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“Hi!” he cheerfully greeted, beaming. “I’m Beedle.”

“Like the bug?”

“Yes, yes!” He jabbed a thumb over his shoulder at his pack. “My bag even has beetle horns!”

Wow. This guy was serious about his beetles!

“Say, if you happen to have any beetles on you, Beedle would be obliged to buy them from you! Well-priced, of course! There are lots around the Faron rainforest, especially on trees!”

Wild swiveled to look at the huddled group of heroes on the other end of the stable. “I’ll go see if I can find any for you, Mister Beedle!”

“Thank you!” he sung.

Which of the heroes seemed most likely to let him go bug-hunting, or to help him with it? His eyes locked on the one with the lobster shirt. Lobsters were sorta like bugs, right? Close enough.

“Psst, Wind.” He tugged on the blue fabric, drawing the boy’s attention. “Can I go look for beetles for Beedle? Please?”

Wind’s attention perked, eyebrows raising. “Beedle?” He caught the backpacker’s eye over Wild’s shoulder. “Sure, as long as I can come.”

“Yay!”

Wind informed the others of their whereabouts, and with a warning not to go too far, they were off, Wind grabbing Wild’s hand on the way out. He used the other to salute Beedle.

…

When Wind and Wild returned, both of Wild’s hands were cupped over something. He practically skipped over to Beedle, who was still sitting in the same spot.

“Ta-da!” He opened his thumb enough to give the salesman a peek at the golden beedle in there.

“Huh? Could that be? Th-That’s an energetic rhino beetle! It’s a rare beetle you almost never see! P-P-Please! Would you please consider giving your energetic rhino beetle to Beedle? I will certainly offer you something as thanks! How about a hasty elixir? It’ll make you extra fast for five whole minutes!”

“Yeah!”

Under Beedle’s instructions, Wild carefully passed the beetle over into his hands.

“Thank you! I will surely cherish this beetle forever.” He held onto the bug with one hand, and used the other to pull out a stoppered bottle of thick blue liquid. “There you are.”

As soon as Wild grabbed the elixir from his hands, Beedle gripped the bug tight enough to keep it still as he left the head open to the air and raised it to—

He chomped down on the beetle with a grotesque squashing sound, its guts dribbling down his chin. It crunched loudly as he chewed, sighing in bliss, completely oblivious to the looks of utter, speechless horror on Wind and Wild’s faces.

When he finished eating the poor beetle, wiped his mouth, and glanced back up, he seemed to suddenly realize that his sellers were still staring and his eyelids opened wider to reveal pitch black eyeballs, all the way from one previously white corner to the other. He blinked, and they were back to normal.

“Ah, yes, well. A beetle a day to make the dark lord obey! I mean, keep him at bay!”

Wind wasn’t sure if Beedle had just stretched his back, but he could have sworn he saw that big backpack move, as if something inside was alive…

Wind laughed nervously as he wrapped an arm around Wild’s shoulder. “Haha, you betcha! Welp, see ya!” Under his breath as he speed-walked the two of them away, he added, “hopefully never.”

Beedle’s voice was as cheery as ever. “Bye! Be sure to bring me any more beetles you get! I’ll know if you don’t!”

I have the impression that many of you are losing the deep meaning of mdzs (and, yes, cql) in order to follow wholesome headcanons and fanon conceptions of characters.

Let me explain.

There’s a reason for all this hate against Wei Wuxian, wangxian, even the concept of “yep they’re all equally flawed” or “Wei Wuxian is morally grey” (and i would appreciated it if it was true, but it simply isn’t). The reason is to depict Jiang Cheng as a better person, belittling his mistakes or, at least, placing him (morally) on the same level of Wei Wuxian, through the protagonist bashing or wrong interpretations of his character.

It’s not that I hate Jiang Cheng so much I couldn’t stand a wholesome headcanon in which he’s a cute tsundere protective brother. I could *write* an entire Fanfiction in which he’s the best friend of Wei Wuxian, a supportive brother and so on. I don’t need you to point out, every two minutes, that the canon is different and Jiang Cheng would not behave like this in the novel.

the problem is: maybe, some of *you* need a reality check. Because when you write metas based on a completely errate vision of a cute, supportive, tsundere Jiang Cheng, when you talk about your headcanon like it was just canon “behind the scenes”, when, suddenly, people has to EXPLAIN that Wei Wuxian was morally right all along and the cultivation wold is corrupted (which is the meaning of the novel) like it was a hot take, when, also suddenly, you become the bad guy because you answer those delusions about Jiang Cheng pointing out the FACTS… Like it was morally wrong of you to talk about canon Jiang Cheng, well. There’s a problem.

