#even daring to betray them their values and words.
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The Healer pt 3
The story continues! Hope you guys like it!
Part 1 and 2 linked here.
Enjoy!
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The Hero’s party stood with their backs to us, arguing loudly. They obviously didn’t hear Stephanie’s call, and kept their focus on the man in front of them.
“How dare you go back on our deal?!” Jack the Hero snapped, his face twisted with rage. “You have always been our chief supplier!”
Rita the Holy Archer spoke up, flipping her long blond hair over her shoulder as she did so. “Yeah, you never turned us down before!”
The massive and imposing form of Garrett the Giant loomed over the group as he stood by with his arms crossed, nodding in agreement. The fourth and final member, Rebecca the Sorceress, leaned against the Hero, her eyes filled with tears as if everyone in the room had personally wronged her.
Seeing the group together again was… rough, to say the least. I had once considered three of them, Jack, Rita and Garrett, my closest friends. We had played the game together before the Downfall, spending late nights going on raids and completing quests. They had been the brightest part of a life that had been greatly overshadowed by my parents’ expectations and disapproval. I had valued their friendship, so much so that I was willing to break myself over and over again just to stay by their side. I had lied to myself, that I was just as much a part of the team as they were. That I was valued, even if they didn’t always say so. That I was lucky to have them, given that I had chosen the class I did. I hated myself for my weakness, but refused to leave, too dependent on them to try to break off on my own.
Until Jack finally betrayed me enough to wake me up to the truth:
They had never been my friends.
As for Rebecca… my gaze settled on the pitifully crying girl. She was crying when I met her, too.
______________________
“Healer! Help! I have an injured person here!” At Jack’s frantic cry, I forced myself awake and ran out of my house, surprised to see him carrying a young, beautiful woman. Her face was unnaturally pale, her red hair matted with blood, stuck to her forehead. Her clothing was scorched in several areas, making her seem even more pitiful. I paused for a moment, feeling a brief discomfort at the sight of Jack holding her with a tenderness in his eyes I had never seen before.
We were not a couple. He had hinted his interest several times, but we had agreed to wait until the world was more stable before discussing it deeply. I wasn’t sure of my own feelings, having always considered him a good friend, but I knew that in the midst of a life or death battle was probably not the best time to give a real answer. Jack hadn’t been happy with my response, but said he understood. He hadn’t brought it up again, but the sight of his distress for the woman in his arms made me wonder if I had his answer.
Either way, it was no time to work out my feelings on the matter. I pushed away the flash of unease at the two’s closeness and stepped forward to look at the young woman. She flinched away from my gaze, her teary eyes looking up at Jack.
“Don’t bother your friend! I just need a potion and I’ll be fine.”
Jack smiled at her. “Nonsense, you fainted just a minute ago. The Healer may be useless in a fight, but she can do targeted therapy for whatever injuries you have.”
I winced at the word “useless”, a term I was all too used to from my childhood.
“Wait!” Rather than being comforted, this seemed to distress the young man more. She struggled slightly, seeming unable to free herself from Jack’s hold. “I don’t…”
I lost patience, and reached out my hand, putting it on her forehead.
“Scan.”
**The Healer has activated Scan -20MP. Target is not in your party and some information is withheld.
Rebecca the Sorceress
Class –Magic User
Title – Sorceress, Magic Student, Dependent, Poison Master.
Level 56
HP 209/250
MP 280/300
STR ***
DEX ***
INT ***
WIS ***
CHAR ***
Current status: Charm applied + 50 Charisma – 1 hour remaining.
Healing status – mild abrasions to forehead, right elbow, and anterior thigh- 10 sq centimeters total surface area. First degree burns – dorsum of foot, and right wrist – 5 square centimeters total surface area. Mild poison toxicity – side effects include pallor, diaphoresis and generalized weakness. – 10 minutes remaining. **
I frowned as I read through the information. Jack quickly began asking questions.
“How bad is it, Healer? Will she be all right? You can fix it, right?”
“Some scrapes and mild burns, no worse than a sunburn, just needs her wounds dressed and some ointment for pain and to prevent infection. How did she get poisoned?”
“Poisoned?” He brought her into my house and set her down on my bed. “She wasn’t poisoned, she was protecting a family from bandits.”
I shrugged, getting out supplies and carefully cleaning and dressing her injuries. “The scan says she was poisoned, probably about an hour ago judging by the remaining cooldown. Nothing bad, just something that would make her pale, sweaty and weak.”
Rebecca began crying loudly as I finished bandaging her. Before I could react, Jack pushed me out of the way, leaning over to check on her. I slammed by back into the dresser, groaning with pain as it struck.
“Did she hurt you?!” He asked Rebecca, frowning as he looked over her bandages.
She blinked back tears, regaining control of herself. “I’m sorry, I was just so worried… The way she said it… it sounds like she’s accusing me of taking poison on purpose!”
I gingerly stood up, rubbing my back where it hit the dresser. “I didn’t mean to imply…”
“Shut up, Healer!” He laid a hand on Rebecca’s head. “Just ignore her. She’s just a burden our team carries around because we happened to know her before the Downfall.”
I closed my eyes at his words, trying to ignore both the physical and emotional pain.
______________________
“Why can’t you help us?!” Rebecca was sobbing, blinking her tear-filled eyes and staring at the man in front of their group. “Don’t you know we’re humanity’s only hope?”
“They’re our only hope?”Alton leaned in, whispering “We’re so doomed.”
Stephanie and I chuckled quietly in response.
The owner of the shop, Winter, stood silently in front of the Hero’s party. He was tall, although still shorter than Garrett the Giant. Somehow his demeanor made him seem to tower over the entire group. His white hair was cropped short, at odds with his younger appearing face, placing him in his late twenties. His eyes were a bright pale blue, his handsome feature marred only by a large scar tracing across his face, only barely missing his right eye. His face was expressionless, almost bored, unchanged by Rebecca’s tears.
“You seem to be having a bit of a misunderstanding.” Winter finally spoke up, his voice quiet and cold. “I never had a deal with YOU.”
“LIAR!” Jack screamed. “You’ve always…”
“I’ve had a deal with your healer.” He raised an eyebrow. “And she’s not with you anymore. So I have no reason to deal with you.”
“The Healer?” Rita laughed, her sharp features and gaze filled with a mocking light. “That useless baggage? Why would you care if she’s with us or not?”
“…” Winter stared at her silently, and seemingly pressured, Rita stepped back, hiding behind Garrett. “Foolish.”
“We’re foolish?” Jack asked, shaken but still angry. “You’re the one who is turning down the opportunity of a lifetime. Just because of some bit…”
SMACK!
Winter backhanded the Hero, sending him down to the floor with a calm expression.
“Close your foul mouth, or I’ll close it for you.” He raised an eyebrow. “Any questions?”
Stephanie raised her hand. “Where do I sign up to be part of his fan club?” Alton raised his hand as well, nodding.
I couldn’t help but laugh. “You never change., Winter”
At my words, Winter turned towards me, his cold blank expression melting into a bright smile.
“Natalie! You’re here!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Everyone in the room turned to stare at me. I shrunk back slightly. Alton spoke up first, frowning. “Natalie?”
I sighed. “My real name, or more accurately, my name before the Downfall. I don’t like using it anymore.” I don’t like the person who wore that name, nor the people who bestowed it upon me. “Healer is a much more accurate title.”
Alton smiled and shrugged. “Whatever makes you happy, Miss Healer.”
Winter’s smile faded a bit, and he walked forward, stepping on the Hero as he did so, ignoring his grunt of pain.
“Are you okay? I just heard about the price on your head. Did they hurt you?”
I shook my head. “I’m fine. You know that they couldn’t hurt me if they tried.”
“Anyone can get hurt if they get caught off guard, Nat.” He put a hand on my shoulder, staring into my eyes. “You should have left a long time ago. They didn’t deserve your loyalty.”
“Well, she’s got a new team now!” Alton stepped in excitedly.
“Yeah! We’re much better than those creeps!” Stephanie joined in. The two gave each other and me a thumbs up.
Winter stared at them for a while, before sighing. “I told you that you didn’t have to fight with anyone. Yet you still race towards danger at the side of these… people. What has humanity ever done for you?”
I ran a hand through my hair, letting out a soft sigh. “Not everyone is as terrible as you think.”
“That’s rich, considering what state you were in when we first met.” The disappointment in his eyes was clear. I flinched, trying not to think of the circumstances of our first meeting.
“That’s not…”
“STOP IGNORING ME!” Rebecca cried out, fire blazing at her fingertips as she glared at all of us. As we quieted down, she focused her gaze on Winter. “Why are you so obsessed with her? She’s a useless healer! We are the HERO’S PARTY!”
Winter stepped closer, and she shrank into Jack’s side, trying to get away, but froze when Winter’s gaze met hers. “You know nothing, poison witch. A Healer is a noble profession, only meant for the strongest of heart and mind. “
“Y-you…”
“Now get out of my store.” He pointed at the exit, and after a moment of silence, the hero’s party shuffled out. Jack paused at the doorway, looking at me with a serious expression. “My offer is still open. We will attack the forty second gate in 3 days. With or without you.”
And with that, he was gone, and all was quiet.
“What idiots.” Alton sat down on a nearby chair, frustrated. “They’re going to put all of humanity at risk.”
“No more than they deserve.” At Winter’s harsh tone, everyone turned to him again.
“You don’t like humans?” Alton asked.
“Any reason why I should?”
He pointed at me. “Miss Healer is a human.”
“The exception, not the rule.”
I shook my head at his solemn reply. “We came here for supplies. Can you help us?”
“Of course.” He agreed immediately, pulling out a large bag from behind the counter and handing it straight to me. “On the house.”
“You know I’ll never agree to that.” I dropped some custom potions and gold on the table. “You have to stay in business.”
Winter shook his head, but I insisted. “Take it or I go somewhere else for supplies.”
“…Fine.” After a long hesitation, he finally reached out and took the items, carefully arranging them on the shelf on the back wall.
“…” Stephanie and Alton stared silently at the exchange between us.
“I smell drama!” Stephanie whispered loudly.
Alton nodded silently, frowning.
“Speaking of which, PREPARE TO BE AMAZED!” Stephanie stepped forward, dropping the pelts onto the counter. “BEHOLD! I HAVE COMPLETED MY QUEST!”
Winter looked over the wolf furs, nodding silently. “This is what I asked for.” His tone was unimpressed. Stephanie grinned, not intimidated.
“So you’ll pay me this time?”
“This time?” I turned to her. “How many times has he scammed you with fake quests?”
“They aren’t fake!” She defended, clutching the bag of gold he handed her. “He just has high standards.”
“Did you count your payment?”
“… I was about to.” She opened the sac of gold and muttered to herself, before staring accusingly at Winter. “It’s only half!”
“Because you didn’t get the pelts.” He inclined his head towards me. “I know Nat’s work when I see it.”
“I helped, though! I lured them all the way to her!”
“And I bet she asked for half.”
“How did you know?!” She paused. “I was going to give it to her.”
I sighed. “Just pay her the whole amount. Your deal was for the pelts, it doesn’t matter how she got them. If I want the cash, I’ll get it from her.”
“…”
“Besides, she’s my teammate…”
Stephanie jumped in. “AND BEST FRIEND!”
“…In a way it’s paying me.”
“…” He sat a second bag of gold down, which Stephanie snatched up and counted with glee. Winter ignored her, looking at me.
“You’re really doing this again? Trusting humans?”
I shook my head. “I don’t trust anyone.”
“You trust too much… you just pretend like you don’t to comfort yourself.” He thought things over. “Where are you going next?”
Alton joined in. “We’re going to go hunting in the fortieth level forest. Try to get a feel for our fighting style.”
“What about your fourth party member? Your team is incomplete.”
“Maybe we’re just picky?” Alton offered.
Winter stared at us. Stephanie broke first. “Everyone’s too scared to work with Alton, and they think Healer is a burden.”
“…”
“We don’t though! We think she’s awesome.”
Winter finally smiled at that. “Alright then.” He began packing a bag. “I’ll join your team.”
“AWESOME!”
“Is that even possible?”
“You’ll what?!”
Stephanie, Alton and I spoke up at the same time. Winter continued to pack, undisturbed by our shouts.
“You need a fourth teammate, and Nat needs someone to watch her back. It’s a win-win. ”
Alton stared at him. “Why do you think she needs your help?”
Winter didn’t flinch. “She needs it. Needed it since the beginning.”
After studying him a long moment, the dark wizard turned towards me. “It’s your call. I trust your judgement with this.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling tired. “Why don’t we do a trial before making anything official? Go fight together. See how it goes from there.”
“… You don’t trust me?” Winter asked quietly.
“You’d have to be their teammates as well, fighting to protect humanity. I don’t see why you are volunteering. You’ve never cared before.” Was my equally quiet answer.
After a long moment of consideration, he nodded in agreement. “…Fine. A test mission first.”
“Wait!” Stephanie chimed in. “Can NPCs even join human parties? Aren’t they the ones who give quests?”
Winter placed his packed bag on his back, grabbing a bow and some arrows. “My kind are not a part of the Rules. We follow them, just like you do.”
“So you’re like us?” Alton asked, curious.
“No.” His tone was flat. “I am nothing like you humans. But I can join your party.”
“Great! Let’s go on an adventure!” Stephanie ran towards the door, and shaking my head, I followed her.
“Should be interesting.”
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The fortieth-floor forest was filled with death. Black twisted trees, grey, dried out grass. Shadows from nothing, movements that didn’t make sense. I stood in place, feeling the constant overwhelming sensation of being watched.
Alton smiled, seeming right at home. “Alright guys, this place is chocked full of undead, perfect for a good fight. We just need to get a sense for how everyone else works, and how to help each other.”
“Sounds good!” Stephanie pulled out her enormous sword and grinned. “I’ll tank!”
“Great. I’ll provide crowd control and protection through magic.” He turned towards Winter, who seemed relaxed despite the evil forest around him. “What about you?”
Winter held up his bow. “I’ll pick off monsters from the back.”
“Great. That just leaves Miss Healer…” He turned towards me. “How would you like to fight?”
His question caught me by surprise. When I fought with the Hero’s party, I had often supported them secretly, standing afar, silently using my healing magic to add further injuries to my teammate’s attacks. It was difficult, making myself appear useless while protecting and attacking at the same time.
But now… I was able to openly and honestly take part with the team.
I smiled. “I want to be in the front.”
Stephanie cheered. “Besties tanks!”
“Sounds like we have a plan.” Alton grinned, looking every inch the evil wizard. “Let’s go.”
It didn’t take long before we ran into a large group of undead. Zombies, skeletons, shadowy creatures with claws and spikes, crawled out between the trees, their eyes glowing red with hunger.
“Kill!” A gravelly voice came out of the large skeleton, staring at me. I walked forward calmly, no weapons in my hands.
Undead didn’t have blood. Didn’t have beating hearts. They needed no oxygen, absorbing their energy from the living. Which limited my options. I would have to go for attacks that caused physical damage.
