#and yes he is driven and ambitious and all I know | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

slightly-knot-insane · 1 month ago

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Just curious how this might turn out on a real story format, and I'm having writers block.

Werewolf BF absolutely adores you. His love isn't possessive, unlike most other of his kind.- he's simply heavily attached to your taste, texture and smell. Often cuddling up to you, sniffling along your cheek and dragging his thick, warm tongue over your skin as his whiskers gently rasp against your softness. During sex, he's passionate, but gentle, never laying a claw noor tooth on you, merely licking you in gentle, slow foreplay and feeling you up with his broad paws. You both love the sensation of his knot inside you- it is a stretch, but not to the point that it's uncomfortable or painful. Just a subtle pressure on your insides, the feeling of your walls around his inflated base alighting the sensitive nerves in it ablaze.

Wanted to see how this material would work in a oneshot/short story, dunno

a/n: just a bit of werewolf loving. Sorry for waiting this long, nonny!

Sweet and Spicy

[ m!werewolf x fem!reader ]

content: nsfw, oral (female receiving), fingering, squirting, p i v, knotting, cumflation

He's not your first werewolf boyfriend. You had a few before, and you would always break up with them because of how possessive and jealous they were. One of them demanded that you quit your job and stay home all the time. Despite the allure of chilling at home all the time, you liked your job and independence far too much to do it. So you broke up with him.

But your current boyfriend is quite different. At first, you thought he was just like the others: texting you all the time, checking on you, wanting to spend all his free time with you. But something was off, or rather, the opposite of off.

After some analysis, you realized he is merely concerned for your well-being. He is proud that you are so driven and ambitious, and jokingly asks if he could be a stay-at-home boyfriend so that he can take care of you and see you more often. He respects your boundaries and your need for self-care and alone time. But when you're together, even when you're busy, he is always somewhere near, where he can see you, or at least smell you.

Despite your initial suspicion toward his puppy-like behaviour, anxious that it could turn into something unhealthy, you eventually relaxed and accepted his clingy but cute personality.

"I just love how you smell when you're happy," he tells you while embracing you during the movie night. "But I adore how you taste when you're happy and satisfied."

"How I taste?" You smirk, knowing all too well where this is leading.

He hums as he rubs his snout against your cheek. His nose is wet and warm, and he tickles you. "I just can't get enough of you. Never."

His big hands slide underneath your shirt and find your soft breast. You turn your head for a kiss, and he does in his messy werewolf way that you find endearing. His fingers circling around your nipples quickly ignite your need. "Do you want me, handsome?"

"Yes", he pants into your ear and glides his tongue around your earlobe. You shiver. He is strong and capable of holding you for an hour, pounding you against every wall in your apartment, using you like a doll. But he is also quite versed in gentle lovemaking.

He slides onto the floor, undressing you. A damp stain is decorating the front of your panties. He smiles and kisses it. The push of his snout against your moist entrance elicits a long moan out of you. He moves his head left and right, rubbing you, smearing your juices all over your skin and pubic hair. His whiskers tickle your thighs as he grins.

"I fucking love when you're dripping wet for me. I don't need anything else in life. It's the only drink I need." He uses his claw to pull your panties to the side and lick your slickness.

You gasp. "Oh my... Oh fuck..."

He is moving slowly, driving you insane with his tongue and fingers, toying with your labia and clit, kneading your hips and ass. Once he bites off his middle finger claw and pushes it deep inside you, you reach the edge of orgasm.

"I love listening to you, my love," he coos as he licks his snout, enjoying the taste of you, and looks upward toward your face, comfortably settled between your trembling thighs. "Cum for me, sweetcake. I want you to squirt all over my face."

He dives into your cunt, with his mouth wide open, inserting his tongue as deep as it can get, drinking you until the pleasure errupts in you. "Fuuuuck, I'll... I'll..." Your pussy squeezes its juices out, pulsaiting from overwhelming pleasure.

Your boyfriend hums with delight, keeping his maw open and letting himself get soaked. His eyes flash from some primal hunger and he pulls you lower and just above his huge cock. He rubs his tip against your labia and trembles from need. "Can... I?" Even in his half-feral state, he still asks for permission.

Not being able to form a coherent word, you grab his thick phallus and guide it into you. "Fuck me now."

With a bone-melting growl, he grabs you by your hips and starts thrusting. You are so slick and wet, his knot quickly reaches your pussy, trying to get in. "Can... I...." His breath is strained, barely controlling himself not to impale you immediately.

You are already getting dizzy, completely losing control over your limbs as his hot cock is drilling into you, forming another orgasm in your belly. But there is room for more. You love it when he is completely inside you. "Yes... Please... Knot me..."

He positions your hips, spreading you even more. Your pussy stretches as it welcomes his massive and hot knot inside. The pain is mild, nothing in compare to the pleasure that is awaiting you. With a low moan, your werewolf boyfriend pushes his knot inside you. "Fuck... So good... So..."

You completely let him manhandle you since you know there is no self-control left in him once he enters you completely. He picks you up, curls his arms around your back and ass, and fucks your cunt. Your next orgasm floods you like a tsunami, and the thick knot inside you prolongs it.

"Let's cum... together..." he pants. "I want to knot your pulsating pussy."

He bounces you on his cock until you scream his name, and, as if on command, he releases his hot load into your cunt. Sealed with his swollen knot, your belly inflates like a ball. You've never been so full, so satisfied, locked completely to your clingy and supportive monster boyfriend. You smile and hug him tightly back, never wanting to let him go.

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lavender-vixen · 5 months ago

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Hi!!! I was wondering if you could do the Bowers gang and their types? (specifically in women)

Thank you and have a lovely day🫶

Henry Bowers. His cassettes are stacked with AC/DC, Motörhead, and Slayer, setting the tone for his raw, unapologetic vibe. He’s got a thing for lowbrow art—graffiti and bold caricatures speak to him. His architectural taste? Brutalism—strong, unyielding, and a little intimidating, just like him. Henry’s passions include military history and any movie about outlaws and renegades—he’s drawn to stories of rule-breakers who make their own way. So, how do you capture the heart of a guy like Henry? It takes patience and timing. Henry doesn’t give his attention freely. He needs time to warm up. Unlike some of his friends, who might strike up a flirty conversation outside the drugstore, Henry’s more reserved. If you’re lucky enough to catch his eye, you’ll get a polite, confident smile. He’s focused and driven, whether he’s heading to school or work, so don’t expect to distract him when he’s in the zone. But catch him during his downtime—at a diner, a drive-in movie, a concert, or hanging out by the quarry—and you’ll see a different side of him. Give him 10-15 minutes to get to know you, and once he’s interested, that's it. Henry’s idea of romance is taking you to secret spots, like tucked-away restaurants on the edge of town, where it’s just the two of you. He’s dashing, clever, and ambitious—a guy who values hard work and intelligence. Compliment his sharp mind and unrelenting drive, and he’ll be hooked. For the girl who really piques his interest, Henry has a surprisingly sweet side. He’s polite, attentive, and especially patient with someone who’s his complete opposite. Want to impress him? Show a genuine curiosity about his world—his music, his favorite movies, and even his knowledge of weapons (yes, he’ll teach you). Beneath his tough exterior, Henry craves what he never had—a sense of family and belonging. If you come from a loving, supportive home, he’ll be drawn to that and quietly envious, but it’ll only make him want to be closer to you. Show him kindness, curiosity, and a little boldness, and you just might unlock his softer side.

Henry's type: Women who have the patience and strength to break through his tough exterior. He's not the type to hand out his attention lightly, so if you manage to catch his eye, you've earned it. He values intelligence and ambition, but it's not just about brains. Henry appreciates a woman who knows how to stand her ground, someone who's independent and confident enough to challenge him and still hold her own. He's intrigued by strength and authenticity, especially for someone who isn't afraid to push boundaries with him. He wants someone who can offer him the sense of belonging he's been craving, and if you're the kind of girl who can be both bold and nurturing, you'll see a side of him no one else gets to see.

Vic Criss. It's winter in Maine, where the mountains are blanketed in snow, and Vic is tearing up the slopes of Shawnee Peak in Bridgton. He’s quiet at first, a little reserved, but when he asks you out, there’s a magnetic pull in his gaze that’s impossible to ignore. The date? Oh, it’s going to be an adventure—snowboarding down the powdery slopes, even if you’ve never tried it before. Vic has stamina and determination, and he’s all about guiding you down, steadying you with a firm grip that ensures you won’t fall. Chivalry runs deep, and but it's also an excuse to get this close to you. But if you do happen to wipe out, and he’s right there with you, tangled up in the snow? Well, that’s an invitation for a little more intimacy, and Vic knows how to make the most of that. He could spend hours skiing and snowboarding and still be ready to party with you at night. And when it comes to taking things to the next level, Vic’s got a smooth, stealthy way about him. He may seem innocent at first, but beneath that calm exterior is someone who knows exactly how to make you feel alive. He’s not the type to juggle multiple girls—Vic’s a one-girl guy, whether he’s looking for something serious or just wants a no-strings-attached kind of connection. Want to catch him in action? You’ll find him carving up the slopes just outside of Derry, ready to offer his skills, or at a local bar, moving to the rhythm of a live band, dancing so close you can feel the heat between you. And trust me, when Vic dances, he dances close—bump and grind, turning the heat up until it’s just you and him, so he can whisper in your ear, asking you to slip away from the crowd for a breath of fresh air...

Vic's type: He's all about adventure, and he's looking for someone who thrives in the moment. A woman who's not afraid to embrace the cold and brave the slopes with him is his ideal match. Vic will guide you if you're not seasoned, he's patient, and uses the opportunity to get close and share a quiet intimacy between the rush of adrenaline. He appreciates a woman who's both daring and grounded, someone who can keep up with his energy and steady him when needed. If you're into the thrill of the outdoors and the quiet moments in between, Vic will want you by his side, whether it's for an intense day on the mountain or a night out dancing to a live rock band. Once he's into you, it's all about you. His ideal girl is confident enough to let him in, but knows when to pull back and let him take the lead.

Belch Huggins. He's the kind of guy who makes a name for himself in all the right ways, with a reputation that screams danger—but don't let that fool you. Outside of his crew, he’s got a surprisingly sweet side. Known for his killer sense of humor, he’s the life of the party, cracking jokes, telling wild stories, and keeping everyone on their toes with his playful pranks. His charm is magnetic, especially when there’s booze involved. But don't try to catch him during the day—he’s all business, laser-focused on whatever work he’s doing, making him hard to approach. If you want to catch his attention, you’ve got to catch him at night, when he’s ready to let loose. During holidays and school breaks, though, you can forget about his work. That's when he’s the most fun, always mingling and finding a way to connect. And if you want to catch his eye, there’s a certain way to dress: high heels, short skirts, and bold makeup. If you're not rocking that look, Belch might just assume you’re not interested—or worse, already taken. So, always dress to impress—even in winter. If you’re not up for the cold-weather "Huggins uniform," throw on a thermal jacket and mittens, or maybe some edgy fishnets to keep it stylish and warm. You can’t flirt when your teeth are chattering. And sharing a cup of hot chocolate outdoors? That’s a perfect excuse to be near him. Once you're in his circle, the fun doesn’t stop. Instead of the usual haunts, you could be planning your own pre-game parties. Introduce Belch to a drinking game, but keep it short—anything longer and you’ll be crawling home, and once your words start slurring, he’s out. The holiday season’s the perfect time to make things more intimate. Throw a holiday party with his favorite drinks and a little mistletoe for that perfect chance to get closer.

Belch's type: He's drawn to women who are bold, confident, and know how to have fun and let loose. He loves a good time and wants a woman who can match his wild energy, especially when the drinks are flowing. If you can keep up with his antics and aren't afraid to laugh at his crazy jokes, you'll have his attention. He likes women who know how to dress like those sexy, rocker chicks in magazines, something edgy and fun. Belch wants someone who's not afraid to be the life of the party with him, whether it's pulling pranks or engaging in extreme dares. But beyond his playful exterior, he does appreciate the women who can show him a little bit of real connection. If you're the type to hang with his crowd and still stand out with your own quirks, you're the kind of girl who'll have Belch noticing you more and keeping you close.

