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cautuscoralcoast · 3 months

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Laios w/ a beastkin!reader? I think a lot about how weird he got when izutsumi stripped in front of them and they had to blindfold him and he made that comment about wanting to count her nipples askshfjk and there are only a handful of confirmed beastkin types - werebears, weretigers, werecats, weredeer, wererats, and werewolves - so I feel like we could go crazy with hcs about what the other types are like! I like to imagine Laios with a beastkin partner that’s bigger than him. I think he’d go crazy if his “big and scary” beastkin partner let him eat off of them. It’d put him in such a vulnerable position, his partner being a predator and all, it’s like he’s their prey being lured into a trap. and I think he’d be so enticed by the looming threat of danger

Oh? OH! 👀✨️✨️✨️

I get what you mean anon!

I remember reading that part with izutsumi stripping and laios asking that; I remember thinking how weird laios was and autism in him spiking up ("It should've been me!"). I can also imagine laios himself going "feral" over a beastkin who allows him to inspect their body.

Anon, you're onto something with the "as if he's prey being lured into a trap"

Considering how izutsumi was treated as a child. Taken from her mother (presumably) forced into a beastkin, sold as a slave, etc. And when shuro's father bought her, he didn't treat her like a slave —she was more like a pet than anything else.

That being said, it's safe to assume that the general consensus is that beastkin are "lesser."

Tw. Brief mentions of abuse and human trafficking, like very brief

✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾

Beastkin!reader, who was sold as a child and forced to fuse with the soul of beast. Beastkin!reader, who was abused, starved, beaten, all considered training to be the perfect weapon.

Forced to confront the cruelty of humanity from an early age, beastkin!reader who rejects all forms of companionship. They never love or kindness, and the concept of such is foreign to them.

I imagine beastkin!reader escaping in their teen years. I imagine them traveling from place to place, like never staying in one area for too long in case anyone realizes that they are a beastkin.

I feel as if beastkin!reader finds themselves as detestable or disgusting. Especially considering when reader was thrown away by their parents and abused by the slave traders. Being a beastkin was a curse, and being fused with the soul of beast was filthy and wretched.

So imagine beastkin!reader's surprise when they meet Laios in the dungeon.

Think of beastkin!reader as the wolf princess from the blind prince and liar princess. Giant, furry, strong, and terrifying, the basic werewolf.

I like to imagine that Laios got separated from the group and found beastkin!reader in their partial wolf form (the ears and tail). Beastkin!reader is definitely on guard with their claws out and fangs ready to attack him.

I bet it came as a real surprise when Laios completely ignored their aggression and asked if he could possibly see the inside of their mouth (You said no). So surprised by his reaction in fact (people tend to scream or attack you) that you just blanked out and didn't realize how close he got until he held your paw.

"You nails and fur are rather immaculate—"

You kicked him hard (he's okay) and ran away, leaving him alone until his party found him.

I don't think their first meeting would have been long. Beastkin!reader is far too skittish and wary of "human" races to stick around and have a proper conversation with Laios — and considering how Laios is, beastkin!reader may have actually attacked with the intent to kill if they interacted any longer.

This meeting serves more as a basis and allows beastkin!reader to ponder his behavior. This way, when they meet again, beastkin!reader isn't as on guard, and they can interact!

✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾❊❃✾

Now that it is said, I will write this after I'm done with the fics I currently have in progress. One of them being Laios x SeaSerpant!reader.

Same concept Laios with monstrous reader but more philosophical, heavily reader-based, and very "touchy."

So I'll try to be as quick as possible! ❤️❤️✨️

#laios touden x reader #dunmeshi #dungeon meshi #dunmeshi x reader #delicious in dungeon #cautus asks. coral answers.

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mncxbe · 5 months

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How about jealous akutagawa headcanons? It can sfw or nsfw if you want. I honestly think he would be a pretty possessive lover.

yea, he would be posessive but in a distant and cold way, especially at the beginning of the relationship when he's testing the waters. he's not used to having healthy relationships of any nature so he's quite wary of you for a while. at the slightest inconvenience (such as you spending time with another guy) he either shuts himself in and just avoids you until he processes the whole situation or starts an argument; no way in between.

after a few months, when he's sure that the relationship between you is serious he cools down but he's still a bit posessive. when the two of you go out he always makes it clear that you're together; I don't see him being into pda that much but he does hold your hand quite often and if someone looks at you for too long he side glances at them. when he sees a guy flirting with you he comes next to you and slides an arm around your waist, giving the guy a nasty look. and if the poor fellow is stupid enough to not take the hint he summons Rashomon to threaten him. tbh I don't see Akutagawa actually harming random guys who hit on you; he's above that.

but if an acquaintance of his (ahem~ Atsushi) ever talks to you he gets so mad. no fr if he catches you talking to him or worse, flirting, you're so done. he gives you the silent treatment for days and then constantly reminds you of your "betrayal" saying stuff like "why don't you ask the weretiger to come with you to that coffee shop, since the two of you get along so well." as for what he'd do to Atsushi... the latter better pray they don't meet at all during the next weeks or he'll get the season 5 ep 10 treatment again.

overall I don't see him going through your phone, forbidding you from seeing certain people or anything extreme, he knows you wouldn't cheat on him. after all, you taught him that a relationship should be built on trust so he's gonna do just that; trust you♡ but he's got his bounderies and you know better than to cross them.

as for nsfw stuff, if you get him really jealous prepare for a long night. he's gonna be so mean in bed, calling you names and marking you up so that everyone knows who you belong to. the next days you'll most likely have some pretty visible bite marks and hickeys.

#bsd #bungou stray dogs #bsd x reader #akutagawa bsd #akutagawa my beloved

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the-whumpening · 1 month

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Worldbuilding Wednesday #2

Today’s Topic: More on Ash’s Family

Last week, we talked a little about Ash’s siblings and how they all got their names from Tybalt, the Prince of Cats. This week, I’d like to touch on his parents and upbringing. (Pretty text-heavy this week, no pictures unfortunately.) (Content warnings for animal death, family trauma, and dehumanizing language)

Ash’s father is a human . . . Sort of. He’s a human who was somehow infected with lycanthropy, which turned him into a weretiger. Weretigers in this universe can sort of run the spectrum between “just a large, powerful tiger” and “bipedal muscular humanoid with tiger features and a human brain.” Gregor (or, his full name: Theodin Gregor) has experienced both during his life. When Ash’s litter was conceived, he was transformed for one of the first times, and he was fully feral and almost fully tiger; however, by the time he and Ash reconnected when Ash was an adult, he was much more of the in-control, bipedal kind.

And boy was that reconnection a lot. See, Gregor had left the litter before they were even named (though he’d heard about it through the catnip-vine); Ash never forgave him for abandoning them. (It’s actually quite typical for male tigers to stay with their mate and cubs until they reach adulthood.)

But Gregor was ashamed and disgusted by his actions, even though he had practically no control over it. He lashed out at Ash when they met again; Ash only reminded him of his past and everything he’d rather forget. He said some really hurtful things—calling Ash a beast, a half-breed, an abomination, saying he wished he’d killed him when he had the chance. Kane was his only saving grace. If they hadn’t stepped in and stopped Ash, he would’ve killed Gregor on the spot. Instead, he agreed they’d go their separate ways, but swore if they ever crossed paths again, it would be their last.

Mama Tiger, to her credit, tried her best. She had three healthy cubs that thrived and easily took to their ecological niche . . . and one weak, hairless, helpless little cub that she feared might never be able to care for himself. She loved him fiercely, though, and protected him as any mother would. She was patient and loving and tried to teach him everything she could, but she only had so much time. By the time he was 12, she was old and getting weaker. Too weak to protect herself when another tiger started a fight for territory. Ash couldn’t save her. He hauled her injured body to safety and stayed with her as she died.

He wore a necklace with her tooth on it every day until he reunited with his siblings. Before leaving, he gifted it to them as a promise that they’d find one another again.

When Ash was around 16, he’d been living on his own in the wild for a few years. That’s when Kane (Nekane Catteau) stumbled across him. They were one of the first humanoids Ash ever encountered, and he was understandably wary. But Kane felt a familial bond immediately, and they had to make sure this feral boy would be safe. They gained Ash’s trust over several months of quietly inserting themself into his life: bringing food, demonstrating survival techniques, lounging by a fire and playing their pan-flute. Over time, Ash warmed up to them and they started spending time together.

Ash’s first barbarian rage came as a result of protecting Kane, but that’s a story for another day ;)

#the caged tiger #whumpblr #whump writing #whump community #writeblr #not whump #ash and evius #dnd whump #dnd fanfiction #worldbuilding #worldbuilding wednesday #sorry this is long and just text #couldn't think of a way to organize it nicely to make it more engaging honestly

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anonymousewrites · 2 years

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There's a Will; There's a Way (Book 3) Chapter Five

Chapter Five: Kidnapped

I think we may have technically stolen this ambulance… thought (Y/N) as they sped down the road. She was pulled from her mind when Atsushi spoke up.

“So we’re going to capture the gifted who made the virus?” asked the weretiger.

“That’s right,” said Ranpo, “If we fought the Port Mafia head-on, people would die. The only way to change that is to change the rules. If we find and kill the gifted who created the virus or if Dazai touches them, everyone is saved.”

“But what if the gifted has already run away?” asked Atsushi.

“They’re still nearby,” said Ranpo, “Weaponized poison always requires an antidote. So during this cannibalism, they’ll be here in Yokohama.”

