#as for the relationship status... we will get ther

[solargeist]

Would.... would tegg call scar by parental honorifics.... I'm assuming she would with grian, since you already have xelqua who sorta calls him papa

(Ganted scarian isn't together in the tegg au grian was just nest brained so I guess it wouldn't make sense but yk)

Also I think they're ssoso cute their the dads ever , I love tegg <33

The reason why Xelqua switches between "grian" and "papa" is just bc he was technically adopted, and old enough to be aware of it and feel embarrassed sometimes ! As he ages, he gradually calls him papa more often. He feels more comfortable and secure ! Grian also makes it pretty clear to him that its okay. I think at some point he'd also go to Grian and ask if its okay to call Scar something parental too, so sweet.

As for Tegg, she's a baby, so she'll grow up used to using honorifics. Tho I do imagine it'll be a little difficult since everyone else around her would be calling Grian by his name, and thats what she'll hear a lot lmao (theres a brief period of time where she's calling him "G")

But by time she starts saying her first words, Grian and Scar would've already talked abt this. Scar wants to stay involved, he knows Grian was just bird brained, but they're both clear headed right now, and he wants this. The baby looks exactly like him, it's eaten his code to grow, Scar just can't let that go so easily ! All of Boatem have already stated that Tegg is Boatem's baby, anyway.

She'd grow up calling them both the same titles that Xelqua does, even though they're from different AUs--I'm picky with parental titles--Papa et Pa !

[sokkastyles]

To be honest, the most controversial character for me in Avatar is Mai. I'm not even referring to her relationship with Zuko, but basically her position on the show. And in the comics, it gets even worse. It's like she doesn't really have any character or arc, and she's just doing what the plot needs (Like betray Azula, because the princess must eventually lose all she loved ones for her downfall.) Therefore, most of her actions and words seem illogical to me. She loves Zuko at the same time, but it's not bad for her to hunt him as a traitor? She supports the war and the imperialism of the Fire Nation, calls Zuko a traitor to the motherland, but when Ozai is overthrown and Zuko replaces him on the throne with a completely different policy, she is just fine. I mean, when did she change her mind? One minute she supports the status quo and doesn't mind Zuko communicating with Ozai and advises him to accept things as they are, then in the comics she resents the fact that Zuko asks his father for advice. What's in her head anyway? The same goes for her relationship with her parents, who are cold, but at the same time she covers up for her father, who is plotting. It's as if the scriptwriters never tried to look at things from May's point of view and build some kind of logical chain for the development of her character, rather than just using her as a plot tool. I think I would like Mai a lot more if I understood her at least a little.

Yeah, Mai's biggest problem as a character is that she's mostly used as a plot device. She does what the plot needs her to do. All the writing in the comics is like this, but Mai is written like this in the show, too. I remember when I first watched the show, when Mai showed up at the Boiling Rock, I initially thought she would save Zuko before she started yelling at him. Her anger at him for pulling the standard hero "breakup to save her" is so inexplicable. Like I get that you feel rejected, but people's lives are at stake here, Mai. And then her betrayal of Azula a moment later is equally inexplicable. I get what they were trying to do, but it's just not built up enough. She comes across as a misogynistic caricature of a crazy emotional girlfriend because her actions are over the top and do not make sense. The other day I saw a post saying her arc is "subtle" and that's why people don't get it, and no. None of her actions are subtle. She screams and yells and throws things and reacts to everything with dramatic biting sarcasm. Her betrayal of Azula is a grand gesture that was clearly supposed to be the climax of her arc, it's just not built up enough and we have no idea what Mai herself feels about anything that isn't Zuko, and even then, we know very little of how she feels about him. How did their love develop from when we saw her blush at him as a child to when they were on that ship in book three? How DID Mai feel about having to be part of capturing him? How did Zuko feel? I've said this before, but there should have been some tension there, some conflicting feelings, especially once Zuko betrays himself to go back home and gets to be Mai's boyfriend. Since that isn't explored, it makes his relationship with Mai feel like a lie, and another facet of Zuko being someone he isn't, and Mai just another person who would never love the real Zuko instead of the idea of who he should be. Just because she doesn't want to see him die doesn't mean she really understands him, or his cause, as you mentioned. But as I have said many times before, what really hammers that home for me is that when she comes back, she assumes they are still dating, and tells Zuko to never break up with her again. Like, I get that it is supposed to be a joke, but that's the problem. Mai Strong Female Characters her way back into Zuko's life because the writers thought it would be funny and cool and sexy. Look how funny and cool and sexy she is! She's pointing fingers in Zuko's face! We wrote a Strong Female Character!

But there was no thought given to Mai's actual motivations. And worse, they had an abuse victim for whom this is supposed to be his triumphant moment of independence from his abusers be in a relationship with someone who was a part of the life he chose to leave behind and told him that breaking up with her wasn't his choice and acted like that was okay. Again, I know it's all a joke, but it's an ugly one.

I don't think she's controversial, though. We've seen this type of writing for female characters before, as my reference to the Strong Female Character implies. She's cool, she's badass! She loves the hero despite him not doing anything to prove his worth, but to make up for how awfully he treats her, she treats him awful right back! She has to do over-the-top things constantly because otherwise the narrative will forget about her completely. She's edgy in whatever way will appeal to the audience the writers are trying to appeal to - in this case weaboo hot topic preteens.

[royboyfanpage]

Hi, I love your page! What are your thoughts on Roy and Connor's relationship?

Hi! Thank you so much, I'm glad you like my posts :) and thank you sososo much for this ask, I love Roy and Connor's relationship and I'm glad I have an opportunity to talk about them. Sorry it's taken me all day to answer, but here you go :)

Short answer? That's his little brother.

Long answer?

I know that "fanon Batfam is canon Arrowfam" is tired and overused, but I really do think that, especially with Roy and Connor, there is some truth to it. While they haven't had too many interactions in canon, there's still a clear arc their relationship takes which I really like.

I don't like Chuck Dixon's Green Arrow run, obviously he's a shitty person but also his writing just isn't for me, but one of the few parts of it I did enjoy was Connor's first meeting with Roy in Green Arrow (1988) #97, prior to Ollie's death. It first establishes one of the most present themes in their relationship, which is the differences in relation to Ollie, and the contrasting experiences of being their father's sons. Roy's the son who grew up with Ollie, he knows him personally, the good and the bad, but his status as Ollie's son is still constantly in question, you can see it back in Longbow Hunters, Ollie calls Roy his son but still denies that that word has meaning ("Roy's a hell of a kid, but he's not mine. Not really.") Whereas Connor, there's never been any doubt that he's Ollie's son, he's his flesh and blood, but he never knew Ollie until he was already in adulthood. He knows Oliver Queen through magazines, but not personally. That's why when Ollie storms off after finding out he's Connor's dad Connor's shocked, but Roy isn't surprised when he hears that from Connor. He knows Ollie, and he knows how his fears of commitment would make him act. While this is only a minor theme of those specific issues where they first met, Roy helping Connor understand what it means to be Oliver Queen's son is one of my favourite parts of their later interaction.

After Ollie's death, there is some tension between Roy and Connor, particularly around Connor joining the JLA in Ollie's place and becoming the new Green Arrow, first mentioned in Teen Titans (1996) #12-

-which is later expanded on in Arsenal #2.

This is really the first time we see Roy and Connor have a heart to heart, and it shows Roy's inferiority complex. Due to tumblr photo limit I can't show more pages for this, but I think the one I chose is the most poignant because, at least in my eyes, it shows the insecurities both of them have in terms of their relation to Ollie, and how each of them address that. Roy's loud, he'll openly speak his mind and say what he feels, and that's why it's primarily about him (that and that it's his mini and Connor's a guest). Roy openly admits feeling inferior to Connor in his position as Ollie's son, even after Ollie's death. Connor, he's quieter about it, and gets spoken over by Roy before he can actually talk about his feelings (which is a pretty consistent problem Connor faces where people expect him to listen but not talk). But you can still see it in his body language, the shadow over his face looking downwards, and while he isn't allowed to finish his sentence you can still tell what he's about to say, that Roy's more of Ollie's son than he is. They both know that the other hasn't actually done anything, but they're not to blame for each feeling their own individual emotions.

They also address the topic of legacy in relation to Ollie in #3, and how there's this unspoken standard to live up to that neither of them ever really can. Roy's Ollie's mentee, his protege, he should be Ollie's legacy, and yet he's not Green Arrow, he's not in the JLA, and he's still coming in second place. Whereas Connor, he is Green Arrow, he's Ollie's legacy, he's in the JLA, but he's a better martial artist than archer.

I wish they'd gotten more opportunities to interact while Ollie was dead because there was SO much potential for them during that period, but alas.

And now, I get to talk about one of my top five comics ever: Boys' Night Out, Green Arrow (2001) #32. Yeah, sure, the whole issue only happened because Ollie wanted Connor out of the house, but it's also the first comic to really explore the brotherly relationship between them, particularly in terms of Roy being older. Roy takes Connor bookshopping despite his own boredom-

-And then takes him to a strip club, where they have another heart to heart.

This page specifically is so important to me, because it's one of the few instances where Connor's actually being heard. Particularly in the 2000s but also in the 90s, a lot of Connor's character was defined by him being the voice of reason, the one who'll talk people down and listen to their problems, which ignores the fact that he's actually a pretty young guy, usually younger than the people he's helping (I suck with ages, I'm pretty sure he was 18 when he was first introduced which, by rough estimate using the Lian Method, would make him around 20-22 in the 2000s). I'm not saying that diminishes his emotional intelligence, he's clearly very emotionally intelligent, but it is a lot of pressure to put on someone that young to constantly be the one holding his family together. That's why I think this whole issue is so important for Connor, it's his chance to actually just be, and Roy's the best person for that. Despite what some fanon and canon characterisations suggest, Roy is absolutely not emotionally immature. Hell, you could make a pretty solid argument that part of the reason he took Connor to a strip club in the first place was to bring up the issue of Connor's sexuality. While asexuality wasn't as popularised as a term back then as it is today, the idea of Connor being queer was very present during Green Arrow (2001), albeit often used as a punchline, and while they're there Connor even gets referred to as a "friend of Madonna" by one of the workers. And while in Roy's head Connor was either gay or just had a low libido at that time, his "you're you and Ollie loves you" speech could very easily be interpreted as acceptance of his sexuality, even before Connor himself had figured it out. It acknowledges that, while Connor's good at helping other people work through their own problems, he's still a young person struggling with his identity, not understanding why he's so different to those around him, even his father. And Roy picks up on that, and tells him that it doesn't matter who or what he is, that what matters most is he's Connor, and him being Connor is enough to warrant love and support.

But Roy also doesn't treat Connor any differently to how he'd treat anyone else. When Connor says something Roy disagrees with, he calls him out

And I think Roy's treatment of Connor as an equal is very important. He doesn't depend on him or treat him like he's this pinnacle of wisdom, but he also doesn't coddle him and treat him like a baby. He calls his ass out, when he needs to! Roy's still a very loud and outspoken person, and he's not gonna change that because he and Connor had a heart to heart. I feel like a big problem with a lot of characters who enter into a family dynamic is that sometimes their writers change who they are at their core in order to have them fit into a specific role in the nuclear family, and while yeah, Roy's absolutely playing the role of an older brother in this issue, he's still Roy Harper, which I think is crucial. And conversely, Connor also calls Roy out when he does something he doesn't like!

I'm running low on the photo limit so apologies for the quality of this collage, and I couldn't fit it in frame but for context Roy just knocked out a robber who Connor was trying to talk down. Connor explains to Roy his reasonings, and Roy apologises! I think this also highlights the differences in terms of their characters. They're both very protective of their families, but Roy tends to act first whereas Connor thinks things through. Roy saw Connor with a gun pointed at him and immediately took action, which contrasts Connor's reaction when Roy gets shot in Outsiders #6

Connor's more of a rational thinker in times of crisis, and he tends to try and think things through and avoid rash decisions, whereas Roy's very much an immediate responder if his family's at stake.

