#both born to be evil but chose to be good

[nunalastor]

Well, hello!

I was talking to a friend who says she has been a fan of the Hellaverse for a long time (Zoophobia), and she told me that at that time there was a character who was supposed to be like the Cthulhu of that universe. She also told me that this character, whose name at the time was "Malvada" (Wicked? It's strange because 'malvada' is used to refer to an evil woman) turns out to be Alastor's father (which would explain his powers that have nothing to do with radio, or that Roo's eyes seem to focus on him, or the strange contrasts with Lucifer), and at first their relationship was that they didn't get along, and then that changed to Alastor not knowing that Malvada was his father.

After a long conversation where she explained to me what things have been changing, what has been maintained and different things said by Vivzie, we ended up creating our theory of how Hazbin Hotel could work with this information.

Our theory consists in this:

Heaven did not imprison evil, it only contained it in its own kingdom. What we know as hell was where Malvada was, unable to access heaven or earth. When the earth was created and the tree grew, evil was able to reach the roots and infect the apples. Lucifer and Lilith did not know this when they offered the fruit to Eve.

When Eve ate the apple, she was infected with evil, and this gave rise to Roo, either because evil "took root in Eve" and from that combination Roo was born, or because Eve became infected with evil which grew until she died and evil ended up consuming her soul, forming Roo. Anyway, with the birth of Roo, evil (Malvada) was able to access the world.

During the years that followed, Malvada spread evil throughout the world, but when he returned to his kingdom he discovered that there were intruders, Lucifer and Lilith now rule his lands, and he still cannot access heaven to destroy it. Remembering that he was able to access Earth thanks to Roo, he decided that he needed more offspring, and over time he chose different people with whom to have children. The problem is that this is a case like Ego and Peter Quill in "Guardians of the Galaxy 2", not all of Malvada's children can activate their powers, most of them have nothing exceptional.

I saw that previously someone mentioned here "The Three Wise Monkeys", that of "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil", and my friend and I agree.

We believe that Malvada is, at the very least, looking to put together his triad, he already has Roo, who represents "the eyes of evil" (as opposed to "See no evil"), and Roo has already activated her powers, but his plan is delayed because he cannot obtain the same results.

Then, Alastor is born, either because Malvada managed to trick Al's mother, or she was really in love with him. This leads to 3 other theories: 1) Al's mother lived as a single mother, which only made life more difficult for both of them. 2) Alastor's mother became pregnant before or after marrying a man who is recognized as the father, but abandoned them at some point. 3) Alastor grew up with a man he recognized as a father, but he was an abuser.

Either way, the point is that Alastor doesn't know which Malvada is his father. And Malvada is very pleased with Alastor, because he can see that he has great latent power.

My friend also told me that, originally, Alastor and Malvada didn't get along because Malvada killed Alastor's mother, and we came to the conclusion that that's still true.

This theory includes that Alastor was a good child, he could have been a good person, until he saw his mother being murdered in front of him. This activates part of his powers, which leads him to become a serial killer, justified by wanting revenge, since he does not know or does not remember who or what killed his mother (trauma).

We also believe that Malvada or Roo had something to do with Alastor's death because they needed him to be in hell at a specific time.

To this we also include that probably some of the Overlords that Alastor killed when he made his debut in hell were his siblings, other "failed attempts" of Malvada.

So, Malvada/Wicked/Evil already has "the voice of evil" (as opposed to "Speak No Evil"), but it's not complete yet. Malvada knows that Alastor is not a failure, he can feel the power in him, but he has not yet activated his full potential as Roo. This may be because Alastor maintains his strange but existing moral code, or because Alastor sold his soul and it is holding him back.

Another thing my friend and I talked about is about the third member of this triad, who could be "the ears of evil" (as opposed to "hear no evil"). The options are that Malvada's plans are being delayed because, in addition to waiting for Alastor to activate his powers, they are waiting for this third member, either because they has not shown up yet, or is in a similar situation to Alastor.

Personally, I think this third member could be Zestial, someone who listens to rumors and enjoys hearing screams, who is a strange combination between a spider and a bat/vampire, so it seems that information is his forte. An ancient Overlord, respected and feared. Someone who has a relationship of mutual respect with Alastor. It would be interesting if the one whom many of us see as Alastor's grandfather in hell, turns out to be his older brother, but who is treated as "Middle Brother"

(Roo would be the older sister who acts like the youngest, Zestial the middle brother who acts like the oldest and Alastor the younger brother who acts as if he were an only child and thinks he is everyone's favorite)

For Malvada, these 3 children are just a means to an end, they are like a battery, not even Roo, who is considered "daddy's favorite" is more than a useful tool. All this time Roo has fulfilled her function as a scapegoat, everyone who knows Roo believes that she is "the evil", Malvada remains hidden to take heaven by surprise. But he's losing patience and wants to show himself to try to speed things up with Alastor and (probably) Zestial.

It turns out that the princess's hotel (fake princess, according to him) seems to be the perfect place to get close to the "usurpers" (the royal family), try to access heaven, and also get closer to his son and try to get him on his side...or at least try to get his soul and use him like the puppet he is.

👀

[donutfloats]

What we could have had

A GirlBoss and her Male Wife

[the-common-cowgirl]

Greater of Two Evils

Summary: Your brother is a powerful man and so is Aemond Targaryen. You’re caught as a pawn between the two men. You have to chose between two evils and unfortunately for you, you chose wrong.

Rating: Explicit, Minors Do NOT Read, 18+

Word Count: 4.3k

Pairings: Aemond Targaryen x Fem!Reader

Warnings: DD;DNE, Non-Con/Dub-Con, Choking, Rough Sex, smut (p in v, fingering, oral sex (f receiving) jealousy , possessiveness, incest-y vibes from brother, unwanted creampie, breeding kink, coercion, mentions of birth control/emergency contraception not being allowed/available to reader, Aemond wants reader pregnant, men being dicks, degration, praise, Capitalism and the Elite, swearing

A/N: This is a spite fic dedicated my first hate comment. I hope you wait even longer now. 💋

Not yet proofread.

Your brother was a powerful man. One of the most powerful in Westeros. Many say he didn’t deserve his position, both of you coming from near nothing, but your brother was born with a gift your parents would often say was a “creative and hungry mind.” He was 10 years old when he started a small lawn care business in the Riverlands that grew to a full-fledged company at 14 he (and your parents due to his age) ran. At 16, he sold that company, got an internship at River’s Corp. When he freshly graduated University in Oldtown as the top of his class, giving a speech that would be remembered as one of the best speeches Oldtown Univeristy had ever the opportunity of hearing, he asked if you would like to move to Dorne with him, get out of the Riverlands and have an opportunity at Sunspear University. Seeing the chance at freedom and knowing your brother would most likely be paying for your schooling (since he had just been offered a high ranking position at Sunspear Industries) you took his offer and moved in with him a week after you graduated high school in the Riverlands.

That was three years ago. Your brother is now CFO of Rhoynar Industries and you’re in your third year of University at Sunspear studying Political Science. When you first moved in with your brother, the first two months were happy and spent everyday in your high-rise apartment’s swimming pool. But your brother had changed, or maybe, he was finally able to let his true self free during his college days as many young adults often do and his personality shift just took you longer to notice. His controlling behavior started innocent, nagging at your to keep the house tidy, then turning into commenting on what you wore out, turning into full blown comments about your appearance, weight, hair color. He made you dye your hair color black, to match his own natural color. Long gone were your auburn waves but you didn’t notice it then, well you did, but you weren’t as disturbed by it. Telling yourself he wanted you to look the part of perfect sister.

But then, halfway through your first semester, he told you that your Early Education major wasn’t good enough for him. He demanded you change it and when you tried to argue, he simply took your laptop, reminding that he bought it, and emailed your academic advisor that you’d like to change your major and wanted to meet with them first thing tomorrow morning.

That should’ve been the straw that broke the camel’s back, you should’ve left that night. Packed your things and went back home to the Riverlands; be with your parents.

I’m every aspect of your life, you always fell short of the greatness of your brother: courage was not exempt.

That next morning, you went with puffy eyes to your advisor’s office and changed your major, dropping out of your current courses and signing up for secondary 8-week courses for your new major that would, in your brother’s words “thankfully start next week.”

You could easily summarize your life in Dorne these past few years: the Seven Hells.

All of this leads you to this moment. Your brother and you were invited to King’s Landing by the head of Targ Corp for an annual celebration they held for their most loyal alliance corporations. It was easy, your brother and his team of associate executives played a simple game: play nice with each other and keep everyone else from rising above. Being around these people made you want to vomit. These posh-assholes were some of the most dangerous and hateful people you’d ever laid eyes on, all wrapped in clothing that were one of their low-level employee’s entirely yearly salary. You didn’t want to be here, not a single bit, but your brother held the carrot stick of Univeristy tuition and free-housing over your head so you played along like the good sister you were expected to be.

You had just gotten out of the shower when you brother came barging into your hotel room without knocking, holding a garment bag.

“Hey!” You shouted, covering your naked self with a towel, “Can you knock next time?” You briefly wondered how he had gotten in, you made sure you locked it twice, then you saw the keycard he had kept for your room sliding back into his pant pocket.

“Wear this tonight,” he disregarded your fluster and laid the garment bag down on the bed you were sitting on.

Your brows furrowed, looking at your own brother with trepidation. He knew you had brought one of the black dresses you had picked out a month ago and he had agreed to it then. Why had he changed his mind so suddenly?

You slowly opened the bag to reveal a dark green, dress that showed off entirely too much skin than you were comfortable with around these vampires.

You began to shake your head, “No, I don’t want to wear this one. It’s cold out and I want to wear the black, long sleeve one I-“

You were cut off with a harsh hand grabbing your jaw.

“Wear it or we’ll see how long you can pay for that expensive schooling on your own.” He spat into your face harshly.

Once he let go, you brought your hand up to rub at your jaw where there might be bruises now. Your skin was sore and your bone ached. “You know what, maybe I don’t want to even get this degree. Maybe I’ll move back in with mom and dad and just fucking live my own life again.”

As you sat on the bed angrily with tears of resentment brimming your eyes, you could feel your brother’s stare on you, boring holes into everything he deemed imperfect about you.

“Do this for me,” his voice was softer, “And I’ll give you anything you want.”

You finally looked up to him, disbelief in your eyes.

He kneeled to reach your eye level, you wrapped the towel around you tighter, “There is a man here I need you to impress. Do this for me and I’ll give you anything you want. I mean it.” His hand came up to brush your nude knee, you moved away instinctively.

You swallowed your unease. “What’s his name?” Your voice was so small.

He smiled at your acceptance, if you willing to work with him on something, if you giving in. “Aemond Targaryen,” he stood, returning to his business-like self. “He’s the son of the CEO, Visery’s. Aemond is a year older than me and he’s in politics. We-“ he paused, smiling at a memory, “We met in University…..He never really liked me.” He looked to you, “He’s the last legislator we need on our side for this deal that Roynar Industries and Targ Corp. are working up.”

“He’s against Targ. Corp?” You sounded flabbergasted, wondering why a Targaryen, the most infamously loyal family in the country, is an against his family’s own interests.

