#and she's generally power-hungry and self-serving

[princeofhags]

Musings on my playthrough with Iraestra, my Lolth-sworn drow wizard and romance. spoilers for Minthara & Astarion stuff under the cut because I'm me.

Still debating what noble house I want Iraestra to be from, but thinking a lot about how you can tell her that you committed the grove atrocities for Minthara, no other reason. While Iraestra certainly did it to integrate herself into the cult and look for more answers, I think she mostly decided to do it when she saw the mark of house Baenre on Minthara's neck.

Unsure how well Iraestra would know the actual faces of House Baenre aside from the matron mother and a few others, but she would have immediately recognized their emblem. Iraestra's curiosity about how Minthara ended up in this situation would be insatiable, as well as her desire to gain Minthara's favor. The life of a few tieflings and druids was nothing in comparison to gaining Minthara's favor.

In my current game I turned down Minthara because I'm doing Astarion's romance, but I hope? That when Minthara is less buggy I can either keep both active at the same time, or...? Because even if Iraesta wasn't attracted to Minthara (which she very much is), she would never say no to sleeping with her in the vein of trying to get on her good side.

That being said, I also think Iraestra borders on being just as possessive as Minthara; she's owed the world and intends to take all that she can, after all. It's her right, carved into her face by the eye that she has given Lolth (she has a scar running across one eye and my headcanon is that she did so in a ritual intended to please her goddess/show her devotion. Which I'll also have to contend with how faithful Iraestra is and how clearly Minthara has abandoned their goddess hMMMM).

So poly is an interesting concept to play with for Iraestra, but I think it works because she would begin a fling with Astarion not thinking of him as an equal.

I have a lot to say about Iraestra and Astarion's relationship in general, especially with how Iraestra views men and surface elves (very much what you would expect of her upbringing).

I obviously already like Astarion as a player, but his line that triggers when you take him into the Underdark about vampires thriving down there really made me begin to think about Iraestra considering taking him back down there with her as a consort. That may even be my headcanon for when she really started to consider him as 'hers' internally. Ah yes, this one is very pretty, dangerous, and happy to go along with my multiple war crimes.

I feel like her relationship with Astarion begins as her viewing him as an incredibly useful asset. She finds him amusing and fun to look at the very least. She's not exactly...the best person ever, and doesn't have issues with drow-typical slavery, so her affection for non-drow probably leans more towards 'they're mine and I protect what's mine' in an unflattering way. I was joking with my friend that Astarion bucked off Cazedor's yolk just to get Iraestra instead.

Me: Yeah, he's still on a leash but don't worry! Iraestra has a gentler hand! And she would never make him eat bugs <33333 He's only allowed to feed off her so he's reliant on her uwu. Also why settle for swill when he could be having the finest wine in all the realms every night (Iraestra).

Astarion really went from from mansplain manipulate to girlboss gatekeep 😔 Is there potential for their relationship to bloom into something more real on both their ends? I think so. But I don't see Iraestra changing as a person, more just maybe growing to have real affection for Astarion and thinking of him as an exception, not the rule.

[absolutely-esme]

Monster!Tim Coraline AU Idea

This idea would not leave me alone.

It’s a cross between a meta!/magic!Tim au and a Coraline au.

Before I get into it, I feel like I should explain.  I was on a bit of an Eldritch!Batfamily and Cryptid!Batfamily kick.  Then I found a collection of supernatural Tim aus.  Then I stumbled across a Coraline au.  There’s probably also some inspiration in there from vampire au fics.

It didn’t really jell until the idea occurred to me of a scene where some frightened villain asks Tim “What kind of monster are you?” and Tim says “The hungry kind.”

...

The idea is that somewhere back along the way, Tim’s family tree includes some kind of supernatural creature which may or may not have been an eldritch entity.

The supernatural heritage allows Tim to acquire abilities from other entities he has defeated, and Gotham is absolutely full of the supernatural if you pay attention.

Of course, Tim’s power isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.  It actually comes packaged with some pretty nasty side effects.

One of those side effects is perpetual Hunger.  Tim is always Hungry.  There is no way to stop it.  He eats enough to stay healthy, but he still feels Hunger at all times.  Increasing his food intake will not help and will screw up his metabolism and cause him to need more for normal function.  If this was allowed to spiral out of control it could eventually reach a point where he was physically unable to eat the amount of food he needed to function and starved to death on a full stomach. 

Fixing it is stupid hard because this particular sort of magical inheritance is really fucking inconvenient.  And, of course, whatever is up with his biology also makes him insanely susceptible to addiction, so no coffee for him unless he wants caffeine withdrawal symptoms all the time for however long it takes to fix that.  The constant Hunger also makes it difficult to get enough sleep.  Have you ever tried to go to sleep on an empty stomach?  Not easy, was it?  Imagine that every night.

The Hunger is fairly central to the nature of the magic.  Whatever supernatural entity he’s descended from, it is the Hungry kind.  The ritual of defeating another supernatural entity, taking a bit of the defeated entity’s power, and incorporating it into himself serves as a sort of metaphorical devouring, (and metaphors matter more to magic than they do to normal biology).  That’s why he’s able to gain power and abilities from defeated foes. 

...

Tim’s relationship with his parents is complicated.  His supernatural heritage comes from his mother’s side of the family.  She did her best to teach him about it and how to cope with it, but a lot of knowledge was lost over the generations due to persecution forcing those like them into hiding more than once.  There may have been a few individuals who spiraled out of control and caused small-scale famines before losing their lives.  It only takes a few cases for people to decide that a specific category of people is simply not worth the risk of having around.  Janet always referred to herself and Tim (as well as anyone else sharing the condition) as “those afflicted with Gluttony.”  This is the closest they have to a name for the condition.

One of the important things Janet Drake teaches her son is to pursue his passions.  It is incredibly important for individuals like them to have things outside the self that they can draw satisfaction and fulfilment from, things that keep them going in the face of the relentless Hunger.  This is what leads Tim to his night-time photography of Gotham, and eventually to his fascination with the Bats. 

Janet’s passions are archeology and travel.  Unfortunately, traveling from dig site to dig site is not a particularly stable or safe environment to raise a child in.  She needs to do these things to remain in good health.  Without her external coping mechanisms, she could start spiraling.  If she starts spiraling, it might trigger her son to start spiraling too because children in their developmental years are delicate, and this type of hereditary magic is fucking inconvenient (there might be ways of managing things that make it easier to live with, but between the knowledge lost and the risks that come with experimentation, they don’t have much info on how anything works).  She comes home as much as she can without the risk of compromising both their health.

She also taught Tim how to calculate appropriate portion sizes based on nutritional data so as not to screw up his metabolism, and how to fix it if he does mess up.  She also stayed and managed the process the first time it happened because the process of returning the metabolism of one afflicted with Gluttony to normal after it’s gotten out of hand is difficult and unpleasant and Tim wasn’t old enough to handle it by himself.  The nanny that had overfed him hadn’t been malicious or unreasonable, she’d just been operating on the assumption that he had standard human biology.  It took months to get Tim healthy again.  It took several hefty bribes to keep things under wraps.  Janet doesn’t know if there are still people out there hunting their kind, but she’s not willing to risk it.

Janet may not know about the aspect of the family magic that lets them gain powers from defeating other entities.  It’s possible that she was holding off on explaining this until he was older and more ready for the responsibility of multiple superpowers.  It’s also possible that the knowledge got lost somewhere along the way and Janet didn’t discover it herself because she didn’t spend her childhood running around Gotham at night and was more the sort of person who would stay home and read when she had trouble sleeping.

...

Tim discovers his ability to gain abilities from defeating other supernatural things fairly early on.  The type of defeat can vary, but it has to be something of significance.  A fight will work for most, but there are other particular challenges that will work for specific cases.

The first things a young Tim is able to beat are these small things, invisible to most, that gain power from learning secrets.  What that power is used for, I couldn’t tell you.  They don’t seem to do much other than sneak around and learn secrets.  Tim doesn’t know if there’s a proper name for these things or not, but he calls them Secret Hunters.  They are absolutely everywhere in Gotham. 

Secret Hunters are invisible to most, but Tim is able to see them.  It might be because of his own supernatural nature, or it might be something else entirely.  If it’s hereditary it must have skipped his parents’ generation.  Neither of them seem to be able to see them.  Tim gains improved stealth and a sense for when something is hidden from catching Secret Hunters until they wise up and start avoiding him.  (Catching them works in place of a fight because secret hunters primarily operate on stealth and evasion.)

He can’t just magically know secrets, but he can tell when there is a secret.  (He still figured out Batman’s and Robin’s secret identities on his own merit.  The most this ability would have done is alert him to the fact that they had secret identities if that hadn’t already been obvious from the fact that they were wearing masks.)

He also gets various other abilities from other things he encounters while scrambling all over Gotham at night.  Nearly doesn’t get out of some of the scrapes he gets himself into.  He gains the ability to cut with his fingernails as if they were razors from something that nearly killed him.  He gains the ability to climb like a goat from a Jersey Devil.  Etc.

...

At some point, Tim is targeted by a beldam.  He doesn’t get the kind of warnings that Coraline does, but his ability to sense secrets lets him know that the Beldam is hiding something, and any child raised in any part of Gotham knows to be suspicious of things that seem too good to be true.  Tim doesn’t have a convenient seeing stone from the neighbor, but he does have the advantage of his own supernatural nature which the Beldam doesn’t know about.

Tim finds a button-eyed doll that looks like him after his parents leave on yet another trip, and thinks it’s a gift they meant to give him before leaving.  They do often bring interesting souvenirs.  It wouldn’t be at all unusual for them to find an artist who sews dolls to look like people and have one made based on pictures of him.  Later on, he discovers the key. 

This Beldam is older and more powerful than the one from Coraline.  She has more power and more past victims to work with, so she’s able to make a larger, more populated world. 

Oh by the way, I head-canon that the Other versions of people in the Other world are actually past victims of the Other Mother, remade and dressed up for whatever role she has them play.  The three ghosts were just the three most recent and not fully processed for use yet.  That’s why the Others are able to act against her sometimes (Other Wybie saving Coraline from the mirror, Other Father tossing the eye to Coraline) or say things she doesn’t want them too (Other Father says “so sharp you won’t feel a thing” and Other Mother kicks him under the table).

The Other Mother doesn’t know all that Tim knows, so the Other World has inconsistencies like Other Batman and Other Robin sitting across the table from Other Bruce and Other Jason.  She doesn’t know they’re the same people.  She just knows that they’re all important to Tim.  She also tries to tell him to “eat as much as he wants” when his real mother was the one to explain the dangers of attempting to eat to fullness for people with their condition.

There isn’t a cat to warn Tim but he doesn’t need it.  He can sense hidden intentions in everything, and he’s fully capable of uncovering the hidden secrets himself. 

Tim doesn’t have a cat, but he does have Other Robin, who might have been made from whatever remained of someone close to one of the people mirrored in the Other World made for Tim.  He doesn’t remember his life, but somehow he feels incredibly motivated to help a boy who cares dearly for whoever and is willing to let him know that they're living a good life out there in the real world.

