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receival · 13 days

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baldur’s gate 3 starters.

the following is a collection of sentence starters from larian’s baldur’s gate 3. part 2.

look at me - i’m not a monster.

stay back. i don’t want to hurt you, but i will.

no. you’re not one of them at all.

i was ready to run you through. my mistake, friend.

that’s far enough. what’s your business down here?

you revealed our location? that tongue gets any looser, (name), and i’ll cut it out.

reckon i might miss this place.

this place is more dangerous than i thought.

well, don’t you cut a fine figure.

sometimes i’m jealous of that girl. ugh - to feel so invincible again.

in your expert opinion, what’s the best way to kill a devil?

i’m certain there are answers out there. we’ll find them together.

there’s no story. none that you’re entitled to hear, anyway.

you can tolerate a great deal of suffering, so long as it has meaning.

until then, all i can do is endure.

please try to understand that it’s not something i can just talk about freely.

perhaps there’s potential in you.

honestly, your faith is your own concern. i won’t judge, one way or the other.

i think i did well by joining you.

you already know my biggest secrets. what more can you ask?

that wall’s an illusion! hiding what, i wonder …

sun, moon, and stars will still be there, waiting for us.

this place is pretty spectacular, isn’t it?

no book or painting could ever do its strange beauty justice.

a perfect ring of mushrooms … nature, or magic?

hmm. i thought that might’ve done something.

another illusion. is anything real down here?

i’m more concerned with this ‘twit’ who set a spectator on you.

a rival - a mere footnote to my legend. you should be more concerned with who i am.

the fools must have turned back. or, better yet, died in the search.

i need no more rivals. try to take this as a compliment, yes?

this presence … this magic is not divine, but fey.

little? i am a god! and i’m gonna rip you - tear you - wear you for a hat -

don’t do anything hasty, now.

i’ll just kill you and claim it for myself.

i’m the lord of murder - i’ll show you why.

if you’re expecting me to drop to my knees before you, forget it.

a wizard’s tower is his sanctum, a private place for research and respite. but as this wizard’s not home … i say we take a peek.

a strange place for a button. especially one that doesn’t work.

what good would it do for me to be troubled? we can’t save them all.

you’ll have to speak slowly. i find it quite difficult to concentrate with my condition gnawing at my insides like a teething displacer kitten.

the whole village is falling to pieces …

hey, maybe we can scare up a few dusty bottles of wine somewhere.

i like your way of thinking. split any takings we find?

what creatures live in water this dark?

i’m a rabid dirty dog. and i bite.

i could’ve killed you before you even noticed me, but i didn’t. stand down.

i can be discreet. no need for bloodshed.

share? you really are in the wrong place.

a bleeding heart, are you? reckon i’ll just roast and eat it.

what in the hells did you do to that corpse?

you do plenty for me, more than you realize. but this cannot be remedied.

are you alright? is there anything i can do to help you?

enough. bickering won’t save your friend.

run away, then.

(name) - i was so worried! did they hurt you?

who cares? we’re together now, thank gods!

i’m grateful, don’t mistake me, but … why help us?

freeze it, cock-stench. we aren’t done just yet.

pay up, and you get to skink away. resist, and i gut you.

drop it. i don’t owe you anything.

your incompetence has been my ruin.

stop! no more innocents will die today, (name).

you care for the weak. most curious.

you so much as touch me, and i’ll tear you from limb to limb.

ah - another treacherous soul walks among us.

i ain’t going down easy.

you been a shit since i laid eyes on you, (name).

strike him down. prove your faith.

your silence speaks to your heresy.

look, you have no idea what you’re dealing with …

it’s the whole damn reason we’re here, and i’m not leaving without it.

the mission comes first.

and i thought i’d heard it all. that’s some cambion-level deception.

i go where there’s shit to stir. and there’s no shortage of options.

i can’t remember much, truth be told.

centuries of torment will do that to you.

you’ve been naughty. and you know what happens when you’re naughty.

just who in the nine hells are you?

well, well. aren’t you a luscious thing?

been a long time since someone stuck their neck out for me like that.

you have a manner of irresistible desperation about you. i like it.

you know, i’ve been thinking. and i think there’s something i should tell you. nothing big or terrible, just … a small little detail about me that hasn’t come up naturally.

i want to join you - to fight by your side.

i’m sorry for barging in like this, but i had to come find you.

i won’t let you down. i promise.

we all have our burdens, one way or the other.

i’m trying to say that you’ve earned my trust in a way very few ever have … i want that to mean something.

freedom - i’d forgotten how it felt. thank you.

if you have a moment, i’d like your opinion on something.

the problem is this: a preponderance of evidence that i am a terrible adventurer.

i can’t risk re-capture. i barely escaped last time.

it was a mistake. and not one we’ll repeat.

i don’t know. he was kind of fun.

we can’t just invite danger in to our hearth like that. we must be more careful.

most monsters will think twice before making a meal of me.

an old hunter’s trick - if you can’t mask your scent, spoil it.

i prefer a weapon to stench, thanks.

you’re a monster hunter? not what i imagined.

whatever you’re hunting, your stench alone will kill it.

a quick wit is rare indeed.

know how to ask, and they’ll share that knowledge. if you’re fool enough to pay their price.

speak plainly. what is she?

i think you’re mistaken - this place looks innocent enough.

truth is like a blade, my friend. we can arm ourselves with it - or just as easily find it pressed against our throat.

i would not put you in danger.

your coyness is getting boring. tell me.

you take insult where none is intended, my friend.

how thoroughly invigorating it is to stand by one’s friend in the face of danger.

you best have one hells of an apology for me.

you must have mistaken me for someone else.

that wriggler swimming in your brain juice is a bit of an inconvenience, isn’t it?

that’s none of your concern.

don’t change the subject.

keep that hole under your nose shut.

let’s not involve ourselves in this place any longer than is necessary.

you want to play the hero so badly? fine. let’s make this interesting.

gods, it’s hot in here.

i’ve had better days. and worse ones.

i am, after all, the villain of the tale.

you truly are a soul that steels my own.

you are as thick as they come.

even i am tired of the sound of my own voice.

i stand at a precipice, but if you do not give up hope, neither shall i.

all of this … it must feel like a betrayal.

you bastard! you ruined it, you ruined everything!

slow down - what did i do?

this is an interesting way of thanking me.

i don’t need this. good luck getting out of here on your own.

i know i should head home, but … i can’t bring myself to leave.

(are you alright?) / not even a little bit. but i will be.

she favored me like a child favors a captive pet.

i promise i will not betray your trust.

i cannot thank you enough.

you will face (name)’s judgement.

i wish you could have visited at a better time.

you had no right to intervene.

you’re not one of us.

copper for your thoughts?

always a delight to speak to you.

did i play games like this in my youth? was i sweet once?

what are you doing? i’m busy here!

nothing beats the taste of stolen beer.

come on, now. they’re just having a bit of fun.

let’s do what we have to do, then get out of here.

smell’s like burnt flesh.

hold out your arm so i can mark your flesh.

i’m here to spill your guts across the floor.

pain without purpose is a terrible thing, wouldn’t you agree?

i often feel i like raw pain too much. it scares me.

as long as the story ends in death, it’s all the same to me.

forgive me, but - that look in your eyes. something terrible has happened to you.

what i see in your eyes, in your soul, is only natural.

we’ve all suffered in these dark times. it is little wonder you hear scars of pain and anguish.

touch me and you’ll lose your hand.

the pain you suffer will cleanse you - do not fight it.

you look tired. should i take over?

welcome the pain. let it become part of you.

that looks like it’s going to bruise.

not that i’m suggesting we stop for a drink, of course.

i wouldn’t want to place all my faith in blind luck.

sympathies won’t help me to survive.

your life, much like your words, is meaningless. end the latter to save the former.

looks like the booze got the better of them. they’re practically unconscious.

they’re dying for me. all of them.

why don’t you take a closer look? i’ll observe from back here.

please don’t open the creepy book!

toddlers are easier to please than you lot.

you know, i never pictured myself as a hero.

all i want is a little fun. is that so much to ask?

having performance issues, (name)?

never have i met such troglodytes.

i was hoping you wouldn’t notice i was gone.

i suggest we admire it from afar.

it would be too much to hope that’s nothing to do with us, wouldn’t it?

i go my own way - alone.

i’ll feed your innards to the ants before i do that.

#ask memes #ask prompt #rp ask meme #rp prompts #rp sentence meme #rp sentence starters #sentence starter meme #sentence starters #inbox memes #roleplay memes

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remapped-soul · 6 months

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for the fic title thing i'm roughly translating part of an italian indie song

"where i'm from a kiss and a goodbye are the same thing"

in Italian: "da dove vengo io un bacio ed un addio sono la stessa cosa"

brocedes? rosquez? it's your pick, i'm in a angsty mood 😃

so. i know im half a year late. but. i hope this little ficlet i got for you will be worth it. all the angst and all that. i took the kiss part and ran away with it. inspiration suddenly arrived after ghosting me for months. also, this snippet is part of a bigger universe, set in the 5+1 au (the fabio fic on my ao3), sometime in the future.

Marc goes looking for Fabio, but he finds Valentino Rossi. Draped across the couch like he owns the place, Valentino looks up when Marc enters the motorhome as if he expected this all along. He merely blinks in Marc's direction before his focus shifts back to scrolling on his phone.

The door closes behind Marc with a soft sound. Fabio is nowhere in sight. Neither is Tom. No one enters Fabio's place without Tom's approval, but with Valentino here, Marc guesses Tom has been updated on the latest arrangements.

Marc stalls, unsure what to do. He planned this with Fabio a weekend ago. The time, the place. Did he forget? The idea sits wrong in the pit of his stomach. Marc could leave, try another time, but he has an interview in thirty minutes, a meeting with his team right after. Training and physio later in the evening. Beauty sleep at nine if he wants a decent race tomorrow.

Fabio wouldn't stand him up unless it was important.

Marc could leave. "Do you know where he is?" He asks instead, choosing English as his language, even if he speaks Italian as well. Neither here nor there, but meeting on neutral ground. They always yelled at each other in Italian. Valentino shrugs. "Do you know when he will be back?"

Valentino shrugs again. Doesn't even look up. Marc grits his teeth. He breathes in and remembers his agreement with Fabio, his love not finite, but so abundant he feels the need to share. At the end of the day, Fabio returns to him no matter what, but as Marc looks at Valentino, he is not so sure anymore.

Marc tries again. He always did. For Fabio he will always try. "Can you tell Fabio I looked for him? We had something planned. He…he knows why."

Valentino looks up at that, finally putting his phone away.

"I speak Spanish, you know?" He smiles, Spanish words rolling easily on his tongue. "I'm not sure when blondie will be back, but--" His eyes glint, and Marc bites his tongue to keep himself from snapping at Valentino. Valentino smiles like he knows this. "Can I help you with something?"

"It's fine," Marc replies in stilted English. He needs to get out of here. "I'll talk to him later." He needs to go before--

"I can help you with the arm."

Marc wants to scream.

"No, thank you." Marc had enough. He turns to leave before--

"Marc."

Before something happens. Something like this.

Marc freezes, ignores the stirring in his veins. Valentino hasn't called him by his name in so long. For fuck's sake.

"What?" Marc's Italian has always been harsher than his native tongue, than English. It's a blade sharpened to cut. He spins on his heels, feels his nostrils flare as he looks at Valentino, at the unreadable expression on his face. "What do you think you can do?"

Valentino gets up from the couch, hands raised slightly as if he is facing a rabid dog. Marc feels like one, heart pulsing on his ears, in the back of his throat. He searches Valentino's eyes and doesn't find hostility, nor mockery.

"Fabio has told me he massages your arm sometimes," Valentino continues in Spanish. "Whenever the weather changes. When it gets cold. Whenever you injure it." He doesn't mention the accident in Sachsenring.

"The Netherlands have always been cold."

Valentino sighs and stops a few feet away from Marc. "I'm trying," he says, still in Spanish. It grates on Marc's nerves. "We--"

"You don't need to do anything," Marc says. "I don't care what you do with Fabio as long as he's happy. Just leave me out of it." Marc pinches the bridge of his nose, trying to calm down. He doesn't want to yell. He did that enough when they still told each other i love you in Spanish. Now, they're strangers, and Marc wants to keep it that way. "It's not like you can change anything."

"For Fabio," Valentino continues as if he didn't hear Marc. "We should at least try for him. At some point we're all going to be in the same room. He deserves more than-"

Marc raises an eyebrow.

"This." He gestures between them. "More than us yelling at each other."

Marc raises the other eyebrow too.

"We won't be friends again, Rossi."

"We don't need to," Valentino says. "Just let me massage your arm. You have to race tomorrow."

Marc keeps close to the door as he watches Valentino, waiting. They both know the massage won't do jack shit for him. That's not why he asks Fabio to do it. But Valentino wants something and uses Fabio as an excuse. Marc can ignore everything but that. So he nods, smiles, and closes the distance between them, brushes against Valentino as he sits down on the couch and unzips his jacket, revealing his arm. Indulging, inviting. Holding his breath. Valentino follows.

Valentino's hands are cold on Marc's skin. He tenses his whole body, forbids himself to give even the smallest of tremors as Valentino's callused fingertips run down his biceps, pressing into the ridges slowly, as if Marc is made of glass. As if Valentino cares.

Marc scoffs. Side by side on the couch, he sees Valentino looking up from the corner of his eye. "You can press harder," Marc says. "I won't break. The scar tissue is dead anyway."

Valentino doesn't say anything. He keeps working the muscles, prodding and kneading the arm, breath warm against Marc's skin. If Fabio or Tom came, Marc doesn't know what his explanation is going to be. He mulls over words inside his mind, willing time to go faster, willing his heart to beat slower. Treacherous body, always acting erratically around Valentino. Marc focuses on keeping a steady hold on himself, so he doesn't notice when the air around him shifts, when the couch dips next to him. He snaps back to attention when Valentino presses his lips against Marc's scar, where healthy skin meets the dead tissue.

Marc's breath hitches.

"Vale--"

Valentino kisses down his arm. Slowly, reverence held in the corner of his mouth. He shifts closer, fingers closing around Marc's wrist, around Marc's thigh, caging him in, as if he is afraid Marc will spurt wings and take flight.

"Vale, what are you doing?" His voice breaks, a strange tune he doesn't recognise. Or one Marc chose to forget, reserved only for the nights when Valentino took him apart in the humid Spanish nights.

Valentino's mouth slips down his arm like silk, dry lips catching around Marc's scar, hot breath living goose flesh in its wake.

Marc shivers, leans towards the heat, head turning to see where Valentino is kissing his skin, so strange, so familiar. Valentino looks up at him through his eyelashes, the blue of his irises a whisper around his blown-out pupils. They breath in unison. Valentino leans back, reaches up, and Marc tilts his head down, thinking, thinking-- They haven't kissed since 2015. They haven't touched since 2016. Valentino caresses the edge of Marc's jaw, careful, careful. Marc pushes his cheek against his fingers, thinking, thinking-- is Valentino the same with Fabio? Careful, because he could break? Or rough, the way sometimes Marc is, pushing Fabio against walls, biting under his ear to get him to shiver, because that's how Fabio likes it, because Marc loves--

Marc wrenches himself away before Valentino can kiss him. He pushes himself to the other end of the couch, almost heaving, still looking at Valentino, at the flush on his face that probably matches Marc's own.

"Marc--"

"I'm done here," Marc says in English. "We're done." He leaves without looking back, door almost slamming behind him.

Marc announces he won't race after he leaves Assen early morning on Sunday, and doesn't see Fabio before that. Not in the morning, not the night before, after his duties are done. The only thing Marc gets from him is a text.

Valentino is here. I'm spending the night with him. Fabio doesn't ask for permission. Marc is not his keeper. He's just his boyfriend. So he texts back, Ok, take care. He doesn't text, I know. I almost kissed him. Marc puts his phone on silent and sleeps alone that night.

#luna.writes #so this happened #rosquez #marc marquez #valentino rossi #fabio quartararo #mabio #moto gp rpf #moto gp fanfic #this series is a mess and im figuring it out as i write #but it feels so good to write after so long #i hope you enjoooooy #maina this one is for you too hehe #it's a three-way street au

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blackjackkent · 28 days

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Metagaming slightly here - Rakha would definitely be super aware of the magical presence at the Arcane Tower and would want to make a beeline for it (and it is technically next in the clockwise cycle we're doing), but as I happen to know that it's basically impossible to maneuver the tower without the sussur blooms, we're going to bypass it and come back after we get up there.

So next up instead is the duergar village!

Another place full of death. Rakha's eyes skim over the small settlement, trying to glean what information she can. It's a ragged and makeshift place, made of lashed-together wood and what seem to be bits of bone. An enormous creature's skeleton sits in the water against which the village is placed. The floor at the center is littered with dead bodies and pools of blood.

The bodies are short; some appear to be gnomes like the one they rescued from the windmill above ground. Others are stockier - dwarves, with the same deep blue-grey skin. It's difficult to tell which group was the aggressor - or if they both fought against some other attacker. The huge lizard creature they killed earlier, perhaps?

There's movement on the upper level. Some survivors of whatever battle took place here. Cautiously, Rakha and the others begin to make their way into the open - and (to both their surprise and mine), they're interrupted.