Patrick Hockstetter. He's a man of extremes, and he wears his passions unapologetically. He’s the kind of guy who can knock back drinks with the best of them. When he's not partying, he's out there conquering the outdoors, shredding on his guitar, or carving up the slopes on skis and snowboards during Maine's winter. He loves snow, especially the kind that comes in a little bag. But don’t mistake his rugged hobbies for a lack of depth. He’s more laid-back than Henry and Belch, but there’s something about him that makes every word feel like a gut punch of honesty. Patrick doesn’t sugarcoat anything. He’ll look you dead in the eye and say, “You are the absolute love of my life,” and he means it—even if you've only known him for a few hours. But, brace yourself, because he’s not done: “By the way, you need to get your split ends cut.” He’ll drop these little truths with no warning, like he’s been holding onto them just for you. He’s brutally real, even when you don’t want him to be. And if you ask him for a ride home after a party? He’ll give it to you—no questions asked. But don’t think he won’t let you know how it is: “Not the smartest move, giving a stranger your address. I could’ve been anyone.” He won’t let it slide, but somehow, it’s hard to be mad when you can see that he’s genuinely looking out for you. New to the gang? Patrick's got you covered. He’ll pay for everything, and if you try to refuse, he’ll flash that wicked grin of his and say, “I got it.” It won’t stop there. For weeks, he'll insist—always the first to foot the bill. Then, just when you think he's done, he'll write his number on your hand before you head out, flashing that look again, daring you to say no to a date in return.

Patrick's type: He's into women who can handle all those different sides of him. He'll be drawn to someone who can keep up with his adventurous side, whether it's partying, exploring abandoned buildings, or indulging in a little recreational drugs (hey, it's the 80s). But it's not just about the craziness. Patrick respects a woman who's real and honest, no filter, so he needs someone who can take it and dish it back. A woman who can show him real curiosity about his world, his music, his philosophy, his darker interests...that will intrigue him. But beneath his tough, raw exterior is someone who's craving deeper connection but doesn't really know how to offer or accept it. If you're a little forward, a little sweet, and can match his intensity shot for shot, Patrick will see you as someone worth sticking around for. If he deems you interesting enough, he might steal you away from the group for long, late-night walks, talking about anything from existentialism to playing dumb little games like 'never have I ever.' He also likes a girl who isn't clingy. If you don't hear from him for a few days, don't bombard him with calls. Chances are he just needs to cool off and recharge. He'll be back again with a renewed longing to spend time with you.

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wishwingalpha · 4 days ago

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I kinda hate when people try to take away the Canary Curse from Jimmy’s character. Yes, we know he isn’t just a pathetic little guy who just die because he’s bad or he’s not ambitious or whatever people want to say. It isn’t about him as a person or how he plays the game.

Jimmy is cursed despite who he is. Yes he’s ambitious, yes he’s smart, yes he wants to win every single game because he’s so driven. His curse is just a matter of (lore wise) the watchers stopping him. Every ‘cursed’ death he has is a matter of bad luck. It’s not because he sucks.

If anything him being a canary is just fun imagery. It’s fun for art, it’s fun for the poetry of the games, it’s fun for all the stuff you can connect with it. To take it away is just so weird to me? It’s like a core part of the life series. Argue all you want if Jimmy has the curse still or not, but saying it was never a thing doesn’t make any sense.

#mcytblr #mcyt #trafficblr #traffic smp #life series #traffic series #canary curse #jimmy solidarity #Jimmy is forever a canary #he literally died first 4 times in a row #I don’t wanna hear that stuff anymore

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atopvisenyashill · 27 days ago

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The Princess of Dorne: Why Theories Predicated On Arianne Wanting Queenship Above All Are BS

I'm not whacking anyone I'm just saying. Please return to the text.

"Our clothes make us different people. I would sooner be flesh and blood than silks and jewels, and you…you are not your white cloak, ser.”

There is this attitude about Arianne in fandom that drives me nutso. It is the idea that she is somehow nothing but a vain party girl, and that her ultimate ending will be to die in a fiery doom with Aegon because she is a vapid, silly girl who will reach too far in her ambitions. I am here to tell you two things.

That is not at all how Arianne acts in canon. You are falling for the front she puts on and nothing more.

Arianne does not want to be Queen.

I started with the above quote to illustrate my ultimate point - Arianne is not nearly as vain as people make her out to be. Much like many women in this series - Cersei, Sansa, Margaery, and Daenerys - Arianne uses silks and jewels as weapons because that is the world she was born into. This does not make her sillier or more stupid than any of these women; in fact, she shows a remarkable amount of empathy even in her worst moments. She is intelligent, and driven, and yes ambitious but what is seen as a good thing in a white woman like Margaery is seen as a negative in a brown woman like Arianne. I think there's a misunderstanding of her desires, due to her interesting role as a pov that is also an heiress. Let's dig in.

“I will not say that you are wrong.” His voice was hoarse. “Will not? Cannot! Myrcella is more fit for rule …” “A son comes before a daughter.” “Why? What god has made it so? I am my father’s heir. Should I give up my rights to my brothers?”

This conversation between Arys Oakheart and Arianne in the shadow city is the first time Arianne lets us in on what she's thinking. If you notice - she is hyperfocused on the idea of being her father's heir and denied her right to inherit Sunspear and Dorne. And of course that's what she's focused on. Crowning Myrcella is merely a means to an end. What she wants is Sunspear, what she wants is to be Princess of Done - what she wants most of all is her father's respect. If she has an ally as Queen, and forces the realm to accept women in ruling positions, she secures her own role as a ruling princess of Dorne (or so she thinks).

"Would you let your daughter be despoiled of her rights and locked away in prison?"

I believe there's a misunderstanding of her motives because people ascribe to her what other ambitious women want, which is to be Queen. But Arianne is not like these other women. Arianne is supposed to inherit in her own right. Arianne has her own title that she's after, her own ancestral seat to rule from, and that is emotionally much more important to her than any marriage, than any other title. Tyrion doesn't dream of being Hand so much as he dreams of being his father's heir. Stannis' longing centers a lot more around what he feels is a denial of a relationship by Robert when Robert gives Storm's End, their father's seat, to Renly. And look to the other heiress in the series, Dany. Why does Dany want the Iron Throne? Because her father sat it. Because Rhaegar fought and died for it. It's not to say that she would say no to being Queen - it's just that it's not her goal, it's not her ambition, it's not what she's planning to do. The idea of Arianne as queen isn't even introduced to us until her last chapter - before that her focus is on Dorne.

“You do not know my father. I have been disappointing him since I first arrived in this world without a cock. Half a dozen times he has tried to marry me to toothless greybeards, each more contemptible than the last. He never commanded me to wed them, I grant you, but the offers alone prove how little he regards me.” “Even so, you are his heir.” “Am I?” “He left you to rule in Sunspear when he took himself off to his Water Gardens, did he not?” “To rule? No. He left his cousin Ser Manfrey as castellan, old blind Ricasso as seneschal, his bailiffs to collect duties and taxes for his treasurer Alyse Ladybright to count, his shariffs to police the shadow city, his justiciars to sit in judgment, and Maester Myles to deal with any letters not requiring the prince’s own attention. Above them all he placed the Red Viper. My charge was feasts and frolics, and the entertainment of distinguished guests. Oberyn would visit the Water Gardens twice a fortnight. Me, he summoned twice a year. I am not the heir my father wants, he has made that plain. Our laws constrain him, but he would sooner have my brother follow him, I know it.”

Notice - her ire towards Quentyn and Doran is founded in the idea that they mean to set her aside. This isn't a theory she just came upon - she found a very suspicious letter that seemed to imply so-

When I went to blow it out, I found a letter lying incomplete beside it, a letter to my brother Quentyn, off at Yronwood. My father told Quentyn that he must do all that his maester and his master-at-arms required of him, because ‘one day you will sit where I sit and rule all Dorne, and a ruler must be strong of mind and body.’” A tear crept down Arianne’s soft cheek. “My father’s words, written in his own hand. They burned themselves into my memory. I cried myself to sleep that night, and many nights thereafter.”

Her anger at Quentyn is often used as a way to whack her. She's juvenile, she's silly, she's paranoid. But how do you say to a supposedly misogynistic father who is regularly attempting to marry you off to old men below your station that you believe he is trying to usurp you? How do you bring this up? I don't think she's wrong to come to this conclusion, nor do I think she's wrong to lash out at Doran over it. And what's more is that neither does Doran believe she is wrong to lash out at him. He apolgoizes to her.

If she can be set aside so easily, then every woman in Dorne can be set aside just as easily. Arys notes she's trembling when she speaks to him- she really does believe her father means to set her aside, and that is a deep, personal, horrible betrayal. And all of this, all of this fear, is centered around Doran and Dorne and Sunspear. Like Tyrion, like Jon Snow, like Daenerys, like the Dance era Targaryens she mentions in Rhaenyra and Aegon II, she is interested in inheriting the seat of her Father because it represents acceptance by her Father, because it represents her Father's love.

"Anders Yronwood is Criston Cole reborn. He whispers in my brother’s ear that he should rule after my father, that it is not right for men to kneel to women…that Arianne especially is unfit to rule, being the willful wanton that she is.”

She wants Dorne. She wants her father's seat. She wants her father's love. She does not want that spiky chair, nor does she dream of being Queen. She doesn't even dream about being in King's Landing! Sure she tempts Arys with dreams about them being free to be together, but in her chapters, she's not dreaming about being with him, she is dreaming about her inheritance which is....Dorne. She's not subtle about it, she says it plainly!

Do you see the white one, Quentyn? That is Nymeria's star, burning bright, and that milky band behind her, those are ten thousand ships. She burned as bright as any man, and so shall I. You will not rob me of my birthright!

That, and my birthright. I want Sunspear, and my father's seat. I want Dorne.

And back to this idea that Arianne is silly and unserious - again, it's a defense. Just as her romantic notions to Arys are merely a front to convince him to do what she wants, Arianne speaks breezily but throughout her chapters is in fact very serious and anxious. She knows what she's doing is dangerous, and tries to keep everything on track. And while certainly her plan is foolhardy....is it any worse than Doran's plans to send Quentyn on a wild chase after Dany? It's not as if she isn't somewhat prepared - she has her own spies, loyal to her from the orphans of the Greenblood. Nor does she act particularly rashly when she knows she's beaten - it's Arys Oakheart who charges, over the objections of everyone there including Arianne. Again, I'm not saying its a good plan but I am saying it's not all that much worse than half the plots in this series, and she is not stupid or foolish when it comes to actually enacting it.

And she's compassionate. She is sweet to Myrcella from the jump, she calls Arys "my white knight" after he dies, she argues for her friends to be given leniancy. And, of course, again, she says-

Come morning all of this will vanish, the princess told herself, but when morning came, she was still in her cell, Ser Arys was still dead, and Myrcella . . . I never wanted that, never. I meant the girl no harm. All I wanted was for her to be a queen. If we had not been betrayed . . .

was for MYRCELLA to be Queen.

And how do her feelings change when her father finally lets her in on his plans?

Standing was an act of love. Standing was an act of faith. He believes in me. I will not fail him.

My father fears the same. “If not, though… if this truly is Jon Connington, if the boy is Rhaegar’s son…” “Are you hoping that he is, or that he’s not?” “I… it would give great joy to my father if Elia’s son were still alive. He loved his sister well.” “It was you I asked about, not your father.” So it was. “I was seven when Elia died. They say I held her daughter Rhaenys once, when I was too young to remember. Aegon will be a stranger to me, whether true or false.” The princess paused. “We looked for Rhaegar’s sister, not his son.” Her father had confided in Ser Daemon when he chose him as his daughter’s shield; with him at least she could speak freely. “I would sooner it were Quentyn who’d returned.” “Or so you say,” said Daemon Sand. “Good night, princess.” He bowed to her, and left her standing there. What did he mean by that? Arianne watched him walk away. What sort of sister would I be, if I did not want my brother back? It was true, she had resented Quentyn for all those years that she had thought their father meant to name him as his heir in place of her, but that had turned out to be just a misunderstanding. She was the heir to Dorne, she had her father’s word on that. Quentyn would have his dragon queen, Daenerys.

