#adversaries of the righteous

[teafiend]

I feel it, the pull to the dark side 🖤🖤🖤 (😅🤣😂😆 🫣🫢🥵🤭)

[hurtspideyparker]

Tony randomly tugging on Steve's shirt and kissing him on the lips mid-rant as a joke because he's annoyed at Captain Righteous always lecturing him, and he's sure the shock of being kissed by a man/his adversary/out of nowhere will finally shut Steve up.

And it does, for about 5 seconds, and Tony is about to smuggly walk away from those wide-eyed blues when his face is grabbed and smashed into Steve's and oh they're actually kissing now—

And that's how Tony accidentally starts dating Steve Rogers (in his defense how was he supposed to know his feelings for Steve were reciprocated when he didn't even know he had feelings for him in the first place!?)

[bardic-desperation]

This is the ep where the Man in Black truly lost me. The Citadel, and even the Wizard Sky and the Witch of the World's Heart, could've been, arguably, seen as military targets, the latter though with a much weaker case. His grievance with the Tower is legitimate, he is righteous in his wrath, and true to his nature, to his Breath - a Noble Demon, and a worthy adversary to our party of True Friends.

But here - here he proves willing to sacrifice four score children, and does not see the harm in it. Children that he himself wanted free, children whose imprisonment he saw as proof of Imperial horror. And yet he too, now, commits the same sin as the Citadel, ignores the children's wants and needs, ignores their agency for the sake of what he believes is Necessary - much like Steel does.

Because both, within two episodes of each other, are shown to be willing to harm children for the Greater Good. For The Cause. And of course that's where Eursulon would stand most resolutely against him, for the same reason he stood against the gaolers of the Glass Coronet. Those children - their freedom, their joy: that is The Cause. The only Cause that matters.

...God, I love this show so much.

[yandereunsolved]

✧ .ೃ࿐ Yandere Criston Cole .ೃ࿐✧

cw(s): murder (non-descript)

Those molasses-colored eyes widening into an angelic innocence is what has kept him firmly at your side all these years.

A guard, right? Nothing more. No matter the times, he has healed your heart and body. The wounds he has chosen to bare on his own body to keep yours pristine. 

Like a direwolf, he was possessive of his territory. His bite was far more damaging than simply his bark. A bark that was constantly stiffened by the muzzle you forced onto him. When he raised his hackles, you scolded him more often than not.

A scratch here and there seemed to appease you. So instead of laying his caught prey at your feet, as he would so reverently do, he hid it.  

An insignificant human life snuffed out here and there wouldn't catch your attention. The slaughter of your suitors did. However, Criston was always at your side. The possibility of it being him was nearly impossible. Surely it was an overzealous admirer or an estranged family member keeping you from furthering the bloodline.

Any distress from those who have been struck dead around you was met with a comforting hand wiping your tears. A hand calloused from many years of mastering the art of the blade. A hand that held the deaths of many with a firm, righteous grip. A hand that day by day became more daring. That gentle grip was incrementally replaced with a restrictive one. All for you.

Everything has been for you.

So when you find him, sins coating not just his armor but also his face, you scold him. The limp body beneath him is simply another slain adversary. Your naivety from being shielded all these years is on full display. That side of Criston only his enemies see dissipates, and your lovely lapdog is back at your feet. He whispers his apologies as he continues to construct the fabricated reality you so eagerly believe. 

"I apologize. They were threatening to lay a hand on you. You know I would never let that happen."

[paci-papa]

You barely noticed as the older woman walked up behind you in line at the grocery store.

Her hair was cut to look like a battle ax on her head (long in the front and short in the back) and dyed with chunky blonde highlights. It served as a signal to the world of the violence she would inflict on it if she was forced to suffer even the most minor of inconveniences.

You shouldn't have been surprised, then, when she placed her hand on your back and stage-whispered in your ear conspiratorially. You still jumped nonetheless.

"It smells like a diaper pail in here! Some idiot welfare single 'so-called' mother, must be too lazy to even change one of dirty little rugrats diapers."

You blushed at the rude comment, obviously directed at the young mother in front of you, attempting to bag her own groceries while wrangling 3 kids under 5. She was in near tears at from the stress of her situation and the hurtful comment.

At the same time, you nervously let your hand drift to your own backside, and discreetly pressed it the seat of your baggie pants.

Your blush deepened as you felt the warm mush sitting in your diaper press up against your skin and realized the 'diaper pail' smell wasn't coming from the children, but from you.

Worse, you couldn't even remember when you had messed yourself.

"You... You shouldn't say things like that... It isn't kind..." You chirped out timidly, trying your best to ease the embarrassment you were putting the poor single mother through.

"Not kind? Letting your child wallow in their own mess is what's not kind here!" the harpy next to you said, raising her voice and creating a scene.

"You should really stop! It's not her fault!" You say, a little more firmly, but still with a touch of timidity out of concern that arguing too much would reveal your secret.

"Then whose fault is it?" The older woman replied, stepping closer to you before sniffing the air near you.

A broad grin blossomed across her face.

"Oh, oh my, I think I just got my answer."

The switch in the woman's tone from righteous indignation to cool, confident control drew everyone's eyes. You suddenly felt like the wind had been drawn out of you and your blood had been chilled.

With the expert hands of an experienced mother, the entitled bitch behind you bent you over slightly and pulled back the waistband of your pants and diaper, revealing the secret hidden inside.

