Tumgik
#i do believe history is useful. i do think it can teach us a lot. but even if it didn't?
drdemonprince · 1 day
Note
also a good-faith question: what do i tell some of my friends who are terrified of the collapse of the current system for like, survival reasons? like in ways that mutual aid and community support can't really help.
i was trying to explain all this stuff to my friend the other day who is on government support and needs a lot of intensive, expensive medical intervention to live, and she accused me of being willing to sacrifice disabled people for the sake of ideological purity but like, i wasn't saying she doesn't deserve to live, but that she doesn't deserve to live more than palestinians do? and that she also doesn't deserve to specifically live on stolen land. and like, there are palestinians who also could really use those medical treatments that she has the privilege of accessing, why does she deserve them more?
she said she can't afford to not care about the election results because if anything happens to the aca or medicaid, or if anything happens to the medical supply chains, then she's fucked. like, yeah, but same goes for all these people our country is oppressing??
i feel like i just didn't explain this well and i want to give her some other stuff to read.
Great question! I think when people believe that all social care systems will collapse without the government, they are buying into a very colonialist idea that human beings are at their most basic level selfish and irresponsible and won't care for their communities. This is not the case! Thousands of years of human history prove this not to be the case, and so do the behaviors of humans right now during moments of crisis.
Look to the people of Gaza -- they are not leaving their disabled behind. People are sacrificing all that they have to care for their elderly relatives, neighbors, and friends. The only reason that disabled people in Gaza are dying is because the region is being deliberately deprived of resources by Israel. If aid were let in and the Palestinian people were free, they would feed their hungry, treat their sick, supply insulin, teach children, and perform everything that we currently in the US rely upon the government to supply.
Another example of this can be found in how humans respond to natural disasters. Rebecca Solnit's book A Paradise Built in Hell is a beautiful read on this, following numerous real-life disasters across the globe. In every case, people did not riot and pillage or dissolve into violence--- they formed stable encampments, doctors and pharmacists worked their jobs without pay, cooks made food without expecting a wage, everyone pooled their resources and looked after one another.
We also see examples of this when other governments have fallen -- and all governments eventually do! When a nation-state ends, life doesn't end. People keep going to work to make the medicine and put on the leg casts and wash physically disabled people's bodies and make the food. People WANT to feel useful, helpful, included, and looked after, and they will do these things without being forced to by an authoritarian power structure. We see this in the campus encampments and the incredible outpouring of generosity they are experiencing too.
It is quite common for a person to mistakenly believe that the government is all that is keeping our social order working, and that we are all just one moment away from violent chaos and deprivation without it. But that really isn't true. Even without the government, we will still have the *people* who understand how food production and logistics work, the *people* who research and test the drugs, the *people* who watch the children and nurse the elders and fix the roads and butcher chickens.
Without the alienating, exploitative economic structure we currently have, it would actually be EASIER and more efficient for us to take care of one another with these skills, because our time wouldnt be wasted on bullshit jobs that don't contribute to society.
There are lots of great readings about all of this on the Anarchist Library, but I recommend starting with David Graeber's books! Bullshit Jobs, then Debt the first 5000 Years, then Utopia of Rules, then Dawn of Everything. Bullshit Jobs is the easiest read.
52 notes · View notes
The world will tell you that you must justify your existence by being useful. Useful to other people, useful to an employer, useful to your country. You are not a product to be consumed. You matter, your feelings and dreams and needs matter, because you are a person.
Be kind, but do it for its own sake. Be productive, but make it reflect your own needs and abilities, not others' expectations. Steal time for yourself, your hobbies and your loved ones whenever you can.
79 notes · View notes
sugar-grigri · 9 months
Text
It's all about the number 2 
Tumblr media
Asa and Yoru, Nayuta and Denji, two Chainsaw Man, two camps of worshippers versus detractors, two protagonists, a second part, the two identities of Denji, a high-school student and a hero himself, both demon and human: Chainsaw - Man. 
But before we balance all that, let's take a closer look at this chapter.
Tumblr media
First of all, I'd like to say how rich chapter 140 is. I see a lot of people criticizing Fujimoto's writing as someone who simply sets up absurd situations when absolutely nothing is left to chance. We're reading a manga by a film buff, so get your head around Chekov's rifle. 
I'd like to remind you that Chainsaw Man is set in Japanese society. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Ejecting a sect from a building, or even belonging to a cult that has nothing to do with a dominant, ancestral religion, is more common than in the West. 
I've seen plenty of people wondering who could be at the head of the church for making people believe such a stupid story as a violet-ray weapon that would make adults stupid.
Tumblr media
When it's the other way around, the church is exploiting the fact that high-school students are just thinking too much. And if there's one thing that saves Denji, it's that he thinks less. 
Let's put things in context: this is the '90s, and even if the idea of nuclear weapons has been erased by Pochita, meaning that the Cold War has surely taken a different form in Chainsaw Man, Fujimoto has never denied geopolitical tensions. 
Whether it's the mention of the USSR with Reze, Makima's instrumentalization of Japan, the history of weapons, the fact that the American government sought to eliminate Makima or that countries share the remains of the weapon demon...
Tumblr media
Countries are in tension. The church exploits this atmosphere of anxiety among teenagers who are beginning to form opinions that dissent from their parents. 
Adolescence means coming into conflict with your parents' ideas, so come up with a story about how a gun makes them stupid. It's simply targeted manipulation that exploits the vulnerabilities of individuals in the midst of an identity crisis. 
Becoming a teenager also means freeing oneself from a certain carefree attitude and better understanding of the world around us, hence the mention of Americans on the same level as adults. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
I'd like to point out that this is not just a collection of absurdities. But for that, a bit of history... I hope I'm not teaching anyone that Japanese society has been turned upside down by the United States.
Without going into too much detail, during the 19th century, Japan went through the Meiji era. The Meiji government pursued a policy of modernization with the ultimate aim of bringing Japan up to the level of the Western powers. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
To compete with Western powers such as the United States, the government relied on centralized power to control citizens as much as possible... and this involved reforming the matrimonial system. With the popularization of "love marriage", the Meiji government changed tactics: the polygamous system was replaced by exclusive "love marriage". 
The church used the same method of control as the Meiji government: reforming the matrimonial system by overturning institutions. From now on, it's no longer sex after marriage, but before it.
Tumblr media
It's this kind of talk that just digs into the cracks that allows them to be brainwashed. But talk has never worked with Denji, who thinks concretely with what he can grasp. A date with a pretty girl, steak, sex, feeling the buttocks when he does the chair. What one would point to as perversity is what saves Denji. He thinks through his senses, his literal needs, not the abstract. 
We can't say that Miri, who thinks he's free when he's being instrumentalized, repeating that it's the Americans' fault again, or asking Chainsaw Man if he's sure he hasn't picked up any ultraviolet weapons... that he’s stupid. Because weapons have lost their memory, they have no loved ones, no stories to refer to. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Miri convinces himself he's free, filling the void of his own forgotten history with false stories. The lack of education, of pillars, of history is what had tortured Denji, who was so easily manipulated. I'd go so far as to say that Reze is the most striking example of this. 
Tumblr media
It's impossible to determine Barem's psychology, but he still demonstrates a third reaction to manipulation: while Denji evolves, Miri locks himself in denial : Barem manipulates in return. Revenge, reproductive mechanism, any number of reasons could explain why Barem exploits one of Denji's weaknesses: Asa. 
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Now you're thinking, yes, that's all very well, you talk a lot... but what's that got to do with the number two?
The scale is the very image of dichotomy, of a relationship between two forces, two weights, two entities. And what does it have to do with manipulation? Several things.
Tumblr media
First of all, manipulation also means taking on ideas that are not our own. It means no longer questioning them, confronting them with dissident ideas that would contradict them, or balancing them. 
To balance is also to confront two options in a dilemma. Something that's come up several times, first initiated by Yoshida, then taken up in his own way by Barem: embrace his identity as Chainsaw Man or continue his normal life as Denji?
Tumblr media Tumblr media
The manipulation since the start of Part 2 has been to split up Chainsaw Man. To have separated what constitutes his essence: human and demonic. To have split his nature, which has always been that of two beings in one. 
And what if I told you that the answer lies in chapter 2 (yes, man). Here, Makima clearly explains to Denji that Pochita is not dead but continues to live with him, that he has two smells.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Fami's project is openly to separate Chainsaw Man, to cut its essence in two: the reunion of two beings. 
That's why this chapter talks about marriage, which refers to the reunion of two individuals. 
Barem would have us believe that these two choices are antinomic, that they are contradictory and cannot be fulfilled together. Only Denji can have both choices, he had already answered that. His sign of strength is two fingers. Two is Denji's strength. Becoming two is what literally allowed him to be reborn. 
Tumblr media
Of course, Denji doesn't want to marry; he's already one with one being through a contract: Pochita. 
Pochita had merged with him so that he could live a normal life. It was never a normal life, but the life Denji wanted to live. Chainsaw Man is literally the means, a better life, the end. 
The secret to surviving the manipulation then lies literally in Denji's heart. 
Tumblr media
1K notes · View notes
poetrylesbian · 18 days
Text
NEED TO RANT BC I AM HAPPY FOR MY MUM. cant believe my mum (studied ancient history in high school, has a degree in literature and ancient history, has been teaching ancient history for nearly 40 years) finally got to visit greece and italy. with a loving partner, after being divorced twice. after one of those husbands emotionally and financially abused her. and the first one cheated on her. and her loving partner took her to the acropolis in athens. and in front of the caryatids (which she always wanted to see, she has a poster of them above her desk at work) he proposed to her. and the ring he chose wasn't even ugly. and she went to delphi and crete and now she's been in italy for the week. she went to pompeii. she's probably taught HUNDREDS of students about these places. she can recite shit about them off the top of her head. she knows more about ancient history than anybody I have ever met. she made a 200-slide powerpoint and a booklet for her partner so he could be prepared for the trip. and, because he's perfect for her, he fucking read all of it. and now she's gonna get married to this man who I actually love a lot because from the beginning he has treated her family like his family. he's basically already my stepdad. and even though im pissed a little because she always promised me that we'd go to greece and italy together, im happier because nobody deserves this more than her. and i just think its amazing that at 57 these amazing things are finally happening for her. and our relationship hasn't always been perfect but i do think she deserves this happiness. im so emotional about it. and im really excited for her partner to become official family. and im so grateful that he helped make this trip happen for her. her last husband hated that she had kids and avoided her family and fucked with her and me a lot... he lied to her about money... he treated us badly. her more than i will ever know. he destroyed her self esteem. and now she has this man who is so generous with not only the money he has but his time, his love, etc. he cares so much about her family. and he proposed at a place she's been dreaming about visiting her whole life. how great is that! im just so relieved. her trip is almost over but im so happy she went on it. okay rant over.
154 notes · View notes
rory-cakes · 1 month
Text
The Crew! Part 1!
A series of Incorrect quotes with Birdy!reader and the Hazbin Crew!
Tumblr media
Birdy: I would never say that my partner is a bitch and I don’t don’t like them. That’s not true… My partner is a bitch and I like them so much!
Tumblr media
*Part 5 essentially*
Alastor: Pros and cons of dating me.
Alastor: Pros. You'll be the cute one.
Alastor: Cons. Holy shit, where do I begin-
Tumblr media
Angel: Bonjour, Husk. Voulez–vous coucher avec moi?
Husk: No, I don't want to sleep with you.
Angel: Is that what that means? Oh, man, I had a really gross tennis instructor.
Tumblr media
Vaggie: You look like a corpse that was just pulled out of the river.
Angel: Wrong. I look like a cool rock star who just OD'd in his own pool. Big difference.
Tumblr media
Lucifer to Charlie: Stop saving the world and get a hobby.
Tumblr media
Husk: Is this gaslighting? Am I being gaslit? 
Alastor: If I were gaslighting you, you’d never know it. 
Husk: Is THAT gaslighting? 
Alastor: Shut up.
Tumblr media
Birdy, teaching Charlie to drive: Okay Charlie, what does a green light mean? 
Charlie: Go! 
Birdy: A red light? 
Charlie: Stop! 
Birdy: And what about a yellow light? 
Charlie: If you floor it, you can make it! 
Birdy: …No—
Tumblr media
Angel: As someone who has a long history of not understanding anything, I feel confident in my ability to continue not knowing what is going on.
Tumblr media
Alastor: Alright, listen up you little shits. 
Alastor: Not you Birdy. You’re an angel and we’re thrilled you’re here.
Tumblr media
*Squad is playing Among Us* 
Lucifer: I believe Vaggie is innocent, I was with them the whole time. Alastor, what were you doing? 
Alastor: Oh, I was just murdering… I mean, nothing!
Tumblr media
Vaggie: What's this? 
Chalie, hugging Vaggie: Affection! 
Vaggie: Disgusting. 
Vaggie: ...Do it again.
Tumblr media
Vaggie: Any idiot would know that. 
Nifty: I knew that! 
Vaggie: See?
Tumblr media
Lucifer: I don’t think the therapist is supposed to say ‘wow’ that many times during their first session with a client, but here we are.
Tumblr media
Charlie: We’re kind of missing something guys. 
Angel: Cohesion? 
Vaggie: Teamwork? 
Husk: A general sense of what we’re doing? 
Lucifer: And Birdy is not here. 
Husk: Oh, and that, yeah.
Tumblr media
Lucifer: I hate you with every inch of my body! 
Alastor: That’s not a lot of inches.
Tumblr media
*in a group chat* 
Angel: First one to reply is gat. 
Angel: *gay 
Angel: Wait...
Tumblr media
Birdy: *eating a cinnamon roll* 
Everyone: Cannibalism. 
Birdy: *confused chewing noises*
Tumblr media
Angel: Here’s the cold medicine you asked for. 
Husk: *dumps 3 shopping bags of wine on the table* 
Birdy: ...Thanks.
Tumblr media
Birdy: Don't break someone's heart, they only have one. 
Alastor: Break one of their bones instead, they have 206 of them.
Tumblr media
A/n: Hope You enjoyed!!
Taglist: @crazed-flower, @nanamunath, @preferably-fictional, @eccedentesiast-sapphic, @leximus98, @cupidsgift, @mag-chan, @stygianoir, @thereeallink, @yelloeukulele, @mariaclarade-la-cruz1, blurpleuni-squid, @galaxywing-has-adhd, @just-here-reading, @deez-nuts0, @strawberry-gothic, @purplerose291,@1-800-mocha, @trashbin-nie, @queenmizuki, @nkirukaj @bennythebitch @otherthoughtsofbu, @fantasycantasy, @hunnybee11626, @notally-tormal, @valerie-36, @lovingyeet, @holographicage, @har-har-harvey, @i-love-jafar, @cupidsgift, @meow-meowo, @theblueslytherin, @deadt3tinside, @lyralibra, @the-unhinged-raccoon, @avitute, @alastorswifeee, @stygianoir, @sideshow-b0b, @deadlymouse123, @mysingularitybts, @emotionalfangirl2002, @t0xic1vi, @goodlittlepup, @starsatmyhome, @wendds, @reader3, @redfoxgotlost, @hurthermore, @frostychurro, @isa-dragon, @makandcheese04, @sassypeiceofshit, @kenzi-woycehoski, @otherthoughtsofbu
152 notes · View notes
satoruhour · 9 months
Note
OK but gojo would overuse cheezy lines because it makes reader laugh and roll her eyes, I can see him being so cheesy it hurts
a/n: DARLA U R FEEDING THE INSANITY I HAVE IN REGARDS TO GOJO !!!!!! this is so cutee ty for requesting !!!
