#also me: caesar down. what a loss

[chaos-has-theories]

definitely normal knives get them here get them now

. 🔪 🗡️ 🗡️ .

. 🔪 🗡️ .

. 🗡️ 🔪 🗡️ 🗡️ .

. 🗡️ 🗡️ 🔪 🗡️ .

. 🗡️ 🔪 .

. 🗡️ 🔪🗡️ 🔪 .

[reddesires]

Flirting With Them. (POTA Headcanons, Caesar, Noa, Blue Eyes)

Reference: This Imagine

As much as Caesar is most accustomed to human culture, he's very oblivious when it comes to the romantic aspect. (I mean be fr, Cornelia had to shoot her shot multiple times for him to notice) so when you openly flirt with him, with prolonged eye contact and a sultry tone of voice, he just figures that's just your personality and he shouldn't read too much into it.

This goes on for a long period of time and you sort of give up since your efforts are in no way awarded (felt like punishment with how bruised your ego is.) Caesar automatically notices the lack of batting your eyelashes at him and the seductive lilt in your voice has vanished instead you smile politely, you seem more reserved around him now.

He gives it time hoping that you'll resume your prior behavior but you don't so he'll have to take matters into his own hands, he begins talking to you in a sensual tone, his baritone inflect sending a shiver down your spine while refusing to break eye contact. It clicks for you right away.

"Are you flirting with me?" He leans back a flicker of confusion on his face,"flirting?" Your sultry tone reappears as you lean towards him."Do you like me?" He's stiff as a board looking away in an opposite direction, a huff exuding from him not willing to give an answer.

You flirt playfully with Noa, now you couldn't possibly blame him for being oblivious to your flirting, he just notches your behavior as friendship but to help on your case, your teasing was bordering dalliance and your touches felt more like a caress, primarily directed towards his arms or the tops of his shoulders.

He takes your advances in stride, treating you as he would treat his own friends and only sometimes would you contemplate if you should be more forward but you go against it deciding friendship should be enough for if he isn't receptive of your affections so you stop (it was a shame, he's such a stud after all pfftt)

Yeah, Noa catches on to that fairly quickly, he notices your no longer teasing him in that tone of voice instead the note is reminiscent to how Soona speaks to him, sisterly, also why aren't touching him? (he'll basically have an internal temper tantrum obsessing over that).

So there's only one thing to do, he'll have to just act that way towards you, lightly grazing you within your personal space and grabbing at your hair to direct your attention towards him and of course, tease you with that undertone unknowingly that he's trying to woo you and it's so unlike him that it clicks almost instantaneous of what he's trying to to do and your willing to give him what he wants.

"ooh, is there something you want to tell me, Noa?" The seductive lilt in your voice startles him "uh-uuuhh" he stampers out instinctively, scratching at a non-existent itch on his arm "I think you do~

the way that you flirt with blue eyes is with fleeting eye contact and shy smiles thrown from a distance, initially it started out that way. You were always drawn in by his azure eyes and his almost regal stance, he looked a lot like his father but so much like his mother.

Over time you grown close and your flirting consisted of compliments (Blue Eyes deserves a partner with a love language being words of affirmation) and the gifting of small trinkets, like a shiny stone you found in the coursing waters of the river or small figurine you craved from wood that took you ages to finish.

Blue Eyes is totally at a loss of how to respond to this behavior of yours, Apes don't feel the need to speak on things that are obvious translated into compliments and he accepts your trinkets and keeps them in a safe place but you were unaware of him doing so. Over time, you feel like you are being a pest and bothering him with human like qualities, so you cut back on the flirting.

At first he's slow to come to the realization that your behavior has changed, your grin lacks the radiance and your hands are empty of gifts instead you've resorted to smiling softly and gifting him space (I can imagine him being like noo, I want you close 🥺 AHHH)

So now he's on a mission of gifting you the shiniest stones he can find in the river and making adornments he spends hours at a time making while caring for Cornelius just so everytime you meet up he has a bestowal at ready and of course he's been practicing how to compliment you.

You are thrown off guard by this. This isn't a normal behavior amongst the apes, so you just know that he's mimicking your flirting behavior, so you just have to tease him. "Blue eyes! Another gift for me?" He signs that he knows you like traditional jewelry the female apes wear in the colony."Is this your way of showing you like me?" And he's hesitant to admit before relenting,"yes."

[zyxoxox]

Pools when I went to request something and I saw your blog aesthetic I just wanted to smooch all over it because it was so cute like OMGG

However I HAVE A REQUEST :3 I WAS WONDERRINGG if you could do Caesar king, Burnice white and WISEE x Fem! Ace detective reader? (BUT OFC if you don’t wanna do fem then NEUTRAL IS ALSO SUCH A GREAT CHOICE‼️)

Anyway if you do this request then THANK YOU SOO MUCH SCHOOKUMS AND HAVE AN AWESOME DAY⁉️

intuition said so!

wise x fem! ace detective!reader || 400 wc

note: wowieeee my first request hihihiii!! i’m glad my blog gives off the vibes, i wanted it to be cozy and the coziest thing for me is boba so 😌 i accept all the smooches!!!

ok sadly i’m not far enough into the game to know the first two, in fact i’ve never even heard of them before this, so im doing just wise sorryy 😭 i just his inter knot lvl 30 and met zhu yuan so. i’ve got a while to go

anywho i hope u like it! have a lovely day too!! <3

“i’m looking for the infamous phaethon. something tells me they’re on sixth street.”

funnily enough, the circumstances of your meeting was a client asking you to track phaethon down. you were in a tough spot when this mysterious hacker found you, and requested a favour- though it was more akin to threatening.

you had no choice but to go along, and though tracking their location was a bit of a challenge, you found a way into their system.

most of your pleasant clients had been proxies themselves, so you were no stranger to phaethon’s name. a part of you felt bad for exposing them like this, but work was work.

until- the hacker who commissioned you got arrested? under the name of.. phaethon?! there was clearly a lot more about this proxy than you’d been let in on, and your curiosity was officially peaked.

“wise and belle… the managers of random play video store. or i should say, phaethon?”

needless to say, the siblings were very wary of your intentions at first. you’d tracked them down… for solely your amusement? considering the nature of their work, it was a bit hard to believe.

but the more they saw your presence, they realised it really was just that- you would go on any tangent that made you curious, because you couldn’t stand being clueless.

and as an ace detective, there weren’t many questions you couldn’t eventually find the answer to.

you’d told wise and belle your connection to the loss of their account early on, and they while initially they treated you like a contact they could call upon, eventually it grew into something more. especially for wise.

“forgive me, master, but i do not understand the purpose of third assistant being here. i have accepted second assistant’s presence due to the emotional ties you have to her, but this other one’s abilities are in nowhere comparable to mine. i can analyse data with 99.99% more efficiency than-”

yeah, fairy did not like you.

and the feeling was mutual. it all started when you began helping wise with his smaller, less confidential commissions. your intuition was super useful in taking in the surroundings, and gathering bit of info and treasure he may have missed otherwise.

well, that was one reason. the other, arguably more important one, was that it was the perfect nonchalant way to keep each other company.

could fairy calculate all the things you said? probably. but it was different from you; much nicer.

the way you’d lean over his chair when he was connected to eous, the way your face scrunched up when you were analysing clues, the way you scratched your nose when your inferences didn’t align, they way you’d snap and jump when they did- wise had all your habits down.

at this point, the reason he didn’t let you in on bigger missions wasn’t because of a lack of trust, more so he knew he’d get distracted.

“wise, please don’t take this the wrong way, but your sentient ai is… unique. what about- what if-maybe we could go somewhere else? maybe coff cafe?”

and so, much to belle’s delight and fairy’s displeasure, the two of you went on a date! (neither of you called it one at the time, but belle was sure she could fix that)

you were very receptive of his likes and dislikes, even when he never had to say them. and you never forgot a word he said.

“here’s your favourite noodles! what? no, silly, you didn’t need to tell me, i figured it out! there was a stain on your shirt that could’ve only been left by chili sauce, and you mentioned you liked noodles crispy, so it was easy enough to shortlist.”

“want to go watch the next ancient aliens documentary together? how’d i know? you keep posting sky pics on the inter-knot and i know you watch weird stuff so-“

wise had a cupboard dedicated to your favourite snacks. if you got down to work, and you didn’t have the, on hand… let’s say he learnt the consequences of that the hard way.

he always had an energy bar on hand, and would hand one over before even you realised you needed one.

being perceptive to all the little details left you quite flustered at mundane stuff, and he was more than happy to go along with it.

an ace detective who couldn’t sit still, and an ace proxy who was calm always- what a sight for sixth street!