"My, my, my! I'm so sorry, sweetheart," your adversary turned tormentor said to the young mother finishing her transaction, "It turns out you weren't the negligent caregiver at all."

Still holding the waistband of your pants in her hand, she turned back to you.

"Come with me, sweet pea. Mrs. Karen will get you all sorted out. There's no need for us to bother all of these other people," she crowed, gesturing to the gathered crowd of onlookers.

Recognizing the implied threat in her tone, you let yourself be led back to the family restrooms, your face redder than a cherry tomato.

As she laid you on the changing table and opened your diaper bag, you covered your face and began to cry.

"Don't worry, sweet pea, icky accidents happen," the hateful woman croaked, "it's not your fault you're such a baby! I will be needing your caregiver's number though. I am going to have words with them about letting you wander around alone like this!"

As she untaped your diaper and began cleaning up your mess, she continued to talk to herself.

"Yes, yes! This is wholly unacceptable! A big baby like you should never be left to their own devices! Maybe your Mommy or Daddy would be interested in hiring a nanny? My calendar is almost always open."

You shuddered at the thought--just yesterday Papa had mentioned getting you a nanny. And worse, a sadist like Papa would think this awful woman was the perfect choice.

[fuckyeahgoodomens]

The Good Omens Season 2 Soundtrack! 😍❤🎵

The Soundtrack CD has wonderful cover and pics and look at the brilliant booklet! :D When you open it it looks like a box with a fly! :D

Options :):

(best to use the local store of course :), the Silva Screen page is thewebpage of the recording company)

CD:

Silva Screen 15.99 €

Amazon.co.uk £10.99

Amazon.com $30.79

Vinyl:

Silva Screen 39.99 €

Amazon.com $53.99

Digital:

Silva Screen 10.99 €

More digital listening options :) (some free)

Episode description and Track Listing :):

CHAPTER 1: THE ARRIVAL - Retired angel Aziraphale and retired demon Crowley's lives are upended when a visitor arrives on the doorstep of Aziraphale's bookshop, bringing chaos. Local shopkeepers Maggie and Nina get locked in to Nina's coffee shop when Crowley loses his temper. Heaven and Hell are suspicious, and Crowley and Aziraphale have a disagreement.

1. Before the Beginning 2. Good Omens 2 Opening Title 3. Into Soho 4. Something Terrible 5. To The Bookshop 6. Maggie and Nina 7. He’s Smoking 8. Tiny Miracle 9. Heavenly Alarm Bells

CHAPTER 2: THE CLUE featuring the minisode A COMPANION TO OWLS - Heaven and Hell are determined to find the missing angel. An overheard song provides Aziraphale with a Clue. Crowley and Aziraphale visit the pub to discuss ways that humans fall in love. While almost 5,000 years ago Crowley is sent to inflict punishments on the righteous Job, God's favourite person, as Aziraphale learns at first hand about temptation, and what Gabriel will and won't believe.

10. Avaunt! 11. The Song is the Clue 12. It’s What God Wants 13. A Mighty Wind 14. Whales 15. Gabriel Returns 16. His New Children 17. Am I Awful Now? 18. Fallen Angel

CHAPTER 3: I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING featuring the minisode THE RESURRECTIONISTS - Heaven sends the angel Muriel in disguise to spy on Aziraphale and Crowley. Aziraphale drives to Edinburgh in pursuit of his Clue, and learns a little about a lot. The couple's visit to Edinburgh in 1827 involves graverobbery, a statue and an unfortunate encounter with a vial of laudanum. In the present, Crowley is in charge of the bookshop, and is disappointed by human beings and the weather.

19. Police Arrive 20. Scotland 21. We’re Going to Hell 22. People Get a Choice 23. My Car is Not Yellow 24. Beelzebub in Hell 25. The Book 26. The Fly 27. Mr. Dalrymple 28. We Need to Cut 29. I’m Going to Save Her 30. Crowley Goes Large 31. Not Kind 32. Beelzebub Isn’t Happy

CHAPTER 4: THE HITCHHIKER featuring the minisode NAZI ZOMBIE FLESHEATERS - Aziraphale's good deed of picking up a hitchhiker on his way back to Soho proves to be a serious mistake. In 1941 Crowley and Aziraphale encounter some surprising adversaries, old and new, as the Nazi spies who almost entrapped Aziraphale return as zombies from the dead, intent on preventing him from attempting a bullet catch on the West End stage.

33. Hell-O 34. Nazi Zombies 35. March of the Nazi Zombies 36. Crowley Pep Talk 37. The Magic Shop 38. Catch The Bullet 39. Zombies in the Dressing Room

CHAPTER 5: THE BALL - Aziraphale tries to bring Maggie and Nina together by organising a meeting of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers and Street Traders Association. In Hell, Shax is determined to launch a full scale attack on the bookshop, with a legion of demons at her command. Nina's heart is broken, as is a bookshop window. Gabriel has a close encounter with Mrs Sandwich and a small plate of cakes.

40. I’ll Let You Have It 41. We’re Storming a Book Shop 42. Monsieur Azirophale 43. The Candelabra 44. Here Comes Hell 45. Gabriel Gives Himself Up 46. Shax 47. The Circle

CHAPTER 6: EVERY DAY - Crowley becomes a Heavenly bee and learns the truth about the Armageddon sequel. Aziraphale defends his bookshop from Shax's army and reveals his halo, Maggie and Nina become warriors, and Jim the assistant bookseller gets some hot chocolate. Crowley and Aziraphale get to the bottom of the mystery of the Matchbox. The Metatron brings an oat milk latte, along with a final offer.

