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chawarin-panich · 5 months

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What I love the most about Story of Kunning Palace is that it uses the unreasonably possessive male lead and pits him against a female heroine who is entirely immune to any and all of his machinations. While Xie Wei's madness is almost instrumental to him ultimately winning Jiang Xuening's heart, the story doesn't shy away from the fact that it was the very same love that had destroyed them both in their first life.

Every attempt Xie Wei makes at trapping Xuening within the ties of societal propriety in their second life also spectacularly fails. For a story about going back in the past to fix one's mistakes, the romance between Xie Wei and Xuening somehow manages to stay above the lazy strings of destiny.

They kiss, they have sex, he does her immense favors - all in poorly veiled attempts to purposefully manipulate her, but she still refuses to be 'his'. Jiang Xuening, not even for a moment, turns away from the duty and love she feels for Yan Lin, Princess Shen Zhiyi or even Zhang Zhe, who is Xie Wei's direct competitor and in many ways the one who 'won' the battle for Xuening's heart in the first life.

In Xie Wei's obsession over Xuening's feelings for Zhange Zhe, he does manage to understand the core of what moves Xuening's heart: sincerity. I think it's pretty undeniable that the day Xuening kills herself in the first life, Xie Wei was there to marry her. I see it as more than just a simple misunderstanding; Xuening did not love Xie Wei and she especially did not vibe with his desire for mutual punishment and destruction.

Even though Xuening desires devotion, she values life above all and not just her own either. She loves her friends more than she loves any of these men romantically and the one person who's given her devotion and sincerity in spades and won hers in return in both lives? You Fangyin. Even though her relationship with Xuening ends her life both times, You Fangyin always dies with her spirit intact. Whereas, Zhang Zhe's devotion to Xuening in their first life destroys the core of Zhang Zhe's being. When Xuening realizes that they're forever unable to escape this particular fate, she gives him up immediately.

Xie Wei's madness, his crazy red flag possessiveness allows him to weather the turmoil of giving her a devotion that surpasses that of even You Fangyin's. And it takes him two lifetimes to figure out how to give it to her without her recoiling in disgust.

Of the three male leads Yan Lin Zhang Zhe and Xie Wei, Xie Wei is indeed the personality that suits Xuening best, he may very well be her ideal man - but that’s not enough! It's a destiny you have to work for and a destiny you have to choose.

Go figure.

#story of kunning palace #sokp spoilers #sokp meta #xie wei x jiang xuening

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dangermousie · 6 months

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The jealousy sequences in today's eps were amazing. Like - this sums up the whole triangle. (Side note: Zhang Zhe is amazing and by far the best/most suitable of the three men but alas...I do love my murder meowmeow XW though!)

His incredulous anger? AMAZING!!! He is so jealous he cannot contain it and the delicious thing is neither of them realizes it.

Ahahaha he is projecting so hard on Yan Lin he should get a medal. But then Yan Lin is his beloved baby cousin so he could sublimate this way; he cannot with ZZ.

That's a huge, jealous (though not incorrect) leap from her "I admire him for helping me" and it's glorious. And she totally has a point - he's her teacher/frenemy, not lover or family member, what business is it of his? But aaaaaaa he is so jealous he's going to get ulcers.

Your kinks are a bit extreme, young man. But seriously, he's projecting SO SO SO SO HARD!!! (Also, this is the first Bai Lu drama where I don't get the vibe that she'd domme the hell out of her OTP in bed. More like they'd take turns.)

I love that while she's smarter this go around, her impetuous nature is still there; I think the schemer in him is actually drawn to it. But also - yes, neither realizes it - but she is open with him because she subconsciously realized she can trust him, and it's huge, and they are both oblivious. I don't know what's eating him more though - thought that she thinks he's nice (the horror!) or the anger that he's not special to her, she'd treat anyone this way. And it's all underlaid with the panic that if she's too open, she's in danger.

Screaming into my hands, putting my hands down and just screaming unimpeded into the air. This this THIS is his attitude in life 1 explained!!!!

He is not wrong, but the delicious irony because I am spoiled and he will indeed end up having her used to control him. LIKE!!!! He will know all the pitfalls of vulnerability and still not be able to hide his feelings sufficiently. I cannot take this gloriousness!!!

And what he says is not to protect just himself/herself but the object of affection too, isn't it? I love that she realizes where he is coming from - the revelation on her face (because it shows he's concerned for her) even if she does not realize he loves her and also loved her in life 1.

But of course, also - this attitude might keep you safe but it will also lose you any chance with the person you love (see life 1.) He won't be able to keep his feelings shut as much this go around and ultimately that's going to be his path to a happy ending. MMMM

#cdrama #zhang ling he #bai lu #story of kunning palace

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roselyn-writing · 1 year

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Hi! Can I request valentines HCs for Kuai Liang, Hanzo Hasashi, Takeda, Kung Lao! 💌❤️💝🍫

Valentine’s day Hcs for Kuai Liang, Hanzo Hasashi, Takeda Takahashi, And Kung Lao.

Valentine's day is coming right up for you Molly!

Kuai Liang/Subzero

Five years ago, you met your soulmate. Kuai Liang, The Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei.

You love him so much and he loves you too, Since today is Valentine’s day, you decided to make a surprise for him. You went to the kitchen, Preparing to make a red heart-shaped cake for him.

You have all the ingredients you want, you put the ingredients all together and stirred them, then after a while, the cake is ready.

After Kuai finished the training session, he went to his room. That you both share, at first he was surprised to sniff a beautiful scent, rose petals on the ground. He sees you wearing a beautiful medium-length pink dress with hearts on it.

“Y/n.. you look beautiful!” He said to you.

“Really? Thank you! Love~” you replied,

He smiles at you, he had saw the room, and the beautiful decorations you had put in it, the big cake you had put on a table, tea, and valentine's plates and letters.

“Oh! It is valentine's day!!” He muttered, giving himself a light facepalm,

You saw that he hid something behind him, and he walks to you while smiling at you.

“Here is your gift my love~” he whispers lovingly,

“Thank you! Here is yours too,” you thanked him, and gave him his present.

Subby giving you a known look, you knew immediately what he wants and that is more than a kiss or putting a hand on his chest in a loving way.

“Come here, I want to feel you now~” He demanded, lovingly.

“I’m coming dear!” You obeyed him.

Hanzo Hasashi

Every person in the world knows that you belong to Hanzo, No one dares to lay a hand on you knowing that Hanzo is still alive. Hanzo made it perfectly clear that you are his, you belong to him and no one will touch you, or they would pay the price.

