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#i’m not interested in ‘justifying’ them… the whole reason i like them is that they CANNOT be justified!!!!!
tea-cat-arts · 1 year
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Man, I really miss when Mihoyo would actually let characters be in the wrong. It’s just kinda weird to me how a game that quotes philosophy as much as Honkai does also refuses to explore moral complexities and contradictions.
#honkai impact#and to no ones surprise I am ranting about my hatred of Dr. MEI’s writing#this time specifically about her relationship with Kevin#I feel like early on Mihoyo actually did write their relationship as toxic#given the sheer amount of comments about how Kevin is just her follower and not an equal#but recently there’s been a shift where characters keep talking about how cute they are or how Kevin is so luck to have her#and I just sit there going ‘uhh… no 🤨🤨🤨?’#Mihoyo- characters can love each other and still be bad for each other#people can hurt those they love#people can fall out of love#Kevin and Dr. MEI don’t share moral values or common interest (outside of saving the world)#the only reason I can think of for them to be together is because ‘I’m doing this for the person I love’ is (1/2)#the only way they can justify their actions to themselves (2/2)#so they just double down on the whole ‘they’re in love’ thing#not that Mihoyo is interested in portraying them like that#outside of shipping- this also applies to project stigma. Hare. Aponia. and Elysia#if litteraly no one involved in making project stigma wants the project to be completed and are actively setting things up#for the good guys to stop them#then why are they even going through with the project in the first place???#if Mihoyo is so blatantly disinterested in portraying Kevin as a villain then why not just have him switch sides during the moon arc#he has no game as a villain anyways#Kiana and Bronya have barely even interacted with him#on the project itself- it actually does set up a moral conundrum that Mihoyo just refuses to explore#come on Mihoyo- give us the pov of the people who think the endless dream is better than death. but you won’t. no balls#Hare and Aponia have the exact same issue where I just think the twist is less interesting then their previously stated motivations#And oh boy… Elysia…#her sacrifice meant that she took a warrior of Kevin’s caliber out of the fight against finality#she also canonically obstructed moth operations by helping with Sakura’s break in#which inadvertently lead to another mantis being taken out before the finality fight#but god forbid we acknowledge that Ely’s actions might have had some negative impacts
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skhardwarevers1 · 4 months
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spent two hours studying and I’m STILL thinking about Cassie
#For a lot of reasons…like it’s interesting to know that she knew (and was married to!!)the person who kinda fucked up a lot of peoples lives#And also I’m just thinking like how’d they meet#Like Koeia always has been a science girly and I love her for that.#But how’d you end up with like the most superstitious definitely believes in the supernatural paranormal girl to ever exist#(And technically she is justified in believing that since some of it IS true…but some of it isn’t or are misconceptions)#(Which once she does find out more about she thinks is really cool. She would dedicate herself to studying these things I swear)#Like Koeia you literally created Moon and you married someone who believes In horoscopes#(Nothing wrong with that really…I just think they’re kinda stupid if you whole heartedly believe and follow horoscopes and astrology)#(Like you won’t hang out with people because of their signs kinda astrology crazy)#(Cassie is very mild with it like she’s THE girl to go too for that type of stuff cuz she knows a lot but doesn’t follow it like a religion#(Like I said she doesn’t follow anything in specific she just does things)#Anyways I feel like at some point everyone who knew them was like “you’re telling me they’re getting married??? Those two???”#Cuz they’re completely different!!! Like not even beliefs and morals wise personality wise too#Idk it’s crazy to me that like. They worked out so well for so long. Like I wanna say probably around 20 years?#I don’t ever confirm exact ages of my characters ever so I’m just estimating based on an age range I think they are now#And an age range I think they were when they got married#S.K brain dumps
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starbuck · 2 years
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so yeah, upon further consideration, my Type of favorite character is 100% “person with a horribly misplaced sense of duty that ruins their life and ultimately kills them”
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ohno-the-sun · 10 months
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Spoiler heavy fnaf ruin dlc rant up ahead
I am so fucking proud of steal wool they really took every criticism from the original game and fixed it and even added more
Like Cassie actually acts like a human being?? And like her knowledge of the original characters and cute little comments on every item are so endearing there is so much detail going into this.
The fact that they expanded on one of the fan faves Roxanne and giving her a great arc I’m in love I’m so happy
They honestly gave more depth to all the animatronics too like we finally see Bonnie’s design and get and get a taste as to what happened, also that poster Freddy gifted him I’m crying they are so cute and gay I love them
😭😭😭
Also the whole dark ride section with Monty is so fascinating like is that narrative kind of true or is it just fabricated by fazbear inc to cover up the decommissioning of Bonnie
Why replace Bonnie with Monty?? Why not make a new Bonnie model?? With the prototype label on Freddy it may be confirmed that they make multiple models (well we already kinda knew that with Freddies comments but oh well)
Also Freddy?? Like is that our Freddy or a different one?? They very clearly highlighted the prototype label so they want to emphasize it, but then the head is still missing like in the princess quest ending so what is the truth??
Feel bad for chica fans tho she really was sidelined hard
Aaaaa and my baby boys!!! There’s 3 now aaahaga
I was really not expecting eclipse to be the way they were, very… normal? Is that the right word?? Like obviously a little delusional on when the daycare is gonna open again, but in the right mindset of like this child needs to leave this place is not safe. It is interesting to me that both he and Roxy thought that it was Cassie’s birthday, maybe that was the last day before she left the plex? Or maybe that was the day the plex caught fire? Or maybe most depressingly we are playing on Cassie’s birthday so the animatronics have it in their systems what her birthday is and wish her a happy one (if they are in the right state of mind lol)
Some peeps are upset moon is a little too villainous
I think you can still say it was mainly the virus but I would argue even if it’s not the virus I feel like moon is kinda justified here. Like sun has been shutting him away for a long time before this (if the books are to be believed but also in general) so when he finally gets a chance to roam free of course he’s gonna take it. And idk about u but if my alternate personality was constantly trying to shut me out and I finally got control, I probably too would try and keep my control for as long as possible. Also from what I have seen so far, not even moon is all that aggressive? Like he grabs you at the beginning, but I think that’s just his very ineffective way to get kids to sleep and other than that he just kinda stays away
Poor sunny baby is stuck in the ar world 🥺🥺 I didn’t notice at first but yeah everytime you talk to him it’s only in the ar world. And the end part where you switch them out for eclipse if you do that in the ar world, he says not for me it’s for moon.
I will say though I noticed the voice acting for them changed a little this game, like both have a higher pitch and are more goofy sounding? Like more gremlin energy than evil villainy. I wonder if that was on purpose? Both of them sounded more like the other so maybe that was the reason? Interest interest
Also their mouth moves?? Sort of?? That’s so silly to me they have a whole working mouth system and their face mask doesn’t work with at all 😭
Does give me lore intrigue tho cause like why do their mouths move but not anymore?? Did something happen?? Are they just not maintained enough?? They also move outward instead of up and down (at least from what I saw) so is the mechanism different?
Also the way that sun and moon talk about eachother is so interesting. Like moon says the light hurts “us” and sun says “no the other me” like they seem to almost consider eachother more connected than we first thought, like they’re not just coworkers or strangers they are almost like two sides of the same person. It’s very interesting and I wonder where people will take this.
Overall great job I’m so excited to comb through the game and find every little secret (especially regarding the dca) aaaa
Ok ok update moon does have a jump scare but it’s ridiculously hard to get and I’d still argue he’s not as vicious as he was base game. I mention in another post but eclipse being as kind as he is and being (presumably) a combination of both AIs, gives even more evidence moon is supposed to be kind and caring like his posters suggest but something went wrong. Also Cassie’s comments on their plushes show that there were kids who truly liked the daycare.
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superdillin · 9 months
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Gender! At the Strip Club
How Sex Work Transed my Gender
(but also it's far more complicated than that I just love a punchy headline)
It’s tricky to have a conversation about the realities of sex work in a world that sees things too profoundly in a binary. Admonishing certain realities of it may be misinterpreted as siding with TERF ideology but romanticizing it ignores the complicated intersection of labor exploitation and bodily autonomy inherent to the industry. Because I want to talk about an ultimately positive experience I took away from my time within the industry, I feel that it’s important to start by saying that when people say sex work is work, we mean that it is labor, and needs the support that all laborers need. The workers need organizing power, ownership of the fruits of their labor, and protection from their clients and employers.  
Recognizing the impacts of sex work on my life has been a delayed reaction because ultimately, it was a traumatic time of survival. I spent nearly a decade in Fight or Flight, with no time to analyze what I was experiencing while it was happening. I’m not even blaming the industry for that, because as problematic as it can be, poverty was the true villain, as insecure living situations, unstable work, and working multiple full-time jobs will keep your nervous system in overdrive 24/7. 
So years later, every so often, I find myself with a new lightbulb appearing cartoonishly over my head, drawing another connection from who I am and how I interact with the world today, and how said behavior ultimately originated in a place called Nite Moves, of all things. Some of those behaviors have resolved with time. How I interacted with all cis-men during those years and for a time afterward was undeniably disordered. I inherently distrusted every single one, yet felt like I needed them around at all times for a feeling of safety and security. I kept dangerous men in my life for no good reason. But that went away with time and therapy. Now I distrust cis-men an appropriate amount. (ba dum-tss)
Other things did not resolve with time. My ire for how club owners (often in tandem with security staff) exploit workers and prioritize clients and profits over the safety of dancers? That ire was justified, and all that’s changed now is that I know more about labor organizing, leftist politics and have more context in my belief system to explain why the system is wrong. The other thing that did not resolve is how it made me view myself on the gender spectrum. 
All sex work involves a bit of gender performance, but stripping as a whole is the most hard-line, binary-adjacent area of the industry I’ve dabbled in. Because everyone in the strip club is performing. The dancers are obvious, but if all a client wanted a hot woman to ogle, pornography is cheaper and easier to access. Cam girls can offer you a completely tailored and personalized experience. And no one is more discrete than a full-service worker. Part of why men go to strip clubs is to be perceived in a strip club by other men. It’s a whole gender ritual, even. Half of the men who get taken to these clubs on their birthday or bachelor party have told me in the privacy behind the curtain that they wished they had gone to play pool, camping, or whatever their friend group’s shared interest is. But outside the champagne room, they’re pinching asses,ordering bottle service and getting high-fives for how good they can play this role. 
