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theregencywriter · 11 months

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(2) A Gentleman's Pursuit - Benedict Bridgerton x Reader

My Dearest Readers,

It is with great delight that I bring to you the latest scoop from the glittering world of the Ton. The Bridgerton household, known for its scandalous affairs and captivating dramas, is currently hosting a young lady who has turned the heads of not just one, but two dashing Bridgerton brothers.

Yes, dear readers, I am talking about none other than Miss Y/N, a captivating beauty who recently crossed paths with Colin Bridgerton during his adventurous travels abroad. It appears that their encounter left quite an impression on the young man, for he has extended an invitation for Miss Y/N to stay with the Bridgerton family upon her return to London.

However, what adds a pinch of excitement to this already intriguing tale is the unexpected inclusion of Benedict Bridgerton, who seems to have taken a keen interest in Miss Y/N as well. Rumors have spread like wildfire that the artistic and free-spirited Benedict finds himself captivated by Miss Y/N's charm and intelligence.

As the head of the Bridgerton family, Anthony holds the responsibility of finding a suitable wife to fulfil his role in society. Yet, whispers have reached my ears suggesting that he too has been caught off guard by the captivating presence of Miss Y/N.

As fate would have it, the first ball of the season is scheduled for tonight, and the atmosphere is thick with anticipation. Oh, dear readers, could it be that Miss Y/N has become the object of desire for not one, not two, but three Bridgerton brothers? The ball tonight shall undoubtedly provide an intriguing backdrop for Anthony to assess the qualities that make Miss Y/N so enchanting. Will she manage to sway the steadfast Anthony Bridgerton from his search for a wife? Only time will reveal the answer.

Dear readers, keep your opera glasses at the ready, for the unfolding of this captivating story promises to be a thrilling spectacle. As always, I shall keep my eagle-eyed watch on this romantic rivalry and bring you every bit of scandalous detail that ensues.

Yours ever faithfully,

Lady Whistledown

“Such tat she writes these days” Eloise spoke as she read the newest paper. “When had Anthony ever considered to take on a wife? Has he ever shown any intent to wed?”

“I intend to wed” Anthony spoke as he entered the room, causing Eloise to roll her eyes and continue on her reading. Violet advanced towards Anthony and sat him down. "Anthony," she said gently, "may I hazard a guess that Miss Y/N's presence in our household might have influenced your sudden resolution?" She looked over to Eloise as they both shared a glance of acknowledgement.

Anthony's eyebrows furrowed, and he shook his head slightly. "Mother, you know I have been contemplating this for some time. It has nothing to do with Miss Y/N's arrival."

Violet's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Oh, my dear boy, you may try to deny it, but a mother knows when her son's heart is stirred. I saw the way you watched Miss Y/N when she spoke yesterday, how your eyes light up when she entered the room. You cannot hide such things from me."

Anthony's expression softened, his gaze drifting towards the window as he collected his thoughts. "Mother, I cannot deny that Miss Y/N possesses a certain charm and intelligence. But to say that she is the sole reason for my decision to marry would be a vast oversimplification."

Violet nodded, her eyes filled with both understanding and a touch of mischief. "Of course, my dear. Matters of the heart are complex, and it would be unfair to attribute your desires to a single person. However, do not discount the impact Miss Y/N's presence has had on your thoughts and aspirations."

Anthony sighed, a mixture of annoyance and affection evident in his voice. "Mother, you have a way of seeing through me like no one else. But I assure you, my intentions to marry have been brewing long before Miss Y/N was set to arrive. I am simply ready to take on the responsibilities of a husband and further my role as the man of the household."

Violet's smile grew, and she reached out to place a comforting hand on Anthony's arm. "My dear son, I believe you. But do remember that love has a way of finding us when we least expect it. Perhaps Miss Y/N's arrival is a sign of destiny guiding you towards a future filled with happiness."

Anthony glanced at his mother, a mixture of uncertainty and hope in his eyes. "Perhaps, Mother. Only time will tell. For now, let us focus on the upcoming ball and the potential matches that await us there. Love or not, I am resolved to find a wife this year."

As the Anthony got up and left to attend to business Violet stayed sat, thinking. ‘love or not’, such a foolish statement she thought. She could only hope that all of her children could find happiness to the scale that her and Edmund had once shared, however fleeting.

-----

Later on in the day, as y/n passed through the hallways of the Bridgerton house she saw a gaggle of maids leaving Eloise’s room followed in short succession by a hearty cry of anger. Concern etched on her face, Y/N entered the room and approached Eloise, her voice filled with genuine care. "Eloise, what's the matter?"

Eloise let out a heavy sigh, her usually bright eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and vulnerability. "I just... I feel like I can never live up to Daphne's shadow," she admitted, her voice wavering with uncertainty.

A hit of sympathy hit within Y/N's heart as she realized the weight that her new friend had been carrying. With a gentle touch, Y/N took Eloise's hands in her own, offering a comforting squeeze. "Oh, Eloise, you are a remarkable person in your own right. Comparing yourself to Daphne, who has already found her place in society, is an unfair standard to hold yourself to."

Eloise's eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she let out a small, bittersweet laugh. "I know, Y/N. It's just... everyone expects so much from me, especially with Daphne's marriage to the Duke and her shining reputation. I feel like I'm constantly falling short."

Y/N's touch became more tender as she gently brushed a stray lock of hair behind Eloise's ear, a soft, understanding smile gracing her lips. "You are a force to be reckoned with, Eloise Bridgerton. Your intelligence, wit, and determination are unparalleled. Society may have its expectations, but it's up to you to define your own path and shine in your own unique way."

Eloise's eyes widened with a glimmer of hope, her doubts momentarily replaced by a flicker of possibility. "You truly believe that?"

"Without a doubt," Y/N replied. Eloise looked at Y/N, her friend's unwavering support providing her with a newfound strength. "Thank you, Y/N. Your belief in me means more than you know." Y/N enveloped Eloise in a comforting hug. "You're never alone in this, Eloise. Together, we can face anything that comes our way."

As they continued their preparations for the ball, the atmosphere in the room transformed. A renewed sense of purpose filled the air, the bond between Y/N and Eloise growing stronger with each passing moment. With Y/N's assistance Eloise finished getting ready for the ball and the two made their way downstairs. “Mother, where is everyone?” Eloise asked as she caught on to the soured look upon Violets face. “They have left, and we are late” she looked at y/n “Thank you for help, now come on you to. We must make haste!”

------

Y/N and Eloise descended the grand staircase of the Bridgerton house, their gowns shimmering in the light . The soft rustle of their skirts filled the air as they made their way to the ballroom, where excitement and anticipation hung palpably.

As they reached the landing of the staircase, Y/N couldn't help but notice the three Bridgerton brothers—Anthony, Colin, and Benedict—standing together, their gazes fixed on her in awe. Their jaws practically dropped, their eyes widened as they took in her beauty.

Eloise, catching the surprised expressions on her brothers' faces, turned to follow their line of sight. A mischievous smile took over her lips as she realized the effect her friend had on them. With a playful nudge, she whispered to Y/N, "Seems like you've left the Bridgerton brothers speechless, my dear friend."

Y/N blushed at the attention, feeling a mixture of delight and self-consciousness. She glanced at Anthony, whose usual composed demeanor faltered for only a moment, his eyes lingering on her form with a hint of admiration. Colin's expression mirrored surprise and intrigue, while Benedict's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Shall we continue, ladies?" Colin finally broke the spell, recovering his composure and offering his arm to Eloise. Benedict and Anthony swiftly followed suit, extending their arms to Y/N.

Y/N took a deep breath, gathering her composure and allowing herself to bask in the moment. She placed her hand delicately on Anthony's arm, her heart skipping a beat as their eyes briefly met. With a shared understanding between friends, she and Eloise stepped forward, intertwining their lives with the Bridgertons, ready to embrace the onslaught of suitors for the evening.

As they descended the rest of the staircase, the murmurs and whispers of the assembled guests filled the air. Y/N's presence, the epitome of grace and charm, had become a focal point of intrigue and admiration. The ballroom, with its shimmering lights and majestic atmosphere, seemed to come alive with a renewed energy.

The Bridgerton brothers, still captivated by Y/N's presence, exchanged glances, their amazement evident. It was as if a mysterious enchantment had woven itself around Y/N, captivating their attention and piquing their curiosity. Y/N, humbled by the attention, maintained her poise and grace, meeting the gazes of the Bridgerton brothers with a warm smile. In that moment, a silent understanding passed between them—a recognition of the undeniable allure that had drawn them all closer together.

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sukunasdirtylaugh · 6 months

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tags: ghost!gojo x f!reader, mentions of death, manga spoilers, mentions of character death(s), mentions of sick parents, reader being nurturing, satoru being intruiged by reader, reader talking to herself even though she knows she's being listened to, slight fluff at the end, gojo feeling some type of way word count: 2.2k a/n: someone help me name this series. this is the quickest time I've written a pt. 2 after a part 1. also, shout out to mitski's my love mine all mine for the extra kick to finish the end. I was supposed to sleep 2 hrs ago, so here's the unedited chapter. here is part 1. some inspiration to the gojo clan home: photo 1,

5 months into your arrival as his nephew's tutor, satoru thinks you've finally accepted his presence, yet he never plans to outwardly reach out to you because what if you told his family in the estate?

he should feel relieved over this, but bringing his clan in this issue would surely bring more problems than he'd like to admit. if he were 'dead' now, imagine what his clan would do once he really died?

shortly before finishing his fight with kenjaku, satoru was blindly cursed. "I may not be able to bring the strongest with me, but I will curse you, satoru gojo," the words still echo in the back of his head.

"your spirit will remain the same, your being remains, but you will be here no more, in the presence for others to see. you shall remain invisible, a ghost to all, and you'll be lucky to be noticed by anyone who does not already know your inherit value as a sorcerer. known by all, but never remembered."

satoru thinks back to that fateful day, ending the life of a stranger inside the body of his best friend, the epitome of his youth, hopes, and aspirations. satoru remembers the look on his student's faces, blank disappointment. either at him or themselves, but he knows it's geared towards him. shoko's knuckles barely turn white as her lips press into a tight line, while yuuji chokes on air as he's on his knees, other students at his side, attempting to console him while megumi lays unconscious several feet away. he turns out okay in the end, with a minor concussion and a few injuries he'd like to thank shoko for fixing up, the boy lives.

and on that day, gojo satoru died from the face of the earth.

he doesn't know how or why he ended up in his estate. a large, but quaint home with endless scenery and a garden right out of a movie. the house still holds traditional japanese elements, but the peony shrubs his mother had planted stick out like a sore thumb.

just like her.

young, beautiful, and once full of life. hopeful to marry into a family that would one day accept her albeit she was a foreigner, marrying a man whom she thought was serious and sophisticated enough to handle marriage.

but oh how foolish we are to assume the best in others when it comes to matters of the heart.

when he was alive, satoru would regularly check in with the old nanny, ensuring that the shrubs were trimmed and water just right. he knew just how much those flowers meant to his mother. a pretty housewife who no matter what she did was never enough to impress the clan.

until satoru was born. her pride and joy, holding no mind to the comments of his white hair and how he held ancestral resemblance to an ancient sorcerer from within the clan. all his mother knew was that she was head over heels in love with the peaceful human she was able to carry for nine months. no concern for the future, only hope that his son would see and be treated with the humanness he deserved to have. but oh how fate twists. one thing leads to another and his mother now requires a blanket everywhere she goes. she still hangs out in the gardens, spending what time she can with her son who is now 5, nearly 6. and then she's bed bound, finding solace in the brush stokes against the canvas and the warmth of her son.

sometimes, satoru carries the bitter reminder yet anger towards his father. he never saw them happy, only formal and curt, almost as if being together was a chore for him, and his mother's smile would falter when he would avoid a hug from her. the smell of cheap vanilla perfume stained his coat, hanging by his arm, and satoru's mother would simply look towards the ground. almost in shame.

he never loved his mother, satoru then realized as an adult. not even bring her up in the lonely nights, reminisce her life, what they shared, it was as if she was a long-forgotten chapter in his life.

you arrive in august, cheerful and kind. he thinks you won't last long because his family demands unreasonably long hours and surely your boyfriend back home would not approve, but he was surprised, 3 months in your stay that you continued to tutor his nephew. you seemed much more genuine than any other temporary nanny he had when he was a kid, satoru thinks, but then again he and hotaru are completely different in terms of cursed energy.

when november is nearing it's end, you decide to stay a few extra minutes in the garden. hotaru has now joined his family for dinner, and he watches the estate nanny walk towards you and hand you a mug. he can't quite hear what you're both saying since the leaves rustle a little too loudly for his liking, but he notices the 'oh' you make is serious, followed by a nervous chuckle after the nanny had said something.

satoru wonders what you must have said as the nanny suddenly rises from the garden stone bench, looking at his direction as he leans against a tree. she tells you something before departing, and you sigh moments later.