Tumblr media
yes very correct!!! he likes to find jokes in EVERYTHING i swear he’s so smart relating them to mochi or farts
“did you fart? cause you blew me away.” like…. that is not a romantic pick up line gojo…
hes not ashamed to say how he picked you up with a joke back in high school and all you did was roll your eyes (because he is was pretty annoying to you back then) and walk away
he had even bought your favourite drink to confess but all you did was roll your eyes and walk off… immediately flipping open your phone to text utahime and shoko in a group chat of the three of you
poor dude 😭😭
but you started to fall for him — you’re not too sure how and when, but you’re actually the one who used a lame pick up line to start the rs and not him!!
you were tempted to use his but you thought of something you knew he’d like and you’re almost mumbling it (gojo hears it the first time, like doesn’t he have six eyes? not six ears? smh)
he asks u to repeat it (“i like you very mochi…”) and he’s soooo annoying about it but ceases your misery with a big hug
continues to use it throughout your relationship - has SO many from the top of his head it’s quite a feat ngl
a little more into your relationship he teases you about love @ first sight — “do you believe in it? or should i walk past again?”
you almost slap him with your drink
when you’re going shopping for new clothes for megumi and tsumiki he points to his shirt
“know what this is made of?”
you deadpan, “what.” and the giggles are almost so difficult to hold back on gojo’s end.
“it’s boyfriend material.”
“satoru. you ARE my boyfriend.”
HES SO GOOFY I SWEARRR and he screams excitedly and does jazz hands and says “really?” with a cute, fairly punchable face 😭😭
that was the first time it really sunk in gojo was ur bf cause u bagged the strongest sorcerer? insanity. it made you smile a little, you cant lie
another time you’re teaching history to megumi as part as one of his middle school classes, and gojo shouts from the kitchen
“im studying to become a historian.”
and you almost spit out your drink cause what the fuck was he saying??? wasn’t he 25 and a super popular sorcerer
megumi says “oh no” and you think you know what’s coming. gojo finishes it
“i’m especially interested in finding a date.”
“oh COME ON.” and megumi leaves PLEASEKRNF hes so funny, “come teach me when you two stop flirting” 💀
safe to say megumi failed his history test
he plants these little things a lot, that soon you get accustomed to it or even answer it for him and he’s like whining
“you’re so sweet, baby,” and you know there’s a catch to everything he says
“yeah cause i give you a toothache, right”
“BABEEEEE ….” he attempts to give you the silent treatment for one hour. he lasts five minutes
you think it has something to do with age, maybe, cause the longer you’re with gojo the longer you find yourself liking the stupid lame pick-up lines he uses
like sure rolling eyes and giving him the finger is fun but they make your heart flutter at times and you find that you can’t stifle a smile that well around gojo anymore lolol
one day gojo broke the door off the hinges, honestly you dont know how either, so you head to IKEA
“your eyes are like IKEA, i could get lost in them for hours.” and you’re shoving him with a loud laugh, not really rolling your eyes.
he bombards you with lines as you act as suburban couples in the showrooms, he says something about meatballs and then you two really get lost
shrek movie night: “call me shrek cause i’m head ogre heels are you”
and you’re sputtering pizza all over the living room as you laugh, giving your own line that has you two forgetting about the movie. megumi rolls his eyes and smiles when he sees you two having fun :)
gojo likes your laugh, he likes to make u laugh, and he has a thousand and one more pick up lines to use on you
that night he uses “you’re so beautiful you made me forget my pick up line” and you gush, pushing him away with a shy smile and everything. he kisses you and whispers “i mean it.”
just know you’re fated to this stupid goofy man and his stupid pick up lines for the rest of your life <3
Tumblr media
508 notes · View notes
drpoisonoaky · 6 months
Text
So here’s the thing, everyone in the Gaang assumed that Azula was the older sibling.
And they love her eyeliner.
— — — Sokka
Sokka: WAIT WHAT
Azula: Ugh, why are you yelling at me?
Sokka: YOU ARE THE YOUNG SIBLING
Azula: Yes? Why you ask?
Zuko: He was complaining about Katara. And then he said “Ugh but you wouldn’t get it cause Azula is the oldest”.
Azula: And you get it?
Zuko: Not really.
Sokka: IT’S IMPOSSIBLE.
Azula: It’s cause I’m better at everything.
Zuko: It’s the makeup and how insufferable you are.
Sokka: IT’S EVERYTHING.
Sokka: How she looks, talks, thinks…you have to be messing with me.
Azula: I honestly don’t know if I should feel flattered or insulted.
Zuko: She’s the same age as Katara.
Sokka: NO WAY.
— — — Aang
Aang: So tell me how was Zuko when he was a baby? I’m curious.
Azula: I don’t now. I’m guess he cried a lot.
Aang: Oh you don’t remember?
Azula: I wasn’t alive avatar.
Aang: Hold on, are you the younger sibling?
Azula: I am.
Aang: But you look older, and know more about history and stuff. Plus all of that trauma and emoti-
Azula, slightly annoyed: Yes Aang I get it.
Aang: It doesn’t make sense.
Azula: It’s simple: makeup and discipline.
Aang:
Azula: What?
Aang: I have some meetings this week could you help me to look older so they will pay me more attention?
Azula:
Aang: Please. For the sake of the world?
Azula: Sure I’ll show you.
— — — Toph
Toph, seeing how Katara and Sokka are arguing: Men sometimes I’m glad I’m an only child.
Azula: I almost was once. Zuko wasn’t happy about it.
Azula: But I must say, having an older brother who looks after you feels nice. But if you tell anyone I said this I’ll commit arson.
Toph: WHAT?!
Azula: I mean Zuzu and I fought a lot.
Toph: Not that. No way he’s the big bro.
Azula:
Azula: I’m actually curious about why you didn’t know it cause it’s impossible that it could be for the makeup.
Toph: You were a fucking pro master firebender back then and Zuko wasn’t.
Azula: Did you know that my flames are blue?
Toph: No way. Why nobody tells me this things. Anything else cool?
Azula: I can make lighting balls in both of my hands and I can make a perfect eyeliner in 30 seconds.
Toph: Can you do it now?
Azula: Which one?
Toph: Both but bring someone else cause when I ask if it looks good on me I need to know the truth and I still can’t fucking tell if you’re lying or not.
Azula: Makes sense. Although I would never lie to you about that.
— — — Suki
Suki: I need you to teach them firebender’s forms even though they’re non-benders.
Azula: Easy. I used to do it with Ty lee.
Suki: But you have to treat them as your younger sisters. Like how you would treat Zuko if you like him.
Azula: What?
Suki: Kindness?
Azula: No. Do you think I am the older sibling?
Suki: You aren’t?
Azula: No.
Suki: Wait what?!
Azula: I’m the same age as Ty lee. I went to the royal fire academy with her.
Suki: Whao.
Suki: You did and plan all of that shit when you were 14?!
Azula: I don’t know what that tone means.
Suki: Did you have that huge breakdown at 14?
Azula: Now you are simply being rude.
Suki: I don’t believe you. TY LEE COME HERE.
Ty lee: What’s sup?
Suki: Is she the same age as you?
Ty lee, raising an eyebrow: Yes?
Ty lee, realizing: Oh you didn’t know she’s younger than Zuko. It’s the makeup ‘Zula. You look beautiful, but it makes you look older.
Suki: It can’t be.
Azula: Can’t you stop being rude? I look great.
Suki: Not that, asshole. You being younger than Zuko. It doesn’t makes sense…
Azula:
Suki:
Ty lee:
Suki:
Ty lee: I think you broke her? What were you doing before?
Azula: She was explaining to me who I was supposed to teach and how I have to treat them.
Suki: But how she fights…
Ty lee: Oh right, c’mon they’re waiting. They actually pretty nice. You have to be patient ‘Zula.
Azula: Ugh.
Suki: And she played with us…
Ty lee puppy eye’s version: For me please?
Azula: I hate you.
Suki: She conquered Ba Sing Se…
Ty lee: No you don’t. *kiss Azula’s cheek* Hurry up. Bye Suki!
Suki: She killed the avatar…
Suki: AND SHE WAS 14.
Azula, being dragged by Ty lee: Ty, I think you are right. I broke your boss.
Ty lee: I hope that means a vacation for at least a week.
— — — Katara
Katara: You are my age?!
Azula: Hello Azula. How are you Azula? You look great Azula.
Azula: That’s how you have to start a conversation. But yes I am. Why?
Katara: Everything we did.. We were the same age all the time?
Azula: That’s how time works.
Katara: I THOUGHT I WAS BEATING SOMEONE AT LEAST AS OLD AS MY BROTHER
Azula: Why are you yelling at me? Is it a family thing?
Katara: I thought I was so ahead of my age…
Azula: You are a master waterbender without almost any professional help, you heal people with your bending and help to end a 100 year war. Plus you defeated me once. What the fuck are you talking about?
Katara, blushing: Oh, that…that was actually so nice, thanks. I- I appreciate it.
Azula: Your welcome. Now if you excuse me I have things to do.
Katara: Wait.
Azula: What now?
Katara: Can you…?
Azula: I can do a lot of things.
Katara: Well your eyeliner…can you…?
Azula: *sighs* You’re the third person to ask. So I guess it’s your turn.
— — — Zuko
Azula: If someone else imply I’m the oldest sibling you will have to bring back the straightjacket.
Zuko: In my defense they didn’t ask they just assumed.
Azula: You know how many eyeliners I had to do today besides mine? Three. THREE.
Zuko: I think Sokka was going to ask you too, he was looking for you…
Azula: For Agni’s sake.
Azula: At least I hope you don’t want me to teach you too.
Zuko: Mai taught me a long time ago.
Azula: Thank Agni.
Zuko: But I must say I don’t get them. You clearly are my little sister.
Azula: Because I’m a much better version of you?
Zuko: No.
Zuko: Because you are a lot more insufferable and insane than I am.
Azula: If you don’t start running now I’m going to celebrate becoming an only child. Again.
Zuko: Sure buddy.
Azula: One, two-
Zuko: LALA DON’T YOU DARE. STOP THE SPARKING.
— — — Mai & Ty lee
Azula: FIVE five people’s makeup. And I don’t even like them.
Ty lee: Wait five? Suki too?
Azula: I’m counting mine. Adds more drama.
Mai: Such a drama queen.
Azula: But anyway I don’t deserve this.
Mai, raising an eyebrow: You sure?
Ty lee: Look at it as your little price to pay in your healing path. Plus every time you do an eyeliner your aura gets a little bit pinkier. So stop complaining.
Mai: Although I don’t see the big problem with the fact everyone thinks you’re older than Zuko.
Ty lee: True, why is bothering you so much?
Azula: I refuse to think Zuzu ages better than me.
Mai:
Ty lee:
Azula: Whatever. By the way I’m impressed with the little avatar’s fangirls. You were right Ty.
Ty lee: Of course. When am I not?
Mai: When you started to date her.
Azula, starting to sparkle:
Ty lee: And here we go again.
326 notes · View notes
kanansdume · 1 month
Text
I have SO MANY feelings about Kanan, Zeb, and Rex all being some of the last few survivors of dying cultures.
Even though the Jedi can pass on their teachings and there will always be more Force sensitive people in the galaxy, the specific culture of the Prequels Jedi that Kanan grew up with will never completely come back. Jedi like Ezra and Luke will share a lot of similarities, obviously, especially philosophically, but their way of life and traditions will look VERY different, as will whatever ends up evolving from them (and from Rey if we include the Sequels).
Similarly, Zeb finds the Lasat on Lira San, but those Lasat will presumably have a VERY different culture than the one that existed on Lasan. The two groups of Lasat have been separated for so long that Lira San has become legend and is thought to not really exist and even the people who believe it exists don't realize what it actually is and that there are other Lasat on there. This implies that it's been an EXTREMELY long time since the Lasat of Lasan originally left Lira San and the two groups have probably diverged quite a bit. Lira San itself is also just not going to feel like Lasan, it won't have the same landscapes or wildlife, the cities will be different. The language might even have some significant differences that the last three Lasan survivors would have to navigate. And there's no getting back that culture from Lasan, it's gone. There's only three known survivors and they're going to end up just... engulfed into the Lira San culture without a lot of ability to pass on what they remember from Lasan. Lasan might end up like... a chapter in a Lira San history text and that's probably it. The nuances of its culture will be lost completely.
And the clones. The clones are just going to completely disappear. People will likely only remember the clones even existed because the war got named after them. All they'll be remembered FOR is violence and death. Depending on who is talking about them, they'll either be the traitors who destroyed the Jedi and allowed the Empire to reign, or the poor pawns that the Empire used to destroy the Jedi and keep the galaxy under its thumb. Who they were will be completely and utterly lost. And there's no way for them to continue in any form. While it's POSSIBLE that a few of them might have sired children out in the galaxy somewhere, we never have any confirmation of that, and nearly all of them are dead by the time the Empire falls. Their friendship with the Jedi, what little culture they were able to develop, all of that is lost to time and will disappear once the final clone dies.
It's such a horrific thing that is happening to these three characters, a slow dying out that that's literally happening in front of their very eyes. It's the worst kind of connection between the three of them, but something that's probably really important in their various relationships. No one else understands this grief the way they do, no one else quite understands how this feels, the helplessness and hopelessness. There's absolutely nothing they can do but try to keep going and remember their people as best they can and live according to the culture the Empire has tried to eradicate.
I like to think the three of them end up discussing it one day, maybe one Empire Day they all just decide to go drinking and be maudlin together. And Kanan ends up talking about how the Jedi believed that there was no death, there was the Force. Everyone who dies rejoins the Force, so even if they're gone they're still impacting the galaxy and the people living in it, regardless of whether those who remain can feel them or not. Maybe you get a burst of inspiration or have a lucky break or meet someone you instantly click with, and maybe that's the people who've left before you still touching your life through the Force, binding you together no matter what. Zeb and Rex really connect to this belief and end up finding comfort and even a little healing in it.
146 notes · View notes
Text
I'm still saying Afton is not the Mimic
Spoilers for the Ruin DLC under the Cut. I wanted to include this in my mega post... but I know that the fandom is flooded with "the Mimic was Afton all along" theories right now actually.
There will be a lot under the cut, explaining some personal theories and the ending of the RUIN DLC so... be warned.
The Mimic, if you read the books, (but you probably haven't so I'll explain it in a few short sentences) is a character from the Tales of the Pizzaplex Books that was built by a Faz Engineer who made a robot to mimic his son to keep him company while he worked long hours while he lived in a factory. The child died in a car accident, and the Mimic kept miming his son's behavior. So in his grief, the engineer beat him to death in rage and grief. This infused rage in the machine.
So now the Mimic mimes behavior of a four year old, but it's corrupted and twisted. It will mime the action of 'scooping icecream' but will be scooping out your brains. It also has an adaptive learning AI so the violent pain it experienced, along with a four year old teaching it, it's a very dangerous thing.
It's also buried into the foundation of the Pizzaplex. And was reprogramed by some dumb lazy tech to clear the debris down there. By disassembling the robots and putting them in a pile. Which it did to all the human construction workers by disassembling them and putting them in a pile.