So, on the converse side of this gender performance, strip clubs tend to encourage the most rigid portrayal of a culturally-accepted femininity, often to the point of a very bad homogenization. On that topic, the lack of racial and body diversity in strip clubs is something people with a better perspective have talked about before, including the Portland Strippers who recently unionized, and the Black Feminisms blog, check those out for more on that perspective. 
So getting ready to work at the average club is not a matter of dressing down and dolling up. You’re trying to fit a very rigid expression of femininity that, if I were a gambling man, would likely not line up with most of the dancers own personal definition of femininity. And the more “high-end” the club, the stricter and more rigid those rules. I’ve seen clubs have restrictions to what the owner thought were the “most feminine” nail polish colors. Hair length mandates. One manager inspected my midsection to make sure it “passed”; if it hadn’t I would be restricted to wearing corset-tops on the floor. 
But for me, it unlocked something personal that I did not expect. I’ve never felt particularly attached to femininity, even when I identified as a woman. Then, I began to appreciate the ritual of putting femininity on as a costume. Once I did, I instantly had an easier time enjoying it. In my subconscious it was clear that this was not me. It was a role, a gimmick I was playing at, and thereby I felt so comfortable indulging in it. The best part, though, was the other ritual at the end of each shift. Taking off the costume, and tucking it away. The blissful comfort I would feel in my own body for the several hours after a shift - no matter what happened that night, no matter how dreadful or dry - I would be reenergized. I literally got to put femininity on like a costume and then take it off again. 
I also found that it shed a light on something interesting about my relationship to girlhood, not just femininity. There are things about girlhood that have always resonated with me in a homey way, sleepover delirium and bar bathroom camaraderie, but those resonances don’t make me feel like any more of a woman. In the strip club, girlhood feels like having an army of girls meet you in the dressing room without you having to ask because they saw how ‘that guy’ was acting, throwing a separate funeral for your friend because none of you would be allowed in at the real one, boycotting a patron who hurt one of you because security refuses to boot him.
I am not a woman. I am trauma-bonded to girlhood from my time spent in the trenches with it. 
I am not a woman. I am whatever is left is left when society’s vision of femininity is shed and packed away.
I am not a woman. But I play a pretty good one when I need to.
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leoleolovesdc · 6 months
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It’s so weird that Heathers the musical toned down so many things from the story (Veronica’s gray morality, JD’s behavior as a whole, Kurt and Ram’s sa on the girls, etc.) but decided to make the Heathers way bigger assholes than they are in the movie.
McNamara doesn’t do anything in the movie, she just goes along with Chandler and kicks Veronica one time at the beginning but then in the musical she’s setting up a fcking date rape??? She goes along with the boys during Sword Fight in Her Mouth and is just a bitch to Veronica all of the time, but everyone in the fandom (and also Veronica somehow) kind of ignores it because she acts innocent.
Duke, even though she isn’t made that much worse from her movie version, (except for the date rape thing with McNamara) is also way more agressive and obnoxious. In the movie, even after Duke turns into a Chandler carbon copy she’s still a funny and likeable character. In the musical she is an asshole even before Chandler dies and her and Veronica keep antogonizing each other from beginning to end when in the 1989 version they were pretty much friends until the last minute.
I think one could make an argument that Duke’s bullying of McNamara is also worse in the musical, but I’m a bit lazy to adress that, so just have in mind that in the musical she’s also more agressive, screaming at Mac at live TV instead of just writing “poor little Heather” on the board.
Chandler in the musical is more of a cartoon character than a person. She screams at everything and everyone for no reason whatsoever, she isn’t necessarily a worse person, just very flanderized and, I’m sorry, but I can’t believe that somone who acts that way could even have a chance of climbing so high on the social hierarchy of a school. Heather in the movie was a bitch, but she knew how to keep up appearances. She acted nice, she played people, she never had to scream to get things to go her way, that was how she managed to be so powerful.
The movie is a parody of teenage narratives, the musical takes that parody and plays it straight. That’s how you get an absurd story where the three mean girls of the school are annoying bitchy monsters and the literal murderer is a sympathetic villain.
I think the Heathers 1989 is interesting because of how literally everyone is a bad person, but at the same time not everyone is the same kind of bad.
You have bad Chandler, an fatphobic asshole who doesn’t care about anything unless it affects her. You have bad Kurt and Ram, homophobic, sexist guys who have raped multiple girls. You have bad McNamara, only follows other people’s leads which makes her act like an asshole. You have bad Duke, is not evil when controlled but when given the opportunity she will become an asshole. You have bad Veronica, an uncaring and murderous person who in the end makes the right choice. And you have bad JD, the kind of guy who he thinks he’s justified in blowing up a whole school just because everyone there kind-of-really-fucking-sucks.
All of these people are assholes and some of them should be in jail, but that doesn’t make the psycho who’s killing them some kind of martyr, he’s still just as bad, maybe even worse, than all ofthe others. The musical makes JD look justifiable.
He was good person, he was just traumatized!
If only he had gotten help!
No. Just no. JD was psycho. He was trying to blow up a school. That’s not justified, doesn’t matter what sort of heroic reason he may have he had. Which, by the way, he didn’t. He wasn’t killing people because they were assholes, he was killing people because he was an asshole.
Anyway, thanks for coming to my Ted Talk. Yes, I still love all of thsoe characters despite how much shit I talked about all of them, sorry this got long, one thing lead to another, and now I have spent like two hours writing this and my arms hurt from holding an ipad. Bye.
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jerseymuppet · 1 year
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my chemical romance is such a beautiful, singular and human experience. the artistry and the love and the passion and frustration put into everything they do is tangible, and part of what makes them so popular. but at the end of the day it’s all about one thing: staying.
I’ve made a post already about mcrs core message being ‘stay’ and I think it’s even more poignant now at the end of tour. because, and I feel like a lot of people forget this, they needed mcr too. let me break this awkward silence. they also needed a reason to stay, back then, and for a long time it was us. they spent their whole career tearing themselves apart and painting targets on their back, for us. they carved out a space for us to stay in the scene with their bloody and broken fingers. and we stayed there together. until we weren’t enough to justify the way they were falling apart on the inside. So they left. they ran away. you must fix your heart.
and then they did. against all odds, they came back. i’m coming back from the dead. and it was sudden and unexpected and almost shy, the polar opposite of everything we expected from them. but it was perfect. they came back when we needed them, they’ve always needed a fight, a reason to stay in the game. but this one is being fought differently. it’s bright eyes and chaste kisses and the twirling of fabric, graying temples and aching joints and smile lines. it’s finally getting to exist, it’s existing in the space they carved out. it’s saying: i’m still here. we’re still here. we all made it. and we’re here to stay. you’ll never take me alive, cause I’m still here.
unkillable. in the face of extermination, say fuck you. i think it’s especially interesting considering that last we saw them active the theme was being hunted. exterminate on the drum, all of their characters dropping like flies in the music videos. their creative process being restricted. and now we associate them with vermin. those unkillable things that survive the even the worst fall out. I don’t think they would pick these themes and messages if they didn’t plan on coming back. this is just the beginning.
i’ve seen so many people mourning a body that still has life in it, it’s not going anywhere. they’re not going anywhere. and I’m not either.
stay with me?
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nortsauce · 1 month
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HERE COMES NORT, YAPPING ABOUT FANDOMS THAT I’M NOT EVEN IN!
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(And i’ll be typing the rest here because there are too many slides so read bellow)
⚠️ WARNING ⚠️
My LONG ASS rant on how MHA (among other things) fails to present its ab*se victims in a good way,
Starring the todoroki family
So, i know literally no one cares but i feel like it needed to be said: but MHA has a BIG issue with victims of abuse being treated kinda shittily, to making whole arcs about their abusers.
This isn’t a HUGE thing, as the lack of sympathy for Hawk’s abusers was definitely there, but they still were portrayed in a semi-sympathetic light. This is not the main focus however.
I’m sure many could go on and on about Bakugou and Midoriya’s relationship, but thats not what i’m focusing on.
I’m focusing on the most OVERLOOKED and ABHORRENTLY handled dynamic of the Todoroki family
I will be going over each of the characters and why they suck in some way, but as a whole i have to talk about this: Each one of the characters of the family are all victims of abuse in some way, and represent the different ways that trauma affects the victim, i understand that.
All in all, they do a good job of portraying the different ways in which the people handle abuse,
Endeavor being one who never dealt with his past egotistical superiority complex and threw his baggage onto his family/children to live vicariously
Rei being the one who is emotionally/physically damaged to the point of a mental break
Touya being the ex-golden child, and the one who continued the cycle of violence (and misogyny but thats another topic for another paper)
Fuyumi being the one who holds onto an idealized version of a family that possibly only existed in her dreams, being codependent and longing/working to get those “happy times” back with her family, clinging onto smth that was possibly never there
Natsuo being the one who is (justifiably) angry at his abusers, cuts his family off and goes to pursue his own life/dreams
and finally shoto
the one who realizes his role as the golden child is only for his parents to live vicariously, breaks his cycle and is trying to figure out who he is.
These are all great representations of how people cope/handle trauma, and i believe that was on purpose, considering that it also speaks on abuse of children on baselines of being in a famous family.
However, certain aspects are clearly not handled properly; allow me to explain.
Shoto, the youngest of the family, is often seen as the architect of the abuse, as the family was actually quite “fine-living” (i’ll come back to this) before shoto was born.
There were obviously cracks in their family from the beginning, Touya being the golden child despite not being able to physically handle his own power without hurting himself (an allegory i’ll discuss), the fact that Enji (endeavor) basically bought his way into marrying Rei, and of course enji’s complex of being less than All-might.
However, many characters seem to blame the birth of Shoto for breaking the camel’s back, and starting the domestic violence that had already threatened to spill through.
It’s shown through the anime that shoto has a kind heart and never liked enji, due to the fact that he would harm him, his siblings, and his mother,
but for being the tritagonist of this show, we never get to see how he really feels. In all of this, perhaps we could see him feeling guilt for being the reason his family is broken, the possible resentment yet dependency he has for his father, the thoughts on how he feels conflicted yet guilty about his mother and continues to blame himself.
Its interesting how he never stops blaming his father, but regardless we only get his apathetic views on his father and no one else. Its saddening to see the sideline of the victim of abuse while his abuser gets a whole arc. But i’m not there yet.
Moving on we have Natsuo and Fuyumi. I grouped them together because they both have opposite ways of dealing with their trauma, as Aforementioned: Natsuo tries to cut all ties while Fuyumi tries to be a “normal” family with her remaining members.
Both of them have valid ways to why they act this way, and its tragic, however, the way they deal with their youngest sibling, shoto, is disheartening to say the least.
