#i wish i had such a certain future. i wish i was even a fraction of how cool they are.

[etherylelixyr]

X has stopped replying to my texts. Did I do something wrong..? I must have. Why can't I be perfect like them.

#they said i looked hot when i wore a shirt blazer and tight pants but i dont really believe it #i dont hate my legs as much nowadays so it was nice to wear smth where i could actually see my quads lol #and they said i looked good in formal wear which. yeah i guess? #doesnt everyone? #and then i asked if they were dating their bsf because the two of them act like an old married couple #and they were like no..?. and were like. well you and i are close like that too. we do a lot of stuff that most people #would consider more than platonic #and i guess yeah. hand holding and the sort. saying that i look hot when i dress up or staring at my thighs lol #but i told them that. that doesnt count. they probably tell a lot of ppl that they look hot #i know i do #idk.. #it's just that i wish i were like them. i wish i passed better as a boy than a girl #i wish i had such a certain future. i wish i was even a fraction of how cool they are. #goddamn i hate myself. #and when they say i look good. or that im interesting. from the bottom of my heart. i dont believe a single word. #because how can they look at me in any other way than utter disgust. when theyre so brilliant. #between me and their bsf. #if i were them #i know who I'd choose in a heartbeat #and it's not me. #it's ok... #i understand #but i still wish i were good enough for them

[literary-illuminati]

Book Review 22 - The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century

This was a fascinating book. Another one I probably appreciate as an art object more than as a story, per se, but in this case that’s not really a knock on it. Or at least, I believe the whole project began as the written accompaniment to an actual visual art display. Which I really rather wish I could have seen, it seems like the right sort of setting and accompaniment would have made this a lot more affecting.

Anyway, the basic synopsis of the book is that, sometime in the future, a massive space vessel called the Six Thousand Ship is launched from Earth and ends up in orbit over an alien world, where strange and vaguely eldritch objects are retrieved and brought on board. The story is told through a series of anonymous employee testimonials to some silent and anonymous survey/study/HR board. Crucially, some large fraction of the crew is not human but humanoid, synthetic workers created and programmed by the organization who own the ship.

The entire thing is perfectly designed to convey a very particular sense of corporate alienation, right down to the polite euphemisms used for murder. Especially at the beginning, everything from obsession to grief and nostalgia over never seeing Earth again is always framed as how it might effect ones productiveness as an employee, and to figure out everything that really happened in any given statement you usually have to first decipher the thick layer of corporate HR-ese its buried under. The packaging provides a sort of antiseptic distance that kind of clashes interestingly with what is actually happening at any given point.

Which is, I’m sue, all making a point of the alienation and inhumanity of the modern workplace and the absolute horror of a life that is nothing but work – I think I first heard this book mentioned in the context of people discussing Severance, and I can absolutely see the relation between the two. I’m sure it’s incredibly uncultured of me, but the whole framing device (especially as things moved towards the climax) also just seemed incredibly reminiscent of the audio logs and scraps of text you would find in a video game, providing the backstory of how whatever environment you’re exploring collapsed into the ruined state you found it in. Which is, certainly, an interesting effect to go for in a book.

The objects themselves are almost certainly weighted with deep symbolic meaning that flew entirely over my head, but the effect they had on the various employees is definitely interesting. Things definitely do happen, but in terms of page count the inner musings and angst over the human(oid) condition and how interaction with the objects effects different individual psychologies is what the book is actually really interested is. Being allowed to care for the objects in the way they seem to like becomes an intense preoccupation for some of the crew involved, even moreso than the allocated time with holographic recreations of children the organization starts providing as an incentive at a certain point.

I’m not entirely sure it really does anything with it, but all the ways the book gestures at transhumanism is at least interesting. The humanoids themselves, with their probably immortality and regular mental reuploads and lack of anything outside the Work to contextualize or complicate their life (at least until the objects show up), as well as plenty of mentions of add-ons that the Organization provides its human workers as needed. And just very oblique mentions of ‘transfers’ to positions with very different mental architecture or sense of self or physical/mental autonomy. It’s all a great/creepy vibe, at least.

On the whole book left me slightly cold, but that’s really a me problem more than the book problem. Short enough to be worth a read if it seems interesting, at least.

#the employees #Olga Ravn #sff #literature #book review

[manunelle]

A Moonlight Tryst {NSFW} (One-shot)

Content warning: Mention of kidnapping, stockholm syndrome, dubcon, noncon, yandere, alcohol, masturbation, frottage, dacryphilia.

English is not my first language, so there might be some grammar errors.

This is a story that involves the yandere genre, so please read the content warning list before reading the fanfiction.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It was a full moon night, Mai noticed. It had been difficult to not notice the moon phases ever since she arrived in Kasugayama two months ago, since every single night Shingen, her kidnapper, had been visiting her chambers in order to view the satellite along with her. 

Hah, what a joke. Mai was fully aware that it was merely an excuse to pester her with his flirting nature, something that Shingen had no decency in hiding or at least pretending. 

Footsteps stopped right outside her door, his velvety voice making shivers run down her back. 

“May I enter, goddess?” 

Ah, that goddamn nickname he insisted on using whenever addressing her. At first, she would curse at him and demand that he cease that nonsense already, but now, whenever she heard it leaving his lips, a feeling of contentment spread around her chest, a light blush always present on her cheeks. 

Without waiting for her answer, he slid the door open, greeting her with that goddamn alluring smile and his goddamn attractive face. 

Argh, how she wished that she could punch him square into the face. Although, she was almost certain that not even using her full strength would be enough to do any damage against that beast of a man. The size difference between them was almost offensive to be honest. 

“Aah, I see that you won’t greet me with a smile today as well,” he chuckled, approaching the place where she had been sitting for the last hours and accommodating himself in the tatami beside hers. “You have no idea how that hurts this poor man’s heart, my goddess.”

“Oh, does it hurt? Does it really hurt? That makes me glad, then,” she retorted, glaring at him. “But be glad, since that is not even a fraction of how I feel right now.” 

That remark made him still, and Shingen at least had the decency to stop smiling at her. 

Mai missed her home, in the future. Her parents, her friends, god, she missed even her stupid neighbor that complained about the most absurd things. She felt like going crazy, since she missed even the stupid warlords that had made her chatelaine and annoyed her constantly ever since arriving in the past. 

How were they, she wondered sometimes. Were they trying to get her back? God, did they even miss her a bit? 

Months of solitude had made her a bit insecure and paranoid, since she barely had contact with anyone. Sasuke would visit her sometimes, but that was not nearly enough to comfort her, and Yukimura was a bit too snappy and annoying to get along with, always insulting and accusing her of the minimal negative things that affected everyone’s day. And Kenshin…she had decided to not leave her chambers ever since the man had pointed a sword at her throat and stared right into her soul. 

She had no one to support or protect her in that place. 

And she knew how shameful it was, way too shameful, but she could not contain the comfort she felt whenever Shingen visited her. 

Perhaps because he was the closest to a sane person in that place, or because he seemed sensible enough to at least pretend to care about her. Maybe it was the warmth in his gaze whenever it reached her, or the way he always found a way to calm her down enough to feel comfortable, to feel safe. 

And of course, Shingen had taken notice of these small things. That’s how perceptive he was. 

She buried her face on her knees, trying to contain the wave of feelings she felt at the moment. Mai felt his calloused fingers gently caress her head, her heart jumping at the sudden sensation. 

“Don’t touch me,” she muttered, but didn’t move away. 

And Shingen didn’t stop, taking full advantage of her vulnerability to finally do what he had been desiring ever since he started visiting her room at night. 

To touch her. 

“I brought some fine sake from Kenshin’s collection tonight,” he said, shaking the bottle lightly to show her. “I am sure it will do you well to drink some, both to your body and to your spirit.” 

“I do not want it.” 

“Hah, don’t be so harsh, my angel,” Shingen ignored her, serving the two cups and placing one in front of her small form. “At least, give it a taste. I assure you that no harm will befall you from a mere sip.” 

She glared at him, then at the cup. 

“How can I be sure that you didn’t put anything strange in it?” 

Shingen placed one of his hands at his chest, feigning dejection. 

“I would never do such a thing to you, my dearest goddess,” he took his own cup and sipped from it, keeping eye contact with the woman, a smirk on his lips. “See? Still alive.” 

The glare didn’t disappear from her face, but Shingen noted the way her shoulders relaxed a bit, dropping her guard a little bit. He hid his wide smirk behind his cup, sipping the delicious sake. 

Mai glanced at the cup, hesitantly raising it to her lips, tilting it slightly. The sweet but strong flavor of alcohol filled her mouth, a content but small sound forming in the back of her throat. It had been ages since she had something so delicious and so soothing at the same time, which was bad, because she could already feel her thoughts being clouded by the alcohol. 

The two stayed that way for some time, sipping their drinks quietly and gazing at the moon without saying a single word. He would casually serve her cup whenever it was empty, and she drank it, even if a small voice at the back of her mind shouted at her to stop that nonsense right now, to flee away from his watchful gaze. 

It wasn’t long before she felt dizzy, shakily placing the cup in the tatami and feeling her body move at a too slow pace. Suddenly, she felt two hands holding both her arms, a warm embrace circling her body. 

Mai glanced up, placing a hand at Shingen’s chest. 

“Don’t,” she warned. 

Although she sounded way too weak and vulnerable to sound like a threat. 

Shingen smiled, not a wry smile or a wicked one, but a genuine, warm smile. 

“Do not worry, princess, for I have no intention of hurting you.”

Shingen pulled her into his lap, hugging her against his chest. A contented sigh left his lips, and his smile only grew when no fight or defiance came from the little lady, who snuggled her face against his neck. 

Being deprived of human contact for too long was something that made anyone feel lonely and vulnerable, something that Shingen was fully aware of. And that’s why he had isolated her from anyone, a dark desire to have her only for himself ever since he first met her. 

“Aaah, you have no idea how long I have been wishing to hold you like this,” he murmured against her ear, chuckling at the way she trembled. 

“Mmnn…”

“Do not worry, my angel. You are safe with me.”

She pressed against his chest again, still trying to keep a clear mind, but had no strength to fight against him. She probably would not have such strength even if she was sober. 

But then, why bother fighting? It felt so good, being held so close. She felt safe, and warm, and the way his big hands caressed her back only assured her that this was the place she was meant to stay. 

That is, until she felt those same hands move towards her legs, parting and caressing them. Her heart jumped, and she immediately squirmed, trying to get up from his lap, only to be pulled firmly against his chest. 

“Shhhh, relax,” he whispered, his seductive voice making her weak in the legs. She felt one of his hands move towards the area between her legs, a strangled cry leaving her throat. “It will feel good, I promise.”

“Noooo…I don’t want–

But Shingen ignored her pleas, caressing her clit with practiced fingers. 

A lewd sound left her lips, and Mai threw her head against his shoulder. To comfort her, Shingen kissed her brow, never stopping moving his hand. That is, until he felt a warm liquid traveling down his chest, witnessing Mai drop her first tears ever since she arrived at Kasugayama. 

“Please…You can’t– 

“Hm? Then you do it.”

And then he grabbed her hand, gently placing it where his had been a second ago. Mind fuzzy, Mai tried to make sense of his actions, trying to catch a glimpse of what was going on in that complicated mind of his. 

Shingen chuckled, circling one arm firmly around her waist, so that she could not escape from his grasp, and moving his other hand towards hers, coaching it to move the same way he had been doing before. 

Mai moaned, confused and aroused at the same time. 

He narrowed his eyes, placing a wet kiss on one of her ears, earning a surprised, lewd sound from her. 

“Have you ever done this before?” He asked, and Mai shook her head, crying weakly at each movement of her soft fingers. 

Aaah, what a good thing to know. 

So Shingen was the only man to have touched her so far. He couldn’t suppress the wicked grin that formed on his face, nor the hard erection that poked Mai’s back. 

“Such a good girl, my good girl,” he whispered against her ear, licking it slowly. 

Mai trembled against his embrace, too lost in the pleasure of her hands’ ministrations. It was too good, in a way that made her want to both do it again and again and to isolate herself from the world, so that no one could see her shameful state ever again. 

Shingen coached her, encouraging her to move her fingers up and down her lips. To caress her clit at a quick pace, occasionally pinching it, which almost made her go mad, trashing her head back and forth in an attempt of staying sane. His delicious voice right against her ear, accompanied by his hot breath, and the firm grasp of his other hand in one of her breasts, fondling it through the cloth of her gown, only made her wetter, hornier. 

She melted into his embrace, babbling nonsense, trying to beg for release, anything. When she met his eyes, his bright and smiling eyes, she felt that she could die right there, in his arms. 

“Hmm? Don’t stop now, my love. You’re almost there.”

“I can’t–

“What are you saying? Of course you can,” he caressed her hand, licking the warm tears that were running freely through her cheeks. “You want to come, don’t you? You’re almost there, c’mon, I know you can do it. Move your fingers faster, like this” 

“Unnnnnngg.”

Mai did what he asked of her, a marvelous deep blush displayed on her cheeks. She completely slid against his back, separating her legs further and moving her finger against her smooth, hard clit desperately. 

Shingen was sure that he was viewing a sight straight from heaven. 

He moved both hands towards her breasts, flicking against her nipples, fondling them, anything to add sensation to Mai’s pleasure. 

She moaned in complete distress, wanton moans that filled the room and probably the corridors of the castle. 

“Just like that, my goddess. You’ve done so well,” He kissed her temple, pulling both her nipples at the same time, a loud cry leaving her wet lips. “You can come now, precious. Come right on top of me.”

And she did, a silent cry leaving her lips. Her back arched, her beautiful, delicate legs stretched forwards, trembling violently at the full force of her orgasm, her very first orgasm. Tears marked her gorgeous face, and her eyes rolled back, catching the pleased expression on Shingen’s face, as if seeing her like that was the most exquisite view one could have. 

Mai had no time to catch her breath, still moaning and breathing hard, when Shingen crashed his lips against hers, kissing her roughly, almost desperately. She made no movements to part from him, too weak to even comprehend what was happening, surrendering herself to his wet, velvety tongue. 

When he separated from her sweet lips, Shingen had to ground himself in order not to jump on top of her and have his sweet time with her right now. Swollen lips, face stained by fresh, warm tears, hard nipples apparent through the thin cloth of her gown, and her lower parts at full display, leaking wetness and leaving an indecent stain in his own kimono. 

Shingen closed his eyes, breathing in and out in an attempt to calm himself. 

He closed the lower part of her kimono, embracing her weak body and rocking her, as if he was trying to put a child to sleep. He did not wipe her though – no, he wanted her to wake up in the morning and to feel the sticky wetness of her body, remembering the shamefully beautiful view she had presented to him. 

When he felt her body grow heavy against his, he laid her against the futon, covering her body and kissing her goodnight. A simple, delicate kiss over the lips. 

Closing the door behind him, leaving her locked again in that room, Shingen almost regretted not having taken things further. But that's alright, he thought. 

After all, tomorrow night he would also visit the princess in her chambers, so that they could gaze at the moon one more time. He wondered how she would behave – would she be too embarrassed to look at him? Would she be offended? Or would she be willing to take things further? 

He couldn’t wait for it. 

#ikemen sengoku #ikemen series #ikesen #ikesen shingen #ikesen takeda shingen #ikesen mai #my writing #one-shot #yandere

[ikeromantic]

Mitsuhide Akechi + Water + Hawthorn + Urania

I decided to make this one soft ^_^ Approx. 600 words on themes of Water, Hawthorn - protection, Urania - heavens/teller of fortunes.

Rain fell so heavy that Mitsuhide could not see the garden beyond the walkway. The drops drummed a wild beat on the roof and rivulets of water rushed by unseen across the ground. Days like this made him feel that his manor was its own island, floating in the heavens amidst storm clouds. Peaceful.

