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parched rivers run by skadii
Fandoms: Final Fantasy VII Remake (Video Game 2020), Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
04 Apr 2023
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Summary
Zack laughs hysterically. “No, no, no. That’s not how this works. Didn’t you hear Jessie the other day? I die for you. Not the other way ‘round.”
Zack lives. What next?
Series
- Part 1 of see the parched rivers of my body run
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 170,344
- Chapters:
- 10/10
- Comments:
- 826
- Kudos:
- 2,096
- Bookmarks:
- 731
- Hits:
- 77,407
Bookmarked by Starza
02 Mar 2025
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Summary
“So I’m to be bait,” Akechi says flatly. “You’re serving me up.”
Ren can feel the grin on his face, and he can’t stop it. “I gotta open the store tomorrow, I only serve coffee.”
“Absolutely idiotic. Why would I agree to that?"
Ren shrugs one shoulder and leans back against the movie theater wall, smiling. He’s feeling light on his feet right now. It’s been a bad day, but the end is nice. “Call it penance.”
“Penance for what,” Akechi says.
His smile stays where it is as he glances away for a moment, then meets Akechi’s eyes again. “Being yourself.”
—
Summer vacation back in Tokyo was supposed to be two things: an exciting break from the mundanity of home, and a chance to see people he's missed so much it hurts. If he survives, Ren has good news for himself on both.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 111,523
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Comments:
- 148
- Kudos:
- 1,554
- Bookmarks:
- 520
- Hits:
- 37,411
Bookmarked by Starza
15 Jun 2024
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Summary
“Don’t be such a damned fool,” he chastises. “You are many things, Gale – garrulous, resourceful, devilishly handsome – but you are not nothing. Mystra does not define your existence any more than Cazador defined my own.”
“The gods will never see any of us as equals,” Astarion mutters bitterly. “Do not mistake their attention for favor. You are useful only so far as you can be an extension of their power. I will not stand by a second time and watch you sacrifice yourself for nothing.”
━━ ◆ ━━
Months after the defeat of the elder brain, Gale must come to terms with his new life and what it might mean for him to carry on without Mystra’s blessings.
Bookmarked by Starza
17 May 2024
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Summary
Gale counterspelled half the fireballs with ease, immense power flicking from his fingertips as he strode confident across the ring. And he was…beautiful, in a very different way than Astarion was used to seeing him. Not the composed academic. Not the bumbling lecturer, or the overinflated pedant, this, this was…imposing, powerful, self-assured in a wonderfully dangerous sort of way. His hands moving with such confidence, his eyes dark, his earring glinting in the early morning light.
Gale is eager to see the powers Astarion gained from reading the Necromancy of Thay. They prove surprising in more than one way.
Bookmarked by Starza
11 May 2024
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Summary
A remix of Act 2 in which Gale gets more of a character arc resolution.
“Gods damn it Gale!”
Astarion leaps over him. The guard, poised to land an entirely excessive final blow to Gale’s skull, topples backwards with a knife in his gut. The second pierces his neck, sending him crashing to the ground. Astarion yanks his blades back, and drops to his knees beside Gale.
“Oh no no no, you are not dying on me now.”
Gale attempts to express something, but it comes out as a gurgle of bloody bubbles. The world swings to the side, black and spinning.
“I swear, if it turns out I did just watch you spend the last of your magic sending your cat back to safety instead of saving your own damn skin-”
The threat remains unfinished. A healing potion trickles between Gale’s lips.
“Tressym,” Gale says, when he can finally trust his voice.
Astarion is still crouched over him, cheeks flushed, sweat running down his brow and someone else’s blood smeared across his cheek. Gale has the sudden urge to kiss him.
“What?”
“She’s a tressym. Not a cat.”
Astarion makes a noise of such furious, pained exasperation that Gale half expects the dagger to end up in his neck next.Series
- Part 1 of First Light
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 56,820
- Chapters:
- 20/20
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 343
- Kudos:
- 2,329
- Bookmarks:
- 563
- Hits:
- 46,370
Bookmarked by Starza
29 Apr 2024
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Summary
These days, most everybody in camp had learned to wave away Astarion’s advances with a laugh. They found the flirtation titillating, Gale figured, or a bit threatening, or some combination of the two. He wondered if anybody else found it sad.
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Good old-fashioned rumination on choice and compulsion. Gale and Astarion shake off their metaphorical shackles.- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 17,101
- Chapters:
- 4/4
- Comments:
- 308
- Kudos:
- 3,170
- Bookmarks:
- 658
- Hits:
- 36,058
Bookmarked by Starza
27 Apr 2024
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Summary
Astarion is near the docks when he feels Cazador's compulsion on him snap. He doesn't think twice. He just takes the next available ship out of Baldur's Gate. Its destination: The City of Splendors. Waterdeep.
*
Gale takes back the glass, now empty, and then seems to fidget a little. “There is something I wanted to get your opinion on- but it can wait until you’ve recovered. You don’t look well at all- no offense meant, of course.”