Both of them understand how Shoto was physically abused since he was 5, and neglect to form any sort of connection with him despite his better efforts in natsuo’s case, using him as leverage against his father and nothing more, while in fuyumi’s case, basically presents him in her fantastical version of him in their fantastical “perfect” family life, causing him to have multiple meetings with his abuser and forcing him to relive the trauma so she can have peace of mind.
In hindsight, this is all interesting heavy topics to explore in a character, and i was honestly curious to see how it would be handled
however it all faltered as soon as I saw the hospital scene.
SPOILERS:
After Dabi’s Dance, the todoroki family comes to visit Shoto and Endeavor in the hospital, both of whom are heavily bandaged and bed-ridden.
Despite this all, Rei, Fuyumi, and Natsuo force todoroki, who is burnt and recovering his voice, to get up and walk over to his father’s ward to speak to him.
Shoto, despite being unable to form full sentences, makes it FULLY CLEAR he does not want to be there, by closing the door to his ward, and attempting to leave. Despite his clear efforts, his family makes him go in to talk to him.
this 16 year old boy being forced out of RECOVERING, fully bandaged and barely able to talk, forced to visit his abuser to hear him cry about not being able to fight his own son, depsite also being his son and physically harmed by him since childhood.
In my opinion that wasn’t a good move on any of the family’s part.
Rei is a difficult subject to discuss. She is clearly a victim and has been for. while. She is mentally distant after being harmed for so long and spent time in a psyche-ward to handle herself.
Saying that she was a bad mother would be too far in my opinion, as she did her best to provide a nice life for her kids as well as defend them from her husband.
Not much is said about her, but from what we can tell she loved her kids very much, until the abuse started.
I feel the blame for shoto began with her, not being able to face her own son after the “death” of her first and the fact that his face reminded her of the abuse she’s faced from endeavor.
Her character is honestly an interesting one, but she is not safe from my scrutiny of the hospital scene. She was very brave for facing her abuser like this, however, she did not have to drag her bedridden youngest into the fray.
She is the DIRECT reason shoto has a scar on her face, (indirectly endeavor’s fault)
But i will never blame her for the abuse she faced for her children, by her husband and to an extent, her own son touya, which leads me into my next point
SPOILERS
Touya, aka Dabi, is the “Late” eldest brother who was originally Endeavor’s ticket into living vicariously to defeat all-might and be the number 1 hero.
I could go into the psychology of his character but he is ultimately very interesting. In all honesty the way he is presented as being the consequences of endeavor’s actions is palpable and honestly quite raw. At a young age, he was handling the pressure of being his father’s perfect creation, and the fame and fortune that followed as he sought his father’s approval. Soon, his quirk began to burn him every time he used it, a fact that endeavor ignored to pursue his goal. Touya’s power became self-harm at some point, an allegory for his disregard for his own life and well-being for his father’s dream which ultimately (literally) exploded on itself.
Touya’s story is interesting, from his abuse causing him to act like his father craving his approval, which lead him to act put against his mother and shoto, while laying his baggage onto his younger siblings, to losing his mind and realizing that he wanted his father dead and continuing the cycle of abuse further.
This is all a deep and interesting way to look at abuse and how the abused may become an abuser, HOWEVER.
MY critique here, is how sidelined his whole arc is, as his story is more portrayed of Endeavor’s past coming to haunt him, all for the watcher to sympathize with endeavor rather than understand how the abuse endeavor put onto touya made dabi. This whole arc was framed to be sympathetic towards endeavor, and to fear Dabi. Don’t even get me started on how Shoto’s feelings meant nothing in this arc, as well as being immediately cut off by a surprise cameo of a character that possibly discredited Dabi’s expose video on his abuser.
Finally, we get to talk about the elephant in the room: Enji Todoroki, endeavor himself.
What is there not to say about this man.
I feel I should start eith the obvious:
The forgiveness/sympathy arc for endeavor was quite possibly the worst thing to ever happen in the anime, and this is not subjective.
The whole arc is based around how Endeavor is a victim of his own mind and is trying his hardest to make up for being a terrible person.
Personally, i love to see character arcs of villains becoming a better person, but thats the very thing: Endeavor is trying to ask for forgiveness from his family, who he abused for 15 YEARS. This is no exaggeration as Shoto is now 16, and his cracks started forming as soon as he was born.
Endeavor had illegally married a woman that he basically bought his way into,
was illegally “breeding” (eugh) for quirk benefits,
Treated one of his son’s like a vicarious version of himself
Physically abused his son (age 5+) his wife, and verbally abused the rest of his children
isolated his son
treated his son like a weapon
and finally felt too prideful for any sort of meaningful apology.
This all adds up to a character who only felt sorry for his actions after the consequences started hitting him in the face, as he only felt remorseful when Shoto refused to be associated with him.
Now, some of you may be thinking: “A lot of characters are forgiven for more, why would he be the exception? It’s fictional why do you care?”
There are several reasons to why I care but i’ll speak in terms of framing for now. This show is highly influential to not only kids (as it is a KIDS SHOW) but to adults as well. May i direct your attention to the man who saved a woman from a murderous ex-boyfriend by blocking his machete hits all because My Hero Academia inspired him to take action and be a hero?
Or how about a murder that took place because the accused was inspired by an invader zim episode (the dark harvest)
Whether you like it or not, fiction HAS an affect on reality. Yes, we can determine what is real and what is fake, but you cannot deny that a lot of what media we consume helps us be who we are.
If the show promotes more sympathy towards an abuser than their victims, then people may find themselves sympathizing real world abusers over the voices of victims.
I wont speak on delicate subjects but I can already see affects of this happening, as people rally to defend famous people accused of being abusers rather than listen and provide support to the alleged victims.
In conclusion, These topics are definitely not easy to write, and I, for one, am NO expert and my word should not be used as gospel truth or a guideline on how to write these characters.
This is all simply my opinion on how the bias towards abusers in the show leads for the message to be skewed and marred in action.
I understand that no one is perfect, but if we only reward and sympathize with those who only seek redemption after they face scrutiny, then we lose the meaning of what makes someone worthy of forgiveness.
These topics are deep and interesting, but the way they are handled in this show is simply bad writing.
Thank you for coming to my ted talk and again: no shade towards the writers. Just critiques!
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nattikay · 14 days
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sure is interesting how the internet just loves to accuse Avatar of being a carbon-copy-ripoff of Dances with Wolves, Pocahontas, Fern Gully, etc. but never seems to accuse Dances with Wolves, Pochanonas, or Fern Gully as being ripoffs of each other. Surely if Avatar is exactly the same as all these movies at the same time then all those movies must be exactly the same as each other too right! But no, for some reason it’s fine when those movies share similar tropes and themes, but when Avatar does it, using those tropes is suddenly some lazy and derivative sin against storytelling, apparently.
Yes, Avatar does share a lot of themes and tropes with all these movies, no one’s denying that. But guys. Dances with Wolves did not invent the “going native” trope. Fern Gully did not invent “saving the environment from greedy villains”. Pocahontas did not invent “foreigner falls in love with a native”. It’s ok for more than one movie to share these ideas for pete’s sake y’all holy flip
Heck, you could argue that in some ways Dances with Wolves and Pocahontas are more similar to each other than either is to Avatar since they are both historical fiction set in North America centered around the native Americans vs the Europeans, whereas Avatar is a sci-fi/fantasy set on an alien moon six light years away where the humans have hyperadvanced technology and big robots and the whole moon is covered in a massive neural network that the locals can tap into at will using the biological usb cable that grows out of their heads. “it’S jUsT pOchAHonTaS iN sPaCE” SO WHAT? Telling a familiar story in a unique setting is not some cardinal sin against storytelling and I’m tried of pretending that it is. Maybe “a Pocahontas-type story but in the future in space with aliens and a whole bunch of unique immersive fantasy worldbuilding” is kinda a cool concept actually, there’s nothing inherently wrong with or “lazy” about it.
Sorry to suddenly go off about this, it just seems that whenever I see someone (outside the fandom) mention Avatar on the internet they seem to have this weird compulsion to make some dismissive disclaimer about how the movie is silly and derivative before they move onto the meat of their analysis (whatever that may happen to be), as if they need to justify their mention of it lest someone judges them for having poor taste and tbh I’m tired of it.
Avatar is fine. You don’t have to preface every mention of it with a disclaimer about how it (supposedly) sucks. You don’t have to throw in a snarky “oh God forbid, this movie” when you bring it up as an example of xyz. Especially when the most popular “criticism” that get tossed at it is as shallow and silly as “it shares some tropes and themes with some other movies”.
if Avatar is genuinely just not your cup of tea, that’s totally valid! Like any movie, it’s not gonna appeal to everyone and that’s ok.
But if your perception of it is “it’s bad because everyone knows you’re supposed to make fun of the dumb blue people movie, Big Reviewer YouTuber called it Dances with Smurfs and said it was lazy”, maybe think for yourself for five minutes
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xzaddyzanakinx · 1 month
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Part two thoughts on an ani x bpd reader? Like, when things get that bad, does either of them wake the fuck up and realize things need to change? Remorse or guilt? The reader leaving? Ani leaving or falling into a self loathing hole, doing bad stuff again and again whether to himself or reader) and not taking care of himself?
It’s interesting to read some of your takes on BPD relationships, because I obviously have no idea what that’s like, but you do. You can make it seem very addicting, but also very terrifying and unhealthy, depending on which way the pendulum swings (I hope you take that as a compliment. Tone is hard through text. Lol. 😅).
I personally do not believe abuse is justified in any situation, whether you have a disorder or not. There’s lots of ways to deal with feelings without taking it out on someone else. On the other hand, I know some BPD’s have described feeling horrified with themselves after an episode like that, and so I’ve never really known just how much ‘control’ someone has in that moment. Either way, I still believe it’s the person’s responsibility to find a way to deal with it. Nobody deserves to be miserable around them just because they can’t handle something.
Anyway, I kind of went off on a rant. Apologies. Lol. My main request was for a part two of Ani x BPD reader! ❤️🫶✨
Not offended at all bby.
I think after I’m done with stalker!ani I’ll write a fic on this. Just cause so many people have asked about it.
100% BPD X BPD would be a terrible pairing. Coming from me as a bpd gal.
Now, personally, I’ve never physically abused anyone during an episode. But I HAVE done lots of property damage and I also broke my hand when I used a concrete wall as a punching bag. I split a wooden bat at the tip from whacking a fence once.