He turned to see his little mouse as she came out of their room. She yawned, stretching. Mitsuhide could not help the way his gaze lingered over her form, nor did he want to. She was his beauty and he loved to look at her. 

She came to him, and leaned against his side. “Morning.” Her cold hands sought warmth under his clothes as she snuggled into him.

Mitsuhide laughed softly. “Did you come find me because you were cold?” He shifted so that she could rest back against his chest, letting his quilted akome drape over her. 

“Mmmm.” 

“I see we are in a talkative mood.” He smiled and kissed the top of her head. His arms wrapped around her, settling protectively on the roundness of her belly. Mitsuhide felt a certain awe as he cupped that slight bump. “If you like, I can carry you back to bed.”

“No. I want to watch the rain with you.” She turned her head just enough to smile up at him. “It’s beautiful.”

He pressed a light kiss to her cheek. “Not half as much as you.”

“With my messy morning hair? No make-up and -”

“Perfect. Lovely. Gorgeous. I can continue, if you like? But please, don’t insult my wife or there will be consequences.” Mitsuhide pretended a severe look.

She laughed. “Consequences, hm? I don’t know . . . sometimes I like those.” Her hand moved to rest atop his.

Mitsuhide felt a warmth in his chest, the weight of joy too large for his heart to bear. A tightness that could only be fear came on its heels. Even now, after so many months wed, it did not seem possible that this was his life. He never would have predicted this future for himself. It was too good.  

“What are you thinking about?”

“Hm? Why?”

She stroked the top of his hand with her thumb. “You gripped me tighter and your eyes had that look.”

He sighed. “It seems I can’t hide anything from you, little one.” Mitsuhide loosened his hold a fraction. “I was just thinking this is more than I deserve. That in this moment, my happiness will be stolen away because the only reason I could be allowed this -” He kissed her again, “is so that it can be taken. The pain of loss, my punishment.”

“Mitsuhide.” She breathed his name, a prayer from her lips. 

“Grim thoughts. I am sorry.” He rested his chin atop her head. 

She laced her fingers with his, so that their fingers both touched the swell beneath. “I can’t promise nothing will happen. But I know you will protect me. And our child. No matter what comes.”

“I will,” he said simply. 

“And I will protect you.”

Mitsuhide felt the tension in him loosen as he drank in the comfort she offered. Her gentle words, meant sincerely. “My little mouse. I wonder sometimes if you are not some heavenly spirit in disguise.” His tone was teasing, playful, but he knew he could not hide his true feelings from her. He did not wish to. 

Neither spoke after that. They stood, holding each other, and watched the rain. Breathing in the scents of petrichor and each other’s skin. Their hearts, all three, beating in time together. 

#ikemen sengoku #ikesen mitsuhide #mitsuhide akechi #fanfiction #fanfic #otome #otome guys #fluff

[oddygaul]

The Mountain in the Sea

I picked this up at a bookstore in Seattle where the shelves were covered in sticky notes with employee recommendations, reviews and comparisons on them. I wish every bookstore had that.

It was ok.

My favorite part of this book was the subtle, implied-but-not-focused-on decolonization of the world that can be gleaned through context. I think a lot of the time when you see a work take place in a realistic, “near-future” setting, unless the it’s specifically about geopolitics, you tend to see one of two things. With more entrenched subgenres, often they’ll just borrow from the classics for aesthetic and call it a day - see, for example, every cyberpunk novel that’s set in a world-dominating Japan just because. Alternatively, the author just won’t engage with the idea at all, and, despite being 50-or-whatever years into the future and centered around some life-changing technology or concept, the world powers will somehow have remained nearly unchanged in terms of makeup and influence. And I get these approaches; writing’s hard, and sometimes re-imagining the whole world isn’t what you want to spend your energy on. However, especially with the latter approach, it implies a certain immutability and determinism to the world order, and to me, lends the setting a certain hopelessness that the author may not have even intended.

So, it’s refreshing to read a novel where the world has dramatically changed in interesting, optimistic or well-considered ways, especially when it’s entirely incidental and not really even relevant to the plot like it was here. Tibet is its own autonomous nation state, seems to have fought for and claimed back its independence, and is now a world leader in semi-sentient networked drone tech. The U.S. is mentioned I think once, as an aside that implies its flagging power. And my favorite bit: many of russia’s current colonies have broken apart from the empire, derussified, and reclaimed their sovereignty, land and culture, leaving russia a fraction of what it once was and seemingly a failing state. And again, this isn’t a plot point; we just pick it up via worldbuilding moments like when one of our leads (who we later learn is ethnically a Tatar) stops in at a teahouse in the Republic of Astrakhan, next to the “whitewashed old Kremlin walls”, or when he mentions that his hometown, formerly in the Republic of Tatarstan under the control of russia, is now a part of the free ‘Ural Commonwealth’. The world as presented in the book still has plenty of bleak, horrible shit going on, of course, but it’s nice when an author takes the time and effort to present some prospects like that as a matter of course.

I didn’t think the book really delivered on its main premise especially well. I’ll admit that I read the synopsis wrong when I bought the book (I was hoping for a first contact story set on an water-based exoplanet; I’m still chasing the high of In Other Waters), but I was still game for a first contact story set on near-future Earth, and octopi are pretty dope. Thing is, the book isn’t really as interested in telling one satisfying narrative as it is in almost academically examining the concept of intelligence from a variety of different angles; it almost felt like an anthology masquerading as a novel. 

While that’s not a bad approach on its face, I simply didn’t find most of the scenarios very compelling. Evrim’s sentience and relationship with DIANIMA didn’t feel like a very unique view on AI - if anything, the point-fives, the AI partners people are increasingly turning to instead of real relationships, seemed like the most prescient take. The algorithm-driven fishing ship, with its crew trapped eternally at the whims of its churning data analysis, was a fascinatingly macabre concept, but the scenario plays out without any real surprises. Amidst all that, the encounters with the burgeoning octopus society were well done, but with all the space given to all the other subplots, the ‘main’ story felt like it just got to the end of its first act before the book ended. It’s certainly true that actually getting the two species to a point of mutual linguistic understanding would take many years; to me, though, that means the narrative demands a timeskip, not to just be ended with a shrug.

I learned a lot of neat octopus facts, at least. Did you know octopi and other cephalopods are capable of editing their own RNA?

#will's media thoughts / virtual brain repository #books #the mountain in the sea

[fate-wheelsoftime]

Earth Magic and Albion

In my previous post, I brought up something called ‘earth magic’. 

This, essentially, is the Grail’s main source of magical energy throughout WoT. Not only that, but Mages can pull from this energy as well, although it is incredibly limited. 

Why? 

Because the Earth’s magic is the oldest, strongest, and purest type in the world’s history. But how can Mages delve into it?

Well...

When the planet was formed millions of years ago, raw and pure magical energy formed as well from the mere formation. This magic was everywhere, it was how the Age of Gods came to be. But alongside this magic, there was a guardian. This guardian turned out to be the eldest dragon in the world’s history, Albion. This dragon was the ancestor of all dragon species in the world. But his direct lineage were Drake species, though specifically those that had immortality and shape-shifting abilities. In the Age of Gods, dragons were well respected creatures, for they were intelligent and held great-wisdom that was passed through each generation and even shared to Gods. 

However, the Gods grew selfish and wanted to take the earth’s magic for themselves, and humanity was born. The Age of Gods ended upon this greed. Humanity wanted to harness this power, realizing it could go as far as grant wishes with no bounds. This selfishness angered the dragons, and a war broke out as dragons fought to protect the most sacred of energy ever known. But the dragons had grown weak over the thousands of years. Thus, humans were able to win the war, driving dragons out from their role as a guardian. 

With no guardian to protect the earth’s magic, kingdoms fought each other to harness it. If any single human got a hold of this type of energy, the consequences could end the very planet itself. Fearing for the world’s future, Albion decided to seal the energy within himself and escape to the Garden of Avalon, a paradise that the Age of Gods created. Merlin, the Mage of Flowers, would later be imprisoned here. If Albion hid here, the magic could never be selfishly used by humans again. 

Albion never reached Avalon. He died during the journey, and only his skull remains alongside his soul, deep within the earth and under current-day Britain. This is where the Clock Tower would form. The earth’s magic remains in his skull to the current time of Man, but Mages have never figured out how to undo the seal. 

So, while Mages can use this magic, its very weak and mostly used to summon upon the Throne of Heroes, otherwise known as familiars or servants. The Grail is a being otherwise seen as a Counter Force from the planet itself, but having gone rogue, it draws on the earth’s magic with ease. 

Though, there is another side to this story. When Albion sealed the earth’s magic to himself, he also fused a fraction of it’s energy to his entire clan. This magic would be passed down throughout the clan’s existence, all the way to a certain someone that we know as Artoria Pendragon. 

#rambling #text post #important lore

[randomlyritchie]

I think you just have to suffer & try to be content with whatever happens. I’ve prayed for certain things for years…& not much has changed. Like, I’ve had to come to terms with not having a Mom. This is something that is still very painful for me because I STILL wish I had that. I see other women with their Moms & it makes me so sad. I also see women with their daughters & can’t understand why my Mom couldn’t/can’t love me like that. The craziest part is people often say: “I bet your parents are so proud of you.” I just have to laugh because THEY ABSOLUTELY DO NOT CARE! Not having a maternal influence in my life anymore is something I’m struggling with. And no matter how much I try to forgive & be open…it never changes. I pretty much have to be an abused doormat to get a fraction of conditional love. I’ve prayed for YEARS for people who can be like family to come into my life. Every time I think I might have found it, I’m wrong. We won’t even talk about how I never got the daughter I dreamed about. At this point, I’m totally fine without kids. But every now & again, I see something to bring it all back. I think the church sells this dream of if you do right, all these blessings will come. But this lady’s perspective is also true. Sometimes things don’t change & that’s when you really learn if you really love God. I love God…like I really know that now. 😂😂😂 I’m also not gonna lie & say that I haven’t battled for years with negative emotions towards Him for all of the pain. I don’t know what the future holds for me, but I don’t think it’s less than bright. I just think that you really do have to adjust your mind to the fact that it might not always gonna go how you hoped.

In spite of my sadness, I have also been trying to choose joy more this year. Life will evolve how it’s meant. Everything we think we want may not always be what we need. It’s important to believe above all else, that God has a good plan for your life. I truly believe as you continue to live, you will understand this more & more. I also think as a Christian to remember that just a genuine relationship with God is what matters the most!!! God is not like this amusement package that just gives us perks for following Him. In spite of everything, I would NEVER change my relationship with God. But my relationship with being on this earth is another story. ✌🏾😂😂

🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

#Youtube

[daykey55]

How Compose An Obituary - Read The Obituary Column

https://www.youtube.com/funeralprogramsite

Writing an obituary or eulogy is actually among the of one of the most difficult and important things you'll have to cause. The obituary will be the way a lot of your household's acquaintances will first be given the news of their passing. For many others it may well be make certain thing they read concerning your beloved, your one for you to tell the world, which includes the future generations of your family, who they ended up being.

Getting in order to my answer, I asked their faith. Why did I find out from? In some religions genuine effort a prohibition of desecrating a body after someone has were killed. An autopsy, according but for religions, impedes a person's ability to search to the afterlife by intact muscle. In her case, there no religious prohibition to performing an autopsy. It was previously only men could be pallbearers. Emily Post in their own etiquette book stated that was exclusively something for grownup. Now many women serve as pallbearers too. Abigal Van Buren, the columnist of Dear Abby fame, ran a number of letters from female readers who had served as pallbearers. You can actually found the experience to be significant and meaningful. Many for the office stores such as Staples, OfficeMax, Office Depot and even Kinkos provide what has the name color duplicates. Most of them have very good quality color copiers that cost nearly over a hundred thousand bucks each month. In other words they need to sell printing in color at a fraction in order to pay for the machine itself. As of this writing Staples sells color copies for just.49 cents as well as their competitors. Some Kinkos will honor the funeral obituary program gives you you a rebate on getting rid of printing. Just ask as it!

There is variations between States and funeral home s for the plans offered and their costs. So, investigate and request questions. Understand fully what would like before you buy a pre-need plan. Grandma's plan was "The Simplicity Plan," available at Stewart Enterprises Inc. There are other plans readily available. Simply ask your chosen local Funeral Home and they will help you devise a pre-need plan that reflects you, your wishes too as your budget. Just to be a precaution make sure to have another person - preferably someone who isn't quite as deeply emotionally involved, children portrait friend perhaps - poised to lead and finish reading if you're overcome. You won't need it, but their presence can be reassuring. OFinally, be certain to read the obituary several times before sending it to the newspaper to be published. And here you proofread it and catch your grammar, spelling and punctuation errors.

#funeral programs

[explosivebubble]

Ch 3, Prologue III : Cutely Spending Points

'Your new family has been selected, I am unable to relay any information regarding them unless you use your points, but I can tell you that you will be far from disappointed.'

He didn't mind not knowing anything about his future family right away as he'll have plenty of time to get to know them. With everything related to his beginnings completed, he moved on to the next step, his powers and abilities.

After asking the otherworldly being some questions, he found out you truly could ask for anything, from creating your own systems that would help you in your growth and display your entire being in a statistical and game-like manner, or being able to ask for non-existent, to his knowledge, cultivation techniques that you would be able to train and improve in.

You could ask to become a mechanical being like a mech or a robot or ask to become a digital being and have the entire internet as your playground. You could ask for superpowers like flight, super strength and laser vision and become superman in your new world. Now that he thought of it, why couldn't you become superman in your old world, did you actually have to go to a new world? The otherworldly being had not informed him if they had a choice.

"Hey, before I start spending my normal points, are we allowed to choose between going to a new world or staying here?" He was just asking out of curiosity as he had already made up his mind and wouldn't have changed it even if he knew prior to deciding.

'There are three rules that I have not informed the player about, as they would only be mentioned if  the player does or asks something related to any of them.'

'First, the player must go to another world, regardless of the criteria they set for their new world, be it for a world as similar to their old world as possible, or as different as possible. Second, the player must use up all their points, both exclusive and normal points, not a single fraction of their points must be left.'

'Third, the player may refuse the offer of using their points for powers or going to another world and may return to their old world in the condition they were left in, memories intact. If the player had died when they were selected, they will return dead. If they were on the verge of death, they will

return on the verge of death, if they were alive, they will return alive.'

'While we try to convince players that do not wish to go to another world or finish all their points, players who refuse to abide by these two rules will not be allowed to continue. There is no time limit or any punishment for players unable to choose between refusing the offer or accepting the offer and following the rules. The player is unable to die while in the selection process, but we cannot guarantee your mental health and sanity.'

Something surprising had been uncovered to him, he didn't even think of the other two rules, while refusing the offer was understandable to some extent, he could imagine why someone would not want to use all their points for an advantage in their next life.

He wondered how many people discovered these rules, and how many just went along with the process without questioning anything and never finding out about them.

"So... are you able to tell me the reason for these rules? or the percentage of players who found out about them?"

'I am unable to disclose the reason.'

"Of course..."

Seeing as he didn't have to worry about these three rules as they would not apply to him, and he wouldn't be getting any answers about them, he decided to move on.

"Let's just continue... I'm thinking of starting with the local powers like magic... I read the basic information and know that affinities are something everything has, from living things to even non-living things and that all things have an affinity towards certain attributes, could you build upon that?" Magic affinity was something he was highly familiar with as it was a common trope for protagonists to have an extremely high magic affinity in one attribute or even all attributes in certain cliche light novels.

'As you can guess, magic affinity is the synchronization factor between an organism or object and a magical attribute, determining the potential one has when not only using but also comprehending and improving the specific attribute.'

'For objects like common rocks or complicated machinery, their magic affinity is usually determined by their materials, the environment they are in, and various other factors. Their magic affinity would affect the interactions between other attributes used on them or increase the synchronization effect of the same attribute, like using the wood of a tree that grew near a volcano to create a wand for fire magic.'