“According to Dazai, the mastermind called the gifted with the ability ‘a certain criminal,’ ” noted (Y/N), “If they’re a criminal, they’ll be stuck in Yokohama.”

Ranpo nodded. “The normal escape routes are being monitored by the Agency, and the underground ones are being monitored by the Port Mafia. Take the Detective Agency’s or the military police’s intelligence on the gifted. That’ll be more than enough for me to figure it out.”

“We’ll get the information you need,” said (Y/N), determined.

“Here?” asked Atsushi. He, Kunikida, and (Y/N) were down in Suribachi City, standing in front of a small ramshackle home.

“Yeah,” said Kunikida, “This is the hideout of the virus-wielding gifted, Pushkin.”

(Y/N) looked at her phone, which was displaying information on a man named Pushkin. “He escaped from a gifted prison in Europe around two weeks ago. He’s hiding here somewhere near his hometown, guided by the Rats in the House of the Dead. That’s Ranpo’s conclusion, anyhow, and I’ve never seen him wrong before.”

“Hometown?” Atsushi tilted his head. “Even though he’s from abroad?”

�� “He was born abroad, but he grew up here,” clarified Kunikida. “It’s not unusual here in this crucible of gifted criminals.”

(Y/N) looked around her as Kunikida prepared his gun. She saw a young girl holding a basket of flowers looking at her. (Y/N) furrowed her brow. The girl seemed hostile. Yes, orphans in Suribachi City had a reason to be wary of strangers, but this girl seemed especially unnerved by them, as if she was expecting them.

“We need to move quickly. If we can’t stop the cannibalism, they’re going to kill Jun’ichiro, who stayed behind to persuade the Port Mafia,” said Kunikida.

(Y/N) glanced one final time at the child with the flowers before nodding in agreement with the blonde.

“Let’s go,” said Kunikida.

The three detectives ran into the house. They came to the top of a flight of stairs that descended into darkness.

“Down here,” said Kunikida. He cocked his gun. “Failure isn’t an option.

Kunikida, Atsushi, and (Y/N) moved quickly down the stairs. Sneaking through the shadowed corridors, they made sure to be as quiet as possible. Eventually, they came upon a wooden door. Kunikida kicked it in. All they found was an empty kitchen with abandoned food on the floor and a phone hanging from its cord. Someone had alerted Pushkin to their arrival.

“They predict all our moves,” muttered (Y/N).

“He’s onto us,” agreed Kunikida.

Atsushi noticed something to the side. “Over there!”

A small trapdoor was hidden, partially open, behind a trashcan. Kunikida opened it and peered down. A ladder extended below them.

“Let’s go,” he said.

At the bottom of the ladder, the three looked around the tunnel.

“There!” said (Y/N), spying a man rounding a corner.

Atsushi crouched and activated his ability. He crouched before propelling himself after Pushkin.

“Wait, Atsushi!” cried Kunikida.

The weretiger got hit by a bullet. Before a second could hit, (Y/N) raised a hand and stopped the next few shots.

“Are you alright?” asked (Y/N), running to his side.

Atsushi sat up, showing he caught the first bullet between his teeth. He had an angry look in his face until he saw who his attackers were. Children. Five kids were holding machine guns, ready to fire. They began shooting again, so Kunikida hauled a stunned Atsushi out of the way while (Y/N) held back the bullets before getting behind a pillar with her friends.

“Kids carrying machine guns?” muttered Kunikida. He peered carefully around the column.

“If we return their attacks, we might end up killing them,” said (Y/N), furrowing her brow.

“Alas, we can’t stop here,” said Kunikida. He brought out his notebook. “Doppo Poet! Tear-gas bomb!” He tossed the cannister out at the children. It exploded, causing the kids to stop shooting, cough, and cover their eyes. “Hold your breath and run,” advised Kunikida.

The Agency operatives ran through the smoke. Atsushi was distracted when he saw one child had managed to regain their wits and was about to shoot. He wouldn’t be able to dodge, and (Y/N) couldn’t see the muzzle of the gun so wouldn’t be able to use her ability. A shot rang out. A wound appeared in the child’s arm. Kunikida had fired. He was shaking from disgust in himself for shooting a kid. (Y/N)’s eyes widened at the sound of the child’s cries of pain. She wanted to comfort them, but there was no time. She and her colleagues were forced to simply cringe in emotional pain before continuing on to find Pushkin.

“What is this? Hell?” muttered Kunikida.

Fyodor…What are you up to? No doubt you say even these details in your plans…are you trying to break down Kunikida? Or is it something else? You must have a plan for Pushkin since you wouldn’t let us capture him…not without the president or Mori dying… (Y/N) furrowed her brows in annoyance.

“What about the child’s injury?” Atsushi was clearly worried.

“It’s shallow enough for Dr. Yosano to patch up,” said Kunikida.

(Y/N) grimaced but continued on. “Stop!” she cried.

A young girl, the same one (Y/N) had seen with flowers earlier, was standing before them. Her colleagues halted. They all looked on in horror as they realized the girl had grenades tied around her neck.

“It’s that child again,” breathed (Y/N).

“There’s something wrong with this place,” murmured an unnerved Atsushi, “I expected to be met by gifted.”

“Yeah…They aren’t gifted,” said Kunikida, “They’re kids armed with guns. And for having expected us to come, the alarms and escape routes are horrible ill-prepared.”

The young girl reached for a string that would set off the grenades.

“No!” cried (Y/N), stopping the kid’s movements for a moment.

“I’m helping my brother,” said the girl.

Fyodor obviously planned this, so nothing will end in our favor…I can only try to minimize the damage, thought (Y/N). She furrowed her brow in concentration as she tried to think of a way out of the situation.

“Atsushi,” said Kunikida, “go after him from another route. Leave this to (Y/N) and I.” The weretiger paused, unsure. “Don’t fail to catch him,” said the blonde.

“Go!” ordered (Y/N).

Atsushi nodded and disappeared up the stairs to another area of the sewers. (Y/N) and Kunikida were left with the little girl. They walked slowly, carefully towards her. Kunikida knelt.

“Listen carefully,” said the ideological blonde. “Your brother won’t die. I won’t let him be killed.”

(Y/N) bit her lip. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Kunikida. With everything that’s gone wrong, nothing is certain. “We can help find him,” said (Y/N). She might not be optimistic about the situation, but she would help Kunikida and the girl as much as possible.

The girl’s eyes widened. She seemed to believe him. Kunikida relaxed slightly, but (Y/N) remained on guard.

“I promise.” Kunikida clearly meant his words; he would do anything to help the young girl. Even if it was risky to make such an oath, the blonde always kept to his ideals.

Silence enveloped the tunnel. The girl still held the chord of the bombs, but she was looking uncertainly at him.

“Don’t worry,” said Kunikida softly. “There’s nothing to be afraid of. I know. I’m good at magic tricks.” He was working on getting the child to remove the grenades. He may use his ability for something to aid him. Before all of that, however, he had to keep the girl calm. “Want to see?” He reached for his notebook.

The young girl’s eyes widened in fear. (Y/N) tensed; she was ready to act. A sinking feeling in her stomach put her on edge. Something was about to happen.

“My brother…” the child spoke softly. “I’m going to save my brother.”

She pulled the chord. (Y/N) acted quickly. Before Kunikida could run towards the girl, (Y/N) activated her ability and threw him down the tunnel towards the exit.

“(Y/N)!” cried Kunikida as he hit the ground.

(Y/N) didn’t have time to dodge the blast. She was thrown in the wall of the tunnel, hitting her head. She could feel the heat of the explosion singe her skin. Rocks began falling around her. Soon, (Y/N) couldn’t see Kunikida because of the debris and smoke. She groaned as her vision blurred. She slumped to the side, unable to stay upright. Her ability activated subconsciously as she held her hands up. The debris moved to the sides, avoiding her. As the rubble settled around her, her eyes drooped. (Y/N) felt her consciousness slipping. The last thing she felt before blacking out was somebody picking her up. Darkness enveloped her.

Kunikida finally managed to get to his feet. His eyes widened at the sight before him. A wall of rubble obscured the path of the tunnel. The girl was most certainly dead, and (Y/N)…Kunikida had no idea where she was. His friend could be buried alive, and he couldn’t do anything. He shook in sorrow and anger. He screamed. He screamed for the innocent girl; he screamed for his friend; he screamed for all the people hurt by Fyodor.

Outside, Atsushi had apprehended the man. Ranpo and Yosano arrived to help interrogate him. Unfortunately, it turned out “Pushkin” wasn’t really “Pushkin” at all. He had been tricked by a mysterious Russian.

“I have a message from the kind Russian,” said the impostor.

The detectives turned to him, serious looks on all their faces.

“He told me to tell you this: The rules can’t be changed. Punishments are in order. I will be taking one of the players.”

“Taking someone?” asked Atsushi.

“One of us will be kidnapped as punishment for breaking the rules,” deduced Ranpo. “Most likely (Y/N).” No one questioned him. “What’s even worse is that we’re out of chips to bargain with the Port Mafia. Jun’ichiro is in danger right now. (Y/N) is with the enemy. We need to round everyone up.”

(Y/N) awoke tied to a chair. She shook her head, trying to clear the fog away. Once her vision focused, she looked around. Light stream in from behind purple stained-glass windows. Even with the light, there was no telling how long she had been out. She felt groggy, so obviously some time had passed. A broken cello lay in one corner. (Y/N) tugged at her hands, but they were bound intricately so she couldn’t move them.

“Hello, angel.” Fyodor entered the room and closed the door behind him. He didn’t bother to lock the door since he could kill (Y/N) with a touch if he wished to. He smirked devilishly. “It’s wonderful to see you.”

