#isekai but with strings attached
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Hythia: Born to a noble family as the young lady Lunatara, a now male Jantar (who has gone through years of arcane education) is hired by the High King of the kingdom. Stuck between the fame of the "family" he desperately wants to separate himself from, and the genuine talent in magic he holds, Jantar must survive the life of the royal court as not only war looms ahead, but his family desperately tries to get him back in their clutches.
My Fairy King: The king and queen of the kingdom Neronia could not bear children, so they made a deal with a fairy sorceress for one of her children to masquerade as their own. Now Ink, suddenly thrust into royal life as their "son", must quickly find a bride and settle down before anything happens to his "father". He befriends an unwed girl and her secret lover, and the two engage in a "wedding of friendship" to free the girl from her oppressive family. All the while, the court Jester has his eyes on the young prince, intending to have him for himself. (Might end up nsfw)
A Star Is Chosen: A newly appointed king, clearly inexperienced, appoints his court. During the audition to become the Royal Mage, Cecil fascinates the king by reading his fortune, earning him a spot in the court. With a cunning jester and a rulebook-toting advisor also on the team, this motley crew must make this kingdom the most prestigious in the empire.
Legenda - The Red Ropes: In the afterlife known as Legenda, the god Chaos's power has shocked the world once again, causing "Red Strings of Fate" to appear and connect people. Crest, along with a crew of others seemingly unaffected by this sudden change in the world, must go about and solve the mysteries of who is attached to who, and later who is attached to the mighty queen Flora herself before it's too late.
A Courtly Love Affair - Falling for Every Royal Face In The Place!: This Isekai features Hiroto, a novice stargazer that, when hit by a truck, is transported to a fantastic new world. Entering the audition for a local kingdom's court mage, he finds himself blessed with the power of the stars! Befriending the Prince, The Advisor, The Spymaster, and the Jester (And eventually falling in love with each of them!), Hiroto must navigate the arranged marriage and the princess's plan to topple the kingdom from inside!
Over and Over: Castor finds himself smack-dab in the middle of his own Groundhog Day, the same 24 hours looping over and over again. At first he thinks he's going insane, with nothing he does stopping the looping, until he learns that the court jester also remembers these loops. Together the pair must find the cause of this; a protective spell placed on the King in case of his death that rewinds time so that his lover could save him. With this mystery mage out of the question, Castor and the jester must stop the king's assassination themselves!
#indie rb#art#writing#creative writing#writeblr#writers#write#fiction#authors#novel#novelist#fantasy#fantasy novel#fantasy fiction#poll#tumblr polls#my polls#hyperspecific poll
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Can you ramble about gochi usa for a few paragraphs?
I think Gochiusa exists in kind of an interesting place within the meta of cute girls doing cute things anime, right. Cause a lot of cute girl anime have some sort of gimmick apparent within the very premise in order to stand out from the crowd, which can feel like a necessity given just how many cute girl anime there are. Sometimes it's a band, sometimes it's a sport, sometimes it's a hobby of some sort, hell sometimes it's that they're an isekai. You don't really get cute girl anime that just are cute girls doing cute things these days quite as often, it's always fairly specialised.
It shouldn't be said that Gochiusa doesn't have anything like this - your main hook in the synopsis is that it's primarily set within a coffee shop, and the two main characters' names are puns on hot drinks to lean into that. But that's kinda nothing, right? They're not fishing, they're not rifle shooting, they're not writing manga, they're not dedicated to one particularly complicated board game, they just kinda have part-time jobs. And the show is very much aware of that. So despite the coffee shop being part of the premise, the series as a whole rarely leans into it. It's mostly just cute girls doing whatever. Part of this is cause of its age - the manga started in 2011, even that long ago there was less competition and less need to set yourself apart from the premise alone. But it's still kinda noteworthy that it's a relatively modern cute girl anime without a core thing to set itself apart.
And that's where we get to the fun part. Without needing to be dedicated to one specific thing, Gochiusa kinda gets to do anything it wants without any real disconnect. They'll go to the pool, to the festival, to the halloween party, to the christmas party, to work, to just regular old school. There's no strings attached. It's just kind of normal. And since it doesn't need to justify anything it does, it can focus on just being really entertaining the entire time. The characters are adorable, the jokes are consistently funny, the slice of life is ultra-relaxing, the fuckin town it's set in looks like this
(stole these screenshots from here)
And while Gochiusa does all these normal things as pleasantly as other cute girl anime could only dream of, there's still a little bit of magic in the setting, of all things. Main character Chino's grandfather is currently in the body of a small fluffy rabbit. It's implied that other main character Cocoa accidentally did this when she was joking about casting spells as a child. It's not assumed that this is normal or anything, but for how supernatural that actually is it feels fairly incidental when you're watching the show because hey, who cares about the mechanics of this background magic when Cocoa and Chiya have got English homework to do?
It also needs to be said that a particular area Gochiusa excels in is that really every core character has a well defined relationship with one another, or in other words, there's no dynamic that goes unexplored. This is something that more cute girl shows struggle with than you'd think, but it goes a long way to sell you on group friendships and making the characters believable and shit. How differently does Syaro interact with childhood friend Chiya than she does with her crush Rize, or newly met friends Cocoa and Chino, you know? This even holds true for a good amount of the supporting cast too, whom happen to also be fun enough to carry scenes on their own without making me miss the main characters at all.
I'll say very briefly that the show does have a particularly rough aspect to it early on by way of some rather tasteless fanservice. It is thankfully only of the oldest character, but it's still far from necessary and pretty early on the series realises it doesn't need to operate like that in order to be enjoyable for the audience. So that gets phased out quick.
Past this point I start running into the issue of struggling to convey why I think something is especially good, because fuck me is it easier to talk about obviously bad stuff than obviously good stuff. And that's even harder with Gochiusa because nothing about it screams "yeah no I'm obviously good in an easy-to-describe way". It's a cute girls doing cute things anime without much of a gimmick, in written text format there are few ways I can come up with to actually sell that. And yet, the show's just really really good lol. On my most recent rewatch which was followed by season 3's airing, my face muscles started to get tired from smiling ear-to-ear every episode. Saying that out loud by the way makes me realise season 3 was almost 4 years ago - maybe I'm due for a rewatch lol.
Also as one last brief thing, Chino is just one of my favourite characters in any anime I've seen. Cute as hell design and I especially love her hair, that helps, but she also just has a nice simple character arc that happens across the series, without ever being overstated or anything since hey, Gochiusa is chill like that. Said arc is mainly one of a quiet introvert girl opening up and becoming more confident. She still enjoys her alone time and has solo hobbies the series respects, but she's also capable of taking initiative and making more of her own friends and such. It's nice. Also Gochiusa isn't immune to the passage of time so a lot of this stuff takes place over the course of Chino graduating from middle school and going into high school, which is something the anime hasn't fully gotten into yet but which a season 4 would cover, I imagine. Hopefully that can come soon - the series always does well enough to where I assume it'll happen one day.
Actual last thing just for fun
The dads look like this lol
#gochiusa#asks#18.2.24#i've not written something like this in a while but it was surprisingly kind of a struggle#also mad at myself for the fuckin high school essay ass 'it also needs to be said' type writing like fuck off me#but also too lazy to fix it#oh well#context for this ask btw is i was in vc with bando and he was on my tumblr and saw the rize birthday post and was like damn josh i always#forget gochiusa is in your faves and i was like yeah that's cause i never talk about it#so bando decided to give me a reason to talk about it#very cool
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isekai reader given the chance to return home no strings attached and yet decides that for all the trouble and pain they've had here, they actually wanna stay. they have magic powers, powerful friends, and can actually help people on a massive scale. weither it's jayce and viktor or silco and jinx, they tell them "Guess what guys. you're stuck with me now. I'm staying."
Best happy-ending outcome of this Choose Your Own Adventure
;w;<3
If they take the Viktor route, they share breakthroughs in science and find an eventual cure to Viktor's illness without him going into Machine Herald territory. If they take the Silco route, Zaun is a free nation, and they are holding peace talks with the Firelights so they can help rebuild the city both Silco and Ekko love together.
#asks#arcane league of legends#arcane#arcane viktor#arcane silco#silco#viktor#silco x reader#viktor x reader
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Kanazawa Division 🛡
Kanazawa Division Justice Shield is an all male rap group consisting of the Homicide Detective, Joey Kurusu, the FBI Agent, Kyler Aaron, and the Police Officer and Division Leader, Wataru Sasaki.
The group's color is Navy Blue. The color symbolizes importance, confidence, power, and authority, as well as intelligence, stability, unity, and conservatism.
The group's symbol is the Shield which symbolizes stability, protection, longevity, tradition, solidity, masculinity, toughness, boldness, confidence, no retreat, no surrender. The team also thinks it fits them well, given their occupations as a type of Law Enforcement.
Each person in the group has a form of a shield on their person. Wataru wears a pin, Kyler has a tattoo, and Joey has a pendant attached to his choker.
The group's hand sign from Rhyme Anima is simply raising their fist in the air.
This group formed together by happenstance, all sharing the same goal to take down the one(s) responsible for the strings of murders that have been plaguing Japan.
Masterlist:
Wataru Sasaki 👮🏻♂️
Character Profile
Family Profile
Timeline
Moodboard
Kyler Aaron 🕶️
Character Profile
Family Profile
Timeline
Moodboard
Birthday Event 2023
Joey Kurusu ♠️
Character Profile
Family Profile
Timeline
Moodboard
Birthday Event 2023
Extras 🛡️
Character Inspirations
Profile Cards
Team Dynamics
Voiceclaims
Before & After
Extra Wardrobe I & II
House Aesthetics
Picrews
Isekai Outfits
Justice Shield x Sanrio Collaboration
NSFW Headcanons 2023, 2024
Valentines Event 2023
Halloween Event 2022, 2023
Christmas Event 2023
Albums (Songs & Drama Tracks) 🛡️
First Album
Kizuna/Bonds
Miscellaneous 🛡️
Mr. Hypmic Male Beauty Pageant 2023
#hypnosis mic oc#hypmic oc#hypnosis mic#hypmic#hypnosis microphone#kanazawa division#justice shield#wataru sasaki#kyler aaron#joey kurusu#intro post!#masterlist
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My parents told me (in a very weird conversation that became a lecture) that I should be more Alfa, more imposing and all, I do want to be imposing but not and Alfa or any of this( unless I enter a omegaverse isekai somehow but that is for another time) .
I have a great historical record of people pleasing and being "too nice" and I get the parts that are wrong and in it, in a way I manipulate people with kind words and gestures because I was scared they would leave me or treat me badly but now I am getting better and growing.