And then it ends with them actually acknowledging each other as brothers!

The ending of Boys' Night Out is so important to me, honestly, and it demonstrates one of the most important features of their relationship- trying to figure out what brotherhood means. There's not a big hug at the end, there doesn't need to be. Just an acknowledgement that they're in each others lives, that they're brothers, and it doesn't matter what that means. It's cool. I adore this issue so much, I had to make like half the post about it because it's so good and it's such a good example of why filler issues are needed. Sure, Williamson's run has it's sweet moments, but an issue like this where two characters just get to interact in a low stake scenario will always be so much more impactful than one hug in a big event.

So, yeah, I think my short answer sums it up pretty well. They're the brothers ever.

[wonder-worker]

what did cicely neville do in edward iv's reign?

Hi! Cecily’s entire role during Edward IV’s reign is too long and complex to fully get into right now, so this is just going to be a very brief overview. It’s also not going to touch on her relationship with her daughter-in-law Elizabeth, even though that's somewhat relevant here in some aspects, because that’s also too complex and speculatory.

Ironically, despite the Duke of York’s claims to kingship, it was only after his death and during her widowhood that Cecily Neville truly emerged as a “quasi-queen”. After her son Edward IV had been acclaimed as King in London, and before he left for Towton with the other lords, he summoned the mayor and “all the notables of London” to gather and “recommended them to the duchess his mother”. During his absence, Cecily would preside over his household in Baynard Castle and was probably meant to act as his representative of sorts in the city. After his kingship was more firmly established, Cecily primarily resided at Westminster with him from 1461-64 and regularly accompanied him on several ceremonial and political occasions, such as their visit to Canterbury where she was magnificently welcomed. She also appears to have had a great deal of personal and political influence with her son: Nicholas O’Flanagan, the contemporary Bishop of Elpin, observed in the first few years of Edward IV's reign, his mother could “rule the king as she pleases.” This may have relied on popular topos of mothers and their young sons, it may have reflected reality, or it may have been exaggerated - we don't really know - but it does indicate Cecily's prominence and influence.

Cecily’s role demonstrably changed after Edward’s marriage to Elizabeth Woodville in 1464. She remained the second-highest ranked woman in the country, but she took a significant step back from high politics (a la Joan of Kent after her son’s marriage to Anne of Bohemia). That does not mean that either of them suddenly became apolitical or uninvolved: quite the opposite*. Cecily remained the head of a large household, her administration supported her son’s, she continued to support a few religious institutions, she engaged in trade, she launched court cases, and she clearly inspired loyalty among her affinity. All of this was fairly standard for a medieval noblewoman, but was naturally enhanced by Cecily’s own prominent royal status. Cecily was godmother to at least three of the royal children: Elizabeth of York, her namesake Cecily, and the youngest child, Bridget. She also played a role in reconciling her son George to the Yorkist cause in 1471, though she did not have the spearheading role which has often been erroneously credited to her by historians (ie: “engineering peace between her warring sons”); instead, it was her daughters Anne and Margaret who took the leading role in achieving the reconciliation, while Cecily probably aided them. She was also clearly perceived to be influential with Edward IV, best evidenced by how the mayors of Norwich petitioned her to aid them against the Duke of Suffolk in 1480, though we don’t actually know the result of Cecily’s intervention to judge whether it succeeded or how effective it was**. Regardless, though, she evidently had a much lower national profile during these years.

(On a more personal level, we also have a very sweet anecdote from Elizabeth Stonor who spoke of a meeting between Cecily and Edward in October 1476 at Greenwich: 'and ther I  sawe the metyng betwyne the Kynge and my ladye his Modyr. And trewly me thowght it was a very good syght’.)

Cecily’s numerous titles are also interesting. Immediately after Edward IV’s ascension, she called herself “the Kyngs Moder, Duchess of York”. Variations of the title included references to her late husband, but she primarily defined herself in relation to her son, through whom her current position and power derived. As Laynesmith says: "narrative accounts, particularly chronicles, had naturally used the phrase ‘the king’s mother’ to describe women in the past, especially Joan of Kent. However, it was Cecily who turned this into a specific title in her letters and on her seals." A few months after Edward's marriage was announced, Cecily adopted a new title, now styling herself as: “By the ryghtful enheritors Wyffe late of the Regne off Englande & of Fraunce & off ye lordschyppe off yrlonde, the kynges mowder ye Duchesse of Yorke.” This referenced the Yorkist perception of her husband, Richard Duke of York, who was called the "true and indubitable heir" of England. In 1477, a herald for the wedding of her grandson Richard of Shrewsbury styled Cecily as “the right high and excellent Princesse and Queene of right, Cicelie, Mother to the Kinge”. This was once again linked to her husband’s status: Cecily described him in her letters as “in right King of England and of France and lord of Ireland”. All in all, Cecily’s various designations appear to have been designed to signify her own importance within the regime, to uphold the claim of her late husband, and to strengthen Edward IV’s position by promoting him as the son of the (supposedly) rightful heir. It’s also very possible, as Laynesmith has suggested, that “it was as her queenly power diminished [after the early 1460s] that her claims to queenship were more elaborately emphasized in wax and on parchment”.

Cecily’s role and prominence, and how it changed overtime, is best demonstrated by the number of times English subjects offered prayers for her soul in return for grants. Between June 1461 and September 1464, there are twelve instances of grants made to people who offered prayers for her. (To compare, during the first three years of Elizabeth Woodville's queenship, there were sixteen grants of the same type. So, Cecily didn't quite reach the level of the queen, but she came close; it was quintessential "quasi-queenship"). However, mentions of Cecily dramatically deceased following Edward IV's marriage: over the next 19 years till 1483, she is only mentioned five times, and in all cases Elizabeth Woodville was also listed before she was. Three of these mentions are in 1465, likely reflecting contemporary unease with her son's controversial marriage and the perceived unsuitable origins of the new queen. After that, however, Cecily is mentioned only twice: once in 1476 and once in 1481, with the latter being a grant to her own son-in-law Thomas St. Leger***. This fits well with what I mentioned above about her quasi-queenship in the early 1460s, followed by a much more reduced role and lower national profile in the future years.

Hope this helps!

*Oddly, Cecily is not mentioned at all in contemporary reports for her daughter Margaret’s wedding. Laynesmith believes that she was unwell, and that may as well be true, but Margaret's celebrations went on for a great period of time and it does seem conspicuous that Cecily was entirely absent from them all. It's also worth noting that a letter from the Milanese ambassador Giovanni Pietro Panicharolla on the marriage wrote that "the king, the queen, her father, and the king's brothers are all disposed to it" (sidenote: it's VERY interesting that the queen's father is mentioned before the king's own brothers and male heirs) but made no mention of Cecily. Nor, iirc, was she mentioned in the tournament held to celebrate Anglo-Burgundian relations. It does clearly seem as though Cecily did not play a notable role in the marriage, and relevant diplomacy, at all. (Laynesmith's claim that its Cecily had "helped lay the ground for" the marriage because she *checks notes* dispatched both her sons to Burgundy in middle of a civil war 7 years earlier, with many fluctuations in Anglo-Burgundian relations in between, is nonsense). ** Laynesmith believes that "Cecily’s intervention to control Suffolk perhaps marked a turning point in the duke’s violent career because when he resorted to force again the following summer his victim successfully reclaimed the manor from which he had personally ejected her." I think that Laynesmith is being far too assumptive and that we don’t even know the result of Cecily’s intervention in 1480 to somehow credit her with entirely different case one year later that literally did not even involve her, lol. ***Even more oddly, Cecily’s own son Richard didn’t include her among the list for who to offer prayers for in his college in Middleham in 1478. This was despite the fact that he had included Edward IV, Elizabeth Woodville, his wife Anne Neville, his sisters, his dead brothers and his dead father. It’s incredibly striking, and I wonder what could have happened to cause her exclusion, especially since she was included in religious foundations by both Edward and her son-in-law Thomas St. Leger? Laynesmith claims that "this rather suggests that Richard's own piety was not consciously influenced by hers", and sure, that seems obvious, but it certainly can't have been the only reason. Was she merely overlooked, or did they have a quarrel at the time, or was it for another now-unknown reason? Whatever the case, it's a small but intriguing detail to me.

Sources:

"Cecily, Duchess of York" by J.L. Laynesmith

"A Paper Crown: The Titles and Seals of Cecily, Duchess of York" by J.L. Laynesmith (The Ricardian)

"Cecily Neville: Mother of Kings" by Amy License

[ryoko1232]

I said that since i didn't finish my fictober storys id give yall some fic that i have yet and probably never will finish so...

I am Myself!

Relationships - plantonic creativity twins

Status- far from finished

Tags - superheroes

I remember this was based off of some story from reddit but i can't remember its been a while since I've touched this

“Ow!” “Ugh- Watch it dork-!” Roman took a step back as he looked at him, “You- … What the fuck-?” the other man looked around, expecting it to be some sort of prank. They looked identical. “Are you some kind lf skin walker? if so, you forgot my mustache” the man on the floor said as he got up. “I am Roman Prince, and I would never grow a mustache, it wouldn't fit me and since it looks like I'm looking in a mirror it also doesn't fit you” the boy said looking down at the other, “huh, my initials are also ‘RP’, Remus Pandora. Can't belive my long lost twin was a spoiled brat” He said looking the other up and down, the other gasped in offense.

Nothing particularly wrong with what the other was wearing, it was really just up to their perspective tastes and style. Roman was croquette, with light mostly red though, and he had lots of gold jewelry. Remus on the other hand looked like a highlighter puked on him, no offense. He has a bright green tank top, black baggy pants, and very colorful accessories.

“Better then having no style at all!” Roman said and quickly left, they had a few classes together, it was miserable. Teachers would confuse them for each other, people were asking questions, and they certainly didn't have any answers. Once they got home they ask their parents about it. “Oh… oh no… Ro, you might want to sit down sweetie” Roman sat down as his mom continued, “well… We adopted you, we were unable to have kids so we gotten you, and well we were supposed to adopt both of you… but some one was quicker then we were” Roman was too stund to speak.”We were waiting to tell you later, but it seems the world is too small for that” this was shocking for Roman, his life had shifted after that meeting, he still basket in the light, but Remus would always do something and having the same face is a problem when people are other to get the other person.

Roman finally got his powers, moving stuff by singing, Remus got his powers the day after, summoning tentacles. “Pfft what the fuck?” one of Roman’s friends said, well they're not close but they're still in the sam friend group. “Eww! That so gross!” The girl said laughing while the others joined her, Roman didn't, he never liked Remus but he would never bully him. Remus just scoffs and continue training, as Roman makes the group leave with the excuse of wanting a snack. They avoided each ther all throughout highschool, and people stopped comparing them as much.

That was years ago, right now Roman is being sent to prison, cause he was accused of being ‘The Duke’ and its just offensive in Roman’s opinion. They barely look anything alike, and Roman would never out in something Remus wears.(he wears his normal outfit but with the batman mask over his eyes and a mask covering his lower face) “It’s over Duke!” the agent says as Roman just sighs

[hestzhyen]

What Can Kairi Do Now?

KH Brainrot has completely taken over so let me yeet these thoughts into the uncaring abyss. In the off chance anyone reads this... I like Kairi. I related to her struggle a lot as a kid; it was reassuring to see a character resist change when so many are written to embrace it. She's not my favorite KH character but she's definitely up there. Poor girl's been not much more than a plot device for her entire series so far. Friend to be rescued in KH1, forgotten memory in CoM, side-quest rescue mission in 2, completely absent in Coded despite it being a KH1 retelling, absent in DDD, important but not proactive in 3, present but not effectual in MoM... it's tough out there for Kairi fans. Most of this, I think, is because she's not meant to be important to the narrative beyond her relationship to Sora. I've felt for a long time that Nomura just wasn't very interested in writing about her as an independent character. She's there for Sora as a friend, a love interest, and as a McGuffin. Makes sense since she's supposed to represent friends drifting apart- she's the comfort and stability that Sora so badly wants to return to for most of the series. And yet, over and over again, he's getting called away from her side. Star-crossed and separated from each other despite how badly Kairi wants him to stay with her forever. So now that Sora's gone to the Other Side of reality itself and her left behind again... where does that leave Kairi?