"I can feel you're around, you've been watching us for some time, and I know it." you speak almost so knowingly that it makes satoru swallow the lump at the back of his throat, but the feeling quickly dissipates as soon as the white housecat, mochi, startles you.

you leave shortly after.

12 days of your normal routine pass when satoru notices something is wrong. hotaru doesn't eat as much and at night, he calls for you. "you'll spoil him if you keep letting him be around that commoner," a distant aunt of satoru, one who he wasn't particularly fond of sneers at the nanny, "now he's calling her before bedtime,"

"he's 5," the nanny says, almost defensively. if anyone were to speak to his aunt like that then the staff would have surely been fired, but after working in the estate for nearly 30 years, satoru's father would have prohibited the dismissal of a staff member with this much seniority over something like this. "his mother is ill, and the boy's tutor has been his only maternal rock at this point. he doesn't open up to anyone but her, so we would be doing the nephew of gojo satoru a disservice by treating his nephew the way you treat him." satoru watched at how furiously the woman's brows furrowed then softened, speechless and at a loss for words before she gives up and leaves.

within an hour, you are quick to make it to the estate with a much more informal set of clothes. a pair of joggers and loungewear ideal for the nearing winter. it is past 10 when you hold the boy in his arms, talk to him about his problems, make a pinky promise (not just any promise) with him, and read him a bedtime story you had so thoughtfully decided to bring in your bag.

within minutes, the boy instantly falls asleep tucked to your side and the look you hold in your face makes satoru stare in admiration as he sits from one of the rocking chairs across the room. gently placing the book down, you kiss hotaru's forehead. "I'll see you on thursday," you promise the sleeping child before heading outside where hatoru's nanny greets you. she bows her head momentarily.

"we cannot thank you enough for your work, miss." she says, hands formally clasped together at her front. "we have made sleeping arrangements for you to stay the night. we insist, as a commute back home at this hour is late," she adds, "we have set up nightwear and can even prepare dinner for you miss."

"thank you," you say simply, politely, "I... I really don't mean to intrude nor cause any-"

"oh you could never," the woman says, "please, allow us to be your host for the night. and do not worry about waking up at an hour in fear of inconveniencing us. we have multiple guest bedrooms and would be honored to let you stay."

satoru notices the expression in your face soften as he knows that you can't possibly say no know, so you accept. choosing to spend the night. the staff set you up in a nice, private room with your own exit to the gardens. and the estate chef sends you his best soup and side dishes to fill your stomach on this cold night.

"you clearly don't have to worry about anything in here," you speak lowly but loudly enough for satoru to hear. you sit and lean against your slide shift door, facing the garden as satoru sits on the wooden surface of the 'sidewalk' (referenced in photo one). and he nearly wants to laugh at your comment, swaying his feet that he almost kicks some of the pebbled stones.

"but... hotaru still worries," you definitely have his attention now as you sigh softly, troubled, not knowing the spirit of hotaru's uncle listens to you.

"sometimes... I don't know what to do. sometimes... I feel like I can cross a boundary, but I'm an employee at the end of the day. how can I act as his therapist without... being this motherly to him?"

there was clearly a problem that satoru didn't know the answer to, but he sympathized with you trying to take on as many roles as you possibly could. he knew how complicated his family clan was. how you would always and forever walk on eggshells around them and no matter what you accomplished, it was never enough.

"I try, I really do..." your murmur to yourself, and a long silence passes as you sit in the quietness of the room. "I..." you chuckled, "I'm sorry, I can't believe I'm doing this- talking to myself, hoping something or some spirit is listening when in reality I'm just speaking to myself like a complete fool, or a japanese spirit is here right now truly mind boggled as a girl speaks in english," you stand to your feet and chuckle, heading to your bed. as satoru hears yourself bickering, the corner if his lip tugs ever so slightly upwards.

he wants to say something. thinks about what the possibility of you talking with him would be like. and as you're making your way to the bed, you still go off on a tangent.

"...no, I bet they do understand me." you argue with yourself, lecturing as if you had your own personal podcast, "if feelings are universal, so are energies and vibrations... meaning one of two things." now you're walking back and forth, concentrated on your own footsteps. satoru wants to chuckle, scare you off even, but this entertainment was the best thing he's had since he could remember. so he decided to wait this one out.

"1- the spirits must think I'm an idiot, I mean I already look like one here, but... 2, they can sense my energy." satoru feels his figurative heart drop to his stomach when you instantly look in his direction, did you know he was here all along? he thinks for a split moment, your eyes sharp with knowing.

you shudder, as your hairs stand on the sides of your arms. not unpleasantly, but enough to know some energy besides your own was here. after a short consideration, you speak.

"move a pebble if you're here," your eyes don't leave his direction, and satoru sits motionless, almost afraid you could see the real him, break all notions of metaphysical theories and curses, and then, you walk towards him; sitting criss cross applesauce.

"I know you're here," softly, you whisper, and satoru can see how you're cold, hugging your frame as your jaw slightly tenses. "I just don't know if you choose to ignore my attempts because you want to or because you genuinely can't communicate," your energy warms him, he doesn't know how else to describe it as you lean closer and closer. he thinks that if he were still alive, then you'd probably make fun of his faltered composure.

I don't know how, he wants to say, but deep down, if he wanted to try he could. he just didn't have the guts to do it.

a long minute passes, you wait patiently before you sigh, but not in defeat. "but either way, I'll be here. and your nephew will be okay. I don't know if that's the reason why you're here, but..." you trail, eyes fixated on the garden as your brows furrow and unfurrow, "...he's going to be okay." shortly after, you stand up, closing the conversation, and satoru senses he shouldn't be here anymore as you make your way to the bed. taking his cue, he leaves with a fuzzy feeling in his chest, remembering your words that oddly felt like a promise. one he hasn't been made to in forever.

he could learn to trust you.

#gojo #satoru #guilty pleasure #jjk #gojo satoru #jujutsu kaisen #jujustu kaisen #gojo headcanons #jujutsu kaisen gojo satoru #jjk gojo #gojo x reader #jujutsu gojo #gojo x female reader #satoru gojo x y/n #gojo satoru x reader #gojo sensei #satoru gojo #gojo x you

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freddieraimbow74 · 21 days

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‘Queen’ How regal it sounds …

5 April 1970 - Freddie, Brian and Roger were in Roger’s flat and agreed to move forward with their musical aspirations together. They decided to form a new band. The magic of Queen has now begun !

"The concept of Queen was to be regal and majestic. Glamour was part of us, and we wanted to be dandy. We wanted to shock and be outrageous …” Freddie’s words will forever ring loud and true !

“I was first introduced to Freddie — a paradoxically shy yet flamboyant young man—at the side of the stage at one of our early gigs as the group ‘Smile.’ He told me he was excited by how we played, he had some ideas—and he could sing! I'm not sure we took him very seriously, but he did have the air of someone who knew he was right. He was a frail but energised dandy, with seemingly impossible dreams and a wicked twinkle in his eye. A while later we had the opportunity to actually see him sing ... and it was scary!

He was wild and untutored, but massively charismatic. Soon, he began his evolution into a world-class vocal talent, right in front of our eyes !” (Brian May)

Virtually everyone who came into contact with Freddie in the late 60’s tells the same story. Take Chris Smith, a fellow student of Freddie’s at Ealing and early keyboardist for Smile, for instance “Right from the start, before he’d even joined a band, Freddie would say, ‘I’m going to be a star, you know.’ I remember walking into the West Kensington pub in Elsham Road one day and Freddie was there. He had his head in his hands, I asked him, ‘What’s the matter?’ ‘I’m not going to be a star,’ he said, ‘You’ve got to be a star, you’ve told everyone. You can’t let them down now. Come on’,’ I told him. And then he stood up, put his arms in the air and said, ‘𝐈’𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫. 𝐈’𝐦 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝!”

Freddie stood out for his exotic looks and budding taste for outlandish fashions. He also possessed a sharp sense of humor and an endearingly campy side, traits that made an immediate impression on May and Taylor upon their first meeting in 1969.

By the early part of 1970, the writing was on the wall for Smile. In an archival interview, Brian said, “We had a lot of successful gigs, we played colleges and we played pubs and small clubs up and down the country. We just never got anywhere. Then in the spring of that year, our lead singer Tim Staffell announced he was joining a new band called Humpy Bong” As if this wasn’t enough, Mercury Records dropped the band afterward.

Freddie Bulsara was then involved with another group called ‘Sour Milk Sea,’ but this venture soon petered out as well.

May told Mojo magazine in 1999, “Tim gave up in disgust and he was within his rights to leave us. ... Roger and I were left with no group. We wondered if we should give up. But then young Freddie Bulsara arrived on the scene.” “He sort of got us and said, 'C'mon on, you can't give up. I want to sing,'” Taylor added.

With Tim Staffell out of Smile, a door opened for Freddie and the opportunity that had been staring everyone in the face for some time …

“I thought up the name Queen early on. It couldn’t have been King, it doesn’t have the same ring or aura as Queen. It was a very regal name and it sounded splendid. It’s strong, very universal, and immediate. It had a lot of visual potential and was open to all sorts of interpretations.

I feel that the name Queen actually fitted that time. It lent itself to a lot of things, like the theatre, and it was grand. It was very pompous, with all kinds of connotations. It meant so much. It wasn’t just one precise label. I was certainly aware of the gay connotations, but that was just one facet of it. Anyway, we always preferred to think of Queen in the regal sense rather than in the queer one. We worried that the name would give people the wrong idea, but knew our music would override the image because we’d concentrate on putting out good product the whole time.”

(Freddie Mercury)

Freddie wanted to be more than a rock star, he wants to become a legend. He has everything at the tips of his fingers, he knows exactly what needs to be done to draw attention on him and the band. First, he created a new stage presence by improving it with dramatic and theatrical elements. Afterwards, he, himself applied an image which he could use in public. Freddie realized the importance that sex sells, he said, “𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹. 𝗜𝘁‘𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸. 𝗜 𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗴𝗲.”

Not only did he create the outrageous name, he also designed the band’s famous logo, the Queen-crest, using the birth signs of the members. The Phoenix on the top of the logo represents immortality.

Freddie’s intense drive would clearly help define the band’s style. He also set about completing his own transformation from shy London immigrant to rock star, with a nod to the Roman mythological messenger of the gods, and his ruling planet and his star sign being Virgo henceforth becoming known as “Freddie Mercury.”

Now, the band would not be complete until nearly a year later, 1 March 1971, with the addition of bass player, John Deacon.

And the rest as they say, is history.

These incredibly talented men formed a band that would become one of the greatest of all time!

