Don't Worry!!! It's A Non-alcoholic Cocktail!

captain and his pikmin

Tokoyami & Darkshadow Mer AU

Deep Waters

Tokoyami started his life in the cold, lonely Waters of the deep ocean. There were very few signs of life in the depths, but if he managed to catch a glimpse of what lurked just out of his vision, he feared what might happen if he ventured closer.

As he grew older, he came to accept that solitude was the best way to stay alive. Solitude brought him safely. If you're alone, there's nothing to fear.

And yet... the darkness crept into his mind. It failed to give him the comfort he craved.

He felt a deep and debilitating loneliness. He was split between the security of isolation and the contempt of companionship.

Though the shadows engulfing his body failed to keep him from acquiring any company, it brought him no distress, for there was something significantly more concerning to keep your eyes out for.

Flinkering lights emerged below him. The bioluminescent glow penitrated his vision and left him with an emotion that he had long forgotten in his years drifting alone. Panic!

As Tokoyami Clumsily fumbled about, fueled by his will to live, the lights below his tentacles shifted from a occasional flicker, to a string of constant and violent flashes.

The lights began to bolt frightening quickly upwards, heading directly towards where Tokoyami was located. He collected himself and used all his might to lunge up into the water above him, frantically trying to get as far away from the approaching threat.

His only chance to survive is to escape to the bright, open waters above the dark ocean that Tokoyami had grown so accustom to. Very few creatures are willing to expose themselves to the blinding light that was awaiting the both of them.

He had only been in the light a few times before, and the experience was completely overwhelming. The water around him was too warm, he felt like he could see miles ahead of him, and there was an abundance of possible dangers in all directions. Even with all these factors, he'd rather take the risk of the possibility of danger than the one currently swiftly catching up to him.

It was a race for survival unlike anything Tokoyami has ever experienced. Adrenaline rushed through him as his eyes failed to adjust properly to his surroundings, the darkness being replaced by an unfamiliar blue.

The heavy weight of the water began releasing him as he could feel the stong currents produced by the creature below him, nearly close enough to graze the ends of his tentacles.

The water became a bright blue as the swift waters below him ceased their assult on Tokoyami's senses. He swam up another 30 feet before turning to see what had been chasing him.

It was a large, juvenile eel, purple in color with many spots, strung together like a pearl necklace, lining its body from head to tail, now just blinking gently, her lights now dim compared to the overwhelming abundance of sunshine that illuminated the both of them. Her yellow eyes stared intensely at Tokoyami's two larger tentacles.

She was unmoving. The two stared at eachother for what felt like hours, just waiting for the other to make a move. The eel was the first to make a move, but not the way Tokoyami was expecting. She slowly approached the older boy with small deliberate movements. Her mouth etched into what could only described as a toothy smile as she moved in closer to Tokoyami's dominant tentacle.

Tokoyami was less then thrilled to have the thing that had been chasing him a short while ago now moving in closer by the second. He couldn't move. As much as he wanted to, he had spent all his energy swimming away. His muscles are too sore, he's overwhelmed by his new environment, and he's afraid that any sudden move will send the large eel into another rage.

The eel was a few inches away now. She seemed almost docile as she placed her snout under Tokoyami's tentacle. Brushing her face across his suction cups and moving gracefully as she circled around his body.

Tokoyami eased up as the once violent eel now attempted to cuddle up against him. She didn't look at his face, but instead the two larger tentacles pertruding from his body.

After a few moments, Tokoyami decided that if he wasn't dead yet, it was probably safe enough to move. He slowly started to swim back into the depths as his new friend followed shortly behind him.

He feel as if she's not going to leave him alone anytime soon. As he lowers back into the darker water, he began to feel comforted as he returned to the void.

Maybe the shadows weren't as lonely as he thought..