"Too loud, sun-scum." There's a dwarf perched at the edge of one of the upper catwalks. He squints down at her balefully. "Heard you stumbling. Can hear you blinking. Noise gets you eaten down here. Reckon I'll hush you, before something hungry comes along."

Narrator: His fist grips an axe. On his gnarled, grey skin, you see the Absolute's brand.

Rakha stiffens. Absolutists here-- the first they've seen belowground. The cult's reach extends far. Perhaps not surprising, given they are looking for an exit towards the cult's headquarters.

Kill, says the dark urge in her head. For the moment, she is able to ignore it; the beast's reaction to the kuo-toa below still has her tremendously unsettled. Besides... this is an opportunity. They need to know where the cult goes to the surface. This man can tell them.

(A/N: Several options for how to talk to this guy. The Durge option is, "I'm a rabid dirty dog, and I BITE," which is sure something. XD )

Wordlessly she lifts one palm, showing the mark Gut seared into her skin.

[BRANDED] Show him your brand.

"Huh," the man sneers. "Burning those into just anyone now, are they?" He shrugs. "No harm. Every army needs grunts to run in and die first. Even the Absolute's." He leans forward a little, his eyes narrowing. "But spoil my hunt and you're dead."

All right... now he's starting to irritate her, which unfortunately doesn't change her need for his information. "What are you doing here?" she asks between her teeth.

"Told you," the man says coolly. "Hunting. Slave ran away. Took Sergeant Thrinn's boots. Got to kill the slave and fetch back the leather, or the bosses in Moonrise'll have Thrinn's hide."

(A/N: Oh, this is so much fun. I need to do everything out of my previous order like this. I never saw this cutscene at all before and while none of this is new information, it sets it all up from a completely different angle. I love this game.

Also one of the dialogue options here is, "Would you really kill someone for a pair of boots?", which in the context of a Durge playthrough is hilarious.)

Slavers. Karlach explained this concept to her some time ago, in the context of her conscription into the Hells. Forcing work without choice, without pay, without release. Ownership. Karlach left no doubt of her opinion of such people, so Rakha has no interest in helping this man.

So kill... whispers the beast. Climb and grab him by the collar and hurl him down, down, down to snap his neck against the stone...

She gives a sharp shake of her head. "I'm not helping a slave-catcher," she says tightly.

The man snorts. "A bleeding heart, are you? Reckon I'll just roast and eat it."

And then all her restraint is for nothing, because he attacks them anyway.

----

This is my new favorite fight that I have ever experienced in this game, because Gekh Coal here jumped up next to his buddy Lurgan on the next level up, and then Shadowheart cast a spiritual weapon next to them, and then Lurgan, in an attempt to attack the spiritual weapon, cast Glyph of Warding directly under himself and killed both himself and Gekh in the process.

Incredible. 10/10, no notes.

#bjk plays bg3 durge #rakha the dark urge

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filmbyjy · 2 years

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WOLF JAKE(1)

— main HYBRID masterlist

SUMMARY: you had grew up with jaeyun since you were young. however, what happens when you fell in love with the wolf hybrid?

WORD COUNT: 725 words

warnings: i feel like the ending is angsty :( majority it's fluff. don't worry, the next few episodes of jake's will be happier :)

NOTE: god why is this so sad :'D sorry besties <3

many who came across a dense forest would surely be smart enough to not go in. especially when there were possibilities of cayotes, rabid animals and most importantly...wolves.

many were surprised to find out there was a possibility of hybrid wolves. they were practically similar to the legend of werewolves. they were human in the day but on full moon, they turn to terrifying beasts. ones that could possibly bite your meat clean off the bones.

however, you were not one to fear. not when you lived with a wolf hybrid since birth.

"jaeyun! fetch!" your dad throws a frisbee into the air and jaeyun catches it with his mouth. your dad chuckles. "buddy, we are learning to be more human-like before you go to school. humans don't catch frisbees with their mouth."

"sorry." jaeyun's tail wags. one of his ears flops down, seemingly like a dog. he was obviously not a dog.

both you and your mom watched him and your dad from the dining room. you smiled when jaeyun smiles. he had such a charming smile...and mayhaps you fell for it.

but how could you? he was practically like a stepbrother to you. your parents took him in since he was a pup because his parents were killed in some accident and he had grown up with you. they call him son too. this was so wrong to even develop feelings for him.

"sweetie? are you alright?" your mom asks.

"yeah, i am." you got up. "i have some homework to do, the cake was delicious by the way, mom."

"oh thank you sweetheart. i have a new thing to add into the menu."

you walked over to your room. you hear a small knock and you noticed jaeyun peaking his head. you smiled a little.

"hey, something you need?"

"i umm want to talk about how it will be like in human school." jaeyun shyly says.

"sure, come here." you pat on your bed. jaeyun walks closer and settles down on your bed. his grey tail just hanging off your bed. "alright, what do you want to know about school?"

"is it scary? how do i make friends? uhh relationships with girls and how do i approach them."

"jaeyun, you have to slow down. how about i answer the first question." he nods. "well school is a little scary. the only scary thing is just homework really and math. you like numbers though so i'm sure you'd love math. you did well while being home-schooled."

"what about friends?"

"they can come to you or you could approach them. i'm sure you're pretty extroverted at times. you're adorable too so there won't be a problem when people try to approach you."

"umm girls?"

"jaeyun, you don't have to worry about that now. school is more important. we are only high school seniors."

"exactly! i'm scared. what if girls don't like me because i'm weird. what if i can't get a girlfriend."

"trust me, jaeyun. you'll be able to. you're good looking and charming. there is no way the girls in my school wouldn't fall for you. there might even be a chance that you could be the popular guy on your first day too."

"what if someone wants to kiss me." jaeyun pouts.

your heart races. right, someone might date and kiss jaeyun...

you smiled, "you shouldn't just let any girl kiss you. unless...you want to become like those fuckboys in teen movies then go ahead."

"nooo i don't."

"then only kiss the girl you trust and truly love."

"like you?" jaeyun innocently asks.

you felt your face heat up. you looked away from jaeyun.

"i don't think the way you love me is the same as when you get a girlfriend, jaeyun." you chuckled a little. "that kind of love is the kind of love mom and dad are. between us...it's just like sibling."

"ah, i think i get it!" jaeyun smiles, "thank you, (name)!!" jaeyun hugs you. he was always affectionate.

as soon as he leaves your bedroom, you laid down.

jaeyun was never going to be your boyfriend. he would have a girlfriend and they will eventually get married. he was going to leave both you and your family. he was forever only going to see you like a sibling.

you sighed.

this was your fate.

taglist[open]: @nyfwyeonjun @luvkait @hello-stranger24 @cowsidfk @tzuyusluv @beans-and-jeanes

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weirdcat1213 · 1 month

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MXTX and Marie Lu: an unnecessary long post about writers I like very very much

spoilers for Heaven Officials Blessing and the Legend series but not that bad

tldr; They describe things and I like that but I had to make it this long and add some stuff about writing and cultural expectations cuz i guess ill always be an english major at heart

Ok so I need to get this off my chest so I hope youre interested in writing, describing things and cultural expectations

So I've started reading Heaven Officials Blessing cuz I like gay and sad people and I love the donghua so much but BOI THAT WOMAN CAN HURT ME SO GOOD >:D

The simplicity of her words may be due to translation, her own style or part of the normal style in China but it contributes a lot to the books in my opinion. It is because of her simplicity that the reader is able to follow her long and detail descriptions.

Now, a lot of writers like to describe things, and MXTX does this a lot. She describes clothes, places, faces, etc when it's necessary for the story. But what I love about her is how she describes certain actions and moments.

There are moments that just cannot be described in 3 sentences, they're too important. The example that I want to show has not left my mind since I read it because it was one of the best slaps in the face ever.

TGCF Vol. 2: (from the free version I could find but it'll do)

"Before he even finished, there was a loud scream, and Hong Hong-er leapt to his feet, running towards Guoshi to headbutt him.

His voice was young and tender, but his screams were filled with rage, as if his heart was filled to the brim with unspeakable pain and anguish, making many of those present shiver. That young child was covered in injuries, yet he tore and hit out at them like a red-eyed rabid dog, violent and aggressive.

The Deputy Guoshi blocked Hong Hong-er and Guoshi backed away, yelling, “MAKE HIM LEAVE THE MOUNTAIN, HURRY! Don’t touch him, I mean it! That fortune is too toxic, don’t touch him!”

The Deputy Guoshi hurriedly moved aside, and Mu Qing and Feng Xin didn’t know whether to act. Seeing that everyone was avoiding him like he was a poisonous snake, that child was

shaken and started thrashing even harder, biting and screaming.

“I’m not! I’M NOT!! I’M NOT!!!!”

Suddenly, a pair of arms wrapped him around the waist, encircling his small form. A voice came from above his head.

Like look at this! This moment cant be longer than 2 minutes and its described in such way that breaks me. The voice and actions of the little kid (who is kinda doing a bad job saying "hey im not actually dangerous/toxic") get under your skin. The descriptions of his voice, his figure, how he looks yelling, how everyone reacts to this moment, how the MC reacts to this...its all just so amazing. The description grabs you by the ear and it makes you listen, it makes you watch. And thanks to that harrowing description the last bit really gets to the reader. Finally someone bothered to actually listen to the kid and console him. It's so fucking beautiful and it makes me want to eat glass. It really gives you the feelings that an angel really came from above to save a child from the pain in his own heart.

“You’re not. I know you’re not. Don’t cry, now. I know you’re not.”

That young child pressed his lips closed tightly, grabbing on to that pair of snow-white sleeves around his waist with a death grip. He forced himself to hold back for a long time, but in the end, he couldn’t. A stream of tears suddenly rolled down from that round, black eye, and he burst out crying."

And all this emotion, this care for the craft reminded me of something, of someone. The queen the legend Marie Lu.

Although I would say she follows the regular American conventions when it comes to writing (she is american after all), she also takes care in her descriptions. However, in this case I want to talk about how she describes feelings. Marie Lu's characters are not just happy or sad but they have Feelings that just need to be expressed on the page otherwise they will explode. An example:

LEGEND SERIES BOOK 4 REBEL:

I nod again. "I'm sorry. I-"

"I find myself nodding through my tears, wishing I could have turned to him sooner, wishing I could be more like him in every way. "I see them every night," I say to him, my words breaking. "They're there every time I close my eyes, I jump at every sound. I see a soldier in every person standing at a corner. I thought- I thought if I could just drown it all out in the Undercity, if I could replace it with something else so loud and overwhelming, that it might go away- I thought if I could just see the Republic again, return home and understand my past..."

The pain in Daniel's eyes is raw and real. The fear of this was what had kept me silent for so long. He nods once, his hands firmly on my shoulders. "I see them too," he says quietly. "I should have talked to you about my nightmares. I can't expect you to open up to me if I don't do the same."

"Don't be." His eyes soften, and he pulls me into a hug. "You didn't do anything wrong."

It is his embrace that finally breaks my last barrier. I cry and cry and cry. I cry because I'd never let myself truly understand my own brother, because I'd never understood myself. I cry for all the lives that our pasts have set on different paths- for June's loss of her family, for Tess's loss of her childhood, for Daniel becoming a parent when he was himself just a boy. I cry because I'm grateful that we still, in spite of everything, have all found each other.

Because sometimes, broken pieces find a way to make a new whole."

NOW WHY AM I BOTHERING WITH ALL OF THIS. A couple of days ago one of my favorite video essayist youtubers said that his best writing advice was to keep things simple, that that was the best way to write.

This is just one of my favorite moments ever. The MC has been bottling things up for the whole book and on that scene he finally let's everything go. His brother also finally let's go his own fear and allows himself to be soft with his brother. The scene, however, would not work as well as it does without the description of the moment right before he breaks down crying. The feelings he can sense from his brother, his own feelings about his own perceived weakness, etc. These descriptions just gives the reader a window to see how much the characters have in their hearts. Again, it's so many emotions they could explode. Like this scene could have cut short in multiple ways and if it was recorded for a TV show it would not feel as long as it does in the book. Lu bothers with these descriptions to remind the reader that the characters have real feelings inside. They twist and change as it would happen to someone real and that's amazing. I love how she does it every time.

So how come these scenes, really description heavy, are this fucking cool and a short and fast description would not have been able to make them justice?

It's because usually when we talk about "keeping things simple" or "show dont tell" we want to apply them for everything. We want to apply them no matter the author, genre, target audience, etc.

This book explains it way better that I ever could but basically, writing tips and advice are based on what we consider normal. Most people consider the american conventions the rule, so when someone doesn't apply them to their writing, the writing is flawed. In the same book it is mentioned how typical Chinese writing prefers telling over showing things. They just love the details and that can be seen in MXTX's writing. She is following conventions that usually would be deemed as "wrong." Going back to Marie Lu, I want to think that she knows a bit about Chinese writing but she also knows that, even if its not the rule, descriptions help her writing alot; which is why she does it.

This is a nice and long way to tell you that when you read something pls do it with an open mind. Please dont have a mental list of what makes good of bad writing ready to point out an author's flaws. You could be discovering a new convention from a different culture, a convention that can be game changing for the book.

#heaven official's blessing #tgcf #tian guan ci fu #legend series #marie lu #mxtx #rebel #this was long but i have Feelings #and again english major at heart now and always #wow this was fun i havent written an essay in a while #also um im by no means an expert on chinese fiction/writing #im just someone who read a book #so if you have way more knowledge that i do please share it! i would like to know!

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bugcatcherwill · 9 months

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Rage Against the Calamity - Chapter 59: Lying Eyes

Bokoblins, Moblins, Lizalfos, and Wizzrobe. One of each has managed to break free from the Malice that binds them. With their tie to Ganon gone, these monsters must fight to survive in a world where everything wants them dead. Yet, things are not always what they seem. For as unforgiving a land as Hyrule, it will continue to surprise even the most hopeless hearts. This is the story of those four monsters, and all their unlikely allies…

Also on AO3 (heads up this chapter gets a little heavy in themes)

The sun had long set near the East Akkala Stable and the congregation of panicked Hylians were no closer to heading to bed. Hoz watched resentfully from his chair as they continued to scheme and squawk around their round table. Some of the residents that already laid comfortably on their feather mattresses peered with disdain from the covers - hoping for some peace and quiet. The lone soldier spied the outside to be met with an inky blackness of the Akkala night, then back towards the warm cozy stable. Neither Khini nor the others had so much as looked up, too engrossed in riling each other up. Perhaps this was the break Hoz needed. Silent as a shrew, he eased out of his chair and began to tiptoe his way out of the stable. The rest of the day the others had been watching him like a hawk, but perhaps now he could finally make his way to Robbie for some answers. However, that idea was promptly dashed upon the rocks when two of the Hylians he hadn't even noticed stepped out from the dark to block his path.

"Told you!" one of the two shouted to the rest, who immediately lifted their heads from the table like meerkats, "Hoz is trying to sneak over to the Lab!"

Hoz grimaced, caught red handed, but refused to back down when Khini arrogantly sauntered over.

"Just let me walk up there and have a conversation with them!" he said, aggravated that the people he was trying to protect were preventing him from doing just that, "All these smoke and mirrors you're doing is gonna get people hurt!"

Khini adjusted his glasses and winter hat, despite the warmer season, and tutted at Hoz in a scolding fashion.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say you're in cahoots with Robbie! This is about as cut-and-dry as you can get. You're being the biggest roadblock to peace right now as you won't simply hand over the key…"

"A-are you being serious right now?!" Hoz said with a slight voice crack, completely aghast by this accusation, "I'm here to protect you idiots! Going up there alone puts my hide at stake if you're right! But I'm willing to risk that because I believe there's a simple explanation for all of this! I just…don't know what it is, yet…"

Khini nodded sarcastically, unconvinced.

"Mmhmm…another thing, it's time we recognize that perhaps having just one soldier up here who thinks he's king isn't a proper way to protect our stable."

"What?"

"So I've taken the liberty of forming our own group of concerned Hylians that are actually willing to get things done. Call it the Akkala Militia!"

"This is insubordination!"

"We don't work for you, Hoz! Quite the opposite, actually! You work for us. And we get to decide when to forgo your 'services' and take matters into our own hands!"

"I received training in Hateno from the survivors of The Calamity! How many of you can swing a claymore - let alone know how to use one?!"

"We've all had our stints in the wilds of Hyrule, I'd say we can take care of ourselves."

"You are all going to get yourselves killed…"

"Tch…says the man about to march right into a monster den because he doesn't wanna make 'assumptions'..."

The two Hylians stared each other down, snarling like rabid dogs. Their commotion woke up one of the sleeping children and she began to cry. Hoz glanced back, biting his lips in remorse but Khini seemed unrepentant.

"And I suppose your plan is any better?" Hoz said, lowering his voice to a fierce whisper that still cut through the air.

"Quite! Honestly, the only reason we're not shaking you down for the key right now is that I want to see the look on your face when you're proven wrong. I'll snoop around that Lab under the cover of night and find exactly what we need."

Hoz threw his hands in the air.

"Incredible. So you're doing exactly what I've been trying to do all day?!" he said, trying his best to keep his voice low, but his anger only grew. It didn't help that Khini wagged his finger with a tsk tsk tsk.