Their music - timeless - Queen

Long May She Reign 👑

#freddie mercury #queen band #brian may #roger taylor #jhon deacon #musique #music #queen #original character #j’adore

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animeloverskylarmoon · 10 months

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Kenpachi Zaraki (Bleach) Chapter 1

There always seems to be a price that comes with getting involved in matters that have nothing to do with you.

Being a reaper was a task you'd decided to do for the free meals and perks. Nothing more.

Before you were here you were a lowly soul in the Rukongai and the reapers that you'd met over the hundred years of living there all seemed to have their own aspirations. You could care less. Your philosophy was nothing more than ensuring your own survival.

That's why you didn't understand it.

Everyone was panicking about hollows getting close to the squad barracks, but you weren't worried. This is literally what they trained you for. As long as you steered clear, you could probably lay low and catch a nap somewhere without engaging in useless battles. That was the plan at least.

The yell of a reaper ahead stopped you.

Your expectation was that it could have been a minor hollow just running around breaking stuff. But the sound of heavy steps crashing down drew your attention as you looked up.

"Great, a menos. No way am I getting in a fight with that. "

One of the captains could handle it.

You wanted a nap.

"Someone please help!"

The cries continued, and you turned your back, walking away. You recognized that voice. It was a medical reaper.

Hanataro Yamada.

The guy was a weakling, so you weren't even shocked that he was crying for help.

"Don't you worry Fuka-chan I-I'll protect you!!"

It didn't even sound like he believed his own words. For some reason, the statement made you stop. You glanced at them. Sure enough, Hanataro stood protectively in front of the girl at his side. She was clearly terrified, but his eyes looked resolute as he held out his blade.

"I won't let anything happen to you."

The determination displayed made your eyes widened, and when you saw the red charge of his blade, the blast he struck was impressive. It hit the menos right in its neck. Enough to cause a minor bruise. Hanataro stood his ground, and when you saw the menos about to charge a cero, your feet moved on their own.

"Bankai."

It was said so calmly.

