Hello!! Thanks for dropping by :) The Hannibal example is such an excellent one - I feel like it really functioned almost as a gateway drug for many since a lot of the darker themes are inextricable from the series. Also, definitely helps that Hannibal fandom is insanely talented!

And hm on the underage content, I think I've only explicitly provided a specific age once...? Mostly because when I do write anything to do with it, I'm not particularly interested in a specific age range - it's very much about the power dynamics and all the different ways that can manifest, as well as navigating the intricacies/complexities of it. Going back to the whole whump!fic example, there's also something very compelling about reading/writing something that has an inherent element of awfulness threaded through it. And from a writing POV, choosing how to deliver that (explicitly, so that the horror is the point? Implictly, so that them not realising is the horror?) is a challenge I really enjoy.

So to answer your question in a roundabout way: yes, I suppose you could say there are mainstream aspects to it (i.e. I think the power dynamics thing is actually a cornerstone of why people enjoy consuming this?) but no, it's not as specific as 17yo x their teacher. More likely, it'll just be signposted that someone is younger / older and I'm happy for the reader to decide how to visualise that.

Also on the sexual appeal vs writing exploration - honestly I don't have much say in what a reader gets out of my work, so the main thing there for me is that they enjoyed reading it. As for myself, hand on heart I'm too busy fussing with sentence structure and cadence and where does this body part actually go, have I used this word five times already, god how is this going to fit into a twitter thread etc. to feel anything but mild annoyance 😂 hope all of this was somewhat enlightening!

Hello anon!! Maybe I should start by saying there's a tiny ficlet for you in the reply because ugh now you have me thinking about girldad Toji too 😭 negl Toji is a bit of an interesting one for me because most days, I really struggle to see him as anything other than an actual prick who only has his self interest at heart (hot, ngl) BUT THAT BEING SAID I do hold the headcanon of there being another version of him somewhere that's...better, maybe? And it's 100% due to Megumama. So:

In a kinder, gentler world, she lives. When Megumi wakes in the night and howls to be picked up (jesus fuck, the lungs on that one), Toji gets to stroke her wild, flyaway hair in the dark and kiss her cheek. Tell her, voice rough from sleep, to stay in bed, he'll get their little devil-child this time (and every other time, but let's not spoil the surprise here.)

Megumi has her eyes. Her beautiful black hair (already messy, already a crow's nest, that's genetics for ya kiddo) and her little nose that scrunches up in displeasure when Toji leans over the cot to gently bundle her into his arms. "Are we done?" he asks her once she settles. Megumi might have her mother's features, but that attitude - the serious set to her mouth, the way she quietens down the moment she gets what she wants - can only ever be from Toji.

It should make him proud, he thinks. Megumi is wide awake but not even fussing. Just leaning her tiny head against his chest, content to watch the shadows from the nightlight flit across the wall. Puppy. Frog. Bunny rabbit. Toji walks in a lazy circle around the room and Megumi coos each time they get close enough to touch the shapes.

"You like that, kiddo?" He turns her around so she can watch the dark silhouette of a dog loping across the wall before. "Think we can convince your mother to get you one?"

Another coo, sleepier this time, and Toji hefts her a little higher. Breathes her sweet, milky scent in as he hums tunelessly under his breath. It's no lullaby (look, he's not the kind to know any, okay?) but the familiar sound, the low rumble in his chest must be good enough for Megumi because she's nodding off. Painfully small hands balled into loose fists, one clutching at his sleep shirt and another tucked under her chin. Fucking kids. Looking all adorable and shit, doing the most ordinary things.

Toji really should put her down, but what's another circuit around the room? What's another sleepless night spent awake with this little one?

And while he's at it, what's the feeling that's lodged in his chest? The one that makes the world a little softer at the edges, the one that makes it difficult to let go of her?

Toji only knows it in the laugh of her mother and the way she looks over her shoulder when she asks him if he intends to come along. The touch of someone who reaches out for him in the night. Doesn't want to let go, too.

(Love. Yeah, that's probably it.)

Anon, first of all, sorry for the delay!! And secondly, apologies for being an awful tease - I got through like 900+ words of this (wtf no really) before realising I don't have the stamina to finish it tonight (or in a retrospring answer lol) so the Good Stuff will be forthcoming, I promise!! In the meantime:

"You said we were going somewhere nice," Megumi mutters, sullen, and all Toji does in response is adjust his shades. Lean further back into the seat and spread his arms wider still, sprawled out like he doesn't have a single care in the fucking world.