Stephanie ran forward with a loud cry, swinging her large sword and decapitating the first zombie in her field of vision. Alton chanted, his spells separating the zombies out in smaller groups, hindering their movement and slowing their attacks. I could hear the buzzing of arrows as Winter calmly shot down enemy after enemy.
It was my turn.
I held a scalpel in my hand, the cool metal somewhat comforting against my skin. A group of ten zombies shuffled towards me, trying to shake off the bonds of Alton’s magic.
Wordless incantation was still in cooldown. I would have to speak out loud to activate my spells. I stepped closer to the group
“Amputation.”
**The Healer has cast Amputation x 10. – 1000 MP. **
My magic reached out to each of the zombies, chopping off each of their right legs at the mid-thigh, slicing cleanly through rotting muscle and bone. The zombies groaned in confusion, falling to the ground. I watched them carefully, recognizing they were still dangerous despite their helpless appearance.
This is when Jack or the others would rush in to claim the kill… and then complain about the automatic XP share since my magic contributed to the fight. But now that I don’t have them… what now?
Amputation was a spell that could only be applied to limbs. Small and large incision could cut their throats, but not enough to decapitate them which was what was needed.
A brief feeling of hopelessness rose up within me. The despair that had filled my days as I fought in this strange world beside others who had ridiculed me and belittled me. I chose a worthless class, one that struggles to put down wounded zombies…
One of the zombies flipped onto its stomach, beginning to pull itself towards me, teeth bared. Simultaneously, a spell and an arrow hit its remaining leg, pinning it into place. Stephanie was still fighting her group of zombies, but seeing me hesitate shouted out: “Go get ‘em!”
They’re encouraging me. The stark contrast of this fight from my past team made me smile. I wanted to live up to the support of this strange new team. I thought of a plan, and I reached out my hand, focusing.
“Craniotomy.”
**The Healer has cast Craniotomy x 10. – 5,000 MP.**
The skulls cracked open, revealing rotting brains. I kept an eye on my numbers, even with my unusually large mana pool, I couldn’t keep spending so recklessly. I chose a smaller spell.
“Cauterization.”
**The Healer has cast Cauterization x 10. – 100MP.**
The tissue shriveled under the heat of the spell and the zombies grew completely still. As I stared down at the carnage, Stephanie killed her last zombie, prompting the end of the battle.
** Stephanie the Lovely Barbarian is credited with 8 zombie monster kills, awarded 600XP and +8 fame. Alton the Great Evil Wizard is credited for the assist and is awarded 200XP and +2 fame. You receive 8XP as a party member.
The Healer is credited with 10 zombie monster kills, awarded 800XP and +10 fame. Alton the Great Evil Wizard, and Winter the Shopkeeper are credited for the assist and awarded 100 XP and +1 fame each. **
“AWESOME!” Stephanie ran over and hugged me, ignoring my grimace as I realized how badly she smelled after close combat with rotting corpses. “We’re the best team ever! Did you see how fast we took out high level zombies?”
“Strong work everyone!” Alton seemed pleased, “A few more fights, and I think we could get a good rhythm going.”
“Here.” Winter held out a mana recovery potion to me. “Those were high level healer spells you cast today. You probably need this.”
After a brief hesitation I took it. “You recognize Healer spells?”
“Of course.” He spoke sincerely, adding. “It’s the greatest achievement one can have, to take such a path. I’m happy to help you.”
“…Thanks.” I drank the potion.
The Healer has used Potion of Mana Recovery, +800MP. 2 remaining in Inventory.
Stephanie stood in front of me, clasping her hands together with a pleading expression. “So… can we keep him? You said we could consider it after a trial!”
Alton and I exchanged glances. I still felt uneasy about having an “NPC” on our team. For all the time I had known Winter, I still did not understand his true motivations. Why was he in this world with us? Why join our team? And the real question that haunted me:
Why did he help me a year ago when he had no incentive to do so?
But the truth was, he was our best option.
I nodded to Alton, who immediately offered his hand to Winter.
“Welcome to the team.”
**Winter the Shopkeeper has accepted your invitation to join your party! He will have access to shared inventory, and his stats will become visible upon medical scan.**
The usual joining party message popped up, along with something unexpected:
** NOTICE - Due to status of new party member, special restrictions will apply to any stat or data sharing.**
Special restrictions? I shook my head. Not helping with my paranoia about trusting him on our team.
Stephanie cheered as I shook his hand after Alton. Finally, once things had calmed down, we all sat down to regroup.
“What next?” Stephanie asked, grabbing jerky from her pack.
I thought over her question. “The Hero’s party is going to attack the gate in 3 days. We should plan to be there.”
“Oh joy, them again.” Stephanie bit angrily into the jerky, as if hurting the people who annoyed her. "I can hardly contain my excitement."
��Fighting monsters, AND making sure the Hero’s party won’t stab us in the back at the same time?” Alton grinned. “Sounds like a party to me!"
I sighed, and grabbed my own food from my bag.
We had 3 days to get ready.
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Some of yall deeply underestimate how much some cis men are threatened by trans men and our masculinity. How theres so many cis dudes out there that want to rape us, thinking that will make us detransition. How many incels out there are mad at us for betraying womanhood and not sucking their dick. How much they want to force us to detransition, how much they want to kill us and force us into hiding which, to me, minus well be killing us since theyre smothering who we are for the sake of a status quo. We shake their fundamental understanding of the world. Its one thing for a GIRL to be a tomboy to them. They think its cute, like a baby pretending to be an adult. Its a whole other thing for someone percieved as a woman to try to actually be a man to them. They think thw fact we have the gal to assume we can escape their grasp, to escape the kitchen or whatever tf, means we're disrespecting them and trying to "destroy" them, rather than what it really is, us trying to be independent. We're the exact thing these types of cis men hate. Sometimes they tolerate (emphasis here bc im not saying they accept yall. Dont twist my words)trans women bc they fetishize them but they want to completely eradicate us becayse we threaten the patriarchy by virtue of deciding we dont need a man to take care of us, we want to be the man that takes care of ourselves.
#and bc ik how some of yall are on this site and how uncharitable you are let me be clear: just because they TOLERATE trans women/fems#sometimes. doesnt mean i think they actually respect you or see you as you. im not abot to say you somehow have it easier. they want to use#you and then dump your body somewhere. im well aware of that. but they *also* want to entirely entrap us and our identities and keep us#smothered with no escape. its why were seeing child marriage laws. its why were seeing anti abortion laws. its why we're seeing rights#stripped away from ppl wrongly percieved as women becayse theyre so threatened by us and how we think we can be on our own#that they have to try more extreme measures ro control us our bodies and self expression. its why candace owens goes on saying#'does women voting actually do any good for anyone??'#and no. entrapment isnt them somehow caring about us mlre than you. thats their alternative to killing us but its not an alternative bc it#fundamentally strips us of our rights and autonomy. and also. entrapping us and forcing us out of our gender. like i said. minus well be#killing us. its not likely we'll just get to run away free from these men if they get this type of power. its more likely they kill us for#even daring to betray them their values and words.#so how tf is anyone more privileged in this situation? in trans spaces? can we really fucking say someone has it worse rn.#is it really worth it to try to divide and weigh who has it worse. bc they want both os us dead for being who we are.#and its not like they dont offer yall an out to. its just their out is ALSO basically killing yourself bc they want you to conform to#cishet white manhood.#also it goes both ways. cis women are like this towards trans women. its the proximity effect.#where you get more upset with different people who are also more like you than other ppl#the difference i'd argue though is cis men- at least the ones in power- have more of an ability to remove us than cis women#like its easier for them to do.
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Lies in the dark
Pairing: boyfriend!Gojo x reader
Word Count: 3,8k
Synopsis: You received pictures of Satoru cheating on you, his longtime girlfriend, with other women. Completely heartbroken you leave him without hearing his side of the story. After weeks of drowning yourself in alcohol, the two of you meet again at Jujutsu High.
Warnings: cheating, language, use of alcohol/drugs, hurt
Your foot tabs against the floor while you wait for his puny figure to arrive in the doorframe. By now it’s far after midnight, actually you are dead tired from all the crying and thinking. But this can’t wait.
“Oh, what a pleasant surprise! I didn’t expect you to be awake this late!”
There he stands, casually taking off his blindfold while blessing you with his best cheeky grin. Satoru’s sight alone makes your gut twist in anger and disgust. He really has some nerves to welcome you like that after all he has done.
“You’re pretty late.”
Your voice sounds so cold that Gojo’s blood freezes in his veins. His smile is washed away in an instant, he has never seen you like this. Has something happened? Are you upset for some reason?
“Why do you look like someone died? I’m home, sweet thing!”
Your emotionless eyes glare at him through the darkness of the apartment. Damn, how could you fall for him and his stupid little game? Did you really believe him when he told you that you are the only one, the one and only woman in his life? Fuck, you were so dumb. Too stupid to realize that it isn’t work that makes him come home this late at night. Your mind is numb to the feeling of being betrayed, it isn’t the first time that you get screwed. But you thought that Satoru is somehow different, that he values your feeling more. Well, so much for that.
“Maybe you’re so late because you were with her, huh?”
He glances at you like he has to think about your words, eyebrows narrowed.
“Who do you mean exactly? Mei is out of town. Oh, I visited Shoko because she patched a student back together, but that was in the afternoon. Or was it? I don’t remember exactly…“
Enough of that bullshit. You don’t offer him any more words, instead you just throw your phone at him. The phone that reveals countless messages about meetings, fucking and mocking with other women, pictures of him caressing their basic faces in the way you knew all too well, giving them the affection late at night that you craved so much. And then the words of the woman that called you earlier…
“When he called me sweet thing I thought I was the only one for him until I saw you two on the streets the other day. He never mentioned he had a girlfriend!”
“I began investigating and as it seems, he had a thing with many other women as well. I’ll send you screenshots of every conversation we’ve had the last couple months.”
Sweet thing. The thought of him using your nickname for other woman makes you want to break down and cry. But even though your heart is shattered into a million little pieces, you refuse to gift him a single tear. No, he doesn’t deserve your agony. He doesn’t deserve to see the feelings you have for him. Instead, you just stare at him with blank eyes while sitting in your chair and watching his blue orbs widen in shock.
“(y/n)”, he breathes out, gaze wandering from the screen to you.
“Let me explain-“
“No need to explain anything. I don’t care about how much I liked you and wished this wasn’t true. I told you I’ll leave you alone if you make me feel this way. And I’m fucking leaving, Gojo. Don’t you dare follow me. Y’know, I’m not your backup plan, good luck with whatever you got going on.”
With a swift motion, you lift yourself off the chair and grab your already packed suitcase.
“You can’t leave without hearing my side! I never cheated on yo-“
“Might be true that there’s always two sides to a story. Fuck your weak ass side tho. I’m done here.”
Heels clicking against the hard floor underneath your feet, you confidently cross the room and expand yourself in front of him. Satoru’s huge frame blocks the door, you can’t just get past him. But you need to get out of this apartment filled with dreadful memories and your shattered hopes as soon as possible before you have a complete breakdown.
“I’m serious Gojo.”
“It’s baby for you.”
“Bet she calls you that too. Get away from the door, we are done.”
“(y/n), hear me out”, his form moves towards you, like a predator approaching its prey.
No, you can’t. You don’t want him to get that close to you. You can’t stand him near you.
“Stay away from me”, you choke out, arms wrapped around yourself in a desperate attempt to console your own aching heart.
“I loved you for 8 years, 8 fucking years Satoru! I gave you everything I had and you trampled on that by fucking another woman so basic that I want to throw up. I have nothing more to say to you, it’s enough that I have to endure the sight of you at every damn meeting of jujutsu sorcerers. Now get.out.of.the.way.”
Your cruel words make even Satoru’s heart jump in agony, his shaky breath fills the air. Do you really want to break up with him without giving him the chance to explain himself? He has so much to say, so much to clarify. Fuck, he could end all this madness and your suffering. But it doesn’t matter. He has no choice but to let you go for the moment. Satoru knows you well enough to be aware of the fact that you won’t listen to him in your wrath, always suborn and confident. Apart from that, he himself has no idea who sent these messages to you and where these pictures come from. He has to investigate the matter first before he can face you again. As much as his whole body struggles against it, he takes a step to the side in order to let you go for the moment.
“I love you with all my heart and I’ll do anything to prove that you are the only one for me.”
Boom.
You close the door behind you noisily. Enough of that lying. You stumble into the fresh air of the night, tears pooling your eyes and taking away your sight. Get a hotel, take a hot shower, turn off your phone. Get over the fact that your boyfriend of 8 fucking years cheated on you, get over the fact that your relationship ended in the foulest way. God, it hurts so bad that you want to break down in the middle of the street, your numb limbs still in shock. But you need to get going. After all, you are a grade 1 sorcerer, everyone counts on your abilities. And a man who doesn’t value you shouldn’t be the reason you forget yourself and your aspiration.
_________________________________________________________
Hey girl, need a ride to Jujutsu High? Meeting up in 15 min
You sign at the message of Mei on your phone. It’s been three weeks. Three weeks without seeing Satoru’s cheating face, three weeks in which he called you at least 10 times a day, three weeks of constant crying in the pillows of random hotels and filling yourself up with alcohol at clubs around the town. You feel like crap and look even worse from time to time. But today, you have to get yourself together. For the sake of your job, for the other people you care about like Mei and Nanami. Do all of them know what happened? Probably not, you only told Mei about it and Satoru would hardly admit that he cheated on you multiple times.
Do I really have to?
Your white uniform lies untouched in your suitcase, memories of last mission flood your mind. You were with him, laughing, playing, clapping the asses of multiple curses all at once. Everything was fine, everything was great. Life can change so quickly.
Of course you have to, dumbass.
But you have no other choice. With trembling fingers, you put on the white dress with long sleeves and cut outs that emphasize your curves so well and caught the attention of Satoru first. It fits a little looser than usual. Well, given the fact that you mostly live on drinks that’s no surprise. You put on your round sunglasses to hide the dark circles under your eyes which can be no longer covered by makeup and brush through your hair a few times. Admittedly, you look better than the last few weeks, but definitely worse than usual.
Your cream colored heels click against the marble floor of the hotel lobby as you walk outside, Mei’s car already waiting for you.
“You look better than I thought”, she comments when you sit beside her.
“Thanks I guess, gold digger.”
She gives you a small smile before her eyes get serious again.
“I’m here for you today, ‘kay? Might hire someone who kills him though…”
“You would spend money for me? Damn, you must really like me Mei”, you remark sarcastically.
“I’d do anything for you girl. Let’s get this over with, huh?”
The journey goes by far too quickly for your taste, fingertips already shaking at the thought of seeing his stupid pretty face again. What was he doing all this time? Your gut twists in agony. Probably went out with his other women, what else? Do you seriously think he missed you? That breakup doubtless hurt you ten times more than him. His face will wear the same stupid grin as always, his words will sound just as irresponsible as usual. Everything stays the same. Except for the fact that you aren’t by his side anymore.