Hanataro almost thought he imagined it. But the spikes that were now protruding from every part of the hollow's body alerted him that he was not hallucinating. It was real. When he caught your figure, you were striking the menos clean in half. Hanataro could only gape. He heard one finally cry from the monster, right as it dissipated in the air, and so did your body.

~~~

"We've managed to subdue all the hollows. Reinforcements will be sent to the Rukongai to conduct a patrol to protect the souls." Shinji informs.

Your captain was giving a brief, and you stood rarely listening to a word. When it was over, everyone seemed to disperse. As you're walking out you can hear some of them commending each other for their accomplishments in battle. You're walking down a path that connects with some other reapers from different squads.

"I bet you (L/N)-san just ran away again."

"Be quiet, she might be able to hear you."

"What, it's true. That's all she's good at!"

You didn't respond to the allegations. It made very little sense to try and defend your actions. They were just young and naive. Still believing that what they did would make some kind of cosmic difference.

"Ken-chan, I found her!!"

Everyone recognized that voice. You could practically see a path form. Even the jerks that were insulting you looked scared.

You clicked your tongue, about to step out of the way. Whioever they were chasing you knew it wouldn't end well. Just as you take a step to the right, you flinch. Your jaw clenched, and you caught the blade that appeared in front of you with your bare hands. The wind from the intended attack sent your hair tossing around. You could hear the gasps of astonishment in the space and you sent a glare directly at the man before you.

His grin was wide.

"Found you."

You released his blade, jumping backwards. You were pissed.

"He's picking a fight with coward (L/N)! He's gonna kill her."

You could hear the murmurs. Then it hit you, maybe you could save face. Everyone present still thought you were a coward. You could maintain your cover.

"Zaraki-taicho that's enough. " Jushiro was trying to de-escalate the situation, and Shinji just shook his head.

"Damn it, he's gonna ruin her day if this keeps up." Shinji spoke.

Kyouraku turned to the blond in question.

"What do you mean? Doesn't she run from battles, you should be there protecting your subordinate." Shinji shook his head.

"She's not as docile as you all seem to think."

"I give up, there's no way I can beat you Zaraki-taicho."

They all sweatdropped.

"More than meets the eye you said?" Toshiro asked. Jushiro rubbed his head awkwardly.

"Look at their faces, they completely lack faith in me, this could actually work!"

Kenpachi disappeared, and you tilted your head.

"All I have to do is not fight back, that's all. I'll be fine."

You expected him to appear right next to you. All you had to do was just barely defend and take the hit. Then you could actually salvage a nap. You don't expect him to go off course. Because his eyes are fixated on an unsuspecting victim.

"H-Hanataro watch out!!"

The scream from his friend startles you. Kenpachi is a distance away with his sword aimed in the medical reaper's direction.

"E-EH!! WHY ME!!"

Hanataro's yelp echoes and now you're pissed.

"Damn it!!"

Your feet leave the ground, you're in front of Hanataro in seconds. The crowd is stunned and Shinji merely girns when you draw your blade. The very second your blades connect, an onslaught of lightning that's generating has a gust of wind beating over the entire area.

A few of the reapers shield their faces. Kenpachi's clothing is getting wrecked by the bolts. Some of them connect to his skin, and you can see the slices that draw blood, but he merely laughs.

When it finally calms down, the audience can only stare. You straighten from your position, sheathing your blade.

Hanataro drops to the floor expressing his gratitude.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

You sigh heavily.

This entire day has gone to shit.

All because of that insufferable man.

#Kenpachi Zaraki #fights #soul reapers #swords #Hanataro Yamada #cute #humor #protectivereader #powerful #kenpachi x reader #hollows #souls

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luverofralts · 1 month

Text

Arkhelios Adventures

When Theo opened his eyes, his surroundings had completely changed. He was no longer in Strangetown-or so he thought. There was no desert heat or swirling sands. Everything around him was lush and green and peaceful. There were decaying ruins of a building rotting beside a fertile garden plot attached to an impressive building. Theo couldn't put into words how this place made him feel exactly. It was older than time, but living energy pulsed through the air, crackling with potential.

"What is this place? Where's Reogus?" Theo wondered, scanning the area for his unpredictable warlock guide.

All words left him when his eyes locked on a creature sitting high above the ruins, watching him intently. The creature was both beautiful and terrifying at once, life and death, abundance and scarcity. Theo had never before seen a being that made him tremble just looking in its direction.

"Apprentice Bellamy, I presume? Or do you prefer Theodosius? Titles are enviable, but when it all comes down to it, true names are what give us our power. True names are what bind us together, after all. Though I suspect that you know this already, having changed your name at such a young age. It's always so curious to me, seeing the tethers hook into your being, joining you to another. It looks painful. I wonder if it is."

Theo was fairly certain that he was actually on another plane of existence while his body remained safely in bed. At least he hoped it was because the look the being was giving him had a worrying threat underlying it. He wasn't sure of quite what to think of the mysterious being that seemed to be tearing into his soul with only his eyes. It wasn't a creature in the usual sense, but it wasn't human either. It looked male, but Theo got the distinct sense that the body before him was merely a shell for something more powerful to inhabit. Did this being trade bodies like some kind of hermit crab, always on the lookout for a newer dwelling? Was that why Theo had been summoned here?

"So quiet for such a usually spirited boy," the creature teased. Its voice sounded hollow and wrong, both booming like the roar of intense wind and chillingly scraping, like the tide clawing back dark water across sharp, rugged rocks. There was a natural cadence to its speech that ebbed and flowed between vibrant, booming authority and bone-chilling lifelessness.

"What fascinating perversions demons are," it continued. "I wish that I could take direct credit for their creation. Such creative minds always seeking power. They're more trouble than they're worth most times, but I respect their aspirations all the same."

Theo remained frozen in place, unsure if this being was actually expecting a response from him. He had no idea of what to say or how to escape this nightmare.

"W-where's Reogus?" he stammered. "Is he still here?"

"The warlock was sent back to his appropriate time," the creature reassured Theo in the least reassuring voice possible. "The Guardians of Time are a necessary but annoying function of this universe. If I could end their existence, I would, but unfortunately, I cannot. He will no doubt be back to bother you again in the future."

Theo gulped. At least this creature was talking about Theo like he had a future and wasn't about to be murdered by something unfathomable. As much as he wanted to know what kind of nightmare this creature really was, Theo was terrified to find out. Sometimes it was better to ignore something dangerous and just hope that it never came back again.

"Still quiet? I'll skip to my point then."

To Theo's horror, a man appeared out of nowhere, cloaked in powerful magic and looking merciless. When his face stepped out of the shadows, Theo recognized him instantly.

"That's me," he said, staring at the man in disbelief. "What's happening?"

"A glimpse into your future," the being replied. "One I have much interest in. You've been given power beyond your understanding with that little curse of yours. You will be great and terrible when you mature. Power beyond what your little warlock boyfriend could even imagine. Pray that you don't become too interesting though. The first demonic sovereign met with a grisly end because he had become too interesting to the wrong people. The wrong people being me,of course. He forgot his place. You will be difficult to erase if need be, but it can still be done. Never forget your place."

Theo opened his mouth, only to close it again quickly. He couldn't think of a single thing to say aside from "Please don't kill me".

"Theo, run! Teleport to the Void! Anywhere else! I'll try to help you, but you need to leave! You cant stay here, no living person can!"

Theo forgot how to breathe as he watched what he thought was Lukas, the deity of Life, stand their ground in front of him. They looked different than they did in the warning photos at school, but was still unmistakably the same powerful deity.

"I want to go home," Theo whimpered. He'd be mortified if anyone at home saw him like this, but this endless nightmare had taken its toll on him. Between seeing the casual murder of innocent people and enduring the presence of the creature in front of him, Theo was planning on drinking coffee and staying up, protected from dreams for as long as possible.

"The warlock you arrived with wished to tell you a secret. One that he hoped would change your perception of your power. One that may change everything for you. One that makes me very interested in your life. The culmination of Dorhack's little experiment in search of power: the hybrid blood demon."

Theo nodded, trying to appear calm while internally trying to recall how to get to the Void. It wasn't somewhere that he thought he'd need to get to on a whim. The image of his dark future self continued to be unnerving. Its eyes followed him, sizing him up, though for what, Theo didn't want to know. Could weird images of your future self actually kill you? It was a question Theo never thought he'd have to ask.

"A secret?" Theo repeated shakily, unsure if talking to the creature would be more dangerous than trying to escape. He wished that Reogus had just come out and said what he wanted to say while he was still there, if the being wasn't lying to him.

"Look at your potential, Theodosius," the bone-chilling voice replied. "You saw everything that Alpheus accomplished because he was a full demon from a pure lineage, while you're just a cursed hybrid from a backwater country no one has even heard of."

"Theo...." Lukas' nervous warning did no good. Theo had no idea of how to get to the Void or where he even was at the moment.

"You see, Alpheus was only half demon. He was a hybrid just like you. His human mother was from the Grunt bloodline, and his demonic father gave him the Toyonaga name. Alpheus killed his father later, of course, more proof that hybrids can be more powerful than their demonic sires. You, too, have that potential, Theodosius. It's why the Sovereign keeps her eye on you and why I've called you here to examine for myself."

"He can't stay here!" Lukas hissed, looking apologetically at Theo. "I keep telling you, living beings can't exist in the afterlife! You made the damn thing, you have to know how it works! I can only protect him for so long until my stepson shows up and makes his stay here permanent!"

Theo froze, unable to process the deity's words. He was in the afterlife? The real one and not where his step-father, Adrian, had spent years waiting for rescue? For real? All he had done was go to bed at night and already he'd been pulled out of time, the realm of dreams and landed where no living soul belonged. What was this creature that scared even a deity?

"Your words are true," the creature acknowledged grudgingly. "I can see it draw breath. Full demons can travel between realms at will. For all of its power, it seems it cannot. An interesting note to keep in mind for the future."

The creature landed on the ground, unfurling majestic, dark wings as it fell. It landed close to the frightened teen, close enough for Theo to feel the breeze created from the ruffling feathers. The being rose slowly, carefully measuring Theo with his eyes as he did.

"I was curious to see the much talked about hybrid in person, but not enough to end a promising future with an accidental death. You have my permission to return the boy to the realm of the living. I've seen enough for now. I can see the pieces of my will begin to fall into place. I am...pleased. Is that the word? Yes. Pleased."

Theo couldn't bear to look this mysterious being in the eyes and see the hollow flicker of light behind them. Whatever was standing before him scared gods into submission and that same being had plans for Theo. However serious these plans were, Theo didn't want to know. He was just a scared fourteen year old boy who loved his family, his friends, and his boyfriend. He had no future plans except for marrying Adam and going to college. Apparently, some beings had other plans for him and that was terrifying beyond words.

Theo squeezed his eyes shut, hoping that he would soon wake up in his own bed, this impossible nightmare finally ended.

"Please wake up, please wake up," he chanted quietly to himself.

Whether it takes a year or a century, my plan will be completed. Through your example, I may find the path I need. Until then, little demon.

Theo could hear the voice in the back of his mind, scraping across his thoughts. It was like having ice-cold water poured over his head, pouring into his thoughts. An image of a woman flickered into his mind for the briefest of moments, barely long enough for Theo to register what she looked like. She was pretty, that much he could remember. Pretty, but sad and mysterious at the same time. Unlike the creature before him, thinking about this woman was pleasant. There was the subtle hint of danger and power, but nothing that terrified him quite like the being before him.

"What?" Theo looked anxiously around him for any trace of the woman or the dangerous being that had projected her. "Hello?"

"What the hell?"

Theo bolted up in his bed, completely awake and more than slightly frightened about the visions he'd seen, promising a dark future and not much else. He looked over at Adam, who was sleeping soundly in the bed beside him and sighed in relief. He was home. He had his loved ones nearby to protect him.

"I don't understand," Theo muttered to himself. "Why does everyone care so much about me studying blood magic? I barely passed my magical defense class; I'm not about to run off and murder people more powerful than I am. I'm not going to murder anyone at all."

Downstairs, two cousins met up for a late night snack. Despina wanted to get some juice, but was hesitant. She'd only gained some courage upon hearing Remy boldly walk past her bedroom door. If Remy was sneaking out at night too, then it had to be okay.

"So what are you sneaking around for?" Despina asked, sipping her drink and watching as Remy did the same. "I just wanted a snack, but you seem to be on a mission of some kind. Are you meeting someone?"

Despina looked eager to gossip with her cousin about boys or girls or anything else that came to mind, while Remy looked less than enthusiastic about the idea.

"Sometimes I meet up with Malika," Remy admitted. "I don't have a roommate, so it makes it easier to sleep together. I guess she's not interested or is too busy tonight. When she's not around, I like to see who's still up while the whole school sleeps. You meet interesting people that way."

"Oh, you and Malika are...hooking up? I didn't know."

"It's a boarding school," Remy said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Everyone is having sex here, it's just what you do to pass the time. Do you have anyone you like? I could probably find you a date if you want."

"Oh, uh, no," Despina stammered, her fave turning beet red. "I've met someone really cute that started late like I did. He's really sweet, but I don't know if he likes me like that."

She blushed, thinking about Jasper and the immediate connection to him that she felt.

