#crown of rulership

[sw5w]

Wesa Ready to Do Our-san Part

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:44:08

[asjjohnson]

When she'd started seeing white hairs, she bought hair dye. Valerie could at least afford that secret little luxury with her part-time job.

It wasn't a big deal. So what if she was only fourteen? It was stress. It'd been a hard several weeks and it was only normal to get a few gray hairs out of the mess.

Her dad had lost his job, they'd lost most of their money because of all the legal stuff, lost their house, most of their stuff had been either sold or broken, she'd lost all her friends, she'd needed to start looking for a job, her grades were slipping and she needed to bring them back up. So of course she'd see a few white hairs.

When she'd stopped falling off her board, no matter the angle, she figured she'd just gotten used to it. It was normal for a tool to begin to feel like an extension of someone's body. That's how things work. And it only made sense it would start feeling natural to be in the air. She was a ghost hunter. And she was good at it. Something was finally starting to go right.

Her eyes had always held a mix of blue and green. The contrast of the red suit just really brought out the green in them.

The suit had a slight glow. It was the power source—had to be. She could even feel the low hum through her body, under her skin. Some little motor somewhere—she didn't know where—that powered the suit. Probably on her back, under the backpack—she felt it strongest through her chest.

She knew there was electricity flowing through the suit. There was a little short in it at first. The very first time she'd put the suit on, she'd hit the 'on' button and got a shock. At least her dad hadn't been home to hear her shriek.

It hadn't been that bad. More surprising than anything. It happened the next two times as well. Just got her a little fried is all. And it'd stopped happening after the third time.

The suit must be hooked up to the Internet or something. Had downloaded a patch or software update that finally got it to stop. She didn't need to push a button at all anymore. It makes sense that it'd be downloading updates. The longer she uses the suit, the more abilities she realizes it has.

How she can materialize any weapon she can think of? The suit. How the suit can form around her with just a thought? Again, the tech of the suit. The endless ammo? The suit. She doesn't know how it all works, but she doesn't have to. And when she'd met Mr. Masters, the advanced tech made sense. He's a multi-billionaire. He can build anything.

Then, when her suit was taken away and a new one just formed out of nowhere? Must've been something from him. Some kind of upgrade. It still felt like her, so— her suit. It still felt like her suit. It still felt like it belonged to her. The same hum throughout her body, the same glow. It just had a new design and some extra power.

The only weird thing is, there's this ring.

Mayor Masters—at the time Mr. Masters—said it was passed down through generations of ghost hunters. (No wonder he was so good at designing a suit—it'd been his family business.)

The ring was so important, that even that Pariah dude had wanted it.

She hadn't thought much of it, though. What good was a ring? It was just a status symbol, right?

But, the thing is, ever since that day... the ring keeps showing up on the side of her bed each morning.

No matter where she puts it, or throws it, or hides it.

It shows back up beside her each time she wakes up.

[evilminji]

Okay, but... now I'm wondering >.>

@the-witchhunter We talked about Danny being Morningstar's feral, probably engineering oils and ectoplasmic goo covered, mad scientist/himbo hybrid (attack) purse dog. His special lil guy.

But!

I seek your Knowledge(TM).

From second hand accounts? He seems to HATE the hypocrisy. The blaming HIM for humanity's own choices. The rat race and endless song n dance of "Righteous Good VS. Cartoonish Evil". Because it let's humanity paint themselves the helpless victims. Because it's all surface level. Because it is not so easy to escape the ugliness of your Sins, yet they keep trying to scapegoat him.

Fuck um.

He was tired of it.

But? He still has CONSIDERABLE POWER. It's probably written down. And the Ring Of Rage? Is proooobably not the loveliest of artifacts? I imagine, like the Crown, it's NOT leaving Danny alone. One of those "we don't CARE if there is no throne left to sit upon, you WILL wear us, as King" sort of systems.

It genuinely would not and DOES NOT matter, if not a single soul in all the Zone bows to him. Did he defeat the previous holder of their Right To Rulership? Yes or No.

If No, fuck off.

If Yes, new monarch.

