison again. I’m sure you’ve heard about his escape, but we took care of it. Still no Benji yet, but we’ll get him soon. You can count on that.  I hope you miss me just as much as I miss you. You don’t have to answer this letter. I just wanted to say hi. -Love, Y/N

After finishing your letter to Shoko, you lay back on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, the summer night breeze cascading over you from the open window. The letter lays on your chest, possibly never to be seen or sent off to your old “home”. Your old life.

Black Waters seems so much farther away now. Everything does at this point, including your snake bite. 

It’s been a couple days since you moved into your parents' home and things have been looking up for you. You’ve been following Nanami’s instructions down to the point and doing physical therapy––several minutes of walking and ankle stretches—which have helped you tremendously. Now, you're walking without the cane and you can even see the bite marks fading. 

You can hardly believe that the snake bite even happened. Days of simple living have made everything before seem like a dream…except one thing. Or rather, one person: Benji the Bandit. He is still out there somewhere, waiting for you, searching for you. You know that it’s only a matter of time until you fully heal and you’ll be back on the road to find him. 

So why not practice for it? 

In the dead of night while the house sleeps, you dress in a loose spaghetti-strap top, some riding pants, and boots before you tip-toe out of the house with your pistol. You go out of the kitchen to the backyard which is separated from the farm and the forest by two white picket fences. 

When you finally get outside, you breathe in the summer night air, staring up at the twinkling stars above. It is a clear, warm night with only the buzzing of insects and the hooting of a lone owl from the forest to comfort you. “Goin’ out?” a familiar voice asks behind you. 

You nearly shriek, whipping around with your pistol drawn and cocked. But then you see the Gunslingers lounging about on the wrap-around porch. “Shit!” you gasp, damn clear close to a heart attack. “Y’all scared me half to death.” 

Both of the cowboys sit in their neighboring chairs, both wearing jeans, riding boots, and their own tank tops that show off way too much muscle and skin to be appropriate…for you, anyway. They both pass a cigarette back and forth, reminding you of an indirect kiss when Gojo takes a puff of it after Geto gives it to him. 

The blue-eyed bandit gives you a humored smile. “I know,” he chuckles. “That was the cutest thing ever.” Geto rolls his eyes. “C’mon, Satoru, cut her a break,” he huffs. “She almost died a couple days ago.” 

You chuckle at his wry joke, loosening your grip on your pistol. Geto nods down at your boots. “Speakin’ of which, shouldn’t you be restin’ up like the doctor ordered?” 

“I’ve rested long enough,” you scoff. “Plus, I need to brush up on my skills for Benji while I’m here.” You twirl your gun around your thumb and position it straight again before aiming at a nearby tree. 

Behind you, Gojo gives an overly-dramatic sigh. “Benji this, Benji that,” he groans. “Christ, girl, don’t that bloodlust got an off switch? Besides, we can’t kill him, remember? Unless you want us all behind bars.” He gives you a smirk as he rises from his chair on his long legs, taking a stretch. 

“Well, I can still shoot and miss,” you hotly reply, placing a hand on your hip and cocking it to the side. The men watch your hips very intently, unbeknownst to you. “I’m not hellbent enough on revenge to let y’all get arrested, especially since y’all saved my life.” You flush warmly even though it’s true. The duo look happy from your words. 

For the next few seconds, silence descends on you. You take those shorts seconds to turn away from them and focus on drawing, moving your hand as fast as it can go until it cramps. Behind you, you hear the crunch of grass under some boots and turn to see Geto. The moonlight illuminates his hair, turning it silver. “How you been doin’ since we’ve been here anyhow?” He asks, giving you a warm smile. 

Gojo follows him, smoke billowing from his nostrils. He passes the cig to Geto, sticking it between his lips on his own. “Yeah, you’ve been avoidin’ us.” He pouts at you, his lush bottom lip poking out at you. 

Of course, you deny this because yes, you have been avoiding them. “I have not!” you protest, flushing with embarrassment. “I’ve just been helpin’ my parents who are up there in age, thank you very much.” You turn away, pointing at another tree that is much bigger and thicker. 