“None taken,” Astarion says sweetly. “Please go on. Tell me exactly what it is about my appearance that you find lacking.”
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 46,164
- Chapters:
- 6/6
- Collections:
- 3
- Comments:
- 722
- Kudos:
- 6,400
- Bookmarks:
- 1,783
- Hits:
- 62,672
Bookmarked by Starza
22 Apr 2024
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Summary
Coughing, to cover up that he had, in fact, burned his tongue, Goro replied the first thing that came into his distracted mind, “I don't think I've ever met someone like you.”
It was weird how sad this boy's smile turned all of a sudden.
“Maybe in another life.”
Goro Akechi isn't sure why this weird boy keeps on getting blackmailed. But apparently he's the only one he can turn to and apparently Akira Kurusu knows him quite well and apparently he'd been already in love with him before he ever met him.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 41,365
- Chapters:
- 3/3
- Comments:
- 136
- Kudos:
- 1,771
- Bookmarks:
- 385
- Hits:
- 19,929
Bookmarked by Starza
20 Oct 2023
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Summary
Now that Akira knew Akechi was alive, he was terrified that he would leave again. He wanted to reach out to him, to give him that second chance, to help him gain control of his life again.
But that’s not all, is it?
No, it wasn’t. Akechi’s “death” had sent Akira into a 6-year-long depression spiral that no amount of therapy could ever make okay. A deep, dark part of him wanted revenge. He wanted to see Akechi’s tough boy act crumble under fingertips. And even if this treatment was dubious at best, he was going to try.
Akira was going to try to tame the crow.
6 years after the events of Persona 5 Royal, Akira works as a well-respected therapist living in Tokyo. But when a familiar face enters his office one day, Akira finds that he may need to try some more “unconventional” treatments to get him to stay…
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 112,002
- Chapters:
- 17/17
- Comments:
- 611
- Kudos:
- 1,027
- Bookmarks:
- 178
- Hits:
- 27,351
Bookmarked by Starza
01 Sep 2023
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Summary
“What makes a person good, Goro?”
Goro thinks for a second. He has always considered himself to be irrevocably bad—it was a fact of the universe, something he never gave thought to seriously because he knew the answer.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 22,404
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 32
- Kudos:
- 365
- Bookmarks:
- 105
- Hits:
- 4,340
Bookmarked by Starza
29 Aug 2023
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Summary
Akira sits up so fast he doesn’t even realise he’s moved until the pain overtakes, and his phone drops to his lap. His head swims, legs a fiery agony at the sudden movement, so much so it takes what must be eons for it to simmer down. Once it does, he retrieves the phone, both of them simply staring at the screen.
“That’s not possible,” Morgana yowls, Akira wincing as they stare at the evidence.
“Apparently, it is,” Akira says, world view tilting once again, as if solid ground were even an option.
Goro Akechi has a Palace.
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With the revelation of a new target, the Phantom Thieves face Goro Akechi's distorted desires.
But why does his Palace seem so straightforward? And why does it feel, for the first time, as if Akira's not meant to change a heart?
He'll fix things though. He always does. Especially when it comes to Goro.
Bookmarked by Starza
20 Jan 2023
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Summary
Weirdly, as Akira laid on the mat, he was still grinning up at him, his eyes gleaming with something that looked dangerously like quiet amusement.
“Look at that,” he said, voice so quiet that no one else could hear and yet still sounding taunting. “You finally did it.”
That little shit.
Goro wanted to step on him, press his foot down and rearrange his guts from the outside.
And the look on Akira's face seemed to suggest that he'd be perfectly alright with that.
Goro Akechi is determined to find out who broke Kamoshida's mind into submission (before he could). Akira Kurusu is determined not to let him look at anyone but himself too closely - Even if that means messing with his mind a little. In the most literal sense of the phrase.
Bookmarked by Starza
25 Dec 2022
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Summary
It was quiet in the aftermath—almost deafeningly so. There was only the sound of the wind blowing about the columns and ancient structures, combined with the laboured breathing of everyone else recovering around him.
Not that Flynn noticed any of that.
There was only one thing—one person—he was able to focus on. Yuri had always accused him of having tunnel vision, and deep down, Flynn knew that to be true. But now he realised exactly just how much it was true. His gaze was focused only on long raven hair, a haphazardly tied belt, slender legs in boots. And there was only one thing Flynn’s heart told him to do: to step forward, to make his way to Yuri’s side. The urge was so strong that it was almost as if Yuri’s heart was calling for him just the same. And maybe it was.
Flynn wanted to believe that it was.
Or: After their mutual confessions, Flynn and Yuri agree to keep their new relationship a secret from the rest of the party for now. That turns out to be easier said than done.
Bookmarked by Starza
06 Nov 2022
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Summary
Akechi Goro is a fascinating mystery and probably dangerous, Akira thinks. It would be stupid to pass up the opportunity to learn more about him.