"What, you don't think this is nice?" His lying bastard of a father is smirking, the ugly scar on his lip pulling up at the motion. "I thought you liked the seaside, Gumi."

Seaside. Like they're at the beach instead of on a boat, and like this is a vacation instead of another one of Toji's stupid ideas. Megumi contents himself with pulling a face, which only serves to make Toji laugh at the sight. Lean over to pinch a chubby cheek for good measure.

"Don't be like that, baby," he cajoles, all fake concern, and Megumi pulls away with a glare. "Look, we're almost there, so turn that frown upside down, alright? No one likes a sourpuss."

There being the superyacht that's lying at anchor, the bulk of it sleek and shiny in the evening light. It's nice enough, Megumi supposes. Orange sky. Warm sun. Sea-breeze in his soft hair and an evening spent entertaining bunch of rich perverts on-board.

For fuck's sake.

It must show on his face because Toji takes one look at it and just laughs again, the sound of it as unkind as ever.

-

It's the kind of place where even Toji gets offered champagne, Megumi reluctantly trailing after him in moody silence.

Polished floorboards. Art on the walls. Too many rooms and the persistent sound of music coming from somewhere on the top decks, a thumping, obnoxious beat that reverberates even down into the belly of the ship. A party, probably - he'd seen the twist and curve of beautiful bodies, all lean and tanned and dressed in shiny, expensive things, drinks held high to catch the setting sun.

"Mr. Ryoumen's expecting you," the man in the polo tee says when they get to the door at the end of the corridor, and Toji doesn't even wait for him to leave before he's pushing it open.

It's quieter in here. Soft carpet, rather than oak floors. Dark panels and plush furniture, warm light that stops the shadows from creeping too far along the walls.

"You going to be here the whole time?"

Mr. Ryoumen's in one of the seats just by the window. He doesn't even look up from where he's cutting his cigar - just rotates it against the sharp edge of his blade, slow and practiced. Unhurried. Unconcerned.

"It'll cost you extra if you want me to leave," Toji says, all sly, and the sudden hand between Megumi's shoulderblades makes him stumble over the threshold with a squeak that finally draws Mr. Ryoumen's attention. "So what will it be, boss?"

Mr. Ryoumen just makes a noncommital sound at this. Leans back and affixes them both with a look that makes Megumi wonder if they're going to get sent back out of the room before-

"Come here," Mr. Ryoumen says and Megumi doesn't need to be told twice. Less than thirty seconds in his presence and he can already tell: Mr. Ryoumen isn't the type who appreciates needing to wait for anything. "You ever light one of these before, sweetheart?"

"Yes sir," Megumi mumbles.

Mr. Ryoumen spreads his legs a little wider then, Megumi crossing the floor on colt-legs to gingerly step into the space that's been made for him.

"Play nice, baby," Toji calls from somewhere behind him. "You're a guest of Mr. Ryoumen's, remember?"

Megumi exhales a tiny, irritated huff that doesn't go unnoticed - Mr. Ryoumen has a small smile on his face when Megumi goes to straddle one of his broad thighs instead, knobbly knees digging a little awkwardly into the soft, black leather upholstery before he settles onto firm muscle

"Sorry Mr. Ryoumen," he mumbles again once he's seated and startles when a large, warm hand strokes down his back.

"It's okay." This close, he can see the lines on Mr. Ryoumen's face. Smell the spice of his cologne and the tobacco from the cigar he's still holding in his other hand. "But you're going to be nice and good for me for the rest of the evening, aren't you?"

"Yes sir."

The hand on his back hasn't stopped, Megumi trying his best not to lean into the touch.

"Lighter's just on the table, sweetheart," he says and Megumi can see it just off to the side. Brass and rosewood lacquer, the heft of it heavy and clearly expensive when he picks it up in one hand.

It flips open with a small plink, Megumi holding it steady even as Mr. Ryoumen leans in and lets Megumi light him. Because Toji didn't raise no idiot, Megumi blows softly on the end when he's done, Mr. Ryoumen's hand stilling in the small of his back when he takes those first few short puffs.

Mr. Ryoumen exhales just past Megumi's ear, close enough for a small shiver to go through him when he turns his head just so.

"Good boy," he says, voice pitched low enough to be a purr, and Megumi would squirm on his lap if not for Mr. Ryoumen's hand keeping him still.

"So?" Toji demands. "Should I make myself comfortable?"

Megumi can feel Mr. Ryoumen shift ever so slightly underneath him. Strong muscle flexing under the beige linen of his trousers, Megumi automatically reaching out to steady himself on Mr. Ryoumen's shoulder as he does.

