#Forced to Be a Princess After Reincarnating in Another World

[pucksandpower]

Until Next Time

Max Verstappen x Reader

Summary: in which two soulmates are destined to always find each other only to be torn apart lifetime after lifetime after lifetime … until finally, they’re not (aka the reincarnation AU)

Mycenae, 1208 BC

The sun beats down mercilessly on the marble steps of the temple. You stand at the top, your white chiton billowing in the warm breeze. Your eyes scan the crowd gathered below, searching for one face among the sea of onlookers.

“Where is he?” You whisper, your heart pounding.

A firm hand grips your shoulder. “It’s time, princess,” your father’s voice rumbles behind you.

You turn to face him, eyes pleading. “Father, please. This can’t be the only way.”

The king’s face is a mask of stone, but his eyes betray a flicker of sorrow. “The gods have spoken. We must obey.”

As he speaks, a commotion erupts at the base of the temple steps. Your breath catches in your throat as you spot Max pushing through the crowd, his face contorted with desperation.

“No!” He shouts, his voice carrying over the murmur of the crowd. “You can’t do this!”

Two guards grab him, restraining his arms as he struggles against their grip.

“Let me go!” Max yells, his eyes locking with yours. “She’s innocent! Take me instead!”

You start to move towards him, but your father’s grip tightens. “Don’t,” he warns.

“Max,” you call out, your voice breaking. “It’s okay. This is my duty.”

Max shakes his head violently. “No, it’s not! This is madness!”

The high priest approaches, his ornate robes rustling as he walks. “The sacrifice must be made,” he intones. “The gods demand it.”

You feel a chill run down your spine despite the heat. The priest’s eyes are cold as he regards you.

“Please,” Max begs, still struggling against the guards. “There has to be another way. Let me speak to the oracle. Maybe-”

“Silence!” The priest snaps. “The decision has been made. The princess will ensure a bountiful harvest for our people.”

You swallow hard, trying to steady your voice. “Max, listen to me. I need you to be strong.”

His struggles subside slightly as he focuses on your words.

“Remember what we talked about?” You continue. “About the stars?”

Max’s brow furrows in confusion for a moment before his eyes widen in recognition. “The cycle,” he breathes.

You nod, forcing a smile. “This isn’t the end. We’ll find each other again. I promise.”

“No,” Max shakes his head, tears streaming down his face. “I can’t lose you. Not like this.”

The priest clears his throat impatiently. “We must proceed.”

Your father gently guides you towards the altar. You resist the urge to look back at Max, knowing it will only make this harder.

“Wait!” Max calls out. “Just ... just let me say goodbye. Please.”

The king hesitates, then nods to the guards. They release Max, who rushes up the steps towards you.

He reaches you, cupping your face in his hands. “I love you,” he whispers fiercely. “In this life and every life to come.”

You lean into his touch, memorizing the feeling of his skin against yours. “I love you too. Always.”

Max’s lips crash into yours, desperate and salty with tears. For a moment, the world fades away, and it’s just the two of you.

Then rough hands are pulling you apart. Max struggles, but the guards drag him back down the steps.

“No!” He roars. “You can’t do this! She’s everything to me!”

You force yourself to look away, focusing on the altar before you. The priest approaches, a gleaming dagger in his hand.

“Oh great gods,” he begins to chant. “Accept this offering and bless our lands.”

You close your eyes, trying to block out Max’s anguished cries. You think of stars, of cycles, of promises of reunion.

The dagger plunges, and pain explodes through your body. As darkness creeps in at the edges of your vision, you hear Max’s voice, raw with grief.

“I’ll find you,” he vows. “In the next life, and the next, and the next. We’ll be together again. I swear it.”

As your consciousness fades, you cling to that promise. This isn’t the end, you tell yourself. It’s just the beginning of a much longer story.

Your last thought before the world goes black is of Max’s eyes, filled with love and determination. Somehow, you know that this is not goodbye — it’s just until next time.

London, 1542

The heavy oak door of your chambers creaks open, and you look up from your embroidery, heart leaping at the sight of Max slipping inside. His eyes dart nervously around the room before settling on you.

“My lady,” he whispers urgently, crossing the room in quick strides. “We must speak.”

You set aside your needlework, rising to meet him. “What is it? You look as though you’ve seen a ghost.”

He takes your hands in his, his touch sending a familiar thrill through you despite the gravity in his expression. “It’s worse than that, I’m afraid. I’ve heard whispers in the court ...”

Your breath catches. “What kind of whispers?”

Max’s jaw clenches. “Accusations. Terrible ones. They’re saying you’ve been unfaithful to the king.”

You gasp, shaking your head vehemently. “That’s absurd! I would never-”

“I know,” Max interrupts, squeezing your hands. “But the truth matters little when it comes to Henry’s jealousy. You know how he is.”

A chill runs down your spine as you remember the fate of the king’s previous wives. “What am I to do?”

Max’s eyes blaze with determination. “We’ll run away. Tonight. I have friends who can help us reach the coast. From there, we can sail to France or-”

The sound of heavy footsteps in the corridor cuts him off. You both freeze, staring at the door in mounting dread.

“Quick,” you hiss, pushing Max towards a tapestry-covered alcove. “Hide!”

He resists for a moment. “I won’t leave you-”

“You must,” you insist. “If they find you here, it will only make things worse.”

Reluctantly, Max ducks behind the tapestry just as the door bursts open. The king’s guards pour in, led by Thomas Cromwell himself.

“My lady,” Cromwell says with a cold smile. “I’m afraid you must come with us.”

You lift your chin, summoning every ounce of royal dignity. “On what grounds, Lord Cromwell?”

His smile doesn’t waver. “Treason, my lady. His Majesty has evidence of your ... indiscretions.”

“That’s impossible,” you protest. “I’ve been nothing but faithful to the king.”

Cromwell gestures to the guards. “Search the room. Thoroughly.”

Your heart pounds as they begin tearing through your belongings. You silently pray that Max remains hidden and undetected.

“This is outrageous,” you say, trying to keep your voice steady. “I demand to speak to the king himself.”

“His Majesty has no desire to see you,” Cromwell replies. “The evidence speaks for itself.”

One of the guards approaches, holding a folded piece of parchment. “My lord, we found this hidden in her jewelry box.”

Cromwell snatches it, his eyes scanning the contents. His smirk widens. “Well, well. A love letter, it seems. Quite damning, wouldn’t you agree?”

You shake your head in disbelief. “That’s not mine. I’ve never seen it before!”

“A poor defense, my lady,” Cromwell tuts. “Come now, we mustn’t keep the Tower waiting.”

As the guards move to seize you, Max bursts from his hiding place. “Stop!” He shouts. “She’s innocent!”

Cromwell’s eyebrows raise in mock surprise. “And who might you be, young man?”

Max stands tall, his gaze unwavering. “I can vouch for the queen’s innocence.”

“Can you now?” Cromwell’s tone is dangerously soft. “And how, pray tell, would you know such a thing?”

You see the trap too late. “Max, don’t-”

But he’s already speaking. “Because I’ve been watching over her. Protecting her. I would know if she had been unfaithful.”

Cromwell’s eyes glitter with triumph. “Watching over her, you say? How ... intimate. Guards, seize him as well.”

“No!” You cry out as the guards grab Max. “He’s done nothing wrong!”

“On the contrary,” Cromwell replies. “He’s just confessed to an inappropriate relationship with the queen. That’s treason, my dear.”

Max struggles against the guards. “It’s not like that! I love her, yes, but we’ve never-”

“Enough!” Cromwell snaps. “Take them both to the Tower. His Majesty will decide their fate.”

As the guards drag you from the room, your eyes meet Max’s. In that moment, a strange sense of déjà vu washes over you. You’ve been here before, somehow. Torn apart by forces beyond your control.

“It’s happening again,” Max says softly, his eyes wide with realization.

You nod, a sad smile touching your lips. “The cycle continues.”

“What are you two babbling about?” Cromwell demands.

Neither of you answer. What could you say that he would understand?

As you’re led through the winding corridors of the palace, Max’s voice carries to you. “I’ll find a way to save you. I swear it.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep,” you call back, your voice catching.

“I kept the last one, didn’t I?” He replies. “I found you again.”

Memories flood your mind — hazy images of another life, another time. A temple, a sacrifice, a vow made in desperation.

“So you did,” you whisper.

The journey to the Tower passes in a blur. Before you know it, you’re being locked in a cold, damp cell. Through the small barred window, you can see the executioner’s block in the courtyard below.

Days pass. You pace your cell, alternating between fear and a strange sense of calm. This isn’t the end, you remind yourself. Somehow, you know it to be true.

When they come for you, you hold your head high. As you’re led to the block, you scan the crowd, searching for Max’s face. You spot him, restrained by guards, his face a mask of anguish.

“I love you,” he mouths.

“Until next time,” you reply silently.

As you kneel at the block, you close your eyes. You think of stars and cycles, of promises kept across lifetimes. The axe falls, and darkness descends.

Your last conscious thought is a mixture of sorrow and hope. This chapter may be ending, but your story with Max is far from over. In another time, another place, you’ll find each other again. The wheel turns, and the cycle continues.

Florence, 1633

The flickering candlelight casts long shadows across the cluttered study. You pace nervously, your skirts swishing against the worn floorboards. Max hunches over his desk, quill scratching furiously across parchment.

“Max,” you plead, “please reconsider. It’s not too late to recant.”

He looks up, his eyes bright with fervor. “I can’t, my love. The truth is too important.”

You move to his side, resting a hand on his shoulder. “More important than your life?”

Max covers your hand with his, his touch warm and familiar. “Some truths are worth dying for.”

“And what about living for?” You counter. “What about us?”

He stands, pulling you into an embrace. “Everything I do, I do for us. For a world where we can live freely, without the shackles of ignorance.”

You bury your face in his chest, inhaling his scent of ink and parchment. “I fear those shackles are stronger than you think.”

A sharp knock at the door makes you both jump. Max moves to answer it, but you grab his arm.

“Don’t,” you whisper. “It could be them.”

Max’s jaw sets stubbornly. “If it is, hiding won’t change anything.”

He strides to the door and throws it open. A young man stands there, panting heavily.

“Master,” he gasps. “They’re coming. The Inquisition. You must flee!”

Max’s face pales, but his voice remains steady. “Thank you for the warning, Giovanni. You should go before they arrive.”

The young man nods and disappears into the night. Max turns to you, his expression grim.

“You should go too,” he says softly. “There’s no reason for both of us to face their wrath.”

You shake your head fiercely. “I’m not leaving you.”

“Please,” Max implores. “I couldn’t bear it if something happened to you because of me.”

“And I couldn’t bear to abandon you,” you retort. “We’re in this together, remember?”

A ghost of a smile touches Max’s lips. “Always.”

You help him gather his most important papers and instruments, working quickly in the oppressive silence. As Max secures the last of his writings, you hear the ominous sound of marching feet approaching.

“It’s too late,” you breathe.

Max squares his shoulders. “Then we face them with dignity.”

The door bursts open, and armored men pour into the small study. At their head is Cardinal Bellarmine, his face a mask of righteous anger.

“Apostate,” he intones. “You stand accused of heresy against the Holy Church.”

Max steps forward, his voice calm. “I stand accused of seeking the truth, Your Eminence.”

The Cardinal’s eyes narrow. “You spread dangerous lies. You claim the Earth is not the center of God’s creation!”

“I claim only what the evidence suggests,” Max counters. “The movements of the heavens themselves tell us-”

“Blasphemy!” Bellarmine roars. “You would elevate your flawed observations above the word of God?”

You can’t stay silent any longer. “My lord Cardinal, surely God gave us minds to seek understanding. How can the pursuit of knowledge be heresy?”

Bellarmine’s gaze snaps to you. “And who is this who dares to question the Church’s judgment?”

Max steps protectively in front of you. “Leave her out of this. She’s done nothing wrong.”

“She defends a heretic,” the Cardinal sneers. “That alone is cause for suspicion.”

You feel a chill run down your spine, but you stand your ground. “I defend a good man who seeks only to understand the wonders of God’s creation.”

Bellarmine waves dismissively. “Take them both. We’ll sort out her involvement later.”

As the guards move to seize you, Max erupts into action. He grabs a heavy tome from his desk and hurls it at the nearest guard, then pushes you towards the window.

“Run!” He shouts. “I’ll hold them off!”

You hesitate, torn between fleeing and staying by his side. In that moment of indecision, a guard grabs you roughly by the arm.

“No!” Max cries out, lunging towards you.

Another guard intercepts him, slamming the butt of his halberd into Max’s stomach. He crumples to the ground, gasping for air.

“Stop!” You plead. “We’ll come peacefully. Just don’t hurt him.”

Bellarmine smirks. “A wise decision. Though I’m afraid it’s too late for leniency.”

As the guards bind your hands, you lock eyes with Max. There’s a strange, sad recognition in his gaze.

“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I thought this time would be different.”

You shake your head, a bittersweet smile on your lips. “It’s not your fault. It never is.”

Bellarmine looks between you, confusion evident on his face. “What nonsense is this?”

Neither of you answer.

You’re led from the study, through the torch-lit streets to the forbidding walls of the Inquisition’s headquarters. As you’re separated and thrown into different cells, Max’s voice carries to you.

“I’ll find you again. I swear it.”

“In this life or the next,” you call back, your voice breaking.

Days blur together in your dank cell. You’re questioned relentlessly about Max’s work, about your involvement. You reveal nothing, clinging to the hope that your silence might somehow spare him.

When they finally come for you, you know it’s not good news. You’re led to a small courtyard where a pyre has been erected. Your heart sinks as you see Max already tied to the stake, his face bruised but defiant.

“Heathen,” Bellarmine proclaims, “you have been found guilty of heresy. Do you repent your sins?”

Max’s eyes find yours in the crowd. “My only sin,” he says clearly, “is loving truth more than dogma.”

The Cardinal’s face darkens. “Then may God have mercy on your soul. Light the pyre.”

As the flames begin to lick at Max’s feet, you can’t contain yourself any longer. You break free from your guards and run towards the pyre.

“No!” You scream. “Max!”

He looks at you, his eyes full of love and sorrow. “Until next time, my love. We’ll get it right someday.”

The guards grab you, dragging you back as the flames engulf Max. His agonized cries pierce the air, but his gaze never leaves yours.

As the light fades from his eyes, you feel a piece of your soul shatter. But deep within, a tiny spark of hope remains. This isn’t the end, you tell yourself. It can’t be.

Somewhere, somewhen, you’ll find each other again. The wheel turns, the cycle continues, and your love endures beyond death itself.

Atlantic Ocean, 1912

The grand ballroom of the Titanic thrums with life, an orchestra playing a lively waltz as couples twirl across the polished floor. You stand at the edge of the crowd, your gloved hands fidgeting with your beaded gown. Your eyes scan the room, searching for one face in particular.

“Looking for someone?” A familiar voice asks behind you.

You turn, a smile lighting up your face as you see Max, dashing in his tailored suit. “There you are! I was beginning to think you’d gotten lost.”

Max grins, offering you his arm. “Even on a ship this size? Never. Though I must admit, I did take a wrong turn or two.”