Is it hurting him? Not the rings problem. Nor the Crown's. Heavy is the weight, etc etc. But! DANNY would certainly care. He is... is ANGRY all the time now. Has no idea who would even MAKE this bullshit ring. Why JUST Rage? Yeah, it makes ghosts stronger, but at what COST?

He can't even get rid of it!

......by himself.

Luckily, he's still clear headed enough to know that he's NOT in this by himself. And it's amazing what "mom, dad, this ring is trying to drive me insane. Help me" in a terrified and tearful voice, can brush over. No one threatens their baby and all that.

It would honestly be hilarious, seeing the extended Fenton clan decend like LOCUSTS on Pariahs Keep, searching for clues, terrifying the local ghosts, if... if he wasn't so tired.

God he's so tired.

It's Aunt Alecia who... "politely encourages" a passing scholar to lend them the book they need. Took the poor sucker right out of the sky. Guy never stood a chance. RIP.

He learns he has to head..... over? Like... 27 that-ish way, then up. Huh. 27 WHAT?

Realities, apparently. He's in the wrong bundle. Branch? Neighborhood? Eh. Clan Fenton rolls back out, he packs his bags, and hilariously enough? Goes off to the devils night club. Hopes he likes rings. Or hates them.

Thankfully, being "king" means the Zone? Kinda... humors him? Like... it still has RULES(tm). He can... can FEEL that now. But it's willing to bend some for him, if he asks. And anything NOT against the rules? If it's in the right mood? He need only ask. It's weird. Being suddenly so powerful, yet NOT, at the same time.

Cause none of it's his.

All he has is the Zone's attention. The ability to ask pretty please. If you don't mind. And then? The highways between... ALL will just? Shift and change for him. He can see how it went to Pariah's head. The Zone is pretty agreeable. Is by nature Amoral, cause it's not a Being, it's... well, it's the Zone.

And everyone wants him to ask things. Do things. Demand this or that. Use this power.

Maybe he doesn't WANT too! Maybe he didn't WANT to be king! Doesn't he have the right to say NO? To refuse? Why do they think he OWES them service? An eternity of politics and people trying to kill him, for something he never wanted in the FIRST PLACE.

He's so tired.

The nightclub's pretty cool.

So he comes to ask, politely of course, cause the guy's probably busy, if Morningstar could... dunno, fix or destroy it? Want a ring, maybe? Also he heard you MADE the stars. Huge fan of all of that. Can I ask about the process? Or are you in the middle of something?

And? Lucifer? Turns around, from where he's Leaning Seductive Yet Elegantly(tm) to see... scrawny. Tiny corpse child. No... half? Corpse? Alive. Dying. Alive yet dying. Huh. Well, that is different. And here he didn't think he'd get see anything NEW. You, child, are NOT a zombie. What are you?

Halfa.

I have no idea what that is. What do you want?

He gets shown the ugliest, crudest, peice of shit ring imaginable. A genuine foul little curse. Really stinks up the place. He destroys it, obviously. This club has STANDARDS. Hope that wasn't important?

Kid just smiles the biggest fangy lil grin. No. No it was not.

Obvious, lie, but cute lil teeth. He'll allow it.

He gets dragged into talking about the stars. And talking. And talking. Mostly bragging and explaining. Kid hangs off his every word. Follows him around as he makes his rounds. Asks good questions. Completely focused, dispite the booze and barely dressed dancing all around him.

Lucifer can't help notice the crown.

Lovely little thing. Space ice and star dust, glittering like jewels and light catching the mist. If he remembers right... that one iiiiiis..... not Limbo, it's.... Zone! That crown is the Zone, it changes to suit the wearer. He recognizes the vibe. Awfully young, aren't you?

And.... it all burst forth. He didn't even need to press. Use persuasive words and honeyed tones. Like an inflamed, festering wound. The merest brush is enough to spill everything.

Negligence, greed, blood lust. Bigotry and xenophobia. A tyrants endless quest for power. Ah, humans. They truly don't change do they? Realities away, dead or alive. Now they're harrasing a child. He honestly looks miserable. Whereas just a moment before, listening to Lucifer talk about his work on the stars, his soul practically GLOWED with light. A tiny little star unto himself.