Well, this could be her time to shine! FOR REAL! No cap, as the kids say. I mean it.

Kairi has so far been inseparable from Sora's character. Everything she's been shown to be so far is about him- Sora don't change, Sora I'll wait for you, Sora I'll protect you. Sora, Sora, Sora. Every scene of her relates back to him in some way, except the one in BBS when she had yet to meet him... which actually still leads to Sora since that's where Aqua placed the spell on Kairi's necklace that enabled her heart to take refuge in his during KH1. It's only the precious few scenes we see of her apart from Sora that we see her growth. She decides waiting isn't good enough in KH2, then decides she's going all-in on wielding a Keyblade so she can protect him in KH3- decisions made only in his absence. So the problem is pretty clear: for Kairi to grow, she needs to be separated from Sora. And oh hey guess what, MoM went out of it's way to do exactly that when it really didn't have to.

So what could we see our sweet girl doing going forward? There are two things that come to mind for me. First, by choosing to train under Aqua, she can forge strong bonds outside of Sora and Riku. Second, she can take charge of one of the subplots dangling around. I'm under no illusion that she'll ever be as imporant as Sora is to the narrative, but it's not unreasonable for her to step up and protect their home until he comes back. Deciding to take control of her own fate at the end of MoM set a solid foundation for her to grow separately from Sora in a natural, realistic way. And this would be the best thing possible for her character.

KH3, re:mind, and MoM all point to the end of the status quo for the relationship between Kairi and Sora. Nothing stopped him from fading away, after all. She tried everything and came up short when it mattered again. So Kairi seems to finally be accepting that she can't be strong enough to stand with Sora if she's only doing things for his sake. She needs to find her own inner strength. Deciding to train on her own terms, without mentioning Sora even once, is letting us know that Kairi's primed for her own arc for realsies this time. Will it come to be? Maybe!

There's a bit more I could say about Kairi but... well, I just want to wait and see. We know so little about what to expect in KH4 that I don't want to go full-on theorizing mode into this empty chasm. Especially since every time Kairi's been set up for growth it just hasn't happened. There's a big enough difference between this situation and all the previous ones that lets me have some room for hope at least. Thanks for listening to this ramble, internet void.

[6rookie-writer0110]

Talk until Dawn

Inko Midoriya x Male Reader

Request - So inko and R meet by a dating app the date goes great and they keep dating a bit and decides to become boyfriend and girlfriend and R meets izuku when inko tell him she's dating R and they get along quick with R telling him that he used to go to UA and his now an underground hero fast forward and R moves in with Inko and they do most couple stuff together with lots of affection especially when Inko gets insecure about herself and R telling hee he loves her no matter what

Inko has been single for a very long time. She did think for a while of where to meet new people. She found an app and she decided to fill out the questions. She started reading over and over, about how to answer the questions.

“No, I have to be honest. I don't want the relationship to start with a lie” Inko said to herself.

For each question, she answered it honestly but she didn't her whole information online. But she did type that she has a teenage son. She uploads four pictures of her then she starts to write her hobbies and her dislikes.

She saved the profile and smiled at herself. She took the first step of meeting someone.

A few days passed by at first Inko didn't get any messages. One night watching tv, she heard her phone ring, it was a message alert. She is surprised she got a message from a guy. You introduction yourself in the message and wrote you're interested in getting to know her. She clicked on your profile and she starts to read it. She did look at your pictures and she found you very attractive. She did write back and she told you her name, she is surprised someone is interested in her.

--

You are in Aizawa's house. Instead of watching tv with him, you are texting with Inko. Aizawa encouraged you to sign up on a dating app. You are happy you took his advice, you and Inko have been texting each other for almost two months now. You always smile when you get her text and she does smile too.

“Who are you texting with?” Aizawa asked.

“I met someone on the dating app. We have been texting each other for months” You said.

“What is the relationship status” Aizawa said.

“We are dating but we haven't met in person just yet. I’m super nervous to ask her to meet in person. She makes me smile and I can be myself around her. I haven't felt like for someone in a long time. She is very nice, she loves to cook and she has a teenage son which I don't mind. I like texting with her. Yes, we do speak on the phone now and then” You said.

“Just ask her out,” Aizawa said.

You bite your bottom lip. “I will try”

“Are you going to meet up with her? Take the chance” Aizawa said.

You were going to say no but you changed your mind.

“But where should I take her?” You asked.

“There is a nice cafe shop called Turret Coffee, Tsukiji take ther there. If it goes well then ask her out for dinner” Aizawa said.

“Okay, I will do that,” You said.

You texted Inko and asked her out on a coffee date. Aizawa watched you smile at your screen then you look at him.

“She said yes!” You cheerfully yelled.

“Yay,” Aizawa said in his normal voice.

“Wow, I can't believe it” You smiled big.

“For when?” Aizawa asked.

“Tomorrow we will see each other,” You said.

You can't stop smiling. You and Aizawa have been friends for a long time, he knows you personally and you know him well too.

✯ ✫ ✬ ✯

-First Date-

Inko is at the cafe shop and she is feeling very nervous. She is hoping that you will still like her and don't change your mind. You walk into the cafe shop holding flowers and you see her.

“Y/N?” Inko asked.

“Yeah. Inko you look so beautiful. I got this for you” You said.

She blushed and smiled. She grabbed the flowers and smelled them.

“Y/n thank you so much for the flowers. You look very handsome” Inko said.

You and Inko smiled at each other.

“Thank you. Ready to order? I hear this place has great pastry” You said.

“I’m ready to order” Inko smiled.

You and Inko ordered then sat down. You two are feeling nervous and started to ask questions about each other.

“I am a hero,” You said.

“But I never saw you on tv or in the spotlight,” Inko said.

“I am an underground hero. I don't want to be in the spotlight all the time. People still need help and some criminals are underground that many people don't know who they are. What is your quirk?” You said.

“I understand. I can move small objects towards me. Y/N what about you” Inko said.

“I can store information rapidly into my mind, I can learn a new language faster, I know serval different fighting styles and i have speed,” You said.

“Very impressive. Do you have any kids?” Inko said.

“No, I don't have kids. How's the pastry?” You said.

“The Mochi is really good” Inko said.

“I don't like the green tea cookies. I never tried it before so I decided to get it” You said.

“Y/N, you can have the Mochi, it's good,” Inko said.

She passed you the extra chopsticks and you smiled at her. You start to eat Mochi and you like it, you are getting to know her hobbies, dislikes, and her favorite food and pastry. Also, you tell about yourself and the conversation is going great. You and Inko stayed at the cafe shop for a while then left the cafe shop.

You and Inko take a stroll at Hinokicho Park. You gently grab her hand and your heart is racing faster. She let you hold her hand and she can't stop smiling.

----

7 Months Later-

Inko invited you to dinner at her place so you can meet her son. You are feeling nervous and you bought flowers for her. Today is Izuku’s birthday and you bought him a gift. She told you that he is a huge fan of All-Might, you start to remember when you first met him.

“Y/N thank you for the flowers. Izuku this is y/n and he is my boyfriend” Inko said.

“Nice to meet you, y/n,” Izuku said.

“It's good to meet you, Izuku. Oh, I got this for you, happy birthday” You said.

“Thank you,” Izuku said.

��Dinner is ready, now we can eat,” Inko said.

You take off your shoes and you follow them to the kitchen. Izuku help his mother set the table. You ask him questions about school and he tells you that he wants to be like All-Might.

“I used to go to U.A. High now I work as an underground hero. Can be rough but in the end, it's worth it” You said.

“Did you work All Might or with any other heroes?” Izuku asked.

“I worked All-Might and Aizawa and plenty other heroes even with anti-heroes,” You said.

“Aizawa is my teacher at U.A. High and All-Might too,” Izuku said.

Inko can see that her son likes you and you are getting along with him great. Izuku did show you his bedroom and he had questions about being a hero and working with rogue heroes.

You have dinner with them and everything is going well. All Might and Aizawa called you because they need help, Inko told you to go help him and you apologized then left.

✯ ✫ ✬ ✯

-Time Skip-

Inko asked you to move in and you said yes. Izuku is happy about it, he can see that you make his mother happy. Inko and Izuku are making space for you in the apartment then Inko helped you put away your clothes.

“Let’s take a picture this is a special moment,” Izuku said.

“Yeah sure,” You said.

You put your arm around Inko and Izuku is in the middle holding the phone. He took the picture and he can't wait to print it out. She kissed your cheek and you smiled big, you put her hair behind her ear.

“Y/N, this is for you,” Izuku said.

He gave you the key with All Might key chain.

“This means a lot,” You said.

“Y/N, I love you and you're a part of the family,” Inko said.

You gave her a peck on the lips. Later, you and Inko start to cook lunch together. Step by step she showed you what to do. When you mess up, she encourages you to keep going and you don't stop.

“See, you did great,” Inko said.

“I like doing this” You said.

“Me too,” Inko said.

“Which we have all the time in the world” You smiled big.

You kissed her cheek and she smiled. Much later, it turned into night and you cuddle with Inko on the couch. She picked the movie and she has her head on your chest.

-----

You and Inko went to the beach to be alone. Izuku went with his friends to the amusement park. You are putting sunblock on your body and you noticed Inko isn't herself.

“What’s wrong?” You asked.

“It’s nothing,” Inko said in a very low voice.

Inko won't put on sunblock or take off her shorts or shirt.

“Are you feeling insecure?” You asked.

She nods “I’m not pretty like them and I don't have the perfect body. You should be with someone. I saw on the news how Nemuri Kayama flirted with you”

You grab her hand

“I don't want to be with her or anyone else. Inko, I am madly in love with you. You mean the world to me and I don't want to lose you or Izuku. I do see myself being with you for a long time. I love everything about you, when I am with you I feel happy” You said.

“Y/N, you do make me happy. I never thought I would find love again after Hisashi left me and Izuku. I love you so much” Inko said.

“I love you too,” You said.

You lean in and she kissed you. She places her hand on your cheek and you kiss her back.

Later, you and Inko spend time in the water. You teach her how to swim and she is having fun. Later you and Inko get out of the water and eat snacks together. She takes selfies with you and you can't stop smiling.

Much later, you and Inko leave the beach and walk around the boardwalk. You bought her a cute souvenir.

---

You and Inko sit on the bench and watch the fireworks together. Later, you and Inko go home but first, you buy dinner and she picked out the pastry.

After dinner, you and Inko watch movies in the living room. But during the movie, you and Inko fell asleep. Izuku comes home and sees you two sleeping on the couch. He places an extra blanket on you and his mom, then he goes to his bedroom.

[thiscitychickk]

Heyy sis this ya fav from AO3 😂🤣! Okay, I feel like this a safe space so I don't feel bad in saying you opened up a can of worms with this latest chapter lmfao. This chapter was great, including the content all considering and the conversations/discussions that happened after the reading. That said, why did you actually include this topic in the story? Also, is there a way I can type without a limit lmfao cause I have more to say and I am not about type 3-4 asks 😂 I cannot.

**SPOILER ALERT: Ch19 Come Let Us Adore Him**

Hey sis🙂 I won’t shy away from any criticism, especially when it’s valid frustration and triggering content for people. 

Why did I include this plotline in the story? I think it goes back to what I’ve said all along. I want this story to be an accurate depiction of American politics as well as what it’s like to work in them. More than the inaccurate fanfics I’ve read, ther are also  tons of stories and books that feature star crossed Republican Democrat love stories that gloss over any bit of ideological differences and go from point A to deep in love without actually hitting on difficulties.

That said, slavery is part and parcel of our nation’s history. It’s awful. It is poorly taught in schools. Ramifications of slavery are very much being felt by our neighbors today - and also being denied by many people in power in Washington, DC and across the nation.

