#The harbingers are found family but Evil

[neuvilletteswife4ever]

So I have sent a request in the queue right now, but I have another (possibly good) idea:

Gender neutral reader, but they're sadistic and able to escape and elude the Harbingers for prolonged periods

They leave little notes behind that mock them and the Tsaritsa, all the while leaking their secrets; they effectively toy with Harbingers and constantly remind them of their weaknesses and soft spots (i.e. Childe and his family, Arlecchino and the House of the Hearth, etc.)

Of course, they'll get caught eventually (and probably receive the ass-beating of a lifetime), but they never learn and soon they'll subsequently escape again

Eventually the Harbingers seemingly finally have enough and attempt to keep the reader in their grasp forever...

...only to find them dead via head smashing by some sort of heavy object

WOAHH I LOVE THIS WTF???

Warnings: Escaping, sadistic, humiliation, kidnapping.

YANDERE FATUI HARBINGERS X READER

It had been a week since you had escaped and the Fatui Harbingers were already going insane. How could YOU escape from them? Your entire purpose is meant to be with them and obey!

After having all of your loved ones killed, tortured, kidnapped you couldn't be with them anymore.

SOMEHOW you found a key to unlock the chain on your ankle, Arlecchino had forgotten it due to an emergency at the house of the hearth.

It was probably the biggest news on Teyvat that you had escaped. Your "bounty" (I think that's what it's called) was 10 million mora.

Gosh...and obviously, you couldn't go outside because of the people looking for you. Who wouldn't want to be get such a large amount of mora AND be noticed by the Fatui Harbingers? It's a one in a life time opportunity!

However, after being tortured for so long, it seemed like you were a new person. A complete new person from when they had kidnapped you. You became sadistic, you had a weird kind of PLEASURE in seeing others in pain, distress, humiliation. While you did think it was weird at first, you kept seeing Dottore (when you were still kidnapped and in their grasp, the Fatui Harbingers would always take you with them because you weren't allowed to be alone) in the lab TORTURING and HUMILIATING his test subjects. So, you learned that it wasn't THAT weird. We all have our weird fetishes, RIGHT?

To make the Fatui Harbingers more in distress, to torture them, you decided to MOCK them and humiliate them even more.

When you were with the Fatui Harbingers, Pantalone gave you his money (because he's rich) to spend. He wanted to spend money on his darling, to spoil them, in an attempt to gain their trust. That NEVER worked.

So you had leftover mora to buy food, clothes in an attempt to disguise yourself, and lastly, hire a person who can deliver letters for you.

You were staying in an old cabin in the snowy woods of Shneznaya.

The first letter sent was for the house of the hearth. Reminding them how EVIL their "Father" was, and that they shouldn't trust her.

The second letter was for Tartaglia's siblings, Tuecer, Tonia and Anthon. Telling them how "Evil" Ajax was, their brother, rather known as Tartaglia, the Eleventh Ranked Fatui Harbinger.

The third letter was for Scaramouche, mocking him of how utterly pathetic he was. Telling him that it was so embarassing to hear that the Electro Archon, his own mother abandoned him. Absolutely humiliating the shit out of him.

More and more letters came, you knew how stressed and humiliated they were. How hurt they were.

Arlecchino found out about the letter that you sent and she was FURIOUS. How could you possibly try and get the House Of The Hearth to go against her? Their own Father!

As for Tartaglia, he was not pleased to hear about this letter.

You found a weird sense of joy in their humiliation, pain and hurting their feelings.

But little did you know that all the pain would come back to YOU...

(ill continue this soon)

[tackletofset]

If I had to choose one word to describe "Dark Heir," it would be 'OTHERWORLDLY.'

[There will be NO SPOILERS in this Review, only vague hints]

“Critiquing the idea of a classic hero and a reclaiming of the queer villain”

These words are written under the blurb of the very ARC. Sadly, most people are still missing the point.

Dark Rise is my true love in the form of a book series. 

As a queer person who grew up sympathizing with villains (who are often queer-coded), this book series undoubtedly serves as a great form of escapism. I feel seen and understood. I found a home here.

Reading Dark Heir was a surreal experience, almost like a sudden storm hitting me all at once. It was like being pulled into a whirlwind. It is everything I could ever wish for!!!

I devoured this book in just TWO DAYS, which is unexpected given my typically SLOW reading pace. It's worth noting that Dark Heir is considerably longer than Dark Rise (with Dark Rise comprising 34 chapters and Dark Heir containing 51). It is also fueled by my eagerness to continue the story after a two-year wait, particularly following that cliffhanger!

Will has always been my favourite character since "Dark Rise," and this sequel only amplifies it. I perceive his struggles with the truth of his identity, as a metaphor for internalized queerphobia. Many queer youth, including myself, have been told that our queerness is evil and abhorrent, leading us to hide and deny our true selves in the pursuit of acceptance from others. Will's yearning for his friends' acceptance, especially from Violet, his best friend.

Many of us would be delighted to see that James has POV chapters in this book! It's great to see his perspective on not only his feelings about Will or Sarcean but also about his family history.

I'm equally excited about introducing the new character, Visander, and I'm thrilled that he can be interpreted as trans. Knowing that CS Pacat identifies as genderqueer/non-binary, I would like to see him writing more trans-coded characters. Visander is a character who fascinates me, as there are times when he can be both lovable and yet totally frustrates me.

Praise Pacat (again), who has been so generous to give us the “Surprise POVs” which made me scream and jump up and down at 2 a.m.

I seriously love the parts where we got to explore more of the Old World. The twists within them are both surprising and, in a way, expected. I've always held the belief that history was written by the victors, and as a result, the truth about the Dark King and the Betrayer was also lost in time. It was also very gratifying to see that the characters that were once hailed as the paragons of virtue were not so saint-like after all.

I hate classic heroes. I despise them and I won't even try to hide it.

Doubtlessly, the Old World chapters are my favourites. And I yearn to have even more of them in Book 3 because I want to know more details about how Sarcean came to power- and his downfall, and the full truth about his relationship with Anharion! I wouldn't mind the book stretching to 60+ chapters to accommodate it.

Pacat has indeed delivered on his promises to infuse this sequel with even more "on-page gay" content, so readers need not fret about the shortage of romance. They are plentiful, to say the least.

Now, returning to my initial point:

!!!Dark Rise is not a story about escaping an abusive male partner!!!

While numerous stories tackle this theme, and it is worth telling, this is not one of them.

This is a story about queer people reclaiming their identities. It speaks to those who have been vilified, demonized, alienated, and even disowned from a young age by the very individuals who should have shielded them—their parents and guardians.

They are continuously taught that their queerness is immoral, abhorrent, and despicable, leading them to believe they must conceal and deny their true selves, often feeling as though they are harbingers of evil and thus destined for condemnation. It sheds light on how queer youths grapple with internalized queerphobia due to an environment that refuses to accept them for who they are.

The accusations hurled at the "villainous figures" within this story mirror the stigma that the bigoted society frequently directs at queer individuals: that we’re lewd, vulgar degenerates, disease-spreaders and a danger to children. 

Dark Rise and Dark Heir underscores our society’s twisted morality that the only available paths for queer individuals are either to deny their queerness or face the gravest consequences. In other words: be converted or unalived.

For those of us who have been demonized and alienated by the people who were supposed to protect us—we are not evil. We do not deserve the abuse directed at us, and it is not our fault. There is nothing wrong with us. We deserve happiness, love, safety, and acceptance.

We should all be unapologetic and unafraid of our true selves, like James.

And oH MY GOD. THAT ENDING!!! You think the prologue was crazy??? You wouldn’t LIVE to see that ending.

I have fantasized about *that* final line before, but I thought it was cheesy and that it might be something more like Prince Gambit's "The King! Damianos! He lives!" but it was not like that at all 🤣🤣🤣

It's my dream cheesy line 💜💜💜

[lightbluedevil]

Spoilers for Arlecchinos story quest!!

Just wanted to share some of my thoughts

Prepeare I have a lot of thoughts

So we get to hang out with Arlecchinos dead girlfriends (Clervie) six year old spirit so that we can set her free

Clervies nickname for her was ”Perrie”, I can’t with this doomed yuri 😭😭

”Friend” you mean girlfriend??

I loved how Arlecchino and Childe just casually trash talked about the other harbingers

She is very good at leading the conversation where she wants it to go, although she doesn’t lie, she just leaves information out and twists words but never straight up lies

She is not from Fontaine, like not born there, but I suspected that already, she might very well be from outside of Teyvat, I have to read her character story to learn more about her

Neuvillette let her kill evil men, she deserves that right

Arlecchino suppressing your emotions is not the way to go, but I have been thinking if her emotions are somehow tied to her curse and powers, especially anger and sorrow

Her battle was scary aaaa, but she looked so cool, the name ”Cinder of two worlds’ flames” also could mean that she is from outside of Teyvat? Maybe, idk

And whats with the crimson moon??? And I’m just wondering about the X in her eyes, usually it means that someone is dead but she isn’t sooo?

She doesn’t like to wear dresses, I have to analyze more about her being really lesbian coded lmao

She wants people to have false beliefs of her, so that people will think she is worse than she actually is, not sure why yet, she is pretty powerfull so she doesn’t need people to be afraid of her. Maybe if people think she doesn’t care so much about her children it can’t be used against her.

She is proud of Lyney 😭😭😭😭

She doesn’t want the children feeling like they own to her for rescuing them, she wants them to choose to stay. She feels really strongly about family, not related by blood but by choise. Found family really.

And she told us what Clervie said to her; "For the last sixteen years of my life, I've done everything I can to fight for freedom. But now, I realize that the only freedom I truly possess is the freedom to choose to die."

So Arlecchino did kill her but out of her request

Ok great just lovely

[genshin-side-piece]

Yandere Pierro

I want to talk about this one, because he is equal parts intriguing and terrifying as a Yandere

Warnings: NSFW, 18+, MDNI, implied kidnapping, implied imprisonment, implied drugging, dub con, power imbalance, mind control, my bad writing and silly ideas, anything else I may have missed

This man had to watch his entire society fall to ruin. Even if he never had a family, there were still people he knew and loved that perished. You can’t tell me that he wouldn’t cling to what little happiness he can find in this world. I get a hunch he would be fiercely protective of his darling. Like, I’m talking Diluc level protective, if not higher. 

Pierro doesn’t strike me as the paranoid type, but he would be 100% down for keeping the evils of the world away from his precious one. Your safety is paramount to him. That’s why he trusts no one but himself to look after you. 

He keeps you nearby. The space is sequestered deep within Zapolyarny and is set up so that it can be monitored 24/7. Since the possibilities are there, it has its own independent water and ventilation system in the event that something happens to the palace. It’s even climatized for comfort. The Snezhnayan weather is infamous when it comes to the cold. Pierro doesn’t like the idea that you should be burdened with heavier clothes just to keep warm.  Not when you look so nice in thin silks or nothing at all. Why shouldn’t he make sure you can be like that all the time? It’s beneficial for both of you if you are.