[sforzesco]

BROTHERS

The river Weser ran between the Roman and Cheruscan forces. Arminius came to the bank and halted with his fellow chieftains:— "Had the Caesar come?" he inquired.​ On receiving the reply that he was in presence, he asked to be allowed to speak with his brother. That brother, Flavus by name, was serving in the army, a conspicuous figure both from his loyalty and from the loss of an eye through a wound received some few years before during Tiberius' term of command. Leave was granted, and Stertinius took him down to the river. Walking forward, he was greeted by Arminius; who, dismissing his own escort, demanded that the archers posted along our side of the stream should be also withdrawn. When these had retired, he asked his brother, whence the disfigurement of his face? On being told the place and battle, he inquired what reward he had received. Flavus mentioned his increased pay, the chain, the crown, and other military decorations; Arminius scoffed at the cheap rewards of servitude.

They now began to argue from their opposite points of view. Flavus insisted on "Roman greatness, the power of the Caesar; the heavy penalties for the vanquished; the mercy always waiting for him who submitted himself. Even Arminius' wife and child were not treated as enemies." His brother urged "the sacred call of their country; their ancestral liberty; the gods of their German hearths; and their mother, who prayed, with himself, that he would not choose the title of renegade and traitor to his kindred, to the kindred of his wife, to the whole of his race in fact, before that of their liberator." From this point they drifted, little by little, into recriminations; and not even the intervening river would have prevented a duel, had not Stertinius run up and laid a restraining hand on Flavus, who in the fullness of his anger was calling for his weapons and his horse. On the other side Arminius was visible, shouting threats and challenging to battle: for he kept interjecting much in Latin, as he had seen service in the Roman camp as a captain of native auxiliaries.

Tacitus Annals 2.10-11

there's a lot going on in there! Arminius switching to Latin is a detail that always makes me feel a deep kind of sadness, especially with how it's preceded by mention of their mother. I wonder what she thought of what became of her sons, on opposite sides of everything but still, inescapably, brothers. even when they want to kill each other. there sure are a lot of fucked up and unhappy brothers around. and Arminius asking about Flavus' injury............I also had a whole thing typed out about the horror of imperialism and colonization and the trauma of assimilation but I think this sets the tone better

Rome's Greatest Defeat: Massacre in the Teutoburg Forest, Adrian Murdoch

and also this, just for fun

(ibid)

this post is already a mile long, so lets add another mile to it: a little scene at the start of their conversation! tfw you go in for a hug and your younger brother who also ended up being taller starts roasting your hair style

bsky ⭐ pixiv ⭐ pillowfort ⭐ cohost ⭐ cara.app⭐ko-fi

[schlong2]

latest fix rant time

none of my friends want to talk to me about monkey movies and then i remembered i have a whole blog dedicated to my latest fixations so. i've watched Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes two (TWICE ✌️) times in theaters. this was after watching the newer trilogy (Rise, Dawn & War) and the first 1968 original in prep.

things (SPOILERS!!!):

Kingdom's run time is 2 hours and 25 minutes. this is incredibly long for a movie. compared to 1968's 1 hour and 52 minutes, that's a half hour difference. Infinity War was 2 hours and 36 minutes for reference. that's a whole marvel cinematic convergence, but ape. the run time isn't exactly the issue i've seen talked about. it's the pacing. sitting twice through this movie was not a problem for me. i sat there engaged all the way through. on the second watch, i tried to be mindful of times in which it might have been dragging for the average person, and i like, literally couldn't find any. pretty much every scene had meaning and didn't drag imo. which is something these newer movies do extremely well. Kingdom is pretty equally split between verbal communication and sign language compared to the first three before it. the apes use both verbal and visual cues to talk. but because they don't talk every single time, it makes every moment that they do feel special. it reminds me of the Quiet Place concept, where most of the movie you only hear a human voice a few select times when it's safe to do so. Rise, Dawn, & War were kind of like this, as Caesar only really spoke when he was trying to make a point or communicating to humans, who are mostly speaking in those movies. he speaks more as he gets more fluent, and by War, he can speak very well. we see other apes like Koba, Maurice, Blue Eyes, and Bad Ape also speak English. these moments are rationed pretty well throughout Kingdom, making the dialog more select and meaningful. this makes every time these beasts talk feel like it means something and isn't just fluff to fill your ears. every other scene feels like it's building or showing a side of a character we hadn't seen before, and the scenes between those advance the plot or are like, really action-packed. i just don't see why some people say it has pacing problems. it's just long. i understand the average person's attention span is super short, but when you're sitting down to watch two and a half hours of movie, you gotta know there's gonna be downtime. moments where they're not fighting or advancing the plot. and i think that's GOOD man. but im also not one for action/adventures very much so maybe that's it? i think a lot of people maybe watch these apes for the violence and conflict rather than their introspection, genuinely thoughtful world building, and complex characters. and hey, that's completely fine to enjoy, but POTA is originally about morals and asking the audience questions and posing dilemmas to popular beliefs at the time. ok

Raka. he's great. Peter Macon has this butter smooth voice that's just perfect for the kind of character he plays. you can't help but like him. but he dies like 1/3 into the movie and is really only there to religion dump about Caesar (ape jesus) and then he's swept away. people are complaining that that's all he was really there for. to explain the real values of Caesar and provide a foil to Proximus. and i agree to some degree. i really hope he's not actually dead. his presence and death are felt throughout the movie, as both Mae and Noa (mostly Noa vocalizes it, Mae just silently shares in his loss and i think cries at one point?) seem to mourn him, saying shit like "if Raka were here..." and especially at the end when Noa gives the Caesar pendant to her. it's the shared memory of Raka and what he devoted his life to. but they never really like, actually linger on his death. there's a moment after he's swept away, and the shot stays on the rushing waters, Raka no longer visible and plays some sad tunes, but like. C'MON. he's not really dead. he isn't please tell me he isn't PLEASE

Noa isn't Caesar. i honestly do not get why you would want otherwise. of course, he isn't Caesar. we don't need another Caesar. he had a whole three movies to be the center of. i would be extremely disappointed if they just made a carbon copy of him or made Noa like a direct descendant of him or whatever. i hate that Chosen One bullshit. Caesar was just a guy that wanted peace for his people and that got him killed in the end. Noa is also a guy who wants peace for his clan. they're both leaders and have good hearts, but like. they're different characters. i LIKE that Noa has no relation to Caesar, i LIKE that he's his own character with his own ideals and purpose. Owen Teague does a wonderful job making the character his own. i mean Andy Serkis is Andy fucking Serkis. pretty big shoes to fill and i think Teague has the right foot size you know. i heard one guy say like "we've had our time to mourn Caesar" and yeah. we have. let's accept that and move on

WHERE MY APE DIVERSITY AT. we get a fuck ton of chimps, ONE orangutan, ONE gorilla, and ONE bonobo. what the hell. i mean. what is with the bonobo villian. Koba i fucks with because bonobos are some of the most playful, nonviolent apes out there. that humanity and its cruelty could twist a naturally peaceful creature into what Koba became.. i mean, that's great. but again with Proximus? maybe trying to evoke some of the same energy and nuance Koba had? ALSO. GORILLA PSA they are like so sweet. all that muscle is there to protect their families, and they're strictly vegetarians. i feel like Rise, Dawn, & War portrayed this better with most of the gorillas getting bodyguard jobs because of all their bulk. especially when Luca tucks that flower in Nova's ear. man. and Red going out like he did. gentle giants. in Kindgom we just have Sylva. gorilla henchman for Proximus. that's it. then we have Raka, the one orangutan character that i saw. wise and knowledgeable, guides and accompanies Noa and Mae then dies. at least we get one female chimp character that's more than just wife or mother. wikipedia lists Soona as Noa's love interest, which i can totally dig, like it's there. he takes her to the telescope at the end of Kingdom, which is more than what we saw romance-wise between Caesar and Cornelia. and the only other important chimp female is Dar, Noa's mom. in Rise, Dawn & War there was usually only one of each species of ape assigned a main role, but we saw much more diversity it felt like. maybe that's because there were smaller in numbers and have since spread out in the last 300 years? also like, bonobos are known for having female-female & male-male sex. dont know about the other apes. my friend mentioned that Raka said something about having a male companion and promptly searched reddit. all they had to say was: gaype?