Also it didn't make things better to have a house were any time I wanted to talk or thought something was wrong I was seen as "dumb" "just a kid" and a lot of other things that my hungry stomach doesn't let me remember (is better this way, forgotten)
I want to have my own aura, not follow their "manly way" I wish I had a presence that resembles the fellings of having being under a heavy blanket in a cold day, the unique warmth, the cozyness but also the desire to stay under it and the caution to not let any of your limbs out or the cold shall enter and ruin it all in less than seconds. I am here, I can give you all you want but beware to never overstep 'cause all of this that you full yourself in can be taken, I have plenty and share it with no strings attached but if you take more than what you give, see it all for granted or think you "own it all" soon you will have less than nothing. I won't take it at first, I will give you chance to change, again, again, again and again and when you think I can't I will take all that is mine back and will never give it back the same way you will feel heat but not warm, the brute subject but not the refine one, never more the one that caresses you to sleep, that cares for you when I'll or stressed, tge one that would give the world for you, only the one that's here but has other as priority not by what they give alone but for the gratitude in the simple actions, the love and care they give back, in a lesser manner? Yes, but in the best way they can, you will never fill it again.
Few undestand the strength needed to be the blanket that covers the other from the frezzed world, to be strong and resilient enoght to do this, to be this is what i aspire the most to afford to be good with no fear for evil becaise nobody can shake me more than me myself and I would let.
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I need a space to ramble about how much I love My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom
This series is so good and I love it so much. This is a bisexual harem comedy with a female protagonist that I would argue is very much on the autistic spectrum and/or has ADHD. While this could easily be a complete disaster, I think it's handled beautifully and I am deeply hyperfocused on it and love it so much. Hopefully this has caught your attention if so read on, if not, take care ^_^/
A quick, more or less spoiler free rundown of the series.
Unnamed high school girl gets isekaied thanks to your friendly neighbourhood truck and awakens in the world of the otome game she's been staying up late to complete. Ends up as the villainess of the game whom is either exiled or killed in the game due to her treatment of the protagonist, Marie. However, she awakens at the age of 8 and has 7 years to try and figure out a plan to avoid the upcoming death flags and not die. She essentially does this by being kind and accidentally making everyone fall in love with her. However, Katerina is so direct and so dense that she does not realize that any of the characters are in love with her, causes the harem problems because of miscommunications that come out of this, but is too kind and genuine to be disliked for this. This last part is the really important bit when it comes to my feelings of Katerina having ADHD/ASD.
Katerina is so beloved because of her differences from everyone else. In the transactional aristocratic society, her genuine and kind self shines like a beacon. The series, particularly the light novels, takes pains to show how and why each of the main 7 harem members begins to love Katerina, and reiterates it from multiple perspectives. All of them find themselves moved by her compassion and her openness, all of which stem from her ND ass being unable to mask in noble society. While she is occasionally lectured by her mother for her lack of decorum and often bizarre behaviours (from a regency perspective), she is not meaningfully punished for being herself, but rather accepted and loved for who she is. Even her mother deeply loves Katerina and owes some of her happiness to the way her daughter's directness has affected her life. She is deeply weird and is loved not inspite of it, but because of it. Other characters quickly learn that her kindness has no strings attached and let them give themselves permission to be more honest as well. Even though they are often frustrated by misunderstandings and her inability to really recognize their advances, they realize that those same parts of her neurodivergence make her the person they love in the first place.
It resonates a lot with my own experiences in some ways. There are plenty of times that I've had misunderstandings and events that complicated various relationships I've had, but the people still in my life know that I mean well and do learn and grow in the end. Katerina is also afforded way more of this grace that I've seen in many shows. Katerina is allowed to be messy and complicated, and she is still loved. She's allowed to be socially awkward and weird, and she is still loved. She's allowed to not fit in or always get it, and she is still loved.
I really want to go on more about this, but I'm still pretty high and it's getting harder to focus. If you read all this, thank you so much. I hope you have a great day and take care ^_^/
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I was just rereading this Monty Python fanfiction that I only wrote 7 chapters for before abandoning it back in 2020. Dang, time flies, doesn’t it?
Anyway, to anyone here who remembers the fanfic called “Monty Python and the Ultimate Boon” which was like a parody isekai thing starring the Pythons who got transported into another world, I have no plans to update it in the future. I guess I should’ve said that a while back but I forgot to let you know.
I was having fun with the worldbuilding parts, but as I went along, I grew increasingly skeeved out with myself for writing a real person fic. I just can’t bring myself to continue making one of those, even if I was trying to be tongue-in-cheek about it.
My original inspiration was this wacky old Beatles fanfiction called “With Strings Attached”, which I think was about aliens, who were fans of theirs, who put the Beatles on a planet and made them ridiculously overpowered (which I think was the author making sure the audience wouldn’t worry about killing them off) and the conflict was that the band would have to try saving the people with their superpowers while also adhering to their pacifism.
I thought it was weird how the author went out of their way to make such an in-depth setting, but that the protagonists being the Beatles was practically an afterthought and had very little to do with the plot other than recognition from the audience, and I thought that the author could have probably written about some made-up band that was just a parody of the Beatles that got isekai’d and the story would probably work just as well (I haven’t read the whole thing so I don’t know how it turns out)
So the joke with my fic was gonna be that the Pythons were chosen to save an alien world because the one who brought them there legitimately thought their wit and surrealist art would make this comedy troupe qualified enough to save a surreal world, and that they’d be given NO powers at all, and so they’d be forced to just use their wit and whatever other skills they had, though I didn’t get far enough to really execute that idea.
I feel kinda bad for abandoning the story cause the responses were very positive, and re-reading it there’s quite a bit of stuff I’m still proud of writing-wise, but I just can’t write an RPF even ironically.
Maybe someday I’ll take the original ideas I had in there like the puns around the body and psychology, the whole Id, Ego, and Superego thing, the Seven Sages, etc. and make them stand on their own cause, not to toot my own horn too much, but I think there’s some clever stuff potentially worth revisiting.
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Fall anime 2020
And wow, it’s the last season of 2020! May the new year be a lot better, not just anime related!
{ Winter ‘18 } { Spring ‘18 } { Summer ‘18 } { Fall ‘18 } { Winter ‘19 } { Spring ‘19 } { Summer ‘19 } { Fall ‘19 } { Winter ‘20 } { Spring ‘20 } { Summer ‘20 }
Alongside the continuations and new seasons like fire force, danmachi, mahouka koukou no rettousei, golden kamuy and so, these are the new shows that we started:
100-man no Inochi no Ue ni Ore wa Tatteiru
It is pretty typical isekai anime, just that it has twist and they can go back to their world every time they do a quest. I could see potential in characters and their development, but they aren’t kind of characters I would care about or watch something with meh plot for. Maybe they are building up for something cool, but for now, it was kind of boring for me.
Akudama Drive
Overwhelmingly cool show about criminals in a dystopian future world. There is not much to say about the story without spoiling other than being so unnecessary cool that I loved it an unnatural amount! The characters, the setting, the action scenes, the animation and conversations, everything is just so aesthetic! I looked forward to it every week! Gonna miss them a lot. Just beware of a lot of violence and blood scenes (even though they are mostly censored).
By the Grace of the Gods
A really soft isekai with a boy who tames slimes. This is that one (at least) show of the season where you can just turn off your brain, watch some cuteness and forget about everything. It comes with no strings attached, you can drop it halfway and not think twice about it, it won’t make you feel bad in any way, just happiness and rainbows, and sometimes that’s what I need.
Hypnosis Mic -Division Rap Battle- Rhyme Anima
Women rule the world and pretty boys rap to assert dominance. That’s it, that’s the premise and if you think that ridiculous, yes, it truly is haha If you want to have a laugh, listen to some rapping (can’t say much about the quality of it, but I enjoyed it immensely, good va’s!), go watch it. The plot quality is debatable to say the least, but it’s not really an anime about the story, rather about the 12+ guys and their friendships and rivals and well... rap.
Ikebukuro West Gate Park
Although a little bit on the improbable side to happen IRL, Ikebukuro WGP showcases multiple situations where we dive behind the back of many realistic happenings in bigger cities. There is always some company in conflict with another thinking solving it in their way is the best possible choice, not taking into consideration what happens to the little people bearing their consequences. It is of course up to the “good mafia” guys to solve it. If you are reading the Webtoon Weak Hero and are in search for some more realistic gang divisions, then feel free to give this anime a try. It has a pretty lovable and crafty MC minus the high-school setting.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Ohh my where to start xD yes, you are looking at the fan favorite anime of this season and there is no doubt about it having that title. I can go on and try to convince everyone saying it has the perfect animation, soundtrack, appearance of the characters and so on but to truly experience it, you will have to watch it. Character development is on the slower track but it is understandable since it is obvious that the series will be a “long distance runner”. What impressed me the most is the perfect balance of humor and tragedy, so if you are one to typically enjoy shonen anime, give it definitely a try through the 3 episodes rule!
Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear
A girl got isekai’d in a game and now finds friends and people she cares about. Oh and she’s in a bear suit. This was one of those shows I watched for relaxation. There are no bad emotions coming from it and you can just relax, watch something that doesn’t need you to turn on your brain and try to be happy. If you are looking for something serious, you won’t really find it here.
Majo no Tabitabi
A witch that travels the world, visiting many cities and meeting a lot of people, hearing their stories and moving on. Not action packed, but has things happening throughout the eps. I thought it would be another happy show, but it turned to be quite dark in some episodes. Most episodes have their separate story with minimal connection to the previous ones and some are heartwarming and some are downright grim. Overall, the plot is interesting and the MCs development and way of thinking is interesting too!
Maoujou de Oyasumi
I KNEW this one is gonna be good when I first read the description of the manga in the bookstore 2 years ago xD What you see above is a small princess who wishes nothing more than a good sleep and a bunch of demons who decided to capture her. It becomes clear early on that she isn’t your typical prisoner as she sets out on quests to find stuff to make her rest more comfortable and NOTHING is gonna stand in her way. Your time watching this anime will be filled with heartfelt laughter and love for the all the characters. Yes, some people might be triggered by her actions and personality but I do believe since I (as a person who prefers to watch shonen) am impressed with it, a great number of people will like it.
Munou na Nana
I really love this anime. MC is an antagonist, pretty much an antihero, but she was made to believe that she is the hero. She is very smart, so anything she plots end up interesting. This show always keeps me on the end of my seat. And it’s a great combination of everyone has supernatural abilities + high school setting, but with a darker twist to it. It’s one of my favorites this season!