You laugh, taking his arm. “Well, I’m glad you found your way eventually. I’ve been dying to dance with you all evening.”

As Max leads you onto the dance floor, a strange sense of déjà vu washes over you. You’ve danced with him before, you think. In grand halls and humble taverns, across centuries ...

“What’s that look for?” Max asks, pulling you from your reverie as he places a hand on your waist.

You shake your head, smiling. “Nothing. Just ... happy, I suppose.”

He beams at you as you begin to waltz. “As am I. Being here with you, it feels ... right. Like everything’s fallen into place.”

You nod, leaning into him slightly. “I know exactly what you mean.”

As you dance, the world seems to fade away. It’s just you and Max, moving in perfect synchronicity. But the spell is broken as a violent shudder runs through the ship.

Max steadies you as you stumble. “What was that?”

Around you, other passengers are looking around in confusion. The music has stopped, the musicians exchanging worried glances.

“I’m not sure,” you reply, a sense of unease growing in your stomach. “Perhaps we should-”

Your words are cut off as a ship’s officer bursts into the ballroom. “Ladies and gentlemen, please remain calm. We’ve struck an iceberg, but there’s no immediate danger. As a precaution, we ask that you all put on life vests and make your way to the boat deck.”

A ripple of nervous chatter sweeps through the crowd. Max’s grip on your hand tightens.

“We should go,” he says urgently. “Now.”

You nod, allowing him to lead you through the increasingly panicked throng. As you make your way through the corridors, the ship’s list becomes more pronounced.

“This is bad,” Max mutters, helping you navigate a particularly steep section. “Much worse than they’re letting on.”

You reach your cabin, quickly donning life vests over your evening wear. As you step back into the corridor, you’re met with a tide of frightened passengers.

“We need to get to the boat deck,” Max says, his voice steady despite the fear in his eyes. “Stay close to me.”

You push through the crowd, the ship’s groans and creaks growing louder with each passing moment. When you finally reach the deck, chaos greets you. Officers are struggling to maintain order as passengers clamor for spots in the too-few lifeboats.

“Women and children first!” An officer shouts over the din.

Max turns to you, his face pale but determined. “You need to get on a boat.”

You shake your head vehemently. “Not without you.”

“Please,” he begs, cupping your face in his hands. “I couldn’t bear to lose you.”

A memory flashes through your mind — Max saying those same words in another time, another place. Always trying to save you.

“And I couldn’t bear to leave you,” you insist. “We stay together. No matter what.”

Max’s eyes search yours for a long moment before he nods. “Together, then.”

As the night wears on, it becomes clear that there won’t be enough lifeboats for everyone. You and Max help where you can, assisting women and children into the boats. The temperature drops, your breath visible in the frigid air.

“I think that’s the last one,” Max says as you watch the final lifeboat disappear into the darkness.

You look around the rapidly tilting deck. Those who remain are a mix of resigned, terrified, and in denial.

“What do we do now?” You ask, your voice small.

Max takes your hand, interlacing his fingers with yours. “We face it together. Like we always have.”

As the ship’s stern begins to rise, you and Max make your way towards the railing. The screech of twisting metal fills the air as the Titanic starts to break apart.

“Max,” you say, your voice trembling, “I’m scared.”

He pulls you close, his arms strong around you. “I know. But remember, this isn’t the end. Not really.”

You look up at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“Don’t you feel it?” He asks. “The familiarity? Like we’ve been here before?”

As you stare into his eyes, flashes of memory assault you. A temple in ancient Greece. A Tudor court. A Renaissance study. Always you and Max. Always torn apart.

“The cycle,” you whisper.

Max nods, a sad smile on his face. “We’ll get it right someday. I promise.”

The ship lurches violently, and you cling to each other as you’re thrown into the icy Atlantic. The shock of the cold water drives the breath from your lungs.

“Max!” You gasp, struggling to keep your head above water.

“I’m here,” he calls back, swimming towards you. “Hold on to me.”

You wrap your arms around his neck, your limbs already growing numb from the cold. Around you, the cries of other passengers pierce the night.

“It’s so cold,” you murmur, your teeth chattering.

Max holds you tighter. “I know, love. Just stay with me.”

As the minutes tick by, the cries around you grow fewer. You can feel your strength ebbing, your grip on Max weakening.

“Hey,” Max says, his voice hoarse. “Stay awake. Look at the stars with me.”

You force your eyes open, gazing up at the crystal-clear sky. “They’re beautiful,” you manage.

“Just like you,” Max replies. “In every life, in every time.”

You smile weakly. “You always were a charmer.”

“And you always saw right through me,” he chuckles, the sound turning into a cough.

As your vision begins to dim, you summon the last of your strength to speak. “Max? Promise you’ll find me again?”

His lips, blue with cold, press against your forehead. “Always. In this life and the next, and all the ones after.”

The cold fades, replaced by a spreading warmth. As consciousness slips away, your last thought is of Max’s eyes, filled with love and the promise of reunion.

The wheel turns. The cycle continues. And somewhere, in another time, another place, two souls prepare to find each other once more.

Washington DC, 1968

The air is thick with tension and the acrid smell of tear gas. You stand at the front of the crowd, your hand tightly gripping a homemade sign that reads “MAKE LOVE, NOT WAR.” The chants of the protesters around you swell and ebb like waves crashing against the shore of the Lincoln Memorial.

“Hey,” a familiar voice calls out. You turn to see Max pushing his way through the crowd, his shaggy hair falling into his eyes. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”

You smile, relief washing over you. “I was starting to worry you wouldn’t make it.”

Max reaches you, his hand finding yours. “Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. Though the police barricades nearly did.”

You squeeze his hand. “I’m glad you’re here. This feels ... important. Like we’re on the brink of something.”

He nods, his eyes scanning the growing crowd. “I know what you mean. It’s like the whole world is holding its breath.”

As if on cue, a new chant starts up. “Hey, hey, LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?”

You join in, your voice blending with the thousands around you. Max’s deeper tone resonates beside you, sending a shiver down your spine that has nothing to do with the autumn chill.

Suddenly, there’s a commotion at the edge of the crowd. You stand on tiptoe, trying to see what’s happening.

“What is it?” Max asks, concern etching his features.

“I’m not sure,” you reply. “It looks like ... oh no.”

A line of police officers in riot gear is advancing on the crowd, batons at the ready.

Max’s grip on your hand tightens. “We should fall back. This could get ugly.”

But you stand your ground, shaking your head. “No. We can’t let them intimidate us. We have a right to be here, to make our voices heard.”

“I know,” Max says, his voice tight with worry. “But I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”

As the police line gets closer, tensions in the crowd rise. Someone throws a bottle, and it shatters at the feet of an officer. In an instant, chaos erupts.

“Disperse immediately!” A voice booms over a megaphone. “This is an unlawful assembly!”

But the crowd doesn’t disperse. If anything, the chants grow louder, more defiant. You feel Max tugging at your arm.

“Come on,” he urges. “We’ve made our point. Let’s go before-”

His words are cut off by a loud bang. For a moment, you think it’s a firecracker. Then you see the tear gas canister arcing through the air.

“Gas!” Someone shouts, and panic ripples through the crowd.

Max pulls you close, covering your mouth and nose with his bandana. “We need to move, now!”

You nod, coughing as the acrid gas begins to sting your eyes. Together, you push through the panicked crowd, trying to reach the edge of the park.

But the police are closing in from all sides. You see batons swinging, hear the cries of pain and anger from your fellow protesters.

“This way,” Max says, pulling you towards a gap in the police line.

You’re almost there when you hear a scream behind you. Turning, you see a young woman on the ground, an officer standing over her with his baton raised.

Before you can think, you’re moving towards them. “Stop!” You yell. “Leave her alone!”

“Y/N, no!” Max calls after you, but you’re already out of his reach.

You throw yourself between the fallen woman and the officer, your arms outstretched. “Please,” you say, trying to keep your voice steady. “She’s not a threat. We’re peaceful protesters.”

The officer hesitates, his baton still raised. For a moment, you think he might listen. Then you see his eyes harden behind his visor.

“I said disperse!” He shouts, bringing the baton down.

You close your eyes, bracing for the impact. But it never comes. Instead, you hear a grunt of pain and open your eyes to see Max in front of you, taking the blow meant for you.

“Max!” You cry out as he crumples to the ground.

You drop to your knees beside him, cradling his head. “Max, can you hear me?”

He groans, his eyes fluttering open. “Are you okay?” He asks, his voice weak.

You nod, tears streaming down your face. “I’m fine. Why did you do that?”

A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “Couldn’t let you have all the fun, could I?”

Despite everything, you can’t help but laugh. “You idiot,” you say fondly.

The moment is shattered by another round of tear gas canisters landing nearby. The acrid smoke billows around you, making it hard to breathe.

“We need to get out of here,” you say, trying to help Max to his feet.

But as you stand, you feel a sharp pain in your side. Looking down, you see a growing red stain on your shirt.

“Y/N?” Max’s voice sounds far away. “Y/N, what’s wrong?”

You stumble, your legs giving out. Max catches you, lowering you gently to the ground.

“Oh God,” he says, his face pale with shock. “You’ve been hit.”

You look down again, seeing the bullet embedded in your side. The pain is distant, almost unreal.

“It’s not so bad,” you try to reassure him, but your voice comes out weak and shaky.

Max presses his hand to the wound, trying to stem the bleeding. “Help!” He shouts. “We need a medic!”

But his cries are lost in the chaos around you. The world seems to be fading, growing dim at the edges.

“Max,” you whisper, reaching up to touch his face. “I’m sorry.”

He shakes his head fiercely. “Don’t you dare apologize. You’re going to be fine, you hear me? We’re going to get through this.”

You smile sadly, a strange sense of déjà vu washing over you. “We always say that, don’t we?”

Max’s brow furrows in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Every time,” you murmur, your strength fading. “We always think this time will be different.”

Understanding dawns in Max’s eyes, along with a deep, aching sorrow. “The cycle,” he whispers.

You nod weakly. “But it’s okay. We’ll get another chance.”

“No,” Max says, his voice breaking. “Not again. Please, Y/N, stay with me.”

But you can feel yourself slipping away. The pain is gone now, replaced by a spreading warmth.

“Find me again,” you breathe, your eyes starting to close. “Promise me.”

Max’s tears fall on your face as he leans close. “I promise. In this life or the next, I’ll always find you.”

As consciousness fades, your last thought is of Max’s eyes, filled with love and the weight of lifetimes. The wheel turns, the cycle continues, and somewhere, two souls prepare for yet another chance at forever.

Monaco, 2024

The soft morning light filters through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the bedroom. You’re curled up against Max, his arm draped protectively over your waist. The steady rhythm of his breathing is a comforting constant, one you’ve grown accustomed to over the years.

A gentle weight lands on the bed, followed by a soft meow. You open your eyes to see Jimmy padding across the duvet.

“Morning, Jimmy,” you whisper, reaching out to scratch behind his ears. He purrs contentedly, settling down in the small space between you and Max.

The movement stirs Max from his slumber. He blinks sleepily, a smile spreading across his face as he focuses on you. “Good morning, schatje,” he murmurs, his voice still rough with sleep.

You lean in, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “Morning, champ. Sleep well?”

He nods, pulling you closer. “Always do with you by my side.”

As if on cue, another weight lands on the bed. Sassy makes her presence known with a demanding meow.

Max chuckles, reaching over to pet her. “Good morning to you too, princess.”

You can’t help but laugh. “I think someone’s jealous of all the attention Jimmy’s getting.”

“Can’t have that, can we?” Max says, scooping Sassy up and placing her on his chest. She immediately starts kneading, purring loudly.

You watch them with a fond smile, a wave of contentment washing over you. “I love this,” you say softly. “Just ... all of this.”

Max turns his head to look at you, his eyes filled with warmth. “Me too. Sometimes I can hardly believe it’s real, you know?”

You nod, understanding completely. “I know what you mean. It’s like ... we’ve been waiting for this for so long.”

“Lifetimes,” Max agrees, a hint of something ancient in his gaze.

You both fall silent for a moment, lost in memories that feel more like dreams — flashes of other lives, other times, always reaching for each other but never quite able to hold on.

Jimmy stretches, breaking the spell. You laugh as he nearly pushes Sassy off Max’s chest in the process.

“Alright, you two,” Max says, gently moving the cats aside. “I think it’s time for breakfast.”

As if understanding his words, both cats leap off the bed and head for the door, meowing insistently.

You groan, burying your face in Max’s shoulder. “Five more minutes?”

He chuckles, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “You know they won’t let us rest until they’re fed.”

“True,” you sigh, reluctantly sitting up. “I suppose we should get up anyway. Don’t you have that interview today?”

Max nods, running a hand through his tousled hair. “Yeah, in a couple of hours. Nothing too intense though, just a quick chat about the next race.”

You swing your legs over the side of the bed, stretching. “Want me to make coffee while you feed the furry overlords?”

“Sounds perfect,” Max says, getting up and pulling on a t-shirt. He pauses at the door, looking back at you with a soft smile. “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

You feel a warmth bloom in your chest, the same feeling you get every time he looks at you like that. “You might have mentioned it once or twice,” you tease. “But I never get tired of hearing it.”

Max crosses the room in two quick strides, pulling you into a deep kiss. When he pulls back, you’re both a little breathless.

“I love you,” he says, his forehead resting against yours. “More than I ever thought possible.”

You cup his face in your hands, thumb tracing the line of his jaw. “I love you too, Max. Always have, always will.”

A loud meow from the hallway breaks the moment. You both laugh, the spell broken but the warmth lingering.

“Duty calls,” Max says with a wink, heading out to tend to the cats.

You make your way to the kitchen, starting the coffee maker and pulling out mugs. As the rich aroma fills the air, you can hear Max in the other room, talking to the cats as he fills their bowls.

“There you go, Jimmy. Easy, Sassy, there’s plenty for both of you.”

You smile to yourself, struck once again by how perfect this all feels. It’s not just the quiet moments like this morning — it’s the way Max lights up when he talks about racing, the pride in his eyes when he brings home another trophy. It’s the way he holds you after a particularly rough day, or the sound of his laughter when you’re goofing around together.

Max joins you in the kitchen, wrapping his arms around you from behind as you pour the coffee. “Smells amazing,” he murmurs, nuzzling into your neck.

You lean back into him, savoring the moment. “The coffee or me?”

“Both,” he chuckles, pressing a kiss to your shoulder.

You turn in his arms, handing him his mug. “So, what’s on the agenda after your interview?”

Max takes a sip of coffee, thinking. “Not much, actually. I was thinking maybe we could have a quiet day in? Watch a movie, order takeout?”

“Sounds perfect,” you say, your smile widening. “I’ll even let you pick the movie this time.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Even if it’s another racing documentary?”

You laugh, shaking your head. “Even then. Though I reserve the right to fall asleep on your shoulder if it gets too technical.”

“Deal,” Max grins, pulling you close for another kiss.

As you stand there in the kitchen, coffee in hand and cats weaving between your legs, you’re struck by a profound sense of rightness. This is what you’ve been searching for, life after life. This quiet, domestic bliss with the man you love.