the visuals. dear god the visuals. this movie is just visually stunning. absolutely breathtaking. they did a great job. i mean Rise, Dawn, & War are all triumphs of cgi and are excellent examples of the animation style done right. i did hear some guy say there is a loss of texture, as mostly everything in Kingdom is cgi, from the characters to the landscapes. but there's an explosion of texture in this film. there's one point where Noa is covered in the ash of his village and you can see it on his fur. there's quite a couple water scenes where the moisture clings to the apes' fur. It's all very impressive. great work

the references!! Rise especially has a ton of them (IT'S A MADHOUSE!!! & GET YOUR STINKIN PAWS OFF ME YOU DAMN DIRTY APE), and names like Nova and Cornelius, but Kingdom... i picked up on at least three main instances, but im sure there are more. there's the scene where the apes are rounding up the feral humans, and its very reminiscent of the scene from 1968 where they're doing the same thing for sport. there's the scene where Mae is running in the field, and she jumps on that log structure to get to Noa, which is nearly identical to a similar scene in 1968. the scene when Noa, Soona, and Anaya are exploring the human bunker and they come across an old classroom. one of them picks up a doll that says a distorted "Mama" which was huge in the original because that was evidence that once man did speak, why else would he make a doll that talked? superb call backs to the og. respect what was there before

SCHLONG THEORY

here me out guys. the starring ape-human relationship in Rise was between Caesar and Will. this type of love is called storge and describes the love a child has for a parent as well as the love a parent has for their child.

the starring ape-human relationship in Dawn was ultimately between Caesar and Malcolm. which i believe is truly philia towards the end, the love between friends and allies. just two dudes trying to keep peace in the world.

in War, i mean Caesar well and truly hates the Colonel. like more than he's hated any human in his life before. close to mania, obsession. anyways it's a study on this type of relationship between an ape and a human. true, all consuming hate.

SO in the newer movies we've explored familial love, platonic love, and hate, between an ape and a human.

in Kingdom the main ape-human relationship is between Noa and Mae. and their relationship is complex. not really that friendly and certainly not familial. no trust. some kind of begrudging respect maybe? i just think it would be neat if in further installments they explored a romantic love between a human and an ape. ok.

i KNOW Noa and Soona are probably going to get ape married and they're never going to touch on the subject but i just find it hard to believe that in the last 300 years or so that's NEVER been heard of. apes have the same level of intimacy between each other as humans do in this universe and can willingly consent. what are you so afraid of wes ball

after all, the whole franchise is about how apes, when given intelligence, compare to humans and begs the question: how different are we really?

is it possible for an ape and a human to fall in love?

[nenoname]

Journal 3’s references to Stan

(Is this just a chopped up version of a post i made earlier so i can experiment to see why it didnt show up in the tags? ....maybe

But hey now I'm transcribing it all so I hope that helps those who can't read Ford's handwriting lol)

Pre-Portal Ford

"I recall finding a shrunken head in the family pawnshop & bringing it to show-and-tell. Every other student brought a football, a football trophy, or a book about football. All of these objects were thrown at me as I gave my report. If my brother hadn't shielded me and punched one of the other kids in the nose, I might have spent the rest of the year in the hospital."

“Worst of all, I was born with a rare birth defect: six fingers on each hand. Although my family tried to convince me that this made me special (and it did help with shadow puppets)”

[Truth Teeth page] “It would be quite interesting to see what my brother and mother would act like while wearing these!”

[Dream Hipster page] "I tried to shake my hand to make it stop, and it fell off my arm! My hand grew and grew, and began to chase me! Suddenly, I realized my hand wasn't chasing after me at all- it was chasing after my brother; and it was going to squeeze him to death! It grabbed him and lifted him into the air. I tried to run to help him, but my feet were frozen.

Just when it looked like my brother was done for, the Hipster appeared, and said, "LOOKS LIKE YOU FINALLY GAVE YOUR BROTHER A HANNNDD!" The entire thing was just a setup for one of the Hipster's stupid snarky puns!"

“It occurs to me that if I must keep secrets from F, I might as well begin writing certain passages of this book in code. I aced Cryptology in college, so this will be fun! (At least for me. It would be deeply tedious and annoying for someone trying to decipher it.) It amuses me to think of their frustrating effort!” (ok this is likely for the reader and likely ain’t a direct stan reference. but like. it is to me)

(Caesar cipher) "I still recall that one summer Stanley and I hunted for the Jersey Devil in the Pine Barrens. Mom and Dad never believed that we really saw one...."

"Reminds me of camping with my brother. I wonder what he's up to...."

“When I sat down, [the fortune teller] quickly grabbed my hands and said, "What took you so long, Sixer?” I felt a chill run down my back. How she knew my childhood nickname was beyond me."

"It reminds me of the tree forts me and my brother used to build... when we dreamed of being adventurers...."

"I collapsed by the parking lot of the Twin Bed Motel. I stared at the word "twin" as I tried to catch my breath, and I realized that there was only one person left in this world that I could possibly trust with my secrets. I began forming a plan."

[Blacklight Hiding Places page] “Journal 3: The volume I hold in my hands. Describes my embarrassing defeat at the hands of Bill and the loss of my very sanity. Also contains a pretty good drawing of a plaidypus. Will soon be bestowed upon S and hidden at the ends of the Earth (I hope).” (he wrote the wrong journal to give to Stan lmao)

"Ironically, the only other person left that I can trust is the least trustworthy person I know. He is a thief and a charlatan- but a well-traveled one. I have no doubt that he is familiar with mob hangouts and back alleys the wide world over. He will find somewhere to hide Journal 1. I have sent word to him and now must await his arrival.

Perhaps he can yet prove his worth to me. Perhaps the mistakes of the past can be undone. There's nothing I can do but wait."

"The time has come to bury this tome. After that, all there is left to do is wait for S. And save the world. Or lose my life in the effort.”

Other sections: Post-Portal, Post-Weirdmageddon, Lost Journal pages + Ford's letters

[celticrobin-blog]

Best Served Cold

IV

Vulpes Inculta x Courier reader/female!courier.

Warning: Violence, derogatory language, slavery, allusions to SA.

Master Post

They lined the walls of New Vegas like sick dark pearls on a string. The crucified, the severed heads, the dismembered limbs and black flaky remains of burnt bodies.

It stank still, you never got used to the smell of death, a rotting rose encrusted with sugar.

Acrid smoke filled your lungs, and an inferno burned outside New Vegas.

Julius was -once again- pulling you along. Vulpes marched on ahead, his blond waves shining gold in the rising morning sun.

Your throat burned, every step was a trial with the round nestled in your thigh muscle.

Poor Arcade, he had it worse. Burnt to a crisp, parched, with not one -but two- arrows stuck in his leg still, not to mention the bullet wound in his shoulder.

You were ignorant to medicine, how the human body worked. You didn’t know how the body would be poisoned by infection by foul necrosis.

But Arcade knew. He knew how quickly he would die if he didn’t get the right attention, and the Legion weren’t known for their progressive ideas for treatment.

The gate still stood tall, russet and flaking, but instead of two broad shouldered securatrons, there stood sentry two bored guards.

A stream of slaves in their red “x” tunics filed out of the city, as the red flag of the Legion bull flew overhead.

They were laden with tech, documents, old-world posters and modern medicine, which was thrusted upon the hellish pyre.

It reeked of cooked meat and your stomach turned. You had no doubt they were burning people too, you knew the stench from Nitpon.

The ash in the air was once a person, that person once a babe.

“Ave Domine,” one with a feathered helmet, goggles and a face covering saluted them both. “Who is it you bring to New Rome, more slaves? We could use them for work.”

Vulpes pulled you forward, lurching Arcade also, he stumbled with his ruined leg. Vulpes gripped your filthy face and wiped the dirt off of it.

“Don’t you recognise Courier Six? A tough little brute to track down and capture, but capture the profligate I did.”

“Today is a glorious day Domine,” the other unmasked guard smiled with crooked teeth, his voice that of genuine jubilation at your capture. “Caesar will be most pleased that the degenerate has been captured. And with a new slave too. You out-do yourself, Domine.”

“I am the head of the Frumentarii,” he said plainly. “Failure is never an option for me.”

With a wave of his hand and a nod from the soldiers, the grand flaking and rusted gates opened up to you, crying from its edge with a squeal.

All to reveal New Rome, rather than New Vegas.