Your brother nodded and laughed, “Yeah, he fucking hates his dad.” He chuckled to himself some more before, “I just need you to win him to my side.”

You heard the implication and you skin began to crawl, stomach turning, “You seriously want me to fuck him?”

Your brother shook his head and chuckled as if you were crazy, “Just win him to our side.” He walked up to you again, towering over you as you sat, uneasily at the edge of the bed. He raised a hand and tapped the side of your head three times, “Use that political science knowledge I paid for.”

And then he left, making you feel like a tool.

You dressed yourself in the green gown, put on simple yet elegant makeup, and wore your dyed black hair up with a silver sun pin that your brother had picked out in his words, “to honor Roynar Industries.” You only felt branded.

Making your way down into the large event room of the hotel in which Targ Corp had set up for the celebration, you were handed a glass of something in a flute glass. The waiter had told you, in truth, but you were too nervous and occupied with looking elegant that you hadn’t really heard.

You spotted your brother across the event space standing with someone Martel from Roynar Industries that has offered for you to go ride on his yacht with him at least three times. Then you could see he was with some silver haired man, probably from Targ Corp. The Targaryens were known for their loyalty, ruthlessness and silver hair. Targ Corp. was the most powerful company in Westeros, they had their hand in everything and could turn anyone’s head the way they wanted. Coming it second was Roynar Industries and the old saying, “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer,” was prevalent in the relationship with the two corporations. They worked together in most large projects in Westeros and you knew the each of them was waiting for the other to fall.

You walked the perimeter of the event, scanning the crowd for someone you knew or the person you were after. Although, you had heard Aemond Targaryen’s name before you had no idea what he looked like. You used your context clues though and assumed he had silver hair, he was probably tall and lean like all Targaryen men are and most likely flirtatious.

“Great,” you breathe, remembering a girl from Sunspear a few years ago that recalled a horrible relationship with an older man by the name of “Aegon Targaryen.” One in which he not only expected sex from her, he cheated when she refused. You briefly wondered how Aemond was related to this Aegon.

“Are you looking for me?” A deep, soft voice sounded beside your ear. You stopped dead in you tracks and turned like a scared bunny to the stranger.

The stranger. The silver haired stranger who checked nearly all your boxes for the stranger you were searching for. Had he been right?

You gathered your composure quickly, “And you are?”

“I’m assuming the man you’re looking for if you’re his sister,” he pointed behind you to your brother who was not chatting up a dark haired lady and a curly haired man with a cane.

You gave a quick, nervous laugh and stuck out your hand, “Nice to meet you, Aemond. I’m Y/N.”

Aemond looked down at your outstretched hand between the two of you, his his eye flicked up to you. You realized then, only one moved, however, the other, the one that intercepts his scar, is quite realistic. He ran his fingers slowly across your palm before grasping it gently but not shaking. The act was sensual and strange, you tried to pull away but he quickly snaked his hand up your arm and wrapped his large hand around your bicep, pulling you closer to him. He leaned in, “Aren’t you tired of being a pawn for your brother?”

You pulled back to look at him square in the face, at his perfect, angular face that was so sharp. “What the fuck do you mean?” You whispered, wondering what all he knew and how.

“I think you know exactly what I mean.” He whispered into your ear. If you had not been in the edge of the event, you two would be quite a spectacle to behold but someone, this man, this stranger, had planned this. He had to. You were both in the shadows, the outskirts, not to be seen unless looked for and Gods, you hoped someone would look for you. He made you uneasy, uncomfortable, and warm in places you shouldn’t be given the circumstance of your situation. He looked down to your cleavage, “Tell me, did he pick out this dress? This color?”

You furrowed your brows, trying to figure out how Aemond knew this. “Wha-“

“Did he tell you that him and his colleagues have a bet if we’ll fuck tonight or not?”

You looked back to your brother who was laughing with some of his associates from Roynar Industries. “How do you-“

“I have eyes and ears everywhere, I’m two steps ahead of him and always have been. He has such a problem being number two doesn’t he?” His voice was thick with hatred and his grip on your arm was bruising.

“Get the fuck off of me!” You just about screamed, pushing from Aemond. He let go and took a step back, look at you up and down. He resembled a wild predator, maybe that’s what he was. You smoothed your dress, “Fuck you, you stupid bitch,” you spat angrily, adjusting a strap of your dress. “I was just told to be friendly with you. I’m not a sex worker you ass! I wouldn’t fuck you in a million years.” You downed the alcoholic liquid in the glass before setting it on the ground at your feet. Aemond only watched you with a newfound amusement. It made you angrier. “I’m only helping my brother out until I graduate then it’s fuck this place, fuck Westeros and most of all….” You looked him up and down, finally realizing that he was goddamn handsome, dangerously so, if his personality wasn’t so off-putting, “fuck you.”

You stormed away before he could say anything back. You didn’t want to be here anymore, you wanted to return to your room and cry into your pillow until you fell asleep. You were angry and hurt. How could your brother set you up like this? How could a complete stranger be so fucking brash and horrible? How could you be so stupid to believe your brother’s hunger for power would never come to this? Setting you up for his own benefit?

You’re certain your brother saw you in your way out of the venue, he always has tabs on you, but you knew he wouldn’t rush to your aid or to scrutinize you in front of people he wanted to look good for.

You slam your hotel room door and sink against it, hands over your face, crying on the floor. You sit like that for some time before a knock vibrates against your back and rings in your ears.

“Go away,” you try to say through sobs.

The knock comes again.

“I said go away!” Your shout this time is uncomely for a young woman you could hear your brother say in your head but you don’t care.

“It’s Aemond,” come the voice from the other side of the door.

The raises a fire in your heart as you angrily fling the door open to see the posh, pissy man from before. Mascara is running down your cheeks and your hair is falling out of its updo but you don’t care. “Go away,” you remind him dangerously, beginning to slam the door he puts his foot in the way and hand stopping you from breaking his foot ever so casually.

He pushes the door open with ease and steps into the room, making you step back and further. “We both have a problem and I’m here to propose a deal.”

Your brow quirks and your arms cross, “A deal?”

“A deal,” he echos. “I propose that you and I team up, I’ll offer you whatever he did, you offer me information to take your brother down and out.” He takes another step toward you and you take a step back in response, feeling the back of your legs hit the bedside.

“Why would I agree to that? I’m already getting my college paid for and a place to stay during. Why would I agree to everything I have in turn for you to ruin my brother? He’s horrible but I still love him.” You shook your head, “He’s done a lot for me-“

“I can offer more.” He moved in closer, making you lean uncomfortably against the bed.

“I don’t know you-“

“I will offer you more. You can get to know me, we can form a partnership. A friendship you could call it.” His voice was suggestive.

“Your offer of more is a friendship? I don’t need-“

“I can fuck you, can he?”

His words slapped you across the face. “What?” You mumbled like a dumb baby, confused and shocked. Maybe a little turned on.

Aemond brought his hands up your side and pushed you down to sit on the bed, he kneeled down and kissed the inside of your knee. Everything felt so wrong but he looked so goddamn handsome, you wanted it even if you said you wouldn’t fuck him.

“They have a bet, they want us to fuck.” He explained, “Let’s do it, prove we are into each other. You feed me information on him and the legalities of Roynar Industries.” He kissed your other thigh, you leaned back slightly involuntarily, it had been so long since a man had touched you, your brother wouldn’t allow you to date. “And I’ll slowly give you an out.”

Your breath hitched as his long, slender hand reached under your silky dress and trailed its way toward your core. “Slowly?” You questioned him breathlessly as his his thumb found your clothed clit on contact and began working against it. You could feel wetness pooling as he worked you open and your thighs began to move accommodate him as he moved closer and his other hand slid the dress higher and higher.

“Yeah sweetling, it’ll start with dates, then you staying at my flat in King’s Landing, then moving in.” Your dress was high enough to show off the lacy, black panties you wore and Aemond groaned, making you clench and buck your hips up to meet his ministrations.

“Sounds-sound like,” you were breathless and drunk on the attention he was giving you, “you want more than a fucking spy.” You fully laid back and lifted your hips so Aemond could pull your panties down your legs and off.

He ran a dexterous finger though your folds and watched it disappear into you with ease as you moaned. “Yeah maybe,” his voice was husky, “maybe I like putting your brother in his place. Second to Aemond fucking Targaryen. Always has been, always will be.”

He added a second finger, moving dangerously against your g-spot and the coil in your lower abdomen began to tighten. You lifted your back off the bed in a silent scream as he added a third finger and his mouth sucking at your clit. The intense and sudden pleasure gave way to a sharp, nearly painful orgasm and Aemond fucked you right through it.

When the wave of pressure came down, Aemond lapped at the wetness he expelled from you on your cunt and on his own fingers, moaning at the taste.

You laid on your back, trying to regain your senses and trying to remind yourself you were fucking a complete stranger, you should stop here before it was too late but you snapped out of your senses as he rose, half nude already and unzipping his black dress pants, pulling them and his underwear off in one swipe to reveal the longest, thickest cock you’d ever seen. The idea of taking such a thing inside you made you nearly swell with pride and excitement at the opportunity.

Aemond saw the look on your face and gave his hard cock a quick stroke. “Are you on birth control?”

You shook your head, “He wouldn’t let me, said the side effects are too dang-“

“Well I don’t have a condom,” he said, climbing atop you and pushing you up the bed, not giving you a choice, another reason to get the fuck out now. “I’m clean,” he offered before biting your collarbone then kissing the bite mark.

“I’m-I’m clean.” The voices in your head telling you to get out now.

He moved to the other side of your head and kissed your neck sensually, “You want me to fuck you raw?” Practically growling into your artery as he thrust the tip of his hard cock to your clit, making it harder and harder to say no.

“Uh, just, uh, pull out?” You squeaked as he did it again. You just wanted the fucking thing in you already, stretching you out in the way you wanted.

You felt his smile against your skin, “sure thing sweetling,” it sounded unconvincing.

You felt the tip breach you slowly then push forward even slower. Aemond raised to watch himself split you apart, groaning as you pussy sucked him in with a need unknown to you.

When he finally bottomed out, jutting painfully against your cervix he gave you a sound to adjust and gods, was he fucking endowed. You felt his cock throbbing with need and you wanted to please him, to let him know you were worthy so you bucked you hips against his and let out a moan at how fucking full you felt.

He only chuckled darkly and began his rough assault on your cunt. Pounding without warning or abandon into your heat, pushing your thighs to your chest and bending you in half, positioning you in a way that had him hitting your spot over and over until were moaning his name and your pussy began to flutter.

“Slow-slow down,” you pleaded, it felt like too much.

“Oh, poor little sister can’t fucking take it?” He once slammed extra hard after his demeaning question, it made you shriek. “Poor baby,” he wiped a tear forming in your eye with a sarcastic worry. “She played with the big dogs and didn’t know what she’s in for-“ he grunted, “you should be lucky I’m not fucking you in the ass.”

He pulled your dress down, ripping the shoulder straps to reveal you tits. Smiling like a wild man, he grasped them both harshly before sticking his tongue out and licking each nipple back and forth, making you squirm and tighten around him. “Fuck,” he groaned.

Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he pulled out and flipped you over, pulling you to your knees and ripping your dress and destroyed bra from your body. He entered you harshly again and pulled your back to his chest. His mouth on your ear, nibbling then biting, “I need to make you mine. Announce your brother who you belong to- who owns you now.”

His hand traveled down your belly to the bulge of his cock outlined in your lower stomach. “Do you feel me? Do you feel me up there? Feel me practically in your womb?”

You could, it was painful the way he bullied your cervix but the way he pleasured your sweet spot made you clench and fight off an orgasm that waited to burst.

He laughed into your ear, “Fuck, cum on this cock, I know you need to. Come on me and I’ll give you what you need.”

What the fuck did he mean what you need?

But that didn’t matter, he brought his hand to play with your clot as his pounding continued and you couldn’t fight off the orgasm anymore. Your body tightened and the coil snapped, pulsing around his cock, milking it, you screamed his named and he pinched your nipples as you came on his cock.

I’m your haze, he slowly let you fall to to bed as your ass remained up, his hands firmly handing you in place. “Such a good girl. A better girl than I’d thought you’d be. Oh, a perfect girl for me.” His pounding was relentless as he chase his own high.

You barely registered him saying, “Oh gods, we’ll be perfect together,” before you felt him still behind you, then the pulsing of his cock as warmth flooded you. He let out a groan, a triumphant groan, as he came inside you.

A shaking sob left you as you realized you’d been tricked, betrayed again, used again.

He stayed inside you for some time before pulling his softened cock out and putting on his clothes. You collapsed onto the bed, feeling the evidence of his orgasm slowly slide from your body. You grabbing the pillow ahead of you and hid your face in it. That was, until you felt his hand caress your nude back and the bed shift with the weight of him sitting beside you.

“Hey sweetheart, it’s okay. Don’t cry. I need to know you’re gonna remember our agreement.”

You furrowed your brows, “Fuck you, there is no agreement anymore. You lied to me.”

Aemond chuckled and pushed a strand of hair from your face, “Think of it as the lesser of two evils. Marry me and have everything you’d ever wanted or keep being a pawn for your brother.”

“You’re nuts if you think I’d marry you after a single fuck.”

He looked back down to your thighs, where his seed slowly seeped out, then back to you with a smug grin. “I think your brother would kill you if it was all over the press that you suddenly fell pregnant and unwed. We all know he’s a religious freak now.”

You furrowed your brows, “I’m buying emergency contraceptive as soon as you leave this room.”

He chuckled, “I’m not leaving then.”

“Who said I’ll get pregnant anyway?” You were angry, so angry you couldn’t make sense of his hand sneaking up your neck, holding it tightly.

“My father owns the press. If they say you are, then you are. Imagine what your mother would think, your father? Oh, your reputation would be ruined and your brother would be embarrassed of you.” He grit through his teeth, “And I’ll have people watch you, I already do. They give me updates, they follow you, they’ll know, I’ll know if you are. And then,” he let go of your neck, “You won’t have a choice. I won’t give you one.”

“You’re a fucking psycho.”

He chuckled, running his fingers along your arm, “I’m the easy choice. I’ll give you everything, just give me yourself.”

[gffa]

Rewatched the Rebels episode where Kanan and the others go to meet Ahsoka's friend for help in finding good base locations and it turns out to be Rex and everyone has a real bad time of it, because this show was for a young audience, sure, but it also didn't shy away from Kanan's trauma or letting us know that Rex had been through a lot of his own hurt, too. The clones having to live in this space of what they'd done, that it hadn't been their choice, but it had been their hands, killing the Jedi, the people who fought besides them on the battlefield, who bled and died for them, the clones were the ones who killed them because their very agency was taken away, their thoughts were overwritten, and you have to live with that guilt and anger and hurt, because it wasn't your choice, you didn't want this, but it was your brothers that still did it, and you have to worry that the Jedi will be angry at you for it, will come after you for being a danger to them, for having killed their children, and then you come face to face with a Jedi, a Jedi who is angry at you, who doesn't believe you, who was a child when a clone murdered his master in front of him and then tried to kill him, who had killed other kids his age, and how how how could anyone not want revenge for that? Jedi were taught not to seek it, but how could anyone possibly face the genocide of their entire people and culture, and not say this was different? How could they not go through that and decide, no, this did need to be avenged? And no amount of trying to explain that you didn't want it, you didn't know at the time, you didn't choose this, can ever undo what happened. And that you don't know if it's worse to have your mind stripped from you and monstrous acts done with your hands but you lived or if it's worse to have seen your entire culture murdered just for being born with the Force and for standing up to fight against evil and having the entire galaxy lie about who you were and what you did and why you did it, to still be hunted down just because you could touch the Force, no matter whether you fought back or not, to not even be able to just say the words, "I'm a Jedi." without someone probably turning you in to the Empire. Both sides of this utterly trusted each other once upon a time and that trust was shattered through no fault of their own and everyone can understand why everyone else is the victim of something truly horrific, but still can't get back to where they were before, because it doesn't matter that none of them chose any of this, it was still their hands that were forced into unthinkable acts and their kids' bodies on the ground and nothing can ever undo that. You have to do your best to let go of the horror and move on, maybe find something new, but you'll never not see everything that happened when you look at the other person. Anyway, I'm gonna go punt myself into the sun brb.

[mswyrr]

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes makes the main series of The Hunger Games hit better because it's bookended by these two young people at the birth and death of the Games. Coriolanus choosing to become part of this thing, keep it alive when it was waning in power, and make it the effective tool of media/social control it became and Katniss choosing to use her one arrow, her one shot, to end the Games and Coin rather than take personal revenge on Snow.

Both young people are, in their own ways, ordinary. Collins never leaned into the super special YA lead trope. But Katniss is a young person whose inner compass points north and her inner "no" is so strong and that (at the right moment) enables the death of the Games and the whole social order they embodied and reflected. And Coriolanus is someone who (at another key moment) chooses to harden his heart and take the easy path and walking that comfortable path over decades is the mundane seed of evil.

I think it's important that both young people are living in wartime and influence the direction of things in a postwar moment, when where things will go is up in the air. I'm sure tons of other folks had similar choices to make--perhaps people who were even more exceptional in certain ways--but they weren't standing at just the right tipping point and Katniss and Coriolanus were.

As Katniss puts it when Coin invites her and the other surviving Victors to vote for a new Games using the Capitol's children:

Was it like this then? Seventy-five years or so ago? Did a group of people sit around and cast their votes on initiating the Hunger Games? Was there dissent? Did someone make a case for mercy that was beaten down by the calls for the deaths of the districts’ children? The scent of Snow’s rose curls up into my nose, down into my throat, squeezing it tight with despair. All those people I loved, dead, and we are discussing the next Hunger Games in an attempt to avoid wasting life. Nothing has changed. Nothing will ever change now. (315)

And that's why Katniss kills Coin rather than Snow at the end. His 75 year old world is gone. A new world is coming to birth (like it was when he was Katniss' age) and she knows that it must not be the world Coin wants. She doesn't know a lot, but she knows that and acts on it.

The timeline of the books isn't of Panem's government in general, but of the Games itself, and it is bookended by these two young people and their choices, to bring it alive or to shoot it dead. Which is why Collins told the story that she told in Ballad - it's not about Haymitch's games or whatever else people want, because that's not the origin story of this thing that Katniss ends, it's not the other bookend of the story, it doesn't reinforce or enhance Katniss' story the same way. Coriolanus' story does.

All of this is why a "born evil" interpretation of him or saying he and Lucy Gray didn't actually love each other compromises the themes of the series IMO. Coriolanus and Katniss have to have real choices made as people who could have chosen another path, and that means he has to have an actual conscience he chose to sear and numb and Katniss has to be someone capable of walking a crueler path, which is why the commonalities she has with Gale and that side of her needs to be clear as well.

They're both kids who are ordinary in some ways and exceptional in others, but not superpowered, they're human. And they both have ordinary human capacities for good and evil. And they both fall in star-crossed love. But then they choose very different things. And so it goes. Coriolanus helps bring a monster to life; Katniss slays it.

Ballad makes the main series ending even better:

I love the two of them looking across time, across these different deciding moments, at each other, and Katniss making her choice.

[zafirosreverie]

Julieta & Bruno headcanons

for @hectic-hector we both know these two are the best!

They're 15 minutes apart

Julieta gave Alma a heart attack because she was born calm, without crying or noise.

But she was the healthiest baby. Bruno was born weaker and smaller than his sisters.

He couldn't sleep alone, he always had to be between his sisters, but over time Pepa became more independent, leaving them alone.

It never bothered Julieta, and even after getting their own rooms and gifts, she would always leave an empty spot next to her on the bed, knowing that Bruno would appear at any time of the night.

While Pepa preferred to play outside and explore, Bruno and Julieta were home children. They would play chess, cards, puzzles, or read together.

They were the ones who could pretend to be each other, which greatly bothered Pepa. They stopped when they realized that it really hurt her not to look like her siblings.

Bruno was Julieta's guinea pig while she learned to cook. He trusted his sister, and no matter how bad the food looked, he would eat it and be honest about the taste.

Because of this, Bruno actually learned to cook and is really good at it, he just prefers to leave the hard work to his sister.

But he doesn't hesitate to take over if Julieta needs to rest.

Bruno was the baby when they played. Always. Sometimes it was hard for him to know when the game ended because Julieta would treat him like a baby anyway.

He's a gentleman and he was since he was little. He would open the door for his sisters or help them cross puddles or give them the hand when they went down the stairs.

Again, with Pepa more interested in exploring and being independent, Bruno stopped doing it with her, but he always did it for Julieta, even as adults, he still retains those instincts and makes sure to be a total gentleman with her.

Pepa complains about this, saying that he was never "good" to her and that it was obvious who his favorite sister was.

Bruno simply agrees and hugs Julieta while he sticks his tongue out at Pepa.

"As if she wasn't your favorite too" (Yes, yes she is. Julieta is the favorite sister of her two siblings, but they still love each other…in their own way)

Julieta just laughs, but she hugs Bruno back while she smiles evilly at Pepa just to annoy her.

"Mamá!! Your children are evil!!" "I don't remember any of them breaking my vases as kids, tho" "I can't believe this family treats me like this, betrayal after betrayal." (Pepa's the drama queen, you can't change my mind)

Bruno was not very good at school, he was better than Pepa, but he still had a hard time understanding many things. Julieta spent afternoons patiently explaining to him what she had understood.

For that reason, Bruno got used to going to her when he had doubts, even after returning to the family.

Julieta's the secret keeper for both her siblings. In a way, she knows them better than Alma (or Félix in Pepa's case) ever will.

When Julieta felt too pressured by the expectations of her mother and the town, she hid in Bruno's room.

He never questioned it, he simply sat with her, listening to her without interrupting and offering hugs from time to time (he didn't know what else to do).

She knew that she didn't have to be perfect with him, that she could make mistakes, do stupid things, scream, jump, just be herself, without fear of being judged.

Bruno loves those moments. He got used to seeing his older sister as a perfect doll, it was nice to be able to see her being human again.