I repeat. I don’t mind headcanons that are treated like headcanons.

I don’t mind even some critical view on the novel, or canon complaint. A sane “I’m sorry mxtx, I know that your values are these, but I have some other values and I think…” Which at least TAKE IN ACCOUNT what the writer want and this is positive.

What bothers me is that: lately, many of you don’t talk about actual mdzs, or even the drama. You talk about some other thing, a thing in which Wei Wuxian is morally grey (or a shit) and in which Jiang Cheng is a tsundere character. Even wangxian shippers, who are not Wei Wuxian haters, depict Jiang Cheng like he was well intentioned. And they act all offended when you say: no.

No, Jiang Cheng was not willing to help Wei Wuxian with the Wen remnants at all, it’s not like he had no money or something like that. He tried to kill Wen Ning. He led the siege against burial mounds.

No, the thing about Jiang Cheng torturing random people is not a rumor. He tortured Mo Xuanyu even if Zidian proved he was not Wei Wuxian. Jin Ling freed Mo Xuanyu because he knew that his uncle did to that people.

No, Jiang Cheng didn’t hug Jin Ling when no one was watching. Because it would have been ooc, and because it doesn’t make sense to Jin Ling character. Jin Ling struggles because he has no family figure to help him grew emotionally.

No, Lan Qiren would not like Jiang Cheng, they would not get along well just in name of their mutual hate for Wei Wuxian. Maybe Jiang Cheng stans are not ready to hear this, but there are things called values, that Lan Qiren has and of which Jiang Cheng lacks. Lan Qiren maybe cannot exactly love Wei Wuxian, but, for his righteousness, he would totally like him better than Jiang Cheng. Jiang Cheng doesn’t incarnate at all Lan Qiren’s values. Not all people are toxic and comfortable in bonding on the basis of hatred for someone else. Some people have moral standards.

These are all cold takes I actually read about mdzs world. And they’re really an absurdity, and the fact that you can’t even answer back with facts, like it was rude or something… These people even answer with other even more delusional and stupid headcanons, shitting on the novel like the metaphorical pigeon on the chessboard.

Maybe some of you brag about being woke, cultural relativity, open minded, social justice or something. Yet here you are, disrespecting an author and the values of her people, because (I repeat, I think it’s important because some of you can’t read properly) the fact it’s not that you’re CRITICAL of her thinking, which is a honest confrontation between two people (or two cultures). You’re not even acknowledging her values and her culture, you appropriate her work. You’re awful people and it’s not a surprise that you stan an awful person.

Sorry if it’s kinda OOT, but this makes me want to talk about fandom in general (outside MDZS). I know about some fans who really love the works to the point that they think they know everything (mostly they are completists who already know all the compilations in their fandom).

One time they made a theory based on their knowledge, but sometimes they forget: when the canon writing is ‘the statement’ whose words will not change, interpretations can vary. Not only in fiction, sometimes we can also have a different interpretation of factual news.

So the problem is that when they make theories with their interpretation, they get too deep into their thinking that: what is canon actually gets mixed up with things that are actually just their ideas, but they treat the whole thing as 'canon’/valid.

Maybe my reblog here also deviates a little from what you actually convey here, but the bottom line is that I came across theorists who mixed up their speculations, headcanons and purely ideas that developed from canon sources.

Even though the initial idea was valid, over time it became pure headcanon, but without them realizing it, they still considered it valid/fact/canon.

I call that “using (initial) unconfirmed theory as the basis for another further theory”.

When I’m reading a seemingly smartass theory filled with full of bullshits, it’s like eating ice cream filled with vegetables.

In fact, they should have just waited until their first theory was proven, then developed to the next theory.

PROMPT: Day 2 - Bodyguard AU

PAIRING: Skull/Arcobaleno

SUMMARY:

As he makes it more and more famous in the stunt industry, people inexplicably start targeting Skull’s life. Naturally, his manager hires bodyguards to keep him safe.

Seven of them, just to be safe rather than sorry.

RATING: G

AUTHOR: @hopeswriting

TAG WARNING: Mild Swearing

WORD COUNT: 3325

LINKS: Ao3 & Ff.net

[Plain text:

EVENT: KHR Rare Pair Week 2022

PROMPT: Day 2 - Bodyguards AU

PAIRING: Skull/Arcobaleno

SUMMARY:

As he makes it more and more famous in the stunt industry, people inexplicably start targeting Skull’s life. Naturally, his manager hires bodyguards to keep him safe.

