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cienie-isengardu · 6 months

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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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lafaiette · 3 months

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I finally found Pen's Chinese romance lines :')

(You can find more comparisons here and here by the way)

First, something sweet to start with: Jasmine calls Pen, Burgess, and Miguel "uncle"! (叔叔)

Jasmine to Andy: Uncle Peng Hu thinks he's the most beautiful man in the world. We can secretly put a mirror in his room, so he'll look at it all day long and we can sneak out to play!

And now, I'll start with the Romance Quest - I included only the Chinese version of the dialogue happening after giving him the Heart Knot, because the post is already pretty long!

Chinese: Well... little weakling, you gave me this Heart Knot. I thought about it seriously... You have always been nice to me. You often praise me, give me gifts, and help me run errands everywhere. Maybe I have really found the one, the most special person to me. Someone who loves me as much as I love myself! Oh, this is so surprising to me... Little weakling, before we go further with our current relationship, I have to speak with you. I have to make sure you are sincere to me! Everyone knows that I am a golden bachelor. If you are with me just to show off and make yourself look good at some workshop awards ceremony, I will not allow it! What I want is true love... And I still have to understand if my fascination with you is not just for your body, but also for your personality… Yes, that's right. All this time, I called you "little weakling", not because of contempt for your figure, but because I couldn't take my eyes away when I saw your small body without muscles. It’s like seeing an uncultivated land with unlimited room for exercise. It’s so charming! There is only one way to test whether there is love between us... and that is - Fighting! An adrenaline-filled battle! Drenched in sweat, bloody, and bare-knuckled! Yes, the fastest way to get to know someone is to fight with them! Builder: 1) Then let’s go! -> Pen: Good! Let's meet tomorrow at the gate of the Paradise Lost ruins. Let's fight side by side to destroy those robots from the corrupt era and beat fierce drumbeats on their remains with our fists! I’ll go first! Remember to wear protective gear and be prepared. All for romance! Builder: 2) After falling in love... shouldn't you go on a date? -> Pen: Haha, that's what ordinary people do. I don't care for those old-fashioned ways of falling in love. Only when fighting can I feel truly alive! Builder: 3) But we have already fought many times... -> Pen: Many times?! It's never enough! I'm a fighting expert! For me, this is true love, nothing else but pure fighting and strong love!

Meeting Pen in front of Paradise Lost: Here you are, little weakling! I've been waiting for you for a long time, and I'm a little bored... Let's not waste time, let's hurry in and kill everyone! Get ready, little weakling! Let's show those robots real fighting skills and send them all the way back to their corrupt era! Not bad, little weakling, you have been exercising recently! Robot, take my blow! Punch! Fighting with you... makes my heart surge! That move is awesome, little weakling! Don't let them escape, leave no one behind! Haha, fighting with you is more exciting than I imagined! The thought of being able to "seal love" with you and fight these robots to confirm our relationship... my heart is beating fast! Let the battle become more intense! Come on, let's go in! Awesome, little weakling! It's been a blast all the way. Now there's only one last step left to make our date today even more perfect - Yes! That's it! A powerful elite monster! Come on, little weakling! Show your fists and give the big robot in this corrupt era the coolest blow! Haha... so refreshing... This feels so right... Little weakling, what do you think? I’m having too much fun today... ha, wait! I got it, the most important step is missing!

English: I'm afraid this moment cannot last forever… We must return to the hustle and bustle of city life… But let us always remember this place. Our lovers cocoon where, for one brief evening, the world was ours... Outside Paradise Lost: Goodbye, my love! Expect to see me again soon… I'll swing by your place later for a major make-out sesh!

Chinese: I really want to stay with you for a while longer! But I have to go protect Sandrock. Let us remember this moment and this feeling. No one can take away the energy of this love... … Goodbye then, my dear! I'm looking forward to seeing you next time …… I will definitely have a more exciting date with you!

English: You fell from a cliff and survived? Did someone help you? Or did you simply claw your way back to safety, and crawl to my feet just to see me again. You truly do love me, don't you? Chinese: You fell off a cliff and came back alive? Could it be that someone more powerful than me saved you? Alas, I missed an opportunity to protect you.