(As a side note, I want to believe that over the years, Pierro has found a way to surround himself with his favorite creature comforts. I would love to get to him and everything related to him is reflective of where he comes from. Assuming he’s Khaenri'ahian, it would be cool to find that his corner of the world is a recreation or reproduction of Khaenri'ah in some way.)

He justifies the space’s existence as a safe room should he need it. Nevermind that everyone involved in building it or working on it, outside of any harbingers, were eliminated and its location in the palace is generally unknown. 

Your earthly possessions are limited and highly controlled. He refuses to entertain the possibility that you would injure yourself. So he makes sure you can’t. 

Pierro uses synthetic humans as guards and servants to tend to you when he’s not there. They operate on a specific protocol under the guise of keeping you safe. Interactions are limited to polite greetings and assurances that your lord harbinger carries the deepest affection for you. Why else would he go to such great lengths to protect you? 

Listening devices, and a crude form of video surveillance that Dottore and Sandrone developed thanks to the tech from the Ruin Golems are employed as additional security. Pierro has a small console to access the feeds. It generally stays locked up, but he does check it a few times a day, just to ensure everything is okay.

Any changes in your behavior are automatically reported and investigated. There would be zero chance of getting away from him. Even death wouldn’t be an option. Among his many projects, Pierro is actively looking for or already has a way to extend your life beyond its normal span. If he is doomed to walk Teyvat forever, then he will keep you by his side. He refuses to lose you as he has everyone else.

Your entire existence is buried under the highest security clearance the Fatui have. Only Dottore is given access to the project, but it’s limited. His knowledge of it extends to the fact that a special segment of him was specifically built for medical purposes only. It generally stays powered down and is wiped after every interaction. Any required records are securely locked away from prying eyes.

Compliance to his wishes is expected, but not assured. Nothing would give him greater pleasure than for you to return his affection. He longs to see love for him in your eyes, but he understands certain things may take time. As such he is firm, but gentle with you, especially in the beginning. You are irreplaceable in his eyes. When he touches you, it is with the greatest of care.

He’s a government official. He’s not unfamiliar with the concept of capturing and confining people. Pierro would be all too aware that there will be an adjustment period when it comes to your new reality. If anyone understands your loss, it’s him. How could he not when he's the source of it?

He carries no guilt for what he's done to you. The world is simply too dangerous for you. Your freedom had to be taken. Your choices had to be eliminated. He tried to bring you to him willingly, but you are a stubborn one, aren't you?

Your anger at him is understandable. He’s been there. He stood in the ashes of an old life once. He felt the undeniable grief that came from such a terrible loss. His ambition to change the world was born from that grief. While he doubts your adjustment will be that profound, he knows that you will adjust. Your grief for your past life will fade and like him, you will eventually move forward with your new one. Should you refuse to adjust and opt to wallow in your anger for too long though, he has ways of making you more pliant. 

The Fatui have the possibility of mind control devices. They have two experts in it. There’s bound to be some sort of technology he can use. Barring that, mild sedatives keep you calm, while aphrodisiacs will have you on your knees with need. It’s all a lie, but it’s easy to set his pride aside when you’re begging for his touch. You can’t hate him when you’ve been fucked stupid, so it’s his pleasure to have you like that as often as possible. You’ll let him hold you then, mewling while his seed lewdly drips out of you and onto the floor. Perhaps he can encourage you to move on if you become addicted to his c*ck and how it can make you feel.  Perhaps he can make you love him if you're needy enough.

If not, he has the ultimate trump card. He has the supposed Goddess of Love on his side. It would be nothing for the Tsaritsa to defy your will and give Pierro that which he desires most. She likes to keep her most loyal servant happy. Your eternal love is a fitting reward if it means he will continue to fulfill his promise of peace to her. She can change your anger to love in the blink of an eye. She can make you so utterly devoted to him that he’ll wonder how he ever lived without you. 

Meanwhile, you’ll be none the wiser. You’ll accept this is how it’s always been, just like you accept the sun will rise in the east. You’ll smile for him when he confines you. You’ll love him when he’s cruel to you. You’ll submit to his whims and desires when commands you too. Because in the end, you’re forever his. Just like he’s always wanted.

[ranbowkng]

Can You Really Love A Wench? (When All Else Fail)

Summary: John knew she was evil. He knew she tried to kill him without a second thought seconds earlier. And yet, he couldn't help but feel sorry for her, a connection to the heartache. And perhaps, a new sense of longing. (Rarepair so rare I'm probably the only one who believes it's possible. TW mentions of SA)

It's over, the fight against what was left of that woman. The demon she had inflicted herself with was gone. Only her body remained. This was a fight John could successfully say he has won.

And yet, he couldn't help but feel... something for the headless body of the woman below him. No friends, no family, no obituary, the poor girl had likely died before the demon had taken over her body. She didn't even get to keep her dignity by dying with a shirt on. The poor creature.

His instincts told him to run, to get out while he was still in one piece. He'd already saved Lisa, and defeated the demon inside this woman. Not to mention this was the very woman who had betrayed Lisa's trust and nearly got her killed, what more could this world possibly offer her? And yet, he still saw something... something in the woman. It wasn't much, but it was something.

At the very least, he couldn't let her body be found shirtless. Knowing the creeps and monsters that lurked around Lisa's apartment, Lord only knows what would happen to her body as he left it.

"Sorry, I don't have anything else," John said, removing his clerical collar to take off his shirt, wrapping it around the woman's body. He gingerly buttoned the shirt closed, allowing her to at least die with her modesty, "I hope it's alright...it looks good on you."

He got no response. Of course he didn't. How was a corpse to respond? A corpse that was a part of a cult. A corpse who nearly killed his friend. A corpse who nearly killed him. This corpse was a harbinger of evil, the more he stuck around, the more it tried to suck the soul out of him. A corpse of violent intent.

John sighed, lifting the body and leaning it against the wall. A corpse who didn't know any better. He took her hands and folded them, leading her in prayer, "Father forgive her, for she did not have a choice. She was being used and hurt without realizing it. Grant her a life in heaven and forgive her trespasses. I'm sorry I couldn't save her."

He squeezed her hand, prepared to let this be her last goodbye. At least he was, until the headless corpse loudly gasped to life. John fell backwards, pushing himself back as the corpse desperately reached out in front of her, panting in desperation.

"Gary! Gary my love, is that you?" He didn't know how she was speaking, but her voice loomed, still distorted and scratchy, "It's so dark... it's dark and it's quiet! Please my love, tell me you're there!" Her corpse was reaching in every direction, trying desperately to find someone. John knew it was stupid to not have gotten up to run away then and there, but he didn't. He watched her for a few seconds before standing, taking her hand, "Gary?"

"No, I'm sorry, it's just me," John said, gentle with his touch, prepared to exorcise her again if need be.

"Oh, I recognize your voice priest," she said, her grip on him loosening as she realized Gary had not come back for her, "Come to gloat at my defeat?"

"No! Not at all!" John said, "I just...I didn't want to leave your body exposed."

"And why not?" Tiffany's far away voice huffed.

"I- well...I didn't want someone to see your exposed chest and try to...you know...take advantage of you," John said.

Tiffany let go, had she still had her head, she probably would have looked away as she grabbed the hems of John's shirt, pulling it tighter over herself, "You say that as if it hasn't been happening the entire time. Like I haven't had to just deal with it ever since I moved into this godforsaken place."

"I...well...I don't know...but you don't deserve that," John said, letting her take back her space.

The two sat in silence. A priest who saved what should be dead, and the dead who had no desire to be saved. John stepped backwards while she curled her knees in, tapping against the skin of her leg.

"You still there?" She asked.

"I'll be here until you tell me to go away," John said, looking down at her sorrowfully.

"Okay...okay..." He voice was devoid of emotion, yet it wasn't cold. More so, melancholic, "At least you can pretend to be useful for something."

Normally John would have at least made a comment on this, but it would probably be counter productive considering the poor girl's position. He watched her as she bounced her leg, then began tapping at random around her. First her leg, then the wall, then the ground, seeming fixated on anything that made noise. John watched and began tapping his foot slightly. Not to drown out her own tapping, but just loud enough that she could tell he was still there.

"You know, it's almost funny," she said, "The first time Gary caught it happening to me, he shut it down, saying not to ruin such a beautiful face. I was certain it was because he loved me, but I think it was just because he thought I was a child. When it came to the Martin girl, sure he'd hold her around the waist and touch her shoulders occasionally, but never ever would he lay a hand on her where he shouldn't, and nor would he allow anyone else."

"That's... that's horrible," John said.

"That's life," Tiffany shrugged, but without an expression she was impossible to read, "When I saw the way she got treated, I think I was jealous. I hoped I could put myself in her position. To be the one treated with fragility and delicacy." She rubbed at the opening in her neck, "Stupid, isn't it?"

"No! No! I don't think it's stupid at all!" Having a habit of hugging people in need of comfort, John approached, but realizing just how horrifying it might be for a newly blind girl telling her story, perhaps that's about the worst thing he could have done, "Ah, sorry, do you mind if I hug you?"

She was still for a moment before tapping at her knee again, "I want my head back."

John blinked, "I'm sorry?"

"I want my head back," she repeated, "It's somewhere in here, likely with the mask still on it. Find it for me, will you?"

"Ah! Right!" John began searching the room for her head while her body sat there, still tapping, making as much noise as possible.

Eventually, he found her head. The ears, filled with her own blood and clearly trying desperately to listen for something, were twitching. He could see where she messed up, halfway across the top of her mask was the outline of the carving of her face, then as she got closer to her mouth the panic must have set it, causing her to drag lower, cutting her head clean off in the process.

"I found it," John said, picking it up by the hair.

"Agh! Careful!" Tiffany yelled, reaching at the empty space above her neck to try and stop him, even though she knew he wasn't there, "I can still feel it you know!"

"Sorry!" John changed his grip, cradling her head in his arms, "Now what?"

Tiffany felt around her skirts, feeling for a pocket. When she finally found it, she pulled out a sewing kit and pushed it towards John, "Put it back on."

John was skeptical. There was no way she could just be okay with this. Yet he did as she commanded, not wanting to leave her with nothing after taking the only thing she had left. He got on his knees in front of her outstretched legs, "Do you mind if I-"

"There's nothing you could do to me that some creep hasn't done against my better judgement," she said.

"Well, I'm not a creep, and I'm not going to do anything to hurt you," John said, "So I'd like your permission before I start doing things you might not want."

Tiffany was silent for a moment, crossing the arms of her body before speaking again, "You may do whatever if necessary to put my head back on. But once it's on I expect you to back off. Got it?"

"Understood," John said, placing her head back at the neck, "I have to warn you, this will probably hurt."

"I don't care," she said, "Get it over with."