"Your suggestion is to just waltz up there and knock on the door. You don't think they've planned for that? No, they need to be caught off guard, like how you saw those monsters this morning, and that's just what we planned…"

With that, Khini ran back to the table and grabbed a jet black cloak to throw over his head. Hoz rolled his eyes at the presentation - knowing nothing good could come from this. He gave Rudi a dirty side-eye for not sticking up for him, but the stablehand simply shrugged with an accepted indifference. He had the horses and other livestock to worry about more than the current schism.

"Can I trust that your word will match your eyes?" Hoz said as the other man passed him with a glare.

"Hmmph," Khini huffed, throwing the hood over his head, "only if I can trust that I won't find anything that implicates you up that hill!"

Hoz could only watch as the man strayed far from the road, gradually sneaking up the hill to the Lab before disappearing into the night. He desperately wanted to go up there before Khini could, maybe muscle his way past the other Hylians that were blocking his path. But he saw himself as the peacekeeper of the Akkala stable, and that included holding back from acting in any way that wasn’t proper for the Hylian soldiers he so idolized from an era long past. He should have gone up, his legs were screaming at him to go up that hill, knock on the door, and maybe prevent a disaster as he learned the truth - but he had been locked into that same bind of politeness. Anything that could cause a ruckus and seed further panic was completely out of the question for him, so Hoz simply stood there with wobbly knees and trembling fists.

His hands were figuratively tied, but his own ideals were what tightened the ropes.

…

Khini reached the top of the hill where the Akkala Lab sat slithering on his belly like a snake - crawling inches at a time to ensure he avoided detection. He was well covered by the blanket of night, but the small beacons of light that shone from the windows could easily give away his position. Yet, they were exactly what he was looking for as they provided a means to snoop into the oddly shaped building - just to see what was happening in there. But before he did that, Khini decided to survey the surroundings.

At least he tried to before coming across a giant snoring mound that turned his blood to ice.

He recognized that sound all too well. Anyone who had traveled through the wilderness of Hyrule was warned to be wary of those deep low drones because Hylia save you if you wake it up. The light of the moon behind the clouds was just enough for Khini to see the shape of the massive sleeping monster. They had a gods-damned Hinox in their backyard! That had to be evidence enough for his case. Surely nobody would lodge a Hinox with honest intentions? It’s like he said, this was as cut and dry as could possibly be. Clutching his mouth and trying not to scream, Khini tiptoed away as quiet as can be. It appeared that the Sheikah were harboring much more than just a few of the more common monsters. While that should have been enough for him to scramble back to the stable, curiosity got the best of him. If these Sheikah were brazen enough to have a Hinox right behind their lab, then who knows what’s inside? Behind the cover of the tall grass, Khini pulled out his pocket binoculars and peered in.

His glasses pressed in, nearly scratching both the lenses, the blurry inside focusing into a sight he never thought would be possible in a thousand years.

There was a Blue Moblin in there…reading. Khini had to wipe the smudges off his glasses just to make sure his eyes weren't playing tricks, but when he returned to the binoculars the monster was still there - book firmly held in its giant hands. He could see its eyes move across the pages, even taking notes in a separate book on the floor before turning the page. This was more than mimicry, the monster understood. But how?

The panic from the Hinox scare had completely worn off as Khini leaned forward more - desperate to see what else was in that lab. He rotated to the left and saw a Lizalfos sitting comfortably on a stool, tinkering with something, but what drew his attention more was its tail that looked to be entirely artificial - crafted from the same materials as Guardians. A chill ran up his spine, thinking of what could have possibly led to that. Are the monsters evolving? Are they modifying their bodies to be even greater war machines? Was it on their own or…are the Sheikah helping?

He shook off the malaise and looked in further, this time sinking lower to the ground, making sure not to leave his scratchy cover behind the grass. He had to know what else was in there. He couldn't look away. That was when Khini saw something that nearly made him reconsider this entire venture: the smallest Wizzrobe he had ever seen prancing in and out of sight. It had to be no taller than a young child, the color of its robes indicating it was of the ice variety. Several times Khini caught a glimpse of its smiling face as it bounced around giggling, sky-blue eyes as pure as snow. There was a second Wizzrobe chasing it playfully, its laughter subdued but its eyes a warm yellow. After a few minutes of chasing, it effortlessly caught up with the little one and swung it around so the smaller Wizzrobe was now clinging to its back. The muffled high-pitch giggling could even be heard from outside as the two disappeared up to the second floor - not even needing to take the stairs.

Khini's mouth hung open in disbelief, but what he saw through the binoculars was very real. He had heard and seen the sheer ruthlessness of Wizzrobes, but this one was playing with its young no different than how the Hylian parents and children back at the stable do. There was also the fact that juvenile Wizzrobes were even possible that Khini couldn't seem to wrap his head around. Had this always been possible, but Wizzrobes were so secluded it was never seen? Or was this a new development? Was this the 'evolution' he had assumed earlier?

All of these questions he didn't have answers to, and he wasn't about to knock on the door to find out. Yet, the last sight brought him back to an old memory - one he thought was lost to time. His late father, grabbing him by the arms and twirling him around in a circle, then giving young Khini a piggyback ride - romping through the stables of his youth. His breathing picked up to be deep and heavy as he weighed in on the torrent of new discoveries. Maybe…maybe Hoz was onto something. Maybe he was jumping to conclusions too early. Slowly he brought the binoculars back to his teary eyes, but his mind was nearly made up. After what he saw, there was no reason not to swallow his pride and admit to Hoz he was right. He still wouldn't let him go up here alone, for now he was curious to hear the Sheikah out about these monsters living with them. Besides the Hinox, he hadn't even seen any weapons so it was doubtful they were even a threat!

And yet, all of that progress evaporated like a drop of sweat in the Gerudo sand once Purah came into view.

Khini jumped in surprise and nearly leaned forward so far he blew his own cover. Whoever she was, she was beautiful. The woman must've been one of the Sheikah other than Robbie who lived there, but it'd be hard to tell because she was already dressed in her casual pajamas. What was normally a bun in her hair had been undone for the evening so her soft snow-white hair draped behind her shoulders. Her comically round glasses were askew, which she adjusted before walking over to the Moblin with a haphazard wave. The Hylian eavesdropping felt two distinct twinges in his gut: one from the guilt of peeping, and the other from how familiar she acted around the bookish monster. The latter reason kept his eyes transfixed on the two of them.

When she neared Sledge, Purah grabbed its wrist and pulled it towards her so the book in its hands was at her eye-level. Her lips moved with a smarmy curve upward and the Moblin chuckled. Khini felt a figurative knife twist in his stomach. Did the monster understand Hylian, or had the Sheikah learned the enigmatic monster language? Or both? The outlandish theories returned to his swirling maelstrom of a mind, his brow arching down into a heavy frown.

What was assumed to be more banter followed, both Purah and Sledge taking turns pushing each other lightly on the shoulder and laughing. But what really boiled over Khini in a rage was when Purah sat down next to the Moblin and leaned against its left arm that was writing in the other book. She stretched, leaning back to nearly laying on top of Sledge's lap and teasingly bapped at its low-hanging snout - much to its mild annoyance. Seemingly giving up, it reached up with its long arms to grab a book off a shelf that Purah would've needed the ladder for and handed it to her. She snickered mischievously, causing the Moblin to roll its eyes like this was a daily occurrence and returned to its own book. Purah then nestled herself in-between Sledge's arm, cozied up near its warm body, and began to read herself. Softly it lifted its left hand up and pulled her closer - nose still buried in its book and refusing to look at Purah's cheeky grin.

Khini's anger only grew, a sharp gasp drawing from his breath. Why were these two acting so familiar? How long had this Sheikah woman kept the Moblin here? What could they possibly have in common that would lead to this? This must be because the Sheikah are aiding this evolution of monsters, Khini was sure of it. There was no way something like a Moblin could ever learn to read all on its own. And the way it laid its hand on her freckled shoulders drove him mad. Those hands had probably murdered dozens of Hylians, maybe more, and this monster had the gall to touch one of his own like that? Khini gripped the binoculars so fiercely the metal frame began to bend. Any semblance of reason and empathy from earlier was replaced with an irrational and inconsolable white hot fury.

Something had to be done. This was a danger to the stable, no, all of Hyrule. He had always seen the Sheikah under suspicion thanks to their involvement with the Divine Beasts, but this was the nail in the coffin for Khini. Their obsession with research had gone too far, and he saw fit to put it to an end. If there was any more light his beet red face would be glowing. The only modicum of rational thought left in his brain went straight to his feet - forcing him to step silently as a mouse before getting far enough away to make a bolt towards Akkala Stable.

…

"About that time for bed?" Purah said, closing her book and placing it lazily on the shelf behind her.

"Mmhmm…about that time…" Sledge said, doing the same. Robbie always got on their case for not sorting everything, but they knew where it all was…mostly.

"Gonna crash in the nook again, Sledge?" she said, stretching her arms and craning her neck to meet the Moblin's eyes, "Might have to bring your bedroll down here if you keep this up!"

"Psh, I am too comfortable now to get up. Besides, Zayl is going to lay down to my right any minute."

"Heh, I don't blame it. You're practically a furnace with how cold it can get around here."

"Well I am a, what did you call me that one time…a hot commodity?"

They both let out a small laugh, slumping in their seats and feeling the weight of their eyelids after they finally pried away from their books. Aside from the whole ostrich fiasco, it had been a pleasant sleepy day - one that was just perfect for reading alongside someone.

"I'll tell ya one thing," Purah said, her eyes reflecting an uncharacteristic melancholy, "I sure am gonna miss this…"

"What, finishing our 'small' project? I will be relieved when we finally get all of that done…" Sledge said, loudly exhaling just thinking about all that still needed to be re-archived.

Purah shook her head, immediately regretting mentioning this at all.

"No, not that…just…this. I mean, I doubt we're all gonna be under the same roof when all of this is done. Linky's got his duties, Robbie and I have our research, and you all will have the most work of everyone…gathering the monsters that are left and trying to make your own spot in the world.”

Sledge grew quiet, breathing slowing down as it looked at Purah, who didn’t meet the Moblin in the eyes - staring downwards gripping her legs firmly.

“That is something I have tried not to think about too much, Purah. Ironically, we will be the busiest after The Calamity is destroyed. That said...I cannot see myself doing anything but this.”

With a soft inhale, Purah turned towards Sledge, surprised, but not disappointed.

“Are you sure?” she said, at first thinking it had misinterpreted her, “You’ve just done so much that I’m worried of any future monster settlement without you…heh.”

Sledge bit its lip and subconsciously twirled all of Purah’s hair around a single finger. This was something it did without thinking all the time, but Purah didn’t mind - it felt quite soothing, actually.

“I would not want them to depend on me, for I would worry how they would manage when…I am finally gone.” it said, slumping even further into the wall, “It would be nice to live somewhere built with our own hands, among fellow monsters, but…I would choose this, the friends I am lucky to have found, every time.”

Purah felt a warm flush in her cheeks, finding herself near speechless, instantly prompting her to switch to emergency sarcasm mode.

“Well that’s sure a relief, I got at least two more libraries of work for us when this project is done!” she said quickly in one breath, lightly tapping the Moblin’s leg before turning around and nearly burying her face in its warm arm. Sledge lightly chuckled and simply pulled Purah’s unused bedroll over her to act as a blanket.

“I am sure you will come up with something. It would be a shame for all of us to go our separate ways after what we have been through together…”

Sledge felt Purah make a slow nodding motion into its arm - the Moblins deep breaths reverberating through its body and lulling her into a deep sleep despite her glasses still pressing onto her face.

…

Hoz waited back at the stable with bated breath. He figured if anything went wrong he would hear the commotion immediately - but the lack of any ruckus also unnerved him. He had this entire time to stew on his decisions, or lack thereof, all while the other Hylians were watching him like a hawk. It had only been less than an hour, but the wait was so agonizing Hoz expected the sun to start to rise any second. Finally he saw the awkward figure of the Hylian sprinting towards the stable entrance, his panicked eyes visible even from a distance in the dark. Hoz’s stomach dropped a few feet.

“Oh, it was terrible, terrible I tell you!” he shouted dramatically, waking up half the stable and rousing the other half. The so-called Akkala Militia rushed to form a circle around Khini - desperate to hear his account from what he saw.

“It’s so much worse than I thought!” he rambled, face swiveling to ensure everyone saw his ghostly white face, “The Sheikah…the monsters…they’re…they’re plotting together! The Sheikah have taught them how to speak our language, how to read, how to build better weapons! They’re making an army under our very eyes!”

Commotion and panic spread through the crowd. All sorts of theories were thrown about, but Hoz was unconvinced.

“And you discerned all of that just by looking in?” he said with sternly crossed arms.

“But there’s more!” Khini cried, completely deflecting, “I have found that they’ve been hiding a horrible secret weapon this entire time: A gargantuan Hinox!”

For the first time Hoz was caught off-guard.

"What? A Hinox?"

Khini nodded, eyes wide as dinner plates.

“Yes! Just sleeping in their backyard - waiting to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting masses! How could anyone harbor such a ruthless beast if that wasn’t what they had planned!”

The mob exploded in pandemonium, ready to send their mini army up the hill right that second. Khini stood in front of them all, his mouth curled down in horror but his eyes clearly smug and victorious. Maybe it was not wanting to admit he was wrong, perhaps because he felt responsible for this mess that had gotten out of hand hours ago, but Hoz still felt compelled to stand firm. He was the bastion of reason left and would not fall to the pressure of the others.

"Are you sure that's what you saw? You're still dodging my question from earlier. How do you know that's what the Sheikah are doing?"

Khini gasped, looking around in shock trying to make the soldier appear unreasonable to everyone else.

“Open your eyes, Hoz! Don’t you see? It was the Shiekah all along! Isn't it rather convenient that their ancient tech just so happened to turn on us? They caused The Calamity 100 years ago, and now they’re trying to finish the job!”

That struck enough of a nerve in Hoz to actually fight back. Fire brewed in his eyes as he walked up to the other Hylian and stared him down inches apart.

“Nobody believes that crackpot conspiracy anymore, Khini, you’re the one with cotton in your ears!” he shouted, sending a spray of spit he was so angry, “I ought to slap the hair off your head for even suggesting such a horrid thought! Have you forgotten about the entire Yiga Clan? Because I haven’t! Because I’ve actually been doing my part to protect this stable, unlike you, who’s doing nothing but causing a panic on my watch!”

Hoz's pushback slightly swayed the militia, several of whom had started to look at their 'leader' with questionable glances. Many of them had heard stories of their own ancestors fighting alongside the Sheikah, trying to prevent The Calamity from completely swallowing Hyrule. Such a suggestion was not only disrespectful, but factually wrong. Khini quickly realized he took it too far, but knew what he had to do to get everyone back on his side again.

"Well…what about the Hinox, Hoz?" he shouted, pointing up the hill, "That thing poses a threat far greater than just 'a couple of monsters' that you saw! Yet here you are forcing us into this game! I could have died going up there because you didn't just give us the key!"

Almost like they were snapped back into their trance, all the heads of the crowd pivoted towards Hoz again - the barrage of jeers revving back up.

"Yeah what about the Hinox, Hoz?!"

“You’re getting in the way of justice!”

“Give us the key!”

“You’re putting our children in danger!”

Desperately looking for a lifeline, he turned to Rudi, still standing behind his desk, who simply shrugged and shook his head.

"Sorry, Hoz" Rudi said, his bushy mustache twitching, "Having a Hinox that close to my stable is a danger - even if the Sheikah are keeping it 'tame'. One wrong move and we're wiped off the map. I can't have something like that looming over us.”

“Rudi…not you too…”

“Please…just give them the key.”

Hoz looked at all the furious faces now surrounding him. He opened his mouth several times to try and say something, but every time he was practically growled at. They made their intentions clear: give them the key to the munitions shack, or they will find their own means to get what they want. The once-safe Akkala Stable felt nothing more than a den of wolves for Hoz, and throwing them a bone was his only way not to get ripped to shreds. Heart heavier than a Talus, he let out a defeated sigh and rummaged through his pockets. A tarnished silver key was unhooked from a keychain and tossed to Khini, who caught it with a grin as wide as a shark. Turned out he was bluffing about the key’s ‘hidden location’ the entire time.

"Alright. You win. But I'm washing my hands of anything that comes from this. You are all on your own." he said with his head hung low, ashamed of himself for even conceding like this. Khini turned to the group triumphantly, hands on his hips.

“My fellow Hylians, are you ready to rid this stable from the monster threat?" he shouted, met with raucous cheers. He then stuck his hand up for silence and they complied like well-trained hounds.

"But…I need time to recover from the near heart attack I got tonight. And we will need more light to see what this pretty little key gives us. We shall march up tomorrow when the last of the sun has set.”

“And just what are you planning on doing?!” Hoz said, still incredulous on the whole affair, “Don’t tell me you plan to recreate what happened at Hateno when these monsters haven’t even done anything yet!”

Many members of the crowd threw Hoz dirty looks, furious that he was still sticking up for these hypothetical monsters. Khini feigned his best hurt face and spread his arms out open-palmed.

“Goddess, no! We’re not like those farmer bumpkins from Hateno, we’re more civilized than that. We’ll issue them…an ultimatum. Deliver the monsters to us so that we may rightfully purge them from this land, and the Sheikah leave Akkala for good…or be razed to the ground!”