"This pile" I think is the Blob. Or as the game files refer to it.... "THE TANGLE."
Tumblr media
(hard to see but take my word for it. that's him)
Tumblr media
(cheating camera angle)
I think "The Tangle" is a infused pile of machinery, robots, and bodies that have all wound up down there.
So, we know that the blob is real. But I really think it's "The pile" that the Mimic has been stacking in the Book Epilogues. And it got out. Gregory/Mimic or Grimmick, says that something tunneled out of the building... And I believe this is 100% true. Because in Base Security Breach, we see this thing in the underground where Afton's room is.
But in RUIN.... This thing is on the top level??? HOw Did he get up here???
Easy..
He tunneled up.
So... the reason why RUIN looks like it does, and HOW it looks how it does...
Is because The Tangle got loose. And has been using the Pizzaplex as it's own series and network of tunnels like a burrowing snake or ant. Causing the entire building to fall in on itself. The Pizzaplex is it's ecosystem now. So that's why everything is falling apart how it is. He's breaking the very foundation and walls of everything.
So we do know the Blob IS real.
And let's assume that he's "the pile" that the Mimic has been building in the Tales of the Pizzaplex Epilouges. Just... sorting all the garbage, bodies, and endos into piles that he can find and stack.
So we know the Blob is real... but is Afton Burntrap real?
Forgive me I don't have the proper collectable screenshots so I'm pulling from the Wiki:
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Throughout the game, you collect these real collectable comics that include all of the endings of Security Breach. And Cassie can recognize this as Gregory's art style, and has no idea when he had the time to make these or when he made them. EXCEPT Princess Quest. Which is pretty important I think. Which I think cements that Princess Quest is the definitive three star ending.
It's also worth noting that in Vanny's Room in the RUIN DLC... there is a book of "Fazbear History" by Vanny's Bed. So if Vanessa was freed and got out... we can assume she was talking to Gregory about the Fnaf lore as she knows it.
Also, it makes sense why some of these endings are a little insane now. cause it was just Gregory trying to process everything that happened to him at the Pizzaplex.
Gregory: So, I thought you had a twin sister for the longest time and-
Vanessa: Try again...
But anyway... if None of the previous endings were real.... Is Burntrap even real?
Tumblr media
We collect this before we face the Mimic.... of Afton and the Blob. So we know The Blob/Tangle is real.... but was Afton ever real? Was Burntrap ever real? That's what we need to answer...
But if he isn't.... Why is his charging station down here in the furnace room all clouded up? ....As if it never was opened. As if he rotted inside with no more remnant to collect???
Cause here's the thing... I can accept the soft retconning of Afton. And if he was never real to begin with, and this is just Gregory's personal interpretation based on what Vanessa told them about what she was suffering through, I will take that. Or maybe Gregory saw the Mimic and interpreted it as this... I will take that as well.
However....
From what I said earlier... The Mimic... All his motivations in the game don't line up with Afton's.
He is doing exactly what he wants to do.
The Mimic is sealed in the back with Concrete... he's using Helpi and the VANNI Network to get Cassie to let him out. He just wants to get out of the basement and get Free.
Now... if Mimic is Afton the whole time...
and there is a case for it... they have almost the same idle animations as an endo, the Mimic does have Burntrap's claws on one hand. And he does have a similar pawed foot to Burntrap's design and they're practically identical height and pose.
And the Mimic is almost one-for-one linked with Hepi and the VANNI network. And I don't doubt that Vanny the person was using the VANNI network to get around the pizzaplex and become invisible to certain animatronics.
.....But...
here's a big But...
If the Mimic's goal is to kill people with his bare hands... and to get out of the concrete sealed basement, and break all the Security Nodes so he can get free???
WHY DOES THE PIZZAPLEX HAVE SO MANY MISSING PEOPLE/CHILDREN?
Why was the Human Staff all killed in the Pizzaplex?
Why are their children missing?
Why is Vanny hunting children and adults alike to kill in the first place?
This is not the Mimic's MO.
Because Vanny WAS working under influence of Glitchtrap and not the Mimic.
Because if the Mimic just wanted to get out... He would have told Vanny/Vanessa... head of Security.... To break all the Security Nodes A WHOLE LOT SOONER. Cause she literally has a VANNI Mask/suit and access to all of that.
The Mimic has no need for remnant or child killing or human killing if they aren't doing it themselves. The Mimic has always been very hands on with their kills.
But If Burntrap Afton is REAL... HE DOES have a reason for gathering this much Remenant.
He is growing in the charging station and trying to regrow his body.
And while the Mimic moves in a similar fashion to Burntrap, I think that's because he witnessed his behavior at one point and is copying it. But he never saw Afton in his prime. So he literally can't mimic the serial killer behaviors Afton is known for. Just likely his walk and how he breathes.
Because He literally can not copy Afton as a copy-cat killer, if there is NO Afton to Copy. There is no way that he could have learned who Afton was from all the way down below into the foundation. Especially with MXES keeping it hidden down there. And by "hidden" I'm sure it's hidden from Glitchtrap to even possess or check out that low.
People have to remember. The Mimic doesn't have access to illusion disc technology from the books. he can't replicate a corpse face. He's just a learning killer AI who has access to crappy mascot costumes. He can't look one-for-one like a person, even if he can sound like one.
So, there is a possibility that Burntrap Afton DID exist... He just rotted into dust once Vanny stopped collecting remnant for him.
Or there's also the possibility he was never real to begin with.
But.... Glitchtrap certainly was at one point. And Vanny was working with Glitchtrap to kill employees and children.
Not the Mimic.
Just their motivations and modus operandi don't add up if they are one in the same.
It wouldn't make sense for the Mimic to just tell Vanny to parade around in a bunny suit, kidnapping children and killing employees.
He would be telling her to disable the Security Nodes.
There is also the possibility that Vanessa sealed the Mimic in concrete after the events of Security Breach. But even then, I really don't think that she knew about it before hand until she went down to the basement to unplug Burntrap from his charging station.
Anyways... The only way I will see "Mimic is Afton" is that if Afton was using it's body. But then, it's not the Mimic anymore, it's just another Afton-clone.
And from everything from how I've seen the behavior of the Mimic in the DLC, it is operating completely divorced from Afton with it's own motivations and morals of it's own accord.
Oh, just to be clear, I'm not mad at this soft-retcon of burntrap. It's fine. Lol I actually prefer if he didn't exist.
And even if Burntrap was never real in the first place....
Then it means that Vanny was purely an agent of Glitchtrap.
Then when the Glitchtrap Virus got destroyed.... the Mimic hijacked the VANNI network and took it's place.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
341 notes · View notes
deepmochi · 7 months
Text
Lilith in the 2nd house🕯🕸
Tumblr media
What things you need to work: your main values, boundaries, and self-esteem.
What to avoid: excesses
Celebrities with this placement: Ariana Grande, Eva Green, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Robert Pattinson, Steve Jobs, Cate Blanchett, The Rock, and Mila Kunis. (To name a few).
☆ Lilith in Taurus can read it. They could find similarities.
🕯Here, Lilith wishes to be valuable in any way. They search values in external ways or things. However, this contributes to their shadow side.
🕯 Unfortunately, people see this native with lust. This make the native believe their body is their only asset (could be subconsciously), but isn't truth.
🕯 So, they use their body as an exchange of love, possessions, items or people.
🕯 They have a very sensual energy though, so if they cultivate it correctly...we are over!
🕯 An issue of this Lilith comes from seeing their body as their only value. If they consider themselves not beautiful, they could be self-destructive individuals. For example, binge eating, harmful substances ( or risky sexual relationships (similar to the 8th house).
🕯However, the native needs to understand that money, possessions or people don't complete them.
🕯 They can be very possessive of things, people and money. This scarcity mindset makes you a toxic person 😴. This energy doesn't benefit. Let things go if they aren't needed.
🕯 Stubborn to a certain level, maybe, actions, people or just accepting that "x isn't working".
🕯 It's possible that Lilith in the 2nd house comes from a chaotic environment with poverty, scarcity or lacking. They believe external resources could fix their life, but this isn't correct.
🕯 If lilith touches Venus in the native chart, this person would present a series of lovers who will try to possess her and see her as an item. Perhaps, Lilith thinks she's fine with it, but those angry outbreaks.
🕯 Lilith is scare of honesty and afraid of accepting that she only needs herself. So, two years of relationship was a waste? Yes and no. It teaches you that you deserve better.
🕯 Food is another sensitive topic. Natives with this placement develop a relationship with food that should be careful.
🕯 People may comment a lot on what they eat, their weight, or things regarding eating disorders. For instance, People always comments on Ariana's body; she has this placement.
🕯 Following with the same topic, this native is scrutinized with their eating habits, relationships and spending.
🕯 An insecure individual with this Lilith may see money as everything. It would be too important, and they do anything to get it. This may depend on their values, but usually those values are blurry.
🕯 If this Lilith is afraid of abandonment, they will stay with their crusty bf or friends for years.
🕯They could potentially be cheaters, especially undeveloped natives. Remember, that they can feel empty and unfilled if they don't accept themselves. Look at Miss Grande cheating history.
🕯 Their is other half that are so loyal, but they can stay trapped in unfulfilled relationships. They can forgiving their partners. So, balance and boundaries, people. *cough Beyonce cough *
🕯If you listen to your shadow, you will realize so much about yourself. You need to forgive yourself and love yourself. I did wrote Yourself a lot, see!!
🕯You are more than society standards; you are a human being with dreams.
🕯Your body your choice; people may judge your partners a lot, but be logical. Is that relationship worth it or are you being stubborn?
🕯 Spoiled and stubborn people and even selfish when they don't realize.
🕯 Don't fall into excesses with food, relationships or monetary problems. You need Boundaries.
🕯Be clear with your work ethic. Avoid illegal problems or deceptions. Don't talk bad about your coworkers or bosses 🤫.
🕯 Don't become jealous or envious of others' income. Be grateful of yours.
🕯 Humbleness is the key to abundance. Be grateful.
🕯 Nonetheless, they attract abundance very easily, but internal peace isn't through money.
🕯Prioriotize yourself and make room for healthy routines. Give yourself the stability you desire.
🕯 This Lilith's voice is honey for people's ears. They're very talented in singing and oratory. If they don't have the voice, they're very good liars or manipulators.
🕯Many can be Divas including the men.
🕯 Sometimes, issues with the father. This depicts their money and relationships problems. The father was an absent figure or emotionally unavailable.
I'm continuing with the Lilith houses; I haven't forgot. However, I should feel motivated to do it. You all deserve a good post.
Take care, mochis💚
Credit: @deepmochi
289 notes · View notes
crystal-moon-101 · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media
A while ago I had made up a Zak for each day of the week to match Zak Saturday and Monday for fun, and because I wanted to give Zak some more AU similar to how Ben gets a lot of them. So not only do they all have different last names, but each have their own backstories and colour theming! So I hope you enjoy my little AU concepts.
-Zak Saturday-
Classic original Zak. I decided to draw them all when they're 11, start of the series vibes. So that's why he doesn't look like the ways I normally draw him currently, since those are when he's 14. Nothing different with his design here, beyond still giving him those vivid orange eyes.
-Zak Sunday-
Also known as Zak Argost, having been taken in by the man after he had a certain encounter with Zak's parents, resulting in their deaths. When Argost found the young toddler, seeing the start of Zak's power, he was happy enough to take the child with him and use his powers to his benefit. Due to being taken when he was very young, Zak doesn't remember his parents at all, fully believing in anything Argost tells him, the only family he has. So he happily helps his guardian in keeping cryptids tamed during Weird World shows, or during trips to learn about them, even if Argost puts Zak in more danger than he should. Due to his appearances on Weird World, Zak is a celebrity of sorts, even if he doesn't get to go out often. Argost also gives him a lot of gifts, keeping the child in a positive mood to keep him under his thumb. So Zak truly believes that Argost cares about him.
Though things start to turn when Argost finally decides it's time to hunt down Kur and take his powers, hiring Van Rook and Doyle on the mission. This leads to Zak and Doyle getting to know each other, with Doyle feeling protective over this random kid for some reason. Eventually this leads to him taking Zak away when this whole Kur business gets out of hand. While Doyle can't seem to convince Zak that Argost doesn't care about him, the pair do at least agree to try and find Kur first, Zak worried that even Argost shouldn't handle such powers. However, only time will tell if the pair discover the truth behind their unknown family history.
-Zak Monday-
The good old twisted gremlin of a child, Zak Monday and his family were a result of the smoke mirror. They come from a world that twists the very nature of people, a poor reflection of their negative aspects. If you're naive, then your mirror self is incredible dumb. If you're a bit of a perfectionist, then your mirror self is a control freak. And Zak Monday represents the twisted doubts of Zak feeling like a monster, so why have any doubts when you can be the monster?
I decided to change Zak Monday a bit to have the green eyes and green shirt with his own logo, cause I liked the idea that after his first appearance, they switch back to what they're suppose to look like. But other than that I kept the concept of him looking just like Zak, minus the inverted hair colour.
-Zak Tuesday-
The young naga is the son of Rani Nagi. Born solely to have Kur's soul enter and be a host, but whoops! Looks like Kur's memories aren't there, but that wasn't going to stop Rani Nagi, who thinks if she keeps at her plans, eventually her son will become the old cryptid king she once knew. Even going as far as to solely call her child Kur, who secretly calls himself Zak due to him often watching humans in the shadow, curious about them and wanting a name for himself. Zak Tuesday has a lot of identity issues, not helped by his mother's teachings towards him, ignoring all his dreams and personal thoughts. Eventually he just got really good at lying rather than convincing Rani Nagi.
However, the young cryptid prince is suddenly kidnapped by Argost one day, as he figured out where Kur's soul was currently living. Zak knew he would have died that day if not for Drew and Doc recusing him, having been chasing Argost over this Kur situation. Though they're a little surprise that upon meeting the new Kur, they find it's just a young naga who really doesn't know who he is. At first Doc and Drew didn't know what to do with him, but Zak begged them to not send him back home, and let him stay at their place until he could figure things out. He wasn't foolish, he knew the nagas were planning a war, and he wasn't keen on being the face of it all. So now the Tuesdays just have a snake living around the house, but they can't exactly complain as he is a well mannered guest at least. And perhaps the house doesn't feel so lonely with him around either.
-Zak Wednesday-
Some of you might recognize this one, but this Zak is from my old Zur AU, where Kur was reborn via the Kur Stone due to it being an egg, and Zak is a dragon that shapes between human form and dragon form. I decided to update him, making him Zak Wednesday now, with a pink theme! I also decided that instead of Kur being reborn, I wanted to shake things up a bit and have it that Zak was directly Kur's son. His mother is unknown, and as Kur saw how the world was at the time, he put Zak's egg into a stasis situation until it was discovered again. After saving it from Argost, the egg hatched among the secret scientist, leading to them chasing the child of Kur. But upon using his shapeshifting abilities to look like a child of Drew and Doc, they just couldn't help but adopt him on the spot, siting there was no sense in blaming Kur's son over what happened years ago.