48. Bin Through the Window 49. Gabriel Leaving Heaven 50. The Halo 51. Gabriel Revealed 52. Gabriel’s Love Story 53. Leaving The Bookshop 54. Gabriel and Beelzebub 55. Crowley and Muriel 56. I Forgive You 57. Don’t Bother 58. The Biggest Decision 59. The End?

The vinyl should look like this :) (damn, it gorgeous toooo! :D):

[slavicdelight]

The Last Embrace

Pairing: Oberyn Martell x Lannister! OC

Summary: Lorelle, Tywin Lannister's youngest daughter, forms an unexpected alliance with Oberyn Martell after defeating him in a duel. Their love blossoms, but tragedy strikes when jealousy leads to everything falling apart.

Warnings: death, cursing, angst

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In the heart of the Westerlands, Tywin Lannister welcomed his youngest daughter into the world, a fierce and spirited girl named Lorelle. From the beginning, her fiery nature clashed with the traditional expectations of a lady born into such a prestigious family.

As Lorelle grew, her independent spirit grew with her, driving her further away from learning of noble etiquette. She abandoned needlework for the training yard, where she observed the art of swordsmanship. Tywin, torn between pride and concern, could only watch as her interest differed from other young noble ladies. Word of Lorelle's exceptional skill with sword spread through the Seven Kingdoms, reaching the ears of Oberyn Martell, the Red Viper of Dorne. Although he despised the Lannisters for what happened to his beloved sister Elia, he was curious if the rumours were true.

The first encounter between the two was marked by a clash of swords, or in this case - a spear and a sword. Each duel became a battleground for dominance, a fierce dance where neither was willing to yield.Oberyn's disdain for the Westerlands and its houses fueled the fire of their rivalry. In his eyes Lorelle was not just an opponent but a symbol of everything he despised about the realm.

Despite their hatered for each other, they decided to combine forces to travel together through Essos.The tension between them kept both nobles balanced on the egde.Yet, amidst the clashes, moments of understanding and mutual respect began to emerge.It wasn't until a decisive duel where Lorelle emerged triumphant that Oberyn's disdain began to shift. As he lay defeated, he finally acknowledge her skill. The dislike eventually evolved into a strange alliance, a bond forged on the edge of blades and the heat of their conflicting personalities.

During their tumultuous journey, Lorelle and Oberyn faced numerous challenges, each encounter adding layers to their complex relationship.One day, as they were riding through Pentos, a group of men attacked them. They were strong and quick. It was obvious that they’ve been trained to steal and kill. Thankfully, Oberyn's quick thinking and combat finesse saved Lorelle from an ambush, blurring the lines between adversary and ally. The tension that once defined their interactions slowly transformed into something more.

When Oberyn knelt before her, proposing a marriage with sincerity in his eyes, the tension reached its zenith. Tywin, recognizing the potential for an alliance, reluctantly agreed to their union. Lorelle became the Princess of Dorne, thrust into a political landscape that mirrored the complexities of her relationship with Oberyn.Yet, tragedy struck their already fragile union.

Ellaria Sand, fueled by jealousy and resentment, plotted against Lorelle. In a venomous act of betrayal, she poisoned the Princess of Dorne. As Lorelle's life slipped away, Oberyn's grief transformed into a burning desire for revenge, reigniting the tension between them in a different, more profound way. In a fit of righteous fury, Oberyn confronted Ellaria. The clash was brutal, mirroring the intensity of his battles with Lorelle.

In the end, justice was served, but the cost was high. Oberyn stood still after delivering avenging the woman he loved, a shattered man, his heart torn between the love he discovered and the unresolved tension that lingered between him and the memory of Lorelle.

In the aftermath, the halls of Sunspear echoed with a haunting silence. Oberyn, having avenged Lorelle, found himself with conflicting emotions. The memory of their fierce clashes lingered, intertwined with the love he discovered and the unresolved tension that defined their relationship.

As Princess of Dorne, Lorelle's absence left a void in the court. The alliances formed through her marriage hung in delicate balance. Oberyn, once fueled by a desire for revenge, now faced the aftermath of his actions. The people of Dorne witnessed a Red Viper who had lost his venom, a man torn between the love he found and the ghosts of his tumultuous past. The court of Sunspear whispered of Lorelle's legacy – a fiery princess who defied conventions, a skilled swordswoman who left a mark on the pages of history. Yet, the tragedy that befell her cast a shadow over the realm, a stark reminder of the fragility of alliances and the cost of vengeance.

Oberyn, haunted by the memories of Lorelle, retreated into solitude. The tension that once fueled their clashes now manifested as an internal struggle within him. The flames of revenge had consumed him, and in their wake, he was left with the ashes of regret.In the quiet corridors of Sunspear, Oberyn's gaze lingered on the places where he and Lorelle had faced both adversaries and each other. The sword that once clashed with hers now rested, a silent witness to the battles fought and the love lost.As the years passed, Dorne found itself in a delicate dance of politics and intrigue.

The memory of Lorelle became both a symbol of defiance and a cautionary tale. Oberyn, a once vibrant force, moved through the shadows of the court, a man forever marked by the flames that burned between him and the Princess of Dorne. And so, the tale of Lorelle and Oberyn became a legend – a story of love, rivalry, and the high cost of vengeance that echoed through the corridors of Sunspear, leaving behind a legacy as enduring as the ancient stones of the castle.