Seven of them, just to be safe rather than sorry.

RATING: G

AUTHOR: @hopeswriting

TAG WARNING: Mild Swearing

WORD COUNT: 3325

LINKS: Ao3 & Ff.net /End PT]

Title: rain day Author: cloudspark[AO3] Rating: T Pairing: Skull/Arcobaelno(+Colonnello) Prompts: Gamer AU Tags/Warnings: No Archive Warning, Work features multiple days and as such contains an index for potential triggers in each day

My very first Lego Monkie Kid post!  legit, fell in love with this show to the point I am even writing a fanfic about it. 

Which, I shall put the link to down here! 

ShadowPeach fan, can’t deny. Got in my brain MK is their kiddo soooooo  here we are. 

Danny Fenton and Damian Wayne sibling AU

Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

One of them, of course, is creating a paradox. If the future changes enough that the traveler never actually goes back in time, then there are several rips in reality.

That’s not the only problem that I’m presenting.

What happens when the traveler doesn’t know that it was them? When they think it’s an entirely separate entity?

Danny Nightingale knows better than to trust adults. After all, his own parents cut him apart in the name of science DESPITE believing that he was their son!

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

Because from his perspective, despite all the declaration of love and acceptances and the warmth, his new parent fear him. And by the looks of his new siblings, they did to. He would think that they had only accepted him into their family to keep an eye on him. No one would ever love a monster for no reason after all.

So he tuck all that pain deep away like he had when he was with the Fentons. He understands. He still loves them, so very much. And if that's how loving this family means that teaching them everything on how to stop him...

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

Danny: But you, you've never trusted anyone in your life. Have you? You'd rather prepare yourself for a situation where you'd have to kill your friends, your children, your family! Than trust someone.

Bruce: Danny this is just a contingency- you've told us about Dan, about when you've been mind controlled.

Danny: Hah. So you grow plants that exist solely to torture me?

Danny: You're no better than they were. No. You're worse because they never hid how they felt about me, what they would do. You did. Because deep down you know you're wrong, but you're too stubborn, too paranoid, too selfish to stop.

Bruce: Danny-

Danny: No. I'm done. I won't stay with someone who won't hesitate to torture me. When do you decide I'm a threat that needs to be eliminated, Bruce? And why do you get to make that call?

Danny: I'm leaving, and soon the others will too. And you'll be alone Bruce, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next year. But you will be, and you'll have to live knowing it's your fault. That you pushed everyone away because you can't even trust the people you claim to love.

Bruce: Danny no, you can-

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

So yeah, Danny walk away from Bruce is understandable.

Protective ghosts are even more understandable! Since ghost have can be very territorial and obsessive but also protective of their own especially a ghost child and this is a baby ghost! A Royalty baby ghost!

How dare these mere mortal hurt their baby ghost prince?!

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

Bruce jumps at the unfamiliar voice, but Alfred simply squeezes the trowl harder. Bruce brushes off his embarrassment, expecting to see a scratched up paparazzi trespassing on the Manor, but is faced with something new entirely.

A blue glowing figure, holding a stick with a clock at the high end. His skin is blue, a contrast to his purple chiffon. As Bruce watches, the figure ages, the stick now a support staff. White hair spilling from his chin.

"Who are you?"

"Kronos," Alfred answers, and the figure bow it's head.

Bruce turns to his butler. "The Greek God of time?"

"And Roman," Kronos offers. "Among other parathons. Which is why you should take my advice and not plant those."

Bruce cuts his gaze to the four young rose bushes waiting to be planted. He trusts what he can do with his own hands more than any all-seeing god. If Kronos had wanted blind obedience, he should have gone to Diana. She'd ask more questions, but ultimately, she heeded godly advice.

When he looks back at the god, he's gone. Bruce turns to Alfred with an expectant look.

Sighing, Alfred puts down the gardening tools and pulls something from his pocket. A gold chain, a circular pendant. Bruce thinks it's a religious item at first, until he sees not a saint but an hourglass on the gold coin. Still might be a religious item, he amends, if it's for Kronos.

"During the war, something happened that shouldn't have. Kronos needed my help fixing it, so he frozen time, filled me in, and then turned time back half a day, allowing me to prevent the loss. As an, award, I suppose he let me keep this. It allows me to step outside the time stream for a little bit."

"Do you?"

"The manor is quite large."

Bruce snorts, then sombers, looking toward where Kronos had floated. "Would you listen to him?"

Alfred thinks, fingers pulling at the top of a bag of blood meal. "I've only had one, now two, interactions with the man. If this truly is wrong, he could manipulate things so we don't plant them. I think this is merely a preference, that we don't plant them. For what reason, I could only guess."