"Just throw yourself at him," Remy advised, sipping her drink. "You'll know right away if he's interested in you. It works for me."

"You're cheating on Malika?" Despina gasped in horror. "She's the best thing to happen to you!"

"Gee, thanks," Remy replied, rolling her eyes. "No, we're not exclusive anymore. I like her, but she's my first girlfriend. We both agreed to...branch out a little with our relationship. As long as there aren't feelings involved, we're allowed to hook up with whoever we want. I'd hate to live like my idiot brother who wants to marry the first guy he kissed."

"Is he sleeping with Theo?" Despina asked worriedly. Was she really the only person here who hadn't even kissed someone yet? Was Jasper sleeping around too?

Remy laughed just at the thought of her brother trying to seduce the naive, overprotected Theo.

"Ha! I doubt it. Can you imagine those two even knowing what to do? Theo's parents probably didn't even have 'the talk' with him, just a lecture on why sex would somehow kill him. And Adam? Sometimes, it's hard to believe that he's my twin. Is Eero anything like you or is he as useless as Adam?"

"He's okay," Despina replied. "We've only really had each other all of our lives. Both our grandparents are dead, so it's just been us and you guys and Aunt Edana. I'm sure he misses me now that I'm here. I miss him, but I know that my place is here."

"Yeah, sorry about my bitch mother," Remy said, rolling her eyes. "She has so much 'trauma' that she never thinks about anyone else. Absolutely everything is about her dead brother, which means that she's useless about anything else. Need help with your homework? Sorry, Uncle Adam is dead. Try to tell her that you think magic isn't really your thing? Nope, dead brother, can't have that conversation. Thank god for our Ewans. Dad and Ewan actually listen to us...sometimes."

"I would miss Eero if he died, it's understandable," Despina replied charitably. "Plus losing her entire coven? That must be devastating. I'll never know my parents, so I like to think that because my aunt misses them so much, they were worth knowing. Maybe my dad had a change of heart at the end or something. I don't know anything about my mom, just that your mom blames her for everything."

"You worry too much about your parents," Remy chided. "Who cares? Fuck them and their weird cult. All that matters is who you are and what you do. God help me if I was judged by my parents. They're the lamest people alive. They're fooling themselves if they think that I'm actually going to study magic in college and join their dumb covens. I'll do what I want and you should do the same."

"Hmm, maybe. I just got here though. I don't want to get kicked out after all that work."

"Yeah, fair enough," Remy conceded. "Just do whatever my dumb brother does then. Everything he does is to suck up to our parents and the council. Don't date a weird demon and they'd probably give you an award or something dumb like that."

"I'll keep that in mind."

Theo stood on the large balcony that faced Crystal Cove and tried as hard as he could to forget about his dream. What had happened to him and how much of what he'd seen was real? Was any of it real? What was that nightmarish creature and just how closely was it watching him? He had no one to talk about this with. Evren might know about weird realm crossing and magic, but there was no way that he'd keep it a secret from Theo's insanely worried parents.

Would Lukas tell him whenever he saw the deity next? It was always difficult to get an answer out of them when you didn't have anything to offer in return. They did have a history of appearing in Pleasantview, enough that there were warning signs with their picture on it. They had seemed upset in his dream, maybe he'd find Lukas looking for him.

Theo groaned, hitting his head rhythmically against the walled fence in frustration. Why was this his life? Saturnia and Luci seemed to be pretty normal, so why was he doomed to be stolen by supernatural beings on a whim?

Behind him, a twig snapped, alerting Theo to a presence sneaking up on him.

"Lukas, you have to tell me who-"

It wasn't Lukas sneaking up on the demon, but Adam. Theo immediately sighed with relief.

"Adam? What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep."

"I had a nightmare and couldn't get back to sleep," Adam confessed. "I pretended to be asleep when you woke up."

"I had the worst nightmare too," Theo groaned. "You wouldn't believe me at all if I told you about it."

Adam's eyes remained glued to the ground, unable to look at his boyfriend in the eye.

"I would. Because I was there too. The protector of the realm of dreams told me that the pull on you to a different realm also pulled me because of how we're connected."

A huge wave of relief washed over Theo hearing this.

"Oh my god, who do you think the terrifying creature was?" he demanded. "Even Lukas was afraid of it, and they're not afraid of anything!"

"Weird creature?" Adam repeated with confusion. "No, you were with that Maricourt warlock, talking about demons."

"For a bit, but that was nothing compared to that...monster that showed up. He took us to the freaking afterlife, how could you forget something like that?"

Adam paused. Theo looked sincerely terrified about this creature he was describing, so he wasn't just lying to avoid talking about the repeated warnings people were making about him.

"I never saw that. Luna took me home before that, I guess."

Theo tried to remember a woman named Luna, but failed. He'd ask about that later, once he could focus on anything else but the horrifying creature he'd faced.

"I can't believe you missed it!" Theo burst out. "I can't possibly even describe what it was like. Picture the most dangerous person you could think of times a million. Times infinity! It threatened me and said I was worth keeping alive, which is not the kind of reassurance that you want." Theo's voice wavered, slightly, in a way only his loved ones would catch.

"Adam, I don't know what to do anymore. Ever since my birthday, things just keep getting weirder and weirder. All these people are telling me that I'm dangerous and that hybrids are incredibly dangerous and that they're all keeping an eye on me. I don't want this life anymore, Adam. I keep closing my eyes and seeing that creature staring at me, waiting for something horrible to happen! I-I'm scared. I don't want to be special. I want to be like Saturnia. No one is threatening her for existing."

Adam's fears faded away, just looking at the horror that was clearly eating at Theo. Yeah, Adam had questions and fears of his own, but they were nothing compared to what Adam could see written all over Theo's face. Something had scared him and badly. Gone was Theo's usual air of defiance and rebellion. In its place was only horror and fear.

"Hey, it's okay," Adam said, pulling his boyfriend closer to him. He wrapped his arms around Theo and held him tightly. "At least you've got a warning about the stakes we're facing. It's better than just going in blind."

"The stakes we're facing?" Theo repeated. "Does that mean that you're going to help me when whatever happens to me happens? I don't blame you if you want to run from all this. I know I would."

"No one told me that our future wedding's off," Adam reassured the boy in his arms. "I'm not going anywhere. Besides, we're connected enough that you apparently pull me along with you even if I did leave. I might as well stay, don't you think? I'd miss kissing you too much."

Theo smiled faintly and relaxed his grip on Adam.

"I'd miss that too," he agreed softly. "You would tell me if I was doing something dangerous though, right? If I start...hurting people?"

"Don't be ridiculous," Adam replied, brushing some stray hairs from Theo's face as he did. "You could never be like Alpheus or your grandmother. There isn't a single evil bone in your body. Your Aunt Lucy, she I could see being dangerous, not you. You've never even cheated on an exam, Theo. I know that you're nothing like how weird people expect you to be."

There was still a small pit in his stomach when Adam thought about the desperation in Theo's eyes when he'd been presented with energy. He'd never seen Theo like that before. It was true that demons lived to collect enough energy to warm themselves, but Theo had never needed it to survive.

Now that Adam knew that he apparently had some demonic ancestry himself, it was harder to judge Theo for what he'd seen. If he also came from a demonic family, it was just a roll of genetics that kept Adam or his mother and sisters from possessing enough demon DNA to manifest the powers Theo possessed.

Would Theo change as they matured? Would he develop the same hunger full demons had for energy?

Adam's fear disappeared, feeling his boyfriend bury his face into his shoulder as Theo tried to stop his anxious tears. He knew Theo better than anyone. They'd been best friends since the age of six. He'd seen Theo through all the milestones of childhood, and he knew who Theo was deep down. Theo was both his past and his future, the person he loved more than anyone in the world.

"None of that matters," Adam swore, hugging Theo tightly. "I love you, that's the only thing that matters. We'll figure out the rest when we need to."

#sims 2 #arkhelios #arkhelios adventures #theo bellamy #sim: theo bellamy #adam darktide #lukas lane #despina darktide #remy maricourt

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dballzposting · 3 months

Note

HI i had a horrible dragon ball thought and thought i should send it to you because i haven't done that in a long time :(

love stumbling across screenshots that remind me that akira toriyama doesn't give a shit about canonical heights EVER and just says numbers when asked and doesn't follow said numbers.

Like i was taking a peep at the manga because i want to learn how to replicate the art style (my most serious art has already been damaged by the dragon balls i draw and i say it like... damaged. but i don't mean that i think thats a good thing because thats what i want) and i find these bits from the 23rd tenkaichi budokai where Yamcha (6'0") and Tien (6'2") are both like a head taller than Goku (5'9") which... no they aren't lol. but it's fun to think that they are so I'll incorporate that into my belief system regardless.

And i also found this one picture from the end of the anime (equally inaccurate about numbers which i find delightful. i am incredibly amused by this.) where Goten (??) is like also a head shorter than Trunks (5'7"? probably, that's how tall future him was at that age idk man who fucking knows. not me.) which would probably put Goten at like... Vegeta height in terms of dragon ball inaccuracies because 17 year old Future Trunks was depicted as being considerably taller than his father in canon.

And that's generally insane because as far as i'm aware Goten is usually depicted to be vaguely taller than Trunks when they grow up to what should be their full heights in fan works? which is fair because Trunks is REALLY doing his best with what he has (Vegeta dna)

Also about Trunk's height- future Trunks (malnourished by saiyan standards... and probably earthling standards too) is really only 5 cm shorter than Goku?? which is not even much actually, Future Trunks is about as tall as LIONEL MESSI which, sure I'm Argentinian and that's my like referent for short men sue me... but that's hilarious because Goku is only 5 cm taller than that like what. and adult Gohan is only 6 cm taller than that! because he's only a single fucking centimeter taller than Goku! why is he only a fucking centimeter taller than his father. who even cares about that. him? probably not.

Also to expand onto the Vegeta Height Goten thing, that'd be so funny personally because i feel like the second neurotic ass SON OF VEGETA Trunks notices this he would tear his own hair out, i think he would resent that fact with everything he had. i don't even quite know why he would hate it yet, but i do know that he wouldn't be a fan of it.

But of course none of this fucking matters. because akira toriyama is a bitchass motherfucker and if i had a wife he would piss on her.

-Yui7 after getting back from talking about Dragon ball and how much he misses Goku for like a half a day.

Hi I forgot about this ask and it has sat in my inbox for 9 slutty slutty days.

IT'S TRUE!!!!!! THE HEIGHTS ARE A MESS!!!!!!

To be fair it must be hard to give a shit when you're depicting multiple characters in complex scenes and poses and angles all of the time.

BUT THEN WHY TRY TO DISCLOSE NUMBERS AT ALL !??!?!??!

I get the impression that he just draws characters as they feel. Even though Goku went through a growth spurt before the 23rd tenkaichi budokai, he's still younger than the others and he's still always been an aspiring young shoot, so Tenshinhan and Yamucha still need to be taller (and therefore more mature) than him.

That's why Vegeta steadily got taller as he gained wisdom and muscle mass.... he had to look more important.

Goten is kept shorter than Trunks consistently, except in GT I feel like they're allowed to be on-par. But they're both definitely taller than Vegeta I mean come on.

If the real meaning comes from visual impressions then I'll be on record as saying that watching Future Trunks on-screen you definitely see one TALL STACK of fresh organic non-GMO free-range Super Saiyan BEEF. Perhaps he should be shorter like his father. But when have animes cared about genetics

Trunks is always a tall bitch and Goku is always so tall and Gohan is always so tall and Goten even is so tall. They're all so tall. And then they keep making Vegeta taller too.

Krillin just has no chance

#WHO GIVE A SHIT !!!!!!!!!!!!!#dballz posting #dballz asks #yu7i

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ninamitoo · 1 year

Text

A new beginning

Tetsurō Kuroo x reader

It was the beginning of a new school year when your parents came to you with the unexpected news of moving to Tokyo. Your father had long aspired to become the coach of the national volleyball team, and now that he had been offered the chance to coach the Japanese Olympic team, he was beside himself with happiness. But for you, it meant leaving your life and friends behind and moving to a completely unfamiliar country whose language you didn't speak.

Of course you were happy for your father and you supported him with all your heart. After all, it was his dream since as far back as your memory goes. In his younger years, he played what he calls "B" volleyball, never at the professional level. But when he met his future wife, and a few years later you were born, he was always raving about how he wished he could coach young talents. Yet, despite everything, you couldn't shake that heavy feeling in your stomach that wouldn't go away.

...

You transferred to Nekoma High about halfway through your sophomore year. In the six months or so before the move, you learned to read and write a few kanji characters through intensive Japanese tutoring, but mostly you focused on the spoken language. You didn't want to make a complete idiot of yourself in front of your new classmates, but unfortunately you were still at a beginner's level and learning a completely foreign language was challenging for you. Your teachers took pity on you and most of your new friends tried to help you. You didn't understand everything, but you were able to communicate with broken Japanese.

One day, Aoi-chan came to you with an idea: "You haven't joined any clubs yet, have you? Why don't you try it? Don't you think you'd learn to communicate better in our language that way?" You didn't think it was a bad idea at the time, but now, standing in front of the closed gym door from which the sound of squeaking soles, crossing boys' voices and deafening ball thuds could be heard, you wanted to be anywhere but here.

You never really excelled in sports, and when you heard that the boys' teams here in Japan had club managers, you thought it was the perfect role for you. Your father brought his work home with him more often than not, so you learned a lot about volleyball and thought the sport would be perfect for you. Now? How could you think of such a stupid idea? Isn't there any chance of getting out of this? With terror in your eyes, you looked at the teacher who accompanied you as he reached for the door handle, but your silent "wait" escaped his ears.