Oh look!!!! Her thoughts are still preoccupied with DORNE and HER FATHER.

Oftentimes, her resentment of Quentyn is used against her, to show she's still silly, to show she's going to do something risky and elope with Aegon VI. And while yes, she is very preoccupied with Quentyn, the entire two chapters are about her wanting to love Quentyn again. Not for his sake, but for her father's. She's spent years believing they are going to usurp her; now she has to reckon with the fat that she was wrong, and she still barely knows who Quentyn is, truly. She is constantly reflecting on him, on her relationship with him, on who he might be. Yes, it is a bit foreboding but I don't believe it's a sure thing that she feels weird about Quentyn because she wants to one up him - she's spent her whole life thinking he would one up her and now she's reeling.

What would a maid that age want with her dull, bookish brother? Young girls dreamed of dashing knights with wicked smiles, not solemn boys who always did their duty. She will want Dorne, though. If she hopes to sit the Iron Throne, she must have Sunspear. If Quentyn was the price for that, this dragon queen would pay it. What if she was at Griffin’s End with Connington, and all this about another Targaryen was just some sort of subtle ruse? Her brother could well be with her. King Quentyn. Will I need to kneel to him? No good would come of wondering about it. Quentyn would be king or he would not. I pray Daenerys treats him him more gently than she did her own brother.

And even through all this turmoil, another point in ARianne's favor is, once again, she is not silly or frivilous. It's a shield! Another thing used against her is her taste in men but never, not once is Arianne played by a pretty face. She does not trust Darkstar, she enlists his help because of his abilities in a fight, but she knows he is angry and violent! She isn't played by him, she is actively attempting to use him!! Just because she acknowledges he is handsome, doesn't mean she's fooled!

Arianne watched him warily. He is highborn enough to make a worthy consort, she thought. Father would question my good sense, but our children would be as beautiful as dragonlords. If there was a handsomer man in Dorne, she did not know him. Ser Gerold Dayne had an aquiline nose, high cheekbones, a strong jaw. He kept his face clean-shaven, but his thick hair fell to his collar like a silver glacier, divided by a streak of midnight black. He has a cruel mouth, though, and a crueler tongue. His eyes seemed black as he sat outlined against the dying sun, sharpening his steel, but she had looked at them from a closer vantage and she knew that they were purple. Dark purple. Dark and angry.

And on that point, she doesn't trust Lysono either!

Lysono Maar spoke the Common Tongue very well. “I have the honor to be the eyes and ears of the Golden Company, princess.” “You look…” She hesitated. “…like a woman?” He laughed. “That I am not.” “…like a Targaryen,” Arianne insisted. His eyes were a pale lilac, his hair a waterfall of white and gold. All the same, something about him made her skin crawl. Was this what Viserys looked like? she found herself wondering. If so perhaps it is a good thing he is dead. Lysono Maar spoke the Common Tongue very well. “I have the honor to be the eyes and ears of the Golden Company, princess.” “You look…” She hesitated. “…like a woman?” He laughed. “That I am not.” “…like a Targaryen,” Arianne insisted. His eyes were a pale lilac, his hair a waterfall of white and gold. All the same, something about him made her skin crawl. Was this what Viserys looked like? she found herself wondering. If so perhaps it is a good thing he is dead.

In fact, Arianne is uncomfortably with her youthful infatuations with bad boys-

"And what did you do, princess?" asked Spotted Sylva. I sat beside the well and pretended that some robber knight had brought me here to have his way with me, she thought, a tall hard man with black eyes and a widow's peak. The memory made her uneasy.

She seduces Arys with the express purpose of using him - she thinks as much in her fight with Doran, when she mentions it took her six months to seduce Arys. She gets playful with Daemon, but a) it does not make her stupid to simply desire to have sex with someone, and we know she uses birth control and b) when he rejects her, she cuts the shit and remains on track.

All of this to say - Arianne thinks through her plots, even if she is not the best at them. Her resentment of Quentyn and her father are not just very well founded in a very rational sort of paranoia, but her own father directly absolves her of any blame because it wasn't Arianne that was in the wrong. She stays on track, she isn't silly, and most of all, she does not want to be Queen. She wants to be Princess of Dorne. She wants to be her father's heir, and she wants Doran to believe her a worthy heir. This is why I believe in the idea that Aegon will elope with Elia and not Arianne - Arianne wants to be a Queenmaker not Queen herself. She will be met with an opportunity to have a queenmaking plot that is a little more put together and that will be her moral test - not whether she will choose to be queen herself.

#valyrianscrolls #a song of ice and fire #doran nymeros martell #house nymeros martell #arianne nymeros martell #rani attempts meta #meta #twow spoilers #the princess in the tower #long post for ts

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itoshiabi · 2 months ago

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Red or Green flag? (Ft. Bllk boys)

PT.2- Barou, Reo, Nagi

Pt.1- here

Pt.3- here

Barou Shoei (a massive red flag)

Red Flag tendencies:

Dominant: Barou's used to being the king. He likes things his way, and compromise doesn't come naturally. If you're opinionated or independent, expect power clashes.

Short temper: He gets pissed easily and doesn't always know how to channel that anger productively in a relationship. If you argue, he might say harsh things without thinking.

Territorial as hell: If someone even looks at you the wrong way, Barou's already cracking his knuckles. Protective is cute but his possessiveness gets messy fast.

Emotionally closed off: Vulnerability isn't his thing. He's not going to pour his heart out or whisper sweet nothings—so if you need constant emotional connection or reassurance, he'll frustrate you.

Too rigid: He's got a strict routine and expects people around him to respect it. You leave your hoodie on the floor? He'll probably side-eye it like you just committed a crime.

Green flag tendencies:

Loyal and committed: If Barou chooses you, he means it. No games, no half-assed love. He takes his commitments seriously and expects the same from you.

Hardworking and ambitious: He's got goals, and he goes after them hard. Being with him means you'll always be pushed to grow and chase your own greatness too.

Protective AF: No one's messing with you if Barou's around. He's the guy who'll walk on the traffic side of the sidewalk without thinking twice.

Physical affection: He's not a talker, but he will show love through touch—like holding you tight at night or giving quiet, forehead-kiss-style resurance when you're upset.

!Final Verdict!

70% red flag, 30% green flag!

Barou is a red flag for emotional ease, but a green flag for loyalty, strength and stability—if you can handle his intensity. He's not for the soft-hearted unless you've got steel in your spine and patience in your soul.

Reo Mikage (green flag with a hint of red)

Green flag tendencies:

Loyal to the core: Once Reo attaches to someone he goes all in. He's not flaky, he's not half-hearted—he's all about building something deep and lasting.

Emotionally expressive: He's not afraid to say what he feels or show that he cares. Whether it's excitement, sadness, or affection—Reo wears his heart on his sleeve and wants you to understand him.

Supportive AF: Reo will hype you up, help with your goals, and probably buy you a business if you said, "Babe, I have an idea." He genuinely wants to see his partner shine.

Romantic and thoughtful: Fancy dates? Yes. Good morning texts? Absolutely. Remembering your favorite snack from two weeks ago? Count on it. He's the kind of boyfriend who pays attention and acts on it.

Ambitious and driven: Reo has goals and doesn't just rely on his family's wealth. He's constantly pushing himself to grow—which means he'll want to grow with you too, not just coast through the relationship.

Tiny red flag tendencies:

Can get overly attached: When Reo connects, he really connects—sometimes to the point where he might feel lost if you pull away or need space. That emotional dependence could weigh heavy if not balanced.

Rare spoiled rich kid vibes: While he's not obnoxious about it, he is used to getting what he wants. If he's ever told "no," he might not take it well right away.

!Final Verdict!

80% green flag, 20 percent red flag!

Reo is a green flag for anyone looking for a romantic, loyal, emotionally intelligent boyfriend who supports your glow-up as much as his own. Just make sure he doesn't put you on a pedestal so high he forgets his own worth when you're not around.

Nagi Seishiro (a sleepy cat that randomly decides to love you really hard)

Green flag tendencies:

Low-drama, chill vibes: Nagi's emotionally mellow. He won't argue over petty stuff or stir up drama. You'll rarely hear, "We need to talk." He just wants peace, snacks, games and your company.

Quietly loyal: He doesn't say much, but when he chooses you, he sticks. He may not write love poems, but he'll hold your hand, let you play with his hair and be your human pillow without hesitation.

Affectionate in his own way: Nagi isn't loud about his feelings, but he shows love through physical closeness and presence. He's the type to lean on you, nap in your lap, and get pouty if you leave him on read for too long.

Straightforward: He's not manipulative or hot-and-cold. What you see is what you get. If he says he likes you, he means it. If he doesn't want something, he'll tell you straight up.

Tiny red flag tendencies:

Lazy in love: He's not the type to plan dates, remember anniversaries, or chase you with grand gestures. You'll probably have to take the lead emotionally or romantically until he gets into the groove.

Avoids deep talks: Nagi struggles with processing or expressing complex feelings, those are a huge "hassle" for him. If there's a problem in the relationship, he might avoid it, hoping it "just goes away."

Lacks initiative: If left unchecked, he can get too comfortable. Like, "we've been inside for 3 days and he hasn't moved” levels of comfortable. You'll need to nudge him into action sometimes.

!Final Verdict!

55% green flag, 15% red flag.

Nagi is a green flag for someone who loves peace, physical affection, and isn't bothered by emotional silence. He's a comfort partner—someone who won't stress you out and will love you in the softest, laziest, most loyal way.

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ruby-red-inky-blue · 2 months ago

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Andor and character writing

First off: This is a plot-driven show, and that's a good thing. Especially with how Gilroy and Co. reimagined the character, this is not a subject that was made for a several-episode-long character study (and frankly, probably nothing in Star Wars really is). Gilroy and his team's writing really shines in parts of the show - the parallels between characters in different arcs, the political and logistical nitty-gritty are all really interesting.

But I do think the character-writing on the show takes a backseat in a way it didn't have to, and occasionally gets handwavy in ways that are in confusing contrast to the precision of the writing elsewhere - mostly, but not exclusively where Cassian is concerned.

1. Coherence

The Rogue One script has its flaws (user ruby-red-inky-blue admits through gritted teeth), but one thing it did incredibly well was give you characters that just immediately made sense. From the first, even with the sparse information you were given, you could immediately picture how their lives up to this point had gone, and their characterisation made sense for the life they had led. For Jyn, we were given a lot of quickly rattled-off exposition (which, yes, some might have found clunky), but it immediately made sense for the way she interacted with people and the actions she took: why she was so eager to get out of dodge, thinking she was about to be conscripted into the next pointless rebellion clusterfluck after Saw's rebels; why she was so irreverent and hostile to everyone - because she'd been around people like that, been one of them, and they had all let her down and hadn't even reached their goals doing it... I could go on. For others, like Bodhi or Baze, we got much less context, but it immediately made sense for them to be where they were: Bodhi, a young man from Jedha who'd gone into Imperial duty probably for the money or for an opportunity to become a pilot and see the universe, slowly but surely driven to a breaking point and immediately getting in way over his head when he went to Saw, because he had no idea what he was getting himself into. (This was also a clever characterisation beat for Galen, btw: He'd been an Imp or posing as one most of his life, and miscalculated, hard, on how reasonable his old buddy Saw would be, because he had no way of knowing how batshit insane the fight had driven him since they last met). Long story short: Everyone's mindset, behaviour, age and position in society was perfectly reasonable in relation to each other. Baze and Chirrut would have seemed weird if they had been really young; if someone like Bodhi had been played by an actor in his fifties, his behaviour would have seemed less intuitive. Same thing for Krennic: He was old enough to make his position in the Empire seem reasonable (he was ambitious, and worked his way up the ranks, but probably not smart enough to work his way up the ranks noticeably quickly, so he had to be middle-aged), but also just old enough to start getting that torschlusspanik going - if the big break in his career doesn't come soon, he'll be too old for it. He just makes sense.