The mob cheered at the prospect, some of their eyes a little too eager for some action. Many wondered how they would even sleep tonight from the anticipation. Hoz winced, reaching for his flask ready to take a long swig before hesitating. Rather than bring that familiar smoky liquid to his lips, he popped the top off and unceremoniously dumped it all onto the dusty dirt road - worried that once he took a sip he wouldn't be able to stop.

There was one member of the stable that had been a silent observer this whole time. Sitting on a small stool at the back, going completely unnoticed, was an old Hylian woman by the name of Lettie. She was one of the most well-known residents of the stable, being one of the few Hylians left that was old enough to witness The Calamity, but her kindness and love of conversation was what she was best known for around these parts. Yet, thanks to the current affairs, nobody paid her a single mind the entire time she watched from afar. Pursing her lips, her wrinkled hands tightly gripped the table, shutting her eyes tight with a disappointed sigh. A small tattered book rested in her lap - a gift from a very special individual that lived in the lab on the hill.

This madness had to stop, but nobody else was stepping up to stop it…

Day 14: 28 days until the next possible Blood Moon

It was just past the crack of dawn in Rito Village, and Kobb was fast asleep in the guest hammock it had been provided at Teba's house - directly above Link who opted to sleep on the wooden floor despite the Bokoblin's protests. However, its sound slumber was not to last much longer. Near the top of the main rock spire, just below the Divine Beast's perch, a lone Rito guard cleared her throat and bellowed a loud high note in song throughout the air. The sound reached the tippy top of the village and more Rito called back, some matching the note, some harmonizing.

Like a tidal wave, the call of morning washed down from the top until nearly every Rito in the area was singing along. When it reached Kobb it heard Teba let loose a note an octave lower than the rest, and its ears twitched from the sudden wake-up call. Saki joined in and while she had a beautiful voice, it wasn't exactly the best way to wake up. Tulin's call was shrill and off-key which was when the noise became unbearable for the groggy Bokoblin. Desperately trying to muffle the chorus and get more sleep, Kobb squished it's pillow around its head - but to no avail. After about half a minute, the voices ceased but it was fruitless to try and fall back asleep after that. Defeated, Kobb looked to the ceiling and squinted until several heads came into view - Link, Saki and Teba.

"Wakey wakey, sleepyhead!" Saki said teasingly, causing Link to stifle a laugh.

"Augh…it is too early…" Kobb grumbled, especially feeling the hammock’s sag now.

"Well, you should get used to it while you're here! Rito Village always gets up as soon as we can see the sun!" Teba said, puffing his chest out proudly, "Helps us get a leap on the new day!"

Kobb turned its eyes to Link, who still looked slightly groggy, but it was clear he had grown accustomed to this tradition.

"Plus, we gotta get you to the Flight Range as soon as possible, since you're gonna need a lift from Teba," he said, looking at the older Rito who nodded gruffly, "We have only a day to teach you how to fly, remember?"

The memories of yesterday came flooding in and Kobb leaned its head back with regret. Its loose lips had gotten it into a duel with the ex-captain Thrush, and it would sooner jump in the lake from the top of the boardwalk than forfeit to that haughty Rito.

It really wished Link had brought Rezek here, instead. At least it knew how to fly on its own…

#botw #totk #botw fanfic #totk fanfic #ratc #rage against the calamity #loz #loz fanfic

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bobaji · 3 years

Text

MASTERCLASS ONE: TEASE HER.

who: matsukawa/f!reader, established relationship

info: 1.074 words, smut + pwp.

kinks: public sex, voyeurism, soft!matsukawa, dacryphilia, dirty talk, begging

summary: your boyfriend, issei matsukawa, has a class where he teaches men how to properly fuck a girl. and you’re his example.

— part one of the masterclass series.

check out my other content!

+ this blog contains dark content.

Your heart was racing as you stood in front of the class. Men of varying ages -- 18 to their late 40s all sat in seats regarding you with interest. You leaned against the empty desk that sat in front of the room, arms crossed over your chest to hide what the silk robe you wore didn’t.

“You’re all here to learn how best to please a woman,” Issei started, fiddling with the silver rings on his hands, “The first step is coming here in the first place, wanting to better yourself. Good job. By the end of this class, you’re going to know how to make a girl cum like you know the back of your hand,” his eyes shifted over the crowd, examining their expressions -- most had their eyes glued to you, not that he minded, “We have some ground rules before we begin. One, no one is allowed to touch her,” he gestured to you, “Two, do not speak to or about her. I don’t care if it’s a compliment, I promise she doesn’t want to hear a random guy tell her how hot she is. And she sure as hell doesn’t want to hear you dirty talk to her. Finally, I don’t want to see anyone’s hand dancing in their pants. I know this may get hot and dirty but...this is educational, not live porn. Everyone understand? Any questions?”

There were murmurs from all over the room and head shakes. Issei nodded his head and turned to you again, smiling before approaching you, “Are you ready, pretty girl?”

You let out a soft breath and nod. He hums and cups your cheek, pressing his lips to yours in a fleeting kiss before gripping your waist and lifting you onto the desk. The wood surface was cold beneath the sensitive, warm skin of your thighs, making you jump before quickly settling.

“Now, gentleman,” Issei spoke, trailing his fingers across your arm, “This first class, we’ll be starting off simple. I know when you take a girl home, or you go home to your wife...girlfriend, whatever, you want to jump right into it. Maybe get her on her knees, have her suck your cock...maybe eat her out a little bit, yeah?”

The class responded with hums of agreement, all focused on the way your boyfriend gently razed your skin, making goosebumps rise in response.

He hummed, “Let me tell you, sex is best...when she’s even more into it than you are. Before you can really get to the good parts...first things first...make her want it more than anything.”

“‘Sei…” you whisper, lashes flutters when his fingertips grazed your inner thighs. You opened them up a bit more, hoping he’d give you more only for him to trail them back up your body, to the tie of your robe.

“Women are more intricate than men are,” Issei explained, plucking at the tie so your robe fell open, “They need more care and attention. They need to feel safe and appreciated. Even if it’s some random girl you picked up at a bar, if you take the time to make her feel sexy and wanted...it’ll be worth your time, I promise. Ease her mind and her body will follow.”

He pushed the material of your robe from your shoulders and you pulled your hands from the sleeves, letting it pool around the desk. Your boyfriend smiled, meeting your needy gaze before his hand found your breast, cupping it lightly. You pushed your chest out, pressing your breast into his hand even more only for him to let go and wrap those devious fingers around your neck. You gasp as he yanks you forward, pressing his lips against yours in a familiar, needy kiss.

Your lips work together flawlessly, his teeth nipping your bottom lip as he gives your throat intermittent squeezes.

He pulls away suddenly and you whine, attempting to chase his lips only for him to laugh, “Soon, she’ll be squirming and shaking like a leaf. You’ll have her right where you want her, needy and whining for more.”

You hadn’t noticed the way your entire body was trembling, thighs tense as they squeezed together in an attempt to relieve the ache that had begun to build there from his teasing.

“Teasing is different from foreplay. Before you can get her body ready for you, you have to get her mind ready. Focus on her, not yourself,” Issei explained, gripping your knee, pushing them open, “By this point, she should be wet and ready for you to touch her properly.”

You let out a harsh breath and eagerly open your thighs. You don’t even notice the way the men in the class all shift at the sight of you baring yourself so openly for your boyfriend. All you know is how much you want him, you feel like your body is on fire.

His palms smooth down your body, pausing to pinch your nipples, giving them proper attention for a fleeting second before moving on. When he reaches your inner thighs, he digs his nails into the skin to make you whimper, the bite of pain only fanning the flames of your need for him.

“Hmm, look at that,” he muses, using two fingers to spread your folds open. You gasp and arch your hips up. His touch is so, so close to where you desperately want it, “Little cunt is drooling such a mess all over the desk.”

“‘Sei, please,” you sob, letting yourself fall back on the desk, losing all strength to keep yourself up, “Want it so bad.”

“Aw, you sound like you’re gonna cry, baby,” he coos, condescending, before turning back to the class, “By now, you should finish with your teasing and start getting into the foreplay. But unfortunately, that’s all the time we have. We’ll review everything next week and get into the foreplay properly.”

You fall limp against the desk as he steps away from you completely, leaving you trembling and whimpering as he bids the class goodbye. Once it’s empty, he locks the door and approaches you once again.

“They were all looking at you like a bunch of rabid dogs,” he whispers, leaning down to press his lips against the soft skin of your stomach, next to your belly button, “But luckily for you, you don’t have to wait until next week for more.”

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu smut #hq x reader #hq smut #matsukawa x reader #matsukawa smut #issei matsukawa x reader #issei matsukawa smut #matsukawa issei x reader #matsukawa issei smut #all.writing

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oikadori · 3 years

Note

hi! can i request Headcons about kita and osamu with their s/o in online class or google meet and forget to turn off the camera stuff. i like how you've done for suna, daichi and akaashi hehehe your hc is cute and i love it! 🥺❤️

LEAVING THEIR CAMERA ON WHILE BEING SOFT WITH THEIR S/O PART II

⇢ includes: osamu , kita , iwaizumi | PART I , PART III

⇢ genre// cw: fluff , f!reader // suggestive, iwa bites you

⇢ wc~ 1K

a/n: please yess i loved this prompt sorry for taking so long i just idek why i left this on my drafts for so long SORRY nonnie !!

reblogs are highly appreciated <3

“hun-gry”

Osamu’s eyes drift from the laptop on the counter to you, softening when you loudly yawn entering the kitchen, he must admit that seeing you decked into one of his grey sweaters is making his heart beat a little faster than before.

“good morning to you too” he says between a deep chuckle as he presses a button on his earbuds. “Nice to see that you slept so well”

Your eyes adapt to the light and notice Osamu sitting in front of the screen, his notebook resting beneath his hands. You tilt your head, sleepiness still fogging your mind as you move behind him.

“I’m hungry ‘Samu” your head falls on top of his muscular shoulder and your arms wrap his torso

Osamu, quickly taps the button that deactivates the camera, or at least he thinks he did, before looking over his shoulder with half lidded eyes.

“You’re always hungry Y/N”

“You’re always hungry too!!

He shakes his head, stopping a small giggle to come out of his lips as you nuzzle your nose against his neck, leaving soft kisses and mumbling “cook me something” in the process. Osamu closes his eyes, enjoying your caresses before turning to face you.

“I didn’t know I had such a whiny baby as girlfriend” he lays his pen on top of his notebook before cupping your cheek with his big palm, “What am I going to do with ya?”

You pout at his mocking tone and Osamu sees the opportunity to kiss your lips, drawing a little moan out of you. Your eyes flutter closed as you hug him tighter, enjoying the warmth of his body against yours.

“Miya-kun! You are still part of this class!!” a female voice rings in Osamu’s ears making him stiffen, you, on the other hand, are brushing your lips on the sensitive skin of his neck searching for his mouth again, causing the spiker to blush violently as he apologizes. He looks at you with pleading eyes, using all his willpower to hold back the urge to kiss you.

“babes-please, stop.”

“Shin, can you help me with this real quick?”

Kita sees you from the corner of his eyes, standing on the entrance of his room, holding your math notebook and tapping your feet, waiting for an answer. He activates his microphone not facing you yet, addressing his classmates with a stoic tone.

“Excuse me, I’m gonna leave for a bit” he explains to his group before deactivating his camera and mic to take off his earbuds, leaving them on top of the desk. Kita’s face softens as his eyes squint a bit to give you a tender smile, patting his lap for you to use as a seat. “Come, angel”

You eagerly move your feet in his direction before plopping your weight on his thighs, sitting horizontally. One of his palms caresses your back while the other rests on your legs.

“What is it, darling?” he whispers, leaning to pepper your cheek, making a bubbly laugh burst out of your throat.

“I-help me with math please, I don’t understand this right here” you whine, pointing with your pen at the equation on your notebook, an angry frown settling on your face as you reread the problem out loud.

“Poor baby, of course I’ll help ya”, Kita smiles before his nose tickles your neck and plants a little kiss over the exposed skin. “Okay, this goes like this-“

“Kita! Your camera is still on!” Aran’s yell coming from the earbuds is loud enough for you both to hear it, your face starting to burn as you look directly at the camera, finding the ace covering his eyes.

But Kita is calm, he gives a shy smile at the screen before plugging his earbuds back, squeezing softly your thigh in an attempt to relax you.

“Thank you Aran, I apologize for the scene but… I couldn’t help it” his cheeks redden a bit as you hide your face in your palms, muffling an apology before trying to stand up. Kita’s quickly grip your thigh stopping you for moving off his lap.

“I haven’t explained ya the exercise yet”

“Are you still in class?”

“I have a little break, need something?”

You look at your boyfriend from your chair, giving a worried look that makes his thick, brown eyebrows to furrow together before he huffs. He looks away, hiding the red flush that started creeping on his face.

“No.”, You notice by the way he’s standing there, shifting his weight from left to right and hiding his hands in his pockets that he’s lying so, you lean back, offering a teasing smile.

“Oh! In that case I better do some work”, you drift your attention back to your laptop but your chair turns to the side, finding Iwaizumi’s greyish eyes staring deeply at you as his hands grip firmly the arms of your chair, caging you in your seat. “What is it Haji?”

“Want you” two simple words that make your heart flutter. One of his palms moves behind your neck to secure his hold on you as his lips crash against yours in a passionate kiss.

The room is silent except for the sounds of your wet and sloppy kisses.

“Iwa-chan!!” your boyfriend’s eyes snap open, and he freezes, lips still latched at yours, as the voice of seijoh’s captain bounce against the walls, “you are gonna hurt her lips if you keep biting like a rabid dog! ”

Iwaizumi grunts, shooting daggers to the setter across the screen, and you swear he’s about to smash your laptop with his own hands.

“What the fuck?!”

“If you need advice I-“

You quickly hold onto his arm, dragging him towards you to place a chaste kiss on his cheeks, giggling at the whole situation as your free hand closes the laptop, leaving Oikawa talking to himself.

Iwaizumi huffs and curses, wearing blushy cheeks, pressing his forehead against yours. He stares at your red, swollen lips before tracing them carefully with his calloused fingers, worried.

“Was he right? Did I hurt you? Shit. Gonna be gentler next time, princess”

taglist: @evelynn27, @tobiosbbyghorl, @mjoork, @kenmaki, @hajiswife, , @oikadiors , @arrogantsonofabiscuit, @asteroid-babe , @kouffee-ink, @wak4tosh1@sazunari @akkeyomi @ilovecheese08

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boobchuy · 2 years

Note

Did you like the finale? I personally liked it, except for maybe a few things, but I’ve seen a lot of ppl saying they don’t like it on twt. I really like your art so I’m just curious lol

anon I'm gonna use this chance to brainvomit my thoughts about it I hope u dont mind but u gave me the opening so I MUST BITE IT LIKE A RABID DOG

but, tl;dr is that I loved the finale as a whole, w a few gripes here and there bc nothing is perfect and that's okay

To be more specific, here is me crying and rambling <3

Things that I liked :))

* first and foremost, this is the story that matt has had in his vision for years. this is what he wanted to do, what amphibia stands for, just a big metaphor for change, and just for that alone I love this finale to bits, and will hold it dear in my heart for many years to come.

* I got what I wanted and MORE, that is; rule of three anne dying. this has been something I've been looking forward to since I joined the fandom and saw a post abt how Marcy and Sasha almost died in season finales, and wondering whos turn it was next. just. The whump of it all, y'know. AND THE OUTCOME AND CONSEQUENCE, IS SO MUCH BIGGER AND BETTER TO EXPLORE THAN I COULDVE INITIALLY THOUGHT

I don't know about you but knowing that Anne's tied to this powerful entity, to see that scene of her talking with god, essentially, it just manages to scritch a really good part of my brain. There's just, so much to explore from that scene, and it was such a pleasant surprise even if it feels quite a bit sudden LOL. for all intents and purposes, the little kid in me is screaming that it's very very cool, and I can't wait to attempt and make it cooler. (Plus, the AUs of just this one scene can inspire are ENDLESSSSS, so excited to dig into it more)

* calamity trio fight scene. Need I say more. TJ hill I need the soundtrack of that it was so uplifting and cool and ughuh legend. You can tell the absolute fun and love that was put into it, from the character gestures, the expressions I fucking adore it so much. Easily the happiest part of the finale, a glimmer of light for how much the episode broke me :)

* ANDRIAS. andrias. Andrias... (Weeping). the reunion parallel. it broke me. and even though he's done a lot of bad things, and that's putting it lightly, I'm glad that he lived. I just can't help but feel sad for the kind of past he has, and I'm happy that he's given a chance to heal. that, along with the fact that just killing him off is the easy way out- make him do the work of trying to heal what he has destroyed; him being shown planting seeds and making things grow, with parts of his old friends attached on his person, it's a quiet, peaceful moment for him, and a very satisfying one for me.

* this is moreso a confession than me listing a pro. right up to the last few weeks of amphibia's finale, I had this really really really quiet fear in the back of my head that the plantars might get shoved aside in favor of calamity trio ToT, that's just the brain making up dumb problems, of course, and though as heartbreaking as it could be, I enjoyed that the show proved that wrong for me.