Julieta was the only person Pepa couldn't beat in a fight (the woman is strong, okay? We don't give her enough credit just because she's the calmest of the triplets), which is why Bruno hid behind her every time Pepa intimidated him.

She cooked whatever she was in the mood to make, but it was more common for her to spoil Bruno with food than her sister and mother. But she would never admit it.

When the grandchildren were born, Julieta's daughters immediately chose him as their favorite "mom's sibling".

"It wasn't enough for you to steal my sister, now you are also taking my nieces from me?!" "Pepa, your cloud!"

When his sisters started dating, instead of trying to seem intimidating, he would simply tell the suitors that if they hurt any of them, he would give them a horrible vision (he knows his gift doesn't work like that, but it was his way of protecting Pepa and Juli).

His favorite niece is Mirabel. No questions, no doubts. I'm not even going to argue this point, I'll just say that she was his favorite from the moment she was born (probably because she looked so much like Julieta and in a way he felt like he could repay her for all the love and care she had for him through Mirabel).

The night he disappeared, the only person he had time to write to was Julieta. He didn't tell her where he was going, he just asked her not to hate him and that he promised her he would be okay. He thanked her for everything she had done for him and said he was sorry for not being the best brother to her.

It was the worst pain Julieta had ever felt. It was as if she had lost one of her babies, and she refused to leave her room for weeks, clinging to that letter.

In the end, only Pepa was able to get her out of there, reminding her that she still had her, and that she needed her. The two became closer in those years because of the fear they had of losing each other too.

Julieta hated her mother and sister's unspoken rule not to talk about Bruno. She hated it with all her soul, but she knew that she couldn't do anything about it if she didn't want to make things worse for Mirabel.

She didn't say anything when Pepa went to vent to her and inevitably ended up cursing Bruno, she simply sat next to her and hugged her, even if she didn't agree with what she said.

Still, she couldn't be mad at Bruno. Hurt, sad and desperate maybe, but never really angry.

She could never hate him, she could not curse his name nor could she harbor resentment in her heart for having left her. He was still her brother and even though she didn't know where he was, she still loved him and refused to say a single bad thing about him.

Bruno not only chose the hiding place near the kitchen because of the free food, but because it is the place where Julieta spent the most time, and being with her (even if she didn't know it) calmed him down and made him feel better.

He sometimes wondered if what he did was worth it, as he listened to Julieta break down little by little.

There's no way in the world Julieta left him out of her sight for more than a few minutes when he returned. There was simply no human power that would make her turn away from him, for fear of losing him again if she looked away.

Bruno didn't care, knowing that he had years to make up for hurting her.

Curiously, rebuilding his relationship with her was more difficult than with Pepa and Alma or anyone else.

Perhaps because he had never been as close to them as he was with his older sister, and it broke his heart to realize that the reason the miracle had broken in the first place was not just because of Alma's expectations on the family, but because he himself had broken the strongest bond he had as well.

It took a few months for them to start trusting each other the same way they had. Bruno had to learn to talk to her freely again, without sounding like he was walking on eggshells around her.

And Julieta had to learn to give him space, to trust that he wouldn't leave again and take his word that she hadn't been the reason he left in the first place, that she really had done enough and more for him.

It was a slow process, but they managed to make it work and that was all that mattered to them.

And that's all for now because I could go on and on about these two and we would never leave this post. I just love them so so much!!! (and Pepa too)

[teecupangel]

Submitted by @saberamane

Teecup….I have a new need that I must share.

Modern AU with Desmond and Clay as  BFF’s who do stupid shit. I’m thinking the pairing is AltDesEzi, and one day Altair and Ezio come home and hear some suspicious sounds coming from the bedroom.

Desmond said Clay was coming over…

They slam the door open, thinking they’re going to catch…something going on, already feeling mad and heartbroken…

Only to find Desmond with a controller in hand, and Clay screaming on the bed.

Desmond bought a ‘birthing simulator’, and Clay is not having a good time.

Desmond is having a fantastic time.

And they can tell, by the evil gleam in his big doe eyes, he’s going to try and put it on one of them next…

https://www.facebook.com/reel/812293810659990

==============================================

Additions by teecup:

Desmond Miles was a strange man.

Born as the sheltered home-schooled son of William Miles, there were a lot of things he didn’t know. Ezio had only seen him a few times growing up. He always followed his father during those times and he could count with one hand how many times he had actually conversed with the sole child of the Miles.

His father had requested him to look after Desmond when they learned they were going to the same college. He figured it wouldn’t be too much of a hassle, considering how quiet Desmond Miles was.

Then college started and Ezio realized that Desmond was a magnet for trouble.

Trouble number one was Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.

Okay, he and Altaïr had some kind of childish rivalry going on since they were in the same boarding school. It didn’t matter that Altaïr was a year older than him (and Desmond), they would always find a way to compete.

Sports.

Academic.

Extra-curricular activities.

It always felt like he was racing to catch up to Altaïr and pass him.

And every time he felt like he already did, Altaïr would be hot on his heels and already running pass him like it was the natural state of the world.

Federico once heard him complain about it and simply laughed it off.

Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad was the heir of Masyaf Corporations. Their banks deal with them regularly. If anything, Ezio was supposed to be kissing up to him.

Ezio refused and…

As they say, the rest was history.

Getting close to Desmond had been easy.

Learning that Desmond chose the same college as Ezio because Altaïr was studying there was annoying.

Learning Altaïr and Desmond were childhood friends, bordering on childhood sweetheart (if one could even imagine Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad having a sweetheart) made Ezio rethink his entire friendship with Desmond.

And then…

Things happened, feelings evolved, college was the time to experiment and learn one’s self and oh boy, did Ezio learn a lot.

He and Altaïr still can’t get along all that well but they manage to be cordial for Desmond’s sake.

They both entered a relationship with Desmond knowing about each other.

Their rivalry hit that stage where they are both trying to make Desmond happy while also half-trying to one up the other.

They graduate and started living together and then…

Trouble number two became Desmond’s roommate.

Look.

Ezio and Altaïr had both wanted Desmond to live with them.

Unfortunately, Altaïr and Ezio didn’t want to live with each other and Desmond thought it would be unfair if he was to live with either of them sooooo…

Desmond found an apartment and got a roommate.

Desmond worked as a bartender for some reason, his bio-engineering diploma gaining dust in the darkest part of his closet.

He did tell them that his mother told him he could join their research and development team any time he wanted but Desmond didn’t really want to.

Oh, it wasn’t because of nepotism. Desmond had no qualms with that.

“Aunt Juno’s a bitch to work with. I intern in their company, remember?”

So yeah, Desmond was willing to just let his college degree whither and die while working as a bartender.

Hence the need for a roommate to keep up with the bills (any offer to give him money for his bills were rejected but he allowed his boyfriends to treat him to food, gifts and homemade meals)

Clay Kaczmarek was chaos reincarnate.

He was a computer engineering graduate who freelances for the highest bidder.

Ezio was pretty sure said highest bidders were more on the side of ‘fuck capitalism’ but it wasn’t his place to judge as a child of old money.

Altaïr knew of him and that was saying a lot as Masyaf Corporations held more pies in the darker part of society that was considered a ‘gray area’ than most companies.

Clay was a good man.

But he was the worst enabler in Desmond’s small circle of friends and the two of them loses most of their braincells when they were together.

They get the dumbest ideas and follow through with them.

It was like they were both making up for Desmond’s quiet ‘obedient’ life as a child and then going one step further.

They’ve never been arrested though and Altaïr or Ezio never had to bail them out but, my god, they never get a head’s up whenever something stupid was about to happen.

So the two of them getting a birthing simulator?

Ezio was pretty sure it was because one of Desmond’s coworker was pregnant and that probably led to the two of them talking about pregnancy and what it would feel like.

Seeing Desmond smile at them sweetly but not bothering to cover up the evil gleam in his eyes…

Ezio was too in love with him to say no even as Clay’s pained screams continued because Desmond has yet to turn off the device in his hands.

So he simply patted Altaïr’s shoulder and grimly said…

“Rock, paper, scissors, best of three.”

[aita-blorbos]

WIBTA if I stole my “real” counterpart’s life?

I (9F) come from a world that’s a mere reflection of the actual world. Everyone in it, including me, is a mirror of someone else. We’re born of the worst traits of people— all their flaws personified.

Because of this, my world isn’t very nice. Some people are alright, but most people are mean, sad, or both. This includes my parents.

They’re not actually my parents in that they’ve never been in love and didn’t choose to have me. They’re just reflections of the people who chose to have my real counterpart, and as such, they don’t have very much interest in me…

My mom is unhappy or angry most of the time. She doesn’t like interacting with people and closes herself off from everyone, including me. My dad is slightly better… he lets me help him out sometimes, but he’s always saying things that hurt my feelings and doesn’t listen to what I say. Apparently, he’s “just using me.”

Or at least… that’s what a friend told me. I met him one day, and he’s been telling me all about how the way I’m treated is unfair. This friend, who I’ll call D, is grumpy and cynical, but I still like him. He lets me follow him around even though he doesn’t really seem interested in getting to know me more than that.

Because of D, I also met another person, who I’ll call DM. DM is D’s father, I think, and he’s SUPER powerful! He’s one of the most feared people in our world. DM has been very nice to me, too, though, calling me special and saying I’m a smart kid. DM agreed that I deserve better than I have, and offered to help me out.

You see, DM knows very powerful magic, and he told me that if I could bring my real counterpart to him, then he’d use that magic to help me take her place. And if I were to do that, then I could live in the actual world! I’d be part of a happy family and have parents who love me… so I agreed right away! I was so excited.

It wasn’t too hard to find my counterpart, who I’ll call P. She actually snuck into our world and I bumped into her.

She seemed suspicious of me at first, but quickly warmed up, saying she thought we should be friends. Then, she dragged me to her world, and we spent some time playing together. She showed me the beautiful place where she lives and all the cool magic she can use. She even gave me my own name that wasn’t just “Mirror P,” saying that I should be treated like a baby sister instead of an evil clone. She’s honestly really confusing.

I like her, though, and it was nice playing together. At least… until P’s parents found out. When P tried to introduce me to them, they lost it. Her dad in particular was angry to see me. A- apparently a long time ago someone from my world hurt someone that was very important to him, and so he didn’t want me anywhere around P because he was sure I’d hurt her too. P’s mom tried to reason with him a little, but it didn’t work. He yelled at me, said I should just go back to my own world, and told me he never wanted to see me around P again.

…That really hurt. I guess he was right that I was going to hurt P, but I didn’t like being called a monster. It makes me wonder if there’s no version of my dad out there who could possibly love me.

Even though her dad yelled at me, though, P didn’t give up. She and I have been meeting in secret and playing together. Then, I go and report back to DM. DM says it’s good that I’m earning her trust, and soon I’ll be able to take her place.

But I… don’t know if I want to hurt P. She’s been so nice to me. If I take her place, then where will she go? Will she be stuck in my awful world, or will she disappear forever? That doesn’t seem fair…

I told DM that I wasn’t sure I wanted to do this and that maybe there was another way. M… maybe if I made the right argument, then I could get P’s family to love me! And I could live with her! And be her baby sister for real!

…But that just made DM laugh at me. He said no-one from their world would ever like or accept someone like me.