.......maybe it's the big ol "I'm you BIGGEST FAN" eyes. The sad wet cat aura. Perhaps the scrawny "could snap you like a twig" teenager, all elbows and knees. The fact he is, in fact, NOT human; for all that he once was. But?? The kid? Is... not terrible company.

He'd even go so far as to say? It's like having a pet intern.

He can sleep on the couch.

Tell you what, you stay here? I'll keep taking about stars and YOU can do the chores I don't feel like doing. I'll take care of you and all that.

And Danny? Honestly was sold at the word "stars" but? This sounds like a phenomenally terrible idea... and he has yet to meet one of THOSE he hasn't made out sloppy still with, so deal! But as a minor, that DOES make you his new gaurdian for the next four-ish years. He's legally obligated to finish schooling.

Ah.

.....well shit.

(Just? Local stressed 14-15 year old Ghost King does RESPONSIBILE thing and finds Adultier Adult. With more qualified Adult powers. Unfortunately for everyone, the adult is Lucifer Morningstar, night club owner. Even MORE Unfortunately, said ghost kind has pack bonded with the Nice Star Man, who saved him from the Bad Ring, and effectively offered to let him crash on his swanky couchs.

Now Morningstar has to? Somewhat VAGUELY pretend he gives a shit local schooling system, as he puts his charge INTO it. Actively giving waking terrors to the magical community. What evil plot is afoot? Where did he get this tiny minor death god? What is his end goal FOR said child?

No one knooooows~

But Lucifer is just doing this cause he's a Being of his word. He hates the tedious minor chores he'll be foisting off onto Danny. And? Most importantly? Look at that face. *shoujo sparkly eyes of Star Sempai Noticed Me!* it's like having a golden retriever puppy. Ffs he has STANDARDS.)

(It'd be hilarious to watch the hostile 5th dimensional chess DC characters have going on in the background, all while? Danny is like? Man! Isn't this universe GREAT? Everyone here is so CHILL! And nice to me! I'm so relaxed now! Finally, I can finish my education in peace.)

@hdgnj @hypewinter @lolottes @babbling-babull @nerdpoe @mutable-manifestation

[tritoch]

Have you got any thoughts to share about Sphene? I saw your post about how misrepresented FFXIV’s female characters are, and I’ve been hoping to see anything more than the typical “Evil AI colonizer etc.” or “Tragic woman who can never change ever” or “Wuk Lamat’s girlfriend”. Maybe our interpretations will differ but I’ll be happy if you can provide anything more complex than those.

Sure! Throwing all this under a read-more for anyone who hasn't finished 7.0 yet. I think I'll probably expand on this more later but wanted to get initial thoughts down. (Note after writing: I meant this to be brief but uhhhh brevity is not my strong suit sorry. This take just sort of ends abruptly because I realize I'm rambling.) Again, spoilers through the end of 7.0 MSQ.

I think Sphene is the sharpest work the game has done yet in casting the antagonist as the noble double of the protagonist (a well it returns to a lot with Emet, and Zenos, and Golbez, and...). But because the protagonist here is Wuk Lamat and not the Warrior of Light, that's also a much more defined and interesting role. To me, Wuk Lamat is, above all, the Righteous Queen, who rules thoughtfully, wisely, and justly, and whose claim to the throne is justified by her moral clarity. Sphene, in turn, is also a wise and good queen, one who undertakes all her actions with her people first in her hearts, a sense of compassion towards all, and a clear eye for the consequences and costs of her intended course of action. And it leads to utter disaster, for her, her people, and the people of Tural. That rocks!

The first half of 7.0 is about justifying the fact that Wuk Lamat's going to be Dawnservant. Wuk Lamat is compassionate, curious, wise, and open-minded. She wins over rebels and malcontents not by asserting her authority or by strength of force, but by taking her obligations to them (as her subjects) seriously. She knows many of her subjects personally and takes a great interest in their lives, and she respects even those who openly oppose her.