John was horrified as he watched the needle go through and bleed the skin, staining the thread crimson as he put her back together, but what was twice as horrifying was the fact that Tiffany hadn't flinched once the entire time. She sat perfectly still, waiting for him to finish. As soon as he tied the string a hundred times over, making sure the stitches would hold, he backed off, standing again.

"Any better?" He asked.

"I still can't see," she said, ripping off the mask. John's stomach lurched at the sight. Her eyes, forehead, and half of her nose and mouth had been replaced with the same voice Amy had, only hers seemed far more empty.

"Dear God, you let him do this to you?" John said.

"I did this to myself," she said, "It was the only way I would get him to love me."

"Tiffany please, he's just a guy," John said, "There are plenty of other men out there."

"Not like him!" She grumbled, "No other man would stop the act while it's happening! They just use you and toss you aside when they're bored! What man would possibly help me in a state such as that?"

"...I would have," John spoke softly.

"Then where were you!?" She yelled before leaning back against the wall.

"...I'm sorry...you didn't deserve it..." He said, his voice dripping with sympathy.

"Well...too late...it did," she said, turning to look away, rubbing her right ear lobe, "And to think...to think I actually loved him...I let him tell me what to do...I..." She didn't have the eyes to cry, but she could still tremble, and she could still hiccup and groan in pain, "I let him use me and now...now I'm useless...just a washed up toy no one wants to play with... unlovable..."

She buried her head in her knees, trembling violently. John moved slowly, making sure his footsteps were heavy enough to hear where he was moving. He sat against the wall next to her, knocking at the brick next to her ear before slowly placing a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"I don't think you're unloveable," John said, "You just, you know, fell for the wrong guy."

"He was the only guy that gave me the time of day," Tiffany said, "Everyone else just wanted my body."

"Well...I'm not everybody else," John said.

Tiffany's shaking slowed, "What are you saying?"

"You're more than just your body Tiffany, and far more than just your heartache," John said, "You know, I used to ask Lisa about you all the time. She always told me all the wonderful things you've done for her. You're more than just an accessory to some guy."

Tiffany was silent before sitting up, turning towards the sound of his voice, "May I touch your face?"

"Excuse me?" John blinked again.

"I can still smell and hear you all the same, but I can't see you, may I feel your face?" She asked.

"Well...I...sure," he stammered, taking her hands and guiding them towards his neck, "But, tell me, what is it that I smell like?"

"Candle wax and cologne mostly," she said, moving her hands to gently caress his face. She felt his cheekbones and lips, under his eyes, behind his ears, anywhere she felt she'd want to feel, "Your face feels different from the way it looked the last time you visited Lisa."

"More tired?" He chuckled, allowing her to feel everything.

"Stronger," she said, "The strength you've gained shows in your skin. I wish I could see it." She slowly lowered her hands before fidgeting with John's shirt, "Still married to that girl I assume?"

"Molly? No," he said, "She left me behind."

"I see," she said. No she didn't, but John knew she'd probably stab him if he said that out loud, "Well...then I suppose it wouldn't be wrong to say that your face also feels more handsome than the last time we met."

John blushed, but he knew she wouldn't see that, "Oh! Uhm...thank you!"

The remaining half of Tiffany's mouth smirked, "Don't mention it." She rubbed his cheeks once again before moving to hold his shoulders, which is when she realized he really had taken off his shirt just to keep her covered, "Unlike me, I wore out my beauty the first time I let them use me."

"What? No not at all!" John argued, moving her hands back onto his cheeks so he could rub the back of her knuckles softly, "Even with only half your face you are still twice as beautiful as most girls."

"Don't flatter me, it's only going to be false," Tiffany huffed.

"Well I am telling the truth," John said, moving his hand to rest below her chin, "You truly are a thing of beauty."

Tiffany tilted her head into the touch, a hint of a blush on what remained of her nose and cheeks, "If you say so."

"I do," John said, gently rubbing her lower lip, or what remained of it, "May I?"

Tiffany shrugged, "Fuck it, give it a shot, you won't like it."

"That's for me to decide," John said. He gently pressed his lips to hers, moving slow and gently. Despite not having as much skin to work with, the kiss sent sparks flying from his heart, and he yearned for more, but he still backed away slowly. He wanted to go at her pace, "You have very soft lips."

"Shut up preacher," she said, the blush on her skin and the way she touched her lips and smiled giving her away.

"Hmm, tell you what," John said, helping her to her feet, allowing her to cling to him like he'd fly away with the wind as soon as she let go, "I'll take you back to my house and get you something to actually wear. From there we can have a proper discussion."

"Yes," Tiffany nodded, "Yes, I think I'd like that."

"Alright, good," John said, "I swear on my life, no one is ever going to hurt you again."

"Don't get all sentimental now priest," she said, loosening her grip tightly, "You might actually make me fall in love."

John smiled, "Then I suppose it's too late for me considering I've already fallen."

Tiffany shook her head, "Not too late." She clung onto his arm tighter, "I'll catch you."

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group D Round 4: The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari) vs Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau)

#D7: The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari)

Girl who can play the biwa and see the future. 1180 CE Japan.

#D5: Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau)

Three brothers work together to stop an ancient evil

Details and poll under the cut!

#D7: The Heike Story (Heike Monogatari)

Summary:

The Taira clan, also known as the Heike, holds immense authority over Japan. When a young girl, gifted with an odd eye that allows her to see the future, foolishly disrespects the clan, her father pays the price of her crime with his life. Soon after, as fate would have it, Taira no Shigemori—the eldest son of the clan leader—stumbles upon the same unfortunate girl, who now calls herself "Biwa." Biwa informs him that the downfall of the Heike is imminent. After learning of the great injustice Biwa suffered at the Heike's hands, Shigemori vows to take her in and care for her rather than let her be killed.

In an era of rising military tension, the Heike are in the midst of a cunning struggle for power, and bloodstained war is on the horizon. Shigemori, whose eyes allow him to see spirits of the dead, is both anxious and hopeful to prevent his clan's demise. Biwa, however, is reluctant to reveal the future to him and must adapt to her new life filled with both happiness and sorrow in this pivotal chapter in Japanese history.

Propaganda:

It’s based on historical events, so one can already know the ending before watching it, sort of like the main character Biwa. But seeing those events, getting attached to the characters as they have both fun, simple moments and difficult, painful moments and seeing the humanity in the characters and watching them grow up with the underlying promise that things won’t go well for them, and accepting that… themes of impermanence and grief… but also the art style is unique and bright and the music is great and fits the scenes, and I highly recommend watching this if you haven’t already !! It’s only 11 episodes!

Trigger Warnings: Suicide

#D5: Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau)

Summary:

In the 11th year of the Meiji Era, the end of the samurai shogunate and the prohibition of swords has left Japan with lasting scars. Displeased by these recent changes, many former samurai plot against the new government, inciting a wave of bloodshed. To counter this movement, the government constructs a colossal prison in the middle of Lake Biwa.

Unofficially assigned to help the police arrest criminals, Tenka Kumou also serves as a ferryman to the Lake Biwa prison with the help of his two younger siblings: the ambitious Soramaru and the enthusiastic Chuutarou. Together with the former Fuma ninja Shirasu Kinjou, the Kumou brothers live a frugal and joyful life mostly dedicated to studying and training.

However, behind this relatively uneventful daily routine, the specter of the “Orochi” curse is starting to spread its shadow over the city of Oumi. According to legend, every three hundred years, Orochi reincarnates in a human vessel—and it is believed that this is the harbinger of an imminent catastrophe. As various groups clash in search of Orochi’s vessel, some aim to seal the curse, while others have darker plans in motion.

Propaganda:

I found this series absolutely entrancing when I originally watched it, the portrayal of the characters and themes is really interesting to watch.

It tells a fantastic story about trying to defeat a legendary evil that can corrupt those around it to do its biding, all the while mixing in comedy and really heartfelt moments between family. For a 12 episode series they did a really good job of tying up any loose ends and finishing the plot, some things could have been expanded upon a bit more, but for what it is they producers did a wonderful job.

The series might not be the most groundbreaking anime ever, but it does have some lovely moments and explorations of its characters. I really like the themes of family, and wanting to do anything you can to help the people you love, it’s always nice to see and I think it’s done really well in this anime.

Trigger Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Cruelty/Violence/Gore, Suicide

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form with your revisions, and I’ll consider adapting those changes.

New: Starting round 5, screenshots will be included in the poll post. You can submit screenshots through the form linked above, or through here, via ask or dm.

Guidelines in submitting screenshots:

No NSFW or spoilery images.

Pick some good images please. Don’t send any blurry or pixelated ones.

You may send up to 9 screenshots, but not all may be used.

[riversimmone]

Line in the Sand

Line in the Sand - chapter 1

RiverOfTheSand

Summary:

AU GaaSaku. Because war is coming. Because a king needs a queen. And because no-one warned him his most dangerous opponent would be the one warming his bed.

Notes:

Cross-posted from fanfiction.net. Technically. I'm done waiting for my muse and want to post this here on AO3. Please read the tags and read and kudo and comment. I hope you enjoy. :)

End chapter notes:

Thankyou so much for reading. :)

.

This is a work in progress story you can also find on AO3 and FF.NET.

Enjoy. :)

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Chapter One: Enough is Enough.

-o-

Death was such a final affair. It couldn't be undone, bribed away, or blackmailed to disappear. Fighting it was a delay tactic at best, and denying its existence was detrimental and foolish.

It was also, sometimes, the only thing that made sense.

"The king is dead!"

The voice came from outside the mausoleum, but echoed through the building like a doomsday proclamation.

Death made sense.

Except the fact that sometimes it didn't. Sometimes it made no sense whatsoever. He was struggling to understand how he had come to be standing here, looking at this particular coffin, feeling these… feelings; guilt, regret, hatred, love and sheer terror.

What kind of omnipotent being let murderers, rapists and other sundry evil men live, but took away a broken country's last ray of hope? The sky was already darker than it should be at this time of the day, so what was the point? Why was he here, mourning, when so many others deserved it more?

"The king is dead!"

Yes, he'd died this morning; the blood in his bedchambers had yet to be cleaned and the redhead staring at the coffin in front of him could still smell the stench of it, hours after having found the body.

Sabaku no Gaara lifted his arms, his eyes travelling over the lines of the palms of his hands. It all seemed so arbitrary.

"The king is dead!"

He growled. Would someone shut that person up?

The words that echoed within the walls of the mausoleum (despite coming from outside), haunted him and he wished they would just die too.

He had never felt more confused, more foolish for believing that death itself would not touch these hallowed halls. He should have seen this coming. It was his duty to his king, to his family, and to his country.

The king is dead. He reminded himself.

And yet somehow, those four words were more comfort to him than he'd ever felt.

Gaara was still torn, however. He hadn't hated the fool, though the older man had given him every reason to. They were family… once upon a time.

