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shiggybrainr0t · 4 months

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i was going through @willowser writing tag and reading all their stuff, as one does, and found their response to how bakugo would react whenever you tell him about a creepy guy and it got me thinking….yall know that tiktok trend about the fake Dimitri voicemail 💀 this turned out to be 90% domestic katsuki and only 10% him responding to a creepy guy so I’m sorry 😞

divider made by @cafekitsune 🖤

warnings: one fake creepy guy, comment about abuse and anxiety (not from bakugo)

Whenever you walk inside your shared apartment, you make sure to school your face into one of neutrality. You feel like you should know better than to do something like this, but Denki got this little prank into your mind and said he would give you 3,000 yen if you actually did it and well- who are you to turn that down.

Katsuki is sprawled shirtless on your couch, sweatpants hanging dangerously low on his hips as he snoozes with his arms behind his head. He makes the couch look hilariously tiny, with the way one leg is hanging off the edge and the other is bent just so his torso will fit. You can tell he has just taken a shower by the way his hair is a couple shades darker than normal and sticking about in odd ways. Seeing him there makes you forget about what you were set on doing, and you gaze at his golden form for a minute until you shifting has the floor creaking and one of his eyes opening lazily.

You know that he knew you were here the moment your keys jingled outside the door, but it was you not coming over and immediately plopping on top of him like usual that prompts him to make a grabby hand in your direction, a soft scowl on his face as you continue to stand there.

“Why’re you just standing there?”

His rumbling, sleepy voice breaks you out of your stupor and you continue on your journey towards your boyfriend. Unceremoniously, you drape yourself over his form, making him grunt at the impact even though he was expecting it. It’s muscle memory the way your legs tangle with his, and the way one strong arm wraps around you to grip at the squishy part of your side, all insecurities long lost in the safety of his arms.

His scent surrounds you, the smell of caramelized sugar and his body wash filling your senses, making you wiggle up to place your nose into the crook of his neck. You sniff loudly, giggling when he palms your face to push you away.

“Fuckin’ weirdo.”

After settling, you both bask in each other’s presence for a little while. You’re content to end the evening like this, until Denki’s stupid face flashes through your mind. Nonchalantly, you start to trace little patterns on Katsuki’s smooth chest, saying his name softly. At his responding hum, you start telling your tale.

“You know we have a new neighbor downstairs….” He doesn’t reply, only adjusting his grip on you slightly and raising one blonde eyebrow whenever you look up at him.

“Well, his name is Dimitri and he isn’t from here. He seemed a little lost, and he doesn’t really know anybody yet, so I gave him my number in case he needed help.”

“…..I don’t like where this is going.” Katsuki looks down at you, giving himself a double chin because of the angle. Annoyingly, he’s still gorgeous.

Put on, you sigh and trace “I love you” lightly into his skin. You know he got it, because he buries his nose into your hair and kisses your forehead in response.

“He started calling me a lot, even after I told him I had a boyfriend who could snap him in half-“

“Fuck yeah I could.”

“-and he left me this voicemail that was weird.”

You trail off, and at his raised eyebrows and slight shake of his head saying “well?” grab your phone and pull up the video Denki sent you, making sure the screen isn’t visible and press play.

The grainy sound of a voicemail fills the space, “Dimitri’s” voice starting up quickly.

“It’s Dimitri again. I left you a message a couple days ago. Now here’s the way I work: I don’t like leaving second messages.”

Your boyfriend’s jaw drops slightly at the sudden change of tone in Dimitri’s voice.

As “Dimitri” begins to tell you all his attributes, Katsuki’s face begins to screw up. The list of why “Dimitri” is an amazing guy and why he should be your boyfriend is a long one, and you can see Katsuki becoming more and more irritated as the voicemail continues.

“I’m giving you until 3 o’clock to return my call. I can understand if you’ve got some other issues…like maybe you were abused or you have an anxiety disorder and you’re on medicine for that-“

A warm and calloused hand engulfs yours to turn your phone off. Katsuki gently shoves you off of him, standing up and stretching lightly before turning to you.

“What apartment is he in again?” Your shocked face makes him turn around, quickly putting on some slippers and forgoing a shirt to step out of your apartment and into the hallway.

“I’ll find it.”

He’s already down the hall, bare back tense and cocking his head to the side as he jabs at the elevator buttons whenever you make it off the couch and out the door.

An apartment down, your neighbor perks up when she hears your voice, and goes to peek out her door. Where you are, your hunk of a boyfriend isn’t far behind.

“Kat-Katsuki it was a prank!”

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fernthewhimsical · 27 days

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Hopepunk Primer pt. 2

Philosophy of Hopepunk

I cannot express this better than other people have done before me. So I'll start with an interview Kayti Burt had with several hopepunk authors in 2019.

"What is hopepunk? It depends on who you ask…

Rowland, quoting her essay “One Atom of Justice, One Molecule of Mercy, and the Empire of Unsheathed Knives,” says: “Hopepunk is a subgenre and a philosophy that ‘says kindness and softness don’t equal weakness, and that, in this world of brutal cynicism and nihilism, being kind is a political act. An act of rebellion.’”

To understand hopepunk as a concept it helps to understand what it stands in contrast to. Grimdark is a fantasy subgenre characterized by bleak settings in which humanity is fundamentally cutthroat, and where no individual or community can stop the world’s inevitable decline. Hopepunk, in contrast, believes that the very act of trying has meaning, that fighting for positive change in and of itself has worth—especially if we do it together." [4]

When Alexandra Rowland was asked on Tumblr to expand on the initial statement she made she elaborated:

"Hopepunk says that genuinely and sincerely caring about something, anything, requires bravery and strength. Hopepunk isn’t ever about submission or acceptance: It’s about standing up and fighting for what you believe in. It’s about standing up for other people. It’s about DEMANDING a better, kinder world, and truly believing that we can get there if we care about each other as hard as we possibly can, with every drop of power in our little hearts." [5]

I also love the definition of the Tumblr blog @hopepunk-humanity:

"What is Hopepunk?

Wild laughter from ragged throats

Flowers growing choked from crumbling asphalt

A warm bed after a long, hard journey

Your partner’s hand cupped in your own

Bright graffiti on cracked tunnel walls

The chains falling loose to the stone floor

A glint of silver beneath a century of tarnish

A long rain after a blistering wildfire

Just one more step, and then another

A single candle flame joining the stars against the night

A loved ones voice calling your name after hours lost in an unfamiliar place

A hand taking yours, just when you’d given up on reaching out

Smiling, laughing again, when you thought you’d forgotten how

Knowing, despite everything, that humans are inherently good

It’s not simply blind optimism, or naivety. It’s choice. It’s taking the human race by the hand and saying, “I will love you, because I am you”. It’s facing a world dripping with cynicism and fashionable hopelessness and saying, “no, I will not give in”. It’s putting kindness out into the world, knowing you might not get it back, knowing you may be scorned for it, knowing it might not change anything, but with a certainty that kindness is what the world needs the most.

It is choosing hope" [6]

Hopepunk is choosing hope in a world where they want us to have none. It's choosing humanity when they want us to forget we are human. It's choosing community when they would benefit of us staying individuals. It's choosing action and hope when they want us struck down and paralyzed.

Alexandra Rowland emphasizes to not forget the second part of the word: Punk. In another interview with Kayti Burt for Den of Geek she says: "it’s important to remember that punk is the operative half of the word – punk in the sense of anti-authoritarianism and punching back against oppression." and "The instinct is to make it only about softness and kindness, because those are what we’re most hungry for. We all want to be treated gently. But sometimes the kindest thing you can do for someone is to stand up to a bully on their behalf, and that takes guts and rage." [7]

What is Hopepunk to me?

That spark that is both love and spite that keeps me going. It's seeing the good in humanity, while also acknowledging the harm. It's refusing to lay down and die, refusing the accept the status quo, refusing to believe that this is it. It's believing in a better world. In kindness. In the inherent sense of community in humanity. It's believing in the power of stories. It's seeing kindness and hope as an act of Sacred Rebellion. And spreading that kindness and hope is a Vow that I have taken. It's taken the anger I have against corporations, injustice, bigotry, capitalism, oppression, and letting it fuel the fire within me in a constructive way. It's working to dismantle systems that are oppressive to work towards a more inclusive world. It's pruning the garden of dead weight so new things can grow. Late stage capitalism wants us all to be docile, to work, not to live. So I will shout my small joys from the rooftops. I will create for the sake of creating. I will practice radical acceptance so that I stand strong above the masses of ads that wants me to hate myself. I will choose to see the good so that I can believe change is possible. Hopepunk a fire that says "Rage. Rage against those who deserve it. Stand up for those who do not and show them a better world is possible."

[4] Den of Geek - Are you afraid of the darkness: a hopepunk explainer [5] Alexandra Rowland tumblr post [6] Hopepunk-humanity - what is hopepunk [7] Den of Geek - a hopepunk guide: interview with Alexandra Rowland

Part 1: Intro and history Part 2: Philosophy of Hopepunk Part 3: How to practice hopepunk and further reading Part 4: Extra! Hopepunk and magic

#witchblr #hope #hopepunk #personal #mine #divider by saradika

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waltzingwithspirit · 7 months

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PICK A CARD: MESSAGES FROM THE COUNCIL OF LIGHT

LEFT : 111 ; RIGHT: 333

Disclaimer:

🪈Disclaimer in highlights applies here

🪈Take what resonates and leave the rest

🪈No one is allowed to copy my work under any circumstances

🪈All personal readings are paid. DM to book a personal tarot session.

🌙111🌙 “Better to wait than force things to happen” “I want my life to be beautiful, wild and filled with things I never imagined so forgive me if I ignore everything you think is important and get right to it” “Stop Complaining and Start Doing” “Fulfill your duties towards your body, self, and family, even society, do your part.” Patience is virtue that needs to be restored within you. You want your life to look a certain way, beautiful and wild and like your Pinterest mood baords and for so long you haven’t lived that, you have been engulfed with the noise and drama of the outside world, you waited so long for things you didn’t want, why not be patient for the things that you do, it takes time to undo the social conditioning and live truly free, give yourself some grace. It is not your job to be likeable, your job is to be yourself and the right people will find you. The council of light is reminding you that while you are on your way to fulfil your dream, do not forget to give back. A lot of being gave you comfort in your journey. I can see someone talking to street or colony dogs, and just sitting beside them and telling them about stories of their life, and playing, don’t forget them when things get better, they listened to you when you were in need. Do not forget your roots, sometimes we fly so high we can’t pinpoint where our home is from the clouds, do not forget your home, where you came from, your lineage, your villages, these things matter. They are your anchor. Connect with your loved ones, do some gardening. For some of you: Rescue Animals, help them in any way you can. Comment ‘111’ to claim. 🌙 DM TO BOOK A TAROT READING 🌙 🌙333🌙 “You came with nothing, you will go away with nothing” “You are not aline no matter how you perceive it to be. There is someone praying for you” If you are facing difficulty in making a choice: the council of light says: Make the choice that sets you free, that makes you feel lighter. Check your feelings, does it feel a weird hesitation or disappointment or sadness, even though logically it makes sense? Do not choose that path, please! Let lightness, freedom and joy be your guide in making decisions and you’ll be happy how things turned out in the end. Love yourself more, your day starts when you wake up so create a solid morning routine for yourself, take care of what you are consuming in different aspects like food, water, virtual content, engaging in conversations, everything. Assess this, eat good food that gives you energy and life, engage in manful conversations instead of gossip. Everyday for an hour do something you love, actively. Like you like to draw? Transfer half the time you spend following art content into making your own drawings, they don’t have to be the best, just start doodling even. You have all that you need to become wealthy in the most holistic sense, use them, There is no harm in writing in a pretty journal but you can just start journaling in any dairy whatsoever, sometimes just taking the first step is good enough, do not go in the mindset that I don’t have this so I can’t do this, use the resources you have currently. Comment ‘333’ to claim. 🌙 DM TO BOOK A TAROT READING 🌙

- EL TAROT

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megxplryxb · 1 year

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More Than This

*Notes* Gif is not mine..

Pairings: Steve Harrington x fem!reader

cw: Friends to lovers, angst, hurt, romance, eventual smut (probably), no use of y/n, Steve being a bit of an ass

Author's note: My first proper fic in a while so please be gentle on me. <3 There will be 2 Parts to this fic if the demand is there.

"Are we there yet?" Robin whined from the back of Steve's car, repeating the same question she'd asked ten minutes earlier. Frustration having set in about an hour ago when Eddie had fallen asleep and decided to use her shoulder as a pillow. You couldn't exactly blame her for being pissed off, the journey had felt long and drawn out and the current heat wave definitely wasn’t helping the current situation, with irritated sighs and huffs being echoed over Eddie’s loud snoring.

"Relax, Robs, we're almost there." Steve promised his friend through the rear view mirror. "Right?" He asked, squeezing your thigh for reassurance in the passenger seat beside him, begging you to say yes either way so Robin would quit bugging him. You flinched at the sudden feeling of Steve’s warm hand on your skin, shifting just enough so that his hand fell from your leg. Your uncomfortable body language hadn't gone unnoticed by him, looking at you in utter confusion before turning his focus back to the open road again.