Hanzo knows you from when you were a nurse in the sky temple, that time when he was recovering from being a slave of Quan chi, you were there to help him recover and forget the pain in his soul and in his heart.

No one had ever been nice to him, knowing that he once was the infamous Scorpion, Slave of Quan Chi, But you decided to help him, lot of nurses and people told you to stay away from him for your sake, for your own good.

But you defied them all, and decided to help him despite everything, he was a ruined man, broken to the core, and he needed help at that time. And you were there to help him.

You fully remembered his reaction when you first met him, he was aggressive at first, but, in time he becomes soft towards you, you saw the knowing looks he gave, since, you are the only female who is kind to help him.

*Present time*

“Koibito~ I love you~,” Hanzo said to you

“I love you too~ Koibito~” you replied while playing with your hair.

He didn’t know of the surprise that you are preparing for him, he is indeed in for a surprise.

Hanzo is holding the teacup, as he was pondering your beauty, he always asks himself what he did to deserve a beauty like you. He is just happy with you, he is over the moon as they say.

“I want you to come in the room, you know~” you muttered, as you winked at him.

“Okay!” He uttered,

You hurriedly walk to your room, preparing the surprise, clutching the Valentine confetti cannon. 🎉

As soon as Hanzo’s leg steps into the room, you shot the confetti, alerting him and he holds the sword.

“Koibito! Relax! It is just confetti!” You joked with him

“Koibito! You scared me!” He yelped,

“Sorry, Koibito~” you apologized,

“No.. it is okay! Let us enjoy Valentine's day~” he replied,

“You are right,” you chuckled,

Then both of you kissed, enjoying your Valentine's day. 💘💝💌🍰

Takeda Takahashi

Never in your life that you thought you are going to celebrate Valentine’s day with your soulmate, Someone like Takeda. You love him, you love everything about him. You know everything about him.

You know that he had been raised in a clan called the Shirai Ryu, and he has some sort of a Ninja lifestyle. You pretty much know everything about him. That’s why you love him!

You decided, that you wanted to surprise him with chocolate heart-shaped sweets! He loves chocolate and you decided that you will make chocolates for him!

You went into the kitchen, melted chocolate in a bowl, then you grabbed a heart-shaped mold added the melted chocolate to it, then, you went to put the mold in the fridge.

After an hour, you cut open the red velvet lid to sprinkle the chocolate you made with it, you also decorated the chocolate with a white chocolate drizzle. After that, you put the chocolate you made into a lovely heart-shaped box.

You went to Takeda into the S.F HQ. You saw him with his friends, Cassie, Jacqui, and Jin.

You boldly walk to them, in the middle of his talking, you gently tapped on his shoulder with your finger.

“Hey Tak~ Happy Valentin’s day!” You greeted then gave him the chocolate box.

“Hey! Y/N!” He greeted back,” Oh. You didn’t have to but thank you for the treat!!” Takeda thanked you, with the known smile and look he gives you.

Takeda took a bite of the chocolate and he was over the moon, he was enjoying every bite of the chocolate you made it. He kept eating piece by piece. By the looks of it, you know he loves the gift you gave him.

“I’m glad that you liked it! I’m going now bye!” You said, then left

You left his friend speechless, they were also speechless by Takeda's reaction, they thought he was just overreacting because he didn’t want to embarrass you, but it seems he likes the chocolate you made!

Kung Lao

Everyone thought that Kung Lao would never get a soulmate! But you appear and silence them all. No one had ever thought of this, Usually, Kung Lao is the laughingstock of MK, But with you, they respect him and love him, because you inspire them to respect him as well.

You are his powerful Soulmate, you are a powerful sword-woman, and you defeated all of Kung Lao’s friends even Liu Kang. With you, Kung Lao has some sense of peace and agency. Since you are very strong and bold in everything you do.

Usually, they respect him so that you won’t kick their asses, but now, they respect him for real.

Now you Celebrate Valentine’s day with him, you make for him chocolate chip cookies, Red velvet macaroons, and a bunch of handwritten love letters on heart-shaped paper.

He is so happy, he has everything he ever wanted, he loves you, and he showers you with love letters and mooncakes.

Both of you sat in a beautiful place near the riverbank, you put your picnic basket and picnic rug.

Both of you sat on the rug, and you put everything in place, food, sweets, and love letters.

“Happy Valentine’s day, My love~” you started, smiling at him

“Happy Valentine’s day to you too!” He replied while putting his mooncake plate on the picnic rug.

Both of you exchanged gifts and words, and both of you talked and ate the food, Enjoying your time with each other.

Happy Valentine’s day people <3, from your favourite author 🖤🖤.

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vintagegeekculture · 10 months

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I started reading some of R E Howard’s books because of your blog! They’re lots of fun and I can see so many of the standard fantasy tropes forming. What are some of your favorite covers or illustrations of his work?

My favorite Conan might just be this very off model one, in the Gnome Press editions. At this point, Conan was as completely forgotten as his fellow Weird Tales character, Jules de Grandin, Occult Detective, who was the more popular character at the time. I love it because it's so off-model. Unfortunately, the Gnome Press editions went nowhere, and Conan would not be rediscovered until the paperback boom, where he was kept alive by fantasy superfans like L. Sprague de Camp and Lin Carter.

A friend of mine, and fellow pulp collector, asked me a really interesting question in a late night bull session: what would have happened if Robert E. Howard had lived?

As most pulp aficionados know, Howard was clinically depressed and dedicated his life to taking care of his elderly mother. When he discovered his mother was not going to live through the night, he committed suicide that very night.

We can never really know the answer, but by examining his trajectory and that of his pulp writer contemporaries, we can make a pretty educated guess.

I have some bad news for Sword and Sorcery fans: Howard had completely abandoned the Conan character for months following his death, and indeed, any kind of horror or fantasy fiction, primarily as his relationship with Weird Tales went south. For a while around his death, Howard entirely transitioned to being a Western writer, and in the general opinion of many Howard fans, his most mature and best work were not his sword and sorcery yarns, but the Westerns he wrote at the end of his life like "Vultures of Wahpeton" and "The Last Ride."

In addition, we have an example of what happened to a lot of other writers of Howard's generation, like Hugh B. Cave, another Weird Tales guy, who eventually stopped writing horror and action, and transitioned to being a Caribbean regional writer, or how Manly Wade Wellman wrote about his native Appalachia and North Carolina. Wade Wellman's old 30s characters like John Thunstone and caveman Hok the Mighty were vastly overshadowed by his regional creation of Silver John, the Appalachian balladeer.