Bruce can guess too, but the problem is there's so many possibilities. And what Kronos might want to avoid, Bruce might like.

Besides, he's done his research. Considered the pros and cons. Kronos's wish has no sway on his decision. "Let's plant these before the boys come home."

They return to planting the rose bushes. They are just starting to bud, but soon they'll bloom into the deep red color that gives them their name. From there, he can run his experiments.

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

Bruce jumps at the unfamiliar voice, but Alfred simply squeezes the trowl harder. Bruce brushes off his embarrassment, expecting to see a scratched up paparazzi trespassing on the Manor, but is faced with something new entirely.

A blue glowing figure, holding a stick with a clock at the high end. His skin is blue, a contrast to his purple chiffon. As Bruce watches, the figure ages, the stick now a support staff. White hair spilling from his chin.

"Who are you?"

"Kronos," Alfred answers, and the figure bow it's head.

Bruce turns to his butler. "The Greek God of time?"

"And Roman," Kronos offers. "Among other parathons. Which is why you should take my advice and not plant those."

Bruce cuts his gaze to the four young rose bushes waiting to be planted. He trusts what he can do with his own hands more than any all-seeing god. If Kronos had wanted blind obedience, he should have gone to Diana. She'd ask more questions, but ultimately, she heeded godly advice.

When he looks back at the god, he's gone. Bruce turns to Alfred with an expectant look.

Sighing, Alfred puts down the gardening tools and pulls something from his pocket. A gold chain, a circular pendant. Bruce thinks it's a religious item at first, until he sees not a saint but an hourglass on the gold coin. Still might be a religious item, he amends, if it's for Kronos.

"During the war, something happened that shouldn't have. Kronos needed my help fixing it, so he frozen time, filled me in, and then turned time back half a day, allowing me to prevent the loss. As an, award, I suppose he let me keep this. It allows me to step outside the time stream for a little bit."

"Do you?"

"The manor is quite large."

Bruce snorts, then sombers, looking toward where Kronos had floated. "Would you listen to him?"

Alfred thinks, fingers pulling at the top of a bag of blood meal. "I've only had one, now two, interactions with the man. If this truly is wrong, he could manipulate things so we don't plant them. I think this is merely a preference, that we don't plant them. For what reason, I could only guess."

Bruce can guess too, but the problem is there's so many possibilities. And what Kronos might want to avoid, Bruce might like.

Besides, he's done his research. Considered the pros and cons. Kronos's wish has no sway on his decision. "Let's plant these before the boys come home."

They return to planting the rose bushes. They are just starting to bud, but soon they'll bloom into the deep red color that gives them their name. From there, he can run his experiments.

"I thought you had enhanced strength."

"Doesn't mean this isn't heavy."

Damian lifts an eyebrow. Danny resists sticking out his tongue in return.

After all, it's not like Danny's gonna let Damian push a wheelbarrow of manure with a fractured wrist. Still, did he have to be so annoying? Critiquing his stall cleaning skills? And Bat-cow pets? Danny is ready to dump this. Why did Bruce want to start a compost pile near his greenhouse and not the barn?

Thing is, Danny does have super strength. Not like Superboy, but enough where the wheelbarrow shouldn't be a problem. He blames it on the long day of chores and holds his tongue.

He'd just traded a set of obsessed parents for a singular obsessed parent. It wasn't even that, that wasn't too different from some ghosts he knew, but how could Bruce keep something that essentially only exists to torture him on the premises?

The greenhouse was full of Blood Blossoms.

He could feel the effects from here- dizziness, nausea, fatigue… Sure, they were faint due to his currently human form, but if he had found this place while Phantom? He would have been tortured. Helpless. In pain, sick and dying until someone found him.

Why?

Didn’t Bruce say he loved him? Didn’t he say that he’d protect him? That he’d give Danny a safe place to live? Or is it conditional, just like with his parents? As long as he’s human, he’s welcome.

His parents, too obsessed with ghost hunting to notice how hurt their children were? Bruce, who built his entire life around vigilantism? Jack and Maddie, talking about tearing apart Phantom without knowing he was right there? Batman, who was known to have a rule against allowing metas in Gotham? The ghost hunters, who only ever saw a monster in him? The superhero, who wouldn’t even give him a chance?

Danny backed away. He could still see a faint red fog seeping out of the greenhouse, though it was slowly dissipating. He glanced over his shoulder at the manor, then back at the greenhouse.

It seemed like no matter where he went, he could never just be himself.