“Oh, we’ve noticed,” Geto chuckles, puffing on his cigarette. You don’t look at him, not wanting to see how hot he looks doing so. “Yet your dad is always out there in the trenches tendin’ to his farm and your mom seems overly excited to have us help her in the kitchen.” 

You groan at his words, inwardly cringing. You know Yuri has taken a shine to the duo as has Eren even though he doesn’t show it. You can tell they like the Gunslingers and though that makes you happy, it also makes you nervous. What if they start asking about marriage or pushing you to have something with them? 

Gojo shoved his hands in his pockets, looking over your small frame. “So about this ‘brushin’ up’ thing,” he begins. “Whatcha gonna do when you have no gun or knife? How are you in hand-to-hand combat?” You turn to him, frowning. “Gojo, I know how to fight.” 

He shares a look with Geto, both looking totally unsatisfied with your response. You scoff, putting away your pistol and crossing your arms. “Fine then. Teach me a few things.” Gojo raises a brow at you. “You sure?” he asks, looking unsure himself. “Not to toot my own horn or anythin’, but I’m a black belt in jujutsu.” Geto rolls his brown eyes, still smoking his cigarette. 

But instead of looking intimidated or second-guessing as you’re sure the duo thought you would, you put a good distance between you and Gojo, square your shoulders, and put your fists up to block your face. “I think I can handle it,” you whisper. 

The two look at each other and then at you, the moon illuminating their stunned expressions. Then they each break out into a smile, liking your willingness to try. “Alright, darlin’,” Gojo sniggers. “But don’t say we ain’t warn ya.” 

You never thought you needed much training or help when it came to fighting. You always thought you were pretty good after years of fighting outlaws which usually ended in you using your gun anyway. But while training with the Gunslingers, you realize just how much you need to learn when it comes to learning different combat styles and how to truly squabble. 

Geto is gentle with his approach at teaching you. He is the best kind of sensei–kind and nurturing but he isn’t afraid to point out your mistakes or things that need changing. He first teaches you about stance when facing off with an opponent. You square your feet, one behind the other to support your weight, and ball your fists up by your face while sizing up the oak tree in front of you as if it’s a gun-wielding outlaw. 

“Uh-uh.” Geto takes his cigarette out of his mouth and tosses it far into the forest, respecting your parents’ land enough to do so. You don’t know why that makes your stomach flip. “No, no, wrong stance,” he critically yet softly says. “Here, turn your hips so they angle with your feet.” 

You suddenly feel his big, warm hands on your hips, angling them so they are in line with your feet. You’re so focused on his hands that you barely notice Gojo slipping in front of the tree. He is now your opponent, a smirk on his face. 

You envision him to be Valentine or Benji and suddenly, you hear the blood pumping in your head. Geto is a soothing presence behind you, touching you without even getting near you. “Stop thinkin’ so hard,” he whispers, his lips near your ear. “I can hear those thoughts. Clear your head and watch your opponent.” 

You look at him, but turn back around when you hear a stick crunch beneath a shoe. You react just in time to Gojo’s sudden jab your way, ducking away from his blow. He smiles at you, nodding in approval. “Not bad, little lady,” he chuckles, grinning at Geto. “But I think I can teach ya better.”

Meanwhile, Gojo is all hands on and teases you every chance you get. When you practice punches, he puts his big hands up as punching bags and has you throw jabs at them, grinning annoyingly as you do. 

“C’moooon, little miss,” he cackles. “That’s all you’ve got? What, did your mama’s cooking make you soft?” Glaring at him, you give him a sharp jab in his side, earning a grunt. “Says the one who’s always beggin’ her to fix him sweets,” you retort, making Geto laugh. 

He, like Geto, likes to work closely and with his hands on you (with your consent, of course, and for the good of your fighting skills). He stands behind you, teaching you a new stance, and has his elongated fingers brushing against your belt. 

“You should have your hand at your gun if the opportunity presents itself,” he instructs. “Like so.” He takes your hand and places it on your upholstery, his hand covering yourself. “See?” he whispers, his icy mint breath fanning your ear. “You can slip your hand back here with no problem.” 

You feel his hand caress your hip and it’s like you’ve been dipped in a hot pot of liquid the way your body is in flames. “Gojo,” Geto critically growls, glaring at his friend. Gojo steps away from you, leaving you feeling cold. “What? I’m just anglin’ her hips right!” 