“I would say that I feel the same, but that would be a lie,” spat (Y/N).

Fyodor reached out and stroke her cheek gently. “Do you know how long I waited for this? To have you all to myself?”

(Y/N) flinched away but couldn’t move far enough away.

The Russian sighed. “Seeing you those detectives—” He spat the word out with evident disgust “—was so exhausting. Wasting your time with those sinners, with him…” He took a deep breath to control himself. “He’s not worth your time. He doesn’t deserve to even be in your presence.”

“Who? Dazai?” (Y/N) watched Fyodor’s eyes darken almost imperceptibly. Just like how she saw through Dazai’s mask, she saw through Fyodor’s. He hated Dazai, for more than just being part of the Agency. Angry, (Y/N) seized on the weak point (however foolish it may be to test Fyodor Dostoevsky’s temper). “Dazai is a thousand times better than you in every single way. You are dirt; he is a diamond. Don’t even think of comparing yourself to him because Dazai will win every time.”

“I’d be careful of what you say, angel,” murmured Fyodor, eyes flashing.

(Y/N) continued, impassioned at his reaction. “You think yourself some sort of god, but Dazai will always be stronger, smarter, five steps ahead of you. You will always lose to him.”

“I’m warning you, angel.” Fyodor gritted his teeth.

“I despise you! Dazai is someone I care about! You will never measure up to him,” growled (Y/N), “I choose Dazai over you. Always, forever! Nothing will ever change that, especially not someone like you—Mph!”

Fyodor grabbed her jaw with one hand violently. His face betrayed no emotion, but his eyes blazed with fury. “Do not mention him ever again! Do you understand, angel?” His hand moved to neck. (Y/N) remained quiet. “I said: do you understand?” Fyodor narrowed his eyes. “Speak up, angel.” His voice was dangerous, daring (Y/N) to make a wrong move.

(Y/N) knew she should play along to stay safe, but she was determined to not let Fyodor control her. Her eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”

“I’ll remind you that you did so well at Mukurotoride,” said Fyodor, “And I treated you so nice there.”

“And I’ll remind you that Dazai had a plan. I only went along so everything would work out,” spat (Y/N). She smirked. She was pissed and running her mouth. She knew it could cost her a lot, but she didn’t care. “Once again, you didn’t control me! I decided to play nice! I decide what I do! Gah—!”

Fyodor gripped her throat tightly. “Angel…I don’t want to hurt you, but my patience is wearing thin.” (Y/N)’s eyes widened as she struggled to breath. Fyodor sighed and released her, letting her take deep breaths. “You’re going to have to be punished.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a blindfold. He tied it around her head, obscuring her vision.

(Y/N) began to panic. Without her hands or vision, she couldn’t use her ability. She was defenseless. Her breathing became more rapid as the nerves of having no idea what Fyodor was doing set in.

“Don’t worry, angel,” said Fyodor soothingly (still creepy). He stroked her cheek gently as she trembled. “I’m not going to hurt you. Not unless I have to. But I have to set rules, so you’re going to have to sit here alone for a while.”

(Y/N) began trembling, her breath hitching. The thought of being alone with no defense or sight scared her. She could handle a lot, but this was one of her weaknesses. It unfortunately made sense that the Russian would use it to his advantage.

“Shh, shh,” cooed Fyodor. “You’ll be okay. I’ll be back soon enough. After all…I want you to witness, or well, listen, to the Agency’s failure.” He leaned forward and kissed her on her forward. “I’ll see you later, angel.” He stood and walked out of the room, locking it behind him.

(Y/N) was left alone with unnerving silence and darkness as her only companions. All she could do was contemplate how her friends were doing and what Fyodor had planned. Guys…please stay strong.

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floripire · 1 year

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“What do you know about werewolves?”

today will be different // @savagevillain

it is a strange thing, coming face to face with klaus mikaelson. it is a strange thing, floribeth thinks, because he's been so many things to so many different people.

he's been someone to love.

he's been someone to loathe.

he's been both in equal measure to multiple people. some of which are still around today. some of which aren't.

(while floribeth's long since graduated, she doesn't think she'll ever forget the fact that there's a book dedicated to him in the library. klaus mikaelson, it says, the great evil.

it's the only book that floribeth hasn't read. mostly out of respect for hope. but also because she's certain that derek machado is but a footnote. maybe not even that.

then again, isn't it also evil to talk dorian williams into working at a school that is very specifically built to celebrate the very person that has murdered your family?)

mister mikaelson can probably hear her brain whirring, hear her crunch the numbers to the point that she almost misses the question.

what do you know about werewolves?

and suddenly floribeth feels more human than ever, despite being a fanged creature of the night. she feels like she did whenever teachers called on her back when she still lived in maple hollows and went to school there.

her throat feels dry, and she thinks she could do with a blood infused lollypop or two, or a bloodbag.

maybe even someone who's willing to let drink from the vein, or take a little bite.

"that depends, sir." it's best to be polite. like her parents taught her to be. because while this interaction with hope's dad is actually quite pleasant, floribeth is no fool. all it takes is one misstep and things can go south real fast. "what do you want to know? because, well, there's the myth of king lycaeon, who got turned into the first werewolf after angering zeus. and there is lupa, the mother of remus and romulus. and though there are more weretigers than werewolves in indian lore and legends, certain people did carry the epithet 'vrikodara' which means 'wolf bellied'."

"and when people in the west say aswang," floribeth tells him, eyes sparkling. "they usually mean 'vampire' but it's actually a catch-all phrase, consisting of several categories. five. each distinctive category has a parallel and is a nod to a creature of the west: the vampire, the viscera sucker, the weredog, the witch and the ghoul. that's why in most accounts, it's a shapeshifter that shares characteristics of vampires and werewolves and witches specifically."

there is also the regular things: being beholden to the moon. silver - bullets or otherwise. aconite.

and the not so regular things like the werewolf witch trials in france during the sixteenth century - an offshoot of the european witch trials.

part of her wants to ask about paige billingsley and ray sutton now that she's answered his question but floribeth knows that it won't help her, so she doesn't. part of her wants to ask why he felt the need to ruin her sire's life back then, but she doesn't ask about that, either.

"you're not looking for the beast of gévaudan, are you, sir?" floribeth gives him a smile and hopes that he'll be gracious enough to ignore the fact that she's still wary - still scared, because derek made him seem like a monster. she fishes her phone out of the back pocket of her high waisted jeans and adds: "or the wolf packs spotted in anjou?"

[text to hope: sos your dad is here, asking about werewolves, no idea what to do now]

[text to the anti squad: love you, mean it <3]

[text to jed: klaus mikaelson is standing in front of our door, asking about werewolves; you and your sisters might want to take the long way 'round, just in case]

[text to jed: love you <3]

#long post /#savagevillain #floribeth dalisay / answered.#floribeth dalisay / main verse.#//derek and paige have no last names so i gave paige the last name her actress has and i made derek a machado because his actor's last name #//starts with mac

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sarynstripes · 1 year

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Is that NICK SAGAR? No, that’s SARYN JOHAL. The 38 year-old DUAL-NATURED, ALPHA OAK MOON WERETIGER is an FREELANCE ILLUSTRATOR. If you ask their friends, they’re known to be NURTURING & PASSIONATE, but beware, they’re also known to be STRONG-WILLED & IMPULSIVE. Can you believe they’re from THE PRESENT? Me either. Their friends also say that they’re into SPLOSHING (oils, lotions, lubricants) & VERBOSE SEX but don’t you dare trying BATHROOM PLAY & EMETOPHILIA with them.

BASIC

GENERAL

PHYSICAL : human

PHYSICAL : werebeast

Their texts and historical records of the past always seemed to dictate that the things they didn't understand were the things to distrust. To be wary of. Humans. There aren't many recollected memories that Saryn can; even today, grant mercy for the misery the humans have caused him. His own pack dwindled. He'd lost his own father and mother by the age of 11. And by his 'pre-teens', his guardian; Aureo, had to teach him to fend for himself and his future pack - should he elect to join one. It had only made his distaste for humans grow the more he'd incorporate his rage and anger into these sessions. Aureo knew he had to force him to partake in sensitizing activities. Forgery pissed him off. Woodcarving only increased the amounts of unfinished projects. Through ink-work and illustration did he truly find stability. The extent of his broad imagination seemed to distract from the rise and fall of anger that troubled the young Saryn. It granted him a moment's peace - enough to get him to move quietly into the mountains. Contrary to old tales about the silver and orange tiger that stalks the mountain range, Saryn desired companionship- to be understood. What Aureo feared was but the rage of a teenage shifter going through so many emotions and hormonal shifts. It was the whispers of New Haven that captures the man's ear to find refuge amongst those of likened minds. Perhaps it is better to be within numbers. Hopefully this decision to relocate to New Haven still proves to be worth the effort. Even with these unpredictable occurrences and phenomenon transpiring.

#wtnhintro #tiger tracks | about saryn;;

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ladytheoris · 2 years

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Requested by @ravenina14

Request: Fem reader who can talk to anything or anyone who is dead, with Poe, Akutagawa, and Lovecraft (separately). Fluff

Poe

With a newer addition to his collection to give Ranpo, to give him a brain rot, Poe walked into ADA. He usually did that at times when the members were out visiting crime scenes or running errands.

What he least expected was to meet a young woman who sat beside Ranpo's usual seat, talking to what seemed to be like air, and this detective-in-blooming was quick to catch that it was her special ability. She seemed to question the "air" about how the day was, and what they remembered.