The growing dragon is very playful with a cheeky personality. He exhibits a lot of draconic behaviors, with a wild and free spirit. He is aware of his family history, but he doesn't like to think about it, unsure in how to view his father based on the stories he's heard. Besides, Doc and Drew are his parents, and that's all that matter to him. Though perhaps this sudden appearance by Argost, claiming he was going to far Zak's father, has been a bit rattling to deal with.
-Zak Thursday-
When Kur knew he was going to die, and also knew his soul wasn't able to live the mortal realm, he made plans to make it so his reborn self would both be born in hopefully a better time, and be without his memories. It was better that way, so that his new self could live a lovely life without the sins from his past. But that didn't exactly pan out properly, as Kur was reborn and sadly remembers everything. It took him a while to understand this growing up, his young human mind not processing it until he was roughly 7-8, and even then he needed time to think about it. And now he's a depressed 11 year old who now has to be stuck with the fact his plan didn't work, unable to run away from the person he once was. Doc and Drew found out the truth when Zak tried running away one day, their son sitting them down and telling them the truth in hopes they'd just leave him, it would be better that way. But to his surprise they disagreed, as he was still their son, Kur or Zak, and it would be too dangerous to leave him alone.
So now Zak lives with his parents? Are they really his parents? The family keeping this dark secret to themself, even from the other scientists. Doc and Drew still reach out to their son, doing their best to connect with him, but he can't help but push them away. He doesn't deserve this, and they deserve better. However, their secret might come out after Argost stole the Kur Stone and now hunts for Kur, not realizing the truth right in front of him. So now the family tries to get the stones back, wanting to protecting Zak/Kur from others finding out. Doesn't help that he has to go through being a child again with such dark memories lingering in his head, feeling tired and overwhelmed with the world. Hasn't he suffered enough?
-Zak Friday -
In a world where Kur and cryptids successfully wiped out humans, the king ruled the lands for a while after, before one day he mysteriously vanished. Many concluded that he had died somehow, the details unknown, but this lead to a prophecy that one day their king would return, leading to many claiming to be him, or praying that they will be him for the power and wealth. In this universe, Zak and his family are all cryptids, with Zak being a a Chuvash Dragon, Drew and Doyle are Epimeliads, and Doc is a Gargoyle (Other characters are also cryptids in this timeline). Zak is a serpent like dragon that breathes fire, as a very twistable body, and can freely shapeshift. He's heard about the legend of Kur returning, but frankly he thinks they don't need him, even if the cryptid world has been shattered without a king for years now.
But when a yeti named Argost claims that Kur is back, being backed up by the Nagas, everyone starts to gossip and run around trying to figure out who the new Kur is. So maybe it's best that Zak doesn't tell the whole world about his sudden new powers to control and communicate any fellow cryptid is walks by.
91 notes · View notes
onigiriico · 9 months
Text
Amane audio drama (t2) - English TL
[ links: Spotify | Youtube ]
So much religion talk in this one. So much. I typed so much stuff into DeepL my JP keyboard app crashed at some point, but! it is done at last! 🎉 As always, if you've got any questions or find a mistranslated line, you can find me on Twitter or send me an ask (and in case you've got some money to spare & feel like supporting me extra, you can also find me over on Ko-fi)! But, without further ado:
⬇️ translation under the cut ⬇️
(Es enters)
E: Prisoner no.8, Amane. It’s time for your interrogation. Let’s talk for the first time in a while.
A: Warden.
E: What is it, Prisoner?
A: We've been disappointed by you.
E: Hah?
A: Even though we could sense the possibility of the new world we desire here in Milgram… and in you.
E: I don’t care how much you look down on me. I told you that won’t work.
A: Furthermore, you may say incomprehensible things, such as us “not being forgiven”...
E: Oi.
A: But we are generous. For now, let us make some time for a conversation with you. After all, our history is one that is built on dialogue.
E: Oi. Listen to what I’m saying.
A: What is it?
E: Amane. Don’t think you’ll be able to lead the conversation with that total change in attitude. Is it the result of the judgment that you’ve ended up like this?
A: “Like this”?
E: The dazed look in your eyes. The atmosphere around you. The way you speak. In comparison to the first trial, it’s like you’re a different person.
A: Hm.
E: Everyone who was unforgiven told me they heard voices judging their sins. They’re experiencing a lot of emotional stress as a result. Were your changes influenced by that as well?
A: Hah? Those stupid voices, huh? Yeah. I have heard them as well. However, such things do not pose a major problem.
E: What?
A: We have firm teachings. We have a clear and noble faith. No matter what kinds of things other people might say, these things cannot be shaken.
E: Faith… That would be referring to the religion you believe in, right?
A: Yes. It seems like the power Milgram holds is real. Did you have a look as well? At our faith.
E: Yeah. Though it was a depiction of a fairly small group of people… I’ve judged that your murder was the result of religion – of faith.
A: It wasn’t murder. It was merely a punishment in line with our doctrine.
E: So it’s not a sin, you mean?
A: Is faith a sin?
E: Faith itself is free. I’m not religious myself, but I understand that some people might be saved by it.
A: Hm. Is that so? Are the prisoners who weren’t forgiven feeling lost right now? Maybe they need our faith as well.
E: I’d rather you spare me the missionary work inside the prison.
A: Faith is free. It exists for people who are feeling lost.
E: … We’ve digressed. So – just what are you right now? You’ve been saying “we” this whole time. Does that mean you are not Amane Momose right now?
A: Right now, I am both Amane Momose and I am not. I am speaking on behalf of our faith. I am speaking as “we”, who believe that dialogue and warnings are in order since you made the misjudgment to not forgive us.
E: So you’re saying I’m talking to the very concept of your faith right now?
A: We don’t mind you thinking of it that way.
E: Huh.
A: Well then. Let us warn you once again. Warden. You judged that Milgram couldn’t forgive us, correct?
E: Yeah, that’s right.
A: As stated previously, our actions were in line with our doctrine, and thus cannot count as sins. Thus, Milgram is in the wrong.
E: You’ve killed a person.
A: In line with our doctrine.
E: You understand that you’ve broken the law, right?
A: We’ve talked about this before. There are things more important than the law. That would be our teachings.
E: I won’t acknowledge you turning such selfish rules into a standard of judgment. I won’t allow it. End of story.
A: …
E: Both religion and faith are free. However, a doctrine can’t become a universal standard of judgment.
A: You fool. Isn’t Milgram trying to enforce a new standard of judgment precisely because laws cannot guide this world onto the right path? Are you still being weighed down by the law?
E: As someone who’s just the warden, it’s not exactly my ambition to know about Milgram’s philosophy. It’s not because it’s against the law – but as Milgram, your murder can’t be forgiven. I judged it that way. That’s all.
A: …
E: Milgram… denies your doctrine.
A: If you do not adjust your way of thinking… we, too, will never be able to forgive you.
E: Heh.
A: What’s so funny?
E: What do you mean, “we”? You’re making me laugh. What you’re doing is just plain murder – no matter whether we’re talking in general or according to religion. It’s murder.
A: …!
E: Understand that. Amane Momose. It’s not “you” (plural) who killed someone – it’s you (singular). Don’t look away from your own actions by playing pretend!
A: … Ha…haha…! - You’ve insulted us… [You’ve insulted] God…!
E: So what?
A: This is unforgivable! I won’t forgive you! (screams)
(Amane tries to strike Es, but gets stopped by the barrier)
E: I’m telling you it’s impossible for prisoners to attack the warden.
A: I won’t forgive you…! I won’t forgive you!
E: Did you get those scissors from the storage room? Were you never taught that you’re not supposed to use those on people?
A: In light of our doctrine, your insult to us is more than enough to warrant a punishment! I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!
(she tries and fails to attack them again)
E: Well… it’s in vain, so you might as well just listen to me like this.
A: I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!
E: Prisoners can’t attack the warden. This is one of Milgram’s core rules, though a certain guy with multiple personalities slipped past it.
A: I won’t forgive you! I won’t forgive you!
E: Which means that Milgram doesn’t decide who the prisoners are based on their body, but based on their mind. If the mind is a different one, the rule doesn’t apply. It bothers me that it has a loophole, but…
A: I’ll kill you…! I’ll kill you!!
E: Thanks to this defective rule, we’ve now confirmed this: the you holding those scissors right now isn’t a god or a concept. It’s Amane Momose herself.
A: … I’ll…!
E: So, what you’re doing right now really is just a game of pretend. This is stupid.
A: …
E: This is the head-on battle with Milgram that you wanted.
A: Shut up…!
E: What’s wrong? Have you ended up wanting to be treated like a child after all?
A: Shut up!!
E: In fact, if you ask me, the fact that you are a child has a lot to do with this matter.
A: …!
E: No matter what you do, no matter how grown-up you behave – you’re a child. That’s an unchangeable truth.
A: You’re a child, too!
E: Wrong. I’m fifteen, so I’m an adult in Puerto Rico and Haiti. You’re twelve, so you’re a child no matter the country.
A: …!!
E: Hehe. You look angry.
A: I don’t.
E: You do.
A: I don’t!
E: Well, either way is fine. In the end, there’s two main reasons as to why children get reduced sentences under the law – the possibility of reformation and the influence of the environment, I believe.
A: …
E: In this case, it’s mainly the latter. I’ve said this before – during childhood, the things that the parents teach a child have a great impact on them, and the environment one grows up in has immense influence as well. A child who is born into a very religious environment will grow up believing that those are the rules of the world.
A: What are you trying to say?
E: In other words, they will turn their faith into their entire life – feeling as if their doctrine is the whole world.
A: …
E: Previously, you objected to being considered [mentally] underdeveloped based on your age. I suppose you were right about that. Your self really is fully developed. However, that self is one that was built in a particular environment, isolated from society.
A: …
E: That’s exactly why… We have also speculated whether this really was your crime, or that of your parents – of your surroundings.
A: …!
E: But as I said before, there’s different ways these components could have worked together—
A: “We”? What’s “we”? Are you not just “I”?
E: … I…?
A: Aren’t we the same? Me and Warden-san. You know, I’m aware that I’m out of the ordinary. That my environment was peculiar, and that everyone [else] is normal.
E: Amane…
A: In fact, there have been people who said that to me. I’ve been told things like, “You’re being deceived.” “You can still make it right now.” “You’re crazy.”
E: …
A: You are treating me as a child after all. Because I’m a child, you believe that I must have been brainwashed. It’s not like that. I, too— children, too, understand everything! Please don’t just decide that people must be unhappy.
E: …
A: I’m happy that I was born to my parents! It was a bit difficult, and it could feel restrictive sometimes, but I’m really happy that I could grow up on such beautiful teachings! I want to live this way!
E: Is that so…
A: You call that brainwashing, don’t you? From my perspective, you also generally oppose religion based on your personal values. Why can that be blindly trusted just because you’re more people?
E: I got what you’re trying to say.
A: It’s only natural that we, who weren’t acknowledged as a society just because we’re fewer in numbers, would view the possibility of a new world through Milgram as a dream.
E: Yeah, I’ve got it! Still, I won’t recognize your doctrine. By my standards, a doctrine that approves murder cannot be forgiven!
A: Yes. I’ve understood that.
E: Milgram is a three-trial system, though. I’ll be watching and listening to the footage from your mind for now, going into deeper depths this time… and if I feel something there, I plan on firmly accepting that.
A: Facing me head-on, is that right?
E: Yeah. That’s it.
A: If you end up deciding not to forgive me – not to forgive us –, then I will not forgive you, either.
E: Yeah.
A: Ah… no, that’s wrong. I will not forgive you (plural).
E: Wha—
(machinery whirrs, bell rings)
A: “Don’t look away from your own actions by playing pretend” – that’s my line. Warden-san, it’s not just you; it’s all of you. You all said you wouldn’t forgive us. We’re meeting each other on eye level. You all won’t be allowed to not get your hands dirty.
E: … What are you saying…?
A: What could it be? Warden-san, you were the one who said “we”, so…
E: (falls to their knees) … My head… Huh…?
A: Oh? Do you have a headache? Are you alright, Warden-san?
E: …
A: Do get back up by yourself, alright? That’s a trial given to you by God.
E: (heavy breathing)
A: Both pain and illness are trials. According to our teachings, those who run from them are the worst evil there is. That’s one of the four great principles. No matter who you are, that cannot be forgiven.
E: What are you…?
A: Oh – speaking of which, there is one among the prisoners right now. An evil existence that’s trying to steal people’s trials away from them.
E: …!
A: Shidou Kirisaki… His actions violate our rules. I have given him a warning. If he continues, I suppose it will be inevitable for me to intervene.
E: …!
A: Or… could it already be too late?
E: Shut up!! (hits her) … You’re getting ahead of yourself…!
A: Using one-sided violence… that’s unfair of you.
E: Shut your mouth…! I am the one casting the judgements here!
A: Hehehe. And how does that set you apart from us?
E: … I told you to shut up… Listen to what I’m telling you.
A: Hehe… This is nice. If the world you’re striving for is admirable in my eyes… That is to say…
E: Prisoner no.8, Amane… Sing your sins…!
201 notes · View notes
neo404 · 2 months
Note
(Here is some prompts i came up with )
Nicks boyfriend meeting his parents for the first time
Nicks boyfriend trying to teach him how to drive
Nick and reader shower together
Nick and reader slow dancing together in the kitchen or his bedroom
Nick is meeting the readers parents for the first time and he is nervous
Falling again.
Tumblr media Tumblr media
Summary: moments in which Nick realized he loves you more and more everyday you spend together.
Tw: cursing.
Note: for the last scenario I HAD to make the dad latino, Idk why, I just had to (I’m latino btw)
1: Meetings
‘’I swear they will be nice.’’ Nick grabs my hand as we walk to the restaurant.
‘’I know, they sound so kind and supportive. But I’m just nervous, what is I say something weird? What if they don’t like me?’’
‘’Don’t say that, they already love you. I talk about you non stop to them, they already love you, trust me.’’ His thumb caresses my hand and I let out a sigh.
‘’All right, I got this. It will be fine.’’ I take a deep breathe and open the door of the nice restaurant Nick choose. We approach the table where his parents were already sitting and I smile at them widely. ‘’Hello, it’s so nice to finally meet you.’’ Nicks mom stands up and gives me a tiny hug, I shake my father in laws hand. As I sit next to Nick, I try to get myself together.
‘’We are so excited to meet you; you won’t believe the incredible things Nick says about you. I’m so happy that my boy found someone as sweet and loving as you.’’ His mom’s voice is sweet, it makes me feel less anxious.
‘’The pleasure is mine, truly.’’
‘’How did you and Nick meet?’’ His dad asks.
‘’Well, it’s a funny story actually.’’ Nick says. ‘’I think you should tell it.’’ He looks at me lovingly.
‘’Well, I was buying coffee one morning and as I was leaving the shop someone who passed by me running blew the cup out of my hands and it landed directly on my new sweater.’’ Nick shrugs his shoulders and points at himself. ‘’So, he comes back, sweaty and out of hair. He introduces himself and tells me that he’s sorry, and that he wants to buy me a new coffee. And I said fine, so we talked about whatever, and then I remembered I had a job interview, but my sweater and shirt was all drenched in brown, so we changed shirts and he gave me his jacket. And he asked for my number so we can give back our things.’’ I smile while telling the story, it’s one of my favorite moments together. ‘’And we did, I had my clean sweater and shirt back, and the rest is history.’’