You then move onto more moves where Gojo acts as an actual opponent again. He stands a foot away from you while Geto watches leaning against a nearby tree. The white-haired outlaw towers over you, fists up and knees bent gingerly. “Try dodgin’ me again,” he instructs, his blue eyes twinkling with mirth. 

You nod, thinking that this will be easy being that Gojo has been so playful so far. But to your shock, that playfulness fades and he’s all business as he tosses you multiple punches and jabs one after the other that you need to dodge. You gasp and let out little pants as you dodge each one, ducking beneath his fists and side stepping him when you need to. Your eyes lock with each other and you clear your head, helping you size him up the way Geto taught you. 

You almost feel as if you’re dancing with him with the way your legs burn and a slight smile appears on your lips. Finally, when your body is screaming for rest, he stops. “Not bad at all, rookie,” he praisingly says. 

Geto claps from the tree, but you ignore it, too focused on Gojo’s nickname. “Rookie?” you scoff, raising a brow. “Don’t insult me like that.” The gunslinger just laughs, making a fire bloom inside of you. 

Now you really want a challenge. So you step father away from Gojo and put your fists up. “Alright, cowboy,” you tease. “Let’s see what you got.” He smirks at you. “What I got?” he scoffs. “Don’t forget about him now, sugar.” 

He turns to Geto and so do you, expecting him to have a gun drawn or something. But to your surprise, the space by the tree where he once stood is empty. Suddenly, you feel a tug at your belt and look up to find Geto standing behind you with your pistol dangling from his hand. “Hey!” you shout. “How’d you–” 

“Misdirection,” he chuckles, his eyes filled with playfulness. “That’s your next lesson.” Your eyes tick up to your gun, already figuring out how to get it from him. “You want it back?” He raises a brow at you, putting the gun in his back pocket. “Then come get it, darlin’.” And smirk stretches across his lips, making heat pool in your legs. 

The fight is on. You make the first move, lunging at him to distract him before sending a jab at his lower stomach. It isn’t enough to hurt him, but it’s enough to make him double over and give you a good chance to grab your gun. Geto is quicker than you though, and uses one arm to take a chop at the inside of your knees. 

With a gasp, you buckle and go down, your knees hitting the ground. Luckily, it doesn’t slow you down. You immediately pop back up and glare up at Geto who looks down at you with a darkened gaze. “C’mon,” he says. You lunge at him, but he takes off before you can catch him. 

“Pass it!” Gojo calls, waving his hands from the fence. Geto tosses your pistol at his partner and he catches it before the two jump the fence and enter the woods. You quickly run after them in your boots, jumping the fence and scampering into the forest. You’re about five feet from the farm when you track down Gojo standing in a clearing of trees. 

He grins at you, standing alone. You don’t know where Geto has gotten to, but right now you don’t care. Wordlessly, you put your fists up, scowling at him. He smirks and pockets your gun, slipping it into his belt. You watch him, already planning on how to get it back. 

When you blink, Gojo is suddenly closer, wordlessly telling you to make a move. Instantly, you do so, tossing a punch his way. He dodges it effortlessly just as he does the other ones. You decide to leave his handsome face alone and shoot for his waist, grabbing at his belt to yank it off. 

Gojo counteracts this by grabbing your arm and spinning your body into him. Your back presses against his front and he locks your arms behind your back as he presses his face against your ear. “You should’ve been watchin’ the hands, sugar,” he chuckles. 

You begin to squirm and writhe in his iron grip, trying in vain to kick back to get his legs or groin. Nothing works. You whine, the sound coming out like a cry for help. It must work because Gojo  loosens his grip a bit. “You cryin’?” he teasingly laughs. “Ain’t no cryin’ on the battlefield, little miss. You’d better wipe them tears or—“ 

With a hard kick, you aim your foot at his thigh, causing him to grunt. His grip loosens farther, allowing you to free your right hand and deck him in the face. As soon as it happens, you regret it. Gojo covers his cheek, his blue eyes blown with shock. “Oh, shit!” you gasp. “I-I’m so sorry!” 

To your surprise, he begins to laugh, still holding his wounded cheek. “No, no!” he cackles. “That was priceless! Damn, girl, did those antibiotics give you super strength too?” He continues to laugh, even as he takes your pistol out of his belt. 