Andor has characters like that, too, and I don't think it's a surprise that they're among the most popular standouts of the first season. Mon Mothma is very coherent like that, but she might be a special case since we knew so much about her position going in. But Luthen, Syril, Dedra, Maarva and Brasso also have this going for them. For example, Luthen is older than most of the characters, so he, like Maarva, actually remembers what the world was like before the Empire. He's also old enough to suggest that maybe he has lost someone or something and that loss has been allowed to fester into that rage and resolve he clearly has when we meet him. He's old enough to have made mistakes and learned from them, and also old enough to have built up his shop front to the point where we catch up with him, without that needing any extra explanation. And Brasso is a great example of a character who just makes sense even though we know next to nothing about him. He's from Ferrix, he works there, he seems community-minded and knows Cassian and Maarva well. That's all we get. And yet, it makes so much sense. He's that solid friend with a stable job, quiet and generous. He's old enough to have earned his position in the community. He never behaves in a way that would make it strange how universally beloved he seems to be on Ferrix. We also see how savvy he is with social complications when he makes up the alibi for Cassian - this is a man who gets people, and who will be able to defuse any beef someone else has with him. Everything about him makes sense.

Cassian, though... I don't know. So he was abducted from his home planet aged nine or so - old enough to remember it - and had to learn a whole new language and culture. This... doesn't seem to inform his actions much, short of maybe earning him a reputation for being a quick study. He took action against the Empire when Clem died - possibly also influenced by the loss of his home planet and first family - went to jail, left at sixteen to fight on Mimban for six months, then got out of dodge, disillusioned. Okay. So why do we meet him ten years later, apparently completely inexperienced with how to go about looking for his sister? What has he been doing those ten years? Why would he not start looking for her sooner? Did Maarva forbid it? The Cassian we meet in Andor doesn't seem like a guy who would listen to that. The womanising trait is also a little weird to me - I guess it could be a thing of wanting to belong, or commitment issues, which would make sense, but the show doesn't tell us why he's doing it, only that he's doing it (see below on that issue). I guess we're just saying if you look like that, you'd make the most of it. He is a beautiful man, I guess that checks out. But it's not very meaty, characterisation-wise, and it gives us nothing re: his background. The only thing that seems coherent to me in Cassian's early characterisation is that he seems on the outskirts of the community by his own doing - it makes sense that he would self-sabotage a little, maybe harbouring a lingering doubt that he belongs or fits in. But the chronic unreliability they saddle him with, while making a lot of sense for his backstory, is really confusing to square with where he's going - that's not a trait you can just choose to let go off whenever, but he seemingly does (see below for more on that). I also feel like his piloting skills are really a lot better than they should be considering his background, but one could argue maybe most ships really are pretty easy to fly or at least all very similar (and they did hilariously refute that point in Season 2 so I will shut up about that a little more). And maybe most prominently, I feel like they gave him no reason to be as much of a smooth-talker as he is. What about living with this very quiet man and this very terse, upfront woman in this sleepy scrapping town made him so incredibly good at manipulation - and yet, why has this not resulted in him getting himself in a little better position somewhere, or at least keeping him out of trouble more? I get him being a good liar, to some extent, since Maarva had him hide his origin his entire life, and because that feels like something that can just be natural aptitude. But keeping him so perfectly separate from any spy experience for this much of his life makes his skill at charming people somewhat confusing. Because being able to talk someone into giving you a two-day extension on the debt you owe them is one thing, but suddenly giving speeches and talking guys into a prison break is a very different beast.

2. Consistency

This all kind of dovetails into my second gripe: The character progressions on the show can feel inorganic. People will suddenly change a thing about themselves in a very short time or for a seemingly small reason, and the show doesn't address it. I've gone on at length about how strange I find Cassian going from a fuck-you-don't-tell-me-what-to-do attitude to the incredibly patient, obedient soldier we meet at the end of his life in only a few short years. And right off the bat, the skip from 1.12 to 2.01 felt bigger than it should have been, one year on.

First of all – we get no context on Dedra suddenly not only deigning to regard Syril as a person worth two minutes of her attention, but to actually be in a relationship with him? Sharing her home with him? Meeting his mother? I really hope there is some big dramatic endgame she’s running here, because if not, that feels like a massive leap to me.

Similarly, looking at how he talks to the woman at the test facility and later the guys on Yavin, Cassian has gone lightyears closer to the man we meet on Kafrene in one year. And, again, knowing exactly what to say to any given person to get them to do what you want takes a lot of experience, and I don’t really think one year would do the trick. So yeah, he seems like a wildly advanced spy – and yet, at the same time, everything he does in 2.03 is so stupid. It’s human! But it wildly undermines that incredibly well-written scene at the end of last season. “Kill me, or take me in” is not the statement of a man who’s still planning to go home to his family at the end of the week! It implies that he will live or die for this rebellion from this point forward. And yet, three episodes later, Cassian, devoted spy and public enemy n° 4, not only seems to be making regular visits to Bix, Brasso and Co., but they’re using his real name in front of outsiders. And when he hears that the Imps are bearing down on the planet for an inspection, he takes the invaluable ship he just stole for the rebels that they risked multiple lives trying to obtain, and rushes in with that flashy flashy ship to rescue his buddies?? If they hadn’t already been in trouble, they would have immediately been the target of a fully-fledged manhunt the moment anyone saw that ship in the sky. Like, my guy, not only are you making shit worse for your friends, you are risking the ship your rebellion needs and your own capture in the process – which would not only risk handing them a year’s worth of spy information, but also a huge propaganda win and a massive blow to Luthen’s operation. Why would you do that. Why would you not at least land somewhere and steal a slightly less conspicuous ship.

And the annoying thing is, this could be fascinating characterisation – but because of the structure of the season, we are not going to sit with this! We won’t be able to explore this as the espionage clusterfuck that it is, and the ramification for Cassian’s journey to become the Rebellion’s model spy boy. I don’t think we’re even meant to see it as a mistake on his part! The narrative excuses him – he was already almost too late, any extra second might have killed Bix and Wilmon – but it runs so counter to where we last left him, and now we’ll swan off from this again, and he’ll probably be back to hypercompetent spy mode. His competence was a great trait for Rogue One-Cassian, and watching him fuck up on the way there would be interesting. But as beautifully consistent as the overall plot is, Gilroy is clearly not as bothered making his main character equally internally consistent. Cassian oscillates between competence and incompetence whenever the plot needs it – and yes, people fuck up, but this is a story. It would be nice to feel like we’re watching a character being formed, instead of individual traits of a character randomly blinking in and out of existence like this.

3. Motivation

The Andor writers in Season 1 were great at showing you what drives people to stand up to injustice, in all its nuances on the spectrum of selflessness to selfishness and greater good to individual freedom.

But at very few points does Andor seem invested in giving that same justification to most of the interpersonal relationships, though. A few examples: We learn that Cassian and Bix were an item once, and that she broke up with him but they’re still fond of each other. Great, we love a non-toxic exes relationship! But… why did they like each other? Did Bix like that Cassian was a bit of a scoundrel? Could make sense, her rebound with the very down-to-earth Timm might imply as much. But the show doesn’t really show us any concrete reasons. We get allusions to their shared past, their comfortable bickering, the joke about Cassian climbing her dad’s fence. But we don’t really learn why he liked her. His relationship to Brasso is also a little underexplored: Brasso is very warm and very lenient with Cassian, like a caring older brother in many ways, and Cassian seems to lean on him in a way that seems like he’s done that many times. But that’s really all we get. Why is Brasso cutting Cassian so much slack? How come he feels so responsible for Maarva, seemingly even more than Bix?

Maarva and Cassian is much more intuitive, because Cassian was a child in need (at least in Maarva’s eyes, and then in fact when she took him away from home) – it’s understandable how they’d sort of imprint on each other, and yet also understandable that Cassian might harbour some resentment, which we see in the way he seems to idolise Clem over her sometimes. Theirs is maybe the most fleshed-out relationship Cassian has, and it stands on its own in ways that his other relationships really don’t – and yet, there’s still a lot of telling instead of showing, because the plot overtakes them. That’s fine, it’s even making a point of how the struggle is taking things away even before people die! But when this keeps happening, it makes the characters lack depth in a way that is a bit of a shame.

Vel and Cinta live in an in-between point, because we do get some very salient points about what Vel might see in Cinta when Cinta snipes at her about sort of play-acting as a rebel: Vel admires Cinta; she’s who she would like to be, clearly ashamed of her privilege and alienated by her culture. But we never really learn what Cinta sees in her, although I have some hope this might come up this season.

With Mothma and Luthen, it’s less noticeable – Mothma’s family is a central plot point, and Luthen is so compulsively secretive that it would feel weird for him to have any obvious, deeply explored relationships. He and Kleya are also underexplored, but here it feels deliberate. You can see how they meant to juxtapose Cassian, initially from a tightly-knit community with a lot of strings still attached (friends, mother, ex-girlfriend), and Mr. “I burn my future for a sunrise I will never see” – rebels at different stages, and Luthen’s isolation foreshadowing Cassian’s own. But that would have worked so much better if we were given a little more depth in the relationships! Rogue One took a hard show, don’t tell approach to relationships, and it went over a lot people’s heads, but I think they did a much better job in that script making the relationships feel real. Cassian saw himself in Jyn – his own doubts in the cause, the toll it took on them both, the resentment, the fight. He looked clearly struck by her refusal of the call in the first half, and you could tell how seeing her devote herself to the cause fully reinvigorated him, too. It was also very briefly but deftly implied how he related to Bodhi: he admired the bravery of this very overwhelmed young man who took all the guilt about his past actions and did something with it (Bodhi’s comment about how Galen said he could make it right if he was brave now is later mirrored in Cassian’s hangar speech). Even Draven and Cassian had implied depth although we were never told anything about what or who they were to each other short of commanding officer and soldier – their face journeys when Draven relayed the order about Galen (implying a very deep mutual understanding and some guilt on both their parts), later Draven doing the strategically idiotic move of trying to delay their one chance of taking out Galen from the air just to try and get Cassian to safety first. The movie took more care to show why people felt connected to each other than to define what that connection really was. This wouldn’t work for a show, because of the longer runtime, but it would have been nice to get a little more why.

(This can work for spy shows, too, even characters you want to keep more ambiguous. This post is already way too long so I won’t go into detail, but The Americans was great at making very believable relationships between very shady people.)

Also, I don't know where this goes, but I also think it's a real shame that the connections between the remaining Ferrix guys weren't fleshed out at all. And while I think it's good that they went for absolute unflinching realness with the farm planet storyline, I would love to learn more about Bix that isn't "fixes stuff" and "massive trauma", please?

Tl;dr: I’m really hyped for more intricate spy on spy shenanigans, big themes and political intrigue, but I’m seeing all my gripes on how Gilroy writes characters overall and Cassian in particular staying pretty consistent. This season will feel very rushed to me. That’s probably a me problem; it always annoys me when narratives are so plot-driven that the characterisation actively suffers for it, and I really think there were ways around it in a script like this. But hey, we’ll see. Maybe they’ll surprise me.

I will say, though, that I will send this incredibly overlong essay to anyone who brings up the “Tony Gilroy saved Rogue One” thing to me, because the characterisations in Rogue One were one of my favourite things about the movie and he is clearly not invested in that as a writer, and I really don’t believe he had much of a hand in that. And, even more honestly, even if all these things improve 100 percent in the next arc... that still ain't my boy! But at least do well with the versions you've created, Tony.

#andor #andor spoilers #rogue one #i just find it very amusing how in that featurette gilroy and the cast went on and on about playing with time in interesting ways #while i'm over here going STOP RUSHING #i get that time skips are REALLY cool for the plot.#they're not great for characterisation and this show already has less of it than i'd like.#meta #writing #tony gilroy

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notebooks-and-laptops · 1 year ago

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I just. I really hate that Solas is a companion you can take on In Hushed Whispers. And I Do Not Know exactly how they would have gotten around it but are you telling me that Solas - the Elven god - would just...let himself become a red lyrum growing factory? Like. Yes he's underpowered but hey u know what powers up makes like nothing else? Lyrum. And he's got the powerful stuff IN HIM. yeah he hates the blight and all things surrounding it but he's ambitious and he's driven do you REALLY think that if he had no other option he wouldn't use it? And like. He also needs time to build power fine but it's been a YEAR. After three years he can create a mind blast that goes on for MILES are you telling me he doesn't have the power to...unlock a door and kill most people in that building a year later?