"Oh yeah, about a half hour and we should be at the motel." You muffled, scanning the map as your friend breathed a sigh of relief behind you. You had navigated the majority of the journey, swapping with Robin forty minutes in when it became clear she couldn't understand the directions, meaning you were left with no choice but to sit up front with Steve because Eddie had already smoked a joint by himself and couldn't be trusted to guide you to your required destination safely or on time.

He had won four Metallica tickets on some radio show contest a few days prior, pleading with his friend to drive you all to Ohio in his BMW so he could see his favourite band play live for the first time. It wasn't really Steve's kind of music but who was he to turn down a night away from Hawkins?

You had been friends with Steve and the others ever since he called to Dustin's a couple of years ago while you were babysitting at the Henderson household, blissfully unaware of the danger that surrounded Hawkins at the time. Their friendship had taken you a little bit by surprise at first but you had to admit, you found their bond totally adorable. Especially, when Steve would give Dustin advice about girls and how to do his hair and how they'd protect each other and now you too, every time the world went to shit. You really didn't expect to get mixed up in a world involving supernatural creatures when you said yes to a babysitting job, that was definitely not on the advertisement but now you'd do anything for that kid and the rest of the group to keep them safe.

Steve had been drawn to you from the very beginning, not at all prepared for a pretty girl to answer the door to him while he waited for the younger boy. He immediately recognised you from high school, knowing it definitely wasn't the first time you had caught his attention.

"Oh hey, sorry, I didn't know Henderson had a sister." He muttered innocently, sliding his hands in to his pockets as you leaned against the doorframe wearing a plaid skirt and woolen cardigan.

"Pfft he wishes...I'm just his favourite babysitter or at least I'm the only one crazy enough to look after him.” You joked as Steve let out a small chuckle. “So, what are you doing here anyway ‘King Steve’? Mrs Henderson didn’t mention Dustin having a play date tonight.” You teased, folding your arms as Steve pressed his tongue to his cheek, a little taken aback by your wit. "Well, if Mrs Henderson had told me Dustin had such a pretty babysitter, I might have come play more often." He flirted, enjoying the back and forth between you, completely forgetting the reason he had called to Dustin's in the first place.

“Dude, that's my babysitter and she's awesome so don't even think about trying any shit with her!" Dustin had warned his older friend, seeing the lust in Steve's eyes as you walked away to let them talk.

Of course you liked Steve, he was gorgeous and sweet and he wasn't the stuck up asshole you'd remembered from high school. But, you knew that he was still getting over Nancy and you wouldn't be anyones rebound girl. So, you started occupying your time with Billy Hargrove to get over your little crush on Steve and it wasn't long until he became your boyfriend. You actually liked Billy, saw parts of him that no one else had but your friendship with Steve complicated things between you from the beginning. Cause, every time Billy did something to hurt you or piss you off, it was Steve you turned to for comfort, leading to fist fights between the two boys and you caught in the middle.

Billy hated that you were so close with his biggest rival, he hated that the other boy knew so much about you and your relationship and he hated knowing that your feelings for Steve went way past platonic, even if you hadn't realised it yet. So, when he eventually made you choose between your friendship with Steve and your relationship with him, Billy wasn't all that surprised when you chose Steve. Not that you ever told your friend he was the reason for the break up.

Over the next few years, you and Steve had gotten even closer, spending more time in his house than your own because he hated being there by himself and you didn't want to go home either. Your Mother had long passed away and your Father was a drunk. It was one of the many things you had in common, both of you having shitty parents and it was nice to have someone who understood how you were feeling. But lately, you had taken a step back from him, deciding to stay at Robin's house instead until you had enough money for a place of your own, because Billy Hargrove had been right all along, you were in love with your best friend and you were fucking terrified of him finding out.

It wasn’t supposed to happen, you certainly didn't want it to happen, it was so cliche that it made you physically nauseous, but thinking you had lost Steve when he disappeared under the water that night on the lake was all it took for you to realise just how much he really meant to you. Now you didn't know to act around your friend, not wanting to give him the slightest inkling of your current feelings towards him. You hated the way your stomach would flip when he'd smile at you, cheeks heating when he’d compliment you and the way you'd almost forget to breathe when he leaned in to kiss your cheek after picking you up from work, it was truly tragic. But to make matters worse, Robin had let slip that Steve was back on the dating scene again and you were just a tiny bit jealous and a little pissed off that he had failed to mention that detail to you personally when you spent so much time with him.

The sun was bright, high in the sky, heat taking over the BMW before you rolled the window down, welcoming the instant breeze as you pulled your sunglasses from the top of your head back over your eyes. Steve was immediately hypnotised by the scent of your shampoo and perfume as your hair blew in the wind. He tried to stay focused on the road in front of him but you were making it incredibly difficult in your low cut crop top and tiny denim shorts, hanging the top half of your body out the window for air. He was sure he almost drooled at the small sight of your laced bra that threatened to unveil itself if you shuffled in your seat much more.

Steve silently wondered what had been going on with you lately, you had become so distant and he was worried that he'd done something to upset you, said something stupid, but he couldn't think of anything. You didn't stay with him anymore, you flinched when he'd touch you and now, you barely even looked at him. Whatever was going on with you, he needed to find out soon, because it was driving him crazy.

"You ok over there, Dingus?" Robin teased, elbow leaning on the back of the drivers seat, catching Steve gazing at you. She was sure that you and Steve belonged together but you refused to let her know the full extent of your feelings because as much as you loved Robin, you didn't trust her not accidentally spill the beans to Steve.

“Uh yeah, m’fine.” He swallowed, relieved you hadn’t caught him staring as you rolled the window up again. He knew he shouldn't have been looking at you like that, you were his best friend for christ sake and he was sort of dating someone now, but he just couldn't help himself, not when it came to you. He never could.

“Eyes on the road, Romeo.” Robin whispered, pinching his cheek as he swotted her hand away, focusing back on the road again.

Thirty minutes later and you had arrived at the motel you’d be spending the night in, climbing in to the backseat, shaking Eddie to wake him from his slumber as Robin and Steve went to check in.

“Wake up sleeping beauty, we’re here.” You announced as he stretched out, yawning loudly.

“Oh man, why’d you wake me up, I was having such a good dream. You and Nance were giving me a—"

“I’m begging you not to finish that sentence, Munson.” You pleaded, placing a hand over his mouth.

“Hey, I’m a guy. I can’t help that I dream about my hot friends.” He defended as you got back out of the car while he followed suit.

“That doesn’t mean you have to tell me about it though.” You shuddered as he let out a laugh. “So, you finally gonna bunk up with Harrington tonight, put the rest of us out of our misery?” He grinned, pulling a little worn box out of his pocket, lighting up a cigarette.

“Nope. I’m sharing with Robin, you’re bunking with Steve.” You replied, rummaging in the trunk for your duffel bag, not really wanting to talk about Steve.

"We could swap if you wa-"

"I’m good with Robin." You interrupted, as he picked up on the irritated tone in your voice. "What's going on with you two lately?" Eddie questioned.

"Nothing." You shrugged, swinging your bag over your shoulder, Eddie looking at you, completely unconvinced by the answer you had given him. "Total bullshit."

"There's nothing going on, Eddie." You repeated.

"Did you guys finally do it or something? Is that why you aren't staying at his house anymore?" He asked as you let out a sarcastic laugh.

"No, we didn't 'do it'..….how did you even know I haven't been staying at Steve's?” You quizzed, Eddie offering you a drag of his cigarette, leaning against the Beamer. “He told me. Asked me if I knew what was going on with you, told him if he didn't know, there was no way I would."

“Rob said he’s been going on a couple of dates recently, I figured me sleeping in the next bedroom might be a bit of a mood killer." You revealed, exhaling the cigarette smoke as Eddie grinned at you. “Ah, so the issue is he's not doing you?" He joked as you rolled your eyes.

"That's not the issue, Eddie, there is no issue!" You lied, handing Eddie back what was left of his cigarette as he chuckled at your frustration.

“If you say so princess."

—

"So are you ever going to tell that girl how you feel or are you happy drooling at her from her a distance for the rest of your life?" Robin questioned Steve at the check in desk while he tried to shush her.

"Jesus Robin, will you stop with that shit? We're just friends, alright?" Steve declared, leaning heavily on the counter.

"No dingus, we're just friends, you don't look at your friends the way you look at her, there's a difference." She stated as Steve looked out the window, back to where you and Eddie were still talking outside in the parking lot. Seeing you two laughing outside stirred up a hint of jealousy in him because it should have been him you were laughing with, not Eddie. Steve was supposed to be your best friend and it was killing him that you were treating him like a total stranger.

"I don't even know why you're dating other chicks, you've got the perfect girl right out there." Robin pointed, as Steve let out a frustrated breath.

"m'not dating ‘other chicks’ Robin, just one ch...girl, Tracy, remember?" He asked as Robin laughed. "Oh I remember, do you? Beause it didn't seem like you did when you were mentally undressing your best friend back in the car."

"I wasn't "mentally undressing" her!"

"You totally were though." She muttered under her breath.

"Robin, I swear to god, just drop it. I'm seeing Tracy now, please, just let it go." He begged as she finally decided to ease up on her friend, seeing the annoyance on his face. "Fine, but she was a real bitch in high school, y'know?"

"You thought everyone was a bitch in high school." Steve replied unamused at her response. "Not everyone." She argued, turning her head to where you were walking in with Eddie.

"Ok, here we go, we have one room reserved under a Miss Buckley and one reserved under a Mr. Munson is that correct?" The receptionist asked.

"Yes, Ma'am." Eddie replied with a cheesy grin, winking at the girl behind the desk.

"Great, your rooms are ready now. Here's your key Mr. Munson you're in room fourteen and Miss Buckley, you're in room sixteen, enjoy your stay." She smiled as you all gathered your things to head to your residence for the night.

"Fuck, there was something really hot about the way she kept calling me Mr. Munson." Eddie smirked as you walked towards the rooms.

"She was just being polite, you pervert." You muttered, shoving your friend playfully.

"Aww don't be jealous sweetheart, you're still my number one girl." He said throwing an arm around you.

"In your dreams, Munson." You fought back.

"You were." He teased, sticking his tongue out playfully. Steve walked ahead, finally finding the room he'd be sharing with Eddie, swiping the room key, pushing the old creaky door in with his shoulder.

"Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me!" Steve cursed, opening the door as you all entered to see what he was referring to.

“What’s the prob….oh.” Eddie sighed, finally noticing the lack of a second double bed.

"Aww, this is so romantic. All you need is some candles and rose petals and you’re all set.” Robin teased, earning a glare from both guys.

"S'not funny Robin, we’re not sharing a bed, go check your room and see what you’ve got.” He requested as Robin wandered off to see if your room had the same issue.

"Shit, I'm sure I asked for two beds dude." Eddie stated rubbing his neck as the other let out an irritated breath. "You had one job Munson..."

"We've got one double bed too." Robin revealed, swinging from the doorframe unbothered. Sharing a bed wasn’t an issue for either of you, you'd done it most weekends at Steve's anyway when Robin was too drunk to go home or when you stayed at hers.

"Alright I'll go back to the front desk and see if that hot little receptionist can help us out." Eddie grinned, heading for the door but you placed a hand on his chest to hold him back.

"Easy there lover boy, the sign said "No Vacancies", it's totally sold out." You explained, hearing Steve curse behind you.

"Looks like you guys are roomies then." Robin laughed as they both shook their heads in defiance.

"No, absolutely not." Steve refused.

"Agreed." The other boy reiterated.

"Are you guys really that immature? It's just one night." You explained, taking a seat on the end of the bed.

"Have you seen the size of Harrington's dick? I don't want that thing poking at me all night!" Eddie shrieked as Steve smirked smugly. Your eyes widened at the mention of your friends package, sending them straight to his dick. Your movement hadn’t gone unnoticed by Steve who was looking at you confidently, almost enjoying the fact he had caught you staring at him.

"So what do you suggest then?" Robin quizzed, getting bored of standing around, wanting to freshen up before the concert.

"Easy, I go with one of you lovely ladies and one of you stays here with ol' big dick." He proposed, nudging his head towards Steve who seemed more than happy with that arrangement.

"No way." You refused knowing you’d end up getting stuck with Steve.

"Why not?" Steve quizzed, folding his strong arms, almost looking insulted by how quick you shot down the suggested arrangement.

Because you're sleeping with someone that's not me...

"Why should Robin and I have to switch because you two aren't man enough to share a bed for a couple of hours?" You spat, directing the question towards your best friend.

"Because we're guys! It's different for girls..." Eddie interrupted before Steve had the chance to speak.

"Afraid you'll like it?" Robin teased.

"If it's that much of a problem, why don't one of you just sleep in the car." You suggest, earning a glare from Steve. "I fucking drove us here, m'not sleepin' in the damn car!" Steve answered back as you noticed him glaring at you, quickly picking up on his pissed off tone.

"Sleep on the floor then." You muttered.