I fell in love with their characters, and the farewell scene with the plantars, it's so so so dear to my heart. Anne calling Polly her little sister, every word that hop pop said to Anne, the cut to sprig as he gripped his hat tight, tearing up. The way Anne's face was so scrunched up as she tried to comfort him. That last spranne hug, how it was animated so well, how heartfelt it was. God. I've been crying since I mentioned Polly while I typed this. That goodbye scene is everything, and even if people didn't like it for the sadness it caused, they shot it out of the park. Most emotional I've been in the show, tops.

* I went on a whole tangent about it on twitter yesterday, but Anne's death scene is equally as heart wrenching. I won't go over it like I did, but the two key moments that really broke me was when sprig and frobo brought her down, sprig was SMILING. trying to reassure himself and Anne that everything's gonna be okay, and there's this moment where he looks to the others as if saying 'its gonna be okay, right?', and the cut to Sasha and Marcy's heartbroken and horrified expressions. ITS JUST SO (pls excuse my language) FUCKING. FUCK FHCK FJCK. the the other moment, was Anne still managing to crack a joke and making her fam (AND MYSELF MIGHT I FUCKING ADD, HOW DARE YOU MAKE ME CRY LAUGH AS YOU DIE) laugh one last time before she turns into leaves

* the future time skip designs. *eats them*

my other feelings 👍;

* THIS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A CONTROVERSIAL OPINION. BUT. it felt, really off-putting and sad for me that Anne chose to be a herpetologist. IT FELT LIKE SHE WAS BEING STUCK IN THE PASTTTT, holding onto those memories for as long as she could. the strongest of feelings I've had w that has long since worn down as the hours went by, though. I want to believe that she eventually either grows to love this job genuinely for the sake of how happy it makes her, or she branches out more onto other things that aren't just related to frogs.

* I feelll like they could have done a better job tweaking sasharcys dialogue in the time skip. I don't mind that it was 10 years later, and IVE BEEN A FIRM BELIEVER ON SASHANNARCY GETTING SEPARATED SINCE THE VERY START, but, the part about how it's implied that once Marcy moved, they haven't kept in touch 😭??? hence her asking then on how Sasha and Anne have been doing only 10 years later??? I know we grow apart but I don't think it'd be that quick ... I think, I'll just chalk it up to them having not that much leeway on how to stir the conversation in that direction. Otherwise, sasharcys job careers make my heart feel full, they've really grown into themselves, into people that we didn't expect, and I think that that's wonderful.

* I don't really feel all that negative about the fact that the portal between worlds doesn't work anymore, mostly bc, I refuse to believe that it isn't possible ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

canon didn't even really imply there being one, but that didn't stop them from encouraging it a little bit. the stone guardian giving anne those last crumbs of power to go home is an orchard ripe for picking that says just how much more could be explored. And I wasn't as devastated because genuinely, I do believe there's a day where they will see each other again, whether that gets confirmed or not, it's something I'll hold to dear to myself til I eventually, move on from amphibia too.

#man this was long sorry for the word dump anon i hope u dont mind HAHA #.txt #talking to frogs #i dont know how to sum up my feelings very well but i hope u get the Vibe #amphibia spoilers

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unlucky-qiqi · 2 years

Note

Akutagawa Ryunosuke x fem! reader please. Like the reader is always there for him and does little things for him and one day he just lashes out at her and she stops even getting in contact with him. she tried her best to avoid him so he could be “happier”, and he regrets it and misses her presence. fluff ending please

The Rabid Dog Brings White Camellia Flowers

Pairing/s: Akutagawa x fem!reader

Genre: Fluff with a bit of angst

Tw: Mentions of blood

Word Count: 1.2k

_____

The sun has yet to come out but the kitchen was already filled with noises from cooking and the fragrant aroma of brewed tea lingers in the air. The simple act of making your significant other's breakfast never fails to make your heart feel giddy.

Akutagawa is a busy man especially with his position as one of the Port Mafia's remarkable members. So, he's thankful for the little things you do—though he doesn't show it that much.

"Good morning, Akutagawa. Breakfast is ready."

He sat down and took a sip from his cup of tea. You prepared his coat, folded neatly as you set it aside on top of the table.

"Thank you for the meal." He said as he took a final bite from the fruits on his plate.

As plain as it may look like, you both do enjoy the short simple moments. You waved him goodbye after being set to leave. He smiled and headed towards the headquarters.

_____

Akutagawa went home with bruises all over his body. You quickly came to aid him but he suddenly jabs you with rashoumon.

"I don't need your pity! I can help my—"

His words were cut off with a cough and there was a trickle of blood seeping through his lips. There was severe bleeding on his torso and it continued to get worse every second.

Threads of Fate: Mending

A glow appears on your hands and thin strings appear that seem to close his wound. Akutagawa pushes you to the ground and pinning you down with his ability. There was spite in his eyes as his pride was hurt.

"Why do all of you treat me as if I'm weak?"

His breath was ragged and rage was radiating. Rashoumon was wrapping around your neck, slowly choking you.

"You, woman, should know your place."

He let go of you. He was limping walking towards the bathroom but soon after, he fell unconscious. You quickly ran towards him to check up on him. The wound was still open and blood still kept on coming out. With your ability, you continued to mend the laceration on Akutagawa's stomach.

He may be a bit heavy but you tried your best to carry him in the bedroom. On the bed he rests as if there wasn't a malicious aura all over him a while ago.

_____

Akutagawa woke up on your shared bed. He walked out of the still feeling groggy and the wound he had still stings a little. When he went to the kitchen, it was silent. His significant other was nowhere to be seen. On the table there was a note on the fridge;

"I'm going out for a while. There's food in the fridge for you to heat up and eat if you get hungry when you wake up."

He tossed the note aside and ate the food she prepared. It was a bit unusual for him to wake up without the smell of fragrant tea and waking up without you to greet him. As much as he hated to admit it, the house was too silent and too lonely for his liking. As he finished his meal it was then time for him to go back to the Port Mafia Office.

_____

Weeks have passed since the day that incident happened. There were times like this that these things happened and you were there to help him. He just had it bad that day. That's why you decided to give him space, thinking that it may make him feel better when you weren't around for a while. 'Maybe he doesn't actually want to be helped' you thought to yourself.

While you were distracted in your thoughts, Akutagawa was searching for you. You happened to have left your phone at home so there was no communication between the two of you. There was a sense of regret from what he did to you, he knew that you were trying to help him but because of his pride he had hurt you.

As if fate was helping the both of you, Akutagawa decided to go to his sister hoping she would help him find you. He knocks on the door of his sister's house and on the other side of that very same door there you are standing, ready to open and reveal who it is.

"Ryuu!?"

"(y/n)!"

Before you could even process what was happening, Akutagawa took you into an embrace. He held you tight as if you'd be gone again from his touch. You had a weary smile on your face as you patted his head. "There, there..." you said as he kept you in his arms.

"Sorry...I'm sorry (y/n)" He mumbled softly, hardly audible but you heard it.

Akutagawa is out of character. He always had that "being the strong" demeanor but right now it didn't matter if he wasn't his usual self, what's important is that he finally saw you again. It was his fault for being harsh on you, it was his fault that he let his pride take over him.

You've been Akutagawa's partner for years and you've grown accustomed to his personality. There was nothing yet that you can't forgive. He let go of you and looked you in the eyes. It was evident in his face that he longed for you for the span of time you were away. You felt a bit guilty by your own antics thinking that it was petty of you to act that way.

"Nii-san?"

The moment was interrupted when Gin came to check on you. The male cleared his throat and you gave his sister a sweet smile. She invited both of you inside the house. Both of you explained what had happened, she laughed a bit at how both of you can be like that but she did love the interaction between the two of you.

"We're off then—" Akutagawa said as he stood up.

"—Let's go." He called out to you, reaching his hand to you subtly. You took it and there was a blush on his face. You looked at him with a smile. "Let's go." Your smile got wider and you walked out of the house, waving Gin goodbye.

_____

Beneath the moonlight, both of you walked in the silent streets of Yokohama. The cold breeze makes you shiver a bit. Akutagawa draped his shirt over your shoulders and let out an annoyed sigh.

"You're such a handful." He said teasingly. "You've made me search the whole city just for me to find you." he paused for a moment,

"You've made me worried.

"And I thought you'd be better without me." A tiny tone of melancholy left your lips as you said the words.

"You're quite dumb to forget that without your help I wouldn't even be alive that night."

There was a short silence in the air before Akutagawa continued what he was saying.

"Thank you."

Before both of you even noticed it, you arrived at your destination. You opened the door, the feeling of being home warmed your heart. On top of the table, there was a vase of White Camellias.

"You really did miss me, huh?"

"Do you take me as a liar?" Akutagawa retorted. He pulls you close to him and buries his face to your neck. "Don't ever do that again or you'd be damned next time."

"I promise, I won't"

—————

a/n: songs playing

Kakushigoto OP

Lily (Bungo Stray Dogs ED)

Life is Beautiful (Bungo Stray Dogs Wan! ED)

#bunogu stray dogs #bungo stray dogs x reader #bungo stray dogs akutagawa #bsd akutagawa #akutagawa ryunosuke x reader #bsd x reader #bungou stray dogs x reader #akutagawa ryunosuke #Akutagawa Ryuunosuke #akutagawa ryōnosuke x reader #Akutagawa Ryōnosuke #Banquet Stories; BSD

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orionwhispers · 3 years

Text

Bravado // Tommy Shelby Imagine

(A/N - its been a long ass time and i wanted to ease myself back into writing but this ended up being long and also super super angsty. sorry that this illness imagine came during covid idk whats going on with my imagination lol. love you guys SO much thank you for always being there. reblogs, comments and likes mean everything to me.)

trigger warnings - LOTS of angst. fluff. implied smut. my hc that tommy has a fear of illness, bad descriptions of hospitals.

He knew something wasn’t right the minute his car pulled into the driveway and you weren’t waiting for him under the great concrete arch, with that smile on your face that made his knees buckle and heart race like he was a love struck teenager.

You were always there as soon as he came home. Barefoot in a broderie dress in the summer with tousled hair and baby pink toenails. Wrapped in a hand knit blanket with fire flushed cheeks and woollen socks in the winter - even running across the gravel and into his arms in the middle of a storm, the ice cold rain whipping across both of your faces as you kissed under the light of the moon.

No matter how shit his day or week or month was, no matter what stained his hands or darkened his heart, no matter what lay heavy and hard deep in his gut, seeing you made everything vanish in the night air like wisps of smoke. You made everything worth it.

He refused to give into fear, he wasn’t that kind of man, so he swallowed all of the nagging thoughts and apprehensions as he came up to the dark foggy windows and the iron cast door. It felt strange turning his key in the lock without the weight of you in his arms or the sticky peach kisses you left down his jaw and neck, the smell of the vanilla in your hair and lavender on your skin.

The second thing that sent a jolt of white hot electricity down his spine was Mary, watching him anxiously and wringing her hands in the hallway. Usually, she was calm and collected, taking his jacket and leather travel bag with her signature placid smile and gentle fingers. Usually she would return to the kitchen and finish up whatever she was making - a hearty roast lamb with rosemary and garlic and glazed potatoes or a pheasant pie with honeyed carrots, always followed by a three layer chocolate ganache cake that was so thick and rich you practically had to saw through the sponge. She would always have dinner piping hot and dripping with gravy by the time the two of you returned downstairs, no matter how many hours it took for you to get... reacquainted.

Now she looked sheepish and pale, her skin almost translucent under the syrupy yellow lights. There was something about the way she stood, as still as a wraith, that made his blood run cold.

“Mary. Where is she?”

“Mr Shelby, I - ” Her voice was strained and hesitant, like a slowly fraying rope.

“Where is my wife?”

She moved forward, creases forming around her eyes. “We tried ringing you in Liverpool but the hotel said that you had already left, so we...”

“You rang me? Why? What’s happened?” He couldn’t hold back the desperation in his voice, and it lingered and festered around them both like a poisonous gas.

“Mrs Shelby came down with something a few days ago, we thought that it was just a common cold but unfortunately she seems to be getting worse.”

He tore upstairs before he could even think, his shoes leaving perfect muddy footprints on the cream carpet. He almost slipped at the top, and he lurched forward, his hands reaching out and holding onto the portrait hanging above the stairs for stability.

It was the oil of the two of you. A soft, personal picture that revealed more than he ever possibly could. The love in your gazes, the hint of a soft, drunk smile on the dangerous gangsters face as you leaned into him, melting into him like butter, him holding onto you as though he couldn’t bear to let you go. It was his favourite photo, one that always washed a sense of calmness over him, a reminder of the woman that he loved and the way he felt around you. But now he felt as if was riding out a terrible storm.

He lived his life with no fear, he was capable and practical and used to the sound of bullets and the copper sweet smell of blood. There was really only one thing, one terrible thing that he couldn’t control, and that was what drove him crazy.

Sickness.

It gnawed at his insides like a rabid dog, clawed under his skin and settled behind his ribs. Losing someone he loved was like ripping out a piece of his heart straight from his chest, and he knew better than anyone what it was like to lose somebody to a violent, quick death - the pull of a trigger or the smack of a fist. At least in those moments he could lock them away in his mind, he could leap in front of a bullet or crack the neck of any man who dared to get too close to you, but there was almost nothing he could do to stop sickness, and the devastation it caused.

When you first met him it had been a surprise, almost amusing, that this powerful God of a man had these small little quirks. His house was always sparkling clean and smelling of Lysol, his fruit bowls were filled with citrus fruits and round, plump blueberries. He always made sure you were wrapped up warm in the winter, always placing his coat around your shoulders and bringing an extra pair of gloves in case you forgot yours. It was adorable, the way he took care of you,

It wasn’t till a little bit later when you learnt of those he had lost. His mother and his childhood sweetheart taken away from him much too soon. It broke your heart when he told you late one night of the sallow tint of their skin and the way he could almost see them vanishing from earth, the way that illness had moulded and changed those he loved the most.

You understood.

Your best friends older sister had died of tuberculosis when you were young. The elderly woman across the street from your first flat had passed away from a bout of horrendous smallpox. Your brother lost his first child to pneumonia. Times were changing but the fear of disease was ever present. Medicine was improving and so was knowledge, but still there remained a huge, dark cloud of what could happen, one that always hung around your husbands head.

——————————————-

All Tommy could think was the worst as he ran through the landing. His heart was in his ears and his bones felt loose, like the sweet liquorice the two of you would share at the pictures. He came to a stop by the bedroom door, tentatively pressing his palm onto the wood and ever so slightly pushing it open, listening to the gentle creak it made.

The room was warm. The lace curtains were pulled shut, and your favourite lavender candles were flickering on your vanity, casting syrupy shadows against the wall. He exhaled loudly as he saw you, bundled up under a mountain of satin sheets and hand crocheted blankets, your hair splayed across the pillows.

He moved to your bedside, pretending not to notice the large, untouched jug of water and the tissue box next to you, hoping and silently praying that you weren’t sick - just asleep and waiting for him, ready to wrap your arms around his neck.

You were silent, your lips parting every so often as you breathed, your chest rising and falling. He reached out gently, as though he was picking up shards of glass, and brushed his fingers against your cheek. Your forehead was beading with sweat, your cheeks flushed, and yet your skin was ice cold to the touch. He recoiled quickly, his heart dropping like a weight into his gut, and he inhaled a shaky, deep breath.

He saw something curled up beside your hands, a fluffy white cloud with sparkling emerald green eyes trained on him. Despite everything, he smiled. He thought of your birthday - of strawberry cheesecake and champagne, and surprising you with a ribbon wrapped little kitten as you woke up. He thought of that day often. How you smiled and leapt onto him with tears in your eyes, his whole world blissfully quiet as he spent the day in bed with you and your new best friend.

He would have preferred a big dog, one with sharp teeth and a menacing gaze to ward of visitors whilst he was away. But you were drawn to the tiny, malnourished runt of the litter who was scared of his own shadow. A kitten no bigger than the size of his clenched fist. A little white hairball who only ate and drank from fine pink saucers. A cat that had a very frustrating habit of crawling in the bedroom right as Tommy’s hand was up your skirt and his lips on the sweet spot of your neck, the tiny thing mewling and crying until you picked him up and nuzzled him into your chest.

He was a horse lover through and through, and never saw himself having time for any other pets. But in the summer when you saw the litter from one of John’s barn cats and fell in love with the sweet baby who mewled and cried and crawled right into your lap - he knew that he would give you anything and everything you wanted.

Including a cat who refused to accept that Tommy was the man of the house.

“Hello, boy.” He said, leaning over to scratch Comet under the chin, using a voice he only reserved for the two of you. “Have you been looking after my girl whilst I’ve been gone?”The cat meowed loudly in reply, pressing his head into Tommy’s palm but not moving from his spot beside you.

Tommy suddenly felt you shift under him and his heart lurched into his throat. He turned to face you, cupping the side of your clammy face as your eyelids fluttered open, blinking under the candlelight. A rush of red hot heat built up in his belly as you registered him, that angelic smile growing on your face, your tired eyes glimmering with recognition of the man you loved.

“Tommy?”

“Hi, Princess.”

You smiled sadly. “You’ve been gone for weeks - I missed you.”

He felt his brows crease as he rubbed along your jawline softly, trying to stop you from falling back asleep. He felt panic in his throat as sour as vomit, and he tried to bite back the nagging feeling that something was very wrong.

“No, sweetheart, I’m early. It’s only Thursday. I left on Monday.”