Noblesse
I read the webtoon and I am fan of it, so I am really happy to see Noblesse became an anime! Characters are really awesome and plot is action packed. I’m sure you won’t regret watching it! The humor, the lore and the action is very well balanced and it’s just a good story. If you feel like you really like the anime, but something is missing and you have some time, the webtoon is amazing! Of course, they actually did the anime quite well, but some jokes or additional train of thought that goes in the characters head cannot be all transferred into the animation. Oh and - watch Noblesse: Awakening before this! That’s like the crash course of the first arc of the story.
Taiso Samurai
A MAPPA anime about a japanese gymnast on the verge of retirement, his daughter and a ninja they adopted! That about covers it! It’s a soft and heartwarming story that really leaves a good feeling after watching it. The characters are lovable and the drama side of the story levels out with humor pretty well, without glossing over stuff too much. I can’t say much about the sports aspect since I don’t know much, but it was worth the watch even though it isn’t the most amazing action-packed anime ever. But it was a solid story, good charas and was just soft.
With a Dog AND a Cat, Every Day is Fun
One and a half minute of a lady with a cat and a dog being incredibly relatable.
Yuukoku no Moriarty
Ah yes, I’m a sucker for every possible variation of sherlock homes, so it’s no wonder how much I enjoyed this. It’s centered about Moriarty, but Sherlock has his time in the later half of the show. The animation is just so beautiful, I loved the stories and mysteries and the way they handled Moriarty as a character. Also a good mixture of mystery, people being hideous creatures, main characters being pretty af and humor. I should continue to the manga now.
Dropped: MAGATSU WAHRHEIT, The Day I Became a God
#fall anime 2020#season review#jujutsu kaisen#akudama drive#yuukoku no moriarty#noblesse#ikebukuro west gate park#100-man no inochi no ue ni ore wa tatteiru#taiso samurai#munou na nana#maoujou de oyasumi#majo no tabitabi#magatsu wahrheit#kuma kuma kuma bear#hypnosis mic: division rap battle - rhyme anima#by the grace of the gods#with a dog and a cat every day is fun
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Here are three moments from the god isekai from two characters that we've seen before and one new person.
Wilbur was having the time of his life at first he did have a bit of a headache once he realised you were here but then he had an epiphany you weren't his problem anymore. He could kick back relax and watch Dream and his cronies run around like head less chickens heck he could imagine in Dreams house there would be a bunch of signs with strings attached as he tried to piece together information about you. Unfortunately for Dream as he had found out over the course of months the more he found out about you the more he would wish he hadn't as you broke reality.
Ramboo could honestly say he didn't see his day going this way, he had left home memory book in hand to explore the far reaches of the smp he hadn't expected a winged enderman hybrid to swoop down in front of him looking up at him in amazement (Dream hadn't told him that there was another End hybrid on the server but then again the tour was abandoned once George rushed over yelling about a new lead) and asking a million questions a minute before introducing himself as Talos. The hybrid child continued to visit him every time he was far from the central smp though on this latest few visits Talos kept inviting him to his home (he wanted his parent to meet the person who looked like him the person who could pass as his big brother).
Dreamxd knew that his intentions towards you and your child was selfish. He already had a family in Drista he knew very few gods had family but she was spending more and more time asleep for years at a time a common trend nowadays for gods when they didn't just decide to fade away into nothingness or as Foolish had done incarnat as a mortal in exchange for their memories and the vast majority of their power. He knew that Drista was contemplating the latter option the prospect of a short but truly free life much more appealing than an eternal life shacked by her duty as a goddess of chaos. But from what he had gathered from Tommy you didn't sleep nor did your child, you never shrunk away from the prospect of eternity with your only company being the child you created, he wanted that the knowledge that no matter what you would still be there that at least one bond, one attachment wouldn't end in up with him being alone, maybe in another world Dream would look and see the god he was named for desperately trying to keep it together trying to not lose himself in his loneliness and knowledge that he would always be left behind and maybe that would start his own thoughts about attachments and how if they could do that to a god what would they do to him if he kept them? But thankfully this is not that world anymore. He knew he was being selfish wanting to insert himself in your family but now that he knew that the prospect of a family that he where be left behind, of the prospect of a son and spouse that he wouldn't see age and die within a blink of an eye as he remained now that he knew of such a thing he couldn't, wouldn't let it slip through his fingers.
Ender-anon
So yea that's Dreamxd motivations at least for my take on it he's a little yandere but I suppose spending thousands of years watching those he loved age and die watching everything he's ever loved turn to dust while he still remains, wouldn't you grasp the chance of something to love that you won't outlive someone who can understand the burden immortality is on his heart.
Wilbur being so thrilled once he realizes that your not his problem anymore is just great. Damn do I love talos seeing Ranboo and going "big brother".
And yandere dreamxd- yes. God's like you two have so much to fight with. If people don't worship you in some way you go dormant, or you give or immortality for a "normal" life. But if you do have a long life you see so much, lose so many people. Who could blame his for falling in love with another God so quickly. Someone who's so sweet that one of their first acts of power was to make a son. Someone who he would never have to deal with losing as fast as a mortal love interest. Who could blame him?
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Ghosts We See // Chapter 6
Summary:
When a volleyball was spiked into your head, you did not expect it to be powerful enough to send you into another dimension completely.
As you look for a way to return home, the powers and politics of this new world are each intent on keeping you for themselves for their own gains, purposes, and motivations.
Everyone wants something, and you are at the core of it.
The line between the world you know and the world you are discovering blurs, affecting not just you but the two worlds too.
As you hold on tight to the ends of the strings that keep everything together, your mind, body, and heart unravels at the seams as the two worlds begin falling apart.
This must be how Spider-Man felt in Homecoming as he tried to keep two halves of a breaking ship together.
Genre: Reverse Harem, Slow Burn, Isekai, College/University AU, Fantasy AU, Worldbuilding, Angst, So Much Slowburn The Whole Forest Is On Fire
Pairings: F!Reader X Kuroo/Bokuto/Suna/Atsumu/Osamu/Kita/Oikawa/Ushijima
All chapters can be found on AO3 (27 chapters as of this post; link on pinned post) I recommend reading on AO3 as Tumblr messes with a lot of the text formats I use in many of the chapters.
Ghosts We See // Chapter 6: The Forest Chase
“Mornin’!”
“Morning.”
“Good morning!” You greeted back, round cheeks full with a happy smile as you ran up to the twins at the kindergarten gates, the yellow uniform hat bouncing on your head haphazardly. Good, easy days like this with the twins were the best and most fun.
“Stop copying me every time I greet her ‘Samu!”
“I wasn’t copying ya’, we’re both just greeting her, ya scrub!”
“Well, I said it first!”
“We said it at the same time!”
Or not.
“Ya' finished the last piece, so ya' clean the dishes ‘Tsumu.”
“What, ya’ ate more than two of us combined so ya' clean it up!”
“The person who used something last should clean it.”
“No, the one who used it more cleans!”
“I-It’s okay, I'm the guest so I’ll clean it…!”
"That makes no sense!" They said simultaneously.
“Why’d ya’ make her cry for ‘Samu?”
“I didn’t make her cry, ya' threw the snowball too hard ‘Tsumu.”
“It was yer stupid bag she tripped over!”
“I-I’m not crying, it just hurts a little...I slipped on the ice...”
“I want to sit in the front!
“Ya' sat last time ‘Tsumu.”
“No, I didn’t, stop making up lies!”
“The both of ya’ will sit in the back!” Their mother reprimanded as she ushered you into the passenger seat of the car instead, off on your way to the nearby supermall.
"Hee-hee!" You stuck your tongue out at them and they scowled back in return.
“This is stupid, I don’t wanna do it!!”
“S-Same here! Let’s just not!”
“I’m telling you guys, this will work! This was how my dad pulled my brother’s loose tooth out too!” You told the twins as you held onto the doorknob with two strings attached, the other ends leading to a tooth of Atsumu’s and Osamu’s each.
“It’ll be over before you know it!”
“NO--!”
“AHH-!!”
“G-Guys...I-I think I’ll just wait for my parents to take me to the dentist…”
“What do ya’ mean, remember when ya' helped us? Ya' remember don’t cha’, ‘Samu?”
“I sure do ‘Tsumu. We really appreciated yer help then. We’re just returning the favor.”
“P-Please DON’T--!!”
“Heh, ya’ better be grateful! We don’t show this skill to just anyone .”
“Yea, we especially don’t show it to girls .”
They simultaneously remarked proudly to you.
“What are you guys talking about?”
They proceeded to do a setup and spike that they learned on their own.
Then came junior high and actual volleyball.
“My spikes are so much better than yers.”
“What, no they aren’t. Stop being delusional.”
“Whose spikes do ya' think are better?!”
“I’m...not the best judge for these things?”
“Ya’ joined dance classes?”
“Do ya’ even know how to dance?”
“Yer such an idiot ‘Tsumu. That’s why she’s going to go to classes. But you’re clumsy though, so it’s gonna be hard.”
“You guys don’t have to be so blunt about this.”
“Listen, yer piece of shit! I told ya' over and over I didn’t touch yer filthy stuffs nor do I even want to look inside yer stinkin’ bag!!”
“Then tell me why my favorite sports bottle is missin’ if ya' didn’t take it!!”
“The hell would I know! Ya' lose yer shit all the time!!”
The old lady next door hushed loudly at the twins, squinting wrinkly eyes at them.
You bowed deeply at her three times, before forcefully pushing the twins along, slotting yourself in between to separate their flying arms.
“Oi, are ya’ actually still going to dance class?”
“Do ya’ even like it?”
“She’s just doing it cause she can’t play volleyball with us.”
“That’s such a lame excuse. You’re lame.”
“H-Hey! I like it just fine, thank you very much!”
“My mum asked if you guys wanted to come over for dinner.”
“Is yer brother going to be home? I want a rematch with him on FIFA.”
“Ya’ know yer suck at FIFA so why do ya’ even bother?”
“Speak for yerself!”
“Maybe I’ll tell nii-san to eat out tonight…”
“So where’s our valentine chocolate?”
“Oh right, ya' didn’t give any to us today yet.”
“You already got a bunch from the other girls, do you even need any from me?”
“The more the better…”
“Those are like, giri-chocolates to us! Yers is honmei right?”
“Who would ever want to give ya’ honmei chocolates?”
“...whatever, here. I just thought you guys didn’t need anymore...They aren’t honmei though. You two better get me something for White Day.”
“How long are ya' guys gonna hog the televi-”
“Shhh, he’s sleeping.” You whispered, motioning at a sleeping Atsumu who was sprawled across the couch, head on your lap, lightly snoring. You closed your book as Osamu approached.