Tim discovers the nature of the other world and sets out to free the souls trapped there.  He fights the Beldam will all the viciousness and desperation of someone who knows they’ve only got one shot.  He takes everything he can from this fight as he makes sure she won’t ever hurt anyone again.  He doesn’t stop until the beldam is well and truly dead.  Then he unravels Other Gotham and spills all of the souls out into the world where they can move on and rest.

This is how Tim learns to Sew.  He can’t make entire populated worlds like the beldam, but that’s mostly because he refuses to do what she did.  He can control things he’s made (though there’s limits on how much) and even see through buttons he’s sewn (onto cushions and such, he's not the Other Mother).  He also gets some minor illusory powers that let him make things look a bit brighter/nicer/cheerier than they are.  It takes quite some time before he’s comfortable with using these powers.  Trauma is a bitch like that.

Part of the reason this version of Tim was so desperate to do something about Batman losing it out of grief is because he already has Evil Batman trauma from Other Batman, and he doesn’t need that shit happening in real Gotham.

By this point Tim has a collection of powers that allow him to navigate the more dangerous parts of Gotham largely without fear.  Now he has to learn how to manage without using any that he isn’t one hundred percent certain he can sneak past Batman, which means he’ll have to divide his attention between learning from the training and not letting himself do things the supernatural way.  This is going to suck.

It does, in fact, suck.

Oh, it turns out some of the rogues are a bit supernatural.  He gains a bit of an intuitive understanding of the health of plants from Ivy.  He gains the ability to taste emotions from Scarecrow.  (Also, Johnathan Crane is a freaking weirdo, fear tastes like spoiled milk!)  The rogues with supernatural tendencies are freaking terrified of the new Robin because he always seems like he wants to freaking eat them.  The non-supernatural types don’t get it.

Eventually, Red hood breaks into Titan’s tower.  Tim, by this point, is very good at deciphering how supernatural entities work and is packing an extensive inventory of powers.  He realizes quickly that this is some kind of manipulative entity that feeds on rage and pain attached to an unwitting host.  When he realizes that the unknowing (and therefore unconsenting) host is Jason Todd, he tells the Lazarus Entity in no uncertain terms to give Jason back or perish.

Jason, who does not realize he has a malicious, mind-warping, supernatural parasite and believes there to be no one other than himself and Tim present, is understandably confused.

Tim decides that the Lazarus entity has had its chance and springs into action.

Jason is treated to the terrifying sight of just what Tim Drake is like when he’s not expending conscious effort on not being something out of a horror movie.  Suddenly he’s in the middle of a spider’s web and no matter how hard he tries to fight back everything around him is under the control of his opponent.  Furniture flies around on puppet strings.  Getting too close puts him in range of the freaking claws this kid apparently has!?  Trying to get away just leaves him caught in strings and the more he struggles the more entangled he becomes!  The new Robin is skittering and gliding around in a decidedly inhuman way. 

Jason honestly thinks he's going to die when he finds himself bound with Tim standing over him.  He passes out when Tim rips the Lazarus entity away from him and destroys it. 

Tim gains the ability to heal from defeating the Lazarus entity.

Jason is surprised and confused when he wakes up bundled in a handmade quilt with his head in Tim’s lap and a cool compress on his forehead, feeling sore but more well and whole than he has since before he died.

Jason later decides that his memories of the fight at Titans Tower must be some kind of weird fever dream caused by his body purging the last of the Lazarus Water from his system. It goes along with Tim's account of things.

According to Tim, Jason entered the tower, initiated a lock-down, and then collapsed on the floor. Then, Tim moved him closer to a wall where he was less likely to get stepped on than in the middle of the walkway and did his best to take care of him there because Jason was simply too large and heavy for him to carry all the way to the med bay by himself.

This is far more believable and less of a mind screw than what Jason remembers. Obviously this tiny, baby-faced kiddo who played nursemaid for a stranger who broke into the tower and now looks up at him with wide, starry eyes couldn't actually be the terrifying, predatory creature from the nightmare. It was all just a bad dream.

He's honestly glad he collapsed before he had time to do any harm. The poor kid will never have to know what Jason went there to do. Jason knows, though, and he'll do his damned best to make up for it. He may have flubbed first impressions, but he is going to be the best damn big brother that ever big brothered.

...

Tim might or might not go full on feral cryptid when Bruce is lost in the Timestream. I haven't decided. He will probably pick a fight with the Lazarus Pit much to the confusion and alarm of everyone around.

That’s all I’ve got so far.

[annes-andromeda]

⚠️Spoilers for Wish⚠️

While I am excited for/ planning to watch Disney’s Wish, I honestly wish (heh) they had gone with the original plan for Amaya’s character and made her a villain alongside Magnífico.

Like, I genuinely think it could’ve been cool to see them as partners in crime and be inspired by classic Disney villain traits: vain, narcissistic, power-hungry, cruel, and enjoyable to hate.

I could’ve seen their relationship as something similar to Scarlett and Herb Overkill from the Minions movie, where it’s two married villains who are clearly terrible people, but are still heads over heels for each other.

I’ve read the golden book and kids book of the movie that some people have uploaded on YouTube, and while those books tend to omit things from the actual film, they give us a basic synopsis of the overall story.

(SPOILERS FOR THE MOVIE BELOW)

——————

Essentially, the story ends with Magnífico being sucked into his staff, Amaya rules Rosas and Star gives Asha a wishing wand (essentially making her a Fairy Godmother sort of character mixed with elements of Snow White)

It’s a pretty basic, cut-and-dry story and I’m not saying I expected Shakespeare or whatever, but imagine how much better the story would’ve been with both Magnífico and Amaya as the villains:

The story could’ve been that the kingdom of Rosas was ruled by Magnífico and Amaya, who both seemed charming and generous on the outside, but were greedy and self-serving on the inside. They essentially didn’t care for anyone but each other.

I’d also add Amaya’s cat Charo from the concept art book, cause it think it would be cute that these two are absolute shitheads, but are still cat parents who spoil their cat and take it everywhere.

Anyways… Magnífico, like in the actual story, only granted the wishes that benefited him (and his wife), while the majority of wishes were stashed away in his tower.

Asha wants to become Magnífico’s apprentice and when introduced to the wishes, wants to grant her grandfather’s wish and finds the kings (and queens) whole wish-granting system unfair to the people (again, like the canon material).

The story would then go like the actual movie: Asha makes a wish on a Star and Magnífico sees her as a threat to his power and hunts her down (only with Amaya by his side).

I’d like to think that while Magnífico has his moments where his true personality shines, I feel like Amaya wouldn’t truly snap until the very end, having a little more composure than her husband (similarly to the Evil Queen or Maleficent or Ursula)

In the end, the King and Queen are defeated and banished into Magnífico’s staff. Asha is named the new Princess of Rosas (or Queen, whichever you prefer), and she actually joins the Disney Princess lineup and it’s not just advertisement. Like the real story, Star gives her a wand and Asha becomes the new wish-granter.

It’s not perfect, but I think it may have been more interesting and entertaining to see rather than the typical director the creators went with the story

These are just my thoughts, however, I’m still gonna watch the movie and see I think about it.

[fanstuffrantings]

I follow some people who talk about baldurs gate 3, and the way the fandom almost largely goes out of its way to babygirl everything astarion does while refusing to give the same leniency to the far less evil characters is baffling.

I feel like Gale, Wyll, and Lae'zel are the ones who often make this the most clear. Under the cut.

Whether it's because of the glitch pre console release or just a general refusal to engage with his story, people like to paint this picture of Gale being some Narcissistic abuser who is only ever power hungry. I've seen people try and justify mystra's actions. Now even if Gale was a young adult when Mystra came to him, Mystra is his goddess. She's in charge of the weave. She had so much more power over him, student/teacher and boss/underling relationships are so looked down upon because of that inherent power imbalance. And I think there's also an implication that this is relatively normal for all versions of mystra to do to younger men.

Elminster isn't free of criticism because he actively brought a young Gale to be groomed into becoming a pawn for Mystra. Gale gets discarded by mystra for his seeming ambition and wants to move on, but is also still desperate to please her in anyway he can, and she tells him to kill himself. I don't understand how people go through his plotline and see him believing the only way he's useful is dead and then just assume he's just power hungry. Is he a bit full if himself? Yes. He's a wizard. They're like that. But he's not the worst person in the world, and he's definitely not the one people should claim as the abuser in his relationship with Mystra.

People call Wyll boring, some paint this idea of him being holier than thou/looking down on everyone around him. Since he was 17 Wyll has given his whole life to protecting people and trying to be a hero. He's self sacrificial, thrown out by his father for making a pact he only made to save the city he adores. Wyll talks so much about baldurs gate. He wants to return.

Wyll has his body altered unwillingly for doing the right thing and yet he never once regrets it. He's made into a devil, the creatures so many of the npcs and companions loathe, for his kindness. He's constantly tricked and mocked by Mizora who we know from the game was sent by Zariel to corrupt a good hearted person. Even still, Wyll is a kind and honest man. He's charming and a bit cheesy but that's fine. Wyll can be incredibly self sacrificial and stubborn in his morals, but if you're running around doing mean things to impress Astarion, you can't blame Wyll for not liking your character and judging you. He's a hero of the people, of course he'd stand with them. We also need to remember he got so heavily redone that he has barely 6 hours of in-game content now. Which is abysmal compared to everyone else.

Lae'zel was raised by a cult, a cult that spans all her people where they're taught to bow and serve a lich queen who promises them glory if they're good enough. She can be harsh and unfriendly, but we need to remember she's the one most aware of what the tadpole can do and with that in mind we know she's very desperate to get things done and cure herself. Next to astarion she's the most evil aligned origins companion, and even still so much of that is due to being brainwashed into a certain belief.

Lae'zel in canon is the youngest companion, very early 20s and it often shows. She's a skilled warrior who doesn't see the need for statements that are already obvious. She's been beaten into shape and filled with ideas that unless she's perfect as the creche commands then she is worthless. She's scared and alone in act 1 with people who most likely don't care about it the same way she does. Lae'zel is imperfect like all the other companions, but if you're willing to accept that astarion is soft under all his bluster, why can't you do the same for Lae'zel?

I don't hate Astarion, I liked him a lot my first playthrough, he was my main romance. But the way the fandom ignores that he's definitely evil in act 1 and 2 because "I just don't see him that way", how people act like he's the only character in the cast who was abused when abuse and the cycles of it are the main theme of the game, how people willfully misunderstand his ascension ending and paint it as his good one when the writers state repeatedly it's not, the way the fandom will insult and demean other characters for jabbing at astarion's trauma but applaud him when he does the same exact thing, when they ignored his racism towards gnomes and gur (which is anti Romani racism repackaged). There's also a chance that in his time, Astarion was a corrupt politician, something making his death more complicated but also adding interest to it that a lot of his fans want to ignore to make him pure.

Astarion isn't perfect, none of the companions are. And they're not supposed to be. But his special treatment by fans is becoming so incredibly tiresome to see.