But the children of the Sabaku clan had been scattered to the wind when their country fell into civil war. Who would claim the throne? Who would kill their own flesh and blood to get on that throne? And who would be forced on bended knee?

Ultimately, the answer had been: no-one.

And so the war raged. For three years; for three years their loyalists fought for and alongside the sibling they wanted to see crowned. People died then too. And then the outsiders invaded, taking advantage of the chaotic state of affairs; more death had come to them, and the estranged children were forced to put their disagreements aside to force the invading harbingers out of their lands.

And they won.

Gaara stood stiffly, glaring down at his brother's coffin.

Why did you have to die, stupid fool?

It was Kankuro that the people had wanted when the dust settled, and for once, the trio siblings had sat down and listened to the voices around them. It was Kankuro's cheeky face that was plastered around the royal home, the royal city, and pretty much the entire kingdom. The people didn't even know him personally, but somehow he had the kinder face of the Sabaku children, and they trusted that dorky smile.

Gaara groaned inwardly.

And the truth was, they weren't wrong. He had his foul moods just like anyone else, but Kankuro had been the better sibling – the nice one. Even in the heat of battle; Temari could scare a battalion with a glare and he… Gaara didn't have to try, he just naturally terrified all.

But who would the people want now? And how long would that person hold the crown before they too, were betrayed?

Even now, other nations were circling the borders like vultures, sensing their weakness. How long would it be before death visited them all again?

For three years, Gaara had fought his siblings, thinking he wanted to rule. He might not have been the first born, like Temari, or as well-liked as Kankuro, but there was no denying his power. If he wasn't meant to defend their people with that power, then why had he been born with it?

The gods were laughing at him, he was sure of it; give an ant the ability to conquer every ant hill, but deny him the spoils.

"Gaara!"

Temari's voice broke through his thoughts and the redhead looked up to see her striding into the mausoleum, flanked by two guards. She waved at them and they halted, letting her approach Gaara alone. She looked determined.

"The people are going to riot," she said. "Advisor Yura believes we cannot sit on this; the people will want retribution."

Gaara stared back at Kankuro's coffin. This was not how he had intended to celebrate his twenty-first birthday. It seemed so long ago now, that Kankuro had been slapping him on the back and questioning his sexual orientation, given that Gaara hadn't wed any of the noble ladies yet. He was the only sibling without a significant partner.

I have standards. His monotone reply had been met with a laugh and a giggling confession of his brother's own sex life.

Kankuro's widow crept into his head, and Gaara sighed. He felt sorry for her, mostly. She was too kind hearted a person to do what needed to be done next.

Gaara himself didn't want a kind woman. For most of his life, he hadn't wanted a woman at all (he liked them, but only when they didn't talk). He was twenty-one now, and had never held down any kind of relationship. He'd rarely partaken in sex and still had little idea what he was doing – which only added to his desire to avoid sexual situations. He found it too hard to let everything go and open himself up in front of anyone without the pressure of pleasing another person, let alone himself.

He was too easily impressed by feminine curves to trust himself in the sight of them.

It was a free life, but also a lonely one.

"We have to get out there." Temari stepped up next to him. "We have to tell the people that this treachery will not go unanswered."

The warm hand on his shoulder reminded him yet again that he wasn't as alone as he felt.

Finally, he'd been on good terms with his brother, and now this?

He couldn't stand it.

The pain was going to tear him up from the inside and he didn't know how to stop it.

"Gaara?" His sister's voice was soft, almost cautious.

He shook his head slightly. "How could he?"

Temari frowned. Was he asking how Kankuro could die, or die and leave them behind? She sighed.

"He loved you. Even when you were at each other's throats – even when we were all trying to kill each other. Kankuro… never stopped hoping we would all come back here someday. He loved you most of all."

It still didn't make any sense to him.

He didn't get it.

Making his decision, Gaara squared his shoulders and turned to face the guards who had been dutifully waiting for them to finish their conversation. He stared into their faces and they stared back. Loyalty in this country meant equal footing – even a servant deserved to be treated with respect.

He nodded to them. "Tell the advisor to gather the people. It's time to make a stand."

A wide grin spread over the faces of the guards and they rushed to obey his command.

Temari clasped her brother's hand, feeling the same desire for revenge rush through her. Gaara squeezed her hand back, though he didn't feel as confident as he'd sounded. But he was determined: he would not let anyone take advantage of his people again.

-o-

On the other side of Sunagakure, green eyes raked over the city hungrily, taking in every detail.

Silk curtains wafted over her face, falling against her body gently, highlighting the contours of her petite body; she loved the feel of it, but more than anything, she enjoyed the cool breeze drifting in – a sign that even balmy summers in this city could be gentle on the wind. She was taking a moment to admire the beauty of the foreign city beneath her before letting the reality of her situation sink in. Sunagakure. Her new home. It had seen better days – at the height of its power years ago, it had stood as a beacon to distant travellers – but even now it still retained a regal air about it.

It was… entrancing.

Sakura Haruno was the heiress to the last of the nomadic tribes that had come to Sunagakure to parlay with king and request permanent residence, only to hear the news of the man's untimely death. They were a proud people, brave warriors and healers, but they were dying. Country borders were closing in light of the new political tensions, and it was becoming impossible to safely traverse the old travelling roads they loved so much – in just this last month alone they'd lost fifteen people in their caravan to brigands and foreign soldiers mistaking them for spies.

This couldn't continue.

Most people thought they were just gypsy nobles who were hardy and interesting enough street entertainers when they were short on money, but the truth was that they were the descendants of the Kiraaku – a Yakuza-like clan that had once been infamous for manipulating their way into powerful families. They'd literally fucked, manipulated, and murdered their way into the noble court.

But things changed when Sakura's great-great grandfather gathered what was left of their clan (after an assassin killed their patriarch) and turned them into nomads. Slowly, the legend of the Kiraaku died down, and very few knew of their bloody past. Their history was dead. And yet they themselves, survived.

Sakura turned away from the balcony and looked at her sleeping father; she had come to his chambers, hoping he was awake, but now hesitated to disturb him. He was dying, and there was nothing she could do about it. A sickness picked up from a neighbouring country had infested his body and now he had very little time left. Kizashi was all she had left of her mother – the woman who'd been kidnapped, raped and murdered by brigands before Sakura was even old enough to talk. Mebuki had been a beautiful woman, and it was her exotic looks that the pinkette had inherited.

But enough was enough.

They needed to find a new home if they were going to prevent these things from happening again. And her father had a plan to make that happen.

In this country, the daughters of the smaller tribes were highly valued in buying and selling for marriages with nobles because of their exotic looks and rumoured, unique skills. It was a fetish that made her uncomfortable, but what kind of Kiraaku descendant would she be if she didn't take advantage of it?

"Sakura?"

Her father stirred, reaching out for her as she ran to his side.

"Daddy?"

"I knew it was you."

His sight was failing, along with his internal organs. Even she, with all her medical prowess, couldn't save him, and she hated herself.

"Don't cry."

Her tears trickled down his arm as she kissed the back of his hand.

"I can't help it, daddy."

"You can't cry yet."

She nodded. "I know."

"Yuri can lead our clan now, but you need to do something else for them."

"I don't know…"

"Do this, please? For me?"

Sakura tightened her hold on his hand. "I will, daddy."

She had no problem with seducing the richest noble she could catch the eye of. They were all rolling in dough. If they fell for her charms, it was their own fault. But her father had higher dreams and, upon news that the king had died, had expressed his desire for her to aim much higher.

The youngest Sabaku…

He had more wealth than your average noble, and the power he wielded in battle was too much of a temptation; she may not agree with the way her ancestors had hurt people, but the blood of the Kiraaku ran through her and she couldn't deny she really wanted to see this living legend in the flesh. His people mostly feared his power – though they revered it too – but if the rumours were true, he was headed for that ivory throne.

Even if she failed with him, there had to be someone in that court that would find her attractive.

Sakura kissed her father's forehead as his eyes closed and his breathing evened out again, indicating he was asleep.

She would marry into wealth and restore her clan's honour by taking that crown (or similar) by whatever means she felt necessary. But first, she needed to play the marriageable woman. She needed to show off her exotic looks, her unique skills, and charm the pants off that man.

-o-

[dandelion-wings]

Dendro Delusion AU. spill.

Ahahaha that's a small (but important! for the porn!) part of a larger AU that @theabysscomeshome and I first came up with... years ago when Inazuma first came out, which I mention mostly because some of the lore/worldbuilding premises have been jossed and we have not updated them. XD;; (In particular I actually wrote fragments of the initial Jean-Diluc-Kaeya meeting that are now thoroughly upturned re: both the Abyss and hilichurl biology, and I'm sad about both.) @theabysscomeshome describes it occasionally as a "sexy evil mirrorverse au," and it is, but I also think of it as a double role-swap AU: Jean and Childe, and Venti and the Tsaritsa.

See, the aforementioned Jean-Diluc-Kaeya meeting happens when Jean and Diluc end up in the Abyss (initially they fell in by accident, we've since revised it to "they plunged in to rescue Barbara from something" and thus Barbara ends up there too), and meet a Kaeya whose father was taking him to Mondstadt via the Abyss and fell afoul of monsters before they could get there. Diluc's Vision, in this premise, protects him from the corrupting effects of the Abyss, but Kaeya (due to the Abyss effects + the curse) is at this point at least 10%, maybe 20% a little samachurl, and Jean ends up Childeified! (Barbara to some extent too, in the revision.) Kaeya leads them to an exit from the Abyss and gets them out, but they are all Forever Changed to greater or lesser extents.

And the Venti-Tsaritsa end occurs because Venti, in this AU, does not get any of his canonical naps. This is very bad for him and essentially sends him off the deep end and leaves him conceiving some very bad and sleep-deprived plans to storm Celestia. So when he shows up in Mondstadt with those plans in hand and finds 16-ish-year-old Jean Gunnhildr working on body disposal because she, Diluc, and Kaeya just finished ~interrogating~ Eroch for Suspicious Behavior (IDK who he's spying for in this universe. It might still be the Tsaritsa and her subordinates, who've we've kind of put into a role as Venti's main opposition, but left vague because we Know Nothing about her yet), he looks at this Gunnhildr who is a lot more willing to do violent murders than he's accustomed to and is like. Perfect. He's just found his foremost assistant :> and the other two look great, too, he'll keep them also. A wonderful start to what turns into an off-the-rails aggressively martial theocracy.

Anyway this includes Delusion development and research (there's a whole side-thing where Crepus is put in charge of that because he's totally willing to use his family funds for that in exchange for acknowledgement from Barbatos Himself, then dies while personally testing an early model--possibly because he has a useful subordinate named Zendik--and it's not the only reason Diluc eventually ragequits but it's a major factor), and Venti ends up with Harbingers but not Fatui because "Jean Gunnhildr, 1st Harbinger of the Knights of Favonius" sounds badass and rolls nicely off the tongue. The "sexy evil mirrorverse" part comes in because between the Abyss influences we imagined and the Delusion-caused mental influences we imagined, almost everyone's moral compass has been turned roughly upside down. There is a lot of torture, war crimes, summary execution, etc. going on here. Lisa's vines are useful for restraining Jean at Jean's request both in and out of the bedroom (sometimes Jean is overwhelmed by the urge to kill when she rationally knows she needs to not be killing), but they are also useful for holding one of Kaeya's interrogation subjects still while he flays them alive. :> They're besties engaging in fun friendship activities together~!