I just hate it it feels so...just wrong to me? Like it just doesn't feel like it would happen? Especially as Solas is so concerned when you get back into the modern timeline that you hung out with future him. And I just...I just believe wholeheartedly that the future Solas wouldn't be there he wouldn't be waiting for you to rescue him he would find a way - god even if it meant defecting to Corephyus to work from the inside to get his goals. That guy would not be there

#in hushed whispers #dragon age #dai #solas

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danger-bird · 1 year ago

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Touchstarved Astrology Headcanons🌠

Mostly based on my own irl observations over the years, as well as my bookworm era a few years ago . Also taking into account my own impressions & feelings for the LIs, so sufficiently biased and I'm not sorry. In the words of Danny DeVito: "I'm right, you're wrong, and there's nothing you can do about it!" /lovingly❤️

Ais

Venus in Virgo. Period. I'm dying on this hill. Fight me. No but fr, first he's a diehard animal lover and will jump into a dog fight to save a puppy. Second, he's giving "mother hen" behavior - says "watch your step", then grabs you when you trip and scolds you "told you to watch your step"(Virgo 101); sends you off with an ESCORT, jumps in fists first when the roughneck tries fighting you then hides you from the purple gang later and escorts you back himself - need I say more? Not to mention he VERY likely helped Kuras save us (his scent lingers in the clinic when MC wakes up), and helps in the clinic regularly (so a part-time nurse, most likely helped save Mhin too). Also, he was definitely watching over us even before the Seaspring (the scarred woman knew our name from somewhere, also the Unnamed can feel Ocudeus' presence outside the clinic). He craves taking care of someone - people, animals, soulless, poor unfortunate souls - you name it. And it's not for show - that's just how he is. That's how he shows love - by being attentive. All my favorite people have this placement, they're all like him in this regard - best Venus placement imo (yes, I'm a biased Venus in Taurus, BUT I'm also right, lol)

Scorpio Ascendant I mean... come on. Come on. He's LITERALLY a gang leader! Not that anybody needs convincing, but aside from the sharp, intense eyes and the fact he oozes sex appeal, this would place his Sun in 10th House- he is known publicly as a leader, his presence demands respect and attracts attention. BDE for sure. Also he's very smart, intuitive and observant. Very aware of his surroundings, can pick up on people's moods & intentions like it's nothing. I'm convinced he can literally read our mind. A smart, sexy and caring bastard, lord help me...

Kuras

Virgo Signature sign Kuras is very service-oriented, focused on helping the community and always looking for ways to assist others. Very mindful of people’s problems and what they’re in need of - and ready to provide it, no matter what it may cost him. He’s also very polite, but comes off rigid, like he’s read “Social Etiquette for Humans 101” and is following it to the letter lol. Also kinda nerdy – has his special interests, and if you let him he’ll talk about reductions and concoctions all day, every day. I don't think it's a specific placement that influences this behavior, it's the whole picture, thus - a signature sign!

Saturn Dominant This man is a Capricorn already, sure, but there’s a difference. Capricorn placements have an inner spark, a fire about them – they’re ambitious and driven while being practical and disciplined. Saturn, however, is a dry and dark, malefic - almost apocalyptic planet. It’s the last visible planet – the gatekeeper of the divine knowledge (depicted by the outer planets). It represents time, boundaries, a sense of duty and responsibility, guilt and the consequences of one's actions. A symbol of Kronos and the Devil, it represents the falling of God, the grotesque expression of divinity. Kuras has a curious mind, fascinated by science and humanity, and in light of the Kuras character lore (and his not-too-subtle mischievousness) he def has strong Uranus & Jupiter influence as well. But the Saturnian themes in particular parallel the themes and main conflict in his story most strongly.

Mercury Retrograde I had to. The way he's so precise and eloquent, but roundabout when he talks? How he's so tight-lipped and takes his sweet time before answering a question? Mercury retrograde, 100 percent. I don't make the rules.

Mhin

Moon in 1st House. How do I know? I have it. The color of printer paper (the sun hates us), emotions written all over their entire existence and impossible to hide, as well as rather intense emotional outbursts? Yes, yes and yes. Big-time tsundere? Yes. Big softy, too? Yes. We could be twins, honestly. I stg they have a crush on Ais, but unlike with Kuras they're not happy about it. I dunno, call it twin telepathy. The Christmas photo doesn't help either.

Water moon, most likely in Cancer. Not Scorpio, because their emotions fluctuate rapidly, and are overtly moody. The difference between big waves and a rip current, for example. But more so, this makes for a Sun-Moon square - the dissonance and lack of harmony between their outer persona and their inner needs and desires is clear. They have difficulty expressing their emotions, not difficulty as in showing them, but in a way where they come off wrong and get interpreted the wrong way. Very protective, like a smol soft crabbie shielding themselves with their shell. Pushes people away consciously, but hoping for someone to have enough of a "spine" to handle them and protect them, giving them a safe space to finally relax. Most of all they need love, reassurance and acceptance (my poor little meow meow💙)

Mars square Mercury That Mercury is in Aries, you can't tell me otherwise. The extra 'angry' coming from Mars in Capricorn is helping, too. But not only that, it also makes a square to their Sun AND an opposition to their Moon - a T-square, a highly difficult & stressful configuration. The Mars is in Capricorn because they like a partner with authority and attitude (Cap in 7th), and it makes for good synastry with Kuras (my cutie patooties). Also for how small they are, they're very agile and skilled with knifes (ruled by Mars).

Leander

Venus conjunct Pluto. Sexy. Magnetic. He pulls you in with the gravitational force of his tits. These people are the definition of an intense lover. Obsessive and hungry for love - and pain, equally, very big on extreme and overwhelming sensations. You have a terrible curse? Oooh, danger - gimme! You can never give them too much attention - they want it all, and they're not sharing. Possessive, wants to draw you into their little world and keep you for themselves.

Leo Ascendant, for a few reasons. I was initially thinking Libra, but after looking at everything, I decided on Leo. He has a noble presence - not surprising considering his upbringing. He's a very charismatic talker, well-spoken, lovely voice, can charm anyone into trusting him (Libra in 3rd coming through). To his credit, he takes his work seriously and comes off as a reliable boss (Cap in 6th, also Taurus in 10th). He wants to take care of people... or rather, wants to be seen as a savior. I really see him as a Gemini-Cancer cusp, but technically he's a Cancer so his sun will be in 12th house. It’s a house of self-undoing, the afterlife, illusions - ego and reality go to disintegrate here. All that connects into the life-and-death theme surrounding him and his design. The sun here becomes a fantasy, a goal rather than reality – a dream of being a leader, a hero, someone who people look up to for help and answers. He’s really giving Jesus-wannabe, with the resurrection and savior complex he has going on, as well as the over-the-top generosity. A big red crab, with a big red flag... and the tits to match (Cancer rules the booba).

Vere

Venus conjunct Midheaven, Midheaven being in Scorpio. With Sun in Scorpio. Lots of Scorpio. He’s so pretty! Pretty in an elegant, sensual, effortless yet manicured to perfection way. Apparently, the BBC (Big Bulky Collar) on him does not signal “DANGER!” to the rascals who take him for an easy target, because all they see is the approachable, delicate face and inviting voice. He knows the effect he has on people, and he’s using it to his advantage – to get a free drink, or to make people trust him juuust enough to get what he wants. He is attracted to power, powerful people, and wants power for himself – and he’s ruthless about achieving his goals, too (Scorpio in 10th); there’s a lot of gossip surrounding this man’s public image, his reputation. Venus conjunct Midheaven places a focus on art – he is an artist, appreciates art as well as creating it himself. He IS the art, or that’s the perception of him anyway.

Venus in Scorpio As Venusian as he appears, Venus is in detriment here – there’s conflicting emotions regarding his looks, and the perception of him – or rather, the expectations placed on him because of it. He'll break rules on purpose, act outrageous, play coy, use his beaty for all its worth – he’ll purposefully play the ‘bad guy’ as a form of rebellion, a defense mechanism. He can’t find comfort in a traditional relationship dynamic and has a hard time liking someone who likes them back - he’s afraid of commitment. I believe his confidence is a façade; there’s an underlying fear of betrayal and rejection, and a paranoia that any good thing that comes his way is a trick, a trap, or a lie. That he doesn’t deserve love or care, really. Buuut… if you’re like Ais and see him for all his ‘ugly’, and accept him anyway… then you’re really something💜.

1525 words. Yikes. I tried keeping the word count down.

Unsuccessful. Obviously.

If you’ve read this far, go have some water, a snack, a stretch – you deserve it! Doctor’s orders!!!

P.S. : Ais' side profile sprite is giving me "ex-punk mom wearing a cozy cardigan", is it just me? Anyone? Are you seeing it? Am I crazy? Do I need help?...

...I'll see myself out.

#ps: he just looks so cozyyyyy~#call me a dictionary bc I'm full of words #and thoughts #this took waaay too long to write #touchstarved game #ais #kuras #leander #mhin #vere #touchstarved headcanons #astro observations #bird babble𓅪

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teleit · 8 months ago

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Who would be the best ruler of Westeros? Me, I have the desire to do good deeds, even when others beg for mercy

Jokes aside, but really - who? The show actively tells me that Rhaenyra is the only possible option, because this woman glows in the dark from all the blessings received from every god in existence and shits wisdom and greatness.

But is she? Let's hear my useless opinion.

First, where are we looking - at canon (the book), or at the screened fanfic (the show)?

In terms of canon, I think Jacaerys was the best option, but only because the other candidates were complete failures. The way Martin described this boy, even through the lens of the biased Black and Green sources, sounds promising. Yes, 90% of his decisions ended up being failures - he suggested recruiting more dragonriders from dragon seeds, and got Hugh and Ulf; he suggested sending Aegon III and Viserys to Pentos, and they were captured by the Triarchy; he went to rescue his brothers with a bunch of newbies who could barely stay on their dragons, and he ended up getting killed.

If it weren't for the circumstances of his birth, which would inevitably lead to a rebellion by the lords outraged by a bastard on the throne, Jacaerys might have been a good king. He just needed time to grow up.

But on the show? No one. No one at all. None of these people, they are all absolutely terrible.

Rhaenyra? That woman wouldn't know the word "responsibility" if it ambushed her in a parking lot and beat the crap out of her. She doesn't understand what ruling is even twenty years after being named heir, and she asks helplessly "what should I do?", wringing her hands at every difficulty. She does one stupid thing after another, driven by anything but common sense. If she were queen, we'd have another crisis in ten years or so.

Daemon? Lmao. No. That dude lived, fucked and died for shits and giggles, he can't be trusted with snow in the winter.

Jacaerys? That's the boy who solves problems with violence (pulling out a dagger when insulted, punching his uncle in the face when insulted, need I go on?), and loses every fight he starts. He doesn't speak Valyrian, constantly whines and cries to his fiancée and mother that he doesn't know what to do or how to be, and is practically useless during wartime (because his smart decisions were given to Rhaenyra, but that's another story).

Lucerys? Yeah, sure, how can you forget how he handled himself so perfectly at dinner when he should have just kept his mouth shut, but instead he decided that laughing at the crazy uncle he maimed and never apologized for was the height of comedy, better only fart jokes. That boy had one brain cell, and it was on permanent sick leave for the entire season.

Rhaenys? A woman who talks about the slavery of the patriarchy and submits to the decisions of her ambitious to the point of stupidity husband. Marrying her little daughter to her forty year old cousin? Why not. Losing two children because of Rhaenyra and Daemon, and continuing to serve their interests, even though they use her as they please, because Corlys hopes that someday it will pay off? Excellent solution, let's also scold husband for not loving his own bastards enough, and then die ingloriously and uselessly. Yes, the queen we deserve, Rhaenys the Spineless.

Aegon? He can only be a good king if a miracle happens and he stops listening to the idiots around him, gets rid of his mommy and daddy issues, and starts using his head for more than just pouring wine into mouth. Which won't happen, because the writers HATE this man. He'll be pathetic and useless, and then he'll die, because gods forbid there should be an equal fight between a woman and a man for the throne, a woman needs to kick a body sprawled on the ground, disarmed and incapacitated, so that everyone understands that she is superior to him in everything.