[stillwintering]

ACOTAR should be told as a modern political drama

The backstory:

Rhys is practically American political royalty. His father served 5 terms in the US Senate before his death. His grandfather had been a beloved governor. It was always expected of him to go into politics as well and run for office. Rhys' mother instead steered him towards the military (his parents had a tumultuous relationship and she didn't want him to be corrupted by politics before he found his moral compass and self-discipline -- Rhys had a wild and overly privileged youth). His father only agreed because having military experience is always good for running for political office later on in life.

Rhys meets Cassian and Azriel in college in ROTC. Rhys did not want to be there. Cassian grew up being passed from one foster home to another. It was through sheer determination and will that he was able to secure an ROTC scholarship to an elite college. Az grew up in a wealthy but neglectful home (he hated his parents who were abusive). He fell into ROTC because he wanted the comradery. The 3 of them became the bestest of friends, though they, of course, hated each other at first. After college, they enlisted together.

After serving 3 tours in the Middle East, Rhys returned home with PTSD. He meets Feyre around this time, and they quickly fall in love. They elope, much to Rhys' family's dismay (no prenup, the horror) but their elopement was attended by only the people Rhys and Feyre loved. Rhys wasn't sure he wanted to return to the military, but his relationship with Feyre made him realize that he wanted to make this world a better place for both her and their future children (around this time, Rhys mother and sister died in a horrific terror attack, and this also solidifies his determination to run for public office). He enters politics and becomes a congressman.

When we meet Rhys (this is where the story starts), he is contemplating a run for president. He had recruited his best friends (and blood brothers) to be on his campaign. Both Az and Cassian had stayed in the military after Rhys left. Cassian was a Colonel (he was on track to be promoted to Brigadier General). Az was working on military intelligence. Rhys needed people he trusted and they both said yes to help him.

The rest of the inner circle:

Amren - a political veteran, both feared and respected by everyone in Washington. She has successfully led countless successful national campaigns now. She helped Rhys with his first run as a freshman congressman and stayed on as his chief of staff. She is now his campaign manager. After Rhys and Feyre, Amren calls the shots.

Mor - Rhys recruits his cousin as his head of fundraising. Mor is blue-blooded as they come. She grew up in the same elite circles as Rhys, but unlike Rhys, she knows how to manipulate the power-hungry people around them (Rhys never had any patience with the aristocratic people they grew up with). Mor attended galas and state dinners all her life, and she knows everyone who is anyone. She was a political animal with a killer instinct.

Az - head of opposition research. His years in army intelligence have given him a vast network of contacts throughout Washington and in many foreign governments. Az knows everyone's dirty secrets and understands how filthy the political game is played better than anyone. Az has horrific scars on his hands and forearms from an injury he incurred when he was held as a prisoner of war for 6 months (Rhys and Cassian raized a town to the ground to get him back but Az never told them what happened and they don't ask).

Cassian - well, he doesn't know how he fits into Rhys' campaign, only that Rhys needed a deputy that he could trust completely. Cassian didn't hesitate when Rhys called - because Cassian knew Rhys would make a great president, because Cassian believed that Rhys could make the world a better place. Cassian doesn't understand politics the way the others do, but he is smart and capable. He knew he had to learn this job, quickly, on his feet.

(Rhys needs Cassian because Cassian is his moral compass - Cassian will always tell him if he has gone too far, or crossed a line, like he has always done for him even in their days as college kids. Cassian is fundamentally good in a way that Rhys knows he is not and knows he must be reminded of every day.)

Feyre is the heart of the campaign. She is the soft power behind Rhys' hard power. Feyre loves Rhys unconditionally and she would do anything to help him realize their dream of a better world.

Feyre knows someone is missing from their inner circle. She knows exactly who to call: Nesta, her estranged sister.

Nesta had made a name for herself as a writer and political commentator (she wrote a searing profile of the British Prime Minister for The New Yorker that was credited for making him lose the next election). When we meet her, Nesta is in the middle of working on a book - she has signed a big book contract but has not delivered a chapter yet. Her editor is hounding her constantly. Feyre wants Nesta to join the campaign as communication director since she has all the media contacts. Nesta couldn't turn down a front-row seat to one of the most compelling political stories of the year: a promising young US congressman with a dream running a long-shot campaign for president.

Nesta reluctantly joins Rhys campaign. She doesn't like Rhys at first and is constantly challenging him and his leadership. She is not sure if Rhys will make a good president (she will come around later though). Nesta is trying to figure out the dynamic of the inner circle as she works (but also because she wants to write a book about them).

The one person who infuriates her to no end is Cassian - everything from his stupid hair to his swaggering muscles. Amren keeps putting them together on projects (at one point, they go to Iowa together to set up a field office and end up sharing a hotel room because this has to be a romcom after all). Cassian finds Nesta equally exasperating but he also recognizes immediately that he is in deep trouble (at one point, Cassian ropes Nesta into training for a half marathon and Nesta cannot stop staring at his chest and Cassian cannot stop thinking about the way her cheeks flush and how she pants at the end of the workout).

Of course, Cassian and Nesta fall in love. That's going to be the story to tell.

Should I write this or what?

[gurorori]

bein' completely honest here i have considered npd shu be4 soooo often cause the. the shoe fits (laugh please), i feel like his past & family environment cld really serve as a push, in the end cluster Bs r all jus' sets of survival & coping tactics ya adopt into yr personality as a result of unjust treatment & trauma <- this is true

nawt 2 armchair diagnose him but like we shall go over sum npd traits. cause we kno here it ain't jus' high self esteem (when the opposite is usually evident)

↓↓↓

intentionally or nawt i feel like exvalk shu especially fits the npd mold like dat was his entire character conflict /lh (i miss him)

> a grandiose sense of self-importance

need i say anythin'. listen 2 like the first shu voiceline in ! it was literally 'i am the emperor of ymnsk academy'. .. doesn't he also go as far as 2 declare himself the god of this world? like ''kono sekai no kami da' i remember dat. oh & how much stronger & imposin' his timbre was compared 2 how much softer his voice is rn. he was very much self-focused even though it manifested thru valkyrie, he was distinctly treatin' the unit as his creation & his own creation only. the focus on the self is very real

> a preoccupation with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love

i feel like if ya know shu ya will nod away at every single one of these cause. pre-fall valk <- dat wasn' even a fantasy, i feel like he was really narc-thrivin' back then cause it was the reality, they WERE on top. (srry if ya came here 4 thorough analysis i don' do that round here i jus' show ya smth & we both nod solemnly) success, power, brilliance, beauty, even ideal love (shnz wink?) - exvalk shu is both a perfectionist & a maximalist i think he craved it all, an' even when he has achieved great success he jus' can't get enuff, leadin' him 2 get overconfident 2 the point where he was /dat/ oblivious 2 his own (& valkyrie's, but at dat time he saw valkyrie as himself only, & the rest as just an extension, a tool) imminent demise practically laid out in front of him.

> a belief that he or she is special and unique and can only be understood by, or should associate with, other special or high-status people or institutions

this guy?

the guy who calls the general public philistines & views ppl who don' adhere 2 the same high standards he holds 4 himself imbeciles?

> a need for excessive admiration

the 'go on, praise me more!' guy? it might seem at first like he'd b too prideful 2 outright ask 4 external validation but if ya really look a bit into it, he's very reliant on it.. i think it gets amplified by bein' an idol too, bein' very self conscious of yr image. ofc mr oshisan wld find himself in a field where the entire point is 2 b the center of attention & appraisal.

> a sense of entitlement

i think this jus' circles back 2 every other point i made...!!!! exvalk shu is control & acknowledgment hungry. he wants 2 step on n crush the skulls of every1 who is unworthy & soar thru the skies on the mechanical wings of valkyrie.. or wtv. he is intensely focused on his goal 2 the point of tunnel vision cause he fully believes himself 2 deserve the throne. no1 else can b above him. he despises 'commoners' & those below him yet who brought him all the recognition & glory? wats the expression? rest on yr laurels? dunno if 'm usin' it correctly!!!

i also hope i don' come off as dramatisin' too much. like ik marionette is literally jus' one story but i feel it dat much stronger, i guess. 4 (introject) reasons. i hope these things don' read as a huge stretch.

> interpersonally exploitive behavior

> a lack of empathy

> envy of others or a belief that others are envious of him or her

gettin' lazy. i feel like this cld jus' b self explanatory... i don' wanna go in depth into every single one 4 shu, esp cuz. ya don' need every single criteria 2 match. 4 a diagnosis. but if ya have any specific moments 4 this one feel free 2 add on 👍🏼

> a demonstration of arrogant and haughty behaviors or attitudes

[kaira-diaries]

Chapter One: A Senators Retreat

Part One of: The Heiress's Dilemma

Note: this story is over on Wattpad under kairadiaries

Warnings: threats of death/attempted SA

story summary: Elara Voss, a former galactic senator, finds herself at the heart of a crisis that threatens her family's legacy and the very essence of their honor. As she grapples with the fallout of her decline in the political world, she's forced into hiding with a mysterious bounty hunter. Together, they embark on a perilous journey to retrieve a relic that holds the key to Voss's redemption while avoiding enemies at every turn. Little did she know, this journey would unlock the emergence of a love she never saw coming and leave her stronger than she ever was before.

****

The scorching twin suns of Tatooine shone relentlessly over the desert terrain, where the ever-shifting sands concealed the echoes of ancient legends and the remnants of forgotten civilizations. It was uncharted, unexplored and your court hadn’t ever found much use in it.

You cursed yourself now, as you rode with purpose on the back of a speeder bike, guided by a cryptic message that led you to the outskirts of a small settlement. Your destination, marked by the silhouette of weathered buildings, appeared like a mirage on the horizon. You flexed your gloved fingers, tightening them on the handles of the bike, weary in fear of the unknown monsters that lurk in the dried elements of the sand dunes.

The heat was oppressive, even at high speeds, offering a consistent gust of wind. You lick your lips, in hope of relieving them of the painful exhaustion of the breeze, only to find them painfully chapped.

You wipe your soaked brow, frustrated.

As the young senator of a newly constructed Mandalore, you were acutely conscious of the risks inherent in your position, accepting the inevitability that one day those risks might escalate to a critical juncture. And maker, did they.

Reflecting on the incident, you recalled the sequence of events that pushed you to the brink..

The elegant corridors of the Galactic Senate echoed with the usual hum of political discourse, but an undercurrent of tension continued as you navigated the complex dance of diplomacy. Your recent outspoken stance on independent capabilities had earned both allies and adversaries, and the shadows of political intrigue had begun to cast a threat over the once-groundbreaking career that continued your family lineage with pride and success.

You championed the strengthening of the independence of the new Mandalore, advocating for a course that emphasized self-reliance and sovereignty.

As the weight of political responsibility rested on your shoulders, the stakes were high. The decisions you made and the path you charted in the turbulent waters of politics weren't just about the fate of Mandalore; they were intertwined with the survival and prosperity of your family name. The honor and legacy of generations rested on your ability to navigate the complexities of the political arena, making every move with the awareness that the consequences reached far beyond the confines of the Senate chamber.

History revealed the tragic chapter as The Empire, hungry for power and resources, swiftly destroyed Mandalore. You aimed to showcase that those oppressed by the Empire could rise up, demonstrating resilience and returning stronger than ever.