And everything Wuk Lamat does, Sphene does to 11. Wuk Lamat respects her subject peoples and is curious about their cultures? Sphene forcibly annexes Yyasulani, but goes out of her way and expends Alexandria's limited resources to enable the remaining Xak Turali to live in their accustomed way if desired (…to the extent allowed by the new permanent lightning storms and the internal conflicts caused by regulator adoption). Wuk Lamat cares about her people not just in the abstract but as individuals? Sphene visits sick kids, knows them by name! Wuk Lamat understands the burden of rulership is too great and cedes half her power to her brother? Sphene recognizes her own weaknesses and makes a deal with the devil to keep Alexandria's culture alive! Wuk Lamat is willing to die for her people? Sphene will forcibly traumatize herself into being a better queen, if that's what rulership demands.

For an expansion that spends the first half being like "wow isn't this perfect candidate for the crown so likable and humble? wouldn't it be nice to be ruled by a good king?," it sure is funny that the final boss is THE QUEEN ETERNAL and she hits you with attacks like LEGITIMATE FORCE and ABSOLUTE AUTHORITY and ROYAL DOMAIN. This, to me, is Sphene's role: she complicates and questions the themes we've developed in the first half. Most importantly to me, she makes us ask: what is devotion to a people or culture even worth?

There's a thing I kept thinking of constantly during Dawntrail, not because I think it directly influenced the game in any way but because the parallels were so stark and startling. It's Jonathan Hickman's New Avengers #18 (2014). Truthfully, I'm not a big comics guy; I only know this sequence because Ta-Nehisi Coates cited it as inspiration for his Black Panther run on Twitter once (I also didn't read TNC's run, I was following him for politics talk). Forgive me, comics people, if I get any details wrong. The parallels are almost comical, though. It goes like this:

A superhuman secret society formed of some of the smartest heroes (and villains) in the land re-forms to oppose an existential threat caused by incursions from other dimensions that threaten to cause literal collisions between Earth and its alternate dimension counterparts. Seeing no other alternatives, they undertake work on a weapon to destroy these other worlds. T'challa—king of a fictional hyperadvanced nation called Wakanda, and also the superhuman Black Panther—meets with his ghostly predecessors, the previous Black Panthers/kings, for he fears the moral stain on his soul and the souls of the people of Wakanda, if they survive explicitly by killing their alternate counterparts, will be too heavy to bear. His ancestors are not impressed.

To them, there is no question at all. A king's duty may be complex in the execution, but it is simple in its conception. Your people come before all others. Always. This is, must be, the fundamental ethic of a good king. To do otherwise would be a betrayal of the social order on which this imagined good monarchy is built. In a situation like this, the only option is to do what you must to protect them. "Will there be a cost? Yes. Might the universe burn? Let it. . . . You will kill them all if it means Wakanda stands. The golden city must never fall."

"I will do what I must" is Sphene's guiding principle. It is so important to her that when she recognizes that her sentimental attachments are making her waver in her duty, she severs them entirely, sacrificing her whole identity to the throne. It is also implicitly Wuk Lamat's position: she has no choice but to fight Sphene because to do otherwise would be to fail to protect her people. In fact, it's briefly even sort of the Warrior of Light's position, as when you tell Sphene before her trial that you understand what you must do, which is shut her down to protect others.

(One quick thought about the Warrior of Light: one cool thing about the antagonist this time being a double in a more exact way than Emet or Zenos is that it means other characters get a chance to relate to her differently than Wuk Lamat. The Warrior of Light, for example, is pressed into her service immediately upon your first meeting as the Queen's Champion, there to defend her if need be against all evil. This role is further affirmed by both robot Otis and Endless Otis, who essentially hand off their role as her knight to you, and reinforced when you flash back to the "might I call upon your aid" moment right before the end. Except, of course, you are loyal not just to her, but to the principles she represents, which her own acts betray, and so your ultimate act of aid is to essentially pass judgment on her and execute her. In a sense, you become the internal safeguard that a political system is supposed to have to protect against this very issue, and which Alexandria explicitly lost when it cast out/forgot Otis. Very Voeburt/ShB tank quests, it owns.)