‘’Awww, that’s so sweet.’’ Nicks mom puts a hand to her chest. ‘’Nick, he’s such a sweet guy.’’
‘’Yeah, he is.’’ He smiles at her.
‘’I guess I am. Have you already seen the menu? There’s a lot of options to choose from.’’ I smile at them.
‘’Oh no, we haven’t seen it.’’ Nicks dad says. And as they start to eye the menu and talk to each other, Nick leans into my hear.
‘’I love you so much. I really do.’’ He whispers.
‘’I love you more.’’ I whisper back.
2: Patience  
‘’No, that’s the brakes.’’ I point at his feet and he lets out a groan.
‘’They look the same.’’
‘’Of course, they look the same, they are both pedals. What do you expect?’’
‘’I don’t know, this is so frustrating.’’
‘’I know, I know. It’s fine, we just have to be patient. Now, drive.’’ Nicks foot slams down on the accelerator and then puts it up fast, making the car go forward at full speed just a few centimeters. ‘’SLOWLY, drive slowly.’’
‘’Yeah, I can do that.’’ Nicks tense hands wrap around the steering wheel and his foot goes down the pedal slowly, more moderated.
‘’See, better now.’’ I cheer him up. ‘’Now, lets turn to the right.’’ As Nick tries to turn right, we end up in the top of the sidewalk, with a trashcan on the floor.
‘’I give up.’’ Nick says crossing his arms.
‘’Me too.’’ I look at his disappointed face. ‘’But it’s all right, not everyone is built for this, is a hard think to learn and do, I’m so proud of you for trying.’’ I rub his shoulder and kiss his cheek. ‘’Plus, I love the fact that you can drive, it makes us spend more time together.’’ I see his tiny frown turn into a smile.
‘’Yeah, I like that too.’’ He looks at me and gives me a kiss on the lips. ‘’I think we should switch sits so we can go back to my house.’’
‘’Yeah, we also have to pick up that trashcan.’’
I hear him laugh. ‘’You are right. Thank you for trying. I love you.’’ Nicks hand is on my cheek.
‘’I love you more, now get off the car before someone calls the police.’’
3: Trust
‘’Hey, you sure you wanna do this?’’ He looks at me concerned, both of his hands on my cheeks making me look at him in the eye.
‘’Yes, I trust you. I wanna be closer to you, to feel like we can be intimate and vulnerable with each other. I really want to do this Nick, I’m sure.’’
‘’All right.’’ He kisses my forehead and let’s go of my face. He opens the door to his bathroom and the room is lithe with scented candles. ‘’I wanted to make it special. I’m sorry if it’s too corny.’’
‘’No, it’s perfect, I love it.’’ We walk inside and Nick closes the door behind him, walking near the shower he turns it on and regulates the water. He turns to me and gulps. ‘’I want you to take off my clothes.’’ I say trying too not be too shy. He nods, taking of my shirt slowly, he eyes my body, taking in every inch of it. I help him with his shirt, and soon enough we are both surrounded by the hot water of the shower. We don’t speak, there is no need for it. His hands clean my body and I clean his. The strong smell of his shampoo and soap rub into me. His arms hug me and with the help of the water, they keep me warm. This is all I wanted and more, all I needed and more.
When we finish with the shower, we help each other dry, he puts his pajamas on, I put his pajamas on.
‘’Thank you.’’ I whisper as he helps me dry my hair.
‘’It’s nothing, thank you.’’
‘’It was nice, it felt amazing. I love you, Nick.’’
‘’I love you more.’’ He kisses my cheek and his hands keep moving the towel on my head.
4: Only fools rush in
‘’Now, we put the cookies on the oven.’’
‘’All right, cookies on the oven. How long do we have to wait?’’ Nick asks as he opens the oven carefully.
‘’Like an hour I think.’’ I see him put the trail with cookies on the oven and close it off.
‘’An hour?’’ he scoffs. Grabbing his phone and skipping the song that was playing on the tiny speaker on top of the table.
‘’I like that song, don’t skip it.’’ I say smiling as I start to sing along. ‘’Wise men say, only fools rush in…’’ I sing as I twirl and dance alone. I hear the music going up a bit, I see Nick walk up to me, putting his hands around my waist, I wrap my arms around his neck.
‘’But I can’t help, falling in love with you.’’ He whispers into my ear as we move back and forward to the beat of the song.
 Shall I stay?
Would it be, would it be a sin?
If I can't help falling in love with you.
‘’Did you know that I’m in love with you?’’ Nicks chest vibrates as he speaks.
‘’Yes, I am aware. Do you know that I love you?’’
‘’I know. How much?’’
‘’More than you imagine.’’
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things, you know, are meant to be.
‘’We are like an old married couple, dancing in the kitchen, baking cookies. I love it.’’ I smile looking at him in the eyes.
‘’We are, we just aren’t old, or married. But we can fix the last part pretty soon.’’
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help falling in love with you.
5: Not the same
‘’Come on, breath in and out. It’s all right, my parents are… nice.’’
‘’Why did you hesitate?’’ Nick freaks out.
‘’Well, they are a bit over protective, but it’s normal. I have told them all the great thing about you, it will be fine.’’ I squeeze his hand as I open the door to my parent house.
‘’Hi mom, hi dad. how are you?’’ I hug my parents.
‘’All good, exited to finally meet your boyfriend.’’ My mom says.
‘’Yeah, we have to see who is dating mi hijito, plus, we have to see if he is bueno. Mira todos esos tatuajes, igualito a mi, se ve que es rudo el chico, me gusta.’’
‘’What? Sorry, what did he say?’’ Nick looks at me concerned.
‘’He said that you are covered in tattoos just like him, that you seem like a tough guy and he liked that.’’ Nick smiles.
‘’Oh… yeah, I am a tough guy.’’ He smiles at my dad.
‘’Eso mijo. Now, let’s go, tu pa preparo una parrillada riquisima, al gringo le va a encantar.’’ I laugh and nod to him, grabbing Nick by the hand and walking with him to the dinning table.
‘’My dad cooked barbecue, he says you will love it.’’
‘’Yeah, yeah. I will love it.’’ Nick smiles as he sits on the table next to me.
‘’See, it’s fine. Thank you for coming, I really wanted you to meet my parents.’’
‘’It’s nothing, thank you for inviting me. Means the world to me, I love you.’’
‘’I love you more.’’
62 notes · View notes
ennabear · 2 months
Note
hii !! 🫶🏻 just discovered your account and i love it !! :) i was wondering if you could write some more headcannons about ellie? like, what job would she do? etc. i like to think that if she existed today, she'd probably be an illustrator for children's books !! that'd be so cool, tbh. i can see her making books about space or dinosaurs, and going to book fairs at schools to meet kiddos and talk to them about it. (crossover with professor!abby who used to teach little kids 🫶🏻🫶🏻) aah. sorry for rambling. but like, i just think ellie would have a blast if she existed today. like with all the museums ?? all the new ways to make art ?? but anyway !! what are *your* headcannons for modern ellie !! 🪐🫶🏻
modern!ellie’s job!! (hc) 🦕
thx for the request bae cause this made me smile so big. i have SO many hcs for modern ellie like i’ve been waiting for this moment!!!!! also dw about rambling i love to hear your thoughts 🤗
Tumblr media
ok for starters i think ellie would be a nerd in high school. i know that some people headcanon her as a jock or a stoner (and that ellie has a special place in my heart) but i definitely think she’d be the opposite tbh. i imagine her with only a few friends (dina, jesse, cat). and i also think she’d have insanely good grades because she’s just smart like that. and all of her teachers love her because even though she’s quiet, she’s really kind and creative.
also i think her family would be just her and joel and maybe a dog. like imagine her spending her weekends getting guitar lessons from joel and then taking her dog on a walk and documenting it in her journal. she would fr have such a blast!!!!
for college i definitely think she’d major in astronomy/astrophysics or maybe art history?? and in her last years of college, she’d get a job as a secretary for a science museum. honestly, she didn’t hate it, but she was super jealous of the tour guide because she got to take all of the cute little kids on a walk and talk about the fun stuff while ellie had to sit behind a desk all day. but after begging her supervisor enough, she’d get promoted to tour guide after the mean old lady who used to do it retired.
and guess what??? the kiddos loved her!!! she always made sure the kids were having a great time and she knew a lot about what she was talking about, whether it was dinosaurs or planets or volcanoes. and the joke book came everywhere with her!! absolutely nothing made her happier than hearing the little monsters giggling and squealing about a joke that wasn’t even that funny.
abby and ellie would become good friends because of the time abby took her class to the museum on a field trip. they ended up actually really liking each other, especially because they had so much in common. and sometimes after work they’d meet up at a bar and talk about life, it was nice for them to both have a new friend who was equally as nerdy.
ellie would be a tour guide for quite a few years while abby got her doctorate. a few years after abby became a professor, ellie tried out illustrating a childrens book for a local visitor at the museum who was really fond of ellie. it was nothing too big, but she was really proud of it.
after she finished the drawings for the book, she wanted to try writing one of her own. so she decided to write a textbook for kids about dinosaurs with her own illustrations and a joke on every page.
safe to say it was super successful!!! she ended up going to local elementary schools and educating the littles about the different types of dinosaurs and each era they lived in. and you better believe old man joel was so proud!!!! his little girl ellie that he used to take to dinosaur museums was now writing her own dinosaur books!!!
i think eventually she’d quit her job at the museum and focus on being a writer full time, along with keeping art as a hobby. and i can 100% see her getting married and adopting a kid just like joel adopted her, and she’d pass on all of her science knowledge to her mini self. also i think she’d mainly only write science textbooks for kids, but may end up publishing a sci-fi novel or two.
i think that’s all :3 thanks for the ask sweetie pie ilysm 🫶
daily click / israeli themes in tlou
86 notes · View notes
supernaturalscribe67 · 9 months
Text
Just Like Mama Used to Make
Tumblr media
Words: 6,178
POV: 1st & 3rd Person
Pairing: John x Son!Reader - Dean/Sam x Brother!Reader [Platonic]
Warning(s): Language, John Winchester, Fluff, Mention of Childhood Trauma, Mention of Death, I think that's it??
Summary: Taking inspiration from his father, the reader starts his very own journal. For his first entry, he recalls some of the memories that shaped him into the hunter that he has become.
Request:
Hello, hope you are having a good day/night
I was wondering if I could request John/Dean/Sam Winchester reaction to having a brother who looks like their mother and picked up hunting like breathing?
@xweirdo101x
A/N: My very first request! It kind of got away from me, but I really hope that I was able to do your request justice. Hope you like it!~
~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.
Hello
Hey!
Dear Diary
SEPTEMBER 2014
To be honest, I have no idea how to start something like this. I was never one for writing, nor have I been one who can easily express my emotions. I guess I got that trait from the Winchester side of my family. Still, I have thought a lot about Dad’s journal lately. The things that he wrote down. It’s not detailed. It’s nowhere near what it was like growing up with him, but it still provides Dean, Sammy, and me with some information and nostalgia from time to time.
So, I figured ‘Why the Hell not’, I might as well write down some things in my own journal. I’m going to die someday anyway, and I want people to read this and be able to see what my life was like. From the good times that I spent with my family to the bad times when I lost my family. Hell, maybe this journal will get me into a history book someday when someone else discovers the Men of Letters Bunker. Who knows. Maybe I’ll be famous after I die, or perhaps it’s just wishful thinking. 
This journal has already turned into a clusterfuck. I don’t even know what to write about. I can’t even think of things to write about. Should I say things about my life? Should I just write down random things I think of throughout the day? I don’t know how to do it. Even when I look at Dad’s journal for inspiration, there’s nothing to inspire in it. A lot of it is notes on how to kill monsters and other stuff is just a bunch of personal bullshit he was going through. 
Well, we were all going through it.
I guess I’ll start by writing down some of the memories I’ve had. If I don’t like it, then I’ll throw this journal away and start another one. I don’t want future historians to think of me as some scatterbrained moron, despite what Sammy and Dean say at times. If you’re reading this now, I’m actually the smartest Winchester brother. Don’t believe a thing Sam and Dean say. I’m the brains of the operations and our day-to-day lives. I’ve saved them more times than I could count. 
Then again, they’ve probably saved me just as much. 
Alright, I’m getting side-tracked. I guess I’ll just start writing. 
Should I introduce myself first before I do so? 
My name is (Y/N) Winchester. I’m a hunter. 
This is my story (God, that was terrible)
AUGUST 1991
I remember the first time I mentioned to my father that I wanted to be a hunter, just like him. I was six years old. Dad didn’t take it very kindly. He yelled, a lot. Screamed sometimes. I never truly understood why he would always get so upset whenever I would ask him to teach me how to hunt. 
It wasn’t until I was a man that I understood why. 
I look just like my mother. 
I don’t know how I could have been so blind all those years. I have her hair. I have her face. I have her smile. All of these things have been said by my father before. Not necessarily when he was sober. I was always the one person that reminded my Dad of his wife. Of my mother. I think a part of him wanted to keep me safe, just so he could always look at me and remember what she looked like. Even when I was a child, though, I could see the hurt behind his eyes every once in a while when he would look at me. It made me feel guilty. 
Still does. 
I know that none of it is my fault, that he made himself hurt. 
Still… 
For months, I would ask my Dad to teach me about hunting. To teach me about the monsters that crept through the darkness. Each time I asked, he would reject my request and I would get scolded for asking such a stupid question. 
So, one night, around the age of seven or eight (one of the two, I can’t remember exactly), I decided that school wasn’t very important. There were occasions when I snuck out of classes to go to the library of whatever town we were in at the time to search the limited amount of lore books that they had. There were times when I got caught by Dean before I was able to sneak out. Other times it was by Sammy. Sometimes, my father would get a call from the school because I had been reported missing. 
I was a problem child, as you could tell. 
It’s not that I hated school. 
It just wasn’t my favorite. 
And I wanted to hunt. 
So, anyway…from town to town, I would skip class, go to the library, and learn everything that I could learn about hunting if there was anything to learn. Sometimes, I would ask Dean questions. Sometimes he would answer, other times he told me to not worry about it and to mind my own business. It used to hurt whenever Dean would reject any of the questions that I would ask, but I know now that it was so he didn’t get in trouble with Dad. I remember giving him a hard time about it, about not answering me. Dean, if you’re reading this, I’m sorry for being a jerk. 
Then again, Dean, if you’re reading this, you shouldn’t be reading this and expect some glitter to appear in your body wash. 
No one knew about my secret research. No one knew the reason behind my skipping classes. I would constantly make up lies, most of them being about how much I hated moving around and just wanted to rebel against my father. Typical kid stuff. 
It wasn’t until August of 1991, when I was ten years old, that I was finally able to put that research to use.
(Y/N) stared down at the paper that rested on a notebook in his lap. His eyes were wide and filled with stress, fingers tangled in his short hair, his back slouched ever so slightly. Dean sat a couple of inches away from him near the end of the bed, his homework in his lap, while Sam leaned against the headboard, a book in his hands that he had gotten from the school library. Dean looked up from his work, noticing the look of despair on his brother’s face before he glanced down at his worksheet. Dean grimaced and let out a hiss. 
“Multiplying fractions?” He asked, a hint of sympathy in his tone. 
Without looking up, (Y/N) gave a short nod. Dean pressed his lips together in a thin line before he set his pencil down beside him. 