“God, since when is this ass so punctual”, Mei hisses.
And there he stand, wearing his sunglasses and uniform, leaned against the doorframe while he probably drives Utahime mad with his mocking. Suddenly you are out of breath, lungs refusing their service as your eyes fill with salty tears again. No, you can’t cry now. You were so cool when you left him. He doesn’t deserve your tears or to see your pain. His cheating ass isn’t worth your throbbing.
“Keep it cool”, Mei speaks out with low voice.
Yes, you need to keep it cool. Straighten your back, swing your hips, show him that you don’t care about him at all.
“What’s up everyone”, you snort out, hand resting against your hips while eyeing everyone except Satoru.
“Wow, you’re early. Since when do you come on time?”, Nanami dryly responses.
“Why so rude, Kento? I thought you’d be happy to see me again, we are best friends since school after all!”
“You are a pain in the ass, (y/n).”
Fuck, you can feel his eyes almost eating you up. Your cheeks begin to burn just by the thought of it.
“Are you alright, (y/n)? You look a little thinner than last time”, Utahime comments, turning away from Satoru.
You swallow hard, panic rises inside your chest. For the first time, you don’t want everyone’s attention on you. Come on, just that meeting. An hour and you’re rid of him, an hour and you’re holed up in a random club again.
“You’d lose some weight too if you were me, Utahime. Now stop looking at my perfect ass and get going.”
Your remark catches everyone off guard, especially Satoru and his guilty conscience. For your standards, you look absolutely horrible and your answers have lost their bite. You are just the shell of yourself that slightly smells like alcohol.
“Hey, if there’s something going on…You know we can talk, right?”, Nanami discretely murmurs into your ear, worry lines draw his face.
“Thanks man, I don’t need anybody but myself though.”
And with that, you turn on your heels and walk through the door. Away from his hungry sight, away from their annoying questions. One damn meeting to get over with. One.damn.meeting.
“You look like shit”, Masamichi notes dryly while watching you sit down.
“Stop being so fucking annoying or I’ll quit”, you bark back, glaring at him through the shade of your glasses.
“What’s up your ass, (y/n)? You’re annoying as hell, but in another way. Are you alright?”
You can’t take it anymore. All the questions and fucking looks. As if the slight change of your appearance is the only thing that’s interesting at the moment. Yeah, you are as fine as you can be, on the brick of tears, mind racing just by the thought of Satoru looking your direction, let alone talk to you. But that’s none of anyone’s business. If you have to repeat one more time what happened a few weeks ago you’ll probably break down.
“Stop asking questions and get this meeting over with, I’m not payed enough to be here”, Mei interrupts and positions herself beside you.
It’s all a blur. The words that come out of his mouth seem to fade away before hitting your ear. All you can think about is Satoru who sits towards you, eyes darted on your figure. You don’t have to look at him to be aware of the fact that he is eyeing you up and down, waiting for a chance to talk to you.
Over the last couple of weeks, he tried to call you multiple times, not scared by the fact that you blocked him on every possible communication way the slightest. Why does he have to keep rubbing salt in the wound? The moment your phone rings and his name appears on the screen, you relive the fateful moment of realization over and over again, imagining him fucking another woman mercilessly while you sit at home and wait for him to come back. You know that you are too good for that, that the best thing you could do was leaving his cheating ass as soon as possible. But in your lonely nights when returning from a random club after talking to random strangers you find yourself lying in bed and cry your heart out over the relationship you thought was the best thing that could have happened to you.
“(y/n)?”
“Ayo, you there?”, Mei murmurs into your ear and punches your arms slightly.
You have to blink the pain away, still consumed by Gojo’s presence. Your heart skips a beat. Was someone talking to you?
“I just wish I was somewhere else”, you mutter, eyes directed to the ground.
Fuck, you feel like crying all over again. Why does it have to hurt this bad? Why does he have to be here, eying you up and down as if you were his prey? Why did he have to cheat on you and destroy the live you built together? All of that isn’t fair. You shouldn’t be sitting here, running on drinks with a few hours of sleep a week and a bleeding heart while he seems to be just fine. Your conscience shouldn’t weigh on you when you’re talking to a guy while Satoru is fucking his way through the world.
“(y/n)?”
Your name out of his sinful mouth makes your gut turn in disgust, you feel like throwing up.
“Get my name out of your dirty mouth”, you jeer at him, eyes yanking up to notice that he’s already staring at you with his face all serious.
You can’t take it anymore. With shaky legs you lift yourself up, leaving the room with fast steps. The tears in your eyes start to burn their way through your face and take your sight completely. After all, maybe you aren’t strong enough to simply get over his betrayal. God, you loved Satoru with all your heart. In all these years there was never another guy you even found attractive. You were so loyal, in love and fucking dumb. Too dumb to realize that he in fact does seem to think that you are replaceable.
“Get your ass back in, Gojo. I dare you!”, Mei’s voice threatens from afar.
“(y/n), please hear me out. Give me a chance to explain!”
No, no, no. You can’t bare him near you, let alone hearing your name out of his mouth. You need to leave and never return.
“(y/n)!”
You feel his grip around your left wrist, his touch burning like acid on your highly sensitive skin. God, how often you longed for his touch, to feel his tender fingertips one last time. But this is not right. The thought of his hands caressing you after fondling with other woman makes you want to vomit and burn alive.
“Get your dirty hands off me!”, you cry out, other hand slapping against his cheek at high tempo.
His infinity doesn’t stop your fist from hitting his face with full force. You stare at his motionless figure, breath hanging heavy between the both of you.
“Please, give me a minute to explain. The last few weeks were absolute hell for me and I’ve been dying to see you today.”
Hot tears swell up your eyes once more while agony seems to consume you all over again. Hell for him? What about you? The constant feeling of not being enough, the questions lingering your mind how long this has been going on behind your back, the endless waterfall of tears, not being able to drink enough to forget him.
“You have to be kidding. Tell me you’re not serious about that bullshit. Hell for you? You fucking ripped be apart, Satoru! You throw our life away for sex with a few young chicks! You have no right to be sad about anything!”, you scream on top of your lungs, fighting desperately to escape his scorching touch around your wrist.
“I didn’t cheat on you, (y/n)! I-“
“So I’ve been imagining these pictures of you on top of that slut and the countless messages? Stop this shit right now! You’ve done enough. You-“
“Listen to me, damn it!”, he yells, ruffling his messy hair.
Why? Why does he have to keep rubbing salt in your already throbbing wound? Everything was just fine, you two were inseparable. What about growing old together? What about building a live together? All that, gone in the wind. Just because he decided to fuck someone else.
“The man you see on these pictures isn’t me, I don’t know these women, (y/n). I began to investigate. The man you see is a cursed spirit, a damn strong one that is able to take on the appearance of other living being, including my handsome self. I wish I could tell you why, I wish I could tell you who the hell that woman is. We assume that someone wants to set you off against me so that we both get vulnerable.”
He tears the blindfold from his face, revealing tears that glister in his glossy eyes. Your heart sinks, all you can do is stare at him in a desperate attempt to understand what he’s saying. Can it…be true?
“We?”
“Nanami helped me out. He knows this technical stuff better than I do. (y/n), I would never hurt you like that, not in a million years. You mean everything to me, it kills me to see you hurt like that, even though I absolutely understand why you believed in all of this and didn’t wanna talk with me. Just please, I’m begging on my knees if I have to, give me a chance to find out more about this madness and trust me with this one.”
You don’t know what is happening to you, it feels like you’re going to puke. Is this really true? Did he in fact not cheat on you with these women? His explanation sounds plausible and the shimmer in his eyes tells you that he’s not lying. Satoru was always bad at not telling the truth, his pupils always widen. Not right now though.
You want to collapse on the floor, your head seems to weight a ton from all these emotions, thoughts and possibilities.
“Why didn’t you tell me right from the start?”, you blurt out, voice coated in anger.
“Would you have really listened to me if I had no evidence? I took photos with that thing and couldn’t hold myself back from killing that fucker. Nanami was with me. Please, (y/n). Please believe me.”
You take in the pictures, how there seems to be two Gojo’s in each one. Fuck, fuck, fuck. This is all too much. You don’t know what to think or feel. Is this true? Is there really something like a spark of hope left for your relationship?
“No”, you confirm.
You close your eyes for a moment to organize your thoughts and calm your breathing. All this time, Satoru never showed any interest in other woman, he doesn’t even stay in contact with Mei or Shoko regularly. He has no problem with you using your phone to write messages to Nanami or Yuji when he’s busy with something else. No, since you’ve known him, there was never a cause for concern. Satoru tells you over and over again how much he loves you, sometimes you even thought that he might be obsessed with you.
Maybe he didn’t cheat, maybe he did. But doesn’t your longtime boyfriend deserve a trust bonus, a chance to show you that nothing ever happened between him and these women?
When you open your eyes again, they are pooled by tears. Since that dreadful evening, you never allowed yourself to miss, let alone think about him. You tried to drown your feelings in alcohol and drugs. But now he’s standing in front of you, everything could be fine, all of this could be nothing but a failed attempt to separate the two of you. Deep within, you always hoped for it to be a nightmare, a stupid misunderstanding. Is that all it is?
“I-I thought I’ve l-lost you forever”, you stutter.
He doesn’t hesitate. In an instant he pulls you into his arms, presses your body against his beating heart and trembling frame. God, how much you missed getting lost in his warm embrace, to feel his breath brush against your ears. Just now you realize how much it killed you to be away from him.
“Can’t imagine how much I missed you. The thought of losing you…”, his voice breaks and so does your heart.
“I love you Satoru. I love you more than anything else.”
You get lost against his lips, put all the grief of the last weeks into this one kiss.
“Let’s get home, shall we?”, he whispers against your lips.
“Home. Yeah, that sounds pretty good…”
#jjk#jujutsu kaisen#jujutsu kaisen x reader#gojo x reader#jjk gojo#jjk x reader#gojo jjk#gojo satoru#jujutsu gojo#gojo saturo#gojou satoru x reader#satoru gojo x reader#gojo x you#gojo x y/n#satoru x reader#satoru x y/n#satoru x you#gojo satoru x reader#gojo satoru x you#gojo satoru x y/n#gojo satoru x oc#gojo satorou
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back on my bullshit once again. thinks about how the headspace gangs reaction to starting to forget basil can probably tell you a lot about them.
for example, aubrey being EXTREMELY protective over that flower crown. her absolute rage at kel for kicking it off. her thinking "it used to belong to someone, we should return it." very similar to "how DARE basil ruin all our photos! they used to belong to all of us, and he throws us all out like we were nothing! he doesn't even care! he turned his back on all of us! on mari! she used to be here! she used to be a part of our lives! you think just because she isn't here you can just throw everything away? why don't you care? why don't you CARE?!"
her attachment to objects makes me think she values gift giving as a love language. this thing was so important to them, so I'll give it back. I'll give them this to show I care. this thing is special. it's not just an object to her, it's a physical display of their affection. so losing that object feels like losing the last bit of that love.
her being so intent on returning that flower crown even if it's broken and damaged. because someone loved it, so it must be special. her extreme protectiveness was still there, but now it was in a more destructive way. she's so protective of mari and her memory that she assumes the worst of everyone, because everyone pulling away and abandoning her or acting like everything was okay didn't just feel like a betrayal to her. she felt like they were betraying mari. that's why it pissed her off so bad when kel said think of how mari would feel. because oh, NOW you want to think of how mari would feel? NOW??
kel remembering the pictures also sticks out to me. he remembers basils words, even if his memories are so foggy. he has an attachment to those memories. this can also possibly tell us something about him. he doesn't hold on to objects as much as aubrey does, but those memories are everything to him. he listens, he holds all those moments so close to him. even when he's forgetting basil, he remembers all those little quirks he loves. he listened intently to basil, he cherished every single moment. he remembers his favorite things and why he does things and little details about him. even if he's forgetting the fact basil takes pictures, he remembers that they have pictures and WHY they were taken. his focus isn't really on the photo album in the real world. it's on the fact basil is sad and aubrey is so much different. his attachment isn't about the object. it's about the fact it means a lot to BASIL. that's why he wants it back. it makes basil happy. he doesn't understand why aubrey would do it, because his attachment was never to the album. it was "this makes basil happy and brings him joy. he loves this thing. he loves talking about it." so he memorized all his rambling about it. he isn't as attached to the album itself as aubrey is. it wasn't about the photos to kel, it was about spending time with basil. so to him, aubrey's anger seems irrational. it's honestly kinda like different love languages. hers is gift giving, his is quality time. so it doesn't make sense to him. it's basils thing. why would she steal it? it's his passion.
hero, if I'm recalling correctly, doesn't really need to be reminded of basil at the last resort. even while he's forgetting him more and more, he's keeping the group on task. he's bringing up the worry about forgetting things about basil. he looks out for basil. he's trying to keep the group positive. that's what he's trying to do. looking out for basil even when everything's becoming a blur. protecting him even when he isn't there. that's how you see heros love for basil manifest. protecting him. he jumps in to save basil with no hesitation. he tries to solve the fight between aubrey and basil. he looks out for basils health and safety. even if he doesn't know much about basil anymore, even if he's changing, he looks out for him. no matter how difficult it is, he protects him. because if basil can't protect himself, he'll do it. because basils his best friend and he loves him and he needs someone who looks out for him. if basil can't protect himself, he'll help as much as he can. even when he can barely remember him, he remembers he needs his help and THATS enough to keep going.
sunny? simple. he knows basil so fucking well. he knows basil talked to him about things he never talked to about anything else. he's terrified about something happening to basil, enough to have so many rooms of him dying horribly as worst fears. he feels like he can't save their relationship so he runs from it. he knows all of basils worst fears. he knows how trusting basil was of him. he knows how much basil cared about "who he thought he was" (despite what his mental illness makes him think, it's who he IS. not what he thinks he is.) he knows basil like the back of his own hand. he knows his worst traits, he knows his worst fears, he knows his pains and his insecurities and his guilt and his grief. THATS how sunny expresses care and his love language. knowing someone to that degree and listening.
I don't really know where I'm going with this. I just think this game and the way different characters show love is very interesting.
#omori spoilers#omori#basil omori#omori basil#omori kel#kel omori#aubrey omori#omori aubrey#omori analysis#omori sunny#sunny omori#omori hero#hero omori
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✦ : ❝ 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞 !
꒰synopsis—wc꒱ in which you attempt to run away. 1101 words.
꒰warnings꒱ yandere character, minor character death, violence, reader is a fatuus, not fully edited.
꒰adi moment꒱ not the happiest with how this turned out, but i really wanted to have something posted on friday the 13th, and i didn't have anything else and this just kept getting worse the more i tried to make it work ໒꒰ྀིっ- ‸ - ς꒱ྀི১ still, i hope you enjoy! it's been a while since i've written anything for yan scara, so..! ♡
“Humans.” There’s a melodic sigh built into the word, condescending, and unnaturally calm for the violence he's threatening you with. “I suppose that it’s just a part of your nature, acting out like this—but are you really deprived to the point where it’s impossible to resist the temptation?”