Slaves, former Freesiders, were being meticulously watched by the hawk-ish legionaries, whips dangling in hand.

They were arched-backed, hunched over, their hands grey with wet cement as the roads were cobbled.

Some were chased by soldiers, hauling impossible loads of rubble on their backs. They were forced out into the desert, no doubt to dispose of the decimated buildings in some grand pit.

As you walked, you saw some painting over old graffiti with dazzling white, the sun bouncing off it shrinking your black pupils.

All remnants of the old world were to be destroyed, no lampposts, no old world posters, nothing.

This was your home. Was. Was with all its faults and junkies, yours with its crooked ruined buildings and strange smells.

The Followers… what would have happened to them? What of the slaves freed by you?

Did they escape or would you find them here in the devastation? Were they thrown upon the fiery pits outside as well?

What what what? Your mind was a tempest of uncertainty, borne of your soft pink heart and grief of possible loss.

You hoped they got out, Caesar was a Follower once too, you thought, perhaps his heart is not so calcified as to put them to slavery or death.

“Stop gawking courier,” snapped Julius, yanking you along as some stared. “You have a meeting with my lord father.”

“The courier,” one cobbling slave whispered.

“They caught him? How?” Said another painting a wall.

“Maybe he’s come back to save us? Maybe he has a plan?”

“Shut up! That talk will get us killed. Keep painting!”

You were dragged with Arcade to the gate of the Strip, and your heart fluttered with trepidation and melancholy; of guilt and condemnation.

The Strip. The last time you saw it it stank of booze and hooker’s perfume. NCR troopers lined the streets cap-less, dancing, vomiting up their vodka and topless.

Loose men were being tantalised by looser women at Gomorrah. Glamorous brahmin barons flocked to the Ultra-Lux.

Now as you, Julius, Vulpes and Arcade met the greater gate… You squeezed your eyes shut.

The great gate creaked open.

You tripped some, in your blackened vision. But you must look upon the fruit of your mercy.

You were Proserpina, new consort of Pluto, dragged into the underworld for the first time from the land of Spring.

The Strip was in the process of legionising. More slaves cobbled the holey streets while others erected statues of Mars and a mighty looking young Caesar.

“Looks nothin’ like you, old man,” you thought, looking up at a marble statue of a square jawed distinguished man, thrusting a gladius into the air.

He didn’t look like that when you met him for the first time.

You thanked Whoever was in the sky that Vulpes wasn’t there for your first meeting with Caesar. The cat of your true sex would be let out of the bag -so to say- the moment you stepped in the incense reeking tent.

At the time, Caesar was not what you expected. He was gaunt, frail, drooping eyed and stinking of decay. You, in fact, noticed a wooden cane discreetly hid behind a leafy plant when you first encountered him.

Vulpes’ breath and words were a feather in your ear drum.

“Remember this? There look! I longed to kiss you there, how you blushed in the light, you were lovelier than the fairest of the daughters and concubines.”

“Should you be sayin’ that about the future ball and chain? I’m a Vegas mongrel, remember?” You grumbled.

Julius hit you up the side of the head, rustling your short hair.

“Now now Caesarculus. Don’t damage what may become valuable property.”

You ground your teeth to powder, and looked back at Arcade mournfully, he was shielding his gaze, his jaw flexing in pain as he limped.

The great white building appeared in the distance, a troop of legionaries lined the steps. It was impossibly large, grand and bold, all columns and harkening back to the real Rome of the emperors and dictators.

The top, still maintaining all of its letters throughout the years read, “Caesar’s Palace”.

“How tacky can you get,” you thought, looking at it, unimpressed.

The soldiers bowed before Vulpes and Julius as they entered. You couldn’t imagine Arcade’s pain as you both limped up the steps, if you were having trouble, he undoubtedly was too.

More guards bowed before Vulpes and Julius and the door was opened.

The lobby was echoing with a thousand words, centurions lounged on cushions and were fed by former Freeside girls, now clean in red tunics.

Columns stood tall and your boots stained and echoed the glossy tiles. Some nudged the other, and pointed at you.

When Vulped came with you and Arcade, the room fell silent.

And at the top of it all, upon his gaudy golden throne was him.

Caesar.

He was even thinner now. Despite his weakness, he still stroked the thigh of a red draped woman who was sat upon the arm of his throne.

There was another on the other side, and yet another again, rubbing his boney shoulders. The others lounged like bored petted cats.

The red tyrant leaned forward, his dull green eyes twinkling as he wore a foul, lopsided smirk.

His clothes were baggier than you remember too

Vulpes bowed, climbing the steps he kissed Caesar’s red gem ring.

“Courier Six,” Caesar shooed away the women who scurried away, leaning forward with a grin.

“Or Lucky, what ever your stupid fucking name is. I couldn’t believe Vulpes when he told me,” he stood with difficulty, an arm steadying him on the throne.

“You really are a pain in the ass you know, but strangely, without Mr House’s right hand man in the picture, things got a lot easier for us,” he grinned at you. You scowled and said nothing, swallowing your anger like bile.

“Still, we had to delay the invasion of the Hoover Dam because of you and your degenerate band. My top strategists, slaughtered. My mole in Camp McCarran, executed. You directed power from Helios One to Freeside, and Cottonwood cove…”

He unsheathed his gladius with a grunt, and pointed it at your throat.

“I should kill you for all you have done to my Legion but…”

He removed the gleaming blade.

“Your leaving Mr House really did wonders. I should really thank fair Veronica as well for softening your profligate stone heart. Vulpes, Julius, bring them to me.”

Caesar turned and disappeared behind a red curtain, leading to a separate room. There was a round table with a map of the Mojave in the centre, and Legion banners adorned all over.

“From what I hear, you have been hiding something from me,” he sank into a plush red coach, sweat pilled on his shaved head.

He was causal, agitated in his manner.

“Julius, unclothe him.”

“What are yo-”

Cutting you loose, you were took weak to do anything else. But then, they tore off your beige poncho, leaving you in your baggy white shirt. Unceremoniously, this was torn from you too.

Despite the coolness of the shelter you were in, your skin burned in shame.

You were left in your bindings, red and almost teary. You could feel the Bull’s acid eyes burn through you.

Of course, you felt Julius’ gladius climb up your spine, cutting away your bindings. You were left bear. Shamed. When you would have grabbed one of their weapons before, you sheilded yourself from their foul view. You were flushed, and almost teary.

“Bad injury, courier?” he sneered. “Or have you been lying to me, Vulpes told me you have.”

You’d rather there be starving wolves here than men. The worst thing a wolf would do is eat you.

You said nothing, looking everywhere but his eyes. You saw his jaw clench. He delivers a heavy back hand to your aching jaw, causing you to fall to the marble floor below.

He looks down at your, his eyes hated. Like that he turned away.

“Send her to the healer,” he growled. “And put her in a cell. I want that bitch broken before she’s put to work. Can’t let a decent womb go to waste.”

“You mother-”

Like that you are dragged away by Julius, you call out for Arcade who looks at you with the most fear you have ever seen in a man, and you have seen a lot.

“Stay strong Lucky, you’ll be okay,” he lied before Julius punched him in the jaw. “We’ll get out of this!” Another blow.

“I think I know this mouthy straggler… You were with the bitch of Vegas when she came to Cottonwood Cove for the first time.” His croaky voice grew faint as you were dragged away. I

“He is a gift my lord,” Vulpes answered. “He is a skilled medical practitioner and healer, he can cite Cicero, Marcus Aurellius, the poetry of Ovid and Virgil. He will make for a semi-suitable intellectual sparring partner.” His voice fades as you are taken away.

Away from your best friend.

-

The halls were lined with beauty, so sickening to be wasted on the red mould that now grew within it.

The carpets were clean, and marble columns lined the walls, statues of old gods look down on you with contempt, their soulless eyes gazing on your sorry self.

“In here whore,” hissed the son of Caesar the Dying. “I don’t understand why my lord father would see that you were healed. I would have you thrown-”

“-to the dogs?” You finished his sentence. “C’mon you’re a smart cookie, think of somethin’ more creative.”

Another backhand. It hurt. He’s good at that, you have to admit. Every strike rattled the scared brain in your skull.

The room where you shoved in smelled clean, of faint incense and herbs.

There was a crisp white bed in the centre with cabinets of medicine sitting in colourful vials.

A woman with dark brown skin stood hunched over her work, she was tall, skinny and draped in a rough white linen tunica. Her long black hair swung at her tailbone as she moved, humming.