The galaxy needed it. Even with the Empire gone, leaving vast worlds in a painful quest of putting themselves back together, witnessing a disintegrated race like Mandalore resurrected would serve as an inspiration for countless others. The resurgence of Mandalorians wouldn't merely be a regional triumph; it would be a symbol of hope, showcasing the spirit of a people determined to rebuild against all odds

Opposing factions within the Senate grew uneasy. Splitting the room in half. The delicate balance and inclusion you sought to maintain became a source of contention. Whispers of dissent circulated, painting a target on your back.

Your heart hadn't understood why, until it did. Hidden agendas. In the intricate web of galactic politics, there were always clandestine forces with their own agendas. However, now, those forces ran counter to Mandalore's independence. These unseen actors viewed you as a threat to their interests. You were wise enough to understand why. Many had sought to control such a powerful culture. They sought to build armies, utilizing such skills to get what they wanted. Yet, in your heart, after years of growing up on Mandalore and witnessing its downfall, you knew Mandalorians were more than mercenaries or hired killers. The essence of Mandalorian culture ran deep, rooted in honor, resilience, and a sense of identity that transcended the manipulations of those who sought to exploit it.

An anonymous transmission reached your quarters the very next day after your proposal. A distorted voice, shrouded in secrecy, warned you of the consequences of pushing for disarmament. The chilling words hinted at a well-orchestrated assassination attempt, sending a shiver down your spine.

In the following days, the threat manifested in subtle but unnerving ways. Unmarked speeders trailed you on your way to the Senate, and ominous messages were left in your private quarters. Mercenaries, clad in armor appeared on the periphery, their intentions veiled in mystery. It became clear that your dedication had disrupted the delicate equilibrium of power, provoking a reaction from those who preferred the status quo of criminal activities.

The heat of the two suns beating down on your head brought you back, no doubt burning your scalp.

Your heart sensed the presence of evil in these sands, a chilling warning that whispered of the nefarious forces entwined with this desolate planet.

Despite your current complaints, you still found yourself on the run, guided solely by coordinates that promised to lead you to the only bounty hunter willing to protect you — for a considerable price.

Approaching the settlement, you couldn't help but observe the paradoxical signs of life emerging from the decay that surrounded it. Amidst the dilapidated structures, a more vibrant building stood out, teeming with signs of life. Hopping off the speeder, you approached cautiously, a silent mantra urging you to maintain your composure.

As you stepped inside, your gaze lowered, and you observed the beeping of your navigation system. It confirmed that the coordinates precisely aligned with the building—a bustling bar.

The pulsating rhythm of the music reverberated through your entire being as you entered. Dancers skillfully adorned tabletops, their energetic performances earning them credits from the inebriated patrons who surrounded them. The ceilings, surprisingly high, were adorned with breathtaking chandeliers that cast a warm glow across the lively scene. A silent prayer passed through your mind, hoping those chandeliers weren't made of glass, as the energetic beats threatened to dislodge them from the ceiling.

Two bar tops came into your line of sight, each stool occupied by customers reveling in the vibrant atmosphere. The incongruity of such a lively scene in the heart of what seemed to be a deserted area lingered in your thoughts, adding an air of mystery to the situation.

The lively ambiance surrounding you seemed to heighten your sense of exposure and vulnerability, leaving you with an unsettling feeling of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The crowd and the thriving atmosphere made you suspicious that a bar like this could be a hotspot for dealings and underground businesses. And the nagging question echoed in your mind: Why did the coordinates lead you to this particular place?

The realization struck you then—self-defense hadn’t been in your skill sets for years, you’d hardly remembered a thing.

A heavy weight settled on your chest, you were on your own right now, making every breath feel like a struggle and fear gnawed at you, the thought of being an easy target for criminals skyrocketed the sense of terror.

You compelled your legs to retreat toward the entrance, and as you moved backward, you collided with a rock-hard chest. A pair of large hands firmly gripped your shoulders, halting your retreat.

"Well, well. What do we have here?" Your body was swiftly spun around, and you found yourself face to face with a man whose eyes gleamed a vivid purple. "You are just darling." His pointer finger traced a line across your cheek. "What's your price, sweetheart?" A gasp escaped you in sheer terror. "Oh, I'm not a—"

He silenced you with a shush, a finger coming to rest on your lips. You recoiled from the overwhelming scent of alcohol that clung to him. "Oh, but we all are, sweet thing. We just sell different parts of ourselves."

Your heart sank into the pit of your stomach as he attempted to drag you toward the back room. Summoning every ounce of strength, you will yourself to fight back, pushing him away with all your might. In the struggle, you remained oblivious to the fact that your once-tight long-sleeved tunic was being torn apart by his prying hands.

"There you are," a voice called out. It had a filtered, almost droid-like quality, devoid of any discernible human emotion.

You and the inebriated man turned, your eyes landing on a tall Mandalorian in silver armor that gleamed like a freshly minted coin under the bright lights of the bar.

He approached with large, purposeful steps, reaching out to pull you away by the arm. "I've been looking for you," he said, looking up at the man, "thank you for finding her for me." Your attention snapped toward the man, who seemed to have sobered up instantly at the sight of the formidable bounty hunter. You recognized the unmistakable look of terror in his eyes as he hastily scattered off into the crowd.

Slowing your breathing, you became aware of the rip in the collar of your shirt. Before you could utter a word, the bounty hunter skillfully guided the two of you out of the bar and into an empty alley.

He gripped your shoulders, leaning down. "Are you okay?" You nodded.

He stood back up straight, with a sigh, he said " We need to get out of here.." His eyes scanned the surroundings, vigilant for any potential threats, and you took the opportunity to thoroughly inspect him. His helmet gleamed under the twin suns, reflecting their radiant beams. Clad in the all too familiar beskar armor that shined like it was freshly forged, he looked well-equipped, armed to the teeth with an arsenal of weapons.

After giving careful consideration to staying out of sight, given the bar situation, the two of you navigated the desolate town with caution, making your way towards his ship stationed on the other side. He handed you his soft brown cowl, and you wrapped it around yourself, concealing your face and the large tear in your shirt that exposed too much of your chest.

After what felt like an abundance of twists and turns, you finally arrived at his ship, and it appeared grand—much larger than any ships you'd ever seen back on your planet. The awe on your face was undeniable, and you stumbled up the ramp into the hull. Inside, you observed a spacious armory stocked with just about every gun known to man. Small living quarters, a bathroom, and storage containers filled with maker knows what.

You barely noticed the Mandalorian brush past you. He was swift, shutting the ramp, and climbing up the ladder into what you assumed was the cockpit. A moment of indecision hung in the air—do you follow or stay down in the hull? You didn't want to be in his way, but your curiosity outweighed your judgment, and you found yourself climbing the ladder after him.

The cockpit was compact as you came upon it, adorned with expansive windows that offered the bounty hunter an extensive field of perception. Taking a seat in the co-pilot position, you broke the everlasting silence, "Your beskar looks newly forged." The remark, perhaps could be taken as admiration or scrutiny, acknowledged his pristine condition.

Punching in coordinates and lifting off, the bounty hunter deftly switched to autopilot. Swiveling his chair, he looked at you. "Yes," he affirmed. You hummed, an uplifting smile tugging at your lips, crossing your legs with your hands in your lap- a habit. "I've never seen such a signet. A mudhorn, isn’t it?" You paused, your gaze fixating on the symbol adorning his shoulder. A potent representation of identity, "I'm glad to know after all this time signets still remain," you remarked, expressing a sense of gratefulness. He sat still, his head turned towards you. If he sought to uncover more about your knowledge you hadn't known, he gave no indication. After a brief moment, he swiveled back around, the enigmatic figure maintaining a stoic demeanor.

With his gloved hands hovering over the controls, he remarked, "You're a senator."

It wasn't a question, but a statement that hung in the air.

You hummed. "I was.” The simplicity of your response carried a weight. You dug your chin comfortably into your shoulder, finding solace in the connection between you and the expanse of space around you. The wondrous streaks of starlight zipped by every second, a mesmerizing display.

Continuing, you said,"Until the beliefs I had for the greater good of my planet made me look like a fool..made my family name look weak," you lamented, revealing the profound impact of your convictions on the legacy that preceded you.

"Last I checked, honoring your beliefs is anything but weak," the Mandalorian stated, his voice resonating with a firm belief that underlined the strength found in unwavering principles. His claim reflected his culture, your culture, one that esteemed honor above all else.

"Try telling that to the rest of the Senate. Most of them have their hands so dirty that any threat of exposure to their underground workings will send you six feet under," you remarked, your tone tinged with a cynical acknowledgment of harsh realities. "The greater good of the galaxy means shit to these people." The weight of your words lingered, encapsulating the system where self-interest often overshadowed noble ideals.

Silence rang in the air after that. The Mandalorian sat still as a statue, and you only stared out the windows at the shooting stars, counting as many as you could. What occupied your thoughts, though, was what the future held for you. Your mind bounced a mile a minute from question to question—would you be on the run forever? Would you eventually fall prey to those who sought bloodshed? Would this Mandalorian stay true to the deal? Senator or not, things are different now; alliances change. For the first time in a long time, you felt that sense of hopelessness you hadn't experienced since that night of destruction. The uncertainty of the path ahead weighed heavily on your shoulders, providing a palpable tension in the silent journey through the cosmos.

****

[satan-chillin]

Monstrous

Instead of the next virgin to be sacrificed in his temple, Melkor met an opportunistic human sorcerer. (Ice Dragon Melkor & Human Sorcerer Mairon)

For Angbang Week Day 6: Temples

Also in Ao3

❅ ❅ ❅

Of all the things to happen today, Melkor did not expect the meal that awaited him in his temple to fight back. 

A strong blaze immediately met his face the moment he stepped in, burning his frozen scales with a hiss. He blinked against the sudden cloud of steam, and the next thing he knew, there were hot chains encircling his feet and another that latched onto a talon of one of his wings. Except the scalding links were not what bound him in immobility but an impressive binding array drawn on the ground with neat strokes. Idly, Melkor recognized the archaic runes used by northern monks, while some were from the experimental spells common from rare sorcerers hailed from the free folk of the south. 

Melkor heard an unwavering chant of a hymn, the words ancient though not entirely unfamiliar, and it made one wonder how they could be fluently recited by a mere human.

For it could only be a human and not one of those Holy Ones who had long given up in their quest to eradicate him from this world. Melkor would have felt if it was one of the Higher or the Lower Heralds, and only they had real strength as shown by their power and beauty. 

But, oh, this one came very, very close. 

A man who sported a crown of short red curls that gleamed with the warmth of the glowing fire stood outside the circle of the array. This close, Melkor could see the glow of his eyes: deliciously golden but brighter than any of the treasures in his hoard. His austere demeanor did not diminish his fair visage one bit, captivating and severe, and in his present immovable state, Melkor wanted. 

“Well, well.” His murmurs were but a boom in this human’s ears, but Melkor was not granted even a flinch. “Where have they been hiding you, little one?”