He was astonished, but when he came to know that her ability was nothing but talking to anything that is dead, he was more than surprised. He wanted to talk to her desperately. maybe even more desperate than being the greatest detective of all time.

And he was successful too with the special deduction of Ranpo, who quickly identified the strange feelings of this ex-Guild member.

That was how Poe met his other half, who works in ADA, alongside his arch-nemesis. She helps him write his novels, which took Ranpo a bit longer than usual to solve. This duo was nearly unbeatable without Ranpo.

Aside from challenging Ranpo, Poe is grateful to have some beside him who understands him and can keep up with him.

Akutagawa

As someone who hated the feeling of helplessness, Akutagawa was quick to understand what it felt like to talk t the dead. It was not something that she asked for. Even before she was a part of ADA- thanks to Dazai- he knew her as a young girl under the wings of Port Mafia.

Her ability was overlooked by most of the executives, except Dazai because he was genuinely curious to be the spirit she could talk to. Akutagawa was a mere spectator back then. Someone who dared not to say a single word against anything that the executives did or say. But she was never useless. As a part of the planning team, she outshined all her colleagues. It was all thanks to her ability, The dead helped her to make a fool-proof plan. But she was always the odd one.

He was always there for her, somewhere where he could see her, but she could not. He used to see her with a frown when the rest of the planning team went out for dinner without calling her, or when they decided to throw birthday parties for everyone except her.

She did notice the cupcake with white frosting and sprinkles, on her table on her birthday; to which Akutagawa had to go back and forth the heaven and hell. That was the first time he saw her smile, and needless to say, Akutagawa was smitten.

Years later, when Dazai decided to leave Port Mafia for good, he chose to take her with him. Two reasons: One, he wanted her to have a normal life that she was never given. Two, he needed tips on how to die.

When Akutagawa saw her trying to protect the weretiger, something snapped in him. Was that the jealousy or hatred for betrayal, he did not know.

But never once did Rashoumon or Akutagawa bring any kind of harm to her. She was well protected by him, as well as the weretiger who held tons of respect for his senior.

Akutagawa being someone who could never pinpoint his feelings or emotions, and she being someone who never once felt loved, were like the two sides of a coin; together but apart.

But if you ask Akutagawa where he sees him and her in a few years, he would definitely say stargazing with his head on her lap.

Lovecraft

Being someone with unusual abilities, if all people, Lovecraft was able to see through her. The ability that helped her to bring down his entire true form and knock him unconscious, he was rather impressed. It was not every day that he gets blacked out by someone. But here she was, a frail-looking young girl who talks to ghosts, who nearly made him a ghost.

He sure was wary of her afterward, even when Guild decided to quit and go back, he wanted to run away faster than a bullet. But she was the only thing that held him on leash.

Therefore before going back, he decided to pay her a visit. But unfortunately for him, she was nowhere to be seen. Well, that happens when you barge into ADA by mid-day. He left a note saying "I will be back" for her.

She knew exactly who that note was from, well spirits never lie. She very well knew that this wag going to be the beginning of a new bond, whether it blooms to a beautiful one or not, she was curious too.

©LadyTheoris 2021. Do not repost without credits

#bsd #bsd x you #bsd x reader #lovecraft x reader #bsd lovecraft #bsd aktugawa #bsd poe #edgar allen poe bsd #lovecraft #bungo stray dogs wan #bungo stray dogs #bungo stray dogs headcanons #bungou stray dogs #bungou sd #bungou stray dogs x reader #x reader #fem reader

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aarcanechaoss · 2 years

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Child’s Play

Includes manga spoilers kinda and was whipped up pretty fast so it’s not great lmao but I had to write it. Feel my pain guys.

Based off another theory I read that gave me an idea and made me cry so here you go- also hey they mention Yamizakura nice

Author of theory: @ckjbun

Bruises Masterlist

It was over. It was finally over. Higuchi’s shoulders shook as she gripped onto Akutagawa. Her hands trembling, pressed against his wound from earlier in the fight… his neck oh god his neck.

He leant against her, not quite lucid enough to push her away, he could hear her sobs though he didn’t know why she was crying so much. He was so numb to the pain he should be feeling. Then he felt it, that warm embrace, the warm touch and then something else?

Akutagawa tried to move back, to see what Higuchi was doing to him but she wouldn’t let him move away. She didn’t relent, holding him in place, hands pressed to both his neck and back as she cried.

He was still too weak to move, from someone like her? He didn’t know if he wanted to yell or leave her be and since she had a vice grip on him he left it. Instead he looked around at the carnage. People were everywhere, some crying, some celebrating, some dead in the distance he thinks he sees the Weretiger checking on people, thinks he hears the stomps of Nakahara. No Dazai in sight…. No he doesn’t need Dazai, he doesn’t need him. He wants to see his sister that’s the only person he wants to see.

It was then when feeling really came back, the pain in his neck, his lungs burning as he tried to breathe but there was something strange- it didn’t feel as bad as it should have. Then he noticed Higuchi again, still sobbing, still holding him tight but she was saying something.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” It was so soft, he barely made out the words, barely heard her voice but it was there, apologising and he didn’t know why.

The burning in his lungs was subsiding… he couldn’t feel the burning?

“You have to live. You have to live.” She continued, he was confused… oh is she crying over the wound in his neck? Her sobs got worse, her whimpering sounded as though she was in pain.

“Higuchi.” He said, voice hoarse. “Let me go.”

“Not yet. Not done.” Her voice was still quiet.

“Not done with what?” He was growing wary not knowing what she was doing. But the warmth from her hands did feel nice.

It was then he heard her gasp of pain and against his better judgment his hands moved to her back… wet, her shirt was wet. It still hurt to move, even as they knelt together, but he raised his hand, red, his hand was red, that wasn’t his blood.

“Higuchi?” Akutagawa questioned.

“HIGUCHI!” It was Elise who’d yelled, Mori hot on her heels- where did they come from?

“Ichiyo let him go-“ Elise demanded, they were right in front on him, eye to eye with him as his face leant against Higuchi’s shoulder. “Please stop.”

“What is she doing?” The Rashoumon user asked, voice still hoarse.

“Stop using it! Stop it stop it!” Elise was getting louder, gaining the others attention.

“What is she doing?” Akutagawa asked again, demanded more like.

“Higuchi-“ Mori said, voice commanding. The warmth stopped, cold fingers now dancing on his skin.

“He has to live.” She said finally pulling away. She had tears streaming down her face, hair loose and knotted, matted with his blood. “You have to live Ryunosuke. Please.” The hand that had held his back came to his face, holding it gently, cold fingers making him shiver. Her other hand stayed on his neck. His eyes glanced worriedly at the others around them, his sister- oh his sister, wounded but alive- the weretiger looked close to tears, Fukuzawa was watching them with a pensive look, Mori looked saddened, Elise- Elise looked like she was going to scream and cry.

What had Higuchi done?

He looked back at her, still shaking, no shaking worse, she was hurt. He let himself look at her more. She was a mess, the blood tangled hair, blotchy red face, torn blouse and red… blood, so much blood.

“What did you do?” He asked finally.

“Kept you alive.” She smiled before collapsing against him, he gripped her as she twisted, turning her so she was facing the sky, legs bent beneath her as she looked at Akutagawa, her hand still against his face.

“Why?”

“I’m not suited for the mafia. I never was.” She said. Akutagawa grit his teeth and asked again.

“Why?”

“I lo…It’s my job.” She smiled.

She fell silent, her hand sliding from his face, tears still falling as she looked at him. Elise fell next to her, Mori gripping his ability’s shoulder.

“Why’d you do it? Why!” Elise was mad, sad and didn’t know what to do. “Why’d you use your ability like that?”

“Ability?” He found himself asking, not only that but he’s certain he heard Hirotsu ask too.

“She can… I’m going to tell them Higuchi okay.” Mori said. She nodded weakly, still just watching Akutagawa and the sky. “It’s why she wasn’t suited for the mafia. We take lives… she saves them at the price of her own life.”

Akutagawa stilled and looked down at her. She still kept that soft smile on her face even though she was clearly in pain.

“Higuchi… you idiot:” he said.

“I know.” She answered. “I’m the biggest idiot there is. I had no place in the mafia but… but I had to stay- had to make sure you were okay.” She shook.

“You should have let me-“

“And let all these people suffer in your absence. I’d have sooner killed myself than let you die.” She said. She gripped his hand, weak and trembling and brought it to her lips. “It’s not impossible to leave the mafia Akutagawa….”

She fell limp and heavy in his arms, almost sliding from him to the ground… she still smiled- she still smiled as she laid there, staring at the sky, hand holding his own to her throat… where he could no longer feel her pulse.

#bsd #bsd theory #bungou stray dogs theory #Bungou stray dogs #ichiyo higuchi #Higuchi #Akutagawa #ryunosuke akutagawa #bsd angst #bsd fluff #Bungou stray dogs angst #Bungou stray dogs fluff #Akutagawa angst #Higuchi angst #Higuchi x Akutagawa

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rinne4112 · 2 years

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Happy Chinese New Year !

Introducing two of my Twisted Wonderland OCs to open the new year.

Amir Al-Turan, the one and only existing white Caspian Weretiger saved by the Al-Asims from an illegal werepeople slavery auction. Currently a fourth year student in RSA whilst running an aquaculture-focused company as the leader. Is really loyal to Kalim Al-Asim and wary of Jamil Viper. Also somehow Prefect's penpal.