You think he’s about to hand it over, but he tosses it somewhere behind you instead. You turn, watching Geto catch the gun and slip it into his belt. “Nice right hook,” he praises with a smirk. “But ya still didn’t get this back.” 

You immediately toss yourself at him, grappling with his belt, but he laughs and skips backwards, making you chase him. When you manage to reach towards his holster where your pistol is, he takes your arm and twists you so your back is pressed against him. “Geto, come on!” you shout. Give it back!” 

He continues to laugh as you struggle, much to your dismay. And the fact that he’s so fucking massive doesn’t make it any better. With his one arm holding your arms down, you decide to use your feet again and kick at his knee. He grunts, causing his arm to loosen, allowing you to bend down onto your knees. 

“Hittin’ below the belt?” he laughs. “Why, darlin’, that isn’t very–” 

But he doesn’t get a chance to finish because you’re looping yourself between his legs and popping up behind him before unsheathing your gun from his holster and looping your arm around his neck. “Misdirection,” you breathlessly whisper. 

He long-haired outlaw looks down at you, shock in his brown eyes that quickly turns to pride illuminated by the moonlight. Your eyes flit down to his lips, parted and soft, soft pants escaping them. Maybe it’s the moonlight. Maybe it’s the adrenaline rush you feel from the fight session. Maybe it’s his scent of pine and something else spicy that attracts and intoxicates you as you keep his arm looped around his shoulder.

Or maybe it’s the way his arm comes back around your waist to hold you, but not forcefully like before, making you feel safe. Either way, you find yourself kissing him. It isn’t as long as Gojo’s, but it’s just as soft and just as exciting. Geto’s kiss makes you crave more like you would cold water on a hot day. You stand up on your tiptoes to reach him because he’s so tall, causing your neck to strain slightly.m

But just as it happens, it ends and you pull away. You stare up at him wordlessly, trying to make sense of what just happened. He looks like it too, his expression stunned. “Y/N,” he says. “I–” 

He’s interrupted by Gojo who saunters to you, applauding you. “Not bad, rookie,” he praises. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone leave Suguru shaken up like that before. We definitely made the right choice invitin’ you into our little family.” He is completely unaware of what just transpired between his partners.,

Quickly, you tear yourself away from Geto and pocket your gun. “Uh, thanks,” you awkwardly reply. “I-It’s kinda late, so I should be headin’ inside. Thanks for the lessons.” Before either of them can speak, you quickly hurry off back towards the farm, abruptly leaving them. “What is somethin’ I said?” Gojo asks, utterly confused. 

You don’t stop moving until you’re back in the house and finally in your bedroom. Once you are, you close the door behind you and lean against it for a moment to compose yourself. Your heart is hammering like a rabbit’s and it has less to do with your recent activity and everything to do with the lips you just kissed. 

You can’t believe it. You’ve kissed both Gojo and Geto. Your partners. The same men you tried to kill weeks ago. How is this possible? How did you get from despising the outlaws to loving them? 

You pause, your brain practically scratching a record, getting stuck on that one forbidden word. Wait…love? 

And then it hits you. Like a herd of horses or a freight train barrelling towards you, it hits you dead on: you’re in love with Geto and Gojo. “Shit,” you say into the dark. Now things will never be the same. 

**********

Just as you suspected, things are not at all the same. 

For the next week, you barely talk to the Gunslingers. You go about your business, helping your parents out around the house, and spending time on your own. You avoid Geto and Gojo as much as you can which, fortunately for you, isn’t hard because they have barely been talking to you too. 

And it’s horrible. You feel like you’re all ghosts orbiting and existing around each other, invisible but still there. You want so desperately to talk to them, to discuss what happened with Geto that night and even what occurred when you got bit by that snake, but something always stops you. 

Embarrassment? Humiliation? Fear? You don’t know, but whenever you walk by their room or hear their voices, you feel that urge to talk but also that twist in your gut that stops you short. It’s exhausting! 

But instead of being an adult and discussing it, you continue to avoid your friends and help your ailing parents with chores, such as helping Eren out on his farm. You stand in his vegetable garden in the warm sun, your bare feet in the soil and overalls over your undershirt. Eren stands beside you in his flannel and boots stained with mud, his cowboy hat low on his head to block out the sun. 