“What are you thinking about?” Max asks, noticing your thoughtful expression.

You smile, leaning into him. “Just ... how happy I am. How perfect this all is.”

Max’s arms tighten around you. “It really is, isn’t it? Sometimes I wonder if I’m dreaming.”

You pinch his arm lightly, laughing at his mock-offended expression. “Definitely not dreaming.”

“Good,” he says, his voice soft and sincere. “Because I never want to wake up from this.”

As you stand there in the morning light, surrounded by the life you’ve built together, you silently thank whatever force has finally allowed you and Max to find your happily ever after.

The wheel has turned, the cycle has ended, and at last, your souls have found their home.

[lynnuvo]

Of Course a Prince Needs a Princess

Characters: Yandere Prince x Female (Y/N) In which you reincarnate into a fairytale where Yan!Prince wants his happy ending too

𝑃̲𝑟̲𝑜̲𝑙̲𝑜̲𝑔̲𝑢̲𝑒̲

Having a second chance at life in exchange for the death of your previous one came with a crash. You weren't sure how it happened, but you luckily retained your memories and your wit.

It didn't take long to find out you were in a world akin to Cinderella's story--from the stepmothers to the talking mice to the royalty the citizens praised. Unfortunately, you weren't looking to live in a grand castle. Or maybe you were, but not with being married to a man you don't have feelings for. The original couple got together so quick, yet they barely knew each other. That story was definitely as it was: a work of fiction

Your new plan? Put up with the stepsisters, find a job elsewhere, and make enough bank to live comfortably in the village away from your family. You've never heard of laws in Cinderella's fairytale, but you were certain that the kingdom couldn't possibly force citizens to live with toxic family members.

𝑇̲ℎ̲𝑒̲ 𝐵̲𝑎̲𝑙̲𝑙̲

After spending a few months doing chores and odd jobs around the village (the latter for some extra cash), your family finally received news of the fated ball.

You initially didn't plan on going, but you deserved a break. You didn't bother asking for permission to go; your stepmother definitely wouldn't allow it. The main problem was summoning Fairy Godmother.

Luckily, she couldn't tell the difference between fake tears and real ones. You behaved as close to the actual Cinderella as you could recall, and POOF!

With your new attire and coach, you made your way to the most gorgeous castle your eyes have ever fell upon.

It didn't take long for the prince to notice you, but this is where you drew the line at this fairytale life. You rejected his proposal to dance, shocking the other guests. You had to resist a smirk at your step-family's reaction.

Flabbergasted, the prince left you swiftly and moved onto another fair maiden. You indulged yourself in the catering happily, but after your stomach was filled, the stares of passerby began to discomfort you. The prince was occupied with another dance, so you wasted no time leaving the palace early (much to the confusion of the knights who stood guard).

The spell broke while at home with no evidence of your night out, not even the glass slippers. When your stepfamily returned, they bragged about their time and briefly talked about you (luckily not knowing you were the one who was "stuffing their face like a pig starved."). After that day, life returned to normal.

Or at least what you thought was going to be normal.

𝘙͜𝘶͜𝘯͜𝘢͜𝘸͜𝘢͜𝘺͜ 𝘊͜𝘪͜𝘯͜𝘥͜𝘦͜𝘳͜𝘦͜𝘭͜𝘭͜𝘢͜

Beginning that night, Yan!Prince thought about you often. He never imagined a young lady would ever reject his proposal to dance, though he didn't hold it against you. It was just a shocker.

Despite that, you appeared in his mind before bed and after he woke up, while he ate and while sharpening his combat skills. Even if he told himself that that one incident was nothing more than a brief interaction with a citizen of his kingdom, he couldn't forget the color of your hair, your pretty face, and how you paid oh so much attention to the food his family prepared just for that ball.

Upon overhearing the chefs gush about their gratefulness towards their food being appreciated so much, he made up a personality for you: kind but forward, honest, valuing true intentions and love over gold and high status.

Too bad for him, gold was your highest priority. While he began going on strolls into the village in search of you under the impression of catching up with the townsfolk, you continued job-hunting and tending to the house. You even decided to cater to your stepfamily as best as possible--subtle enough so they wouldn't think you were trying to suck up to them.

Surprisingly, your relationship with them improved just a bit. But it was what you needed to get permission to work at a bakery in the village.

Once you discovered he was visiting the village often, you did your best to avoid the bakery window while working and hurry home once your shift ended.

Unfortunately, you both ran into each other just as you closed up shop. In a small panic, you inquired about him for the sake of courtesy. While you two spoke, he couldn't help but notice a striking resemblance between you and the lady who turned him down at the ball. You could tell from his facial expression he was piecing things together, so you abruptly bid farewell and ran away.

He would visit you a lot. After replying to his inquiry that you weren't the girl at the ball, he'd joke about it a lot (there was no other gal in the village like you). It didn't take long for rumors to spread amongst the kingdom that the prince had taken a fancy to you. You hated it. He didn't mind it. In fact, it no longer mattered whether you were the girl at the ball. Something about you pulled him in like a hook. Perhaps it was the determination he observed through the window. Perhaps it was the way you handled children while taking a breather outside as he ate inside. Perhaps it was destiny.

As time passed, you grew more tolerant of him. While you didn't want him to be your romantic partner, you guessed you were okay with being his friend. As time passed, he grew more frustrated you weren't his. His father took note of his unusual agitated self, but he waved it off as stress when thinking of a future bride.

"What about that lady the people are saying you like?"

"Oh, her? She has....a way with herself. It seems that she's not interested in me."

"Perhaps you both need a bit of a push."

Since then, the King made a few visits to the bakery to chat--no marriage mentioned. He wanted to see what you were like. Although you were a kind girl, he confronted Yan!Prince with the truth that he probably wouldn't have a spouse who didn't want him. It broke his heart to hear, but he wasn't ready to let go yet.

You were already preparing your escape long before the ball, but the pace of your plan sped up now that the prince was on your trail. You found out about the closest kingdom from acquaintances and saved up funds to use on your journey.

When the prince discovered you had quit your job via a disappearance, he visited your home. Your stepfamily was in shambles (literally. The place was filthy.) and shared that you had disappeared overnight with your belongings. There was no mistake in it: you had abandoned him.

Framing your escape as a possible kidnapping, he ordered guards and encouraged the rest of the kingdom to search for you. All of his efforts was on the search.

Photography didn't exist, so you were fortunate that the description he gave out about your appearance was vague. Somehow, you made it to the nearest kingdom with a plea to the guards that you made your way there in search of a better life. The Queen was kind and sponsored a place for you to stay for the first five months while you adjusted to your new life in exchange for you finding a job. It didn't take long to do so with your desperation.

In no time, you were living a much happier life in your home, with your new friends, and even someone who kept catching your eye. Talk of the nearby kingdom's drama was entertaining, even more so with the subject amongst them.

Meanwhile, the prince's mental and physical wellbeing deteriorated. Some say the search took a lot out of him. Some say he was so heartbroken, he had no will to live. Maids in the castle whispered about the prince being locked in his room from the outside because he grew violent--so out of character! Disturbed, the King confided in only those closest to him about his woes. Whatever did that woman do to infatuate his son so much! No one could approach him anymore. He ate and drank only when he needed to. His room became a mess. How did such a sorrow fall on the family of royal blood when there was so much potential for happiness to look forward to?

Anyone could guess that were was no point in a happy ending for romantic fairytale if there was no romance to begin with.

[stellarnightstalk]

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐀 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞!

pt.2

There was a deafening silence around the room, the type of silence where you could even hear a pin drop. The only sound you would hear was the occasional impatient tapping of your foot as you waited with an awkward smile around your face.

The man in front of you held some papers in his hands, more precisely, divorce papers. He was reading them thoroughly and slower than he should be. Your eye twitched in annoyance, you had planned what to do, what to say, and did a whole dramatic entrance just for him to be staring at those damn papers for almost 30 minutes.

You looked at the man who sat in silence before you, Cedric Ironheart, the male lead of the romance fantasy novel you were in. The truth of the matter is that what happened to you wasn't something you could speak about very lightly. Sometimes you couldn't even believe it yourself, it’s not common for you to reincarnate to a dark romance novel, at least that’s what you think.

Luckily you were spared the memories of your death in the real world, you admit that they were a bit blurry, but it kept you going.

You remember walking along the dark streets outside your apartment after quitting the job you were clearly being underpaid for. You spent the night drinking your stress away for 2 days straight, obvious dark circles started showing under your eyes. A half-emptied bottle in your left hand.

It was 2 AM, and you continued going along the side of the road, you were sick of the life you were living. You were sleep-deprived, wobbling around the streets as if you were on some sort of drug. Before you acknowledged it, you stood atop a bridge, looking down at the passing cars below you. You remember thinking to yourself, ‘Is this truly what it would come to? Plunging yourself off a bridge because you felt as if you had no purpose to live?’

You received a sudden notification on your phone. Upon checking, you saw an email about the release of a new version of a novel that you had read a year ago. You were puzzled because you hadn't remembered signing up to receive notifications about novel releases. Shortly after, you began to feel tired and weak, so you closed your eyes.

The last sensation you experienced was the embrace of the wind, and you found yourself yearning for something more, that if you had another chance to live, to live it to the best of your ability, with no regrets. For freedom.

The next you were here, in someone else's body entirely. And not just anyone's body, but the body of the main villainess from your favorite novel, “A Forbidden Love.” A slow-burn story about a blooming romance between a cold Duke and a “peasant” girl but of course, it wasn’t any normal story. The peasant was revealed to be a secret daughter that the king had, and the Duke was ordered to take custody of the girl and teach her the ways of etiquette and high society in the meantime, and so on. The same story you had gotten a notification from.

From what you remember, the male lead was Cedric, the Duke, and he was forced into an arranged marriage by his father, which was the main conflict of the story. And the person that he was married to was you, well not you but the villainess, (Y/N) Bullard. Or, (Y/N) Ironheart, the stuck-up, childish, and wicked woman who was obsessed with the duke, whose only good aspect was her alluring beauty but was overshadowed by her blackened heart. You were meant to create problems in the story to make the romance progress between the main lovers, like spilling wine onto the protagonist's dress and spreading awful rumors to destroy the protagonist's reputation. Even as far as sending a voodoo doll of the princess, as a way to curse her life.

You knew how the story ended for the villainess, all her plans ended up backfiring which made the couple grow closer. Cedric eventually divorced the villainess due to her spoiled nature, which of course made her angry. Blinded by rage, she attempted to assassinate the princess, but was quickly discovered by the male lead, which led to her demise. She was sentenced to death, being publicly executed by the man she loved the most.

After that, the novel was discontinued due to the author saying that she was unhappy with how she wrote the novel, and she felt no happiness continuing with something she did not feel proud of. There was a rumor that the author was planning to rewrite the novel and make it more “appealing” but the novel had gotten backlash due to the book being rated R. There was a lot of torture, murder, and explicit scenes, more on the villainess’s side since she was practically a psychopath.

You never liked the villainess from the start, you find yourself pitying her in some way, but her character was created for a sole purpose, for the plot, but this situation is different. You are quite literally HER, and the preferred ending is not dying, it's all very simple. You don't want to die, so you decide to cut off what is supposed to be the cause of your death. The Duke of the North, your husband. Then maybe go to the countryside, get a job that’ll keep you stable, you've been thinking about getting a cute little cottage.

That WAS originally the plan, but you’ve been stuck here for God knows how long. Does he not know how to read? You’ve taken notice that some groups in medieval times didn’t know how to. You cleared your throat, making his attention go from the papers towards you. You find yourself admiring his looks, no wonder he's a male lead, he's a handsome fella you'll give him that.

“Look, I know you want this and I want it too so let's not dilly-dally, right? All you need to do is sign right here.” You leaned forward, pointing at the empty line on the bottom right of the paper that's supposed to be filled by his signature, “And I'll be gone faster than you could say—”

“No.”

You chuckled, “I was going to say faster than you could say—” Your eyes widened. “Wait what? What do you mean no?!” You stood up from your seat, slamming your hands on the table in front of you in utter shock.

“My decision is final, your proposal of divorce has been denied. Do you need anything else?” He smoothly said, returning the divorce papers to you, crossing his legs.

Your gaze lingered on the blank papers in your hands, mouth agape. You sat down, taking a deep breath to regain your composure. Shaking your head you changed your gaze from the papers to Cedric, “Your grace, I trust that you will reconsider! I am not fit to be a Duchess, you must know where I'm coming from.” You were getting desperate, you weren't about to die here because this asshole decided not to divorce you, he hates the villainess! He doesn't want the marriage, so why is he being so stubborn?

“No, I don’t. I believe you make a great duchess.” He grabbed a cup of tea that was on his left, sipping from it calmly. “Are you perhaps feeling jealous because the king’s daughter is going to be under my watch? I guarantee that you have nothing to worry about.” He placed the finished tea cup on the saucer that was on the table. “I’ll be sure to give you as much attention as you desire.”

You noticed your eye twitching, questioning whether he was bluffing or if he was actually this egotistical. You forced a smile and explained, "I assure you that the king's daughter has no involvement in this matter. It's a decision I've been thinking for some time now and I believe it would be a positive change." That was a lie. Of course, you wanted to leave because of the king’s daughter, your life depended on it. A little alteration to the truth won’t do any harm.

You noted how he examined you with a raised eyebrow, but you held your head high.

Cedric let out a sigh. "You may have a point, but it's not up to you to make this decision." He uncrossed his legs and got up from his seat, heading in your direction. He stopped right in front of you.

He leaned down and placed his hand on your chin, making you look up. “Are you perhaps drunk again? I told your personal butler not to bring you as much whiskey anymore. I had to hide a lot of bottles.” Your eyes widened as you felt his hands on your chin, he had rough hands, but a somewhat warm gentle touch to it. Something about it felt possessive, you were confused. You don't remember something like this occurring in the novel.

You stared at him. “I assure you that I'm completely sober. I haven't even seen a bottle of whiskey, let alone drank one. Trust me, you would know,” you answered sarcastically. Cedric let out a rare chuckle at your humorous response and let go of your chin. Your fingers brushed against each other for a moment.

“I suppose you're right. You wouldn't skip an opportunity to drink your heart out, would you?" He crossed his arms and focused his attention on you. "Either way, my answer remains the same. I feel the need to inform you that the king’s daughter will be arriving in a week.”

As he walks away from you, he heads towards the door and pushes it open. However, instead of leaving, he stands there for a minute, looking back at you. You look back at him, noticing his gaze. Smiling, you fold the divorce papers into a smaller square and wave it around.

“My offer still stands, contact me if you ever want a divorce.” You declared with a forceful smile on your lips as you tucked the paper into the cleavage of your dress.

He looked down at the paper.

“I won't.” He replied, slamming the door behind him, leaving an echoing sound around the room. You were left with your thoughts, and the smile on your face turned into a scowl. A week? That seemed too far away. You needed to leave this place, fast.

Grasping the nearest pillow, you press it against your face as you scream into it, muffling your curses as you try to calm down. What did he even mean by "He won't"? That asshole!