The sorcerer raised an eyebrow, inclining his head. The slight gesture had one of the twin long curls of red locks fall delicately past a shoulder. “Who said I’ve been hiding?”

Melkor’s hum was a gust of cold wind. “I suppose they are saving you for the last, hm.” Now he was considering whether to eat this one at all or not. Decisions, decisions.

It seemed to have struck a nerve. “I didn’t come here to be a sacrifice,” he spat. “If you are hungry, your virgin is waiting at the foot of the mountain. She seems to be under the impression that I’m here to save her hide.”

“And what is your purpose here, little flame?” Melkor asked amusedly. 

“It depends,” the sorcerer said nonchalantly, seemingly unaware of Melkor’s magic gradually overriding the weakest part of the array. That, or he cared none at all. “If I get to kill you, I get your treasure, the prestige of slaying a dragon, and an entire village owing me for generations.”

Melkor was now grinning with all of his teeth. “You think you can kill me.” 

The sorcerer scoffed, though he seemed fairly amused himself. “Oh, no. I’m not that delusional, I’m afraid.” He nodded vaguely at Melkor’s bindings. “But I am confident where my strengths are and where my expertise lies. Sure, it will be to my immense fortune to finish you for good, but weakening you will be enough,” he replied smoothly, arrogantly. “One of your scales and a part of your treasure are valuable on their own. So are a few vials of your fresh blood that I can sell or use for my experiments.”

Against himself, Melkor laughed, a harsh and freezing sound that brought back the chill of his cave. Even more fascinating was the dirty look on this daring sorcerer who appeared offended. 

“Peace, little sorcerer. I mean not to offend,” Melkor said placatingly. “You are rather exceptional, aren’t you? You obviously cared not for the human sacrifices nor for ending the tradition and are admirable in your self-serving goals. Unfortunately—ah, this doesn’t seem fitting. Hold.”

Melkor allowed a bright inner light to envelope him before morphing into a much smaller form. More mannish, though with a stature that remained towering over the human sorcerer. 

The chains slackened and fell on the ground, shattering into a thousand pieces after frost had bitten through the metal links. 

“Your bindings are effective, little one, that much I can admit, but effective only with dragons and not in this shifted form,” Melkor told him graciously, his lesser voice sounding odd and long-unused. He stood with two legs, testing his fingers and opposable thumbs. His nails remained sharp and blackened at the tips, and on his shoulders was a soft spill of dark hair. 

It was not his favorite shape, its features mostly he couldn’t change. The ugliest one, he was wont to call it, for he had seen his appearance and did not like it one bit, less so when he had dared show it once to a human child that used to frequent his halls and had been shunned for it. The sorcerer expected the might and monstrosity of a dragon, certainly, and not—

Melkor paused suddenly, blinking at the strange reaction of the human that was neither from fear nor anger for the dismissal of his abilities, but rather…

If he knew any better, he would call it awe. 

As if caught off-guard, the human cleared his throat haltingly. “You have a human form,” he said flatly, almost begrudging. 

“I’m guessing you were not told,” was Melkor’s dry response. 

The sorcerer snorted, and, strangely, held Melkor’s eyes before his gaze boldly roamed over this shape. Without an ounce of fear, he approached with sure steps, his head coming up right under Melkor’s chin. 

“I was not told of your beauty outside your true form.”

A blank reaction was what Melkor could only muster in reply, somehow freezing him on the spot and unable to shake himself from the warm hold when the sorcerer reached to lay his palms against his chest. 

“Change of plans,” he said to Melkor in a sweet whisper that stirred a long-forgotten sensation from within. “Teach me your sorcery, and my loyalty will be yours.”

A tempting offer, one that Melkor was hard-pressed to agree to when those warm hands began their caress. “Your name,” he said in a rasp, “I will have it first.”

“Mairon,” the human sorcerer gave away easily, punctuated with a soft gasp that indicated the formation of a bond. It left no room for doubt in Melkor that it was his true name, and yet Mairon was unafraid of the power that Melkor would have over him from then on. “And what else would you have of me, My Lord?”

Melkor found the brazenness honestly quite endearing, and with a sly grin, promised, “I can think of something.” 

[sycopomp]

Barula and Pich? 👁

HELLO MY DEAR ROANOAKS, ALWAYS LOVELY TO SEE YOU IN MY INBOX <33

YES!! Barula and Pich are characters that @rainboopz and I have, in her setting of "The Sea King's Mermaid"! It's an Asian fantasy set unda da sea 🎶 and she's actually going to be publishing a website on it soon so everyone can learn more about the world and lore!! 👀

But for Bich specifically, these two have become just. two of our favorite bastards. And bastards they are-- irredeemable, absolute, bastards.

Barula is General of the North Sea, and Pich is General of the West Sea. Illicit affairs with your enemy? Oh my. It's more of an "enemies with benefits" situation going on, but they're also pretty friendly when their seas aren't actively at each other's throats (and even sometimes when they are lmAO). They swap notes on interrogation techniques, boast about victories, gossip like a pair of old grannies, and in general make themselves a pain in everyone else's asses.

Neither of the other Generals really like them-- of course Barula hates Chihaya, considering they're a shark, though their general demeanor and personality grates on his nerves as well. He did manage to take one of their teeth after an unfortunate… accident… led to Chihaya going into a blood frenzy-- which Barula was quick to put an end to, and he sure as shit never lets anyone forget that he bested a crazed shark General.

On the flip side, he doesn't mind Minseok… but he is salty that he's never bested the guy in any of their spars. He's General of the South, which Barula mostly considers a joke since all they really do is party. How the hell does a leafy seeahorse of all things, from the happy-go-lucky kingdom of all places, defeat him? General of the North, the most battle-hungry and warmongering kingdom in the seas, infamous even in his own right for being one of the most formidable warriors in the history of the four kingdoms. What the fuck!!

We haven't done as much on the Advisors of the four seas, but the North Sea Advisor, Hoaxuan, is also mine and they Do Not Get Along. But Hoaxuan doesn't get along with anyone in the North. (Wonder why...)

As you could probably tell, Barula is mine, so I can talk for him about hoouuuuurs. He's a striped dolphin with a hate-on for sharks, he's way smarter than anyone assumes from such a brute, and he shamelessly takes advantage of the privilege and authority afforded to him by his position. He worked damn fucking hard to reach the top, and like hell he isn't going to enjoy it to the absolute limit. His Emperor couldn't give less of a fuck either; Ganbold is a temperamental, stubborn, self-righteous old lung that, if anything, encourages Barula's abuses of power-- so long as it serves to strengthen the North (or at least its image). I mean, the Emperor himself doesn't seem to care much for doing shit by the book, so why the hell would Barula? (They're a hell of a pair tbh, enabling back and forth lmAO.) However, their closer relationship doesn't mean Barula is blind to Ganbold's flaws, and even he gets fed up with those divine temper tantrums. But part of his job is shutting up and obeying, and he doesn't really care about the motivations behind being sicced on someone by his Emperor, hehehe.

I have a playlist for Barula, appropriately titled "Barulastard," with such songs as "Animals (Cover)" by Living in Fiction, "Animal in Me" by Solence, "Move Your Body" by My Darkest Days, "Detonate" by Black Math, "Between Breaths" by Blaqk Audio, and "Limbo" by Freddie Dredd. It's about the vibes, man.

You can learn more about Barula on my Toyhouse: https://toyhou.se/21387196.barula

And Pich's Toyhouse is over here: https://toyhou.se/12707449.pich They have a lot of wickedsauce art by Rain, so plsplspls go check them out I'm not normal about them I love them.

(They'll both be getting updated bios for the website to keep all the TSKM bios uniform too, so look forward to that hehe.)

If you have any other questions about (or for) Barula, pls send 'em my way because he's my favorite bastard. (Or Minseok! He's also mine, tho he is not a bastard. His bio is a WIP but we just did some work on his lore recently and I'm sooooo in love with him rn.)

[habunshu]

just read an interview sara hess did recently and she’s talks about aegon and him raping dyana and the way this entire thing reads is just so…..not to mention in the same interview she throws daemon under the bus and says he’s a bad father when the episode she wrote she chose to cut out the scenes with him comforting his daughters and chose to add in how he ignores rhaena

[saying this all having seen ep10 leaks, and saying this all with words from HBO that they plan to release a “pristine cut” from earlier today- whatever that means, so by the time this “cut” is released some mass-disliked moments may have been retconed or scenes added]

[mention of SA, R*pe in regards to Aegon’s writing]

[mention of traumatic childbirth and death from childbirth]

I have so many many thoughts about not only Sara Hess but the whole writing team. This is LONG, and thank u very much for sparking my thoughts with this ask!

HOTD has, fallen out a lot with me post episode 5/6, I remember thinking what a fantastic start it was off to when I watched episode 1, and the moment it’s established that the writers and directors are NOT collaborating between episodes, and each hold very different understandings of each character they portray- it’s become a quick recipe for disaster. Im not going to nitpick every part of the season, I’m well aware this show plans to overarch multiple seasons, but I am still going to discuss it from a standalone story due to how long each season takes to produce.

1. Complications from writing teams, and contrasting GRRM’s base material:

HOTD and F&B being separate narrative points and existing as different validity tales is something that is perfectly fine, I am used to discussing validity of secondary reports of historical content through my degree, and HOTD is a very good medium (as it is VISUAL instead of written) of attempting to show this tale from inside the House itself- what dissonance occurs is due to fondness over the staple violence and power hungry violence of these Westeros Nobles that creates interesting fantasy grandeur. A lot of people enjoy spectating these awful powerful people commit horrible acts in their own interests and family allegiances; Cersei, Daemon, Otto, and others are fascinating anti-heroes and antagonists due to their setting to allow for large-scale atrocities to physically vent their ambitions and goals.

The Dance of The Dragons (in the Books) is this horrific and tragic death for petty self importance, untreated family trauma and paranoid self-hardening that continues and grows with each generation of the Courts is bound to snap on-top of someone’s shoulders at some point, just around 80 years of RELATIVE “peace” under King Jaehaerys I and Viserys I (55+26 if i’m not mistaken). And such a King born of peace wanting to prolong it (Viserys I) is almost a perfect breeding ground for power hungry leeches to start grappling for the Throne (Otto).

So when the bricks start to crumble and we have expectations of drama and bloodshed, true to GRRM’s writings, it’s not a change in certain plot points that is objectively bad (some are better- Sara Hess respects Laena as a woman of 2 Valyrian Houses dying of her own wish instead of before she can on the staircase), it’s misconceptions of what purpose each character serves between writers that makes each episode clunky, snowballing into the season looking like a puzzle I slapped together from mis-matched pieces I found my desk draw.

Almost all characters if not between back to back episodes, from the beginning to the end of the season have moments that straight up do not make sense compared to who they are established as.

This reaches a more frustrating point when we see the overarching trend of almost all Female main characters be softened and be removed of their personal wants. (In the Books) Rhaenyra and Alicent are two amazing narrative foils; Entitlement vs Want, Power (Dragons) vs Intelligence. These are two women who have lost their childhood sense of female unity and joint suffering, with their in-book ages, Rhaenyra looses an older female figure and Alicent looses a companion and a major representation of her own lost girlhood.