“Ya' can just push him off ya’ know,” Osamu said but kept his voice low despite his words as he sat down on the floor in front of the couch.
“I know, ‘Samu.”
You spent the next hour reading at the Miya household whilst Osamu played Winning Eleven on mute, a box of animal chocolate biscuits shared between the both of you. Atsumu blissfully continued his afternoon nap.
“Uhm...my family is moving to Tokyo.”
“What?!”
“Why?”
Then the dreaded move.
“Well, you’ll visit us right?”
“Of course! And you guys should come to visit Tokyo too! We can go to Disneyland together!”
“Disney is lame. We should hit up Fuji-Q instead!”
“Let’s promise to always keep in touch!”
For as long as you can remember, your relationship with the twins has always been an extreme cycle of sorts, ranging from them arguing with one another, teaming up against you, you playing peacemaker, and the once in a blue moon peaceful days.
Those days were your favorites.
Despite the gap of several years in between due to your moving away, they have always been a big influence during your most formative years and remain a big part of your life now. If it wasn’t for them, you would never have discovered dance. If it weren’t for them, you wouldn’t have met so many new friends at university.
You were very glad you threw mud on Atsumu that day in kindergarten.
“‘Samu,” you breathed.
That girl had been Miya Osamu.
She had been your childhood friend, one of your best friends, ‘Samu, all along.
She had been ‘Samu all along.
Your mind was both a blank and a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings, your eyes glued to that familiar face you have missed so much in recent days.
Those grey eyes you knew so well flickered down to glance at you, a brief frown pulling at his brows. But then it was gone and in its place, a broad, confident smirk you were more used to seeing on Atsumu appeared, his attention back on Kenma whose eyes were wide with shock at the sudden transformation.
“Sorry lil’ cat but we’ll be taking her with us. No hard feelings, eh, distant cousin o’ mine?”
Before either you or Kenma could react, ‘Osamu’ threw you over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes and jumped off the branch with one powerful push of his legs, beginning a fluid rhythm of leaps as he hopped from tree to tree.
You yelped as you flopped nauseatingly against him, scrambling to grip his clothes in your hands to keep yourself from repeatedly imprinting your face into his back. Looking up in front of you to where ‘Osamu’ left Kenma, you saw a large cloud of orange smoke filtering amongst the green leaves of the forest.
From that cloud came Kenma’s fully transformed feline form, his lithe body of white with patches of brown and gold soaring through the air as he bounded after you and ‘Osamu’.
“Kenma!!” You called out for him, even as your mind tore itself apart from indecision, not knowing if you should be so complacent with the one who looks like your childhood friend or struggle to get back to the one who has been your friend during this entire ordeal.
You have no idea what is going on but it was obvious that they were not on the same side of the court.
The decision was made for you however, when you felt ‘Osamu’ slap a hand on your back, and thick, red rope slithered out from the sleeves of his clothes and up your body, binding your arms together in front of you.
‘Wha-?!’
Then with the same arm, Osamu lightly waved it out in an arc and several branches behind him shimmered and disappeared into thin air. Kenma’s figure faltered, slowing down as he adjusted midair to find footing against the trunk of a tree instead, but did not stop in his pursuit as he switched to using tree trunks as his propulsion board.
Osamu grinned viciously over his shoulder, eyes almost glowing a bright silver instead of their usual tranquil grey. He looked like he was enjoying this.
“I guess what they say about cats landing on their feet every time is true!” He barked out in laughter, whether to you, to Kenma, to himself, or someone else entirely, you did not know. Each branch he leaped off wavered and disappeared, along with several others in its proximity, confusing and disorienting Kenma who was trying to catch up.
‘Shit .’ Kenma cursed to himself.
Even in his full feline form, he was having trouble catching up to their retreating figures; the fox-male was without a doubt superior to Kenma in physical capabilities. Kenma himself wasn’t much for physical battles in the first place, as his role with The Dominion has always been tactical, preferring strategy and long-range magic rather than close combat. He makes the plans whilst soldiers like Lev and Yaku carried them out. He wished they were here right now, acknowledging with dismay that if it was them, they would have caught up immediately.
The disappearing illusions the fox left behind in his path didn’t make things any easier for Kenma to find footing for him to jump off. Even if he knew the branches were still there, it was hard to keep track of what was originally there or absolute thin air, not at the speeds the fox was going at.
Why were the foxes here? Were they the ones behind the attack on Nekomata Mountain? Did they act alone or with another party? Was it separate events?
There were too many questions and too few answers.
His mind raced to cover all the possibilities, but as he slowly lost pace to the fox and his captive, he decided he had to focus on the present and figure the rest out later.
Kuroo entrusted her safety to him. He will not allow himself to fail.
His stamina reserves are on the lower side, so he needs to finish this quickly and decisively. Yet he couldn’t risk using any powerful offensive magic lest he hurts you as well. His only other option would be containing them.
Concentrating his magic into his legs, his next jump brought him to the forest floor where the magic zapped out from his forelegs and traveled rapidly across the ground towards its target. A large wall of earth rose high, towering above the treetops in the fox’s path.
The grey-haired male barely stopped, continuing to run up and across the wall at a diagonal path instead as he made to cross it.
Kenma kept up, chasing after them from the ground before he raised several pillars of earth at staggered heights, creating make-shift stairs.
With his magic essence that still lingered in the earth wall, he manipulated them to raise as blocks of cages in swift succession, aiming to catch the fleeing male in them and sealing him in. But the light-footed fox managed to dodge or escape their confines with quick jumps, scaling up the wall and getting closer to the top.
With a snarl, Kenma channeled magic into his four legs, using surges of earth to give himself an extra push forward with each step he took on the erected wall.
He was catching up, but it wasn’t enough!
You watched with panicked eyes at Kenma’s figure bounding after you, white fur soiling with the dirt of the earth, noticing the strain and frustration pulled across his expressive golden eyes as he tried to keep up. You want to do something, anything, to help him but there was nothing you can do.
Arms bound or not, it took all you could to keep yourself from hurling and losing consciousness as you were bounced roughly against ‘Osamu’s’ back, blood rushing and sloshing up around in your head. The speeds they were moving at was too much for your regular body to mentally and physically keep up with.
You tried kicking him (mentally muttering an apology to the Osamu of your world), but with another tap to your legs, more red rope tied themselves around you, binding your legs together.
‘Oh my god, I’m going to be sick,’ was all you could think as your body flailed to the side, flopping like the carp banners you hung up with the twins as children in the wind, unable to resist gravity as ‘Osamu’ ran up the wall. You squeezed your eyes shut and clenched your teeth.
Then your axis suddenly righted itself and you opened your eyes at that moment when it felt like you could finally breathe right. It was a bad decision on your part as ‘Osamu’ had jumped off the top of the wall, leaping up high into the air, the wind gushing and whipping through your hair, and your stomach lurched at the sensation of weightlessness overtaking your body.
At the same time, your heart dropped down to the dirt far below you as if pulled by an anchor descending to the ocean depths.
Your body went numb at the view.
Nekomata Mountain was burning.
The mountain that had sheltered you for the past week with its kind denizens was covered in red flames that spewed thick, black smoke into the equally scarlet sky. Bells were ringing across Moggie Boroughs, and the city was in an uproar at the state of their beloved mountain, flames licking at the once beautiful trees and pagodas that covered the center peak.
Columns of dark fumes belched from the tunnel holes all over the central peak where your room with your belongings was, where Kenma’s, Lev and even Yaku’s room was, where Kuroo’s pagoda was, where you had recently enjoyed dinner with everyone, where Kenma made your favorite milk tea and where the tearoom you relaxed with Kuroo was.
‘No…’
Tears pricked at your eyes, pure white anger rushing through your entire body and your body trembled, knuckle-white fists clenched tightly on ‘Osamu’s’ clothes.
You screamed sharp and loud, without words, just madly and agonizingly, yells and cries of frustration and pain for the people who called that mountain home.
It felt as if you were watching your own home burn.
At your thrashing and tormented expression, Kenma looked behind to find the cause and his breath stopped, golden eyes widening in pure shock.
His home was in flames.
Despair constricted around his heart. He wanted to desperately turn around, to go look for Kuroo, for Lev, for Yaku, for his companions and friends, all the people he loved and cared for; your screaming voice ripped into his ear and he knew without a second thought that turning around was not an option he could take. Not just because Kuroo trusted him to look after you, but because they had just barely begun to unravel the unknown that was a cure to The Rot.
His head was already thinking, planning, strategizing for the long road.
Homes can be rebuilt, nature restored...but The Rot was an impending issue that they have to find a solution for before it got any worse. And if you even had a sliver of potential to do more of what you did for that young girl this morning, then they absolutely could not lose you.
And most of all...
You are his friend too.
He gritted his teeth, his jaws contorting themselves over his protruding fangs in agony. With newfound vigor, he vaulted far into the air with a piercing cry after the only person he could hold accountable at this moment in time.
“ARGHHH!”
His one powerful leap fueled by fury closed the last gap between them, and his jaws opened and his stretched arm rose to hurt the grey-haired male.
At the last possible moment, right before you thought Kenma’s claws would rip into ‘Osamu,’ he twisted in the air and your world spun with his movement.
“You’re surprisingly persistent, aren’t cha?!”
Suddenly, your body was flung away from him like a weightless doll. In the hazy vision of your panic and terror, you saw a large grey fox tackle at Kenma’s much smaller white figure. You heard your own shriek ringing in your ear as you flew through the air, before feeling that dreaded pull of gravity on your entire body and you started hurtling towards the trees and ground.
Dead. Dead. She’s dead.
Destiny coming to finish its work.
A flash of gold and red darted at you from the surrounding greenery below, colliding into your plummeting figure, and you were propelled up into the air once more, your eyelids slamming down tight at the jolting change in direction. You thought your neck would snap.
Is this what a volleyball feels like?
“Say somethin’ next time will ya’ before ya start tossin’ shit!”
Atsumu’s painfully familiar voice rang in your ears, and your eyes snapped back open to look up at a mess of golden-hair and caramel eyes; the hair that used to muss up endearingly in your lap as its owner habitually napped on you in your younger years.
A pair of equally golden fox ears mixed with a short layer of red was slowly forming on the top of his head; unlike the smoke that accompanied the shifts of the cat-folk, strands that seemed to stretch out from his hair twisted and coiled themselves together to form the ears. By this point, you were unable to even will yourself to feel surprised at seeing this.
The part of your chest where your heart resided writhed, twisted and clenched on itself horribly.
The other half of your pair of childhood friends that you have been missing.