A few people have not had their moral compasses turned upside down here, which provides some extra fun. I love writing Fredrica so she is present and ends up gathering up other Knights who have had issues with all of this and allying with Diluc and Lumine in our imagined endgame as they take Jean and Venti down. (A lot of Diluc's motivation in teaming up with Lumine in the first place is that he wants an ally strong enough to face them but who is willing to let Jean and Kaeya live, which is hard to find in a Teyvat that has suffered a lot from the KoF trampling both national and ethical boundaries all over the place in pursuit of Venti's goals.*) Klee is still as innocent as ever, she's just encouraged to set off her bombs in places that canon Jean would have a heart attack about. Amber is Kaeya's best spy and secret agent because she's just so fucking cheerful and sincere. A nice little bit of juxtaposition for what is mostly Knights of Favonius: War Crimes Edition.

*Except for Watatsumi, which got full, non-just-for-our-own-goals support from militarized Mondstadt for their rebellion and thus did not just get a peace treaty but full-out won their war in this universe. Jean successfully killing Ei (and uuuuh Yae Miko and Kujou Sara in the process. rip) did not hurt.

And, yeah, Jean and Lisa and Kaeya have so, so much extremely kinky and often deeply problematic sex. :>

[madraleen]

the more i think of scaramouche/the wanderer, the richer it all becomes, like-

spoilers for inversion of genesis quest (this got long)

you have scaramouche: he has lived 400+ years fanning his hatred, anger and hurt towards a world that betrayed him, all based on a lie. he goes full evil, dottore unlocks his powers, maybe the tsaritsa grants him more since we know the harbingers all have god-like powers, and then he wields the powers of actual gods, nearly becomes a god, and loses, loses his allies (if you can call them that), most of his powers, and most importantly his purpose. as a glorified captive to a very kind and compassionate god, he discovers that his entire life was based on a lie, his first found family never betrayed him but actually tried to protect him, and the person that ~gave him everything was actually the person that orchestrated everything and built that lie. the thing that scarred scaramouche and that has shaped his life for 400+ years, driving him, never happened. it all comes crumbling down, and scaramouche, evil bratty scaramouche, commits a final act of sacrifice and good will, a shot at redemption, an arguably heroic way to go: he yeets himself in the tree to erase his very existence, so that the people that died because of him would live on.

you have the wanderer: scaramouche if he had never associated with the fatui. he seems to have lived 400+ years as a harmless, completely powerless wanderer. he is kind, soft-spoken, helpful. empty as his previous counterpart, but without taking it out on the world, because (seemingly) the world never turned against him - if anything, the world’s been kind (see- the merchant, see- how he immediately trusts us. he seems to have no reason not to, therefore he’s not on his guard). he wants to see what scaramouche did that ended up with the wanderer, because it’s not him and yet it is him, more intimately than in a usual reincarnation cycle. he wants to face it, he wants to live it, and then he wants his memories back. he wants to assume responsibility. he won’t run away. he won’t pretend it was someone else. he won’t turn away from the full impact of his life. he will go on, symbolically and literally accepting himself, carrying the burden.

and then you have wanderscara: he has lived 400+ years both as an evil brat who IS sassy, and IS mean, and DOES have a bleak view of the world, but ALSO has lived an average human life wherein he had GOOD interactions with humans. he KNOWS he’s never been betrayed, and he both has and hasn’t lived with that feeling of false betrayal for 400+ years. nahida didn’t restore him to a previous version, he gave the wanderer scaramouche’s memories. from god-like AND powerless, he’s now an average vision holder (average as in, he’s not unique, not re: his gameplay). he has given himself over to judgment twice, and now a third time (”if the gokaden descendants want to stab me, let them, maybe that’s what i deserve” or whatever it is that he says). all THREE incarnations of him reach the same conclusion- sacrifice, and moving on while choosing a better path. and he’s still missing a heart, but as nahida says, he understands -even if he’s not ready to accept it- that a physical heart doesn’t make him human, his emotions do, and he’s fully human. he’s already whole. (plus we protect him from his god-self and he protects us, and that’s a rite of passage for our allies, lol.) he is still a brat, he is still a menace, because that’s who he is. but he also knows the full picture, and can make informed choices, and can see, firsthand, that neither all people nor all gods will try to dupe him, use him, experiment on him. some people, some gods, will see him as a person, and as a genuine ally. and that can soften a person.

idk, i find it all very fascinating. also he’s damn lucky it’s US, who are compassionate and kind and have helped the fatui time and time again, heh.

[cakerollk]

Gozu lore jumpscare

i think I shall post gozu lore here under readmore!! one day I’ll get over my irrational fear of talking too much on twitter and do more oc stuff but for now.... GOZU LORE

tho pls be mindful of the trigger warnings!! They’re all just briefly mentioned but still!! 

TW: religious cult, cult brainwashing, self flagellation, forceful removal of teeth, animal death, consumption of animal corpse, child marriage, arson, large scale masacare. 

(temporary placeholder image bc my ass can never finish anything) 

Formerly of Liyue, Gozu is an independent agent who contracts her particular set of talents out to those who can pay for them; or ones that take her interest. It all has an endgame objective-finding her younger sibling who went missing several years ago when she was aboard.

The only lead she has is he could have been taken by the Fatui into the Haeresys, so if it means accepting the Harbingers’ coin; then so be it.

---

Gozu was born and raised in a cult that preaches of false gods, using their own bloodline as ‘offerings’ to appease these gods. Since birth she was subjected to brainwash into believing all gods outside their own are malicious and evil, the scaremongering propaganda has been passed down throughout the generation.

All members undergo rigorous training to become the perfect vessel for their God to possess, inhabiting their body as a vessel. They ingest small amount of poisons to build up immunity, fast to the point of near starvation while doing vigorous physical training, partake in self flagellation as a way of keeping one free of human vice.

All children of the temple are required to partake in a coming of age ceremony in which they are tasked to kill an Adepti beast and consume its flesh to ‘absorb Adeptus energy’. Prior to setting out on their journey, the candidates have their canine teeth removed and dressed in nothing but a white robe, armed only with a ceremonial knife.

Those who failed (‘killed’) the trial have a mock funeral held for them back at the temple. Members  outside the core circle are told that the candidates have tragically been mauled to death by the Adepti that they sought to slay, nothing of their corpse left. It’s this propaganda that continues to embed fear of higher beings into cult members into absolute obedience.

But in reality these failed candidates have only passed out from starvation from being left to fend for themselves in the wild, told not to return until they’ve killed an Adepti. They are found by trusted members of the cult and then sold to the Fatui. The cult itself gets their funds mainly from trafficking women and children of their temple, only recently that they’ve come to work with the Fatui in creating false Sigil of Permission (The one Childe has and gives to the Traveller in the game is a finished product).

Gozu’s mother had attempted to leave the cult with her and her then unborn brother, the attempt was later discovered by the cult leader and the mother was subsequently locked in solitary confinement. Gozu was told her mother had passed shortly after the birth of her brother, but in truth she too was sold off to the Fatui.

As Gozu gets older, her rebellious streak too increased, having gotten it from her mother. She hasn’t quite broken the illusion of her cult family yet, but her gut instincts told her something isn’t right. Her disobedience resulted in numerous punishments throughout the years.

At 16, the leader deemed her unfit to stay at the temple any longer and put her in an ‘arranged marriage’ to an acquaintance of his; Chang Ge was her to-be fiance, but she knew better than to believe she would be shipped off to live as a married woman, considering she knew Chang Ge’s profession is an inventor who oversees a brothel full of marionette prostitutes.

She was able to slip pass a sedated Change Ge and escape the house of horror. It took her weeks to find her way back to the temple, but she was merely hours too late and her brother had already been taken away. All 54 members of the cult were massacred and the temple burned after all was done. As no one was able to give her answers as to where her brother’s whereabouts was, Gozu sealed their souls into the family heirloom whip.

The patrolling Milithe of Liyue harbour were alerted of the incident by the sheer magnitude of the fire coming from the mountain, by the time they arrived to the burning temple, Gozu was gone and none of the soldiers could figure out where all the bodies had gone to.

---

Gozu’s Vision is Hydro, which she had received during the night of the temple burning. While most Hydro users’ elemental colour is blue, Gozu’s is a deep red due to her passively using it to mask her scent of rot and decay, essentially dying the blue with blood red. She embedded her bull whip with Hydro, and as a result she can greatly control the new additional length.

Her whip is a family heirloom that’s been passed down through the generations, and it’s mainly used for ceremonial self flagellation. After Gozu has successfully entrapped all 54 souls of the cult members into the whip, she is vulnerable to its cursed property, and is constantly at a risk of possession.

It’s why Gozu has to constantly run her Vision passively to soothe it, it’s not to say she hasn’t been possessed by the whip in the past, especially during her early years post-temple burning. Anyone who comes into contact with the whip is also at risk of getting possessed, hence why Gozu keeps it on her at all times.

As the whip is sentient, Gozu always hears eerie whispers and pained cries of the trapped souls. She’s long learned to tune them out, only keeping tabs on voices that are telling her useful information e.g someone is approaching from behind, the thing she’s seeking is near, frantic whispering amongst the souls of a person she meets emitting dangerous vibes etc.

Other than her whip, Gozu is equipped with numerous knives strapped on her body, all of which are made from the bones of slain Adepti beasts. They do not grow dull, and they will always find their way back to her. This is made so by Gozu having performed self-surgery to sew pieces of the Adepti bones onto her rib bones.

Other stuff: 

-She has teeth indentures, purposefully made sharper than the average human canines. They’re made from molten Mora.

-To present day she still doses herself with a controlled amount of poison, ergo continuing to build her immunity towards most strong poison. But this habit has led to her losing her sense of taste for the most part. 

[found-family-tournament]

Found Family Tournament Round 1 Part 6 Group 29

Propaganda and further pictures under the cut

Squad 312: Tyler Jones, Scarlett Jones, Cat Brannock, Zila Madran, Finian de Seel, Kaliis Gilwraeth, Aurora Jie-Lin O'Malley

Fatui Harbingers: Childe/Tartaglisa/Ajax, Aleccino/the Knave, Pantalone/Regator, La Singnora/the Crimson Whitch of Embers/the Fair Lady/Rosalyn, Sandron/Marionette, Scaramouche/the Balladeer/Kunikuzushi, Pulcinelle/the Rooster, Columbina/Damslette, Il Dottore/the Docter/Zandik, Pierro/the Jester, Tsaritsa

Submissions are still open!