He’s so full of himself! To think that he was your favorite character from the story. If you had the chance you’d leave a 1-star review on that godforsaken novel.

Taking a deep breath, you removed the pillow from your face and placed it next to you neatly as if nothing ever happened. Recollecting your thoughts, you tried to rationalize.

But, there is no way to get this done differently, the king's orders are absolute. So, you're kind of out of options here. You close your eyes and groan, rubbing your temple, this is a massive headache to deal with.

You can't afford to die, not when you've obviously gotten a second chance at living. This time you will live without regrets, live happily. You need to live.

It is best to avoid interfering with the two lovers and let them be. If you don't cause any problems and allow them to fall in love, he'll divorce you to be with the princess. You won't be harmed, and everyone will be able to live happily ever after. You'll live a carefree and lavish life, and you won't let anyone take it away from you. Especially not a useless marriage.

Perhaps you can find an attractive man in the countryside, he may not be as handsome as Cedric, but he will do.

You open your eyes tiredly, and out of the corner of your eye, you see a fancy-looking bottle, which you presume to be the whiskey they've been hiding from the villainess. You stood up from the chair, walked towards the bottle, leaned down, and grabbed it. You examined the bottle, it read “Johnnie Walker, 1820, Old Scotch Whisky.”

You hummed, you'll save that for later, you placed it under your tighter-than-normal corset. It took you a while but it went in, hopefully, nobody will notice.

——➻

Cedric was sitting on the corner of his bed, he was lost in thought, normally he would think about his duties, the king, or anything else. But tonight he was thinking about you, you were acting different, but not in a bad way. For once, he might even say he felt attracted to you today, which is something he wouldn't be caught alive saying.

The way you spoke, felt somewhat mature. Something he had never experienced you doing before, you had always been childish, and spoiled, always finding new ways to get under his skin.

The moment he laid his eyes on you, he knew you were beautiful. There was no doubt about that, but it wasn't until now that he truly saw it. His heart raced with excitement as he realized the depth of your beauty.

The way you looked up at him as he grabbed your chin, how soft you felt. He loved how you reacted, which caused him to do the things that he did. He had never touched you before, but now, he might be a bit addicted to your touch.

He doesn’t want you to divorce him, not after today. He doesn’t get it either, but he needs you, badly.

When he grabbed your chin, you didn't pull away. Instead, you stayed there, with him. Did you feel it too? You must have.

If you hadn't, you would have pushed him away. At least that's what he thinks. No, that's what he knows.

You have him wrapped around your finger, without any explanation.

He looked at his hand, the warmth of when your fingers brushed against each other lingered. He let out a shaky breath and placed his fingers on his lips, fantasizing about how soft your hands would be in contact with his.

He clenched his fist.

“What kind of spell have you placed on me this time, my dear wife?”

from, your admirer.

credits:

neutral heart + star divider made by @cafekitsune

[ganondoodle]

you know, not like i had enough zelda ideas and rewrites already

but i thought of another (just roughly .. for now) for totk ... and its one where theres no time travel and no direct views into the past either, and no sonau shown, been wanting to think up one like this before but i recently got the basic idea for it (it ignores all of totk aside from some ideas like .. underground stuff)

the basic idea being that the sonau, whoever they were, had an understanding of the cycle hyrule keeps falling into, based on their use of the three animals representing the three virtues, perhaps them being so aware in fact that they were working on dismantling it, finding out why and get at it at its roots, perhaps being one of the only tribes left that knew some things of the past- with the twilight princess referecnes in that boar statue and the seven stones around it with one toppled over (like the sage that was killed)- or even just being aware of it, but not doing anythign against it bc they thought it should be and remain like it (though i like the first idea more)

them not being a high tech people either, perhaps more naturalistic or magic adjacent thing- to contrast the shiekah, who, as their place under the hyrulean monarchy, firmly believedd in hyrules divine right to conquer it all, and the sonau with their knowledge of the past and the cycle of reincarnation beign a threat to the royal families absoulute power position- thus leading to the sonaus destruction and why all their (botw) ruins are highjacked by shiekah shrines!

since the sonau kept most of their knowledge to themselves (hey hey, heres and idea, they didnt communicate vie normal languegs but vie sign language or some magic- making them even more different and mysterious to the others living in the world) no one really got to know what they knew nor their culture or plans; the shiekah findign out what they know or just that they might be a threat to hyrule being sent to get rid of them, in the process finding out more about the past (like the king of the gerudo being the one who has resisted hyrule before and his potential to go monster mode) beginning the plan to imprison the current king of the gerudo (picking up some of the ideas i have had before, the whole betrayel plot) before he can become a danger to hyrule

ganondorf finds out about it (perhaps being in a shaky alliance out of necessity- like the shiekah intentionally minign below the desert without the gerudo knowing that it robs the land of life- thus makign them dependend on trade with hyrule) and plans to counteract it (a big somehow for now, like assassinate the king of hyrule? or try and force him to abandon their plan or sth), and the plan works out for the most part, but theres one gerudo thats been on the side of the hyrulean family the whole time leading to ganondorf ending up sealed and trapped by the queen of hyrule (sealing powers and all, perhaps, again picking up former ideas, after starting a war for ganondorf killing the king) and after realizing ganondorfs undying spirit will never rest try and purify the malice hed sent out to break free, leading to them discovering a much more efficient way to power their newly developing tech, rather than luminous stones which are hard to mine and process, using ganondorfs spirit/malice instead (yes i WILL include battery theory again) which allows them to make all the ancient shiekah tech in the scale we see in botw (and hear of in the past calamity)

its sort of more like the first ideas i had for a totk rewrite, zelda being your companion from the start and link loosing his arm and gettign a shiekah tech replacement- with the added bonus of including the sonau without robbing them of their mystery while still developing them further

most of their recording having been destroyed, either intentionally or by the tides of time, but due to the cataclysm changing the landscape there being new caves uncovered with cave painting like remains of the sonau, entrances to the underground revealing that they came in fact from there and the population on the surface was a small fraction of the last ones of them, with the underground being filled with even more (botw) sonau ruins, but also shiekah labs in other parts

yes it paints the shiekah in a bad light .. which honeslty why not, they are hyrules pawns more or less, and given what the monks do just to give a future hero their last bit of spirit they must have very strong believe in it all- but then the next king turning on them and persecuting them just like they did to the sonau .. being yet another cycle

you slowly discovering everything real time, no memories and no direct views into the past, just real discoveris

ganondorf would once again be the villain, but it would give alot more background to him, in this case making him much more a victim of said cycle, it repeating by wanting to avoid it etc etc, and you wouldnt be able to reason with him after a little over ten thousand years of solitary imprisonment AND your spirit/energy being continueosly exploited to power tech built to fight off any of his attempts to break free (calamity ganon) leading to the desperation of literally tryign to rebuild himself out of malice, which is how you get weird spider ganon and the malice build lumps, eyes, mouths and even rib like structures- the monsters and bosses being a creation of him yes, it being an attempt, or antoehr really, to take revenge on all those that plotted against him, that helped in putting him in this agonzing condition between life and death AND then even exploiting his spirit too-- making the end fight more of a mercy kill with a tragic note, but still hopeful to a better future and not to let the cycle begin anew once a new gerudo king is born- so its not utterly throwing it all in dissarray but giving you the sense of ... theres a future, hope for soemthign better even if it wasnt fixable now

it falls more in line with the 'traditional' zelda formular, but makes it a bit more .. involved? nuanced?

(havent yet thought of ideas for the sky except .. it being there still like i had previously thought, idk if i will develop this further but i like this ones alot bc .... i dont like the totk sonau at all and find it extremely boring to just say yep they are here and actually everywhere and here they are literally in your face as people with voices- i liked them alot more as unkowns)

[crowroboros]

top 3 favourite Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf designs?

Easy. Again this is about their designs and designs only.

Link -

The #1 design for Link goes to Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom's Link (Especially Link in TotK with the Archaic Set, though the Snowquill set is a close second)

By far Link's best look across the entire series. From his hair to the arm to just the general artstyle of this era, I absolutely love this design for him. I would love to see more creative ways to have him in that classic Legend of Zelda green like this. The classic green tunic and cap is lovely, I think spicing the look up like this though is great (I consider the Tunic of the Wild to be BotW's green tunic only, even though it appears in this game as well.)

Wild Era Link himself just has my favorite design out of the Links—not even limiting him to the Archaic Set. I'm talking about the base man. He rocks.

#2 goes to Skyward Sword Link

Skyward Sword Link has what I consider the best traditional Legend of Zelda green tunic design (emphasis on traditional cause Archaic Set my beloved), especially in the artwork. I also like his hair, not as much as the Wild Era Link's hairstyles but The Hero of the Skies has nice hair too.

#3 goes to A Link Between Worlds Link (and technically Triforce Heroes but that game has a different artstyle so I'm not counting it as the same design even though it is the same Link)

It's a very "classic 2D Zelda" look—being very reminiscent of Link from most of the 2D titles from before 2002, but I just think that this specific look does the concept presented by Zelda 1, Adventure of Link, ALttP, the Oracle games, etc better. A big part of it is Ravio's Bracelet, the general artstyle of the game, and his painting form he takes. That wall merge mechanic is fantastic.

Zelda-

#1 goes to Breath of the Wild/Tears of the Kingdom Zelda (but more so Tears of the Kingdom's Zelda)

Yet another win for the Wild Era. I don't know who came up with the general look and design for this incarnation of Link and Zelda but fuck, they deserve the world. All of the outfits that Zelda wears in these games are great, and I think the short-hair look works wonderfully for her as well.

#2 goes to Twilight Princess Zelda

Despite my criticisms of TP Zelda's character (or lack thereof, if this was about character writing she would NOT make top 3. Go girl give us nothing!!), her design fucking slays. The colors, the intricate patterns and details, her rapier. Definitely deserves top 3.

#3 goes to Skyward Sword Zelda

I could go on for a while about this Zelda's character and her role with the people of Skyloft and Link and Goddess Hylia and how fascinating it all is...but this is about designs so that will have to be saved for another day. Although her two outfits are heavily tied into her character and how she sees herself: Zelda, inhabitant of Skyloft vs Zelda, Hylia Reincarnated and how she has to sacrifice who she is when forced into the role she plays in a conflict spanning millennia. I really want to make a post about her character in Skyward Sword. Maybe that'll happen one day.

Ganondorf-

#1 goes to Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Yeah, none of you should be surprised. They cooked unbelievably hard with the character designs in the Wild Era games. Link, Zelda, Ganondorf all look FANTASTIC. Hell even his rotted corpse look is great (and I wish we saw more of it; Lich King Ganondorf as a concept sounds so good)

#2 goes to Wind Waker Ganondorf

Best written Ganondorf from the best Zelda game, and before TotK he was the best Ganondorf design as well! I don't have a single negative thing to say about Wind Waker Ganondorf's design really. I think the colors are great, the details serving as nods to the Helmaroc King are cool, he duel wields swords as well. After getting sealed away in Ocarina of Time, he really stepped up his fashion game.

and finally, #3 goes to Twilight Princess Ganondorf

He looks cool. The scar in the middle of his torso from the failed execution at the Arbiter's Grounds (and then him wielding the weapon that The Sages failed to kill him with) is a detail I really like. That's cool as fuck. This design kind of feels like what was attempted in Ocarina of Time, just no where near as good.

But there you have it anon, my top 3 favorite designs for Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf.

[astralartefact]

NieR Reincarnation Book Spoilers: The New Stuff I care about No not the lore stuff who cares about the lore i care about the lore there's one thing in there that really tickles me but that's not what this is about

I didn't expect them since I haven't seen a single person talk about them but the S2+ RoD stories are in the book.

I probably will make another post about some of them when I actually finished them, but here is my google lens powered synopsis of their premise based on each of their first chapters. btw as a professional lazy person we live in an age where you don't have to speak a language to be able to kind of get it, isn't that magical

which means I WIN!!!!

They don't have pictures, but I take what I can get.

Saryu - The Blessing

Hundreds of years after the events of her story Saryu is reanimated by a wizard to help him create magic wedding rings.

(staring at the camera going yes. who ever wrote this gets it.)

Priyet - End of Everything

After telling Saryu her feelings, asking her to be partners and being rejected*, Priyet decides to pursue Black Magic to become a boy, believing that that will definitely help her chances.*Saryu says something along the lines of "It's okay if you get lost" to her which seems japanese for sure, no clue what that means

Marie - new song

After losing her eye/heart to Yurie, Marie watches her country's destruction by enemy forces. In an imitation of what her old self would have done she tries to help a young girl survive in the ruins of a hospital.

Yurie - new order

After stealing Marie's eye Yurie shuts herself off into the digital world but is eventually forced into the real world by a resistance that views her as God.

Yudil - "Thousand Men"

Washed up on the shore, barely remembering anything that happened, Yudil ends up in a recently abandoned city whose inhabitants were likely turned into animals.

(he also has a fifth chapter which i read because huh? and it's about how as an older woman, sarafa tells the stories yudil told her to children on the street)

(btw the lore timeline says that Yudil and Sarafa happen 30 years after DoD3 in the at that point in history combined Country of Sea and Sands - which means they're canonically french) (well okay upside down french but you get it)

Sarafa - "One Woman"

"The story of a stupid woman who thinks she can outrun her status as princess." Surviving her suicide attempt Sarafa wakes up in the home of a poor woman. Hearing that the kingdom has declared her deceased she is overcome by joy for her newfound freedom.

Hina - "Solar Eclipse Bond"

Parallel Universe Hina jumps out of a plane and will definitely meet her evil brother later on, 100%

Yuzuki - "Comet's Promise" (/wish upon a star)

On a summer vacation young Hina and Yuzuki get lost in a cave and after failing to make a wish upon a star they make plans to watch a meteor shower four years later.

note: the cursive titles are already english, the other ones are japanese

10H - With Love and Prayers

Back on earth, 10H serves as the healer of a group patrolling a peaceful part of the ruined city.

btw there's also more evidence that the game was definitely cut down without forewarning and that 10H was going to be around longer, for example, the concept art for the birdhouse has 10H in it, stuff like that.

edit: I'm putting the 'full' stories in the comments as I'm reading them (sobbing in Saryu)

[headfullofgalaxies]

I want to write a review of Echoes of Wisdom, but I keep going into a tangent about where I think the game falls in the timeline. So, I'm going to write up my theory here and get it out of my system, because I have *~*~*OPINIONS*~*~* on this and I WILL BE HEARD.

Let's get one out of the way first before we delve deep into it.

I know that Nintendo doesn't really care about the timeline. Nintendo barely even cares about its own LORE. Even the basic stuff! There are literally the only two things every Zelda game has in common: the little gremlin named Link who wears a green tunic and the world's dumbest hat, and the quest to save the world from some evil force. That's it. Those are the only things! The Tri Force doesn't show up in every game. Ganon/Ganondorf doesn't show up in every game. ZELDA doesn't show up in every game! Hell, the Master Sword is only in, like, HALF of the games! So, yes , the canon timeline is nonsense but I'm going to play with it like the fun little toy it is.

Anyways... *pulls out conspiracy board* on to the fun stuff.

So, first and foremost, which branch of the timeline is Echoes of Wisdom on?