Berke, the Siberian Weretiger, distant cousin of Amir, acts as the Al-Turan company's vice leader. A steadfast yet stubborn woman who will not stop to get what she wants. Once, managed to force THE Leona Kingscholar to be arranged in a political marriage with her, however the marriage was cancelled as a not-so-candid group of first years from NRC disrupted the wedding. She looks forward to the day she can battle Prefect once again.

#twst oc #twisted wonderland #ツイステファンアート #ツイステッドワンダーランド #illustration #twst fanart #イラスト #恭喜发财 #虎虎生威 #year of the tiger #twisted wonderland oc #ocs

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icarus-imagines · 3 years

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Atsushi Nakajima X Male!Reader

Word Count: 1,541

Category: Bungou Stray Dogs

Amulet AU where Atsushi wears a cursed amulet necklace that has the ability to take control of him.

~Run Away~

It’s the alarmingly hulking feline approaching you that causes the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up on end. The scrapes on your hands sting as you lean back on them, tailbone throbbing with what must be a bad bruise. You try to push backward with your heels digging against the concrete but your palms are in too much pain, without looking at them you know they must be bleeding from the unbalanced fall.

You have nowhere to go, cornered in a dark alley, far from the Armed Detective Agency. You had no hope to call for help, and your own ability was weak. It wasn’t a combat ability, therefore useless in this kind of situation.

The beast seems to sense your unease, its flat, pink tongue poked out to lick its maw. That amulet that hangs from its silver chain, glowing purple, sways too and fro. You don’t know if you should take that as a leisure action or a warning that they are hungry. You try not to dwell on that fact as they slink close, its footfalls almost shaking the ground it walks on with how much it weighs. Its tremendous power is a fear that has your heartbeat sporadically, lungs overworking from its near approach to hyperventilating.

“At-Atsushi?’ you know it has the lowest possibility of working, of calling out his name and snapping him out of the trance he has unknowingly put himself in. It isn't his fault that this happened, that he had turned. It was all your own when you were being mugged by ruffians and he had come to your rescue. Your strong, able-bodied weretiger.

But now it was he who was terrifying you, long, curved claws so sharp they created scraping noises as they collided with the concrete.

His pointed ears flicked at your meek voice, blazingly gold-hued eyes darting up to lock with your own (E/c) orbs. He makes a small noise in his throat that you don’t understand and hope it isn’t some kind of unheard warning of what he will do next. Fortunately, you don’t have long to wait for the answer, the beast growing closer and closer to you. You flinch as they tower forward, every fine white and black striped fur easy to see so close up.

You don’t admire them though, opting to turn your head away, shoulders scrunching up as if it would somehow both hide you and create more distance. He is hulking though, his warm breath puffing down on you, (H/c) hair moving with every inhale and exhale he makes.

“Please…” You whimper out, dull fingernails clawing into the concrete, thighs tense and shaking.

The beast makes that tiny sound in the back of his throat again, a little louder than last time. Slow and steady, as slow and steady as a beast weighing perhaps a ton can be, drops itself into the expanse of your open legs, front legs around your waist. You freeze, head still scrunched, chin tucked against your collar bone, eyes squeezed shut. Without delay, the beast leans its weight onto you.

He’s heavy. Heavy and warm, your body moving with every big breath he takes. He head-butts your chest eyebrow whiskers tickling your chin and cheek. You peak one eye open, noticing he is rubbing against you. Affectionately, soft with care for his brute strength. He raises his big head, those golden eyes watching you, wary of your every move.

You try your best, easing your body out of its tightly coiled tension. Your legs are slack, sore from their earlier shaking. He watched as you did so and there is that sound in the back of his throat once more. But this time it is louder and much more audible. It wakes through your body feeling it rise up out of him. You can only describe it as a...chuff.

Didn’t tigers do that when they were being friendly, when they were happy and not feeling threatened?

The anxiety that had plagued you washes away now, the realization dawning on you that you weren’t in trouble anymore. He had somehow regained his more humane instincts, recalling who you were and what you meant to him.

“Atsushi?” You say it just to see his reaction. You get one indeed, a heavier, heartier chuff as he pushes his muzzle into your neck, a giggle rising from you seeing him so pliant and relaxed in this form. You spot his tail swishing behind him idly and wished you could have someone take a picture of this scene so you could remember it forever.

A soft glow erupts from his body and before you can say or do anything about it you feel human skin connect with yours. Gentle hands wrap around your waist, pressing your back to arch up against him. That unique hairstyle he has comes alight, gray hair tickling your collarbone. His chest is familiar against your own, two flat planes meeting in an intimate embrace. But it’s the menacing necklace between you two, the digging of it into your flesh that has you trying hard to ignore it. The feeling of unease.

A light kiss, featherlike and swift, is pressed to your neck. Too soon does he pull away but you relish in the small grin his expression holds, eyes like sunshine beaming down upon you.

“I’m sorry,” he finally speaks, lips flicking into a downward curve. “I should have better control and I-”

You are quick, hands coming up to cup his face, not worried about falling backward with the lean you have when he is holding you so securely. “You don’t need to apologize hones-”

“I almost hurt you!”

“I’m not hurt at all.”

“I scared you!”

“Atsushi!” You shout him out of his internal battle. Fighting his rebuttals and accusations aimed towards himself. “I’m fine, you’re fine. You don’t need to worry anymore.”

You forget yourself as his eyes dilate. Holding you steadily with one hand he removes the other, grasping your wrist so he can observe it. You want to curse yourself as he inspects the small wounds.

“You said I didn’t hurt you? Did I do this when I wasn’t in control?”

“What-Oh, no no, I fell!” You are quick to ease his worries. “I fell when I noticed you were coming towards me, I didn’t know what to do. But I knew I couldn’t leave you so I didn’t get up-I didn’t run away. What kind of boyfriend would I be?”

His eyebrows crinkle together, you think in apparent anger, but it is then you realize it is concentration. His tongue peeks out, that pink that you had seen earlier, reaching out to your palm. He swipes from your wrist to the expanse of your palm. He lets go of that hand and latches on to your other one. You just watch on, the sting of pain from before sizzling into nothing with his work. And after that treatment, you jolt and flush red when he swipes his tongue up the index finger of your hand. He doesn’t stop there, going even further as to take it into his mouth. He sucks it in, eyes boring into your own as he lets it go after a few experimental sucks. Holding your palm to his lips, dragging them across your skin you see the dark cloud hang over him.

“Promise me.”

His momentary pause is for you, to give you time to think, but you let him go on.

“Promise me, that’ll you’ll run away. That next time you’ll run away and not care about what is behind you,” his gaze is intense as he nuzzles into your palms.

Your throat is clogged upon his words. Not sure if you can object, if you can tell him that you can’t abandon him no matter the circumstances. But you drop your shoulders, a compliant smile on your lips.

You nod once and then nod again a few times to make sure he catches it.

His eyes are bright, happy that you have at least washed his worries for him. Even if they are just that. Worries. That he may hurt you in the future in some other incident. He is thankful.

Even so, the purple glow on his chest, something he wishes not to speak about, is a dagger to each other's hearts. You know no matter what happens he will come back to you, but this menace here always stays.

He surges forward, lips clashing with yours. You forget that you are still in a deserted alleyway. You forget that you have to return to work later today. And you forget about the fear of him, putting it bluntly, eating you.

Breaths mingling as he pulls away just the tiniest bit you link your eyes together, the soft glow of the dim streetlights a halo around your precious weretiger.

Your lips brush his as you speak, soft and quiet. “I promise. I won’t run away,” you pull him into a hug, his head burying in your neck. Purple trying to tear your resolve, but you stay put, tall and strong.

“I won’t run away.”

#atsushi nakajima #atsushi nakajima x reader #drabble #oneshot #male reader #amulet au #au #bungou stray dogs

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starlightshadowsworld · 1 month

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The Wary Weretiger

"You know, I think therapy might be more effective than this." Said Atsushi. He didn't need to turn around to know Akutugawa was rolling his eyes.

"Shut up."

Atsushi raised his hand, catching the orange. "Huh, you even peeled it this time. Must be serious."

He wasn't exactly sure how they got here. Akutagawa had been hunting him down for his bounty.... And than one day just stopped. Somewhere along the lines this had become their routine.

Akutugawa ranted at him, Atsushi sat and ate whatever fruit he'd pick up on the way. Sometimes he'd voice his own opinion and Akutugawa would begrudgingly listen.

It was werid.

But not unwelcome.

It definitely beat having his leg cut off, that's for sure.

"Go on, out with it. I'm busy today." Akutugawa scoffed "and what could you be possibly busy with." Atsushi shrugged "well I still need to get a job."

It didn't matter how much he saved from what he stole from the Orphanage, it wouldn't last him much longer.

"I thought the Agency offered you a position." Said Akutugawa, carefully. As kind as Atsushi was he fought like a caged beast. He could and would ditch Akutugawa if the other offended him.

And Akutugawa didn't want to admit he liked his company.

Atsushi took a bite out of an orange slice "only because of my ability. They're nice people, but I'll find a job myself. Besides that would you my enemy and I am not dealing with that."

His leg would grow back but it was painful. And being on Akutugawa's not bad side was a nice place to be.

Not that Atsushi would admit it.

Akutagawa nodded, he could respect wanting to keep your pride even when you were at rock bottom. But even soo... "Is it so bad for them to want you for your ability?"

Atsushi paused.

"My whole life people have only wanted my ability. They've tried to rip it out of me because they felt entitled to it.... Do you really think I'd want to join an organisation that values it so highly?"

There was an edge to his tone, but also sadness. Akutugawa's eyes went wide in shock.