"Team, I'd like to introduce you to a new member." He got the attention of everyone present and you hid behind his back with a jump. You can still get away, right? "Starting today, the boys' volleyball team has its own manager."

A number of excited voices started shouting over the news, and you knew it was too late to run for it. Among the wave of shouts and questions you heard "who is she?", "What year is she in?", "What's her name?" and "Is she cute?" Yamada-sensei turned to you helplessly, and you knew that was your cue. You took a deep breath in an attempt to calm your racing pulse before stepping into the hunting trap in front of you.

"I don't know if I'm cute, but my name is Y/N and I'm in my second year. It's nice to meet you all." You were glad you didn't stutter with nervousness and could only hope you sounded as natural as you thought you did.

"European...!" One of them shouted with his finger pointed at you. When you gave him a weak smile and an uncertain wave, his face quickly turned a fiery red and he turned his face away to the other side. So much for the first good impression.

"Eeeh..." Came uncomfortably close to your ear, making you jump in surprise. To your left, an impossibly handsome young man bent down to your level, sizing you up with a serious expression on his face. A raven's nest instead of hair fell into his hazel, cat like eyes when a huge playful smirk adored his features. "I'd say you're more than cute, beautiful. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better and starting to date you." He spoke in a calm, seductive voice, and you were sure you were blushing just as much if not more than the boy with the shaved sides a moment ago. Your brain's ability to think was gone.

"Here goes the provocation expert." The vice-captain sighed in defeat.

"Please ignore what our captain says. My name is Yaku and I look forward to working with you." You're joined by another member, considerably shorter one with auburn hair. "Most of what he says is nonsense." Another boy with grown-out blonde hair fills in as the rest of the team gradually coalesces around you, spouting one name after another. You try your best to remember them all, but you already know you won't be able to remember most of the names the next day. Despite being told not to take his words to heart, you secretly hoped they were true, not just a way for you to fit in.

"There's a dozen other things you could have said to her and you chose this?" Kenma frowned at Kuroo, then glanced warily in your direction. Granted, Kuroo’s awkward pick up line had broken the tense ice, but he was sure you had gotten mixed signals because of it now, and he felt sorry for you. He didn't want you to be the next victim to fall head over heels in love with Kuroo only to be heartbroken. Kuro's response, however, left him more shocked than his poor flirting skills.

"I meant it. I can’t wait to date her."

Although your ears didn't register Kuroo's last words, his simple ‘I meant it’ erased all the heavy feelings that had been weighing you down for eight months and you finally felt light headed. Maybe moving to Tokyo wasn't so bad.

#tetsurō kuroo #kuroo #tetsuroo kuroo x reader #kuroo x reader #testuro kuroo x reader #haikyuu!!#haikyu x reader #haikyuu #hq x y/n #hq x you #haikyuu headcanons #haikyuu fluff #tetsuroo x reader #kuroo tetsuro imagine

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clonewarsarchives · 2 years

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THE VOICE WILL BE WITH YOU, ALWAYS (#112, OCT 2009)

Scott Chernoff says “Hello there” to James Arnold Taylor as he talks about voicing Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars along with hundreds of other characters, and the time he was nearly silenced—forever.

He’s the heroic Green Arrow Batman: The Brave and the Bold, erstwhile friend Harry Osborn on The Spectacular Spider-Man, Ratchet of the hit series of Ratchet & Clank videogames, and the new voice of modern Stone Age family man, Fred Flintstone.

But there’s one achievement that towers over the others for voice actor James Arnold Taylor: He’s finally fulfilled his life-long fantasy of playing a major role in the Star Wars saga, starring as Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

“I lived and breathed Star Wars as a kid,” Taylor says. “We played all the time—but I was always Han Solo. If somebody told me I was going to be Obi-Wan Kenobi, I would have been like, ‘Wait, I’m the old guy?’”

But despite his tremendous success performing literally hundreds of cartoon characters and videogame voices over the last two decades, Taylor told Star Wars Insider that it nearly all slipped away. “About four years ago,” he reveals, “I lost my voice completely due to toxic mold in our home. When the doctor said, ‘You can’t speak,’ I was like, ‘Uh, that doesn’t work.’”

The incident was a stark reminder of just how precious Taylor’s instrument—his voice—is to him. “I had to start over and change my whole life,” he recalls. “I trained with a gentleman who trains opera singers. I had to learn how to re-use my vocal chords in new and exciting ways.”

EARLY INSPIRATION

Luckily for Taylor—and his fans—the hard work paid off. “I’m stronger now than I’ve ever been. Sometimes, you need something like that to break you down, just to rebuild yourself,” he says.

Now back in the game with three animated series on the air, Taylor is free to pursue the one thing he always loved. “I’ve known since I was four years old that I wanted to do the voices of cartoons,” he says, noting that he drew inspiration from legendary performers like Mel Blanc (who voiced virtually all the Looney Tunes characters), Daws Butler (Yogi Bear), and Don Messick (Scooby Doo and many more). “I was glued to all those guys and memorized their vocal inflections,” he recalls.

“I never had any aspirations to be an on-camera actor—I always wanted to be a voice actor. The truth is I’m the luckiest guy in the world to be able to make my living doing what I always wanted to do.”

STARTING OUT

Taylor started out doing impressions as a stand-up comic and radio disc jockey when he was just 16, moving south to Hollywood from his native Santa Barbara, California, as soon as he got out of school. His first break came in the obscure world of voice doubling, re-recording small bits of dialogue for famous actors who were too busy to come in when a small line needed to be changed. He got a job filling in for Michael J. Fox on the Disney animated feature Atlantis—and soon found himself taking over the lead role entirely for the sequel, Atlantis: Milo’s Return. “I just have a knack for picking up voices,” he shrugs.

Among the stars Taylor has doubled for videogames and feature film looping are Johnny Depp, Billy Bob Thornton—and Ewan McGregor. He started voicing Obi-Wan Kenobi for the first Clone Wars TV micro-series in 2002, then went on to Star Wars videogames and now the new hit TV series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars.

“Originally, it was to be an exact voice match for Ewan McGregor,” Taylor says. “We basically have the same sound, the same range. So I thought that rather than trying to sound like him, since I know I already do kind of sound like him, I’d just do what he did: try to sound like Alec Guinness. So I started thinking of how he would talk, and I tried to ‘young it up,’ and went, ‘OK, so if I was casually speaking as a young Obi-Wan, I might sound like this.’ I didn’t concentrate so much on sounding like Ewan McGregor as much as I concentrated on sounding like Obi-Wan Kenobi, the character we all know. That seemed to work.”

Taylor explains that for him, focusing too much on precisely matching a specific voice can get in the way of a good performance. “You can get hung up on a voice match where you try too hard to sound like the person and it becomes a caricature. It becomes more the nightclub comic’s impersonation. You want to relax in the voice. You really have to understand how that person would act, and you have to be able to act that way. I always have to envision how he would deliver the line. It’s more than an impersonator would do, because you have to understand the character and be able to say anything in that voice.”

That approach sat well with Clone Wars director Dave Filoni and Star Wars creator George Lucas. “After we’d started the series and done the film, Dave and George said, ‘You have the freedom now to take this and make it your own thing,’” Taylor recalls, adding, “Dave’s vision for Obi-Wan in this series is very specific. He’s trying to show Anakin the right way, but he’s also the calm in the storm. I’m always the straight guy. Most of the time, I’m pulling the reins back on Anakin and Ahsoka, so I’m like the older brother. Nothing really gets to him. But at the same time, I know people may think sometimes he’s a little too reserved, so I’m trying to give him some excitement. Every once in a while, I torture myself and read the message boards, and some people do think he’s got to lighten up. But I just think, ‘Give him time.’ There’s something that happened in a second season episode we did recently, and I can’t really get into it, but it made me think, ‘Oh, we get to see different facets of Obi-Wan in this.’ I’m playing a side of Obi-Wan that nobody’s really seen before.”

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

Taylor thinks that the epic scope of Star Wars: The Clone Wars is allowing a far more personal glimpse of Kenobi than fans have ever seen. “He’s such an iconic figure,” he says, “but you don’t know anything about his personal life. We have many episodes, so now the writers have been exploring those areas. How does he act when he’s gotten up on the wrong side of the bed and he’s having a bad day? What’s his day-to-day relationship with Anakin? It’s been fun to work with everybody and create those parts of his life and his characteristics. I try to put a little of the reserved old Jedi living alone in this deserted part of a desert planet, and the young one who was in the world and so much a part of everything.”

At the same time, Taylor has gotten to give voice to a host of other Star Wars characters, from fan favorite Plo Koon (“Dave said, ‘Think Gandalf,’”— he recalls) to espionage droid 4A-7 (“A whiny, high-pitched guy”) and the medical droid from The Clone Wars movie (“That’s me doing kind of a Jeff Goldblum type voice”).

“That’s another great part about being a voice actor,” he says. “You get to be so many different characters all the time.”

A REWARDING ROLE

All those characters add up to more reasons Taylor is grateful to have re-gained his voice in time to continue his work in the Star Wars universe. “I’m a geek when it comes to this stuff,” he said. “I’m a fan as much as anybody else, so I get into the story, and to me, Star Wars: The Clone Wars is as good as Lost or any other great show. I can’t wait to see the next season, just like everybody else.”

Thinking back on his journey, Taylor adds, “It’s so rewarding. I get so much fan mail from people all over the world, and I’m not trying to sound corny but it moves me—because I’ve always been a fan, and I’ve sent fan letters to people I respect and gotten autographs before, too. So when I get letters from people about how they’re sharing Star Wars with their kids, and they’re thanking me for helping them see this whole universe in a different way, I kind of trip out on it. Daily, I go, ‘Wow, I’m involved in this world, and not just on the sidelines—I’m really involved in the Star Wars universe.’ It’s a great honor.”

#James Arnold Taylor #Obi-Wan Kenobi #cast #insider #i112 #the clone wars #112 is the Obi-wan special by the way

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annaisu · 1 year

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First Meetings and Promises of Faith

Part 1 of Promises, and the Proof Thereof - a story created for the @bingqiuminibang, with art by @alur-chip on twitter here and tumblr here!

Link to the story on AO3 here!

Shen Yuan spots the prettiest man he's ever seen at the bar he'd been coerced into visiting; tears are threatening to spill out across his unfairly gorgeous face, and the expression of misery and despair is enough to tug at Shen Yuan's heartstrings and have him immediately walking over, ready to offer anything he could possibly do to help.

Luo Binghe, the young man who has abruptly begun finding his way into Shen Yuan's heart, has just been dumped by his partner, and has just lost his place to live - but most importantly, he's expressing doubt and self-hatred at himself, and Shen Yuan Will Not Have That.

Not from Luo Binghe, who he's only known for such a short while, but so instantly feels a connection with; not when Shen Yuan can tell, despite his despair, that he is good, is clever, is so many things, but also-

Luo Binghe especially has more than enough worth as a boyfriend, enough that anybody would surely love to have him as a partner- no, as a husband!

Shen Yuan now just needs to convince Luo Binghe of these facts, somehow.

"Was I just… not pretty enough?"

Blinking back into awareness from where he'd long-since zoned out at the bar, Shen Yuan was immediately instinctively curious about the soft voice, rough with tears. Nosiness and compassion briefly worked together in his heart, and he couldn't help but turn to look and see how 'pretty' the speaker really was or was not–

Only to blink in surprise at the absolutely gorgeous man sitting nearby. Not pretty enough??? If this guy wasn't pretty enough, then who could ever possibly be???

A second closer look, and then a third even closer look only confirmed Shen Yuan's first impressions – that was a grade A face, right there, attached to an equally gorgeous body!!! This was the type of face that should grace the cover of a thousand romance novels, with the type of figure that romantic male leads could only ever aspire to!

Yet despite reaching a level of beauty others could only ever dream of achieving, the young man's – (a boy's, almost? He couldn't be more than twenty-two to Shen Yuan's own twenty-seven) – face was tightened with a rictus of pain and misery, and tears were clearly building up in his eyes, just threatening to overflow. He bit his lip, clearly trying to hold himself back, and Shen Yuan's chest throbbed.

Owww??? He thought to himself with some surprise, but then he completely understood what just happened – pretty boys should not be crying and looking so sad, because it was absolutely terrible for bystander's health!

Shen Yuan continued watching the other as he absent-mindedly rubbed at his chest, unconsciously cataloging all sorts of random and unimportant things about this stranger – like the length of his hair, its sheen and curls; or the deep V of his shirt, cutting all the way down between his pecs; or perhaps very importantly after all, the way tears filled in his eyes, shining brighter and brighter as the water pooled and promised to overflow.

Enough was enough, Shen Yuan decided. He'd come here to socialize and had done barely any talking at all yet, and this young man clearly needed someone to talk with and spill his woes to; thus, Shen Yuan could simply strike two birds with a single stone by going over there and trying to talk to him–

But wouldn't that be so awkward? Just some stranger randomly plopping down when you're already struggling not to cry, wouldn't that be so weird? There was a reason Shen Yuan hadn't managed to talk to anybody tonight, and he had almost successfully talked himself out of his impulse to go over, when–

Tears began slipping out of the other man's eyes, and that was it– nope, this was absolutely not allowed, Shen Yuan needed to do something right this moment–

Before he could talk himself out of this terrible decision, as his heart was giving another painful lurch in his chest, Shen Yuan stood up– walked closer– and then sat down right beside the beautiful man, before he even really realized what he was doing, who seemed just as startled by Shen Yuan's actions as Shen Yuan himself felt – and then the young man was looking at him and–

…what the f##k, he was even more gorgeous up close somehow??? It was so damn unfair how freaking pretty the man was, as tears gathered in his deep eyes – leave some beauty for the rest of us, okay???

Except now that he was sitting down beside the man, who was currently blinking at him in confused startlement, Shen Yuan could no longer simply observe– he had to open his mouth and actually speak.