'Those with low affinity with an attribute like fire would not only make their spells weaker and harder to control, their comprehension of fire will be difficult to increase when studying fire magic and even make them more vulnerable against fire compared to those with higher affinity.'

'Those with high affinity with fire would be able to control fire like a second limb and cast spells of great magnitude, they would easily comprehend the essence of fire and what it stands for and would have great resistance to it as well.'

'Magic affinity has many factors to take into account for all living things for how it is determined and how it could change. This is especially important during birth or in the organism's formative years. Affinities, in general, have certain trends depending on the organism like marine life having a good affinity for water, dwarves having a good affinity with earth and fire, and humans having a better affinity with all attributes with a boost towards the four elements.'

'Though the magic affinity for sapient races is usually more erratic than the trends suggest, with any sapient being able to have a strangely high or low affinity or multiple affinities for no apparent reason, with humanity being the most erratic with their general affinity with all attributes.'

'There are still some fixed factors such as bloodline and birthplace, where a child can inherit the affinity of their parents or even ancestors like genes, leading to famous mage families who specialize in a single attribute or similar attributes.'

'Your place of birth can determine your affinity as well, being born near the sea or near a volcano will certainly give you a higher chance of gaining good affinities with water and fire respectively, it is a method famous mage families use frequently.'

'These fixed factors cannot overcome the erratic magic affinity of sapient races, however. A prodigy in earth magic could be born into a famous water mage family that had spent resources and money to give birth to a child underwater. '

Though the concept didn't need to be explained to this extent, he appreciated the world worked before he even arrived. It gave him a better understanding of magic affinity and how to better spend his points.

"I really don't like leaving my magic affinity to fate, nor do I want to learn the magic affinity my parents have using points, I'll definitely be using my points to change it..."

The number of magic attributes revealed from the basic information was only a fraction of those that exist as the otherworldly being had told him, thankfully there were still a dozen or so, including the typical four elements along with a mix of other common attributes in the world.

Looking through the list, it contained attributes he was familiar with and could easily understand their uses like space magic and healing magic, the attribute that caught his eye was Neutral Magic, an attribute that isn't commonly seen in the stories he's read but knew the basics about.

"Can you tell me more about Neutral Magic, if I'm not wrong it should be the magic that everyone is taught when first using magic right?" Though he didn't think he was too far off, it still could be different in another world in comparison to the novels he had read.

'You are correct, Neutral Magic is the basis of all magic, as Neutral Magic is the most basic of magic involving the shaping and forming of unaltered mana, mana that had not been changed into any other attributes. For that reason, it is seen as the easiest magic to learn as all sapient beings have at least some affinity to be able to use it. It is also the hardest affinity to master as raw mana without an attribute is unwieldy in control and inefficient in terms of mana usage due to the primitive nature of Neutral Magic.'

'It is also the attribute that has the lowest number of users and skilled mages as most people in the world have a minuscule amount of affinity in it, even those considered talented in Neutral Magic in terms of affinity are easily outmatched by the affinity of the prodigies of common attributes like the four elements.'

'Even the Grand Mage of Neutral Magic in the current era only has their affinity for Neutral Magic to be equivalent to the affinity of a moderately talented mage of one of the four elements. Though that is the case, as a Grand Mage, they are able to rival other Grand Mages in terms of power despite the disparaging difference in affinity as their command of Neutral Magic which is said to be the hardest to master speaks greatly of their skill.'

'That is not mentioning the potential raw power Neutral Magic has as it can rival the raw power that Fire Magic can exert'

If all those details pertaining to Neutral Magic did not convince him to min-max on it, then he should be cast into the fiery pits of hell, but luckily it had.

"It's decided!! I'd like you to increase my affinity in Neutral Magi...wait... I know a better way to do this! Is it possible for you to transfer all my affinity for every other attribute into Neutral Magic?" He stopped himself halfway after thinking of a brilliant way to save even more of his points.

Though he knew that it still wouldn't be free, at least it would be way cheaper, he had no qualms about not being able to use other attributes as he loved min-maxing and took every opportunity to min-max in games when it was viable, his motto for min-maxing was 'to cover up all weaknesses with your overwhelming strength!'.

'It is very much possible and would only cost 0.65% of your points, upon being born into the world, your affinities will be compressed into Neutral Magic.'

"That's cheap! Lock it in! Oh but before that, increase my affinity with 0.35% of my points please."

'Purchase locked in, you have 99% of your points remaining.'

"Next up, how much would 1% of my points increase my processing power and memory?" Since the world he was in was sci-fi fantasy, he wanted to be able to easily remember all of the complicated information like magical and scientific formulas and cast complicated magic at an insane speed. Though he had good grades in school before, he wanted to experience being a prodigy.

He would need his brain to become a supercomputer to achieve that, though he knew supercomputers had nothing on the capabilities of the human brain.

'1% of your points would be able to increase your processing ability by 437 times or increase your memory by 117 human lifetimes.'

He could not imagine what it would feel like to be able to think that fast or remember so much, it will certainly make him a prodigy.

"Okay... use enough points to increase my processing ability by 1000 times and my memory by 200 human lifetimes, and also give me flawless memory, and lock it in."

'Purchase locked in, processing ability and memory cost was 3.99%, flawless memory cost 0.63%. You have 94.38% of your points remaining.'

Next up, he had seen in the basic information that the world had a system in place for your own personal soul equipment, something linked to your soul that grew in power as you grew and were able to summon at will, be it a tool, weapon or even animal. There even were those who had soul equipment like cars or guns.

He only knew that it existed and basic information like how they are used and some examples of possible equipment, there was no other information about it, he wouldn't spend any points to know more as not only would it be a waste but he also wanted to be surprised.

Looking over to the side, he spotted his multipurpose shovel he always brought along to his biweekly camping trips, he once had an apocalypse phase where he learned all there was to learn about survival in the wild and the best locations in his city to build a base and prime looting areas.

He had even decided to try camping to simulate living during an apocalypse and had bought the necessary camping equipment needed after extensive research and learning, he had purchased the shovel online due to its aesthetics and having multiple tools attached to the handle that could be detached into multiple segments.

Looking back on it, it was such an amateur decision that made him cringe at times, but he had still continued using the mediocre multitool shovel during the camping trips that he'd been doing for over three years. It may have been less optimal than having proper tools, his shovel got the job done, multiple different jobs in fact.

He'd created a strong bond with the shovel despite not giving it a name, it had more sentimental value than anything else in his life. Although he called them camping trips, after a lot of experience and trial runs, he'd begun 'outdoor survival' trips just a year after his camping trips and still did them to this day.

The trips would consist of him having minimal tools and resources and would just be him and his shovel surviving three days in the wilderness where he would have to forage and build a shelter, and sometimes even catch some game in traps he made.

"Could... my soul equipment in Vanteria be my shovel? I want something to remind me of my previous life and this is the item I have the greatest bond with." His shovel had dents and scratches from constant use and due to its unorthodox design, made it less durable overall, but it was well taken care of and maintained regularly and thus was in good shape as a whole.

'Yes, you are able to override your soul equipment to be the current shovel you hold for 0.21% of your points, you will also be able to increase the growth factor of your shovel as well if desired.'

"Let's do that for sure, don't worry buddy, I won't be neglecting you." He said as he pat his shovel, thought his ultimate goal was to reach the epitome of cuteness, there was no reason he couldn't bring his shovel along for the ride.

"I have 94.38% of my points left right? Since that's the case can you use the points I have until 80% left to increase the growth factor of my shovel and give it an extremely girly and cute paint job and special effects that are also cool and badass? Lock it all in!" If he was going to have his shovel for the rest of his adventures, he well might as well make it fit the part, as the weapon of the future Goddess of Cuteness.

'0.21% of your points have been used to override your soul equipment to be the shovel in your possession, 0.1% of your points have been used for an exquisitely cute, girly and badass paint job and special effect that will evolve and change as your shovel grows, and 14.07% of your points have been used to increase the growth factor of your shovel and will be added on top of the growth factor from the system in place. You have 80% of your points remaining as requested.'

His shovel had slowly turned into particles the moment the otherworldly being had started speaking, the particles consolidating into a point and shooting out into his chest as he felt something settle inside of his being. He had been surprised but mostly happy that his shovel had, what he could only assume, linked to his soul.

"Now on to the main course...Cuteness, here I come!!" --------------------------------------------------------------------- Hope you enjoyed the chapter! Plz comment ;-;

Join the discord for chapter previews and more! https://discord.gg/JbMr9wRX7K

#sci fi & fantasy #cute #isekai #fantasy

[xxskycrystalxx]

DS:MOM Thoughts [heavy spoilers beware]

I’m literally still processing the movie but here are just some jumbled thoughts of mine. (mostly of palmerstrange)

1. Defender Strange... you will be missed.

2. When I saw Stephen watching Christine get married in the trailer I thought yes, this is absolutely saddening and nothing could be worse than that (in terms of palmerstrange). Little did I know that that was only a fraction of how much harder Stephen took it in the movie. I mean just seeing him there and talking to Christine and wishing that things had went differently literally BROKE ME. Right person wrong time tbh.

3. America Chavez is amazing. The way people are hating both her and the actress is horrible and shouldn’t be condoned. She’s a great character and I can’t wait to see more of her in future movies/shows. Love how she and Strange really bonded, it was heartwarming. Makes me even sadder about him and Peter.

4. WONGGGGGGGGG THE OGGGGGGGGGG ; I had worries that they’d kill him off but he’s alright and being iconic as per usual.

5. Wanda. Dear Wanda. She was an absolute menace in the movie lol and I mean it literally. We knew she was as powerful as Sorcerer Supreme and just in general but damnnnnnnnnnn. I was legitimately terrified of her at certain points. I get why she became like that, I mean everyone should know. I feel for her I really do, but damn. Also... I’m pretty sure she’s not dead :)

6. Not Stephen’s significant memory being the one with him and Christine having dinner and Christine giving him THE watch. *crying in palmerstrange feels*

7. THE ILLUMANTI!!!!!!!! I was expecting the others (especially Professor X since we heard him in the trailer and Captain Carter as well as Monica Rambeau being Captain Marvel) but what really made me internally scream and pump my fists in the air was John Krasinski as Reed Richards. He was the perfect fan casting as him and I’m literally over the moon seeing him in the suit/character. I’m expecting him to come back in the new F4 movie and when he does I will literally lose it. Actually I’d lose it even more if they cast Emily Blunt as Sue Richards. Besides that, it was quite gruesome and sad that the heroes of that world were killed off so easily and brutally like holy crap. RIP

8. The music fight between the two Strange’s was just absolute *chef’s kiss.* 

9. “I love you. I love you in every universe. It’s not that I don’t want to care for someone, or have someone care for me, it’s just -- I get scared.” *cue the sobbing* I lost it when Stephen said this, absolutely lost it. I will never EVER climb out of the Palmerstrange hole I’ve dug for myself after this. I just can’t. Then the way 838-Christine caressed his face like Christine did in the sacred timeline in the first movie..... that was it for me. Rachel and Benedict. You guys destroyed me, but I’m entirely grateful for it. The fact that in every universe Palmerstrange were a thing but could never get the endgame they deserved hurts me sm that just thinking about them makes me want to cry forever. WHAT DID THEY DO TO BE TREATED LIKE THIS????????!!!!! On sidenote: I want someone to love me in every universe too.... 

10. The watch. THE WATCH. Seeing the watch Christine gave Stephen now will just be giving me trauma and heartbreak. I do like the fact that at the end they had Stephen fix the watch and put it away as a sign of him moving on. I mean there was always going to be a point where he moved on. I’m happy for him. But ofc, my sad Palmerstrange heart always had hoped for a happy ending for them. It is what it is now. 

11. They introduced Clea [pretty sure that’s her in the first end credits although the casting is not my favorite] so she’ll be a very important character in the next film (or whatever else she’ll be in) and will most likely be Stephen’s love interest [since yes they are married in the comics.... Clea Strange....], I don’t hate her. I’m looking forward to what her character will bring, but it doesn’t mean I’ve recovered from Palmerstrange and that Rachel/Christine should not be in future films. If they want to erase her when Clea comes in, sorry that’s not it. I won’t have it. If they can’t be a thing anymore fine, but at least let her still be in Stephen’s life as a close friend, a confidante even. It’s the least that could be done at this point. 

12. No cap but all the multiverse stuff made my head spin lol, but that sequence where Stephen and America were going through all the universes’ was really cool though, props to Marvel for that. 

13. Marvel really made me wait like 20 minutes to see the second end-credits scene and then proceeded to troll everyone by showing us that pizza-donut thing seller guy finally stop punching himself in the face. Thanks for that Marvel. 

Overall really great movie, I had a great time being in the theaters and watching it (seeing as how I haven’t been to the theaters ever since COVID started), absolute stellar performances from the whole cast, love them all!!! I have more rambles/thoughts about the movie but I think I’ll stop here and spare anyone who reads this from anymore lol. 

#doctor strange #doctor strange multiverse of madness #doctor strange: multiverse of madness #stephen strange #dr strange #dsmom spoilers #doctor strange multiverse of madness spoilers #palmerstrange #marvel #mcu #christine palmer #wanda maximoff #wong #america chavez #my thoughts

[otomegema]

title: Convergence Theory pairing: Gojo Satoru x Reader summary: You are a lesser family member of the Gojo clan, so far removed you don't even carry the name, but you carry the Limitless ability and thus the potential to be a bride to the future head of the clan— a fact you patently reject at fifteen. Twelve years later you are a second grade sorcerer struggling to obtain first grade status when the object of your deepest objections offers you a deal. rating: Mature for now, explicit later most likely because WHY NOT tropes: fake dating/engagement, rivals to lovers, slow romance Link: Archive of Our Own

August, 2005.

That summer had been oppressively warm, a layer of heat trapped beneath a layer of moisture that made even the light fabric of your yukata stick to your sides. It was the kind of weather that made your body beg for relief, to lay shivering and sweltering under the barest breath of cool air.

Your mother had opened the outside screens in the room, letting you sit on the porch overlooking the small garden at the center of the expansive, traditional home. The view was lovely, overlooking a manicured garden, a small koi pond bubbling pleasantly even as the night air chirped with the sounds of insects.

The main house was equipped with air conditioners in some of the rooms— just like your parent’s own home, only a short distance away, but somehow so far removed from the atmosphere of this place it felt miles away. Centuries. The clock on the wall seemed suspended in time, halted too by the weight that fell over this place.

There was nothing to be done. When the head of the Gojo family called, even the smallest vine, hanging from the tiniest branch, curled in. Your great grandmother had bore the Gojo name before she married, a detail of minor significance that had not effected your own family until your birth. You had often heard your parents discussing the main family in hushed voices when they thought you were not listening. First with excitement and eagerness and then with worry.

There had been a phone call, an order disguised as invitation.

Gojo Satoru, heir to the name, barer of the Six Eyes, was turning sixteen in December, a scant four months away.

Six Eyes. Two words that managed to leave the bitterest taste of bile in your throat.

It had been thought the next Six Eyes would be born in your generation, your parents hopeful at one point that you were the one so blessed. A hundred years of waiting ended by the birth of another child, honored above all other sorcerers. Your had been born with the Limitless, that much was certain and an extra unnaturally keen ability of foresight… the signs were there. The possibility that the the massive potential of the Limitless was within your grasp if you could only prove to possess the fabled Six Eyes…

You were hailed for a short time as possibly a true child of the Gojo blood, a blessing. A boon. And then not even a short year later that boy was tested. No two Six Eyes could exist and it was him, not you, who was truly blessed.

You ran your hands up the back of your neck, dislodging the hair stuck your heated skin.

And worse yet, now you would suffer the indignity of being paraded around with every other eligible girl with a single drop of Gojo blood diluted enough to be proper for marriage.