English: Knight, Protector, Enforcer, Big Daddy Love Sponge… I go by many names. Chinese: Besides, Knight is just a title. Guardian, Big Brother, Heart-throb... these are my titles!

English: Alright… fine. You want the truth? You can't handle the truth! But… here it is anyway: Miguel totally brainwashed me! Yeah, that's it… He told me, uh, Duvos rules and stuff, and… I was in a bind! I have multiple obligations! Do you have any idea how expensive the holidays are when you're shopping for twelve separate lovers who all think they're my one and only? Plus with Sandrock failing… I had no choice, I needed the money from his scheme… He said if I protect him, he'd give me a portion of his dirty money. Now that I think about it… say, do you think he could be some kind of high level Duvos operative? Certainly seems like it. Not trying to do your job for you or anything, though…

Chinese: Okay, okay, let me tell you... [Player's Name], your pal Peng Hu didn't know anything before he met that bad guy Miguel! Just eat, sleep, and protect the town every day. Until one day he told me that he was working for Duvos, trying to win me over, and saying a lot of things that made sense... I was short of money at that time, so I fell into his trap. Anyway, I am also a part-time worker. What is the difference between working for Sandrock and working for Duvos? Besides, with Sandrock being the way it is, I was saving myself. He asked me to protect him. As long as I did it, I would get a share of the embezzlement money. So I got involved in all this. Could that guy Miguel be a senior member of Duvos? An agent? Maybe he really is! Of course, that's the job of your militia group [Civil Corps], so I won’t say more.

English:

Builder: "How could you do this to me?" Pen: "What can I say, sometimes country trumps love…" Builder: "Please stop…" Pen: "I'm sorry, gotta fulfill my KPI, you understand!" Builder: "I still love you." Pen: "I know." Builder: "You were ugly anyway!" Pen: "Ooph, that might have hurt a mere mortal, but I know you know deep down in your heart that it's not true!" "Hm… to finally face you as my true self… it's invigorating! Now quit playing hard to get, Skinny, and take your place at my side!"

Chinese:

Builder: "How could you do this to me?" Pen: "What else can I do? The Empire is more important than love." Builder: "Don't do this to me..." Pen: "Sorry, [Player's Name]. This is my job, and I have to earn enough performance [points]!" Builder: "I never stopped loving you." Pen: "I know." Builder: "I stopped loving you a long time ago anyway!" Pen: "Haha, that doesn't hurt me. ["That sentence has no deadly effect on me."] Don't deceive your heart, you must still love me deep inside!" "Today I can finally face you with my true identity, and I'm actually very happy. Who doesn't want to be honest with his lover, little weakling? Why don't you come to my side, eh?"

English: I heard from someone in the capital that they experimented on him to make him stronger. Chinese: I heard that someone in the capital specifically conducted experiments on him, that's why he is so strong.

English: Ha! Know one thing about me, Skinny: any declarations I made on behalf of us was true. I make no mistakes, neither in war nor in love. You want proof? Well, it's not like I go around giving everyone nicknames! No… you were special in that regard. Perhaps it was always our destiny to be together… But I'm afraid that thread of fate has been cut short. I have chosen my country over love. Such is the duty of a Duvos Knight. …That's what you wanted to hear, isn't it…?

Chinese: Haha, one good thing about me is that I put real feelings into every relationship. I don't like to give people random nicknames either! Perhaps, ever since the moment I called you little weakling [Skinny Arms], you were destined to be my one and only love. It's just that we're different, and I had to sacrifice our relationship for the greater good of my country. Are you satisfied with this answer?

English: "Goodbye, [Player's Name]. It was... fun. Chinese: Farewell, [Player's Name]. This time it's for real. You're free.

The Protector's description, called "Guardian of Love" in Chinese:

A very delicate bracelet that protects the wearer's wrist. Wearing it gives the wearer a feeling of being emotionally confined. Perhaps this feeling is similar to what Peng Hu often said, "Marriage is a boring bondage".