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A/N: This is a shorter story, but I hope you'll enjoy it just like the other ones.

[neuronmachine]

List of the requirements for each voice in my swap AU

Voice of the Princess

Always present; swap equivalent of Voice of the Hero.

Damsel / Voice of the Gentle

Appears when the Player acts on her feelings for the Dragon.

Adversary / Voice of the Bold

Appears when the Player fights the Dragon to the end.

Spectre / Voice of the Yearning

Appears when the Player attempts to go home, or refuses to stay in the cabin.

Prisoner / Voice of the Patient

Appears when the Player gives up on escape.

Witch / Voice of the Righteous

Appears when the Player is betrayed by the Dragon.

Beast / Voice of the Cunning

Appears when the Player fights the Dragon barehanded.

Razor / Voice of the Piercing

Appears when the player gains an unfair advantage.

Stranger / Voices of the Vibrant

Appears when the player makes nonsensical or erratic decisions.

Tower / Voice of the Overwhelming

Appears when the Player corners the Dragon.

Nightmare / Voice of the Tender

Not completely sure what Tender’s requirements would be. All of my ideas have felt like they’re too similar to the requirements of other voices.

[dewdropdinosaur]

Baby Don't Hurt Me

LUCIFER X M READER Summary: You and Lucifer were never really a labeled thing until when your very life is at stake, does the King of Hell truly take into account his feelings. Warnings: PG-13 for implied sex, sexual language, vulgar language. For the lovely @pixie-skull REQUESTS OPEN!

In the dark and tumultuous realm of Hell, a sinister yet charismatic figure ruled supreme. Lucifer Morningstar, the embodiment of rebellion, carried himself with a confidence that belied the chaos of his kingdom. At least that is what it looked like to his subjects. Among the twisted landscapes and restless souls, there was one being who managed to capture Lucifer’s true self like no other—Y/N.

Their relationship was an enigma, even to them. Late nights were spent in shadowed alcoves, hidden from the prying eyes of Hell’s denizens. Whispers and stolen glances became their secret language. The thrill of sneaking around, of keeping their connection hidden, added a dangerous allure to their meetings. In the privacy of Lucifer's opulent chambers, they would share moments of passion, both knowing but never saying that there was something more between them.

Neither of them dared to label what they had. It was easier that way. For Lucifer, admitting to love was a vulnerability he couldn’t afford, especially not after Lillith and just getting Charlie back in his life. Y/N, strong and independent, valued their freedom and feared the chains that love might bring in a place like Hell. They reveled in the attention from Lucifer but to admit true feelings might do more harm than good in Hell, especially with all the people who love to take advantage of others. Both men and women alike had only used them so why wouldn't the King of Hell himself, Y/N was convinced, only use them too?

Ye even as the war of love raged on, the forces of Heaven prepared their assault, and Hell and the Hazbin Hotel braced for the inevitable clash. The day of the battle arrived with a ferocity that shook Hell to its core. Angels descended with blinding light and righteous fury, led by the vengeful Adam, Heaven’s warrior. The air was thick with the sounds of clashing weapons and the cries of the damned and divine.

In the midst of the chaos, Lucifer fought, albeit a little late to the party, with a fury born of centuries of defiance. His eyes constantly darted around the battlefield, always finding their way back to Y/N. 

Standing utop the roof, sword glinting in the light of the battlefield, Y/N stood guarding a fallen Charlie. 

“I would suggest you back the fuck up, Adam.”

“Awww, isn’t this cute, the little lover wants to save Luci's little girl.”

“The closest you get to brainstorming insults Adam is a light drizzle.”

“BITCH!”

Slicing his guitar towards Y/N, they met it with a block. Both parties slashed through the air, perry and block one after the other. Sweat poured down Y/N’s face, their short hair sticking to their face. he moonlight cast a silver sheen over their blades, creating an almost ethereal glow as the two adversaries faced off.

Adam's eyes narrowed, a sinister smile playing on his lips. "You really think you can stop me, Y/N?" he taunted, his voice dripping with contempt.

Y/N tightened their grip on their sword, the weight of the steel comforting in their hand. "I won't let you hurt them," they replied, their voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through their veins.

Without another word, Adam lunged forward, his blade slicing through the air with deadly precision. Y/N parried the blow, the clash of metal ringing out like a thunderclap. Sparks flew as their swords met, the force of the impact sending vibrations up Y/N's arm.

Adam was relentless, his attacks coming fast and furious. Y/N matched him blow for blow, their movements fluid and precise. The two danced a deadly ballet, their swords weaving intricate patterns in the air.

"Impressive," Adam sneered, his eyes glinting with malice. "But you're only delaying the inevitable."

Y/N didn't respond, their focus razor-sharp. They could feel the strain in their muscles, the burn of exertion, but they pushed it aside. They couldn't afford to lose focus, not now.

With a sudden burst of speed, Adam feinted to the left and then swung his blade towards Y/N's side. Y/N barely had time to react, twisting their body just in time to avoid a fatal blow. Pain lanced through their side as the tip of Adam's sword grazed their skin, but they gritted their teeth and pressed on.

Using the momentum, Y/N counterattacked, their sword arcing towards Adam's chest. Adam deflected the strike, but Y/N was relentless. They pressed forward, their attacks becoming more aggressive, each swing fueled by their determination to protect Lucifer and Charlie.