"This is ridiculous, why are we still arguing?” Steve groaned, not understanding why you were so against sharing a bed with him. You had done it before so why was now such a big deal?

“You’re the one being ridiculous! It’s just somewhere to sleep for a few hours.” You replied getting more agitated each time Steve spoke.

“Guys please…” Robin begged, sensing the tension between you both starting to boil over.

“Oh I’m the one being ridiculous? That's rich...” Steve fired back.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean, Harrington?” You questioned, raising a brow at him, completely forgetting that Robin and Eddie were watching this encounter unfold between you.

“You know exactly what it means, sweetheart.” He challenged and suddenly, you knew he wasn't talking about the sleeping arrangements anymore.

"Ok children, let's just cut the shit shall we? Robin, you and I will take the other room and leave these lovebirds alone to fuck out this sexual tension before we all lose the will to live.” Eddie grinned, grabbing his bags, leading Robin out of the room as she whispered a "sorry" to you.

“Shut the fuck up, Munson.” Steve replied, glaring at the other boy as you took a mental note to murder the metal head at a later time.

"Hey, it's not like I'm saying anything you guys don’t already know. Why don’t you just save us all some time and get it over with huh? We'll meet you in the lobby in an hour.” Eddie replied, closing the door behind him, leaving you all alone with your best friend for the first time in a long time.

“Idiot.” Steve muttered, throwing his car keys on the nightstand, throwing himself on to the bed. "This is just fucking great..." You muttered under your breath, the awkward tension between you already suffocating the room along with the smell of stale cigarette smoke that seemed to be attached to all of the soft furnishings. You could feel Steve's eyes on you while you grabbed your bag and headed for the bathroom, knowing you needed to get away from him and give each other some much needed space after the heated exchange.

"Need to use the bathroom before I get ready?" You questioned, a hand resting on your hip as Steve barely acknowledged you, grabbing the remote to turn on the tv.

"Nope."

"Cool." You whispered, closing the door behind you, quickly turning on the shower so you could finally let out the tears you'd been trying desperately to hold back for so long.

You didn't know how to make things right with Steve. You thought you were protecting your friendship with him by keeping him at a distance until your feelings disappeared, but it seemed all you were really doing was making things much worse between you.

#steve harrington #steve harrington x you #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington smut #steve harrington imagine #steve the hair harrington #king steve #steve x reader #steve harrington fic #steve harrington fanfic #steve stranger things #steve harrington stranger things #stranger things 4 #stranger things smut #stranger things

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doorhine · 6 months

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I think the show does a really good job at validating and empathizing with Akemi’s concerns as a woman living under a patriarchy while also acknowledging her privileges, not just as a wealthy person, but as a literal princess. There’s a lot to be said about Akemi’s dynamic with Madame Kaji and the other sex workers but right now I’m focusing on her and Mizu as two main characters whose experiences as women contrast each other the most. I specifically want to talk about the end of episode 5 because it’s a culmination of so many things.

*SPOILERS BELOW

Mizu obviously isn’t there to personally see the misogyny Akemi experiences so from her perspective, she has no real reason to empathize with her running away. Mizu also just has her own priorities with her revenge quest. But even with the lack of context or understanding of Akemi’s situation, Mizu and the other sex workers' judgment of Akemi isn’t unfounded because she has real privilege over them. As a princess, she has an unfathomable amount of wealth that lets her live a life of comfort and luxury so far removed from other people’s experiences to the point where, Akemi herself states that being rich like that makes you forget that you’re rich. And while Akemi is clearly shown to utilize the skills sets she does have to her advantage when she runs away, it’s not an insult to her intelligence to acknowledge that getting as far as Madame Kaji’s establishment was also the result of luck because there’s so many ways that things could’ve gone wrong on the way there.

So for Mizu to encounter Akemi

A princess who ran away from all that luxury for the sake of a failed marriage with a guy who bullied/hate crimed Mizu as a child and wants to duel and kill her for his honor/social status in the present (when social climbing was never truly possible for Mizu even when disguised as a man and because we know how her marriage ended)

A princess who tried to kill her and says she only regrets not doing it immediately

A princess who calls her a monster just like everyone else

A princess who has no idea Mizu’s even a woman or all the experiences that got her to this point, including the assassination of Kinuyo (who didn’t want to die) at Madam Kaji’s request because women have to be practical and think of the results (not how they get there) when it comes to revenge

A princess who may have fought to help defend Madame Kaji and her girls but then expected a mentally, emotionally and physically exhausted Mizu (suffering from multiple puncture wounds after doing the majority of the killing/defending) to fight Akemi’s own guards like a personal attack dog when doing so would’ve more than likely killed her and Ringo while Akemi still lived and got taken back home…. *takes a deep breath*

It’s totally understandable why Mizu just lets them take Akemi.

On Akemi’s part, she doesn’t know the context around why Mizu is the way that she is but at the end of the episode assumes that she’s not capable of love when they’ve only known each other for… not even a day and half technically speaking. Meanwhile Mizu’s assessment of Akemi’s privilege is still accurate in certain ways despite her lack of context that makes Akemi empathetic to us as the audience. Also, not that Mizu sees this happen, Akemi is able to maneuver her way around the shogun’s court and her new husband while also uplifting and hiring Madame Kaji and her girls to both their benefit. A path she chooses to continue taking at the end of the season. It’s still within the confines of the patriarchy and not without its challenges, but Akemi is taking advantage of the privileges she does have when she previously took them for granted.

Both Mizu and Akemi are just so nuanced and well written and this scene is a perfect example of how and why they clash due to such drastically different lives shaped by their social status. I’m curious to see how their journeys will go from here and what circumstances reunite them (for better or worse) given where they left off with each other during the season finale.

#blue eye samurai #blue eye samurai spoilers

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bwabys-scenarios · 10 months

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Reunited

Part 24

Illumi x Reader x Feitan

part 23

part 25

warning: feitan is mean and ungrateful but what did you expect, he’s a lil gremlin! reader gets bitten and scratched cuz he’s wild 🙏

taglist: @tsukilover11 @mercyboluthecrazychicken @sxyriii @shidoni-san @living4tomrua @lemonslut @honeylunalove @sugarrushdaydream

if you’d like to be ADDED to the taglist, please comment a red heart ❤️, make sure you’re able to be tagged/mentioned, and have your age in your bio(IF YOU ARE ALREADY ON THE TAGLIST, YOU DON’T NEED TO ASK TO BE ADDED AGAIN!!)

3 years ago

The summer air was suffocating. (Name) had long since abandoned her long sleeves and fluffy blankets, exchanging them for tank tops and sheets.

The girl continued her work of peeling apples. If she wanted to finish her next batch of apple butter before her journey into town next week, she’d need to peel until she couldn’t anymore.

“Reports of the notorious band of thieves, the Phantom Troupe, wreaking havoc in the next city over have reached-“

(Name) switched the channel of her small bear up radio. She didn’t want to hear about some thieves causing mayhem. The girl had already pushed the name out of her mind by the time she continued her work.

As the day wore on, she felt herself grow tired. She’d peeled around 60 apples. (Name) tossed the remaining bags of fruit into her fridge, setting the cut apples to boil on the stove.

‘Mmm, I think I’ll go dip my feet in the river while this boils. I deserve a little relaxation!’

(Name) slipped her flip flops on and ran outside, sliding down the hill and to the river’s edge.

It was calm and quiet, the sound of crickets and the sight of fireflies soothing to the girl. The water was surprisingly cool against her skin, causing her to jump lightly upon contact.

She sat down on the rocky riverside, dipping her feet into the water. “Ahh, now this is nice.”

For a moment, all of her worries of making ends meet and supporting her family melted away, the feeling of the river’s water lapping at her skin allowing her to forget.

But this wouldn’t last long. (Name) opened her eyes at the sound of something bobbing in the water. She turned to look down the river, narrowing her eyes to get a better look.

‘Is that an alligator? No, it couldn’t be, that shape isn’t right…’

(Name) stood and shook the water from her feet. She walked along the riverside until she was close enough to see what was floating on the surface of the water.

“Is that… oh my god!”

(Name) threw off her shoes and jumped into the river, swimming to the center to grab at the shape slowly sinking into the water. It was a person!

She swam back to shore, pulling the man up onto the rocky riverside. He was breathing, thankfully, so she wouldn’t have to do mouth to mouth.

“Let’s get you inside…”

She half carried, half drug the body to her porch, setting him down on the wooden floor as she scurried inside. She quickly turned the apples off before they could boil over, and rushed into the bathroom for her first aid kit and towels.

Not only was he absolutely soaked, but his body was covered in wounds, ranging from small cuts, to gashes. His arms were in the worst of shape though, having turned a strange purple color.

“Ah, he’s shivering. I gotta get him warmed up before he gets sick…”

She pulled at the man’s clothes, muttering an apology under her breath as she began undressing him.

—————

(Name) sighed, setting the small man down on the bed in the guest room. Thankfully she’d just laid out fresh sheets.

The girl didn’t have any men’s clothes for him, so she settled on pulling a pair of her pajama pants over his otherwise naked body. So far she had avoided looking at anything private, and she was planning on keeping it that way.

“Mm, his shirt was destroyed, but his pants and boxers can be washed and dried. Better than nothing, I guess.” She set aside the wet clothing for later, focusing on his injuries.

He had a large gash on his chest. It would need stitches, something (Name) could handle. Any other small cuts and bruises could be treated with a bandaid or salve, but his arms… that’s what she was most worried about.

His arms didn’t appear to be broken, but the purple color was throwing her off. He had also grunted in pain when she’d touched him, the only reaction he’d had the the entire time.

She decided to wait until he woke up to address his arms, setting some packs of ice to help with the swelling.

(Name) got to work stitching up his wound, being as gentle as possible. After that, she wrapped his chest in gauze, tending to his smaller cuts with some antibacterial spray and bandaids.

He had some glass stuck in one of his legs, which she had to pick out as well. Just what in the hell happened to this man to be in such bad shape?

She wanted to call a doctor to come check him out, but she had so signal so far out from town. She’d have to wait for him to wake up and be stabilized before she could leave, and that worried her.

After a few hours of tender care, (Name) covered him up and turned off the light. His breathing had evened out, his chest rising and falling softly.

When (Name) was finally able to climb into bed, she realized she hadn’t taken the time to really take in his appearance. She’d been so focused on saving his life she hadn’t even thought to get a good look at him.

‘That’s alright. I’ll take a good look at him tomorrow…’

—————

Sun filtered in through the curtain drawn window, causing the sleeping man to groan and attempt to raise a hand to his face to block out the light.

He regretted this immediately.

Indescribable pain shot through his limbs, causing him to scream out in agony. He cursed in his native tongue, struggling to sit up.

The door in front of him bursted open, a short, plump woman running through.

“Holy- are you okay? You’re awake oh my-“

She paused at the wild look in his eyes. The man growled, struggling to back away as he practically barked at her.

“Stay back.”

(Name) held her hands up in surrender, giving him the space he requested. Once she was a good distance away, he relaxed, but only slightly.

“Where am I?” He had an accent that (Name) couldn’t quite place, but it was nice.

The girl looked from his face to his arms, concern written across her face. “You’re in my home. I found you in the river last night.”

He frowned, sweat beading down his forehead from him straining to get up. “Who are you?”

“Oh, I’m (Name).”

His next question came fast. “What you want from me?”

She paused, her brows knitting together in confusion. “Nothing? Why do you ask?”

He let out a humorless laugh. “No one helps for “nothing”. What, want information? Better kill me, I don’t talk.”

She blinked before waving her hands frantically. “Kill? Whoah I’m not gonna kill you! I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I don’t want anything from you.”

Although he could tell she spoke the truth, it didn’t do anything to ease his suspicious. “Don’t… don’t come near.”

He felt his eyelids grow heavy. He had just woken up, but he was still exhausted. The weight of his body slowly sunk back into the bed, the man falling back into a restless sleep.

(Name) stood still until his breathing returned to normal. She then walked over and placed a hand on his forehead.

‘He’s burning up!’

She rushed out of the room and returned to place a damp rag on his head, replacing the melting bags of ice on his arms as she did.

‘Hmm… I’ll make something easy to eat for when he wakes up.’

She settled on some homemade chicken noodle soup. She’d recently culled some of her meaner roosters, so she had some left over chicken sitting in her freezer.

“This will do. I hope he’s not allergic to any of this…”

(Name) was able to get a better look at him this time. He was relatively small, shorter than her definitely, with black hair that fell past his cheeks and a pale complexion. She couldn’t place his eye color, they were either a dark shade of gray or a light shade of purple.

The next time the man woke up, it was night. By the looks of the sky outside, it had just become dark out. He could hear the sound of the woman humming, the clinks and clanks of dishes being washed reverberating down the hall.

He was able to sit up with minimal pain this time, the bags of (now melted) ice dripping to the floor. The rag that had been placed on his forehead fell into his lap as he observed his surrounding.

The room was plain, having blue walls and no decorations. Next to him was a night stand with a cup of water and a straw. Had that woman left that there?

‘Need to call boss. Doesn’t know what happened.’