“Now just sprinkle in the seeds like so,” he instructs. “Then we can water ‘em and cover ‘em up with dirt.” He hands you a bunch of cabbage seeds and nods at the bed he dug earlier for them. 

You crouch down in the dirt and sprinkle in the seeds, making sure they have a good distance apart. Eren hoops proudly, ever the girl dad. “Perfect!” he says, applauding you. “You always did have a green thumb.” You stand up straight, stretching your arms high over your head to touch the blue sky above. “Hardly,” you snigger. “I was always the one for the kitchen.” 

Eren throws his head back and laughs, his green gardening hose wound around his hand like a python. “That you were!” he fondly laughs. “You were always your mama’s little assistant. I still remember that gumbo ya made that time for New Years Eve. Still the best one I’ve ever had.” 

You smile wistfully, thinking of those times. Those times when you weren’t hardened by so much grief and revenge. Those times when you didn’t have blood on your hands. You wonder briefly what would’ve happened if you hadn’t left your parents and became an outlaw. Would you have been a better person? Would your life have been okay?

One thing is for sure though: you would’ve never had met the Gunslingers. 

They suddenly appear yards down from the garden, walking out of the barn with axes and a wheelbarrow. As if to tease you, Gojo only wears a white tee that is tight on his toned muscles while Geto is shirtless, each muscle rippling enticingly. His long hair is pulled back into a ponytail to avoid strands sticking to his face, making him look like a damn wet dream. “Good mornin’, Mr. Tokiyami!” he calls, waving one big arm to him. 

Eren waves back, smiling at the young men. “Just Eren, son!” he calls back. “And good mornin’ to y’all!” He turns to you, oblivious to your mixed emotions. “They volunteered to help cut some extra wood for the upcomin’ winter. They’re quite the help, your friends. I’m sorry about what I said about ‘em bein’ outlaws and all.” 

You pat him on the back, smiling proudly at his change of heart. “I’m sure they wouldn’t be mad at you, Papa.” He returns your smile and begins to water his tomatoes and herbs, leaving you to watch the duo walk across the land to the woods. 

They catch your gaze, but don’t say anything, only offering a smile and a nod. You were kind of hoping they would say something. Eren notices and pulls a face, perplexed. “Huh,” he says. “That was a little awkward. They ain’t even tell you hi.” 

“Oh, don’t worry about it,” you laugh, waving it off. “They’re probably bein’ weary because I yelled at them for makin’ all this noise last night while I was tryna sleep.” You come up with the lie on the fly, having become an expert at it. Eren scowls in confusion, cocking his head to the side. “Funny, I ain’t hear nothin’.” 

You laugh, bumping his hip with yours. “Well, that’s because you were sleepin’ on two glasses of whiskey and a full plate,” you joke. Before Eren can say anything more, Yuri appears in the garden in her cotton blue dress and apron. “Oh, there you are!” she exclaims. “Dr. Nanami is here to see you. I told him I’d fetch ya and tell you to clean up.” 

She begins to dust the mud off of you while Eren laughs, telling her to leave you be. Afterwards, you leave the garden and enter back into the house through the kitchen door so Nanami doesn’t see you. You change out of your sweaty, muddy clothes and into a clean red sundress that stops at your knees. Something cute but respectable. 

You then go back downstairs to see Nanami standing in the foyer. He, too, is affected by the heat, his spits slightly staining his button-down and his blonde hair pushed back. “Kento!” you sweetly greet him. “What a surprise to see you.” 

He stands from the wicker chair and bows, clearing his throat. “Good afternoon, Y/N,” he politely says. “I hope I’m not interruptin’ you and your family. Your mother let me come by.” 

“No, just preparin’ for tonight’s big celebration in the town’s square,” you reply and then giggle. “A shindig, if ya will. A hoedown.” Nanami cracks a smile at your goofiness. “Yes, I forgot that was today,” he sighs. “That’s why everyone is leavin’ work early and I’ll have no assistance.” 

The people of Willow Springs always celebrate on the first day of every new month. “It’s a tradition of ours,” Yuri explained to you one night while out for a walk among the trails in the backwoods. “To us, it brings good luck and fortune.” Businesses close early, food is cooked, musicians bust out their instruments, and everyone gathers in the square to dance until midnight. 