When Alicent becomes just a high-strung pawn for her father, her son placed on the throne without her involvement or knowledge, still holding onto her girlhood she becomes a beautiful tragic figure and Olivia does he’s SO MUCH justice- but at the cost of her being this beautiful antagonist and individual.

When Rhaenyra becomes with unsure and overwhelmed girl-heir, becomes someone who only began to learn the knowledge a monarch requires at her late teens instead of being named heir before she was 10, she’s no longer a strong Targaryen that wants what she has been told her whole life is hers- but a bumbling princess who is asking for permission to wear her fathers crown.

Rhaenys, Baela and Rhaena are moved aside and the young daughters of Laena are given barely any content besides smiling politely. Helena I will say seems relatively untouched, we see a girl in her own solitude with a mother who gave birth way too young and doesn’t know how to be one. A true tragic figure after being sentenced to being a royal womb and looses her child over evening the scales-

[EP10 LEAK- RETCON OR CORRECTION ON OFFICIAL RELEASE UNKNOWN] If Aemond does end up a Kinslayer by technically, Vhagar attacking in retaliation with him being unable to control her after Lucerys in turn doesn’t control Arrax spitting fire first when fleeing to return to his mother. It does work in favour of Aemond being subjected to harsh consequences for either defending himself or completely against his wishes. But again we loose what is one of the most vicious combatants of the civil war, as well as the intent of Helena loosing her own child not matching up. “A Son for a Son”, but to even it out Helena’s child needs to die by accident in return. This also contrasts Aemond’s character of a bloodthirsty prince, he WANTS Lucerys dead, his own half-nephew took his eye, why does he care that the Baratheon wants blood outside of his home instead of infront of him. He’s the Kings Brother, Rider of Vhagar.

This change of intent to misunderstandings does create its own dynamic, but the lack of a cohesive plot and character purpose creates this mess that takes the Dance from:

“This family have become horrifyingly self-entitled and power-drunk due to their dragons, and will do whatever to fulfil their own wants, even killing the Dragons they owe their power to. There is a division between Kin and Family and Kin will be sacrificed if one can gain from it.”

To: “The Sheer Number of Aegons and lack of critical thinking has made so many deaths meaningless.”

The writers seem so scared of writing women with intent and purpose and power, Rhaenyra was a dragon rider at 7, 6 years before the youngest rider before her, we haven’t seen her on Syrax since Daemon steals an egg, we have powerful female Targaryens in-universe, Visenya is right there. Women in the show are mothers or soon to be married and mothers, Rhaenyra has no combat experience as a NAMED HEIR.

2. Sara Hess

She is uh, sure is something of a writer, knowing she’s responsible at least in part of EP6 and EP9 does make sense. She’s got a lot of not great comments and understandings of characters, that does do them a disservice.

The biggest offender (pun intended) is Aegon II, very surprising for a woman to romanticise such a horrific abuse of power and male identity that leads to (as Alicent implies this is not the first time he commits these acts on screen) the SA and worse of a handmaiden, and attempt to paint it as a misguided action of love. Aegon II as a character is a great way to show “A female heir could be perfect, Rhaenyra could be perfect; but will still be tossed aside in favour of a male heir that is abominable, horrible and a stain to his family’s legacy”

Is he given an unfair hand at the blatant favouritism of Viserys? yes. Is he forced into a position that he has no desire to be in until he is either:

1. In the books told that a formidable blood-spilling Rhaenyra will kill her opposition (his family and children) for the crown.

2. In the show dragged to his coronation, crying as he walks the Dragon pit, taking a position he KNOWS his father never once delegated to him.

Tom Glynn-Carney does a PHENOMENAL job with the material he is provided and tasked to act out. We can gain sympathy for him in both narrative chains without the romanticism of SA and r*pe, Tom SHOWS us a young man who turns to alcoholic tendencies due to the obvious fact his father only considers himself to be a father of one, and the fact that his mother has near infinite complex relationship with motherhood as a manipulated childbride and replacement wife that doesn’t even compare to the First Queen to her husband.

Aegon is heavily spoilt and misguided and starved of normal parents, and even as a horribly sexist man of power we can find nuance in him. Sara Hess does him a disservice by saying he “loved” Dyana, if you want to write him as a sympathy figure regarding his own love outwards, it is already there in his DISINTEREST in Helaena, the choice to not want to love is a better rebellion against all his representation of love that he’s grown up with.

“Do you (Mother) Love me?” is a tragic line, it drives sympathy in itself as her firstborn son knowing she is merely 16 years older than him, not even 40 at the time of his coronation. Why make this about him r*ping a woman instead of the complex relationship the family knows Alicent has about motherhood and the loss of her own life at age 16 when Otto decides to move her representative chess piece forward?

Sara Hess’ comments that went viral, although make sense in her distaste with various Scenes of Daemon (which are STILL abstractions from GRRM and his creation of Daemon) from EP10. I am surprised at her ability to unite those who are Team Black or Team Green, but even then her involvement has more downsides to this opportunity of story telling that positives.

A particular comment of hers that I didn’t appreciate in the slightest was her input on (Book) Rhaenyra growing fat after having 5 children and getting older.

Extremely weird to vilify a woman of luxurious life and 5 pregnancies in Medieval times gaining weight. Whilst yes there is valid criticism of male storytelling, why lump the weight of a woman in the same category as sexism of women in power. Rhaenyra’s body has nothing to do with her as a leader or historical figure.

3. Daemon at the hands of the writers (Sara’s portrayal in particular)

GRRM has stated that Daemon Targaryen is his favourite, and I completely understand it.

Who is he? A second-born pure-blood prince, a renowned knight, rider of the Bloodwyrm, a prime Targaryen, confident, ambitious, cunning and loyal to a fault on those he considers family.

Daemon is introduced as an agent of Chaos and polarising public opinion, but still commands respect and at least was worthy enough to be handed the titles of Master and stand on the Court (but not to be earned, he is born into an almost invincible position). We see him painted as ready to take the throne as eldest male Targaryen barring the King himself, and is set at this surface level “Rogue” who dotes on the younger Targaryen at court (intentions unknown).

Ep1-4 we see he aligns more at strength for the Targaryen Dynasty, not just himself. He is a narrative foil to Viserys in attitude and tolerance, yin and yang in a way. He states that he wants to keep the crown on his brothers head steady, he sees past Otto and relays the distaste of the Hightowers that is present in Dark Sister’s original wielder.

I think a lot of people misinterpret him as selfishly power hungry, that every action has to explicitly lead to him as King on the Throne, but why not kill Rhaenyra at any point, he’s a suspect regardless due to his reputation, but he is cunning, there’s no way he couldn’t have pulled it off when she was young with how many of Aemma’s surviving babies died young- Rhaenyra herself could easily have health complications.

He is raised on the idea of their Family being omnipotent, 3 siblings conquered Westeros, who says he cannot ally himself with a select few? He gains significant back room power the way Coryls wants as a Prince consort or Hand to Viserys/Rhaenyra.

He is cruel and violent and awful and egotistical, but he holds the better part of himself for those he deems worthy. This is what makes him a compelling character, unwavering support to those he chooses. With debatable intent with Laena across book and TV stories, he is not neglectful of those he cares of. The active choice to cut scenes of him being a father, any sense of comfort, to imply he favours the daughter that has a dragon already, is nothing short of character assassination and extremely biased.

Daemon is far from a faithful, christian husband, don’t get me wrong, he ends up cheating on Rhaenyra and has fucked so many women in his life I don’t know how he hasn’t got like 34 STDs. But there seems to be an in-universe grey area on Targaryen polyamory and lovers, (Rhaenyra and Laena in book at a little, 👀) his political loyalty and service to Rhaenyra’s crown is never once faltered, he dies for her to get rid of Aemond and Vhagar (the only reason the Greens didn’t instantly die). His is this beautifully volatile and unpredictable character, but compassionate to a fault, and willing to do anything to restore Targaryen Power.

Sara Hess’ writing is far from unbiased, and deviates heavily from who GRRM wrote with such fondness, not completely unfounded, he does groom his niece and kiss her the infront of his the kids he had with his dead wife the day of her funeral. But why paint him as this deadbeat dad when he of him and his brother does not subject his wife to unnecessary pain when she will die regardless, he who does not differentiate between children of different mothers. Viserys is a chronic first-wife bias, he doesn’t care that his second son is partially blinded and instead does not revoke when Rhaenyra asks for what is essentially torture to gain insight on why Aemond called her Bastard Sons, Bastards. Why doesn’t Sara call him out on saying he only has one child, why doesn’t she say she doesn’t understand why people like Viserys at Paddy’s portrayal?

She’s incorrect in us liking him as (not my words) “daddy” because he killed Rhea Royce and groomed his niece, people with brains are aware of his faults. We like BOTH of these brothers who were overzealous in the use of brothels are young bachelor princes. We like them because of the effort Matt and Paddy put in DESPITE the writing they are shown with.

The most concrete moment of bad directing of daemon shows in his interactions with Viserys.

Matt understands Daemon at peak when he IMPROVISES Daemon stepping up as the brother protecting his weak king from Otto and himself when he picks up the crown, and supports Viserys on his way to the Throne, he could have easily left him to stumble and make a fool of himself. He wouldn’t though.

[EP10 SPOILERS] Seeing Daemon get violent with Rhaenyra, after he grabs 3 dragon eggs for her, after he marries her in secret, after he kills Vaemond for her. Is so out of character, not in his general sense, but out of character in WHO he directs this violence at. The physical scene cuts make it seem like they cut out any reconciliation, as well as the rough choking -> mocking -> going back to normal.

It gets even MORE OOC when it gets to Rhaenyra’s troubling childbirth of Visenya.

Daemon, a man who lost his mother through childbirth of his younger brother Aegon who then died in the crib.

Daemon who did not have a mother for long at all.

Daemon, who watched Viserys and Aemma loose child after child until she dies.

Daemon who watched Laena struggle and end up commanding Vhagar to kill her as an act of Mercy.

Daemon who watched his daughters not have a mother for long at all.

Daemon who watched and saw Rhaenyra not have her mother for long.

Daemon who does not stay with her during the pregnancy, Daemon who they decided to keep separate from Rhaenyra as she struggles to give birth.

It is such an out of character moment that it along with the choking scene ruins him as a man, as every episode has established.

Again he is not perfect, withholds public affection even in high-strung moments due to being cautious in court. Has killed (or at least plotted) his first wife, the whole Gold cloak scene, the grooming.

But, He if this is not changed in the “pristine” cut, it does ruin all that GRRM has established.

It speaks a lot when improvisation on the Actors speak better on the characters than the writers themselves. It speaks a lot when an improvised scene touches people more than what the writers explicitly add.

[shortkingshapeshiftr]

Finishing the Fifth Book! - The Seekers Book Discussion #6

College has been taking up most of my free time, and generally I haven't been doing as much personal, fun stuff like reading and bearposting. I began the fifth book early on in the year, and I put it off for most of my time. I just now finished the entire book, and I will mostly be talking about the later chapters given that most of the interesting stuff happens towards the end.