He looked around, spotting his phone next to the water on the nightstand. It was broken, and even if it hadn’t been it wouldn’t have worked because of his dip in the river.

The man thought back to his fight, and how he’d gotten there.

Chrollo had ordered him to steal an expensive relic from a local gang, which Feitan thought was child’s play. Although only Feitan was ordered to take the gang out, the news reported that there was more than one spider ransacking the town. He wondered how scared they would have been if they knew all that damage had been caused by him.

Feitan only ran into trouble when a nen user skilled in paralyzing peoples bodies was able to grab his arms. The limbs quickly turned purple, but Feitan was able to kill the man with little to no further injuries.

He dropped the relic off at the designated spot before walking along the river. Feitan hadn’t realized how badly injuried he really was until he felt himself sliding down the hill and into the river. He passed out before he could swim to the surface.

Thankfully, he was light enough to float down until (Name) spotted him.

‘Careless. Should have contacted Boss beforehand…’

He looked down at his arms, gritting his teeth. It seemed the persons nen hadn’t disappeared after his death. From the small amount of information he’d heard, the paralyzation could last up to 4 months. ‘Stupid. Could have been more careful.’

He wanted to slam his fist into the wall, but knew that would only make things worse. Feitan instead took a deep breath.

His mind wandered back to the woman from the previous day. His arms were next to useless, would he have to rely on her to eat? Feitan didn’t want to. He couldn’t believe that the girl had no ulterior motive, it just wasn’t possible. No one helped others without looking to gain something, at least not in Feitan’s world.

The sound of the door creaking open caught his attention. He’d been so deep in thought that he hadn’t heard her approach the door.

“You’re awake! That’s good, just in time for dinner.”

The girl walked in carrying a plate with a bowl and piece of bread on it. She sat it down in the man’s lap as she situated herself in the chair she’d placed beside his bed.

“Can you move your arms?” she asked, picking up the bags of ice.

“No.”

She nodded. “Alright, then I’ll feed y-“

“No.”

“No? What do you mean no, are you not hungry?”

She reached out to place a hand on his forehand. Maybe he had a fever that was upsetting his stomach! But before she could place her palm on his head, he lifted his head and bit her hand.

“H-hey!” She pulled her hand back and held it to her chest as small droplets of blood beaded to the surface.

“Don’t touch me.”

She could feel the venom dripping from his words, an unspoken threat laced in between them. If she touched him, he’d hurt her.

“But if I can’t touch you, I can’t help you. I promise I’m not going to hurt you, I-“

“Stay away.”

Something about that man felt dangerous, like she was a gazelle standing in front of a lion. His eyes pierced into hers, telling her that he wasn’t someone to be messed with.

(Name) sighed and stood up from her chair. “I’ll try again later. Goodnight.”

She took the bowl and left the room, turning the light off behind her.

Feitan woke up feeling better than he had when he fell asleep, and weirdly not hungry. Out of habit, he attempted to lift a hand again to block out the sunlight, only to be reminded of his condition.

“Fuck…” he groaned, sitting up. He swung his feet over the side of the bed, taking tentative steps towards the door.

He paused for just a moment to look over his attire. Hanging dangerous low on his waist was an oversized pair of sweatpants, with some kind of cat cartoon character he didn’t recognize. They were much to big for him, the drawstring pulled tight to keep them from falling down his hips.

‘If Uvogin or Shalnark saw this, wouldn’t hear the end of it.’

Unable to open it with his hands, he kicked it open, causing it to fly off its hinges.

(Name) screeched from the kitchen. “OH MY- my door!” She rushed over, glancing between her door and the man in front of her.

“Where the bathroom?”

She blinked. It took her a moment to process his question before she pointed to the open bathroom.

As he began to walk away she stopped him by clearing her throat. “Will you be needing any help?”

He glanced back at her, raising an eyebrow. “What, gonna hold my dick for me?”

He didn’t wait for her to respond, just walked in and kicked the door close.

(Name) was left in a stunned silence, staring at the door. ‘Did he…’

She huffed and went back to working in the kitchen. It wasn’t as easy as it had been before she’d had to bandage her hand, but she’d power through it.

——————

Feitan could feel something warm in his mouth, something savory. It tasted good, the man swallowing the liquid in deep gulps.

In his dreams, he was sitting with all of his childhood friends enjoying the soup chrollo had made them. All it was was chicken and water with some sparse seasonings, but feitan enjoyed every second of his meal.

The smallest of smiles was on his face as a spoon was lifted to his lips.

He was still asleep, and (Name) was going to take advantage of that.

She’d propped him up and had slowly been dripping the broth from her soup into his mouth for the past 15 minutes, being mindful of his breathing. For the past two days, she’d been feeding him like this when she could.

He refused to eat anything she offered him, threatening her if she got too close. He always followed through with his words, biting and clawing at whatever skin he could get to.

Feitan didn’t stay awake much, only getting up to use the bathroom before passing out again. She’d gotten used to the man randomly leaving his room only to use the bathroom.

One afternoon after he left, she saw water dripping down his face and onto his chest. (Name) assumed he has been drinking water from the sink. He didn’t even trust her enough to drink the water she had supplied.

This didn’t bother her, though. The kind of wounds Feitan had received, both old and new weren’t the type that littered an ordinary man’s body. He’d had a hard life of fighting to survive, so she didn’t take his harsh words and actions to heart.

(Name) had fixed the door to her best ability to give the man some privacy. She left it cracked open slightly so he could go to and fro without breaking it again. Feitan seemed perplexed by her actions. Despite his less than kind attitude, she seemed unbothered. This freaked him out.

(Name) knocked on the door before entering with a medkit in one hand and his laundry in the other. “Hey. I need to change your bandages.”

He didn’t glance up from looking at his lap, his lips twisting into a deep frown. “I said no touching.”

“Yeah, I know, but if I don’t change your bandages you’ll get an infection.”

Feitan sneered at her, spitting out his words. “Don’t care. Stay away.”

She set the medkit down and placed his laundry on the bed before she sat next to him. Unlike placing ice packs/rags and feeding him, changing his bandages in his sleep wouldn’t be easy. If he woke up, he might seriously hurt her.

“Alright, I won’t touch you, but I’ll need to go to town and get a doctor. If I can’t help you then I can at least get someone-“

“No doctor.”

(Name) raised an eyebrow at this. “No doctor? How exactly do you plan on getting better if I can’t touch you or get you a doctor?”

The man didn’t answer, giving her a glare. “Listen, your three options are to let me take care of you, see a doctor, or die from infection. What’s your choice?”

He looked her straight in the eye as he answered.

“I choose death.”

——————

“God, he’s stubborn. And annoying.”

(Name) loaded her homemade canned goods into her large basket, huffing and puffing over the man’s behavior. He’d fallen back to sleep after his declaration, not bothering to speak on the subject further.

He seemed to be doing alright, all things considered, but his attitude was worsening by the day. He refused to tell her anything, not even his name.

(Name) fastened her basket to her bike and started on her journey to town.

It took around 30 minutes by bike, but stopping to take breaks made it a 45 minute trip.

(Name) participated in a farmers market every Sunday, selling her canned goods to make enough money to support herself and send a little money home to her family every month.

After a long day of selling her goods, she packed up her cash into three plastic jars. One was for her, the second was for her family, and the third was new. It would be her “mysterious stranger fund”, money she’d use for his basic necessities.

She decided to stop by the local thrift store and buy a few different pairs of clothes for the man. It was hard to find things that fit his style. Even in the heat, he’d been wearing a long black coat, so she assumed he liked wearing warm clothing.

She could afford a pair of black jeans, a black hoodie, a few pairs of boxers, some socks, and a set of pajamas. It would have to do until she could come back next week.

He hadn’t bothered to change out of the sweatpants she’d dressed him in his first night there, despite her pleas for him to do so.

Feitan would just scoff, saying that he wouldn’t be able to sleep in his usual pair of pants.

He didn’t seem to like talking, maybe it was because he wasn’t great with words? (Name) really liked his voice though, it was attractive when he wasn’t growling or yelling at her.

She stuffed the jars her loyal customers had returned and the clothes she bought into her basket and started on her way home. It was dark now, but the moon guided her along her path.

——————

“I’m home, I got you some-“

(Name) paused, dropping her basket onto the floor.

The man was sprawled out along the floor, his breathing uneasy and sweat beading down his forehead. It looked like he’d passed out after leaving the bathroom.

She was at his side immediately, hoisting him up as gently as she could. (Name) placed him onto his bed and pulled back his bandages. The woman grimaced at the sight.

“Infected, just as I thought.”

The infection wasn’t bad, but bad enough that if it wasn’t treated, he’d die. (Name) thanked god that she kept antibiotics on hand, running to her bathroom and pulling the out of her mirror cabinet.

“Hey, can you swallow? I have some medicine that will help you.”

The man let out a ragged breath, shaking his head. “N… no. Don’t… don’t touch me.”

He was too weak to fight her, but he still refused her treatment. The girl bit her lip before popping one of the pills into her hand and squeezing his cheeks.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going to let you die.”

She shoved the pill into his mouth, holding his lips shut as he thrashed, scratching and clawing at her skin. Soon, he lost his strength again and swallowed the pill.

(Name) let go of him, blood dripping down her arms from the wounds he had inflicted. She paid them no mind, leaning him against his pillow and placing a rag on his forehead.

“I’ll be right back with some water and some fresh bandages.”

For the next 24 hours, Feitan was in and out of sleep. Every once and a while he’d feel the cool sensation of water being poured into his mouth, too weak to protest.

(Name) stayed by his side as much as she could, constantly checking his temperature and changing his bandages after applying medicine to his wounds. He’s still bark out complaints and threats, but due to his condition they were now empty.

At one point (Name) was scared he would die, his face turning pale and breathing growing softer. She held his hand through the night, tending to him as gently as she could through his pain.

——————

Feitan woke up to the feeling of someone’s hand in his.

He was still exhausted and weak from the infection, but was able to lift his head enough to see who was holding his hand.

The woman was at his bedside, having fallen asleep while caring for him. Tears fell from her eyes freely as she slept.

Had she stayed with him the entire time? Feitan glanced at his chest, seeing that he was wearing new bandages and a different pair of pants. They were black flannel pajama bottoms, something he wouldn’t usually wear, but comfortable on his sensitive skin.

He noticed his hair had been pulled back into a ponytail to keep out of his face. A rag laid on his forehead to fight his constant fever, the taste of broth on his lips.

This girl had been diligently caring for him through his tantrums and mean words. Could he really keep pretending she was out to hurt him?

(Name) stirred, her tired eyes opening to see Feitan staring down at her with calculating eyes.

“You’re awake-oh sorry.”

She let go of his hand and wiped away her tears. “Sorry, your health declined last night and I was afraid you’d die, so I held your hand. I didn’t want you to… die alone.”

Feitan couldn’t understand her kindness. Her words did something to his chest that he didn’t like, not one bit. He shrugged it off, leaning back against his pillow.

“… you stayed here whole time?”

It was the first time he’d asked her a non hostile question in days. “Yes, of course. You were very sick and needed my full attention.”

He didn’t seem satisfied with her answer, but relented. She leaned closer to look at his face, giving him a sweet smile that unsettled the man more than he cared to admit.

“Are you hungry? I’ll make you whatever you want, if it means you’ll eat.”

Feitan maintained eye contact with her. His body was weak, and he knew he’d need to eat something soon. With the infection and his injuries, he would die if he didn’t consume some nutrients. Although he said he’d rather die than be fed by her, his body wouldn’t allow him to deny his hunger any longer.

“… curry.”

She blinked, leaning back. (Name) tried to hide her excitement over his request for food. “Okay, what kind?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

(Name) was quick to leave after giving him his medicine. He didn’t fight her for it this time, only complaining about the situation.

As she left, his eyes couldn’t help but wander to her bandaged arms, the beginnings of guilt starting to form in his stomach.

——————

“Fei, what was your mama like?”

Feitan and Chrollo sat together under a makeshift shelter, the latter stirring a bubbling pot of soup. Although it was hot, no one ever complained about the food.

They were just kids then, running around having adventures and trying to survive.

“Dunno. Died.”

The young boy didn’t seem to bothered by his own words, looking out into the distance to watch his other friends play.

“Oh. Sorry to hear that.”

A silence fell over the two, Feitan pulling his knees to his chest. When was the last time someone had held him? He couldn’t remember. He didn’t even know if he’d ever been held tenderly, like he was precious to someone.

As he would grow older, Feitan would be able to hide his feeling of loneliness and need for touch, but now he was a child that was struggling to keep it all together.

Chrollo clapped a hand over his back, remaining silent as the boys eyes brimmed with tears.

Feitan always hated that dream. It made him feel soft and sappy, something he perceived as weakness. The Phantom Troupe’s interrogator didn’t have time for such useless feelings.

He had just woken from his dream, the tears that welled up in his eyes pooling down his cheeks. He hated that he couldn’t wipe them away, cursing his heart.

The smell of food cooking caused his stomach to growl. He was now aware that the woman had been slowly feeding him broth over the past few days as he slept, but that was hardly enough to fill his empty stomach.