Gojo Satoru needed a betrothed and only the best would do, naturally.

You were to be polite, courteous and docile. Laugh at his jokes, bat your eyes. Play the role of the pursued for the pursuer.

Did you even want to be selected? Once hailed as the promised child, now degraded to probable broodmare ?

You sucked your teeth, holding back a feral shriek somewhere deep in your throat. There was a knock on the wooden frame of the room, lazy and slow. The door slid open before your mother could get you to return inside to the low tables and too hot tea laid out.

You were all but deaf to the sounds of stilted, forced polite conversation, but could not ignore the sudden presence of a young man who came to sit down hard at your side.

Gojo Satoru was not an unattractive young man. He had the signature Gojo coloring, his eyelashes even as pale as driven snow. You yourself had even inherited two streaks of white in your hair, framed near your face and standing in contrast against the rest.

But that handsomeness was hard to enjoy when his expression was one of such utter indifference. He did not even bother to remove the dark glasses that shaded over his eyes, but you hardly were offended. It would have been all the worse to have to look at the very thing you coveted most in this world. Taunting you. Dismissing you.

How many girls had he been forced to sit with today? Judging by his bored expression, too many.

“This is the part where you tell me your name.” He said, voice amused, yet slightly condescending. Behind you both, his parents spoke with your own, but that too was part of the charade. All eyes were on you. All ears tuned to your words.

“You know my name.” You said with a thinly veiled sigh. His attention shifted just a fraction and you noticed with an indignant flush he was wearing his school uniform. Shirt untucked, jacket unbuttoned. You had been forced to spend hours getting ready for this meet-up.

He tilted down his glasses to give you a halfway appraising look and you turned away.

“Goin’ for the aloof angle then? Some other girls tried it too. As if you pretend hard enough that you aren’t interested somehow I will be.”

How fucking arrogant.

Your fists clenched in your lap.

“It won’t work.”

“I’m not working any ‘angle’.” You grumbled, “I was told to be here so I’m here. That’s all.”

“You expect me to believe that, huh?”

“I don’t care what you believe.” You spat back, turning to shoot him a piercing glare.

There was silence then, even the voices behind you seeming to falter and lower as if worried they were missing out on some secret hushed conversation.

“Ohhh, wait. I remember now! I do know your name.” Gojo continued, taking off his sunglasses and wiping off some smudge or dust from the lens, “Aren’t you that girl they thought was gonna have the Six Eyes in her?”

Your fist clenched tighter.

“I get it now. Sour grapes and all. Tell ya what…” he spoke softer and leaned in until you felt his breath against your ear, “If you ask me really nicely, for one night, you still could."

The only sound that came after that was the harsh strike of skin against skin. The contact of your palm connecting to his cheek stunned not just the adults inside, but you.

No self respecting sorcerer with the Limitless ability would have been taken by surprise and yet here you sat, having successfully struck the heir to the Gojo name right across his smug face.

You drew your hand back. His pale cheek had turned a throbbing red so quickly, his smirk raised as his glasses slid down the bridge of his nose and revealed how his blue eyes danced with open amusement.

***

September, 2017.

The uproar that followed that moment twelve years ago had been profound. Your parents had spent the remainder of the visit profusely apologizing and demanding explanations… and the entire time Gojo had stared only at you. Blue eyes wide and engulfing, a smirk etched in the corner of his mouth even as he got up and strode out without another word.

You remembered he had whistled as he went. As if it were all according to plan.

No betrothal was agreed to that night nor any night since. You were never summoned to the main house again.

It had been the most freeing moment of your young life, opening the world from the one pinpointed hope you’d be born with the Six Eyes or wed to the one who had it into a kaleidoscope of possibility.

You attended Jujutsu Tech’s Kyoto branch, keeping far out of the way of the rising star of the Gojo clan.

Well.

Sorta.

So the problem with having an inherited technique that allowed you to “see” curses and cursed energy users from great distances? Gojo Satoru. The man was such an expansive supernova of energy that when you opened your mind and utilized your gift of telemetry to try and pinpoint targets you had to navigate around his massive, dominating aura.

It was like counting stars against a sunlit sky. The ability, that should have been astronomically useful, rendered inert if Gojo Satoru was on the field.

You tried not to have your own missions line up with his. Which meant keeping tabs on him. Which meant having to live with this gnat, this buzzing fly of cursed bullshit constantly humming in the background when you used your gifts.

You wished everyday you had swatted him harder.

Missions in Tokyo were the worst, but you accepted them without complaint. The fact you’d even managed to rise to second grade despite your public humiliation of the main family’s golden child was a miracle in itself and not one you would squander.

The task was simply. There was a cursed entity that was utilizing the signal within electric devices of all things to move from device to device, rapid as an electrical pulse. It had already killed five non-sorcerers in surge related house-fires in two days. The risk of it causing a massive firestorm in any district rising.

The air had begun to cool in Tokyo, the heat of the summer giving way to fall. You sat on a bench, wireless com already clipped to your ear, the only sound so far the faint static of the open radio and the sound of your breath. The air had that crispness already, the bare cusp of autumn. You steadied your thoughts and began to shut down your senses.

The cursed energy of the young sorcerer students around you began to glow in your mind’s eye, the rest of the world fading into shades of imperceptible grey. Blurring. Distorting.

If you had the Six Eyes, you would be able to see it all. But instead, you blinded yourself to everything but the cursed when you utilized your skill.

You shut your eyes and with a soft breath you whispered, “Cursed technique— Limitless Telemetry: Grey.”

The city revealed itself to your five senses like a massive overflowing of information. Had you not taken the time to adjust, quickly shutting down your hearing, sight, taste, smell and touch in order to compensate, the mental load would have stunned you into a comatose state for several hours. Another thing a Six Eyes user would never need to do. You mentally chastised yourself for allowing the distraction of a deprecating thought, and focused instead upon your sixth sense. The one that tracked beyond the physical.

You were effectively helpless in this state, but within your mind you breezed through the city like a thumb pressed over the pages of a book. Flipping at your leisure as you focused in upon the fastest moving pulse of cursed energy.

In your “peripheral vision” or what acted like a sort of peripheral vision, you could sense the constant presence of Gojo. It was far away, diluted. You wondered if perhaps he was overseas for the barest moment until your senses snapped together and fell upon your target.

You spoke. Your words falling on your own deaf ears as you gave the location into the com. You perceived the movement of the three students. Good kids, fast learners. One boy was even a scion of another great house and the one girl among them possessed a cursed technique of extreme value. The other boy, the pink haired one, you had yet to understand, but his cursed energy output was impressive.

The entity moved. You adjusted, giving new instructions. The curse had not yet caught on to the fact it was being tracked, a fact you would use to your advantage as long as possible. If the curse sensed you, it could easily close the distance and attempt to seek you out… which was why sitting in a park, far from any electrical devices other than your battery powered radio was the safest place you could be.

And if worse came to worse, at least it would be drawn out in the open.

The entity jumped again, following the planned route the three had decided upon to box it further and further into a section of the city that they had already prepared to shut down. Without power, the curse would have to break free of its hiding place within the electric current.

How did a curse even get into the power grid? Too many lost football games on TV? You chuckled a bit to yourself without thinking, providing the newest coordinates as you watched, like an omnipresent spectator as the energies of the curse and the students moved.

This is why I score the highest at Pac-Man…

Everything was going according to plan. You had begun to even let your thoughts wonder, your focus softening just the barest fraction as the students rounded the final corner and blocked the curse into the chosen spot.

And now here comes the switch…

You braced for the surge of cursed energy you expected to feel from it’s ejection…but the power stayed on. You had to stifle the sensation of panic that sparked through your heart, your cursed energy rising a fraction.

And there it was. You felt the shift, the sudden adjusting of the entity. The students flared bright, attacking to try and ward off its escape, but without the power shut off they were waiting for, the curse easily vanished, pulsing through the city and heading now straight ahead… to you.

It’s fine. Fine. Nothing electric by me, so no fast travel.

It couldn’t pass through the coms. It would need to branch off into another grounded circuit and then physically come out to face you in the empty park.

You could hold unto the technique a little longer. Guide the students a little longer. You snapped information in quick short terms. Watching the cursed energy approach closer and closer until it reached the last building at the far end of the park.

And then, inexplicably, it jumped again.

The force in which you were propelled did not immediately register to your mind as your senses flickered and began to come back on line one by one.

The first was touch.

And thus pain.

Your muscles contracted, shot full with an electrical pulse. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, the strike coming indirectly as if someone had forced the curse away. Something blinding and bright exploding over the far-reaching vision of your Limitless technique before your ability snapped off like a cut thread.

Your hearing came back first from sheer force of will. Sight returning in blurry, slowly filling shapes. You forced yourself up from the ground, feeling scrapes biting along your palms.

“You fucking dick.” You managed to hiss, your vision returning just in time to witness the exorcism of the curse by none other than Gojo Satoru.

***

“You used me as bait!”

Your voice reverberated off the hallway walls, your mild injuries tended to but your grievances still in desperate need of airing.

You were only comforted by the fact his students had not been involved in the deception, having also thought Gojo was away while they worked under her guidance in the meanwhile. You were no teacher, but you had taken enough students through missions to be adequate at “babysitting”.

Gojo grinned easily, eyes hidden behind his blind fold as he ran a hand up his neck, feigning a bashfulness you knew had not an ounce of genuineness to it.

The bastard had quietly set up a god damn daisy chain of extension cables into the park, ending plugged into a cheap TV set… right next to you. And he’d done it only after you’d entered your Limitless, taking advantage of your lack of senses to literally bait you like a god damn fish hook and then swoop in to destroy the curse.

His students had been a distraction. A means to force the curse into seeking you out and getting into the open where it could not easily run again. It was the most convoluted, infuriatingly, ridiculous brilliant bullshit you had heard in a long while.

“Pretty clever, yeah? I’ve been practicing my multi-layer tactics.”

“That wasn’t a tactic, it was a gamble and a shitty one at that!”

“Yeah, yeah, but did you die?” Gojo asked, tilting his head to the side. His voice was tinged with amusement and you wondered for a moment if he even remembered you and this was some elaborate “gotcha” twelve years in the making… or if this kind of backhanded backstabbing was common place for him.

“It was interesting to see your technique in action. I could probably give you some tips on how to make it more effective, but they’d be pretty useless to— well. You. So I figure I’ll just make the tweaks and practice it myself!”

You stayed silent.

“What did ya call it? Limitless Telemetry?”

You turned and walked in the opposite direction.

“Whoa— hold on.”

Your exit was cut off, the grinning face you wanted nothing more than to connect your fist into coming back into view.

“I’m kidding. Don’t run off and cry now, we got some other business I wanna discuss.”

“If you’re planning on pitching another mission to me, I pass.”

“Nope. Well— yes. But not like this one.”

You sighed, side stepped, and continued around him again.

“I’ll buy you lunch!”

You stopped.

“And maybe even some kakigōriiiiiiii—“ he continued, his voice lifting to a sing-song tone as he stretched out the word. Your stomach twisted and grumbled in response. Using your Limitless always took so much out of you… a side effect you wondered if he experienced to.

You turned to look back at the man who hadn’t so much as glanced your way in years and wondered again if he was so stupid he didn’t remember who you were or if he was hatching some new plot.

He smiled in what you assumed he thought was a disarming and charming way.

“Fine.”

***

You had settled for a sweet plum flavor, dipping your small wooden spoon into the shaved ice and enjoying the way it melted across your tongue. Flavors always felt more pronounced after you used your Limitless, smells more intense. The sights sharper. It was probably just a placebo effect from being without them, even for a short amount of time, but regardless you enjoyed the sweet flavor and the fruity smell of the different syrups… most of which were coming from Gojo’s own cup.

He had gotten every flavor. The shaved ice in his cup a rainbow of color and tastes as he scooped several together at a time.

The lunch he promised had yet to come, but the treat was enough for now as the sugar helped give a little more pep to your body and your mood. The amount of calories you expended using your gifts was another thing entirely.

The two of you walked a ways in silence, giving you time to observe him for the first time in over a decade.

He had changed, that much you could tell. There was something less harsh in his general demeanor and he had grown considerably since he was fifteen. The boyishness of his face had sharpened, the man overtaking his features. He was broader, less lanky than his teenage self and while his easygoing and devil-may-care attitude was still present, there was something less— edged about it. Less angry.

“Your hair is shorter now,” Gojo said suddenly, “And your chest is bigger.”

You immediately frowned. A look of open disgust flashing over your face. Gojo laughed.

“Thought I forgot about ya, didn’t you?” He slid a thumb over his cheek, the gesture making you flush at the memory of what it felt like to slap the smirk off his face.

“Honestly? Yes.” you answered shortly, taking another bite of your ice.

“Nah. I remember, just figured there was no point in makin’ nice. You seem to be doing fine on your own these days. Second grade, yeah?”

“Yes.”

“As short worded as ever.”

He strode off, forcing you to match his pace. He found a park bench and sat down, sprawling out lazily. You sat next to him at his insistence, knocking your knee into his own until he closed his thighs a bit more with a chuckle.

“Thought you’d be a first grade by now.”

“I have not been recommended.”

He snorted, “Bet you know why.”

You clenched your teeth, holding back a sharp word and an even sharper desire to toss your kakigōri right in his face. Arrogant as ever. Some things, you guessed, did not get better with age.

“The great and fabled Six Eyes holding a grudge over a love tap? How trite.” you said, trying to keep your words indifferent.

“Is that what it was? I had a bruise ya know.”

“You could have stopped my hand before it ever even touched you. You wanted me to slap you so you could get out of having to do anymore meetings.”

His laugh was all the confirmation you needed.

“Is that what you’ve thought all this time?”

“It’s what I know.”

Gojo turned his attention back to his shaved ice, the two of you sitting in silence long enough for the weight of it to become uncomfortable for you. Finally you shifted and scrapped your spoon down the ice, leaving trails of melting syrup.

“What is it that you want?” Because that was what this was about wasn’t it? He wanted something. The main family never disdained to speak to the lower members without a need and Gojo Satoru was not about to be the exception.

“I’m going to recommend you for first-grade sorcerer status.”

You scrapped your spoon through so harshly a chunk of colored ice fumbled down the side of the paper cup and down your hand. You dodged just in time to avoid it landing with a wet smack on your pants.

You gaped openly at him, but Gojo kept his attention fixed on his ice, happily stirring it up into a soupy, syrupy mess.

“… and yet again I ask, what is that you want?”

Gojo leaned back, tilting his face towards you with an easy grin. You wondered if he saw the world the way you did with your Limitless with his eyes shaded. Seeing only the impressions of energy and sensation. Could he see your expression? The confusion in the downturn of your mouth or the suspicion in the narrowness of your eyes?

“Nothing too crazy! Just need a fiancée.”

The breath punched out of your lungs.

***

You waited outside the small convenience store across the street, feeling your cheeks beginning to lessen in redness from both anger and embarrassment at your sudden outburst.

When Gojo returned from inside, his hair was still wet… and there was still some redness from the syrup stuck to the strands. You hadn’t been able to control the impulse to throw your kakigōri at him, the breaking of your composure having flowed directly down your arm. It could have been worse, you supposed. You could have punched him.

He had needed to rinse off his blindfold, the fabric now folded and tucked into his back pocket. He had replaced it with the dark glasses you recognized from his youth, giving you a glimpse of the bright blueness of his eyes every once and awhile.

Gojo sighed and tossed a damp paper towel into a bin and turned to you expectantly. You gingerly handed him back his own dessert, having minded it for him while he went into the men’s room to clean up. It was practically soup now and you winced when he lifted it to his lips and drank it.

“As I was saying—“ he began with a smack of his lips.

“No—”

“—it’s a pretend engagement.”

Your mouth hung open, half ready to utter another refusal, which you swallowed back in as he waited expectantly for you to cease interrupting him.