Republicans count on voters to not understand how it has created so many injustices, social and economic, and capitalize on it in the way they create their platforms, message, and campaign. In order for Lucius to be this right-wingy presidential candidate, that’s who he is.

Are there other avenues that I could’ve taken for their wealth? Sure, but the pervasive inequality caused by slavery, then sharecropping and convict leasing and Jim Crow, the New Deal, on and on. It all stems from slavery, and this is not the last that we will see of the fallout from the article as well as the general awfulness of some of what Lucius believes.

I also would ask that people remember that this is a Harry Potter AU - the premise of the Death Eaters, one could say, is blood supremacy. The equivalent of which is racism in the United States. I warred within myself over whether this was too tough of a topic to take on in fiction, but isn’t that the point? To grapple with the difficulty in our world and try and make sense of it? 

Unfortunately, with this fic, the sense that is made of this topic is that there is none. Especially for ‘white liberal allies.’ Hot take? Allyship is usually just performative. White people are hard-pressed to give up their stake in success, money, status, prestige without a fight, even if they say they will.

And Hermione? She’s 22. People have posted comments that are very angry with her - and some with me, saying that I write like a white liberal.

Which... I am. But I am also writing Hermione like any just out of college liberal who comes to Washington. She’s idealistic. She thinks she can change the world. She thinks she’s going to be doing good.

Nothing really happens in Washington - legislation that overhauls the systems as we know it - be it incarceration, health care, infrastructure, paid parental leave, child care, education... Those things hardly EVER get dealt with outside of a piecemeal approach.

Draco has had a lifetime to realize that, and he’s dating someone who is young enough to still be rocked by every wave in Washington. He knows that she’ll eventually find herself in the same place of subdued shoulder shrugging that he is in. 

***** This is the BIG thing that I want to get through with this story, especially with this chapter *****

Extreme partisan politics do not get legislation passed - her job is not to be an activist, her job is to support a member of congress’ legislative agenda. It took me about a year to realize that. It’s well known in Washington that almost everyone moves to the center of the political spectrum once they have worked on the Hill long enough. Liberals become more pragmatic and conservatives become more centrist. It’s just the way of the world when it comes to getting legislation passed.

I know that people are going to be mad at me for making this a central piece of the story - but I have promised to keep it realistic, and this is how it is in my experience working on the Hill.

Draco isn’t going to have a liberal revolution - Hermione isn’t going to become a Lucius fan girl and vote for him in the primary or  maybe even the general, if he becomes the GOP candidate (spoiler alert?). They’re two imperfect people who avert their eyes from shitty things because it’s easier not to fight or get upset sometimes.

But personally, should Hermione dump Draco over the fact that his father is unwilling to condemn slavery unequivocally? Maybe. She hasn’t yet, clearly.

This is a 22-year-old who has comfort and love and attention for the first time in years. She’s still figuring out what it means to care about politics and work in them and see no progressive bills make it to the president’s desk for signing. It’s rough to go through.

Could she do more? Yeah, but yelling at Draco is just going to have him say ‘this isn’t going to work.’ And that’s not what she wants at this point.

I guess the point that I come to with people’s anger over how she acts is what do you want out of this story? And I wish you could hear me ask, because it’s genuine curiosity, not annoyance or anger that people don’t like where I’ve taken things or where they believe it’ll go.

Do you want Draco to switch his party affiliation?

Do you want Hermione to dump him?

Do you want Draco to quit politics and move somewhere remote with Hermione and be miserable?

There are only a few ways this story could end up, with the two columns being ‘together’ and ‘not together.’ I totally totally get that people are annoyed, but that’s what comes from a realistic story of two very different people coming together. Everyone carries a different load in every relationship they’re in, and clearly Hermione has the heavier one in many aspects here.

Hopefully this clears a little up and can at least make you feel better about what you’re reading. Like I said, I get that this isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. 

Some people are continuing to say that their relationship is predatory, and that’s the only thing I find fault with. Hermione has continually consented throughout this story. Is there a power imbalance in their jobs? Certainly, but she doesn’t work for Draco. Draco doesn’t pay her salary, they don’t have anything to worry about ethically at this point in the professional realm. Personally? There is so much consent here. So much slow-walking to start their relationship up. She can leave at any time. She’s not being gaslit, hell, it would be easier for Draco and his whole family if she left him. She’s not being forced to do anything.

If you made it this far, you’re awesome. Thank you for your honesty, my friend, and I hope you have a great day!

[temporoom]

Kind of wanted to get this out of my mind quickly, so uhm... kind of a personal post? Semi-vent with heartfelt ending? Anyway. If you are uncomfortable with this feel free to just keep scrolling.

WARNING: Internalized homophobia, dubious consent (?)

One of the things that has been bothering me recently is my sexuality. It’ll probably seem weird to old followers because I never hid being bisexual, and most of stories reflect that (since I write all my characters bisexual unless mentioned otherwise). But recently, my certainty was doubted. And I’ve been thinking back to who I am attracted to.

Back in January, I got a boyfriend, with whom I broke up with a first time after a few weeks, before getting back together only a week after, and definitely broke up with him around a month ago. The reason for that was mostly because of the sudden and brutal realization that I might be just not attracted to men at all.

I luckily didn’t grew up in an environment that would make me ashame of whatever sexuality I might have, but my father always insisted on perpetuating lineage for some reasons, and since my father’s way of thinking corresponded to me more, it also stuck in my head in a way. And so, I always imagined my future with a man despite knowing I was attracted to girls, because I wanted to stay true to that principle (and also because I liked the idea of being married and having children). But that future was only seen as something that would suddenly happen, and I never actually imagined having a passionate relationship with anyone. In my head, I would be single and then married, without any of the in-between that normal couples would have. Romances described by others was nice to witness, and I enjoy it, but I never saw it for myself.

And then, I went from single to the social statue of being in a “couple”. Not only did I lost that statue of being single, but then I realized that I had to be with another human being. That realization was one of the reasons I broke up the first time. I wasn’t ready. But it was tense at home at the moment and I ended up being touch-starved and needing something outside of the safe environment I grew up in, and so I accepted going out with him again after he asked me while I was in a moment of weakness. (He is a very cool guy don’t worry)

The first time I was confused, because I never imagined anyone falling for me ever, and the first person who asked me to go out with them just happened to be head over heels for me (no one asked me out before, and no one ever fell in love with me before). So I thought that I might just needed to clarify our feelings, and put some effort in the relationship to make it work out this time. I was feeling bad for this poor guy who I was treating as a test subject for relationships, but I really needed to think about something else at that moment. And so I put the effort. I held his hands, I accepted physical contact, I acted sweet and all... 

And it felt like a performance. Which in a way I knew it was, because I knew I wasn’t in love like he was in love with me. 

I thought it was fine, and I could keep up like this. After all, he was everything I could ask for in a guy, and I should be happy. And so I put in the effort... And the relationship advanced quicker than I would have expected. 

As he was touching me, I suddenly felt like I was dissociating, I was seeing myself on the third person, controlling a character and not my own body. “I’ve seen it act like this, so I should do like this right?” before I realize it, it was starting to become too close to something too deep, and when I came back to my senses... I was terrified. I was terrified and scared. He kindly asked me if I wanted to stop, and I said yes. He hugged me for a while, and I waited, eyes open in the dark, for him to fall asleep so I could sneak out of bed. He noticed, and let me be, moving a way. I stayed there, eyes open in the dark, heart beating fast, but it was nothing romantic, just irrational fear. I ended falling asleep for a couple of hourse before waking up earlier than I ever did. I went to the bathroom with my clothes in my arms, dressing up there before he could my body again, and then I sat at the end of the bed on the ground, staring at the wall, feeling like I would cry.

I came to the same conclusion as before, doing someything with another human being was just plain terrifying. But something else came to me at that moment... the face of a girl I knew back in high school. This girl was a rollercoaster of emotion for me, she had a boyfriend but was flirty with anyone, and when she had noticed that she had an effect on me... She had taken full advantage on it. Grazing my arm in class with her nails, hugging me tight while pressing her entire body against mine, showing herself of to me in the changing room after gym class... She had drove me crazy. She was also the one who made me realize I could have sexual desire... What I didn’t had with my boyfriend at that moment.

I thought back to when she had allowed me to touch her stomach, how my body had felt like I was burning, the electricity coursing through it just from the contact of my hand with her skin... When it had been with my boyfriend... It had felt empty, and I had quickly went back to analyzing the forms of the body like an anatomy book. 

And sitting on the ground, staring at the wall, the dim light of the morning lightening up the room, I realized I liked girls. Only girls. 

I wasn’t sure at that moment, so I was still denying it in my head. “No I just can’t make it work out with him. It’s fine. Maybe I will find someone else, and I will have children, and everyone will be happy and... My brother can’t have children, my sister can’t either... If I can’t, if I can’t then I will be useless.” I ended up messaging a friend about it, because I needed to vent to someone, and she listened willingly, but agreed that she couldn’t really help me on that matter. And I knew that even with seeing a therapist, I was the only one who could know. 

Words from friends and family came back to my mind as days passed by “I imagined a future where we had families, and you were married to a beautiful woman.”, “You often talk about girls, but you don’t seem attracted to men.”...

“What do you prefer?” She had asked in the dark classroom, her eyelashes fluttering, her fingers tracing patterns on my arms, a sly smile on her pink lips. “Boys... or girls?”

“Both.” I replied quickly, my breath getting caught in my throat, I could feel the red burning on my cheeks. 

She hummed, as if she knew, as if she knew I wanted to reply “You.”

As if reading my mind, youtube started recommending me Tiktok compilations of lesbians Tiktok. It was stupid, but I needed answers, and so I clicked on the video.... and then another... and a third... It was enjoyable to watch, but nothing gave me a clear answer. It was always of girls confident in their sexuality, or who wanted to show off their relationship... It didn’t help me. And then one thing stood out between them all, a skit explaining how internalized homophobia worked on lesbians.

Attracted to fictional male character, but not real men.

Wants to date girls, but see themselves marrying a man. 

Reassured by being identified as bisexuals...

Some other stuff too. But those three stood out to me. And another on poped up, about a woman explaining how anxiety can make some girls confuse it for attraction due to the similar feeling of nervousness it gives. 

At that point, I knew I was a lesbian, and I had broken up with boyfriend for good this time. Yet, I couldn’t accept it.

“What scares you about being attracted to girls?” Asked my mother, a sorry look in her eyes, as if she was asking what she did wrong to make me feel that way.

As if I could cry at any moment, my emotions tried to fight with my reasons. “I don’t know.” It didn’t make sense, ther was nothing rational about fearing being attracted to women. 

I started dreaming of heterosexual relationships, dreams that I would live like nightmares, as if I was back with him, performing again, smiling like a good girlfriend and doing what people asked me to... One was sexual, it wasn’t consensual, but I couldn’t see his face, so I thought it was “fine”. If I couldn’t see the face it was fine. There was no logical reasons to be afraid. Maybe I was attracted to men after all? Maybe I could still not be a disappointment...

Why did it bothered me so much? It wasn’t that big of a deal. It’s just how society works, it wants you to find your little box to fit, and you have to act like it, where is your box? Where is the box you fit in? But I couldn’t fit in the box I wanted to, I couldn’t, neither as a bisexual person, or as a lesbian liked described in all the videos I’ve seen. 

I felt more uncomfortable each day. Being with a human was terrifying, being attracted to girls was terrifying...

This night I dreamt of kissing a girl. She wasn’t someone I had knew, and yet, her face was detailed, as if she had been real, and right before me at that very moment. We talked, and her voice was soft, and our lips touched, and my body was mine, not one fabricated by my mind, and she said it was beautiful. She smiled, and I felt... at peace. Like I could see a future with this girl I just met. Our hands touched, and I woke up alone. The memory of her lips still on me.

It was my first time dreaming of a girl like this, and it was nothing like any dreams I had before, it made me feel good, at peace, as if it was where I belonged, and where I was meant to belong all my life. 