It's very easy to imagine a scenario, then, where had Robert E. Howard lived, he became a Texas regional writer mainly known for his Westerns, where he produced his most mature work, and the fact he wrote horror and sword and sorcery is a barely remembered fact only known to the most thorough of academics, who might just chance on the name of a Harold Lamb, Talbot Mundy, and Edgar Rice Burroughs influenced set of yarns starring some guy named Conan.

#robert e. howard #pulp fiction #weird tales

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atamascolily · 5 months

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[CW: Extreme puppet violence, including stabbing, decapitation, and blood.]

This scene from Bewitching Melody of the West lives rent-free inside my brain and encapsulates everything I love about Thunderbolt Fantasy in a nutshell (high praise indeed considering Lin Xue Ya is not even in this movie!). Not only is it an incredible example of bard vs. bard musical combat, it's also a great action sequence set to a kick-ass song, as well as a profound character moment. And while know this would be terrible for any instrument IRL, I have a special fondness for any fight where a magical guqin is used for bashing damage.

For additional context, Mu Tian Ming, the woman challenging our red-headed hero Lang Wu Yao (aka T.M. Revolution's puppet-sona) is the one person in his life thus far who was ever unequivocally kind to him, and the song she picked for their duel to the death is the one that Lang's mother taught him when he was a child--a song she knows Lang will be able to play in perfect harmony with her. Talk about a power move!

(I'm pretty sure I shipped them before this, but there's no question this scene is what cemented it, because hot damn.)

It's too bad a cleaned-up track of this duet was never released, because the solo version, while still epic, is just not the same.

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Bewitching Melody of the West is what sold me on Lang as a character--I thought he was interesting in S2, but he was so blunt and brusque it was hard for me to like him. Learning his backstory explained a lot about why he's Like That and made me much more sympathetic. It also doesn't hurt that I like his outfit and design in this movie better than his original costume (although the fact that he gets a magical girl transformation had me in stitches).

As for Mu Tian Ming, she is awesome, and I will be forever pissed off at what happened to her in S3. I know exactly why Urobuchi did it, and why he did it the way he did it, but sidelining one of the only female characters solely for manpain is infuriating and I resent it like hell. It's probably too much to hope that later seasons will provide a fix-it, but I live in hope.

#thunderbolt fantasy #wuxia fantasy puppet epic #lang wu yao #mu tian ming #Youtube

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cienie-isengardu · 5 months

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I think the problem here is that some people seem to think Kuai is just idolizing his brother through rose tinted glasses because he was the only family he had left and that what 'love' he was seeing simply wasn't returned. Some people think Bi-Han simply didn't love Kuai or was straight up abusive to him.

I read a fan story once and basically in a flashback Kuai held back against Smoke despite winning the battle in front of the Grandmaster and Bi-Han got pissed since he was holding back and told Kuai they needed to talk in his room. And by talk, he meant get beat and the dialogue and Kuai's uneasy reaction made it clear this wasn't the first time he hit him.

Yeah Bi-Han fans are getting it rough even before MK1 came out.

Sorry to hear you come across such fanfic and I understand the frustration at fandom how at times it mistreats Bi-Han. Even if people will argue there is no direct source material for him being a good brother (not true), there is no direct mention when alive he was a bad brother either. Of course it would help if fans get the point that Noob Saibot is the twisted by dark magic version of Sub-Zero, not his true character but alas, the same as I or you have our own idea what ice bros should be, everyone is entitled to their own imagination. Fans sometimes go out of their way to demonize characters because they hate them or can’t relate to them and sometimes do that solely to have the story they wished to get, whatever it makes sense for said characters to act that way or not - and good lord only know how fans love to traumatize and put through abuse their favorites. No lie there, we really do love doing that.

Being a fan of Bi-Han may be at times feel like a hardship and the best way usually is just to ignore widespread fanon take on elder Sub-Zero as the vile brother and just go with your life not frustrated over things (other people’s creativity / pleasure / venom) we do not have control over.

As for Kuai Liang idolizing his brother, it makes sense, both for idolizing the family he knew the best as he was raised alongside Bi-Han in the pathological system and as idolizing Lin Kuei of great renown as Grandmaster personally praised the Sub-Zero. Those two factors for sure influenced his opinion about brother (while Bi-Han probably had a less idealized version of Kuai Liang, as the older and more advanced cryomancer, his life experiences and expectations for the family may differ from those of younger brother). However both original/Mythologies and alternative timelines imply Kuai Liang had contact with other family members, be it a father whose title of Sub-Zero Bi-Han took at some point or mentioned in intro dialogues Grandfather respectively but also has a Smoke whose friendship was always a vital part of his life. If Bi-Han was the only person influencing Kuai Liang, then yes, Tundra could be unable to distinguish brotherly love from abuse because there was no other relationship to compare his and Bi-Han’s. However, source material makes it clear that Bi-Han is not the only person Kuai Liang had a strong loyalty to. Mortal Kombat 9 went so far and stated Smoke was so close to Kuai Liang, he considered Tundra to be his brother and when Kuai Liang is on his quest for revenge, Tomas has never tried to talk him out of this task. Quite the contrary, he aided younger Sub-Zero and on his friend’s behalf sought out Shang Tsung to learn the truth about Bi-Han’s death. As far as I’m aware, fans have never considered Smoke to be an abusive asshole for Tundra and Tomas is usually painted as this supportive and loving friend. But as a loving and supporting friend, shouldn’t he at least make a remark about Bi-Han being not worth such effort if elder brother in fact was abusive and cruel? Coming further with that logic, if indeed Bi-Han was such bad brother like some part of fandom like to claim while Tomas (the good brother/friend) either doesn’t notice it or doesn’t spare that any second thought, they maybe fans should question not just Kuai Liang’s love for brother and Bi-Han’s imagined actions, but how far abuse was in integrable part of Lin Kuei that even its own members can’t recognize it as something questionable and wrong in the first place. And by that logic, Bi-Han’s abuse could be also less of being evil and on purpose hurting brother for his own amusement but acting within the frame he was taught to act.