Aemond? Season 1 - maybe after a couple of years of therapy, Season 2 - no, he literally doesn't have a single thought in his head except "blood revenge hate aaarrrgghhh", and only occasionally do we see glimpses of a complex character, thanks to Ewan's insane talent.

Helaena? Poor girl, who was just like Aemond crippled by the script so much that even Martin couldn't stand it (Helaena will die just because, for no reason… wow, such deep character development…), give her her bugs and leave her alone.

In canon, the dance of the dragons is the result of well-intentioned stupidity of several generations, in the show - a parable of why incest is bad, just look at how much the mental capacity of people whose family tree looks like a wreath has suffered.

Ps. Still not native speaker and dgaf about mistakes, english can suck my imaginary dick

#anti hotd #anti ryan condal #hotd critical #anti team black #anti rhaenyra targaryen

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yanderes-galore · 2 months ago

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Can you please do a yandere Skales concept from ninjago?

Sure! Takes place before he has a kid, of course.... Sorry it's kinda bad, I fell out of Ninjago and ran out of ideas for Skales :(

Yandere! Skales HCs

(Prior to Stone Army)

Pairing: Romantic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Manipulation, Possessive behavior, Hypnosis, Kidnapping, Imprisonment, Dehumanization, Stalking, Delusional behavior, Forced relationship.

Skales originally was often considered ambitious and proud.

Like a true snake, he's been known to distort the truth and manipulate others using his words.

It doesn't help that he's also a Hypnobrai... a race of Serpentine who can hypnotize others.

When he meets his obsession, Skales main goal is still becoming the Serpentine King.

For these HCs, I'm going to ramble about behavior and less about plot.

Prior to being sealed in a tomb for the second time, Skales is actually intimidating as a yandere.

He's incredibly intelligent and knows how to plan.

If he wanted something, with just the right plan he could obtain it.

Skales is cunning when first introduced, always looking for power and ways to benefit himself.

If he was attached to someone... He's going to come up with some elaborate scheme.

He probably found you by chance, perhaps a friend of the ninjas?

You could've originally been held hostage for information on something the Serpentine were after... like the Fangblades or something... only to be saved later.

That's one way you could meet Skales if we're assuming you're a human.

If you're also Serpentine, then I can see Skales trying to help unite the tribes just to court you.

Skales isn't afraid to use underhanded tactics and trickery to get what he wants.

In theory, being a snake would help Skales with stealth.

Not as much as Pythor... but enough to elude your sight while he hunts you down.

I feel Skales, surprisingly, is difficult to get away from.

He's got numbers and hypnotism.

One look and you'll follow his orders.

With this knowledge and ability, I don't think Skales would have a hard time getting you to be his.

Plus, even if you got away, some of the hypnotic effects will still linger and allow him to track you.

I can definitely see Skales as manipulative and tactical with how he gets his beloved.

In terms of murder... again, I see Pythor more capable of that than Skales.

Skales seems like he has more bark than bite?

He's ambitious but isn't going to go into a fight alone.

Skales is more likely going to have another Serpentine do his bidding.

Especially if he's become king by this point.

Look... All kings need a spouse, yes?

He's simply looking for one... and he's chosen you.

It's been so lonely locked away in a tomb by the humans...

However, he feels he can find companionship with you.

All you need to do is drop your guard...

All he needs is a bit of eye contact and he'll treat you well.

I feel Skales would only be an intense yandere before he's locked away.

It's them he's driven by his want for power to become the Serpentine King.

You're simply a treasure he wishes to obtain before his rise.

Skales would probably wait to use hypnosis on you.

He wants to see if he can convince you without using his abilities first....

Yet you treat him like a monster.

Perhaps that's expected....

All you see is a giant snake stalking your every move... trying to abduct you...

Or maybe if you're a Serpentine yourself... You don't trust him and his ambitions.

Which, of course, makes Skales a little impatient.

Skales' obsession is probably the opposite of other yanderes.

He starts off as intense, no doubt kidnapping his obsession or even hypnotizing them to satiate his personal desires.

Yet over time he's softer, trying to make a 'relationship' actually work.

Another way I can see Skales as a yandere is delusional.

Perhaps he tries to convince himself that holding you captive under the effects of his hypnosis is better for you both....

This way he can live out his fantasies without you fighting him.

While ambitious and manipulative... I see him as more delusional than Pythor.

His ability allows him to make his own fantasies just with a bit of hypnosis.

Which allows him to be a bit more delusional than most.

He's definitely less violent than most... he just wants to keep to his fantasies.

Not like that makes what he does any less horrible.

You're still a captive.

Just a poor soul Skales can project his delusions onto...

You'll never truly get away from him...

Even if someone saves you... he'll simply track you down with the lingering hypnosis vision he put on you...

Once he's had a taste of the fantasy he made using you... He's never planning to let that go....

#yandere ninjago #yandere ninjago x reader #yandere skales #yandere skales x reader

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thewriters-world · 1 year ago

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Omg yes!! I saw a poll on what would be a better Hollywood movie rosquez or brocedes

And I was like hands down brocedes, because that's Monaco & Ibiza, a neat little story of growing up, growing apart, giving up on shared dreams. All the glitz and glamour. The way Nico keeps saying nice things and Lewis keeping his silence. A bit of modicum.

Rosquez however could never be Hollywood, they are unhinged, they are gritty, down & dirty, blunt fingernails scrambling to hold on in dark alleyways, it's being on top of the world and seeing your end approaching you wrapped up in smooth golden muscle and a mouth that never ends, it's touching legends, getting on that pedestal and then being isolated on there by the very hands that welcomed you in, it's European art film that is full of shadows and long silences, things never said and hands reaching out too late, it's his voice whispering everytime you fall, it's seeing him in every rider, knowing he would be crazier, faster, fiercer.

Brocedes could have survived if they were less ambitious/less greedy/less driven than they were, Rosquez never had an option because the things that drew them together are the things that they despise about each other.

OP YOUR VISION!

You've described rosquez so perfectly. They're like ruined somehow. Like Marc has his claws in Valentino and Valentino has his claws in Marc and yh they've let go but their bodies, brains HEARTS are still bloody and bruised. Lewis and Nico are healing but will Marc and Valentino ever heal? Idk Valentino says it'll take him 30 years to get over this and Marc says reconciliation is not upto him. So will they be tainted with marks of each other for 30 years? Does everything become more sullied when you remember that Marc had hung posters of Valentino on his bedroom wall and was buying replica bikes until 2015? Is it more cruel that Valentino knew all of this and not only did he do what he did to Marc when he was 22, he denied Marc a concrete part of his personality by saying he doesn't belive Marc had those posters (it's been documented you senile old man!). He basically said I don't know you, I never knew you. Is this all way more horrid when you consider that Marc thought getting into motogp with his idol would mean that Valentino actually KNEW him and they could be friends and then Valentino throws it right back into his face 'I want to see those posters' (I've never known you, I've never looked at those pictures of young you with my motorbikes, I've never paid attention, whilst you devoted your whole life to my life, your life was simply a speck in the grand scheme of events that is my life). Obviously its not true, it's a way to hurt Marc (we all know Valentino actually LIKED marc). But doesn't that make it all the more cruel, you treated someone you actually had affection for like this. Also is it more hurtful when you remember that Valentino told Marc ill protect you from these people if they're mean to you just let me know (not verbatim) but you're the meanie Valentino so now who does Marc go to. The people you turned against him?

Brocedes is way more tame bcs there was no idolisation, sure there was friendship, affection and childlike hope, but never once did Nico and Lewis decide that they didn't have what they had. Nico doesn't denounce the time they sat in hotel rooms and ate frosties, Lewis doesn't hide the fact that karting with Nico provided him joy as a child. Lewis can say Nico isn't his friend, but he hasn't ever said 'I've never known Nico' even when Nico acts a fool whilst commentating on races just to get his attention Lewis wouldn't be so cruel to deny ever having a relationship with Nico. Nico and Lewis are connected in a more concrete and wholesome way (Lewis gives Nico's daughters gifts). Marc and Valentino are connected in a more brutal way (they still have the bruises, the bleeding wounds of whatever they had with one another, friendship, affection companionship idk). That's the only similarity, they are still connected, their legacies are interspersed with one another. Something about how Lewis was there for nicos first and last podium. Something about how everywhere Marc goes, he is haunted by how Valentino has painted him to other people. Even in the one similarity between brocedes and rosquez you can see the abject dirtiness of rosqiez and the wholesomeness of brocedes.

#motogp rpf #valentino rossi #marc marquez #rosquez #lewis hamilton #nico rosberg #brocedes

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hopeforchanges · 6 months ago

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okay hot take here don't bash my head in ... Sauron and Galadriel ≠ Orlok and Ellen

idk am i the only one who doesn't see it? i stayed away from speaking on the topic cause i didn't feel i had all the information to engage in any meaningful convo but now that a good amount of time has passed and I have listened and read other people's arguably passionate stances on this (which is great! i love when people enjoy something, it gives me joy too!!) i must say .... i don't get it lol

let me explain myself:

I get that certain aesthetics or vibes might overlap (dark, brooding antagonist vs. a luminous, female protagonist), the comparison completely falls apart when you dig into their actual characterizations.

Ellen as a Symbol of Maidenhood vs. Galadriel as a Warrior

Ellen is basically a paragon of feminine virtue: she's all about purity, innocence, and ultimate sacrifice. She represents a kind of moral ideal that aligns with the trope of the "selfless maiden." Sure there is darkness in here but like ... where? lol in the words of one of my favorite complicated female characters of the silver screen: "I can't see it, I can't touch it, I can't feel it. I can hear it, I can hear some words but I can't do anything with your easy words."

Galadriel is a warrior, a soldier, a power-hungry monarch. She was born a princess into a life of great privilege. Galadriel is ambitious, vengeful, and actively pursuing power. She definitely embodies characteristics that are more commonly associated with male domination. I love both the feminine in Ellen and the masculine in Galadriel. They just don't overlap imo.

Orlok’s Selfish Awareness vs. Sauron’s Delusional “Vision”

Orlok is unapologetically monstrous. He’s a selfish predator who knows exactly what he is and doesn’t care. He’s not trying to justify himself or claim he’s “saving” anyone—he just feeds on people because that’s what he does.

Sauron thinks he’s doing the right thing. In his mind, his actions are about order, preservation, and the “greater good.” That lack of self-awareness is huge—it makes him a completely different type of villain. Orlok leans into his evil; Sauron justifies it - doesn't even think he's the evil force - definitely not in his story.

The Core Dynamic Feels Wrong

Ellen and Orlok’s relationship is built on fear and revulsion. Ellen sacrifices herself to stop Orlok—she lures him to his doom. There’s no room for ambiguity there; he’s the predator, and she’s the prey.

Galadriel and Sauron are equals. None of them can land the killing blow because they don't want to, not because they can't. Their dynamic is tangled up in grudging respect, power struggles, and even a weird sort of kinship. Galadriel isn’t diminished or destroyed by Sauron like Ellen was by Orlok; quite the contrary. Galadriel was empowered by Sauron, healed through him (at least in the show which is the medium i am basing my opinions on, not necessarily the tolkien legendarium). That's why it's so funny to me that in season 2 he can't figure out why she won't say yes to him when she used to drool over his mortal form and so he transforms into Glambrand as his big fix cause he thinks THAT is what the issue is lol you were her friend, dumbass, that's literally it. you supported her and believed in her when no one did and couched her so she could achieve her goals - helped her self-actualize.

There are no such layers and complexities in Ellen and Orlok's relationship. Plus, the fact that he came to her first when she was a kid gives me the ick, sorry. it's giving phantom of the opera. and i HATE phantom of the opera (the original book by Leroux, the musical kinda slaps tbh)

TL;DR:

Yes, Ellen calls Orlok a deceiver, but that’s where the parallels end for me. Ellen = pure, selfless sacrifice; Galadriel = complex, power-driven warrior. Orlok = evil and knows it; Sauron = evil but thinks he’s the hero. Their dynamics are fundamentally different, and the Orlok/Ellen comparison just doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

If I’m missing something, feel free to convince me otherwise, but for now? Nah, I don’t see it.