“Woman.” Julius stated firmly.

She turned around.

She was beautiful, older with creases around her long, small, hooded black eyes.

“This woman once spent her life smiling,” you thought.

Her lips were thin like burgundy rose petals, and her nose was high and proud as her cheekbones were.

She had delicate tattoos, which had faded to a dark grey in the sun. They were six faint thin lines on leading from her bottom lip to her chin

She gasped when she saw you, dropping her tray of vials. They crashed to the ground with a smash, fracturing across the white tiled floor.

She saw you, and saw a banshee, a foul spectre come to haunt her.

Did you kill her horrid Legion son? Did she hear tales of the infamous Courier Six and was struck with fear to know “he” had been captured?

You could not contemplate the reasoning for any longer, before Julius put an end to your mental questioning.

The healer -you presume she is anyway- pants, her small chest fluttering as she held it.

“Hurry up, and tend to the whore’s wounds, woman.”

She is silent, merely sweeping up the broken glass.

“Yeah, he’s not too nice to me either.”

She looked at you, her onyx eyes awash with horror.

“You know, I’m not as scary as him.” You said as she led you with trepidation to the bed.

She motioned, miming taking off her trousers and folding them up. She pointed at you.

“Ah you noticed, 9mm’s been in there since last night.”

She looks into your eyes for a moment, her mouth hanging open.

Now you know why he hasn’t said a word. Her tongue, they cut off half of it. Bastards.

Black chips looked into you, she reached out to grab your shaking hands, hands were worn and warm.

Teary eyed, she looked away again, fetching a linen cloth, vinegar and water from her station.

Julius eyed you, if a gaze could burn, you would be wrapped up in a blaze.

The unnamed woman returned to you, and began to dab the wound clean with the clear brown liquid. It burned, but you needed the sting of cleanliness.

The wound will scar, you knew that. It was red, starting to form orange crystals around it as it tried to pucker to a close. It was angry as it swallowed the 9mm round.

And this woman would need to remove it.

She sighed and fetched some threatening looking sharp nosed tweezers.

You swallowed, you have done this before, Arcade has done it for you too, but you dreaded it all the same.

She noted your trepidation, and gave you… a branch?

She held it to her mouth, and mimed biting it with her teeth.

This isn’t going to be fun.

Wrapping your teeth around it, she looks at you, nods and digs the tweezers into your thigh.

You swallowed your scream and gripped the sheets, your nails sinking into the soft white fabric.

After her digging, she hit something hard, pulling it out you sighed in relief, your teeth having bit past the bark.

She wrapped your leg with fresh bandages after dousing it with some of the solution along with healing powder.

She looks you up and down. Her eyes widening as she looks at you again.

“I got a kickin’ in my ribs,” your voice was strained with agony. “Vulpes wears big fuckin’ boots so I won’t be surprised if they’re broken. Wouldn’t be the first time.”

Still trembling, she set about her work station. She ground some herbs together, and put it in a small sack, she poured clean water into a cup, and thrusted it before you.

You sniffed the herby solution carefully.

She made a motion as though she was breaking a bone and putting it back together, she shook her head. Then rubbing her sides as though she was in pain, she gave a thumbs up.

“Huh, won’t heal me, but it’ll stop the pain.”

She nodded.

You drank down the verdant concoction greedily, and wiped your mouth.

“How long till I heal up?”

She holds up six fingers.

“Six days?”

She shakes her head.

“Are we done here woman?” Julius cut in.

She wasn’t allowed to motion an answer before Julius dragged you off the bed. Your neck went scabbed and unclean.

You looked back at the woman, who looked towards you mournfully.

- You were stolen out of the palace, and taken to an old police station. Already, several guards lined it. It smelt dusty and you fought a sneeze as it filled your sinuses.

A legionary sat at the desk, dipping a quill into an ink pot, he scratched on a piece of beige paper.

“Name of prisoner?” He grumbled, bored.

“Fortuna” Julius answered, spitting the name out like tobacco.

“Age?”

“Twenty-six.”

“Nature of crime?”

“Anti-legion activity. Caesar deems her suitable as a breeder so she shall be put in a cell until she learns her lesson.”

Breeder, the word, all two syllables of it, made you feel sick.

“The solitary cell is the only one free, throw her in there.”

Walking you along the lines of battered criminals. All dirty faced and missing teeth and tattoos.

Some whistled, made lewd comments, as you walked through bare chested. You knew why dad preferred you to dress as a man.

Your cell was a cell within a cell, blocked off from the view of others.

It was as grim as your grave back in Goodsprings, with a singular small barred window that caused some light from above to stream in.

You were shoved in again, and the door closed with a thunk.

Scrambling up, iron bars met you. Slamming the great cast iron door. You were left alone.

Alone with nothing but dirt and a square of birthing light.

-

You didn’t know how, with the worries in your bisected mind ladening you with trouble, but sleep found you and you dreamt of nothing.

Your nose twitched with the stench of raw meat being seared. The foul cooking seeping in from your only window.

You grunted as you stood, the pain-killer the tattooed woman gave you starting to fade, and looked out into the small rectangle of night sky.

It gagged you with foulness, this stench of death.

You thought of Arcade. You heard of Gods that people had, but you never had one or many yourself. But you caught yourself praying for the first time.

There it was again, the voice of a serpent in a God-crafted haven garden of leaves and flora.

“Enjoying the view, dulcissime?”

Vulpes.

“Where’s Arcade?” You hissed, throwing yourself at the bars despite your agony.

“He’s safe. Caesar needs him, he is indispensable. He is fed and watered, that’s all you need to know.” He leaned on the bars, close to your face. “How are your ribs?” He smelt like smoke and sunlight.

“F-fine,” you pulled yourself away from the bars and folded your arms, grunting in pain. His face was a fire, and you hated being close to its loveliness.

“Courier Six is dead.”

“Yeah yeah, well fuckin’ done with the metaphor,” you said, waving your hand, dismissive.

Vulpes started to walk along the cage, his white finger brushing against the metal.

“Courier Six is dead -as in- they think you are dead. Don’t you smell the smoke? Like cooked meat, is it not? Surely you must remember Nipton?”

Your stomach turned. You did.

“You really are an evil thing,” his voice was velvet. “A slave boy bearing your resemblance was put in your tomboy rags. Flogged and threw upon the flames. You really are a heavy sleeper, for he screamed. He died for you, though he certainly didn’t want to.”

You swallowed bile.

“You sick twisted fu-.”

“You should be thanking me, if I never told Caesar that you were a woman after our little date… you would be thrown to the fire not him.”

“You’re keeping me cause I-”

“You’re a woman. Yes.”

“You sick bastard! I won’t do a fucking thing any of you tell me! I’m telling you know I swear it I’ll cut off your cocks I’ll-” You raging was interrupted yet again. Lifting his white hand, he silences you.

“Won’t need to do a thing. You will remain untouched, as you are.”

Your face burned.

“You really are a damn weirdo,” your voice wavered in your shame.

“A lifelong crossdresser posing as a Strip girl, one who wouldn’t even kiss at the end of an evening, even to keep up a ruse? Come on.”

Once again, he leaned in, your face contorted with blushing, shame and disgust.

“You my dear are Minerva, maiden of war, fair as you are ferocious in battle.”

Truth is, you could have had men and women if you wanted, but you had no interest in sex.

Women of Vegas, you confused them, they took you for a man. Gomorrah prostitutes would flock to you when you walked by, even before you were well known on the Strip.

In short, you made a handsome man, and a beautiful woman.

You remembered the first time your boys saw you in that black dress. How Boone stuttered and looked away, sheepish.

“Que linda, hija!” Raul complimented. “You clean up nice enough,” Arcade teased.

And when you un-sexed yourself, putting on your masculine gown, serving girls at bars would blush when you thanked them for your drink.

“I wish I could get the ladies as easy as you Six,” you recall Veronica teasing you one day.

“Yeah but I don’t want ‘em.”

“Well some of the men look at you too,” Arcade had huffed.

“Don’t want them either.”

You were awash with confusion; uncertainty as to your fate in the Legion. If you were not to be a vessel for them to use use use, then what was to be your sordid fate?

“Why the hell am I still livin’, since you aint makin’ use of me like that?”

“Caesar deems it that you are left here for an indefinite time… To let you think about what you have done.”

An emerald is flicked into your cell, beautiful and twinkling. It tinkled and sighed as it bounced on the filthy floor.