We have some idea about Tomas and Kuai Liang’s relationship because we could see them interact for limited time while alive Bi-Han and Kuai Liang rarely had this chance is source material, however there is little direct examples about either of relationships when the three of them were still children/young people trained to be assassins. If fans are willing to take at face value that Smoke was Kuai Liang’s best friend / another brother since day one just because Kuai Liang says he considers him as such, then I don’t see a reason to doubt his feelings for elder brother without any vital source material contradicting that in the first place. I know this may be difficult to some people to understand, but Tomas and Bi-Han don't need to be treated as opposites - the good brother vs evil one - as both of those men were an important part of Kuai Liang’s life. The relationships are different but that does not mean one of them must be abusive for others to matter. Tomas and Bi-Han were the two people that mattered to Kuai Liang the most for decades, and he did not stop care for them even after their death and change by dark magic into demonic beings. So maybe it is time to give some benefit of doubt, if not to Bi-Han then at least to Kuai Liang.

#mortal kombat #my replies #kuai liang #tomas vrbada #bi han #sub zero #smoke #i'm here talking mainly for older timelines as mk1 is just our introduction to the new versions of them all #my personal resolution is if people want see bi han as evil let them while i stick to my imagination and understanding of source material #and the fans who are here for good brotherhood and tragedy born of it #each to his own #funny how my favs usually fall into the majority of fandom want to paint them as the worst evil lol

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silviakundera · 4 months

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I just love those Story of Kunning Palace novel snippets where Jiang Xuening gets to display that ruthless determination isn't something she left in the past life. Nooooo don't plot insurrection with XW noooooo you're too sexyyyyy

Xie Wei had already read the secret letter, and asked her calmly, "Tomorrow I will leave for the border, can you go with me?"

Jiang Xuening looked at him. "What are you going to do, sir?"

Xie Wei narrowed his eyes and said, "If you don't know what to do, why did you come today?"

Jiang Xuening didn't speak.

Xie Wei said, "The Eldest Princess is not dead. When the war starts next spring, she will become a hostage, which will put the dynasty in a dilemma. The court's money and supplies are just beginning to move, and preparations are still urgent. They will never go to war in advance to save someone. You want to welcome the princess back, or welcome back the princess's coffin, it's all in this thought."

Although it was indeed expected, when Xie Wei said these words, Jiang Xuening still felt her heart tremble, and there was a feeling of being caught in the torrent——

Is there any way to welcome back the princess instead of her coffin?

She was full of emotions, closed her eyes, and clenched her hands tightly.

Xie Wei suddenly laughed. "Scared?"

Jiang Xuening gritted her teeth. "How could that be!"

Xie Wei was the big winner in the end, and now that Yan Lin is full of wings, even if he raises an attack in advance, there may not be no chance of winning! What's more, how could she just watch the princess be given to death?

She promised.

Hold that piece of homeland and welcome her back to the homeland!

Only…

Jiang Xuening slowly opened her eyes. "I promised the princess that I will not miss the appointment. But sir, have you really thought it through?"

Xie Wei's smile faded, he looked back at her, and said slowly, "I will not break my promise."

I don't lose faith in people either.

When Jiang Xuening heard these words, she was a bit dazed, because she didn't know who Xie Wei had made any promises to. Until a picture emerged from the vague memory, together with the voice that was almost forgotten by her in the past, it rang in her ears.

"When will the iron hooves of the Central Plains break through the Yanmen Gate and bring Her Highness back?"

"Soon, soon."

#how could that be #YES tell him baby #it is actually THE most jiang xuening thing to do #that she hitched her wagon to the winning side #thats just how my girl rolls #story of kunning palace #cnovel #ofc after this scene in the novel #XW completely salts his game #and pretends not to care #because he is a self-protective dumb ass #who doesnt know how to love (yet)#hmmmm the problem with the drama cutting out the 2 year separation #is that the protagonist used that time to raise money #and bank rolling this matter gives her a more equal standing #i mean yes they are putting all their careful plans at risk #to save the princess #they arent really benefiting from this side quest #and truly its For The Love of This One Girl™#because she is changing hearts and minds #but regardless JX is bringing the money to get this shit done #she isnt just a damsel following along #she propels the climax like XW does #hand in hand

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lin-rinku · 1 year

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Lordy, how does Tumblr work again

#I do miss talking in the tags if anything #what a life i have indeed lin #and to my new followers that's my personal tag for ramblings #idr what stuff i've reblogged or posted anymore

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fsfghgee · 6 months

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I rewatched Mythologies yesterday and honestly I still don't get why till these days so many people claim that Bi-Han was a good guy because of this game when

he literally said to Raiden that he would retrieve the amulet just because he had no choice, he didn't do for altruism and his soul was indeed tainted with evil (Raiden confirmed what Quan Chi said). Also, he never saved Sareena, he just show mercy because she begged for help when he was about to kill her and apparently she didn't really wanna kill him (she's kinda like her sister, fascinated with earthrealm, just way weaker), so yes, he was never a "good boy". And the new Bi-Han will pretty much do the same (join Liu Kang to save earthrealm because he has no choice, he will die with all the realm and die as "noob" if he doesn't help), he will help for his own protection (and his clan, of course), he never really cared about anybody or anything else (except his brother, his clan... And if you take mk comic books into consideration, he had a soft spot for Hydro). Mk1 Bi-Han is just Bi-Han with bigger responsibilities and power in the clan, he is not just the leader of his fellows, but the Grandmaster of them, It's just natural that he would be more ambitious than his old version (the first human Bi-Han wanted money to retire from his dangerous life and protect his brother better. The new Bi-Han wants more power and a army to protect his clan, 'cause if Lin Kuei rule earthrealm, they won't have to die defending it and they will get respect when have to do it).

I rewatched, because I was tired of people claiming that he was good because of Mythologies and Nrs ruined him in Mk1, but I didn't even remember this game, so I had to rewatch it. And I still believe he has always been neutral/morally gray, not good or purely evil.

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best-underrated-anime · 4 months

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Best Underrated Anime Group E Round 2: #E1 vs #E2

#E1: Dead people are revived with souls from the future. Hilarity and angst ensue.

#E2: Psychic girl is adopted by Yakuza. Hijinks ensue.

Details and poll under the cut!

#E1: Are You Ok (You Yao)

Summary:

People from the modern world transmigrating (Chinese version of isekai) into the ancient Chinese fantasy world has become a common and everyday occurrence that the royal court in the latter has decided to moderate them. If you’re a transmigrator, you must report your existence to Lou Zhu, the master of Best Tower. Once you pass his test and prove that you are indeed a modern person, you can then be assigned to work in different areas of the government and be given a high salary.

Because of this promised benefit, many impostors have showed up before Lou Zhu. And one day, Zuo Yunqi shows up for this test. Is he an impostor, or is he an actual modern person?

But some transmigrators also choose to hide their existence out of distrust in the government. Where are they? And with their advanced knowledge on science and technology, what are they planning in the dark?