“I’m sorry.” You repeat, for seemingly the hundredth time already, voice strained and struggling to breathe—suffocated by the weight of his body atop your chest and the feeling of fingers digging into the soft skin of your neck. “Scaramouche, please. I’m sorry, I’m really–I’m really sorry.”
Tears flow freely down your cheeks, the skin scuffed and scraped up during your attempt to get away from him, voice failing as you desperately repeat this new mantra of yours. His fingers readjust, and you’re painfully hyper aware of the movement, shutting you up as his face contorts into something more akin to a wild animal than the collected Harbinger you’d once worked for.
Electricity sparks at his fingertips, tickling your chin as his gaze shifts to your eyes, giving you a front-row view to the blatant rage swimming within them. You were drowning within them, or at least that’s what it felt like—depth within them that threatened to swallow you whole, destroying any signifier of your presence. If you didn’t manage to calm him down, he would, the pounding of your heart only becoming louder at the realization.
“You shouldn’t have betrayed me.” He says, simply, matter-of-factly, although there’s still a quiver within his tone—as if he, himself if attempting to justify his actions—as if he, himself is still attempting to steel his resolve, to gather the strength necessary to kill you in cold blood, to walk away from your lifeless body and pretend that he had never truly cared for you, after all. “I’m the one for you. Or, at least, I was supposed to be. Me. Me. I’ve given you everything—and you still… You still associated with such filth—still attempted to throw it all away. Ungrateful wretch.”
“I—”
“What does he have that I don’t? Huh?”
Even without a name, you already know who he’s referring to. And he knows that you know, too, because he remains unnaturally quiet, forcing himself to wait for an answer before continuing with his rampage, watching as you stare into his eyes like a deer in headlights.
‘A lot of things.’ Those words bubble within your head almost immediately, sick and twisted and taunting you with the fact that they’re painfully true—taunting you with the fact that you'd dare not admit this truth if you have any sort of value for your life, grip beginning to tighten around your throat. ꒰Almost robotic, you note, as if the motion had been programmed into him.꒱ ‘For one, he wouldn’t be threatening to kill me.’
But you bite your lip as the words surface to your tongue, attempting to battle their way through gritted teeth, to surely condemn you if the sentiment were allowed to reach Scaramouche’s ears. “I don’t know,” is the answer you settle on, desperation seeping into the cracks of your tone, grating on your ears as his fingers twitch. “I don’t know what got into me! I was acting irrationally—stupidly!”
And those words, falsified as they are, at least sound more agreeable—and if there’s anything you’ve learned during your imprisonment under the Balladeer, was that agreeable got your punishments lightened, was that agreeable was the only viable method of dealing with his volatility.
Much to your distress, however, he does not release you, electricity permeating your skin as the adrenaline running through your veins begins to fail you. Sucking in air feels impossible, and your eyes have blown wide, struggling to watch his expression as he hangs his head. The dotted, green canopy of leaves above does nothing to ease your terror.
… You’d anticipated death before, imagined it a hundred different ways, known that you’d fall into its cold clutches one day—but the thought of finally embracing it causes your blood to curdle.
There’s silence, for a few seconds, only the sound of your labored breaths filling your ears, until a weight is abruptly lifted off of your chest. Your lungs fill with air, sending your coughing and sputtering as you roll to the side, saliva dripping down your face in what you’re sure is a shameful display—though you’re hardly in a state of mind to care. Scaramouche does not wait for you to collect yourself before he speaks.
“Look at yourself. And to think you even had the gall to act out. Perhaps I’d spoiled you too much.” You wipe the sides of your mouth in a desperate attempt to save face, glancing back at your tormenter as you clutch at the ground. “Pathetic.”
Without any sort of warning, you’re pulled up to your feet by two soldiers, arms folded behind your back as you’re dragged back the way you came, his estate standing out against the backdrop of trees. A small voice apologizes to you among shouts of commands, a fellow Fatuus, back when you were still recognized as something other than the plaything of the Sixth. They must pity you, you’re certain, but the very notion has you near seething—because what use is there to apologizing when they’re still helping your captor?
He has them bring you to his chambers once you return, humiliated in front of all the servants as the door slams shut in your face. You don’t see him for the rest of that night, though the screaming of the cook you'd gotten close to—who actually assisted you, who actually cared about you—leaves nothing for the imagination.
An example, not just for you, but for anybody who might’ve considered helping you in the future. Despite the grandeur of the room, you find yourself defensively curled up on a corner of the bed, staining the white sheets with a mixture of dirt and blood.
When a maid timidly enters in the morning, she doesn’t utter a single word—doesn’t even look you in the eyes as she helps you clean yourself. Nobody does.
… Except, of course, for your ‘beloved’, who seems more than content enough to revel within your misery, wiping the tears off your cheeks when you begin to cry—sadistically cooing when you beg him for mercy, reminding you that he’s already done so by simply sparing your life. Your schedule is filled with all sorts of menial chores in what you assume is an attempt to keep you from running off again—though it’s hard to even fathom the possibility when pools of indigo watch over your every move.
You’ve never felt so alone.
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#꒰📍꒱﹕my writing ⋆#gn reader#genshin impact#genshin impact scaramouche#genshin scaramouche#genshin scara#scaramouche#the balladeer#scaramouche x reader#scara x reader#yandere scaramouche#yandere scaramouche x reader#genshin x reader#genshin impact x reader#yandere genshin#yandere genshin x reader#genshin impact oneshots#yandere genshin oneshots
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Toe Rag (Affectionately)
Read on A03
"Did you see Lily delivering a swift kick to Arnold Palmer’s balls in divination this morning?" Sirius inquired, dropping onto the bench beside James in the grand hall during lunch. "Fucking metal."
Peter and Remus glanced up from their seats across the table, mouths full, sporting amusing grins. Remus hastily swallowed, wiping his mouth with his sleeve as he enthusiastically nodded.
"I'm surprised she hasn't landed herself in detention by now," Remus remarked. "Palmer was on the ground, in tears."
"Any idea what Palmer said to provoke her?" Sirius questioned, loading his plate with meat pies.
"It doesn't matter what he said to her," James replied, rolling his eyes. "He probably had it coming."
"You'd defend her even if she kicked you in the balls," Peter chuckled, prompting Sirius and Remus to conceal their knowing grins behind their food.
"I'm a strong supporter of women's rights," James hastily defended himself, "including Lily's right to beat the shit out of anyone who irritates her."
Remus's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Then how do you manage to escape Lily’s wrath? You irritate her everyday."
James feigned disgust. "Moony, how dare you. I am her favorite person."
Sirius stared at James as though he had sprouted two heads. "She called you a ‘toe rag’ yesterday at dinner."
"Yeah, but lovingly," James retorted.
"I've never heard anyone called a 'toe rag' lovingly," Remus raised an eyebrow at James.
"Hey, guys," Lily interjected herself between Sirius and James, planting a kiss on James' cheek. James raised himself a bit higher in his chair, sporting a proud smirk in response.
Lily rolled her eyes at his reaction and remarked, "Eat your food, toe rag." Despite her words, a smile betrayed the affection in the term, causing the other boys to reconsider their earlier remarks.
"Do you have detention tonight?" James inquired of Lily.
"No," Lily replied as she buttered a scone, "Palmer was convinced to accept his punishment without snitching on me to the Professor."
"What did he say?" Peter asked, his curiosity evident.
Lily’s green eyes glowed with exasperation as she explained, “he said the tea leaves told him that I should show him my tits.”
All four boys erupted in outrage, drawing confused looks from those around them. Lily shushed them all, laughing at their indignant reactions. James couldn't fathom why she remained so composed; he was ready to seek out Palmer and transform him into a slug.
Lily likely noticed the fiery determination in his eyes, prompting her to toss her scone at his forehead, causing it to bounce off and land back on the table. "James," she warned, "sit down before I make you."
Grumbling, James reluctantly took his seat, exchanging a meaningful glance with Sirius, signaling that their business with Palmer was far from over. Sirius nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting anger.
"Anyways, I'm pretty sure I made his chances of procreating 90% less likely than before," Lily declared, picking up the scone that had fallen onto James' plate.
"I hope you uninvited him to your birthday party tonight," James said, slinging an arm around Lily's shoulders and glaring towards the Ravenclaw table in search of Palmer's brown, buzzed hair.
Lily shrugged in his embrace. "I doubt it. He learned to value his life this afternoon, and he knows you and Sirius will be there."
"I don't see why James and I being there has anything to do with it," Sirius remarked, his tone deceptively calm.
"Please," Lily snorted, "don't act like the two of you aren't already telepathically planning your revenge on my behalf."
"Sirius and I don't communicate telepathically," James insisted, "and even if we did, we're well aware that you can handle yourself."
"Keep lying, Prongs," Lily patted his chest with the back of her hand, her tone lighthearted but her eyes full of knowing suspicion, "I've known you long enough to recognize when you're contemplating making someone barf slugs all night."
James chuckled, a warmth spreading through his chest at her remark. Her ability to read him like an open book was both a source of amusement and admiration. She had recently acquired the skill of distinguishing between the Marauders using their nicknames, and the fact that she used his without hesitation was a small delight that never failed to make his heart race. His hand slid down her back lovingly, tracing her sides until he was holding her at the dip in her hip, reveling in the comfort of her presence.
As they sat there, the great hall buzzing with the energy of fellow students eating their lunch, James found himself contemplating the idea of persuading her to spend the remainder of the evening curled up by the crackling fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. The dancing flames and the cozy ambiance seemed like the perfect setting for some quiet moments together, away from the boring classes they were subject to that Tuesday.
"I was actually considering turning him into a slug," James admitted with a mischievous glint in his eyes, savoring the way she blushed when his thumb brushed enticingly across her upper thigh. "But your idea is much better."
Lily turned her head to face him, her green eyes locking onto his with a mixture of amusement and something deeper. Her pupils were slightly wider than usual, perhaps a result of the intimacy of the moment or the thrill of his touch. She whispered, her voice a soft murmur that only heightened the intimacy of their conversation, "It's my birthday, and I don't want you in detention for it."
The air between them crackled with unspoken understanding, and James couldn't help but smile. He was more than willing to comply with her birthday wish, even if it meant putting aside his plans for revenge with Sirius.
He leaned closer, teasing, "Why? Do you have plans for us tonight, Evans?"
She licked her lips, replying carefully, "Well, Mary's making cake."
"I can think of something sweeter." James whispered, winking.
Remus, with a half groan of annoyance, extended his arm across the worn wooden table, brandishing a succulent drumstick like a playful weapon. He thrust the piece of chicken into James' unsuspecting mouth, prompting an immediate protest from the latter. Startled, James leaned back, his eyes widening as he hastily spit out the uninvited mouthful onto his plate.
In an attempt to regain composure, Lily took a deep breath, filling her lungs with air, and shifted her attention to her lunch, feigning an intense interest in her food choice to divert any lingering feelings someplace else. James’ hand dug tighter into her side, refusing to let her get too far in response to Remus’ action.
“Can I flirt with my girlfriend in peace, please?” James asked with a snap.
Dryly, Remus remarked, "You two disgust me sometimes."
#jily#happy birthday lily evans#james potter#lily evans#jily fanfiction#jily fic#toe rag (affectionately)
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@badheart said: "You know him," she added and even seemed slightly amused about it, considering how everything had begun, but looking at Han's features now, she got a bit unsure. In retrospect it almost felt like a bad idea to tell, as if she had just betrayed him, even though there was no contract or anything of the like between them. "Ah... I needed to go to South Korea and I wasn't quite sure if I could safely do so, so I dared to get in contact with the man, that liked to linger around the swimming club," she revealed and paused for a moment. Unsure about his possible reaction, especially after she had insisted of him being more careful. "I think he sees your group with different eyes now, as his own sees no value whatsoever in their people."
Her words did not remove any suspicion that he still carried about that man. However, it took a certain type of individual to earn her trust and even more-so, to get close, by the sound of it. He did not know how to feel or even think about this new information that he was provided—learning that she had taken off to his home country with another man that was not him. He felt jealous of that man's good fortune, yet Han resolved to conceal any emotions he might be harbouring at the moment.
"I'm glad you weren't alone, then." He admitted after a moment. The silence suddenly becoming too much, which urged him to start the engine and have the radio on. The music set on a low volume in order to still allow a conversation between them as he drove. The last time they had been together in a car had been on that damned stormy night... a thought that kept coming into mind due to how she had made him feel. How much he had desired back then. Her fingers holding onto her zipper, threatening to lower it down and give him what he wanted... It was distracting. "The Jingweon from our motherland isn't as merciful. In my opinion, it's an outdated way to carry out things." But they were strong for a reason, which wasn't something that Han could argue with. His shoulders offered a shrug while keeping his stare head on. "He's welcome to meet me, if he's still interested." Although, if his interest lie on him solely, was another thing. It was then, that Han's stare drifted in her direction. "How do you feel about him?"
#badheart#.ic / way too many people tryna take the crown#.ask / never have any regrets after the game#verse 01. theory of beauty / main
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Scarlet Witch x male mutant s/o
S/o met Wanda after he became the newest member of Magneto’s Brotherhood of Mutants when the master of magnet found and saved him from a group of anti-mutant hunters.
“Y-you saved me? Who are you?”
“My name is Magneto, I am a mutant much like yourself. What is your name?”
“N-nice to meet you Magneto. I’m s/o.”
He says while still shaking in fear from almost being killed moments earlier.
“You need not be afraid of me s/o. Unlike those barbaric humans, I mean you no harm. In fact, I have an offer for you.”
“A-an offer?”
“Yes. I know what it is like to be discriminated against by humans, so I formed a team consisting of mutants to fight against the mistreatment of our kind. I can offer you a home, a family, a cause to fight for. What do you say s/o? Will you join us for the benefit of mutant kind?”
After thinking for a moment, s/o nods and accepts Magneto’s offer, making the older mutual smile.
“Excellent, welcome to the Brotherhood of Mutants s/o.”
Now a part of Magneto’s team, s/o quickly became friends with Pietro and Wanda Maximoff, aka Quicksilver and the Scarlet Witch.
Attracted to his kind personality while also finding the way he stutters really cute, Wanda quickly became enamored with s/o and would vehemently defend him from the more rowdy members of the brotherhood.
Despite having a genuine friendship with the two Maximoffs, s/o soon came to regret joining Magneto’s group when he realized his leader’s intentions.
“Y-you lied to me Magneto! You said we were fighting against mutant discrimination! What you’re doing isn’t right! Subjecting humans to violence and oppression is not the way!”
Needless to say, Magneto did not take kindly to s/o’s words.
“Do not lecture me about what is right! If you value keeping your life, you will do as I say s/o! Now, since Wanda and Pietro are so fond of you, I’m willing to forget we had this conversation. Next time you question me though s/o, there will be dire consequences. Am I clear?”