Pen's letter in Chinese:

Dear [name], I've had a little more time to think lately in this so-called Atara Maximum Prison, and I'm more than a little sorry that I couldn't bring you along to accompany me. Well, it's my fault. Anyway, you are still the most beloved lover I have ever been with, and one of the few that I continue to miss even after a breakup. So, I'm going to forgive you. Yeah - I forgive you.I don't think there's a chance we'll ever be together again. You're just doing what you're supposed to do in your position, so there's nothing to complain about. I should have tried my best to recruit you from the beginning, and it would have been the best way to keep you with me. Of course I don't blame you, you're indeed excellent. I also left you a final challenge. In some ruins, there are a few of my most valuable things, and if you can get them, they're yours. It should be easy to get there, using the tricks I've taught you. My dear little weakling, this is the last time I'll call you that, I believe in your abilities. Remember, don't slack off on your training. We won't meet again. (but 后会无期 can also mean "meeting at an unspecified/unclear date")

WELP, what more can I say :'D

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possamble · 2 months

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realizing im kind of a weirdo about laios and marcille

#possramble #ignore this im just babbling but #the thing is that like. i don't ship laios and marcille together. their relationship is so so important to me in that laios comphets himsel #and THINKS that he might be in love with her but he isn't and that's my insane obsession #platonic soulmates for real but they're so sweet together that i fully expect them to be shipped together #like i get it. that's almost the appeal for me. if dungeon meshi were any other series there'd be an epilogue where they get married #convention dictates that they're meant to be together as the male protagonist and his beloved female deuteragonist #but dungeon meshi DOESNT do that and i love it so fucking much they're the comphet besties ever for my strange little brain #like if i ever did an arranged marriage au it would absolutely be laios and marcille having a platonic political marriage and then just #the most insane mutual pining with marcille and falin while laios and marcille struggle their way into becoming best friends #the imagery of the king and his beautiful court mage being tender to each other and everyone thinking they're in love is like catnip to me #like yeah they'd be like that and have no idea people think they should be together and the subversion makes me so obsessed #the more people ship them romantically. the more i enjoy their platonic dynamic it's like some sort of weird comphet fetishism idk #people think they're in love and im outside the window like YES... YES!!!#but also the second i see stuff of them kissing on the mouth or fucking im like oh god no i went too deep in here i gotta get out #don't wanna see that. i'll go feral over the idea of laios and marcille being arm-in-arm like king and queen but they would not fuck.#i want marcille to be his default comphet beard and dance partner/plus one at official royal events but they're not kissing.#she's there on his arm because he's scared of the other noble women tryna get him and being a baby about it #and people see them muttering to each other and laughing and generally being very sweet and think that they're dating but they're not.#she's actually covered in hickies from falin underneath her dress and is gonna get dragon dicked right after the party is over #like she's in her bedroom and falin's helping her take her ridiculous dress off while listening to her complain about politics #and falin is the person she goes home to the person she falls asleep to and wakes up with #they're a triad of utter devotion to each other but only farcille's side of the triangle is romantic #it's almost like an open secret because they're not trying to hide it at all but people assume and are surprised to find out #like people are so right about her relationship with the toudens but with the siblings' roles switched #love of her life & irreplaceable life companion. does anyone get it #anyway. i don't know what's wrong with me #it bothers me that they're not the undisputed most popular het ship for marcille on ao3 #it's unnatural. marcille being paired with any other man should be a fringe case.

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gelu-the-babosa-multiversal · 4 months

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Wait...

BUT OF COURSE!!!! The perfect crossover trio that has sense has always been in front of me!!!! WHAT AN IDIOT I WAS!!

LITERALLY MY CHILDHOOD ❤💙❤

3 kids with bracelets that grant them magical abilities, all chosen by magical creatures with the purpose of protecting a kingdom, they need to keep this a secret, their families are not the best but still love them.

Their villains are the literal oppositional of the good guys... and are pretty hot 😅

And the three were made in Italy XD

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carnivalcarriondiscarded · 11 months

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thinking so so hard about LaughingStock and how that'd go down. disastrously, probably