I still wanted to try, though, and so I talked to P and said I wanted to leave my world for good and live with her. I… I told her that I’d be nice and that I wouldn’t cause any problems for anyone. I promised. And she told me she thought that would be wonderful, so we went to talk with her parents a second time, hoping maybe we could convince them.

We really, really tried. P talked all about how nice I’d been to her and how mean everyone was to me at home. I said that I’d try my hardest not to be a burden to anyone and that I wasn’t like the other people from my world. I begged them to just give me a chance and said I’d do everything I could to be a good daughter. I poured my heart out, and I really thought it would work. P did, too.

But it didn’t. P’s dad STILL didn’t accept me. He was upset P had even been sneaking out to see me at all. H- he told me that he didn’t want me around and that if I did anything to P he’d hurt me. He seemed really upset. He was crying and everything. He tried to be intimidating, but honestly I think he was scared of me?

…DM was right. No-one from their world could ever love a monster like me.

A- and so I’m going to go along with his plan. I’m going to find a place where I belong. P- um, actually has history with DM… or at least her family does. That’s why she was in my world in the first place— she was trying to get revenge on him. So I’m gonna tell her I know where DM is, lure her to him, and then he’ll cast his spell!

And then I’ll be the real one. I’ll have a place where I belong. I won’t be a bad kid anymore. I really, really want that. But I’m nervous, too. P’s one of the only people who’s ever been nice to me. I don’t want to hurt her, I just don’t think there’s any other way. I- uh, also don’t really know how this magic works or what it will do to me… I’m a little scared. I also don’t actually know what it is DM did to P’s family… m- maybe he’s not all that nice. If I don’t do this, though I’ll never be loved, and so I don’t have a choice.

WIBTA if I go through with helping DM with his plan?

[crepes-suzette-373]

Earlier, it occurred to me the possibility of Sanji having taken inspiration from Nezha, a divine entity from Chinese legends. The texts that mentions Nezha, Journey to the West and Feng Shen Yan Yi, are both texts that are fairly well known in Japan. Various anime and manga reference these stories, so I don't think this parallel is too outlandish.

I don't think this will predict anything in the future, since the parallels I saw mostly point to things that already happened, but I'll describe the similarities first.

The lore of Nezha varies slightly depending on the text you read (either Journey to the West, or Feng Shen Yan Yi), but the generic narrative goes like this:

Nezha was born the third son of a military commander. At a point in time, he had squabbles with deities, which angers Nezha's father. The father wants to kill Nezha, but he chose to kill himself before he gets killed. Nezha's mentor then revives Nezha into a new divine body, and gives him two items, a fire spear and flying wheels of wind and flames to ride on. The reborned Nezha initially wanted revenge on his father and defeated his older brother who tried to stop him. However, Buddha (and/or the mentor) intervened and made Nezha and his birth father make peace.

In Journey to the West, Nezha later helps Sun Wukong defeat some of the enemies they encounter in the journey (even though he doesn't actually join the group). In the other versions, Nezha and his brothers and father defeat the immortals of an evil king to help the good king ascend the throne.

Similarity:

Born as a third son in a military family

Birth father wants him dead.

Rescued/given new life and abilities by a mentor

Fire-based new powers/weapons (the fire wheels in modern imagery as shown above makes it look like Nezha's feet are on fire)

Difference:

Sanji didn't actually "die" for real. You can, however, say that he killed his "Vinsmoke" name.

Sanji's more powerful "divine body" (exoskeleton) was already there from birth, though it only awakened much later.

Sanji does not use actual weapons

Nezha has a godly form with three heads and six arms. In One Piece, the one who has this is Zoro.

Event parallels:

The mentor who revived Nezha and Zeff. While Diable Jambe developed much later, Sanji got all his fighting abilities from Zeff.

Assisting Sun Wukong and Sanji in the Straw Hat crew. This analysis in the first place was inspired by another comment that suggest Luffy's character has references/inspiration from Sun Wukong the Monkey King.

Defeating older brother = Sanji was able to kick down Niji and Yonji.

Flimsy parallel, but arguable:

Mentor steps in to cause father and son to make peace: Sanji saved the Vinsmokes because of his regard for Zeff. Very loose parallel, since they don't actually 100% make peace yet and Zeff's not even there, but similarity can be argued.

Working together to fight evil king and a new king ascends the throne: The escape from Whole Cake, when Germa assists the Straw Hats. After the Straw Hats escape Big Mum, the newspapers say that Luffy is the "fifth emperor".

Empress Shijing. There was an incident where Nezha fought with and led to the death of Empress Shijing, who is a spiritual entity/immortal. Arguably this might be the Sanji VS Queen fight, even though Queen is not female.

Possible predictors?

As I said in the start, I'm not certain the parallels predicts anything for the future. Maybe some kind of super god mode. Say, maybe Sanji's exoskeleton fully activating, but somehow without changing his personality. Or it connects to the Garuda/Lunarian theory I formulated, because of the "divine" connections.

One other thing is that in Nezha's narrative, which I gloss over earlier, Nezha's squabble that led to his death was killing the dragon king's son (or offending the dragon king in another way). Since I don't see this paralleling anything yet, it's not impossible for this to be a predictor of Sanji fighting an actual dragon, or even this might refer to the Celestial Dragon world noble. I'm not entirely counting on this happening, though, because I'm not certain sensei was just unloading the whole plot on Sanji like this.

[deathmetalunicorn1]

ok, maybe I'm watching too many romantic dramas. My request is for Sasaki, Hades, Poseidon and Shiva (if there are too many, my priority is Sasaki and Hades)

Let's say that the reader is a dragon or another supernatural creature with a human appearance, and that she loves her mother and her older brother very much, being they from a very feared and powerful family. Her mother is cursed with something that makes her very fragile after giving birth to her daughter and her brother is the living embodiment of light and blessings, good things in short. But the reader represents all the curses that fall on the mortal and the immortal, and she felt very lonely. Until her mother introduces him to an honorable family, and her only heir as a betrothed to the reader. They took years to get to know her and then he formally proposed to her, but… in the end he stabbed her in the back when he found out on her wedding day that she was cheating on her with a maid from another family who was a member of the families. And well, we return to the guys from RoR, let's say that they were interested in this lonely and hurt woman, and somehow they managed to win her over. But when they want to propose to her, she just started turning pale and then crying, as well as running away. And she is the fragile mother and brother who explains her trauma with marriage, plus that since they are from a family of old blood she has never had, you know, what happens on their wedding night. How would you help her get through this? (if they have fallen in love with this woman enough for this level of dedication) Or how would they react when they found out about her ex-fiancé? (Yes, he is still alive, he was the only son of that other family, if they killed him, the bloodline would go as far as that) (I know… very long, have a nice night or a nice day)

(*￣3￣)╭

-Y/N, only daughter and second child of the legendary Draco Family, descended from the Draco Constellation, powerful gods that have the ability to transform into dragons, was a lonely girl.

-Her elder brother, her twin, B/N, is like sunshine, he lights up any room he enters and gets along with everyone he meets, being the Dragon God of Light and Blessings.

-While you were the Dragon Goddess of Shadow and Misfortune.

-Her looks did not match her title and abilities, she was a stunning maiden, with long flowering dark hair, that mirrored her brother’s long flowing white hair, with piercing gold eyes, snow white skin, and an air of mystery about her.

-Y/N rarely ventured from her palace on family’s estate, choosing to remain away from others, others who would only whisper cruel things, as if she was an evil girl.

-This was not in fact true, you were a intelligent and elegant maiden who always thought of others, sending thoughtful gifts to those who needed them.

-Your family knew that you were not evil and did not treat you as such, your brother came to your palace almost every day to see you and walk with you, brightening up your day, and while your father, the personification of Draco itself, was busy, he always made time to send you gifts, letters, and come and see you once a week.

-Your mother was the only person you left your palace for, as she was weak, not sickly, just weak, she had been like that since the birth of you and your brother, due to a curse placed upon her by the jealous Andromeda, another constellation goddess, who loved your father.

-Her curse was to affect not only your mother, but your brother and you as well, if she chose to give birth; the curse was that if your mother gave birth, she would lose all her strength and live a life bound to her bed, to be forever weak, and her children would be born as polar opposites, light and darkness, blessing and curse, to force not only her but her child to live a life of torment for being ‘evil’.

-Andromeda told your mother that if she killed you both while still in her womb, she would have kept her power, but would have been deemed a monster for killing her children, with the intent of driving your father away from such a cruel mother.

-Your mother was not cruel, she chose to birth the two of you with no hesitation, and your father’s bond with her only grew, as she chose to sacrifice herself to bring their children into the world, which infuriated Andromeda and she fled, never to be seen again.

-There were many days were your mother looked healthy as could be, just unable to walk or do anything without assistance, but her handmaidens were always there for her, which you appreciated deeply.

-As you grew older, you were betrothed to another god, one who’s mother arranged with your mother when you started to blossom into your beauty.

-You didn’t mind, at first, as you spent the first three years betrothed to a man you had yet to meet, as you both were still young, you only knew that his name was Kand, and he was a minor earth god.

-Once both you and your brother were of age, you both got to meet your marriage partners, as B/N was engaged to a lovely flower goddess.

-Kand was a handsome and strong looking man, and he was stunned by your beauty, you were nothing like the humors who described you as a wicked looking hag, obviously started by vicious people who saw only to judge you for what you had command over.

-You were hesitant with Kand, who in turn kept his distance a bit from you, both sides were unsure of each other. You had gone so many years without talking to others who weren’t from your own family without being met with contempt and cruel words, while he wasn’t sure if the rumors were true and that you would cause misfortune to fall upon him.

-Over the years of being betrothed, courting each other, you fell in love, he learned that you had control of your abilities and you could cause misfortune to fall upon others at will and he grew to defend you against others who would dare say anything that wasn’t praise about you.

-When your wedding day came around, you had been preparing when your brother’s wife snuck into your room, “Sister Y/N, you need to come with me now.”

-You and Blossom got along very well and considered each other as sisters, but her tone sounded so concerned, frightened almost and you left, following with her to the guest house where Kand was preparing for the wedding.

-Inside, he was embracing another woman, kissing her fiercely before pulling back from her as she cooed up at him, “Don’t get married to that evil witch! You know I’ll take care of you, just as I have been for years.”

-Your power exploded, taking your dragon form of a massive black dragon, roaring furiously and destroying a good portion of the guest house, shocking Kand and his mistress who were instantly begging for your forgiveness.

-When your father and B/N arrived and saw the two together, half dressed, obviously about to start something until you walked in, and your father’s temper exploded, himself turning into a massive red and gold dragon, demanding to know what these two had to say for themselves.

-B/N and Blossom rushed to console you as you shifted back to your human form, returning to your palace where you cried for days, weeks, your broken heart crushing your chest.

-Your father and B/N came to you, telling you that this other woman was Andromeda’s daughter, Romeda, who saw your relationship with Kand as a way for more revenge against your family.

-With the blessings of the other strongest gods in Valhalla, he struck down Andromeda’s family except for Andromeda herself, who was stripped of her powers and made into a kitchen maid in the Greek pantheon, forced to live a life of servitude for her crimes.