But really, it's Sphene who embodies this sort of grim logic best. Aside from her transformation into the Queen Eternal, it's also why she suggests you simply become Alexandrians. It's the only way for her to reconcile her values and worldview, which have backed her into a corner where preserving Alexandria has come to mean a maximalist declaration of war on all life outside its borders because the kind of absolutely pain-free life she envisions for her citizens is completely unsustainable.

In this reading, one of Sphene's main beats is to unsettle what has preceded her in MSQ. In nearly all respects, she shares your values. She prizes life, is curious about other cultures, believes in the greatest good for the greatest possible number. But she is also a queen, and therefore irrevocably (in her eyes) tied to her state. Gulool Ja Ja and Wuk Lamat (and Koana) are the mythical wise rulers, thank god--but what if Wuk had inherited a Turali state that wasn't desperately in need of cross-cultural understanding, but one in a state of war? What value would her deep love for the people of Tural have held then? Sphene says, it would have held no value. If the survival of your people means harming the innocent, you harm the innocent. Kingship allows for no alternatives.

But she also concedes, in the very next breath, that she is still kind of wrong. Because what happened here was not inevitable, despite her programming (a brief note: to me Sphene being programmed is exactly the same as Emet being maybe-tempered, it's a fantasy gloss on the idea of social and cultural education. "I was programmed for this" is really no different from "I was trained and educated for this"), because the truth is that this kind of thoughtful, principled devotion to the state and its people is also a form of sentimental attachment, in the end. One that is maintained not because it is natural, and necessary, but because the monarch, too, likes it, and gets something from it.

In so many ways, in so many senses, the monarch is the state. Kings and queens may fancy themselves merely a reflection of their people's needs and desires, but of course even a cursory glance at history will tell you that far more often, states reflect their rulers. Sphene and Wuk Lamat both suggest that their conflict was inevitable, but was it? Or is the truth, as Sphene glancingly acknowledges here, that she turned her own fears and desires into the same policy goals that led to this tragedy? And if so...what does that say of our Good Queen, Wuk Lamat? Perhaps this could be different if they met earlier, says Wuk Lamat. But when? When did Wuk Lamat ever not love her people so dearly that she would not have sacrificed herself for them, or caused mass death for the sake of their survival? When did Sphene not believe the Endless to be people, or the preservation of Alexandria to be the most important thing? Maybe she means "had we met before you met Zoraal Ja," but of course, we the player actually saw their meeting. And we know that Sphene even then was not the hapless naif she'd like to pretend. She always knew exactly what she was doing.

We know the price of this kind of thinking, this Hobbesian view that states are engaged in a struggle of all against all. Living Memory lets you walk through it. To preserve Tural, we exterminate the Endless. We befriend them, learn about their lives, promise to remember them, and then we destroy them and their homes, leaving nothing but a bleak blank landscape and the sound of wind. This is what Sphene would have done to Tural and Eorzea. Indeed, it's what she's already doing to the people of Yyasulani, because no amount of well-intentioned aid can make up for trapping people under the dome for 30 years and systematically eroding their culture through the resonators.

To me, this is what makes Sphene really work, that way she has of forcing Wuk Lamat and the player to commit the same kinds of sins she has. We'd like to think ourselves better than her, but of course, we've already reconciled with and integrated Mamook's brutal eugenicist regime back into Turali society well before we ever met Sphene. At the end of our long "wow isn't having a wise queen cool???" expansion, we are met with "Legitimate Force" and "Absolute Authority" and see them for what they truly are: nothing but tools of violence. No longer does the idea of the Warrior of Light hanging around Tural as Wuk Lamat's advisor have the same attraction, now that we have been reminded of the way the putatively unquestionable logic of kingship can ultimately lock even the wisest and kindest rulers into a path of war and exploitation and destruction.

I think Sphene is FFXIV's most interesting and nuanced depiction yet of a leader. She really, truly, wants nothing more than to save her people and protect them from pain. But even seemingly loving and compassionate goals like these can readily lead us down dark paths. She's a "hard men make hard choices"-type character, a noble but misguided opponent, but as a loving and elegant fairy queen instead of a grizzled knight or extremely sad man. She fucking rocks.

[agentrouka-blog]

do you think jeyne poole will live? like a long and peaceful(or will try) life or?

Oh yes, absolutely.