When it gets that bad, I don’t really remember what I said or did. I just feel really jittery, almost like an extreme caffeine high you know? (Imagine old cartoon character drinking coffee and their whole body vibrates, eyeballs and all)
But if it doesn’t get to that point, which it rarely does now that I’m medicated correctly and have a good support system, I IMMEDIATELY feel regret. Like horrible sorrow. Bpd means big feelings and when I feel regret, which isn’t often, it feels like I’m grieving a death that I’m to blame for.
For the smaller, more snappy or short outbursts:
My mouth works faster than the logical part of my brain that tells me not to say something mean.
Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of saying something awful and then I just have to finish it because the damage is done and I may as well spit it out. Then I’ll lock myself in the bathroom for an hour until I’ve hyped myself up enough to apologize, then I’ll go back to the bathroom until the big feelings from my apology die down. I’ll be quiet, basically selectively mute for the rest of the day and be super irritable.
It’s exhausting. But it’s even more exhausting to have to continually remind myself not to spew the first thing that pops into my head or not to chuck the bag of shredded cheese at the wall because I can’t get the ziploc to open.
It’s so stupid that something so small as getting my hairbrush stuck on a knot in my hair could set me off into a teeth gritting, foot stomp and shriek. Like wtf? That’s embarrassing. But it happens before I can even think about what I’m doing.
The best way I can describe it is: I’m a bratty toddler when it comes to emotional regulation.
But you’re so right tho, your illness doesn’t give you an excuse to be an ass. It just proves the person doesn’t want to put in the work to get better if they use it as a justifying reason.
BPD might cause my reactions, but I’m in charge of my actual actions. Sometimes it takes a long time for them to recognize that though. I’m an adult now, I’m medicated, I’ve spent my fair share of days in the loony bin. Looking back at my teenage self? It’s horrific and sad. For me and everyone around me back then.
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eveningepiphany · 1 year
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insatiable | H.S series, part I
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eveningepiphany’s 1k special <3
summary: harry is a prince, natalia is a spy for his court. both of them can’t stand one another, but natalia having to take any direct information she learns about the attempt on his life directly to him seems to put the pair in an interesting dynamic.
SERIES warnings: darker topics, murder, death, cults, alcohol, smut, violence, royal au! harry, fem!oc, fantasy and swearing.
a/n: this is something I’ve wanted to write for a long time now. I love reading fantasy, and I think it would be fun to kind of test the waters in writing a proper series myself.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
A part of me wishes it was nothing like this.
That I didn’t live in a world where everyone was out to deceive you.
But that’s exactly what you get in Carthion. I’d say it’s all you ever get, but maybe that’s just my outlook on it.
Especially when you consider I’m no better than the rest of them.
You see, when you grow up with parents who did the worst things just to get by, you’re conditioned to it. The expectation that everyone is out to get you.
And of course, the things they did weren’t just steal some bread and fruit from the night market to get a feed, or maybe pickpocket a passerby or two bad. The kind of stuff that would have you killed if it was unearthed.
But how I grew up is realistically how I got here.
I’ve been a spy— which is really just a justified way of saying I’m a deceitful murderer— “professionally” for only three years now.
But I’d been really doing it since I was 13. Sounds young, I know. It was young.
The thing was, I was small, smaller than my dad. I could squeeze into little places, move faster, quieter.
And who would suspect a 13 year old to be the one who’d shot a gang leader in an alleyway.
Not a soul apparently.
My father accompanied me on these little “missions” for the first, maybe, forty times? Until little by little he stopped.
He’d just tell me quietly what I needed to do in the dark of our small kitchen. And I’d be off.
Previously, my mother did a similar business. But she broke her leg on an outing when I was around 9. It left her much less physically able then she used to be, leaving her to stay home with me and my elder brother, Theodore. Making small knit items and pottery to sell at the markets— while dad was out.
I’d often catch myself falling into a daydream of where I’d be if I didn’t have the upbringing that I did. If I’d be a married woman yet, or maybe a guard for one of the royal courts if I had the same amount of drive.
But all of that is rather a waste of time, i reason with myself often. I’m busy enough as it is. And it’s about to get a whole lot more hectic.
I’m not conditioned to walk in heeled shoes. Nor am I proper enough to be in the dress that’s currently hugging my frame.
But when business with Royals arises, it’s what I can only assume is a must.
The guard, who bought me in is a few steps infront of me— awful move if I was an intruder— seems to know exactly where he’s taking me.
The corridors are lined with the families crest, large cream pillars with golden accents.
A single brick from this place is probably worth more than my life.
We’d been twisting and turning through the corridors until suddenly I’m greeted with large double doors, ones that would tower above any regularly sized one..
Another 2 burly men are positioned outside of them, gesturing a quick nod to whoever led me here.
A curt knock and a few beats of silence pass. I feel a little sick, I can’t lie.
A posh feminine voice sounds on the other side of the doors, undoubtedly Queen Annabelle herself.
“Come in!”
The doors get swung open, and I’m surprised to see that at first glance, this room is only a business or lounge room. It’s large enough to be a dining hall.
My gaze snaps back over to her as she begins to greet me, something I probably should’ve done first instead of marvelling at the room were standing in.
“Natalia, dear, hello.” My eyes switch between her and her unexpected guest, who— if this room weren’t so large— is tall enough he would’ve been the first thing I seen upon entering.
I’m positive it’s her son. The Prince.
Im unsure what exactly to say even though I practiced this in my head a million times.
I drop into a quick curtesy, “Hello, Your highness.”
I falter momentarily, hesitating to greet the Prince as well.
A extend my greeting to him, after a quiet intake of breath, “and to you too, Prince Harry.”
He has a scowl on his face, hardly giving me a me nod of his head.
I’ve only ever worked with people of a medium prestige. And only ever to silently cover up their dirty work. But I’m hardly surprised to see his distaste towards me.
If I am a minor disgust to the higher class, to the royals like Prince Harry, I must be the equivalent of skum on freshly polished shoes.
“Please, come sit with us. We have much to discuss.” She strides across the room, flowing ivory dress complimenting the green rug that takes up a large chunk of the floor.
She takes to a chair at the head of the table, it’s like a mock-throne, green fabric and deep wooden accents around its frame and arms.
The Prince reluctantly seats in the chair first to her right.
Despite the fact I’ve been allowed in this room, I feel terribly out of place.
I carefully take the chair thats two down from the queen, folding my hands neatly atop the rich wooden table which has a map in the centre of it.
I almost let out a sigh of gratefulness as Queen Annabelle begins talking, and isn’t expecting me to begin.
“Alright. You know the parameters in which you are here in, yes?” She raises her sharp brows.
“I do, for the most part. From the letters I’d received. I’m aware of what business you want me for.”
The Prince scoffs at the word business, and the Queen shoots him a glare.
“There are obviously some details left out. We need to smooth those out, before you can make your pledges.”
I nod, but sense that she’s not done talking.
“You acknowledge that this is going ahead yes? All that is left to do is get it in motion.”
“I do. I have a few questions regarding this job, but they can be covered at a later time if you’d like.” I try to keep my tone steady, formal.
I’m satisfied in her reaction to my words. She wasn’t expecting me to be so put together.
I had worked hard when I was younger to achieve this. My intellect is a strong point— and it makes me appear less rough around the edges.
It’s also that of a weapon, one you can carry everywhere with you, undetected. And it’s just as dangerous as the blade of a dagger.
“Of course. As of now, I’d like to discuss the raw details.”
She gestures towards her son, “My son, here, is a key part of this job. I believe in your letters you were ran down on an attempted assassination within our family. Since it’s now certain you’ll be taking the job, and you’ll be working closely with the both of us, I figure you should know he was the target.”
He’s frowning still as a lock eyes with him. And I connected those dots the second I realised he was in the room.
I have never met him. But from the great vine I’d heard mixed opinions on his person.
“Aside from myself and our head of counsel, he will be whom you take any learned information to.”
She lets out a sigh, “I would like him to be excluded from this process, however, it was made clear it wouldn’t go ahead without his involvement.”
I ponder a moment on how he is allowed a choice in the matter, seeing she’s the Queen and all.
She looks to me for agreement, “Understood.”
“Perfect. Im aware we have little information on who has committed this crime. That is why you’re here. I fear that they will come back and finish what they started.” I steal a glance at the prince again, who looks relatively unbothered considering we’re discussing the details of his near death experience, “I expect you to prevent this from happening.”
High expectations come with exhausting hours of work. But I nod anyways.
“My head of counsel, Tyrone will also need to receive a pledge from you and then he will run you down on the smaller details I have no business in. But other than that, your work will begin after our pledges.”
A lot of damn pledges, too.
This was the worst part of working with people of such a title, the expectance of you to lay yourself down for them, to swear your life and loyalty to them. A pledge knows no time, and can only be withdrawn by the one it’s given too. So the more pledges, the more you’re shackled to. To outright break a pledge would send you straight to exile— so it’s rare to hear of it. It’s like a fucking cult out there, in the barren of the north where the exiles call home.
She prattles on over some more details, that I take as much mental note on as possible, before standing from her chair, “Harry, will you please leave the room while she makes her pledge to me.”
I thank the stars for the this shred of dignity shes allowing me, but i catch the shock on Prince Harry’s face at his removal.
“But—“ he begins and she silences him, “Out.”
He sighs outwardly, sending another glower my way as he walks out the door.
I awkwardly rise from my chair, nerves bubbling through me, trying to prepare myself on what to say.
Theres no script, its all dependent on the situation, so you must say the right things and leave no room for misconception in your words. Mistake and gaps can easily be used against you.
It’s dodgy absolutely, but a risk that must be taken for this business.
“Natalia, is this your first time making a pledge?” She asks from where she stands a few feet away from me.
“No.” It was my third, but she doesn’t need to know that.
It’s not many, especially since in what I do, some people rack them up like it’s a competition.
“Have you been let go of all your previous pledges?”
“Yes.” I nod, which was almost true, all but one.
A risky game I’m playing, lying already, but no risk no reward I suppose is what they say.
Answering no raises to many questions on her end that I hardly feel mentally prepared to answer.
I take initiative to kneel at her feet, ready for her go ahead.
“Very well.”
“Queen Annabelle the fifth, I kneel below you as I vow to uphold my loyalty to you, for as long as it may be needed. I am aware that your life must come before mine at all times, and that I’m never to withhold information that could be of detriment to you or your family.”
I draw in a breath, “All information that I learn in my time working under you will be taken to those of your request, and nothing will be kept to myself that could endanger anybody in your circle. Outside of those im working with, all that I find out is kept to myself. Gossip is for the lowly courts, and I do not wish to start it.”