-Kand was not innocent as well, he was punished severely and B/N told you later that your father actually punched him when he tried to apologize and say that he was wrong to do that to you, but what Romeda had said was true, they had been seeing each other for years now behind your back.

-He had been shunned and labeled a cheater, and his family was unable to find him a marriage partner, so he spent many of his days drinking his life away.

-You spent hundreds of years hidden away in your palace, afraid of opening up to others again. You adored Blossom’s and B/N’s children, who adored you, and the five of them all helped in spreading good rumors about you, about your beauty, which did have suitors coming to meet with you, but you refused them all, afraid of being hurt again.

-However, seeing the children running around your garden, you hated to admit it, but you felt a sort of longing within your heart, you wanted love, you wanted happiness again.

-You stunned when you arrived with your brother and father at a massive party, hosting both gods and humans, as many had never seen you before and jaws were dropped all around, you were so beautiful and many were quick to realize they believed the rumors without knowing the truth, they judged you just because of what you could do.

-You looked so mysterious as you kept close to your father, as you were an unmarried maiden still, and your father wasn’t going to let any men get near you if you didn’t consent first, he wasn’t going to let his baby get hurt again.

Kojiro

-You were surprised when a human approached you, Sasaki Kojiro, you knew him as one of the strongest swordsmen in the history of humanity, and he had defeated Poseidon in the Ragnarok tournament that had been so popular, everyone who had been killed was brought back and more tournaments were scheduled.

-He was an older man, but he wanted to shoot his shot with you, he had never met a woman before that caught his attention and held it so viciously before. He kind of liked the feeling.

-Your father wasn’t worried as you didn’t seem concerned by this man, at first at least, he greeted you warmly, bowing at the waist, before flirting with you, “Had I known that a goddess like you was here in Valhalla, I would have died much sooner!”

-His flirting was a bit shocking but you couldn’t deny the blush on your cheeks and his cheerful smile did make your heart flutter a bit.

-You got to know Kojiro over the next several months, as time was irrelevant in Valhalla, he took his time courting you, giving you simple gifts like pressed flowers, and he would regale you with stories from when he was on earth.

-You felt yourself weakening around him, a softness appearing in your heart again, one that your twin was easily able to see but everything changed when Kojiro approached you with a fierce determination in his eyes that made your heart flutter, and he asked you to marry him.

-Your response was not what he was expecting, you instantly flinched back, looking scared, and you ran from him trying to stifle your sobs.

-B/N had been around the corner and overheard and he approached, comforting the samurai before sitting down with him and he told Kojiro of your past, your previous marriage and betrayal, and now the fear you hold deep within you.

-Kojiro was heartbroken to learn of your own heartbreak, of the betrayal you faced on your wedding day of all days, but he grew to understand you.

-He approached you again the following day, with another pressed flower, “Y/N, I’m sorry for upsetting you yesterday. I didn’t know, but now I do. I want to prove myself to you, that I am worthy for your precious heart.”

-It was another few months of a slow rebuilding, he had to regain what was lost, you still trusted him, but you now feared what could happen, old trauma coming back to haunt you.

-He proved, day after day, that he truly loved you, he proved it until you had not a single shred of doubt in your heart that he wasn’t going to betray you.

-Your wedding was lovely and elegant, but the party was massive, and it got wild quick, but it was so much fun, you felt so much happiness in your heart that Kojiro took the time to prove to you that he truly did and would always, love only you.

Hades

-Hades knew of your previous engagement, it had been a hot topic for what felt like years, such a massive scandal, but seeing you there in that party, he wanted to find Kand and punt him into the sun.

-How did Kand cheat on someone as beautiful as you?! You were literally the vision of beauty and power, all in one!!

-Hades didn’t speak to you at the party, only giving you a single black rose, which was stunningly beautiful, and you were surprised to see that he had persevered it with some sort of magic, so it never wilted.

-His first words to you were in a letter, he penned a beautiful poem, describing your beauty. Your face was tomato red for most of the day.

-The two of you began to exchange letters, things started off friendly and soon he was coming to visit you, after getting your father’s permission and the two of you could talk for hours.

-Hades enjoyed learning that you were as smart as you were beautiful, and he fully regrated showing you how to play chess, as he can never beat you now, which he does tease about from time to time.

-Hades didn’t rush anything, he was content with being friends, something you appreciated, and your friendship got him out and about and away from his desk for a while, which he fully appreciated.

-You could both tell there was something more between the two of you, you were hesitant to explore while Hades was very observant, seeing your hesitation and he made no move either.

-B/N saw this ‘something’ as well and caught Hades one day, inviting him for a drink, and he told Hades about your past, of what you faced and why you were so hesitant with him.

-Hades knew of the affair that was revealed on your wedding day, all of Valhalla knew of it, and Hades gripped his glass a bit tighter, something B/N saw, as the God of the Underworld couldn’t even fathom cheating on such a stunning creature such as yourself.

-Hades paid more attention to you over the next several weeks, seeing how you shied away from his small affections, but he could also see your smile and blush, like you wanted more, but you were hesitant.

-Hades asked you out on a walk together, as he wanted to show you some of the Greek pantheon that he called home and you agreed.

-Cerberus instantly liked you and you adored the massive three headed dog, he was like a puppy with you!

-As you wandered the gardens a voice shouted out your name and you instantly paled, turning, your hair fluttering all around you as you saw Kand, for the first time in hundreds of years.

-He looked disheveled and dirty and you were surprised when Hades put an arm up in front of you, shielding you, “Do not approach Y/N, scum.”

-Kand didn’t take kindly to that, “She’s my fiancée! I have every rig-” you were stunned as Hades instantly had Kand hauled up by his throat, halting his words, “Wrong, you lost her when you chose another.”

-He threw Kand back who landed hard on his rear and you had taken a few steps back when Hades first went for your ex, but the drunkard was instantly on his feet and charged right for you, demanding you back.

-Hades gave him no mercy the second time, round house kicking him away from you, sending him flying before he turned to you and rushed you.

-He picked you up princess style, your face instantly flushing, as he easily leapt up, leaving the gardens and landing on the upper levels of Zeus’ mansion, which overlooked the gardens.

-Hades grinned at your red face, telling you how cute you looked before he set you down and stepped back, but kept one of your hands in his own.

-You thanked Hades for defending you, something he brushed off, “Any man would leap at the chance to save someone as lovely as you are, Y/N.” you turned with an even brighter blush which made him laugh warmly and you couldn’t help but peek, silently commenting on how handsome he was while laughing.

-He took you home after he calmed down and B/N couldn’t help but smile, seeing the two of you arrive, holding hands and smiling at each other.

-B/N knew you two were going to get together, you were perfect for each other.

[opal-inna]

I was thinking of Megamind’s theme of heroes being made instead of born and the parallels between Megamind and Hal.

You can see how Megamind is trying his best, but Metroman is more privileged, so Megamind gives up. He had always had bad luck, compared to Metroman, so he thought it was his destiny to be a villain. So when Hal seemingly has everything delivered to his doorstep, it’s destiny that wanted this to happen. Megamind believes that it’s up to forces greater than him that make heroes or villains. And Hal had all the gifts Megamind hadn’t, and he chose to use them for evil.

But then I looked deeper into it. I compared Hal with Megamind. Both of them were social outcasts. Both of them were nerds. Both of them were in love with Roxanne. Both of them were rejected by her. And both turned to villainy when things didn’t go as they had hoped. In a dark twist of fate, one could recite the famous cliche  “we’re not so different, you and I!”.

But obviously, they are so different. So what sets them apart?

Both of them wanted approval, but Megamind seeked acceptance from society and Hal sought to win love from another person. Both of them had a skewed idea of how human relationships work and both tried to follow in Metroman’s footsteps to get there.

But obviously, they failed. Because it’s not how it works. Again, they’re similar in this department.

And then it hit me.

Both of them tried to imitate Metroman to gain something- gain approval in their example. But you can’t just win someone’s approval, it’s up for them to decide whether they give it to you or not. And you may only get it by being genuinely good yourself. Even if both chose villainy, time and time again, Megamind proved himself to be good and Hal proved himself to be evil.

Here’s what I found so far.

Hard work

Megamind had worked hard and it gave him no results, so he thought it was meant to be. He put a lot of effort into creating devices that were supposed to imitate Metroman’s powers. Hal had everything given to him, which made him feel entitled to everything he desired. 

Humility

Both of them had been rejected and degraded. But Megamind had enough humility to reflect on himself. He didn’t blame Roxanne for rejecting him (albeit the scene where she tells him to apologize and Megamind misunderstands and turns it around is hilarious). Rather, he blamed his status as a villain. Though he didn’t blame his choice to become a villain, but his destiny to be one- “Villains don’t get the girl”. However, Hal had an advantage of a status of a ‘hero’- one given to him, not the one he chose. He feels entitled to her love, so when she turns him down, he blames her. He played his part of being a ‘hero’, but she didn’t play her part of being a prize. She broke the rules.

Megamind had also reflected on what Roxanne told him. He corrected his mistakes, cleaned up the city and returned what he stole. He didn't have to, but he did it to make her happy and made an effort to be actually good.

And Hal has been actively gaslighting and lessening her, just to protect his ego.

Relationship with Roxanne

Obviously, I also had to include their relationship with Roxanne, and oh boy.

I know I’ve talked about it for the entire time, but I need to go in depth, because it’s a whole thing. Bcos Hal didn’t just have had his powers handed to him. He was also privileged even when it comes to their relationship with Roxanne. Hal had lots of time to form a real connection and friendship with her, but he chose to treat her like a prize he could win if he played the game right.

Megamind was doomed from the start, because he’s a villain. Yet when given a chance, he showed her his true self, became vulnerable with her and they shared each other’s nerdy passions. Though under another person’s skin, he showed her his soul and they formed a genuine bond. Megamind proved to be a better person, because he showed her true respect, valued her for her positive traits and just treated her as a person. 

[lovedreamer11]

When I see people saying that supporting Rhaenyra and Team Blacks is the same thing as supporting Alicent and Team Greens because they are both fighting for power and Rhaenyra and Alicent are both fighting for surviving in a misogynistic society, I want to pull my hair out.

No, it's not the same thing.

Even if Rhaenyra and Team Blacks don't specifically fight for feminism and women's rights, if Rhaenyra becomes queen it will set a precedent for the right of women to inherit the throne ! Unlike Aegon who will not help this aspect in society.

Then, the Blacks team, although fighting for their team and Rhaenyra to have the throne, it is not just a question of power. It is also the fact of respecting the law / the word of the king, of honoring his promises and his oaths. Fighting for the honor and future of their home and their family. Also, a form of change technically.

The Greens' fight is due to the pure ambition of power, to steal what is not yours / to be a usurper, to go against the law / the will of the king, that oaths and promises do not worthless, fighting for archaic patriarchal traditions with keeping men first. Not to mention the purity of blood with their aversion to children born out of wedlock while the Blacks team essentially has nothing to do with it.

I'm tired of seeing this kind of bullshit always trying to put the two teams on the same level. The two teams have absolutely nothing to do with each other.