“Oh.” You said softly, your voice as gentle as the breeze rustling through the trees outside. “Well let me welcome you back properly - let me make you a lemon drizzle or a...” You lifted your head from the pillow and shuffled under your blanket, but he pressed his hands against your shoulder and held you down.

“No. You’re staying right here.”

“But - ”

“No.”

“Hmm. Don’t leave me, Tommy.”

“Never.” He said, his tone firm and cast like stone. He stroked your hair softly as your breathing slowed, but it didn’t nothing to quell the hard thump of his heart in his chest.

——————————-

Tommy left the room as quietly as he could after you had fallen asleep in his arms. He hadn’t wanted to move, not when you were pressed against his chest, looking ethereal but vacant, sweat beading under your brow and your face lacking colour. He wanted to stay with you, curled up by his side, his fingers laced through yours, the sound of your heart thumping in his ears.

But he was a man of action, and seeing you there - your lips cracked and dry, shudders passing through your body and goosebumps raised over your skin - he couldn’t fight the fiery urge to do everything in his power to make you feel alright again.

He found Mary waiting outside the door, chewing on the skin of her lips and swaying on the balls of her feet in anticipation. He grabbed her by the arm, harder than he meant to and something he would apologise for later, and pulled her downstairs, determined to let you rest whilst he got some answers. As soon as they reached the drawing room he spun her around, clenching his jaw and pointing a finger at the anxious maid.

“Where the fuck is the doctor? Why isn’t he here?”

“Mr Shelby.” She said, stepping forward calmly. “We phoned Doctor Moore and he came on Tuesday to see her.”

“Tuesday?” He seethed. “My wife has been ill since Tuesday and no one called me?”

Mary raised her hands in defeat, making it clear that the decision wasn’t hers to make. “He said it was nothing of concern . He gave her some antibiotics and told her to rest. She asked us herself not to call you, she knows how you.. worry.”

He ignored her sugar coated attempt to quell his anger, but if anything it made his vision darken. “When it’s my wife, It is always my concern.”

“Mr Shelby, we were just doing what we were told. As soon as we noticed she wasn’t getting better we phoned the surgery again, but Doctor Thomas was out for the day and said he didn’t think it was necessary to come round again, so we -”

“I don’t give a fuck. My wife is the number one priority. Ring every doctor in England if you have to, get somebody out here now to see my wife.”

He stormed away, anger pulsating through his veins, but he stopped suddenly, and threw out over his shoulder:

“And call Doctor Moore’s ’office. Tell him to expect a visit from the blinders soon.”

———————————————————

Once, when you were first dating, you found Tommy at the door to your flat at midnight, with scraped knuckles and blood dripping from his nose. You let him in, cleaned him up and sat with him in the bath until his skin was clear and his breathing was even. He knew that night, as you were pressed against his chest and his lips were pressed to your scalp that he was truly, madly and completely in love with you.

He remembered waking up the next morning, love drunk and blissful, and finding the bed beside him empty. He found you in the kitchen, wincing slightly and pressing a hot water bottle to your belly as you buttered a few pieces of toast. He rushed to your side with eyes as wide as saucers, concern lacing the features that were usually ice cold and hard as stone. You were completely baffled as he held you at arms length, his bright cerulean eyes trailing up and down your body for any signs of injury he might have missed. You were bewildered at the sight of the powerful man practically on his knees as he made sure you were alright, and you bit back a giggle as his warm palms spread over your abdomen.

“What is it? Whats wrong?”

“Tommy. Sweetheart.” You said softly, bringing his gaze level to yours. “It’s just - you know - that time of the month.”

He brushed off your embarrassment and ran his fingers through your hair, pressing a uncharacteristically gentle kiss to your forehead, sending a swarm of butterflies around the pain in your stomach.

“Do you need anything?” He asked, half ready to run down to the corner shop and buy any amount of painkillers or chocolate bars or your favourite lavender tea that you might need; not caring who saw the seemingly terrifying gang leader in the street with an armful of strawberry laces and salt water fudges.

You smiled like the summer sun and he melted, pulling you close as you whispered in the shell of his ear that you only needed him, and that was all you ever needed.

That was the first time you fully saw the extent of Tommy’s fear, but it definitely wasn’t the last. He knew he wanted you forever and always, and it took only six months of neck kisses and pillow talk, red hot jealousy and possessive hands across your skin and dancing in the rain and falling asleep under the pale yellow moon for him to put a ring on your finger. You were both consumed by your love, as though it was the only thing that mattered, it was insatiable and powerful - the wonderful mix of the devil and his sweet little angel.

And with that, came the good and the bad.

Like when you got food poisoning after Arthur cooked you a Sunday lunch to cheer you up whilst Tommy was gone. He came home to you retching over the toilet bowl with Mary holding back your hair, and swore that he would kill his brother with his own hands. Or when you slipped on ice and broke your arm while out with friends in London, and Tommy went ballistic and tried to ban you from ever leaving the house. It was just in his nature, how he always made sure you walked on the side furthest from the road, kept an arm slung around you whenever you were together, kept his eyes alert and vigilant no matter where you were - always looking out for his girl.

But he had never been like this.

———————————————————-

You were falling in and out of sleep. Waking up drowsy and heavy headed, squinting under bright lights, an ache in your skull and a burning in your throat. Every so often you felt a pinch in your upper arm, a squeeze on your palm, a kiss on your forehead - but you always drifted back into unconsciousness.

You weren’t sure how much time had passed when you woke up. The room was dark and you could hear the wind howling and whipping rain across the windows. You felt all too hot and all too cold at the same time, and the bed was damp with sweat. You struggled and tried to sit up, your head swaying and feeling as heavy as one of Tommy’s marble statues; as if you had been carved up and moulded. You could hear voices out in the hall, and unsteadily got to your feet, moving towards the noises.

“Pneumonia?” You heard through the thick wooden door, instantly recognising your husbands voice. “That’s impossible.”

“Sir...”

“Fucking. Impossible.” You knew his teeth were clenched.

The other man cleared his throat.“I know that it’s hard to hear, Mr Shelby, but your wife is very sick.”

“Just...” You felt your heart flutter and clench in your chest as the sound of his broken words, could practically feel his desperation and you wanted nothing more than to hold him. “Just tell me how to make her better.”

The second man spoke again, his voice softening and lowering, something you knew Tommy would hate. “Mr Shelby, the first round of antibiotics didn’t work and that means that it’s time for something stronger. Usually I would suggest the Birmingham hospital but I don’t think it’s equipped for...” He paused, trying to think over his words carefully. He wanted to convey the severity of the situation but also didn’t want to risk getting a bullet in his head from your very protective husband. “...This kind of reaction. I recommend we send her down to London for extra testing.”

“London? That’ll take two fucking hours. How the fuck can you recommend letting my wife travel that far? Are you out of your fucking mind?”

“I’m my opinion this is the wisest choice to make, but unfortunately that could mean your wife might get worse before she gets better.”

“Worse than she already is? That’s not an option.”

The man you assumed was the doctor was insistent, trying his best to portray the severity of the situation but failing as your hardheaded husband had already come to a decision.

“I’ll look after her here. She’s safest with me.”

Once Tommy had spoken that was the final result, and the doctor slinked away into the darkness and shook his head. You remained peering from behind the door, your tongue between your teeth and your heart hammering.

Tommy took one look at you and frowned, scooping you in his arms like a baby despite your protests. He ignored you, acting playfully and cheerful but you could feel his heated skin and the see flare of his nostrils. You wanted to help him but didn’t know how, and let him tuck you under the covers once again. He kissed your crown and stroked your hair and you wanted to speak but no words would leave your mouth.

“You stay there this time. You know I have no problem with tying you to the bed.”

You rolled your eyes as he left, and his clenched fists and tightened shoulders told you all you needed to know.

————————————————-

Comet watched from his spot beside you as Tommy wrestled with the fire. He had noticed you shivering despite your high temperature, and bundled you up in blankets whilst sparking matches beside the fireplace. There were raindrops across his shoulders, evidence that he had been outside and to the log store right at the end of the property - a job that had always been for the Groundskeeper. Your precious cat nudged the tips of your fingers as you sighed and watched your husband throw kindling onto the coal, a deep unease settling over your gut.

“Tommy, my love, I’m fine.” It wasn’t exactly true but you felt he needed to hear it. But you could practically see your words wash over him and evaporate like ocean spray.

He was shaking a metal tin in his palm as he worked, and you groaned and let your head hit the pillow as he pulled out two round chalky tablets. You winced as he placed them beside your glass, your mouth already tasting like the sour talc medicine you had come to loathe. He raised his eyebrows and shot you a look that told you he wasn’t far off plugging your nose with his fingers to force you to swallow, and you childishly stuck up two fingers as you took them.

Your stomach rumbled with nausea and you bit back the bile in your throat as you settled into the pillows. You watched your husband as he pulled off his crisp white shirt, revealing his taut tan stomach and the deep ink tattoos that you loved to trace with your fingertips and your lips. There was something about him standing there, with those damn cerulean eyes and hidden muscles, that boyish hair and slender fingers that you wanted desperately around your throat, that made a million tiny fireworks spark inside of you.

But instead you pushed him away from you despite your body wanting nothing but him wrapped all around you. “Don’t get too close. I might have something contagious. I can’t have you getting sick.”

He ignored you, smiling inwardly at the way you always put others before yourself. It was one of the million reasons he had fallen for you. You were sweating out a high fever and shivering in pain, and yet you always thought of him first. He pressed his lips to your temple and pulled you closer, knowing that skin to skin was a way to bring down a fever - even if it meant he had to restrain himself from tugging off your pretty little white nightgown and whatever frilly things you had on underneath.

“I’m not going anywhere. Fuck it if I catch anything.”

“That’s easy for you to say. I’m the one who will have to dote on you hand and foot, you big baby.” You teased, pressing yourself into him playfully, finally giving in.

He held you like a child, trying to hard to soften despite the way you felt underneath him. Everything on him was running a mile a minute, and he couldn’t help but want to try everything and everything to make you feel better. His hand was pressed against your temple to always try and measure your fever, his other palm across your chest to try and count your heart rate.

He could hear Mary treading across the landing carpet but he ignored his anxious maid, instead letting himself be completely consumed by the only thing that mattered - you.

This was something he had to do by himself. He was the only one who could care for you he reminded himself. And he let the words tumble over and over in his skull until they were all he could hear.

—————————————————————-

You had been asleep for a long time.

Every hour, after pacing the length of the hall and sanitising his hands and wiping the beads of sweat above your brow and above your breasts he woke you up and held a cool glass to your lips. You mumbled and moaned and pushed him away but he kept his fingers across your wrist - harsher than he ever had before - and kept you as close to him as possible.

He couldn’t remember the last time he had cooked. Perhaps it was last valentines when the two of you had camped out under the stars, drinking icy white wine and sharing stolen, day drunk kisses. That night he had roasted a chicken over the fire and it had burnt to a crisp as the two of you rolled around the grass, his head buried in your neck as you giggled at the poultry going up in flames.

He was trying now though, easy, plain substantial meals that wouldn’t upset your stomach. Boiled egg and dippy soldiers. Crackers with smooth cheese. Bubbly water and ginger biscuits. Each time he went upstairs you pushed him away, your whole body shuddering and almost retching, and he felt like smashing the plates against the wall at his defeat.

It had been almost thirty six hours since he had come home and it had been almost as long since you had eaten something, and his heart thundered and shattered in his chest when he found you gasping and wheezing over the toilet bowl when you had taken a bite of toast to calm him. He rarely left you alone, only for a few minutes to put the still full dishes in the sink, to ring Lizzie and tell her that he wouldn’t be coming for reasons that he refused to disclose, to smoke a cigarette under the grey stone archway, his shaking hands and bitten fingernails barely visible through the sleepy rolling fog.

He had grabbed handfuls of papers and the brass ink pen you had got him for your anniversary and broke his own rule - bringing work into your bedroom. It had always been a sacred space. For candlelight and soft laughter, aching hands and heart shaped bruises, a sanctuary for him to breathe and to love and to be loved fully in return. But he was afraid if he didn’t have a distraction, he might just completely lose it, and he had to be there for you.

So he sat squinting in his glasses, the room almost completely dark save for a few candles because of the migraines that had started to spread throughout your skull, and let himself be drawn into the mess of squiggly lines and numbers that suddenly didn’t add up, with you still centre stage in his peripheral.

After about forty minutes of rereading the same sentence a dozen times to try and make some sense of it, he heard your voice, like a small crack spreading across a sheet of ice, coming from the bed.

“Tom?” You sounded so weak, he practically flipped your cream vanity as he got to his feet and darted towards you. “I don’t feel well.”

He lifted you as you reached your arms up at him like a child. He almost gasped at the sweat pouring from your body but didn’t want to scare you, and instead held your shaking, shivering body against his own. How could you be so hot, yet so cold at the same time? Your skin was prickled with goosebumps yet you were burning with a fever, and for the first time in a long time, he had no fucking idea what to do.

He left you propped up against the headboard and he entered the bathroom. He ran over to the claw foot tub you loved, twisting the faucet and trying to find the perfect medium between boiling hot and freezing cold. He didn’t want to overwhelm you, just try and soothe your raging fever, and he ignored the shelves of expensive bath oils and scented soaps that you coveted, instead opting for a handful of something meant to ease tension - praying to whoever was listening that it would help you somehow.

There was a brutal, awful moment as he lifted you from the bed, limp as a rag doll, where he imagined what would happen if your heart were to stop. He couldn’t comprehend what it would be like to miss the weight of you in his arms, the smell of your skin, the feeling of your lips against him, the shovels stopping and fading into nothing. It hit him square in the chest, as merciless as a bullet, and he had to lean against the doorframe to stop the two of you from plummeting to the ground.

He undressed himself first. Tugging his white shirt off, sliding off his slacks and his underwear, keeping you as close to his chest as he could. Then he pulled your nightgown up and over your head. He gathered your hair and secured it up with a claw clip so that it was away from your face, the heat radiating off your neck as fierce as the fire now burnt down to ash in the bedroom.

He lowered the two of you into the bath, sinking down beneath the eucalyptus smelling lukewarm water, letting it wash over you both. Your teeth were chattering and you were barely awake. He gathered handfuls of water, letting it drip over your shoulders and pulse points, grabbing a washcloth and running it over your raised skin, hating how you barely registered his touch. As he scrubbed over your collarbones and up to your face he saw your lips had turned to an awful, silvery blue, as vibrant as a fresh bruise. He hissed and tugged on the plug, now determined to get you wrapped up in a fresh towel and tucked back into bed.

You were soft and placid and he helped you out, lacking the usual fire that he adored. Your eyes were glassy and missing their vibrance, like the vanishing spark of a lighter - and he felt miles and miles of invisible distance between the two of you. You were unsteady on your feet and he used his body to prop you up as he warmed your arms with a fluffy white towel. You suddenly stopped, lifting your hand to your mouth as you started to cough - a horrible, dry, gasping cough.

He noticed it almost immediately. His eyes darting to the splatter of red against the white, a smudge of crimson that was as loud and commanding as a siren, a warning signal that something was definitely not right. A bead of scarlet that would linger long behind his closed eyelids.

He managed to get you back into bed, remaining calm as he stroked your hair and kissed your temple. He tucked you under the duvet and waited for your breathing to even before he ran downstairs, his heart thumping in his ears as he practically ripped the phone off of the wall.

“Pol? Fuck. I think - I think I need help.”

—————————————————————-

The room smelt like bleach and metal. Unfamiliar and clinical. There was something hard on your chest and covering your mouth, it tasted like wet pennies and was as heavy as a hand over your throat, but for the first time in days you could finally breathe. You tried to sit up, but there was a needle in your chest, a gown you didn’t recognise cut straight down the middle to accommodate it. You struggled and lifted the thin bedsheet above your shivering torso, trying to look around the cold room.

“Careful!”

It was Polly, dressed immaculately despite her surroundings. She reached out and placed a manicured hand across yours, and you smiled at the woman who had always been a calming influence when you had joined the circus of a family. There was concern in her eyes, rimmed with black eyeliner and lifted lashes but still swimming deep around her pupils. That made you frown, and you moved as much as you could to face her.

“What happened?”

She ran her tongue over her teeth, choosing her words. “You gave us quite a fright, love.”

“I did?” Your memories of the past few days were much like a fever dream, blurry and distorted snapshots were all you could really remember.

“Your pneumonia got worse. A lot worse.” She paused, looking over to the door and you followed her gaze. “They found fluid in your lungs.”

“So...” You started, gesturing to the needle in your abdomen and the breathing apparatus around your head.

She nodded. “Yes. You were in surgery. It was touch and go for a little bit.”

“Really?” You were bewildered. You couldn’t remember anything, let alone having major surgery. You looked her straight in the eye, asking her the questions that had been on the tip of your tongue since you had woken up. “Where is he? Where’s Tommy?”

“He’s outside.” She clicked her tongue, reaching deep into her purse and pulling out some hand cream, gently rubbing your dry hands like she was your mother. You leant into her touch despite all of your questions.

“What? Why?”

“I think he blames himself. God knows what goes on in that mans head. All I really know is he was bloody terrified.” She paused, looking over in the distance. “I’ve never seen him so scared, not even on his wedding day.” She smiled sadly, trying to lighten the mood, but it soon faded. “He didn’t leave your side the whole time you were asleep.”