And yet…
The image of Mt.Nekomata burning has been emblazoned in charcoal black in your mind; the scent of chrysanthemum tea now the smell of acrid smoke.
You told yourself, repeated to yourself, that even if they looked the same, they were not the twins you knew and missed.
You don’t know how, you don’t know why- but these two are part of the reason Kuroo’s and Kenma’s home is blanketed in flaming red. The coincidence was too great not to be.
Your intense gaze- filled with anger, frustration, sadness, confusion, helplessness- brought ‘Atsumu’s’ attention down to you.
His eyes that you always thought was a pretty shade of honey that complemented Osamu’s pearly grey looked at you in a way you have seen before.
It was the narrowed look that he sometimes had when it was a close match and it was his turn to serve, or when some idiot said something terrible about Osamu behind his brother’s back, or that one time the members of his fan club who didn’t know any better cornered you and threatened you for being too close to him; it was the same look he gave those two boys from the opposing school when his team lost at the Spring High Nationals Tournament in Tokyo years ago.
Only he has never set those eyes on you before. And it punched the breath out of you.
He blinked and it was gone, in its place, a smug smirk that fit all too well on his face appeared instead.
“Sorry doll, no hard feelings, eh?”
And then in the same manner ‘Osamu’ had carted you, ‘Atsumu’ threw you on the opposite shoulder his twin had carried you mere moments ago, and you were back to being bounced carelessly around as he dropped back down into the cover of the trees and continued leaping away.
“Let me go!!” You screamed at him as best you can while being manhandled.
“No can do!” He quipped back lightly, very much like the Atsumu of your world.
This isn’t Atsumu. He is not Atsumu.
Something shone from the shade of the forests, and then two gleaming knives flew at your figures, one nearly taking off a lock of your hair as Atsumu dodged away.
“Woah, that’s a bit dangerous, isn’t it? Nearly poked my cargo here too.” The Atsumu-Not-Atsumu laughed gleefully, obviously enjoying himself.
Menacing gold and striking silver flashed from the shadows of the trees, and you watched with a mixture of hope, appreciation, and lingering fragments of fear as the figure of Bokuto expertly weaved through the trees towards you.
An intimidating grin not too different from the one that was surely on ‘Atsumu’s’ face was pulled across his lips. His naturally intense eyes were blown wide, golden pinpricks focused on you and your captor; his head scarcely shifted from its extended forward position as his body turned and twisted behind him amongst the trees.
Like a true predator of the night.
“Hah, so long as it isn’t fatal, she can handle a few cuts!” Bokuto said, teeth showing in a callous sneer.
That...was not reassuring at all, Bokuto!
You grunted when there was a particularly hard jab into your stomach from where ‘Atsumu’s’ shoulder dug in as he jumped up to higher leveled branches, hoping to disorient Bokuto’s movements with the increase of branches. The forest was already a clear disadvantage to Bokuto and his wings, but years of training and practice were evident in his motions as he dived up after you, wings folding, spreading, and spinning as he navigated the dense forestry.
Gusts of wind blew from his wings during a small break in the trees, and you yelped, burying your face into your tied arms and your kidnapper’s back.
‘Atsumu’ rolled forward with the harsh winds that tried to topple him over from behind, using the added momentum to his advantage instead, his excited laughter ringing around you as his other arm came up against your back to secure you to him as he rolled through the air. You were unable to keep your eyes open as everything spun in rapid circles, losing track of which way was up and which was down.
“This is pretty fun!”
You did not share his sentiment as your stomach reeled on this horrendous roller-coaster ride that was the shoulders of ‘Miya Atsumu’.
‘Oh god, I-I think my n-neck might really break!’
Another dagger aimed at his leg flew at ‘Atsumu’. It grazed him as he side-stepped, and Bokuto’s lips pulled back in a provoking smirk.
“Did you know owls hunt foxes?” Bokuto’s taunt echoed in the trees, reminding you of the night he found you in the forest.
“Well, did ya’ know foxes eat baby owls?” The golden-haired twin teased back loudly.
No, you don’t know either and you don’t care! These two were more intent on playing chase rather than actually duking it out, and you did not know how to feel about it! On one hand, you were glad you did not have to watch copies of your friends hurting each other, on the other, you were passing your maximum discomfort limit. Thank god you had a light dinner.
“It must really suck to be unable to use magic well! Have you ever seen fox-fire before?!” ‘Atsumu’ called back as floating orbs of golden-red fire, sometimes flickering purple, began appearing around him; the wisps chillingly conjured images of ghosts and spirits in you despite the heat radiating from them. These wisps launched towards Bokuto who evaded expertly, resulting in the orbs colliding with trees that instantly combusted into flames.
What did he say? Bokuto was unable to use magic well? Weren’t the winds he kept blasting out part of his magic?
“Us sky-folk don’t need magic when we got wings!”
As if proving his point, a gust of wind so powerful whipped forward with the beating of his large silver wings, culminating into a column of tornado as tall as the trees, gouging up a path through the forest in its fast approach.
H-He remembers that you are here right?!
A curse resounded from beside you. “It’s like he doesn’t care if you’re collateral damage, does he?!” There was a snicker in 'Atsumu’s’ voice.
You resisted vocally agreeing with him.
‘Atsumu’s’ speed picked up as he raced to outpace the tornado that was hot on his heels, cutting through the forest at an angle in an attempt to get out of its path. But as if the tornado had a mind of its own, it changed its course in the same direction, gradually gaining on ‘Atsumu.’
The gales whipped wildly in the air, your hair flying about you just as madly, painfully lashing at your face. It was starting to get difficult to breathe as the surrounding air was sucked away by sheer force.
Dirt, rocks, branches, and bushes from all around were uprooted and pulled up into the devastating tornado, some nicking and scratching at ‘Atsumu’ as he barely swerved around them.
You felt something scratch across your cheek and arm as well.
Up in the sky, out of reach of the tornado, you saw the figure of Bokuto gliding along as he watched with excitement at the destruction his tornado was causing.
“Ah, damn it, if ya' weren’t just gonna get sliced up like a leaf in that tornado, this would be no issue for me to handle!” ‘Atsumu’ complained as he continued to manhandle you, arm tightening harshly around your body. “You humans are so fragile.”
Was he seriously blaming you??
“I didn’t ask you to kidnap me!” You snapped, unable to resist as your head whirled around to glare at the back of his head as best you could from the uncomfortable angle.
Aghh, it looks like he kept the other Atsumu’s infuriating attitude and the ability to irk you with it.
“Watch yer mouth. You’re the captive here.” He said threateningly, turning narrowed gold eyes on you. His hair blew violently around him, and he looked almost savage with the dangerous glow in his eyes.
“Well, you’re doing a great job of kidnapping me.”
“Why didn’t ‘Samu tie up yer mouth too.” He lowly grumbled, before he darkly grinned, the ears on top of his head perking up.
“Speak of the devil~!”
You were suddenly tossed forward again without warning, a scream leaving your lips before you even realized you had been thrown into the air once more. Like a goddamn volleyball!
Your body collided into the arms and hard body of ‘Osamu’ as he caught you mid-air, paying little attention to you as he turned to frown at his twin a little ways behind.
“Say somethin’ before tossin’ ya' piece of lug!” 'Osamu' threw his brother’s words from earlier back to him.
“Took the words right outta my mouth there ‘Samu!”
You want them to tell you before they threw you around! Better yet, you want them to stop passing you back and forth like a ball!
Then it hit you with dread that if 'Osamu' was here, then where was Kenma?
Slung like a sack once more over 'Osamu's' back, you saw ‘Atsumu’ stop fleeing from the rampaging tornado, turning around to face it head-on instead, diving into its center.
Immediately, scarlet flames combusted from within the twister, and it was quickly pulled up into the gales, turning it into a blazing pillar of vermillion flames. Your eyes bulged out of your head as now not only was everything in the area being uprooted, it was burning.
Fiery images of Nekomata Mountain flashed into your mind again, and you bit your lips harshly as the heat of the fire-tornado spread through the air.
“That bloody idiot.” ‘Osamu’ hissed from below you. With a wave of his hand, a transparent bubble that shimmered and refracted in the light formed around both of your figures just in time to shield your skin from the flames that rapidly expanded in a large radius, momentarily engulfing you in a ball of red.
When the flames dispersed from around you, the pillar of flame had continued to burn brighter and stronger as if fire was continually being pumped into it, and you gaped as the fire soon overtook the height of the tornado, swirling up higher than the forest trees and reaching Bokuto who corkscrewed in the air to avoid it.
There was one last loud and blazing discharge from within the tornado, containing enough force to cancel out the winds with its shockwaves. A spear of purple fire shot up from the smoky aftermath to Bokuto at a blinding speed.
You heard yourself yell something garbled as the flaming spear struck Bokuto who was caught off-guard on one end of his wings, watching in horror as he started to plummet from the sky.
Just as he was about to hit the trees, his falling figure wheeled in the air, righting himself and once more propelling towards the three of you, smoldering smoke emitting from his struck wing.
"Wah, he's persistent too." 'Osamu' grumbled. “‘Tsumu!”
“Yo!”
“Don’t you dare--!!!” You squealed when you were flung to the side where ‘Atsumu’ appeared to receive you.
“Nice pass!”
You screamed not from being thrown like a ragdoll for the umpteenth time but from pure unadulterated frustration at the treatment as ‘Atsumu’ pulled ahead of his twin, slinging you over his shoulder yet again.
‘Osamu’ whirled back to face Bokuto’s oncoming onslaught. He had his blades drawn as he went charging at ‘Osamu’ from above, the trees doing nothing to dissuade him. This guy was either crazy or did not give a shit. 'Osamu' focused, spreading his magic and energy out to the surrounding area, smirking to himself.
He raised the same transparent shield he used to shut out ‘Atsumu’s’ flames moments ago, this time as a wall that moved with his arms as he deflected Bokuto’s fast attacks.
Grey eyes narrowed at Bokuto’s vicious golden eyes, the shimmering shield between them distorting their visions of one another. For a split second, the image of the female cat-folk with round ears rippled on the shield, and Bokuto snarled.
“You’re that nasty one from the market.”
“Thanks for paying my way out.” A mocking smirk played on ‘Osamu’s’ lips.
“I should have cut you down then.”
“Well, I have the girl to thank for stepping in for me then.”
The metal of Bokuto’s blades screeched as they slid on the surface of ‘Osamu’s’ unwavering shield wall, both of them caught in a deadlock as they tried to overpower the other.
“The hell you want with her?” Bokuto bit out lowly.
“Ya' don’t think we’re going to allow ya' to keep the cure all to yerself, are ya'?”