It must be the right move, because Mr. Ryoumen is smiling at him again.

"Leave us," Mr. Ryoumen eventually says. His hand has come to settle on Megumi's hip, wrapped around the still-stubtle curve of it. "I'll have someone send him back to shore in the morning."

!!!!!!!! now this, THIS is good content. Gosh, the idea of Megumi just being this fiery little activist with all the polished talking points, all the right stats, more than happy to demolish any bone-headed Alpha with the Power of Research and Experience, but...of course. There's this one Alpha. There's always this one Alpha, isn't there? Have a ficlet, I love this idea sfm:

They're on a university campus for Orientation week. Invited by one of the omega-led clubs to set up a stall on the lawns, Megumi and his team having come prepared with all the right flyers and speeches. The undergrads are mostly polite - curious, even, and Megumi's more than happy to get into a verbal tussle or two with the occasional bone-headed Alpha who gets off on being told how stupid and backwards they are.

That is, until Sukuna walks past. One look and Megumi already knows he's going to be trouble. There's something in his eyes makes it seem like he's...browsing, almost. Hunting, if Megumi's being ungenerous.

Megumi offers him a flyer anyway and the way Sukuna looks at him - smirking, like he's doing Megumi a fucking /favour/ by taking one - makes something crawl up Megumi's spine.

Which means Sukuna is waiting by Megumi's car by the time packdown has finished. Arms crossed, leaning against the driver-side door like he owns the damned thing. Fuck. He should have fucking known.

"Move," Megumi bites out. "Or I'm going to call security."

"So he's pretty and he has teeth," Sukuna muses. "That's a sudden escalation, isn't it? I haven't even done anything."

You look like you're intending to, Megumi wants to snarl, but he knows Sukuna's type. The kind to get off on confrontation, looking for any excuse to remind omegas that they shouldn't be so emotional, so quick to resort to hysterics.

"Maybe I just want to make sure that you get back home safe," Sukuna continues on, when it's clear that Megumi isn't going to say anything else. "Is that so wrong?"

"It's unnecessary."

Sukuna just hums, as if he finds the response amusing. "You're rude for an omega, aren't you?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Megumi knows better than to argue, but god, he can't help it. What right does Sukuna have, asking some dumbfuck question like that? "No, really, explain it."

"Do I really need to?" Sukuna muses slowly, straightening up from his slouch. "Alright then, since you asked." The light is fading, but there's just enough of it for Megumi to see the sharp edge of his fangs when he smiles, predatory. Drops his voice into a low purr and says, "Maybe it's because I think pretty ones like you should just be bred, and not heard. How about that, sweetheart?"

By the time Megumi realises what's happening, it's already over - Sukuna having flipped them both around, shoving Megumi right up against the side of his car. Holding him there like he's nothing, cheek slammed painfully onto the cool metal. Megumi can feel it when Sukuna presses the warm bulk of his body against his back. Feet kicked apart, wrists held tight.

"So what do you think, hmm?" he murmurs. The hard line of Sukuna's cock is pressed up like a warning against him. Large. Heavy, as he rolls his hips, too leisurely. "Are you going to tell me I'm wrong?"

...Anon first of all I'm so very sorry that happened, I can't imagine how difficult and complicated this must feel for you, goodness. I'm not here to offer advice or judgement, so all I can say is I hope the path you're on is one filled with kindness, love, and warmth. I hope that you find peace in people/places that are easy to reach, and for the days ahead to be the kind you can look back on in fondness.

Secondly, I gotta admit, this wasn't quite what I expected when I said open dark vibes and takes, but that's really on me for not specifying! I was expecting more "Sukuna keeps shotagumi in a cage in his basement & offers a glimpse of sunlight as a treat if he's good 4 days in a row", or something to that effect, but honestly, thank you for the response all the same, I genuinely hope it was somewhat cathartic for you to write that out. I'm in a suitably bad mindset now too, so (hopefully!) win-win.

Omg gosh I don't think I could do bitter exes honestly I love them too much?? Sukuna would be a terrible ex but I have a feeling Uraume would be worse and so much more hurtful. Like yeah Sukuna's hate will burn hot and I think he'll actively tend to the embers, be so very angry and passionate for so long, but... Uruame. Gosh. The worst reaction would be absolutely no reaction at all? It's like Sukuna never even existed. Every trace, wiped from their life. They never speak of Sukuna, and if they must, it's like Sukuna is a complete stranger. It was nothing to them. He's nothing to them. Moving on is easy when there's nothing to move on from, really.

And now I'm making myself sad 😭😭