Feitan watched through the crack in the door as the girl scurried around the house, picking up little messes as she cooked. It was amusing to watch her bump her hip against a counter and gasp before jokingly wagging her finger at it, as if it could feel shame.

He wondered if she’d act so silly if she knew he was watching.

Feitan stood up and opened the door completely. This drew (Name)’s attention, who glanced his direction before going back to working on dinner.

The man stared at her for a moment before going to the bathroom.

(Name) tried to ignore the feeling of his eyes on her, grateful that he left as soon as he did. It was hard to cook when you were being watched.

After leaving the bathroom, Feitan did something that (Name) hadn’t been expecting.

The short man sat at the dinner table, staring at her with unreadable eyes.

To say it was unnerving would be an understatement.

When (Name) turned to ask why he was staring at her, he scowled. “Observing.” was all he said.

She sighed and finished up dinner. If watching her would give him some peace of mind, who was she to deny him?

“Dinners ready.”

She placed a plate of beef curry down in front of him, the smell of the food almost causing his mouth to water. “Here…”

She sat next him, scooting her chair closer. He instinctively shrunk back, like a wounded animal. She only waited for him to calm down, stirring up the food to help it cool down.

“Are you ready?”

He hesitantly nodded, leaning towards her with his mouth open.

The first bite was heaven for Feitan. He didn’t know if he’d ever tasted anything better than the curry he was eating then. After that, he was much more receptive to her feeding him, finishing the plate before he realized it.

“Alright, do you want some more? There’s also some pie in the fridge if you want some!”

He didn’t answer. It was already humiliating enough to be fed by a complete stranger, he didn’t want it to last any longer than it had to.

But his sweet tooth would not agree with his brain.

“Pie.” He stated, staring at the fridge.

——————

After his meal, Feitan retired to his room to sleep. Just walking around was exhausting, he didn’t have any energy to socialize with someone he didn’t really like.

The man stared up at the ceiling, thinking back to her face as she fed him. She didn’t look at him in a condescending way or laugh when the food fell onto the floor because it had been too hot. No, she patiently waited for him to finish chewing his food, and wiped his mouth as if she were taking care of someone she cared about a lot.

Of course, Feitan wouldn’t process that (Name) cared for him, a stranger for a long time. It didn’t make sense to him. Why help someone when you stood to gain nothing?

He watched as she cleaned up the kitchen through the crack in the doorway.

‘Strange woman.’

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darkcreamz95 · 4 months

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Joker Out The Hague Concert Report (5.12.2023)

Oh boy... where do I begin with my first ever JO show and first ever pop/rock concert in my life...

[ UPDATE 15.1.2024: I finally put the Amsterdam report up, you can read it here. ]

Got to the venue at 2.30pm to get a queue number for me and my friend, got number 89 and 90.

Everyone was so lovely, even if we've never met before until that day! Thank you everyone for the friendship bracelets, sweets and charm! Also thank you to everyone who took my stickers, I loved seeing the reactions and it makes the last minute rush to go print and cut them before flying over so worth it!

My friend and I decided to go for the first floor balcony, and for a first show, that was a good idea so I don't end up feeling overwhelmed from standing at the floor (plus I got a good view of Nace and Jan even if I'm on the left side of the venue.)

Anna Rose Clayton is amazing on stage as the opening act, really hyped everyone up before the boys take the stage! Note to self, gotta listen to more of her stuff!

Ok JO part START!

I was warned about how epic the opening is, and YOU BET IT WAS! The lights, the opening music, even my video recording of the opening doesn't do it justice, you just have to witness it yourself live!

First thought when the boys first show up: I WAITED HALF A YEAR FOR THIS I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ACTUALLY THEM HELP HELP HELP ALSO BOI ARE THEY TALLLLLLLLL

Jan looked up and I did a tiny wave, he waved back ai crai

At some point during the show, Bojan also looked up and waved back at me ahahah...

Really Bojan made sure everyone in the room is having fun, not just the floor, even the balcony and the furthest end of the venue.

We got the 'Dopamin' dance and 'Tokio' wiggles from Jance, as a Jance girlie, I'm satisfied!

When I describe Jan's guitar solo, I tell people that "when he plays, it felt as if the world stopped spinning so that he could play", his guitar solo of 'Burning Daylight' and the added orange spotlight really felt like that...

The boys really poured their heart and soul into each of their songs, the energetic ones really pump you up, the melancholic ones make you want to break down and cry on the spot.

Heck don't forget that they've just battled Munich to get their asses over to the Netherlands and are probably exhausted from the journey, really massive respect to them and the crew...

SINTERKRIS!!! Kris looked so happy speaking Dutch and to be at his mother's home country! That Sinterklaas and NGVOT singing was so cute!

Before 'Barve Oceana', Bojan got a Magikarp hat and then he made a speech about protecting the oceans for the sake of the Magikarps, I laughed.

I set out to witness the guitar riffs in 'Katrina' live, and I was not disappointed.

Yes they've worn their Stozice/post-Eurovision outfits a lot in recent shows, BUT THE LACE AND BUCKLE DETAILS ON THEM... I'm happy to be able to see them with my very own eyes.

Overall, I'm happy that I've decided to go to the Hague one first, so this show can prepare me for the Amsterdam one (and what's about to go down on that day).

@zadig-of-fate thank you again for accommodating me that day! I had a fun time learning about the details during the show! :D

Bonus:

#joker out #le art of darkcreamz95 #joker out the hague #bojan cvjetićanin #kris guštin #jure maček #nace jordan #jan peteh #concert report #what do you mean THIS WAS ALL 2 WEEKS AGO #yeah it's not a xinxin event report WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE DRAWING #i came across many fluffy pets in this trip because of my friends #and then we have a giant teddy bear called NACE #but yeah thank you everyone from the hague show for making this the best day of my life #also hope the opening insights help in deciding when you want to queue and where you want to stand inside the music venue #hope you have fun reading this too!#will work on the amsterdam one SOON once I start sketching

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theorphicangel · 6 months

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number three.

The creak of the bedroom door is heard through the low tone of lofi music in the background, the warm glow of your study lamp casts over your pile of books all disarranged across your desk. You don’t even have to swivel in your chair to know who it is, you knew right when he left a soft knock before coming in. You know how much he values respecting your privacy.

The marble pen in your hand continues to scribble away notes from your lectures this morning, copying them up in a neat manner.

“Do you ever take a break?”

You hear him take a few steps forward, already knowing the disapproving look on his face. You’ve been cooped up in your room for a couple of hours, working away at your endless list of assignments.

You hum softly, half-listening to him. “I took a twenty minute break earlier.”

“I mean a proper break.” Levi now stands directly behind your desk chair, his eyes bore into your back. “Like actually leaving your room?”

You ignore him absentmindedly and it isn’t untilLevi places his hand on top of the page that you’re currently writing on that you pay attention

“Have you even eaten yet?”

Just from your hesitation he knows the answer and this time you can’t confound him out of it.

“No.” you mumble.

Levi cups his ear in pure sarcasm, “What was that?”

“No.” you say a little louder, your shoulders slumped.

His hand is now outstretched. You stare at it dumbfoundedly, “What?”

“C’mon.”

“Where?” you ask, “Because I should really be–”

“Take out.”

You pause in the middle of your sentence. Of course he would know the right words to make you shut up. It is Friday night…and you did work extra hard today…

Letting out a sigh, you grab his hand in total surrender. “Just this once.”

“Sure, whatever.” Levi says, grabbing your coat off the hook for you, knowing all too well that this isn’t the first nor will it be the last.

Slipping on your shoes, he grabs the car keys ready to lead you out.

Before you slip through the front door you pause suddenly. Levi’s expression turns to concern, “Did you forget something?”

“No.” You begin, looking down at your feet, “I just wanted to say thank you.”

“For what?”

“For this,” you say, looking up at him. “For distracting me, I needed it.”

“It’s not a problem.” He shrugs absentmindedly although the way that his cheeks burn makes you think that he begs to differ.

“I’m glad.” You say, and before heading out the door, you lean towards him, offering a quick peck on his cheek. “Thank you, levi.”

His entire state shuts down, you leave him holding the front door, entirely frozen by your action. His whole body flares up, as if you’ve set him on fire.

You kissed him.

Sort of.

He stands silently, letting the seconds pass by him, wishing that he could turn back the clock just to figure out what just happened.

A part of him yearns for you, wishing that he held you back for a second before you slipped away so that he could…

So that you could kiss him. Properly. Just so that his lips are able to meet yours. His heartbeat races just at the thought.

Finally moving from his spot, he figures that he shouldn’t have to worry. After all, he has the entire journey to make it up to you.

Reblogs are much appreciated ! :)

#levi ackerman x reader #angel writes #levi ackerman #levi x reader #levi attack on titan #attack on titan #levi x you #snk levi #aot x reader #levi snk #attack on titan levi #aot levi

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the-writer1988 · 7 months

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Tangled Fic Recommendation

Every so often I like to talk about a fanfiction I am reading and recommend it to people.

Today, I'm not only recommending one story, I am recommending an entire series.

23 stories in their series so far and counting. And there is still a lot more to come.

Not only has this author embarked on a thrilling rewrite of the series, they have written it so well that I am always eagerly awaiting the next part.

The best part is that updates are DAILY! What author manages to keep updating daily consistently for over a year?

I am of course talking about the series on A03 starting with the fic: "Two Tangled Sisters" which begins with the premise that Cassandra was taken to the Tower before Gothel kidnapped Rapunzel and then subsequently cared for Rapunzel and became an older sister. The first fic shows them growing up in the Tower and then covers the Tangled movie, introducing Eugene and showing their adventure as Rapunzel and Eugene fall in love, alongside Cassandra who just wants to protect her little sister.

The series has expanded from there, following through with how Rapunzel and Cassandra adapt to Royal Life (because Arianna being the most awesome mum ever decides to adopt Cassandra too and she becomes a Princess of Corona). It is fascinating following their journey together, and the different paths Rapunzel and Cassandra take in this AU.

It continues into The Coronation, with Rapunzel getting her hair back, and then onto a rewrite of Season One, Two and now Three. I cannot talk much about it but each story written so far has something for everyone!

New Dream cuteness!

Eugene and Cass bickering!

Sisterhood!

Family bonding!

Alchemists!

Arianna!

Hating Frederic!

Danger!

Excitement!

Our favourite characters getting hurt!

There is so much this series has given! To this day, the season finale for season 1 still hurts me.

I love the character progression all the characters go through: they all shine in this series!

As a Eugene fan, I cannot express my excitement enough as to his future role in this series! I am so excited for it!

And, despite the series being called Two Tangled Sisters, Eugene has a big role in the series and his and Rapunzel's relationship does take centre stage.

There are twists and turns and rewrites of episodes! An unexpected pairing for Cassandra that I did not expect to want but now its there I am rooting for them! Such great development of all the characters and it shows what a great author we have for this series, for them to be able to tell such great stories and make a pairing work.

This series is so much more than just a Cassandra series. It is so much more than that. It is one of the best rewrites I have ever encountered in my few years in the fandom. The author has done the impossible and, as a fan who wasn't fond of Cassandra to start with, this series has certainly helped me see Cassandra, even in canon, with a new light. I cannot wait to see how this series goes!

I urge anyone not to brush this series off, to give it a try. You do not have to read every story in the series. The core set of stories following the series are enough, and there are multiple side-stories that add a bit extra to the characters.

If you only want to read the core stories, this is the order you should read them in:

Two Tangled Sisters

Two Princesses

The Coronation

Within the Walls of Corona (which covers the first half of S1)

To Rule A Kingdom (Queen For A Day reimagining)

The Alchemists Search (dealing with the second half of S1)

The Princess, The Pirate and The Prosecutor (S1 finale)

Vardaros and the Tower (S2 opener)

Magic and Artefacts (covers the first quarter of S2)

High Tide Dream (covers the second quarter of S2)

The Great Tree

The Past We Try To Forget (covers the third quarter of S2)

Shimmering Stones and Uncertain Destinies (S2 finale)

Return To Corona (S3 opener - currently posting)

I urge people to give this series a chance, whether you are a Cassandra fan or not - this series has something for everyone. And this is a series I wouldn't have read myself if I hadn't given a chance - and the only reason I did was because of the daily updates. I am so glad I gave this series a chance. It is 100% worth it!

Now, for some of you here, it will be very obvious which author I am talking about with this fic recommendation.

Unfortunately, this author has been, in some aspects, ostracised by the fandom in a lot of places. It's got to a point they still do not feel comfortable on tumblr, and this, to me, is very sad, because @twotangledsisters is such a GREAT PERSON to interact with.

She has become one of my favourite people on this site. Her writing, her opinions, her art are absolutely fabulous, and yet, people block her, excluding her from being able to interact with their content all because of her love of Cassandra from Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure.

@twotangledsisters is not just a Cassandra fan. She is a New Dream fan too but has been excluded from a lot of New Dream spaces because of her love of Cassandra and that is absolutely heart-breaking, that someone who loves this show so much, cannot fully interact with the fandom simply because they love Cassandra. If someone reblogs a piece of New Dream art that she likes, she finds out she's blocked from the original poster's blog so cannot follow them or see their other New Dream content.