“I like girls.” I thought, and then I smiled. “I like girls.”

And I couldn’t get why I was afraid before, because that feeling of love I had felt in my dream was amazing. It was more real than anything I had felt before. I wanted to cherish it. 

This morning I woke up, thinking that I like girls. That it was alright to just think that, hope for that, and hope for something else as well. And I felt at peace.

I’m sorry to my ex if you’re reading this, you did nothing wrong, you were the best guy anyone could ask for... I’m just gay. And it’s time for me to accept it once and for all. 

Oh and thank you to anyone who read it until the end. I’m sorry I had to vent here, but I felt like I had to write it somehwere. Thank you for being patient with me!

[istaricelebelasse]

One really interesting thing about ASOIAF is how important sibling relationships are shown to be, they are given an importance above romantic relationships, and parental as well if you consider how few alive parents there are.

The Stark siblings are a really obvious example of this. They fight so hard to get back to and to protect one another, while also having one of the more ‘normal’ relationships. Who hasn’t argued with a sibling in the way that Sansa and Arya do? Who hasn’t teamed up to cause mischief of some form or another like Robb and Jon do? Their love for one another is one of the driving forces of the books, and is something that absolutely influences why their actions play out like they do and is likely to be one of the reasons why they come out on top in the end.

Theon and Asha also have one of the more positive relationships, there is no indication that while growing up they did not get along, and then once they reunite, despite Asha humiliating him by pretending to be someone else, she sends him men to help hold Winterfell and goes to look for his body once Winterfell has burned. She then tries to ransom him after his capture by Stannis, and when that fails asks that he be given a clean death instead of being burnt which honestly is a lot more than some of the other siblings in Westeros would do.

Conversely we are given a lot of examples of sibling relationships which don’t work, ones which contain hatred and are unhealthy, and none of these ever seem to work out well for the characters involved in these.

The Baratheon brothers, Robert, Stannis, and Renly all hold an animosity towards one another. Stannis and Renly in particular, which is sad because we see hints that originally they were quite close; but the breakdown in affection and the animosity between them means that both of them lose. Had Stannis and Renly teamed up it is very likely they could have taken Kings Landing, instead Renly was killed by his own brother and Stannis was defeated at the Blackwater.

The Lannisters have possibly one of the most obviously dysfunctional relationships (along with the Targaryens but I’ll get to them in a minute) with Jaime and Cersei possibly able to act as a definition for such a thing. Jaime and Cersei have very obvious issues in ther relationship and relationship which essentially led to the War of the Five Kings. Tyrion and Cersei as well so blatantly hate each other that she tries to have him killed and he joins (will join?) her enemy, also the fact that this hatred resulted in the events allowing Tyrion to kill Tywin and this leading to the downfall of the Lannisters, well it’s just the icing on the cake really. As for Jaime and Tyrion? Theirs is certainly the least bad of the Lannister relationships but it still isn’t great, it’s shadowed by Cersei’s hate, Tyson’s hate, and the events that occurred with Tysha.

The Targaryens absolutely are in battle with the Lannisters for most dysfunctional sibling relationships, what with Viserys and Daenerys and their absolutely fucked up interactions. Like Viserys both resents and lusts for Daenerys, he resents her for finding ‘happiness’ with the Dothraki, resents her for being higher status than him in the marriage he sold her in to, and probably resents having to care for her and her causing the death of their mother. She on the other hand is terrified of him and apathetic at the same time, she barely reacts when he is being killed gruesomely yet seems to remember and utilise his talk of being ‘the dragon’ quite a lot which, of the show told us anything, is going to be one of the reasons for her downfall.

Obviously these aren’t all the sibling relationships, but they are some of the most prominent and I do find it interesting just how important they are shown to be.

[nyahuaisang]

Sangcheng Analysis

I'm gonna talk about why sangcheng is a great ship that, if written right, would be just as perfect as wangxian. To do this I've come up with a system to determine whether a ship is good or not.

Chemistry: This is whether their relationship has potential or not. Would these two be able to grow to like each other? Could a connection be made? Basically, is something there?

ex. jin ling and jiang cheng would never have chemistry because they see one another as family

Circumstance: This is whether the lives they live and how they exist in the world of the story they're in affects their relationship or not. Would their actions cause a ripple in their relationship? Would their responsibilities cause them to fall out? Are there people that they care for more that unless explained away, would override ship person a's love for ship person b?

e.x. jiang cheng would never fall in love with jin guangyao because he put jin ling in danger; it's highly unlikely for mingjue to start something with wen qing if his relationship with xichen is still stable because he clearly cares for xichen in canon.

Dynamic: This is whether their roles and position in the story compliments each other or not. Are they foils to one another? Do they work well together? Do they have differing opinions and beliefs?

e.x. while definitely having chemistry of some sort and the circumstances do make them a compelling ship, their extremely differing beliefs and priorities make jfm/yzy a very toxic pairing

Of course these often overlaps one another but I think this is the best way to organize everything and there definitely are exceptions to them, like rarepairs, crackships, aus, ships purely for angst, etc..etc...and people enjoy them because they lack one or more of these points but I brought these points up in particular because sangcheng has high levels of all of them.

Chemistry

Jiang Cheng and Nie Huaisang has been friends since their time at Gusu at age 15 and possibly even before that as they're already good friends by the time they're at Gusu and Huaisang knows that JC and WWX are as close as brothers, something the normal Nie sect disciples didn't seem to know. In fact, Huaisang is the only one to be as close as he is to the Jiang bros. This could be chalked off as he's the only other sect heir their age who isn't an ass to their sister but I don't see either wwx or jc as someone who would reject someone's friendship because of their status(JC only does this when it actually jeopardizes his sect/status).

Huaisang also fits quite well into JC's list of marriage partner requirements.

Gentle Beauty: Self explanatory

Obedient: Huaisang's very passive and tends to listen to what people tells him unless he absolutely doesn't want to or can't accept it. He's obedient but he's not conforming nor a slave to people's orders. E.x. him running into the demon eating cave(or whatever) when WWX told everyone told to; he follows the Gusu Lan rules to an extent, etc etc..

Economical: Despite seemingly being spoiled and loves trinkets, Huaisang most likely would try to get things for a good price if he were to handle the finances himself. Despite it falling in reputation somewhat, he still kept the Nie Sect as one of the top 4 even after 13 years and if he sometimes spend a lot that's only because he's....

From a good family: The Nie Sect is one of the 4 most prominent sects so Huaisang grew up being spoiled often(Xichen and JGY tells Mingjue to stop spoiling him) and while he's not to the point of spending money on expensive items all the times, he'd probably still aware that he has a big budget and can afford to spend a lot sometimes.

Cultivation should not be too high: Self explanatory

Personality not too strong: Huaisang is not as aggressive as his brother nor as loud/outspoken as WWX. He's quite mellow and down-to earth most of the time

Doesn't talk too much: Huaisang prefers letting others talk and chiming in when he sees fit, such as during Gusu arc and 2nd siege.

Isn't too loud: pretty much self explanatory

Doesn't spend too much money: look at Economical. While Huaisang does spend a lit on trinkets, his net worth and family status should be taken into consideration.

Good to Jin Ling: This is the most controversial part but I will explain why this is not a problem in the next part.

They both know exactly what the other has been through as they've gone through the same lost and experience. They both lost a sibling to a person they also considered a sibling and was left behind all by themselves in the position of their sect's throne at a young age. Understanding the pain the other person went through plays a great part in how much chemistry a relationship will have because the pairing knows each other better and knows exactly what the other needs in their time of grief.

Circumstance

The biggest circumstantial problem is undoubtedly how much danger Jin Ling got into. However, I believe none of those instances were due to Huaisang. Jin Ling got into the 2nd siege and Guanyin Temple himself, outside of Huaisang's control. JGY took Jin Ling hostage of his own volition. It makes absolutely no sense story wise for Huaisang to have led Jin Ling to the Man Eating Castle or Yi City because Wangxian were already heading there. Huaisang knows that the arm would led them to these locations, that's why he planted it for wangxian to find. And if he didn't know the other parts would be in these locations, he wouldn't have known to lead Jin Ling there in the first place.

And in all these instances, having Jin Ling being in these places doesn't benefit Huaisang in anyway. Wangxian was already heading to these places and all Jin Ling and the Juniors did was add more lives for Wangxian to worry about. If the kids hadn't been well behaved and listened to WWX, it might've led to WWX slipping up and dying to Xue Yang or Song Lan to protect them and pushing Huaisang back to square 1. There's also no proof other then WWX's suspicions. Thr hunter that led the kids to Yi City was nondescript. WWX may be smart but he is not god. He doesn't know everything and is an unreliable narrator at times.

On the other hand, there are a lot of circumstantial positives for SangCheng. They're both sect heirs and they both did just as terrible actions as the other. Huaisang indirectly caused the death of the Mo family(not mxy though, we have no proof of that either and I have my reasons as to why I believe he didnt push him into it) and caused Xichen some trauma and Jiang Cheng led a siege on what he knows is not just farmers and elders but also a TODDLER. One's actions would not cause the other to reject them because that would be pure hypocriticism.

Dynamic

Sangcheng has one of the best dynamics I've ever seen. They're a perfect example of the Power Couple. Their way of life compliments each other and one's flaws are made up for by the other. Jiang Cheng's leadership-ness and domineering characteristic gives Huaisang a voice to speak out with. He may have hid more then he showed but Huaisang is not someone who takes center stage to speak his thoughts, he's very much an introvert who prefers to talk when other people starts the conversation. In turn, Huaisang's mellow, calm and collectedness would reign Jiang Cheng in should he get too hot headed. Huaisang would know when and how to calm Jiang Cheng since he had Mingjue as a brother and especially after his qi deviation, Huaisang would know when to put his foot down.

Them knowing what each other went through also does wonders for ther dynamic because they're the two characters in the series who knows each other the most at their deepest, darkest, most vulnerable cores. Jiang Cheng would know why Huaisang did all he did as he knows the pain of losing a sibling and vice versa.

Conclusion

As childhood friends and fellow sect leaders, Sangcheng would have plenty of chances to grow closer and it's heighten by how much Huaisang fits Jiang Cheng's ideals. They both did just as terrible shit as each other so they wouldn't judge each other and it's highly unlikely Huaisang had anything to do with the bs Jin Ling got into. Their strengths make up for each other's flaws and they know firsthand what the other went through and how they feel. Sangcheng is honestly one of the best ships, on par with Wangxian and I hope this meta gives a better insight and open some people's eyes to it (*´ω｀)

[ftpthemovement]

Strengthen the Believers

Nails 

1st Degree: 3 Nails Pendant - (Learning Gods Sacrifice)

What Christ did for you. (Forgiving others, making peace, riding vices, self reflection) 

Chapter Reading:  

John/Acts/Galatians/ Ephesians/ Philippians

Document notes of chapter reading in journal 

Actions

* Ask for forgiveness to as many as you remember wronging. Retrace past events and try to arrange meetings or phone conversations to make amends.

*Ask 12 elderly people what they would do different if they could start back young and do life over. Write down the answers and share them with your overseer. 

* Take two days devoted to spending time with a watchmen. If your group is new, take two days decayed to spending time hanging. Out with your group getting to know each other.

Document what you have learned, and share it with the overseer, or with your group as a collective.

Cross

2nd Degree: The Cross Pendant- Denying self (sacrifice of following Christ)

Calculate the cost

Chapter Reading: Luke/Romans/1 Peter/2nd Peter/1st Corinthians/2nd Corinthians 

* Give what you don’t have to give.

Everyone is different and according to their own heart let them find Gods answer. God himself will lead them them In the direction they should go. For others, this is a time of prayer, do not try to create influence from your opinion or what you choose. Allow them time to walk in relationship with God, and he will make it known to them the direction they should take.