“You let me take you on a few dates, we put on a show of my courting a potential betrothed and in exchange I green light your promotion.”

You narrowed your eyes, biting the corner of your lip into your mouth in obvious consideration.

“For how long?”

Your directness didn’t seem to offend him. Quite the opposite actually. Every time you curtly dropped a single or few word sentence he seemed to only smile brighter.

Gojo shrugged, “A few months. Maybe more. Until I figure out a permanent solution.”

“Your parents want you to get married?”

“The whole clan wants me to get married, sweetheart. I am the strongest.”

And now came the obvious question.

“Why me?”

Gojo shrugged, “You were one of their first picks to start with, so they’ll approve. And there isn’t a risk of you falling for me…”

His lips upturned into a sly grin, “… too quickly.”

You scoffed.

“Family will back off. I get a bit of peace until I have to kick you to the curb, and you get to be a first-class sorcerer. Everyone wins.”

“I’m not going to fall for you.”

Gojo gave a sad little nod, like he was agreeing with a deluded person in order to keep them calm and reasonable.

Granted, you did just effectively hurl a slushy at him a few minutes prior.

“This seems a bit extreme, even for you. Why do you think I’d even say yes? You know exactly why you got slapped. Can I expect that same level of charm from our future ‘dates’?” you asked, kicking yourself for having implied in your words you knew him well enough to even know what was extreme for him. The comment did not go unnoticed, even with his half expression hidden you could tell his interest was piqued. The last thing you wanted to do was to explain to this insufferable man how his very presence was as constant as the sun. Always nagging in the back of your mind and in your abilities.

You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

“That was awhile ago. Most girls find me pretty charming these days. As to why you’d say yes— given it is probably your best chance at getting to first grade sorcerer status, I can’t think of a reason you wouldn’t.”

You bit the inside of your cheek. Fifteen year old you would be outraged, furious. She would not have considered this offer for a second. She would have stamped her foot and told him exactly where he could stick his offer.

But twenty-eight year old you had learned that very often principles were made to be damned.

“And the fact I can tell you are just dying to say yes.”

There was that arrogance again.

“You still buying me lunch?” you countered and the smile he gave you was a bit different than the ones before.

“Wow. No one will even question how I could have been charmed by such a talented freeloader.”

“I am exceedingly charming.”

“And what an arm. You play softball or you just start a lot of food fights as a kid?”

“I want sushi.” You said, the finality of your voice inarguable. You thought he might have rolled his eyes, but nevertheless you got your lunch and even managed to bargain a single day to think about the offer.

#gojo satoru #gojo satoru x reader #gojo satoru x oc #jujutsu kaisen fanfic #jujustu kaisen fanfiction #gojo satoru fanfic #gojo satoru x you #IDK WHAT I AM DOING LOL #YOLO

[kawaiijohn]

Rewind, Rinse, Repeat Chapter 1

For Invisobang Minibang 2021

Ao3 Link

Chapters: 3 finished, 12 total Rating: T+ Warnings: Major and Minor Character Death- all temporary, Implied Child Abuse/Neglect, Strong Language, Mild Body Horror, Mild Injury. Other warnings listed by chapter Characters: Clockwork, Danny Fenton, Pariah Dark, Levi | Leviathan (OC), Mal (OC), Observants, Mentions of other characters Ships: Lost Time, Dark Ages, CW & OC child, CW & Levi | Leviathan (OC) Genre/Tropes: Human AU, Magic AU, Found Family, Character Origin, Hurt/Comfort, Original Magic System and Lore Additional Tags: Existentialism & Existential Angst, Memory Loss & Amnesia, Corruption, Clockwork Centric, They/Them Pronouns for Clockwork, The Fenton's A+ Parenting, Obersvant Bashing

Summary

“Clockwork can I ask you something? How did you become a ghost?”

The tale surrounding the mystery of Clockwork's existence; a world where magic is common and ghosts are not. A world where one lonely, average mage tries with all their might to save what means most to them. A world where things need to be remade into something better.

Shout out to my betas @bibliophilea and @moonlights-shadow-warrior for keeping me sane, @13thdoodle for letting me use their OC, Levi, @dailudannos and @sailor-toni for providing art for later chapters, and all the folks over at @invisobang for being awesome!!!!

Chapter One below the Cut. The rest is available on my Ao3 account because tumblr linking/posting is hella broken.

Chapter 1: An Inquiry

“Hey, Clockwork? Can I ask you something?”

Clockwork looks over from the mirror they were watching intently.  “You already have, Daniel,” they reply, offering the other a smirk.

“Oh, ha ha.  You've never said that to me before.”  The reply is filled to the brim with sarcasm, as per usual.  Danny rolls his eyes, but a small smile gracing his lips betrays the fact he isn't annoyed in the least.  “Seriously, though.  It’s something that's been on my mind like... every day for the last two weeks!!"  He raises his hands towards the sky, flopping back in the air dramatically.  "But... it's kinda, y'know.  Personal-”  Danny trails off, slightly embarrassed.

Of course.  Clockwork finds themself smiling fondly- Danny thought he’d said something he shouldn't have- an inquiry that could make his guardian upset (as if it's even possible to upset Clockwork like that).  A question is a question, and this is a worrying habit of his that the Time Master is trying to help break, even if it's still somewhat endearing to them.

“I uh, I mean... it’s personal about- to you, not to me. That’s what I meant!!” Danny continued.

Clockwork stares at him, unblinking.  An idea (or thousands) of what he may ask flashes through their mind’s eye.  With a single, calming pulse to their Core, Clockwork pushes the involuntary slideshow of timelines aside as if they're no more than curtains.  They need to focus on the window in front of them; the here and now, not the temporal drapery.

It's a habit they are trying to overcome for Daniel’s sake.  To ensure their ward's growth, they need to stop peering into the near future as often- not discourage his asking of questions.  After all, what is a child if not but a well of endless curiosity?  Cutting Danny off is also sure to disallow the development of any trust or patience Clockwork needs to build within their young ward.  They wouldn’t receive either of those things if they assume what he wanted to ask.

It's common decency to not assume, lest it ‘make an ass out of you and me’, according to Daniel.

It is going to be a tough habit to break, but by the (other) Ancients, they're trying their best.  Their ward deserves the infinitesimal choices all other children have when asking things of their guardians, so even if they do glimpse to the future, they will not mention it to him.  Clockwork refuses and will continue to refuse to take their ward’s agency away; to not have a choice in things is a fate worse than fading.

The boy has been quiet, stuck deep within his own thoughts even after an impressive five minutes and thirty-seven and a half seconds of silence (uncharacteristic of the boy, Clockwork notes).

Now that just won't do- he must have lost his train of thought.  Clockwork gestures at the ghost boy, motioning for him to continue.  It works- Danny adverting his eyes and clearing his throat, "Well, it’s just like- you know so much about me- like, how I died, the whole Ghost Zone Prince business, that entire disaster doomed timeline with Dan... I just keep thinking- no- realizing, that I barely know anything about you!!”  He throws his arms up in thinly veiled frustration.

Clockwork smirks. “You had another question, did you not?”  They place a hand along the edge of the closest Temporal Mirror, turning to face the mirror- still halfway facing Danny.  They can see his inner debate clearly written on the boy's face- the mirror reflecting as if it were an ordinary object (for now).  They turn towards it fully and watch Daniel's reaction from behind them, acting as if they aren't finding joy in their ward's hesitation.  It's always adorable when he tries not to offend Clockwork. "I may be able to work with time, but that doesn't mean I wish to float here waiting for an answer all day."

Danny blinks a few times, rolling his eyes again in response.  Clockwork is certain that if they weren’t secured to his skull by human musculature they’d fall out and roll away.  “Well, I’m sorry for trying not to be rude and like, asking outright... but since it’s you I have to always be super direct!!  Jeeze you’re frustrating sometimes!”  He floats towards his mentor, crossing his arms.

Danny often forgets Clockwork isn't easily upset over trivial things such as questions.  Most questions are about things they already know the answers to, anyways.  And the few things that they don’t know when asked, they figure out soon after.  Such is the duty of the Master of Time- to be a step ahead of everyone and everything else always.  Besides, in most timelines (68.3% of them, to round up) the question Daniel wishes to ask is along the lines of ‘What was your past like?’ Another small fraction (a little under 20%) the question is ‘How did you get so strong?’ .  And even in the remaining timelines, the question would be along the lines of ‘How do your time powers work?’

They are each things Clockwork expects Daniel to ask them at some point or other, as it were.  There isn’t really anything Daniel can ask that could be too shockin-

“Clockwork, I was wondering… how exactly did you become a ghost?”

They... did not see that coming… in any of the timelines they’d glimpsed.  Clockwork stills for only a fraction of a moment, but it’s long enough for Danny to flinch, feeling as if he’s crossed a line.  They hear more than see Daniel shrinking in on himself as they look off into nothing, buried memories waking slowly in their mind.

Clockwork is brought from their introspection by a mumbled curse.  “Shit!  I mean... uh crap??"   They just stare at Danny as they are brought back to the present.  "Never mind just... sorry for asking...  Oh man!  Did I offend you somehow?  Ancients dammit, this is what I was worried about!!”  They watch him curiously, soft whirring coming from their ward's anxious core.  “We can just forget about it if-”  Daniel’s hands wring together nervously, shoulders tense with worry and face full of guilt.

Right- facial expressions are also important for a young ghost's emotional communication and development.  Sometimes the Time Master wonders if their isolation in Long Now affected their social behavior (it did).  Their face is carefully blank most times, so they set to fix it- they offer a small grin, hand coming to rest on Daniel’s shoulder.  “It is more than fine, Daniel.  You asked if you could ask a question- which is in fact, two questions, I should note- but I gave you consent to ask it of me.”  They squeeze his shoulder to placate the worry.

“It’s about time I told you this story, as it were.  I just did not foresee it being told at this very moment."  Clockwork floats slowly, turning away from their Mirrors.  "Come along- it’s best we sit for this.  I’ll have one of your friends bring us some tea.”

Danny floats after his mentor, looking around the room the two normally use to study history of the Realms.  “So, uh… is it a long story or...?”

“Oh, it is very long, indeed.”  They fly through an ornate door and over to their favored 'chair'- a stack of comfortable cushions in violets and blues, both impossibly cool and warm at the same time.  They recall Daniel discovering the room, eyes full of wonder and posture relaxed.  Clockwork chuckles- the first time their boy had wandered in here he'd decided to take a running dive into the pile, jumping up in surprise when it was cold as ice, yet warm as fresh laundry.  The expression on their ward’s face is one of their fondest memories; a happy moment amongst all the tedium of watching time.

“It may take a while to tell this tale proper. But, it is a story that ought to be told.”  Daniel makes himself comfortable on his chair of choice- an unholy combination of 'borrowed' pillows and what appears to be a more modern gaming chair- complete with an obnoxiously bright green-black color scheme.  Clockwork has to hide another smile as Danny wiggles himself deep into the pile.  “So, Daniel- what do you know of the phrase ‘Totems of Power’?”

“I thought I was getting a story, not a pop quiz!  Unfair!!”  His disdain for schooling makes Clockwork laugh fondly before the boy continues.  “But they’re like… hmm how do I explain this?  Well, there’s the universe right?  Like every timeline and every result of every timeline all at the same time kind of ties into the main universe thingy- but there's still a main timeline, and that's kinda like... Main Street, and the other possible timelines are uh... like side streets with dead ends?  But there's other forces that like, aren't time and… uhhh...”

He hums, crossing his arms deep in thought.  Clockwork takes the time to purr-sing-hum at one of the many blobs floating in and out of their lair; Daniel had asked them to keep some around as pets and the Time Master was happy to oblige.  They were unable to deny something so beneficial to the young Prince, after all.  The one deemed ‘Mr. Pants’ by one of Daniel’s friends answers their call.  Clockwork buzzes to it a quiet request- ‘bring Daniel's favorite tea and mugs for two, please.’  The little thing chirrups and zips off through the walls- eager to serve the Lair’s owner and be (potentially) rewarded with pats (from Daniel).

The Time Master brings their undivided attention back toward a grumbling ghost boy, lost in thought.  “Daniel if you need to ask for help I’m glad to-”

Danny snaps his fingers, coming to a realization before his mentor can finish.  “I got it!!  The best way to explain it is ‘The Universe needs to run smoothly, so there’s certain forces- like Time or Space- that are upheld by a powerful entity, like a person or like… the avatar of that concept?  Yeah, something like that, but they ensure the aspect they represent is properly cared for so the universe doesn’t completely like, die.’”  Danny nods to himself.  "It's why you stepped in to stop Dan, to make sure the world didn't end like that."

“That is correct- it is my job to ensure this universe of ghosts and reality doesn't crumble prematurely.  Now, do you have a recollection of any other Totems you may have encountered?”

“Well, yeah!  We call them ‘Ancients’, though- so like… Pandora is the one for war and history, and Nocturn is for like… dreams?  The Void or something, maybe?  And then there’s old man Pariah who isn’t one, but he said there’s a Leadership Ancient somewhere, and then-”  Danny pauses, blinking at Clockwork in realization.  “Wait, you asked that for a reason, didn’t you?”

“That I did.  Becoming the Totem, or Ancient of Time is where this story starts.”  Clockwork hums, seeing Mr. Pants fly back towards the two- nearly spilling scalding tea all over the ground.  “Now then.  We have drinks.  We are sitting comfortably.  I believe it’s time I spin my tale for you.”  They take a sip, closing their eyes in bliss.

They open them once more and see Daniel sitting, eyes full of stars and eager- Eager to hear, eager to fire off a question a minute.  It makes a chuckle bubble up in their throat, to see their favorite person so excited to learn.

“Once upon a time, there was a human; average in most ways, a simple person living a simple life.  They would get up in the morning, perform their daily tasks, and go to sleep at night.  Day in, and day out- a boring, but fulfilling existence.

“However, where this story differs from what we recognize as reality, is that in this realm, humans who could control magic were the norm.  Think as if it were like one of those fantasy games you and Tucker play together- mages, healers… all of those and more were commonplace when I was alive.  Yes, humans can wield magic now, but it is nowhere near as frequent as they could in our tale.”

They pause, seeing that Danny was about to interrupt.  “Wait wait- this realm?  Like- this is a completely different reality?? And people can wield magic now???  Are you messing with me?  Like… I thought it was all just-”  The boy stops, his train of thought drifting off the tracks as it tends to now and then.

“Yes, first, this is a completely different realm from either the Mortal Plane or the Ghost Zone.  Second, Daniel- tell me... have you not noticed the magic of those you have encountered?  Blood blossoms… a reality warping gauntlet?  The existence that is ‘Freakshow’ in general should be a red flag, seeing as his talents were… strangely non-ghostly in origin.  Not to mention objects such as the Infi-map...”

“Man, I wish I could forget about Freakshow… who mind controls ghosts???  He was the worst!” Their young ward crossed his arms and grumbles.

“If you’re done sulking about your past misadventures and former foes, I was in the middle of telling a story, if I recall correctly.  One you asked I tell you…”  Clockwork simply stares, unblinking as steam wafts from their slowly cooling tea.

All is well, they knew Danny would only take approximately 4.85 seconds to snap his attention back to their story.  Clockwork sips their tea, waiting.

Danny snaps out of his thoughts only a millisecond off of Clockwork's prediction. “Sorry... it’s just super weird to think that magic actually… still exists?  Like ghosts are real and all but magic being a thing feels a bit far fetched, don’t ya think?”  He pouts, brow furrowed.

The Master of Time finally closes their eyes, removing the hood from their head.  White hair floats gracefully behind them, settling just past their shoulders.   Clockwork opens their eyes again- a serious, yet warm expression directed at their ward.  “Magic is simply defined as reality altering acts using both energy and the willpower of a sentient being, if that helps.”  Another sip.  Mr. Pants made a wonderful batch of tea, as always.  They smile wider when they notice Danny’s expression- the boy has never seen them without a hood, and they know doing this will (in 99.78% of all possible timelines) convince the boy to take what they said seriously.   ”Just as ghosts can be defined as ‘ectoplasm given form and consciousness’, forces beyond humanity and the physical realm can be explained with scientific terminology if you know where to look.”