It is sad and horrible to find out the way she did that people have done this to her. And how some people sent her horrible messages, telling her she was not welcome in New Dream spaces, when she absolutely 100% is WELCOME.

@twotangledsisters has so much love and care and creativity she wants to share with everyone but now feels she cannot. I am thrilled that she continues to produce brilliant artwork for my own fics! I'm honestly astounded by what she has produced so far for my fic: The Lost Prince!

Please everyone: be kind.

@twotangledsisters is a gift to the fandom and I feel incredibly proud to be calling myself her friend. She is awesome, and so is her fanfic series: Two Tangled Sisters.

Give it a try! I heartily recommend it.

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forgedroyalseal · 3 days

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Hellhound

Part One

Hellhound.

That’s what the townsfolk had called the beast that lurked in the shadows of Seacliff. The innkeeper claimed that it could imitate the cry of a baby, a tactic it used to lure people from the safety of their homes and into its waiting jaws. Several farmers told him that it didn’t just pray on sheep and goats, but on foals and calves as well. Will had overheard a group of schoolchildren whispering stories about the demon dog that stalked the shoreline once the sun set. Half wolf, half devil. A monster with glowing red eyes and blood stained teeth. Will had always chalked it up as an overgrown superstition. A ghost story. Until he hear the howl.

Will couldn’t sleep. But these days, he almost never could. Seacliff’s winters were milder than Redmont’s but instead of snow, winter brought violet, booming storms. Waves crashed against the cliffs like stones, shaking the island itself. Rain poured from the heavens so hard, that in the morning, after the storm had passed, the earth would be torn up, branches ripped from trees and thrown across fields. And while Will was grateful that it rarely became cold enough for the rain to turn to ice, the thunderous noise of the storms echoed in Will’s mind, rummaging around until it found the memories he so desperately tried to drown. Memories of teetering on waves so tall they made him feel as though he was floating on a child’s bath toy rather than a massive Skandian ship. Memories of relentless rain, of being soaked to the bone, of forgetting what it felt like to be dry and warm and safe. Even now, years later, the mere sound of crashing waves made his stomach roll and flip, just as it had on the journey to Skandia.

So on nights like tonight, with it raining so heavy Will was certain it would never stop, he tossed and turned in his sheets like that ship in that storm. The sound of the wind and rain was deafening, only interrupted by the roaring thunder that preceded each shock of lightning. Will had laid awake through each and every storm since his arrival in Seacliff, and he was well versed in the crashing symphony that was playing. So when he heard a deep, desperate howl break through, he noticed. He sat up in his bed, white sheets pooling around his waist. There it was again, a howl so loud it somehow cut through the storm. His first thought was wolves, not that he’d ever seen one in Seacliff, but there was something distinctly different to this howl than that of the ones he’s heard from wolves. It was haunting and lonely and with a pathetic realization, it occurred to Will that it was what he imagined his heart would sound like on nights like this if it could speak.

Will shook his head at the thought. He’d spent too many nights awake and alone, it was making him morose. He pulled himself out of bed, covering his bare torso with the shirt that had been discarded on the floor earlier in the evening. Opening the door, he looked out into the black night, eyes searching for the source of the howl. The last thing he wanted to do was to leave the safety and relative warmth of his cabin, but Will could only assumed that whatever poor creature was out there, also didn’t want to be where it was.

“Right then, come on out.” He shouted into the storm. Another howl. “I bet you don’t want to be out here any more than I do,” He yelled, the wind swallowing his words, “so just take cover on the porch.”

He waited, questioning whether or not this was proof that he’s officially lost it. Wasn’t this a sign of madness? Shouting out to the wind and expecting a response. Just as he was about to give up, a pair of shining eyes appeared in the darkness. “Hi there.” Will said gently, praying he wasn’t about to be mauled to death by whatever mysterious beast roamed the cliffs. Gilan would never let him live it down, dead or not.

A flash of lightning illuminated sky, and Will got his first look at the animal in front of him. It was far more dog than beast, though it’s skinny legs seemed endless. It wore a matted cloak of wiry, soot gray fur, a dirty patch on its chest that at one point was probably white. Another rumble of thunder drew out a pitiful whimper from dog, who cowered its head and trembled.

“Oh you poor thing. Come on, it’s ok.” Will crouched down and slowly extended his hand. After a bit of cooing and soft words, the dog finally nudged its head against his palm.

“You’re freezing, buddy. Let’s get you warmed up.” Will shifts back, still crouching, until he’s past the doorway of the cabin. The dog hesitantly follows, its tail tucked firmly between its legs.

Once inside, Will made quick work of finding water and some scraps to feed the dog, then set them down beside the fire in the dishes he had used for Shadow. The dog however, stayed shaking by the door, eyes darting nervously back and forth.

“Right, let’s get you warm first then.” Will grabbed the quilt from the back of the sofa and carefully placed it over the dog. He rubbed down its back, drying it the best he could. In his effort to help bring some warmth back to the dog, he examined it for any injuries, but found none. He did a quick check and patted the dog on its head, who responded with a slight wag of its whip-like tail.

“That’s a good boy. You’ll need a proper bath, but that can wait.” Will stepped back, and decide it was best to let the dog set the pace of the evening. Will walked over and collapsed on the sofa, the cold and lack of sleep crashing into him all at once. He let his eyes droop, but stayed awake. Seconds later there was a quiet clicking of nails from the door the dishes on the floor. Will smiled to himself and kept his eyes shut. Soon enough, he heard more shuffling, then a cold, wet nose was pressing itself against his cheek. He cracked an eye open and smiled at the dog that was face to face with him. He patted at the space beside him on the couch.

“I think we should both try and get some sleep. Dawn will be here before we know it.”

The dog gingerly stepped onto the sofa, circled twice, then plopped down, resting its massive head onto Will’s chest, right above his heart. Will began rubbing patterns into the fur between the dog’s eyes, and soon the calming motion had lulled them both to sleep.

A/N: inspiration for the dog below (yes, it’s an Irish Wolfhound)

#rangers apprentice #ranger's apprentice #will treaty #ranger’s apprentice fanfiction #rangers apprentice fanfiction #hellhound

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dazeddazai · 6 months

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She was alone, as per usual; lights out, tables cleaned, bottles set in rows. Only the moonlight peered through the half tinted windows, filling the room with a cool, waxen glow— coating the wood in pale translucence as if strained through melted silk.

The bar had been closed for quite some time; dust hung in the air uninterrupted, save for at the corner of the room where Makino sat, eyes downcast, teetering on the edge of fatigue. The better part of her judgment implored her to make her way up the weathered staircase and into her bedroom, near forgotten, but she stayed seated and silent— drifting off to the sea salt breeze.

The table in front of her lay empty, with the exception of a clear water glass. It bore, in its wake, a single white snowdrop and a pale yellow marigold. The snowdrop had long faded— spine curved and threads snapped into split ends; it lay on its last life, drinking from the glass in earnest— the final breath of hope, undistilled.

It had been a year since she had seen him last— the promise of return etched deep into her lips as he had bade her goodbye.

“Wait for me,” he had whispered in earnest, “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can.”

But as soon as he could had turned into weeks, then into months, and still Makino sat into the late hours of the night, lashed glazed with sleep-coated tears.

It was hard not to worry when she knew of the danger that lay in the shadows of his journey. The perilous exploits of the infamous few drew the attention of the masses— making for rowdy conversations amongst the bottles of dry mead— and though she tried to tune it out, the name of the man she longed for was no stranger to every household on the island.

Before long, Makino could no longer read the paper without feeling a hint of restlessness. Dread clouded her thoughts and overtook her mind, and soon, to preserve her faith, she did away with the news all together. Instead, she reread his letters and thumbed through the memories that he had left behind, tainted with the ink blots of forgetfulness and frosted over with the scenes of her own imagination.

She spent days— weeks, even, in her head, all at once— so much so that she could barely make out the reality of everyday life. Customers came and went in flashes of sound and color, but she barely registered their presence until they were slumbling from the bar, a drunken farewell lost upon their lips.

“I’m sorry I’m late.”

Makino started and looked up from the table. Her breath caught in her throat.

Shanks stood in the doorway, relaxed and charming- a relic of the memories that she had been living in for almost a year. She stood up, almost knocking the chair to the floor. She wanted to run to him, to embrace him without a single care in the world, but she could not will her body forward- scared that if she moved too close, he would vanish into thin air.

Instead, she composed herself, and after a brief hiccup in time, she spoke.

“Where were you off to this time?” She asked, trying to squash the unintentional shaking of her unpracticed voice with an uneven smile. “Somewhere dangerous along the Grand Line, I’d imagine.”

Shanks returned her smile and shook his head.

“Visiting an old friend. Making sure that my affairs are well in order.”

“Well in order for what?”

He didn’t answer but instead turned to face the bar.

“How is everything over here?” He asked, “Does the old man still come around to visit from time to time?

“Sometimes— when he’s not busy.”

“And the boy?”

“He looks more like you with every passing day.”

“That’s nice,” he replied, and Makino felt a lump form in her throat.

"Could you just hold me for a while?" She whispered. “Just once, before you leave?”

Shanks smiled soft— gentle and contrite.

“I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

“I miss you. Everyday.” She said, and then there were tears tumbling freely down her cheeks. “I miss you so much that I can’t breathe.”

“I know,” He replied, voice husky. “I know and I’m sorry.”

“Won’t you stay? Just a little while longer?”

“I’ll stay for as long as you need me to.”

“I love you.” She whispered, her voice breaking upon the last syllable. “I’ll always love you.”

Shanks gazed at her, eyes soft and clouded—

“I know you will.”

“Will you ever come back?”

He paused before answering. Then, reaching out and grazing the snowdrop, he said-

“I think today has to be the last time.”

As he spoke, Makino noticed that the snowdrop had finally fallen from the stem. It lay, wilted and white- now no more than a relic to be brushed off the table and onto the floor.

“What if- what if I’m not able to let you go?” She said, her voice smaller than it had ever been.

Shanks didn’t answer. Instead, he stood up and began to make his way towards the door.

“I’ll be waiting for you.” He said simply, “Come for me whenever you’re ready-”

Then, before she knew it, he was gone just as quickly as he had come.

Makino awoke slowly to the moon shining through the open door. With all the effort that she could muster in her neglected body, she pushed herself up and began to make her way to the staircase. She could barely remember what she had dreamed about last, but she could feel the trail of stale tears, etched upon her cheeks.

As she walked past the bar, all she saw was a blur of stained glass mixed with molten light- a light that cast its gaze upon a single cockled paper, stained in salt, breaking the news of what she had feared so long ago.

#シャンマキ #shanmaki #shanks x makino #shanks #makino #one piece #extrait #tw death

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thegingerwrites · 8 months

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"Really, Anakin?"

Anakin turns to Obi-Wan, unable to keep the grin from his face. "What?"

"That is not how I taught you."

Anakin laughs, still buzzing with the thrill of the fight. He feels more alive than he has since he died. "That's not not how you taught me."

Obi-Wan is referring to the violence of his conversation with Ahsoka, chiding him for resorting to the language of weapons before words. He and Obi-Wan had one chance for this conversation, whereas Ahsoka it seems will have two. Anakin opened his eyes in death to see Obi-Wan's face. The first thing he heard was his voice.

The last lesson of Anakin's life, learning to become one with the Force, was also one of violence. A flood of emotions passed through the two of them like a storm. They didn't come to blows as Anakin did with Ahsoka, but they wielded grief and rage and love like swords. Anakin fell into Obi-Wan's arms wrung out and empty, both of their faces streaked with tears, and at last, he was ready.

"There was a different lesson she needed to learn," Anakin says.

When Anakin died, he needed to understand the balance he had achieved. The dark and the light, Darth Vader and Anakin Skywalker, not separate but two parts of a whole. His legacy would be one of death and war but not those alone. His legacy would also be one of love.

Ahsoka needed something else. True, she needed to recognize her place in their lineage, the one stretching back through him and Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon and Dooku. True, she needed to grieve her place in the war and the terrible lessons it taught her. But what Anakin hoped to teach her most of all was that she needed to move forward, to continue on the path set before her. That for all the pain and anguish entwined in their story there is also good. Teachings that deserve to live on.

And hasn’t that always been the most important thing Anakin tried to teach her? How to keep moving when things are hard. How to live in a galaxy that seems to care very little for peace and still do all the good that one can. How to fight, always, for what one believes in.

“It seems you were effective.” Obi-Wan studies both him and, in his mind's eye, Ahsoka as she moves forward in the living world. "Sometimes I forget that despite your unorthodox methods, you are in fact, a good teacher."

Anakin ducks his head but smiles. “Thank you.”

“It will take time certainly and there’s no telling how things will turn out but I am glad you’ve both gotten to this point.”

In life, Obi-Wan was rarely this open with him. His approval was something Anakin strived for constantly, even at times despite himself, but was rarely certain he achieved. To know now that Obi-Wan is proud of him, that he has done well and learned everything that Obi-Wan had to teach him, makes him feel lighter than he has ever known.