I pray that ive covered the basis, and begin to close off the pledge, “My name is Natalia Atalanta Finley, and I pledge myself to you, Queen Annabelle the fifth.”
A shudder passes through me as my middle name breaches the tip of my tongue.
This is how the pledges are set in stone. Your second name is to be kept close to your heart; it can be easily used against you. Hence why business using them is unfavourable.
I had held her eye contact, and watched as she nodded. Her face was netrual, not showing whether she was pleased or not.
“Thank you. I will send Harry in for you now.” She sounded calm. Of course she was. Considering she wasn’t the one now down a point.
I only can nod.
Carefully standing, despite the fact I’m going to be kneeling again in a few moments, I brush my hands down the waist of my satin dress.
She heads out the doors, I strain to hear a few muffled whispers that are presumably exchanged between her and her son. Then the door is opening again.
I fight the urge to look away. I am not about to appear shy, or like I am now certainly below them. He strides in, and I finally get a good look at him in the full.
He’s in a black kind of overcoat, and a smooth white blouse-like shirt. The tattoos on his collarbones, which im not sure what they are yet, visible through the material.
I make note of his black trousers and my eyes make their way back to the hair on his head. Its mid length, unruly and curly is the best way to describe it.
He looks smug, yet somehow still inconvenienced by my presence, “kneel, wont you?”
These are the first words he’s said to me directly, and I already want to jam my elbow into his stomach. Terrific.
I take a few steps towards him, and slowly sink back down onto my knees, feet tucked under myself as I hold eye contact with him.
“Your highness,” I begin, but theres an unmistakable edge to my voice.
“Sound like you mean it at least.” He hums.
With a passive aggressive clear of my throat I start again, “Your highness,”
“This y’first time making a pledge?” He quirks a brow almost assuming.
“No.” You frown.
“No need to get your back up.” He laughs briefly, but it’s laced with an audacious tone, one lacking in kindness.
“Continue on, then.”
His gaze is back to burning into me as I pretty much recite what I said to his mother only minutes ago, sticking to the same promises as to not get any misconstrusions on their behalf.
The golden hour light is seeping through the cream coloured curtains that line the windows, it’s casting a glow on his sculpted face. I begin to close off my pledge to him, but he interrupts.
“Remind me again who is in charge of you?” He knows there’s hardly any need for this, considering im on my knees basically promising him my obedience, but he’s doing it to just get a rise out of me.
Which all though he doesn’t get it verbally, he can see the disdain on my face.
“You, Prince Harry.” I say, carefully.
“And you will not do anything without my go ahead first, correct?”
“Within reason, yes.” My job is too impulsive to say yes to that and it not backfire on me.
“Within reason? Elaborate, will you.”
“I must make impulsive decisions. I cannot promise you will always be debriefed on them when its an in-the-moment choice, or if you are possibly a few hundred miles away.”
His gaze narrows, “Within reason it shall be then.”
I close it off, earning a small raise of his eyebrows as he hears my full name.
“Good girl. You may rise.” He says it with a smirk, and with an air of power of me, which of course he now feels he has after my pledge.
“Do not call me that.” I state, pulling at any shred of dignity I have left as I stand up.
“What else would you prefer then?” It’s asked, however it’s clear to me he doesn’t care.
“My name.” I scoff.
“Alright then, Natalia.” He rolls his eyes.
He stares at me a moment, looking ready to leave,“I will see you, unfortunately, tomorrow then.”
I shoot him an unkind look, but keep my lips sealed.
“Anything else to say, sugar?” He teases, a cruel smirk on his face.
“Natalia.” I correct, “No, there is not.”
I decide to be the one to exit the room, uncaring if that is rude. I’ve already sworn him my life, and despite him acting like I’m of no use to him, I know I am— more then he’s leading on anyway.
I open the doors myself, and the guards are quick to check on the prince.
“Are you ok, Sir?” One of them tentatively asked, like as if I’ve hurt him.
“Just fine.” He brushes them off, eyes trailing me as I walk down the hallway despite no sense of where I’m going.
One of the guards hurries behind me,
“Ma’am, where are you going?”
He reaches my side and I glance to him, “Take me to the head of counsel, please.”
I figure I get the last pledge out of the way, and any other debriefing so I can just get out of here for tonight. Worry about it all later, in the earlier hours of tomorrow morning when I have to wake up.
The guard nods, and takes the lead while I try to memorise the twists and turns were making around the palace.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
Tyrone is a fucking asshole.
If I had thought Prince Harry was rude or demeaning, I was in for a shock.
He hardly greeted me as I’d came into what I can only assume is his office. It was dark and unwelcoming, the wood was stained to the colour of black coffee, and nothing about it was homely.
He’d had me making this pledge for what felt like an hour. Running over detail upon detail.
Harshly demanding for more information, more promising.
By the time I’d closed it off— which at the rate we were going I thought was never going to happen— he made me stay for another hour going over what he wanted me to do, so I could start first thing tomorrow morning.
He basically gave me the caseload and then kicked me out.
I was mentally muddled as I left his office, and the halls were now completely dark aside from the warm casting of light from the candles, which sat in candelabras coming out of the walls.
I just wanted to go back to Mabel’s. Get this dress off and back into the confines of her cupboard and sleep.
However was almost caught off guard as someone was at the end of the hallway.
“Natalia.” I heard the deep voice regard me, walking up closer to me.
It surprised me in all honestly, I hadn’t seen them when I first walked out, “Yes?”
“I’m here to take you to your room.”
I was immediately confused.
“My room?”
“Yes. There’s a room made up for you in the western-wing of the palace.”
“I didn’t request a room.” I frown, and no one had told me I’d be staying here.
“All I know is Her Majesty had a room made up for you to stay in while you’re here. Allow me to lead you there.”
I nodded cautiously, but I knew what this was, it was to keep me under watch and control. It seems like a lovely customary gift in exchange for my work, but realistically it’s to stop me from interacting with anyone outside of the palace when I don’t need to.
I contemplate refusing to go, but figured that would just add unnecessary suspicion on my behalf.
I reluctantly followed the bulky man halfway across the palace, and everything started looking the same in the dark until we stopped outside a room. And i nodded a ‘thank you’ as I went through the again, abnormally tall doors.
The room itself was bigger than any whole house I’d ever lived in.
There was a large bed placed in the centre of it, perfectly made of course. And I noticed a closet on my left that took up majority of where the wall would’ve been.
There were a multitude of things hanging in there, ranging from gowns to things only someone like me would wear around here, like cargo pants and plain long sleeves.
The bedside antique lamps were on, casting an also warm glow to the space. The light to the bathroom was also turned on. And when I walked in there, the bath was run, with a set of silk pajamas folded on the large vanity.
It was too much. Wayyy too much for me.
Bribery at its finest.
Poor girl having to do the worst of the worst kind of business because it’s all she knows, suddenly spoiled with the kind of riches the royals had to offer.
I know just how far these kinds of people will go to earn your trust.
However, i still cave when it comes to the bath. I manage— with a slight struggle— to unzip the back of my dress and get fully undressed and into the bath.
It was perfectly warm, small petals floating atop the water.
I keep in the forefront of my mind just how well materialistic bribery like this work because god, it is nice. That’s the whole point.
I don’t know how long i stay in there, trying to soak off the grievances of the day.
But when I finally get out and slip the silky pyjamas on I’m too warm.
I pad out of the bathroom, and find myself at the balcony door.
The cooler air hits me as i step outside. I examine the surroundings. Part out of habit and other out of curiosity.
The ground is not that far away, a survivable jump at least. And if the railing would hold me up I definitely would be able to scale up onto the roof.
I’m mid-inspection when I hear another door open nearby, and my head whips to find the source of the noise.
I drop into a crouch keeping my eyes searching through the gaps in the wooden railing. My eyes fall on a room just across the small courtyard from me.
I spot the tall figure leaning against their own balcony and I realise with a sink of my heart that it was the Prince.
Why his quarters were so close to mine I could only guess. To keep tabs on me?
I stay deathly still as I watch his figure, it’s facing the direction of me, and from his angle he could probably only see the warm lamps and the light streaming out of the bathroom door.
A shake of his head, a spin of his heel and he’s returned into the confines of his own quarters.
I take a breath and am careful to keep my self low as I slip back into my room. Standing to my full height once inside and away from the window.
It is now that I need to fully accept he is going to be a terror to deal with.
I flick the bathroom and bedside lights off, and slide under the covers of the bed.
Head plagued with thoughts, I can’t help but wonder how the fuck I’ve gotten myself into this.
And how exactly it’s all going to pan out.
· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·
thank you again for reading this. your support means the world to me. stay tuned for future parts, and feel free to reply or send me an ask saying you want to be added to my taglist if you do, since I’ve had a few people ask to be on them!
asks & requests, here.
taglist:
@straightontilmornin @hs-tpwkrry
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cosmerelists · 29 days
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What Radiant Order Non-Stormlight Characters Would Belong To
As requested by anon. :)
If non-Stormlight Archive characters had the opportunity to bond spren, what orders would each of them belong to?
(I’m a Edgedancer, by the way, per the quiz!)
1. Vin: Windrunner
As pointed out by @itmakesssenseincontext (here), Vin literally thinks The Words that make someone a Windrunner, as she vows to only use her power to protect those unable to defend themselves. So. Like. If there had been an Honorspren around, she’d be a Windrunner already.
2. Steris: Elsecaller
The Elsecaller order is about self-improvement, and it attracts people who are quote "less flamboyant" and more serious, like scholars. Their spren are logicspren. I think this order would suit Steris very well!
3. Wayne: Edgedancer
This is per WOB! I mean, I do see it. Wayne’s power is essentially Super Empathy, as he can make himself understand other people’s perspective in order to pretend that he is one of them. Plus, he literally cannot forget the man he killed, creating elaborate and unhealthy rituals to remember him forever. I guess he does have healing powers too; I dunno if that’s part of the reasoning. Per Brandon, the other Edgedancers would find Wayne “strange,” but come on. Wayne & Lift would get on like a house on fire and would possibly literally cause that.
4. Sazed: Bondsmith
This is one of those that just felt right to me immediately, and then I just had to sit and try to figure out why. I think partly it's because Sazed literally bonded two very disparate Shards together into one, which feels very Bondsmith of him. But Sazed also cared a lot about connecting people and helping people understand other cultures, so there's that as well. I suppose the other one I could see for Sazed would be Edgedancer, given that he makes it his mission to save all otherwise forgotten religions. But I'm going Bondsmith as my number one choice.