#and ill talk about it at Length in the tags until tumblr cuts me off like a rowdy drunk after last call #please keep in mind this is all in my Brain and relationship dynamics etc are all technically speculation. anyway #so while franklydear is your more classic 'oh no im in love with him! / aw shucks im in love with him<3'#laughingstock is 'feelings what feelings / oh shit oh fuck this is bad'#to Me.#in my mind howdy is completely oblivious to his emotions #he's out here like 'gotta get the store impressively neat & shiny for barnaby! and everyone else' without blinking an eye #he starts assembling barnaby and wally's dogs slower an slower so that barnaby has to hang around a smidge longer than usual #he's out here giggling at barnaby's jokes while sweeping Hours or Days after the joke was told like a lovesick idiot #all while being like Ah Yes Barnaby My Dear Friend. My Platonic Buddy Whose Jokes I Laugh At A Little Too Hard. Platonically.#meanwhile barnaby Realizes his own feels. has a minor crisis. goes through the 12 stages of grief and absolutely panics #he's like 'ok just gotta play it cool. normal. dont be weird. he'll fall for your natural charm in no time'#'ill hold all of my feelings right here until i die or howdy reciprocates. i just cant tell anyone about this.'#'....hey wally you can keep a secret right'#and rizzes it up yk. rolls a nat 20 on charisma every time without howdy even realizing it. ig barns rolled for stealth too #and from barnabys pov its going great!#howdy is flirting back! hes showing all the signs! when eddie views their interactions he comes to barnaby later and is like A+ gay as fuck #so barnaby is a soft pining mess and howdy is Absurdly Oblivious despite being a clever & observant guy #so im imagining (will freely admit that this Train of Thought is slightly inspired by the latest chapter of Stamps by Indigopoptart)#that eventually barnaby is Confident in their budding relationship ok. hes ready to ask howdy out.#everyone who Knows (wally & eddie) are like Go For It He Clearly Loves You #and when barnaby tells howdy. howdys like 'ohhhh geez um im really flattered 🥺 but i dont feel the same 😔😭'#cue barnaby turning into the 'never again' meme while trying to laugh it off and pretend like he didnt just have his heart mr starked #so he goes home to smoke his pipe and cry and howdy goes about his day feeling Strange #why cant he stop thinking about that confession. what are these emotions. i mean its not as if hes in love with Ohhhhhh No. Oh No.#so howdy has his 'holy shit! im in love with barnaby! (lovestruck. swooning) ....Holy Shit I Rejected Barnaby (horrified. nauseous)' moment #cue howdy expecting barnaby to come by in the morning as per Routine so they can talk. he Doesnt. cue howdy stressing the fuck out over it #meanwhile wally sally (eddie sent her in his place. hes too busy) and barnaby are having a girls day (eating ice cream and watchin romcoms)#eventually barnaby hears that howdy has been Dropping The Ball and cant not check on him. cue emotional heart-2-heart outside the bodega #this is all very specific but its in my brain. these scenarious lull me to sleep every night lately

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thetarttfuldickhead · 11 months

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And summer turns to autumn and it’s after practise and when Keeley steps into the dressing room she doesn’t bother with the conceit of averting her eyes. She did knock.

Jamie’s changed and talking to Bumbercatch; he perks up as Keeley enters and rises to greet her with a quick hug before calling vaguely in the direction of the coaches’ office, “Keeley’s here!”

Roy appears quickly enough, all in black (hell’s not frozen over yet) but looking as loose as he ever does for all of that; he too steps up to her for a hug.

“You look great,” he says, and she presses her thanks onto his cheek, a chaste kiss. She does look great, this dress is killer on her.

“Um, what about me?” Jamie demands, and at first she thinks he’s talking about the kiss, but no, he’s looking at Roy, eyebrows expectantly raised.

Roy gives him a slow, sceptical once-over, pointedly taking in the colours, the shorts, the everything. “You… look like you.”

Jamie’s grin is equal parts smug and teasing. “So, amazing then. Thanks, Roy.” A wink in Keeley’s direction and she giggles at that, reaching out to grasp his hand.

Roy rolls his eyes (again: hell not frozen over), but as Keeley takes his hand too, and as Jamie falls into step, he doesn’t particularly try to hide the small smile lurking in the corner of his lips.

Keeley loves them. “Come on, then,” she says, and she tugs them forward, and they go.

(Behind them, the lingering scent of Lynx and Keeley’s flowery perfume, and a hushed silence that stretches and stretches as player looks to player, until Dixon eventually asks, “So, are they… Do we know… ?”

Isaac shakes his head. “Better not to ask, bruv. It’s their thing and none of our business.”)