“You can submit to me now,” his face was flint and serious, Neptune tempting Vesta to be wed to him.

“I will not treat you badly,” he reached his veiny arm into your cell, his eyes burned with emotion.

“Submit, and I will make the queen of my life. You will be a goddess, draped in silk and adorned with gems, all you deserve, columba. I will build temples in your name, take the stars out of the sky.”

He strokes your arm.

“You will have no fear with me in your bed. You will have not to worry. I will even let you see your friend Arcade, all you need to do is submit to me, be my sweet lady.”

You paused, a statue made at his request.

The cell was filthy and dark, and you ached so from the journey and the beatings.

You looked at his carved face, his slightly broken perfect pale nose, and sapphire eyes.

And.

You threw the gem at his broad chest.

“Get fucked,” you spat the curse out. “In here’s lookin’ mighty fine all of a sudden. Would rather that than be your damn whore.”

He picks up the gem.

“Very well,” he glares at you. “I’ll take that as your answer for now. Be warned, Lanius has expressed a claim for you, he will not be so generous or merciful. He will pluck those pretty little emeralds right out of your head.”

He stormed out, defeated and you felt some pride in his anger.

The shard of light shrank as he disappeared.

[damnflirtyape]

Forgive me because I'm going to ramble, I've been thinking about parallels and character arcs that echo or mirror one another. And I've been thinking about some of the similarities between Mae in Kingdom and Caesar in War (and I might be completely wrong this is just my own interpretation lol).

They're not exactly mirrors of one another, but they certainly hold similarities. We see both characters dealing with the aftermath of a violent loss, see them battle with the trauma and anger and grief of those losses. They both withdraw from others around them emotionally and we then see their grief and fury explode from them in outbursts.

They're both plunged into dire hostage situations which require patience and strategic negotiation. And neither of them are in the right kind of mental space to navigate them. For Caesar, he's never encountered someone like the Colonel; this man cannot be reasoned with, cannot be intimidated, is as brutal with humans as he is with apes. Even if he could be reasoned with, Caesar is completely consumed by his rage and need for vengeance, he cannot and will not back down. And when the Colonel pushes him, taunting him about the death of his own son, he understandably lashes out.

With Mae, in her eyes negotiation isn't an option. Mae's been instilled with the belief that her mission is an integral key to potentially saving the human race and that nothing can come between that. We know so little about her and her past, but if a human is knowledgeable about technology and a government that disappeared 300 years ago, one can only suppose this has been deliberately taught to them. Like Caesar, Mae won't back down, because she knows Proximus cannot have the weapons inside the Vault and because her life hangs in the balance. She's the only one left alive to retrieve the decryption key and deliver it (her usefulness to Proximus arguably ends once she reveals a way to enter the Vault). She's also angry and scared and lashes out when he pushes her, reminding her how she's at his mercy.

Then the parallels of killing in desperation. Caesar arguably doesn't mean to kill Winter, he's blinded by his rage and doesn't seem to even realize he's choking the gorilla... And then he realizes how limp the other ape is, feels him slump lifeless in his arms and we see his horror. He hasn't fully realized how far gone he is yet, though his friends certainly see it. This is a harrowing scene. Unlike with Koba, there is no hesitance and thoughts of Winter do not haunt him after.

And then Mae's killing of Trevathan... this is a deliberate act but a purely desperate one. This is the moment Mae realizes how far she has to go in order to complete her mission. She doesn't want to kill this man, kill another human, I think it's likely (given her shock after she shoots Lightning later) that Mae has never killed anyone and hadn't thought she would ever need to. She's terrified, from the moment she's desperately trying to negotiate with him to the moment she shakily gets to her hands and knees in the sand next to his corpse.

Oh and about the parallels.... Caesar causing an explosion to destroy the military base and that explosion causing a devastating avalanche to tear down the mountain and almost wipe out his own apes.

And Mae causing an explosion to destroy the Vault and prevent human weapons from ending up in Proximus' hands... that also almost wipes out Noa and his clan?

And finally, the seeking of forgiveness. I genuinely think Mae felt guilt for doing what she did to the clan. I can see that as the only reason she would seek out the Eagle Clan's village, a sense of guilt and concern for their welfare. She should be well on her way to complete her mission, but she follows them. Her learned fear of apes has her hiding a gun behind her back, she's expecting Noa's anger. She's not expecting him to still be open to the idea that perhaps one day humans and apes could live side by side. She won't apologize, she still sees her actions as unavoidable, the 'right' thing. But she feels guilt, and the fact he seems to not hate her is far more than she expects.

And Caesar, oh Caesar. He's done so much, far far more than any one person should. And he almost lost himself completely, there were moments Maurice barely recognized his old friend. Caesar almost killed them all through his anger and grief, and he saved them all again. He doesn't need to ask for forgiveness, but Maurice offers it still, reassures him and lets him finally rest.

[malwaredykes]

honestly tbh leigh's relationship with the ncr is REALLY funny because. she hates them. she has 0 allegiance to them. she doesnt help THEM she resolves matters in ways that often happen to benefit them in some way or simply prevents needless loss of life, but it never is about them and aside from that shes always stealing, sabotaging, disrespecting them, turning people against them, encouraging members to desert, putting their legitimacy into question, especially the legitimacy of them being in the mojave in the first place, and exposing their ineffectiveness. she has 0 intention of venerating The Republic that she comes from. she thinks its hilarious that anyone should take that stuff seriously.

but she ends up being a celebrity to them. because crocker likes her despite everything, and hsu likes her, and because shes from new cali but important in the mojave, and because shes done stuff like calm things down in the freeside and help at refugee camps and retake nelson. which makes her even more of a problem in a way. if she were Only a nuisance thatd be one thing, theyd just put a bounty on her. but shes a celebrity. she has a status in new vegas and in the ncr. shes kind of untouchable. and her crimes and sabotage can never quite be proven. of course to the higher ups theres having proof and theres Knowing. shit only gets worse when she and her buddies storm the legion fort and kill caesar and free a bunch of slaves because like. this strengthens her vip status AND is absolute humiliation to the ncr. like they cant take the credit and instead they have to live with the fact that what a lot of them dismissed as some upstart with a bunch of clueless locals backing her did something they never couldve achieved. "oh this was pretty much an angry mob of townies and misfits" yeah and they got caesar in his own fortress. shes out there making the ncr look like shit and pointing people to seeing the ncr as the problem and yet she never does it in a way that she could be prosecuted for. by the time the ncr realizes shes a lot of trouble they also know they would lose a TREMENDOUS amount of support if they did something to her

like shes never openly hostile. she never provokes open hostility. shes not Openly Antagonistic to the ncr but its not exactly a secret shes got something planned and would like them to leave. young ncr recruits seeing her are like Omggg ma'am its an honor!!!! ^_^. there are officers and rangers whod be REALLY appalled if you said anything bad about her because Well she sure has done a lot more for us here on site than any of you government people. and that was her goal. that is the game shes playing. folks youll eventually realize its not the ncr that has done good in the mojave despite its flaws, but yours were the hands doing the work, and all the reasons one might consider ncr good or necessary are within you, Are you, the people who joined hoping theyd make a difference. folks youll realize that the ncr has to lie and obfuscate and make bullshit orders and directives to maintain claim over that good work and whitewash its own crimes. folks, i have this ex-ncr friend here. do you know what the ncr got him? complicity in atrocities (lyrical miracle), ptsd, apocalyptic thinking, countless biases to unpack, hopelessness, enemies where he shouldve made friends. and so on. and do you know what he got from *me*? a chance to actually do good. a chance to question those false beliefs of his. a friend. new opportunities. 40 rolls of duct tape. new rifle. lots and lots of soda. TWO toy trucks. and an apple. just ask him

[gffa]

Update on how my One Piece reading is going:

It may have taken me literally a decade to get through Fishman Island, but Punk Hazard is actually going much better! I'm 3/4ths of the way through it already!

I would liken Punk Hazard to Thriller Bark in terms of enjoyableness--a cool aesthetic, some great humor moments that I've laughed out loud at, some great shippy moments for my faves, more sexism than I'd like but I can headcanon it into something more tolerable. Not the best, but legit enjoyable.

Trafalgar D Water Law is my perfect put-upon princess that I love with all my heart. Every single face he makes when he has to deal with Luffy only makes me love him more. Yeah, I have problems with Oda's writing post-time-skip, but he is REALLY making it up to me with every panel Law is in.