Awkwardly, Shen Yuan tried his best to open the conversation. "Are you alright?" …Alright, he acknowledged with an internal wince, his best probably wasn't very good, but he was trying, he just didn't know how to continue, and the awkward silence reigned for several more painfully long seconds, and then–

"No!" The boy burst out with a wail, immediately breaking down into sobs.

Shen Yuan panicked and the world around him faded out.

Shen Yuan only came back to himself an indeterminable amount of time later, memories fuzzy and awaiting later retrieval, but right now–

He was patting the boy on his shoulder, having given up trying to shush him or stop his tears; simply listening to him as he cried out his woes between ragged sobs.

"I- I wasn't good enough for him!" The boy, apparently named Luo Binghe, wailed. "He just decided that, with our lease ending, he wasn't going to stick around anymore!!!"

Shen Yuan continued his frantic patting – in an outwardly calm and composed manner, of course, not at all like he was wondering why the world had dropped the world's prettiest man – and also prettiest crier, how was that even a thing – right into his lap, when he couldn't even do anything to help.

"I thought we had something special!" went Luo Binghe, and Shen Yuan could only sympathize. "But apparently I wasn't reason enough to stay, wasn't good enough to even bother trying to stay together, wasn't pretty enough to be worth a long distance relationship–" He sobbed, and he finally properly focused his attention on Shen Yuan, turning his pleading gaze directly upon him with devastating force.

"I wasn't a good enough boyfriend to even bother with, wasn't worth it; of course he'd choose something else over me, anything else over me–" and that was it.

Righteous indignation and empathy flared within Shen Yuan, and the emotions steeled his spine and gave him the strength to properly respond.

"No," Shen Yuan stated firmly, making sure the boy kept his eyes trained on Shen Yuan's face.

Luo Binghe's tears, which made his eyes look even more like stars in the night sky, slowed in confusion. "No?" he asked, sounding unsure of just what Shen Yuan could possibly mean.

"No," Shen Yuan repeated firmly, forcefully trying to banish the clouding effect his earlier drinks still held on his mind. "No, Luo Binghe did not deserve to be cast aside like that-"

"But what if I did!" Luo Binghe wailed. Shen Yuan prayed for the other poor bystanders, who were no doubt also feeling sympathy pains in their chests – but not for the bartender, who had continued giving Luo Binghe (and himself, apparently, he realized as he caught sight of the empty glass by his own elbow) drinks despite them clearly not helping any.

"What if I did deserve to be left behind?" Luo Binghe said. "What if I'm really not good enough, not pretty enough to be worth anything as a boyfriend–"

Shen Yuan couldn't help it; he reached forward, angrily doing his best to wipe away the tears flowing in steady streams down Luo Binghe's cheeks.

"Luo Binghe is worth something," he declared, "and he is more than pretty enough to make a wonderful boyfriend." He scowled. "No one deserves to be left behind, and I see no reason that says Luo Binghe doesn't deserve all due respect, courtesy, and effort!"

Luo Binghe stared up at him as if he had said something marvelous, and Shen Yuan wanted to scramble for his phone to cover his face – but he indignation was still flowing through his veins, and he was determined not to let this man feel sorry about himself, as if he wasn't good enough!

"Really?" Luo Binghe asked, almost breathless – but his tears were slowing even more, almost stopping, so of course Shen Yuan had to continue.

(Maybe, something in the back of his brain shouted out, there was some reason this guy got dumped. Maybe his personality is just as awful as his looks are beautiful. Maybe he's actually awful and secretly manipulative, or maybe this is all just some big ploy–)

(And to that back of his brain, Shen Yuan shoved the very genuine expressions of distress and despair on Luo Binghe's face; how sweetly he responded to Shen Yuan's words and actions; how there was something good about him, how something in him was calling to something inside Shen Yuan–)

Shen Yuan scowled. "And if it wasn't bad enough that she dumped you, doing it when your lease was ended with no warning? That's just plain rude."

Luo Binghe let out a startled laugh, and it rang through the air like a clear bell's chiming. "It really was rude, wasn't it?" he asked, almost to himself, a smile starting to creep up on his lips– before it fell off again, his mood dropping. "Yet, it was only because I wasn't a very good boyfriend–"

"Nonsense!" Shen Yuan declared, with all the self-righteous determination of someone who had drunk too much earlier, and who had drank even more still while talking and listening to their companion, and thus had decided that they knew enough to speak with authority on any topic they felt strongly about. It was kind of like tearing apart terrible stories online, except he was trying to focus on how wonderful Luo Binghe was rather than proving why so-and-so shouldn't be wifed and how whatever author had screwed up this time–

Except this time, he was talking about why Luo Binghe did deserve to be wifed! Err, husbanded. Which was something the distraught Luo Binghe clearly needed to hear and understand!

"Luo Binghe is a perfectly good boyfriend– no, he'd be a perfectly good husband, and any girl would be lucky to have him!" [xShen Yuan could just picture what kind of a boyfriend Luo Binghe would be, his mind calling back up the little details Binghe had let out while Shen Yuan was busy panicking, and – yeah, Shen Yuan could definitely see why someone really would want Luo Binghe as their boyfriend.x]

The laugh Luo Binghe let out this time was bitter, and it only fanned the fires of determination within Shen Yuan. "Shen Yuan barely knows this Luo Binghe, yet he speaks so fiercely in his defense."

(Oh, thank goodness, Shen Yuan spares a moment to think. So, I did introduce myself during that panic-blackout back then.)

Shen Yuan leveled a fierce glare indeed at them man he had so thoroughly decided to champion. "Yes, I do, because I can already see that Luo Binghe is worth it!"

Luo Binghe seems torn between tears, laughter, and more of that bitter self-hatred that Shen Yuan was becoming more and more aware of, hiding behind his every word about himself. "You really think that anyone would ever be lucky to have me?"

Shen Yuan did. "I do," he firmly declared. "Luo Binge would make a good boyfriend, and if he were my boyfriend, I would make sure he knew it."

Something new sparked in Luo Binghe's eyes. "If I were… your boyfriend?"

Warming to the topic and encouraged by the new emotion – whatever it was, at least it wasn't that secret bitterness or overt despair anymore, so it had to be an improvement – Shen Yuan nodded.

"Yes. If I were your boyfriend-" wait, no, he wasn't gay, so Shen Yuan couldn't be a boyfriend, but Binghe certainly could– "If you were my boyfriend, I'd treat you right, and make sure you never thought you were worthless or ugly or-"

If Luo Binghe was his boyfriend – which actually sounded oddly nice, for some reason, even if he was only speaking metaphorically in order to bolster Luo Binghe's mood and self-worth – Shen Yuan would do more than that.

"I'd make sure Luo Binghe never needed to worry about running out of a place to live, that he wouldn't be abandoned or left wanting– I'd make sure to treasure him, to treat him right and care for him properly–"

Binghe's tone was even more bitter than before as he spoke. "But Shen Yuan must only be just saying that; there's no way you can really mean that."

Alright, that was it. Shen Yuan stood up, firmly tugging Luo Binghe up along with him, and paused only long enough to pay off the bartender who'd kept them well-lubricated with drink before storming out, tugging Luo Binghe along and holding him tight by the hand.

"I do mean it, and I will prove it to you," Shen Yuan declared.

And so, he did.

– - – - –

Shen Yuan awoke the next morning to a completely unfamiliar sensation, to twin emotions of smug satisfaction and deep apprehension, and for several blissful moments, he can't remember why. He ignores the pounding headache from his hangover, intentionally does not think about whatever is causing that mass of apprehension, and simply revels in the satisfaction of having gotten away with something really valuable last night.

It was too early to think about the "why's" and "how come's" of the intense emotions; Shen Yuan refuses to call up his slightly fuzzy memories of the night before. Instead, he allows himself to bask in the feeling of having gotten away with something rather valuable indeed, without looking too closely at just why, perhaps, his unconscious smugness might also come with a side helping of, "oh shit," in the back of his mind.

Definitely not thinking about it at all.

Shen Yuan was doing a very good job about not thinking about anything, thank you very much! He was definitely not adding a third emotion of confused horror to the emotional cocktail he'd woken up with, was definitely not frantically trying to understand what the hell he had done yesterday, was definitely not thinking about the fact that he could smell someone cooking breakfast just a few rooms over.

Nope!!!

No thoughts, head empty!!

Shen Yuan was not having the dawning realizations that:

A- He'd finally gone to a bar to socialize, and had drunk enough to be suffering from a rather painful hangover (Thanks again, Airplane, for the bitching about him needing to get out more, and convincing him to go to a place where he knew absolutely nobody and nothing, and the main thing anybody ever took away were hangovers and bad decisions–)

B- He had met maybe the prettiest person ever at said bar (and this solidified Shen Yuan's case that men could be so much prettier than women, ha! Take that, meimei! It's not a personal taste thing – anybody would be forced to admit the same thing once they saw that face!!)

C- Said prettiest person was in his house right now and was currently doing something in the kitchen that smelled wonderful, because Shen Yuan had basically invited the man to stay indefinitely after hearing about his housing situation, sometime in the process of when, oh yeah–

D- He had gotten blindingly drunk and m a r r i e d h i m .

ERROR, Shen Yuan's mind screeched. This does not compute!!!

Shen Yuan. Had married. A him.

What the fuck???

What the absolute fuck had happened last night???

None of this made sense!!! Yes, he could remember everything fairly well – much to his great chagrin, as he had not comported himself well and with dignity last night – despite having ended the evening in a way that made no sense–

He can clearly pinpoint points A through D, can lay the events out in their perfectly chronological order, and yet??? What on Earth convinced his brain to travel in those directions last night, ahhhhhh?!!!!!

Shen Yuan frantically goes over each point again, trying desperately to figure out where things went so wrong as to end up with him married to a man.

A- Spotting a young man at the bar, looking unfairly pretty despite how upset he seemed; B- going over to comfort the man, getting a close-up view of how his tears made his eyes look huge, like there was a galaxy waiting to be born within; C- finding out why said man was crying and finding it incredibly unfair and just plain awful that such a pretty and sweet guy would be denied a chance at marriage, which he was clearly well suited for; and then– D- he married said man??????????

…

Shen Yuan was clearly missing something, because somehow because his brain had skipped straight from, "cheer up pretty boy" to "marry the man" and- ???? No??? That still made no sense??? Shen Yuan was straight; he wasn't allowed to marry other men, no matter how pathetic and adorable the looked when they cried, nor how cute and happy they looked when Shen Yuan had been giving them reassurance and seemingly had all the answer? Neither of those two things had anything to do with his marrying a man–

Like, a real man, in real life???? Was that even allowed???

…oh God, he'd gotten his shady older brother and his much nicer brother-in-law that worked in law involved somehow, hadn't he??? He could vaguely remember– not important right now!

How had this even come up as a possibility??? The man– Binghe, he finally remembered, Luo Binghe – had been in the bar because he had just been dumped by his boyfriend despite having been together for so long, so logically this Luo Binghe should have been swearing off all further romantic interactions, right???

He'd certainly been upset enough about romance and his prospects as a romantic partner when they'd started talking! (If that's what you could call the dramatic wailing, which had turned into more earnest sobbing, and then more serious bitterness and self-hatred–)

Which Shen Yuan certainly couldn't stand for! He barely knew the Luo Binghe at that point – still barely knew him, really, no matter how much he felt a connection with him already – but he still had to reassure him that it wasn't his fault! Because it wasn't! Long-distance relationships probably sucked, but what kind of "good boyfriend" was the other guy if he wasn't even willing to try??? And to just abandon Luo Binghe and leave him behind when their living situations suddenly changed???

It was no wonder that Luo Binghe had been broken-heartedly wondering if he was really worth it at all, was really worth anything, and Shen Yuan had just had to fix that! Even though Luo Binghe had been so blatantly upset and in distress, it had taken him barely any time at all to see that Luo Binghe was actually quite something behind all that?

In fact– Shen Yuan could remember talking with Luo Binghe more after they had left the bar, could remember clearly enjoying their conversation, could remember finding Luo Binghe smart and funny and cool, and even kind of sweet, and definitely very adorable–

So, yes! Luo Binghe had needed a reality check and an ego boost!

Shen Yuan absolutely had to reassure the young man, with tear tracks still staining his face, that he was worth trying for! That he was worth a relationship, worth trying for marriage! That he would make a good husband one day!

That Luo Binghe was worth the time and effort and energy, that he was sweet and smart and strong, that anyone else should be considered lucky to be his wife- husband!!

And, wow, hadn't that been absolutely bizarre to realize? That when Luo Binghe had been referring to his partner earlier, he'd actually been referring to a guy??? That Shen Yuan was talking to a gay man?? That he was encouraging said gay man to pursue finding a husband that could appreciate him properly???

But it was totally cool, totally normal and fine and not awkward at all! He certainly hadn't experienced several long seconds filled with mental screaming, before his drunk brain catapulted into total acceptance and then decided that Luo Binghe did deserve a good husband who would appreciate him properly! He bet that Luo Binghe barely noticed how thrown he was, that was how smoothly Shen Yuan had handled it, and how quickly he'd adjusted!

Sure, Luo Binghe was his first gay hu- not thinking about that again yet- friend outside of his brother, but it was cool! Shen Yuan of course knew that gay people existed, and he didn't mind them at all! Love who you love, it wasn't illegal anymore!

(Gay relationships and marriage might not be illegal here in Shanghai, but… that didn't change how their parents felt about it, as was made clear when they had realized their second eldest wasn’t straight, would never be straight, and currently had a giant (tsundere) crush that he was honestly intent on pursuing, and–

(Yeah. The fallout of that had been nasty, and Shen Jiu had not yet – would probably never – forgive their parents for how they had responded to the realization. But then, after the way they had essentially disowned him and done their best to throw him out of the family while not disgracing themselves, who would?)

It's just… outside of his complicated relationship with his older brother, Shen Yuan had never actually interacted with anyone who was gay before! Even when he saw his brother with Yue Qingyuan, he never thought of him as, "my brother, the gay" – it was just his brother! Surely