He unconsciously tugged his coat closer. He wouldn't know what to do if Rashomon was stolen from him.

Akutugawa felt vulnerable just taking a bath, he couldn't imagine how Atsushi felt feeling his ability get ripped out of his skin. It was fortunate that it clearly failed.

It certainly explained Atsushi's distrust of both light and dark.

"I suppose not." Said Akutugawa, going quiet in thought. He went back to his initial question.

"I was once in a situation like yours. I lived in the slums, it was there Dazai found me and I joined the Port Mafia. That became my purpose, and I'm lost without it. But you... You don't have that, and yet you seem satisfied."

Atsushi hummed, thoughtful. "I'm gonna say something, but right or wrong you're not allowed to stab me again."

Akutagawa scoffed.

"I stabbed you one time, stop acting like it was such a big deal.... But very well, I won't stab you."

Atsushi turned to face Akutugawa, putting his orange slices back into a tupperware box. "That isn't your purpose."

Akutagawa is taken aback. He wants to argue but something in him stops him. The way Atsushi spoke to him now was different to how he usually does.

He sounded like Dazai.

Dazai in the quiet moments, the rare moments when Akutugawa hadn't failed him. The all seeing look in his eye as he read Akutugawa like an open book.

"You had a purpose, one you cherished like a second soul. But you lost it. You tried to convince yourself whatever you consider your purpose now is it, but it isn't. And it never will be."

And yet when Atsushi spoke it was kind. It wasn't intended to tear Akutugawa down, quite the opposite. And Akutugawa found himself unable to look away.

"... How do you know this?"

Atsushi smiled, it was small and sad and it didn't fit him like his usual grin did. "You wouldn't be trying so hard to find your purpose if you truly believed you found it."

He looked away, giving Akutugawa some privacy in his own thoughts. "Ask yourself, who were you before the Port Mafia? Who were you back when you were like me? There's you're answer."

Akutagawa frowned, deep in thought. He'd been... He'd been weaker and pitiful. A small child who killed whoever went in his way, but killing hadn't changed in his life.

He was the Port Mafia's Rabid dog, he was still a killer so that wasn't it.

What had he been killing for? In the Port Mafia it was because those were his orders. Because the weak needed to be destroyed to make way for the strong.

Back in the slums it had been for survival. Akutugawa would've died many times over if he'd let those idiots survive. And Gin wouldn't have survived of he hadn't protected her from them.

Akutagawa froze.

... That's what it was. He had been a protector, his reason for killing down in the slums was to protect Gin and his friends.

His friends who were killed on the night Dazai found him... The night Akutugawa lost his purpose and tried to gain another.

But failed.

"I can't get it back." Whispered Akutugawa, suprised that he choked up at the thought. He hadn't thought of them in years.

"You can" Said Atsushi, looking at him again. "The circumstances may have changed, but the core premise is the same. You just have to open yourself up to that."

Open himself up? So Akutugawa had to find something else to protect? That... Didn't seem so hard, given the Port Mafia protected the city from the shadows. And Gin was still with him.

Had it really been infront of him, all this time?

"That's the difference between us" said Atsushi, quietly but Akutugawa caught it. "You had a purpose only to lose it. While I have never had one."

Atsushi chuckled and it was sad again and Akutugawa hated it. He preferred when Atsushi was genuinely happy. When his smile reached his eyes, his eyes that were kind and shined with light.

Now they looked so empty, so sad.

"You think I'm satisfied but I'm not. I have no dreams, no aspirations, my worth is tied entirely to my ability. I live to spite all those that want me dead, to stop them from taking the tiger if I pass on. I have no purpose, not really."

Akutugawa didn't know what to say, all he could do was nod in goodbye when Atsushi left.

He reached down, picking up the half of orange Atsushi saved for him. That he always saved for him, no matter how hard times got.

"You're wrong" he said to the wind as he walked away. "You're so much more than you're ability."

#When you're Atsushi AU has an akutagawa essay in it #The Wary Weretiger #bungou stray dogs #bsd #bsd atsushi #atsushi nakajima #bsd akutagawa #akutagawa ryuunosuke #Bsd sskk #But they haven't realised it yet

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sonder-paradise · 3 years

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Yesssss T^T We need to give Atsushi more love and I am so sorry this took two billion years-

15. “I’m okay. You’re okay. We’re okay.”

Silence initially filled the apartment. You set the grocery bags on the counter beside you. The ingredients inside had been specifically for Atsushi. A sort of surprise for your sweet boyfriend, who seemed to have been feeling down as of late. But as you stared at the dimly lit room, there didn't seem to be anyone here anymore.

You swore that Atsushi had been napping when you left. The Weretiger's favorite time to sleep has been the sunny and warm afternoon underneath the delicate rays of sunlight that seeped in through the window blinds. However, today, the rain greeted Atsushi instead. Though that didn't stop him from curling up into his usual tight ball to sleep. You didn't question anything. It was normal behavior for him for the most part and that was all.

But staring out into the room, you weren't greeted with the sight of his body huddled up underneath the covers where you have last left him. Outside, the rain seemed to pick up and you flinched when a loud crash of ferocious thunder reverberated around the apartment. It hadn't been thundering for long and you have managed to get back just before it started raining heavily too. But what caught your attention after the thunder was the sound of a muffled thud from the closet.

Cautiously going over to the closet, you nestled your fingers in between the small gap meant to open and close it before pulling the door open. You weren't sure what sight you were preparing yourself for but you immediately realized why Atsushi wasn't underneath the covers as before.

The young man had tucked in his knees to his chest, violet-amber eyes shut tight while his hands were covering his ears and the top of his head. Though his eyes were closed, you could distinctly see prickles of tears at the corners. Silence filled the room as you attempted to figure out how to assist him. But he seemed to realize that he was no longer alone in his strange huddled form.

Slowly, his eyes opened and he looked up with a shaky smile. The tears didn't once move away, and you could tell that he was still beyond terrified of the thoughts in his mind.

"Welcome... back," he greeted softly. His voice tremored like the broken surface of a pond and he smiled like glass. In that instant, a thunderous flash of lightning crashed at the window and Atsushi shrank back into his ball once more.

You stared at him before extending a hand out. You were unsure how to assist him and wary that touching or holding him would make it worse. There was something that had been bothering him recently and with the aggressive rainfall from outside, it seemed to have triggered the memories he had been hiding away. "Atsushi... I'm right here. I promise I'm not leaving... not unless you want me to."

Once again, Atsushi looked up with that same fragile look. There were times that you had forgotten the background that he came from and it was likely that there was something about the rain that made the horrid, torturous memories resurge.

"Nightmare" was all he mumbled as he loosened the ball somewhat to allow you to hold him. You shifted, wrapping your arms around him and squeezing his body as tightly as he would permit. You didn't need to know what it was that plagued him. Not unless he would tell you himself. There were times that you wished that he would tell more, but that was another comment for another time. For now, you stroked his hair lightly. The rather soft and familiar scent of his soap was still present and your relished the way that his form no longer trembled like a leaf.

He seemed much calmer in your arms and when the bright flashes of lightning appeared, he merely shut his eyes tight and buried his face deeper into your arms. Whatever it was he was going through, you would sit and stay through it.

"I’m okay. You’re okay. We’re okay." You paused, waiting to see if he would react. But he said nothing, squirming in your grasp before getting comfortable once more. A small mumbled "thank you" appeared before it went silent once more.

Eventually, the rain outside and the thunder faded away into the night and as you looked down at Atsushi, his expression was much more comfortable and serene. His eyes were closed softly and his breathing was even once more. You smiled faintly, stroking some of the loose messy bangs he had out of his eyes before pressing a kiss onto his head.

He was back in a peaceful state of mind and from the way he didn't stir again, you knew he was sleeping once more.

#[🖋] writing #atsushi x reader #atsushi nakajima #atsushi bsd #bsd x reader #bsd scenarios #atsushi x you #bungou stray dogs #bsd imagines #bsd anime

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mutebeast · 3 years

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[ pulse ] one muse rubs a finger over the other’s wrist. // v!aku

Cool against heated flesh, that was the sensation that brought the weretiger back to his senses, rapid blinking as golden-lilac hues focused on the one beside him as fingers idly pressed themselves to his wrist. He could do nothing, but stare. The action taking him off guard as he watched pale appendages fall away until only one remained, slipping beneath the edge of his sleeve and somehow furthering causing his pulse to jump.

Atsushi found himself swallowing thickly, eyes finally shifting away and slowly upwards to catch hold of cold grey, expression unreadable and he found his mouth shifting into a frown. A guttural noise escaped him, the action nearly making him flinch from even that bare use of his wind pipes to gain Akutagawa’s attention, but he didn’t pull away, despite being wary. His free hand finally came up, a single claw carefully giving a tap to the other in question as lips mouthed ‘What is it?’

@mcwscollective

#ϟ Silent Beast Beneath The Moonlight ϟ #mcwscollective #ϟ Desperate Breaths And Struggling Motions ϟ #hope this is okay!!

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nessie-rp · 4 years

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WERECREATURE.

Werecreatures roam almost every continent, with legends of manbeasts stretching across cultures since time immemorial. This class of being shares one common trait: the ability to magically transform from human to therian predator. There are five known types of therianthropes, each with distinct origins and sets of traits. No connection to shapeshifters has yet been discovered, though they consider themselves kindred species in the unchanging city. The most common werecreatures in Lyonesse are nahuales and werewolves, each respectively claiming territory in New Aztlán and Old Town Row.

There are five types of werecreatures: NAHUALES/WEREPANTHERS, WEREWOLVES, WEREBEARS, WERETIGERS, and WEREHYENAS.