I had a long discussion with a friend about why Ace's death gave us both such complicated feelings, why we both respected the hell out of the decision to do it, but also were so disappointed by it that we both dropped the manga for like 10+ years after it happened.

Primarily it comes down to that it felt like all the emotional weight of it was just ignored because of the time-skip, that there wasn't even vow to get stronger to one day beat the shit out of Akainu, there wasn't even any "Ace believed I'd be the pirate king, so I'm going to keep on this path!" Just nothing of the weight of what happened. Then you combine that Sabaody's reunion not having enough emotional weight for the characters, new designs we didn't like very much (Zoro lost an eye and we never even see that major event!?!?), Sanji's sexism is near unbearable, the villains are boring and have absolutely no personal stake with the Strawhats, and it was just a recipe for killing our interest, despite that we both thought Ace's death to drive Luffy's character felt important, in that he was the only one without major loss in his past to drive him.

Other than that, Punk Hazard is a shorter arc so its pacing is fun, the body switching made me laugh (other than Sanji's... everything.... and I want to punch Smoker in the face for what he did in Tashigi's body), Doflaming is the absolute WORST and I love him, Caesar is a kinda fun villain, and I legit took like 30+ screenshots of Law's life being hell.

I also tried to switch back to the anime, but I've found that I cannot go from manga --> anime (despite originally watching up to the Alabasta arc, when that's all that was out at the time, then switching to the manga) because the anime's pacing is AWFUL. I know they have to stretch it out to not get ahead of Oda, but it becomes unbearable when you're used to the better pace of the manga.

I'm about 10 chapters away from the end, wish me luck and I'll be back to laugh-yell about my faves some more in Dressrosa, I bet.

Also, the Shueisha app (which was the easiest place to read the manga, since I can do it right on my tablet) is terrible for me because it made it soooooo easy to read 20+ chapters of Kagurabachi and I'm not sure it's good yet, but I am having fun!

[jurakan]

Historical disaster for Fun Fact Friday?

Also happy Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

Happy Sacred Heart Day (and month!)!

Alright, Today You Learned that the destruction of the Library of Alexandria was… not actually that big of a deal.

[Version of the library in Assassin's Creed: Origins, with a statue of Zeus Amon. Notably, the game has the Battle of Alexandria, in which Caesar's forces are believed by many to have burned the library, but don't mention this in the game itself. Discovery Tour mentions it, but says the library itself probably wasn't burned, and then blames the Christians for it in a later century.]

It is commonly put forth that the Library of Alexandria in Egypt, which was once the center of learning and knowledge of the ancient world, burned, and this is the greatest tragedy to ever happen. So much ancient knowledge was lost in that fire set back human progress by centuries. If it weren’t for the fire that burned the Library of Alexandria, we’d have jetpacks and space travel by now! Curse those darned [whatever group we blame for the burning]! Carl Sagan talks about it in Cosmos! Clearly, it’s one of humanity’s darkest hours!

Okay, for the record, you should almost never use Cosmos as a source on history. Second: it wasn’t actually that big of a problem, all things considered.

Look, there were other libraries around in Egypt, and the Mediterranean in Rome and Greece. People copied books that they thought were important, or referred to/cited in other books that they wrote, and put them in the other libraries. That’s how ancient library culture worked. So yeah, works were lost, and that sucks, but there are also a lot of things that got passed on to other libraries. The notion that there’s some ancient science manual, or hidden masterworks without which we lost enlightenment? Yeah, nah, brah, that’s just not what the evidence shows.

[And the Library was in decline, far from its heyday, by the time it went down.]

Just imagine, before the rise of the Internet, that the Library of Congress just disappeared. The US wouldn’t plunge in a Dark Age; things would be lost, but we’d get by okay, because much of that material has other copies that survive elsewhere.

Furthermore, none of the big-name libraries of the ancient world survived. That’s just how it goes, man. It sucks, yeah, but it happens. Libraries get destroyed sometimes; Wikipedia has a list, and the last one on there was only a few years ago. 

Kiwi Hellenist has more than one post about this topic.

So whenever someone acts like the Library of Alexandria's loss was the greatest tragedy, greatest loss of knowledge in history... well, no, it wasn't. Yeah, it sucks, don't get me wrong, it just wasn't the massive big deal that pop culture wants you to believe it was.

[the-apprentice-lia]

i just watched hunger games 1 after rereading the books and i have some… thoughts.

so everyone goes on about how the movies are so inaccurate to the books, but (and i say this as an avid bookworm) i don’t think they really are. the biggest inaccuracies i noted were as follows:

a) rue and katniss don’t talk about their different districts — however, i do think this wasn’t terrible as they had to amend the plot at several points since we didn’t have katniss as a narrator, like when caesar explains what tracker jackers are.

b) the one that stood out the most to me: the mutts are just… dogs. not tributes, children, that have had their eyes gouged out and their bodies twisted and warped to be another pawn for the games, even in death. children whose families, to our knowledge, do not even receive their babies’ bodies. and this was such a big detail to overlook since this is precisely the reason katniss is so horrified, and precisely the reason the brutality of the games is made so clear to us, the viewers: because these children will always be nothing but pieces on a game board to the people in power. things to be used, warped, destroyed, and then discarded. because when katniss looks into glimmer’s (or her mutt’s) eyes, it finally hits her how insignificant the capitol views the tributes. how even when you’re winning, there’s something to be used against you. she even sees rue, the girl she saved, the little twelve year old she buried, rabid and frothing at the mouth with hate. and this is when she sees, in perfect clarity, the grotesquerie of the games.

c) key details were omitted, like when haymitch fell off the stage, when madge gave katniss the pin, when peeta threw haymitch’s glass against the wall in the train car, how katniss threw peeta into the vase after the interviews and peeta’s hands were lacerated, how the soup from the parachute was actually broth and not the infamous lamb soup with plums that katniss loves (and subsequently, the ice-breaker in caesar’s interview being different), and of course, the infamous black buttercup. i mean, all in all, these were quite annoying— but not to the point where they changed the main message of the movie: the corrupting nature of power and how this breeds cruelty and uncompassion for human life. i think they stayed true to this, and that’s why i believe the films are a worthy tribute to the books!

furthermore, to compensate for the loss of katniss’ inner narrative spelling out key details for us in the books, the film does actually come up with pretty clever ways to work around this. like, as previously mentioned, when caesar explains on live television, to a capitol audience, what tracker jackers are and why they’re so deadly, which is key to the scene where katniss cuts the nest down. or, when the parachutes come with little notes; since we can’t see katniss putting together that a good kiss = a reward, we are actually told by the note in the soup parachute. “you call that a kiss, sweetheart?” we also have further insight into seneca crane’s death, which is so breathtakingly poetic, and symbolic, in my opinion. well, at least as poetic as a death can be. in addition, even though the books do mention it, we see in real time how haymitch flatters and strokes and fights for sponsors for katniss and peeta. this is so significant, as a man who has been forced to mentor years and years of tributes, to watch them die over and over again, and to gradually lose all hope that they’ll survive— this man is the one that is fighting so hard for katniss and peeta. we can see that better in the film. so the inconsistencies, in my opinion, can be overlooked as we will never truly have a film that is 100% loyal to the books. (unless it’s lord of the rings but shhh)

but what really sealed it home for me was something that the books actually didn’t do: we have the sense as viewers, a lot of the time, that we are intruding upon a profoundly personal moment. like with katniss and peeta in the cave. but that’s exactly what the film is trying to drive home. and that’s what makes it so fantastic. because we are intruding. we shouldn’t be watching such a deeply personal and vulnerable moment for katniss, who never shows her feelings if she can’t help it, and peeta, who shows his like an open book. it’s wrong on both accounts because in addition to these children being forced to fight brutally and bloodily to the death, they have to put on a pantomime as they do! i mean, what could be more unjust than a girl who’s being put to death being forced to give everyone a show on the way out? when the camera is just a bit too close, when there is no soothing filler music, when we can see them, raw and real, two kids afraid to die in an unfamiliar forest far away from their home, we feel uncomfortable. because why should we get to see this? how can this be fair? surely, they can have just this one thing. but that’s the whole point. they can’t. and we— watching from the same perspective as the capitol audience, i would like to emphasise— feel complicit in robbing these two kids of a brief moment of respite. that is what the film tries, and succeeds brilliantly, to convey.

i’m sure there’s still more to cover, but this is just what i noticed and felt the need to write about from my first time watching ‘the hunger games’. in conclusion: the film was actually fantastic if you don’t nitpick the small details. i think it’s a raw and real and fantastic tribute to the books, and should be treated as such.