If Bokuto was surprised, he didn’t show it. However, in his mind, he wondered how it was that these foxes found out when they only discovered it today? How did they even have time to plan out an attack? How long have they already been planning? How long have they been compromised?
“As much fun as I am having,” his opponent speaking once more brought Bokuto’s focus back to the grey-haired male before him, “-we’re unfortunately in a hurry. Please have fun with our snake friends instead.”
And with that, Bokuto toppled forward into thin air when the foe before him suddenly flickered and disappeared completely. He realized with a frustrated shout that it had been an illusion the whole time! When did that bastard even manage to switch himself out?
The forest area around him scintillated, and he suddenly found himself surrounded by more of the snake-men that had attacked the mountain. He wasn’t sure when he got caught in the illusionary trap, but even when knowing that these were only illusions, he knew he had to defeat them to break out of it.
He laughed to himself sardonically. Damn foxes really knew how to play.
They certainly were not Master Tricksters for nothing.
When he finally broke out of the surprisingly strong illusion he had been caught in, Bokuto could not help the pinch of fury and frustration that licked at him; they were too far now to give chase, and he would be unable to track them at this point, especially not with that grey-haired illusionist who will most likely have masked their trail expertly by now.
He begrudgingly admitted that they were strong opponents. He might have been able to handle it if it was only one of them but he did not expect a twin to pop up from nowhere.
And he knew the combination of their illusions and fire-based offensive attacks was the absolute worst for anyone who had the misfortune of facing them, and he had only seen the surface of it. Who knows what other abilities they might have been hiding.
Clearly, they needed to update their information on the Inarizaki foxes but they were elusive as all hell and constantly proved difficult for any spies to locate, even his spies. And they were one of the best in the realm.
If his sky-dwellers and owl-folk are the best at espionage and digging out intelligence, then the Inarizaki foxes were the best at camouflage and hiding it.
It was going to prove difficult to get the girl back if that was the path they chose, as he doubted even Kuroo knew where they were based. The West side of the realm is large enough as it is, without the added mess of all the warring powers there.
As he flew back towards the home of his allies, the fires mostly placated, his sharp eyes spotted the figure of Kenma in his human form, lying on the forest floor and he dove down to the younger male. He checked his pulse and breathed a very small sigh of relief to see that he was only unconscious.
When he had finally emerged from the smoking tunnels of the mountain earlier, he had seen the massive earth wall rising over the forest top and instantly knew it was Kenma’s doing. There weren’t many in The Dominion that could raise a wall like that on the spot, and the other ones who could have had just emerged with him from the tunnels, chasing after the snake-soldiers that attacked and bombed the mountain.
Looking around at the damage, he could tell that Kenma fought hard against who he assumed to be the grey-haired half of the twins, as he had been engaging the golden-haired one when the other interrupted.
Kenma was smart and magically talented, but when faced with even just one of the twins who were both physically and magically gifted, Bokuto was not surprised that he lost. Heck, even he got trapped in the bastard’s damn illusion.
Lifting Kenma in his arms, Bokuto took off for the mountains once more, silently brooding over the events of today.
“Why are you doing this, Daishou?” Kuroo trained impressively calm eyes on the male standing a short distance away from him.
Although his expression was composed, Kuroo was raging underneath.
His home is in flames.
His people have been hurt, and so are his companions in this uncalled for and cowardly sneak attack.
Daishou scoffed angrily, his slitted eyes glowing madly, flickering between its natural silver and the tinted yellow of the setting sky.
“You know better than anyone else why!” He yelled at the Dominion leader, and continued his rampage of weakened attacks, despite having been deflected and thrown back by Kuroo countless of times during this battle.
The winner was clear but he could not stop, could not let him get away with it!
He was thrown back by a boulder that was flung at him by Kuroo.
“What are you talking about?” Amber eyes focused on the leader of the Snake Tribe. For the leader himself to come all the way out here to battle, he must either be desperate or had completely lost it. Perhaps both, he mused, as he noted the crazed glint in Daishou’s eyes.
“Mika!! You are responsible for Mika’s disappearance!!” Daishou howled in unbridled fury. A little ways off from where the two faced off, several of Daishou’s underlings appeared, rushing towards their leader.
“Give her back!!”
“Mika?” Kuroo’s eyes narrowed. Daishou’s lover?
“I don’t know what you are talking about. We have nothing to do with her.”
“Lies!! It was your people that took her!”
“For as long as we have feuded with one another Daishou, I assure you, on my honor as the Leader of Nekoma Dominion, we did not take her.”
“I don’t care about your honor, give Mika back!!”
“Leader!!” Numai, one of Daishou’s top soldier, pleaded with him as he neared with the others. “We need to retreat! Now!”
Daishou hissed lowly, wrath coursing in his veins. They had snuck into The Dominion to look for Mika but were unable to locate her, so they must be keeping her elsewhere. It was supposed to be a quiet mission, to go in undetected and leave with Mika. They did not have the numbers to take on The Dominion in a straight battle. But when he did not find her at their holding cells, he lost control of his temper and emotions, seeking out Kuroo to get the answers directly from the man himself.
And yet the devious feline keeps to his disgusting lies!
Then that damn fox just up and left amid the chaos after setting things off, abandoning them! He never should have trusted a fox.
Kuroo gripped his sword tight in his hand and exhaled harshly, reigning his boiling emotions in, pushing them deep down under the still ocean surface of his heart.
It was clear to him that Daishou, as vile as the snake can be sometimes, is acting on pure desperation out of love for Mika. His people and the Snake Tribe had never gotten along, despite Kuroo’s efforts on many occasions to mend relations; they were a vengeful group and held onto old resentment with a vice and diplomatic talks had consistently proved unfruitful.
It was a true shame, considering that even Bokuto and his sky-folk were able to try and put the past behind them for a more peaceful path forward.
...One time. He can afford it one time.
“Go, Daishou. My people will not follow.” His eyes glowed threateningly as he trailed his gaze across Daishou and the men that now surrounded him. “But if you do something like this again, I will not show you mercy a second time.”
Daishou howled wordless sounds at him, moving to charge him again but his men held him back.
“Let me go!!”
“Daishou! We are not equipped for this! We need to go!”
“Y-Yea! If anything happened to you now, who will save Mika?!”
As if that was the magic words he needed to hear, Kuroo watched as Daishou’s men forcefully dragged him away. One of them, Kuguri if Kuroo recalls correctly, looked at him with a small nod, silently thanking him for his mercy.
Kuroo sheathed his weapon once he sensed they were clear of the area, fists clenching as he mulled over Daishou’s accusations. It was easy to deduce that someone is setting them up, but who? And why? How did they slip past their guards? Did someone help them?
He rather not have to fight Daishou and his Snake Tribe under such circumstances if they are being manipulated, but as he looked back out at the dying flames and smog blanketing his home, he meant his last words to them.
There were a lot of questions that Kuroo needed to find answers to, but as of this moment, helping his people get through this was his priority.
Off in the distance, his sharp eyes picked out the form of Bokuto flying in the sky, carrying...Kenma?
If Kenma's there, then where was....
There was a ripple on the ocean surface, and Kuroo breathed deeply.
Once. Twice.
The ripple subsided and the ocean stilled once more.
With powerful strides, he made his way to where Bokuto landed with an unconscious Kenma in his arms.
You stared silently into space in a jumble of dismay, simmering anger, sadness, and confusion as you were carried further and further away from Nekoma Dominion over the shoulders of ‘Osamu.’ It was the only assumption you could make, as you have never gone beyond Mt.Nekomata or Moggie Boroughs before.
‘Osamu’ had caught up to you and ‘Atsumu,’ who promptly tossed you back to his brother, saying something about being too tired to carry anything or anyone. Without the chaos that dogged them during their escape with you, you finally got a good look at the twins of this dimension.
‘Atsumu’ wore a red sleeveless robe- partially open and loose on the front- that stopped at his thighs, with an inner layer of black that lined tighter underneath the upper red layer. A wide, black obi secured the robes around his waist, with a thick, red rope running through the center of the obi-belt.
Black leather armguards started from the middle of his forearms and ended halfway on his upper arms, covering his elbows, and he donned fitting black trousers that ended right below his knees. Black leg guards with platings of the same shade of red ran up his calves, and black socks covered his feet, protected by dark sandals with white straps.
Where Kuroo, Bokuto, and the others of Mt.Nekomata were garbed in what you attributed as fantasy medieval western-styled clothes, the clothes of this world’s Atsumu leaned towards an eastern-style, blending between a Chinese and Japanese flair; you half-expected him to have a fox mask on. Ironic, considering their home was to the West of the continent.
‘Osamu’ was dressed similarly, only his outer robe was short-sleeved and a deep shade of blue, and was fastened more securely compared to his flashy twin. The obi tied on his waist was the same as ‘Atsumu’s’ with the same red rope, but the platings on his leg guards were the blue of his robe.
Much like Kuroo and the rest, they were exact carbon copies of the Miya twins of your world. But…
Your lips trembled as you thought about Nekomata Mountain burning, of Kenma fighting hard for you, and even Bokuto as he chased after you.
They are not the Miya brothers you know.
You don’t know what their situation is, but they were obviously involved in the fire engulfing the home of the cat-folk- having witnessed ‘Atsumu’ using fire only added fuel to your assumption- and there is no excuse to ever lay such destruction upon other people.
You wanted to lash out at them, at something!
You were just feeling so much pain and anger at them, at your helplessness, at your situation, at everything!
Why are you here in this world?! What did they want with you?! Why did they take you away?! What was that stupid white light? Why was your other self dead?! What’s happening at Nekomata Mountain?!
....are Kuroo and the others at Mt.Nekomata alright?
A low, quiet sniffle escaped you as you hung limply over ‘Osamu’s’ shoulder, bound hands dangling down wearily, defeated by your impossible situation.
You were so tired. So, so tired. Physically and mentally.
So tired that you didn’t even have the energy to argue or struggle when one of the twins made a snarky comment about you being a surprisingly good captive, or to even ask them the barrage of questions that you know you have but are too exhausted to sort out.
You just want to go home.
Through the mess of your fatigue and your mixed emotions, you never realized that your thoughts at this very moment were filled with not only memories of your family and your university friends, but also with vivid images of Nekomata Mountain and even Moggie Boroughs.
You were suddenly lifted and with an “ Oof-,” was dropped ungracefully onto the grass, back planted against a tree. Unconsciously, you brought your bounded arms and legs closer to you, curling into yourself.
‘Osamu’ looked down at you with frosty eyes, and you shivered, wondering where the ‘Osamu’ that bantered with his brother mid-battle from earlier went.