Propaganda:

The setting is a genius mix of ancient and modern. Lou Zhu’s tower looks like an ancient Chinese building on the outside, but on the inside it’s like a hotel, complete with different entertainment venues and even a milk tea shop! And of course, what’s a hotel without an elevator? But since electricity isn’t invented yet, it’s just powered by different men (in fancy uniforms) on bicycles.

You’d expect that the locals would have some amount of horror, sadness, and grief over dead people coming back to life and moving and talking as if nothing has happened. Except there isn’t; at least, not much. They’ve gotten used to it. Life still has to go on, so why not enjoy it?

On one hand, You Yao shows us the transmigrators’ lives and how they cope in this unfamiliar world. Often in isekai/transmigration stories, the locals are portrayed as “backward” and “ignorant” to highlight the modern character’s supposed intelligence. But in You Yao, the two parties have an equal relationship. Transmigrators still have to follow the laws set by the Emperor, and their modern knowledge doesn't always prove to be useful. Unless they can invent novel things despite limited materials, their knowledge often fails to set them apart. I mean, what are you gonna do when you’re an art student whose only talent is drawing p*rn but people expect you to cook??? Or how about when you’re literate in Simplified Chinese but can’t read the locals’ Traditional Chinese text? Or what about when your soul ends up in the body of a mosquito instead???

Even with a high salary from the Emperor, being a transmigrator is not that easy. And as the show unfolds, we find that there’s more to them than comedic figures.

On the other hand, You Yao is also about the locals and how they have to adapt to their fast-changing world. My favorite among them is Lin Kai. He has fully embraced the changes that he’s become akin to a transmigrator in his knowledge of the modern world. He’s not prominent in the novel, but the donghua treated him with a full musical sequence when he was about to confess to his crush 😂. As the only straight character, they probably had to highlight his love story to let the BL go under the radar—Oh, have I mentioned this show is a BL with several pairs?

Chinese censorship won’t allow the gay to be explicit, but they managed to still make it very fruity. The s1 ending song is literally about the second pair, Li Ke and Zhou Rongqi (aka Prince Yu).

Then there’s the animation style, which is a hybrid of 2D and 3D CGI. People not used to 3D anime may wince at this, but it’s actually common in China. You Yao’s style works quite well for it, too, giving it a distinctive flair.

To sum it up, You Yao is a compelling show that deconstructs the isekai/transmigration genre. If you’re after comedy with depth and an overarching plot, this is the show for you. There’s also some gay romantic angst sprinkled throughout, giving you lots of materials for fanfiction 😎

Trigger warnings: Guns, kidnapping, and imprisonment. Nothing too dark, though.

#E2: Hinamatsuri

youtube

Summary:

While reveling in the successful clinching of a prized vase for his collection, Yoshifumi Nitta, a yakuza member, is rudely interrupted when a large, peculiar capsule suddenly materializes and falls on his head. He opens the capsule to reveal a young, blue-haired girl, who doesn't divulge anything about herself but her name—Hina—and the fact that she possesses immense powers. As if things couldn't get any worse, she loses control and unleashes an explosion if her powers remain unused. Faced with no other choice, Nitta finds himself becoming her caregiver.

Propaganda 1:

Hinamatsuri is about…

Hina, who is a psychic metaphor for autism ala Mob but imo better. She’s not only a weirdgirl who’s friends are almost all other strange girls, but she’s also into stuff that is just so either unfitting for her age or she’s just really intense about.

Nitta, who deserves all the fangirls and husbando-ing that every other random guy in anime gets. He’s a bachelor who loves pottery and can cook so well that Hina convinces her friends they have a gourmet chef working for them. He’s also a yakuza and is beloved by the aniki for being incredibly tough and scary. (He is gentle as hell with Hina.)

A bunch of other weird girls (Admin: this part of the propaganda has been cut due to possible spoilers)

Propaganda 2:

Hinamatsuri is an absolutely hilarious anime with some of the best comic timing I’ve ever seen. It’s so funny, the various girls are such nonsense.

Hina starts as a violent blank slate and develops into a lazy greedy horrible little gremlin. Anzu starts as a prideful edgy rival but eventually becomes a wholesome overly grateful insecure mess. Hitomi is forced to become more and more competent, independent, and adult because she can't stand up for herself and say no to people asking her for favors.

Nitta is a fantastic viewpoint character because he outwardly takes so much in stride that it’s easy to forget how annoyed and stressed everything makes him until he snaps.

Trigger Warnings: There is child nudity, but only for a Terminator reference. There is some comedic child neglect and slapstick. There is a child who is homeless, but it’s treated very sensitively.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how they’re presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form, where you can submit revisions for taglines, propaganda, trigger warnings, and/or video.

#anime #donghua #best underrated anime #polls #poll tournament #tournament #anime tournament #animation #group stage #group stage round 2 #tournament polls #group e #are you ok #are you okay #you yao #有药 #hinamatsuri

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rayleeeen · 6 months

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kulay ng tadhana "color of fate"

- jia x hobie (oc x canon) characters by @minquiec

"In the canvas of life, two soulmates find their colors in each other's presence, painting a masterpiece of love that knows no bounds."

summary: In a world full of of black & white, he finds his ray of sunshine. his eternal, his daylight.

Hobie sees Jia in five colors, but orange is his favorite.

Alternate Universe - Soulmates Colors AU (Where they don't see colors until they have met their soulmate)

Side notes: This is more of a character study (?), I'm trying to explore all possible ways their fates can collide or get destroyed 🙇🏻‍♀️ focuses on Hobie's pov but will definitely make a Jia/Lin one soon. Another thing, this story will be divided into 6 parts, this being the first. I'll post one each day so do not worry— */worries

NOTE!: THIS HAS NOT BEEN PROOFREAD SO ANY GRAMMAR MISTAKES I MADE I DEEPLY APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE 😓

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Chapter 1: soulmates & colors

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For the first time in his living years, Hobie sees colors.

Miguel had assigned him on a solo mission in his universe. A giant peacock man— who had actual wings that could indeed fly— was terrorizing a part in England. What's more of a threat about this villain was the seemingly infinity amount of very sharp feathers being constantly shot his way. Hobie tries to avoid most of them until one had hit the upper part of his chest, causing him to fall onto a building from swinging.

The villain had been more agile and vigorous than expected, Hobie tries swings across the city to lead him away from civilians and to avoid getting attacked, however, this one had caught up to him, a massive kick from behind that sends him down hard, almost knocking him out unconscious.