SPOILERS: Entirety of the 5th Seekers book (Fire in the Sky)

We begin the book with our main characters, Kallik, Lusa, Ujurak and Toklo, on land and contemplating about their journey out onto the everlasting ice. It is established both at the beginning and throughout the book the struggles that the brown and black bears experience, given that they are not as equipped as Kallik, the polar bear, to handle the arctic. Speaking of Kallik, she is quite eager to get back on the ice, believing that it will make her comforted and content again just like when she was a cub. Regardless, Ujurak reminds them that they all are destined to explore the ice together, and they all begin their trek across the frozen wasteland.

Most of the novel is dedicated to the physical labor and pain that these characters experience, with Toklo in particular getting quite frustrated when he and Lusa struggle to survive. Really it's all about the struggle against nature, regardless of the odds, in order to complete a grand prophecy. However, there is a running theme of identity in this book, particularly with Ujurak. After turning into a beluga whale and going off with a random pod, Ujurak nearly forgets his friends and his mission. Soon after, he swears to not shapeshift again, and he develops this sort of self-loathing when it comes to his powers and status as a shapeshifter. He constantly feels the need to tell his friends that he's a brown bear, and that he needs to stay that way even when his powers could be of great use. It is only until the end of the book that he finally uses his powers again, transforming into a human in order to save Lusa from captivity.

Speaking of captivity, Lusa ends up being captured by humans at the very end, with her being let out by Ujurak posing as a human. This all happens after Lusa and Toklo go out on their own to return to the mainland, given that Lusa was getting more sick, hungry and on the verge of going through "longsleep," or hibernation. Toklo and Lusa encounter some humans alongside a massive oil spill on the ice, to which they are spotted and chased after. After jumping in the oil-contaminated waters in an attempt to escape, Lusa is tranquilized and taken away, with Toklo fleeing and later meeting up with the others at the campsite Lusa is being held at. They all run from the scene, as humans run out into the night to see what had happened, realizing that they all must stick together and continue on their journey.

There isn't really as much to say with this issue compared to the previous iterations. A lot less seems to happen, plot-wise, and it left me wanting more out of it. We do get a very nice moment between Ujurak and his mother, and we are informed that Silaluk is both his mom and the Great Bear/Ursa Major constellation. Which would make Ujurak the Little Bear or Ursa Minor. The scene where Ujurak turns into a whale was also quite interesting, given how it really messes with his mind and makes him forget everything for an extensive period of time. But other than that, this issue serves as the midway point, the part before they get to their destination. We still aren't given any guidance on how Lusa will save the wild, or what the end is supposed to look like, and in general not much of the spiritual element is expanded upon outside of the Silaluk encounter.

I'm definitely on edge for sure, but I'm feeling kinda of anxious about what the end is going to look like. A lot of the plot was repetitive, constantly asking: "Should we continue the journey?" Which the obvious answer is yes! Toklo and Lusas decision to go back was a shocking and interesting one, so it felt like a bit of a cop-out that, of course, Lusa is captured and they're all conveniently back together again. For me this was not the strongest book in the series, and I'm hoping the sixth and final one will leave me satisfied. 🐻🐻‍❄️

[arrancxr]

Hi if your okay with it can you do what the Espadas think of Szayelaporro similar to the Aaroniero one please :)

Starrk + Lilynette

Szayel is always polite enough to the two of them, but there's no doubt it's an act. Lilynette finds him irritating and annoyingly complicated about everything, and Starrk would just as soon not interact with an experiment-happy mad scientist who definitely has an eye on their rank. They're both aware that Szayel does highly unpleasant things to other Arrancar whenever he gets the chance... and he's just plain creepy, beyond that.

Barragan

Weak creature that he is, it's no wonder Szayel is forced to rely on his tricks to get anywhere. As he is toward most of his unwilling allies, Barragan does not hold a good opinion of Szayel. He views him as an utter coward with very little to back up his ambitious schemes— and his tendency to kiss up to Aizen doesn't help that. Beyond that, pursuing the nonsense he calls "science" goes against Hollow nature, and Barragan is just as disgusted with that.

Halibel

While she'll admit that Szayel is remarkably intelligent and skilled at what he's devoted himself to, his morals (or lack thereof) are downright repulsive. No matter how useful Szayel may be, she can't overlook his power-hungry habits and propensity for backstabbing whenever he can benefit from it. As most Arrancar with common sense do, whether he's a threat to her or not, she tries to steer clear of the Eighth and his territory altogether.

Ulquiorra

No interest. Szayel serves his purpose well enough, but his entire personality is off-putting enough that Ulquiorra would just as soon not have to deal with him. He's well aware of Szayel's particular brand of tricks, and the more attempted power grabs he knows about, the more disgusted he is with the Eighth. Ulquiorra also finds himself frustrated with Szayel's willingness to learn; it contradicts his own narrow worldview, and he can't tolerate that.

Nnoitra

Szayel is someone who's entirely self-motivated. Despite all of his manipulation tactics, his intentions are pretty transparent to anyone who know how to look. While Szayel's dramatics get on his nerves, Nnoitra finds him tolerable— enough, at least, to work with him when the situation calls for it. As grating as he is to be around, they're both on the same page when it comes to a lack of morals and honor. Nnoitra knows what he's getting, at least.

Grimmjow

He's good at what he does, and that's about the extent of it. Grimmjow isn't a fan of Szayel's underhanded approaches to gaining power, and the fact that he relies on cheap tricks and dirty tactics to win his fights doesn't help that opinion. He might be a bit more tolerable because of his connection to Yylfordt— but considering that Yylfordt himself hates his brother's guts, Grimmjow sees no reason to put up with him.

Zommari

As the one holding the rank right above Szayel's, Zommari is aware that he's most likely a target for something unpleasant. Szayel hasn't tried anything yet, that he knows of, but it feels like a matter of time before some kind of incident occurs. He doesn't have any particularly strong feelings about the Eighth outside of that, though, and would be most content to just... not have to deal with what feels like a disaster waiting to happen.

Aaroniero

He's fairly certain that Szayel would have him in a specimen jar if at all given the opportunity. That's the primary reason why he does not appreciate the scientist's company— that, and the fact that Szayel is far from subtle about treating him like a biological curiosity, even when threats aren't included. While Aaroniero respects Szayel's intelligence and skill with crafty schemes, he knows better than to place any trust in a fellow backstabber.

Yammy

With Yammy's lack of general thinking ahead, there have probably been at least a few instances of him eating something Szayel gave him, and very much regretting it. Aside from that sort of conflict, Szayel is just plain incompatible with Yammy's worldview; he's physically weak, relying only on strategy and tricks to win his fights and get ahead. Yammy dislikes him for that alone, and as such, dismisses Szayel almost entirely from his concern.

[dysrope]

the Once and Forever Queen

[turn 7: (1+3)+(1+4)=9]

[creater avatar+command avatar: 9-7-1=1, 1 point to Haebarik]

As time passed and the city of Chivik grew, its rulers grew too: both in might and in ambition. For each generation, the Chivikvik became more wealthy and more powerful, and in the ninth generation since the city's founding, the ninth Matriarch proclaimed herself Queen of the entire Underworld.

She clad herself in cloth from the surface, and precious gems from the mines, but this was not enough to satisfy her vanity. She let carve statues to herself at every gate and every square in the city, but this too was insufficient. She led her armies to war against the independent tribes, and forced them all to lie flat in supplication, and pay tribute, but even this was not enough. And as she grew older and older, and felt death draw nearer, she knew she had one last enemy to defeat, one final mastery to achieve the ultimate greatness: she would conquer death itself.

So when a Kautai trader named On-Maa appeared in her lands (for the Kautaila much appreciated the works of stone and metal produced in Chivik, and brought curiosities from the surface in exchange), the Queen had them brought before her. She demanded to know the secret to their immortality, and offered great riches in return. But the Kautai was hesitant, for it seemed unwise to grant an individual this power-hungry that knowledge, and said that they did not know how to teach the art of remaking oneself to a Tik. But they did tell the Queen who it was that had taught the Kautaila in turn, and where she could find the entrance to Erland's domicile.

And so the Queen decided to leave for a grand pilgrimage, and with her she took an entourage of hundreds of soldiers to protect her, and an equal number of carriers to haul the supplies and her palanquin. There were also dozens of servants to tend to her, and a score of courtiers and hostage, to ensure none would rebel in her absence, and lastly the Kautai guide. She also brought a vast train of treasures and gifts, and when they marched through the city it was the most splendid procession anyone had ever seen.

They traveled through the winding tunnels of the Underworld for many days, but their guide led them true, and at last they arrived at Erland's gate. When they approached it the gates swung open, and inside they saw wonders like none they had ever seen before, and even the Queen was stunned in awe and jealousy. But before they could even take everything in, Erland called them to him, and invited them to eat. A great banquet was prepared, with a plate set for each and every Tik, from the lowliest worker, to the Queen herself. And though the her subjects made sure to grant her the high seat, and though the meal was the best she had ever eaten, she was incensed at the disrespect of having to eat at a table with her inferiors.

Erland refused to discuss matters of importance until after the meal was finished, but asked each guest in turn about their lives, and whether they where satisfied with their existance. Though the Tiktik were careful not to disrespect their ruler, and exclaimed that they where very happy to live under her reign, she fumed silently at this further delay, and insult to her dignity.

At last, when the last course had been served and eaten, Erland asked, why they had come?

The queen took every ounce of self-control she possessed, and explained in as diplomatic and flattering a tone as she could, that she sought immortality, and offered all manner of jewels and art in exchange for the secret.

Erland, perplexed, replied that everything in and of the earth was his already.

The Queen then swallowed her pride, expressed her true anguish and despair at her impending death, and begged Erland to make her immortal like the Kautaila.

Erland, in consternation, explained that this was not possible, since the Ataila were creatures with souls made of starlight, whereas Tiktik were simply animals he had raised from their miserable existance on the Abyss' floor.

The Queen, now furious and incapable of restraining it any longer, demanded Erland give her immortality immediately, and threatened him with war, and all the might of her realm.

Erland was quiet for a moment, and then told her, in annoyance, that yes, there was in fact one way he could preserve her mind and her body for as long as the very earth beneath their feet remained, though it would come at a cost.

The Queen at once agreed, no matter the price, and Erland instantaneously turned her into stone. At first there was a silent pause as none had understood what happened, for she remained roughly the same grey colour, and was so covered in jewelery that it would have been hard to see the stone in any case, but as she remained still, petrified, one of her companions dared ask their host what had been done to their queen.

Erland, now clearly irritated, explained that she was still conscious, and that her body had been made eternal, but that she would never move of her own power again. He commanded them to carry her back home and return her to her palace so that she may reign eternal, as she (and they!) had wished, and the Tiktik, who did not wish to anger him further, did as he bade.

When they returned, it was discreetly, and this crisis was at first kept extremely secret, and all the Queen's loyal advisors tried everything to heal her. But nothing they did helped, and so they declared that she had grown sick and her inner council were acting on her behalf. During this time however, all cowed enemies and reluctand subjects had gathered together, and questioned On-Maa on what had truly happened, and now saw their chance to take power; a great civil war followed, and the streets of the city flowed blue with blood. After months of bitter combat, the loyalists held on to power, and drove the rebels out of the city.