HISTORY.

The first of these beings were born from humanity's first brushes with magic, when humankind had just started to form civilizations thousands of years ago. Their histories are human histories, for the most part, given that to live as a werecreature is to walk two paths at once: person and beast. Of the five forms, we know that at least two — the wolves and the hyenas — originated from curses from outside influences (or, in the case of the hyenas, self-imposed), but the origins of the other three are largely attributed to witches with unique bonds to transformative magics that drifted apart from witch ways to forge their own.

IN LYONESSE.

Each kind of werecreature comes from a different walk of life and oftentimes an entirely different part of the world. The wolves were the first through the gates, but the nahuales and tigers followed soon after. It wasn't until the 19th century that any bears or hyenas were documented in the city.

The nahuales' connection to magic was what brought the first group of them to Lyonesse, hailing from Central America but intrigued by the possibilities of dimensional travel that the gates presented. It wasn't long before the mage leader of that group became interested in a more permanent presence in the city in the early 14th century, leaving a few trusted members of his family — the ones who would later stake their claim on New Aztlán — to learn more about the supernatural beings they had never previously interacted with.

The wolves did not initially demand a council seat when they began to immigrate to the city, chased out of their villages by angry humans — no, instead a pack tried to start a new settlement on the far side of the Morroi forest without notifying the council. The colony was disbanded by the council after many negotiations with the leadership of the pack, though there is reason to believe threats were levied against the wolves because of the dangers of exploring and occupying land so far from the safety of the gates. It was at this point that the wolves gained a seat on the council.

The tigers, hyenas, and bears do not have a strong enough presence in the city as of yet to have much interest in political power. They mainly keep to themselves.

FACTS.

SHARED ABILITIES.

PHYSICALITY.

All werecreatures possess enhanced senses and superhuman strength and speed, even in their human forms. Many individual werecreatures can go toe-to-toe with other powerful species, such as the fae or the vampire, depending on their control of their abilities. A lone opponent rarely has a chance against more than one werecreature.

SHAPESHIFTING.

Beings of dual natures, werecreatures have a human form and a beast form. Their ability to transform themselves between the two comes with certain conditions, depending on the specifics of their lineage (see individual lore sections for more details), but one constant remains: the transformation of man to beast and back again. Some can partially shift, gaining more noticeable predatory traits (i.e. fangs, claws, glowing eyes, colorations and hair patterns). An intentional partial shift is not an easy feat, and usually only experienced werecreatures or those of significant power can accomplish and maintain such a thing. Younger and less trained weres may partially shift in response to traumas, unexpected stimuli, or overwhelming emotions.

HEALING.

All werecreatures have a greater control over their physical systems which allows them to magically change forms, but this also extends to controlling other body processes — most notably, healing. Though their healing abilities are not as strong as dragons or vampires, many can concentrate their energy into rapid healing from severe injuries. This can give them the time they need to seek medical attention or bring them back from the brink of death, but will run out of steam depending on therity of the injury. It's an imperfect process.

INTERSPECIES RELATIONS.

Werecreatures have a natural affinity for other shapeshifters, though this notably does not extend to the trickster fae who tend to shapeshift into other humanoid forms. Though they are not naturally opposed to vampires, vampires have a mistrust of them that has exacerbated tensions between the species at different points in history.

In general, the more reclusive or solitary weres are wary of other beings, even in the city. That being said, weretigers have had certain... misunderstandings with yōkai in the past, as have werebears with the nahual shifters of the Americas.

MYTHS.

These things do not apply:

All werecreatures are forced to shift on the night of the full moon. That's a werewolf thing. Short end of the stick, huh?

The bites of werecreatures are toxic to vampires. Nah, but they'll still hurt and cause significant damage.

They're the natural predators of vampires. Someone really should be, but werecreatures may or may not have significant beef with their local covens.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.

CAN A WERECREATURE GET DRUNK/HIGH?

Alcohol and drugs must be consumed in large quantities to affect a werecreature because of their heightened metabolism. Their effects also burn off much faster than they do in humans. Magical substances can affect werecreatures much more easily than normal substances, but they still have a stronger tolerance to their effects than humans do.

NAHUALES & WEREPANTHERS.

FACTS.

Nahuales are a mortal species with an extended lifespan (~250-300 years) with a deep connection to ancestral magics, including those of transformation and mediumship. They are classed as werecreatures for their ability to shapeshift from man to jaguar. They cannot be differentiated from non-magical jaguars when transformed. Their power comes from a spiritual connection to the worlds around and beyond them, a severed tie in magical practice between the nahual and the witch.

Only those born with a certain daysign, according to the tōnalpōhualli, are born nahual. According to nahual spiritual belief, the daysign acts with a person's tonalli — one third of a mortal's "soul" — to determine their characteristics and destiny. Because of this, being born to a nahual does not guarantee that the child will inherit the gift, as it always depends on daysign — and astrology is sacred to these beings to such a degree that natural mating cycles have evolved to favor the births of those with nahual signs. A mortal may be born without the ability to transform but still be destined to become a nahual; they must be bitten. Those who are bitten and not meant for the gift will die.

NOTE: Because of this species' mythos and significance in modern spiritual practice and cultural studies, nahuales must be portrayed by face claims with some indigenous roots in Mesoamerica.

ABILITIES.

NEPANTLA.

Sensitive to the comings and goings of magic, nahuales have the power not only to sense places of power but to traverse liminal spaces. The nepantla is a place neither here nor there — neither shadow nor shining. Chaos is in constant lurch around all living things, but it can get caught here and there, folded over itself, confused. It is these spaces — dimensional portals, djinn entrapments, ruptures in time, the cosmic branches of all world trees, those worlds which are not for mortal eye to behold — which can be accessed with easy by the nahual, drawn to their energy but unaffected by their capricious magical natures. Some say this makes nahuales the lightest of all creatures on their feet, hardest to detect when they are unwilling to be found. Others consider this a mark of just how dangerous they can be, a reason to stay away for fear of being drawn into the twilight neitherworld.

MEDIUMSHIP.

It is said that a nahual never dies. Linked together through time and past death, nahuales can communicate with their ancestors. This mental link develops over time, and will be stronger in some than others. They are extremely vulnerable when reaching out with their tonalli to the dead, and they can only communicate with other nahuales in this manner lest they risk their own lives.

SHAPESHIFTING.

Unburdened by the curse of the wolves or hyenas, nahuales are free to shift when they please, though they may be compelled to transform by offensive magic or intense emotional responses. Their extra connections to magic make them the fastest werecreatures in shifting from one form to the next.

WEAKNESSES.

MORTALITY.

Nahuales are susceptible to human disease and fatal injury, though their longevity is in part bolstered by their healing abilities. Excessive trauma and prolonged illness can still kill them, as can magical attacks.

TZITZIMITL.

Named for bonemonsters of the stars from Aztec myth but known by many names, the tzitzimitl manifests first as trouble with vision before worsening into blindness. It is caused by long stays in the nepantla. Time passes differently there with every voyage, so the risk of overstaying is one that cannot be understated. After the onset of the blindness, the nahual will begin to lose other senses until they become trapped and convinced that they are being burned alive. The worst time to travel the nepantla is during a solar eclipse, as it is almost certain that a nahual will suffer the tzitzimitl immediately upon their return. Cures for this illness are yet unknown.

WEREPANTHERS.

Werepanthers (also called werepumas or werecougars, as their form more closely resembles a cougar than a jaguar) are descended from nahuales but have a more tenuous connection to their ancestral magics due to colonization and the eradication of native cultures in the Americas. As such, they resemble other werecreatures who have lost all of their magical abilities save the power of transformation.

ORGANIZATION & SOCIETY.

Nahuales strongly prefer to live among humans and tend to be very open about their true natures with other beings, in contrast to many other species that prefer to keep their existence secret. Because of this, and the rarity of new nahuales, they do not have a rigid social structure outside of those imposed by humans, such as nuclear or extended families that live in the same home and small social circles. They often occupy places of importance in their communities and make excellent leaders. In Lyonesse, they have integrated themselves with all kinds of supernatural structures.

Notable astronomical events bring nahuales together for festivities or simple communal observance, as these are moments when the spirits of the ancestors are the most active — the dead may compel the nahuales they have communicated with to seek out their still-living loved ones, which leads to larger gatherings.

WEREWOLVES.

FACTS.

Werewolves are a mortal species with an extended lifespan who have the ability to shapeshift from man to wolf. Essentially, their first shift begins to slow down to their aging, allowing them to live up to 150 years of age. Once a werewolf reaches 100, they begin to age more quickly and feel less of a need to shift to their wolf form. Most werewolves that pass away of natural causes have stopped shifting completely for at least 15 years or more.

With regard to their origins, werewolves are a species that are either born or turned. No cursed wolves have been created since at least 1879. Born werewolves experience their first shift around puberty, usually between the ages of 13 and 16. Despite being born a werewolf, those that are born still experience the sickness that comes with the days leading up to their first shift. Born werewolves are more naturally inclined to have better control than turned werewolves.

Werewolves are easily distinguishable from normal wolves, being much bigger than any normal wolf. Their fur can be any natural wolf coat colors, regardless of their human form's coloration.

ABILITIES.

SHAPESHIFTING.

The full shift can be enacted at will, except on the full moon. It’s usually a quick but uncomfortable or even painful process. Alphas are usually the fastest at their shifts, but it isn't entirely unheard of for lower ranked wolves to be able to shift from man to wolf in the blink of an eye. Significant injuries will make the shift more dangerous and painful. Transformations that are forced (i.e. the full moon, alpha command, or magic-induced) are extremely painful to the individual, but intentional shifts can eventually become less painful. Many wolves choose to shift well before the full moon to avoid a forced shift.