Fortunately, Hobie had taken him to an uncivilized area filled with abandoned construction that would not pose any risk to innocent people. But despite that, he was cornered with no way of defending himself in an injured state. So he quickly went into the nearest inhabited building, one hand pressed to his chest to stem the bleeding as he tries to carry his body inside. As soon as he entered, he pulled himself away from the door and braced against the wall, with hopes of expediting his injury's healing.

As his eyes began to become unfocused and tired, he heard a sudden man curling scream that came from outside.

His eyes were jolted awake by the sound alone. Hobie tries to focus his vision, but he was already too fragile and tired to move any part of him, he doesn't know if he'll be able to make it out of here. His Spider senses weren't indicating any danger, so he couldn't feel it. Was it some other threat? Some accomplice?

He glances around the room looking for any indication of danger. For a few moments, there was silence. Leaning his head against the wall as his body begins to weaken and his vision becomes unfocused. The door opens, and a faint but visible sound of footsteps is heard coming towards him.

"I finally found you."

A young woman's voice has a gentle but firm tone, much like her footsteps. In silence, she stands there, then her steps coming closer. Hobie is unsure of what she's doing, so he attempts to lift his head and looks at the woman in front. That's when he see saw colors.

Out of nowhere, Hobie felt something warm and foreign run through his veins. Every bit of oxygen seemed to vanish from his lungs as though he'd been kicked once more in the chest, as the woman’s eyes sharply blinked into color.

Stunningly soft black eyes. The pain in his brain and aching in his limbs intensifies. He gasped for breath as the color spread across everything, starting from the woman's eyes. Her lips boast a beautiful peach hue, her raven-dark hair tied up in pigtails glistening like a starry night sky, and she looked just as stunned as Hobie was, who looks down on him with a metal stick on her right hand. Hobie briefly examines her, taking note of her suit, which he recognizes as the attire of a fellow Spider-Person. He admires the suit's beautiful orange shade, illuminated by the sun's rays from the window, which perfectly complements her.

After some time, he comes to the realization of why he is seeing colors.

"So it's you, huh.." Hobie whispers softly as he loses vision, and the woman in front of him suddenly becomes frightened. For a quick moment, Hobie thinks, maybe it's not bad, to die in front of his other half, his soulmate.

He thinks of his siblings, how he will miss their constant bickering.

He thinks of his best friend, who is probably on the other side waiting for him. Hobie begins to think of an apology for failing to save him.

He remembers Gwen, his drummer, whom he failed to keep his promise to her, his promise to help him find her muse, her Miles.

Then he thinks of the woman in front of him, how his soulmate will be the last person he'll ever see.

Hobie is certain he's on the brink of a grim demise. He can only hear the her urgently calling out for help. The sole memory etched in his consciousness is of warm hands cradling his face and soft words he struggles to recollect. But he does remember her voice, and he remains utterly captivated by its taste as it helps him drift off to sleep.

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"Her voice, like a soft piano piece, grazes the soul with lulling notes of serenity." - rayleen

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can you tell i have a complete addiction to these 2?

#writers #jipunk #across the spiderverse #soulmates #i have an obsession #and it's not healthy #oc x canon

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angelbroad · 6 months

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"Who takes care of you?"

Type: Fanfiction

Fandom: Mortal Kombat

Characters: Bi-Han, Kakkō, Kuai Liang, Lui Kang

The first time Bi-Han had encountered Kakkō was in the Fire Temple. Him and Lui Kang had some important things to discuss, and he noticed that one of his brothers, the actual one, was absent. Even if he had been there with them a few moments ago. He hummed, and squinted his eyes at the door.

“Where did Kuai Liang go?”, he asked, Tomas turned his head to him, and so did Lui Kang.

“Huh.”, the god said, “I did not notice he was gone. Outside, perhaps?”

Before Lui Kang finished the second half of his statement, Bi-Han was already out the door. Bi-Han could hear the faint voice of his brother, his tone sounding like an instructor.

“-and throw.”

He heard a weird splatting sound, and he rounded the corner to see a kunai spear on the ground that had caught an apple. But it was not his brother’s. The spear pulled back, Bi-Han seeing it retreat in the hands of a teenager. The kid presented the pierced apple to Kuai Liang.

“Hey, I did that without the shackle!”, they said, Kuai Liang placed a hand on their head.

“Good progress, kid-”

“Kuai Liang.”

The two turned to see Bi-Han at the entrance, the kid practically freezing in silent terror at the sight of him. Bi-Han could tell they tried not to show their fear, doing their best to present themselves properly. He sighed.

“Kuai Liang, what are you doing back here?”

“Apologies, brother. I had gotten distracted.”

“Now you are mentoring shaolin?”

“I am not a shaolin!”

The two looked at the kid, causing it to retreat into itself metaphorically.

“S-Sorry.”

Bi-Han looked at their kunai spear. It was indeed entirely different from Kuai Liang’s.

“When did you even have time to find them one?”, he asked, refering to the weapon.

“Kakkō already had it.”, Kuai Liang explained, “It was given to them by a previous, older Scorpion, I was helping them refresh their memory.”

A previous Scorpion? Were they acquianted with the Lin Kuei?

“We have actual work to do, Kuai Liang. We did not come here to train novices.”

“I am more than capable, I will let you know that.”

“Kakkō, don’t bother. Bi-Han is just tired.”, Kuai Liang explained, the smaller warrior obeying and stepping back.

Bi-Han raised an eyebrow, but did not let it linger long before asking Kuai Liang to come back inside. He saw the kid again before they left, talking to Tomas. He couldn’t catch what they were talking about, but Tomas had shown his ability to turn into puffs of smoke a few times, the teen looking very amused. He had asked Lui Kang about this, already knowing their name, Kakkō. Apparently, they were orphaned three years back, and he took them in to be raised by the monks to stop taking out their anger at everyone within close proximity.

He never payed much attention to them after this, or at least he tried to. The kid had the habit of hanging upside down from the raftors like a bat, making it their life’s mission to give him a heart attack. But Bi-Han was not the Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei for nothing. He would deter the attempts at scares every time, the closest he had gotten to an actual heart attack being the one and only time when Kakkō had stolen the pendant with his mother’s picture in it. They only apologised because Kuai Liang told them to.

After this incident, he decided to watch Kakkō more closely. He saw just how much they devoted themselves to kombat. Most of the time, he’d find them in the training grounds, bashing everything around them. Kuai Liang still offered them his tutelage, Kakkō visibly learning from his lessons. So they were a fast learner. He had stayed a few times to watch their daily rampage through the training grounds. They would not stop until every dummy was broken into multiple pieces.