Though the truth about the Queen had been revealed, the Council maintained their position, and still claim to carry out her will, spending hours in the throne room with the statuesque monarch, to divine her intent from miniscule changes to the stone. But in truth, not one movement has been made by the Queen, and not one thought expressed for the world to see, for she is trapped within her body of stone to this day, and none but Erland truly know what she may think of it. The only thing the councillors have learned, is to keep their hubris in check, and not act against the will of their creator.

As for the rebels, most had never left the city before, and even those that had, never for long periods. The first time was harsh on them and many died. Though any tribes they met were happy to hear news of the death of the tyrant queen, they where less happy to have extra mouths to feed on their territory, and forced them out before too long. But on their wanderings, the survivors again met On-Maa, who had left Chivik drúring the confusion of the fighting, and upon hearing of their plight, the Kautai offered to show them the way to a safer area, where they would be able to survive and rebuild their strength without fear of their enemies. And so, they migrated far to the south, and founded a city there, which we may call Neskot after the leading rebel clan. It too would grow great in times to come, and remain a fierce enemy of Chivik.

[autumnslance]

one thing i will say abt zenos vs reaper wol is that zero maintaining her sense of self, which definitely contributed to how awful being zenos's summon was, is an uncommon case - she says she has to meditate so she shes still her instead of all the voidsent shes eaten, and i doubt the average voidsent is doing that, also her covenant with zenos was probably way worse because she's half human. i still think reapers have interesting morality to explore, but zero almost certainly had it much worse than our summon, whether ours is truly equitable or not

Spoilers for 6.2 MSQ below!

Doing the MSQ again on Aeryn now (when I can manage a bit of focus), Zero's pretty blunt at how awful being Zenos's avatar was for her.

Dark-robed Voidsent: “Covenant”? A curse, more like. He stole my power. There was no equity in the arrangement. Dark-robed Voidsent: My very essence was altered. Twisted into a tool to serve his desires.

The rest of the time with Zero, she does what she will, in exchange for whatever she considers fair payment--and honestly, her terms are pretty easy to meet. Nor is she the first voidsent to treat this way, despite the hungry nature of the creatures, though due to her half-human nature, she seems to keep a better grasp on herself in general. If anything, the situation she describes with Zenos may have been a threat to that human side of her.

What absolutely kills me is she has no concept of "friend" beyond what she gleaned from Zenos's obsession with the WoL. It's still quite confusing for her, and I look forward to seeing what she learns. I expect a betrayal at some point--nothing personal of course, just a better deal--but what she's learned of what "friend" truly means will win through.

A FCmate compared her to Lt Cmdr. Data from Star Trek, and that feels about right; she's that outsider type who doesn't really know about humanity and ends up learning.

Given what and how the WoL learns from Drusilla (or other common methods of Reaping, if that's your story), is going to likely include healthy respect and caution for the voidsent, to treat it with equity and a fair bargain, lest the problem we saw in the Reaper quest chain manifests. Don't take them for granted.

Zenos...has no sense of the word "respect." He would have treated an avatar as a thing to subdue, a tool and weapon to use. Not much different than the void lords who rule their domains through terror, which Zero's managed to avoid all this time otherwise due to her special abilities, that did nothing against Zenos.

[werspinna]

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋   𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄:    Wolfgund of Cologne.

𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄(𝐒):  Wolfgund Waidmanns, Wolf, little Wolf.

╳   𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐖𝐒. moody  |  short-tempered  |  emotionally unstable  |  whiny  |  controlling  |  conceited  | possessive  |  paranoid  |  liar  |  impatient  |  cowardly  |  bitter  |  selfish  |  power-hungry  |  greedy  |  lazy  |  judgmental  |  forgetful  |  impulsive  |  spiteful  |  stubborn  |  sadistic  |  petty  |  unlucky  |  absent-minded |  abusive  |  addict  |  aggressive  |  childish  |  callous  |  clingy*  |  delusional  |  cocky  |  competitive  |  corrupt  |  cynical  |  cruel  |  depressed  |  deranged  | egotistical |  envious |  insecure  |  insensitive  |  lustful  |  delinquent  |  guilt complex  |  reclusive  |  reckless  |  nervous  |  oversensitive *clingy: Walking with the peregrinatio puerorum Wolf had watched every third person dying of Thirst | hunger | sickness or exhaustion, not counting those that had been kidnapped or sold into slavery. Wolf had risked her life to steal food for herself and her friends. It had become her sole goal to keep this group of children alive even after they had been enslaved by her Worlds kingpin Leo and put through cruel training. Sold to Asada Wolf focused this clinging nature to the older woman, which was made even worse because Asada with her Leprosy infection had numbered days. It was this clinging and desperation to keep those close to her save, that made Wolf agree to Lupardus experiments in a desperate try to find a way to transfer her inhuman healingfactor to Asada. However, Wolf is aware of this way of thinking and clinging to people, so she does her best to actively work against it.

♔   𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐇𝐒. honest  |  trustworthy  |  thoughtful  |  caring  |  brave  |  patient  |  selfless  |  ambitious  | tolerant  |  lucky  |  intelligent  |  confident   |  focused  |  humble  |  generous  |  merciful  | observant  |  wise  |  clever |  charming  |  cheerful  |  optimistic |  decisive  |  adaptive | calm  |  protective  |  proud** |  diligent |  considerate  |  compassionate  |  good sportsmanship |  friendly  |  empathetic  |  passionate  | reliable  |  resourceful  |  sensible  |  sincere |  witty  | funny ** Not beeing proud: Wolf is very much not a person who would boast about her skills or anything. She has a not especially high opinion of herself and even the skills she has are eventually only skills she has because they are given to her to specifically serve people. Wolf is a master of Self-deprecating jokes. She knows her attitude is not healthy and she tries her bet to change.

🖌 𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐒 & 𝐇𝐎𝐁𝐁𝐈𝐄𝐒. art  |  acting  |  astronomy  |  animals  |  archery  |  sports  |  belly dancing |  bird watching  |  blacksmithing  |  boating  |  calligraphy  |  camping  |  candle making  |  gambling  |  ceramics  |  racing  |  chess  |  music   |  cooking  |  crochet  |  weaving  |  exercise  |  swordplay |  fishing  |  gardening  |  ghost hunting  |  ice skating  |  magic  |  engineering  |  building  |  inventing  |  leather-working  |  martial arts  |  meditation  |  origami  |  parkour  | people watching |  swimming  |  puppetry  |  pyrotechnics  |  quilting  |  reading  |  collecting  |  shopping  |  socializing  |  storytelling  |  writing  |  traveling  | dancing  |  singing

Tagged By: Walter von der Vogelweide ! Tagging:  @alchemaxed @iobartach @goblinfire @neonwebs @wovendeath  @sickthem @voltedblood   @spinxeret @inhcritance  @books-and-right-hooks @kylo-wrecked @canoncompliance @attercopus  @sleeperkeeper @bewitchingbaker @betterbutbitter  @svperboi @itsybitsypeterparker @neonwebs @the-rogue-dragon @carnivorousfatality !  

[pbaintthetb]

more boys s4e2

s

A-Train again!

oop and his brother's showed up, here's some good shit then, yeah I thought they might be the nephews oh god I love his family it's great it's awful it's great

"I won't watch you kill yourself, out run this"

also back to starlight for a moment, the idea of starlight being a hopeful symbol, but a bad one to Annie

Nathan saying A-Train never saved anyone (and oof, yeah)

but also like, poor A-Train but allso also "out run this" and tbf this is the secon dattempt at reconciliatoin so

was gonna say that I appreciate that Butcher pegged Kimiko was drunk without even speaking to her btu actually consdiering Butcher's... everything yeah why I am I surprised?

FRENCHIE DON'T ASK KIMIKO TO HURT YOU

oh the two of them :-((((

OMG A-TRAIN IN THEIR OFFICE, yes I love it when A-train shows up on them. Massive end of s2 energy when A-train gave Annie and Hughie the lowdown on Stormfront's nazi past (and present lbr) because he knew he wouldn't be able to get back in as a black man

like he's very self serving, um but he's really interseting like and it's what I said last ep is that he's so sick of playing vought's tune at this point, like his heart attack made him see some things, but not so much regret as how weak his position really is and how much he dgaf

like, oh A-train's arc is always so fucking good

Annie "Thank Hughie. I would have blasted the shit out of you, and you would ahve deserved it." A-Train "[beat]. Yeah I agree"

I'm also particuarly interested by A-train's past with Sage and his off the cuff line about her being a genius but not knowing when to shut her mouth... lik ews he just being a generic dick and she said stuff he didnt want to hear or is this more meaningful- like Sage is smart but Homelander is deranged and powerful and wants her to be helpful but hates being "put down" like is she gonna say the wrong thing... or is she gonna piss off vought? or is she gonna be the new top dog...

lmao, homelander ruining all of vought's plans and sage's advice since the second he grew up

and oops. They killed the stunt guy. "you saved me"- that strangled voice, ryan's horrified stare, honey get butcher back in your life, cna't believe I said that- actually do what Butcher said (possibly a worse statment) get Mallory back in your life while Butcher fucks off again

oop that was a set up for them

"Your rifles are garish and vulgar"- frenchie istg I know you're like an ex weapons dealer/smith but lmao, also him being called a "surrender monkey"

uh... boys, I know Kimiko's immortal and all, but did you just lock her in with teh splinter clones in your escape

DECEASED at the photo booth pictures of Kimiko and Firecracker fighting

Frenchie's little smirk at butcher showing up vs mm's rage when telling him to fuck off.... i mean i know the circumstances are different but it's like... Butcher's always had a very different hold over frenchie vs mm. Indeed, Butcher has a hold, over frenchie and that is the source of a lot fo s3 tension.

And MM still comes through for Butcher where it counts, of course

uh, I mean Idk I don't want to advocate for murder but also... tey just let Firecracker go? damn the boys (sans kimiko perhaps) goign soft in their old age * I'm not truing to say Kimiko is soft, lord knows she is and can be violent, it's more that she's not for sensless violence against randos unless they pose a physical threat or were connected to her trafficking etc (reasonable) where as butcher is supe/blood hungry and frenchie's just... curious

HOMELANDER ISTFG don't pull out your supreamcist bs rn, or maybe do and perhaps ryan will realise what a pos you are, like pls tell me you can't reverse becca's teaching that quickly

"they're only human"

frenchie snorting drugs again

anyway s4 does feel a lot more like s1 but in a good way unlike d3 whch was like "what if we reversed all character growth"

Cherie! and uh she looks better than she has in thepast, she also looks uh, more with reality

OH FUCK COLIN AND FRENCHIE HAVE A PAST oop oop oop

oh frenchie ffs, does explain teh issues though, they were personal!

"I spent a week standing by the front door telling dad y ou'd be back" oh fucking god, oh hughie :-(

oh does the former Mrs Campbelll feel sad? cry me a river mate, you left, hughie has every right to be mad, and even if you're justified, hughie dont' know that and you hur thim. he has every right ot be mad.