Is it so hard to understand that the Blacks team are the protagonists of the story, made up of anti-heroes / gray and complex characters or heroic characters ? Against the Greens team who are the antagonists made up of villains, nothing more, nothing less.

It's not for nothing that in the end the Greens team receives a karmic punishment and not the Blacks team.

I absolutely agree with you.

It's a bit of a shame. After all, Alicent is also a woman. By supporting friendship with Rhaenyra and her claim to the throne, she would help set a precedent that could change the old traditions of Westeros. The fate of all women in Westeros could change in the future. But Alicent chose her ambitions.

Black characters are not good people. They're just people. With its own positive character traits, but also with its shortcomings. At the same time, the Green characters are absolute evil (except Helaena) that I have nothing good to say about.

[ouatsnark]

Regina has a lot more in common with Elsa than Emma did. DEBUNKED.

So I was sent this tumblr about how Emma is more like Anna and Regina is more like Elsa. And i just had to break it down.

“emma actually has a lot more in common with anna than she does elsa while regina is much more like elsa.”

Say what now? How?

“emma & anna have grown up being pushed aside and abandoned”

Yeah, so was Elsa? But do you know what Emma and Elsa share that Emma and Anna don’t? Being born with magical powers they can’t control and having a heavy burden of leadership placed on their shoulders with absolutely no one able to guide them.

But please, continue.

“elsa & regina have been made to feel like monsters and they know exactly why (regina has… better reasons than elsa to feel this way but that doesn’t make it hurt less, and it IS worth noting, i think, that in the original snow queen tale, elsa would have been the villain (putting ingrid aside))”

When I say that Regina stans legit do not follow canon or at the least comprehend it or ignore it… I am talking about this stuff right here.

Regina WAS a monster. She tortured, murdered and destroyed countless lives. By CHOICE. She was in control of her dark magic too. Elsa was seen as a monster simply because she was born with this ability no one else had. And she didn’t know how to control it. Emma was also born with powers and when she lost control others were scared of her (but not Killian as Anna was not of Elsa!)

So I outright reject the notion that Regina was more like Elsa.

“not to mention elsa & regina being afraid of their magic but finding it the only tool they have to reclaim some freedom, albeit in unhealthy ways that they have to learn to remedy.”

And Emma wasn’t afraid of her magic? She literally tried to get it removed?

Meanwhile Regina is over there all like “yes, Rumple, teach me more evil stuff”. Emma and Elsa both learned how to use their magic to help them succeed in their leadership positions. Regina used her learned magic to become a tyrant. Regina is not like Elsa. Or Emma.

“regina except for one scene where she advocates for emma to henry”

You mean the scene where she tells him to not worry about Emma? Yeah OK.

Yes, Regina’s words to Emma’s parents were one of Regina’s RARE good moments. However, who was helping Emma? It was Elsa. Because Regina had been too caught up in sleeping with, who she thought to be, a dying woman’s husband.

“like it’s interesting that in strorybrooke emma & elsa have trouble containing their magic while regina has trouble getting her magic to work at all.”

I’m sorry, when did Regina’s powers go haywire? There were times she couldn't use them at all... yes. But haywire? In Sb? When she didn't know what she was doing? Ok. Whatever.

I would argue that Emma & Elsa were struggling to get their powers to work PROPERLY.

But again the big difference here is that Regina is a magic user. Emma and Elsa are magic. They were born with it.

“it’s interesting that we figured regina’s magic was dangerous because rumple taught her dark magic but now emma’s light magic is dangerous”

Yeah, because Regina CHOSE to use her learned magic for EVIL. Are you all for real right now? I mean even in S4 she was plotting evil ways to use her magic. If she thought she could get away with it she’d have made sure a little boy’s mother stayed dead. Do you all have like a single brain cell? Or are you just this desperate to make Regina into an innocent little smol bean?

Emma and Elsa’s magic is dangerous for different reasons. They had no one available to teach them how to control it. They had to learn this on their own.

Regina was purposefully learning how to use magic for evil purposes.

Huge difference.

“but it all culminates in emma & regina and elsa & anna finding a family they never thought they could have”

I would argue that Regina didn’t deserve this and it is still absolutely disgusting that the show forced her victims to befriend her when Regina 1) doesn’t regret what she did because she got what she wanted and 2) never shows remorse or apologizes. She just plays nice to get her happy ending.

“while regina gets sidelined from the main story as she tries and fails to not have an affair with a man who’s wife she was trying to save from a magic coma. (which as much as i appreciate regina being noble and heroic in direct opposition to her own self interest showing her character growth, this would be even better if marian weren’t so literally fridged”

She failed to have an affair? What is your definition of failure? Cause they had sex next to Marian’s frozen body. Regina was never sidelined anyway. The show was writing her huge pity party as if it was totally acceptable for a child abusing mass murdering rapist to be this concerned about her happiness over that of a child.

Never mind that this romanticization of Regina’s actions leaves out the part where Regina wanted to kill Marian, but couldn’t, so then she begrudgingly helps to get this whole mess out of her life all the while BLAMING Emma for a problem Regina, herself, caused in the first place.

The whole S4a was not a Regina growth but a pity Regina into a redemption via a horrible disgusting writing where Emma, her victim and the hero, was turned into a villain and groveling at her abuser’s feet.

“not to mention emma doing the anna thing where she’s relentlessly chasing regina and regina doing the elsa thing pushing emma away”

This is the only part that even comes close to making sense but you have to look past the disgusting writing to accept it and I can’t. Because watching Emma chasing Regina was revolting. When did Regina chase her victims and beg for forgiveness? Yet you have Emma, who did nothing wrong, begging for Regina to be her friend again. It’s disgusting.

“which is a direct reversal of emmas tendency to run away”

Emma runs away when she’s afraid of being hurt or losing something. Emma not running away here is actually more indicative of her not fearing being hurt or losing anything. So not really like Anna at all.

“but the family they have as sisters (elsa & anna) and as friends co-parents etc (emma & regina) is worth fighting for okay”

I will say that I like to think Emma was forced to accept Regina for Henry’s sake but at the end of the day they had nothing in common. Which is pretty much shown in S7. Outside of Henry they mean nothing to each other.

So lets Review:

Emma & Elsa were born with their magic. Regina was not.

Emma & Elsa’s moms' feared their magic at some point. Regina’s mom did not.

Emma & Elsa didn’t have anyone to help them with the magic they were born with. Regina sought out help from Rumple to learn magic.

Emma & Elsa were born into leadership. Regina was not - she usurped it.

Emma & Elsa used their birthrights for good. Regina learned magic for evil and became a tyrant.

Emma and Elsa are kindred spirits so it’s quite easy to see why they have a true friendship based on mutual respect, shared experiences and trials and love.

[leportraitducadavre]

How do you feel about Haku and Zabuza, and what was introduced in the Land of Waves that contained elements of genocide and the purging of the Hidden Mist? I'm just curious to know your thoughts on them and the structure the first arc provided

Haku introduced something that was later deepened with Sasuke's character and story. While Haku's experience is similar to Sasuke's, both contexts differ in that Haku knew from a young age the persecution of people like him (and his mother), while the discrimination of the Uchiha clan was much more specific as it was focused on one particular family.

The first arc introduces such matters, yet it does little to bring light to Konoha's particular case, which will become the plot's main focus later on. While it's established that Tobirama was the one that created the bureaucratic system that Konoha follows and which was used as a model for the rest,

Source

each village's relationship with kekkei genkai users varies, although every single one persecuted or discriminated against those with such techniques.

Kekkei Genkai are feared -therefore, those who possess them are persecuted/killed. While what he says is solely linked to Mist, the weariness towards those with such bloodlines is clearly universal as these individuals possessed the most "natural advantages" for combat out of most (likely, hidden techniques were created for a similar purpose).

Tobirama’s reason for discriminating against the Uchiha was because of how their doujutsu developed and evolved, and nothing of his weariness was overcome by those who came after him, as we see Haku, from another village and generation, suffering the consequences of a fear born on the Warring State Era. Kakashi is particularly accepted because he has the Sharingan but not the blood/chakra of a Uchiha as he’s not part of the bloodline.

Furthermore, Sasuke is directly mentioned in the exchange, Naruto even links Haku’s words to Sasuke’s goal: To kill someone (Itachi who killed his clan because of the fear they installed in the power-ups: they were accused and punished for controlling the Kyuubi without a shred of single evidence, Itachi even canonically states later on that there’s “no hope for this clan” meaning, those who carry the bloodline).

Haku's admission of feeling lonely and unwanted can be directly reflected in Sasuke's character and it's a comparison that Naruto makes for himself; all three children were shunned and abandoned for something they had no control over nor chose to have, and there's a system that not only turns a deaf ear to such issues but also encourages it.

There’s an interaction between Tazuna and Kakashi, where Kakashi mentions that a previous Hokage (we aren’t told whom) taught his people to “fight for what is right”, selling the idea to the civilian in front of him that his hidden village (specifically) is the “good” side against the “evil” side (Zabuza, Gato -even other hidden villages). However, this particular speech of Kakashi, which he gives solely to Tazuna and not to his subordinates (who, by Tazuna’s standards are children), clashes with the prior idea that “missions’ feuds are high and we do what we are paid to do” (assassinations or babysitting). Meaning: there’s a narrative to be told to civilians to shape their view of shinobi (particularly Konoha’s), and the actual reality that only Team 7 (as ninjas), gets to see.  In addition, during Kakashi’s second fight against Zabuza (CH 30), Kakashi states that Konoha (therefore, he), knows about the swordsman’s attempt to coup and kill the current Mizukage -alongside his wish to raise funds to attempt another coup after his failure. We learned previously thanks to Haku’s background that there’s a bloodline cleansing currently happening in Mist; a genocide on such a large scale can’t be kept secret that long -furthermore, there’s no indication that the murders are happening quietly either since those who possessed Kekkei Genkai were pushed to hide their bloodline; and if Konoha knows about Zabuza and his attempt to take over the government, then they surely know about the reasons behind it.  What I mean by this is what follows: Kakashi and Konoha claim that they fight for “the right thing” to those civilians they encounter, but do nothing -neither military nor diplomatically, to stop those massacres from occurring (nor do they take a stance against them either, as it reduces Mist numbers and weakens their military power). They’re still pretty much in touch with the Mizukage that carried out/ordered such killings, for his government was the one that told Konoha about Zabuza’s attempted coup when declaring him rogue. 

Source

The first arc is a great introductory arc; it establishes the notion of blood cleansing, discrimination, how shinobi fight for whoever pays their feeds, how uncomfortable many are with the idea of being tools, who the main characters in the dispute are (Naruto and Sasuke) and upon which ground they stand to carry out their respective actions against the system that aggravated them.

Naruto, even by the end of the arc, never disputed the idea of moving to reach his goal outside Konoha's system, as he never stated he wanted to stop being a ninja:

We are also shown how shinobi who go against the system are considered rogue (Zabuza), so Naruto stating that he'll create his own ninja path (fighting alongside the system) automatically puts Sasuke, who'll become the antagonist, outside that political bubble, turning him into a missing-nin.

I really like this arc and I'm glad it's the first one, I don't think it's the best one in the manga as many inside the fandom claim.