He tells the younger mutant in a threatening voice, causing him to flinch.
“Y-yes Magneto.”
Unfortunately for Magneto, both Wanda and Pietro overheard everything and have secretly shared s/o’s dislike of being villains for a while now.
“How dare he threaten s/o like that! I have half a mind to-”
“Calm down sis, I don’t like it either, but what can we do? Magento saved us, we can’t just go against him can we?”
Wanda turns to face her brother with a serious expression.
“….Maybe it’s time we do just that. I don’t know about you, but I no longer wish to be a member of the Brotherhood! I’m planning on taking s/o and leaving Magneto for good. Are you with me Pietro?”
“….Alright sis, I’m in.”
With that, the two begin working on their plan as s/o heads back to his room in tears, walking past his two friends without noticing them.
Later that evening, s/o is laying in his bed as Wanda enters his room.
“Hey s/o, how are you doing?”
She asks in a sweet voice, making him blush.
“I’m ok Wanda.”
Taking a seat on the bed next to him, Wanda wraps an arm around s/o, causing his blush to deepen.
“Don’t lie to me s/o, I can tell you’ve been crying.”
Shaking off his blush for a moment, s/o proceeds to tell Wanda what happened between him and Magneto, despite her already knowing.
“I really don’t w-wanna be here anymore Wanda. All the violence, the hate, this isn’t what I w-wanted.”
“I know s/o, which is why my brother and I are planning on leaving….and we’re taking you with us.”
She says much to s/o’s shock.
“B-but Magneto will kill me if we betray him.”
“No, he won’t. I won’t let anything happen to you s/o, I love you too much.”
“Y-you love me?!”
Wanda smiles and kisses him gently on the lips.
“Does that answer your question s/o?”
He nods as Wanda chuckles at his flustered expression before telling him the plan.
A few days later during a confrontation with the X-Men, Magneto is furious that his children and s/o announced that they are leaving the Brotherhood of Mutants and will help fight against them.
“You three dare turn against me?!”
“We’re fed up with being criminals! You may have saved us Magneto, but Wanda and I will serve you no longer!”
“Pietro’s right! You claim mutants are superior to humans, but you subject them to the exact same horrible treatment and prejudice that the humans are guilty of! You’re nothing but a hypocrite Magneto!”
She exclaims with a cold glare as s/o stands by her side.
“Y-yeah! From now on Magneto, we will fight to i-improve human and mutant relations, not further worsen them like you do b-buckethead!”
“S/o! You turned my children against me didn’t you?! I will see to it that your life ends here!”
He orders the Brotherhood to attack as Wanda and Pietro stand protectively in front of s/o.
“No one is laying a hand on my boyfriend!”
“Yeah! Keep away from my best friend!”
Wanda blasts several members of the Brotherhood away as her brother deals with a few of the others.
“I should have let those humans exterminate you back when I met you s/o! Now I shall rectify that mistake by ending you right here and now!”
Magneto shouts in anger as he goes after s/o personally, but the shy mutant uses his powers to defend himself.
(I never stated what s/o’s powers are so feel free to use your imagination.)
Once the X-Men join in on the battle, Magneto eventually orders his mutants to retreat while swearing vengeance on s/o for both his and the Maximoff siblings’ betrayal.
“You may have won today, but heed my words that the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants shall return to make you all pay! Especially you s/o, when next we meet, your death by my hand shall be a slow and excruciating one!
While the Brotherhood make their retreat, leader of the X-Men Charles Xavier rolls up to the three now that the battle is over.
“While Magneto believes in mutant supremacy, I dream of a world where mutants and humans can coexist peacefully. If you three want, you’re more than welcome to join the X-Men.”
The three look at each other before turning back to Xavier as s/o speaks up on behalf of his girlfriend and best friend.
“We appreciate the offer Professor, but for now we’d like to politely decline. Even though yours is different from Magneto’s, we don’t want to be part of a group of mutants right after leaving another. Pietro, Wanda, and myself wish to find our own way, but if you ever need us we’ll be glad to lend a hand.”
He says as Xavier nods in understanding while both Pietro and Wanda are surprised at the fact s/o didn’t stutter even once while speaking.
“I see. Well if you change your mind, you’ll always be welcome to join us.”
The X-Men leave as s/o smiles at Wanda and hugs her.
“T-thanks for always being here for me Wanda. I love you.”
She smiles and kisses him before returning the hug.
“I’ll always be here for you s/o. I love you too”
“Um…hello? I’m still here to you know!”
Pietro says before being brought into the hug by his sister and best friend.
“Sorry Pietro. I hope you know that you’re the g-greatest friend I’ve ever had.”
“Heh. Right back at you s/o.”
Despite everything he’s been through, s/o knows he will always have his girlfriend and her brother to rely on, no matter what the future may hold for the three mutants.
#marvel#marvel x reader#marvel x male reader#scarlet witch#scarlet witch x reader#scarlet witch x male reader#wanda maximoff#wanda maximoff x reader#wanda maximoff x male reader#male reader#marvel mutants#brotherhood of evil mutants#x men#quicksilver#magneto
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MK1 fanfiction
EDIT: now all chapters will be collected under the title of Cracked mirror of black, cold soul
No one asked for it, but as I did not get enough Bi-Han & Shang Tsung interaction, I was forced to write about them myself. The first part is at least done, we will see if I managed to finish the second. Mainly written as a character study of MK1!Shang Tsung, a bit about his relationship with Damashi, General Shao and potential partnership with Sub-Zero post story-mode.
There was a time when Shang Tsung was nothing more than just a pitiful loser clinging to an even more pathetic life. All he could do to survive was to pretend to be someone else, someone better, wiser; someone worthy of trust, someone people like and listen to. Lying to people was easy. Lying to himself anyone would care if he died came much harder and harder with each passing day.
Then came Damashi and offered him not only power but also kindness, a praise for making progress, be it for fulfilling her plans or for his own growing skills. He would gladly burn the world just to earn her smile, a good word, anything really. She made him for the first time in a long long time feel valued, appreciated, even liked despite who he was under all the polite words and charming smiles.
But that was a lie too. A lie he foolishly fell for, like a stray, hungry dog falls for a kind pat on the head and a little treat before the new owner will kick it for fun.
Shang Tsung was many things but definitely not a dog to be kicked, be it by Liu Kang or his Titan self. If none of the gods cared for him, he wouldn't care for them either. And now, after he ran away from prison and a terrifying storm washed him ashore on a deserted island full of magic secrets to unlock, he had time and means to repay each of his pursuers, to make all the realms if not respect his skills then fear them.
Since Damashi’s - his own Titan self’s - betrayal many days and nights have passed and with each Shang Tsung’s mastery of magic grew stronger, his knowledge deepened, his confidence restored and strengthened. He claimed the island as his new home, the impregnable fortress secured by the most wicked, devilish and brilliant traps he could think about and for the first time in ages, he finally felt like belonging to the right place.
It was as good a life as it could be. Not perfect, as Shang Tsung still needed to figure out how to secure his food supplies before he would tame the wild land, unused for years and maybe the animals lurking in the shadows could be useful too. A domestic cattle would be a great addition for sure, as it was the only type of animal he had any skill to maintain but then again, there was no way he would engage in tedious farming. He had no time nor patience for that kind of work yet he did not want any stranger on his island either. All he could do for now was to eat the catched fishes and some plucked from tree fruits while bringing all the needed ingredients and supplies from a quick trip to the land. Using magic portals was a tricky solution - magic brought unwanted attention and once used, always left some traits to follow but after the last storm he did not feel safe on a boat sailing through the open sea. On the land, he did run into some of his former allies, exchanged important news and some secrets here and there, never truly betraying where he was hiding. The General and his men treated Shang Tsung with suspicion, always demanding more than he offered. On the other hand, he and Quan Chi worked well in the past, but after the last betrayal, Shang Tsung couldn’t trust anyone anymore. Everyone blamed him for his Titan self’s lies, like he was the one lying to them all. The Royal Family wanted his head, the Earthrealm Champions hunted him too. It was a mess, amusing and irritating at the same time.
He was going to deal with that matter too, when the right time came. For now, Shang Tsung enjoyed the new found magic - the power awaiting for those who will dare to reach out for it. A power he didn’t need to share with anyone.
Everything would feel much better though if Sub-Zero didn’t somehow find a way to break into his new home like all the deviously set up traps meant nothing.
Shang Tsung should know something was off the moment he felt coldness creeping into his bones, but in all fairness, it was always cold here. He did not have yet an idea how to heat the interior of an abandoned fortress and as much as he liked to not freeze in his own sleep, luxury like that was not on his priority list. He should be more cautious, more focused on the change in the air about him than walking straight into his own room and then be dumstocked at the sight of Sub-Zero looking through his books as if he had lived here forever and Shang Tsung was the unwanted guest.
“Your security is shitty” was all he got as a greeting. Cold, sharp, uncaring words judging him as an incompetent idiot. The bastard did not even bother to look at him, just kept rummaging through the books like it was the only thing worth this attention.
Shang Tsung wasn’t sure what offended him more - being ignored or watching as his precious belongings were touched without his permission. He liked books way more than he liked people.
In the last few years he killed people for less than that yet he smiled his most charming smile, the gears in his head working fast and furious on how to turn the unpleasant situation for his own advantage. The fact that Sub-Zero allowed him to see himself in the open instead of lurking in the shadows to cut his throat gave Shang Tsung a reason for a bit of optimism. As far as he heard from his former, maybe-still-maybe-not allies, Lin Kuei rejected Liu Kang’s authority and were on their own. It of course did not mean that Sub-Zero was his friend or ally nor that he wouldn't murder Shang Tsung at the end of day, either to reconcile with Fire Lord or to bribe the god to let the Lin Kuei be in peace.
Shang Tsung couldn’t blame Bi-Han for that - in this cruel world, everyone was looking after their own best interest, but the vision of losing his life did not sit well with him at all. He wasn’t afraid of fighting and he did beat down great Champions in the last battle, but out of all opponents, it was Sub-Zero's ice axe that was the closest to beheading him for good.
He did not plan to forget that anytime soon.
“What an unexpected surprise,” he said, all the soft, so sweet smile, velvet voice and sharp eyes analyzing the danger standing before him. “What can I do for you, my friend? Or did you just miss my humble company?”
He teased with feigned innocence because men hated when he said ridiculous stuff like that. Shang Tsung hated it himself, because he knew no one would miss him at all.
“For one, drop the false politeness” came Sub-Zero’s cold reply, a mix of disapproval and command that Shang Tsung was so used to, because this was how people treated him, the real him, all his life. “We are not friends.”
There was a flare of anger in Shang Tsung now, the desire to prove himself the superior, not a pitiful dog anyone could kick and command - but he knew better than to allow this fire to burn inside him. Emotions were a weakness he couldn’t afford. Did the man even know how much he provoked the sorcerer with his cold disdain? Shang Tsung had no idea. He heard a lot of stories about Lin Kuei; even in the backwater hole from which he crawled out everyone heard the terrifying tales of Fire Lord’s secret army. Of the ice demons stealthier than shadows and more deadly than night itself and for a long time Shang Tsung did not think of them as living beings from this world.
Still… Sub-Zero was mortal, wasn’t he? A special one no doubt, with control over ice yet he could bleed too. Shang Tsung wondered for a moment what he could find under the fine, cold skin if he ever had a chance to look for the answer. An ice demon, human or hybrid of both?
“But we are still allies, aren’t we?” he asked, still polite and careful, yet walking up to the other man with his typical swagger. Not close enough to be in arm reach, but close enough to show he wasn’t that easily intimidated.
The great military hero of Edenia always looked down on his movements; how he fought, how he gesticulated, how he walked. No self-respecting soldier would walk like some pleased prostitute after a well-paid job, the General said not once nor twice and all Shang Tsung could do then was to smile the brightest smile and thank him, like his disdain was the best praise he heard that day. The only thing they really have in common, beside the desire to take down Sindel’s regime, was being self-made men for both worked hard to be who they were. Yet General came from an old, aristocratic family with even older military tradition and everything that did not fit his narrow-minded idea of the world was treated with hostility and contempt.
Shang Tsung’s skinny body, swagger, shrewdness, curiosity and wordiness unsurprisingly annoyed the great warrior and to say he took no pleasure in that fact would be a blatant lie. Even if it was childish and unproductive pleasure, it amused him to know how little effort he needed to test the patience of such a stern and manly man.
Sub-Zero reminded him a lot of Shao and he suspected it was the soldier thing; the body built for fight and hardship, no-nonse attitude and the way both men moved - with deadly precision and confidence only a person that in fact killed an enemy in battle could muster. Even the way they spoke sounded similar, a barked command that everyone around instinctively wanted to obey, either out of respect or fear.
For that similarity alone, Shang Tsung expected the Lin Kuei Grandmaster to snarl at him some nasty remark about how his Titan self betrayed them all and thus how little he himself was worth of anyone’s trust. Anything to put the sorcerer down even a bit, to remind him what a failure he was.
“That is yet to be seen” was all the Grandmaster said, finally glancing from the book to Shang Tsung.
It was hard to read anything from the man’s face, as half of it was hidden behind that damned Lin Kuei mask. All he could do was to rely on the move of a brew and the incantation of voice, each syllable, a moment of pause. It was a hard task, as the man showed no emotions and spoke so little so far. But the sorcerer knew there was anger, always lurking in each word spoken by Sub-Zero, but also… an excitement at finally being free of Liu Kang’s control. As Damashi foretold.
Shang Tsung couldn’t help but to think there was something much deeper about Damashi's interest in breaking Lin Kuei from Fire Lord than he ever suspected before. Back then the choice sounded logical - every action that would deprive Liu Kang of the advantage was worth taking so he did not question his benefactor. How could he, really? Now though? The truth burned him to the core and he learned the hard way that each of Damashi’s words had a hidden meaning, each action served a different goal than was promised; the victory he was in fact never part of. Yet… even the deepest shade of lie had a grain of truth. He knew that one well, for he lied all his life.
His Titan self for some reason wanted not so much the Lin Kuei itself as the Sub-Zero specifically on his side. Maybe more than Titan Shang Tsung even wanted his own younger self, corrupted by Liu Kang.
The mere thought made him want to curse all gods alike. There was no difference for him between Liu Kang and his Titan-self, as both played him like some pawn, not even an important figure. Just pawn, to hold away from power, to sacrifice it when times would come.
But there was more to it than just jealous anger and the never ending feeling of never being good enough. If Sub-Zero meant so much, if not in the grand scheme of things itself then just for personal satisfaction of Titan, then maybe he could be important to Shang Tsung’s own plans. Allies were hard to come by and these days he could use some, well, not protection really, he was done with living under someone else's wing but he wouldn’t say no to some partnership or at least casual support. The little favor here and there where things were still thick and troublesome to deal on your own. After all, freedom always came at some cost.