Eagle 

3rd Degree: The Eagle Pendant - Trusting God

Provision. (Getting out of your comfort zone, trusting Gods supply)

Learning to step out and trust God. Learning patience and endurance, Getting over the spirit of offense, learning to overcome people falling away from you. Learning to endure persecutions and misunderstandings. Learning to draw on Gods supply and not the worlds supply. Freeing yourself if expectations.

 *Set up an outreach of generosity personally requesting people to join

*Go evangelize in the city and invite a team with you, proclaiming “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!" Explain to them repentance is turning from your ways and seeking Gods way. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

* Start a prayer book for your brothers and your family. Take a binder and write the names of as many people as you can think of and pray over that book daily.

*Privately perform a selfless act of Generosity 

Chapter Reading: Mark/Hebrews/Colossians/

1 Thessalonians/2nd Thessalonians

Hook

4th Degree: Fish Hook Pendant 

(The great commission in action)

Walking out the great commission through action and in truth. Learning how to share your testimony with others. Inviting people to come and participate in your weekly group gatherings.

*Do 8 outreaches focused street evangelism and prayer 

*One Outreach or other event held by you 

*Address your brothers of your intentions of wanting to become a watchman 

Chapter Reading: Matthew/1st Timothy/2nd Timothy/ Titus/Colossians

Watchmen

5th Degree: The Watchmen Pendant 

(Teach others through action and Truth) 

Chapter Reading: 1st John/2nd John/ 3rd John

Jude/Revelations 

 *Wash each disciples feet of your group   

* Help in homeless or prison ministry

*Commit to tithing to FTP The Movement, so we can continue to expand across the nations, providing refreshment in our local communities, and communities throughout the world.

A large army is hard to move. It has many minds, and many motives, and is extremely hard to please. But a highly trained group of 6-12 men who have been commissioned, are unified in body and mind, have proven to be the most strategic, effective groups in the world.

This approach to discipleship is an absolute game changer. This is the way to bring men who are far from Christ to Christ, and walk his will out through action and truth. Don’t ever forsake the assembly. It’s the very thing that spurs us into action, to represent Christ in a lost and dying world, and to bear much fruit! Never settle for a watered down gatherings again. Instead be encouraged and commissioned with willing brothers and sisters who are there to walk your faith out through the transparency of love, care, generosity, forgiveness, and compassion.

I have been in leadership for sometime and have seen many stages of what gatherings look like. From traditional church gatherings, to social circles, to groups that gather to complain about their problems and feel better, but never take action to change them. To this I say, when you gather, it should no longer be about what others can do for you, it’s about what you can do for others. Pay special attention to those who are in need, lead them by example. You will find when you belive right, you will love right. Correctly addressing your attention to your savior, and not your sin, making you effective, and not ineffective for the kingdom of God.

When you gather, take communion with one another in remembrance of the Lord. “For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.” Gather together and ask how everyone has been, and if ther is any prayers needed. Then read scripture to build each other up, and plan out your missions into your local community to provide refreshment. You should be as active as possible in the community, looking to provide refreshment to as many as possible, using your various giftings.

When you do this, your group may continue to grow. When this occours, carefully, and prayerfully appoint leaders. If appointed as leader, do fall victim to pride or the mindset of leadership, it’s a vain pursuit. You who seek to lead, must be the servant of all. If it is your gifting from God, rely on the Holy Spirit to walk boost in the position, above reproach, exhorting, edifying, and correcting, with all authority. Seek out everything in scripture on the topic of overseers, Timothy, Titus, etc.

Never let groups get larger than 25, twelve is the preferred size. To keep overhead to a minimum meet in places like homes, garages, shops, etc. If meeting in public, speak only words that would edify others if they were to overhear your conversation. Be a light in dark places at all times.

Gatherings should always be about discipleship, and taking action in your local community. Bring all of your tithes and offerings to the storehouse. They should always be donated to FTP THE MOVEMENT INC. through FTP app, Venmo, Cash App, or check via mail. Do not make cash donations to the local group unless specifically raising money outside of tithes and offerings. The tithes and offerings are collected and distributed towards advancing the gospel, providing funding for evangelist in the mission field, and refreshment through wholesale outlets so that each group can bring refreshment to their local community. When we pool our resources together as a collective, we are much more effective in our provisions and overall mission, which is the expansion of the gospel to all nation’s!

Each new group that feels a prompting in their heart to start should have at least two or more people coming together dedicated to consistently. You should decide on a name for your group. Each group will be considered a battalion. Each battalion is given a number. Upon starting you must submit the name of your group, names of each person in that group, their phone number, email, and specific talents and skill trades. When you gather have a sign in sheet of who is in attendance and submit it to us@ftpthemovement.com.

This information is collected to keep our non profit status, tax write offs for donors, and to meet specific needs in your particular areas. For example: Say an old lady needs Sheetrock repair in Savannah, Georgia, and Tim Rogers has the time, and knows how to repair it. It allows us to give our members the opportunity (not obligation) to help meet the needs of others, in accordance to Gods will.

FTP does not belong to you, you cannot take ownership of it because it is an ideal. The ideal comes to all nations as a symbol of hope, a lifestyle, that when seen in action is the living unified body of Christ in motion. Do not be attracted to numbers, be attracted to the dedication of action, and the continuous expansion of the gospel.

This is bigger than the ego, bigger than a denomination, bigger than any one contributor could do itself. This is the reformation of the church in the last days. It’s my heart cry that each individual, only through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, take careful and prayerful consideration in joining with us. It’s not for everyone, but we do belive that it is for you. Search your heart men of God. Put to side the differences that seek to cause division, and let’s leverage every opportunity, and resource we have to bring the body of Christ back to the forefront of humanity. Let it be such a loving force of Christ that it cannot be ignored.

““ ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’”‭‭Acts‬ ‭2:17-21

“Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. “If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”‭‭John‬ ‭14:12-21, 23-27‬ ‭

This is a calling to arms, this is for leaders across the nation to search their spirits, and to step forward In mission. Let’s create an infrastructure of resources no longer dedicating funds to stagnant over head cost. Let’s combine our time, talents, and resources to make an impact like never before. There’s much more I want to say to you concerning these matters. My heart burns with the fire of The Holy Spirit as warriors of God cry out “Amen” to these very words. That forgiveness be found with all. All debts be cleared, all animosity and resentment melts to the wayside. Let all division be crippled this very moment in Jesus precious and Holy name. No calloused hearts, no anger amongst men, just the body of Christ in action to the end of age! God be with us always, and protect your families as you make him your refuge and dwell in the shadow of the most high. If you have any prayer requests, specific questions, or want to start a battalion; contact me if you have my number, if not email me directly at us@ftpthemovement.com. We will respond as quickly as possible. Much more will be written especially in each ranking and the messages to come for each. Even without them you can succeed Holy start today and create disciples like never before.

Remeber, people are in need. It’s our opportunity to go out to them the same way Christ did, meeting them where they are at, not wait on them to come to us. It’s time to fly only one banner, and that banner is Christ and Christ crucified. I love you with all of my heart FTP. You have been sent, will you answer the call?

“And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

From the front lines, ES

[the-zodiacs-written-in-the-stars]

Chapter 23: Team Angel Fish

“Doctor Korrapati, it is a pleasure to put a face to the name.”

“Likewise, Mister Hancock.”

Savitri and Sander were smiling at each other as they shook hands and all Joss could do was stand next to them, watching them miserably. This was like out of a nightmare. His longtime crush and his girlfriend were shaking hands, all pleasant and nice. Naturally did Joss know they would meet at one point, considering both were prominent figures in Joss' life (at the very latest, Joss' birthday party, he supposed), yet he wished he could have delayed it all. And the circumstances of the meeting were quite less than stellar too. Aliens, superheroes, villains trying to take over the world (or at least Los Angeles). Before Joss could say anything, he was handed a glass of wine by Sonia, who rested a hand on his shoulder and steered him away from Sander and Savitri.

“Let them talk”, requested Sonia firmly.

“But why?”, asked Joss lost. “I already told Savitri most-”

“Yes, quite. Most”, agreed Sonia bemused. “Sander and I have a better understanding of the overall picture, all this... passing on of information like that... Sander is a good teacher, he will explain everything to her. I'd like to have a word with you though.”

“What about?”, inquired Joss curiously.

“You got your girlfriend involved, dear.”

“I'm... aware, Sonia?” Joss nodded, a little confused.

“I'm just... curious, my friend”, whispered Sonia gently, sitting down on the couch on the terrace, motioning for Joss to join her. “I've been well-aware of your... interest in Sander. I didn't quite expect you to turn up with a girlfriend, to be honest. And now you have gotten her involved in something bigger than you, me or anything here.”

“I... My crush on Sander is... just that”, grunted Joss stubbornly, glaring out into the garden. “My feelings for Savitri are genuine. And I didn't get her involved in this out of selfish reasons or anything. She is... one of the most honest and genuine people I have ever met, she is more than qualified for this responsibility because she won't use it for her own gain and she brings the care and attention that Libra needs after what he's been through with Carroll Lewis.”

“Mh”, grunted Sonia thoughtfully. “I just want to make sure that I'm not stuck in the middle of some classic, overused love-triangle, Joss. If you bring romance to the work-place, it tends to add unnecessary drama and I do think that what with the aliens trying to take over the world, we have enough drama going on.”

Furrowing her brows, Joss turned to look back inside. Savitri and Sander were sitting at the table, talking, Sander writing something down to explain it. Both were bent over, seemingly in deep, excited conversation. Joss couldn't deny the way his heart hammered in his chest at it and he couldn't quite pinpoint for whom that hammering was. They were both so... lovely? The way Savitri's thick curls fell over her shoulder, her fingers running through it absentmindedly in a cute habit Joss had been observing for a while now, whenever Savitri was deep in thought. The way Sander's glasses framed his sharp face, the smile pulling on his lips as it always did when he got to explain something – his passion for knowledge. As Joss watched them, he couldn't help but marvel at how they complimented each other. Sander, who loved to share knowledge, and Savitri, who was always so eager to soak up new knowledge.

 ~*~

 Savitri adored Angel. The tiny blonde was an excitable ball of energy and joy; exactly Savitri's people, really. Pure sunshine and optimism. Also really very tiny. Then again, Savitri was a rather tall woman so it seemed even more prominent. Unlike most other short people Savitri had met, Angel didn't seem to quite mind comments about her height – the green-haired one however, she had bared her fangs and jumped up and down at Savitri's comment. Babs. Babara. That was the green-haired one – the cousin of Angel's boyfriend.

“Here's to teamwork!”, declared Angel, lifting her glass up high.

The four of them were at Angel and Sebastian's flat. Angelique Lamour, Sebastian Weinberg, Joss and Savitri. They were to be a team. It was odd, because Savitri felt like an afterthought. Sebastian and Angel were in a relationship, Angel was Joss' best friend and Joss was also close friends with Sebastian. Savitri was just the new girlfriend of Joss'.

“We will be one of the three teams then?”, asked Savitri softly before sipping her wine.

“Yeah. We got Team Lionheart – what an adorable name and quite fitting, considering that Scorpio and Leo started it out – as well as the... Unicorn Princess Squad, and I admit to enjoying the irritated looks on their faces at their own team name thanks to the press”, giggled Angel.

“What's our name?”, inquired Savitri curiously.

“That... is an excellent question”, hummed Sebastian thoughtfully.

“Lionheart's named for the two companions that shared a form and started out their team. We don't really have that, with an owl, a fish, an ibex and a jackal”, noted Joss with furrowed brows.

“Well, the... unfortunately named Unicorn Princess Squad is named for their leader's companion”, offered Sebastian after a moment. “Matteo's Sagittarius.”

“So... you proposing that we're... the Mermaid Goat Squad?”, asked Savitri with a grin.

“Mer--” Sebastian sputtered, nearly spilling his wine. “You, how dare you. A capricorn is not-”

“Mon amour, it is”, interrupted Angel, giggling and leaning into her boyfriend. “Capricorn is literally a goat with a mermaid tail. It's a mergoat.”

“First of all, he's an ibex, not just a regular goat”, grumbled Sebastian with a pout. “And second of all, I am not the leader of this team. I am the most involuntary participant of this team.”