It sounded like a perfect distraction to you. It’s been a while since you actually relaxed and let yourself go, so a night of drinking and dancing in a place where you feel safe sounds perfect to you. 

“Oh, yes, the party!” Yuri shouts, scaring you and Nanami half to death. She suddenly appears in the living room near the delicious-smelling kitchen. “You’ll have to excuse me, Dr. Nanami. I cook every month for this celebration.” 

A ding penetrates the air and Yuri jumps. “Oh, those are the hush puppies!” she gasps before scurrying off. You turn to Nanami, sighing. “You may wanna stay in case she has a heart attack,” you joke. 

The handsome doctor chuckles. “I just came to check up on you and make sure you’re doin’ alright.” He nods down at your foot which has begun to successfully heal. You no longer feel any pain and can finally walk without the cane. 

“How sweet,” you coo. “I’m right as rain thanks to you and that magic medicine ya gave me.”

The doctor appears happy with that answer and goes to say something more, but he is interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open. You turn around, your heart leaping at the sight of Gojo and a shirtless Geto. The only difference is that he’s put a flannel on to hide his glistening abs, probably to show respect to your parents’ household. 

They look at you and then at Nanami who silently stares at them. The tension is so fresh and so thick that you’d have to cut it with a chainsaw. Quickly, you try to dispel it. “Uh, fellas, you remember Dr. Nanami?” 

Geto only offers a smile while Gojo, the certified yapper of the both of them, verbally acknowledges Nanami. “How could we forget?” he chuckles. “You saved our partner’s life. Pleasure to see you again, doctor.” 

He thrusts his hand out for a shake, a smile stretched across his pretty face (despite the blindfold). Nanami slowly takes Gojo’s hand and shakes it like he’s afraid it will bite him. “Pleasure’s all mine,” he replies though he sounds like he really doesn’t mean it. 

Geto’s eyes meet yours, but you quickly look away, seeing visions of his face illuminated by moonlight before you shared that kiss. 

You feel like you’re about to either bolt or throw up from the awkwardness. It’s bad enough you and the Gunslingers aren’t talking, but Nanami also doesn’t trust them as entirely as you do. You feel like the room is about five seconds away from exploding. 

Luckily, your mom comes through, ever your hero. “Oh, boys, are you goin’ to the party tonight?” Yuri yells from the kitchen. 

The Gunslingers share a confused look. “Party?” Geto asks. “What party?” 

Yuri sticks her head from out of the kitchen, her face slightly flushed from the hot oven. “The party in the town’s square that happens every first of the month. Y/N, did you not tell them?” All of them turn to you and you shrink under their gazes. “Was I supposed to?” you ask. Yuri gives you a motherly glare. 

While Gojo looks happy with the invitation, Geto seems put off by the idea of partying with strangers. You can’t blame him for it. As a fellow outlaw, you have to be wary even if danger isn’t at every corner. “Thank you for the invite, Yuri, but I don’t think it’d be wise.” 

Gojo side-eyes him, definitely not down with this plan. “Why the hell not?” he scoffs. “You may still wanna lay low, but I could use a night of drinkin’ and dancin’ to take the edge off.” 

Geto’ jaw tightens and you can tell that this is going to be a fight. “Uh…excuse us for a moment.” He silently walks upstairs to their bedroom and Gojo silently huffs to himself, following after. Yuri gives you a guilty look, but you wave it off, silently telling her to forget about it. 

When she disappears back into the kitchen again, you tend to Nanami, trying to make this situation as less awkward for him as possible. “You want some lemonade or somethin’?” 

He shakes his head, taking his hat from th couch. “No, thank you,” he replies. “I’ve overstayed my welcome already. I should be headin’ back before my next appointment at 1 PM.” You nod, walking him to the door. 

“You should come tonight, if ya want,” you casually say. “We’ll have good food, music, booze…” He turns you to and blinks, looking shocked at the suggestion. He takes a moment to think about it and you begin to think that he’ll say no. “Social gatherings aren’t entirely my thing,” he admits. “But I suppose I could stay for a minute or two.” 