5. Shai: Lightweaver
WOB has Shai as an Edgedancer, which I found shocking. I mean...the artistry? The literally becoming other people in order to be ready for various situations? The one last-ditch personality whose entire purpose is to craft an intricate lie to hide Shai from herself??? To me, Shai is a Lightweaver through and through. But per Brandon, Shai is an Edgedancer. So I guess it depends on who knows this character better. A random person who blogs or the literal author.
6. Wax: Skybreaker
As a lawman, basically. Plus, there's the whole conversation between Miles and Wax where Miles tries to convince Wax that if the law is unjust, you have a duty to oppose the law and Wax is like, "Nuh-uh shut up." (Since that so mirrors Kal and Moash, I can understand teh Wax as Windrunner argument, but we can't have ALL the protagonists be Windrunners!)
7. Marasi: Truthwatcher
This is almost certainly just me--I so strongly headcanon Marasi as an investigative reporter that I can't even remember the truth anymore. Ironic, I guess, given the subject of this entry... If I wanted to try to justify this, I guess I'd say Marasi does have a canonical interest in discovering the truth...but yeah, I don't expect many to agree with this one!
8. Rashek: Skybreaker
Had to include this one, as it's a WOB. Not a very good one, per Sanderson, but a Skybreaker nonetheless. Let's all imagine Nale having to deal with Rashek, shall we?
9. Vivenna: Stoneward
Vivinna does feel very Windrunner to me, given her bro chemistry with Kaladin. But the Stonewards are about being where they're needed, about being dependable and good team players, about making the best of a bad situation. I think of Vivenna showing up on a whole new planet, seeing a city without leadership, and being like, "Sure, I'll take over the city guard and forge a team of incredibly loyal guards until it's time for me to move on and go to the next place I'm needed."
10. Ranette: Dustbringer
Mostly because of the tinkerer angle--dustbringers are interested in knowing how things work, plus their power is inherently destructive and so requires careful control. And Ranette, you know, makes guns 'n' stuff.
11. Bleeder: Willshaper
The Willshapers are about freedom--for themselves, and for others. They want to free those who have been unjustly imprisoned. And oh man. What Bleeder wanted was to free herself and others from Harmony's influence, from the way he could literally take her and others over. So she wanted freedom for everyone and would do anything to obtain it.
12. Kelsier: Edgedancer, Dustbringer, or Willshaper
Sorry to end on a WOB, but I'm fascinated that Sanderson can see so many possibilities for Kelsier. An Edgedancer in his desire to change the world back into a green paradise for Mare. A Dustbringer or Willshaper for self-mastery and determination. Honestly, I'm most fascinated by Willshaper, due to the comment that they believe any law is a form of oppression. That extreme form of freedom really feels like it suits Kelsier, to me.
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cocogum · 14 days
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The Great Wave - Chapter 2 Review
‼️ SPOILERS FOR THE CHAPTER ‼️
I have good news and bad news.
The bad news is, no smexy time here.
The good news is, we get some Yugo and Adamaï moments, AND the SADIDAS are FUMING 😍🥰
But before we see the sadidas, we can’t start this off without addressing Yugo and Adamaï’s interaction at the beginning of the chapter.
Cuz man, I liked it but when @vinillain addressed it and even ANALYZED IT I fell in love with this scene even more 💖💖
Without their perspective on the matter, I would have missed so many details. Here’s the post if you are interested.
So yeah I’m glad I found their analysis on it and I hope you like it just as much as I did ✨
Now let’s start.
I found babes lol (the dot is so tiny!!)
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Look at his emo ass just looking gloomy after having a wet dream. My guy is such a drama queen that he decided to sit at the top of the kingdom just to make himself feel better.
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(Get down from there you little shit-)
Adamaï swoops in and actually helps? Omg slay? Like you’re doing something helpful while scolding Yugo that’s actually good. Cuz ngl I’ve been getting kinda annoyed that Yugo had just left Amalia to deal with the sadidas’ problems all alone.
If Yugo didn't have nightmares like these from time to time, I could have overlooked his decision to leave her to deal with it on her own. But now that we know he does get them, it’s a pretty big deal.
He confirms it to Adamaï when he tells him that his condition has been worsening meaning that he’s already used to it and yet decides to not say anything to Amalia AND KEEPS LEAVING HER DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE ON HER OWN. Now he obviously doesn’t leave her like that during the whole day. It’s just that there’s a good chance he’s not there with her during the mornings. Like, imagine fucking a dude who keeps having PTSD nightmares every two nights. Now we know why she got pissed in Chapter 1 when he left her on the ground naked like that. Girl just wants to have fun and lead her people let her have her moment-
Also, we all saw this coming folks.
The blue cows are back.
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Bro is trying so hard to be Eva. Look at him trying to visualize and zoom in on the wastes of spaces coming to the kingdom.
Also, I remember how some of us used to think that Aurora was pregnant which is why she might’ve had the balls to come back to the kingdom and try to regain her throne, you know, the very same kingdom THAT SHE FUCKING FLED FROM DURING A WAR THAT COULD’VE WIPED THE WHOLE RACE. The pregnancy theory was a common one to be shared around because the trailer for the manga did not show her stomach. Some of them also theorized that theory because it made the most sense as to why she’d want to come back willingly whether her father wanted her to or not.
Of course, no shade to anyone who thought about this theory before but I love how they tried to justify her stupidity for returning by making up this theory.
Cuz it turns out that bitch wasn’t pregnant after all.
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Her stomach is flatter than a washboard and her return happened AFTER FOUR MONTHS (or around that number at least) so her stomach would have at least had a bump but she got none of that.
Judging by Yugo’s expression when he realizes them, he doesn’t look like he’s surprised to see that they’re coming back. He looks like he’s pissed off, annoyed at the fact that they’re coming.
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I initially believed that the reason why Yugo looked angry, instead of confused or shocked at seeing them come back, was because the royal Osamodas family might have been trying to return during those few months after season 4. But it turns out that this wasn’t the case because when Aurora manages to re-enter the kingdom, Amalia tells her she didn’t expect her to come back ever again. This means that the royal osamodas family only came back once. So Yugo’s only reason for being angry at seeing them must’ve been because he heard everything the family did through Amalia (including all the times the blue cow tried to marry Amalia off to one of her brothers AND THEN her cousin) which is pretty understandable to be pissed off about.
Finally, after a full week of waiting, the Sadida people make their presence known in this chapter AND IT’S EVERYTHING I’VE EVER WANTED.
We learn that the sadidas are annoyed that the elite eliatropes have not only stayed but that they also shared some of their lands.
I genuinely feel bad for this eliatrope getting criticism from this old sadida. True, they did come here and stayed but they’re not even a lot to begin with. We’re not talking about thousands of children eliatropes here. We’re talking about 30 to 40 eliatropes since these were the bravest to have joined their mother and ALSO completed a lot of missions (that they knew of through the eliaculus) that involved putting their life on the line. So to hear these sadidas claim that they don’t feel at home must say A LOT if 30-40ish eliatropes were able to make such a change. The old sadida man even said that they do not understand sacrifice as the sadidas do.
And that’s something that’s been bothering me since I learned that the sadidas weren’t aware of the eliatropes’ past.
Didn’t Amalia tell Yugo to explain to the sadidas their background?? It sure sounds like he didn’t do anything about presenting his people to Amalia’s. If you’re going to share a land with people you’ve never seen before, you might as well present yourself, no? Because if you don’t, tension and possible harassment are exactly what would happen to the eliatropes if they don’t do anything about that topic.
I also wanted to point out how the people have been behaving towards Amalia in Seasons 1 to the Ovas. This is important to notice because these guys clearly love her and always think of her as a good future queen. We even get a confirmation in Season 4 that a lot of sadidas would rather have her as their leader rather than Armand.
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So the fact that a lot of them are now feeling like they’re not at home anymore because Amalia let the elite eliatropes stay makes them think as if they’ve somewhat been betrayed by her.
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Translation for 1st panel: “Your father and brother would have never accepted this!”
Translation for 2nd panel: “He’s right! We aren’t at home here!”
Translation for 3rd panel: “These eliatropes are not like us! Your father and brother would have never shared our lands!”
This is a very big shift from what we know. For once, Amalia doesn’t receive smiles or praises.
A lot of them are now siding with Armand and her father, claiming that they wouldn’t have let the eliatropes stay. We know Armand wouldn’t have done that because he confirmed it to Amalia in Season 4 right after the meeting with the Eliatrope goddess ended. But Amalia’s father? No. King Oakheart would’ve welcomed them with open arms. He told Yugo that he had no problem welcoming his people (he said this in Season 2).
The sadidas were right about one of her family members not accepting the eliatropes and I believe it reflects how hurt they all feel about this decision. Because they have no one else to blame this decision on, they are trying to think that only Amalia in the royal family would’ve done that so they immediately point fingers at her.
And then, as if things couldn’t get any worse, the blue cows are officially back. And yes, I’m going to call them blue cows from now on, just like how I addressed them in the beginning too.
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Yugo: “Sorry, I didn’t have the time to warn you.”
Also Yugo: has the ability to create portals.
The Osamodas family is even more brain-dead than I thought.
Blue fat cow over here is saying “here’s your legitimate ruler” while pointing at another cow but she ain’t even a Sadida. And then you’ve got Amalia over here who’s obviously royal Sadida blood so idk why tf the blue cow king would think he did something there. The sadidas just said that they don’t feel at home cuz of the eliatropes so what makes him think the people are gonna accept a useless blue cow who’s only not a Sadida but did nothing during the war? The sadidas are already pissed at not feeling like they’re at home, don’t throw more gasoline into the fire by claiming an OSAMODAS is fit for the SADIDA THRONE.
Yugo’s wave where you at?
The Osamodas King lost so many neurones when he stayed in that cave, he should just go back in there with his ugly crusty ass bats.
But it’s alright, I’m not even mad (i’m fuming) because no matter how stupid and dumb the king sounded, if you look at chapter 3’s cover, the king doesn’t look confident and cocky anymore.
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Clearly, something must’ve happened in the throne room when he was spewing all this shit about Aurora being the “legitimate heir” because AGAIN, that’s clearly Amalia’s role so I genuinely hope that the sadidas were the ones who made the king frown like that. Because there’s a gigantic possibility that they must have flat-out told the king to sit his ass down and remind him that he and his worthless daughter didn’t do shit when the war happened and now he suddenly wants to rule them?? Of course they’d get pissed by what he said!