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This is my first actual fanfic I've ever written! I didn't actually intend to wright all of this out, but i felt compelled to finish what I started! Sorry for any grammar mistakes! I'm not very experienced with wrighting anything lol. If you have any questions just ask and I'll try to answer as best as I can :^D

Thank you if you actually read all of this!!! <3

OMG THIS IS BEAUTIFUL!!!

quick drawing of Curly

⚠️ Real photo of Spinner!!! ⚠️

The park flashback/scene where Tenko plays with Mikkun and Tomo-chan in Chapter 418 first takes place in early afternoon, as evidenced by the clock reading almost 2:00 PM.

The art in the scene confirms this: clear bright skies, and the shadows under the children are short.

However, the time in the scene changes after Mikkun and Tomo-chan tells Tenko he should be All Might (the moment Tenko decides he wants to be a Hero, as he tells his mom in Chapter 235). Suddenly it's evening: the clock shows 6:13 PM, and the sky darkening because it's nearing sunset.

When Shigaraki/Tenko thinks of the League, he and the League (and Deku) all have long shadows, the kind you see when the sun is low in the sky.

＊

The context:

Sunset is the time to go home. Children who have been playing outside, in playgrounds, at the park, are supposed to go home, to get back in time for dinner, back to their families.

In Japan, many cities and towns have a bell/chime/song that plays from public loudspeakers at around 5:00 PM. It's a daily test of an emergency broadcast system, but it has also come to be seen as the evening bell, a 'go home' signal, especially for children, telling them to go home before it gets dark.

In manga and anime, all these elements have become common imagery and symbolism, associated with each other: red-orangey colors, sunset, long shadows, the chime, children saying goodbye to their playmates for the day, the idea of home and return.

(from Mushishi)

＊

Putting it all together:

When the park scene first shows up, it's Tenko memory of playing with Mikkun and Tomo-chan, likely exactly how it had occurred in real life: it's early afternoon, the sun is shining bright, their shadows are short, they're at the park, they're playing Heroes, and when the kids tell Tenko that he should be All Might, Tenko is overjoyed.

But this isn't the scene 15-16 years ago; this is a memory. Tenko is also Shigaraki here. He has just had his core pried open by Deku, and given relief. The Crying Child has been symbolically saved, but the past, the massacre, the Walk still all happened.

So it's suddenly 6:13 PM, it's sunset now, because it's way past proper time (5:00 PM) to go home - because Shigaraki/Tenko can't go home to the Shimura house. It's too late. It's been long over.

Shigaraki/Tenko then looks away from Mikkun and Tomo-chan, to the side, and say, 'Nah' to their suggestion, because besides it being late, he also no longer wants to be All Might. He's deciding he's a Villain, he still holds malice and he still destroys.

So, the scene changes again to contains the League now, all six of them (plus Deku). They exist in this sunset time, hence their long shadows. They exist with current Shigaraki/Tenko, they exist in the now - and arguably, they would be the home he would return to at sunset.

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Up to interpretation, of course, but the sunset/going home context is real.

Japanese tweets about it (translated):

[When Tenko got the words he wanted, his eyes lit up, but it was past time to go home so I'm guessing that means "it's too late."]

[It is just heartening that the League members are the place where Tomura would return to when it was "time to go home." I'm sobbing]

[In the scene where Tenko is at the park, the clock is already past 6:00 PM, the time when good kids go home, so if he had met Deku a little earlier, Deku might have been able to stop him, but this seems to show that they're past that stage now, which is good.]

i saw that anya likes fast food and the jerma burger meme came to mind immediately

Dragon Hawks >:^)

Tall-tales and good advice

Poor Tokoyami finally got the courage to leave the depths of the ocean, just to hear Hawks yap about himself for a few hours... He doesn't seem to mind at least.

This made me so happy! I almost started crying when I saw her! She’s so beautiful!!!

Thank you soooo much!!!!

Artwork for @inkkarnation of her character, Zepha!

I’m Team Stardust on ArtFight!

Every worm I know goes away in the end