“Do you need help?” Dean offered. 
(Y/N) lifted his head and looked at his older brother, giving a small, soundless nod. Dean offered a smile as he moved closer to him so that they were sitting next to one another. Dean craned his neck to be able to look at the paper, tilting his head as he studied the equations. 
“Which one are you having problems with?” He asked. 
“All of them,” (Y/N) answered. 
Dean snorted. “Okay, so, it’s easy-” 
“Wow, Dean thinks math is easy?” Sam mumbled, a smirk playing on his lips. 
Dean lifted his head and glared at Sam. “Shut up, bitch,” 
Sam shot a bitch-face towards Dean. “You shut up, jerk,” he retorted. 
(Y/N) let out a frustrated grunt. “Will both of you assholes shut up!? I don’t understand this!” His voice was filled with annoyance and desperation. 
Dean and Sam shot their brother a look. Sam rolled his eyes as he returned to the book. Dean looked back down at the paper, mumbling an apology under his breath. He then began to help (Y/N) with his homework, walking him through all of the problems that he had. (Y/N) still felt as if Dean was speaking in a foreign language, but he could understand the homework a little easier. 
When the paper was halfway finished, the door to the motel room suddenly burst open, causing the three brothers to jump, their eyes wide as they turned and looked at the person who had just entered. John stormed into the room, slamming the door behind him. He stomped over to the couch that sat in front of the small television set and plopped down on it. He ran his hands down his face and let a small growl emit from his throat. 
Dean, Sam, and (Y/N) shared a glance, almost as if they were communicating telepathically. After a while, Dean and Sam both turned their attention toward their brother, their eyes locked on his. After looking back and forth between the two, (Y/N) let out a soundless sigh as he set his homework beside him. He moved off of the bed and padded across the aged carpet to the couch. Slowly, he walked around the sofa so that he could see his father. 
John looked tired. Dark circles were prominent underneath his eyes. One of his legs was propped up on the couch while the other lay bent in front of him. His elbow rested on the arm of the sofa, his cheek placed against his right hand as he stared at the television in front of him. Nothing played. When (Y/N) came into view, John glanced at him out of the corner of his eye for a brief moment. He said nothing. 
“Hey, Dad,” (Y/N) greeted. “Um…how were the, uh, interviews with the victims’ families?” 
John shook his head. “Not great, kid,” he grumbled. 
“No?” 
“No.” 
As (Y/N) stared at his father, he timidly moved over to the couch. John hesitantly moved his leg as (Y/N) sat down next to him. 
“Did you…learn anything?” 
“Why aren’t you boys in bed?” John grunted. 
“We’re finishing our homework.” 
“Then shouldn’t you be working on it?”
(Y/N)’s shoulders slouched. “I just…wanted to see how it went is all…” 
“You want to know how it went?” John’s voice got deeper. “You really want to know how it went? Fucking terrible. That’s how it went,” John straightened himself out on the couch before he stood up. He began to pace around the room, his tone of voice getting more and more irritable. “I thought I had a good fucking lead going. All of the victims went to the same fucking bookstore a couple of days before their deaths and got the same book. Seems like a fucking coincidence, right? Then I go to the goddamn bookstore to see what the book was and all it was was something called Aradia or some shit like that. Some type of foreign book bullshit, I don’t fucking know.” 
(Y/N) furrowed his brows as John continued to rant. He looked down and away from his father. He got lost, deep in thought, the words that John was speaking irrelevant to him now. Finally, he turned back to him, kneeling on the couch as he raised his brows. 
“Did you say Aradia?” He questioned in the middle of John’s rant. 
John stopped pacing around the room as he looked back at (Y/N). Dean and Sam’s attention immediately turned to him, their eyes wide. John’s jaw was clenched, the anger and irritation still emanating from him. “Yeah,” he replied deeply. 
“Aradia…” (Y/N) trailed before he shook his head. “That’s not a foreign book, Dad! That’s only the first half of the title. The full title is Aradia or the Gospel of the Witches. It was one of the most influential pieces of literature in the nineteenth century to witches! You’re dealing with a witch!” (Y/N)’s eyes widened as a smile appeared on his face. 
John’s expression went from furious to confusion. He narrowed his eyes. “How do you know about that book?” He questioned. 
“I read about it in a library a little bit ago.” (Y/N) answered quickly. 
John pressed his tongue into his cheek as he slowly nodded his head. He looked at Sam and Dean, who were still staring with wide eyes at their brother, and then back at (Y/N). He ran a hand down his face stressfully. 
“You boys finish your homework,” he mumbled as he walked towards the door. “I have to make a call.” 
Without allowing anyone to respond, John left the motel room, closing the door behind him a little gentler than when he entered. (Y/N)’s smile faded as he watched his father leave, his shoulders dropping. The three brothers sat in silence for a minute before they looked at one another. 
“Come on,” Dean said as he patted the spot on the bed next to him. “Let’s finish these math problems.” 
Even though Dad never told me, I knew I was right. I knew it was a witch that he had dealt with. We didn’t even get to go to school the next day. He had found and killed her before I was able to turn in that math homework. What a waste of time. 
I would like to think that Dad was proud of me in that situation, but he never said anything. He never brought it up again as far as I can remember. It was something that he had put in the past, along with all of the other hunts that we had been on. However, even if he wasn’t proud of me back then, I was proud of myself. Proud that I was able to help my Dad even if I wasn’t beside him when he took that bitch down. 
God, I hate witches. 
MAY 1993
I didn’t touch a gun until I was twelve years old. By that point, I had stopped begging Dad to teach me how to hunt, because it seemed that the only answer I was going to be getting was ‘No’. I figured that I would go to the next best person for the job. 
I had to ask Dean. 
Dean was very protective of Sammy and me when we were younger. He still is super protective of us, even in our ripe old ages. But because of how protective he could get, he was very hesitant about teaching me how to shoot a gun. However, with Dad talking about Dean going on hunts with him more and more by then, I knew that I would be left alone with Sammy. I used the excuse that I needed to learn how to shoot a gun eventually so that I could protect the two of us when we were by ourselves. I couldn’t be expected to be safe when the only two people who knew how to shoot were away. 
That reasoning caught Dean’s attention. 
After the fifth or sixth time asking him, Dean had finally agreed. A couple of days passed and, when Dad was a couple of towns away gathering information for a hunt, Dean and I skipped school. Shocking, right? I think Dean used the excuse that I hadn’t been feeling well and he had to take care of me. He even wrote out a fake doctor’s note and everything. Back then, you could get away with a handwritten note. I’m not too sure if you could now. 
Once Sammy had been dropped off at school that day, Dean and I walked to a creek a couple of miles away from the school. He had set up a couple of cans on a log, some recycled stuff that he had picked up along the way. He had brought one of Dad’s small handguns with him. When he gave it to me, it felt so surreal. So different. 
I never really understood what the big fuss was about, though. 
Shooting a gun was easy. 
“No, you can’t have your hand that low! You have it that low and the gun is going to come out of your hand when you shoot it,” Dean grumbled. 
Dean took (Y/N)’s hand in his and adjusted it so that it fits perfectly onto the grip of the handgun. He then took his other hand and placed it on top of the one that was already on the gun. (Y/N) furrowed his brows as he looked at the way his hands nestled against one another. 
“This doesn’t feel right.” He said. “Why can’t I just hold it with one hand like the cops do in the movies?” 
“Because you’re twelve, dummy. You’re not in your forties and have years of experience under your belt,” Dean rolled his eyes. “And that is exactly how you should hold it if you don’t want to get hit in the face with your weapon after you fire it.” 
(Y/N) listened intently to what his brother was saying, giving him a small nod before he straightened his back up. 
“Stop.” Dean held up a hand. 
(Y/N) shot Dean a confused look. “What?” 
“You’re standing wrong.” 
“I’m standing wrong…” 
“Yeah, here,” Dean walked over, pressing his hand against the top of (Y/N)’s back ever so slightly, leaning him forward. “If you have your back too straight, then you’re more likely to fall backward. You also,” Dean kicked (Y/N)’s feet apart. “Need to have your feet apart. Keeps you more ground.”
(Y/N) looked down at the ground for a moment, taking in the appearance and feel of his stance. The way his back leaned forward and the way his legs were spread. He nodded. 
“Okay, now I shoot?” 
“Is your safety off?” 
“Safety?” 
Dean sighed, moving back over to him. He took the gun from (Y/N)’s grasp and flashed the left side of the gun. “You see this little trigger?” When Dean received a nod from his brother, he continued. “If it’s facing side-to-side, that means the safety is on. That means the gun won’t fire. All you have to do is flick this little switch,” Dean turned the safety off. “Once it’s up and down, then that means it’s ready to fire.” He handed the gun back to (Y/N). “Now, get back into position.” 
(Y/N) glanced down at the safety mechanism on the gun for a moment before he nodded. He got back into the position that he was in, spreading his legs apart the same length Dean had and slouching his back forward ever so slightly. Once he received a nod of approval from Dean, (Y/N) lifted his arms, cocking his head to the side. He aimed at the can farthest to the left. He closed his left eye and placed his finger on the trigger. 
“Stop!” Dean said more abruptly. 
(Y/N) jumped and moved his finger off the trigger, standing up straighter to face Dean. “What!?” He asked exasperatedly. 
Dean shook his head. “You can’t have one eye closed.” 
“Why not? Snipers do it!” 
“Because snipers are far enough away from combat. They need to look through a scope to get a good shot. You, on the other hand, are feet away from whatever monster you’re dealing with. What happens when you’re facing more than one monster? You leave yourself open to being taken out on your left.” Dean’s tone was stern, yet calm. His arms were crossed over his chest. 
Slowly, (Y/N) nodded as he grasped an understanding of Dean’s thinking. “Both eyes open?” 
“Both eyes open.” Dean backed up a bit. “Back into position.” 
(Y/N) let out a shaky breath before resuming his position. Legs spread, back bent, arms up, head tilted, both eyes open. His goal was to hit the used can of peaches that sat on the outside of the log. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest from anxiousness and anticipation. He was surprised the gun wasn’t shaking in his grasp. 
His eyes were on the cartoon peaches that were etched onto the label of the can. More specifically, the pit that sat in the center of the peach. He wanted to hit the pit. He never moved his eyes from the pit as he took a deep breath, his shoulders rising. Finally, as he exhaled, his shoulders dropping, he pulled the trigger. 
The can flew into the air and seemed to dramatically and unceremoniously fall into the creek. A small splash echoed in (Y/N)’s ears, accompanied by the ringing of the gunshot. 
One thing that (Y/N) noted was that his hands ached, both from the vice grip he had on the gun and the recoil that he hadn’t expected. Sure, Dean had informed him about it before, but he wasn’t sure how it would feel. His hands would definitely bruise. 
(Y/N) lowered the gun, looking over at his brother to see that Dean wore a stunned expression on his face. Dean’s mouth hung open as his eyes were glued to the can that lay in the flowing water. (Y/N) watched in silence as Dean walked over to the can. He reached down and picked it up by the opening, wincing from the heat of the bullet hole before he swapped hands. He studied the can. It seemed like too much time had passed before he turned the can so (Y/N) could see. 
(Y/N) had gotten it on his first try. 
The bullet hole? 
Right in the pit. 
(Y/N) raised his brows, a mixture of pride and surprise coursing through him. A wide smile appeared on his face. Similarly, a smirk appeared on Dean’s lips. Dean chuckled before he tossed the can into the water. 
“Beginner’s luck,” he said, brushing his hands onto his jeans. “Let’s see if you can hit the other ones.” 
I shot through the rest of the cans, the same as I had done for that can of peaches. Not to toot my own horn, but I was a natural when it came to a pistol. I don’t mean to sound egotistic about this, but Dean can back up any statement that I’m making about this story. 
I could tell that Dean was proud of me that day. He never said he was, but the way he looked at me and the way he treated me afterward told me things that words couldn’t. It’s hard to describe, but it almost felt like he had gained some respect for me that day. It felt good. Even as I am writing about this story, I can’t keep the smile off my face. I always looked up at Dean, so it feels great to think that I had done something to bring a smile to his stupid face. 
My hands hurt like hell after it was all said and done. I had gotten a couple of bruises near the thumb on my right hand that I brushed off to my Dad as something that I had picked up when I got into a fight at school. Dean had backed me up when Dad got on my ass about it. Dad told me that I had to get along with the other kids so I didn’t give the wrong impression at the schools I went to. It wasn’t like they would remember me anyway. Of course, I didn’t tell him that. I knew when to bite my tongue. 
Dad never found out about the shooting practice. I get a feeling that he had a sneaking suspicion as soon as he took me to practice himself years later, but I never told him about it. I never told him that Dean had been the one to teach me how to stand correctly, or where to find the safety of a gun. I know that he knew it was Dean. A part of me wonders if Dean ever got in trouble for it, or if it was something that Dad even brought up. I would never ask Dean about it now, though. 
Some things are best to be left in the past.
 
NOVEMBER 1999
By the time I turned eighteen, I had already been on several hunts with Dad and Dean. The majority of the time, though, I would stay back and watch Sammy. Even though he was a teenager and had the capability of taking care of himself, Dad expressed that he was still a kid and needed to be looked after. A part of me thought it was bullshit at the time, but another part of me was glad that I was able to spend time with my younger brother. 
Now, I know the real reason behind my staying with Sammy was because some of the hunts that Dad and Dean went on were ‘rough’. A little ‘too hard’ for me. 
Dad didn’t want to lose the son that reminded him of his wife. 
At least, that was what Dean told me, and I believe him. 
It was a blessing and a curse, come to think of it. There were times that I stayed behind and Dad called me up, needing me to do some research for the case that they were working on. He had said it would be faster if someone was working on the research while he and Dean were out taking interviews. In the end, it was more efficient. I would gather the necessary information and hand it off to him and they would be back at the motel a lot quicker than if they had been the ones to look up the information. 
That was the system that we worked with for a while. After a couple of months, Dad informed me that he didn’t want me to do the research anymore. He wanted Sammy to be the one to do it. I remember him saying that Sammy needed to focus more on the hunting aspect of his life. That school was just a waste of time at that point. He was old enough to get into it. 
Sammy hated the idea when I told him. He loved school. He was always such a nerd. Still is. An even bigger nerd if you can believe it. I knew how much school meant to him, and I didn’t want him to be discouraged from doing his schoolwork. He shouldn’t have been forced to do anything that he didn’t want to. So, I decided that I was going to do the research and just tell Dad that he had been the one to do it. Sammy was thankful. 
That was until Dad called. 
Dad wasn't as stupid as I took him for most of the time. He knew that Sammy hadn’t done any of the research, that I was the one that did it all. By the time he and Dean got back, he gave Sammy a verbal lashing. I tried to defend him, but nothing worked. In the end, Sammy gave in. He would do the research for the next hunt. 
Like clockwork, when the next hunt rolled around, with Sammy and I staying back at the motel, Dad had called. He had given Sammy the information that he needed to research and we headed off to the local library. Once we got the necessary books, we took them back to the motel and he began to work. 
I could tell that it wasn’t going well.
Sam sat at the small table near the motel room door, two books placed in front of him. His back was slouched as he looked from one book to another, flipping through pages frantically. He had been going at it for several hours by then, evident by the bags that were present underneath his eyes and the redness around his pupils. (Y/N) sat on the couch, watching some old western show. Now and then he would look at his little brother. He could see how tired and stressed he was about the entire situation. (Y/N) had never seen Sam that stressed out before, even when he was studying for a test in one of his AP classes. 