Accepting himself and his legacy as more than the twenty-five years of fear and darkness he knew for the latter half of his life was difficult. Allowing himself to believe that choosing the light at the end of his life might be enough for him to deserve this, to deserve peace, seemed impossible at first.

But that is something he has learned about teaching: sometimes explaining oneself to others means better understanding the lesson oneself.

“She seems happier, doesn’t she?” Anakin asks.

He too can see Ahsoka as she sets out to do what should be impossible. Traveling beyond the known limits of the galaxy to do her duty, to do what is right, and managing it in ways that beggar belief. When they met, he told her she looked old. He meant it mostly as a joke but somehow, despite the intervening years, he can’t help but picture her permanently as his teenage padawan. Seeing her as the strong woman she has become, how much of her journey he missed, makes his heart ache. Since their talk, since he has had the chance to look at her life more closely, he thinks that she looks younger now. That some of the grief she has worn like a cloak for decades has been cast aside.

Obi-Wan offers him a fond look. “She does.”

There is no telling what Ahsoka will do with the knowledge Anakin has imparted. If she will succeed in her mission, protect the galaxy, and defend the fragile balance of the Force. Anakin isn’t worried though. She has the Force to guide her and now she’s ready to listen.

“I used to think she was more than I deserved as a legacy,” Anakin admits.

“And now?”

A test, to make sure Anakin too has learned his lesson. “What we deserve has no bearing on the way our destinies play out. Our actions are what matter. The decisions we make, all of them, determine the impression we leave behind. How others interpret our lives is beyond our control, something we leave to the Force.”

Obi-Wan clasps his shoulder tightly. “Exactly so.”

He’ll see her again someday. The choice he offered her, to live or die, was a sincere one. She could have chosen to give up, to give in, and that would have been alright too. Ahsoka has spent her entire life fighting.

Whenever she decides that the end has come, whenever that decision is made for her, she will have more than earned her rest. This was not the end of the lesson and Anakin looks forward to their next meeting.

#ahsoka spoilers #ahsoka series #ahsoka tv #ahsoka #sw ahsoka #i know everyone and their mother has thoughts about this last episode #but so do i!#and this is probably only scratches the surface of my episode thoughts #i loved it so much #anakin skywalker

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animehouse-moe · 11 months

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Skip and Loafer Episode 9 Part 1: Drowsy (and Peppy)

Forget being a good episode or even a great one, this episode of Skip and Loafer was two great episodes in one. Divided into an A and B part that flow into one another seamlessly, but each address their own separate pieces, it's more than a treat to watch, it's an incredible example of storytelling within the frame of high school life.

⚠️Notice: This episode has been split into 2 posts because of length and image limits. This is the A Part post - Drowsy (and Peppy). The B Part post, subtitled (Drowsy and) Peppy, can be found on my blog if you haven't come across it yet.⚠️

Where do I even begin? The first half is dedicated to Mitsumi's longing for home and the comfort she feels in returning from Tokyo, but the second half examines how Mitsumi's changed since she originally came from her hometown, and how the people around her have changed and grown as well, while Shima remains under lock and key. It's just an incredible approach to the story that almost inserts a prologue with Mitsumi's return home so that it can prep viewers for the latter half of the content. It's tight, it picks all the right moments to focus on, and it never loses sight of what it wants to do. In short, it's beautiful.

It's so wonderful that I really don't want to organize my thoughts on it, but at some point or another I really have to get down to it if I want to say anything worthwhile, but I'll let Shima speak the first words.

He said the thing! He said the starting lines to the opening song, and I think that's so incredibly cute. Whether or not the pair really realize what they feel for each other is inconsequential, because their words and actions speak so incredibly loud it's wonderful. Also also, Mitsumi's dress in the opening? It's a simplified version of the dress she wears in today's cold open.

Side note, in the actual JP dialogue he says 'zutto mabukushite', it's just that in translating it to English they add a subject to his sentence. Because of that, it's far closer to the lyrics for the OP, which just use 'mabukushite'. So yeah, incredibly cute call back(s) that has me super giddy about it.

Anyways, back to the topic at hand, starting from the beginning. This episode adds (or really removes) a very unique piece to it: the soundtrack. It's substituted for really incredible sound design that does its best to capture the environment as candidly and as detailed as possible, and because of that the soundtrack doesn't exist. The first music you hear in the episode comes from the opening song, as we follow a cold open of Mitsumi making her way back home. Hell, we don't even hear Mitsumi talk in this sequence. Such a bold approach but it pays off in droves.

Which I love by the way, it sets the tone for the first half incredibly well in speaking to the themes of "memories" and nostalgia. We're not shown the whole ordeal in detail, but rather in bits and pieces that are pasted together one after the other, like a collage being plucked from Mitsumi's mind. Also, it sets up a really cool callback/comparison later in the episode.

It's quite the adventurous approach, but I absolutely adore how it speaks to Mitsumi's character. How reserved and quiet she is by herself, and that that energy she has comes from the people that are around her. Also, I really like this little piece showing the "flight" starting and stopping via the seatbelt signs. Another really benign piece of direction but it adds a palpable sense of creativity and passivity in Mitsumi's journey back home.

God I could go on forever about this. About how the view of the cityscape transitions into looking out over the clouds as Mitsumi's mind wanders through the experience, before switching once more into the lush and green terrain beneath her as she heads to her hometown. Or about how of all the scenes/sequences in this cold open, the longest one is Mitsumi staring out excitedly at the scenery when she lands back near her hometown. It's telling a story through Mitsumi's memories and I'm so completely in love with it. What I love most about this last bit though is that we don't see the scenery through Mitsumi's eyes for it. We see her reaction to it, but we're missing the first person perspective that the cold open flirts with through scenes like her flight.

After the opening however, Skip and Loafer gets back to its core as it resets the vibe with a fun little joke from Mitsumi. Also, it's the first scene to make use of the OST, and it's for comedy's sake. I'll get it out the way now, but mild spoiler, the comedy is the only place the OST is really used this episode. There's bits and pieces through the A part, but the vast majority is only supplemented by stellar sound design.

Also, you would have guessed it from earlier in the episode, but space and scale are really played up through this A part, and I do quite enjoy it. It takes simple and almost filler scenes and creates something more unique and stylized to better fit the episode. Also, faceless characters appear quite frequently through this A part which I found interesting.

Similarly, I love how P.A Works and Deai have been using obstructions and depth in their environments. It's a really simple piece, but like I've said before, it adds awareness to the world that exists outside of frame and focus for viewers. It gives you context clues like, "hey, the camera's in a hallway right now isn't it? I guess they're in a room off the main entry", and things like that, and does it while providing really appealing pieces that can help narrow your focus in the scene.

They use a similar approach in the environments as well. They provide something that's lived in, that characters exist and thrive in outside of what they're presented as or used for. Just take a look at these two images. The first is a super simple pieces for sure, but the use of a small stool/seat on wheels really speaks to the grandmother's involvement in the garden. Similarly, the watering can helps with that as well, plus the flowers in the background.

Now the second image is the piece that I really love because its a totally unnecessary piece, but I appreciate it an incredible amount. The tree's been trimmed! You can see where limbs have been cut off and new growth is beginning on the tree. What a completely benign piece to the art, but such a creative and impactful addition nonetheless. Absolutely love the detail and effort placed in this sort of stuff.

And lastly, I love how they render shadows and light in this scene, breaking up the light through the leaves of the tree just creates such a satisfying pattern and texture to the environment.

Moving forward once more, I really do like the use of montages/slideshows in this episode through that theme of memories. It's able to present so many pieces and stories that we wouldn't get to see otherwise.

Okay okay, speeding things up, Mitsumi and Fumi. I love how cute and wholesome their friendship is, and I love how they use that first person perspective again to drive home the incredibly strong emotional bond that the pair share.

Okay I said to speed things up but I can't, I love seeing the nervous emotions creep across Fumi's face before she tells Mitsumi about her boyfriend. It's so incredibly cute and well done.

Also, P.A Work's favorite thing, shadows and reflections! Love the detail in the water as the pair cross over the bridge.

Okay okay okay, the last piece I promise, I just absolutely love this scene and what it personifies.

So what is it, really? It's Mitsumi's nostalgia. Being at home, eating watermelon while her mom does the dishes and the cicadas chirp outside. That feeling of comfort as the wind blows gently, coaxing the slightest sounds out of the wind chimes. Remembering all of those places you've been, and that you want to visit again. Mitsumi eating that watermelon, seeing her mother, hearing those sounds, they brought back all those memories of the past for her. It's so, so incredibly beautiful and speaks so loud to the feelings of home. That no matter how far away you may travel, it's still there waiting for you.

Also, callback time! I had said it earlier and this is what it's for. It's a pretty cut and dry comparison of Mitsumi's life in Tokyo vs her hometown, really. Though you might be able to stretch it and talk about the differences in colors, as Tokyo's blue while her hometown is so bright and colorful by comparison. But at the end of the day, it just speaks to the two experiences Mitsumi has between her homes. How in Tokyo she has to get up bright and early to make the train to get to the airport in time, while in her hometown she's able to wake up nice and late and laze around eating watermelon. The city versus the country bumpkin, and I think it's a really sweet little touch to the episode.

At the end of it all, this was an incredible stretch of episode content. Start to finish, just so well polished and approached that I could gawk at the whole part for days and still find more and more pieces to pick out and even more words to describe it with. But, you don't need all that to really get the emotion across. This first half is Mitsumi's memories, her fondness of returning home after a long time away, of melting back into the comfort of her family and hometown friends, and the nostalgia that comes with retracing the steps of her youth. Just beautiful stuff.

Now unfortunately, I've hit my image limit for a single post, so I will be following up with a B part for those interested in the latter half of the episode where Mitsumi returns to school in Tokyo.

If you're looking for the second part, here's a link to it for you!

#skip and loafer #skip to loafer #スキップとローファー #iwakura mitsumi #mitsumi iwakura #fumio kishida #anime review #anime recommendation #anime and manga #anime #romcom anime

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makeste · 1 year

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BnHA Chapter 341: The Pale Princess of a Palace Cracked

Previously on BnHA: All Might was all, “time to take up literally half of this chapter by calling a strategy meeting but then never getting to the actual strategy because we have to keep the readers in suspense!” Aizawa was all, “listen up Aoyama, I know you’re really scared about having to face AFO again, and possibly dying, and also potentially letting down your classmates again, and just basically having all of the odds overwhelmingly stacked against you no matter what you do now. But I just wanted to let you know it’s all going to be okay because we’ve got your back and I will personally guarantee your safety, somehow,” only he said it so convincingly that everyone actually did buy in because his words were just that sincere and powerful! The chapter ended with Shinsou being all, “SURPRISE, IT’S SHINSOU TIME!” at long last, and oh dang.

Today on BnHA: Horikoshi is all, “JUST KIDDING, IT IS NOT SHINSOU TIME AT ALL, IT IS IN FACT TOGA TIME,” and okay then. Toga visits her abandoned childhood home and is all “ah yes, this sure does remind me of those carefree days I spent dreaming about being eaten alive by birds.” Dabi is all, “hey Toga, I’m just gonna go ahead and set your depressing house on fire now. Also, don’t forget that you’ve got some of Twice’s blood and can use his quirk! Just thought I’d remind you about that, apropos of nothing.” Meanwhile in AFO’s creepy pirate cave lair, AFO is all, “wow, Tomura sure is recovering well, just look at how many tentacle fingers he can spawn from his left hand now!” Skeptic is all, “btw Spinner I need you to become the new face of the PLF so that we can pretend to have some sort of moral high ground while we proceed to destroy the world.” The chapter ends with a bunch of villains just kind of randomly gathering in some apocalyptic city ruins somewhere, including everyone’s favorite inaugural chapter villain, Slimeothy McBlob.

(1. as always, all comments not marked with “ETA” are my unspoiled reactions from my first blind readthrough of the chapter.

2. as of today, I am very much NOT caught up with the manga, but will keep you posted on my progress (currently only up to this chapter, 341, but ONE OF THESE DAYS MY ROR (rate of reading) WILL FINALLY GET AHEAD OF MY ROP (rate of posting), SOMEDAY, POSSIBLY, MAYBE).