For a moment, it seemed like Y/N had the upper hand. Their blade cut through the air with precision, forcing Adam to stay on the defensive. But Adam was cunning, his eyes never leaving Y/N's. He saw an opening, a split-second lapse in Y/N's defense, and he took it.

With a swift, brutal strike, Adam knocked Y/N's sword from their hand. The weapon clattered to the ground, and Y/N stumbled back, breathless. Adam advanced, his sword raised for the final blow.

“Go ahead and cry to your boyfriend, he isn’t here. I will enjoy destroying you, sinner.”

Watching this all unfold, Lucifer's heart clenched—a sensation he hadn’t felt in eons. With a roar that echoed across the battlefield, he unleashed his full power, tearing through the ranks of angels to reach Y/N. He arrived just as Adam’s sword plunged into Y/N’s side, a scream of agony ripping from their lips.

Lucifer’s vision turned red. In a blur of motion, he struck Adam with a force that sent the angel sprawling. Adam, now unconscious under a pile of rubble, laid motionless. 

Rushing back to the roof, Lucifer knelt beside Y/N, cradling them in his arms, the world around him forgotten. Blood seeped from the wound, and Y/N’s breaths came in ragged gasps.

“Stay with me,” Lucifer commanded, his voice breaking in a way it never had before. “You can’t leave me, not now.”

Y/N’s eyes fluttered open, a weak smile playing on their lips. “I’m not going anywhere, you stubborn devil.”

Lucifer felt the sting of tears. He pressed his forehead against Y/N’s, a silent plea for them to hold on. As the battle raged around them, he realized the depth of his feelings. This was more than a fleeting connection, more than a casual fling. This was love, raw and undeniable. This man had given him love, passion, kindness, heck even tried to save his own daughter.

“I…I think I love you,” he whispered, the words heavy with the weight of a thousand unspoken emotions.

Y/N reached up, cupping his cheek. “I know. I love you too.”

————————————————

“Lucifer, for Heaven’s sake, it will heal on its own!”

“I know ducky, but please….just let me look at it!”

“No you worried devil, I will be okay!”

Letting out a light chuckle, Y/N laid in Lucifer’s plush bed, surrounded by bandages and pillows. While Lucifer’s concern over his new found love was touching, the constant mothering was a tad annoying but mostly endearing. 

“Promise, me ducky?”

“I promise, Puggle, now come cuddle with me!” 

With a grin, Lucifer plopped into the bed with Y/N, burying his head into their shoulder. After a moment of silence, Lucifer shifted…and then shifted again.

“Yes, platypus?”

“Um…”

“You wanna make out yes?”

“....only if you are okay with that?”

“Darling, if I ever say no to that question there is a gun in my top dresser drawer. Shoot me with it.” 

Stealing his lips into a searing kiss, Y/N tangled their hands into Lucifer’s hair. Rolling ontop of Lucifer, Y/N kept kissing him with fevor. A thousand past kisses didn’t compare to the fiery nature of this single one, it felt like even their fingertips deliciously burned at each other’s touch. Popping the buttons off one by one of Lucifer silk shirt and then removing his own, the dance of tongue and teeth continued. Nips, soft bites, and moans eoched around the spacesou bed room. Tilting his knee up, Lucifer ground his leg into Y/N’s crotch. Lewdness sprung forth from their mouth as they clamped down onto Lucifer’s shoulder. 

Outside the doorway, however, was a very concerned Charlie who had been hearing the commotion and was worried about the injured state of Y/N. Softly pushing the door open and immediately regretting her decision, Charlie stood dumbstruck. 

“Fuck, just like that Luci, mhmmm….so close.”

“Ducky, come on, come for me!”

“DAD?!”

The scene came to a halt! Caught in a rather…precarious position, Lucifer and Y/N stopped their movements. Throwing the covers swiftlyt over them as Charlie shielded her eyes, all parties stared at each other. 

“Eh….Charlie…”

“I’ll knock next time I am so sorry, I was just so worried about Y/N and you and the fight and—”

“Charlie! Its okay. Luci…I guess this is a good a time as any….Charlie dear your father and I are dating—”

“FINALLY!!”

[bumbled-bees]

Remember: Lily constantly denies the existence of the cycle of abuse, even though she embodies it perfectly. Frankly, she kinda has to deny its existence, otherwise she’d have to acknowledge that she could’ve actually hurt people she cared about, while still being a victim of abuse.

Lily’s denial of the cycle of abuse is one of the most revealing things about her. She outright rejects the concept, insisting that victims can’t become abusers, because to admit otherwise would mean acknowledging a very real possibility—that she has harmed people herself.

Lily frames herself as someone who has been hurt, mistreated, and victimized. And while it’s entirely possible that she has suffered real abuse in her life, she uses that victimhood as both a shield and a weapon. She wants to be seen as incapable of doing harm, because if she admits that she has hurt others—even unintentionally—then she would have to do something she has never done before: take responsibility.

And that is simply not an option for her.

Lily has hurt people. We’ve seen the evidence. She’s verbally abusive toward her audience, quick to lash out at those around her, and openly hostile to anyone who doesn’t comply with her expectations. She’s gaslit her followers into distrusting any outside perspectives, berated people for simple mistakes, and justified her cruelty under the guise of “boundaries.” She constantly makes it clear: “If you upset me, it’s your fault. If I hurt you, you deserved it.” That is textbook abusive behavior.