“So like... what all did magic have to do with this ‘simple human’ version of you?  Did you ever have the power to shoot lightning??  Could I shoot lightning if I tried?  Like were you some sorta time wizard?  Is that why you’re all… timey-wimey and powerful?”  Danny wiggles his fingers with a look of confusion on his face.

Clockwork always finds their Core warming when their boy acts his age.  He's abnormally prone to shoulder the destiny of the world on himself and often forgets he's just a kid.  “You could continue asking questions one at a time, or you could allow me to tell my story.  The choice is yours, Daniel.”  They smirk, watching as Danny purses his lips, his steady flow of questions stopping short.  The best answer.  “Perfect- all is as I thought it would be.”

They close their eyes and reminisce as they continue.  “Now- to answer your last question… Yes.  You could say magic is how I came to be the Master of Time in both the Infinite Realms and the mortal plane, but there is much more to the story than that.  Other players, situations, and pure circumstances.  The universe in its infinite chances and possibilities brought myself, as well as many others to the situations they face here and now.”  Clockwork pauses, taking the moment to stare straight through Danny’s soul.  “Even yourself.”

The boy shudders, an appropriate response.  “Wait... me?  Did you… do something in the past to like… a past version of someone we know??  Can that even happen???”  Danny is already enraptured by the story, eyes twinkling as his mentor opens up about themself.  The boy is obviously thinking about everything that has happened, everything that could possibly have happened, and everything that Clockwork could possibly drop on him.

They feel Daniel cautiously tug on loose strands of time to see if he could possibly scope out what is about to be said, quickly failing to do much else beside give himself a small headache.  “Time stuff is still really confusing, Clockwork…”

“You could say that.  You could even say that trying to mess with time in the inner sanctum of Long Now is the most confusing ‘time stuff’ one could do if they were not myself.”  They grin- a Temporal Mirror appearing behind them with a thought.

“What’s the mirror for?”  Danny catches sight of himself and looks away, embarrassed that he’s been literally glowing with power after trying to do something so simple with his developing powers.  The glow is something he’s been working on suppressing recently.  After all, it would be a shame if other ghosts could see the boy powering up by aura alone.

The Master of Time smirks, bringing tea to their lips again.  “I thought it would be fun to attempt braiding my hair and doing my makeup for once.  It has been an awfully long time since I’ve done either.”

They stare at Danny who just bursts into laughter.  “Did you just use sarcasm???  Man, I didn’t know you could lighten up, Clockwork!”  The boy laughs harder, sinking deeper into his nest of pillows.  After a few minutes he was finally wiping tears from his eyes.  “But no.  Seriously… what’s the mirror for??”

“Why, what they are always for, Daniel- seeing through time and space.”  Clockwork waves their hand.  The mirrors show an image of a human with dark hair and burgundy eyes.  They have a large, hooked nose and medium brown skin- and Danny finds himself having a hard time guessing their gender.  The human sits at a desk, paused in time with the delicate gears of a clock sprawled along the desk surface, tools in hand.

Behind Clockwork, the image changes, showing the human living through an average day- images play in small spurts, never showing the whole story.  “Do you understand what’s being seen?”  The young boy nods, grabbing Mr. Pants out of the air as the blob drifts between the two.  Good, he will probably need the companionship, especially towards the end.

This isn’t the easiest story to tell, nor is it easy to listen to, but with a sip of their tea, Clockwork continues.

#danny phantom #invisobang #invisobang 2021 #dp #phanfic #art #my fic #RRR #dantes vibe corner

[iwantutobehapppier]

Our Future

Pairing: Dark Steve Roger x reader

Summary: You left Steve after he did the unforgivable. But what lengths will he go to to make you forgive him? 

Warnings: +18 only, smut, dark themes, sex pollen, dubious consent cause ya know, implied cheating, dark Steve Rogers, dark avengers. Please if any of this bothers you read no further.

Word Count: 2.924

A/N: Happy 7th night of Chanukah! It’s almost to the end! Can you believe it?! Thank you everyone who has read, and reblogged. It means the world to me! Hope you enjoy this nice Dark Steve Rogers fic. Shout out to the ever talented @imanuglywombat​ for helping bounce some ideas off on this one I didn’t know totally where to go and she helped me find my way.

Trying best to hid your wince you hold your dislocated arm close to you to ease any jarring as you make your way up the ramp into the Quinjet. You’re fairly certain you’re bleeding somewhere if the wetness you feel in your suit is any indication. All you wanted to do was get back to the compound, see medical, then make your way to SHIELD Strike quarters with some good narcos.

“Let me see your arm,” you could break glass with the intensity your jaw clenches at the sound of his voice.

“I’d rather let it fall off,” Steve sighed at your clipped tone, he moves to reach to your arm to set it but you jerk away. Unable to hold in the grunt of pain. Steve frowns at your stubbornness

“I don’t want you touching me,” adamant to solidify your words you take a seat.

“Fine be in pain see if I care,” he stomps off not missing your muttering “You never did care.”

Steve could admit that gutted him. His steps faltered for a fraction. He cared for you more than his own life, more than stupid missions. Sometimes he was just a fucking idiot with women. He’d find a way to fix it though.

Squaring his shoulders he keeps walking to the pilot seat, sitting next to Bucky in the co-pilot seat who side-eyes him. “You gonna leave her like that?”

“She won’t let me touch her,” Buckling himself in he tries his best to keep the pain at bay. Was it really that bad that he couldn’t even set your shoulder back? You’d just sit there in pain than even have him touch you?

He knew you would be mad at him for a while but he figured after 3 months some of your ire would wane.

“Hm,” Bucky watches Steve start up the QuinJet controls, “well can you blame her?”

“Told you not to let her catch you,” he flicks Steve’s ear who tries to swat the hand away, “ever,” Bucky’s condescending tone the same he’d been hearing for months on end since the incident.

“Please don’t start too.” Bucky shrugs flipping switches in response to Steve’s prepping the Quinjet for take off.

Bucky turns his head back, catching your figure way in the back, head tilted down. Your slowed heart rate indicating you’d fallen asleep. He turns back to Steve.

“Now you’ve fucked it by letting her catch you with a side piece,” Steve can’t help but roll his eyes, if Bucky went on about this one more time he was liable to punch his best friend unconscious.

“I wouldn’t start if you’d not fucked this up,” Steve grunts wishing for this conversation to not start-up once more, “how long did I have to hear you going on and on about wanting her?”

“I offered my help,” Bucky bobbed his head back and forth in mock “But no the Great Steve Rogers had to woo her.” He scoffs, resituating himself in his seat.

“My side piece? The girl was yours after all.” Steve recalls for Bucky.

“Yeah well let’s be thankful she didn’t know that when she caught you balls deep in her.” there’s a soft snort from you and they both look back catching their breath. They were fairly certain you hadn’t heard anything, but still...

“All I’m saying is fix it,” Bucky grumbles in a whisper looking directly at his pal, “Cause if I have to hear you whine about not being with her one more time-”

“Yeah I get it, Buck,” Steve sighed looking back at you once more.

Once you’re all back at the compound Steve is hot on your tail following you toward medical. You wanted to scream at him but with your loss of blood, still not sure where from, and the pain in your shoulder you didn’t have any fight left in you.

Steve should have headed his buddy’s words of giving you more space but he was unwilling to be apart any longer. You just had to forgive him and let it go. Simple as that. He’d make sure you saw it that way too. It’s not like you knew about all the other times.

A nurse sees you before you can say anything and you’re ushered into a room the door shutting in Steve’s face. Your snide smile makes his hands ball up.

Pushing his thumb to the entry bad you stick your tongue out when it blares at him denied entry. Of course, you would have made sure FRIDAY knew to keep him away from you. He’d get in. He could see through the partially closed vertical blinds making out your figure removing your gear and uniform. Licking his lips at the outline of your breasts.

It had been too long since he’d had sex. None of the other girls did it for him anymore, knowing you weren’t at home waiting for him to go another round with. He had to get in.

Looking at the pad he types in the override code and smiles in triumph with the door slides open for him to come in, shutting after his entry.

Turning around after finally getting the gown on provided for you, you hiss at the sight of him “Why don’t you bother whatever whore’s bed you crawled out of today?”

“I am not sleeping-”

“I don’t really care Steven.” the resignation in your voice when you interrupt him leaves him speechless. You had been mad at him, that’s all he had seen since that night. Just your fire.

“I’m not the one who stepped out of our relationship,” You squeezed your eyes tight trying to will the overbearing oaf out of your life.

“That’s not fair, as far I knew you-” Eyes snapping open at his pathetic excuses you whipped around, finger-pointing. Steve couldn’t help but inhale the smell of your shampoo at the quick turn. God, he missed you.

“I what? Slept with some dude?” Your fingernail presses into his chest, not caring that he couldn’t feel it through his suit, “Well, I didn’t but you couldn’t listen to me so you went,” you jab your finger into his chest feeling the anger flash through you as if it was that night all over again “and got your dick wet with one of those SHIELD trainees.”

Saving you from this hell the nurse comes in with supplies to tend to your wound and reset your shoulder. You step away from Steve to fall onto the bed, the nurse starting on the gash across your abdomen.

”Go” The soft defeat in your voice, turning your to the side catching his gaze from the corner of your eyes.

“I want to be here,” he makes a step towards you, ignoring the way you hiss at the antiseptic being applied makes his stomach turn. He never did enjoy seeing you uncomfortable, it reminded him of his younger years feeling helpless.

“Please,” You whimper, “If you love or ever loved me you’ll leave me alone.” looking at the nurse you try to convey your apologies for the awkward situation you put her in

“I’ve always loved you,” you can barely find it in you to scoff in disbelief at his words, just so tired of this back and forth.

“Sure have a fucked up way of showing it.”

He knew he had to leave, the finality in your tone let him know there was no moving you. Just yet.

Four weeks, he didn’t see you for four weeks. It was making him irritable, he doesn’t have to talk to you but to at least see your face even with the surly look you give him now would be enough. But nothing for four weeks.

“If you sigh one more time I’m gonna blast a hole through your chest,” Tony declared pointing the blaster cannon he’s tinkering with at Steve.

“I mean you can find another girl right?” Bruce offers before Bucky can stop him, scrambling in his chair. The four of them sitting in Tony’s lab relaxing, having guy time. Well, now it’s just friends’ time. It used to be guy time when he had you.

“No, don’t-” Bucky buries his face in his hands resting elbows on his knees after seeing Steve’s face scrunch up. 

“Find another girl?” Steve lamented. Oh if it was so simple.

“Well fuck now you started it.” Bucky groans into his hands. He had just gotten him to agree to getting out of the apartments and spending time with some people.

“What?” Bruce looks around confused at his suggestion. It seemed reasonable, there is plenty of fish in the sea as they say.

“I can’t just find another girl like her, she’s one of a kind. Full of fire and passion but nurturing. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. But she won’t talk to me,” Steve cards his fingers through his hair messing up the perfectly comb style. “I know if I could get her just have an honest conversation we could work past this.”

“Maybe if you had some HYDRA truths serum you could get her to talk,” Bucky sits up straight sure Steve is done for now.

“Why not give her the serum?” Bruce offers nonchalantly.

“The serum?” Steve raises an eyebrow.

“Dude!” Tony reprimands Bruce who has the audacity to look confused by Tony’s displeasure

“It’s just this thing we made,” Tony opens his mouth before Bruce can start. “Nothing just gets someone to express their thoughts as they come to them and cannot stop.”

“A truth serum.” Bucky offered.

“Nooo,” Tony rolls his eyes, “it’s just a serum that makes them… talk.” Bruce looks at Tony in confusion.

“That’s not the one I meant,” Bruce looks at Tony not picking up on his eyes shifting and grimace to get Bruce to stop talking.

“The one you call ‘Sex Pollen’,” Bucky tried to hide his chuckle with a cough, but Tony catches it glaring at him.

Steve stands up and marches to stand in front of Bruce who looks up at him. “UUh,”

“Show me.” Bruce can only nod at the authority in Steve’s voice.

“What a pushover,” Tony mutters going back to tinkering with his hand blaster. Bruce scampers away to return quickly with a vial.

“It lowers the progesterone and raises estrogen, but the only caveat is the hormones don’t level out until, well,” Bruce stutters trying to explain.

“Until you cum in her, mouth, pussy, ass anywhere,” Tony supplies, Steve’s brow raise, and Bucky stands up in curiosity. They all surround Bruce’s hand holding out the vial.

“Just a little bit,” Tony instructs, “And she’ll be crying for your cock.” All four men stare at the vial with varied interests. More so pride on Tony’s part. “It also makes them fertile as fuck so if you don’t want a baby don’t finish where you can have one.”

Tony chuckled to himself recalling a memory he fails to share. “That’s kind of how we got Morgan.”

“If you don’t give her what she needs, though, her body temperature will climb and well,” Bruce flusters himself trying to explain without being so technical.

“Boiled brain,” Tony finishes watching Steve grab the vial.

“Only about 3 drops bud,” Tony calls out to Steve’s retreating figure.

Steve heard him but his mind was focused on a plan to get you back. Using this he’d easily seduce you, show you why the two of you were so good together and leave a little present in your body tying him to you forever.

Yeah, this would work just fine.

Steve couldn’t believe his luck, you had left your quarters and he was able to slip in, put three drops in a water bottle on the kitchen he knew you’d finish soon.

Then he waited. It wasn’t 20 minutes later that he was knocking on your door upon your return. You were already flushed when you answered. He knew you had drunk the water, if not all of it.

“St-Steve?” You questioned, you had been doing so well not seeing him or knowing he even existed. It had helped so much in cooling your temper. However, it wasn’t to say you did miss him. You missed him something fierce when you were alone in bed using your toys. Toys that never compared to what Steve could do for you.

Eyeing his physique in front of you now was temping enough. The tight shirt showing his pecks and muscles hidden underneath, your eyes trailed down to the sweat pants sitting low on his hips. You had no shame licking your lips at the sight. Maybe you should have rubbed one out this morning?

Gripping the door frame tight you felt shivers run up and down your spine, centering in your underwear where you could feel growing dampness.

Steve,” you repeated, not failing to notice the way his eyes trail up and down your body. “What are you doing here?”

He smiles, pushing his way in, you stumble back giving him full entry into your living space. One part of you says to push him out but the other says to feel his pecs. Shaking your head you repeat yourself. “What are you doing here?”

Steve says your name, it’s deep, masculine, and soaking in desire. You teetered on your feet.

“You feeling okay baby girl?” he catches you in his grasp, though you weren’t really running. His arm around your back, the other holding your hip.

You try to speak but your throat feels suddenly too dry. Eyeing the water bottle on the counter Steve grabs it, keeping one arm behind your back, and hands it to you.

“Go on,” His eyes trained on your lips as you take the bottle to your mouth. You drink and Steve watches the way your throat moves with each swallow. Just as you’re about to take the bottle from your lips Steve tips the bottom of the bottle up making you swallow the remaining contents.

You keep eye contact even as he sets the bottle back down, his thumb running over your bottom lip collecting missed water. Without thinking your mouth opens and you twirl your tongue around his thumb. Collecting the remains.

“Such a good baby girl,” He purrs, your hands on their own accord trail up his shirt, nails dragging along the defined muscles.

“Yeah, you missed me huh?” You begin to nod your head but something shakes you from your stupor. Your eyes widen, hands on his chest begin to push trying to get him away but that only makes him pull you in against his chest.

Your head tilted up, looking at him with growing fear. “What-” you try to think clearly. “What did you do?”