3. as explained here, I HAVE been spoiled for one Major Thing happening later on in the series. however, there are no references to said Thing in this particular post, other than a countdown image posted at the very bottom. I’ve taken the liberty of marking that with a spoiler warning, and placing it a few inches down and away from the rest of the recap, meaning this post should effectively be spoiler-free.

anyway, on we go!)

oh my goodness

this seems like a lot of blood even by Toga’s standards. should I be worried

and Horikoshi is really starting to get cute with all these chapter titles lately huh. part minus one???? so wait, what does that even mean? are we going to have some sort of flashback dating back prior to chapter 338? or is this implying that this chapter will be kind of a one-step-forward-two-steps back sort of thing in terms of their hero journey? lol what the hell

(ETA: based on the actual content of this chapter, I’m guessing that the negative/minus is Horikoshi’s way of denoting the villain chapter(s), similar to MVA vs MHA.)

oh damn

soo, I’m guessing this is Toga’s old house from back in her pre-villain days? and that this graffiti is related to that whole “innocently murdering her middle school crush” incident

wow, these people were absolutely charming

gonna go out on a limb and guess that her parents don’t live here anymore

but, surprise surprise, guess who’s visiting now

okay, I was prepared for more Aoyama feels. I was prepared for Shinsou feels. I was prepared to finally learn the details of the heroes’ grand and exciting and outrageously risky villain battling plan. but I gotta tell you guys, I was not at ALL prepared to have Toga feels, out of all the possibilities, just straight up out of the blue like this

actually come to think of it, didn’t Horikoshi mention her in his 2021 year-end interview? damn it, now I have to go back and find that thing lol

okay yeah. here’s the link to @hanashimas’ translation. so let’s see. blah blah, “if things go smoothly...” lol well I’m pretty sure the series isn’t actually wrapping up just yet, so yeah. looking forward to that 2023 Jump Festa message my guy

okay here we go. “regarding Ochako and Toga, I have a scene that I’m itching to draw. Frankly speaking, Toga is a character that was created specifically for Ochako. And I’ve developed Ochako to match Toga.” huh. this sounds a whole lot gayer than I remembered lol

and unrelated, but nonetheless also interesting, he also mentions Tomura and Deku and gets really philosophical about the two of them. “He’s the greatest obstacle in Deku’s goal of ‘saving’.” and then this one part that really has me intrigued, “Saving and Destroying are both born out of ego. Whose ego will win in the end? Is it even a matter of winning or losing?” just, huh. what an interesting thing to say

anyways! back to Sad Toga!

you are really bumming me out right now Sad Toga

that close up of the door frame with Baby Toga’s height measurements all crossed out is fucking brutal. who did that, I wonder. was it the vandals? or was it actually her own parents? I don’t know if I can take this right now you guys

“no one will ever accept you, the way you are” dammit dammit dammit

well, granted we’re only like 4 pages in, but thus far I’m just as conflicted over the whole Toga Redemption(??) Saga as ever, lol. on the one hand she was and is just a kid, and she never really meant to hurt anyone, and definitely didn’t seem to fully comprehend what she was doing. but on the other hand, there’s an obvious clear-cut difference between “giving kids the freedom to be themselves and express themselves”, and “giving kids the freedom to straight up murder other kids if that’s their preferred method of self-expression.” so yeah! this imo is arguably the most morally complex out of all the LoV origin stories, and I really appreciate it for that

man oh man

when you get right down to it Toga really just has a REAL fucked up quirk. is that taking the easy way out lol. well whatever, I don’t even care, Toga’s quirk is the real final villain you read it here first

OH MY GOD

“every night I dream about this cute little birdie dancing on my tummy and then eviscerating me <3 <3 <3 it’s just the cutest little thing”

OKAY BUT FOR REAL TOGA, YOU AND I REALLY DO NOT SEE EYE TO EYE IN TERMS OF OUR HAPPY PLACE

mm. yes. so pleasant. so sweet :’)

what an absolutely delightful and profoundly unsettling journey we’re all having here today

LMAO WHAT

SO THIS BITCH CAME ALONG FOR THE NOSTALGIA TOUR TOO HUH. lol okay then. don’t tell me we’re off to visit Todoriko Village next

dammit Dabi I can never tell if you actually give a fuck, or if you just like being a dick to people all the time

but seeing as you’re a character in a shounen manga who seems destined for a redemption arc WHETHER YOU DAMN WELL LIKE IT OR NOT!, I’m gonna go ahead and stick with the former. look at you, out here keeping an eye on Toga as she confronts the looming shadows of her past. and pretending be all aloof about it. classic big brother move. wonder if she reminds you of Fuyu

what an interesting response!

“you sure you’re ready for the grand finale where we destroy the world and everything in it?” “not like I can do anything about it now either way.” sooooo. can’t help but notice the part where that is by no means a “yes.” having some second thoughts about your chosen path there, Toga?

meanwhile this guy is launching into yet another of his patented monologues

man, y’all are way too damn nihilistic for me. absolutely no one in the League of Villains is actually happy are they. or even has any hope of ever being happy. they all just want to burn the world down and presumably go out with a bang right along with it. it’s going to be so damn satisfying when Ochako and Deku and Shouto and the rest finally hit them with those long-overdue inspiring shounen beatdowns and remind them that THERE’S STILL SOME GOOD IN THIS WORLD, MR. FRODO, AND IT’S WORTH FIGHTING FOR

wow, Dabi

still as dramatic as ever, I see

awww. she says he’s going to get them both caught, but that she’s grateful to him all the same

and she called him Touya! my heart! better watch yourself before she starts coming for your blood, Dabi

OH MY GOD DABI

“[LEAPS OF A WINDOW!!] WHATEVER, TOGA!! [DOES A FLIP IN MID AIR] I ONLY DID IT TO SPITE ENDEAVOR SO THERE!!” because if there’s anything Endeavor hates, it’s having empty abandoned buildings burn down miles away from where any living people actually are. good job Dabi. fucking gottem

?? what’s this now?

some freshly acquired blood? but whose?

ohhhhhhh hh shit. oh, SHIT

exactly how much damage could this potentially do. shit

okay I just looked it up and apparently the ratio is 1 cup of blood = 18 hours of transformation. which. is actually so much worse than I remembered sob

however this is a fairly small-looking test tube though! so assuming that this can hold maybe 5 ml of blood, which seems reasonable, that means she has enough of Twice’s blood to stay transformed for... twenty minutes or so? wait, really? is that all? am I just really bad at math?? lmao well I take it back then, that actually doesn’t sound too bad at all. surely the heroes can fend off an army of Twices for just twenty minutes or so. right. ...right?

oh dang now we’re cutting to... Spinner? AND AFO???

what the hell

lol wtf is happening. he was just sitting there, and then suddenly AFO was all WOOSH, and then Spinner looked over, and then he started wandering down some dark tunnel calling for Tomura??

WHAT THE FUCK

HAVE WE ACCIDENTALLY CROSSED OVER INTO THE THIRD ACT OF FMA OVER HERE OR WHAT

OKAY SO NOW THE CREEPY CAVE TENTACLES ARE SUDDENLY RECEDING, AND IN THEIR PLACE TOMURA IS LYING THERE??

ARE YOU DOING ALL RIGHT LITTLE BUDDY?? YOU’RE NOT LOOKING TOO HOT RN MY DUDE?

LSDJKAFLKASJLGKJ okay now that I’ve forced myself to scroll back up to look at the “tentacles” again a little more closely, an action which I highly, highly regret, I can see that they are actually just... fingers. literally just a bunch of fingers. endlessly spawning tentacle fingers with joints and fingerprints and fingernails and okay you know what, where the hell did Dabi run off to, I’ve got a panel here that needs to be incinerated ASAP

(ETA: so now that I’ve looked at this page yet again, which I regret EVEN MORE, it appears that this is Tomura’s left hand trying to regenerate itself or something. anyway so that I’ll just leave it at that and will ask no further questions and will basically just do my best to NEVER EVER THINK ABOUT THIS PANEL OR THIS ENTIRE PAGE EVER AGAIN.)

NOW AFO IS HERE AGAIN OUT OF NOWHERE TO BE ALL CREEPY AT SPINNER!!

WORRIED, YOU SAY??? WHY ON EARTH WOULD I BE WORRIED???? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WORRISOME ABOUT ANY OF THIS, NO SIR. that’s it, Spinner. just play it cool. then wait until AFO has his back turned and grab Tomura and make a run for it

so AFO says Tomura is “conquering” the quirk doomsday theory, which. ????????????? ?????

(ETA: so I’ve had a day or so to mull this over a little more now, but tbh I still don’t really understand what he’s trying to say here. in the RHA translation, AFO says that Tomura is “gradually overcoming the quirk singularity”, so my best guess is that it’s a needlessly complicated way of saying that he’s gradually gaining more control over his quirks? since the quirk singularity nonsense is basically just a sciencey way of saying, “heads up, eventually quirks are just gonna get SO FUCKING WILD that no one will even be able to control them, so then we’ll all just die I guess!”

but that still doesn’t make much sense to me, and also I really have very little clue about what’s been going on with TomurAFO in general ever since his fight with S&S, so! just gonna have to keep reading I suppose.)

“he’s still Shigaraki?” oh Spinner. my sweet loyal Spinner. if you have to ask, I think that deep down you already suspect the answer

why wouldn’t he be? :) you don’t think AFO would lie to you about that, do you, Spinner? don’t you trust him?? he’s such a notoriously nice and trustworthy guy!!

(ETA: I mean he obviously is, don’t get me wrong. but it seems pretty clear that things are all going according to Vestige!AFO’s plan for now, and that the “Tomura” currently running things in the ol’ TomurAFO body isn’t the same Tomura that Spinner once knew. at least not right now.)

so now Skeptic, who STILL EXISTS FOR SOME REASON IN SPITE OF MY BEST EFFORTS TO FORGET THAT HE DOES, is launching into some boring speech about villains with mutant quirks? and saying that a bunch of them hold grudges against heroes because of all the historical prejudice and stuff

oh snap lol

YOU’RE FAMOUS NOW, SPINNER!

oh my god they’re trying to recruit him to be the League’s new public face or something. bitch you’re just trying to distract him because he’s onto you and he’s like the one member of the LoV who would actually be able to reach out to Tomura and snatch him back from AFO’s grasp with The Power of Friendship!!

seriously though! Tomura finally makes ONE real, true, honest-to-god friend, and IMMEDIATELY AFO is all “welp, time to send this kid far, FAR away from here right now” ffff goddammit. don’t go along with it Spinner!!

(ETA: forgot to comment on it at the time because I was too busy trying and failing to make telepathic contact with Spinner, but what the hell is up with this flash drive thingy that Skeptic is handing over to him? don’t tell me it’s ANOTHER Dabi tell-all HBO miniseries. how many of these are they gonna churn out.)

NOOOO SPINNER

DAMN IT AFO. he was definitely wavering until he heard that, and then he immediately got all resigned

AND THAT’S THE END OMG

WHAT A DARK, DEPRESSING, AND FOREBODING CHAPTER IN WHICH ABSOLUTELY NOTHING GOOD OR POSITIVE HAPPENED FOR ANYONE, AND EVERYTHING JUST KEEPS GETTING EXPONENTIALLY WORSE SOB

and is that the OG sludge villain chilling out there in the bottom right?!? BACK FOR MORE, EH. well I seem to recall you got your ass kicked by a fucking backpack all the way back in CHAPTER ONE so it’s pretty fucking bold of you to show your face in these parts again after all this time! but more power to you I guess

so there we have it! not the most exciting of chapters, but I really like that about it, actually. like for once, we got a chapter that actually slowed down the pace and took time to breathe, and that was actually really refreshing. granted, I might not have felt the same way if I’d spent a whole week waiting for this, and then had to resign myself to waiting ANOTHER whole week to finally see what Shinsou & Pals are up to, lol

BUT SINCE I’M FROM THE FUTURE where I have the freedom to continue reading AS MUCH AS I WANT in order to get as much of that SWEET IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION as I desire, I feel like I can appreciate this more than I might have otherwise! and in all seriousness, I think the pacing of this chapter bodes very well for the future. the last two arcs in particular had a LOT of plot developments that felt more than a little rushed. things like Nagant’s whole storyline, S&S and her history with All Might, and so forth. there were a lot of times when it was just like, “[SUDDEN PLOT TWIST OUT OF NOWHERE!]”, immediately followed by “[HASTY EXPOSITION-HEAVY FLASHBACK BELATEDLY EXPLAINING THE PLOT TWIST].”

and it’s not like most of the twists were actually bad, but you know what would have made all the difference? is if we’d had a couple of earlier chapters introducing us to Star, or establishing Nagant and her history with the HPSC. that would have served to get us invested in these characters beforehand, the same way that I’m now more invested in Toga’s story after spending a few pages with her revisiting her childhood home and confronting those old memories. that kind of thing really goes a long way, and it’s something Horikoshi used to do a lot more often (remember Twice’s introduction way back in the day?). so yeah, I was really happy to see him getting back to that kind of writing here, and hopefully that bodes well for the writing as we move into the final arc

anyway so yeah! AND WITH THAT SAID, I GUESS THIS MEANS IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN, by which I mean “time to post our updated ‘COUNTDOWN TO SPOILER THING’ meme”! so here is your friendly warning that ***if you are not fully caught up with the BnHA manga, please stop reading here!***

you may have noticed that we appear to be counting in the wrong direction from the previous chapter! that is because, after a bit of discussion and some confused pondering and consideration, I have decided to go with 362 as the revised Chapter Of Destiny! so yeah. THE RECKONING STILL APPROACHETH, but it hopefully doth approach slightly more accurately than before lol. BUT IF NOT THEN OH WELL

#bnha 341 #himiko toga #todoroki touya #dabi #spinner (bnha)#all for one #bnha #boku no hero academia #bnha spoilers #mha spoilers #bnha manga spoilers #makeste reads bnha

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