Eventually, Sam pressed the palms of his hands against his eyes, lowering his head, as if accepting defeat. (Y/N) studied his movements, and, after he saw that he had not moved in a while, he decided the best thing to do was to help him out. He picked up the remote and turned off the television before tossing it aside. He stood from his spot on the couch and walked over to the table. He grabbed the spare chair, pulled it beside Sam, and sat down. 
“Having some trouble?” He questioned. 
Sam’s shoulders rose and fell as a sigh escaped his lips. He removed his hands from his face and placed them into his lengthy hair. His eyes were cast down towards the table. He stayed in the same position for some time before he looked up at (Y/N). 
“No,” he answered, pulling the books towards him. “I’m fine.” 
“You don’t look fine.” 
“I said ‘I’m fine’,” Sam repeated through gritted teeth. 
(Y/N) studied him with an expressionless face. Sam kept his eyes down, looking from one book to another. (Y/N) was able to see the stress that was emitted from his brother even better with how close he was sitting. He took one look at the books before he shook his head. 
“I’m sorry Dad’s making you do this.” 
“It’s fine.” 
“No, it’s not. You shouldn’t be doing this alone the first time…” he trailed. “But if Dad found out I helped you-” 
“You’d get in trouble, and so would I. Yeah, I know.” 
(Y/N) pursed his lips. “You know, it took me a little over a year to get comfortable with translating Latin. I sometimes screw up from time to time.” 
“Still?” 
“Yeah, still,” he chuckled. “That’s why I got something that helps me out now and again.” 
With that, (Y/N) stood from his spot on the chair and waltzed over to the bed in the far corner of the room. Beside the bed sat his black duffel bag. He picked it up and placed it on the bed. He began to rummage through it, sorting through clothes and weapons that rested at the bottom. Wedged into the corner of his bag sat a book. He picked it up and brought it over to the table. He took a seat next to Sam once more and placed the book in front of him. 
Sam furrowed his brows as he studied the cover. It was a Latin-English translation book. It looked rather similar to the one that he had picked up at the library. The only difference was the color of the cover was a little faded and, along the outside of the book, between all of the pages, were multi-colored Post-it notes. Each Post-it note had different letter combinations on it, as well as notes written on some of them. Sam opened the cover and he raised his brows when he saw that the first page was replaced by a notebook-sized piece of paper, taped to the front page. There were multiple words in English on the left side with their corresponding Latin translation on the right. 
“What’s this?” Sam asked. 
“It’s a translation book I picked up a couple of years back at a bookstore. I figured since there were going to be a lot of things that needed translating, then I was going to have to make it easier for myself to find the words. The only problem is that most of these translation books are so damn compressed that it’s hard to find certain words without getting blurry vision. So, I took the liberty to mark down all of the times when the letters change in the words. For example, when the words that start with ‘AB’ transfer to words that start with ‘AC’. It always made it easier to find. Plus, I made a page at the beginning about common words that I have found in my research so that it would be easier to translate them.” 
As (Y/N) explained, he gestured with his hand toward the book. Sam listened intently, taking in all of the information that he was given, nodding his head. Once (Y/N) was done talking, Sam looked down at the book and then back up at him. 
“You did all this?” 
“Yeah,” (Y/N) chuckled. “Crazy, right?” 
Sam snorted. “Yeah. Wish you put that much effort into your homework when you were still in school.” 
“Hey,” (Y/N) leaned back in his chair and lifted his hands in mock surrender. “School was fine and all, but this is something I enjoy, and I’m good at it. I’m good at hunting research and you’re good in school.” 
“And what’s Dean good at?” 
“Being a pain in the ass.” 
Sam smiled widely, his dimples more prominent than (Y/N) had seen in a while. After a beat or two of silence, the smile faded as he looked down.
“I wish Dad could see that I’m good at school.” 
The corner of (Y/N)’s mouth curved downward. It was his turn to look down at the table. He reached over and placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder comfortingly. “I know, kiddo,” he mumbled. “But Dean and I both see how much of a nerd you are. Don’t worry.” 
A smile returned to Sam’s face, but it wasn’t as happy as the last one. They sat in silence for a little bit before (Y/N) lowered his hand and Sam moved back to the books. 
“You got it from here?” (Y/N) questioned. 
“Yeah, I got it,” 
“Great,” (Y/N) said as he stood from his seat and patted Sam on the back. “Call me over if you need anything.” 
“Yeah, I’ll make sure to call you over when I get to the part about multiplying fractions.” 
(Y/N) glared at Sam and crossed his arms over his chest. “You’re never going to let that go, are you?” 
“No, no I’m not.” 
Sammy still teases me to this day about not knowing how to multiply fractions. Even though it was decades ago at this point, he still likes to tease me about it. Little shit. 
With my help, Sammy was able to get the translations done a lot faster than he expected. I remember seeing the relief on his face when he had finished. Poor kid was so exhausted. Dad was more than pleased when he called and asked about it. Dad never found out that I had helped him out a bit, and neither Sammy nor I were planning on telling him. I just wanted Sammy to have an easier time than I did when I was first learning about research, specifically translations. 
In the end, I would have to say that Sammy is better than me when it comes to research. He’s taken the reigns on many different hunts because of how proficient he is with technology. I’m good with old-fashioned ways of research, but Sammy’s the nerd when it comes to computers. 
Sammy has told me once or twice, though, that I was the one that helped him the most when it came to his knowledge of research. That, without my help, he wouldn’t have been as good at it as he is now. 
I call bullshit. Sammy has always been a smart kid. 
He could do anything he put his mind to. 
SEPTEMBER 2014
This is all I can write at the moment. Dean called me to the kitchen a couple of minutes ago saying that dinner was ready. I need to wrap this up before he or Sammy comes in here and sees what I’m doing. I know that I would get endlessly teased about keeping a ‘diary’. I need to make sure to hide this in a good enough place where neither of them will find it if they go snooping through my room. 
Sam, Dean, if you guys are reading this, I’ll get you back. 
But if you’re going to read it, I just want to let you know that I love you guys. 
Not that I’m into chick-flick moments or anything. 
I’m just glad that I have you guys as my brothers. No one could ask for a better family than you two. 
Okay, that was cheesy. I wish I wasn’t writing this in pen so I could erase it. 
Dammit. 
I’m not too sure how to end this, so I guess I’ll just write again sometime when I can. Perhaps I could do like Dad did in his journal and write about all of the new monsters we have discovered over the years. Or maybe write more memories down. This journal is going to be so cluttered that no one is going to want to read it. There’s no way I’m going to get famous from this. 
Dean just called me to the kitchen again. 
Until next time. 
Happy hunting. (That was stupid, think of something better).
WE LOVE YOU TOO - SAM + DEAN
220 notes · View notes
alkhale · 10 months
Note
i know it might have been mentioned before, but if it hasn't been touched on already, could we pretty pretty pls see what a marine au for memos would look like? who would Hoku work for? would she ironically make for a good marine?
The following AU takes place in a timeline where Hoku did eventually join the Marines. After spending time on Dawn Island with Luffy, when Hoku sets off on her own journey, reuniting with Ace, meeting Hack, etc, only after fixing up Mayman/meeting Kid, does she seek out Tsuru and decide to take her up on her offer to become "an upstanding marine" and to avoid Luffy
(The scene with Shanks below takes place sometime 3D2Y post-time skip)
Hoku decides to play at being a marine because she (1) finds them constantly in the line of fire and at risk of work hazards (2) believes there's something specific she can do from the inside of the institute she'd like to explore, mainly helping other Pokians and maaaaaybe making things a bit easier for a certain king of pirates (because she knows she can always quit!) (3) it will help her avoid being a pirate with luffy and being involved further in the main story
Despite this plan, she still seems to run into one too many pirates
"What's your relationship with Straw Hat Luffy?" "Who's that?" "Our men saw him trying to kidnap you onto his ship! Was it for ransom?" "He just wanted me to try Sanji's new dish."
"But you're a marine, we're supposed to be capturing pirates?"
"I didn't see that in the handbook."
"But you never read the handbook!"
Hoku underwent rigorous training with Tsuru, mainly under the tough old lady's jurisdiction—this helps her particularly avoid discipline from several other marines. There have often been requests for her to join other commands, some from marines who want to teach her a lesson, others from marines who genuinely have fun working with her
When Tsuru isn't training her, she's being worked to near death by Garp
She has one of the highest disciplinary records in academy history
Some cadets don't understand how she can get away with getting into so much trouble, sometimes a marine grunt will see her being forced to clean out an entire base's cafeteria while someone supervises and they're like?? again??? how is she not in impel down?? tried for mutiny??
Some people eventually get the memo—it's favoritism/abuse of power/strangely good luck in some occasions
Some marines don't like it one bit, they have it out for Hoku, she doesn't really care
Garp never, ever stops talking anyone's ear off about how his beautiful, adorable granddaughter is going to be one of the best marine's the world has ever seen
Tsuru has unofficially officially made herself Hoku's grandmother in a way. She and Garp often have petty fights over Hoku stories. They fight a lot over who's squad Hoku has to be on
Over the years, she's actually made enough contributions and done quite the number of great feats, enough to land her at captain level, (rear admiral candidate at Tsuru and Garp's behest) but Hoku sometimes keeps her petty officer title, keeping the perks that come with captain status and the likes
She doesn't mind abusing her power and shrugging off her responsibilities
Whenever she's assigned missions where she has a whole squad to take care of, the marines assigned to her are usually wary, uncertain and thinking they're unlucky
Until they actually work with Hoku and are like??? we're doing work today? did we just bust this human trafficking ring? did we just liberate an entire island stuck in a pirate tyranny? and other times they come, asking her what their job is for today and she's just like? go home there's nothing to do
If they really bother her, she'll send them off to different islands and countries that need help. "Go distribute these supplies to here." "They asked for someone to help rebuild their village." "Put those dumb ships to use and go delivery this to them."
Hoku has made her way around several different bases, under several different chains of commands, (she is now infamous) usually on a sort of temp job kind of borrowed basis, but officially she's under Tsuru's wing
Smoker has gone through several different stages of mental strife and grief with Hoku, originally being distrustful when the criminal who blew up a base in Tretar became a marine, then becoming somewhat determined to help mold her into a damn good marine, then to becoming strangely fixed (obsessed) with either being in charge of ensuring she receives punishment/is not mistreated for her origins within the lower ranks, and they are even sometimes seen gambling together on occasion. They have a funny relationship these two, Hoku's too lazy to try to understand it.
Her outfit as a marine is a lot like her original, however she wears a black top instead of white and with black pants. Her jacket is white instead with her usual accessories, and the only thing that helps people actually identify her as a marine is the standard issue marine cap she wears
Hoku has also secretly become a huge collector of wanted posters. It originally started small, just taking the wanted posters of people she cared about, but now it's spiraled into a full-on sizable collection where she has different versions of wanted posters, original prints, first roll-outs and etc. She trades with Bradnew and other marines and hangs them all up on her wall or keeps them safe in a minted book
Hoku often abuses any and all of her rights as a marine. She's really, really good at being a bad marine.
"Hey, did you hear the news?"
The petty officer looked up from where they'd been tasked to dust and clean the entire meeting room to perfection. Several other cadets and chore boys had been called from the barracks, each ordered to ensure that the following few rooms that would be in use for the meeting would be ready at a moment's notice.
For what meeting? He had no idea.
"No," he said, because he didn't know. There was so much gossip going around base these days he could hardly keep up. "What was it?"
First there'd been the rumor that one of the Four Emperors of the sea was on the move about the Grand Line, cutting and going as he pleased. Any movement from an Emperor was grounds for mass panic. Then there'd been talk that newly appointed Fleet Admiral Akainu had almost burned another ranking marine alive. Less serious and more on the interesting side, word was floating around that the Vice Admiral Smoker was seeing someone, which was juicy gossip in its own right because Vice Admiral Smoker?
"Apparently he's always following her around," someone said.
"He requests transfers and is always grumbling about them, I think he's worried they're going to end up with someone else—"
"Even Captain Tashigi seems to be aware and they're always—"
For today, however, it seemed something different was brewing amongst headquarters. Other officers were making a ruckus while the upper brass seemed particularly miffed—which usually only happened if it involved someone outside their scope of power influence doing something they didn't like—
"One of the Seven Warlords is visiting HQ!"
The petty officer blinked, opening his mouth before closing it and then finally deciding on his next words, "Well, that's big news, but it's not unheard of news man. They're required to come for summons."
The petty officer shrugged. "Especially people like Bartholomew Kuma or First-Son of the Sea Jimbei. They're always on time."
"No, no, you don't understand," the marine looked around as though someone would hear before motioning for the petty officer to come closer. He rolled his eyes, leaning over the table. "It isn't just any of the Warlords... It's Hawk-Eye Mihawk!"
The petty officer dropped his broom, turning to his fellow marine. The other man looked smug now. "Dracule Mihawk is coming to HQ?"
"That's what I'm saying!"
"You should've said so sooner!" the petty officer scooped up his broom, renewing his cleaning with vigor. "He's not just a regular Warlord—that guy never responds to his summons! Never!"
"See what I mean! This is big news! Why now? What do you think convinced him to come?"
"It must be something big," he said, shaking his head as the two of them not-so-discreetly made their way to the wide windows overlooking the base's dock. They'd get a full view of the elusive swordsman this way. "Do you think they're mobilizing for something?"
"I don't know, man. Think they'll let us sit in on the—"
A loud clamor came from the ground level beneath them. The two marines quickly looked at each other and then pressed their faces up against the glass. Their fellow officers below them were rushing around on the docks, forming into greeting lines and looking sick with nervousness. One man seemed to be praying.
It was understandable behavior, to be honest. Dracule Mihawk was known for being an unknown man and more often then not he'd felled one too many marine ships simply because they'd been in his way.
"I see his ship!" the marine beside him said. They pressed harder to the glass, squinting for the full view. "Always gives me the creeps. Who sails around in a coffin?"
He thought about telling his fellow officer that there was quite the number of weirder ships out there, but the sudden silence below them made the two of them pause. They glanced to each other and then back down.
The dock had gone eerily silent. Marines shook at the knees while hardened captains and a single vice admiral waited to greet the Warlord of the Sea.
One figure, however, suddenly came into view along the dock, sticking out like a sore thumb compared to the rest.
Her bright white hair fluttered absently with the wind, tugged this way and that as she paced up and down the dock, looking out across the ocean. She skirted the edge of the pier, however, just shy of the water with her hands stuffed into her jacket pockets.
"Who the hell is that?" the marine beside him said. "And why isn't she falling into line? What's her rank?"
"That's..." the petty officer caught a full view of the woman's face now, freezing at the infamous half-heart curving around her eye. "Cap—Serga—Lieute—" he paused, uncertain of her current ranking now. "Officer Hoku!"
"Hoku?" the marine looked confused, "who the hell is that?"
"Officer Hoku!" the petty officer repeated, looking at the man in shock. "You haven't heard of her? Vice Admiral Tsuru's right hand woman, the officer who blew up over ten marine bases—"
"She blew up our own bases?"