#nvm me just obsessed with rjk being Like That in front of the team and no one knowing what the hell is going on #bc them dating would (will) be fun #but them having a secret undefined thing that could be anything from bff trio to crazy monkey sex is fun too #ah yes this is me not writing my fic but in fairness to me there’s been too little rjk on my blog lately #so here we are #jamie tartt #roy kent #keeley jones #royjamiekeeley #ficlet #my stuff

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everyones-least-favorite-bard · 5 months

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ive got an sp/yjh saul/david paper sitting in my drafts id love to have finished in theory but i also dont have it in me to read through 1 samuel a sixth time so im just gonna drop the cleanest parts as is ON THE VOYEURISM OF THE DIVINE

One of the keys to understanding Yoo Joonghyuk’s character is, simply put, the fact that he is a character. Yoo Joonghyuk (and by extension all iterations of him) is the ultimate unwitting exhibitionist—his entire life is not only on permanent display to the varying Constellations and reader(s) of both the in-text WOS and the metatextual ORV, it was created for such. While writing WOS, Han Sooyoung even goes so far as to say that “t(T)he life of 1863rd turn Yoo Joonghyuk was given to her in its entirety,” effectively establishing that his very existence is tethered to her desire to see him exist (Sing-shong 534). In the most literal of senses, he was made to be observed. In the glimpses of the original WOS we see in ORV, every moment of his struggles is catalogued in excruciating detail, detail that we then see Kim Dokja memorize and internalize and store for later use. As early as the starting chapters of the first volume, Kim Dokja uses his memories of Yoo Joonghyuk doing something as mundane as cooking in such precise detail that those around him immediately grow suspicious of the clarity of knowledge he seems to carry regarding their circumstances (Sing-shong 20). And even beyond the context of his origins, this idea of Yoo Joonghyuk’s creation for the purpose of observation carries over into the events of ORV as well. Kim Dokja already knows a frankly invasive amount about his Yoo Joonghyuk from the WOS readings, which is then compounded by his use of the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint stage 2 skill, a skill that lets him literally read Yoo Joonghyuk’s mind (Sing-shong 11). Kim Dokja even describes the sensation of receiving Yoo Joonghyuk’s thoughts as “like a waterfall in my (his) head,” which implies the reception of not only surface thoughts but rather every thought going through Yoo Joonghyuk’s head (Sing-shong 11). It’s an egregious overstepping of boundaries that he regularly uses for over half the novel.

But—and note the use of “his” Yoo Joonghyuk earlier—this knowledge of Yoo Joonghyuk doesn’t extend to every iteration of him. Kim Dokja only read WOS, so it would follow that the Yoo Joonghyuk he knows best is the Yoo Joonghyuk of WOS, or, in essence, a Yoo Joonghyuk who did not know Kim Dokja. A Yoo Joonghyuk who, as is revealed later in the novel, would then go on to become Secretive Plotter.

Secretive Plotter, therefore, as an extension of the Yoo Joonghyuk Kim Dokja knows best, is defined by his exposure. He is who he is because his life has been watched and recorded and analyzed and picked apart at all times, all the time—not just by Kim Dokja within the context of ORV, but even in the original WOS by the Constellations. He exists in this fixed state of victimization by a horde of voyeurs, and then even within ORV itself he still suffers from this constant observation. Although he remains a mysterious figure the readers (until his identity reveal at least) and Kim Dokja see obliquely for much of the narrative, he is far more obviously emotive than the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk. The most obvious example of his comparatively vocal emotional outbursts is the infamous “Why, why is it not me but you??” scene (Sing-shong 446). While the scene (and that line in particular) is often read as Secretive Plotter expressing his jealousy towards Yoo Joonghyuk over his connection with Kim Dokja, the real signifier of his vulnerability is in Kim Dokja’s narration describing him a few paragraphs earlier. Kim Dokja says Secretive Plotter’s “tone of voice was heavy with grief. I couldn’t even fathom the depths of resentment contained within his words.” (Sing-shong 446). Compared to the layers upon layers of misdirection present in Kim Dokja’s narration everywhere else in the novel, the stark clarity of the description—the precise naming of the emotion(s) in Secretive Plotter’s tone—is startlingly obvious. 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk sits on the opposite end of this (admittedly somewhat narrow) spectrum. In the Epilogues, after the events of the 1865th round and the retrieval of the Kim Dokja of that round, we see (through the third person narration of Yoo Sangah) Yoo Joonghyuk’s reaction to the problem with their freshly-retrieved Kim Dokja. This scene, in which Yoo Joonghyuk’s expression is described as “frozen pale-white…as if he had lost a protective wall of his mind, he seemed to be muttering something to himself…” and while this is certainly an evocative image being painted for the reader (especially when factoring in Yoo Sangah’s later allusion to his expression during Kim Dokja’s erasure from the Star Stream in the 73rd Demon Realm), we still have virtually no idea what he’s actually feeling or thinking in this moment (Sing-shong 540). Even at what is arguably one of his lowest moments, 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk’s emotions are hidden from the reader—we can extrapolate, we can deduce and surmise and conjecture the broad strokes of his thoughts in the moment, but we ultimately do not know. Secretive Plotter is palpably unobscured in comparison: he is pinned open and dissected like a bug in a petri dish even when he has the objective upper hand. All the power in the world means nothing for the Secretive Plotter because he is always, always at the mercy of those watching him use it.