GRRM used her character for plot reasons, and to make a big terrible point about hypocrisy and classist disregard in a big number of people. But he won't end it there.

From Jaime Lannister to the collective Northern nobility, no one would bother raising a hand to protect Jeyne Poole for her own sake. It's inconvenient. It would raise a fuss no one can bother to deal with. Only Theon comes to care for her as a person. Only Sansa remembers her friend.

Jeyne is only barely a step above the peasant girls Ramsay hunts for sport. He names his dogs after them, several are called Jeyne.

Even after she escapes with Theon's help, she must remain "Arya".

Jeyne Poole had wept all the way from Winterfell to here, wept until her face was purple as a beetroot and the tears had frozen on her cheeks, and all because he told her that she must be Arya, or else the wolves might send them back. "They trained you in a brothel," he reminded her, whispering in her ear so the others would not hear. "Jeyne is the next thing to a whore, you must go on being Arya." He meant no hurt to her. It was for her own good, and his. She has to remember her name. When the tip of her nose turned black from frostbite, and the one of the riders from the Night's Watch told her she might lose a piece of it, Jeyne had wept over that as well. "No one will care what Arya looks like, so long as she is heir to Winterfell," he assured her. "A hundred men will want to marry her. A thousand." (TWOW, Theon)

But names are important, even if they aren't convenient.

And suddenly there came a wild thumping, as the maester's ravens hopped and flapped inside their cages, their black feathers flying as they beat against the bars with loud and raucous caws. "The tree," one squawked, "the tree, the tree," whilst the second screamed only, "Theon, Theon, Theon." Theon Greyjoy smiled. They know my name, he thought. (TWOW, Theon)

It's only when he embraces his true identity, in the first chapter that carries his name in ADWD, that Theon can rise to save Jeyne. He is filled with joy at remembering himself, even after all he endured. Even while still pushing Jeyne into the pretense of a different name.

GRRM isn't using mirroring language for nothing. Jeyne will return to herself. Even after all she endured, she will know joy and belonging. There is life after trauma.

AFFC and TWOW contain the first mention of Jeyne Poole from Sansa's end since ACOK.

She had not had a friend to gossip with since poor Jeyne Poole. (AFFC, Alayne II)

For just a little while, as she ran, she forget who she was, and where, and found herself remembering bright cold days at Winterfell, when she would race through Winterfell with her friend Jeyne Poole, with Arya running after them trying to keep up. (TWOW, Alayne I)

The mentions tie her to friendship and to Sansa's own true identity.

GRRM isn't building that up for nothing, and the theme of identity and friendship, the mirror to Theon suggests a reunion that will validate Jeyne as a person worth of consideration for her own sake.

And that's where the idea of justice will come in. Jeyne is the perfect crown witness against Littlefinger, who is complicit in the plot of false identity to tamper with legitimacy of Northern rulership and the rights to Winterfell. He's a collaborator with not just the Lannister regime but House Bolton. There's barely any proof for his crimes, and none that Sansa can safely divulge, but this is a proper witness account for a trial.

Just like it's extremely likely that the dogs, with their various Jeynes, will be involved in the demise of Ramsay (though not the way the show did it) in order to give justice to the peasant girls he murdered, it's likely that Jeyne Poole will have a hand in creating justice against Littlefinger, one of the architects of her misery. And with the protection and regard of Sansa (and Arya), it will be made clear that even a person of lower rank like Jeyne Poole has a voice and importance.

And then she will go on and live her life.

[kaledya]

Idea: Constantine and Charlie as legal co-rulers instead of Constantine taking the throne by himself.

Like basically, Constantine and Charlie are King and Queen REGENT whilst their spouses are Queen CONSORT; dividing the responsibilities of rulership would allow for more efficiency AND for an easier time wrangling Constantine into going back to sleep instead of, y'know, packing 5 all-nighters in a row.

(Basically I think the boy is gonna need far more help else he'll forget he's still fallible and half-human and he'll collapse in the middle of a public speech or something.)

At first I thought of such a ruling system,

but then I changed my mind.The reason for the change is that Constantine was raised to be king and is both older and wiser than Charlie.And someone in this position needs to harden his heart and act with logic, otherwise there will be seriously bad consequences, and Constantine is the person who has this trait again.