Maybe Sub-Zero came to the same conclusion and his unexpected visit was just a reconnaissance. They were more alike than one would think, as similar desires drove them into this madness of Titans. To prove their own might and skills to all those that looked down on them their whole life. But above everything else, to be free and powerful enough to keep that freedom.
To his own surprise, Shang Tsung took comfort in that thought.
If they were meant to stay allies - or as close two stubborn outcasts with grudge against gods could rely on each other, some sacrifices were to be made. Shang Tsung did something he rarely did - he dropped the false politeness under which he hid himself for years.
“How did you find me?” he asked Sub-Zero directly, raising his chin challengingly. He was not afraid of Lin Kuei, just curious.
“You are not as careful as you think you are” Bi-Han answered with no less challenging stare, yet the flick of an amusement in his eyes was unmistakable. Shang Tsung knew the man was smirking under that damned mask and that thought alone made him puff in anger.
The brown eyes shone even more.
Sub-Zero moved from his place, slowly walking from one bookshelf to another. His fingers traced books, never stopping at any particular volume, but always touching the book spines, like there was something interesting in their textures. The man did not pay attention to Shang Tsung and not really to books either. He was studying the room itself. The sorcerer couldn’t place why it bothered him so much but he knew better than to allow Sub-Zero to learn even the most trivial things about himself or his fortress.
Damashi warned him against that the first day when she spoke about Lin Kuei. They are thieves, the mysterious being said, all grace and patience and praise for the unwanted Shang Tsung who drank in her words like the wisdom of gods, who will steal your fortune, life and secrets. Always be on your guard around them, especially around the one named Sub-Zero. If only he was smarter back then, less in need to please his generous benefactor, maybe he could hear in her sweet voice the longing for something, someone, that was not anymore. For the old partnership that was broken and defiled by Liu Kang’s peaceful vision of the world. But he was a fool who thought her yearning was for him alone.
Shang Tsung was done with being played like a fool.
“Who told you about my island?” he demanded, voice still quiet yet no less burning with an old anger. He would get his answers, whatever kindly or by force.
A long sigh escaped Sub-Zero’s lips and frankly it took him out by surprise. Shang Tsung - or rather his Titan self - knew the man was running on frustration for years, but that sounded as a whole new level of annoyance.
“I heard about it from Havik, who heard that from Rain, who heard that from Reiko, who heard that from Shao, who heard about it from Quan Chi. But the whole Sun Do is full of similar gossip.”
For a moment none of them spoke. Shang Tsung stared at Sub-Zero’s impassive, half-hidden face that still somehow emanated his disgust at their maybe-allies-maybe-not-but-definitely-idiots who apparently couldn’t keep a secret to save their own life. The feeling was mutual, because this was the reason why the sorcerer hated working with others. No one apparently could keep their mouth shut down if you didn’t help make that permanently.
He closed eyes and rubbed his forehead, like that could ward off all the bad thoughts assaulting his mind right now. His fingers were cold, too cold for his liking, unpleasantly stiff and numb. He did not like how the mere presence of a cryomancer affected his body, how it made him shiver and weak. He was an Edenian for fuck’s sake, and Edenia did not even know what winter cold was. He did not know that himself, until Damashi led him to a snow-covered fortress and he almost freezed there the first night.
It took him a moment to realize something bad was happening. He couldn’t focus, all his senses dulled, body so clumsy and weak. As if his energy suddenly dropped to zero and fatigue was taking over. A flash of panic crossed his mind, but he was too tired, too cold to even be afraid for his life.
He had no idea how long he remained in the grip of this piercing soul frost. A few seconds? Days? He couldn’t even say. What mattered was that once the control of his senses came back, he was still alive and Sub-Zero gone.
And the fact the bastard stole a few of his precious scrolls and books.
***
The books showed up on his desk a few days later. There was no thank you or sorry about that note, not even the fuck you, loser. Shang Tsung both admired the man's boldness and hated him for it. Still he appreciated the books were returned in a good condition, as there was not a single scratch on any of them, not even a new page crease. He had no idea if that was some sort of weird Lin Kuei’s way to test him, disrespect or Sub-Zero took the books simply because he wanted to read them but he was a bastard with no sense of social politeness to just ask as any normal human being would. Damashi mentioned cryomancers were naturally difficult like that.
Shang Tsung had better things to do than to wonder what the check was wrong with Sub-Zero yet he was too curious for his own sake. Sadly, the titles alone did not say anything useful on the matter and even though he read each book just in case, there was hardly anything worth the time it took to finish them. No grand secrets revealed, no magic or military knowledge, not even historical value. Just some technical nonsense that bore him to death and if Sub-Zero was into stuff like that then no wonder the man lacked any social grace.
The Grandmaster of Lin Kuei so far did not try to kill him and returned the books so Shang Tsung decided to give him the benefit of doubt and so he did not cross out the man from the list of potential allies. It did not stop him however from improving the traps just in case the man decided to return solely to steal again.
***
The scrolls showed up on his desk three days later. Their appearance actually worried Shang Tsung, not just because the trap again turned out to be useless. He was not worried even by the possibility Sub-Zero found some secret entrance he did not know about yet. No, what worried him was the fact he spent the whole morning in his chamber and walked out for like twenty minutes at best and when he returned, the scrolls WERE. THERE.
That actually unnerved him much more than he wanted to admit.
The scrolls turned out to be written in a language Shang Tsung did not even know and the implication that Lin Kuei could read it only added to the feeling of cold unease. There was however a note left on the scrolls; a small paper with only Royal Army searching the coast written in Shang Tsung’s own language.
He was not afraid of empress Mileena’s army but he did appreciate the warning. Of course, the warning could be a fraud, a means to build trust only to betray him. The common sense advised caution yet there was a weird sense of peace within Shang Tsung. A hope or hunch, he did not know, but deep in his heart he felt everything was alright.
All he could do for now was wait to see if Sub-Zero will lead the enemy to his fortress or not. So he waited.
(The fact that another book disappeared with Sub-Zero did not surprise him much. Irritated, yes, but not worried. For some reason he felt everything was like it should be, like some almost forgotten memory of past life came back to him and the sense of deja vu was weirdly comforting.)
#mortal kombat#shang tsung#bi han#sub zero#cienie's fanfiction#and to think i started to write if for the cat propaganda that i did not use yet lol#i'm here for#bi han and shang tsung#relationship colored by various source material#sub zero's love for ancient scrolls full of secret knowledge though in this fic he steals stuff for sektor's project from the mk1 ending#and how he get inside a highly secured places#and don't tell me i'm the only one to think damashi was special person to shang tsung#also lol at how all of the bad guys gossip no one in mk cast know what secret means or what? XD#as for bi han's powers i was inspired by mk book i guess#and it turned out like he changed the ambient temperature unnoticed until it was too late and then get the hell away with books XD
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To End Where You Started
GN!Reader x Dimitri
This is a response to a request for a GN!Reader who was childhood friends with Dimitri before switching sides once it came time for the war. This one took me much longer to write because I wanted to better establish the circumstances of the work. Hopefully, you love it all the more! If you like this, there is another I wrote for the same prompt with Felix on my page!
Requests are open. The story will continue under the cut.
You’ve always valued human life.
So when you saw Dimitri in the Holy Mausoleum, his mind lost and his lance bloody, you weren't sure what to do next.
It seemed no one knew what to do next. Felix was standing in front of Annette, glaring daggers at the blond. Mercedes slowly shifted toward her friend as Sylvain and Ingrid exchanged worried yet knowing looks. Dedue stepped forward, though he had no words. Even the professor seemed to be at a loss.
Dimitri, however, just began laughing again and shouting nonsense.
“No one will rest until Edelgard and the rest of the Empire force are burning in hell.”
“Your Highness-”
“Did I stutter, Dedue? Or perhaps you are considering turning your back on me now?”
“Snap out of it, Boar!” Felix growled. “We’re not going to-”
“Then leave! If you no longer see me as your leader, why not go join her?’
Silence.
You could only watch as Dimitri’s eyes scanned the faces of your allies, daring your friends to take a step in either direction. No one spoke, but there was a palpable tension in everyone’s body. In the way that Mercedes and Annette clung to each other, in the way that Felix kept his hand by his sword, Dedue kept silent and steady, and Professor Byleth did not intervene. In the way that Sylvain grit his teeth, Ashe pursed his lips, and Ingrid practically strangled the pole of her lance.
In the way that you stepped forward, quiet yet resolute.
“I won’t be treated like this.”
Dimitri scowled, “You’re a soldier, aren’t you? You signed up for this the moment you joined the Blue Lion house.”
“I signed up to fight in the hopes of protecting Faerghus and its people! I signed up to honor my family and keep the ones I love safe!” you shouted over him before bringing your voice back down. “There is no honor in this.”
“And you would not serve your future king? Where is your honor in running away?”
“I would not bow to those corrupted by their emotions! No one who would act in such a manner ought to represent Faerghus!”
“Then go to her! Run off and join the scum of the earth that march under that woman’s name!” he spat. “But mark my words, when we do meet again, I shall meet you with the fate of a traitor. There will be no mercy even should you beg for it. Do not expect remorse from any of us when your head, too, rolls upon the dirt.”
You did not allow your face to betray any emotion at all. You would show no sign of anything, despite the way his words cut through you. How could someone you practically exalted, someone you had become so close to over the past several months, turn around and talk to you like this.
Maybe your friends weren’t strong enough to stand up for themselves. Maybe they had too much to lose; people to protect and family to remain with. Ideals, relations, and possessions that could only be secure if they sided with Dimitri. A few had said as such, declaring their belief in Dimitri as their future king.
You loved them dearly, but there wasn’t a single one among them that you would allow yourself to be treated this way for. Especially not now, when none cared to stand up for you.
Finally, you clenched your teeth. If that was how he really felt, and if your friends were letting him speak for them, then that truly was the end of it.
“Maybe I will go. Edelgard would at least pretend to care whether I live or die, and the Black Eagles are actually bold enough to stand up for what they believe.”
Spinning on your heel, you left the Mausoleum alone.
In truth, you had no intention of joining the empire. At least not at first. Once you arrived back home, you informed your parents of the prince’s delusion. They seemed to be proud of your decision, and as proof of their support, chose to become a neutral faction in the war.
The amount of prestige and connections that came with that sacrifice…you were torn between being moved and remorseful. While it was true that your family had not lost too much power, as crest wielding houses tended not to do, there was still a great sacrifice made in keeping you safe from the Kingdom’s demands.
That was not the only change, however. It turns out that news travels fast when the family of a veritable noble house defects from their allies. People were stopping by left and right, bargaining troop stations, land usage, resource management, and all the other things that would keep your mother and father busy. You chose to focus on defending your land, though it did not consist of much work while both the Alliance and the Empire found it so valuable.
Needless to say, you were more than curious the day your mother called you into one of the drawing rooms to meet with one of her guests.
“Mother, what is this about? You know I prefer not to attend these sorts of things.”
“Oh, I know very well, darling. This one is a bit different, though. Someone has requested to confer with you directly, and I would have been in a bit of a tight spot to say no.”
“What do you mean?”
“It is no secret that we have been both opening up to and prospering from negotiations from several sides of this war. There have been enticing offers to nullify our neutrality and pledge allegiance here or there. You know this.”
“Oh,” you were beginning to catch on. “So then someone must have made an offer that you liked?”
“Just…promise me you’ll keep an open mind.”
“Of course.”
With an odd tension about you, you braced yourself for whatever would be found in that room. Your mother was not usually one to be so cryptic. A quiet sigh left your lips as you turned around.
The doors opened in front of you.
“Ah, I see you made your way here without much trouble.”
…what?
“Lady Edelgard? What are you-...Shouldn’t you be heading the war effort somewhere?”
What was this, really?
Remembering yourself, you lowered yourself in greeting, “Forgive me, your Imperial Majesty.”
You rose, trying to process the image in front of you. The Emperor of Adrestia sat poised on the sofa with a cup of tea your mother had no doubt been the one to offer. At her side stood Hubert, dutiful as he was so often described.
Soundlessly, she set down her cup, “Everything I do is for the future. For this war to end. I took notice that you were not among your former classmates’ ranks and grew curious. Needless to say, I did not need to look far to find you.”
“It was not my intention to run and hide,” you stated, taking a seat on the couch across from Edelgard.
“I never meant to imply as such,” she began. “On the contrary, I believe you still have a place in this war. If you left for the reasons I believe you did, that is.”
The conversation that followed consisted of platitudes and ideals; the type of which you both seemed to agree upon. You found your own ideas of the values of talent and human life to be eerily similar. It was decidedly reassuring that she had come to you directly, so that you could see them reflected in the leader of the Empire firsthand.
In time, you would join the Empire’s ranks under a woman named Cornelia while your house remained neutral. It would not have been in the best interests for a house so distant from the Empire to declare fealty, after all.
~~~~~~~
Several years later, you would be uncertain of your decision.
After everything you had witnessed Edelgard do up to this point, you weren’t so sure she viewed your ideals in the same light. Crest beasts, experiments, secret treaties, and deals made in the dark of night…you couldn’t get behind it, but your family had already made its decision.
Even so…
I agreed to fight for the empire, you reminded yourself, not for this woman.
Right now, you were being assigned to defend the Kingdom’s capital in an effort led by Cornelia. Ironically, the sorceress seemed to be the epitome of everything you stood against, yet here you were as her ally.
How far you had come from home.
She had positioned you between a pair of horrifying machines; two technological terrors known as viskam.
How low you must have come from your initial meeting with the Emperor.
You watched as your previous house leader’s army dispersed. Some soldiers veered left, others went right, but Dimitri’s main force charged up the middle, directly at you and the mechs Cornelia had placed.
Watching diligently, you noted how the Kingdom soldiers would take on multiple of Cornelia’s fighters while Dimitri would sneak past.
Well, as sneaky as someone with a bright fur cape and a target on his back could be.
A thought came to mind with every step forward he took. It came slowly, not sudden in the slightest, but sure.
If I were to kill Dimitri, all of this would end.
It was true, you knew. You were unsure how you felt about it, though you deduced that part of that uncertainty came from your past friendship with the prince. But had he truly reverted from the monster you left in the Holy Mausoleum?
There was only one way to find out, you supposed. You would face your past friend head-on. If he turned out to be the same man you saw that day, you would not hesitate to kill him. Anything to end this war.
Just as he made his way to the staircase, you walked forward, blocking off the top.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Dimitri’s eyes went wide, but you didn’t buy it. He had a clear view of you positioned just below Cornelia since the moment he walked into her sight.
So what, then? Were you to believe his surprise came from the idea that you were actually trying to stop him? You’d be lying if you said that wasn’t the slightest bit insulting.
“It’s you…but why-”
You threw a dagger at him, which whiffed as he sidestepped, “That’s all I get? It’s you? After all those years, not to mention the amalgamation of everything you said and did once the Flame Emperor unmasked herself, you cannot even say my name?”
His eyes softened as though hurt, “I didn’t think I had the privilege, anymore.”