"It's a long story—the woman who apparently violated the nefarious Trafalgar Law—"
"Violated?"
"I heard what she did to him was so disgusting, even the officers near her threw up themselves! The one who fought Fleet Admiral Akainu's authority multiple times, got caught gambling in Crocodile's casino, vandalized a whole part of Marineford—"
"And she's not in Impel Down?" the man said, aghast. "Are you sure she's on our side?"
"Oh, sure. She's been credited with busting the largest human trafficking rings in history! She's also brought in multiple heinous pirates, and on multiple occasions they say she's been able to deescalate several run-ins with huge bounty pirates like the Straw—"
"I guess it makes sense why they're sending her to meet someone like a shichibukai," the marine said thoughtfully. The petty officer paused, a bit offended he didn't get to finish Hoku's infamous and notorious list. "Need a crazy officer to handle a crazy pirate, right?"
A commotion finally broke out below them. The vice admiral waiting to oversee the whole affair was shouting at Hoku now, lecturing her about her lack of respect. The white haired marine simply took a seat on a wooden crate, picking at her ear and absently flicking off toward the vice admiral's feet.
The marine gaped while the petty officer stiffled a laugh with a cough.
"Look, it's him!"
Hoku seemed to have thought the same thing, turning sharply from the vice admiral and jumping to her feet. A single, haunting figure of a man stepped out from the edge of his coffin. His coat flared out dangerously about his heels, wind catching against the fluffed plume atop his head. Cadets started to shake at the knees at the sight of the man—
"Mihawk!"
The cadets around them went completely pale, jaws growing slack as Hoku flew across the dock, taking off with a flying leap and sailing through the air, arms and legs oustretched.
Dracule Mihawk did not move. He remained, still as a statue as the marine promptly wrapped her arms and legs around his head. The vice admiral's jaw dropped to the floor, one hand reaching for his saber uselessly.
Mihawk remained still, allowing Hoku to situate herself as she rubbed her cheek over the top of his hat, laughing with a sound so sweet with joy, it made the petty officer flush. She turned around, keeping herself wrapped completely over his head.
The rest of the marines continued to stare, waiting for Mihawk to throw her into the water or cut her in half.
"I didn't know you were coming to visit!" Hoku said happily, eyes shining with affection. "What's it for? You get called in by the brass or somethin'?"
"It was a whim." Mihawk neither cut her nor tossed her into the ocean. Instead, the man simply began to walk with perfect ease, toting Hoku along as though she were an added weight to his hat. "I will be departing shortly."
"Already! You've got a stay for at least a bit! Actually, aren't you hear for a meeting?"
"I heard of no such thing."
"Oh, cool then! Why don't we grab something to eat?"
"You mean to spar?"
"I-I never said that! Eat! I said eat!"
"Come, then. We shall take up arms—"
"Wait, wait, wait!"
The petty officer quickly began to add another feat to Hoku's growing list. The marine beside him continued to gape.
- - - - - - - - -
"Hmm," Hoku's brows furrowed in thought, fingers moving in a rhythmic, soothing motion. "This isn't a bad idea, right?"
"It's a bit cramped."
"Right, right, sorry about that. Just give it a few more minutes. Those guys out there are runnin' around like chickens without a head."
"Aye."
Hoku's fingers flexed. Her cheeks flushed a bit as she cleared her throat. As subtly as she could, she pressed herself tighter to the figure squeezed into the armory closet beside her. He made no move in protest, simply shuffling a bit to accommodate her and Hoku felt her cheeks flush.
"Do you need more room?" he asked.
"No, no," Hoku cleared her throat. "Sorry. Mind if I get a bit closer."
"That's okay," he said kindly. "I don't mind."
Hoku sneakily reached her arms more around his waist. He turned again in her arms and she felt her heart hammer wildly now, cheeks flushed as she slowly, carefully pressed her cheek against him.
Hoku shut her eyes in bliss. Soft. Like a cloud. And so warm. So, so warm. Ka. I don't mind staying like this for another hour—
"Shambles."
Hoku let out a squawk of surprise, her and her companion ripped clean from the closet and appearing hovering in the air for a moment. A thin film of blue surrounded the two of them, Hoku's arms and legs wrapped shamefully and scandalously around the other as her eyes went wide and then they both crashed onto cobblestone floors.
Hoku groaned, a second flick of someone's fingers leaving her on her ass before a pair of long legs. She rubbed her tailbone, looking up with a disgruntled frown as dark, brooding eyes gazed directly back at her.
"Traffy," Hoku greeted casually. "I didn't know you were here."
Law gave Hoku one long, withering look before he glanced over to the mound of soft white fur collapsed on the floor still, his fluffy cheeks flushed a soft pink.
"Were you taking advantage of Bepo?"
Hoku coughed. She refused to meet Law's eyes, fiddling instead with the top of his boot.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Captain Hoku!" Hoku blinked, looking around the side of Law's legs as a crowd of marines skidded to a halt before them. "Shall we arrest these fiends?"
"Nah," Hoku sighed, standing up as she dusted herself off. Law tipped his head to the side, regarding her coolly. "No need."
"B-But they're pirates!"
"I didn't see anything." Hoku turned on her heel, giving Bepo a wink. The polar bear's cheeks flushed a brighter pink and she grinned, saunteering off. "Let's head back to the ship—"
Tattooed fingers enclosed smoothly around her wrist. Hoku blinked, once, twice, before she glanced down to the larger hand engulfing hers. She followed it up to a calm, unreadable expression, dark, half-lidded eyes slowly meeting her own.
Something devious flickered, like a dark little shadow across Law's face.
Hoku paled.
"On an island surrounded by marines," Law said slowly, his voice low, curling around her ears. "I suppose we ought to take a hostage for safe passage, right?"
Hoku grinned nervously.
-------- ------ -------
"Cap—Officer Hoku! Officer Hoku!"
Hoku sighed, forcing her eyes to remain shut. Sunlight warmed the exposed skin of her belly, whispering temptingly to urge her into a well-needed nap in a rare moment of peace. The island they'd been called to investigate had seemed to resolved itself, no more terrorizing, plundering pirates and simply happy, cheerful townsfolk.
She didn't know what good luck had helped them out, but she wasn't about to complain over a free chance to kick back on the island before HQ called them back. They weren't expected for another week—this was the perfect chance to slack offcget some rest.
Hurried footsteps still rushed her way. Hoku kept her arms behind her head, lounging over one of her drawn hammocks. Usually ignoring them for awhile did the trick—
"Officer Hoku!" the marine finally panted, wheezing as she skidded to a halt beside Hoku. "Cap—Hoku! It's an emergency!"
Hoku kept silent, turning onto her side.
"The—at the docks," the girl panted. Her eyes were round with fear, knees shaking. "Docks!"
Hoku continued to sway peacefully in the sun.
"A ship, docked!" she inhaled a great breath of air.
"It's one of the Four Emperor's of the Sea—Red Haired Shanks!"
Hoku slipped out of her hammock, slamming face first into the wood below her. The marine jumped, hands flying to her mouth as Hoku quickly shot to her feet, nose red from her fall and eyes wide in disbelief.
"Who?"
"Red Haired Shanks!" the marine cried. Hoku's jaw went slack, eyes round. "O-Our men are currently in a perimeter around him! Apparently he's been spending time on this island for the past few days and—"
"They're doing what?" Hoku squawked. "Our orders are to never engage with Emperors unless ordered—oh for—ka!"
The marine opened her mouth to deliver the most pressing part of the news, but Hoku was already running past her, racing faster than she could ever hope to catch up to.
"And he's..." the marine started weakly. "Asking for you..."
Hoku skidded to a halt before massive blockade of blue and white bodies. She scowled, quickly forcing her way through, barking out quick and concise orders as her men whirled around, eyes widening at her appearance, jumping in and shouting left and right about emperor, what do we do? and Captain Hoku, stay back! This man is—
Hoku let out a screech as she tripped into the clearing, finally pushing past the wall of bodies.
A single arm reached out, a hand wrapping gently around her arm to hold her steady.
Hoku froze, her eyes shooting up.
"Dove," Shanks said, voice thick with fondness. "It's been awhile."
Hoku's traitorous heart fluttered at the sight of that slow, cheerful grin. She pointedly coughed, dusting herself off as Shanks' eyes flickered with amusement, stepping back, fingers lingering slightly on her arm so she could straighten herself.
"Pirate," Hoku said casually, the hint of a tease in her tone. Shanks raised a playful brow in turn. "As... what rank am I right now?"she turned to her men behind her.
"Just an officer, ma'am!"
"As commanding officer," Hoku crossed her arms over her chest. Shanks hand fell back to his side, fingers curling slightly. "I'm obligated to ask what one of the Four Emperors of the Sea is doing in this humble town."
"Well," Shanks glanced over his shoulder, back toward the dock where the Red Force was waiting. He could sense the playful jeers of his crew over the lip of the bow. "Miss Marine... It isn't a crime to be stocking up on some supplies and catching a short break now, is it?"
Hoku pretened to think his words over. Shanks' eyes glimmered with mirth.
The marine surrounded them continued to gape, frozen in disbelief.
"It's interesting timing," Hoku said. Shanks hummed for her to continue. "We were originally here on a distress call, but just as we were about to dock, we found out the issue had already been taken care of..."
"What luck," Shanks said with a grin. "I suppose that leaves you with some time to perhaps... relax yourself, aye?"
Hoku's mouth parted to retort and then she paused. Hoku blinked, looking up at Shanks in stunned surprise as she tried to make the little click of what she'd just heard in her head. But when he says it like that... no, wait. There's no way he'd know—huh?
Shanks watched the gears turn, eyes crinkling at the corners. "I know how hard you marines are always working—"
"Hoku!" Shanks eyes flickered to where a man broke the ranks of the gathered crowd, shoulders squared with whatever confidence he'd mustered. Shanks regarded him easily, expression relaxed as he approached Hoku. "We should retreat! We need to leave immediately and report the situation back to HQ!"
Hoku turned back to the marine. "It's alright. It's... a bit of a long story, but you guys know how it goes these days. He's—"
"Not like one of the other pirates!" the marine continued, gaze fearfully flickering to an amused looking Shanks and back. "With the others we understood, but this is an Emperor of the Sea! Cap—Officer Hoku, we should go!"
"I know, I know," Hoku appeased. "But don't—"
A different marine broke the ranks now, reaching out a grabbing Hoku's elbow. The first marine looked shocked while Hoku remained nonchalant, expression cool.
Shanks' gaze slowly flickered to where his fingers pressed indents into her skin.
The marine scowled viciously. "I ain't gettin' fired because of—
Shanks simply glanced over the top of Hoku's head.
Hoku's knees buckled for a moment, trembling under the sheer force until she quickly rightened herself, looking up at the pirate before her in disbelief.
Left and right the marine officers behind her dropped to the floor like flies, foam spilling out of some of their mouths as they crashed onto the ground. The man who'd grabbed Hoku in particular had been the first to collapse, hacking and clawing at his head before he fell face forward, pale and ashen. Hoku watched all of them, jaw going slack until not a single man was left standing, wiped out in a manner of seconds.
Warily, she turned her gaze back to playfully dark eyes, already watching her in turn.
"...even I have to say," Hoku began slowly, "that was a bit much, don't you think?"
"I never said I was a patient man," Shanks said almost sweetly, but his tone was sly and his eyes crinkled at the corners, shameless. "Now, Dove..."
Shanks offered her his arm, lips curling at the corner into something mischievous. His eyes watched her, half-lidded and almost lazy.
They burned, never leaving her face.
Hoku felt her pulse racing beneath her skin, forcing herself to appear relaxed.
"Shall we catch up a bit?" Shanks said, a slight husk to his tone.
"...I could threaten to make quite the arrest you know," Hoku said, only because she needed time to calm down.
Shanks tipped his head to the side, seeming to humor the thought. He hummed then, shutting his eyes as though going a step further and imagining the scenario. He turned his arm toward her, offering his wrist.
"I suppose I could come willingly," he said lightly, his words curling all about her, "If it were a beautiful woman like you... but I'm afraid I've only got one hand to offer..."
Shanks grinned impishly. "You'd have to cuff me to yourself."
Hoku snorted, crossing her arms over her chest. Shanks laughed, a full, cheerful sound. "You sure that's a good idea?"
"Well, I suppose it could be quite a bit to handle."
"More than you can handle?" Hoku grinned.
Shanks' eyes glittered then, like a ripple, and Hoku felt a thin shiver run down her spine, like the playful drag of a fingertip ghosting along her back.
"I don't know," Shanks murmured into her ear, leaning down. "I'd have to find out for myself."
Weakly, Hoku hooked her arm through his, making the decision for him.
Shanks laughed, a bellowing, heartfelt sound. He pulled her along into his side, his cloak flaring out behind them, almost wrapping around Hoku as they made their way down to the port.
"Aw, dove, don't pout. I promise I won't bite."
"You might lose a tooth or two if you try that."
"Dahaha! I thought you'd be sweeter since it's been so long! Is this any kind of reunion?"
"I was never sweet to you."
"Mmm, what does a man have to do to get a woman out of his league to give him a smile half as sweet as the ones she gives to that brooding—"
"Ten million beli," Hoku said on instinct. She paused then, suddenly growing pale as she half turned to Shanks, stepping a step back but unable to get very far with her arm still hooked through his—Shanks let her go a little ways away.
(But not very far.)
"Actually, wait, I take that—"
"Why, dove," Shanks laughed, grinning almost boyishly. "I suppose that could be easily arranged—"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Hoku grumbled, trying to force the embarrassed red crawling up her neck to disappear. Shanks watched the dark flush along the nape of her neck with half-lidded eyes. "I know that amount ain't much these days to an Emperor of the seas—"
"It isn't that," Shanks said lightly, his words curling playfully. Hoku blinked, looking back up at him curiously.
Deep red stood out brightly against the expanse of white. Strands of Shanks' hair tickled against the side of her head as Hoku froze. Shanks leaned down, curling around her, smoothly tucking her against his side—the action forced Hoku to bend a bit, back arching ever so slightly as Shanks' lips brushed against her ear.
Hoku caught a glimpse of dark eyes beneath crimson strands. They curved, playful as always at the corners, but still a shudder threatened to run through her—the light press of Shanks' fingers on the side of her hip—when did he move his hand—
"You're worth much more than that, dove."
Hoku swallowed. She meant to say, "Oh, yeah?" but the sound that came out instead was a soft, slightly shaky, "Mmnh?"
Shanks hummed in affirmation, his eyes absently sliding behind her. "But I suppose it's easy to forget that when you've been surrounded by men who don't quite..." his gaze swept over the passed out, foaming marines at their feet, "Know how to value a woman properly, aye?"
Shanks paused briefly, brows raising slightly in surprise as he glanced down to the slender, scarred fingers now examining Gryphon, slid clean from its sheath. His sword rested with care in Hoku's hands as she inspected the current status of the blade.
Her eyes were half-lidded in faux disinterest, expression cool as she absently met his brightening gaze.
"And a heinous, shameless pirate would know better?"
"Hmm," Shanks grinned, walking the two of them back deeper into port. He remembered there being quite the delicious chef charring food in an open fire pit by the port.
"I suppose we'll have to find out."
-the shanks was too self-indulgent, anytime i think of writing a little bit of this man, he manages to steal another paragraph from me
193 notes · View notes