To acknowledge the cycle of abuse would mean recognizing that being a victim does not inherently make someone a good person. It would mean acknowledging that victims of abuse can, and sometimes do, harm others in turn—often without realizing it. It would mean reckoning with the fact that she might have hurt people she cared about, even if she didn’t intend to. But Lily has spent years constructing a personal narrative where she is always the wronged party, never the wrongdoer. If she admits that being a victim doesn’t exempt someone from causing harm, then she has to admit that she might have caused harm too.

That’s why she has to reject the concept entirely. It’s a self-preservation tactic. It allows her to evade accountability while still maintaining her identity as someone who has suffered. It’s a defense mechanism that shields her from self-reflection and responsibility. If the cycle of abuse doesn’t exist, then there’s no need for her to confront any of her own behavior. There’s no need for her to wonder whether she’s ever lashed out at the wrong person. There’s no need for her to face the possibility that she’s not as morally righteous as she likes to believe. She can simply tell herself, “I was hurt, therefore nothing I do can be abusive.”

But ironically, as you pointed out, Lily embodies the cycle of abuse perfectly. She has a deeply hostile, adversarial view of the world, shaped by her own experiences. She learned that power and control are what matter, so she replicates those behaviors in her own spaces. She expects absolute obedience from her audience. She demands loyalty, punishes perceived disloyalty with humiliation and exile, and actively encourages a culture of fear and submission among those who follow her. That is abuse.

And yet, because she denies the cycle of abuse exists, she cannot recognize herself in it. She tells herself that her actions are different. That she is just "keeping people in line." That she is just "making sure they listen." That she is justified in being cruel because she knows what real abuse looks like, and this isn’t it.

That’s the terrifying part. She genuinely believes she’s in the right.

[rockinmusicquarterly]

recently pondering the idea of princess and voice swaps with their respective foils (e.g. tower & stubborn/adversary & broken, spectre & paranoid/nightmare & cold, etc.) and i think the witch & hunted pair-up would actually be pretty interesting?

the witch & beast branches are all about survival, manipulation, fight or flight, etc. you back the princess into a corner and in turn she lashes out like a cornered animal to survive - becoming cunning and sneaky, growing claws and teeth to fight back

but the dynamics with both are a lot different. where the beast is a reversed, unbalanced power dynamic - her the lion and you the tiny mouse - the witch is a more even playing field. most endings result in you both dying together one way or another, whether you're crushed by the cabin or having broken each other's backs. she's a righteous, angry heart, becoming tricky and backstabbing to survive, no matter how miserable it makes her and how awful she thinks herself to be for it. two miserable wretches, etc

sidetracked but anyways, i think this evened playing field between you two would make her and hunted an interesting dynamic. he's very honest and pragmatic with his intentions, which i think would catch her off guard and cause her to keep assuming he's trying to lower her guard. (like if you call her beautiful or otherwise act compassionately pre-thorn, she reasonably assumes you're manipulating her and stabs you anyway). he's not the lying type, while that's all she's come to expect from anyone. it'd certainly be rough, at least at first

the beast is dehumanized and intimidating and impossible to reason with - understandably so - but the hunted is insightful to the predator and prey dynamics, to fight or flight and the psychology of fear, and while i don't think he'd necessarily encourage you to trust the witch (and i assume he'd be pretty against giving her the blade lol), i think he could understand her mindset better and not feel as threatened as he does with the beast

this would probably lead to thorn, in which i doubt he'd encourage anything antagonistic the way opportunist constantly does. all you'd be doing is trapping you and her in an endless circle of hurt and manipulation - something he has no interest in

[scoobydoodean]

I’ve seen a lot of your posts about cas having communication issues and it being a character flaw, and a lot of it with dean specifically which causes a lot of the conflict in their relationship. Do you think his communication problem is a result from him not being human and not fully understanding how to communicate as one, or that it has to do with how strongly he grows to care for dean so he hides things with the mindset of protecting him. I started wondering about the latter just because it seems like in season 5, once he is fully on their team, cas is very blunt and straightforward with his thoughts and feelings, often being shown as one who does not lie very well, but it changes after the season 5 finale. It makes me wonder if that’s when cas really fell for dean so it started holding him back from truly communicating with him. Or maybe you have a different opinion on the reasoning altogether, I was just curious on your take

I think it's a combination of things. One is absolutely that he (I personally think in a somewhat misguided way) wants to protect Dean (and his friends more broadly). In 6.20, Cas talks about coming to Dean's house and almost asking him for help, but being unable to bring himself to ask when he thinks of how much Dean has been through and realizes that Dean will uproot his life to help him.

CASTIEL: Raphael was stronger than me. I wouldn't survive a straight fight. So I went to an old friend for help. But watching him, I stopped. Everything he sacrificed, and I was about to ask him for more.

Cas doesn't want to put Dean through another apocalypse. And when he initially agrees to work with Crowley and Crowley suggests bringing Dean into the loop, Cas reiterates that Dean is to be left alone.

CROWLEY: We'll need expert help. CASTIEL: From whom? CROWLEY: From experts, of course. I know of two eerily suited 'Teen Beat' models with time on their hands. CASTIEL: No. Not Dean. He's retired, and he's to stay that way.

The thing is, trying to protect Dean isn't the entire picture. Season 6 is riddled with Cas slowly making concessions, and one of the very first ones he makes is turning a blind eye to Crowley forcing Dean to work for him. So it isn't all about protecting Dean. Excluding Dean is also about trying to prove he can handle all of this by himself, and feeling shame if/when he can't or when he has to make moral compromises to achieve his goals. Crowley digs into Cas's hubris in 6.20 when he says:

CROWLEY: Everything you've worked for -- everything that Sam and Dean have worked for -- gone. You can save us, Castiel. God chose you to save us. And I think...Deep down...You know that.