The Downfall Timeline.

How do we know this?

1) The map

Many parts of the map are copy-paste from the original ALttP/ALBW games. If you've played those games, you can find some fun Easter Eggs and stumble across side quests early by going to places from those earlier games. So, this game would take place in a similar Hyrule. And, as both these games are in the Downfall Timeline, it is the most logical choice.

2) Ganon

The Downfall Timeline is the only timeline that features exclusively Ganon (beast form Ganondorf).

hides Four Swords Adventures under the rug

THE ONLY ONE.

This is because, after successfully gathering the full Triforce with the Hero's defeat, Ganondorf fully transforms into the Demon King, leaving behind his human form entirely and taking on the name Ganon instead.

3) That stupid hat

Look, yes the old Game Theory Zelda Timeline video is kinda... stretching it at places, but the hat thing is a pattern. And one of the hats this Link has features a prominent, yellow stripe.

So now that we know WHICH timeline EoW is in, we need to figure out WHERE.

So the Downfall Timeline is split between three Heroes' eras:

The Hero of Legend (ALttP, LA, and OOA/OOS)

The New Hero of Hyrule (ALBW and TFH)

The Hero of Hyrule (LoZ and AoL)

why does the new hero of hyrule come before the hero of hyrule? idk your guess is as good as mine.

For simplicity's sake, I will be calling the eras Legend, New Hero, and Hyrule. We'll call EoW's era Echoes.

So the map is based off the Hyrule in Legend and New Hero. Hyrule's map has some things in common, but it's not nearly as similar. It makes the most sense to loop Echoes in with Legend and New Hero, putting it sometime BEFORE Hyrule.

Now the question is how before Hyrule? Is it before Legend, between it and New Hero, or after both of them?

The answer comes by taking a closer look at the similar land marks and temples on the map. In Legend and New Hero, the temples are in good condition. However, in Echoes, some of the temples are showing some wear. One of them is even broken down completely. With all that, it makes sense that it comes after both Legend and New Hero, but before Hyrule.

Another thing that lends credence to this theory is the Master Sword. The Master Sword is present in all three timelines, to varying degrees. In the Adult Timeline, Wind Waker Link stabbed Ganondorf with it and left the sword at the bottom of the ocean with the rest of Hyrule. In the Child Timeline, it's used by the heroes to challenge Ganondorf. kicks Four Swords Adventures back under the rug

However, its presence in the Downfall Timeline is weird. The Master Sword is present in both Legend and New Hero, but notably absent in Hyrule. Where did it go?

Well, if Null is as aware of the cycle of reincarnation as it implies (having specifically targeted children to catch the hero and princess before they could challenge it), then it stands to reason it would know about the Master Sword, too. And if it nommed the Master Sword with a rift, that would easily explain why the sword is no longer present in the Downfall Timeline.

So that concludes my theorizing on the location of Echoes of Wisdom's location in the timeline. Now that that's out of the way, I can actually write my review of the game without worrying about this tangent.

(side note: for the purposes of Links Meet AUs, I think it's perfectly acceptable to combine this Link and Zelda into another era. The Hero of Legend era is the funniest and my personal preference, but the New Hero of Hyrule era would probably be easier writing-wise.)

[walkdreams]

❛❛ the desire before the desire. the lick of beginning to know you don't know. if life is a stage, that is the show. enter dionysus.

defaulting to his modern/1980s NYC arc, but his background follows nonnus' dionysiaca, which considers dionysus the reincarnation of zagreus, the first-born son of hades and persephone. prophesied to overthrow zeus as the only god capable of wielding his thunderbolts, zagreus was seemingly embraced by zeus as his heir with a promise of peaceful succession. however, hera, resenting this decree, orchestrated zagreus' brutal dismemberment and cannibalization by the titans. unbeknownst to all but zeus, zagreus’ heart remained intact after the attack. hoping to reshape the prophecy, zeus fed it to the theban princess semele, making her the surrogate mother of zagreus' new incarnation: dionysus. though hera later attempted to kill semele and her unborn child ( believing it was just another bastard ), dionysus survived and was raised in secret by the maenads of anatolia ( presently eastern turkey ).

when dionysus came of age, zeus offered him a place among the olympians, but as a demigod, he could only achieve apotheosis by earning mortal worship. he chose to do so by spreading the teachings of the maenads; their customs ( which valued social freedoms and communal equality ) clashed with traditional greek ideals but quickly resonated with the oppressed masses. his cult began to disrupt the status quo in both the mortal and divine world, and though his apotheosis came at the cost of much bloodshed and strife, he was ultimately recognized not just as a god of wine and ecstasy, but as a force of transformation, rebellion, and rebirth.

✧ headcanons ✧ visuals ✧ threads

☁️ . . . MAIN VERSES

✧ modern / 1980s arc : with views too far ahead of their time, the roman edict of 186 BC called for the crucifixion and disbanding of the bacchants, resulting in dionysus' decision to finally remove himself from mortal affairs. it isn't until the turn of the 20th century that this sentiment begins to shift. by the 1920s prohibition era they start to fully immerse themselves again and establish a new temple in the form of an elusive bar called club mystes (more info here). my default for this verse is set during the 80s or anytime before, but their canon will likely not surpass the 1990s/00s unless plotted otherwise. ✧ asia minor arc : dionysus' coming of age story. by 17, zeus has finally set them on a decades-long campaign to become the first and only demigod turned olympian. during this arc, gods & kings alike have started to become aware of an alleged mortal-born god rising in the east. all interactions here take place in asia minor, where his retinue is still new and growing, mead is the libation of his worship ( wine has yet to be invented ), he doesn't know he's the reincarnation of zagreus, and has yet to be cursed with madness. by 25 he's managed to spread his cult across asia minor and is ready to set sail for mainland greece. ✧ greek campaign arc : after a victorious campaign in asia minor, hera’s curse (more info here) trapped dionysus in a beastial rage, forcing him to wander the assyrian desert for seven years. he was found by rhea, who eventually restored his senses with an amethyst amulet and taught him the art of harvest, leading to his creation of wine -- the new sacrament of his worship. rebuilding his strength and army in the isle of naxos, dionysus finally sets out for greece, where he comes in contact with the rest of the greek pantheon, seeks allies, and wages war against kings who have opposed and enslaved the bacchants. ✧ apotheosis arc : a final battle against perseus in argos (hera's patron city), ends in a stalemate and forces dionysus to earn his apotheosis by doing the impossible: journey to the underworld and complete three trials put before him by its king & queen. this verse primarily focuses on those trials, but ultimately ends in the discovery that dionysus is zagreus reincarnated. with the trials completed, he ascends as a fully initiated olympian god where he respect for his father and the rest of the pantheon quickly wanes. they choose to reside in the mortal realm, where his cult still struggles with persecution and his battle to garner respect still wages on.

☁️ . . . AU VERSES

✧ dc/comic verse : background primarily follows his main verses, except dionysus is a demigod hero akin to wonder woman rather than a full fledged deity. he was most active during ancient times and retires as a club owner by the modern age. after mysteriously losing his amethyst amulet, he went on a dissociative rampage across metropolis, killing dozens before the suicide squad subdued him. disgraced and imprisoned by A.R.G.U.S. at a task force x blacksite, research on his retrieved necklace led to the creation of an implant that mimics its connection to dionysus' mind— allowing amanda waller to direct and tranquilize him at her whim. though he aligns with many of the squad’s missions, dionysus resents his lack of free-will and suspects a.r.g.u.s. has a hidden motive for keeping a demigod under the government's control. [alt. verse] he's desire of the endless coupled with aura davina / eros ( ohkuneho ) ✧ dragon age : open to different avenues, but i like the idea of him as one of the chasind, starting as an apostate mage raised in the wilds but ultimately becoming a leading figure in the mage-templar war. as such, they'd likely be a recruitable companion during da:o and an alternate leader of the rebel mages who can align themselves with the inquisitor during da:i. ✧ pjo (canon divergent): by the 1990s dionysus becomes the head counselor of camp halfblood, albeit begrudgingly. the reason why zeus exiles him to babysitting duty varies, but despite being far from his prime, he's more than qualified to train the current demigods to fight off monsters and save the world. if we incorporate his daughter renata into the plot, then dionysus eventually dies after sacrificing himself for her resurrection.

☁️ . . . DOSSIER

name. dionysus epithets. lysios / liber ( the liberator ), bakkhos ( of the bacchic frenzy ) bromios ( the boisterous ), omestes ( devourer of flesh ), mainoles ( the mad, raging one ) , dimetor ( the twice-born ) pronouns. he/they, (non-binary, male presenting) titles. god of wine, revelry, ecstasy, madness & theatre. cult leader of the maenads & satyrs. heir of olympus. age. ~3375 birthdate(s): spring equinox ( mar. 21, 1350 BCE. -- when he was born as zagreus ); winter solstice ( dec. 25 , 1353 BCE. when he was re-born as dionysus) origin. thebes, greece etymology. olympian / chthonic god , demigod ( verse dependent ) sexuality. pansexual alignment .  chaotic good / neutral relations. semele (surrogate mother), zeus (surrogate father), persephone (mother), hades (father), ariadne (wife) height. 5'10" build. slender , athletic , the power & grace of a ballet dancer hair. dark brown , soft & curled, typically shoulder length eyes. wine-dark & sultry, deep red-violet scars. quite a few from his warring as a demigod, but after his ascension these became very feint and unnoticeable unless closely inspected scents. grape, pine sap, myrhh, lavender, honey

☁️ . . . ABILITIES / SKILLSET

* botantical manipulation : can create, shape and manipulate plant life, including vines, wood, moss, fruit, leaves, flowers ect. ; cause plants to grow or decay; use plant chemicals to heal or poison ; animate vines, thorns, & other plants to attack enemies. * seductive magnetism : radiates a supernatural beauty & attractive aura, naturally inducing pleasure and desire while subtly lifting inhibitions ; affected targets are more inclined to be persuaded, or lessen their desire to physically harm him. ( think pentheus & the pirates ) * mind possession / manipulation : possesses the minds of any living being / groups of beings, manipulating their actions, motor senses and / or perceptions of reality ; can be used to invoke self - destructive madness, or empower ( only temporary and most potent after ingesting his wine ) * ecstasy/pleasure manipulation : manipulates pleasure responses ( whether mental, spiritual, physical, social, sexual ect. ) ; induces targets with either extreme bliss or painful discomfort, usually through physical touch, mental possession, or ingestion of his wine. * anarchy manipulation .  invokes an absence or lack of government / social restraints over a large radius, ranging from a single person to small villages to large cities, creating riotous behaviors, rebellion, social disorder & disruption. * beastial transmutation .  transmutates into the form of predatory beasts, typically a wild cat or serpent ; can also invoke beastial characteristics unto others ( usually the maenads , which is where they get their superhuman strength, claws, and hunger for raw flesh ).

☁️ . . . RESTRICTIONS / WEAKNESSES

* hera's curse . leaves him in a permanent state of "madness" wherein he has no better sense of self or reason than a predatory beast. his bloodlust and destructive impulses will take over unless he's wearing his amethyst necklace. the curse also gives him an appetite for raw flesh. with the necklace, this appetite remains the same albeit controlled. he can eat other foods to blend in, but only meat truly sustains him. to go without for long periods would weaken him and put a damper on his necklace's effect over his beastial impulses. * harmonia's curse . as a way of punishing aphrodite and ares, hephaestus gifted their daughter harmonia a cursed necklace on her wedding day, intended to bring tragic misfortunes not only to the wearer, but her entire royal lineage. so many famous greek tragedies take place in thebes for this very reason ( i.e, the bacchae, antigone, and opedipus rex). tragedy has always followed dionysus and usually manifests in the death of his mortal loved ones, or the constant persecution and slaughter of his retinue. fate will always find a way to counterbalance his wins and can function as a deterrent in some situations. * battle strategy . historically, alexander the great considered dionysus his military idol and spent all his life trying to surpass his success, so this isn't meant to discredit his prowess in battle, but i see dionysus' military success largely due to the unified pack mentality and unflinching, unrelenting brutality of his army more so than strategy. the fact that perseus was the only opponent to bring him to a stalemate by way of cleverness ( using medusa's head to turn him into stone ) speaks to this, and big-brained ariadne ( or a similar strategist at his side ) is the only reason why he didn't die that day. * mortal-born weaknesses . dionysus bleeds red like a mortal prior to apotheosis and then a wine red-violet afterwards instead of golden ichor. consumption of his blood can grant a fraction of his abilities, and although he is immortal and cannot be killed in the usual sense, his mortal origins and the sharing of his power in group combat settings make him less impervious to injury than most gods -- significantly so during their years as a demigod. his training is what he really depends on more so than a godlike infallibility.

☁️ . . . ADDITIONAL NOTES

the thiasos .  the general term for dionysus’ ecstatic retinue is the thiasos which consists of the maenads, the bacchants, satyrs, and sacred animals who almost always accompany him in his travels and arrival to different city-states like a procession. those who are willing and able to fight also serve as members of dionysus’ army in battle.

the maenads .  the maenads are the most significant and trusted members of the thiasos, consisting primarily of women. they serve as high priestesses, leading the thiasos in dionysus’ absence or alongside him. they also serve as the generals of dionysus’ armies. the maenads originally consisted of dionysus’ nurses, anatolian nymphs similar to the amazons. the rest of the maenads consist of women the thiasos have come across who have joined them & shown their loyalty & aptitude for leading the cause as an equal to dionysus.

the bacchants .  the general term for members of the thiasos, so basically anyone who is not a maenad in the group is considered a bacchant. these consist of people and immortals from all walks of life who have either fled from oppression and found sanctuary in the group, or who sympathized for humanity's plight and want to assist in the movement towards a more equal greece. meaning, dionysus is not solely followed by women, he is followed by slaves, foreigners, elite citizens, nymphs & other immortals alike.

bacchanalia / dionysia .  the official name for the greco-roman gatherings and celebrations held in dionysus’ honor. these often include drinking , dancing , ecstatic trance and fornication, sparagmos rituals, omophagia rituals, theater competitions, and just an overall communion with other worshippers of dionysus.

sparagmos .  the greek word means “ to tear apart or render ” and it is one of the central rites of the cult, meant to symbolize dionysus’ death as zagreus when the titans ripped him to pieces in the form of a bull. similarly, in a bacchic frenzy his followers are given the supernatural strength to render an animal, usually a bull, to pieces, or even a human if one should have particularly threatened or offended the thiasos. pentheus and orpheus were victims of sparagmos. this ritual came to pass only after dionysus was cursed with madness and discovered his chthonic origins.

omophogia .  following sparagmos comes omophagia “ the eating of raw meat / flesh ” dionysus’ curse has given him an appetite for raw flesh, so following a sparagmos ritual, his followers offer the remaining flesh to dionysus for consumption. however, sharing in dionysus’ power also means sharing his curse, so the maenads sometimes engage in omophagia as well. it's treated as a sacred act because following zagreus’ dismemberment, semele consumed his heart, and so omophagia serves as a symbol of rebirth / redistribution of matter where sparagmos symbolizes death.