“I only did what I had to,” His eyes shift to the side for a brief moment and when you look over you see the water bottle.

“Did you drug me?” Your words slur, and your hands that were once pushing him away began kneading his muscles under them.

Steve slides his hand down your back to cup your ass. Two fingers dipping between your butt cheeks and pushing you to your toes. When your body rocks against him you can feel his erection pressing into you.

“Its gonna be okay,” He coos, you fight the sensations pushing through, Your desire to rub up against him, the way his fingers feel so good pushing against your ass. A soft mewl pulls at your lips, feeling his chest rub against yours, nipples pebbling with arousal.

He flips you around holding your back to his chest, hands sliding down your sides to pull your shorts and underwear down. One hand cupping your mound, he groans at the dampness against your mound, You certainly had made a mess.

Tony wasn’t lying about this ‘sex pollen’.

“What did you do?” your voice softer than you want it to be. You should be screaming but your body is responding completely contradictory to how you want it to. When he pushes on your back sending your chest forward he doesn’t relieve the pressure until you’re bending in half.

“I’m reminding you how much you need me,” He pushes his sweats down to under his balls. He didn’t wear any boxers for this, no he wanted to be ready to enter you as soon as he could.

He leans back to groan at the sight of your pussy dripping with arousal. Oh, he may have to start giving you a drop of this every day if you were ready so quickly every time.

You moan when he drags his knuckles up and down your slit, admiring the way you rock on your tiptoes and back down pushing his cock against your ass. You knew you were asking him something but for the life of you, you couldn’t recall. All on your mind is how you can feel the heat of his fat cock behind you, the tip rubbing against your ass cheeks.

“What..?” You speak out, your subconscious trying to push through.

“I’m making sure you won’t leave me again baby,”

“No,” you mewl, upset at the thought of leaving him. Not when he makes you feel so good.

“It’s okay though,” he comforts you, gently caresses your sides before lining his cock to your entrance.

He pushes in grunting at the way you grip him, it had been so long since he’d be in you, and from the feel of your tightness it had been just as long for you to take anything inside.

“I’m securing our future.”

#dark steve rogers x reader #dark steve rogers x you #Dark!Steve Rogers #Dark avengers #dark fic #smut #sex pollen

[rhaenyratargeryn]

Title: sense

Pairing: Adam x F!detective

Summary: just a little scenario I imagine absolutely happened at some point.

Notes: ao3 link

***

“Oh, thank god— Nate, please be the voice of reason here.”

The detective’s tone was one of intense exasperation, her hand rubbing across her eyes as she stood in the Warehouse kitchen opposite of Adam, who was appearing equally perturbed. A deep line had settled between his brows and he had crossed his arms at her words.

Nate suddenly regretted having not gone the other direction.

“Yes, please. As sense has seemed to have completely evaporated.” Adam countered, his eyes trailing over to Nate expectantly.

At a loss, Nate smiled faintly, “... what am I voicing upon?”

“She is putting herself in a position of unnecessary—”

“Adam doesn’t want me sleeping with my windows open!”

The detective erupts over Adam’s voice, earning a cool glare from the other man. Upon moving his gaze to meet Nate’s utterly bewildered one, his pale skin seemed to flush just a fraction. Realization of just how preposterous the detective’s explanation made him seem flitted across Adam’s eyes for the barest moment before he shoved it down deep.

“It is an issue of safety. Anyone could enter through that flimsy screen.”

“I’m on the second floor!”

“As if such a thing would be an issue for a supernatural.” Adam said, rising up taller, as if he’d won with that statement, “You would be safer staying here if you wished to sleep in such a way.”

“If supernaturals are coming to break into my apartment I don’t think glass or locks would be an issue either!” the detective said, throwing a hand up and out to the side in a gesture of utter annoyance.

Adam had no retort for that.

Nate wondered idly if they would notice if he slipped back out. He got his answer when Adam turned to him, eyes as near to pleading as the older vampire could get.

“She has a point,” Nate said slowly, gauging the way Adam’s expression shuttered.

“Fine.” Adam said with bite, “But do not expect us to come running when you place yourself purposefully in harm's way.”

He turned and exited the kitchen, the detective’s words following behind.

“It’s just a window! For goodness sake!”

Once it was obvious Adam had no intention of returning to the conversation, she sat down with a soft thump into one of the kitchen chairs, attempting to return to her coffee and breakfast with minor success.

“How on earth did this start?” Nate asked after a moment, moving to take a seat across from her with a rueful smile.

“I just mentioned how I was happy the weather was cooling down in the evenings… the air is nice and I sleep so much better at home when it gets all cozy like this.” the detective sighed, “And Adam well— was Adam about it.”

“He just cares.” Nate offered, an insufficient excuse for certain, “This is how he shows it.”

The detective looked doubtful, but did not question the honesty of Nate’s words.

--

There was no way she would stay at the warehouse tonight after that display. The detective returned to her own apartment, throwing open both her bedroom and living room windows the moment she arrived and enjoying the chilly air that had settled in the twilight hours.

She brewed a mug of tea and settled into her plush papasan chair, tucked a few pattern pillows out of the way and opened a book. It took awhile for her to turn her thoughts away from her own act of stubbornness, which had in turn put her back into the argument from that morning.

Theoretical arguments with Adam were a constant daydream, right next to the ones where he didn’t flinch when she reached out to touch his face.

It didn’t help that the novel was littered with romantic subtropes and finally, with a sigh, she closed it after darkness finally settled across the room. The detective closed the living room window a fraction, as was her usual routine and shut off the lights, heading to the bedroom.

That window she left wide open, changing into her pajamas even in full view. No one was typically out on that section of the street this late and she was high up enough not to worry about anyone getting too much of an eyeful. Even so, she changed quickly, keeping her bare back to the glass as she tugged on a large t-shirt.

After, she shut off the lights and curled into bed, sighing contentedly at the way the ceiling fan spread out the chilled, night scent of fresh clean air. It was nice after having to spend so much time keeping the heat out to huddle beneath the blankets and slowly drift off.

The detective had just fallen into a soft dream when her phone chimed. Groaning, she turned her face into her pillow.

The phone chimed again. And again. And then finally began to ring.

Throwing her blankets off, she fumbled for the device in the dark and answered.

“...speaking.” she mumbled, barely annunciating her title and name. On the other end, the familiar voice of a patrol officer greeted her.

“Hey, sorry to bug you so late. You got a sec?”

“Sure, sure.” she yawned.

“We keep getting calls from folks in your apartment block. They say there is some weirdo hanging around. Big hulking type. Got folks worried about break ins. Have you seen anything? I’m halfway across town so I figured I’d save the trip if it was nothing.”

The detective took a deep measured breath, held and let it out.

“It’s okay. I got this.”

“You sure?”

“Oh yeah. No problem.”

The officer thanked her profusely, apologized again for waking her and then once they hung up, the detective selected a number from her contacts and plopped back against her pillows.

The answer was quick.

“Commanding Agent Du Mortain.” came the clear, professional answer. Too clear. Too professional.

“Where are you?”

There was a beat of silence.

“I am patrolling.”

“Good, maybe you can help me then.”

“Is something wrong?” his voice lifted, the mask of disinterest fading.

“I got a call from an officer. Says a hulking, unscrupulous and unsavory character is loitering around my apartment parking lot.”

Silence.

“Have you seen anyone like that?” the detective continued, unable to hide the smile in her voice.

“Did you tell them it was handled?” came Adam’s terse, unamused response. The detective thought she heard the sound of his footsteps.

“Yes. Ya know, if you want to keep watch? In the future? Do it from inside.”

There was silence for a prolonged moment and then, the detective startled, sitting up and rushing to find the light at her bedside table at the sound that came from her hall.

“I am inside.” came Adam’s voice, both from the phone and the outside of her bedroom door, sounding way too smug.

The detective threw off her covers completely and marched to the door, throwing it open.

“As I said. Entirely unsound. You did not even hear me remove the screen—”

“Adam.” she said, voice terse and annoyed and tired. Whatever she hoped to say next was lost as her shoulders hunched forward and his expression softened a fraction.

It was then he seemed to note more fully her attire, standing before him in nothing but a thread-bare t-shirt that was so large it hung off one shoulder and a pair of boyshorts. The detective felt the sudden tension roil to the surface, warm and familiar and yet distant. Out of reach.

He swallowed thickly and the detective began to wonder just how long he had been outside her window.

“Just stay here… if you’re that concerned.” the detective said with a sigh, turning and crawling back into bed. She turned to look back at him, noting while his body was frozen his eyes had followed her every step of the way, blazing with vibrant green at the sight of her, half-dressed and lazing on the mattress.

“... I… I cannot.” Adam was at a loss, the prospect no doubt making his head spin and his heart hammer as intently as her own.

“You can. Since it isn’t all of the team, you should be able to find a place to sit out there.” she said with a nervous laugh, the spell breaking the moment Adam realized what it was she was offering. Tension rolled off his shoulders, relief in his exhaled breath.

“You meant in the living room.”

“Where else would I have meant?” the detective replied, making a point of lingering near one edge of the bed, leaving the side closest to him open and terribly inviting. For a moment she enjoyed watching the way his breath puffed from his lungs before catching. That tiny flicker of wanting that he snapped back up and hid down deep the moment it dared rear forward.

“I guess you could always bring a chair in here,” she said, yawning and stretching her arms above her head until the t-shirt rose up high on her waist, revealing the bare line of her thighs. She relaxed and watched Adam’s eyes follow the hem back down.

Without a word, Adam vanished from the doorway. For a moment, the detective felt her heart seize, worried she’d pressed too hard.

But in a moment he returned, one of the antique padded, high backed chairs from her small dining table in hand.

He set it by the window, making a point of glancing out over the parking lot before he sat down.

They lingered like that for a moment, the sound of insects, the soft breeze of the wind outside and the gentle whirl of the ceiling fan filling the silence.

“I’m going to turn the light off.” the detective warned quietly. Adam gave a nod. She leaned over and flicked off the switch, sitting for a moment in the darkness until her eyes adjusted and she could make him out.

He was watching her.

She settled under her blankets, stilling once she had become comfortable again and finding the sleep that had been right at the forefront of her thoughts suddenly illusive.

“...well, good night.” she said with a soft, nervous laugh. Her heart was beating fiercely in her chest. She wondered if he could hear it. No. She knew he could hear it. She willed herself to calm, letting her thoughts fade to the daydreams that helped ease her into sleep. Every once in a while she heard him shift, the sound of fabric, of the chair. His presence was a soothing one, even if it did also make her heart skip and patter in her breast.

It took awhile, but eventually her pulse settled and slowly she drifted back off to sleep.

--

The sound of her heart was like that of a rabbit caught in a snare at first, thrumming with beats and the flow of her blood, rippling like a stream. Adam had felt his own racing to match, falling in pace now as it settled and slowed.

He tried not to move. Not to make a sound. As if doing so would make his being here less— real. Less present.

It did not help.

It only took an hour or so before he could tell she was truly and wholly asleep, her soft breaths deep and even. At that point, Adam felt himself finally able to relax, able to set fully to the task of keeping a watch out over the complex.

This was why he preferred her to stay at the warehouse. Where he could stand watch without her ever knowing he was there. Which he did—every night she stayed with them. Distance made his chest ache, restrictive and demanding. Searching. As if his heart would escape his ribs if it could to seek her out, only calmed when she was near.

Adam knew this was not just fear for her safety. Knew it was deeper than that, but still refused to place the words that so obviously described the feeling to it.

But now, in the dark, in the quiet calm, he let them flit through his head.

He missed her when she was gone. Without reason. Without sense. Which was why he tried to attribute something rational, something vaguely resembling reason when he argued why she should remain at the warehouse. With them. With him.

This, Adam supposed, was suitable enough.

She shifted in her dreams, the blanket pulling from her legs as she clung to it. After a moment, she shivered. Adam stood, pulling one of the soft quilts from the bed out and laying it over her. He smoothed his hand down her leg from the knee, resting his palm on her ankle until she calmed once more.

He had to fight the urge to lift his hand, to retrace the soft path it had just taken. When the feeling was well under control, he returned to his spot by the window.

When the sun rose, Adam would be gone.

But for now, he closed his eyes and listened to her breathe.

#twc #the wayhaven chronicles #twc fanfic #adam x detective #Adam x f!detective #twc Adam #twc Adam du mortain #adam du mortain x detective #Adam du mortain #do I have enough tags #twc fanfiction #NEVER!! #I enjoyed this I just wanted something yearning and piney and sweet #the irony is if Adam just said ‘I want you to stay at the warehouse because I like having you here with me’ #she would be like OKAY *moves all her shit in*

[potteresque-ire]

I’ve got several asks about BJYX supertopic’s recent battle for the top CP ranking. I’ve meant to answer them the way they’re asked, but the answer gets long. Dear Anons ~ please forgive me for splitting the answers into multiple posts!

As with everything I’ve said about CPs, they’re mostly my limited observations—unlike history and news, it’s impossible to find articles about any of this that pass journalistic standards. Therefore, please consider the following to be my personal impressions and ramblings, and as usual, everyone please feel free to point out mistakes and add your own thoughts!

Everyone probably knows already, but the new drama that has brought waves to the Weibo’s CP ranking list is Word of Honour (山河令, which I will abbreviate to WoH), and the CP pairing is known as Lang Lang Ding (浪浪釘, LLD). I haven’t watched this drama yet but as a Wuxia (and slash) fan, it is on my to-watch list. Nonetheless, I’ve been watching the developments surrounding the popularity of the drama and the CPs, and I think I can make the posts long enough just with these observations alone. (I’m incredibly long winded :D )

For the CP competition, I think it’s important to point this out: the LLD supertopic is a mixed character-CP and real-person-CP supertopic, unlike the YiZhan supertopics (BJYX, ZSWW, LSFY) that are real-person-CP only. This means comparing LLD and the YiZhan supertopics is really …  comparing apples and oranges, especially when WoH is still airing (and therefore providing fresh candies for the character CP with every new episode). I therefore wish this kind of popularity competition doesn’t take root in the international fandom; it’s … a bit silly to me, really. It makes little sense.

That said, however, I understand why c-turtles are fighting so hard for the #1 CP spot. C-ent (as is true with many other aspects in the country), numbers and ranking are everything. That 20(?), 40(?) minutes during which BJYX supertopic fell to #2 the first time already made “news” headlines that claimed that WoH had surpassed The Untamed (TU)—an even stranger comparison, if one thinks about it. BJYX, technically speaking, doesn’t have anything to do with TU. It’s a GG/DD real person CP.

But it doesn’t matter—numbers are numbers, and they talk to c-ent watchers, the commercial interests looking for their most promising future investments. The perceived power of c-turtles hinges on them and by power, I mean both fan power and spending power, which are almost synonymous terms in c-ent. Many of you have probably seen those charts that rank the popularity of c-ent entertainers by how much goods, in monetary value, they’re able to sell. How much do the c-turtles contribute to these monetary values? Are they, as a collection of fans, worth keeping, worth wooing?

The notion that only the fan’s spending power means something may cause unease in many i-turtles—and it is, indeed, a very cold-hearted assessment, as it implies that fans are little more than living wallets to be emptied. My observations have been that such a notion doesn’t bother c-turtles for the most part and, IMHO, they’re being realistic for their sociopolitical environment. They also respond to this notion accordingly—while it is difficult to tease out the exact percentage of turtles among Gg and Dd’s active fans (fans that make major purchases goods and merchandises), c-turtles have previously demonstrated their ability to contribute a substantial fraction (in the 10s of percent) of money spent on Gg and Dd. As these splits are only very occasionally visible to the public, the CP ranking likely serves as a constant reminder of c-turtles enormous fan/spending power — without which, Gg and Dd’s popularity will also take a hit.