#maaan fuck the phantom of the opera #the book #not the actual phantom #i mean depends #ramin karimloo #was definitely a fuckable phantom #what was i talking about?#oh #haladriel #sauron #the rings of power #hope talks to hope #galadriel #ellen x orlok #saurondriel #power dynamics

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sleekervae · 8 months ago

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Wicked Games ❅ 7

Masterlist

Pairing: Coriolanus Snow x socialite!fem!reader

Summary: Coriolanus confides in Sable

Warnings: blood and flesh wound, mentions of violence and murder

Word Count: 5,073

It was no surprise that the attack had been the forefront of the news tonight, instead of highlighting any details from the debate. There was talk of whether another debate should be rescheduled to make up for the lost time, while some late night news outlets had the gaul to call the attack a "publicity stunt". After all, Coriolanus was a hero -- to some people, at least.

He had been rushed to the infirmary, besides the wound in his shoulder he only suffered some minor bumps and bruises. Garrison and Tigris finally managed to rendezvous with Coriolanus as well, fearful yet so, so grateful that he was okay. Sable wasn't family, so she wasn't allowed into the infirmary ward. Nevertheless, she sat outside in her dress and her heels, staring blankly at the stone white wall as she waited for... something. Any update would at least give her reeling mind something else to focus on.

Coriolanus killed a man.

Growing up in the rebellion, Sable had unfortunately come across her fair share of deaths; some more violent than others. She never really watched violence become so glorified until she came to the Capitol, where she couldn't escape the wretched Hunger Games no matter where she went. Oh sure, she'd do her best to avoid the violent acts the best she could, but tonight there was no getting away from it.

Terror flooded Sable’s veins, raw and relentless. It wasn’t just the nightmarish vision of blood spilling across the convention floor that clung to her, or the horrific sounds of panic from the crowd—it was Coriolanus. He had stood on that stage, unflinching, so utterly composed as he loomed over the poor soul’s lifeless body. His face was a mask, devoid of emotion, as if the violence had merely been a task to complete, something mundane. That was what truly frightened her.

She replayed the moment in her mind, over and over again. The way his grip had tightened on the microphone stand, the lethal focus in his eyes as he stared down his attacker. And afterward, the eerie calm that settled over him, like nothing had happened. Like taking a life was just another part of the game. There was no trembling, no shock in his demeanor. Only cold, calculating detachment.

Sable’s heart twisted, her stomach knotting with unease. It was one thing to be ambitious, to make strategic moves in their political arena, but to be so unaffected by the death of a man—that unnerved her in ways she hadn’t anticipated.

She had no qualms about continuing their partnership. It was still mutually beneficial, and they both needed this arrangement to further their ambitions. But now, she had something new to look out for. Coriolanus had always been driven, determined, and a little dangerous, but now she understood how far that danger could go. It wasn’t just a game for him anymore—he was willing to do whatever it took, no matter the cost.

The realization weighed heavy on her chest. She had always prided herself on being able to read people, to anticipate their next moves. But now she wasn’t sure what Coriolanus would do next, or how far he would go to secure his position. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

Sable drew in a shaky breath, trying to steady herself. She couldn’t afford to show weakness now. Not when the stakes were so high.

"Sable," Tigris's voice carried down the hall, effectively snapping the socialite from her own head, "You're still here," she sounded more surprised than anything, though she appeared grateful as she came to stand before her.

Sable nodded, her shoulders tense as her face flooded with concern, "Yes -- I... I mean I wanted to know if he's... is he--?"

"He's fine," Tigris assured her, taking the seat next to her, "The wound is superficial but the doctor wants him to rest for a couple days. Good luck, I guess," she simpered anxiously.

The girls sat side-by-side, their eyes drawn to the far wall as if the chaos from earlier still lingered in the shadows. It was only now, in the heavy silence of the room, that Sable realized how little she truly knew about Tigris Snow. Despite their occasional meetings and the growing partnership between her and Coriolanus, she had never really spoken to Tigris, never dug deeper into the woman who had been by his side for so long. Their connection was shallow at best—much like her connection to Coriolanus himself.

"That was scary," Sable admitted, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress until her knuckles turned white. The tension was still humming in her veins, her thoughts spiralling back to the bloodshed and the disquieting calm in Coriolanus’s eyes, "I haven’t seen such chaos since… the rebellion, I guess."

Tigris nodded, her expression distant but knowing, lips pursed as if she, too, was wandering down those dark corridors of memory. The rebellion had been a lifetime ago, yet the scars it left were still visible, woven into the very fabric of their world, "It never really leaves you," Tigris said quietly, her voice low and measured, "The fear. The uncertainty,"

She didn’t need to say more for Sable to understand. They all carried the weight of the rebellion on their shoulders, some heavier than others. For Coriolanus and Tigris, it was not just the loss of their family’s fortune or status—it was survival. The things they’d done, the lines they’d crossed, and the decisions made during those desperate times had shaped them into who they were now.

"He’s changed," Tigris continued, her eyes lowering to her lap as though the admission cost her something. "Corio… he’s not the boy I remember. So much was taken from him. Not just the rebellion, but the Hunger Games. What you saw tonight… it’s not the first time..."

Sable swallowed hard, her stomach twisting at the thought. The rebellion had been brutal, sure, but it hadn’t stripped her of her ability to feel. She could still remember the panic, the helplessness, the way the Capitol turned against itself. But Coriolanus? He had been in the thick of it, navigating survival in ways she couldn’t imagine. Even in the Hunger Games, eighteen-years-old and despite all the chagrins, he somehow managed to keep his head on.

"He's always been able to detach like that?" Sable asked, though she already suspected the answer.

Tigris looked away, her gaze distant as though reliving moments from years past, "There have times he had no choice. It’s how he survived." Her voice was tight with emotion, a trace of sadness lacing her words. "But now… I don’t know if he remembers how to stop. Or if he even wants to,"

Sable bit her lip, the weight of Tigris’s words settling in her chest. This wasn't just about survival anymore—it was about power. Control. Coriolanus was chasing something far more dangerous than mere victory, and she was tethered to him, willingly or not.

"Is that what this is for him?" Sable murmured, almost to herself. "Another battle to survive?"

Tigris glanced at her, a faint sadness in her eyes, "Perhaps. But it’s also a battle he intends to win at any cost,"

Sable shivered, her mind replaying the way Coriolanus had stood over the attacker’s body, unbothered, unshaken. She had agreed to this partnership knowing it was dangerous, knowing that Coriolanus was driven by ambition. But now, she was beginning to realize just how far that ambition could go—and how little room there might be for her, or anyone else, should they get in his way.

"Be careful," Tigris said softly, her voice barely above a whisper, "Whatever this is between you two… just be careful,"

Sable nodded, though she wasn’t sure what else to say. The line between her and Coriolanus was becoming dangerously blurred, and for the first time, she wondered whether she was in over her head.

Coriolanus went home that night, though sleep remained elusive. He lay in the dark, his mind racing, the events of the evening playing on a loop in his head. The moment the attacker had rushed the stage, the instinctual way he had grabbed the microphone stand, the sharp crack of the impact—those seconds had felt both agonizingly slow and lightning fast. Even now, hours later, the adrenaline still hummed faintly beneath his skin.

He turned over, staring up at the ceiling, his thoughts drifting to Sable. What must she have thought as she watched him, calm and calculated in the midst of chaos? He had caught a glimpse of her from the corner of his eye—her wide, shocked expression, the way her body had gone rigid in her seat. She’d seen him in control before, but never like this. Never so cold, so utterly detached from the violence.

There was no denying it—she had to be scared of him now.

He couldn’t blame her. The calm that had come over him wasn’t something he could easily explain, not in a way that would make sense to her. She hadn’t been through what he had—hadn’t seen the Hunger Games and its fallout the way he did. He learned to keep his emotions in check because emotions were liabilities, distractions. And in the world he was aiming to rule, there was no room for those.

Still, a part of him wondered if he had overplayed his hand. Sable was his ally, a vital part of his campaign. He couldn’t afford to lose her trust. But after tonight… had that trust been shattered? He knew how observant she was, how quickly she could read a situation, and tonight she had witnessed something deeper than the charm he’d usually wrapped around himself like armor.

He thought back to her gaze when their eyes had locked after the attack. There was no relief, no reassurance. Only fear. It was a look that he couldn’t shake.

What would she do now?

Sable was smart, calculating in her own way, and he knew better than to underestimate her. But he also knew she wasn’t like him. She wasn’t built for the kind of ruthlessness that came as second nature to him. Would she still see him as her partner, or would she start seeing him as a threat? Would she try to distance herself, put space between them as a way to protect herself? Or would she play along, pretending nothing had changed while silently reassessing everything?

He couldn't quite predict her next move.

He winced as he rolled over again, the wound under his bandage tugging painfully at his shoulder. Coriolanus shut his eyes, trying to block out the thoughts swirling in his mind. He had bigger things to focus on—the debate, the campaign, his rise to the top. But in the back of his mind, Sable lingered like a shadow, and he knew that this partnership, whatever it was becoming, had shifted. She had seen something tonight that couldn’t be unseen.

And she wasn’t the only one.

Coriolanus knew the audience had been watching too. Every move, every reaction, carefully documented and filed away in their minds. He had remained cool in the face of chaos, but was that what they wanted? Or had they seen a man too comfortable with violence, too detached from the humanity of it all?

Was this the beginning of his rise—or the start of his downfall?

In the shadows of that question, his heart nearly leapt out of his chest when he heard the doorbell reverberate through the penthouse. Coriolanus sat up sharply, the chill of the night air biting at his skin as he glanced at the clock. It was far too late for visitors, and his security detail was supposed to prevent unannounced guests from even reaching his door. Tigris or Garrison would've let him know beforehand if they dropped by.

He swung his legs over the side of the bed, pulling on a robe before padding silently toward the entrance. His mind raced with possibilities, each one more unsettling than the last. The events of the night had already left him on edge—was this another escalation?

As he neared the door, Coriolanus took a steadying breath, his hand hovering over the handle before he yanked it open. His eyes widened in surprise.

There, standing in the dim light of the hallway, was Sable.

"How did you get in here?" His voice was sharp, more out of confusion than aggression. He searched her face, noting the tension in her jaw, the slight tremor in her hands as she wrapped her arms around herself.

Sable shrugged casually, but there was an edge to her voice, "Nice to see you, too,"

"Sable..."

"Your doorman likes me, what can I say?"

Her answer didn't satisfy him. His grip tightened on the doorframe as he scanned the empty hall behind her. No guards. No sign of how she had bypassed the extensive security measures.

"You shouldn’t be here," he said, though his words lacked conviction. A part of him was relieved to see her, despite the suddenness of her appearance.

Sable took a step closer, her gaze piercing as she looked up at him. "I wanted to see you."

"For what? To tell me you want out?" His words hung in the air, heavy still. He studied her, trying to gauge what had driven her to show up at his door in the middle of the night.

"I don't want out," she said softly, though he could hear the waver in her voice.

"Then what do you want?" He leaned against the doorframe, crossing his arms, his eyes narrowing.

For a long moment, Sable didn't answer. She just stood there, her eyes locked on his, as if searching for something—maybe the man she had thought he was, or maybe a glimpse of the one who had calmly taken a life hours before.

"I wanted to see if you're okay," she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're my friend."

Coriolanus stared at her, her words hanging in the air, heavy and unfamiliar. Friend. The weight of that single word settled over him like a shroud, pressing against the image he had so carefully crafted of himself. There was no simple answer to that sentiment, and he knew it. Sable had witnessed something tonight that couldn't be undone, something darker—something that had always existed beneath the surface, now laid bare for her to see.

He looked into her eyes, searching for any sign of fear or doubt, but all he saw was concern. Genuine concern. And that unnerved him more than anything else.

"I don't need you to worry about me," Coriolanus replied, his tone measured but distant. "I'm fine,"

Sable took a step closer, the tension in the space between them thickening. "I know you're fine. But that doesn’t mean you’re okay." Her gaze softened, lingering on him as if she could see through the layers of composure he wore.

Coriolanus let out a breath, his eyes narrowing slightly, "This is what we signed up for. What I signed up for," he said, though it felt like a hollow justification even as the words left his mouth.