[grindeldore3]

(debunking)

The Qilin-Dumbledore debate

FACT 1: Newt and Jacob are indisputably purest of heart. They are the best of all people.

FACT 2: When a Qilin is born, a righteous leader will rise, to change the world forever.

FACT 3: If you're good and worthy, then Qilin will see that. If, on the other hand, you're cruel and deceitful, then she will know that too. She bows to someone pure of heart.

FACT 4: Almost none of us are perfect, of course. No matter how good a person we try to be. There was actually a time, many, many years ago, when the Qilin chose who would lead us.

~So, I think there is absolutely no need to doubt why Qilin bowed to Albus instead of Newt and Jacob, here's why-

When Qilin is born, a righteous leader will rise. Dumbledore was the leader. There can't be any denying in that that it was only Dumbledore who could 'lead' to save the world.

Newt and Jacob were pure of heart, more pure than him, if you like to say. But they were not 'leaders'. They made sacrifices to save the world, fought for the right thing but they were not leading the revolution, they can't. Is it too difficult to see that at time of war there are people who work tirelessly to save others, they don't become inferior if they don't lead.

But there must also be one person who can lead us, guide the way and tell us where to operate and what to do. That person was Dumbledore only, for years to come, and that's why Qilin chose him.

Taking the argument that Dumbledore was not pure of heart.

But tell me (keeping in mind Fact 4 & 5)

Was he utterly deceitful?

Was he truly cruel?

Wasn't he good at all?

Was he worth nothing?

He saved the world, for greater good, not for his selfishness. How can he be not worthy? He was a man who lost everything in his life, it was only for others whom he fought for. Deceitful? He only did what was best. He was not the one who deceived people into doing one thing and he himself wanting the other. He wasn't cruel.

Pure of heart means that a person is same as in his soul as he appears from outside. He doesn't pretends to be anything else that he is not. Pure means he was simply himself. Yes, Dumbledore made terrible mistakes and some people suffered due to it, but while doing so was Dumbledore 'acting' or 'pretending'? He outrightly showed how he was, regretted his errors and admitted them openly.

Newt and Jacob were not meant to be the leaders and no way they are getting discredited by saying that. They hold their own priceless value. The 'leader'- it had to be Albus. We know it was him who ended both wizarding wars.

And lastly,

Dumbledore rejected the Qilin's offer. The Qilin had second chance to choose Newt or Jacob. But did she? She chose Santos instead. Why? (We don't know if she was pure or how much more than Newt or Jacob) Because Santos was the upcoming leader in political sphere, she was destined to lead and hence Qilin bowed to her.

However, ultimately it was Albus only, who rose, despite his fears, to lead the war and win it for best.

After all this, when social media is filled with saying he was not 'worthy', my heart pains a lot, like literally so much. He was not perfect, no one is, but he was definitely some worth, right? (No human is worthless, not even the most evil ones, then Albus was still a man who struggled to be right)

Ask Newt and Jacob, I am sure they will wholeheartedly agree with Qilin bowing to Dumbledore and then Santos later. Not because of just respect, but genuinely. They know being supporters (not leaders) is the greatest thing too, it isn't downgrading them in anyway.

I'd like to know if you can agree or still disagree with me.

[thelaurenshippen]

this month's mixtape is Desperate Hollow! I write notes to all of my playlists and this month, I also wrote a ton about the process of working on this story, so if y'all are interested in that too, I'm happy to post that writing here! just let me know. but for now, music and rivals-to-friend-to-enemies-to-lovers feelings.

here are the basics that you need to know: Tex Bullock (a name he chose at 11) joined the notorious Barlowe Boys after he was orphaned at 8 years old, with Barlowe taking him under his wing. Sawyer Watson was similarly orphaned years later and fell in with the gang when he and Tex were both 14. they did not like each other at first. but fast forward thirteen years and they've become the best of friends, with feelings beyond friendship buried in both their hearts, when a confrontation with Barlowe leads to Sawyer shooting Tex in the chest and leaving him for dead. 

fast forward again, seven years this time, and Sawyer has been living in a dead-end town (Desperate Hollow, of course) when who should roll into town, horseless and clearly running from something, but Tex. 

that is, more or less, everything you need to know that happens in the first few chapters. okay, let's get into it: 

1. "Bottom of the River" - Delta Rae

This playlist was started so long ago, in 2019, and since then I've honed so much about the story, even though I haven't touched this playlist. As a result, a lot of the songs are seeking a vibe that I hadn't quite clicked into - this is definitely a vibe song. It sounds to me like dragging yourself across dusty plains, hoping that salvation will come find you soon, either in the sight of civilization or in death. Essentially: where Tex begins.

2. "Born This Way" - Bear and a Banjo

Though both Sawyer and Tex have their own playlists (which I'll be sharing over the next two months) as well as several different ship mixes, there are certain songs that are more one or the other on this playlist. Sawyer's life before joining the Barlowe Boys was fairly peaceful - as a Black man living in Montana, he didn't exactly have it easy, but he had parents who loved each other and loved him. That sense of family is something he never quite gets back with the gang.

What happened to my freedom, separated my family/Bringing me to the foreign place/Now I'm focused on surviving in the midst of evil/Don't think it's ever gonna be the same

Fun fact! This song is actually from a fiction podcast about a fictional musical collaboration. 

3. "Devil's Backbone" - The Civil Wars

Meanwhile, Tex was raised by a criminal father, his mother having died when he was eighteen months old. So when Barlowe found him and showed him the kind of affection and guidance his father never did, it was easy for Tex to fall into line on the criminality side. Sawyer is a lot more moral than Tex in a lot of ways - he's never killed anyone, whereas Tex has earned himself a pretty fearsome reputation. Sawyer doesn't always approve of what Tex does but...that doesn't mean he doesn't have a weakness for him all the same. 

Don't care if he's guilty, don't care if he's not/He's good and he's bad and he's all that I've got

Also, Sawyer was raised in the church whereas Tex's dad was probably? Irish Catholic but I don't think he ever talked about God with Tex. Neither one of them is very religious anymore, but I love the line Oh Lord, oh Lord, what do I do?/I've fallen for someone who's nothing like you

4. "Tell That Devil" - Jill Andrews

I found this song because it's the theme for  Wynonna Earp, a delightful supernatural Western with lots of queerness. 

I gave you all I got to give/I know that ain't no way to live/so I told that devil to take you back - so much of the conflict between Tex and Sawyer is about loyalty, to each other and to Barlowe. I think this could work in multiple ways--either one of them saying it to Barlowe, or Sawyer saying it to Tex. 

5. "I'm a Wanted Man" - Royal Deluxe

This is a Tex song - both how the world sees him and the way he sees himself. 

I would kill again to keep from doing time is more or less a plot point, and you should never ever trust my kind is a central conflict within him. 

If you asked me to change/I don't know if I can/I'll always be who I am

Royal Deluxe is all over these playlists - they make "outlaw rock" which in my view, is essentially cowboy-outlaw roleplaying fanfic. I'm so glad it exists. 

6. "I'm Bad" - The Last Vegas

More of a vibe song, but I do think this is a little bit how Tex sees himself sometimes. He doesn't relish violence, doesn't actually really want to be an outlaw, but it's pretty much all he's ever known -- this is my note from 2019 or whenever I first wrote the notes and I don't have much to add to it (other than to say I'm not sure Tex doesn't relish violence. It's complicated. I did tell you the story got darker). Hindsight being 20/20, if I were to remake these playlists now, this would go on the Barlowe playlist. But this and the Tex and Sawyer playlists have been so baked for so long, I can't conceive of any other song placement. 

7. "Raise Hell" - Brandi Carlile 

If Tex has an anthem this is it. For some reason, I didn't end up putting it on his personal playlist, because I think it fits the ~vibes~ better.

I've been down with a broken heart/Since the day I learned to speak/The devil gave me a crooked start/When he gave me crooked feet - This is sort of the companion to "Born This Way". Tex's father took a lot more shape since I wrote this initial note, but it applies even more now. Tex was never going to walk straight (dual meaning intended). 

I dug a hole inside my heart/To put you in your grave/At this point it was you or me/And mama didn't raise no slave/You took my face in both your hands/And looked me in the eye/And I went down with such a force/That in your grave I lie - I was coy with my notes on these lyrics previously, but it does work on multiple levels - Tex and Sawyer both have to bury each other in their hearts after that deadly confrontation and, for seven years, Sawyer thinks he put Tex in his actual grave. Which, from his perspective, might as well be his own grave for as much as he wants to exist in a world without Tex. Anyway, yeah, graves are a thing in the book. 

8. "Dangerous" - Royal Deluxe

Mostly a vibes song - I like to think of this as a theme song of sorts, for when Sawyer and Tex were in their early twenties, perfect partners, taking the West by storm and becoming figures of legend. 

9. "Blood on My Name" - The Brothers Bright

As I said, Sawyer is the less violent of the two, doesn't like being an outlaw at all really but that doesn't mean he isn't deadly. Tex wears his anger like a well-worn coat, but Sawyer's rage is buried deep.

Yes, Sawyer's rage is buried deep, but it's also different from Tex's - it's a simplification, but Tex spends most of his life angry at himself, Sawyer spends that time angry at the world. After Sawyer shoots Tex, those positions switch. Tex is the one who has blood all over his reputation, his name, but Sawyer's one kill (so he thinks) haunts him in a way killing never bothered Tex. 

There's a reckoning a-coming/And it burns beyond the grave/With lead inside my belly/'Cause my soul has lost its way/Oh, Lazarus, how did your debts get paid? - brain goes brrrrr at this re: Sawyer, but I've got to save some thoughts for the actual book. 

10. "Gun in My Hand" - Dorothy

Why did love put a gun in my hand...Why did love put a knife in my heart - I mean, that really says it all.

All the talk of redemption, revenge, opening up scars...delicious. 

Was it for the thrill of pushin' my hope to the edge - if I think about this too long I'll spontaneously combust. 

11. "Desperado" - Rihanna*

Okay, okay, okay - this is the keystone song of both this playlist and their relationship. I love it. It's modern and cool but has that old West swag and, okay, look, this might be a stretch, but "Desperado" sort of sounds like "Desperate Hollow" said with a drawl and GAH. I love this song.

I'm not tryna go against you/Actually, I'm going withcha/Gotta get up out of here and/You ain't leaving me behind/I know you won't, 'cause we share common interests/You need me, there ain't no leaving me behind - the premise of this story initially really hinged on one fact: that Tex and Sawyer needed each other to get out of Desperate Hollow.

There ain't nothing here for me anymore/But I don't wanna be alone - I have so much to say about this lyric but I don't think I can without writing an essay that gives away the whole book, so I'll shut up.

If you want we could runaways/running from any sight of love - again, if I speak--

12. "Heaven and Back" - Emily West

I don't know, I just wanted to end this playlist on a kinda romantic song! this is one of those songs that just feels like them and I can't describe why.

A big reason this song is on the playlist is that, back in 2019, I was building a pitch for a big studio that ended up going nowhere, but the exec I was working with sent me this song at the same moment I was putting the final touches on this playlist and it just clicked in my brain. 

I want you to be my man/I want you to be more than a friend/I dare you to break our plans