“Then fight me! You have always given yourself the privilege to take the lives of others,” another dagger, this one closer to hitting its mark before Dimitri barely moved out of the way, “Do not let mine be any different.”
“I’m sorry,” he approached you, climbing the stairs, “I understand why you left, but know now that I do not wish to hurt you. Just step aside so-”
“And then what? Let you kill Cornelia? Condemn thousands of others in some future conquest?”
What were you doing? This version of Dimitri was worlds apart from the boy you left in the Holy Mausoleum.
So why were you still fighting him?
A loud noise disrupted your thoughts. You turned to face it, noting that Dimitri paused, as well. Farther away, Cornelia let out a dark cackle.
“Wonderful job getting the poor princeling right where I need him. Your death will not be in vain.”
You did not allow yourself to fully process her words as a bright light shot out of the viskam that had made that awful noise, earlier. With the future king just paces away, you could guess where it was going to land.
But Dimitri had turned to face Cornelia.
It appeared you had a choice to make.
“Don’t resist,” you closed the distance between yourself and the Kingdom's rightful heir. He had grown since your last encounter; holding this grudge could only do more harm than good.
Maybe that meant you would not survive this, but in that moment, what was your life next to his?
So, in the second before he could react and before the viskam struck, you pushed Dimitri down the stairs.
And it was when the world went from bright white to pitch black that you knew your death would not be in vain.
~~~~
“A…ing…rk?”
“We…bre…ag?”
“I bel…sh…wake up in…!”
Everything ached, and you couldn’t move. It would probably hurt if you tried, anyway.
At least you could feel something, right? At least you were alive. Though if you had to go through life like this, then perhaps you were better off dead.
But then a cooling sensation began to make itself known throughout your body. It was strongest in your head, torso, and legs, though you could feel it spreading and connecting in your arms and neck.
Tentatively, you allowed your eyes to open.
“Oh, thank goodness! Mercie, we did it!” Annette beamed from her position at your head.
Felix scoffed, “About time.”
“How do you feel? Are you alright?”
“I can’t feel my legs,” you managed, surprised at the strength of your own voice, “and…I cannot move.”
Scanning the area with your eyes, you realized you hadn’t been moved, either. You were still lying on the floor by the stairs; exactly where you remember being struck down.
“Is Cornelia…?”
“Dead,” Felix confirmed.
“And I remember pushing his Highness down the stairs. It was the best I could do with my own strength…” you had known you weren’t strong enough to normally push him far enough out of the way nor to pull him far enough before he instinctively resisted, ”but he isn’t hurt too badly, is he?”
“Oh goodness, no! Annie told me she saw the whole thing. Apparently, Dimitri caught himself rather quickly.” Mercedes reassured you.
Annette frowned, “I’ve never had to spend this much time on an injury, and certainly not while working with others. I’m surprised it’s taking this long.”
“I’m surprised you’re alive.”
“Felix!”
“What? You and I both saw that thing,” he turned from Annette back to you. “If you had sustained any other injuries before getting hit by that thing, you’d have been dead on the spot.”
Annette and Felix continued their banter as you shut your eyes and listened. Finally, you began to feel your body coming back to life; stronger and back into your control.
“Okay, I think that should do it! How does that feel?”
Annette waited another moment for your response before calling your name in confusion.
“Oops,” Mercedes giggled, “I think the magic might have lulled them to sleep. We did go a little overboard, I suppose.”
“Is everything alright?”
The group turned, looking up at the new voice that joined them.
“Prince Dimitri! Yes, everything is fine. They should be all better upon awakening.”
“Ah, that’s good. I am sorry to have left you all here for so long. Sylvain, Ingrid, and myself were working on reconciling with the remaining soldiers.”
Felix raised a brow, “Then where are they?”
“Once the issue of alliances was out of the way, Ingrid told me they could handle the rest,” Dimitri directed his eyes down to you. “Sylvain…said it might be best if I came to check on them.”
The swordsman’s expression didn’t change, “Well that doesn’t make any sense. There’s already three of us-! Hey!”
Dimitri balked as he watched Annette get up and drag Felix with her. Mercedes followed close behind, smiling back at him.
“Let us know if they need any more help!”
“Y-Yes of course…” he stammered, confused.
“Of course what?”
Shocked to hear your voice, the Blue Lion’s leader dropped his gaze unto where you had been resting on the floor, “Ah! You’re awake!”
You made a small noise, blinking against the light of the sun as you began to sit up.
“Mercedes told me to fetch her if you were having any issues. Are you alright?”
Methodically, you tested each of your limbs, “Yes…Yes, I think so.”
“Good,” he sighed, and you swore you saw him relax the slightest bit.
The ensuing silence was uncomfortable, to say the least.
“Forgive me for this. I know you’ve just recovered, but I’d like to thank you for saving my life.”
“You're welcome,” you said, “but why are you apologizing for that?”
He maintained eye contact with you, “Because I would also like to ask you why you did that.”
At first, you didn’t really have a response. The more you thought about it though, the more clear everything felt in your head. There was really only one answer.
“I just did what I thought was right.”
“But I was terrible to you!” Dimitri didn’t hesitate, “I said horrible things to you, and I treated you like…”
“Like I was worthless?”
It was as though all the words left Dimitri's mouth. After another moment of silence, he finally averted his gaze, “I do not deserve your forgiveness.”
“No, you really don’t, do you?”
…no reaction. So he was telling the truth.
“But, if you were to apologize, I might forgive you.”
He looked to you slowly, a look of timid surprise written on the blond’s face, “Surely, it would take more than that…”
“It should not take more than that if you are genuine,” you painted your face with a small frown, in conflict with yourself, “You’re not the same person you were 5 years ago, Dimitri. I am not about to make a habit of forgiving people just because some time has passed, but I know that many more people can be helped if we clear the air right now.”
“Right,” he swallowed, extending his hand down to you. “In that case, know that I am truly sorry for the way I treated you, both within the Holy Mausoleum and the several days before. I also apologize for the effect it has had upon both you and your family, though it seems you have found a way to make the most of your situation.”
You laughed a bit at that, accepting his offer to help you to your feet, “I suppose you could say that.”
Now it was the prince’s turn to frown, “I am being serious. This will not happen again. I promise to respect and honor both you and all that you do for the Blue Lions.” He paused, suddenly unsure, “If…you do choose to come back, that is.”
Turning away to hide the small blush that appeared at his phrasing, you looked at the stairwell, “It would be thoughtless not to join, seeing how I almost died for you.”
At the feeling of his hands on your arms, you turned back to him, surprised.
“You must promise to never do that again. Do you understand me?”
“I…you know I could never promise that. You’re too important.”
“Swear it anyway,” he pleaded.
How uncharacteristic, you wondered.
“Really, Dimitri-”
“I don’t care if it’s a lie,” he let go of you, taking a step back while never wavering his gaze, “Just…”
He seemed to have run out of words, and all the two of you could do was stare at each other. Eventually, you broke first with a sigh. You couldn’t bear to maintain eye contact knowing you could never rely on your words alone to determine your future. Regardless, you spoke.
“...I…promise…that will not happen again.”
A grimace appeared on Dimitri’s face out of the corner of your eye, but the two of you spoke no more after that. Wordlessly, you left to go find Mercedes and the others. Where Dimitri went in the moments following, you had no clue, but the conversation would stay in your mind throughout the rest of the war.
Only time would tell if your promise was kept.
#fire emblem#fe3h#fire emblem three houses#fiction#fe x reader#fe3h x reader#fire emblem x reader#x reader#fe dimitri#fe3h dimitri#dimitri fe3h#dimitri fire emblem#dimitri x reader#dimitri alexandre blaiddyd
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I have some thoughts for Bishop AU...
I really like this song for them:
youtube
In the context of this song, while it fits not literally it does perfectly in an abstract kind of way. The whimsical and wistful but underlying bitterness.
Because in Bishop AU, cl!Lamb falls in love with their god pretty early on, which is one of their biggest driving forces. They commit atrocities for him, the one they love. And he knows of said love and reciprocates it, fueling them even stronger. But he takes said love for granted, assuming they would love him so much they'd do anything for them, including laying down their life for him. And thus Lamb thinks he faked his love and affection for them, just to get them to do what he wants.
Lambs love for TOWW is a big motivation for them to push against the Old Faith and kill the Bishops. For the hope and dream in their head that at the end of it all they could be happy with Narinder. But he never promised them this Happily Ever After, he never specifically spoke it out. Lamb pretty much just assumed it, and after finding out that was never his plan or intent, they feel stupid for thinking that. But also they feel hurt, they feel lied to, they feel abused. They are convinced he faked his affection to get them to do what he wants, and this deep rage boils over. They draw their weapons and fight with the intent to not just kill, but obliterate.
Narinder on the other hand is a greedy and gluttonous bastard. He knows of their strength, and he knows it is a threat. He takes their love for granted, he knows of their undying loyalty, and asks them to lay down their life for him.
He is traumatized. This action is fueled by trauma and distrust. He loved once, his siblings, dearly, and they betrayed him, they hurt him, they banished him. He wants to avoid getting hurt like that again, so he wants to eliminate the possibility before such seed could grow roots in Lambs head.
He falsely believes they would not value their life over his word. After all, they overcame killing literal gods with the same love, their own life being something so frickle they would not possibly value it more to dare to question him.
And he loves them! He really does. So when they refuse to follow his last order, it's betrayal all over again. He loved them dearly, and yet refuse to follow his word, and even yet, have the intent to finish what the Bishops even never had the guts to. He can read their mind and hear every single thought, it's such a rush of adrenaline during the battle.
#lammydraws#cult of the lamb#cotl#cotl au#cotl lamb#cult of the lamb narinder#cotl narinder#the one who waits#narinder x lamb#narinder#narilamb#lammy godhood au
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Coil has three main flaws that lead him to his death despite the amount of resources he has to call on. Possessiveness, cruelty, and pride.
Taylor picks up his possessiveness over Dinah quickly enough in Arc 7. She knows that he’d never give her up if he could. She also knows from her meeting with him in Arc 6 that he is a very prideful man. If he takes over a city, he wants it to be run well. If he gets what he wants, he’ll ensure his subordinates get what they want because what’s the point of being king if he can’t provide. She takes him up on his offer of anything that she wants, asking for Dinah’s freedom should she prove more useful to his take over the city plot in Arc 10. She then reaffirms this request as a promise, in Arc 16 when Dragon shows up, in front of all his subordinates. The other Undersiders, the mercs, and the Travelers all hear it so that Coil can’t back down or else he’d lose out the worth of his word, which everyone else is banking on to get what they want.
And Taylor and Lisa know this. They know that they have to plan around either flaw of Coil’s to achieve a victory. If it’s his possessiveness, then they go with Lisa’s plan. Gather enough money, make Coil spend enough of his, so that only she can pay off his mercs and then bring Dinah home after the take over. If it’s his pride, then they go with Taylor’s plan. Get Coil what he wants, the city, and in return Dinah gets to go home.
But Coil also knows this. He reveals to them that he knows in Arc 15, showing that he can trick Tattletale’s power. He didn’t have to, but he wanted a bit of fun. A challenge against Tattletale to show that he’s better. The same as when he words his recruitment of Lisa as a choice. The same as when he guns down his assistant in his interlude because it’ll bring him some enjoyment. His cruelty.
This is where he really fails. We find out in Arc 16 that Coil tries to kill Skitter about twelve times with a teleport trap, but because he’s using Leet as the tinker it consistently messes up if the trap is too lethal. He can’t keep trying either because he’s on the clock to fulfill the promise he made to Skitter. Coil wants Skitter dead. He needs her dead. But she won’t die. Time after time after time. It isn’t even the first time he tried to kill her but it is the time he needs it to work.
He’s got an injured pride, is what I’m saying. If you ever played any video games, imagine trying to fight this one enemy who’s not even a boss, but no matter what you can’t manage to kill them because of some busted game mechanic and you’re also trying to beat the game under a mandatory time limit.
That’d piss you off, right? To the point where you might take a more enjoyable route, just to finally get rid of this thing that has been bugging you right before the moment you beat the game.
Coil has a double body of Skitter. He already planned for her to attack the Undersiders and teleport out with Dinah. Make them think she went rouge. But isn’t it better if, instead of trying so hard to kill Skitter himself in that burning building, he just focuses on weakening her to the point where when she meets up with her beloved, valued teammates, that they'll do the job for him? Won’t that be far grander? Especially because Coil already knows the Undersiders have agreed to turn against him for her. When he does take care of them as Director Calvert of the PRT, he can send them to the Birdcage with the knowledge that the teammate they killed never actually betrayed them.
Coil would keep Dinah. He’d even keep Tattletale and the body double he had with her as another false betrayal later down the line. He’d be able to say he kept his word to all appearances. Heck, he never said that he wouldn’t capture her again, so he might even think he did keep his word himself. And once he captures the Undersiders as a win for his civilian identity, he can revel in the Undersiders reactions as he tells them that he played them for fools for daring to betray him.
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Ohhh, for the Tam prompts!!
“I miss you.”
let’s practice the idea of alternate timeline, but not alternate universe | send my muse prompts (Tamlin Edition, ACOTAR gets redeemed)
It had been six weeks since Feyre moved from the estate and into a small cottage by a nearby river. It shouldn’t bother him. He’d given her the freedom to settle anywhere on his land and Feyre was anything but domestic. Tamlin had noticed at once that the fine carpet, heavy curtains, and marble flooring in his home made her uncomfortable.
It was uncomfortable, but not completely unknown. Perhaps, she had not always lived in the poverty in which he’d found her; but this was a simple guess on his less-than-simple guest. He couldn’t read her mind, after all.
He paced the corridors of his chambers. The moonlight fell across his shoulders from the open windows and cast shadows across his feet. It made him appear much larger than he was and certainly much larger than he felt. Vulnerability was something he was particularly bad at. He had a poor way with words. More often than not, they streamed through his mind, but remained trapped on his tongue.
After a few more laps down the hall, he threw himself face first onto his bed. This was getting ridiculous. Surely, he couldn’t be attached to this tiny, feral human girl whose sharp tongue made him bite his own, whose impatience made him long to run, whose eyes twinkled with buried gold — daring him to find the treasure within.
Tamlin took the feather pillow from the front of bed and buried his scream into it.
No, no, no — no!
Not again. Not after what happened last time. He had sworn on every grave that he would find a way to defeat Amarantha without barring his heart to the wild, wicked ways of love. Yet, his heart betrayed him. It beat wildly in his chest, only quickening as the bright memories of Feyre’s shy smile and crinkled eyes when she first saw the gallery.
It was pure awe and before that moment, he’d never realized why humans were so divisive amongst the fae. Without the guarantee of tomorrow, everything they saw or touched was precious. Every moment was valued.
And Feyre wanted her moments in a small cabin, by a river.
He rolled over, rubbing his temples. She misses her family.