Bi-Han would not lie, he was becoming more interested in this kid. In Lui Kang’s words, they just reached sixteen, so still a child, but a very damn capable one.

The second most significant time he had encountered Kakkō was during one of the very rare missions they were handling. The underground operations of the Black Dragon required their attention, and Bi-Han was eager for kombat, even if his thrill had died down slightly at the sight of guns. Cowards’ weapons.

They were no match for Bi-Han and his Lin Kuei, but they had an advantage of firepower. They had taken down a significant amount of this ‘Kano’’s goons, and Bi-Han was able to retrieve the artifact they had stolen from the Fire Temple. Holding it, however, became painful. The artifact was imbued with magic, and it quickly became too much for Bi-Han to even touch. He considered encasing it in ice, and he failed to notice a lackey ready to shoot him.

Just as he heard the shot ring out, another object flew right in front of him, landing on the ground right in front of his feet. Bi-Han saw it was a kunai spear held by a chain. It managed to pierce the bullet that would have no doubt hit him. The kunai spear jolted itself off the ground, and pierced the other man’s skull instead.

Kakkō hopped down from the raftors, “You okay?”

“Why are you here?”, Bi-Han interrogated, trying to stop Kakkō from taking the artifact in their hands, “Stop that! It’s-”

Kakkō took it in their hands and sprinted down the halls, motioning for him to follow along.

“Come on! The others are waiting for you!”

Bi-Han temporarily shook away his confusion, sprinting after them with his Lin Kuei following the duo’s lead. Bi-han and Kakkō fought side by side that day, the man finally seeing the kid in an actual battle. He had to help out once or twice, but they held their own like a fine warrior. Bi-Han also noticed that Kakkō was not affected by the artifact’s overwhelming magic. He would ask later, for now, they focused on clearing out the base and getting out.

They successfully returned the artifact, Lui Kang chiding Kakkō for leaving and bothering Subzero without permission. The child shrugged it off and simply left with a remark about Lui Kang’s vision. Bi-han would seek them out later, finding them sitting on the roof overlooking the training arena of the Wu Shi.

“Who takes care of you?”, he asked.

“Excuse me?”

“I haven’t seen that much self-destructing behaviour ever in my life. Not even with Kuai Liang.”

Kakkō scoffed, “If Lui Kang wants my respect, he’s gotta earn it. And he has done jack shit about it yet.”

“To me, you just sound ungrateful.”

The look he received might as well have been poison to the eyes, but the kid remained silent. Bi-Han continued.

“The artifact, that thunder amulet, how were you able to hold it?”

“Couldn’t you?”

“No.”, he bluntly said, “It’s magic was too much to bear.”

Kakkō looked away, “My family had a resistance to strong magics. Weird genetic stuff.”, they said, and Bi-Han nodded.

“Do you not have any distant relatives-?”

“Lui Kang made sure my clan was wiped from history.”

Bi-Han stopped talking, looking up at the child wordless. Lui Kang, advocating for genocide? He found that very hard to believe, but it would explain Kakkō’s distain for him. They clearly were here because they had nowhere else to go.

He stepped forward and into the arena.

“Get down from here.”, he said.

Kakkō looked at him, hesitant. The silver accents of his armor glimmered under the moonlight and the few lanterns that were present in the pit. They hopped down, the two of them now standing on opposite ends of the arena.

“What is this about-?”, Kakkō had to dodge an ice beam that went right for them, but it ended up hitting the entrance patio behind them instead. They breathed heavily, looking at Bi-Han with worry in their eyes.

Bi-Han begun forming another ice attack in his hands, “Fight.”

Kakkō clearly did not want to fight. They were dodging Bi-Han's attacks every time they could, rarely even swinging back. Bi-Han needed to test this one, and if he were to do that, he’d need the kid to fight.

“I know you can hit me.”, he commented, strengthening the blow of his attacks. He could see the kid was struggling, but they still would not retaliate. He needed something to push them to fight.

“Look at you, struggling against someone in a training exercise.”

“Shut up-”

“Your family would be ashamed of you.”

Maybe he shouldn’t have said that. He had to avoid a swing of the kunai spear that came for his face. Kakkō was moving faster towards him, blocking the ice attacks with both the kunai and sometimes their bare hands, not caring about the ice sticking to their body. They managed to make contact with Bi-Han, snarling like a wild animal as they kicked and punched with the strength and technique of a seasoned warrior. They were fast, and Bi-Han was knocked to the ground, the chain of Kakkō’s kunai spear wrapping around his neck as the child was gripping the chain tightly on top of him, teeth gritting and tears in their eyes.

“Keep...my family...out of your fucking mouth.”

Bi-Han moved to stop the chain from choking him, Kakkō following his lead and loosening their hold on the chain. They both got up, Bi-Han helping Kakkō with some leftover ice that got stuck on their clothes and skin. He took notice of how the kid shivered.

“Not a fan of the cold?”

Kakkō shook their head as they both sat on the patio, Bi-Han removing thick shards from their freezing hands, checking them for frostbite.

“Well, you look okay so far.”

Kakkō pulled back their arm as soon as he confirmed their well being, the two sitting in awkward silence. Bi-Han sighed.

“I will not be bringing up your family again.”

“Good.”

Eventually, Kakkō spoke again.

“Why did you even want to fight me?”

“Personal matters.”, Bi-Han replied before getting up to walk off, “Get some rest. You will need it.”

Kakkō scoffed with a slight smile, “What? Are you my Grandmaster?”

Bi-Han did not answer their question, instead leaving to go seek out Lui Kang. The god’s plate was almost always full, and currently he was making prepartions to find Earthrealm its champions, dulling the artifact’s magic in the process to make it more bearable to hold.

Eventually, Lui Kang could afford to give Subzero some time.

“Do you not have Kakkō?”, he asked when the Tournament was brought up, “Both them and the higher ranks of the Lin Kuei would make excellent champions.”

“The process of choosing a champion is no easy task, my friend.”, Lui Kang explained, in that condescending tone Bi-Han hated so much, “I must consider their ability and character. Strength and spirit.”

Bi-Han knew they would just go in circles if this topic continued, exhaling in response.

“You wish to speak to me about Kakkō?”, the god asked, gently blowing at his cup of tea to cool it enough to drink.

“I do.”, Bi-Han said as he took a quick glance at his own cup before averting his gaze. “You said yourself they were no shaolin, and their fighting style only confirms it. They fight more like Kuai Liang every day, along with some other, distant technique.”