Squad 312:

Their love for each other literally saved the universe by teaching the enemy what love truly is, they fought tooth and nail to get back to each other through time and space, they call each other family in canon, and they love each other so much!!!

Fatui Harbingers:

they are the power of villains but their all friendhips,,, they all are broken and evil have done horrifiying things and society hates them and yet they stil chose to be with eachother. scaramouse was a broken puppet who was discared from his mother and they took him in and dottore fixed him up, signora was so trauatized by her husbands death that she magically spouted flames and her mother/the tsarista gave her a cryo delution so she wouln'dt die, ajax was 14 when he fell in the abyss for 3 abyssal months/3 days and when he came out he was like a little bloodthirsty gremlin and theyve watched him grow up fro like the past 6 years and papanelle is so fr. and columbinas a furey yrder gremlin nd shes the best i love her so much.

[serpntinc]

❛❛  since the very moment i emerged into this WRETECHED world, an insatiable hunger gnawed at my being, a VENOMOUS CRAVING that demanded to be sated. they dismissed my wrath as inconsequential, blind to the ardor of my RIGHTEOUS FURY, but i, the harbinger of destruction, reveled in their inevitable demise.

even as my physique morphed into this figure, the hunger persisted, a SERPENT of entitlement coiled deep within my being, its venom pulsating with every beat of my NARCISSISTIC heart.

contains mentions of: death, substance abuse, psychological abuse and mental disorders

— BASICS.

Name: Heathcliff James Morgan

Nickname: Heath

Age / D.O.B.: 53 / March 22, 1970

Gender, Pronouns: Cisman. He/Him

Sexuality: Heterosexual

Hometown: Dallas, Texas

Occupation: Retired F1 driver / Leader of The Snakes

Affiliation: Snakes

Languages: English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Russian, German

Relationship Status: Divorced

Children: Two

— PHYSICAL.

Hair Color: Dark Brown

Eye Color: Dark Brown

Height: 6 ft

Scars: A thick scar on his neck. Courtesy of a past ally who turned against Heath and tried to kill him

Tattoos: 19 tattoos. The largest being a serpent covering his back.

— MENTAL.

Personality Type: ENTP

Moral Alignment: Chaotic Evil

Positive Traits: Indomitable, Eloquent, Assertive, Cunning, Dominant, Ambitious, Bold, Decisive, Resourceful, Self Disciplined, Confident, Perceptive

Negative Traits: Brutal, Volatile, Manipulative, Cynical, Rough, Competitive, Vengeful, Malicious

Mental Health: (Undiagnosed) NPD

Narcotics of use: Cocaine

— FAMILY .

Parents: Clark Morgan, Midge Davis

Siblings: TBD Morgan, TBD Morgan

Cousins: TBD, TBD, TBD

Ex wife: TBD

Children: Willa Morgan ( daughter, 6 years old. NPC ) . TBD Morgan ( son, 27 years old. WC ) .

— BIOGRAPHY .

Heath was born in Dallas. His mother was a burlesque dancer and his dad a mechanic. His mother was an alcoholic and abusive, she also struggled with drug addiction and would constantly disappear from home for weeks at a time. His father got tired of this and moved with his children to a trailer park, where he raised them as a single dad.

His father was part of a motorcycle gang, mostly former by getaway drivers with criminal ties, the kids spent much of their time under their protection, they considered them family and that was where Heath developed his passion for cars.

He started driving karts, the first step in the craft of racing, learning from control to adapting to the race track for speed. He entered karting competitions, was skilled and started to attract attention from sponsors. Different local and national competitions, getting a few good wins under his belt.

His father was killed in a confrontation between the group and the police, which made Heath responsible for his younger siblings. Due to family connections, they found their way to NYC. Necessity made him join the criminal world for a quick way out, doing the unimaginable to guarantee their survival since they no longer had protection.

He built for himself a small group of criminals that he had met along the way, they lived in the shadows. Started with small thefts and riots, until they evolved into kidnapping, blackmailing, extortion - and murder. yes, they knew it would reach extreme measures as soon as attacks on government buildings and high ranking individuals started to happen. It was a common fact among the powerful, they always had the fire lit faster when someone was about to die. And he wanted that kind of attention.

As the years went by he could see the improvement, they were far from being rich but now they had their own small house and were comfortable for the first time. Decided to return to amateur kart competitions and attended different educational programs pursuing technical and mechanical backgrounds knowledge. Sponsorship and funding allowed him to get his full competition license, building a career.

After getting a FIA international grade A license, he began competing in the lower-tier series, getting the right kind of networking and catching the attention of team owners, opening doors to opportunities in high levels of F1.

Heath was superior to the majority. Amidst the clamor, the chaos, the endless hours of practice, he remained unbroken, untouched. His power hunger surpassed that of his peers, a relentless drive to go beyond, delve deeper, and endure farther. While many found themselves in a competition for attention - he simply prevailed, unequivocally. And he deserved it. He deserved to be seen and be heard, eat the rich as they devour everything around them.

At twenty-six, he had his first child with his girlfriend at the time - who would become his wife in the not-so-distant future. After the birth of their son, they moved to London, where they had connections that could help his partner while Heath was away competing in Formula 1.

Seven years later, Heath formed the Snakes in the heart of London with an initial goodwill intention — shield his family from the rampant criminality engulfing the city. The gang was conceived as a protective force, standing against the shadows that threatened the well-being of those he held dear. However, as the Snakes grew in influence, Heath’s power hunger nature and the complexities of survival led them down a darker path. The once virtuous mission became entangled with corruption, and the gang found strategic advantage in expanding their business ventures. Meticulously chosen individuals, whose every weakness could be exploited and shaped into a weapon.

After winning F1 world championship for the eighth time ( six times consecutively) at forty three, he decided to retire. He got bored. Not just of his career, but everything else. Everyone who crossed his path tried brutally to tame him, breaking him into a thousand pieces, tirelessly seeking to reshape into different individuals. His essence could never be affected, you cannot corrupt something that has been rotten for a long time. He could feel all that poison in his blood, every step he took was like the tick tock of a time bomb about to burst - all those vile urges were devouring him from the inside out.

Ten years into his leadership of the Snakes, his personal life began to unravel as Heath’s emotional detachment and toxic behavior took its toll on his marriage. The once-strong bond between him and his wife gradually eroded, undermined by Heath's relentless focus on the gang's affairs and his growing disconnection from the needs of his partner, ultimately culminating in a divorce that mirrored the shattered fragments of a life once built on love and commitment.

The year is 2024, and it has been 20 years since the beginning of his empire. New adversaries appeared on the way, more organizations than they could count, but nothing that couldn't be turned into a vile public message of what would happen to anyone who got in their way.

— F1 TIMELINE .

1988 : got his FIA international grade A license. he was 18

1991 : started competing for ferrari. he was 21 years old

1992 - 1999 : won six world titles consecutively

2000 : signed with mclaren.

2007 : won his seventh world title

2009 : won his eighth and last world title

2013 : retired. 43 years old

— EXTRAS .

has a labrador retriever named Buddy

always wears leather jacket or flannel shirts. wears a black wild rag around his neck

cowboy vibes and southern charm

— WANTED DYNAMICS. (self explanatory mostly, but always game to brainstorm !)

ex fiance / have i killed you before? : ( thats actually a wanted connection, all the details can be find here )

girltoy : they have similar personalities and knew better than to mess around each other. However, their thirst for chaos and the tendency to fall into old patterns got the best of them, and they can't get rid of each other. a true emotional power struggle.

protege : heath has a over protective dynamic with this character. the reason can be discussed by us. is someone he keeps on good terms and constantly assists them in some way.

nemesis : preferably someone from an opposing gang or a government character. they mirror many common personality traits, but differ greatly in ideals

old friends / past group members

someone he's blackmailing

past lovers : in short, he has been out there. most of the time short and superficial relationships, he usually gets romantically involved with easily manipulated people.

baby mama : one night stand that resulted in their six-year-old daughter. it could be an unknown character or someone who already knew heath in the past. they get along smoothly, tried to form a family in the past, and it didn't work, but they raise their daughter on good terms

patron saint of lost causes : a good natured character who insists on trying to see any kind of goodness reflected in heath. hero complex, constantly creates excuses for why he is the way he is and tries to "save" him from his inner demons.

do you want to make a deal with the devil? : someone he is trying to corrupt. the members of the snakes are meticulously chosen, the criteria are high, and most importantly of all it has to be someone who shares the same ideals. heath saw potential in this character ( what caught his attention can be discussed by us ) and believes he can be useful in some way, trying to identify his character's weaknesses and what actually motivates them.

[trashcanwithsprinkles]

when ur spouse says “i love you” but Ajax Tartaglia Childe 11th Harbinger of the Fatui quite literally:

met the love of his life in another reality, decided he didn’t want him to suffer or see his pseudo-sister/best friend die so he hatched a plan to prevent an eon long war thatd kill thousands of gods, MULTIPLE of which were Moraxs allies, successfully entered the abyss and found his master in another reality and recruited her to the cause, fought of a shade, held hands with morax after that (just a touch of affection for a treat), saved zhihao from the dream evil god guy, saved moraxs future son xiao which is now ajax and moraxs son that i guess they co parent with guizhong, then ajax proceeds to travel to snezhnaya and beat the shit out of celestial gods and get ANOTHER child and three random siblings that are actually his in another universe, bring them back to morax, make morax (unknowingly) fall in love with him, obtain cryo powers, then RETURN to snezhnaya with a kiss on the forehead, make it up to celestia after zephar threw a fit, get stuck up there, start a riot, then the Avengers of Teyvat come back him up (including his soon to be husband and basically sister in law (wait i cant remember if gui was there or not), as well as his kinda master), and they win that battle. AND MIGHT I ADD AFTER THAT, they then travel back to ajax’s own world to prevent Celestias attack on his world and inevitably the archon war as well, HE THEN REUNITWS WITH HIS REAL MASTER, TSARITSA, COWORKERS AND HIS BITCHADD FAMILY AND PROCEEDS TO KILL GOD,??? and then they all go back home.

and he does all this so morax doesn’t have to suffer the emotional turmoil of losing his friends. ajax did this for what he knew as a FICTIONAL character in a video game. bruh stopped an armageddon for his husband and didn’t think morax was gonna fall in love with him this man is denser than a metal ball i cannttttt 😭😭😭

anywYs super good chapter!!! i always laugh about this specific fic bc compared to the soulmate chili fic u posted it took like nearly 400k words to get them to realize they’re in love with eachother but it took like 130k ish in the soulmate one 💀💀 i’m so stoked for the next chapter. can’t wait for what ur cooking up!!!

you're right lmao 😭

i think the reason why things went so comparatively faster in itysg is bc zhongli was already 6000+ and childe was kind of faced with the idea that zhongli might want to marry him like- straight-up from the first couple of chapters, so like,,,,,,, coupled with the fact they know they're soulmates from the get-go, i think that kind of expedites his crisis to the next step hahah;;

and also bc in cyanide they spend most of the fic doing literally anything else so there's no time to question feelings lmao

but it's still very funny indeed;; i think cyanide is the longest i could possibly write it bc of all the shit they have to do that keeps them from thinking about it. you'd have to have an even longer plot or start their relationship from scratch (no interesting first impressions and no 'i know you from the game' ordeal, or even have them start as like- enemies, and slowly worky your way to friendship and then love)

but i really don't plan to write that, cyanide is i think on the longest spectrum of what i'm willing to go 💀

(catch me writing 600k next time, given my track record of not controlling what i write)

aaaa anyway thank you!! happy you're enjoying it!