That…was not something he could understand. His family was his blood, but nothing more. Yet Feyre saw her blood as a bond. Despite their imperfections, everytime she spoke of them, her devotion was clear. Their brokenness bound them together.
Tamlin reached for another pillow and cemented it over his eyes as sunlight began creeping through the window. Yet, another sleepless night was crawling to a close. He crawled to his feet with a tired groan. Even immortals got miserable after a certain amount of missed sleep. She’d asked for privacy and so far he had managed to respect that.
Lucien had kept a close eye on the border of the land and he spent whatever time he had away from the border concealing the small shelter from the evil that so often wandered into the Spring Court.
The sun rose and left a pink and gold cast on the stone floor. Gracefully touched by color, it was another thing on the endless list of things that reminded him of her.
He rose from his bed, washing and dressing himself, and headed into the morning sun. His steps were brisk and he followed the garden path away from the house — largely lost in thought.
It was early spring. The mornings were still cold. His cheeks were flushed with a warm pink.
Before he knew it, he was standing at the door of a cabin which had once been stained a dark mahogany. The dark wood still shined, but it was the white paint of circular flower design that caught his eye. It wasn’t just the door, either. The window boxes, the fence, the stone path — all of it was covered by her handiwork.
You may paint anywhere you like.
His own voice echoed in his mind. There was a sharp pain in his chest. Tamlin flinched and turned away. Feyre was painting. Just not for him.
He breathed in the harsh, cold air, and forced himself to walk away. Step by step — each one more painful than the last.
The cabin door creaked open. Tamlin froze; but he didn’t dare to turn. He truly didn’t dare to hope.
“My high lord?” Feyre’s voice was hesitant and softly edged with sleep. “Is that you?”
Tamlin looked over his shoulder. His heart pounded in his chest.
“Feyre…” His voice was hoarse.
His deep green eyes met her tawny brown ones. Her gaze was soft, curious, and very sleepy. The sharp guard that she’d carried while in his home was beginning to leave her. Tamlin thought that he could fall into those eyes and disappear. They were quicksand. He was drowning.
“You look awful.” Feyre tilted her head. Her genuine bluntness began returning as she woke up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
He choked on his laughter, grimacing, at the ground. He should go. After all, he’d promised her privacy. “I suppose I probably do.”
He shoved his hands deep into the pockets of his cloak and began walking away, quickly.
“Wait!” Feyre called after him. The door slammed open and her footsteps bounced on the new growth of grass.
Tamlin stopped and turned around. She ran straight into him. If he hadn’t been so surprised, it would never have happened. He was a trained warrior — steady on his feet; but sleep deprived warriors were no better than the average mercenary. They collided.
He fell to the ground, just barely managing to break her fall with his own body. The bright color in Tamlin’s cheeks flushed into a much deeper one as he found Feyre sitting on top of him. By the cauldron.
“My lord.” She whispered. Both her hands were braced on his chest. Her eyes glued to his.
“Feyre.” He breathed. Her curiosity drew him in.
He knew she was strong. If she wanted, she could stop this.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and tightened his hold on her slender body. Tamlin pressed his lips against hers — bringing warmth into the cold air.
She accepted him, smiling against his mouth, and wrapping her arms around his neck.
Tamlin barely remembered what smiling felt like, but it was natural when it came to her. He held onto that kiss for a moment, before pulling back, and pressing his forehead against hers.
“Feyre.” Her name was lyrics on his lips and a song worth singing.
“High lord?” She whispered.
“I missed you.” He swallowed, hard. It wasn’t easy for him to talk about his feelings. He had a hard time letting people inside his heart.
“I…missed you too.” Feyre whispered, tracing the lines of the golden mask on his face.
How he longed to rip it off — when she looked at him that way. Perhaps, there was hope. He bit his lip, looking up hesitantly. “Please. Call me Tamlin.”
#asked and answered#prompts#muse: Tamlin#pro tamlin#I just woke up and stayed up for two hours to write this wow
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selkie i saw wafaa rambling about you in the tags of this ask game a while ago so on her behalf i'm here to ask you: director's commentary on every word in citrus & lavender. 🙏🙏🙏 (pick your favorite scene if you must)
[Ask Game]
Every....every word??
That's...uh... that's a lot of words
I'm afraid I'll have to go with a single scene, otherwise we'll be here forever! So I'll choose one of the scenes that made me want to write this fic in the first place...
It was still snowing. He didn’t know the last time it had snowed this much in Paris. A single set of footprints, marked with a trail of blood, were quickly covered in fresh white as he continued onwards. He could barely walk anymore. Either the cold was too deep in his bones or the blood loss was too great. But he kept going. Dragging one heavy, stumbling step in front of the other. His breathing was harsh and laboured as his body struggled to support itself. But even as he endeavoured to keep himself upright, he didn’t dare drop what was in his arms. Who was in his arms.
He held her close to his chest, offering what little warmth and protection he had left in him. Her spots were long gone, leaving an ordinary girl in his hold. He hadn’t looked though. Not once. He hid her not only from the world and any potential pursuer, but also himself. He wouldn’t take that from her.
So he stared out in front of him as he continued forward into the dark.
One foot in front of the other.
One foot in front of the other...
Citrus and Lavender, Ch. 33
This scene was something I had in my mind for a long time before even starting the fic. It went through many shifts and changes before resulting in the version that made it into the fic - one of the scrapped versions resulted in a half-reveal!
This is Adrien's lowest point in the story - and its a point he'll linger in for a while. He's just committed the gravest sin according to his upbringing by going against Gabriel's demands and trying to create his own path.
Adrien wanted to find an option that would help everyone, but unfortunately it results in helping no one. It's a bitter lesson, but it will take some more time for him to realise what the true lesson in it is - that no matter what he does, his parents can't be helped when they are set on their own destruction.
At this point though, Adrien can only see his own destruction and that damage he has caused (in his eyes). He's betrayed everyone - his mother because he fails to follow through on what he promised - his father because he can't play the dutiful son and follow Gabriel's lead - and Ladybug by not being the partner he was supposed to be.
Of course these things aren't actually Adrien's fault. The choices he made weren't really ever choices, but an act of survival while living in an abusive household. But he will still take the blame and punishment on behalf of everyone because that is what he has been taught is right. For him, loving someone means accepting their punishment (regardless if he's the one who is actually in the wrong).
So Adrien accepts the punishment Gabriel would have enacted on Ladybug. He loves her and so choses to save and protect her from that fate. He lets himself go further into that cold dark, holding her and carrying her so that she can have a chance to rise above it and escape that fate.
Because Adrien isn't the one who can change anything - he tried and it backfired in the worst way possible. Ladybug is the one who can bring about change - something he knows so well because he witnessed her himself as she went from that uncertain, clumsy girl on that first day, to the confident and resilient girl who took on the role thrust upon her to protect Paris.
So between the two of them, there's no question in Adrien's mind which one of them should end here. So he gives her what little he has left in him - his steps forward, his warmth, his endurance - because that is all he can give. Even though it is woefully lacking in value in his eyes, sacrificing his life is the only act of love he can finally make for her without it being taken back or warped beyond his control.
#ramblings of a mad person#don't mind me while i word-vomit my unhinged thinking#half of this probably doesn't make sense lol#noctie#ask selkie#ask game#fic: citrus and lavender
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Yandere! Genshin headcanons
Just for some of my favorites, I'm a little excited to post so this is to keep me sane until I'm finished with bigger pieces.
Hope u enjoy, and feel free to request any specific character for next time as well! <3
characters: Al-Haitham, Kamisato Ayato, Raiden Ei, Ganyu
conent/warnings: Yandere, possesive characters, unhealthy relationship dynamics, manipulative behavior
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Al-Haitham
-He pretends that he doesn’t know that the way he feels so strongly for you is wrong.
-He almost gaslights himself into believing it's true, too, he’s just so nonchalant about it, it just feels right to trust his own judgment.
-It’s normal for boyfriends to be protective, right?
-So, it’s okay for him to want to harm anybody who so much as looks your way, or bumps into you, or speaks to you, or sits next to you, or-
-Yep! He doesn’t like it when you disagree with him.
-After all, it would be foolish to challenge such a high intellect as his. Obviously he knows what he’s talking about, clearly he’s right, so don’t bother trying to argue and admit he’s right.. He isn’t too keen on letting go of his pride, even when it comes to matters with his darling.
“What? They were practically undressing you with their eyes, so naturally I had to tell them to back off. Really, you can be so dramatic sometimes. I didn’t say anything out of line. Come on, you know it’s best to just avoid other men, anyways.”
Kamisato Ayato
-He knows that what he’s doing and feeling isn’t right or normal. But, he’s head of the Kamisato Clan, who would dare speak up to tell him otherwise?
-Not that he’d value anybody else’s opinion, anyways.
-Although you did- for some reason, it seems as soon as you entered your relationship with Ayato, people began to act very different towards you.
-Even Thoma, usually so friendly, became anxious in your presence.
-Little did you know, Kamisato Ayato deemed having a little word about how they behaved around you necessary.
-Of course, you were to remain none the wiser of this. So from your perspective, it just seems things change when you become a part of the Kamisato family.
-But if there's one thing in your new life that will remain the same, it’s Ayato himself.
-He weaves sweet words and promises into his threats to you, so that you have no choice but to obey him, and you’d feel bad for ever doubting him. -After all, if you didn’t, he’d feel oh-so betrayed and disappointed in you, dear.
“Oh love, you have no reason to speak with him again. Don’t you worry your pretty little head about such matters, alright? Or I might not let you into the city again. I just adore you so much, I can’t stand to see you wasting your time on such petty things. So just stay beside me at all times, okay?”
Raiden Ei
-Oh, yes, the shut-in God of Electro herself.
-Since she spends so much time away from people even nowadays, she just doesn’t see the problem with you doing the same.
-She survived without interaction from the outside world for so many years, and besides, for you it would be different.
-You had her to be with! So where was the issue?
-If she was fine on her own for so long, then you could spend eternity with her, and that was that.
-She would take the utmost care to make sure you were comfortable in your new, permanent, home.
-All your favorite flora and fauna in a dedicated garden she made just for you, all of the foods you enjoy stocked up, everything decorated in your favorite colors and patterns…
-It was paradise, truly. All for you. Don’t you love it? Of course you do.
“Nonsense. You don’t need to go out there anymore! We have everything you could ever need right here, so you won’t ever have to leave me. And anyways, I could always have someone from the Tenryou commission deliver anything if necessary. We can remain together now for all of eternity, now! Oh, I’m just so happy. Aren’t you excited for our new life together?”
Ganyu
-I feel she’s the manipulate type, but without realizing it
-She just wants to make sure you’re safe, is that really such a bad thing?
-You’re the only one who she can truly be herself with, and wants to repay you for everything you’ve done for her in any way she can (That being chasing away anyone else you interact with, that is)
-She just adores you ever so much, she has no choice but to take you away to be kept all to herself! It’s for the best.
-She’ll take the best care of you! She helps you pick out your outfits, she’ll bathe with you, cook for you!
-Whether or not you appreciate her affections is up to you, but it’s recommended to at least pretend to enjoy them.
-Otherwise you’ll hurt her feelings, and who would want to upset sweet Ganyu?
“O-oh! Um, I didn’t realize you wouldn’t.. I-I thought you might appreciate it, but it appears I, ah, miscalculated. Hm? Oh, you did enjoy the sweets I baked you? G-good! No, I didn’t put anything different in them, what do you mean they taste a bit strange?”
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#genshin x reader#genshin impact x reader#genshin impact headcanons#yandere headcanons#yandere genshin x reader#al haitham#yandere al haitham#al haitham x reader#yandere al haitham x reader#kamisato ayato#ayato#kamisato ayato x reader#yandere kamisato ayato#yandere kamisato ayato x reader#raiden ei#ei#yandere ei#yandere raiden ei#raiden ei x reader#ei x reader#yandere ei x reader#ganyu#ganyu x reader#yandere ganyu#yandere ganyu x reader#x reader#yandere x reader
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Hello Mariii, congrats on the milestone, I love you🩷🩷
I would like to partecipate in your celebration game by asking you to pick a romantic paring for me from the Harry Potter fandom (preferably from the Hogwarts legacy era, but you can pick somebody from another one, if you feel like it) 👉👈
My lil (?) silly description:
- I’m pretty socially awkward and introvert (not in a shy way, it’s just that interacting requires a lot of energy)
- I’m (brutally) honest person and I value honesty a lot
- Rambling problem
- I have an hard time believing people actually care for me, let alone find me interesting
- I live slow, I like to observe, to contemplate a lot
- Uncontrolled face flushing, won’t stop me from side eyeing you
- Actually very sensitive (“don’t take that personal-” already have sorry)
- I’m the protective kind person, you cross my friends, you are gonna deal with me (I’m not scaring anyone but-), but I love somebody that would stand up for me anytime
- My main passion is literature, I like writing and reading, birdwatcher and nature enthusiast; I also enjoy teaching (if it can be of any help)
- The only interesting physical characteristics about me are that I am 5’3 and I got big thighs 🧍♀️
Congrats again and thank you for your service as an author 🩷🫡
Thank you so much sweet girl!! ti amo love 💕💕
Romantic Match-Up: Ominis Gaunt
ominis first sensed your presence in the quiet corners of the hogwarts library, where the gentle rustle of pages and the faint scratch of quills betrayed your presence. he was captivated by the soft cadence of your voice as you spoke of your favorite books and the intricate details of the world around you.
he found comfort in your unwavering honesty, the sincerity in your words painting vivid pictures in his mind's eye. he cherished the moments when you would ramble on about your passions, each word a brushstroke adding color to the canvas of his imagination.
the furious flush in your face at times only served to deepen ominis's fascination with you. he couldn't see the blush that colored your cheeks, but he could sense the warmth in your voice and the gentle flutter of your heartbeat, a silent testament to the emotions stirring within you.
as a fiercely protective soul, you were quick to defend your friends from harm, your loyalty unwavering even in the face of adversity. ominis admired your strength of character, knowing that if anyone dared to cross your friends, they would face the full force of your righteous indignation.
your love for literature and nature resonated deeply with him, stirring memories of the books he had once read and the landscapes he had once explored within them. together, you would lose yourselves in the pages of novels and the beauty of the hogwarts grounds.
ominis may have been unable to see your physical characteristics, but he could sense the essence of your being, the warmth of your presence a beacon in the darkness. to him, you were a source of light in a world shrouded in shadows, your kindness and compassion guiding him through the corridors of hogwarts.
your relationship bloomed slowly, like a delicate flower unfurling its petals to the warmth of the sun. you shared whispered conversations and stolen moments, each interaction a testament to the depth of your connection.
when misunderstandings arose, ominis found solace in your honest words, trusting in the sincerity of your voice to guide him through whatever problems came up between you.
Song: Je Te Laisserai Des Mots by Patrick Watson
#nuggets 1500 follower celebration#ominis gaunt#ominis gaunt x you#ominis gaunt headcanons#thatdammchickennugget loves machiavellli#mari loves celeste
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