You are relieved at this, happy to have a friend other than the Gunslingers there. You don’t know when you started thinking that Nanami is your friend, but somehow it feels right. He is kind and respectful, which are two things you need right now. You open the door for him, letting in the summer heat for a moment, and give him a smile. 

“I’ll see you then,” you softly say. 

Nanami’s green eyes lock with yours and you feel as if you are being plunged into a refreshing pool of forest water. “Until tonight, Ms. L/N.” He then puts his hat on and walks out of the house into the heat of the day towards his horse at the end of the road that waits patiently for him. 

You then stand there silently and watch him and his horse totter off down the road, not realizing that the Gunslingers are watching you from afar…and the way you look at the doctor.

[irrfahrer]

Character Tropes: Ziv Odiz’Zee

Just a few of tropes from tvtropes. They are (hopefully) linked correctly if you want to read up on them. Feel free to add more!

Tagged By: The Force     Tagging: @sithisms  @mando-of-esverr @lighthouseborn @peacefaithed @strongfuck  @starfaithed  @talesgolden  @retrocognizantrecreant @cnlyluck @onehell-of-apilot  @space-hecate @asycuwish @skyler-bane @apexulansis @survivorsofthegalaxy @bewitchingbaker @hopexncarnate   @beskar-himbo   @ofthestcrs @honorhunt  @lady-proudmoore  @savior-of-humanity   @stillfocvsed   @gildedcommander @fallesto @outcaststar @jedilovcd @poewingsdameron @cardinal-carvings    @smertzimy @visceratorn @infernusfuror @inkedstone @kyberllcore  @cfmartyrs  @general-kalani  @luminousxbeings  @thaneirstaer @fleetadmrl   @gwiazdowe @lvkexskywvlker   @ariadne-inthesky   @archaeotech @sxbaist @lightfaithed @trueheartofarebel  @protectxthem    @hunters-house   @envychosen @masterofthelivingforce   @startrailed @bladelancer     @wartornpilot @hosnianleft   @sithdestined     @safrona-shadowsun  @stubborn-amphibian   @ncxile  @skywlkrr  @jedixamidala @chromium-siren @aetcrnus   @bountyborn  @memcriaes @2sabers @thrawnur @creaticn @thestupidmeanone @fatewills…and everyone else who blinked today!            