Your heart thumped in your chest, a soft aching that you knew all too well. “I want to see him.”

“I know you do. But right now...” She stopped right as a handful of nurses entered, clad in long blue dresses with white aprons, hair tied back and smelling of strong soap and disinfectant. You lost Polly in the bustle as one spoke softly to you before tugging on the needle right beside your ribs, your eyes just catching hers as she left, a promise to see you soon on her lips.

It wasn’t her you saw next, but Tommy.

The nurses had cleaned you up with wet flannels and bowls of warm soapy water. Your hair had been braided and your face washed, and walked you arm in arm over to the bathroom so you could relieve yourself. A skittish doctor followed after, his eyes darting across you and his touch gentle as he changed your dressings and took your blood - obviously under strict instructions from your husband, and despite everything, you smiled.

You were sat listening to the clock tick. A romance novel you had been given was dangling dangerously close to the end of the bed, but you were too tired to focus on it. You heard the door squeal softly, and the sound of familiar footsteps across the tiling, each small thud sending shockwaves across your spine.

“Tommy.”

He looked tired. Exhausted rather, as though he had been awake all the hours that you had been asleep. His eyes were bloodshot and his skin was sallow and bruised. His clean shaven face was dark with stubble and his hair was ruffled and unwashed. You longed to reach out to him and cradle him against you, but he stood in the doorway, lingering like a ghost.

“Tommy?” You repeated, your voice almost a whisper, breaking his already shattered heart once again.

“How are you feeling, my love?”

You smiled softly, like spun sugar and sweet honey. No hospital bed or itchy gown could dull your infectious light. “Better now.”

He approached you almost cautiously. He settled down on the hard chair beside your bed and stroked a line down from your temple to your lips, his touch setting you alight like an electrical storm. There was a sadness in his eyes that reminded you of how he got when things were bad, and you willed him to come back to you. His touch was tentative and he inhaled shakily as you cupped his hand with yours, pressing a tender kiss to the inside of his palm.

“Don’t scare me like that. Ever.” He was stern, as though hoping his words would make it true. “I mean it.” He kept his gaze on your pretty face, trying his best not to stare at the harsh bruising on your delicate flesh or the sickly tone of your skin.

“Tommy I’m going to get sick, even you can’t stop that.” You teased gently.

“I can bloody well try.” His hands cradled your face, pulling you into him and kissing you fiercely, still mindful of the wires and tubes taped to your body. There was something about the tenderness and deep longing in the kiss that when mixed with your total exhaustion and love for your husband prompted tears to start falling from your eyes. You sniffled as he pulled away, concern dripping from his beautiful features, his powerful mind wanting to do everything and anything to stop your hurting.

“Hey, hey.” He said, running his calloused fingertips under your eyes and wiping your tears away. You leant into his touch and he kissed your temple, squeezing you even tighter into him. “You know I hate it when you cry.” He toyed with your hair and winked playfully. “Besides, all you need to focus on is getting better. You’re going to have to take care of me when we get home, this week has given me a fucking stroke.”

You rolled your eyes, kissing the inside of his wrist. “You’re a idiot, Thomas Shelby.” You blinked at the clock looming above you both, wanting to stay in your blissful bubble but also knowing that Aunt Pol would probably be in the vicinity harassing a poor nurse over your results. “You should go and find Polly, let her know that everything’s alright.”

He shook his head and nuzzled his nose across yours, an act so innocent that your heart dipped and swooped in your chest. “Later.” He said, breathless and consumed by you. Everything had been too much. Almost losing you had been harrowing, it had punctured him completely and he just needed to feel his girl safe and warm around him. He needed to know that you weren’t found anywhere.

“I just want to stay here for a while. Just me and you.”

You grinned. “Always.”

#tommy shelby oneshot #tommy shelby imagine #peaky blinders oneshot #tommy shelby x reader #thomas shelby imagine #thomas shelby oneshot

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asmo-ds · 4 years

Note

Hey, its my first time requesting something, so, sorry if something is unclear! How would the brothers and/or undatables (Luke is platonic 'cuz he's baby) react if MC gave Luke the nickname "Chibi", ya know 'cuz he's smoll and all. I just find that neckname really cute and it kinda fits him. Feel free to ignore this, and sorry i made mistakes, english isnt my first language.

w/ MC who calls Luke “Chibi”

your English is fine! and calling Luke Chibi-chan is definitely something I’d do if I were MC

I also don’t know why but i struggled with this one a bit, I’m tired so I’m sorry if it’s not exactly how you wanted it ;-; if it rlly is as bad as I think it is feel free to request a redo!

- Did MC really just refer to that puny bratty angel with such a cute name

- He’s a rabid chihuahua not some cute little fluff ball of joy like Cerberus

- When he sees MC’s fond smile towards the angel he decides to let it slide just this once

- Finds it endearing after a while that MC could give such an annoying little brat such a cute little nickname without being sarcastic about it

- “Oi, MC! Quit coddling the chihuahua and come help the Great Mammon make some bank”

- Acts like he thinks its a stupid nickname

- He really just wants MC to call him something cute too

- He accidentally refers to Luke as Chibi at one point and then punches himself in the face

- woAHHHHH MC USING SUCH CUTE LANGUAGE AROUND LEVI? THIS IS AMAZI- oh they were talking about Luke.

- The chihuahua is his new enemy and he tries to act cutesy around MC more often to earn the nickname for himself

- Gives up because he realizes he’s too big for a cute nickname like Chibi

- But when MC starts to refer to him only as Leviachan he nearly faints out of excitement

- Scoffs and pretends he doesn’t care but he really wants MC to give him nicknames, maybe not cutesy ones like Chibi- BUT a nickname would be great

- Constantly refers to Luke as Chihuahua in hopes it’ll rub off on MC and they’ll understand how the small angel is rabid and annoying

- When he realizes it makes MC sad to see him talk down about Luke he calms down and tries to avoid talking trash in front of MC

- “MC do me next! I want you to call me something sweet ~”

- Will do everything in his power to earn a cute nickname from MC

- Hates Luke for getting a nickname before him when HE’S THE CUTE ONE

- Will call MC pet names more so eventually they’ll reciprocate his efforts

- Finds it adorable

- He may think of Luke as a chihuahua like his brothers but he also enjoys Luke’s company and his cooking

- Starts to refer to him as Chibi as well

- Eventually Luke accidentally calls him Onii-chan at some point and it warms Beel’s heart

- He’s too tired to care at first

- But hearing the word Chibi so often out of MC’s mouth eventually gets annoying and he goes on a long rant about Luke and how he’s just a chihuahua who bites people’s ankles and yips too much

- MC gets sad about his rant and apologizes for using the word so much

- After a day or two of them not saying it he misses the cute way they would say Chibi so fondly when speaking of the angel and starts to refer to him as Chibi as well in front of MC and MC only

- Doesn’t understand why MC would refer to Luke in such a way at first

- When MC explains nicknames and terms of endearment to him though he refuses to refer to his friends by their real names

- “Luci-chan! Do you have those papers I asked for?” “My lord please refer to me as Lucifer and nothing but Lucifer.”

- “Onii-chan, can you make some tea for chibi-chan and I :)” “My lord I am your butler not your ‘onii-chan’”

- Simply smiles and shakes his head at MC as he finds it amusing how they are in literal hell and refer to someone there as ‘chibi-chan’

- Will teasingly call Luke Chibi while they are baking

- Ends up calling him Chibi out of habit and is barely able to refer to him by his name anymore since he is so used to the nickname

- Goes parading around the house chanting “Chibi~” whenever he needs Luke for a task

- Makes fun of MC for the silly nickname but also finds it adorable and doesn’t want them to stop

- If he hears the word Chibi at any point for the rest of his life he gets flashbacks to his year in the Devildom with MC and gets really warm inside

- Is very happy to see how kind and innocent MC remains while surrounded by demons

- Is also glad that Luke is finally being called something other than chihuahua

- Will pick up on the nickname as well, but only when Luke isn’t around because he knows Luke will be insecure about his size if he says is near him

- Just finds the nickname too endearing to stop saying it

aka Chibi-chan <33

- *angry chihuahua noises*

- At first he doesn’t like the implication of him being small and cute so he rejects the name

- But when he realizes how kind MC is compared to the demons who refer to him as a dog he gets all warm and fuzzy inside

- If MC calls him anything but Chibi he will be sad and think the demons are finally corrupting MC

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jungshookz · 3 years

Text

🧦 stocking stuffers: taehyung’s good at hiding presents and y/n’s bad at finding them

pairing; roommate!taehyung x reader

genre; sfw!! feat. the usual antics because roommate!tae and y/n are both clowns (also there’s a reference from the fic in here.,., if u kno u kno)

what to expect; “i’ll make-out with you for five minutes straight if you tell me where you’ve hidden them.”

wordcount; 1.5k

»»————-　🎁　————-««

“hey, i could get used to this view.” taehyung whistles lowly as he pushes his bedroom door open, his gaze immediately falling to your ass that’s sticking up in the air

he’s been looking all over the apartment for you for the past twenty minutes

(the only reason why it took him twenty minutes was because he went on a mandatory snack break when he went to the kitchen to replenish his energy from the exertion of looking for you)

“-!” you yelp when you knock the top of your head against the base of the bed, quickly bringing a hand up to press against the sore spot, “tae! ...there you are! i was, uh, looking all over for you!”

“and the first place you thought to look was under my bed?” he asks, leaning against the frame of the door and shoving his hands into the pockets of his sweatpants

“well, it’s... it’s pretty spacious down here, so...” you swipe your arm underneath the bed to emphasize your point, “you could totally fit under here-”

“are you-”

“no, i’m not!” you chuckle nervously, getting up onto your feet before dusting your hands off, “no. i’m not.” you repeat, lowering your voice by a couple octaves

taehyung blinks

“i didn’t even finish asking the question.”

“well, whatever your question was, my answer is no, i’m not.” you clear your throat, leaning over a little to pull up the corner taehyung’s blanket a little bit before shooting him a sheepish smile

(you ripped it off the bed when you barged in like a rabid dog because you were positive that your presents were hiding underneath the sheets - unsurprisingly, they weren’t.)

“i wasn’t doing anything!” you cross your arms defensively, “that’s my point.”

“you’re acting like you just murdered someone and now you’re just trying to hide the body.” taehyung points out before his eyes widen slightly, “you… you didn’t murder-”

“no, i didn’t murder anyone, dumbass,” you snort, “i was just… cleaning up a little bit! you know how dusty it gets in this apartment…” you sigh, slowly stepping towards taehyung while nodding slowly, “it’s, uh… it’s pretty clean in here! i have to say you’ve done a pretty good job at dusti-“

“if you’re looking for your presents, you’re definitely not going to find them in here-“

“then where else would you be hiding them!?” you blurt out, electricity zinging up your spine as you stand up straight

taehyung laughs lightly before shaking his head and turning on his heel, “do you actually think i’m dumb enough to keep presents hidden under my bed? this isn’t my first rodeo, cowgirl-”

he used to do secret santa with his roommates back when he still lived at the frat house and he learned to hide presents very well because boys are much more aggressive when it comes to tearing a place apart to look for something

one time he came home to see that the entire couch had been flipped over and cut open (with its stuffing strewn everywhere) which wasn’t a very pleasant surprise

that was a nice couch!

so if you really thought he was hiding his presents underneath his bed... you must be insane!

“well... i already put my presents for you underneath the tree!” you whine, clinging to taehyung from behind as the two of you make your way down the hallway and out to the living room, “why can’t you put yours out?”

“i have self-control, so i haven’t even thought about touching or shaking any of the packages underneath the tree,” taehyung teases, “plus, you put them out here on your own accord! i certainly didn’t force you to-”

“but it’s not fAIR-!” you whine, burrowing your face in between taehyung’s shoulder blades as your arms tighten around his torso, “it’s so not fair...”

taehyung hums in response, reaching down to give the top of your folded hands a loving pat

you can cry about it all day long but it’s not going to change his mind or make him give in

...also, are you going to cling to him like this all day?

because if you are, you guys will probably run into some issues when he eventually has to use the washroom-

“i’ll make-out with you for five minutes straight if you tell me where you’ve hidden them.” you perk up, propping your chin up onto tae’s shoulder

“you think a measly five minute make-out session is going to tempt- how old do you think we are?? thirteen??” taehyung scoffs, turning his head slightly so he can kind of look at you, “nice try.”

“what about a handjob?”

“hm, getting warmer-” taehyung jokes as he walks towards the kitchen, reaching down to try to prY you off of him

“blowjob???” you’re more desperate now as you trail behind him, taehyung letting out a laugh at how needy you’re acting, “sex! i’ll give you the full package!”

the two of you step into the kitchen, taehyung making his way to the fridge for another snack

he thinks he deserves an award of some kind for finding you

and a nice, crisp bowl of cereal sounds good to him right now

“what do you want?? you wanna put a leash on me?? tie me up??” you slap your hands down on the kitchen island as you watch taehyung grab the milk from the fridge, “blindfold me! use ice cubes-”

“hold on, wait-” taehyung spins around, his eyes widening in concern as he holds up a finger, “did you hear that?”

“huh?” you tilt your head curiously before looking around the kitchen, “hear wha-”

“hello! this is kim taehyung headquarters, you’re speaking to secretary kim. how may i be of service today?” taehyung chirps, the corners of his mouth pulling up in a bright smile

oh god

oh god please

please nO

“don’t do this to me.” you whisper, shaking your head slowly, “do not make me do this again-”

“i’m sorry, miss.” tae hums, closing the fridge door, “could you speak up? i’m afraid i can’t hear you...”

you slump down against the counter, turning your head and squishing your cheek against the cool surface as you give in, “...i would like to file a complaint about kim taehyung to the kim taehyung complaint department.”

taehyung grins at the sight of you completely giving up, “great! can i get a name?”

“y/n y/l/n.” you mumble, feeling an immense wave of deja vu rush over you

this sucks

everything sucks

“alright, miss y/l/n.” taehyung smiles to himself as he pulls the drawers open for a spoon, “i’ll connect you to the kim taehyung complaint department right now. i’m going to put you on hold now, if you wouldn’t mind waiting?”

“you know, i would mind,” you get up from the counter before propping your chin up on your palm, “but i don’t think you really care-”

taehyung cuts you off as he starts to hum an overly cheerful version of twinkle twinkle little star, his head bopping along to the beat as he pours milk into his bowl

you continue to glare at him as your eyebrows knit together in frustration

unbelievable

you’re dating an idiot

why are you playing along with this???

again???

“hello!” taehyung’s head suddenly shoots up, “this is the kim taehyung complaint department of kim taehyung headquarters. you’re speaking to head manager kim taehyung. how may i be of service today?”

you poke your tongue against the side of your cheek as you think about your response

you knoW that as soon as you say something, he’s going to cut you off

...

you’re not going to let him win this time

this time, you’re going to be the one who gets the last word in!

you push yourself up off the counter before crossing your arms, taehyung looking at you expectantly

“this is... miss y/l/n that i’m speaking to, correct? i was told that you had a complaint to make?”

you give tae a half-hearted shrug in response

taehyung nods to himself in understanding

so that’s how you’re going to do this?

you think you’re going to beat him at his own game?

“i’m sorry, am i correct in saying that your complaint had something to do with christmas presents?” taehyung purses his lips in thought, “because i’d be more than happy to help you find them-”

“woah, woah, okay-!” the smug grin falls from your face as you start bouncing up and down on your heels excitedly, “YES please tell me where i can-”

“oOh, sorry!” taehyung winces, sucking in air through his gritted teeth, “my snack break just started. you know how it is.” he pouts, bringing a spoonful of cereal up to his mouth before taking a bite

mm!

hits the spot :’)

“are you fu-”

“pheavse pheel phree to call again la-er-!” he murmurs through a mouthful of cheerios, milk dribbling down his chin

“oh, you’re disgusting-” you scoff, rolling your eyes before turning on your heel to exit the kitchen, “and your lame kim taehyung headquarters bit is so not funny-!”

❄️christmas with cee 2020 masterlist 🎄

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you-cant-spell-subtext-without · 3 years

Text

so get this. I was gonna roll around in Tombstone related fluff today - but no, no - this post came across my dash so Now We Are Gonna Discuss the Carnal Consumption of Meat as it appears on That Show Supernatural. YEAH BUDDIES!

(also my sincere apologies to OP of the inspiration post who innocently tagged it with “lunch date!” because I am about to go Elsewhere, cursedly).

Let’s all go meat man, after the cut!

This analysis centers primarily on 5x14 Bloody Valentine. The title of course is a semi-homage to a 3D Slasher Film Jensen starred in circa 2009.

Which I will be renting soon I guess. ,[<- parasocial panda GET BACK IN YOUR ENCLOSURE]

Also Its Really Fun that the trailer for Said Cinema ends with “nothing says date movie like a 3-D ride to hell” [are you also thinking of Cas pulling Dean out of hell, or are you normal?] ***unironically the teaser for 5x14 is -

EXT. SIDEWALK - IN FRONT OF ALICE'S APARTMENT BUILDING

RUSSEL

First date.

They then eat each other. Literally they eat each others flesh. They also do it while dirty talking about it. SPN IS A SHOW

ALICE Ugh! I've been so alone. So empty...

RUSSEL I know. Me too.

ALICE I want you, Russel---All of you... inside me...