[idyllic-affections]

Oh gods, the new year's just starting and you're already cooking? And it's MORE ANGST?! You scare me, Aphe..../j/lh

On a more genuine note, I find that concept quite interesting. And since they'd be a Yaksha, imagine what they're relationship/dynamic with Xiao have the potential, one other member of their, living, but with the enemy 🤔

OOOOH! What if they (Yaksha!Reader) blame ol' Rexxy boy for the destruction of their race? Like, they feel he didn't try hard enough to save the Yaksha's from their Karmic Debt? Or something like that?

Also, damn you sure have a thing for found family harbingers, don't you XD?/lh

-🐉Anon

going into my evil and horrible villain arc this year 😈😈😈 /hj /lh

NO YEAH I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT SO HARD. i like to think that they're among the oldest living beings on teyvat--probably somewhere between 4000-5000. they've lived a very long time (and are tragically, chronically plagued by erosion and karmic debt) and i like to imagine them as older than xiao, because perhaps they had some kind of sibling dynamic with him (and ofc with the other yakshas my beloveds 🫶🫶🫶🫶). it makes it all the more devastating. i've been thinking about whether morax's perceived betrayal should happen before all the yakshas gradually succumb to their fates (because this would make it so that [name] finds out through word of mouth that all of their siblings have died off one by one until only xiao was left; and, further, how the hell are they supposed to know he's even still alive, since they rarely dare to set foot in liyue? maybe they also try to investigate bosacius' case and encounter xiao in the chasm.... hmm), or after? both routes have their own appeal.

(elaborating on the chasm concept: it would be so devastating, i think. because after so long they have finally been reunited with one of their own... but now they sit on opposing sides of the same war. not opposite sides, no; the enemy is the same. rather, they sit on opposing sides. the goal is ultimately the same--that being ridding teyvat of the heavenly principles--and while the seven do largely seem to support the tsaritsa's goal, her methods are foul. so, despite being reunited with one of their own, their brother, the reunion is far from gentle. because xiao is on morax's side [much to their disdain, because they feel betrayed by rex lapis and the wound is still fresh, despite this having happened thousands of years prior] and they are on the tsaritsa's.)

and i've been debating what might warrant a "perceived betrayal" on morax's behalf, but that would make a lot of sense i think.... i think that would contribute to it. perhaps its that in combination with guizhong's death--he did not try hard enough to save her. and maybe, just maybe, this was just meant to be their fate. yakshas are prone to losing their minds. maybe [name] is holding on by a thread at this point.

it's bittersweet, because even as they slowly die over thousands of years, zhongli can't help but think fondly of them. i mean, look at them. they are still fighting for the world, even if their ways have become jaded and twisted. he only wishes they would come home. how well can the tsaritsa treat their karmic debt? he doesn't know how long her methods will work.

also don't call me out like that bro 🙏🙏🙏 the fatui harbinger found family worms its way into my fics one way or another. Sighhhhhh

[ancicntforged]

"How much can you change and get away with it, before you turn into someone else, before it's some kind of murder?"

-Lysandra Deemus

General Info:

Name: Lysandra Deemus Title: Wolf's Knight, Vampire Lord, Bloody Wolf Nickname: Lyn, Wolfie Occupation: Knight Captain Affiliation: Gladell Knights, Gladell Kingdom Age: 20 Race: Vampire (formerly human) Gender: Female Height: 174 cm Eye Color: Icy Blue Hair Color: Blonde Misc: Inhuman.

Personality;

In the early days of her knighthood, Lysandra was the epitome of a spirited and joyful warrior. Joining the ranks of knights more for the thrill and joy of it than any deeper calling, she was known for her unwavering cheerfulness and readiness to lend a hand. Lysandra's approach to life was simple yet admirable: she didn't overthink; she just marched forward, giving every challenge her best shot. Her sword and armor were not just tools of her trade but cherished companions, often anthropomorphized in her lighthearted banter. Even in the face of danger, her humor never waned, lightening the hearts of those around her with well-timed jokes and puns. This period of her life was marked by a certain innocence and a deep commitment to her friends and duties.

However, as the years of her service unfolded, the realities of a knight's life began to reshape Lysandra. Five years into her journey, the constant battles against evil had left an indelible mark on her spirit, maturing and tempering her once carefree nature. It was her transformation into a vampire that truly turned the tides of her personality. This harrowing experience brought about a profound change, casting a shadow over her once bright demeanor. Lysandra emerged from this ordeal with a newfound cynicism and a serious, brooding temperament. The once joyous knight now saw the world through a lens of somber realism.

Lysandra's undead existence became a source of personal strife, stripping away the pleasure she once found in her life as a knight. She now sought to end battles swiftly, her focus solely on the practicalities of combat rather than any enjoyment. Her humor, once a defining trait, vanished, replaced by a stoic and unyielding facade. Even her relationships transformed; while she continued to care deeply for her friends, especially the princess, she kept them at arm's length. Lysandra was acutely aware of the danger her vampiric nature posed to those she loved and chose isolation as a means to protect them, a decision that weighed heavily on her once joyful heart.

Backstory;

Lysandra was born into the noble Deemus family of the Kingdom of Gladell, under the rare and mystical Crimson Moon, an event occurring only once every 30 years. This phenomenon, caused by the gathering of Aether in space, led the moon to reflect the sun's true essence, known as the Crimson Heat. Her parents saw this as a sign of destiny, a harbinger of great things to come. Unaware of the deeper meanings tied to the Sun's Cataclysm and the Moon's Crimson Blood, they took this as a positive omen. Hence, she was named Lysandra, a name derived from the ancient Gladell language, symbolizing the lunar and the extraordinary.

From her earliest days, Lysandra was pampered by her parents, yet she never let this privilege cloud her judgment or ambitions. Instead, she yearned for a simpler, more challenging life as a knight, inspired by her father's past before he became the King's Advisor. Her father, delighted by her interest, imparted his knowledge of knighthood, while her mother guided her in the magical arts.

To her parents' delight, and perhaps not entirely to their surprise, Lysandra proved to be a prodigy. She exhibited an innate talent for both combat and magic, distinguishing herself as one of the rare individuals capable of wielding six elemental powers. With such extraordinary abilities, the expectations placed upon her were immense, but Lysandra met them with apparent ease.

Her path inevitably crossed with the young princess of Gladell when she was eight, and the princess just six. A strong friendship blossomed between them, further solidified when Lysandra heroically saved the princess from a Ravager. The incident left scars on her left forearm, a testament to her bravery and dedication to the princess's safety.

By the age of 15, Lysandra's talents were widely recognized throughout the kingdom, catching the king's attention. Noting the princess's fondness for her, the king offered Lysandra the opportunity to join the Knights a year early. She accepted, excelling in the entrance exam and becoming the youngest knight in Gladell's history, even yougner than her older sister who held the previous record at 16. Over the next five years, she swiftly climbed the ranks, eventually being appointed as the new Captain of the Knights, the highest non-royal position.

However, a turning point came during a mission to clear a troublesome dungeon—a test for her potential captaincy. On the fifth floor, she faced a dying Vampire Lord. After a fierce battle, she emerged victorious, but not unscathed. The Vampire Lord, in its final moments, bit Lysandra, turning her into a Vampire Lord as well.

Awakening from a two-week coma, Lysandra found herself transformed, with increased physical prowess, red eyes, and elongated fangs. Initially, she tried to make light of her new appearance, but the gravity of her situation soon dawned on her. Upon returning to the kingdom, she kept her helmet on, concealing her changes. She reported her success to the king and retreated to her quarters, overwhelmed by her new reality.

In the following days, Lysandra attempted to resume her duties as usual, but the changes in her demeanor and appearance did not go unnoticed by her peers, including the princess. Despite inquiries and concerns from those close to her, she remained evasive, keeping the truth of her transformation a secret.

Embracing her newfound Vampire Lord abilities, Lysandra began undertaking more dangerous missions, finding some solace in the advantages of her altered state, despite the overwhelming drawbacks. Now, she strives to maintain her secret, with the princess and her friends growing increasingly suspicious. The question remains: how long can Lysandra keep up this facade? Only time will reveal the fate of this once-celebrated knight, now grappling with the complexities of her new, hidden identity.

Weapon;

The White Wolf Great Sword, a masterpiece crafted by the finest blacksmith in Gladell, was a gift of gratitude from the Princess to Lysandra for her numerous heroic deeds. Lysandra received this magnificent weapon with great joy, cherishing it not only as a token from her dearest friend but also as a symbol befitting her title, the Wolf’s Knight.

Forged from Aethric Steel, one of the most precious and rare materials in Utopic, the sword is both a marvel of craftsmanship and a testament to Lysandra's valor. A single kilogram of Aethric Steel is so valuable it could purchase an entire village, and this exceptional blade weighs a substantial 6 kilograms. Its resilience is legendary, impervious to damage from all but the rarest materials, making it virtually indestructible.

Initially, Lysandra faced challenges in wielding the sword due to its weight and size. However, through dedicated training and perseverance, she mastered its use, handling it with the ease of a standard blade. This mastery was further enhanced following her transformation into a vampire, as her strength increased exponentially. Now, the White Wolf Great Sword moves in Lysandra's hands with even greater force and precision, an extension of her formidable new abilities.

Facts;

-Lysandra's transformation into a vampire significantly altered her way of life as a knight. She became extremely cautious, concealing her vampirism with excuses about her glowing eyes and nocturnal habits. To maintain her secret, she frequently wore her helmet or fabricated stories, successfully keeping her true nature hidden.

-The scar she received while defending the princess, a symbol of her promise, healed after her transformation, much to her dismay. This healing ability, a consequence of her vampiric nature, allowed her to reattach or regrow lost limbs, although she used this power sparingly due to its draining effects.

-As a vampire, Lysandra discovered she wasn't destroyed by sunlight, though it weakened her and increased her bloodlust. Silver and stakes didn't affect her more than they would a human, but she experienced a colder body temperature and a ceased heartbeat, marking her as truly undead.

-Lysandra has turned nocturnal, making up excuses like needing some refreshing cold air from the night and such. Of course she is active during the day too, only requiring a bit of sleep in-between days. This greatly worried her family and her friends a lot, as Lysandra had been much paler than usual. Unbeknownst to them, that is also due to vampirism.