Asskicking Equals Authority / Deadpan Snarker / Bifauxnen /  Glass Cannon /  Loveable Rogue / The Gunslinger /   The Cynic /  Ace Pilot /   The Sneaky Guy /  Mama Bear / Respected by the Respected / Cut a Slice, Take the Rest /  Rebellious Spirit /  Half-Human Hybrid / Achilles’ Heel / Nigh-Invulnerability / Seen It All /Soul Jar / Kryptonite Factor / Involuntary Shapeshifter / Voluntary Shapeshifting / Living Lie Detector / Kaleidoscope /  Villainous Friendship / Meaningful Name /  Good is not soft / The Gadfly / Eyes / Asshole Victim / Anti-Hero / They're Called "Personal Issues" for a Reason / Dark Secret / Sour Supporter / Ideal Hero / Kill All Humans /  Break the Cutie  /  Familiar / Stronger than they look  / The Exile / Organic Technology / Older Than Dirt / Ridiculously Human Robots / Self-Made Man / The Medic / Become a Real Boy / The Beastmaster / Zen survivor / Cynical Mentor / Albinos Are Freaks / Ambiguous Robots / Even Evil Has Loved Ones / Weakened by the Light / Magical Eye(s) / Tall, Dark, and Snarky / Magic Music / Lady of War / The Mole / Expressive Hair / Walking Wasteland / The Heart / Spoiled Sweet / The Stoic / Bad Powers, Good People /  Archnemesis Dad / Battle Ballgown / Villain Protagonist / Shonen Hair / Cute Bruiser / Cheerful Child / Rapunzel Hair / Green Thumb / Caring Gardener / White and Red and Eerie All Over / Dark Action Girl / Mind Virus / Theme Music Power-Up / Training from Hell / Epiphany Therapy / Self-Made Orphan / Rich Bitch / Aloof Big Brother / Stalker with a Crush / Power Tattoo / Driven by Envy / Always Second Best / I Lied /  Medicate the Medium /  Big Brother Instinct / Fake Memories* / Shell-Shocked Veteran / Survivor Guilt / Jerk with a Heart of Gold / Noble Demon / Alcohol-Induced Idiocy / The Power of Love / The Love Slap of Epiphany / Fantastic Racism / Fertile Feet / the Quiet Big Guy / The Power of Friendship / Good Thing You Can Heal / I Just Want To Be Normal / The Power of Hate /  The Paladin /  Mind over Matter / All powerful Bystander / Remember That You Trust Me / Dark Is Not Evil / Lovable Alpha Bitch / Split Personality Takeover / Dying Alone / Cursed / Heroic Sacrifice / Loners Are Freaks / Go Mad from the Isolation / NEET / Do Not Taunt Cthulhu / Curb-Stomp Battle /  There Are No Therapists / Cry for the Devil / Cradle of Loneliness / Psychic Powers / Desperately Craves Affection / Expressive Ears  / Hates Being Touched / Because You Were Nice to Me / No Sense of Personal Space / Et Tu, Brute? / Go Out with a Smile / Artificial Limbs / Super Senses / Badass Adorable / Apocalypse Maiden / Enemy Within / Badass / Old Soldier / Warrior Monk / Freakiness Shame / Abusive Parents / Defied Trope / Fluffy Tamer / Born Unlucky / Nightmare Fetishist / Too Kinky to Torture / Bad Dreams / Talking in Your Sleep / Death Seeker /  Even Evil Has Standards /  The Dreaded / All of the Other Reindeer / Heroes Prefer Swords / One-Man Army / Lightning Bruiser / Sanity Slippage / Roaring Rampage of Revenge / White Hair, Black Heart / Light Is Not Good / Unstoppable Rage / Too Clever by Half / Younger Than They Look / Older Than They Look / Well-Intentioned Extremist / Smug Super / When She Smiles / Bad Powers, Good People / Big Brother (Sister) Worship / The Virus / Emotionless Girl / 100% Adoration Rating / 0% Approval Rating / Magical Girl / Laughing Mad / My God, What Have I Done? / Sickeningly Sweethearts / Ill Girl /  Contralto of Danger / Bandage Babe / Too Good for This Sinful Earth / Brilliant, but Lazy / Motor Mouth / Beauty Mark / Psychopathic Manchild / Voice of the Legion / Mad Scientist / Our Zombies Are Different / Glowing Eyelights of Undeath / You Wouldn't Like Me When I'm Angry / Nature Lover / A-Cup Angst / The Hedonist / Big Breast Pride / Absolute Cleavage / Blue Blood / The Tease / Cold-Blooded Torture / Cosmic Plaything / Jerkass Woobie / Anime Hair / Good Scars, Evil Scars / Unscrupulous Hero / The Snark Knight / Pragmatic Hero / Token Evil Teammate / Evil is Deathly Cold / The Necromancer / Magic Knight / The Kingslayer / Badass Longcoat / Casting a Shadow / Troubled, But Cute / Used to be a Sweet Kid / From Nobody to Nightmare / Consummate Liar / Control Freak / Badass Bookworm / Affably Evil / Bastard Angst / Functional Addict / Jack-of-All-Trades / Combat Pragmatist /

*Fake Memories: Not a especially big part of Zivs character, but the highly forcesensetive Murakami Orchids are telepathically connected and so are their memories. The Sickness and its follow up The Blackwing Virus are nothing but the corrupted councious of one of the Murakami Orchids and sucked up the memories of everyone infected (and slowly lets their infected have more and more skills of what had ben collected in thismemory pool). As Darth Drear and Darth Scabrous were both infected by The SIckness, it had soaked up their memories too and this memories were shared telepathically with other Murakami Orchids, including eventually Zivs Murakami 4000 years later. As the Murakami roams through Zivs memories and the pool of memories of other Orchids to learn, Ziv will find herself going through memories of the two Darths in her dreams. It does not help her in anything but having very horrible dreams, beside beeing able to read Darth Scabrous handwriting and having a rough plan of the Academy on Odacer Faustin in her mind. Ziv is obviously not epsecially happy about this. She does not like the idea that her Life is influenced by people who had died fourthausand years before her birth.