WEAKNESSES.

THE FULL MOON.

The full moon is a shackle that werewolves can never escape, forcing their kind to transform for the duration of every full moon for the rest of their lives. During the night of the full moon, the majority of werewolves (including all but the most powerful alphas and betas) are more beast than man, increasing the risk they pose to creatures of all species. On the days leading up to the full moon, werewolves are often restless and irritable.

SILVER & WOLFSBANE.

Both substances can be fatal to a werewolf if ingested/injected or through prolonged exposure. Wolfsbane can induce vomiting, dizziness, general weakness (shifting becomes near impossible), and in some rare cases, drive a werewolf mad. Silver burns on contact and is most commonly used in restraints. Older werewolves are more likely to develop some resistance to wolfsbane and silver.

MORTALITY.

Werewolves can survive most injuries that would kill a human, thanks to their healing ability, but would not survive the most traumatic, such as fatal damage to the heart, decapitation, explosion, etc.

LOSS OF A MATE.

The unexpected death of a mate can drive a wolf so deep into despair that they become gravely ill.

MAGIC.

Werewolves are very susceptible to magic, especially magic that ties to the moon and rituals that are completed during the night of the full moon.

THE TURN.

To become a werewolf, one must be bitten during the week of the full moon. The higher the attacking wolf is in the pack hierarchy, the better the chance the individual has of surviving the transformation. This transformation happens on the next full moon, but the victim will endure a long and strange illness for the entire month between. Those bitten have a high chance of the transformation killing them or driving them insane.

ORGANIZATION & SOCIETY.

Werewolves congregate in pack structures like their natural kin. Packs are often full of related wolves, depending on their history and the amount of territory they occupy. However, regardless of blood relation — pack is, in most situations, family.

ALPHAS.

Packs are led by an alpha pair. Alphas can be of any gender, as the position is determined by power and ability rather than by any specific biological factors. Magic, stemming from the original curse, is what gives the alpha ranking its authority. Female alphas are highly revered in werewolf culture. Alphas are identifiable by the bright, illuminating glow of their eyes when partially or fully transformed; it is also easy to identify an alpha amongst other wolves of their pack due to the social deference they command.

When it comes to succession to alpha status, such a title is usually bestowed based upon respect rather than strictly inherited. Should an alpha die before naming a successor, the alpha rank is conferred to the next strongest wolf in the pack, usually one of the betas. Pack elders are often involved in this decision should the previous alpha face an untimely demise.

BETAS.

Known as the seconds in command to the alpha, betas are responsible for helping enforce the alpha’s rules. They can be any gender. Their main concerns are pack security and safety as well as ensuring the alpha's orders are followed.

None of the betas have power over another, though many will defer to older and wiser members of the pack.

PACK ELDERS.

Elders have been with their packs for a very long time, guiding and caring for the younger generations. Soemtimes they're parents or adoptive family of the core pack members (alphas and betas) — other times there's no specific familial tie; either way, they're always gramps or auntie or baba. Respect for the elders is expected, though they may not have any official position of authority and they may not even still be turning members of the pack. The respect they are owed doesn't come from social pressures so much as it comes from the roles they typically fill in the pack as connections to pack ancestors and caretakers of the young.

LONE WOLVES & ROGUE WOLVES.

Lone wolves are rare, and do not thrive outside of pack life.

Rogue wolves are outcasts, labeled as such for an infraction among their pack and/or the werewolf community (putting others in danger, disobeying their alpha, intentionally biting humans to change them, etc.). Wolves may also be described as rogue if they have gone mad from wolfsbane exposure or from forced transforming. These wolves, reduced to predator instincts and mad with rage, are sentenced to death in Lyonesse. A local alpha, pack elder, or in extreme cases, the council all have the authority to carry out the sentence.

MATES.

Wolves take partnerships very seriously, as any mated pair may eventually break off from a pack to build their own. The mating bond is equivalent to marriage within a pack; in fact, in Lyonesse mating carries the same legal connotations and recognition as marriage as of the 1925 Ritual Partnership Act.

There are various courtship practices and ceremonies observed in wolf packs — some more similar to mortal courtships in that they involve sharing gifts, declarations of intention, and spending time alone together, and others more in common with wolves, such as grooming and territorial displays.

#nessierp #species #jcink rp #jcink buzz #buzz #nahuales #werewolves

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aspoonofsugar · 4 years

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(1) It’s interesting that Atsushi and Akutagawa argue over who between them is more privileged even though they’re both the “stray dogs” of society. Akutagawa thinks Atsushi is lucky because the latter gained Dazai’s approval with minimal effort—something Akutagawa’s wanted for years and endured great physical punishment for.

(2) Atsushi, on the other hand, flat out tells Akutagawa, “you have power and status.” To a broke orphan who lives in constant fear of turning into a rampaging weretiger, a high-ranking Port Mafia member with full command over his ability, a still-living relative, and bigger paycheck would seem privileged.

(3) They check different boxes of privilege in each other’s eyes. At the same time, they argue who between them “is more pathetic.” Akutagawa disparages Atsushi’s urge to help people in order to feel self-worth. Atsushi deprecates Akutagawa’s compulsion to murder and obsession with Dazai’s approval.

(4) This is kind of realistic since people do hierarchize “who has it worse” or “who has it better” in order to decide whose needs come first, but media rarely shows the disenfranchised themselves scrutinizing each other, competing for emotional validation, & even sacrificing one another. Or even how their way of protecting each other can be toxic (Koyo & Kyouka).

(5) I wonder if they do more harm to each other than the society that made them strays. How can they empathize while holding each other accountable? How does accountability take form in BSD & what are its possible alternatives? What form could empathy take (outside of Kouyo’s self-projection, if there even is a difference)?—BSD Chat Anon

(1) The reason why I ask if there’s a difference between empathy and self-projection is because self-identification reaps harmful repercussions in BSD. Kouyo projects onto Kyouka, for which Dazai calls the former out on in the manga (I need to start reading these chapters in order). Mori tells Dazai that the latter reminded him of himself.

(2) These cases of self-identification led not to healing, hope-giving, and protecting, but harming, grooming and trapping minors within toxic situations. (Though you can argue that Kouyo was simply misguided and does make up for it later on).

(3) Empathy refers to the ability to understand another person’s emotional and psychological experience. Now, normally we (or I) would think empathy would require some form of self-identification with the person being empathized with. BSD, however, has shown that’s not necessarily the case. So, how does empathy take shape within the series?

Hello!

I think there are many definitions of empathy and I am no expert. That said, I’ll try to answer as best as I can.

I think that in your ask you talk about two different concepts. On one hand there is understanding others’ feelings and where a person is coming from. On the other hand there is projecting on another person.

In the first case, I would talk about empathy, while in the second case I would not. Figuratively, I imagine empathy as “letting the feelings of another person reach you”, while I imagine projection as “painting the person with your own feelings”. The two may be similar and it is also possible that the person projecting may be partly right about what the other person is feeling. This is the case of both Koujo and Mori. I think they are not lying when they say they see themselves in respectively Kyouka and Dazai. Because of their similarities with the two kids, they may also easily see some parts of them others might take more time to discover. However, they taint this knowledge through selfishness. Mori wants to control Dazai’s life out of self-interest. Koujo instead decides what is best for Kyouka ignoring the latter’s wishes. When you ignore what a person wants, you are not being empathic, you are just being selfish.

Generally speaking, I am wary of the idea that an empathic person is an individual, who can instantly understand what others are feeling. I think that it is true some people are more sensitive than others and this may help them be more empathic. However, I think being empathic is also something, which can be learnt to an extent. And in order to learn it, one needs first of all to be ready to listen to others. It is a way of approaching others and not an innate intuitive side (or not only at least).

In other words:

People should be doubted. Many people misunderstand this concept. Doubting people is just a part of getting to know them. What many people call “trust” is really just giving up on trying to understand others, and that very act is far worse than doubting. It is actually “apathy”.

Sometimes a conflict can bring to a better understanding of another person. This happens especially with people very different from us. I personally think this is the way BSD represents empathy.

The story presents Akutagawa and Atsushi’s conflict as a conflict, which can enrich them and make them stronger. Of course it is also a conflict, which, like all conflicts, might spiral and destroy them. I think this is why Dazai is there. He must make sure this does not happen. That said, I do not think the story portrays Atsushi and Akutagawa as hurting each other more than what society has hurt them. This could have been potentially true in the beginning, but as time goes on, it is clear their relationship has also beneficial aspects. I mean, Atsushi feels motivated to become stronger and to learn how to control his ability because of Akutagawa. Akutagawa is instead learning how to approach life in a less violent way through Atsushi (the promise not to kill people until their match). If anything, I think their calling each other out is helping them instead of damaging them. Of course nobody is happy to be reminded about one’s shortcoming, but if they are able to actually listen to the other’s feedback (and this is part of developing empathy) they can grow.

Finally understanding where a person is coming from is different from excusing them. To be perfectly honest, you can totally understand why a person acted in a certain way and still dislike them. I think this is ironically made clear by Chuuya and Dazai, who deep down understand each other, but still annoy each other to no end.

I have explored the difference between the two concepts you ask about in your question also in this HxH meta. I call them differently there (namely empathy and sympathy), but I think many points made in that meta may clarify my thoughts about your question.

Thank you for the ask!

#bsd chat anon #asksfullofsugar

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