Crowley paints a picture of Sam and Dean needing protection, but also of Cas being needed, and being powerful enough to do it all on his own—telling him he is special and worthy and deserving. Hubris is never far from lack of self-esteem. Buttering Cas up like this works because deep down, Cas does not feel secure and needs to believe that he is worthy and righteous. He seeks that feeling of worthiness from God, from the other angels, and from Dean at various points throughout his life.

One of the places we get the shame angle from Cas is in 6.03 when he first tells Sam and Dean about civil war in heaven and explains why he never reached out for help.

DEAN Cas, why didn't you tell us this? CASTIEL I was ashamed. I expected more from my brothers. 

Cas was not successful at playing sheriff and whipping heaven into shape. He thought God was behind him because God resurrected him, but things didn't work out in his favor instantly. Raphael appeared as an adversary. So maybe God wasn't really behind him. Maybe Cas wasn't actually that special after all. Season 6—as much as it features a fallout between Dean and Cas—is also a fallout between Cas and God, as Cas slowly realizes that God is not watching him and cheering for him (anymore), starts to resent him, and then tries to replace him.

I think when I look at the show more broadly past season 6 and the other instances where Cas hides things and tries to do everything on his own, those instances tend to carry these same themes of Cas desperately wanting to protect the people he loves, but also being desperately insecure, looking for other people from God to the angels to Dean to give him validation. Cas tends to try and gain that validation through missions/ quests that make him worthy and deserving. And the idea of needing help with those special, holy missions feels like failure, because then he wouldn't have done it all on his own. When his missions fail or he isn't able to do it all on his own, it chips away at him slowly but surely. Cas all but tells us this in 12.19 "The Future". He talks about a range of failures he's recently suffered—some of them involving not being able to protect Dean or save Dean, some involving the larger holy mission (to protect humanity from cosmic threats) and he says he was trying to do it all on his own and that he shut Dean out because he needed a win on his own.

CASTIEL: Well, I didn't mean to add to your distress. I – Dean, I just keep failing. Again and again. When you were taken, I searched for months and I couldn't find you. And then Kelly escaped on my watch, and I couldn't find her. And I just wanted I needed to come back here with a win for you. For myself.

I also think the way Cas approaches these sorts of discussions—first saying the win is for Dean (just like in 6.20 when he says he did everything for Dean) then admitting that the win is actually for himself—he's also revealing that he has trouble admitting to himself that hubris is ultimately a part of his motivations when he does things like this. He tends to tell himself he is just trying to keep his friends safe or that they need him to prove himself, but deep down, it's that Cas is insecure in ways that have little to do with his friends, and everything to do with his upbringing and being uprooted from his life and not knowing how to feel worthy without a mission to serve because serving the mission is what he was brainwashed to believe made him worthy and deserving for his entire existence. After leaving the heavenly cult, he replicates the experience of using The Mission as a means of receiving praise from others as confirmation that he is worthy. (Which would be why one of his visions of paradise in the 12.19 draft script is himself shirtless looking poweful with his wings on display and Dean thanking him).

All of that said... I do also think Cas is sometimes just impatient. I mean in some ways, this connects to hubris, but I think keeping people informed about his whereabouts probably does sometimes feel like a chore to Cas. If it's something he truly believes he can handle on his own no problem, he sees involving his friends and dealing with their questions as an inconvenience, and he's very sure that he is going to succeed and be back before they ever know he was gone. And sometimes he's right. But he is also sometimes very very wrong, either misjudging what he can accomplish on his own or failing to account for the unexpected. Then he gets himself into hot water and Dean is upset (or the angels in some cases), and that means Cas fails the mission and still feels insecure and loops back to looking for another mission that will prove he is worthy and deserving. The problem being... you can't rely on other people to give you your self esteem and also need to actually be self aware about your own limitations. And all of that is neat.

[dramatiquechipmunk]

Hi. I write stuff.

Mostly fanfiction starring that snarky pixelated vampire who moved into my brain uninvited and refuses to pay rent or wear a shirt. (You know the one.)

Sometimes, I channel the chaos into poetry. Sometimes, the poetry channels me. Either way, it’s all very dramatic, occasionally stupid and probably involves biting.

If you’re into feelings, fangs, and a touch of feral flair, you’re in the right place (oh yeah, I also abuse alliterations). Find all the delightful mess below:

Poetry

My Poems Know What You Did In the Dark - Growing poetry collection about the BG3 companions, written from my Tav's POV.

Verses & Vices - Ever expanding compilation of original poems, equal parts existential crisis and love letters. Sometimes cats might appear.

Multi-chapter fics

Catch Me If You Can - 50's AU with Astarion as a detective

Rating: E

Pairing: F/M

Summary: In 1950s New York, Detective Astarion Ancunin prides himself on being the best—until a high-profile case throws him into a tangled web of stolen jewels, shadowy adversaries, and a certain someone who keeps slipping through his fingers. In a city that never sleeps, where secrets lurk behind every corner, Astarion must navigate intrigue, temptation, and a dangerous game of cat-and-mouse that blurs the line between duty and desire.

Marked by Fate - Follows the events of Act 1 of a circus-raised, morally grey Tav. Canon rewrite to make it more D&D. Slow burn and idiots in love who are bad at feelings trope.