The majority of them obviously looked bothered by what he had just announced as well. Everyone in the throne room looked like they were just shocked to hear him talk. EVERYONE.
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So yeah, I hope I see this fatass get humiliated. Even the eliatropes are like ‘sir what the fuck are you doing’ type of shit.
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goodboyaudios · 10 days
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i love how you give listener a personality and values. a lot of people have brought up ‘inexperienced listener’, so i’ll zone in on faithful and arkov. i’m sure many people like this particular type of dynamic because it applies to them personally, or because it just works. i don’t imagine myself as the listener and so i tend to find that in many rp audios, they have little to no impact on the plot. when you don’t imagine yourself as ‘replying’ to the speaker, you hone in more on what the character’s reactions are, etc. sorry, for the tangent; my point is, the whole ‘inexperienced’ trope, is super popular, but with your listeners, the characters actually have values, flaws, and their own convictions. it makes the plot dynamic and interesting! often the listener is glorified and ‘can do no harm’, but, despite being sheltered or ‘unskilled’ for a lack of better words, as we’ve seen with faithful stepping over albus’ boundaries, or arkov hiding things from yargywnn, these people actually seem human!! the same goes for your characters; i believe people have already mentioned a few times how zed, despite being shy, actually has a personality and is loveable character you want to see succeed! his thoughts and emotions for behind just being a stuttering mess. it’s *so* refreshing. albus is just some angry, horny, bloke, but has understandable reasons for his actions that make his ‘flaws’, justifiable.
i know it might seem like i’m just recounting the basic requirements for a decent story, but you’d be surprised at how rare it is to find all these elements in an audio rp!!! not only is it done, but it’s done so, so well! 
i apologize for writing an essay, tldr: thank you for giving people personalities and writing interesting stories. your contributions to the community are much appreciated <333333
Honestly, this makes me feel good about my own writing and I thank you for it. I constantly battle fears and doubts that it's not good enough or it sounds too much like fanfiction, so to hear people say such kind words, especially from those who truly go into detail, it makes me feel like I'm not out here wasting my time.
So, tldr for you, Thanks. I really do appreciate it.
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thesparklingwriter · 7 months
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taking fate into one's own hands
04—acquaintance
Word count: 1.3k
navi | taglist | masterlist
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You look at him carefully. Perhaps this whole act he’s putting on is an attempt to be more personable. But it’s in your best interests to, at the very least, get along with the man you’ve been promised to. When it comes to loveless marriages to bind nations, divorce isn’t an option. There’s no going back. 
“Alright, I’ll eat dinner with you.” You say quietly, and the sides of Morax’s lips quirk upwards. You’re convinced for a second that you made it up somehow, for even when he’d spoken to you as a dignitary, he hadn’t smiled once.
“I hope your room is to your liking,” He says, as you follow behind him. “If there’s anything that it is lacking, please do let me or one of the help know.”
You glance at him, convinced that he can’t be in earnest. He’d been so stoic when you first met him, and even once he’d come clean in regards to his identity, his emotions towards you had seemed to be nothing more than detached amusement.
“Everything is alright, thank you.” you say, bowing your head in gratitude to the man who places your food on your table. You hadn’t considered the change in cuisine and you steel your expression as well as you can, in order to not show your hesitation to eat the unfamiliar food. The butler pours you each a drink, a glistening pale wine, and bows as he excuses himself quietly. Besides your plate, there are golden chopsticks, and then a fork by its side, its dark silver tone standing out against the rest of the tableware. Is it some kind of test?
You glance worriedly between the two, as Morax’s unruffled gaze settles on you. 
“You seem troubled. If I may, might I request that you speak freely?”
You glance down at the cutlery again and back up at him, shaking your head softly. 
“Nothing troubles me.” you whisper, picking up the two chopsticks as confidently as you can, arranging them in your hands as subtly as you can. You haven’t seen anyone eat with chopsticks for a long time, and suddenly realise you should have waited for him to start so you could copy his technique.
You attempt to pretend to take a sip of your drink or look at the spices on the table to delay your eating, but Morax simply watches you with an even gaze as you quietly panic.
“Is the food not to your taste?” he asks you, finally looking away from you to pick up a fork. “I find that sometimes chopsticks make eating take longer than necessary. I used your arrival as a reason to justify getting some new cutlery.”
You blink at him. “Pardon me if I speak out of turn, but I had always believed you were a firm believer in traditions.” you refuse to relinquish your chopsticks, too embarrassed to admit that using them was a front to try and impress him. You hadn't realised you were acting in a way that might win his favour—and the thought of it surprises you.
Morax’s eyebrows quirk slightly at your implied question, carefully trying to craft an answer that wouldn’t make you question your presence in the palace too much. Perhaps the reaction you’ve had towards him so far is out of fear that you’re not Liyuean enough from him and his people. It wouldn’t be an absurd thought, but if the situation in your home nation remains as rocky as it is now, he wouldn’t want you to return. He certainly want to be the reason you go back, either.
“Ah,” he says quietly, chewing his food. “That is a common misconception. Perhaps when it comes to certain meetings and negotiations, it is true that I remain true to the conditions that have always been stipulated by ancient Liyuean law. However, I myself, think there isn’t much to be learned by holding steadfastly onto tradition in day to day life.”
You gape at him. “So I’m not to be hated by every member of Liyue for not hailing from here?”
Morax sighs. “I cannot speak for my people. I sometimes find they can be stubborn and they often do not like change.”
“You are not filling me with confidence.” You reply drily. Morax fixes you with an even stare, wanting to make sure you listen to his next words.
“I do not seek to deceive you.” he replies evenly. “As of right now, our arrangement is unofficial. Thus you have every right to choose how you wish to proceed. If you cannot bear to stay here with me for a moment longer, you may go home at any point.”
“But what would come of my kingdom, or of me?”
“That would be subject to negotiation. But in situations like that, Liyuean law isn’t particularly favourable for foreigners.”
The word foreigner hits you in your chest. Of course, you didn’t expect to be treated as if you were from here, but to be categorised as something else entirely? It stings, regardless of how you feel about the situation with Morax.
“Your food,” he prompts quietly. Even though you’re almost certain that he isn't going to smite you for using the fork instead of the chopsticks, you refuse to put them down, instead choosing to use them with varying degrees of success.
He watches you carefully, before silently switching to his own chopsticks, quietly pleased with the way you snatch looks at him to copy his form. Slowly, but surely, he’s beginning to understand the way your mind works.
“Have you any interest in looking around Liyue? I’m sure a tour could be organised, if that’s what you wish.” he says to you, once you’ve finished. The food is good, almost as good as the food was at home before things began to go south. 
You want to say no, and to stay within the confines of your new room for as long as you can manage, but the lack of clothing is beginning to worry you. When you don’t immediately reply, Morax tries again.
“Have you everything you need?” He says. “If you aren’t interested in looking around the harbour’s stalls as of now, you can always request what you need from the help, and I’m sure they’d be happy to oblige. The choice is yours.”
You take a bite of your food, and try not to cringe at the sudden spice you taste, trying to calmly take a sip of your wine. 
“Let me finish my dinner before I make that decision,” you say quietly, and Morax simply nods, his eyes narrowing at you slightly. You don’t notice, almost entirely focused on trying to finish the rest of your food without falling apart.
Compared to where you come from, Liyue is loud. Even when you’re deep in the mountains as you are now, the birds and crickets and bugs are louder than they ever were at home, and it makes for a somewhat settling feeling.
“Whilst we’re on the topic of shopping,” You say quietly, ashamed in advance of the words you’re about to say. “It’s not a secret that my nation wasn’t the most prosperous, my existence here is evidence of that—”
“You are here as a guest. Nothing is expected of you in a monetary or emotional aspect unless you are able and willing to provide. Do not worry about things that are unnecessary.”
Your naivety manifests itself in the raucous beating of your chest in response to his words, and you find yourself utterly embarrassed by how easily swayed you are by a basic display of human decency and respected boundaries.
“Alright,” you say quietly. His words have removed him from the centre of your decision and it’s only yourself to consider now. But perhaps that makes the decision harder.
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(didn't have enough character left to write what reader says like i usually do sorry lol)
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notes: i'm afraid that doing the polls like this will nerf this series even more but its less work for me so :3
i like to pretend that i don't really care about notes and stuff on my posts but for this series specifically the lack of engagement is gagging me lol i've tried so much to get it more out there but ahhh
taglist: @ainescribe @tartigglez
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byizoyas · 1 year
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© byizoyas
SFW | academic rivals trope. | ayato x gn!reader | you never knew you craved to be this close to ayato, until you got forced into sharing a dance with him. or perhaps you’ve been in denial the whole time.
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‘come on y/n… it could be fun.’
you sighed. the exasperation you were desperately fighting to hide could easily be read by anyone that would pass by you right now. so of course; your friend did not miss it.
‘i won’t force you to go but you’re going to miss something i swear.’
i won’t force you she said, but the way her eyes were looking at her own feet, with an imprint of sadness, was definitely not helping you denying her request. she probably knew what she was doing, but you couldn’t blame her for it, after all she never did anything wrong to you.
nothing wrong except taking you to parties you weren’t particularly fond of; and she wasn’t either, but she always felt the need to go there and since you’ve never been far from each other for long, you always followed her everywhere.
‘i don’t know ayaka, i hate dancing, and i’m awfully bad at it too.’ you tried to justify yourself, nervously laughing as if it would be less painful to hear.
she looked up, facing you and taking your hands in hers, a large smile slowly forming on her glossy lips as she suggested she’d teach you. ‘i can help with that.’
seeing her all enthusiastic, and cheerful made it even harder to refuse it now, which is why you ended up nodding yes. she threw herself into your arms, looking genuinely happy to the idea of sharing that prom ball with you; happier than you that’s for sure, but it wasn’t too bad seeing her this childish once in a while.
you could almost get used to it.
you were half listening to her plans for the night coming when the ring announcing the next classes echoed in the corridors of high school.
‘i’ve got math, i hope the lessons you helped me with are questioned today ! see you later y/n’
you waved goodbye at her before going back to your own classes. you sat on your usual place, next to the other kamisato sibling, the one your age, and also the one you despised.
‘good morning y/n, what interesting conversation did you share with my beloved sister earlier ?’ he asked, his eyes intensely staring at you.
his chin was lazily resting on the palm of his left hand while the other was playing with a pencil against the paper, making an annoying sound to your delicate ears.