[they both take bites out of each other, Alice chewing on a piece of Russel's flesh]

****Remember this detail, as it is important.

ANYWAY, it’s truly Cursed that not only are we doing an homage to this 3-D Jensen Horror Date Flick but also this episode is specifically centered on Valentine’s Day. The day honoring romance and love Now Coopted by Hallmark, everyone, that is the day spn writers chose to introduce us to

Sir Horseman of THE Biblical Apocalypse Famine.

Canonically, we are aware that the show is drawing from the book of Revelations in its depiction of the Four Horsemen. Here’s what it says about Famine -

"When He broke the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying, "Come." I looked, and behold, a black horse; and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.”

-Revelations 6:5

Famine holds scales (used to weigh out grain in times of food scarcity). Spn’s depiction is represented as hunger, a bottomless pit of need. It consumes souls (demon and human alike).

Cas describes Famine a little more poetically:

CASTIEL

"And then will come Famine riding on a black steed. He will ride into the land of plenty... "

"... and great will be the Horseman's hunger, for he is hunger. "

"His hunger will seep out and poison the air. "

***Consider a prior season in which we are introduced to the Seven Deadly Sins. Which are the sins associated with hunger?

Gluttony

and Lust.

***this is also important

Back to the episode. Case cold open, and we find out that Alice was a Nice Girl. In that she didnt drink, smoke or

have premarital sex.

***So Alice’s hunger for the sin of Lust caused her to succumb to it; and her demise was presented as Gluttony (literally eating her partner’s flesh). HMM

Famine’s presence is affecting the town, and Cas is not immune.

DEAN

And when did you start eating?

CASTIEL

Exactly. My hunger-- it's a clue, actually.

***They lay it out a little more in case you missed it ->

SAM

I thought famine meant starvation, like as in, you know, food.

CASTIEL

Yes. Absolutely. But not just food. I mean, everyone seems to be starving for something--Sex, attention, drugs, love...

***this is so important. but of course because its spn and our textual narrators are generally unreliable (even in a Ben Edlund episode, yes I know)

we get a red herring

CASTIEL

Right. The cherub made them crave love, and then Famine came, and made them rabid for it.

***but that’s not accurate. they didn’t get married or become obsessed with each other (remember the cursed coin in 4x08 Wishful Thinking and the unconditional love wish? not what happened here). they had premarital sex. they did the thing Alice considers wrong, and dark, and sinful. and then they ate each others’ flesh.

DEAN

Okay, but what about you? I mean, since when do angels secretly hunger for White Castle?

CASTIEL

It's my vessel-- Jimmy. His, uh, appetite for red meat has been touched by Famine's effect

***mad lad Jimmy Novak’s hunger is for...red meat? He is starving for red meat? You are telling me that the Novaks, red blooded conservative religious midwestern Novaks, ate RED MEAT SO SPARINGLY that Jimmy Novak was LITERALLY starving for it?!?! No way. Absolutely no way. This is a man who was such a religious zealot he STUCK HIS HAND IN BOILING WATER and accepted an angel of the lord into his own body but his secret hunger was for fucking ground beef?

give me a damn break.

to me this is an absolute coverup. Because Cas’s burger consumption is not related one iota to his vessel Jimmy Novak.

it is a representation of Cas falling. Cas’s cravings for meat represent his growing (and very much prohibited) feelings for...humanity (Dean Winchester), and they are presenting as Gluttony in the form of his downing more and more copious amounts of red meat.

SERIOUSLY, consider this - at one point the depiction is so desperately carnal that he is eating raw ground beef with his bare hands. It is fucking uncomfortable. and it is SUPPOSED to be. Famine stirs up hunger for the prohibited. For the sinful. That which we are starving for but do not believe we can ever have, so we lust and we lust and we LUST after it, but should we allow ourselves even just a taste of what we have been ravenously craving, we binge it until we ourselves disappear into the oblivion of our own sinful, dark desires.

Since You Want More Examples of why this cant possibly be hunger for Cheeseburgers and Cheeseburgers alone, Consider Famine’s effect on Dean. Remember his doctor kink?

**when its revealed that Doctor Corman has succumbed to Famine’s poison by drinking himself to death, Dean - very uncharacteristically by the way - reacts by saying out loud

DEAN Thanks. Crap! I really kind of liked this guy.

***please note that Doctor Corman says the following to Dean in the prior scene they have together -

DR. CORMAN [to Dean]

Agent Marley, you just can't stay away.

****was that a flirtation?

***Also, Dean doesn’t want to go out and chase tail for Valentines Day.

SAM

I mean, what do you always call it-- Uh, unattached drifter Christmas?

DEAN

Oh, yeah. Well... be that as it may...I don't know. Guess I'm not feeling it this year.

SAM

So you're not into bars full of lonely women?

DEAN

Nah, I guess not. [takes a sip of his beer] Ahh. What?

SAM

That's when a dog doesn't eat-- That's when you know something's really wrong.

***oh look we are relating things to eating again. sex/lust to gluttony. hmmm hmmm hmmm

ANYHOW - *takes deep breath*

this is also the Episode Where This Scene Lives

****JACKTING JOICES

oh and speaking of jacting joices, this is also the Dean Notices Cupids Crotch Episode.

frAckles, I am once again asking why you only permit celestial beings to hug you from behi-[gunshots]

but Dean isn’t hungry. Why? Famine has the explanation, and we get it after Dean immediately runs inside after Cas heads in to complete his portion of their plan barely giving him any time to do so because he misses him that much.

FAMINE

I disagree. [Famine moves closer to Dean and touches him] Yes. I see. That's one deep, dark nothing you got there, Dean. Can't fill it, can you? Not with food or drink. Not even with sex.

DEAN

Oh, you're so full of crap.

FAMINE

Oh, you can smirk and joke and lie to your brother, lie to yourself, but not to me!

***not Dean making all of those homophobic/homoerotic jokes every time he’s in danger or feeing uncomfortable; not that, that can’t possibly be what Famine is referencing, right?

I can see inside you, Dean. I can see how broken you are, how defeated.

***not THIS parallel:

AMARA:

You're a mystery. I can see inside your heart. Feel the love you feel, except… It's cloaked in shame

You can't win, and you know it. But you just keep fighting. Just... keep going through the motions.

***not the motions of performative heterosexuality!!

***Dean’s not hungry because in his heart he truly believes that he can’t actually have what he hungers for. That Thing Which This Episode Overtly but Also Very Clearly Made Obvious. It’s an angel riding shotgun [I did Do That and I am Not Sorry], eating a burger in the front seat of the impala. But, I’ve deviated from the meat of this essay [gunshots] [this time just for the bad joke].

BONUS

there’s Exists another episode in which a man ravenously consumes red meat; eventually succumbing to eating raw beef with his bare hands in the season prior to this one.

Yes Supernatural the Show That Brought Us Not One But Two Scenes of Persons Carnally Consuming Red Meat With Their Bare Hands.

This episode is a MOTW - the man in question is a rougaru - a monster that starts out as human but due to some specific genetic disorder (hmmm hmmm hmm crack in THE chassis hmmm hmmm) soon begins to be extremely hungry - “for everything, but eventually long pig.” AKA human flesh.

Wanna know the kicker?

Episode’s called Metamorphosis.

(GIF by jackttwist)

I’ll see myself out.

[DOUBLE BONUS for extra credit:

if you really wanna wild out, go watch the scene of Jack the rougaru looking at himself in the mirror in 4x04 - and then meander on over to 7x01 and check out God!stiel looking in the mirror as the leviathans writhe inside him over there. It’s worth the walk.]

***oh and @lilac-void im tagging you in this one because in exchange for your KIND creator content nomination I guess I will respond by cursing you with an Honorary tag in this, a Meat Meta. you’re welcome slash I'm sorry XO [but seriously thank you again for your kindness and appreciation; it really motivated me to sit down and get moving on making more content <3]

#yes I did do a meat meta #and what of it #destiel #spn #spn fandom #supernatural #spn family #myspnmeta #my spn meta #hellerism #deancas #longpost #spn analysis #spn 5x14 #spn bloody valentine #meat meta #<- I do not even want to know or see what else that tag would lead to

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takahero · 3 years

Text

some descriptions of Basta in Inkheart if you’re interested!! spoiler warning just to be on the safe side, in case u haven’t read it. and my unsolicited commentary here and there

“‘Naturally I recognised them at once. Capricorn had sent his best men. Even Basta was with them.’” — pg.99

“Rasping cat’s-tongue voice” pg.125

“(Basta’s face) was thin, sharply angular, with close-set eyes…Basta was not a tall man, and his shoulders were almost as narrow as a boy’s, but Meggie held her breath when he took a step towards her…He had an aura of fury about him, or something keen and biting—” pg.126

“Only Basta wore a snow-white shirt, just as Dustfinger had said, with a red flower in the buttonhole of his jacket, a red flower like a warning.” pg.131

“He caught her eye, and with a twisted smile kissed the blade of his knife.” — pg.173 (I JUST HAD TO ADD THIS)

“‘Oh, Basta can’t write,’ replied Capricorn calmly. ‘None of my men can either read or write. I’ve forbidden them to learn.’” — pg.176 (literacy rights for Basta 2k21)

“She could see the trepidation even on Basta’s face, although he was doing his best to hide it by assuming a particularly bored expression.” — pg.185

“‘Abduction!’ Basta savoured the word. ‘Sounds good to me. Really good.’” — pg.192 (ok but if u read it a certain way. unofficial evidence that basta would enjoy reading if he could LMAO)

“‘Where’s our luggage?’ she asked.

“Dustfinger looked at her with amusement. ‘I expect Basta’s divided it out among Capricorn’s maids. He likes to ingratiate himself with them.’” — pg.213 LMAOOOOOOO OH MY GOD

“Basta was still standing in the road. His face was sharply outlined when he lit a cigarette with a lighter.” — pg.215

“And he bent down to cut through the leather thong that Basta wore around his neck. It had a little bag tied with a red drawstring hanging from it.” — pg. 231

“‘Ah, Basta!’ Fenoglio smiled. Each of his separate wrinkles expressed self-satisfaction. ‘One of the best villains I ever thought up. A rabid dog, but not half as bad as my other dark hero, Capricorn. Basta would let his heart be torn out for Capricorn, but his master is a stranger to such loyalty.’” — pg.264

“‘You know, if you were to ask me which of those two I was prouder of, Basta or Capricorn, I couldn’t tell you! Even though some critics said they were just too nasty!’” — pg.265

“Basta emphasised the word, putting his foxy face so close to Meggie’s she could see herself reflected in his eyes.” — pg.301

“‘You’ll do no such thing!’ he spat at Flatnose, as the grey cat disappeared under the wardrobe. ‘Killing cats is unlucky. How often do I have to tell you?’” — pg.303 (friendly reminder that the last time he appeared, he kicked a dog in the ribs 😐)

“Basta was walking just behind her, and she heard him quietly cursing the rain.” — pg.304 (irrelevant but i kind of hc basta to like the rain, since it would dampen dustfinger’s showbiz LMAO)

“Basta’s eyes always narrowed when he smiled.” — pg.305

“‘You wear long sleeves,’ Fenoglio continued very slowly, as if giving Basta time to take in every single word, ‘because your master likes playing with fire. You burned both arms right up to the shoulders when you obeyed his orders and set fire to the house of a man who had dared to refuse his daughter to Capricorn. Ever since then, someone else has laid the fire, and you confine yourself to playing games with knives.’” — pg.308

“‘Oh, I know all about you, Basta,’ he said. ‘I know you’d give your life for Capricorn any day, and you’re always hungry for his praise. I know you were younger than Meggie when his men picked you up, and ever since you’ve loved him like a father. But shall I tell you something? Capricorn thinks you’re stupid, and despises you for it. He despises you all, his devoted black-clad sons, although it’s his own doing that you’re still so ignorant. And he wouldn’t hesitate to set the police on to any one of you if it was to his advantage. Are you quite clear about that?’” — pg.308 (FENOGLIO…..RUTHLESS)

“Basta winked at Meggie.” — pg.310 (wink 1)

“Every cruel deed with which he had ever credited Basta was probably going through his head. Basta relished the fear on his face for a few delicious minutes.” — pg.312

“Basta’s car had not been in the car park at all since they’d come here. It was unusual for it to be gone so long, because Basta didn’t like to be away from the village for any length of time.” — pg.318 basta is a homebody guys

“‘Save your tongue for later, scribbler!” Basta interrupted. ‘I don’t like whispering.’” — pg.324

“Almost all the women in the village kept away from Basta, but he didn’t keep away from them.” — pg.337

“‘Take him, for instance,’ he said, pointing to Basta. ‘I always knew he was a very unhappy boy before you picked him up. As it says in another very fine book, it’s terribly easy to persuade children that they are worthless. Basta was convinced of it. Not that you taught him any better, oh no! Why would you? But suddenly here was someone to whom he could devote himself, someone who told him what to do — he’d found a god, Capricorn, and if you treated him badly, well, who says that all gods are kindly? Most of them are stern and cruel, wouldn’t you agree? I didn’t write all this in the book. I knew it, that was enough.’” — pg.345 (this is really the part that made my stance toward basta change. like PHEW. that’s a lot to unpack)

“Basta was notorious for his silent tread.” — pg.363

“Basta’s breath smelled of mint, fresh and sharp. Apparently a girl he’d once wanted to kiss had told him he had bad breath. The girl had regretted it, but ever since then Basta chewed peppermint leaves from morning to night.” — pg.364

“He whistled softly through his teeth, then held the book close to Meggie’s face.”— pg.374 (i was rendered speechless)

“Basta’s lips quivered with annoyance, but he bit back his reply and, without a word, put his hand under the black cloth.” — pg.377 (ugh I loved this. like we know he worships capricorn like a dog, but earlier fenoglio flat out told him capricorn couldn’t care less about what happened to him. more than that, capricorn asked basta to bring meggie and fenoglio — prisoners — into his home. later dustfinger says that basta would’ve slept on the threshold of capricorn’s room if he could but none of the men sleep there. so with all of this fresh in his mind, you can imagine him feeling quite hurt and betrayed. UGH I wish he had a greater arc surrounding capricorn…like even if we saw a few hints that his loyalty was starting to show cracks…idk what his arc is in inkspell so maybe I’ll sit tight for that)

“He was in a hurry to get back to the light of day, away from the dead and their ghosts. His hand shook as he hung his lantern on a book and opened the grating over the first cell.” — pg.409

“Dustfinger was always surprised to find how easily you could scare the man with a few words.” — pg.409 LMAOOOOO

“‘That notion of burning us isn’t a very new idea, Basta, but then you were never fond of new ideas.’” — pg.422

“His teeth were almost as white as his shirt.” — pg.442

“Meggie saw from his face that everything in him felt revulsion, but he came closer and took the creature. He held the scaly body well away from him as it wound and twisted in the air.

“‘As you see, Basta doesn’t care for my snakes!’ said the Magpie, with a smile. ‘He never did, not that that means much. As far as I know Basta doesn’t like anything but his knife. He also believed that snakes bring bad luck, which of course is pure nonsense.’ Mortola handed Basta the second snake. Meggie saw the viper’s tiny poison fangs when it opened its mouth. For a moment, she almost felt sorry for Basta.” — pg.446

“‘Basta likes to use snakes to scare women who reject his advances. It didn’t work with Resa. How did it go exactly — didn’t she finally put the snake outside your door, Basta?’” — pg.446 (10/10 resa & snake well-deserved)

“Basta did not want neighbours. Indeed, he wanted no other company but Capricorn’s. Dustfinger knew Basta would have slept on the threshold of Capricorn’s room if he had been allowed to, but none of the men lived in the main house.” — pg.478

“Basta was probably the only man in Capricorn’s village who locked his front door.” — pg.480

“They said in the village that whenever Capricorn had a house set on fire Basta took away a brick or stone, even though he feared fire at other times, and clearly that story was true.” — pg.480

“(Everything in Basta’s house was scrubbed clean, as spotless as his snow-white shirt.)” — pg.481

“Once or twice, footsteps approached, but each time they passed by the house. What a good thing Basta had no friends.” — pg.482

“Basta was not in a good way. Whenever they looked at him they saw his hands clinging to the bars, knuckles white under his sun-tanned skin.” — pg.503 (BASTA’S SUNTANNED?!?!)

“Basta in particular was the object of enough scorn and derision for ten men, and from his failure to react at all one could only guess at the depths of his despair.” — pg.503

“For the fraction of a second life came back into Basta as his former lord and master stopped by the bars; he raised his head, his eyes pleading silently, like a dog begging for forgiveness…Basta only bowed his head and stared at the floor. Elinor thought he looked like an oyster with the flesh and life sucked out of it.” — pg.504 (i honestly still can’t wrap my head around his behaviour in this chap. i mean yes, the gladiator-style death sentence looming over his head can’t be understated. but i think for me it was how rapidly his spirits deteriorated from screaming for help in the cell to becoming a husk of a man before he even saw capricorn again? how?? was it all because of dustfinger spooking him so bad in the crypt?? 🤔🤔)

#the list nobody asked for #im gonna keep adding and editing for personal reasons #it’ll be interesting to see if any of my thoughts change after inkspell tho I’m kinda scared #basta #i could’ve sworn there was another wink!!!!!!!!! I SWEAR #basta: don’t swear oaths u can’t keep #inkheart

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