Lui Kang nodded as he took a sip of his tea, allowing Bi-Han to continue talking.

“They clearly have talent, but refuse to utilise it. Because you have them cooped up in here instead of using them.”

Lui Kang gave Bi-Han a look, “What do you mean?”

“Tell me, is there any other reason as to why they almost never leave the grounds of the Fire Temple and the Wu Shi?”

“Kakkō had a hard life, Bi-Han. After the loss of their family, and later on their mentor, they refused to associate themselves with any group, the fear of them being taken away being too much for a child to bear.”

“That clearly hasn’t stopped them from glueing themselves to my brother’s hip.”

“Is this what you wanted to talk to me about? Kakkō’s attachment to your brother?”

“No. Though, it still has to do with the kid.”

“.....Go on.”

“As I said, Kakkō clearly has talent they refuse to utilise, but a few weeks ago, back in the Wu Shi training grounds, I got a glimpse of what Kakkō could accomplish in kombat. Kuai Liang tells me of their progress each day, like they are one of his students.”

“What are you trying to say, Bi-Han?”

“I wish for Kakkō to join the Lin Kuei.”

Lui Kang nearly choked on his tea, hacking and coughing to stabilise his throat again. Bi-Han gave him an offended look from across the table, which Lui Kang picked up on.

“I-It is not that I do not consider you and your clan capable, Bi-han. I would not have appointed you to such position otherwise!”

“Then what is the problem?”, Bi-Han asked, clearly not happy.

Lui Kang could not tell him anything, and he clearly did not know about Kakkō’s true nature, their history with the Lin Kuei and himself. He knew very well he could not continue to force them into anything. He didn’t want to end up bringing the Kakkō from the previous timelines out of the younger version.

He closed his eyes and silently swallowed, “I do not want to force them into anything, Bi-Han.”, he said, “You will have to ask them yourself.”

“So be it.”

#fictober23 #mk1 #mk au #mortal kombat #kakko #bi han #kuai liang #lui kang #fire god liu kang

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summerwritesfics · 7 months

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🧊An Unexpected Twist

Pairing: None Length: 613 Words Rating: General Warnings: Mortal Kombat 1 timeline, Kuai Liang is Scorpion, Pyromancer!Kuai Liang, Fluff, Power Awakening, Bàba Zero is trying his best

Ice, Ice, Smoke And Fire Masterlist

Notes: Another one I’ve had written up and edited for a while. Ice, Ice, Smoke And Fire is just gonna be a series of silly fluffy oneshots following Bàba Zero (dubbed Sub Zero in this, I’m kinda going with Bi-Han taking the title after Bàba Zero’s death) trying his best… cuz tbh I just want to write the Lin Kuei trio as children getting into trouble and making their dad’s life difficult. I kinda like the idea that Kuai being a pyromancer was a surprise to everyone, hence why he still has an ice related name. I’d also like to say I wrote this before MK1 came out (just after Dominic accidentally dropped that Kuai was Scorpion in that IGN interview), so we didn’t have the intro’s where Bi-Han and Tomas talk about Mama Zero. That said, Kuai never really talks about her, so I’m going with the headcanon that she died when he was still young and he doesn’t have as many memories of her as Bi-Han and Tomas do (I headcanon Tomas is the middle brother). Anyway, enough of me clarifying stuff: enjoy the fluff :)

“Bàba, look what I can do!”

Sub Zero looked up from his paperwork to watch as Kuai Liang ran into the room. He was 6 years old now, around the age where his cryomancy should be starting to come through. He held his breath and smiled, eagerly awaiting to see if indeed Kuai’s cryomancy was finally taking form.

Kuai held his little hands up in the air, his face scrunching up as he did his best to summon his new abilities. Sub Zero didn’t say anything, wanting his son to do this by himself. Finally, there was a small flash, as magic finally erupted from his hands.

Except… that was not ice.

Inside Kuai’s palm was a small flame, flickering away like a lit candle.

“Look! My ice is orange!” Kuai seemed blissfully unaware that what he held in his hand was pretty much the complete opposite of ice.

Sub Zero could only stare in shocked silence, trying to wrack his brain as to some explanation of how this could have happened. His bloodline had been one of cryomancy for generations, and as far as he remembered, his late wife had no inherent magical abilities that could offer an explanation.

“I can also do this,” Kuai announced, quickly turning to his left, and putting the flame directly under the room's curtains.

Unfortunately, Sub Zero had not quite realised what Kuai was about to do until the curtain set ablaze. He scrambled out of the seat, grabbing Kuai around the waist with one arm, while summoning a thick layer of ice to douse the flames. Kuai giggled the entire time, not grasping the danger he’d just posed to them. Despite Sub Zero’s delayed reaction, thankfully the damage was minimal.

Sub Zero let out a relieved breath, before shifting his arms until Kuai was comfortable and in front of him. Kuai clapped his hands in triumph, clearly very proud of himself. Weirdly, Sub Zero was proud of him too, even if he was a menace. Even if this entire debacle raised so many questions.

“Kuai Liang, could you show me again?” He asked gently, wanting to see it one more time, slightly closer up this time. “Cup your hands together, and let the magic flow to them.”

Kuai nodded confidently. He cupped his hands together, that same look of sheer concentration gracing his features. Eventually, the same thing happened again, and there in Kuai’s hands was a flame. Sub Zero smiled, this was in no way something he ever expected, but it was what was happening. He would just have to find a way to help navigate his son through this strange new power.

“Grandmaster!” The door slammed open and Hydro stumbled inside, looking extremely panicked. “We believe we’re under attack, we’ve found fire’s all over the temp-“

He stopped speaking when he noticed the small flame in Kuai Liang’s hands.

“Stand down, Master Hydro,” Sub Zero replied, trying not to laugh. “I suspect the attack came from within and have apprehended the culprit.”

He shot Kuai a glance, and he still looked far too happy with himself.

“I… see…” Hydro sounded as shocked as Sub Zero had been. Still he straightened himself out. “I will… Uh… Go and aid the efforts to fix the damage.”

Hydro bowed to him, before turning to leave. Sub Zero redirected his attention back to Kuai Liang, who had put out the flame and was now looking at his father with bright eyes. The child needed guidance, and even though Sub Zero wasn’t sure he would be enough, he would do everything possible to do so.

No matter what, he would always do his best to support his child.

#mortal kombat #kuai liang #sub zero #scorpion #Baba Zero #🧊ice ice smoke and fire

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