However, the lack of exposure seen in the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk in the Epilogues could be explained away by it being under Yoo Sangah’s narration, not Kim Dokja’s. Yoo Sangah does not have anywhere near the history of obsession and observation with Yoo Joonghyuk’s life and thoughts that Kim Dokja has/had (regardless of her having read WOS while inside the Fourth Wall), so it would stand that of course her narration of Yoo Joonghyuk would lack the highly scrutinizing quality that the rest of the text of ORV seems to take. Now, initially, this is true. As said before, Kim Dokja possesses the Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint skill(s) and he uses them with reckless abandon all throughout ORV. So, while metatextually the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk is largely hidden from the reader’s view, in the actual text we see his thoughts on display with alarming frequency entirely due to Kim Dokja’s actions. What makes him different from Secretive Plotter in this instance, then? Secretive Plotter is exposed via ORV the novel and the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk is exposed via ORV the skill—the difference would only lie in medium here, so what truly separates the two? The answer lies in the battle(s) against Yoo Joonghyuk’s companions from the 999th round. Towards the end of the arc, during a lull in the fighting, 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk asks Kim Dokja to use Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint stage 3 on him (in order to better integrate the story ‘Hell of Eternity’), but Kim Dokja is reluctant to do so. After some introspection (in which he realizes he’s been building his relationships off of his understanding of people from reading their minds), he tries to read Yoo Joonghyuk once more with ‘Hell of Eternity,’ but instead of basing his “reading” off of his memories of WOS or the assumptions he’s built around the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk from them Kim Dokja clears his mind and thinks of him as a stranger—as a person he does not know (Sing-shong 467). As soon as he does so, as soon as he respects Yoo Joonghyuk not as a powerful character in a story or as an integral fixture of his life, Yoo Joonghyuk ceases to be a character. When he chooses to respect Yoo Joonghyuk as a person, Yoo Joonghyuk is able to escape the voyeurism intrinsic to their initial relationship.

And this is the core of the divergence between Secretive Plotter and the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk: Secretive Plotter never experiences that release from two-dimensionality but Yoo Joonghyuk does. Secretive Plotter remains a figure used in the plot, by the plot, and for the plot (what is ‘Hell of Eternity’ itself if not the amalgamation of Secretive Plotter’s functionality in the narrative wrapped in a story-shaped bow), but after his christening as a fully fleshed person in the 999’s arc, the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk is able to finally grow beyond his origins and into a person with control over his life and story. Taking that moment (and the fact that Kim Dokja is, functionally, the capital-G God of the ORV/WOS world) it then evolves to mean that the 1864th Yoo Joonghyuk was saved from the emotional violence of his relationship with his god by the reciprocity of the relationship with that god. When their relationship developed to that of equals, his god was able to respect him as an individual.