[asterites]

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐆𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐔𝐒 𝐗𝐈𝐈𝐈 : the youngest princess of tenebrae, stella is bestowed with the ability to see the “eyes of expiring souls” after experiencing a near death experience as a child. she was force to relocate to gralea, the capital of the niflheim empire, where she would remain for twelve years. in terms of the cold war between niflheim and the kingdom of lucis, stella as a delegate for tenebrae was originally meant to remain a neutral party. however, due to her connection with etro and experiencing the chaos of the war first hand, stella is chosen to herald the new world by the slumbering god of light: bhunivelze.

𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒 : the reincarnation of the falling star titaness: asteria, stella is blessed with happiness in the world of eos. she is gifted with the knowledge not known to most and possesses an intimate ability to read stars and interpret nocturnal dreams. despite harboring the soul of a goddess, her mortal body is unable to fully utilize asteria’s true capabilities. if she is not careful there is a a possibility that she could loose her eyesight entirely and permanently damage her body. she is a rare individual that is more aware of the secrets of the universe than most.

𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐗 :  placed under the custody of the cult like gigas corporation due to her divine powers, stella is groomed to be a public religious figure. the title and name bestowed to her is sophia taken from the gnostic belief of the holy spirit and divine wisdom, from which she is believed to be the embodiment off. her purpose : destroy the material world and merge it with the spiritual world, from which paradise can finally descend upon them. she is the villain of this tale who hides beneath the damsel-in-distress role.

𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑 :  a spirit that lingers in the final world, she has been stripped out of her identity for a number of years as a result of her sins. although she does not divulge who killed her, she has hinted that she remains tethered to this world due to a bond with another. after meeting sora and witnessing his return, the nameless star was inspired to finally act and follow his heart to the outside. due to her connection to both sora and the destiny islands, the nameless star is granted a new vessel. she remains completely amnesic with her life prior and has made no effort in trying to recall her past life.

𝐌𝐘𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘 :  asteria is a second generation titan goddess of falling stars, nocturnal oracles, divination, and necromancy. after the fall of titans, asteria and the rest of the female titans was given clemency and was welcomed in olympus. asteria due to her divine status was said to be greatly honored and respected by the olympians. however, her beauty had immediately captured the lustful eyes of zeus and poisoden who both pursed her affection relentlessly. in a fleeting moment of grief and madness, asteria descends from the heavens and transforms into the island of delos where she slumbers for all eternity.

𝐅𝐅𝐗𝐕 : a princess of tenebrae, stella was taken to graelea following the aftermath of the invasion of fenestala manor. there, she would remain as a political hostage where she would eventually assimilate into the empire. despite carrying the blood of oracles, stella never had the chance to properly develop her divine abilities and instead chooses to focus on the politics and diplomacy of her kingdom. officially, she is consider a neutral party in the war between niflheim and lucis.

𝐅𝐅𝐗𝐈𝐕 : in a past ages of the unsundered world, she took the ancient name asteria who was once incredibly adept in both art and divination. blessed with many gifts, she oversaw countless of projects meant to benefit the golden age of etheirys. however following the final days, asteria would ultimately be lost in history alongside her fellow ancients. the only memento that survived the sundering was a crystal that bore bright asteria’s memories and gifts that would eventually be inherited by her “first world” reincarnation stella. 

𝐅𝐅𝐕𝐈𝐈 : a highly privileged aristocrat in midgar, stella grew up in a versailles style life of luxury. although she remains blissfully unaware of what goes on beneath the plates, she finds herself suffering with dreams of the final days. driven with this unknown knowledge and connection with a past life, stella begins her quest to seek out the promise land. whether or not she is worthy for the challenge remains unseen, but there is nothing stopping her from achieving what she desires. unfortunately, because of her sheltered life, she does seem to struggle adapting to life in the slums and might even be naïve to certain practices. nevertheless, she remains a bright individual that is well-verse in art, philosophy, and occasionally the dead.

𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍 : in this verse, stella is known as the second cryo archon and tsaritsa of snezhnaya. her archon name, although rarely acknowledge, is astaphaios given to her by the first cryo archon. before the events of 500 years ago, tsaritsa was known to all of teyvat as the goddess of love. at the time, she was considered the youngest of the divines with most of her gifts granted as a sign of her benevolence. however, tragedy would ultimate strike, and the once kind goddess of love would eventually become a goddess of vengeance. the rift between herself and celestia would become one of immense paradox, where one seemingly needs one another, but beneath all formalities, the tsaritsa has already declared a rebellion against the divine. whatever happened between her and celestia remains unknown, but it is said that the former goddess of love had lost her greatest love that day.

𝐗𝐕 𝐀𝐋𝐓 :  a princess of tenebrae, stella is announced missing after the complete annexation of fenestala manor and the death of her mother. having manage to escape the invasion with the help of one of her servants, the young princess seeks out aid from one of her mother’s former allies. however, given the tension between niflheim and tenebrae at the time, she was hidden from the public and eventually was adopted into the noble family. with her newfound identity, she had moved place to place barely settling in an area out of fear of being found out. eventually her newfound family manages to migrate in insomnia where stella can finally know a moment of peace. although she regrets leaving her sibling behind, the truth remained she was still a powerless child who had lost the weight of her name. nevertheless, while in insomnia, stella thrived. education was spared little to no expense and her creative mind, plus her resemblance to the oracle, made her a renown influencer and model inside the walls. although she publicly denies any relations with tenebrae, she eagerly awaits the day she can finally present herself to her siblings without any of her disguises.

𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎'𝐒 𝐒𝐔𝐂𝐂𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐎𝐑 :  from the moment young stella stepped foot in valhalla, the meeting between etro and mywnn is recreated again. chaos consumes threating the balance of the world and despite being the goddess of death, etro finds herself now being consumed by the unseen realm. although she pitied the young child’s fate, it was clear that in the far future this star will inherit both her mantle and her burden. however, due to the forgotten god’s interference the transition between etro and stella was immediately put on hold. nevertheless, the future was a complex and unusual thing with both god and goddess ironically aiding stella’s ascension as a divine. in one timeline : bhunivelze is successful and now carries inflence in between the known world and valhalla. in another timeline, stella is free from bhunivelze’s control and she resumes her position as etro’s heir. either way, valhalla is now hers to command and makeshift with either chaos or the light at her fingertips. 

[renisrandom]

Can you name some Animes or Make a List of Animes You Watched?

If It'll Help I Can Name Some Animes, I Watched:

Dragon Ball Z

Dragon Ball GT

Ranma 1/2 (2024 Remake)

Fairy Tail: 100 Year Quest

PaRappa the Rapper (yes, there is Anime like that, Look It Up)

Strike the Blood

Akame Ga Kill!

Infinite Stratos

InuYasha

Love Tyrant

To Love Ru

Date A Live

My Hero Academia

Cross Ange: Rondo of Angels & Dragons

The Seven Deadly Sins

Blood Lad

Yu Yu Hakusho

One Piece

Rin-ne

Demon Slayer

Maison Ikkoku

Urusei Yatsura (2024 Remake)

High School DxD

The Rising of the Shield Hero

Assassination Classroom

Attack on Titan

Gunsmith Cats

Riding Bean

Super HxEros

Shinobi no Ittoki

Boruto

Black Clover

Code Geass

Bleach

Yu-Gi-Oh!

Hunter x Hunter (2011 Remake)

Food Wars!

Noragami

Rurouni Kenshin (2024 Remake)

Dr. Stone

Reborn!

Re:Zero - Starting Life in Another World

KonoSuba: God's Blessing on This Wonderful World!

Log Horizon

Sword Art Online

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime

No Game No Life

Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

Tokyo Revengers

Fushigi Yuugi

Kill la Kill!

Gurren Lagann

Cyberpunk: Edgerunners

Fire Force

Neo Yokio

Jujutsu Kaisen

Sailor Moon Crystal

Blue Exorcist

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood

Persona 5: The Animation

Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?

Tokyo Ghoul

Seraph of the End

Darling in the Franxx

Danganronpa: The Animation

Mob Psycho 100

High-Rise Invasion

Triage X

SK8 the Infinity

Soul Eater

Powerpuff Girls Z

Cardcaptor Sakura

Little Witch Academia

RWBY (It was Bought by VizMedia so technically it is an Anime)

Dragon Ball GT: A Hero's Legacy

Eden's Zero

Yuki Yuna is a Hero

Yashahime: Princess Half-Demon

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off!

Spy X Family

Oshi no Ko

The Seven Deadly Sins: Four Knights of the Apocalypse

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War

Rurouni Kenshin: Reflections

Shy

Lycoris Recoil

Fate (series)

The Apothecary Diaries

Tomo-chan Is a Girl!

Akiba Maid War

Twin Star Exorcists

Ninja Kamui

Solo Leveling

Mashle: Magic & Muscles

Blue Lock

Kuroko's Basketball

Love After World Domination

Go Go Loser Rangers

Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead

Undead Unluck

Delicious in Dungeon

Frieren: Beyond Journey's End

My Dress-Up Darling

Classroom of the Elite

Garouden: The Way of the Lone Wolf

Mission: Yozakura Family

Chained Soldier

Joran: The Princess of Snow and Blood

Nanbaka

Fena: Pirate Princess

Chainsaw Man

Kaiju No. 8

Suicide Squad Isekai

Hajime no Ippo

BAKI (2018 Remake)

Kengan Ashura

JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

Wanna Be the Strongest in the World!

The God of High School

Oh my! That's quite a long list! Let me see...

Spy X Family

Demon Slayer

Oshi No Ko

Yuki Yuna is a Hero

Madoka Magica

The 100 Girlfriends Who Really Really Really Really REALLY Love You

Full Metal Alchemist Brotherhood

Interviews With Monster Girls

Komi Can't Communicate

Romantic Killer

Kotaro Lives Alone

Delicious in Dungeon

Avatar the Last Airbender

Mob Psycho 100

Attack on Titan

Made in Abyss

School-Live (Gakko Gurashi)

Dr. Stone

[amelias-calamity-quintet]

The Understanding of the Cycle w/ Princess Zelda & Hamuus

Zelda: "The modern understanding of the cycle? No, I understand you mean the legends. Yes, I can answer that, but it is a widely debated field. Hamuus, do you think you could help me with this?"

Hamuus: "It would be a pleasure, Zelda! I must say, it is a hobby interest of mine. And our little circle has had much debate over it in preparation for, well. Those plans are currently under way, aren't they?"

Zelda: "They are currently in progress, yes."

Hamuus: "Of course, of course. I'm sure it will go swimmingly, my friend. What better to restore some energy in Hyrule than a legend, eh? Now, with your particular Hero, I hope he's a good actor-"

Zelda: "I think that's more than we need discussing on that matter. With current audiences."

Hamuus: "Hm? Oh, you're right, Zelda, forgive me! But I'm sure between our charms, they will more interested in this discussion! Part of this matter is personal to your family. Why don't you cover that and I will illuminate on the thinner material?"

Zelda: "I think that's agreeable. Very well. Then to begin. The understanding currently of the cycle is largely documented in thanks to my ancestors, the Princesses. From these Zeldas' accounts of the legends, we've been able to ascertain certain details about the nature of the cycle itself. Now, a good deal of this is suspect, as we cannot speak to them, but the accounts would suggest that not only do the three souls entwined with the cycle reincarnate differently, but that they also carry a vein of the curse unique to them.

"For the Princess, there are multiple accounts that indicate that despite holding access to divine magic, the Princesses cannot form a connection with the Goddesses. It's suspected that due to how Hylia is bound to the cycle as well, this is a mutation of the virtue of Wisdom. The wisest of us can not seek that which divinity holds, in hopes that the separation might wither resolve and obscure the truth."

Hamuus: "That would be a challenge for a Princess. I could not imagine. But the Goddesses did make me in Their image, my absence would be a curse itself."

Zelda: "Is that so?"

Hamuus: "Have you ever seen a smile to rival the sun as mine does?"

Zelda: "I think we're getting off topic."

Hamuus: "Yes, yes, you're right, Zelda. Where were we? Ah, yes, you spoke on the matter of the Princess. Allow me then to speak on the matter of the Hero. Despite being so prominent in the stories, we have very little records from the Heroes themself. Now, many take this to mean that the Heroes are simply quiet. But, the accounts from the Convergence suggest that perhaps how the cycle impacts the Hero is to force him to be alone, at least on matters related to his ability as a swordsman. After all, if the Hero cannot explain his experience, the burden of the Master Sword, then his Courage will be put to the test until he is worn down. Long before his final battle."

Zelda: "Then it would be paramount to insure the Hero has allies."

Hamuus: "For more than that, Zelda. You and I both agree, people rely on the stories as an excuse to avoid action. It is easy to let the Hero and the Princess fight evil while we do nothing. It is another to build a world where the need for them is less because the burden is divided equally amongst us all."

Zelda: "This is true. It's why I think this particular 'Hero' of ours will be too effective. Hopefully, all things successful, we can change that after."

Hamuus: "All things successful. Goddesses shine brightly on that."

Zelda: "There is another portion of this story. I don't mean to hand it to you needlessly, but."

Hamuus: "It is fair. And while the Evil is the one we know the least about, we do have a story in Rahaal, so closely affected. Well, first we should go back. On the matter of reincarnation. We know that the Princess is born from Hylia's family line, the Royal Family of Hyrule."

Zelda: "I am aware of this. It's believed that during the cycle the soul of the Princess is entangled with Hylia, two entities in one form."

Hamuus: "Naturally. And the Hero, is born from true reincarnation of the Hero's Spirit. But the Evil. It is a soul, but not like the others. The accounts from the Convergence supported this, but the Dirjaani believe that Evil returns via possession."

Zelda: "Possession? Possession of what?"

Hamuus: "In the records of the Convergence, there are accounts that suggest that Demise is a puppet of something older, something sealed away. Demise is of course the origin of the cycle, something he perhaps made to maintain his form to free his maker. The truest form of reincarnation for a puppet is to puppet something else. And the only being who could withstand that malice is an Ivarkaq'Siyu Gerudo. Two blessings would be strong enough to fight that darkness, for a while."

Zelda: "Is that what is meant when I've heard discussion on 'Our son being stolen?'"

Hamuus: "Indeed. There is hopes that if we can support each other well enough, provide strong family bonds, connections, support, then when the Hundred Year Male is born, he will be able to fight it a little longer. Until the cycle would not claim him. That Evil would pass him over for another time."

Zelda: "Has it worked?"

Hamuus: "I think so, I would like to believe it is more effective than not at least. For all the horror he has brought, there have only been four times when our son was stolen. At the Divergence, and then once to each of the fractures, at Wind, Twilight, and when the Hero of Legend met the oracles."

Zelda: "And the Convergence."

Hamuus: "Ah, right. Of course, I forget. You would think it would be easier, so recent. Relatively, of course. But that also proves my point. Demise returned at the Convergence, when the Gerudo King could no long contain that power."

Zelda: "Hamuus, you said you've met the man we're looking for. Does that change your opinion on this story?"

Hamuus: "Dragmire Il Gudina? I have met him, before he vanished. Sadly, it does not. I fear for what the Barren Lands might have told him. And the man who urged him go."