In that sense, c-turtles are fighting for their right-to-exist. Remember when I talked about the “traditional” thinking that CPFs < solos, and that one CPF = one (loyal) solo lost? This means c-turtles must be able to demonstrate their ability to offer something that the solos cannot, and more importantly, that their offer will not come in any other name. If c-turtles proved last year that they wouldn’t change their name to solos, then this year they’re set to prove they’ll not change their name to LLDs or other CPFs. 

If the latter sounds a bit like a battlecry, it may be exactly that. Ever since the announcements of the long line of upcoming Dangai’s, ample inflammatory posts have been made on the platform to get c-turtles to “defect” to the new dramas, or predict that as soon as another pair of random, beautiful men start to throw candies on screen, c-turtles will promptly forget about Gg and Dd and join the fun. The latter, especially, can be quite insulting to read, as one can imagine. However, with c-turtles being a loosely connected group of millions, despite their apparent firm stance that they shall stay turtle, their underlying nerves that these “insults” may turn out to be true can also be felt — the worry that c-turtledom will haemorrhage when the next popular Dangai with enticing M/M CPs (character or real person) come along. 

WoH, as the first drama that fits the criteria, is therefore a test— a test that many c-turtles likely view they must pass with flying colours to prove their point, to stand with their heads held high among those who do not care about BJYXSZD (not necessarily solos—many solos, BTW, have actually helped the turtles out this time); to show that turtles are not only every bit as loyal as other Gg and Dd fans, they’re not so … cheap as to take any random “industrial saccharine” (工業糖精; referring to ZQSG-free candies created solely to lure in fans) and walk away.

The reform of the BJYX supertopic (which now allows candy analysis and explains the sudden appearance of many old candies), the flood of BTS videos from almost every Zhan Jie previously involved with the YiZhan CPs, the temporary retaking of the top 3 CP spots by BJYX+ZSWW+LSFY ... can therefore be viewed as a rally of c-turtles. The message is: we’re not going anywhere. We’ve got enough candies that no other (M/M) CPs can hope to match in quantity, in quality.

(And the parade is indeed impressive.) (The reform also didn’t come out of thin air; there have been discussions about the supertopic’s candy sharing rules before.)

Some c-turtles have rightfully been concerned about how such a parade of candies can affect Gg and Dd. They point out that some candies should still remain 閱後即焚 (“burn after reading”, instant return to hiding after release like certain BTS videos); that at some point, c-turtles have to let go of their obsession of staying on top of the CP rankings. TU is already almost 2 years old, and being a little lower on the CP ranking list will take the heat off the YiZhan fandoms in the long run, incite less outside forces trying to fan the flames between the shrimps and the motors and the turtles.

The rules and guidelines of c-turtledom therefore remain a work in progress, and c-turtles, the millions of them, are still learning as they go.

Personally, I have faith in what will come. I also haven’t been too concerned about the candy parade, because most information is already out there for those who’re determined to find them — on Bilibili, Douyin, Zhihu etc. I spent some time talking about the Gg Assistant fic not with the goal of eliciting pain or panic, but rather, as a demonstration of why it has been the tradition of CPFs—not only the turtles—to play things very cautiously, with 閱後即焚 and 圈地自萌 (“to play within the circle”; ie, keep all information and candies within CPFs) being the default rules even after removing the “queer factor” from the discussion. Real person CPs have fate as one of their writers and so, unlike character CPs, their candies can have unintended, unpredictable consequences. As the YiZhan fandoms have now grown big enough that their candies can no longer be realistically well-contained, it may not be such a bad idea for especially the sensitive candies to return under the “jurisdiction” of the BJYX supertopic, so to speak. c-turtles can then gain better control of their comes-and-goes. Their narratives.

(CPN below.)

About narratives. @rainbowsky have previously written a thoughtful piece on the possible reasons the YiZhan fandoms have been allowed to thrive, and I’d like to add the following hypothesis—it may be a way to take pre-emptive control of the Gg/Dd narrative in preparation for the scenario where their relationship is exposed without their consent. Some i-turtles, I think, may have already gained a sense of how ruthless, cruel and above all, quick the c-ent rumour mill can be. If Gg and Dd get outed by a third party, chances are they won’t have time at all to create a fresh narrative, and the one that come out of the rumour mill will likely be … very ugly, containing every worst misconception people have against homosexual relationships. Whereas now, c-turtles already have a narrative at hand—the canon-fanon that, while c-turtles may not agree on every detail, is largely agreed upon on the important milestones. The supporting materials are also ready: the videos, the images, the voice and arrow guides on them.  

For me, another interesting question is whether this c-turtle rally and parade of candies are truly necessary in the end.

I’m curious about what will happen to the LLD supertopic when WoH completes its airing. There’s really no precedence for this kind of a mixed character + real person M/M CP supertopic setup — the history of Dangai is short, of popular Dangai’s, even shorter.

Guardian (鎮魂), the first successful Dangai aired exactly a year before TU (in the summer of 2018), never had a dedicated CP supertopic (please holler if I got this wrong! I know there’re Guardian fans here ~ hello! *waves*). Discussions of Guardian’s CPs were found within the drama’s supertopic (剧版镇魂); the real-person-CP also never had its own name; its discussions were hidden under the character CP (巍瀾) tag.

Then came TU. Its real person CP (BJYX) split away from its character CP (WangXian) long before the airing for the drama—the birthdate of the BJYX supertopic was 2018/04/28 (TU’s airing date: 2019/06/27).

After TU, two Dangai dramas have already aired before WoH that seemed to have largely passed the attention of i-fandom: The Sleuth of the Ming Dynasty (成化十四年) and Winter Begonia (鬢邊不是海棠紅). Winter Begonia, in particular, was well received. Their character CPs never really took off, however, being conceived and perceived as more brotherhood than romance. Age also played a factor for Winter Begonia—Yun Zheng (尹正), known to many turtles as Dd’s motorcycle buddy, is 34, and Huang Xiaoming (黃曉明) is 43. The associated real person CPs also never became popular as a result; Huang Xiaoming’s famous marriage to a beautiful actress also meant that a real person CP was likely to be off the table for Winter Begonia from the start.

The best reference I can think of then, when it comes to speculating the fate of LLD, is therefore the fates of the CP supertopics of 2020’s summer hit, Love and Redemption (琉璃). I’ve talked about its character CP before; essentially, just days after the drama was done airing, the (het) character CP (初遇夫婦) was broken up and in a manner largely criticised as unnecessarily cruel to CP fans. Its supertopic closed immediately afterwards. The supertopic for the real-person-CP (冰橙汁) got to live, however, and is still active today.

The commercial forces behind WoH will likely break the character CP as soon as the drama is done airing; popular het and non-het character CPs in the recent years have gone through similar fates. What does this mean to LLD then? Does it mean the supertopic will be shutdown, since the drama itself already has its own supertopic? But what will happen then to its real-person CP, which has been incorporated within the LLD supertopic? Will the real-person CP be broken at the same time as the character CP to allow for immediate “purification” of real person CP fans into solo fans, to avoid future “headaches” like BYYX—a bound between the actors that cannot be severed—or 227 that, in the eyes of many passerbys, remains an issue of solo vs cpfs?

Only time will tell, and I very sincerely hope it’ll get a happy ending. Fans are made to love, and it saddens me every time to see them being severed from their loves, or pitted against each other especially when it’s clear it’s the social media platforms, the commercial interests behind the scenes — not just the production/media companies but the YXHs, the water armies — who will reap the benefits in the end. Personally, I feel no joy in seeing anyone’s favourites getting torn down, even if they aren’t my own. Gg and Dd’s safety — and the safety of every upstanding, hardworking c-ent entertainer like them — doesn’t hinge so much on their CP or solo or drama ranking, but whether their fans can refrain from bringing their conflicts into the public eye, from “occupying social resources”—ie, deflecting the public’s attention from the “core socialist values” the government intends it to focus on.

Fandom is big enough for us all.

#pie metas #yizhan #bjyx

[dontcallmecarrie]

continuation of this, because why not:

.

“Oh, this is fun,” Loki hadn’t realized just how irritating his voice could get until now, was this why the Soldier kept throwing knives at him? 

“I am only dragging you along because our interests align for now, do not expect this to continue.” He snapped over his shoulder, keeping an eye out for any potential attack even as the alarms continued to blare. He was lucky his counterpart was in such poor shape; had he even had a fraction of his usual power available, this entire enterprise would be much, much more difficult. 

As it was, Loki was faintly impressed his counterpart had accomplished as much as he had when he was running on fumes. When he wasn’t sneering at the sloppiness of his plans, anyway. Magical compulsion or no, what kind of idiot went and paraded about proclaiming their intentions for subjugation?

“Come now. Do you honestly expect me to believe this isn’t to your advantage? Unleashing double the chaos.” 

It was a pity breaking the magical compulsion had done nothing for his counterpart’s mental state. On a number of levels— he was a stone’s throw away from madness, all jagged pieces aimed outwards and it was uncomfortable to look at for too long for reasons Loki preferred not to dwell upon. 

Well. At least he could use it to his advantage. 

.

Victor was not a happy camper. 

First had been the discovery that, as he’d suspected, that damn gun had landed him in another universe. 

Second, said universe was quite possibly his worst nightmare.

Because his country didn’t exist, hadn’t existed for decades now: the Latverian civil war in this world had decimated its people in more ways than could be named, neighboring countries had snapped up just about every scrap of territory his men had fought and died for and goddamn HYDRA was using war orphans for their experiments.

...had he been a bit hasty when he’d taken out the first base he’d encountered? Sure. Sorting out the logistics for taking care of all the victims he’d encountered was a major pain in the neck, and this accelerated his plans for establishing himself in ways he hadn’t entirely expected. Klaue was as annoying as ever, and, if possible, even more of an arrogant bastard to deal with in this strange world.

Did Victor regret it? Absolutely not.

Especially when it resulted in his encountering his first ally in this hellscape. 

...though this ‘involuntary twin’ thing would get old fast, he just knew it.

“Hello, Winter.” Victor greeted with a smile. “Looks like you’ve been busy, too.”

.

The Winter Soldier could not believe that Justin’s stupid self-help books had been good for something, but here they were.

Him, and the poor bastard who shared his face and was now stuck in that incredibly awkward stage between ‘living weapon approximately three seconds from Murder’ and ‘going through deprogramming’, smack-dab in the middle of what had used to be a HYDRA stronghold but was now a bloodbath because somewhere in between fighting himself, and everyone else coming at them, the other Winter Soldier had started breaking through his programming.

He hadn’t realized just how much progress he’d made, until now. 

“What do you want me to call you?” He asked again with a tired sigh.

“The Asset does not nee—”

“Oh, fuck no. Pick something else, you’re a human being, you have value.” ...goddamn it, he sounded just like Justin. 

Ugh. Justin could never, ever know, he’d never let him live it down...okay, the worst part is that he would, not that the idiot with a death wish needed any encouraging when it came to this sort of thing.

The man’d had a knife to the neck, and still offered him food, offered him help. The Winter Soldier gave his counterpart a dubious glance, and fought back a shudder. 

As much as he sympathized with the guy— he’d been there, literally— the idea gave him chills.

Though...he could almost see it, now. If he squinted, he could see the tiniest speck of self-determination that HYDRA had tried its best to crush into oblivion, the ghost of a hint of personality in the twitch of his right hand, the way his left hand curled. 

“Right, okay.” He sighed. Again. He probably sounded like a goddamn teakettle, but fuck it, he was at the end of his rope here, dealing with people was Justin’s thing, he was much better at punching people. “If you’re anything like me, you’re going to have some serious migraines in the next few months, and no, aspirin doesn’t do shit. You have questions, means your personality’s coming back up which is good... oh, you’ll probably want to stick around for answers because I’m about as confused as you are.” 

Because this is what happened the one (1) time he tried to be nice and check up on Justin’s friend group. He could’ve been chasing down that lead in Argentina, but no, he was stuck here instead. 

Ugh. 

.

Ivan was running on spite, caffeine, and not much else. 

Living on the streets was a pain in the ass, exacerbated by the fact that he was apparently supposed to be dead and...buried? Cremated? He wasn’t entirely sure, none of the sources he’d found had been able to specify and to be completely honest, he hadn’t tried too hard to look.

Just seeing his own name in the articles had been disturbing enough, the realization that a version of him had apparently gone through with his suicidal plot was...something. Not great. His vodka stash back home was going to take a hit as soon as he got back. 

As disturbing as reading his own death had been, it’d still been no match for what he’d been able to find on the man who’d given him another reason to live. 

Because this world’s Justin Hammer was still alive and well, and locked up in an unspecified supermax for the foreseeable future, and...

An incompetent idiot with far more money than brains, apparently.

Which was so far from the man he knew it was hilarious, because Justin’s charisma had been enough to get a dictator of a sovereign nation wrapped around his finger without even trying, had the boogeyman of the intelligence world on speed-dial and an alien god as his bodyguard-slash-PA. He was untouchable on a number of levels, so when Ivan had first read that article?

He hadn’t believed it, at first. 

Had been certain it was an imposter, and while he probably should’ve spent that time researching how to get back home, he’d instead ended up down a rabbit hole of what kind of man Justin Hammer was in this world.

Call it morbid curiosity, or whatever— but Ivan had to know.

It wasn’t like he was making much progress on his own, anyway, not when his resources were staggeringly limited.

And then. 

A sleek car pulled up by the overpass where he’d been sleeping, and the window rolled down to reveal a face Ivan was inordinately glad to see. 

“Get in loser, we’re going shopping.” Loki called, and Ivan didn’t even question why there were two of him. Or why his twin looked like a grad student during finals week.

“Mean Girls? Really?”

“He was correct in calling it a classic.” Loki replied with a haughty sniff as he pulled away from the curb. “Besides— from what I’ve seen, I also know more about this world’s culture than their Captain.”

His twin looked lost, as he stared between them both and whoops, that was probably a terrible first impression. “Is this one of your allies?”

“Yes.” Ivan said, even as Loki spoke.

“When he’s not blasting us all to other dimensions, certainly.” 

“It was an accident!”

It was a good thing Loki had so much practice driving, because he would have gotten very nervous by the way their eyes met in the rearview mirror otherwise. “Oh, I know. I’ve told you—”

“There is no innovation without risk—” Ivan defended, only for Loki to snort.

“Have fun explaining that to Victor.” 

Ivan froze for a moment, breath stilling in his throat. On a good day, Victor was the epitome of a type-A personality...

“He’s here too?”

“Oh, yes. Not sure where exactly, but how do you think we found you?”

“If you say magic—”

“Are all your allies mortals?” Loki’s twin asked with just the slightest hint of a sneer, and just like that all levity was gone and Ivan didn’t even need to meet Loki’s gaze to know his answer.

“If you have a problem with that, feel free to leave. Right now.”

“Come now—”

“Ivan here blasted us all across space and time, without tearing open any paradoxes or destroying any timelines, entirely by accident. Victor? Is the ruler of a sovereign nation feared and respected throughout the realm. I do not know your approach to such things here, but any insult to my allies is an insult to me.”

.

Ivan...probably shouldn’t have been too surprised to discover that Victor had not only amassed a following of rabidly loyal minions, but also managed to meet up with the Winter Soldier. Er... two Winter Soldiers.

Man, this was going to feature in his nightmares for months.

“Where’s Justin?” Was the very first thing Victor said upon seeing them, and he cringed as the rest traded looks because of course the one who’d introduced them to each other was the missing link now. Justin was hands-down everyone’s favorite, and if Ivan was stuck being the one to break it to them after having spent hours hacking just to get a name?

Man, this was not going to be pretty.

“First, you have to promise not to get mad.”

“What.”

Ivan told them.

...suffice it is to say, nobody was happy to hear the answer.

.

“Okay then.” Victor said, face impassive save for the way his eyes gleamed. “It’s been a while since I did a prison break, anyway.”

#No Hero [Downward Descending] #My writing #schrodinger's canon