(And plus, Constantine did not take the throne for himself, it was given to him. Frankly, Constantine thought that he could never become king when he was a child and he was happy about it, after all, Lilith and Lucifer would never die. But as fate would have it, after Lilith disappeared and Lucifer wanted to no longer deal with royal affairs, Constantine became the one who took over all the affairs, even if he did not wear the Crown as a king.)

Even though Charlie is educated, she is not fit to be a queen right now.Besides, she is still a very emotional person and she was someone who had been thinking about this hotel idea since she was young. She never had any interest in becoming a queen.

But of course, if Constantine needs help, Charlie will be happy to help him. But such a day probably won't come soon.

[vintagerpg]

H3: Bloodstone Wars (1987) is the weakest in the series. First indication is the fact that it recycles art. The lone interior illustration originally appeared in H2 and the cover is the same Jeff Easley painting that fronts the Battlesystem box set. Like H2, the Battlesystem usage is optional here, but that fact is also far more puzzling as so much of the module is organized around, well, wars. It’s right there in the title.

It is amidst the battles that the regular adventuring takes place, which is essentially a sortie to remove the assassins that are harrying the good guy officers and hampering the war effort. It’s fine, it just seems like not something the player characters should be handling at this point? Because the underlying theme of the adventure is tied to rulership. The barony is now theirs, the people need their protection and leadership. It seems improbable to have the baron go off to deal with a stronghold of assassins.

The other big problem is the Forgotten Realms logo sneakily stuck on the BACK cover. Where the first two volumes were generic, this one has the additional task of retrofitting Bloodstone to fit into the newly developing campaign setting. Honestly, they do it well enough, but it is still another THING everyone has to CONTEND with. But then, maybe that’s the true lesson of leadership. Heavy is the head that wears the crown and all that.

[the-mortuary-witch]

RAUM

WHO IS HE?

Raum is a demon mentioned in demonological texts and is often attributed as the 40th demon in the Ars Goetia. He is depicted as a powerful and influential demon with the ability to grant wealth, good health, and sexual favors. Raum is described as appearing as a man with the upper body of a crow, and is said to command up to two hundred legions of demons. In some accounts, he is also associated with the element of air and the power of temptation.

BASIC INFO:

Appearance: he is depicted as a crow which adopts human form at the request of the conjurer. Raum was a massive but thin demon that stood several feet high. He had crow like features with a large black beak and black feathers around his head and chest. He had pure black feathers and giant birds wings. He had pale skin and a pair of yellow eyes. 

Personality: Raum is typically portrayed as having a confident and authoritative demeanor. He is said to be a powerful and influential demon, who commands respect from those around him. He is also described as being cunning and manipulative, using his power and influence to achieve his goals and desires. He is often depicted as being seductive and charismatic, using his powers of persuasion and temptation to lure in and ensnare those who seek his help. Despite his powerful presence, he is also said to be approachable and willing to listen to the pleas of those who call upon him.

Symbols: the element air, crow, lion, wings, sword, wealth, throne, leopard, and crown

Earl/Count of: wealth, good health, and sexual favours

Culture: Demonic

Plants and trees: thistle, rose, cedar, lavender, bay laurel, ash tree, honeysuckle, pine, and haw thorn

Crystals: tigers eye, carnelian, black tourmaline, green aventurine, onyx, pyrite, and labradorite

Animals: crows, leopard, wolves, lion, snakes, eagles, hawks, and ravens

Incense: dragons blood, frankincense, myrrh, rose, and sandalwood

Colours: gold, yellow, red, and black

Numbers: 40, 12, and 9

Zodiacs: Aries and Scorpio

Tarot: The Tower

Planet: Mars

Days: Tuesday, new moon, Lupercalia, Beltane, and Lammas

Parents: none known

Siblings: none known

Partner: none known

Children: none known

MISC:

• Wealth and abundance: he has the power to grant material wealth, physical health, and sexual favours to those who summon him. This association likely stemmed from the belief that demons have the power to influence earthly matters, including the acquisition of wealth and material possessions.