Now. In the Saul and David narrative (limited to 1 Samuel), we see a remarkably similar dynamic play out. Saul, the first king of Israel, is something of a unique figure even within the actual text of the Bible. The historical sections of the book lend themselves to much obfuscation of detail, more often than not only informing the reader of the bare bones necessary to put together what happened and why it matters in defining how the reader should go about their relationship with God instead of spending time dwelling on characters for the sake of the development of the characters themselves. It is very rare that extraneous information regarding motivations or precise methods or even just an individual's thoughts are exposed to the reader. This is not the case with Saul. All throughout 1 Samuel, Saul’s thoughts are very, very openly exposed. Cohen's study of the book goes so far as to describe his mind as being studied "as if it is an exhibit in a display case." Rather than giving the reader only his direct quotes or physical reactions to things, the book tends to directly state his thoughts. When the people of Israel praise David for his contributions by downplaying Saul’s, the text does not describe him as brooding in silence or disdain, but rather reveals precisely what he is thinking to the audience—"They have ascribed unto David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed but thousands; and all he lacks is the kingdom!"

Going back to Secretive Plotter. Saul and Secretive Plotter were both powerful beings beloved by their gods and were both put under intense, invasive scrutiny by them in their narratives. Saul’s inner thoughts are constantly on display to the reader and Secretive Plotter’s entire life was transcribed for Kim Dokja to read. Even at the end of the novel Secretive Plotter’s “◾◾” is revealed to the reader while Yoo Joonghyuk’s is not. Saul and Secretive Plotter would then both go on to be replaced by another individual also chosen by god and also beloved by god, only changed by their respective gods' decision to reserve their scrutiny.

In comparison, David remains the paragon of obscurity. Like most other Biblical protagonists, David’s thoughts are rarely, if ever, seen by the reader. In the varying scenes in which Saul becomes increasingly more distressed and threatened by David's existence we continue to see the dissolution of Saul’s mental state and psyche but next to nothing on David’s part. From the moment of his selection by God in his father's home to the end of 1 Samuel and his coronation as king of Israel, David's thoughts remain wholly inscrutable to the reader unless he decides to vocalize them. All expressions of David are instigated by him and for him—the reader does not see his mind unless he wants the reader to see it.

It is clear, then, that in the Saul and David dynamic, the key difference between them is the depth and, like Secretive Plotter and Yoo Joonghyuk, the reciprocity of their relationships with their gods. Saul often blunders and mistranslates the will of God, being regularly rebuked by Samuel (a prophet of God) for his mistakes and being very, very rarely (if at all) praised for any successes resulting from his efforts. Saul clearly desires a connection with God—he seeks out Samuel for counsel often and even reneges on one of his own laws by hiring a medium to commune with him after his death—but that connection is never reciprocated. God openly states that he is choosing to turn away from Saul and that he regrets having chosen him as king. Secretive Plotter attempts to form a Sponsorship Contract with Kim Dokja in the first 5 chapters of ORV and even after his refusal continues to follow his progress throughout the scenarios. He brings Kim Dokja to the 1863rd round and attempts to force him to see his perspective and even kidnaps him and brings him into the NGai Forest—culminating again in the “Why, why is it him and not me?" scene, but Kim Dokja never returns his attempts at any level of depth and is actually quite disturbed and frightened by them.

With David and Yoo Joonghyuk, their relationships with their gods are much more intense and most importantly, mutual. David is often described with the epithet "a man after God's own heart" and despite his frequent missteps outside the bounds of the will of God, remains in God’s favor. He desires connection with God, as seen in the many psalms he wrote and his frequent counsel with various prophets, and he very clearly receives it. Yoo Joonghyuk desires connection with Kim Dokja, which is the reason the whole WOS reveal guts him as badly as it does. He extends his hand out to Kim Dokja frequently, and although it may take Kim Dokja time to recognize it for what it is, he does come to accept it and reciprocates his affections.

It goes to show then, that the key missing with Saul and Secretive Plotter that their successors possess is not in skill, is not in power or in physical trait, but rather in that their gods were able to view them as individuals and respect them enough to not pick them apart for answers and instead just ask the questions themselves.

#there were originally like 4 sections to this paper #if i ever find it in me to clean those up too ill drop em as additions to this post but otherwise thats it from here babes #orv meta #omniscient reader #omniscient readers viewpoint #orv #yjh #yoo joonghyuk #kdj #kim dokja #secretive plotter #orv spoilers #omniscient reader spoilers #orv epilogue spoilers #bard writes

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