“Aw, Bastien”, huffed Angel with a puppy-dog look.

“No, no. I do not want to fight, I do not want this mess, but most of all, I do not want to be responsible for it all”, argued Sebastian fiercely, shaking his head.

“Well then, any volunteers?”, asked Savitri looking around.

“I volunteer Angel”, offered Joss after a moment.

“...What?”, asked Angel, her eyebrows up in her hairline.

“You're the most enthusiastic, you're a very social creature, you are excellent at staying level-headed”, explained Joss. “You're good choice as leader, Angelique.”

Quietly, Angel stared at them, before she nodded slowly. “Okay. Sure. Yes. Why not.”

“And do you have a name-proposal?”, asked Savitri curiously.

“Mh... how about... Team Angel Fish?”, asked Angel with a mischievous smile.

“Wait that's a great pun!”, exclaimed Savitri excitedly.

“I kno—ow, right?!”, yelped Angel, high-fiving Savitri.

 ~*~

 “Okay, let me recap this”, started Savitri slowly. “Sonia and Sander are in an on-again-off-again relationship, current status... off. He is the one you had... have... a crush on.”

Joss bit his lips and nodded sharply, cheeks feeling hot.

“The one in the tight leather-dress is Tanya, who used to date both James and Babara – not at the same time though. James also used to date Angel, who is now with Sebastian, who is Babara's cousin. Barbara is the green-haired one. Then there is James' sister Jessie, who is no one's ex. They're the ones with the freckles? You actually have not one but two billionaires though because Matteo di Girasole is part of this team. And his fiance Michael. And Michael's sister Melanie. Not only are both your bosses and a model from your agency part of this team, but also your friend the graphic designer, Elizabeth. How...?”

“How?”, echoed Joss confused, blinking a couple of times.

“I mean that I understand, Sander explained that every marble landed in the same spot – or roughly the same spot, some seemed to have gotten a little lost. But this... very interwoven group of people? Not the random drunkard in the corner, or the couple who happened to be on a date? I see that not everyone is connected with each other, but... there is so many connections?”

“You mean that we, or someone in the group at least, were specifically targeted?”, asked Joss. “We... have been considering the possibility, but honestly what... motive would there be? We're just normal people. Matteo maybe, but...”

“I don't know”, shrugged Savitri thoughtfully. “I mean, you can cross me, Angel and Sebastian off the list, considering that we were chosen differently.”

“Me too, because I was outside. The main group landed inside the pub”, noted Joss.

“And the pub, it... it belongs to the siblings, right?”, asked Savitri.

“James and Jessica”, nodded Joss. “So... those two...?”

Savitri shrugged. “Your guess is as good, if not better, than mine.”

 ~*~

 “So what, you guys think that we're the targets?”, huffed Jessie amused.

She sat backward on her chair, arms crossed on the backrest. James was leaning against the bar, right next to her. The pub was still closed, though renovations were going rather well with the help of everyone. And what better time to bring up their theory than when everyone was together.

“Savitri suggested it the other day”, shrugged Joss, brushing her hair behind her ear. “It's as good a theory as any, since the gems came here, to the pub. And the pub is yours.”

“Do you... Do you think anyone could have it out for you?”, asked Mike.

He looked like a big, kicked puppy-dog as he stared at Jamie. It made Joss roll her eyes. Mike and Matt were so very obviously pining for Jamie that it was pathetic. However, Joss was not one with a right to judge, considering her own sad track-record. Still, looking at them made Joss understand why Sonia had taken her aside the other week and asked her if she was bringing any love-drama into this situation. It only complicated things unnecessarily.

“Why would we have enemies?”, asked Jessie incredulously.

Joss furrowed her brows as she watched the way James avoided eye-contact and didn't seem to have any input. This seemed like he was trying to hide something. She wondered what... and she wondered why Jessie didn't seem aware of this. Because Jessica seemed genuinely disturbed by the mere notion of it. Was Savitri's hunch right? Was there something in the Saint Johns' past that had led all of them to this situation...?

“Attacks have increased lately”, noted Lizzy after a moment of working in silence. “I think they're either not happy we took Libra from them, or they see us all gathering as the go-ahead for... whatever they are up to. That ominous 'they' is pissing me off.”

“We've been trailing Carroll Lewis to see if she can lead us to whoever is in charge of her, but so far, no luck”, shrugged Mike annoyed. “...Rick's getting super suspicious.”

Lizzy turned a little, looking guilty. Joss understood why; she was glad that she could share this with her girlfriend. Having to lie and hide such a huge thing from someone you loved? (Or liked a whole lot, because Joss wasn't ready to put the big l-one there just yet.)

“Just means we gotta take care of this fast”, declared Lizzy seriously.

Read here on AO3!

Previous Chapter <- || Masterpost || -> Next Chapter

[huangels]

➧ 85 questions

tagged by: @jencto ty my love! ♡

rules: answer these 85 statements about yourself, then tag 20 people @ohdaddy-nct @dcyoungs @rxnjuns @reunjun @angelita-gordita @taeybear @taezhu @lycheechann and all who wants to do!! (only if u want too bbs)

↳ Last…?

1. drink ─ hot burning coffee that i almost spilled while driving to class bc it’s pouring outside

2. phone call ─ laura (my friend who just graduated high school !!)

3. text message ─ my mom (telling me to drive safe in the rain uwu) 

4. song you listened to ─ jump by shinee (the album = a whole ass bop) 

5. time you cried ─ oof i cry for the lamest and dumbest reasons but last night i was looking at nct fanart and i saw a cute ass noren one where jeno was dressed in a big moomin costume and wished renjun a good day w/ a ballon and it was all hella cute and shit lemme find it i rb on my personal (THIS ONE) it was,, so cute,, i actually cried,, 

↳ Ever…?

6. dated someone twice ─ oof i rarely date let alone the same person twice lmao yikes

7. kissed someone and regretted it ─ i kissed this huge asshole in high school for a dare and he wouldn’t stop saying we had sex for a whole ass week,, this is why i dont date

8. been cheated on ─ nope

9. lost someone special ─ yeah but that’s the circle of life i guess :(

10. been depressed ─ oof did you mean: my four years of high school 

11. gotten drunk and thrown up ─ uhh psh no i don’t drink underaged,,, mhm

12. fave colors ─ WARM TONES!! nudes (skin colors), maroon/burgendy (just like a dark bloody red), rose gold/dusty pink (the light shade of pink but not pastel), black (just bc), royal blue (the only cool toned color i like idhhdh) 

↳ In the last year have you…

15. made new friends ─ yO making new friends is my middle name (i love making new friends !!) 

16. fallen out of love ─ i’ve never BEEN in love... 

17. laughed until you cried ─ if it’s after midnight, anything will make me laugh and cry (also i laugh at everything so yes)

18. found out someone was talking about you ─ lmao hell yeah high school drama everyone was out for me bc i look like a bitch and people are so quick to judge ://

19. met someone who changed you ─ umm not really everyone’s pretty chill. my roommate, who’s also like my best friend, is a huge party addict so she brings me to many parties, so i guess i’m more out there ? idk moving on 

20. found out who your friends are ─ literally once i graduated high school and went to college, all of the snakes just left and now i’m surrounded by my real friends uwu :^] why tf is everything related to high school i don't wanna remember that

21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list ─ bruh i only have facebook so i can get extra rewards on iphone games ksjkdj 

↳ General

22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl ─ refer to #21

23. do you have any pets ─ i, myself, don’t have one bc i live in a dorm, but back at home, i have a doggo. she’s a thai ridgeback and her name is 巧克力 (qiao ke li = chocolate) and i miss her vv much :’))

24. do you want to change your name ─ for the most part no, i like my name, but when people call me ‘ran-you’ or something of the sort, i question why i live in america

25. what did you do for your last birthday ─ i traveled around china alone (well with my two friends back in china) without my parents for the first time bc i was an Adult™ now

26. what time did you wake up today ─ i was supposed to wake up at 8am but i didn't roll out of bed until 8:30am but hey, i made it to my 9am class 10 minutes early somehow

27. what were you doing at midnight last night ─ looking at nct fanart on tumblr and wishing that i coud draw/paint like that :’))

28. what is something you can’t wait for ─ my trip to spain!! i’m traveling to spain for 2 weeks with my friend at the end of june to july and i’m so excited bc i haven’t hung out w/ him in forever

30. what are you listening to right now ─ i’m in my accounting 2 class rn,,, so my professor lecturing about debits and credits (yes i know i should be paying attention but i’m an independent learner so i prefer reading the textbook and taking notes,, i’m just here bc attendance is graded)

31. have you ever talked to a person named tom ─ my old high school teacher whose first lecture was about corn and how it’s in EVERYTHING that is mass- produced today,,, well his full name is actually thomas

32. something that’s getting on your nerves ─ it was raining as i was walking to class and even though i had an umbrella, somehow my pants are still all drenched and this lecture room is SO DAMN COLD and i’m shivering someone save ME

33. most visited website ─ my school website lol

34. hair colour ─ jet black but in the sun it turns reddish brown ?

35. long or short hair ─ super long, it reaches my waist lol 

36. do you have a crush on someone ─ does renjun count? jk kinda ?? but not really bc,, idk dating doesn’t really act as a major objective for me right now

37. what do you like about yourself ─ friendliness and outgoingness ?

38. want any piercings? ─ oof i already have a lot but i want more yes (i have 3 on both my lobes, 1 on my both cartilages, and on my right ear i have a snug ? is that what it’s called idk) lowkey highkey i wanna pierce my nose but we’ll see

39. blood type ─ o 

40. nicknames ─ all nicknames i’ve ever gotten: ren, renu (my baby cousin calls me that bc she can barely pronounce words), fish..., nyu, rennie, r, human fish, + many puns on my name

41. relationship status ─ single and tired

42. zodiac ─ scorpio 

43. pronouns ─ she/her

44. fave tv shows ─ the office, black mirror, we bare bears, law and order,  futurama, stranger things, bob’s burgers, bate’s motel, american horror story (i love the duality between cartoons and fucked up shows dsdkjh) 

45. tattoos ─ i want ones !! (prob small in hidden places) but um maybe once i graduate undergrad at least 

46. right or left handed ─ right handed

47. ever had surgery ─ no - kinda? i have a scar on my eyelid bc when i was like 3-4 y/o, i was playing hide and seek w/ my uncle and cousin in china and i was running around and i turned quickly around a counter the same height as me and the corner of the counter cut open my eyelid,, this is kinda tmi but i was so stunned bc blood was running literally out of my eye so i didn’t even cry, i just stood there like ‘oh...that’s a lot of blood...’ i went to the ER to get it stitched up but idk if that counts as surgery :p

48. piercings ─ refer to #38 

49. sport ─ currently i play volleyball and basketball for club, but played a lot in high school too

50. vacation ─ anywhere i love traveling !! also east asian,, mostly just china i miss my friends and family :’))

51. trainers ─ ?? uhh as in shoes? or the gym? idk,,

↳ More general

52. eating ─ as in what i ate today? if so, a bagel and a boiled egg for breakfast

53. drinking ─ coffee that’s now cold rip

54. i’m about to watch ─ uhh my professor continue talking about accounting and economics 

55. waiting for ─ this class to end so i can eat lunch 

56. want ─ a change of pants bc i’M WET AND COLD 

57. get married ─ i sure hope so

58. career ─ i want to start and own a fashion brand/company/line (i’m double majoring in international business and trade + leadership management right now)

↳ Which is better

59. hugs or kisses ─ both i just want affection ;((

60. lips or eyes ─ these are hard to pick but eyes !

61. shorter or taller ─ taller even though i’m pretty tall as it is 

62. older or younger ─ older or the same age ? (rip sorry renjun) 

63. nice arms or stomach ─ arms? i need you to be able to put me in a chokehold and KO me (not in a kinky way,,, maybe,,,)

64. hookup or relationship ─ relationship duh ?