-Lysandra also gained new vampire abilities, like draining blood to recover faster and hypnotizing those with weak wills. She suspected there were more powers yet to be discovered.

-Her immortality, while granting her eternal youth and extreme resilience, also meant the painful inevitability of watching her loved ones age and die. To protect them and due to the general disdain for vampires, she kept her condition a secret.

-During the rare times she sleeps, she has nightmares. Not only of her going berserk, but of her murdering the princess and her family in cold blood. Then always finds those cold, icy blue eyes staring at her, which causes Lysandra to awaken with a startle and panting. Just one of the few reasons why she sleeps as little as possible.

-Despite potentially being able to create other vampires, Lysandra's strong moral code prevented her from doing so. As a Vampire Lord, she only needed to consume blood monthly, discreetly feeding on castle maidens and erasing their memories if necessary, though she disliked this necessity. Of course there’s the fact that the holes in the necks she drank from take a while to heal, prompting some rumors in the castle, which altogether means she has to be even more careful about it. As much as she’d like to get a steady source of blood, she couldn’t ever ask someone to become her personal bloodbank.

-She can use magic, but heavily balances it out with her physical fighting. Her reserves of aether are quite high as well, coming from a lineage of noble warriors. Those reserves increased around twenty-fold once she became a Vampire Lord, meaning that casting spells which were taxing on her prior, now much easier to cast; As a Vampire Lord is a magical being, which means the drain and usage of Aether is easier on Lysandra.

-Lysandra is one of the few beings on Utopic that can use all six elements. Water, Fire, Earth, Wind and the Dark, as well as Holy element. She mostly prefers to use them to assist her fighting, or if necessary, coats her sword in one of the elements.

-Her sword is one of her most important belongings to her, as it is a personal gift from the princess she swore to protect with her life. Of course her armor is made of a similar material, yet unlike the sword, it is clear how worn it is. The sword and armor, Lysandra still treats as friends, as they’ve gone through many battles with her.

-Her relationship with the princess is still a mystery to Lysandra. Her father is a noble and personal advisor to the current King, and they’re also best friends. Which in turn meant that both Lysandra and Celestine played a lot in their childhood together. Henceforward, they’ve been best friends ever since. Of course Lysandra becoming a knight and later on the Knight Captain, meant she got more time to spend with the princess as well. Of course the princess made many excuses and orders to come visit her, which Lysandra gladly did.

She herself is still uncertain about what she feels every time she sees the princess. Unbeknownst to herself, she has fallen in love with the other. Later on her status as a vampire made it clear to her that she has fallen heels over love with the Princess, as she could now sort out her emotions and feelings in a more logical manner.

-Even before being turned into a Vampire Lord, she had always been one of the strongest knights and a prodigy. Mostly from good genes and her always working hard, despite having unnatural talent in both physical fighting and magic. Her senses were sharp too, but her sharpest ones were her eyes and her nose. She could easily track bandit hideouts and such from mere scent alone, and spot a fly from well over a few dozen kilometers.

After becoming a Vampire Lord, everything had become far stronger, better even. At first it was overwhelming, with Lysandra having to suppress some of her senses, lest she suffer a sensual overload and have her duties as a knight suffer from it. But yes, she holds back plenty, not wanting to have the sudden increase in stats like durability, strength and speed be questioned, alongside her blue eyes.

-Lysandra did have a bit of an inferiority complex growing up due to her sister, Astrid Deemus. Astrid was someone that had broken all kinds of records, from being the youngest ever Gladell Knight, to even becoming a Royal Knight and subsequently Royal Knight Captain. Of course Lysandra followed in her footsteps, wanting to be acknowledged by her big sister, which she did. But even then, she always felt some sort of disconnect from Astrid, due to how mellow the other could be.

-Her family of course questioned her too, but Lysandra, not wanting to drag them into something bad, lied to them. It hurt her to the core of her being, having to lie to her parents and her older sister. It hurt even worse seeing their suspicious looks and her having to continue lying to them. It’s even worse with the princess, the one she had fallen in love with. Her suspicious gazes, alongside having to lie with a straight face, makes her feel the most guilt. All in all, with her status as a Vampire Lord, this makes Lysandra even more depressed.

-As Lysandra is a knight, she upholds the laws of the Kingdom and slays those that dare oppose the royal family and break the law. At first she would always capture bandits and turn them over to the interrogation squad for questioning and such. Yet after being turned into a vampire, she didn’t even find any scum as such worthy to drink their blood. Instead she murders them in cold blood, her missions being done even more efficiently, which earned her a new title: The Bloody Wolf.

-Lysandra anonymously donates a portion of her wealth to help orphans and the underprivileged in the kingdom. This is her way of maintaining a connection to her past life and upholding the chivalric values she cherishes.

-Since her transformation, Lysandra has become deeply interested in ancient vampire lore and history. She spends her free time studying old texts and artifacts, hoping to understand more about her condition and possibly find a way to reverse it.

-Lysandra has secretly established a hidden sanctuary deep in the forest, a place where she can retreat when her vampiric nature becomes overwhelming. This sanctuary is protected by magical wards and is unknown to anyone else, serving as her personal haven.

-Despite her internal struggles, Lysandra takes time to mentor young knights. She sees this as a way to give back and to keep herself grounded in her humanity. She's particularly adept at teaching them advanced combat techniques and the ethical aspects of being a knight.

-Astrid Deemus shares a complex and multifaceted relationship with her younger sister, Lysandra. Despite Astrid's admiration and protective instincts towards Lysandra, there exists a subtle yet palpable distance between them, intensified after Lysandra's transformation into a vampire. This change in Lysandra added a layer of complexity to their dynamic, as Astrid grappled with the new realities of her sister's existence.

For Astrid, Lysandra's transformation was a point of deep concern and adjustment. While Astrid's demeanor remained calm and mellow, her approach to Lysandra became more cautious and contemplative, reflecting her desire to understand and support her sister through this unforeseen change. Astrid's formidable strength and composed nature, qualities that once inspired and comforted Lysandra, now served as a reminder of the contrasting paths their lives had taken.

Lysandra, on her part, experienced mixed feelings of admiration, dependency, and a sense of alienation. She admired Astrid's unwavering strength and her ability to handle challenges with a serene confidence. However, Lysandra's new vampiric nature introduced an emotional and existential gulf that was difficult to bridge. She often found herself yearning for a deeper connection with Astrid, one that transcended the complexities brought about by her transformation.

The relationship between the two sisters is marked by a profound love and mutual respect, yet it is not devoid of its silent struggles and unspoken understandings. Astrid, in her role as the older sister, remains a pillar of strength and guidance for Lysandra, even as she navigates the nuances of their evolving relationship. For both, the journey is one of adaptation, acceptance, and the enduring bond of sisterhood, tested and reshaped by the tides of change.

Relatives:

Father: Alive Mother: Alive Siblings: Older Sister

[best-underrated-anime]

Best Underrated Anime Group D Round 3: #D5 vs #D6

#D5: Three brothers work together to stop an ancient evil

#D6: Most adorable-dork villainess in dating game isekai

Details and poll under the cut!

*D6’s tagline has been changed.

#D5: Laughing Under the Clouds (Donten ni Warau)

Summary:

In the 11th year of the Meiji Era, the end of the samurai shogunate and the prohibition of swords has left Japan with lasting scars. Displeased by these recent changes, many former samurai plot against the new government, inciting a wave of bloodshed. To counter this movement, the government constructs a colossal prison in the middle of Lake Biwa.

Unofficially assigned to help the police arrest criminals, Tenka Kumou also serves as a ferryman to the Lake Biwa prison with the help of his two younger siblings: the ambitious Soramaru and the enthusiastic Chuutarou. Together with the former Fuma ninja Shirasu Kinjou, the Kumou brothers live a frugal and joyful life mostly dedicated to studying and training.

However, behind this relatively uneventful daily routine, the specter of the “Orochi” curse is starting to spread its shadow over the city of Oumi. According to legend, every three hundred years, Orochi reincarnates in a human vessel—and it is believed that this is the harbinger of an imminent catastrophe. As various groups clash in search of Orochi’s vessel, some aim to seal the curse, while others have darker plans in motion.

Propaganda:

I found this series absolutely entrancing when I originally watched it, the portrayal of the characters and themes is really interesting to watch.

It tells a fantastic story about trying to defeat a legendary evil that can corrupt those around it to do its biding, all the while mixing in comedy and really heartfelt moments between family. For a 12 episode series they did a really good job of tying up any loose ends and finishing the plot, some things could have been expanded upon a bit more, but for what it is they producers did a wonderful job.

The series might not be the most groundbreaking anime ever, but it does have some lovely moments and explorations of its characters. I really like the themes of family, and wanting to do anything you can to help the people you love, it’s always nice to see and I think it’s done really well in this anime.

Trigger Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Cruelty/Violence/Gore, Suicide.

#D6: My Next Life as a Villainess: All Routes Lead to Doom! (Otome Game no Hametsu Flag shika Nai Akuyaku Reijou ni Tensei shiteshimatta…)

Summary:

Most people would prefer being the protagonist of a world full of adventure, be it in a game or in another world. But, unfortunately, a certain girl is not so lucky. Regaining the memories of her past life, she realizes that she was reborn in the world of Fortune Lover—one of the games she used to play.

Unfortunately, the character she was reincarnated into—Catarina Claes—is the game's main antagonist, who faces utter doom in every ending. Using her extensive knowledge of the game, she takes it upon herself to escape from the chains of this accursed destiny.

However, this will not be an easy feat, especially since she needs to be cautious as to not set off death flags that may speed up the impending doom she is trying to avoid. Even so, to make a change that will affect the lives of everyone around her, she strives—not as the heroine—but as the villainess.

Propaganda:

This show is so much fun. The protagonist is a lovable girl himbo, who is completely oblivious to everyone around falling in love with her. It’s a bit of a harem anime, but with equal opportunities: the girls are just as enamored with the main character as the guys are. The increasingly dumber ways in which she thinks she’s going to meet her doom (she is supposed to be the villain of the story, after all) are a delight to behold.

Trigger Warnings: Incest, Rape/Non-Con. The main character gets assaulted like two or three times, but it’s not graphic. One of these instances, where a kiss is forced on her, is by her adoptive brother, who is also her cousin, who is one of her main love interests.

When reblogging and adding your own propaganda, please tag me @best-underrated-anime so that I’ll be sure to see it.

If you want to criticize one of the shows above to give the one you’re rooting for an advantage, then do so constructively. I do not tolerate groundless hate or slander on this blog. If I catch you doing such a thing in the notes, be it in the tags or reblogs, I will block you.

Know one of the shows above and not satisfied with how it’s presented in this tournament? Just fill up this form, where you can submit revisions for taglines, propaganda, trigger warnings, and/or video.