Sable didn’t respond right away. She simply stood there, watching him with that same unreadable expression, "It doesn’t mean you have to go through it alone,"

Her words, simple as they were, stirred something in him—something dangerous, something he couldn’t afford to feel.

"...Are you gonna' invite me in, or do I just get to stand here and look pretty?" Sable teased, the tension between them shifting with her playful tone, though the weight of the night still lingered.

Coriolanus blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the change in mood. Her lightness was disarming, and for a moment, it almost felt like things could return to their usual banter. He stepped aside, gesturing for her to enter, "I’m sure you’re more than capable of doing both,"

She glided past him, her usual air of confidence intact, but as she crossed the threshold into his space, there was a subtle hesitation in her step. Coriolanus noticed. It was as if, despite the teasing, she was still processing what had happened. And, in truth, so was he.

As he closed the door behind her, a part of him wondered why he had let her in—why he hadn't kept her at arm's length, as he had with everyone else.

Sable had changed out of her dress from before, now wrapped in a cozy grey wool sweater and a black skirt that fell just above her knees. It was the first time he’d seen her in anything other than blue, and the sight made him simper as she settled into his couch. She wasn't so much sultry now as she was... cute. Plainly and simply cute.

“So, you do own other colors,” Coriolanus remarked, sitting across from her, his tone lightly teasing.

Sable met his gaze, smirking back, “That’s more than I can say for you,”

He let out a low chuckle, leaning back, "I have other colors," he assured her. Sable cocked her head, glancing up and down at his broad physique in the rich red housecoat, "... Besides this,"

“Oh, of course,” Sable nodded, her eyes softening with a hint of concern. His bandage was peaking from under the lapel of his house coat, a faint shade of red soaking through, “How’s the wing?”

“Fine,” Coriolanus replied, though the physical wound wasn’t what truly ached. “I just have to take it easy for the rest of the week.”

“Did the doctor tell you that, or is it more of a 'suggestion'?” she asked, an eyebrow quirking up.

“I’m fine, Sable,” he assured her, a touch more firmly this time, trying to dispel the topic with his tone. He didn’t want to discuss it, not when other wounds—the deeper ones—were still fresh.

She leaned back slightly, her fingers absentmindedly grazing the edge of the couch. There was a silence between them, the kind that felt loaded, waiting for one of them to break it.

“You’ve… done it before, haven’t you?” Sable’s voice was barely above a whisper, but her words sliced through the quiet like a blade. Her eyes met his, no judgment in them—just curiosity. Maybe even fear.

Coriolanus stared at her, the weight of her question sinking in. He could feel it—the unspoken horror of what she’d witnessed, still hanging between them. She had seen him in a way no one else had -- no one still alive, anyway -- and that knowledge made this moment heavier than it should have been.

“Why do you ask?” he finally responded, his voice low, cautious.

“I don’t know,” she murmured, looking away for a moment as if searching for the right words, “The way you handled it… You were so calm. Like it wasn’t anything new,”

She glanced back at him, waiting for him to fill the silence with an answer that could either draw them closer or push her further into the distance.

"... Are you scared of me?” he asked, his voice hesitant.

Sable shrugged, her eyes drifting down to the coffee table between them. An empty mug sat there, faint tea stains lining the inside—clearly neglected for some time. Next to it, a well-worn book on chess lay open, its spine cracked and frayed from overuse. Of course. Coriolanus treated life like a chess game. Every move calculated, every decision a strategy. That much was obvious.

But this? This wasn’t just a game.

"No," she murmured, though her voice faltered, uncertain. Her gaze remained fixed on anything but him. "I grew up in the peak of the rebellion. District 3 was in chaos—neighbors turning on neighbors, people killing over the smallest scraps of food. There was a time when we had no housing, and we had to sleep in the church basement… surrounded by rats," she paused, a shudder passing through her, "So many nights I'd wake up screaming, finding them chewing at my fingers,"

Coriolanus's eyes drifted down to her hands, now perfectly manicured and moisturized. He again noticed the faint, almost invisible scars that lined her fingers and palms, remnants of a past she’d never spoken of until now.

"That's terrifying for an adult, let alone a child," he noted.

"Yes," she looked at him again, "You've killed before, haven't you?" she asked again.

With bated breath, Coriolanus tentatively admitted, "Yes, I have,"

"Who?"

"... three or four people,"

Sable scoffed quietly, "We're not counting candies, Coriolanus. Was it three or four people?"

Coriolanus slumped back in his seat, weighed down by memories that clung to him like shadows. The faces, the names, they never left him: Bobbin, Mayfair, Sejanus... He hadn't pulled the trigger on his friend, but his actions had sealed Sejanus’s fate. He may as well have been the one to execute him. And then there was Lucy Gray...

“I don’t know if... the fourth might’ve gotten away,” he muttered darkly. “I never found her again.”

He half-expected Sable to recoil, to stand up and walk out of his life. It would’ve been the smart choice. She should’ve left him sitting there, a man with too many bodies weighing on his conscience. But she didn’t move. Instead, she stayed rooted in her seat, her gaze fixed on him, watching an exhausted predator licking his wounds.

"Were they a means to an end?" she asked, her voice a careful balance between cautious and curious.

“Yes,” he admitted.

"... Would you kill again if you had to?" she asked.

He hesitated before he answered, the weight of his actions bearing heavily on him. The answer however was clear in the depths of his conscience:

"Yes,"

Sable’s eyes never wavered, though he could see the gears turning in her mind. “And if pushed far enough, would you... do the same to me?” Her question hung in the air, both fair and terrifying.

"I can't think of a reason—"

"If pushed, would you hurt me?" Sable asked again, leaving no room for ambiguity.

He didn’t want to answer that, didn’t want to admit the truth that gnawed at him in the quiet corners of his soul. But he knew better. His nature was too greedy, too ruthless. He’d take what he wanted, just like she would. Only, there was one stark difference between them: Sable had never crossed that line. She’d never killed anyone. He wasn't sure if she ever could. She was delicate in a way he no longer was.

But him? He had crossed that line long ago. He’d become something else, something darker—a ticking freak who could snap at any given moment.

And if Sable ever pushed him far enough, he feared the truth. He feared that he could snap at her, too.

"If pushed enough, yes," he finally admitted it, "I don't want to... but I could,"

A tense silence settled between them, the weight of his answer hanging heavily in the air. Two months ago, Coriolanus might not have cared. Sable would have been just another casualty, someone who could easily be added to his secret body count. He could make her disappear with a perfectly crafted lie, something so convenient no one would question him.

But now? Something had shifted. He'd grown to like having her around, grown to appreciate her wit, her sharpness. There was something magnetic about her presence. He might have even been attracted to her in ways he hadn’t fully acknowledged.

Yet that was the problem. One stray decision, one wrong move, and he could destroy her completely. The thought lingered like a dangerous temptation, reminding him that, no matter how close they became, he was capable of destroying her.

Sable should be terrified.

However, she stayed on the couch, looking at him -- through him, really -- and he had to wonder what gears were turning in her mind. Her gaze averted to his bandage, her brow quirked.

"You should change that," she noted, "It's bleeding through,"

Coriolanus followed her gaze to the bandage, brow furrowing as he peeled back his coat lapel. Sure enough, the white gauze was stained with fresh crimson, seeping through in small patches. He hadn't even noticed.

"I’ll manage," he muttered, brushing it off as if it didn’t matter.

But Sable didn’t seem convinced. Without hesitation, she stood from the couch, crossing the room before he could even think to protest.

"Oh, please," she insisted, already finding his bathroom, "Men say they're fine one day, then they're having catheters put in the next,"

Coriolanus blinked, momentarily stunned. The last thing he expected was for her to offer help like this, especially after his... admission. It wasn’t just that she cared, it was that she didn’t seem rattled by the idea of getting close, even after what he’d just admitted to her.

He followed her to the bathroom, finding her rummaging around in what little he had in his medicine cabinet. Her brows furrowed in frustration, "God, you really need to fill this up! Maybe with some pain meds, at least. Some bandages, burn cream..." she huffed, "Everybody burns themselves in the kitchen,"

Coriolanus couldn't help but be amused by her frustration, "You may find this a shock, but I don't cook often," he reached for a drawer in the bathroom counter and pulled it open, revealing a basic collection of gauze and medical tape. Sable glowered back at him.

"Now, was that so hard to tell me?"

"Maybe I just like watching you struggle?"

She hummed as she picked through his supplies, "You must truly be a sadist. Sit," she directed him to the lid-down toilet.

Coriolanus sat back, unsure, watching as she kneeled down beside him, delicate fingers carefully peeling away the blood-soaked bandage. It dawned on him then that this was the closest, physically, they had been in private. No Capitol elites, no rubbernecking reporters, no cameras blinding him. It was just the two of them, blood beginning to stain her fingers as she cleaned up around his gash.

He found Sable maddeningly complex—annoying in her ability to read between his carefully crafted lines, manipulative in the way she twisted conversations to suit her agenda. Yet, despite the frustration she stirred in him, he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She moved through his world like a puzzle he couldn't quite solve, and it drove him to the edge, tempting him with the allure of understanding her layers. He knew there was danger in letting her get too close, yet her unpredictability only deepened his fascination. Even as she knelt before him now, tending to his wound with a gentleness that clashed with her sharpness, he was drawn to her in a way that defied all logic.

"Why are you helping me?" he asked, his voice softer than he intended.

Sable didn’t look up, her focus on his wound, "Maybe I’m just not scared of you like you think," she replied.

"You should be," he muttered.

Her eyes flicked up then, catching his gaze with an intensity that made his heart skip. Those deep brown eyes, flecked with gold, shimmered in the dim bathroom light. Her lips—so soft, so close—shimmery with gloss, full and inviting. The thought flashed through his mind again, unbidden but undeniable, wondering how they would taste, how she might react if he leaned in just a little closer, if he dared to cross that line.

"Are you telling me, or threatening me?" she asked, her gaze never wavering.

"I'm telling you," he assured her, "I might not be the shiny gold prince you think I am,"

Sable’s lips curved into a faint, knowing smile as she continued to tend to his wound, "Well," she said, her tone light but thoughtful, "I'm not exactly a polished princess either, if you think about it. And yet, here we are,"

Coriolanus chuckled, the sound low and amused, “Are you joking? You're the very definition of 'princess'” he said, his gaze still locked with hers.

"But I got parts of me I'm not gonna show to everyone, just like you," she told him.

"I told you that I could kill you not five minutes ago," he reminded her.

“And do you want to?” she asked, sitting back on her knees, her gaze unwavering and challenging.

The question hung in the air, charged with unspoken tension. Coriolanus observed Sable as she knelt on the bathroom tiles, the flickering light casting delicate shadows across her face. Her position made her appear vulnerable, her delicate frame small and exposed in the dimly lit room.

He couldn't help but notice the way her breath hitched slightly with each movement. Their proximity stirred his thoughts, he could think of a plethora of things he could to do to her... even right here in the bathroom, up high in front of the full scale window. No one in the Capitol would be the wiser to all the carnal things he could do to her, no one would hear how he would make her scream.

Coriolanus shook off the darker thoughts, his gaze returning to her eyes, which remained steady and defiant. The contrast between her calm demeanor and his tumultuous thoughts only deepened his fascination.

“Not right now,” he finally replied, his voice softer, “But I can’t promise you forever,"

Her smile widened as she continued to tend to his wound. "I'm not asking for forever, remember? Just until after the election," she teased, her tone light, "After that—you can do whatever you want with me,"

Coriolanus raised an eyebrow, "Sable..."

Her hand rested on his knee, the warmth of her touch seeping through the fabric of his trousers. She sat back on her knees, her gaze steady and her voice serious, "But if I ever do something that irks you or makes you angry... talk to me first before you consider murder. I'd appreciate it more,"

He couldn’t help but smile at her nonchalance. Despite the gravity of their conversation, her ease brought him a strange comfort, "You're crazy," he remarked.

"So I've been told," she shrugged, rising to her feet.

Coriolanus watched her head toward the sink, his eyes lingering on her for a moment longer, "You might be even crazier than I am," he admitted, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Sable glanced back at him, a playful glint in her eye as she washed her hands, “I’ll take that as a compliment,”

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