Frosty Osamu’s grey eyes looked darker than it ever did under the dimming light of the sun, the shade of night slowly creeping over the skies and his somber eyes.
This Osamu chills you.
“‘Samu, what gives?” ‘Atsumu’ complained, wondering why his brother suddenly stopped and threw their captive to the floor. “We don’t have time for a break. We have to get back.”
Caramel eyes glanced at you and you swallowed. The way he looked at you with those eyes earlier was still fresh in your mind; it had been a vicious gaze.
Frosty Osamu sighed, turning dull eyes to his twin. “I’ve been carrying her more than half the time. I’m tired.”
“I didn’t know ya’ were that weak.”
“You carry her then ya’ slug.”
Your lips pursed at the sight. It was almost like watching the Miya brothers of your world.
It made you squirm uncomfortably.
So far, your experiences with Majestic Kuroo, Energetic Kenma, and Scary Bokuto had been complete opposites of how you knew them to be.
Watching the two twins before you now, there was hardly a difference in their mannerisms and how they act but you just know that it is different. Besides the obvious of him having less of a filter compared to the Osamu you know, and that chillier attitude, there was something else that you weren’t sure about. Vicious Atsumu was very much the same and you could not pinpoint what it was that gave you this strange feeling in your gut.
You’ve known the twins long enough to be able to understand their weird and dynamic mood cycles most of the time where others would falter. And that read that you usually had on them was just...barely off.
“Oi.”
Osamu stared down at the girl as she blinked out of her reverie, his voice pulling her back from her thoughts.
It surprised him a little when she helped him out with that annoying shop owner, he will admit. The sludge that he called food was disgusting and Osamu would rather die a thousand times over than pay for it. Atsumu chewed his ear off for dragging so much attention to themselves but whatever. It didn’t change anything in the end, and the piece of information that he caught that she was a guest of the Dominion's leader had been good to pocket.
It did surprise him a lot more when he saw her and that- what did she call him? Kenma?- and what transpired with the infected girl at the outskirts of the city. He distinctly saw the black veins disappear when she made contact with the tainted cat-girl.
His spying on her had not been intentional; it was pure coincidence on his part but he wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. He had been in fact following the tainted girl (he was the one who let her out after all, mainly out of spite and vengeance on The Dominion), to see if she will be able to bring him to any leads to answer their questions but alas, he didn’t find what he was looking for.
He found something even better.
It was like fate stepped in and placed her in his path. And though someone with their history absolutely abhorred the idea of fate, he would be stupid to let that go.
Atsumu had been dubious and did not believe him at all.
“Are you sure ya’ weren’t just looking at an illusion?”
“How the heck am I supposed to put myself under my own illusion?”
“You tell me. Maybe you triggered yer own traps.”
Atsumu had been infuriating about it but considering the fact that they were in Dominion territory, sneaking around on their own...well, those were not the actions of people who had a reign on their emotions.
After that, it was only a matter of using the snakes they had found sneaking around the borders of The Dominion (The Dominion was really attracting the wrong kind of attention, weren’t they?) and using them as a distraction.
It was easier than expected, but he supposed The Dominion had been completely caught off guard; Atsumu went a bit overboard with the flames and the explosives given to the snake-men though, and could have been a bit more inconspicuous.
However, something else had been bothering him since he picked her up…
“Why do ya’ know my name?”
Her doe-eyes looked back up at him, confused.
Atsumu gave him a similar look, but less innocent. “What are ya’ talkin’ about?”
“When she saw my real form, she said ‘Samu.” Osamu’s eyes narrowed intensely at her, daring her to try and lie.
A visible gulp traveled down her throat and he could see her try to make herself smaller, pulling her knees further in.
“I-I…”
Shit.
What are you supposed to tell them? The truth?
As it stands, you were clearly on the side of Kuroo and Nekoma Dominion since they took care of you. You didn’t know who these twins are, at all.
They are not the Miya twins you know.
You chewed on your lips, trying to think of something to say, to feed them. But you had zero ideas.
Why would you know his name?
It was the same with Bokuto; your mentioning of their names had only brought about negative reactions so far (well, except for Kenma) but it was all spur of the moment! You uttered his nickname without even realizing it, bowled over by the shock at seeing your childhood friend’s face!
“Well?” He pushed, taking one sinister step forward, towering over you within his shadow.
“I-I...I-...” Ahhh, dammit, think of something.
“I…”
A cold nervous sweat started to gather at the tips of your temples and your palms.
You...you had nothing. You had absolutely nothing.
Lips beginning to tremble, you felt the familiar telltale pricks at your eyes.
You wished you were smarter. You wished you were better with words and able to talk yourself out of situations. But you weren’t and you have one of the worst poker faces you’ve ever seen! Why are you in this situation anyway? You never should have gone to that awful practice match! You wished this never happened to you!
You gasped and bit down on your bottom lip, resisting the urge to cry. You don’t want to cry in front of these...replicas!
“Ah-, ah--, ya’ made her cry ‘Samu. Just what we need.”
“Why’d ya’ make her cry for ‘Samu?”
“Shut up. I just asked her a question.”
“Yea well, as much as I want to know too, we need to get back before we get in trouble and I’m tired! We can play questions when we’re back home.”
“...tch, fine. Ya' carry her this time.”
“Wha- hey! I used a lot of energy dealing with that tornado back there!”
“And ya' still didn’t manage to take the guy down. But I did, so ya' carry her.”
“Ugh, fine!”
Vicious Atsumu approached you with a languid smile and you withdrew from him. The ropes around your arms twisted further, reddening the surrounding skin and you winced.
His caramel eyes flickered to that small movement and sighed boredly.
“‘Samu, we probably can let up on the ropes now. They bother my skin too.”
“If she escapes, you’re going after her alone.”
“Oh come on!”
With a loud sigh, Frosty Osamu walked back to where you sat with Vicious Atsumu crouched before you. He looked down at you with a squint, waving his hand and gesturing lazily at the bindings. You momentarily entertained the thought that the twins of this world were...more abrasive?
“You’re a magic-user aren’t you? Can’t ya’ tell these aren’t real?”
You definitely were no magic-user, at least, you still don’t believe that you are but what?
“W-What…?”
He scowled at you, much like he did when he was disguised as the petite girl you inadvertently helped and tugged at the rope on your wrists.
“They’re illusions.”
“....” Is he for real?
He waved his hand and sure enough, the bindings around your limbs shimmered and flickered before vanishing completely.
...He has got to be shitting you. You have been bound by an illusion the whole time?! But it felt so real...
“What?! I thought ya' used real rope ‘Samu!”
“Are you an idiot? Why would I when illusions work just as well? And you should be able to tell they are illusions too!”
“I don’t pay attention to everythin’ ya’ do!”
“Ya’ shouldn’t need to pay attention to notice this!”
You reminded yourself once more that they are not the twins you know.
You weren’t sure how long it has been since the alternate twins continued on their trek, taking turns carrying you though Vicious Atsumu was forced by Frosty Osamu to do it more comparatively.
During a short break they took, you stupidly tried your luck at sneaking off but got caught almost immediately by Frosty Osamu, who put the bindings back onto your legs. They had let you walk up till that point and now you were cradled in Vicious Atsumu’s arms, who was whining about being tired again for the 11th time that hour.
You can’t blame him, you weren’t the one walking after all.
“Finally! We’re back!” Vicious Atsumu breathed an exaggerated sigh of relief, and you curled your hands around his neck with a yelp when he suddenly stretched his arms out with you in them.
“D-Don’t drop me!”
“Have some faith, I didn’t drop you the past few hours did I?” He squinted at you and you grimaced uncomfortably at the feeling in your chest.
“Can ya’ not be so loud for once?” Frosty Osamu drawled dully, slouching where he stood. “We don’t want everyone to know.”
“Yea, yea.”
You looked around in confusion.
They said that you've arrived but...
You’ve left the forest some time ago and have been walking (in your case, carried) along a narrow beaten path of dirt and rocks, and for as far as the eye can see, there was nothing but stretches of abandoned farms and fields. Multiple, large swaths of land have been flooded by muddy water with insects buzzing incessantly overhead, and brown weeds grew in abundance.
Two tall, skinny and barren trees stood on either side of the equally deserted road, painting a pitiful image of desolation and abandonment.
...this doesn’t look like a place the greatest threat of the West resided.
Vicious Atsumu rolled his eyes with a smug smirk that was also on Frosty Osamu’s face when they saw the confusion on your face.
“Ya’ better be grateful. Not a lot of outsiders get to see this.”
“Heh, ya’ better be grateful! We don’t show this skill to just anyone.”
“Not a lot of humans especially get to see this.”
“Yea, we especially don’t show it to girls.”
They simultaneously remarked proudly to you.
“What are you guys talking about?”
“W-What are you talking...about…”
You trailed off as Osamu brought his palms flat together horizontally in a resounding clap, and then slowly separated them, as if he was gently lifting the lid off a treasure chest, languidly revealing its precious contents to your ignorant eyes.
And oh, how ignorant your eyes truly were.
I know you’re there.
Fox-Folk: Master Tricksters and experts of camouflage, their ability to shapeshift and talent for illusions is a deadly and troublesome combo that is difficult to counter. With the proficient application of these gifts, they are capable of chipping down and overturning entire hierarchies of their enemies from within.
Fox-Fire: Manifestations of the magic of the fox-folk. Adept magic users of the fox-folk can manifest them at will, allowing for a wider scope of attack options with the added range and mobility. It takes away the need for the presence of their controlled element as it can be conjured with fox-fire, for example, fire or water; it consumes a lot of energy due to this than if they used magic regularly like the other races who rely on the element being present. Looks like Will-O’-The-Wisps.
Bird-folk/Sky-folk/Sky-dwellers: Denizens of Owl Vale, the realm under the leadership of alternate Bokuto Koutarou. They are naturally adept hunters and many of the best assassins and spies of Hyquile hail from this region. Their gifts for magic are low compared to other races, with a few exceptions; they typically rely on magical tools and artifacts instead, like the Nox-Gloom Talon Bokuto Koutarou carries. Consists of mainly owl-folk and a mix of other avian-folk.