Rating: E

Pairing: F/M

Summary: Imagine waking up hungover… with a Mindlfayer tadpole in your brain. That’s Octavia´s life now, and to make matters worse, her fellow survivors include a moody cleric with too many secrets, a self-righteous warlock, an insufferably smug wizard, a charming but shady vampire rogue, a githyanki warrior with anger issues, and a tiefling barbarian who punches first and asks questions never. Their mission? Survive goblin warbands, hag bargains, infernal invasions, and each other—while racing against time to find a cure for the squirmy things threatening to turn them into mind flayers.

One-shots

You up? (smutty crack-shot) - If you read only one thing from me, this is it

Pairing: F/M

Till they rest my bones on the cold ground, I'll be around (fluffy)

Pairing: F/M

Patience, darling. (spicy)

Pairing: F/M.

CW: Pegging

Still Standing. Still Yours (spicy)

Pairing: F/M

Double trouble (spicy)

Pairing: M/F/M

Seeing double (spicy)

Pairing: F/F/M

Artwork from the banner done by The Takemi.

[eclipse-4-oc]

Unbothered. (All the other lightbearers are too scared of me to get close) Moisturized. (Covered in the blood of Sol’s enemies) Happy. (Slaughtering those who’ve evoked my ire) In my lane. (Battlefields where I’m on the front line). Focused. (Gunning and cutting through hundreds of adversaries) Flourishing. (Fulfilling my purpose as The Righteous Hand of The Traveler and Radiant Blade of The Golden Dawn)

[neuronmachine]

Little list of the names of each of the Princess’s voices in my swap au

Voice of the Princess (Swap equivalent of Hero)

The Adversary - Voice of the Bold

The Prisoner - Voice of the Patient

The Spectre - Voice of the Yearning

The Razor - Voice of the Piercing

The Tower - Voice of the Overwhelming

The Beast - Voice of the Cunning

The Damsel - Voice of the Gentle

The Witch - Voice of the Righteous

The Stranger - Voice(s) of the Vibrant

The Nightmare - Voice of the Tender

[mariacallous]

It isn’t hard to find members of Neturei Karta, the anti-Zionist activist Orthodox group, in New York City.

They show up, habitually, at both anti- and pro-Israel rallies, either as protesters or counter-protesters. And they reliably wear the same outfits — traditional haredi Orthodox dress combined with pro-Palestinian symbols and signs declaring that authentic Judaism rejects Zionism.

On Friday, the group appeared somewhere new: the social media pages of Humans of New York.

“People no longer accept this as being self-defense,” the attached quote says, presumably referring to Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. “Killing masses of little children, people don’t accept it anymore. During the holocaust [sic] our grandparents would have been delighted if people in the free world had stood up for them. But today if you stand up for the Palestinian people– who desperately need and deserve the voices of righteous people around the world– you will be labeled as a self-hating Jew. Or if you are not Jewish, you will be labeled as anti-Semitic.”

HONY is a wildly popular social media project founded in 2010 by photographer and writer Brandon Stanton that typically shares photo portraits of everyday New Yorkers, plus a brief, anonymous first-person vignette. It has nearly 30 million followers between Facebook and Instagram (more than three times the city’s population), and has gained widespread media coverage for the way it spotlights — or, well, humanizes — the struggles and triumphs of a diverse cast of the city’s denizens, many of whom live on the margins.

The Neturei Karta post departed from that model in a couple of ways.

Rather than post a portrait of a single New Yorker, it shared a photo of the group, with at least 10 men or boys visible in the photo, including one who’s facing the camera. He’s wearing a long black coat, the fur hat worn by Hasidic men that’s known as a shtreimel, and a keffiyeh-patterned scarf with tassels in the colors of the Palestinian flag.

And unlike most of the stories on HONY — which are famous for sharing intimate, tragic or heartwarming stories — this one said close to nothing about the subject’s life, except that he’s an anti-Zionist Orthodox Jew. Instead, it focused almost entirely on his stance regarding Israel, Gaza, and the pro-Israel response to pro-Palestinian protest.

“So I speak up today, not only for the oppressed and misrepresented people of Palestine,” he said. “But I also speak up for the Jewish people. The masses of Jewish people worldwide who are embarrassed and appalled by what is being done in their name.”

Neturei Karta, which has been estimated at around 100 members, has been doctrinally anti-Zionist since long before Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack that launched the war in Gaza. While anti-Zionist Jewish groups have reported significant growth since the beginning of the Gaza war, according to surveys, most American Jews feel an attachment to Israel even as many disapprove of Israeli government policy.

Other, much larger Hasidic movements eschew Zionism, but Neturei Karta is unique in consistently showing up to protest Israel and adopting the language and symbols of pro-Palestinian activism.

The group’s leadership has met multiple times with the leaders of Iran, an Islamic theocracy and Israel’s chief regional adversary, including former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied the Holocaust. The group faced particular backlash, as well as condemnation from haredi leaders, in 2007 for appearing at an Iranian conference centered on Holocaust denial.

The quote in the post, and HONY’s decision to platform it, drew immediate protest from a number of commenters.

“Is this a joke?? These people represent like 100 jews worldwide,” one wrote. Another posted, “Wow this is embarrassing tokenization. This is a tiny, extreme, and racist sect of Judaism that is rejected by nearly every Jew in America.” A third: “This post is incitement. These are the fringe of the fringe. Like a cult.”