They were a completely theoretical group of people to him, with an existence that ran entirely outside of his own! He knew what straight people were like – by being one himself, of course, as well as by being surrounded by them on all sides

(Shen Yuan was still thrown by such a handsome guy being gay – think of all the poor girls who must be languishing, forever unable to gain Luo Binghe's attention! – but that's just how it was, and it had nothing to do with him! It didn't bother or make him feel things in the least!)

So, Shen Yuan had no idea how to properly convince Luo Binghe that he would make for a good boyfriend to another boy! (Not that he'd truly had any idea on how to do so when he thought Luo Binghe was straight, but that was neither here nor there, and Shen Yuan was sure that those fledgeling sparks of ideas would have turned into fully-fledged ideas that weren't what he came up with instead– ahem.)

But apparently, he'd been doing something right already, because– after he had told Luo Binghe that anyone should count themselves as lucky to be his boyfriend, Luo Binghe had looked up at him with brilliantly shining eyes and asked him if he really meant it.

Tears had started welling back up as Luo Binghe desperately grasped at Shen Yuan's jacket, unwilling to let go, and asked if Shen Yuan really did think that Luo Binghe was worth something as a person, as a boyfriend – as someone to be treasured and valued and held close.

Of course Shen Yuan had meant it, and he told Luo Binghe just so in no uncertain terms! He could no longer resist, and had gently pet Luo Binghe's soft hair as he promised that he thought Luo Binghe was good, that he was worth something, that he should be held onto and never let go, that he really was good boyfriend material; no, good husband material!

And then his brain happened upon what had seemed at the time to be a brilliant idea.

Shen Yuan thought about smothering himself with a pillow; at least that way, he wouldn't have to face the fact of how dumb and utterly foolish he was.

Instead, he screamed into said pillow – quietly, so as not to disturb his new– not to disturb Luo Binghe.

What would be better proof in the fact that he believed that Luo Binghe would make a good husband, than by asking him to become his husband!!!!

…Shen Yuan decided he wasn't quite done screaming yet, and managed to avoid processing any more thoughts for at least several more minutes.

Couldn't he just hide up here in his bed forever?!

…Sadly, Shen Yuan confronted the fact that he would eventually need to get up and pee, and that he really should go and talk to his new–

–To his new possible roommate, because even outside of and before the, the marriage, Shen Yuan had invited the man to stay in his functionally useless spare room. For someone like Luo Binghe, Shen Yuan could clean it up into something proper, and even put away his secret guilty indulgence of fan merchandise!

…which he could remember being cluttered around the room as he showed his– as he showed Luo Binghe to his new bed. How embarrassing!!! Luo Binghe must have seen everything properly when he'd woken up that morning, and Shen Yuan had ruined any chance he'd ever had at seeming cool!!!

…without the pillow smothering his face or the blankets pulled high above his head, Shen Yuan realized that the house now smelled amazing! Was his new, ah, possible roommate making breakfast? He should really get up and go confront his new– his new guest!

(Even as he finished his morning ablutions and left his room, he couldn't help the smug thought – if Luo Binghe was willing to share whatever incredibly tasty-smelling food he made with Shen Yuan, then! That was just more proof that Shen Yuan was right in the kind of husband that he would make!)

- – - – -

When Luo Binghe woke up that morning, he could barely believe what all had happened the night before.

His week had started badly, and only gotten worse and worse; but now, this? He wasn't quite sure where to place it just yet. He wasn't optimistic about how things might turn out, but he had no reason not to see how this farce would play out.

First, his father had called him. While he sometimes could enjoy talking with his father, the call had been more of a warning about their vicious business rivals, Huan Hua, than a desire for friendly conversation; his mom had been to busy preparing for the latest mess at their company, Heavenly Empire, to make it onto the line; and his "second mother", as Tianlang-jun (Luo Binghe rolled his eyes) called her, was sick again. So, a pretty terrible conversation, all told.

Second, his landlord had sold their apartment, and apparently, the lease he and his boyfriend had signed 4 months ago was not enough to protect them from near-immediate eviction. They had a week to find a new place to live, and although his father offered to toss a lawyer onto the mess, it wouldn't have been quick enough to let Luo Binghe stay even if he had accepted the offer.

…Which he didn't because the lawyer his father wanted to throw at him was his own cousin, and that was just– He had been kicked out in order to learn to be his own person! To mature and face the wide world on his own two legs! Hell, Luo Binghe had even worked for The Endless Abyss for three years, since his father cut off access to most of his bank account!

…Alright, yes, this whole situation was a challenge that Luo Binghe had accepted willingly and wholeheartedly, and his parents had been paying for half of his housing and utilities – but that hadn't made the experience any more enjoyable or easy, and Luo Binghe had found himself miserable and on the brink of tears more days than not, at the beginning. It was as if every day started as "pick on Luo Binghe" day, and just as often ended as a "let's shit on anything that Luo Binghe did" day.

Still, Luo Binghe was proud of himself for what he had accomplished – his job at the Endless Abyss had somehow led him to his current job, Xin Yang, where he was the one in charge of people reliant on him to do well; no longer was he the lowest worm on the totem pole, but was instead soaring towards the top.

He'd also met Gongyi Xiao through the Endless Abyss – a gentle, caring young man just slightly older than himself, who had more experience than a Luo Binghe who had just been cut from his parent's apron strings. Gongyi Xiao had welcomed Luo Binghe under his wings, his righteous personality leading him to mentor Luo Binghe in whatever little ways he could and into trying to provide Luo Binghe with some shelter whenever things became particularly awful.

(Luo Binghe's crush on the slightly older boy had been crystalized when Gongyi Xiao had helped Luo Binghe escape from Qin Wanyue pressuring him into something he honestly really didn't want to do, that night culminating with Binghe accidentally coming out to the first person that wasn't his parents, and being offered the knowledge that his crush was bi in return.)

When Luo Binghe left the Endless Abyss behind to begin working his way up through Xin Yang, he had kept in contact – and then, once he managed to obtain higher and higher positions as Xin Yang's rising star, he managed to find a better position for Gongyi Xiao through the workplace contacts he was creating.

It wasn't at Xin Yang, and it certainly wasn't under Luo Binghe himself – but that's because he wanted there to be no pressure when he asked his crush out.

Gongyi Xiao had said yes.

They began dating, almost immediately leaving their respective living situations for a lease together, and–

Well. It had been harder living together than Luo Binghe had expected, and Luo Binghe had been – well, honestly, he'd been a bit of a bitch for a while under the constant pressure of Xin Yang, but he'd adjusted and gotten better again, but that still just seemed to be the start of all their romantic troubles. The reality of Gongyi Xiao also turned out to not quite be what he expected. It wasn't any unreasonable expectations, either!

They just – didn't mesh so well, once they started trying to spend more time together, outside of work. They tended to rub each other the wrong way after too long spent together when they weren't working together, or when they got distracted and forgot to be careful of each other – but Luo Binghe was careful, had figured out where his natural habits clashed with Gongyi Xiao's, where Gongyi Xiao's tendencies tended to drive him up the wall–

Still, they had tried, and it was going well – at least, Binghe thought it had been going well, despite everything; had thought it was going to be something serious and lasting, had been thinking of –

And then that had been the truly shittiest part of the week. His boyfriend had been given a job offer from Huan Hua – he'd interned there before, had family there, had just been offered a very lucrative opportunity if he would just come back–

Come back to Huan Hua, to his hometown, and to his first crush. Oh, Gongyi Xiao had never said it aloud, was far too polite and kind, and probably honestly never realized – but Luo Binghe was skilled at reading and managing people, and he realized what was happening. Gongyi Xiao had met back up with the little mistress one day, who had apparently grown up a little bit and had grown up with a crush on Gongyi Xiao.

Once she had somehow found and reconnected with Gongyi Xiao, her father took notice and began enticing Gongyi Xiao to come back with her, and Luo Binghe would honestly be completely unsurprised if Huan Hua was the one really behind their lease's oh-so-sudden breaking, with ever-so-convenient timing.

That was bad enough, but it would have been survivable – if Luo Binghe hadn't seen Gongyi Xiao enjoying his time with the little mistress, hadn't seen Gongyi Xiao come home with an often absent flush of excitement in his eyes, as he talked about his old friends, about Huan Hua's public-facing good works (which Luo Binghe's father and mother were secretly investigating, because honestly– Luo Binghe's family knew way too much and was far to connected with Huan Hua), about how the little mistress had even managed to talk her father into getting Binghe a position there – it was far lower than it by any rights should be, with how high Luo Binghe had risen within Xin Yang, but wouldn't Binghe consider it?

Luo Binghe had considered it.

He wanted to stay with Gongyi Xiao, wanted to keep being with Gongyi Xiao even as they drifted apart even as they stayed close together, wanted to stay together with the one who had helped him at the start–

But Luo Binghe had met the master of Huan Hua, and the master had met him – and despite the name Luo Binghe lived under, wanting a name and life all his own separate from his parents and safe from their enemies and corporate espionage, and even more than that wanting to hold onto a connection with Miss Luo, who had been the first one to take him in and raise him after his birth, when his parents had been unable to; unable to due to this man – the man who had been able to immediately tell just whose son he was, and there was no way Luo Binghe was placing himself under that man's care.

His mother had warned him about the old master before, and warned him far more thoroughly and with painfully brutal honesty the next time they talked together – and so Luo Binghe knew better than to fall under the man's wing; not for honest work, not for spying, and not even for Gongyi Xiao.

Still- even if Luo Binghe stayed behind and Gongyi Xiao left, that didn't mean their relationship had to end, right? Their relationship had begun wearing away even faster than before once Gongyi Xiao started reconnecting with his past, but that didn't have to mean it was ending, right? Surely, Gongyi Xiao had still liked him enough – still loved him enough to keep trying, in the same way Luo Binghe that Luo Binghe was always trying, right?

…

And that's why Luo Binghe had been at the bar last night, where he had met and then subsequently married one Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan, who was the son of the Shen's, a noteworthy business family – for their prestige and occasional work with Cang Qiong, but also more personally noteworthy for how they had quietly distanced themselves from their son, not soon before he had come out as gay and in a committed relationship with his soon-to-be husband.

(Luo Binghe may be exasperated with his father most days, may wish his mother spent more time at home, may wish Miss Luo never got sick again so she could keep staying with him and his parents forever and ever – but at least he knew that all three of them loved him and supported him, no matter what, and that they would never kick him out, that they would have accepted him back in a heartbeat if he admitted how bad it was getting or if he'd even simply asked to come home–)

Shen Yuan, who he hadn't recognized at first, because Shen Yuan seemingly tended to try and generally stay out of the spotlight, and because Luo Binghe honestly didn't care all that much about the Shens.

(He did care about one Shen Jiu, though – and by 'care about', Luo Binghe meant that he had a score to settle with that man, after the time Luo Binghe had worked under the cruel, demanding, and absolutely cutting man; before said man had purposefully tossed him towards the Endless Abyss, leading him to working in hell for three years– but otherwise, no, Luo Binghe didn't care about the Shens

But that might be changing, soon, because it was Shen Yuan that he had met last night, had drunkenly cried the surface of his heart out to – because Binghe had cried, and wailed, and let himself be as dramatic as his father at his worst because it hurt but if it hurt while he was being as overblown with it as possible, then it couldn't really hurt him once he closed himself back up, wouldn't really be so painful, wouldn't be quite so real–

Shen Yuan, who had been a complete stranger to him, but who had come to him, comforted him, held him as he cried– who had wiped his tears and patted his head in a way that instantly reminded Binghe of Miss Luo, who had listened to Binghe be overdramatic with his woe and only responded by getting offended on his behalf (which never happened to anyone outside of his parents, when he let them) and actively trying to make Luo Binghe feel better when he was so upset about being dumped–

Shen Yuan, whose family had estranged his brother due to his sexuality and choice in love, who clearly hadn't known or realized that Binghe was gay until Luo Binghe had explicitly spelled it out to him, who hadn't seemed to know how to react for several long, terrifying seconds where Luo Binghe was sure that the cute, sweet, genuinely nice and good man (in a way that somehow felt even better and sweeter than Gongyi Xiao had been) was going to do an about face and start being just as cruel as his brother–

Shen Yuan, who – as soon as he recovered from the apparent shock – had reiterated his offer to let Binghe stay in his home for as long as he needed, that he still thought Luo Binghe would make an amazing husband–

Shen Yuan, who had proposed marriage last night, whose proposal Luo Binghe had accepted last night, who had promptly gotten them both married and then immediately brought Binghe home and then ever so tenderly tucked him into his (spare) bed–

Shen Yuan, who Luo Binghe was cooking breakfast for, who Luo Binghe was waiting to reevaluate with cold sobriety in the light of day–

Shen Yuan, who Luo Binghe could hear exiting his room to come stand in the doorway, who Luo Binghe prepared to greet with a smile firmly pasted on his face, turning around to see–

Shen Yuan, looking at him, with a panicked light in his eyes; comingled curiosity interest hiding just behind all that panic, and was that–

How interesting, Luo Binghe thought, as he prepared to make his first move towards his new "husband".

Let's see just how he wants this to all play out, and find out just how long this could possibly last.

#BingqiuRMB2023 #BingqiuReverseMinibang2023 #Scum Villain's Self-Saving System #SVSSS #Shen Yuan #(who - when he's not in a modern alternate universe - is also known as: )#Shen Qingqiu #Luo Binghe #my fanfiction #ao3 fic #accidental marriage #When you think someone is made of amazing boyfriend material #but they don't believe you #so you have to marry them about it

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