Mayhaps spare a reblog/comment on AO3 if you enjoyed this? <33
#haikyuu x reader#haikyuu captains x reader#kuroo tetsurou x reader#bokuto koutarou x reader#oikawa tooru x reader#miya atsumu x reader#miya osamu x reader#suna rintarou x reader#kita shinsuke x reader#ushijima wakatoshi x reader#miya twins x reader#hq x reader#kuroo x reader#oikawa x reader#bokuto x reader#ushijima x reader#kita x reader#suna x reader#atsumu x reader#osamu x reader
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Hey i am new to the fandom and currently reading svsss and mdzs novel, i want to ask you regarding transmigration/reincarnation, what is the difference between transmigration and reincarnation? And why shen yuan have to be recognized as sqq not shen yuan but wwx was recognized as wwx by other characters not mo xuanyu after transmigration? Is there a rule about if someone come from modern world then transmigrate to a novel they cannot reveal their identity to the other characters on the novel and spent the rest of their 2nd life on the novel as that character? I know i haven't finish the novel yet but who was lbh fell in love with was it the real shen yuan or the real shizun? Sorry for asking this silly questions but i just have those thoughts and it's been bothering me ever since :( also sorry if i said something wrong and thank you for your translation :)
Hi!
This is an older ask so you might have figured it out already, but in general, transmigration means the person entering the body is from outside the universe while strictly, reincarnation (following Buddhism) means a deceased soul was reborn as a baby. WWX’s case is actually more of a possession, but “reborn” can also used to mean coming back to life in a different body, and MXY’s dead so the body is effectively WWX’s now. Also, that everyone will eventually know it’s WWX inside is a major plot point. So he keeps his identity.
As for why SQQ’s previous life as SY in brushed over instead, Chinese transmigration and the related Japanese isekai genre usually downplay the original identity and personality of the transmigrator, which I think is to help facilitate escapism for the reader. And this is another one of the tropes SV plays with, since SQQ’s personality is actually very defined, and him pushing aside his old identity is consistent with his characterization (perhaps I’ll explain one day in another post after I get through the backlog of chapters and asks).
As for who LBH fell in love with, it’s definitely SY!SQQ. There are many hints in early SV about exactly how LBH sees og!SQQ behind his white lotus facade. Tellingly, before chapter 13 (when SQQ’s fatally poisoned), LBH consistently and reasonably suspects that SQQ’s trying to hurt or murder him at each major plot point: being summoned into SQQ’s room in ch 2 or into the carriage in ch 5, being used as bait for the Skinner in ch 7, and being called for the Immortal Alliance Conference match in ch 12. It takes SQQ selflessly giving up his life for LBH, with no strings attached, for LBH to really begin to trust and open up to him. Contrast all this with him at the Abyss in ch 27, where he refuses to believe SQQ will hurt him even when Xiu Ya’s pointed at his chest.
(I’d even argue that to some extent, LBH knows and sees SY!SQQ as a separate person from og!SQQ, whether literally or metaphorically. There’s a very interesting detail in ch 40: when LBH is trying to guilt-trip SQQ in the dream realm, he specifically chooses an abused fourteen-year-old LBH as one of his apparitions. Why specifically fourteen, and not younger when he was under the unrestrained abuse of og!SQQ? That’s the age he met SY!SQQ.)
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Taff Campaign Diaries: My first DnD Campaign and it's an Isekai.
Oops.
Sometimes in June, I mentioned on Discord how it’d be a lot of fun to try my hand at Game Mastering. And, being surrounded by talented and fantastic writers who are always eager to find another way to procrastinate, I got a bunch of people wanting to play.
To be more precise, it started a little like this:
Continued on to:
And ended with a bunch of excited:
Up until this point, my only proper experience with TTRPGs had been participating in one campaign (which was amazing, by the way, @maverick-werewolf), and watching bits of Critical Role. It always seemed very exciting, but also horribly daunting, because rules and numbers and what if I mess up? So when I ended up framing the whole thing as if I was just trying to run a crack campaign, no strings attached, that initial apprehension kind of went poof.
Because what could possibly go wrong with that plan?
I’ll tell you what went wrong:
I got carried away. Not just a little, either. Within the span of a week, I turned my hehe, this crack idea will be a laff into And here is a homebrew continent, a homebrew campaign, and now there are two epic quests too, because why not.
@#!*
Tools were important too, of course. Oh, and the rule system. Can’t forget that. I’d considered Pathfinder at first, but there was that little problem of me still flailing around uselessly about pretty much everything, and so I picked DND 5e. It seemed like a choice easily backed up by tools that’d make my life easier and were accessible without too much hassle.
Like DnD Beyond. Took about one Hmmm said out loud and then I had suddenly nabbed almost all the rule books from there. How else was I going to make characters for my future players but in this shiny new toy I just got, huh? I like toys.
Then I had to decide on a Virtual Table Top platform, too, because Taff not only likes toys, she also likes maps. Likes them so much, she dug out her old Campaign Cartographer and started making her own, but that’s a topic for another post. For the virtual tabletop platform, I chose Roll20. This one took me a bit longer to decide on, especially since I gave both Roll20 and Fantasy Grounds a try. Ultimately, I decided Roll20 was going to be easier for my players and me. Especially since the majority of playing and rolling is happening on Discord anyway while we have our character sheets stored on DnD Beyond. Fantasy Grounds is a much more complete package and its features would probably be mostly wasted on us.
So. Yeah. Here I was. Armed with DnD Beyond and books and a virtual tabletop, stars in my eyes and ears burning… and with a bunch of amazing friends who were willing to put up with my crazy.
Two weeks later, we started and Homebound was born.
It’s not what it was originally supposed to be. Not entirely, anyway. Where I was first shooting for lots of laughs and very little coherent story, I now have a complex campaign in front of me that my players will need to navigate if they want their characters to return home. It’s scattered all over a large continent and up to them to figure out, and I can’t wait to see how it all unfolds.
Or if they’re going to decide to settle down and try corner the donuts market. Are there donuts in DnD?!
Anyway. Welcome to my Campaign Diaries for Homebound. In our next post we are going to meet the cast and find out just what they’ve been up to in our first few sessions.
Though I am also going to be talking about the resources I been finding, what YouTube channels I been hooked on, and where I dig up maps and adventures to seed the world with. It’ll be exciting.
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Spring Anime Part 4: happy rear end
I told you it’d get good, right? Literally twice on the last day too. Of course this still means it’s the weakest season in like a decade, and some isekai had to show up to shit in my cereal too. But I’ll take what I can get.
Carole & Tuesday
What: A pair of ladies say “fuck the man” and go busking. On Mars. A bigger musical career seems to be on the horizon.
✅ This seems to be a fairly unique thing. I say “fairly” because it’s still completely bolted together from stock parts, just not specifically anime stock parts.
✅ It gets a lot of the nuts and bolts right. The characters are likeable and relatable, there’s a bit of social commentary without being obnoxious about it, and the tone is neither too serious nor too comedic.
♎ Maybe leans a bit too much into the feels power of music and comes across as too sentimental at points. Not a big deal right now, but if it persists it could become annoying.
✅✅ Looks real good (without being flashy, which I like also), very competent animation and direction all around. Well, I better hope so if you have Shinichiro Watanabe attached.
❌ What I really don’t like is that they chose to include a wraparound voiceover where some dude tells us that this show is going somewhere, really you guys, I promise. That’s clunky as hell, and also should go without saying. A blemish on the otherwise fine writing.
Kenja no Mago
What: 💩
💩💩 A single turd almost seems generous because this is both bog-standard isekai and a battle harem high school.
💩💩 This is one of the bizarre isekai stories that don’t even need to be isekai because the dude gets reborn and then grows up in another world normally. We usually call that a fantasy story, but okay. If it asks for getting shat on, I’ll indulge it.
💩💩 We’ve come to the point where this is not quite as bad as some of its genremates simply by not being an obvious author manifesto. The dude’s still imbued with the power of ultrahax and it still does point out how shit it is, though. As you do.
💩 Some focus on his adoptive magus grandparents reminds me that fantasy stories could potentially still be about other things and as such instantly better. That side of it is still just a bunch of fizzled anime humor though.
Sarazanmai
What: Ikuhara’s own spicy take on magical girls who are boys who are girls. It involves kappas and arseplodemancy. This is what will keep anime thinkpiece bloggers in business for the season.
✅✅ This looks both deluxe and very flashy, though it’s flashy to a degree where I won’t complain about it. Ikuni is doing his thing and it seems he has some money to spend this time.
✅ Compared to his other output (especially Yuri Kuma Arashi), this seems to be less opaque. In fact, it seems to be a little on the nose instead. Could go either way, but for now I appreciate not wondering what the fucking point is constantly. On the other hand, if it’s obvious what it means, the weirdness just becomes lolsorandom window dressing. We’ll see.
♎ It has to be said that once you look beside the big huge presentation and surface level insanity, this is a standard magical girl show with all the expected plot beats. It may or may not stay that way.
✅ This is a thing that you’ll just have to dive in and enjoy the ride. Ikuhara is always toeing a fine line between nonsense and hidden depth, and if previous experiences are any indication, we won’t know what it is until it’s over. It’s certainly unique, wacky and visually appealing enough to make taking the chance a no-brainer.
Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san
What: 800 year old loli fox spirit cooks for you and calls you a good boy.
❌ Magical girlfriend/daughter appears and wants nothing more than to brighten up your life. That’s all there is to this and it doesn’t seem like there ever will be more.
✅ This is made by the Doga Kobo B-team, which means it’s still cute and plushy, but not nearly as cute and plushy as their prime output.
♎ Yeah it’s the old “800 year old loli” chestnut, but compared to Doga Kobo’s recent string of loli infamy that’s already a step up. Still maybe a bit too enthusiastic about fluffy tail touching, though.
❌ This is so intent on being wholesome and relaxing that that becomes almost creepy in its own right. It always has a whiff of uncomfortably close “voice actor talks to the listener” CD, but during the preview segment it becomes literally that, complete with first person perspective.
✅ But hey, since it goes all in, the intended effect cannot be denied either. I’m absolutely not a fan of how desperate it is to please, but it may become better when it grows more characters. Of course, those might just as well kill it for good.
#anime#Carole & Tuesday#Kenja no Mago#Sarazanmai#Sewayaki Kitsune no Senko-san#impressions#spring2019
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So I’ve heard nothing but bad things about Black Clover, and even joked about it, but honestly... Having watched it, it’s actually pretty good.
I mean, yeah, it has that generic Shonen Jump feel to it (Naruto! But with wizards instead of ninja!), but in an age of endless otaku pander-y isekai light novel adaptations, that’s actually really refreshing (an actual damn fantasy world, without people being reborn or trapped in a game bullshit, no strings attached!). The CGI is hit or miss (the chains were hideous) but the visuals are pretty damn good for the most part.
#liveblogging#toonami#toonami liveblogging#I think most of the bad things were mainly about the Japanese voice acting#hell I don't even like Naruto and I enjoyed this
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