[faintingcouchguy]

Book asks: How about 11 & 12?

11: Two answers for this. One that’s just a few years old: Piranesi (Susanna Clarke). I knew a lot of people who read it right away and loved it; I put it off until this year, and thought it was lovely as advertised. Even better after reading an interview with Clarke where she talked about how chronic fatigue informed both the content and structure of it. I could tell it was about a form of grief and loss that could resonate with a lot of experiences, and learning hers made lots of sense. For one that has really been out for A WHILE: I have read or seen most of the really famous Shakespeare plays, but I missed Julius Caesar in school and only read for the first time a few months ago. So this is far from a fresh observation, but damn, cool play! Glad I read it with an experienced adult brain so that I could appreciate what was going on. Acts 3 and 4 are especially great.

12: I don’t really want to name it, because it’s not a big-name book with a zillion reviews so it feels mean to be negative about it in public. But I read a queer historical novel with a promising concept and I just wished the writing was better. Wholly support that the excitingly gendered protagonist was an obvious author self-insert; more academics should make Mary Sues! More Mary Sues should be butches!! Also not dinging it for being super didactic, because it was openly intending to Teach You a Lesson. But those things combined meant it felt less like a novel than a history lesson + thinly veiled memoir + steamy bits in a trench coat. The steamy bits were pretty good, and a fictional interview with a real historical figure really stood out. Just some other elements that let me down. (Mutuals can DM for the name if you really want to know.)

[moreapples]

After they had gone a long time without food, Paul stood up before them and said: “Men, you should have taken my advice not to sail from Crete; then you would have spared yourselves this damage and loss. But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost; only the ship will be destroyed. Last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me and said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand trial before Caesar; and God has graciously given you the lives of all who sail with you.’ So keep up your courage, men, for I have faith in God that it will happen just as he told me. Nevertheless, we must run aground on some island.”

—Acts 27:21-26

~~~~~

Shipwrecked

By Jennifer Kane

There are visions that feel like nightmares,

yet they lead to heavenly victory.

This journey feels like one of those—

a stormy path, ordained by God.

For the dream of the warrior

is to go wherever the Spirit leads.

Would you boldly set sail,

knowing a shipwreck is certain?

This is a romance with the Divine,

a life where the wreckage refines.

So I run, like Paul, toward the storm,

toward the broken vessel that awaits me.

I will fight the good fight,

endure the suffering,

if it gives another a chance—

a chance to know the God

who seeks the lost,

and rescues lives wrecked by sin.

~~~~~

Scripture: Acts 27:21-26

Paul, a prisoner on a doomed ship in the midst of a violent storm, became a beacon of hope to those around him. After days of chaos and despair, he boldly stood and shared God’s promise: “There will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” Despite the dire circumstances, Paul’s confidence rested not in human solutions but in God’s sovereignty.

Notice how Paul begins by acknowledging the crew’s mistakes, yet he quickly shifts focus to encouragement: “Take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.” This is the essence of faith — believing God’s word even when everything around you says otherwise.

Paul’s courage stemmed from two truths:

1. He belonged to God: In the storm, Paul remembered that he was not his own. He belonged to a faithful and loving God who had never forgotten him.

2. He served God: Paul knew his purpose was greater than his circumstances. Even in chains, he prayed for the safety of others and shared God’s message of hope.

Paul’s faith didn’t erase the storm; it gave him the strength to endure it. He trusted God’s promise and acted as a leader, encouraging others to do the same. What storms are you facing? Remember, God’s word is trustworthy even when circumstances feel hopeless. Trust in His promises and take heart.

Like Paul, labor in prayer for those around you — believers and non-believers alike. Your prayers can impact more lives than you realize. When you experience God’s peace in your storms, share that hope with others. Your testimony could inspire faith in those struggling to believe.

Identify a promise of God that speaks to your current situation. Write it down, meditate on it, and pray for the faith to declare, “I believe God.” Share this promise with someone who may need encouragement today.

~~~~~

Father God, in the storms of life, when the waves rise high and the winds threaten to overwhelm, remind me that I belong to You. You are the God who speaks peace to the seas and calms the chaos with a word. Help me to trust You completely, even when the path ahead is unclear.

Father, as I face these rough seas, I lift up my heart to You. Please strengthen me and sustain me. Fill me with Your courage when fear presses in and with hope when despair knocks at the door. Let Your Spirit be my guide and my comforter.

I pray especially for my dad, who is in the hospital. Surround him with Your healing presence. Grant the doctors wisdom, steady hands, and clear minds. May Your peace, which surpasses all understanding, guard his heart and mine.

Strengthen my faith, Lord, so that I may not only endure this trial but also reflect Your love and encouragement to those around me. Help me to stand firm in the knowledge that You are faithful and that Your promises never fail. Be my anchor, my shelter, and my strength, and may Your name be glorified even in the midst of this storm.

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

[sforzesco]

Hi- hope you are well, I love your art! I was wondering if you had an opinion on whether or not Crassus would side with Pompey or Caesar in the event that they still ended up going to civil war if he lived (noting he'd probably have been able to prevent it if he wanted to)

I HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT THIS A LOT

the part of me that believes in the enduring romance of a good partnership says he picks Pompey, but the part of me that loves tragedy and also spends too much time reading anything that mentions Crassus is saying 'it would depend.'

specifically, I think the decision would be timeline dependent, in the sense that Crassus would be more inclined to bet on Caesar since Pompey opts to stay in Rome and fulfill his command through legates, and his behavior during all of this is kind of eyebrow raising for someone like Crassus, who would probably start writing up a Pros/Cons list

it would also be thematically in line with Pompey, since the desertion of everyone except for Cornelia is important, and the loss of Crassus would be devastating since Crassus is one of the characters who has been in Pompey's narrative the longest, and his longest alliance for sure. Crassus outlived all of Pompey's marriages except for the one Pompey had to his son's widow, after all! and Pompey said he was the rising sun to Sulla's setting one, and you gotta commit to the theme if you're going to speak it into the world! and to a certain degree, Crassus also might feel more inclined to trust Caesar more at this point

on the other hand, a little later down the timeline, Caesar flips the Senate off and does his little Rubicon Scene, and provided Crassus hasn't picked between the two, he would probably re affirm his decades long coalition with Pompey because Sulla's Ghost marching on Rome is unacceptable. also, thematically here we're unlocking Sulla's Ghost (Caesar) going against Sulla's Heirs (Crassus, Pompey), and we've arrived at a Civil War With Layers To It Anyway! as both a Thebaid and Pharsalia enjoyer, this appeals to me immensely.

creating a situation where no Civil War happens is intriguing too, since the deaths that prompt it are Julia and Crassus. so. creating a situation where Crassus doesn't invade Parthia is a fun puzzle to solve. historically, Crassus gave both his sons over to Caesar to get their start on the military ladder, and Publius is the spark that starts off the Parthian expedition, so there needs to be an alternate event that stops Crassus from planning the expedition. the easy way out is that Crassus simply holds it off for one more year or simply Does Not Do It, but it clashes with both Publius' character and the way that Crassus was aware that he's. like. old, and is trying to legacy build something for his sons, and Crassus' atypical hold on power does not seem like something Publius would be interested in pursuing. but Marcus on the other hand......maybe.......

I have been toying with the idea of figuring out a scenario where Crassus splits his sons between Pompey and Caesar, but man, trying to get any of these years to line up in a way for it to work would require a personal miracle from saint jude or something, like I'm sitting across from Crassus and going 'hey man, what do I have to do to make you stay in Syria and not make a bad decision.'

[fordecree7]

THE BIBLE BOOK OF GOD

New Testament

Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

27 And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. 2 And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. 3 The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. 4 And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. 5 And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. 6 There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. 7 We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. 8 Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

9 Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, 10 saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” 11 But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. 12 And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

The Storm at Sea

13 Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. 14 But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. 15 And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. 16 Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship's boat. 17 After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. 18 Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. 19 And on the third day they threw the ship's tackle overboard with their own hands. 20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. 26 But we must run aground on some island.”

27 When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. 28 So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. 29 And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. 30 And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship's boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, 31 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” 32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship's boat and let it go.

33 As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. 34 Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” 35 And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. 36 Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) 38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

39 Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. 40 So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. 41 But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. 42 The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. 43 But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, 44 and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Acts 27

Diane Beauford