65. troublemaker or hesitant ─ team too-lazy-to-be-either

↳ Have you ever

66. kissed a stranger ─ uhh prob not

67. drank hard liquor ─ no officer i don’t drink underaged mhm

68. lost glasses ─ i literally have like 6 pairs of glasses that i keep thinking i’ve lost but then find it again 

69. turned someone down ─ oof yeah sorry 

70. sex on first date ─ no i have standards 

71. broken someone’s heart ─ i hope not ! at least not intentionally  

72. had your heart broken ─ prob once or twice 

73. been arrested ─ in my good christian household?! (i’m not even christian tf)

74. cried when someone died ─ well of course i have a heart

75. fallen for a friend ─ all my friends are hot as fuck no lie

↳ Do you believe in…?

76. yourself ─ always :D !!

77. miracles ─ eh,,

78. love at first sight ─ maybe not LOVE but something similar

79. santa claus ─ i-is he not real... (i’m kidding dbksj)

80. kiss on a first date ─ sure why not

81. angels ─ renjun is a walking angel on earth

↳ Other

82. best friend’s name ─ vincent, alyssa (my two fave people) 

83. eye colour ─ dark poop brown

84. fave movie ─ i watch too many to have 1 favorite but for the sake of this tag, i’ll say coraline 

85. fave actor ─ i have a big gay crush on dilraba dilmurat also tom holland 

el fin

[persephonaddams]

💖 85 Questions 💖

I was tagged by @lucasthiccthighs, thanks! 💗

🌈 last 🌈

1. drink - water

2. phone call - my friend Esme

3. text message - my friend Angie

4. song you listened to - Waterloo from the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again soundtrack

5. time you cried - last week while watching Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again

☀️ ever ☀️

6. dated someone twice? - no

7. kissed someone and regretted it - yes

8. been cheated on - no

9. lost someone special - yes

10. been depressed - yes

11. gotten drunk and thrown up - one time (and I won't let it happen again, I don't really drink anymore)

🌹 fave colours 🌹

12. Black

13. Pink

14. Dark red

🌻 in the last year have you… 🌻

15. made new friends - yeah

16. fallen out of love - kind of?

17. laughed until you cried - yes

18. found out someone was talking about you - no

19. met someone who changed you - no

20. found out who your friends are - huhhh I guess?

21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list - yes. I haven't used Facebook in ages tho

💗 general 💗

22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl - most of them

23. do you have any pets - no... someday!

24. do you want to change your name - no

25. what did you do for your last birthday- went out with friends drinking and dancing

26. what time did you wake up today - around 11:00

27. what were you doing at midnight last night - watching tv with my grandma

28. what is something you can’t wait for - getting my degree 

30. what are you listening to right now - Super Trouper from the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again soundtrack

31. have you ever talked to a person named tom - surprisingly, I have

32. something that gets on your nerves - when my mom tells me not to curse and to organise stuff

34. hair color - blond

35. long or short hair - long

36. do you have a crush on someone - I'm getting over a crush

37. what do you like about yourself - that I'm creative

38. want any piercings? - mmm not really

39. blood type - O+

40. nicknames - Viole or Vi

41. relationship status - single

42. zodiac - Virgo

43. pronouns - she/her

44. fave tv shows - Avatar: The Last Airbender, SKAM, The Office, Brooklyn Nine Nine and The Good Place

45. tattoos - i have a little moon on my left forearm and I will get more

46. right or left handed - right (when I broke my right arm I wrote for months with my left hand lol)

47. ever had surgery - no

48. piercings - regular earlobe piercings (had to wait until I was 18 to get them...)

49. sport - what is that? Can I eat it?

50. vacation - ideal vacation? Scotland, Norway, Alsace (France), South Korea, Greece...

51. trainers - what

💕 more general 💕

52. eating - pizza

53. drinking - water (I'm healthy in the drinking department okay)

54. i’m about to watch - sense8

55. waiting for - 👏 getting 👏 my 👏 degree 👏

56. want - a little house in the north... a little garden... a cat... a dog...

57. get married - I don't think so but a girl's opinion can change

58. career - writer 💖

👀 which is better 👀

59. hugs or kisses - hugs

60. lips or eyes - eyes

61. shorter or taller - taller

62. older or younger - older

63. nice arms or stomach - arms

64. hookup or relationship -  it depends on the person

65. troublemaker or hesitant - hesitant

💞 have you ever 💞

66. kissed a stranger - no

67. drank hard liquor - yes

68. lost glasses - no

69. turned someone down - no

70. sex on first date - no

71. broken someone’s heart - probably not

72. had your heart broken - romance related? No. Friendship related? Many times

73. been arrested - no

74. cried when someone died - yes

75. fallen for a friend - yes

💖 do you believe in 💖

76. yourself - bit by bit, I'm getting there 💙

77. miracles - no

78. love at first sight - no

79. santa claus - no

80. kiss on a first date - yes (seriously tho, who doesn't kiss on a first date nowadays???)

81. angels - no, although I do like thinking about certain people as angels

🌙 other 🌙

82. best friend’s name - I don't have one true best friend to rule them all

83. eye color - brown

84. fave movie - The Addams Family, The Addams Family Values, Lilo & Stitch and lately the Mamma Mia! movies

85. fave actor - Tom Hiddleston and Meryl Streep

I'm tagging @ephemeral-vesper and @khoelinube 💖

[doctorspeaksaboutdiet]

Plant Based Calcium can Build Strong Bones – Says Oxford Research

You can get the nutrients you need for strong bones by eating plants without having to consume milk or dairy products.

To build strong bones, we can combine exercise and nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables. One of the best ways to increase bone density is exercise. In a particular volume of bone, we can measure how many minerals are there.  Exercise can also reduce the likelihood of developing osteoporosis.

These five nutrients are essential to your bones and keep them healthy and strong.

Calcium

Calcium is important for bone building and protection. A plant-based diet can provide 600 mg of calcium daily.

Plants absorb calcium at a faster rate than milk. High absorption rates are possible with leafy green vegetables like kale, Brussels sprouts and kale.

You can also find calcium in beans and fortified milks. A single serving of calcium-settofu, which is about a half cup, contains over 800 mg of calcium. There are many beans and chickpeas that we can consume.  A cup of chickpeas has over 100 mg of calcium.

These foods also contain magnesium which is an important mineral for healthy bones.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D is necessary for calcium absorption. Sun is the rich source of vitamin D. It takes about 15 minutes per day to expose your skin to direct sunlight.

Even soy, almond, or fortified grains and breads are very good supplements of vitamin D.

Vegan supplements are also available.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is vital for the production of collagen, which is the protein that binds connective tissues in bones. Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits, tomatoes and peppers, as well as other fruits and veggies.

Vitamin K

Vitamin K increases our bone formation. Some of the foods such as dark leafy greens and beans which are rich in calcium is also a good source of vitamin K.

Potassium

Potassium reduces calcium loss and speeds up bone building. Potassium is abundant in bananas, oranges, potatoes and many other vegetables and fruits.

External References:

PCRM Research on Calcium and Bones

Nutrient Data Laboratory

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Bone Health and  Osteoporosis: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S.  Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General;  2004.

Feskanich D, Willett WC, Colditz GA. Calcium, vitamin D, milk  consumption, and hip fractures: a prospective study among postmenopausal  women. Am J Clin Nutr. 2003;77:504-511.

Committee to Review Dietary Reference Intakes for Vitamin D and  Calcium, Food and Nutrition Board, Institute of Medicine. Dietary  Reference Intakes for Calcium and Vitamin D. Washington, DC: National  Academy Press, 2010.

Holick MF, Garabedian M: Vitamin D: photobiology, metabolism,  mechanism of action, and clinical applications. In Primer on the  metabolic bone diseases and disorders of mineral metabolism. 6th  edition. Edited by Favus MJ. Washington, DC: American Society for Bone  and Mineral Research; 2006::129-137.

Bischoff-Ferrari HA, Willett WC, Wong JB, Giovannucci E, Dietrich  T, Dawson- Hughes B. Fracture prevention with vitamin D supplementation:  a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. JAMA.  2005;293:2257-2264.

Nordin BEC, Need AG, Morris HA, Horowitz M. The nature and  significance of the relationship between urinary sodium and urinary  calcium in women. J Nutr. 1993;123:1615-1622.

Teucher B, Dainty JR, Spinks CA, et al. Sodium and bone health:  impact of moderately high and low salt intakes on calcium metabolism in  postmenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res. 2008;23:1477-1485.

Remer T, Manz F. Estimation of the renal net acid excretion by  adults consuming diets containing variable amounts of protein. Am J Clin  Nutr. 1994;59:1356-1361.

Prince R, Devine A, Dick I, et al. The effects of calcium  supplementation (milk powder or tablets) and exercise on bone mineral  density in postmenopausal women. J Bone Miner Res. 1995;10:1068-1075.

Lunt M, Masaryk P, Scheidt-Nave C, et al. The Effects of Lifestyle,  Dietary Dairy Intake and Diabetes on Bone Density and Vertebral  Deformity Prevalence: The EVOS Study. Osteoporos Int. 2001;12:688-698.

Lloyd T, Beck TJ, Lin HM, et al. Modifiable determinants of bone status in young women. Bone. 2002;30:416–421.

Going S, Lohman T, Houtkooper L, et al. Effects of exercise on bone  mineral density in calcium-replete postmenopausal women with and  without hormone replacement therapy. Osteoporos Int. 2003;14:637-643.

Borer KT. Physical activity in the prevention and amelioration of  osteoporosis in women: interaction of mechanical, hormonal and dietary  factors. Sports Med. 2005;35:779-830.

Baron JA, Comi RJ, Cryns V, Brinck-Johnsen T, Mercer NG. The effect  of cigarette smoking on adrenal cortical hormones. J Pharmacol Exp  Ther. 1995;272:151-155.

Krall EA, Dawson-Hughes B. Smoking increases bone loss and  decreases intestinal calcium absorption. J Bone Miner Res.  1999;14:215-220.

Hopper JL, Seeman E. The bone density of female twins discordant for tobacco use. N Engl J Med. 1994;330:387-392.

Bolland MJ, Avenell A, Baron JA, et al. Effect of calcium  supplements on risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular events:  meta-analysis. BMJ. 2010;341:c3691.

Li K, Kaaks R, Linseisen J, Rohrmann S. Associations of dietary  calcium intake and calcium supplementation with myocardial infarction  and stroke risk and overall cardiovascular mortality in the Heidelberg  cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nut r  it ion study (EPIC-Heidelberg). Hear t.2012;98:920-925.

US Preventive Task Force. Vitamin D and Calcium Supplementation to  Prevent Fractures in Adults: US Preventive Services Task Force  Recommendation Statement. Ann Intern Med. 2013;158:1-36.

Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Willett WC, et al. Type of postmenopausal  hormone use and risk of breast cancer: 12-year follow-up from the  Nurses’ Health Study. Cancer Cause Control. 1992;3:433-439.

Hulley S, Grady D, Bush T, et al. Randomized trial of estrogen plus  progestin for secondary prevention of coronary heart disease in  postmenopausal women. JAMA. 1998;280:605-613.

Lee JR. Osteoporosis reversal: the role of progesterone. Int Clin Nutr Rev. 1990;10:384-391.

Delaney MF. Strategies for the prevention and treatment of  osteoporosis during early postmenopause. Am J Obstet Gynecol.  2005;194:S12-S23.

Peris P, Guanabens N, Monegal A, et al. Aetiology and presenting symptoms in male osteoporosis. Br J Rheumatol. 1995;34:936-941.

Kanis JA, Johansson H, Johnell O, et al. Alcohol intake as a risk factor for fracture. Osteoporosis Int. 2005;16:737-742.

Fink, H. A. et al. Association of testosterone and estradiol  deficiency with osteoporosis and rapid bone loss in older men. J. Clin.  Endocrinol. Metab. 2006;91:3908–3915.

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Watch Dr. Neal Barnard discuss a recent study on vegan diets and bone health