Zelda: "A man? What man?"

Hamuus: "That was a decade ago, I couldn't say. Some mage fellow, older looking, very fancy. He had the strangest eyes though, I remember that. Oh, you're looking for a mage now too, aren't you?"

Zelda: "Possibly. But the odds of them being the same seem unlikely."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mark of a Hero (Updates on Tuesdays & Fridays, 1 of 9)

Hyrule is at peace, or so the Royal Family would have its people believe. Something is afoot in the kingdom, and someone needs to do something about it. Least likely would be Marksmen Link Sayre- a mercenary and monster hunter doing his best to get by. Until a job goes wrong, and he gets roped into the secret plans of Hyrule's princess. Now Link must play the part of the Hero to dive deeper into the mystery, and maybe stumble into a legend of his own.

AO3 - Wattpad

[phantexxx]

Tyrant Empress [F4M, Longterm, Semi-Lit, Discord]

TLDR: I have a tyrannical elven empress who I would love to pair with an equally crazy, brutal ruler from another kingdom. 

Please at least skim over the rest of this post. I am SO sick of people only seeing the NSFW tag and DMing because of it. 🥲 

Looking for fantasy worldbuilding nerds!! I need somebody who has a homebrew kingdom of their own as well. I’ll listen to your world building rant if you listen to mine haha

Hey there! I’m Cain, I’m 21, and I’ve been roleplaying in my free time for a few years now. It’s been a while since I’ve done any long-term stories, and I’m super excited to get back into it! As an artist, I prefer to roleplay with other people who also draw! I enjoy making art of my roleplay partners’ characters and doing art trades, but it’s pretty one-sided with a non-artist. I understand how this can be seen as rude or picky, but I just write better with fellow artists, and this is a non-negotiable, sorry!! One of the main things I’m looking to do is merge my characters canon storyline with that of my partner’s character! 

Before I get into the story, there are a few things I’d like to clarify! First off, this roleplay will fall into a few different genres: dramatic, angsty, toxic, fantasy, etc. The fantasy kingdom where this roleplay takes place is based off of India, so do not bother replying if you’re going to be a racist weirdo. Yes, this is something that’s happened enough that I must say it outright. 

With that said, here’s the plot. 

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In the elven kingdom of Sahknu, those born with albinism were considered horrific omens—cursed by the gods, marked for death. Infants with the condition were slaughtered in the name of Ruven, God of the Moon. 

But when King Akkar’s own daughter was born pale as bone, he refused to let her be another sacrifice. Instead of allowing her execution, he bent the old laws of the kingdom to keep her alive. It took ludicrous amounts of money, threats, and relentless extortion, but in time, he forced the church to proclaim the child as something divine—a miracle, not a curse: The ‘true’ reincarnation of Ruven.  

Thus, the girl was named after the god himself and forced into the strict, suffocating role of Grand Prophet. From infancy, she was trained to be saintly, modest—untouched by mortal indulgence. Every week, she sat in her temple, blessing visitors, attending endless religious affairs, her life controlled entirely by tradition and royal duty.  

But as she grew older, Ruven found herself yearning for more. The temple was a glorified cage, her existence a performance with no room for any personal desire. She had no privacy—not even for a moment. Servants monitored her every step, as declared by her father. Akkar would not change his ways. So, she learned to be sneaky instead.  

At first, it was small rebellions—sneaking off in the night, taking time to enjoy the freedom of finally being alone. But all good things must come to an end. When Akkar caught wind of her actions, he was less than pleased. Promptly, he enforced stricter rules unto her.

It backfired spectacularly.  

Ruven only grew bolder, more reckless. If they wanted her to be untouchable, she would drown herself in indulgence. She snuck into brothels under the darkness of night, drinking, watching, surrounding herself with mortal pleasures simply because she could. She flirted with guards just to see how far she could push them, if they would go rigid and ignore her or encourage her words. She did whatever she pleased, and the more they tried to restrain her, the worse she rebelled.

Outside of her lack of privacy or freedom, Ruven had an otherwise fortunate upbringing. She was a princess, for fuck’s sake—pampered, powerful, and perfect. Her father handed her everything she wanted the very moment she asked, and she never had to lift a finger unless it was to summon a servant. She was spoiled, arrogant, and completely assured of her own importance.

So, how does someone fourth in line to the throne end up ruling an empire? Simple—by sheer, bloody circumstance.

The coup came without warning. Southern rebels breached the palace walls in the dead of night, cutting through the royal family like mere livestock. King Akkar, slain in his own bed. Maeral, his eldest son, gutted next. Then Maeral’s wife. Their daughter. The slaughter continued until only two survivors remained—Maeral’s young son, Ruhal, and the king’s youngest, Voron.

And where was Ruven while her family was butchered in their own home? Drunk, half-naked, and tangled in the silken sheets of some high-end brothel, entirely oblivious.

By the time she stumbled home, the palace was a wreck—smashed furniture, bloody floors—the stench of death, that coppery metallic scent of blood, was one she would never forget. Before she could even fully process the horror, a crown was shoved into her hands. Ruhal was too young to rule, and she—somehow, ridiculously—was the only suitable replacement.

Her first act as queen? The execution of the eldest son of every southern family in Sahknu. A mercy, in her eyes. After all, she could have wiped out their fathers, their wives, their children. She could have caused them all the pain that she suffered. But she didn't. They should be grateful she was so generous.

Her descent into madness was a quick one. The grief was unbearable, though she never said as much. She had spent her life alienating her family, dismissing them, hating them. Now, in their absence, she missed them more than anything. She would make it right. She would do them justice. She would become the greatest conqueror Sahknu had ever known.

The moment she named herself Empress, a title unexitant in her kingdom until then, she set her sights outward. She demanded full submission from neighboring countries, and when they refused, she released her navy upon them. Ruven was not a ruler—she was a warmonger, relentless and insatiable.

Her people despised her. All did. Tyrants are rarely liked anyhow, especially ones who (quite literally) bathe in the blood of their enemies. But fear was enough for her. She crushed every voice of rebellion through execution, and with every conquest, she dragged Sahknu into further wealth and power. The army swelled. The lands expanded. The empire flourished.

And yet, Ruven was unsatisfied. She had gold, land, power—any whore she desired at the very snap of her fingers. But she wanted something more. A partner. A rival. Someone worthy to be spouse.

So she set her sights on the only kingdom she had yet to conquer. The one empire that had crushed her armies, humiliated her forces. The only kingdom she both admired and despised in equal amounts.

⸻ ⚜ ✦ ⚔ ✦ ⚜ ⸻ ⚜ ✦ ⚔ ✦ ⚜ ⸻ ⚜ ✦ ⚔ ✦ ⚜ ⸻

As you can tell, Ruven is a very shitty person! This is intentional, and no, she can not be fixed. I am looking for a fellow tyrant that she can fawn over and be all evil with—somebody who makes her even worse. She needs somebody who matches her energy. Like, they need to be the power couple of the millennium lmfao. 

Overall, her main goal is to make her empire as powerful as she can manage, as well as make some heirs worthy to be in her bloodline.

Yes, this roleplay will have smut, but that is not the main focus—the plot is. I’m looking to write with somebody who isn't skeeved out over the topic of NSFW, but also isn't drooling over their screen haha

If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to message me! I love to chat with my roleplay partners OOC, too, so never hesitate to reach out. :)

[monkey-madness-by-rokkr]

Master post

Okay dunno how these are done, my first time 😅

Links to all related fics below the cut

Important tags are on this post for quickly looking up certain fic posts

Asks are open!~

I am an open book, ask me what you will. There is very little I will hide :3

Shards of a Frozen Soul

"Will you be my Warrior?" Promises made, but will they be kept?

Historian and Archeologist of the Journey to the West Initiative, Dongzhi Soushirou, finds her Footnote in history far closer to home than expected. When an Old Threat with New Faces threatens Megaopolis, how can good prevail without a hero?

Speak no Evil, Do no Evil

Harry Potter x LEGO™️ Monkie Kid

How a punishment from the Celestial Court ended up in a new headache for the Jade Emperor

Lily and James were Sun Wu King and L Mihou with their memories sealed. When their child discovers the truth, she sets out on a quest to find her family!

Amount of Plot Outlined : 3 major parts planned out. Currently about half way through the first story arc

See no Evil, Hear no Evil

My Hero Academia x LEGO™️ Monkie Kid

What if Izuku is adopted by Macaque?

Princess Iron Fan being a very bored immortal that wants to screw over Heaven by making Earth prosper~

Many adoptions to cause chaos and prosperity~

Plot outlined : I’m not sure where I’m going with this one. I had a plan originally but it just fell through when writing. The chapters are actively fighting me

Sun Lilies and Moonstones

Harry Potter x Lego Monkie Kid

Assorted tales of Sun Lily and Jacque in their Hogwarts years

Cheeky Monkey

Harry Potter x Lego Monkie Kid

what if Lily and James actually looked for their kiddo and stayed together?

Aschente

Lego Monkey Kid

What if MK grew up around Anime and managed to emulate some of the abilities? If his first Memory was watching No Game No Life Zero... Will he follow Riku's path of self sacrifice? Or perhaps be the Hope his world needs to Keep Moving Forward.

Monkey See Monkey Do

Harry Potter x Lego Monkey Kid

Wracked by the guilt of what she forced upon Sun Wu Kong, Guanyin of the Wizarding World realm decided to send his latest reincarnation to the realm of another to help prevent her fellow Guanyin from making the same mistake.

Little HP sent to the Lego Monkie Kid verse as a baby monkey during the Journey to the West era. Makes ripples in both realities

Plot Progress : Chapter 1 written but working out an outline and wanting to write at least 3 chapters before posting this one

One Shots

I’ve got several one shots I’m juggling and musing. These will be rather long but consist of a stand alone story

None are post ready yet 😅

Shadow of the Plum Tree

Instead of stumbling into Megaopolis after hatching, MK finds himself at the grave of a particular Spirit unable to move on in any way. Macaque doesn’t get tortured by the Diyu in this one, he’s just unable to go far from where his corpse was burried without a living soul to latch onto

Effectively raises MK from the shadows

Shadow Plays

MK and Mei run a YouTube channel where they take old stage play and shadow play manuscripts to make animated videos of. MK’s favorite playwrite is Liu’er Miho. Little does he know the Shadow Play he goes to see with the gang is being performed by his favorite playwrite~

What is a fan to do?

“What Did I Say About Strays?”

MK has a real fondness for Stray animals. Using what food remains after his shifts to feed them behind the Shop. He already has a baby monkey and two kittens he adopted after a few… incidents…

Today felt like any other! Working the whole day, making sure the Child Services spies can tell he isn’t doing anything illegal for his age range. Helping Pigsy find ingredients without getting captured by the spooky spider lady again…

And then he finds a half dead monkey person in the trash behind the shop. Only barely stopping himself from chucking the trash bag in. Now… how long can one Teen keep hte8r papa pig from finding about the shadow? And why can’t the shadow leave MK’s side for long?

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

How would the Ganondorfs (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) & Demise react to their SO, while they were having soft affectionate cuddle time in bed, asking the Demon King if, when SO died, if they would find them again? SO knows about the cycle of reincarnation, so is curious if the Demon King would remember them and look for them again.

This deeply emotional question would elicit a range of reactions from the different Ganondorfs and Demise, as it touches on their views on destiny, love, and the inevitability of death. Here’s how each of them might respond:

Wind Waker Ganondorf

Reaction: Bittersweet Acceptance, Quiet Determination

Wind Waker Ganondorf, who has lived a life filled with longing and loss, would be deeply affected by this question. He would go quiet for a moment, his eyes distant as he contemplates the nature of their bond and the cruel cycle of fate.

After a long pause, he’d softly reply, “Even in this endless cycle, I will find you. I may be cursed to repeat my fate, but you... you are my only solace.”

He would hold them a little tighter, as if fearing they might slip away sooner than he’d like. The thought of losing them again would weigh heavily on him, but he’d silently vow to seek them out in every lifetime, hoping that somehow, their love could transcend the curse that binds him.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Reaction: Stoic Resolve, Unyielding Commitment

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would initially remain silent, his grip on his SO tightening as he contemplates their question. The idea of reincarnation is something he’s familiar with, but the thought of searching for someone through the ages would be new to him.

“I will find you,” he’d say with a determined edge to his voice. “No matter the time, no matter the world. You are mine, and I will not allow fate to keep us apart.”

His words would be spoken with a fierce determination, as if daring fate itself to challenge his resolve. To him, the idea of losing them is unacceptable, and he would do everything in his power to ensure that they are reunited, no matter the circumstances.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf

Reaction: Fierce Resolve, Silent Vulnerability

Twilight Princess Ganondorf, known for his stoicism and strength, would be visibly affected by this question. He might close his eyes for a moment, gathering his thoughts before responding.

“When that time comes, I will search every shadow, every corner of existence until I find you again,” he would say, his voice steady but with an underlying emotion. “I will not let death or fate keep us apart.”

His words would carry the weight of an unbreakable vow, and though he may not express it openly, the thought of losing them would haunt him. He would hold them closer, the vulnerability in the moment revealing just how much they mean to him.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf

Reaction: Confident Assurance, Unshakable Determination

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would react with a confident smirk, his arms tightening around his SO as he considers their question. To him, the idea of being separated by something as trivial as death would be almost laughable.

“You underestimate me,” he’d say with a hint of arrogance. “No force, no curse, no cycle can keep me from what is mine. I will find you, no matter the cost.”

He would say this with absolute certainty, his unyielding confidence in his ability to defy fate and time clear in his tone. For him, the challenge of finding them again in another life would be just another obstacle to overcome, one he would face without hesitation.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Reaction: Quiet Resolve, Deep Emotional Impact

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf would be deeply moved by this question, the idea of losing them again weighing heavily on his mind. He might pause, his eyes softening as he looks down at his SO.

“I have seen the cycles of time, and I know their cruelty,” he’d begin, his voice tinged with sadness. “But even so, I will find you. I cannot accept a world where you are lost to me.”

There would be a deep resolve in his words, but also a vulnerability that he rarely shows. The thought of losing them and having to search for them again in another life would be a painful one, but he would do it without hesitation. He’d pull them closer, pressing a kiss to their forehead as a silent promise that he would always come for them.

Demise

Reaction: Fierce Possessiveness, Absolute Certainty

Demise would be taken aback by the question, but only for a moment. His immediate response would be one of fierce possessiveness, as if the idea of being separated from them by death is something he refuses to accept.

“Do not doubt me,” he’d say, his voice low and filled with determination. “I will tear through time itself to find you. You are mine, and no force will keep you from me.”

His words would be spoken with absolute certainty, as if daring the universe to challenge his claim. To him, the idea of losing them is not something he would even consider, and he would do whatever it takes to find them again, no matter how many lifetimes it takes.

Summary: For each version of Ganondorf and Demise, the idea of their SO being lost to them through death and reincarnation is something they would refuse to accept. Whether through fierce determination, stoic resolve, or confident assurance, they would each vow to find their SO again, no matter how many lifetimes or cycles it takes. This question would bring out a deep, often hidden vulnerability in each of them, but it would also reinforce their commitment to the one they love, making them even more determined to defy fate and time to be with them again.