Kurusu Akira is a fascinating mystery and probably dangerous, Goro thinks. It would be stupid to pass up the opportunity to learn more about him.
And after all, there’s no time like the present. Why make a vague promise to stay in touch when they could seize the moment right after their first meeting? Why not make the first move before their opponent even realises the match has started?
It’s not like spending the day together could somehow change the game completely...
(OR: Akira accidentally speedruns Akechi’s entire confidant track on the day they meet, and opens up some new options in the process.)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 35,176
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 250
- Kudos:
- 5,830
- Bookmarks:
- 1,678
- Hits:
- 59,112
Bookmarked by Starza
16 Apr 2022
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Summary
“Do you know who speaks Latin?” Akira asks, not waiting for Goro’s answer. “Dead people. There’s a reason for that too—maybe it should stay dead. I get it, you get off to being smarter than everyone else, but for the love of the almighty god, can you at least not quote Latin at the breakfast table when I’m absolutely hungover and can’t even think clearly in Japanese?”
Goro takes a sip of his coffee, seemingly calm, but Akira doesn’t miss the way his fingers grip the cup—frankly, he’s quite surprised the delicate porcelain is still intact. “To be fair, you always found it hard to think in Japanese or any other language for that matter. And that hangover is your own fault.”
In which Goro Akechi is a disaster and Akira Kurusu is his obnoxious roommate.
yuletide 2020: first snow
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 8,137
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 32
- Kudos:
- 612
- Bookmarks:
- 115
- Hits:
- 4,991
Bookmarked by Starza
05 Apr 2022
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Summary
“I bet I could figure out the buttons. Give me a week and I’ll have you as desperate as... as Purple Shirt. Mark my words, Akechi, it’s about the buttons.”
Goro stops walking. His wide eyes glisten under the streetlights—glossy like the twin buttons on a teddy bear’s face, glossy like the buttons on his crisp linen shirt, glossy like the metaphorical buttons that Akira aches to push. They stand still long enough for a car to rumble past, long enough for Akira’s pulse to skyrocket, for his palms to clam up with sweat that has nothing to do with the heat.
“If it’s only a matter of buttons,” Akechi whispers, “then I could say the same about you. Seduction is just... altering your behavior, tailoring it, putting on a show. Give me a week, Kurusu. I’ll make you the ‘desperate’ one.”
(Or: Goro and Akira make a bet.)
Bookmarked by Starza
11 Oct 2021
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Summary
“So, still not sure where we’re headed?” Akira asks.
Goro flashes him a sharp smile. “Nervous, Kurusu?”
“What? Because we’re out on the open road without a plan?” Akira grins and rests a hand on Goro’s thigh just because he wants to. “I have the utmost confidence that your gut will find us a very nice place to stay the night.”
Or; Akira and Goro go on a road trip.
Bookmarked by Starza
03 Oct 2021
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Oh Alice, There's no Reflection in the Looking Glass. by intothefrisson
Fandoms: Persona 5
14 Mar 2023
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Summary
What do you mean?” Ryuji tilted his head.
“It’s called Just Die. It reduces the SP needed for Insta kill skills like Mudoon or 'Please Die for Me' to zero.”
Ryuji and Ann blinked and blinked again trying to figure out what Morgana is trying to say. He watched as the gears churn in their head and they come to an epiphany, their faces growing horrified at the implications.
“Wait, you are saying. Joker can insta-kill literally everything in this palace. WITHOUT using SP at all?!” Ryuji clarified in astonishment because there is no way there isn’t a catch to this. “Without repercussion?!”
“Yes. That is exactly what I’m saying.”
Or the NG+ au where Akira knows more than he lets on, the Phantom Thieves start to suspect one of their own, and Akechi is in for a wild ride.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 496,095
- Chapters:
- 32/32
- Collections:
- 7
- Comments:
- 6,309
- Kudos:
- 12,379
- Bookmarks:
- 3,111
- Hits:
- 585,484
Bookmarked by Starza
20 Apr 2021
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Summary
"Love is knowing your target, putting them in your targeting reticule, and together, achieving a singular purpose against statistically long odds."
In which Goro Akechi joins the team during Kaneshiro's palace arc instead of Makoto.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 397,654
- Chapters:
- 39/?
- Collections:
- 7
- Comments:
- 1,410
- Kudos:
- 4,590
- Bookmarks:
- 1,158
- Hits:
- 218,625
Bookmarked by Starza
20 Apr 2021
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Summary
Five years after the Phantom Thieves disband, Akechi Goro once again finds himself as a part of Amamiya Ren's life. He entangles himself in Ren's charm, in his kindness, and in his naive nature and finds himself growing closer and closer to him, almost impossibly so.
And soon enough—they go on a road trip together, and the world blooms.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 94,208
- Chapters:
- 15/15
- Collections:
- 1
- Comments:
- 171
- Kudos:
- 1,066
- Bookmarks:
- 232
- Hits:
- 29,990
Bookmarked by Starza
12 Sep 2020