‘that is none of your business.’
to that he only chuckled before looking back at the teacher who just showed up in front of you. y’all got up to greet her and her call voice gently allowed the whole class to sit back down.
‘is friendship the ideal form of relationship with others ?’
such question was always interesting to think of. it did speak to you, more than historical subjects, perhaps that was the one reason you were always listening more to your philosophy lessons.
‘does anyone have anything to say about our subject ?’ she asked, opening a debate between students.
the first ones to speak weren’t so invested, they have a few ideas and couldn’t find the way to describe them. only after a few minutes of silence that seemed like an eternity, did the blue haired guy you avoided finally spoke up.
‘loyalty is an important factor in a relationship. it gives respect and trust, which are two pillars of any relationship. however, friends are selfish. they do like you when they find something interesting about your person. if not, they simply won’t care about you and be moving on. i personally think no friendship will be as sincere as a familial bond, or a rivals relationship.’
‘what the fuck is the rivals thing doing here ?’ you exclaimed right after he gave his idea about today’s question.
‘y/n please, i appreciate that you’re invested in the debate, but watch your language will you.’ the teacher advised.
you indeed forgot you were assisting a lesson, with a whole class behind you and a teacher listening, it could’ve made you feel embarrassed, but you were too busy mentally hitting ayato for his arrogant attitude to feel that way, and so you only shrugged as a response.
‘rivals are more intimate than friends. but they are nothing more than rivals.’
‘this is where you, y/n, are wrong. rivals share so much more. they’re honest. they do not hide their own bad traits. they are competing, and what in the world is more beautiful than an equal, passionate combat between two hard workers ?’ he asked. but rather than a personal intervention, it seemed like the question was asked to you directly.
you raised your eyes, to look at him, and you both shared a tensed visual exchange. both your gazes were saying multiple things, yet none of you spoke up for the whole lesson. instead you simply looked at him, the same way he looked at you, wearing a provoking smile and crossing his arms as if it gave more impact to his attitude.
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‘and then he looked at me the whole hour ?’ you concluded after telling ayaka everything that happened during the philosophy classes.
it always felt weird to talk about ayato with her. after all they shared the same blood, and here you were; complaining about him. but ayaka did assure you multiple times it was okay and well, you didn’t really have another person to tell this to.
‘yeah ayato likes to observe people. he says it’s to ‘understand what they’re made of’ she said almost making fun of her older brother.
she joined you on the living room, with two pieces of cake, sitting right next to you and turning on the television, even though you both knew you wouldn’t watch it.
‘this is for you. it’s from ayato’s birthday.’
‘oh, when was it ?’
ayaka frowned a bit, taking her phone from the table resting right next to her. ‘why do you even care ? don’t you hate him ?’ she added before taking a sip of her cold drink.
her question echoed in your mind. indeed, why did you care about such thing if you truly didn’t like him ?
also you started asking himself where he was, and just when your mind kept on thinking of him, his name appeared on ayaka’s phone.
‘hi ?’
‘is y/n home ?’
‘yes. why ?’
okay. just wanted to know, have fun, i will come back home in a few hours
‘’kay see you.’
and just like that she hung up. she put her phone down, looking back at you, who were sitting confused after hearing only her part of the conversation. but you did not ask anything. after all it might not be about you and you had to respect that.
the two of you kept on chilling, telling each other about your days, sometimes picking your phones and doing your own stuff in silence, only television to interrupt the dead silence in the room.
it could’ve felt awkward if it was with another person, but it was not with ayaka. you liked to be together even if it was only to use your phone.
‘shall we start training for the ball ?’ ayaka suddenly said, getting up to put on some music.
she handed out her hands to help you getting up from the comfortable couch you’ve been spending a few hours since you both left school.
after that, all you did was moving, following ayaka’s instructions wasn’t so easy. not that she was a bad teacher, she was great actually but you had difficulty keeping up with her rhythm.
she was clearly better than you at this. of course you knew she was going to be, she practiced dancing ever since she started walking. but it was still hard to see her feeling all good while you needed to drink water and take fresh air regularly.
only when she drained the energy out of you, did she choose to put on some slower music. she invited you to dance with her, and now that you were dancing in her arms, it felt way easier. you followed her steps attentively, careful not to step on her feet. just when you finally developed enough confidence to take the lead, did you hear a familiar voice calling out from behind.
‘hello y/n.’
you jumped and looked behind only to find ayato there, obviously enjoying himself over your flustered reaction.
‘that was a pretty nice view, do not care to stop for me.’ he calmly stated, his usual arrogant smile on his lips.
he was leaning against the living room door, legs crossed and hands buried in the pockets on his light beige pants. he was still wearing the school uniform and obviously just got home, only to find you and his sister dancing in the middle of the house.
‘we did not stop for you.’ ayaka spoke up for you. while the two siblings were arguing, you were standing there, smiling and laughing to the attacks both sides were throwing at each other.
they definitely had a true connection, since they fought like that often and ended up forgetting everything about it. they genuinely cared about each other.
and in a way, you cared about them too.
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a long week had passed, and here you were, standing in the middle of the crowd, awkwardly unmoving. you were still not fond of dancing, even after learning with ayaka.
you did come together to that party, but she left with her flirt and left you all alone in this. of course you couldn’t blame them after you insisted for her to go. you truly didn’t want her to ruin her potential relationship with someone only for you; but now you were alone.
of course it was not long before someone you feared to meet here came to you.
‘are you feeling lonely ?’
you turned around only to be blessed by the sight of ayato. it wasn’t your classmate anymore nor your friend’s older brother. he was so elegant you could hardly detach your eyes from his silhouette.
‘earth to y/n.’ he said, waving his free hand a few times in front of your eyes, making you blink a few times before refocusing your attention on him.
‘hey.’
‘not being very much talkative mh ?’ he said, handing out a drink to you, which you took after hesitating.
of course you knew he wasn’t evil, only a bit arrogant at times but the two of you never shared a conversation outside the classroom.
you did talk to him a few times, but ayaka was there everytime. now you were finally alone. not that you waited for it, you pretty much fearing it, but now that he was there, perhaps you could make an effort.
‘happy belated birthday.’ was the first thing you found to say, which made him laugh. a soft laugh, almost as pretty as him.
‘it’s tomorrow, but thank you.’
‘but ayaka gave me your birthday cake’s piece.’
ayato looked in front of him, at the several people dancing, then in the direction of people screaming and as the music was getting louder, he leaned over you to make sure you heard him correctly. ‘we celebrated early because my parents are leaving inazuma soon.’
‘oh i see. what will you do on your birthday then ?’
ayato got lost in thoughts for a minute, then decided to tease you a bit. ‘i’ll study to be better than you.’ you were used to it, but in a sense it would always surprise you how bold he could be sometimes.
but what surprised you the most was your own audacity when you told him he’d spend his own day thinking of you instead of focusing on himself, which seemed to make him laugh.
‘perhaps you could study with me then.’ he suggested and just after you nodded yes, someone approached the two of you, taking your hands and leading you in the middle of the dance floor where no one was anymore.
‘congrats the two of you were the only ones standing, now you’re gonna steal the show.’ he shouted in the mic and the rest of the room followed, supporting the two of you.
you had been so busy listening and staring at ayato that you didn’t even hear the guy talking before when he said those who didn’t sit would have to dance for the others.
now you were stuck with him. after training with ayaka you did memorize a few moves, but your mind could only think of how good looking ayato was under the light and how good he smelt now that his body was so close to yours.
could it be that you felt something more ?
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‘you’re absolutely splendid tonight. i had no idea you mastered these dancing moves too.’ ayato suddenly said, as he gently caressed the palm of your hand, pulling you closer to him in rhythm.
it did catch you off guard, and you couldn’t find anything to say, especially when his purple eyes that wore a mocking gaze most of the time were now looking at you as if you were the most precious thing in the world.
‘t-thank you.’ you only found to say, secretly wishing he didn’t catch your stuttering. but when his smile grew larger and his eyes looked back at yours, you knew.
you knew he heard it. he might never let you go with it. ‘where has your eloquent self been ? are they on a vacation ?’
he couldn’t help it. not teasing you was definitely not his thing, he preferred to make your life much worse. you looked away, in embarrassment. ‘shut up.’
he approached his lips to your ear, and the proximity between the two of you made your body shiver multiple times. you felt a thousand things that made your heart skip a beat or two. ‘i like it when you’re being vulgar, y/n’
the way he insisted on your name. his whispers and caresses. the music surrounding you, you could hardly focus on, too busy thinking of his breath on your skin and words.
you knew you got lost. he had you wrapped around his fingers, and he absolutely adored it. he slipped his second hand towards your waist and you abandoned yours on his shoulder, seizing your other hand and wrapping up your arms around his neck.
‘no friendship is as sincere as a rivals relationship’
you quoted him, just when you thought something was growing between the two of you. perhaps you were trying to reassure yourself too. perhaps you feared it to be one sided. could you even handle to feel romantic feelings for someone you thought you hated until now.
‘so you see us as rivals ?’ he asked. the tender in his voice was unusual and it did confused you a few times.
‘i don’t know.’
you genuinely didn’t know. a rival is what you always saw in ayato, but tonight something changed, or perhaps it was always there, and waiting for you to wake up and realize it.
ayato took a slight distance from you. his fingers traced your jawline until it reached your chin, locking it into two of his gloved fingers. both of you gulped at the same time. for a minute it seemed like everything surrounding you faded away, allowing a minute of peace.
a minute of love.
ayato’s face approached yours dangerously, and it seemed to be never ending. you closed your eyes, depriving yourself from one of your senses only to intensify another.
after only a second of waiting, his lips crashed onto yours. the kiss was long but felt so good too. it was soft. it was your first kiss too, and who would’ve thought kamisato ayato would be the one delivering it.
his right hand left your chin to slide through your hair. his touch was gentle, such as his kiss. and his other hand was softly caressing your naked shoulder, pulling you closer as if never wanting to let go of you.
you couldn’t hear well because of the loud music and the obvious shocked reactions of the crowd who was now looking at the two of you, kissing and dancing to a famous joji song; but you swore you heard him whisper a love confession.
‘to me, you’ve always been more than a rival. but never once did i consider you a friend. romantic feels have no place in friendships.’
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author notes; i believe this is my first fic genshin ever (written i mean) idk if im comfortable w it bc I’ve been lazy to reread it fkwkdkk and perhaps there’s plenty of typo or grammar mistakes OR perhaps it’s shitty as hell or doesn’t make sense but i like it, i love soft ayato too he makes my heart melt
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