[alillttn]

I'm currently writing a story where a knight/general aids the prince and crown princess of her world.

(I'm a bit worried about leaking the exact details of the story, so sorry if I'm being a bit too vague.)

It all started when I was writing the story of a knight (a reincarnation of a missing god) who went on to become king and unite his warring world under a worldly alliance. Then, I realized that the story of his children would actually be interesting, so I went and brainstormed ideas for their stories, and i ended up creating the prince's story first. After that, I wanted to see his story in a third-person perspective, so I decided to make the protagonist, a woman who rose to prominence because of her highly effective skills in combat, strategy, and leadership. Then, I wanted someone that the prince can be constantly compared to, so I created his sister, an older sickly twin with a proud attitude and a kind heart. From there, I kind of just added elements until I was satisfied.

Characters:

I'll only be sharing first names for now.

Lucille: A knight known for being the youngest general in the Holy Army, a sort of global force tasked with maintaining peace in the world. She abandoned her noble lineage in order to gain her own worth.

Ismene: The eldest of the Star God's twins and the crown princess. In contrast to her frail and weak body, she has developed a proud disposition to those who are close to her. Despite this, she cares deeply for her people, and she constantly finds ways to improve herself. She has also [REDACTED].

Arsenios: The youngest of the Star God's twins. He regularly completes his duties with a cold aura and will do whatever it takes to gain more strength. In truth, he doesn't know how to interact with people casually, which bars him from making more friends. He has also formed a pact with an ancient god, one that had fought against his father, the Star God.

Gloria and Annora: Twin ambassadors of two nations in the east. Not only are they proficient in fortune telling and black magic thanks to their demonic heritage, but they've also helped in developing their respective nations. Little do people know that [REDACTED].

Theodore: The son of the Holy Army's Praetor and the Archbishop of the Church of Celestials. Carefree and lazy, he regularly dismisses his hardships, only using his full strength and wisdom in things that he's interested in.

The God of Stars: The god of matter and valor. Once a mortal, he guides and protects the world he is left to protect.

The Goddess of Life: The goddess of life, growth, and all things unseen. She takes care of all life, regularly guarding against diseases brought about by demons and malevolent Celestials.

I'll continue explaining the world building in another post when I get the chance, but dang it, there's still so much to add. I already wrote fourteen chapters for my book, and it's probably not even halfway. I dont think I can complete this soon.

writers, listen up...

i've fallen out of touch with the writeblr community a lot in the past few years, and i want to rectify that. the community aspect was what made me fall in love with tumblr, and what improved my writing for the better.

the golden days of my writing were when i was highly active and engaged in this wonderful community, but life and work and the horrors of self publishing have overtaken my energy in the past year. however, i have been really struggling with original writing, and i want to get back into the community here.

that said...

you write fantasy with queer characters

are an indie author

post frequently about your wips (taglists are a bonus!)

are queer

are a very active and friendly writer

if any of these apply

please, please reblog and tell me about your wip. gush over it. infodump. characters and ships and worldbuilding and plot, i want it all! this is your invitation to be as selfishly indulgent as possible. let's make some new friends and restore some community!!

boosts appreciated!

[musingsofagloomywitch]

Snippets of the novel I'm currently reading with reproductive rights, marriage rights and gender equality theme~

Context: The novel follows a quick transmigration trope; where a soul bound to a "system" (it's actually an AI)–designed by the underworld– is sent to worlds derived from novels to complete a mission, in this case, fulfill the wishes of the original owner of the body in exchange of merit (being a Chinese novel, here "merit" means all the good karma you accumulated along your life to condition your next reincarnation).

Setting: 6th arc world: interstellar age with a parliamentary monarchy empire.

Characters:

Jiang Anyu ♂️; Crown Prince, heir to the throne; sexist and chauvinist. Wants to turn their Gender Equal society into male dominated.

Lin Yuanyuan / Lin Tiantian♀️; Crown Princess Consort; married by Genetic Match and used as a pawn to promote it and increase Birth rate. "Reborn" (her soul traveled back in time to a checkpoint of her life).

Mo Meigui ♀️; vice-president, feminist, against forced Genetic Match marriages, Defender of free love marriages; Mother of the body the protagonist has possessed.

Cong Xia♀️; protagonist, strong and wise, transmigration agent.

"Bang! "

The sudden noise startled Lin Yuanyuan and she stood up from the bed. She looked towards the door.

She saw Jiang Anyu standing there angrily. The bedroom door was still shaking slightly, and there was an obvious shoe print on it.

Obviously, the Crown Prince kicked the door in.

The pain, confusion, struggle, and fear in Lin Yuanyuan's eyes had not completely faded.

Jiang Anyu looked at Lin Yuanyuan's eyes, and a hint of surprise appeared on his originally angry face.

...

Lin Yuanyuan was stunned for a long time. Thinking of the differences between Mo Congxia and her previous life, and the experiences of Mo Congxia in her previous life, she couldn't help but shivering.

Jiang Anyu was holding Lin Yuanyuan and immediately asked, "What's wrong? Have you come up with any good ideas? Yuanyuan, you are so smart, you must know that only by insisting on genetic matching in marriage can you force interstellar humans to get married and have children so that the human race can continue forever. If marriage is based solely on free love, how many people in the entire galaxy are willing to get married and take responsibility? How many of those who are willing to get married are willing to have children and raise them? Only if marriage laws that force genetic matching continue can the human race continue. This is something our royal family has always insisted on doing. Yuanyuan, you are the Crown Princess now and a member of the royal family. You will stick with me forever, right? "

After that, he kissed Lin Yuanyuan's forehead, stood up and looked at her affectionately.

Lin Yuanyuan was a little dazed.

...

Lin Yuanyuan woke up and recalled the ideas she had come up with since her rebirth, and how she had been watching coldly, every time... Mo Congxia, who was walking in front of her every step, opened her mouth and wanted to say that she had no ideas and refused to help Jiang Anyu come up with those bad ideas. Her eyes rolled and a light bulb went off in her head, and she thought of a great idea.

If God wants to destroy someone, he must first make him crazy.

...

Lin Yuanyuan lowered her eyes slightly, hiding the emotions in her eyes, and whispered: "I, I have another idea. Anyway, it is women who really give birth, and men are just paying with their sperm. As long as women are forced to have children, even if men are unwilling to comply with genetic matching marriage, women must comply and respond positively for survival..."

Jiang Anyu frowned and said, "We have thought about this method. But how can we force women to have children? "

Lin Yuanyuan opened her mouth, closed it, and opened it again and said, "This can be done in two ways. One is to improve women's employment benefits, for example, allowing and encouraging women to work from home, forcing women to have longer vacation time, and doubling women's maternity leave. One is to open free girls' schools and provide a variety of enjoyable learning and talent learning. Before the interstellar adult examination, there will be no mandatory requirements for women's education, the number of examinations will be reduced, and women will be more relaxed and comfortable during their education. "

People are lazy. If there is no strict and fair assessment mechanism, and there is no competitive learning atmosphere around, it is difficult for people to mobilize their enthusiasm for learning.

Lowering the educational level of women without lowering the standards of adult examinations and work assessments is an alternative way to greatly reduce women's employment opportunities.

In the future, when the proportion of women in the upper echelons of various fields becomes smaller and smaller, or even completely absent in some fields, it will become easy and reasonable to control women's childbearing.

...

Lin Tiantian stopped asking and just asked naively: "I seem to have understood a little. In fact, women in any era are not very willing to take on the responsibility of childbearing. But why could women in ancient times give birth to more children than women today? If we create a similar environment for women today, will women be willing to have more children? Well, for example, reduce their job opportunities? Forcing them to support their lives by maintaining a family?"

...

Those who originally liked Lin Tiantian also turned from fans to haters and cursed Lin Tiantian even more harshly.

"How long has it been since we achieved gender equality? And already, some people are trying to raise the fertility rate and increase the number of genetically matched marriages, creating conflict between men and women again? They are simply burying the stability of the entire galaxy with them! Fortunately, this is just a novel. If it were reality, I guarantee that the fertility rate would be even lower!"

"Is it an original sin for women to give birth? Why do they only oppress women? Do all women in the galaxy have to have their uteruses removed before the world can be at peace?"

"They want women to give birth, they want genetic matching, and they want to oppress women to the point of returning to an era of inequality. Is this the interstellar royal family eliminating women? Well, that's not bad. Once women are eliminated, the next step will be whether men can survive alone!"

...

After Mo Meigui discovered this, her expression was extremely complicated. She knew that with Congxia's ability, he could have handled the situation in a more tactful and subtle way, but Congxia chose such a radical method. Mo Meigui couldn't help but doubt Congxia's purpose, and she immediately made a video call to Congxia.

Cong Xia: "What purpose could I have? I just think that maybe you are all wrong. Whether you support free marriage or support genetic matching, these may all be wrong."

Mo Meigui was stunned.

Cong Xia continued: "Perhaps what people want is just freedom. They would rather die than be without freedom. Not to mention taking on the so-called reproductive responsibility."

Free to choose to have children or not, free to choose free love or genetic matching, free to choose how they want to live, and if a certain period of life is really unsatisfactory, they can also freely choose to end this unsatisfactory life.

Only the air of freedom can make those who possess freedom believe that this galaxy and this era are worthy of the arrival of new life.

Even a politician like Mo Meigui was speechless for a moment.

...

Jiang Anyu was angry, but he could only suppress his temper and give orders.

He really yearned for the world in his dreams.

He said to himself that it was really that the interstellar women were too disobedient, too irresponsible to the interstellar, and unwilling to take the initiative to give birth. If the interstellar women were obedient enough, had enough sense of responsibility, and were willing to take the initiative to give birth, so that the upper echelons of the interstellar would not have to worry about the birth rate, then why would he yearn for the world in his dreams?

In his dream world, men are superior to women, and people all aim to give birth to sons. Whether it is a rich or poor family, the family must "leave a descendant". This "descendant", As a matter of course, it refers to boys. Girls don't count.

In this case, people will naturally get married and have children. If one is not a son, two is not a son, five or six is not a son, as long as the body allows, they will continue to have children. Because that society requires people to "have offspring", a family without a son is "extinct". "Extinct" is looked down upon by others, and will be calculated by relatives and friends around. Want to make "extinct wealth".

In that world, it's not that there are no women who want to rebel, but the status of women in society is too low. Even working women will encounter gender discrimination and employment discrimination. They can work, but social morality requires them to balance family and employment, otherwise they will be condemned by morality and public opinion. In this environment, most women have to compromise, and a small number of women continue the fire of resistance.

Jiang Anyu doesn't care about the few women who resist, he only cares about the high birth rate in the dream world. And those women who are brainwashed by the environment will even spontaneously brainwash the next generation of women, and so on, generation after generation. Even if one day women will eventually succeed in their rebellion and strive for true gender equality, it will be a long time in the future.

...

Compulsory reduction of women's work and study opportunities, It is certainly not advisable to suppress women openly. However, Lin Yuanyuan's idea for him is very good. No one will eat arsenic, but what if the arsenic is hidden in honey?

...

At the next interstellar high-level meeting, Jiang Anyu proposed that because women bear the responsibility of childbirth, the interstellar should give women more convenience.

One is that women should be given more choices of workplaces at work. Women, especially those who can work from home, are allowed to work from home, and at the same time, they are given twice as many holidays as men, which is also a compensation for women's childbirth; the other is that in terms of learning, more suitable schools for women can be provided to reduce the pressure of women's study and examinations. Compared with men, women have to bear the pain and risks of pregnancy and childbirth. Such preferential treatment is what women should enjoy.

——In addition to proposing this proposal at this meeting, he also announced the news in advance on his personal social account. Of course, he only promoted the aspects that are beneficial to women, and he did not mention the potential disadvantages at all.

As for promoting this kind of thing, Jiang Anyu knew very well that interstellar people would be easily led by the rhythm. He only needed to let some water armies lead the rhythm first, saying that this is a good thing for women, and smart men would help to lead the rhythm. Throughout the ages, men have been an extremely united group. When men communicated with each other privately and guessed the hidden meaning behind this proposal, they would naturally lead the rhythm together for the rights and status that future men would obtain, so that foolish men would not be able to follow the trend. The stupid women who had no idea thought that this was indeed a "good thing".

Then Jiang Anyu could use public opinion to promote the passage of this proposal in the interstellar high-level meeting.

Even if some people in the interstellar high-level saw through his conspiracy, his "conspiracy" could actually increase the interstellar fertility rate. Such "benefits" were at hand, and Jiang Anyu dared to take a gamble despite Mo Meigui's attitude. - It depends on whether Mo Meigui wants to put women's rights and status above or below the continuation of interstellar human race.

Mo Meigui looked at Jiang Anyu deeply.

As a woman herself, she saw through the provocation to the gender equality system hidden behind Jiang Anyu's proposal at a glance; however, she was also an interstellar Vice-president of the Government, who is responsible for the reproduction of interstellar humans, has also seen that Jiang Anyu's proposal is also beneficial to the reproduction of interstellar humans.

Although it sacrifices some of the interests of women, women have gradually fought for the true equality of men and women from the status of male dominance. Why not do it again?

This thought flashed through Mo Meigui's mind for a moment, and then she woke up.

Impossible.

Women have tasted the taste of gender equality, how could they allow themselves to become second-class citizens? If this is true, then the number of people who rise up in resistance will only increase.

Having won their rights with blood, they don't mind consolidating it with blood.

If that isn't possible, at least they can make themselves infertile. ——Isn’t it for the sake of fertility rate that you want to deprive them of their rights and status? It would be better to end it all once and for all, so they chose to avoid any future troubles.

So Mo Meigui objected without hesitation. The relationship between the interstellar government and the interstellar royal family is originally one of opposition and checks and balances. The people on the interstellar government side and the interstellar royal family immediately came into conflict again.

...

After reading the information sent to her by Mo Meigui's secretary, Congxia frowned and logged into the Star Network. After looking for a while, she suddenly laughed.

Jiang Anyu attempted to manipulate public opinion by using the "unity" of his cyber army and men. He wanted to change the current situation of gender equality and gradually lower the status of women by increasing work benefits and reducing study pressure and learning levels.

This method seems feasible, with the navy paving the way and Jiang Anyu's status as the crown prince. Congxia is not without concerns about this.

However, when she went to the Star Network, she found that most of those who raised objections were men.

"Aren't men and women equal? Why should women be treated more favorably?"

"We are all the same people, so why can women work from home in the new proposal? And have double vacation time? And when they go to school, they don't have to go to a stressful school, but can go to an all-girls school with ease? Is this fair? Does the Interstellar Royal Family have a serious illness? Is it still okay? If not, step down quickly!"

"Waste royal family, waste prince, how can you come up with a proposal that is so unfriendly to men? Do you want to step down early?"

...

Jiang Anyu carefully planned a proposal to give preferential treatment to interstellar women, and then gradually deprive women of their work and study opportunities. Once it was proposed, it was met with strong opposition from interstellar men before the women could resist.

Resource: Novel 她是反派心尖寵[快穿] author︰澀澀兒 chapters 62-65