• Power and authority: Raum is given the title of "Count," which indicates his position and rank within the infernal hierarchy. This title is seen as a symbol of power and authority, suggesting that Raum has a significant role and influence in the infernal realms. As a powerful demon, Raum is said to command up to two hundred legions of demons, which would require a significant amount of authority and command over lesser spirits. This association with power and authority serves to elevate Raum's status and importance in the infernal hierarchy.

• Temptation and deception: is known for his ability to use his powers of persuasion and illusion to trick and deceive humans into making unwise decisions. He is often depicted as a cunning and manipulative figure who uses his charisma and charm to lure in those who seek his help, only to reveal his true motives later on. This association with temptation and deception reinforces the idea that Raum can be a dangerous and who should be approached with caution and respect.

• The element air and Mars: he is associated with the element of air and the planet Mars due to his planetary and elemental rulership. In many magical and astrological systems, each planet is associated with a specific element and its corresponding qualities, such as: Mars being the planet of war, action, and energy, which is associated with the element of fire. Air being the element of intellect, communication, and intellect, which is believed to have an influence over the mind and rational faculties.

• Magical practices: such as charm bags and love spells because he has the power to influence matters related to love, sex, and relationships. Some believe that he has the ability to help individuals find love, heal emotional wounds, and bring stability and harmony to romantic relationships. As such, he is often invoked in magical rituals and spells related to love and romance, such as creating charm bags or casting love spells to attract a romantic partner.

FACTS ABOUT RAUM:

• Often depicted with the head of a lion or leopard.

• Known for his ability to grant wealth, good health, and sexual favours to those who summon him.

• He is the 40th spirit listed in the Ars Goetia.

• He commands up to two hundred legions of demons.

• He is associated with the planet Mars and the element of air.

• He is said to be cunning, manipulative, and charismatic.

HOW TO WORK WITH RAUM:

Working with Raum involves the use of magical techniques and rituals that are intended to summon and communicate with the demon. Here is a basic outline of the steps involved in working with Raum:

• Preparation: before you begin working with Raum, you should prepare yourself and your environment. This might involve cleansing your space, setting up a summoning circle, and gathering any necessary supplies, such as a black mirror, incense, and a candle.

• Invocation: once you have prepared yourself and your space, you can begin the invocation process. This typically involves reciting an invocation or prayer that is specifically written to call upon Raum.

PRAYER FOR RAUM:

"Oh mighty and powerful Count Raum, I call upon you to appear before me in this circle. By your rank and authority, I implore you to bring forth your presence and answer my petition. I offer myself and my will to you, and request your guidance and assistance in matters of power, abundance, and deception.”

“May our partnership be fruitful and beneficial to us both. Hail Count Raum!"

SIGNS THAT RAUM IS CALLING YOU:

• Repeated encounters or dreams involving bats, crows, or other creatures associated with the Earl.

• Sense of curiosity or attraction towards occult practices or the supernatural.

• A feeling of being guided or protected, as if there is a powerful presence watching over you.

• Strange or unexplained occurrences, such as sounds, smells, or chills you cannot explain.

• An urge to study or work with the principles of chaos magic or the Goetic spirits.

• Repeated or coincidental appearances of the numbers 9, 12, and 40.

• Unexpected or unusual opportunities or luck in areas such as money, love, or success.

• Sudden interest or inclination towards dark or morbid topics, such as death, the occult, or the supernatural.

• Strong desire to explore or experience new and different things, particularly those with a darker or more dangerous edge.

OFFERINGS:

• Red/grey candles or objects.

• Ask Raum what he likes.

• Wine, whiskey, or other spirits.

• Meats: beef, venison, bison, duck, goose, turkey, rabbit, pheasant, quail, lamb, goat, salmon, tuna, and/or mackerel.

• Items that are symbolic of your goals and desires, such as a journal.

• Fruits: apples (red or golden), pomegranate, grapes, pears, peaches, figs, avocados, bananas, oranges or tangerines, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries, pineapple, mango, and papaya.

• Sweets that you enjoy.

• Flowers and plants that are meaningful to you.

• Personal items: jewelry, photos, or other objects that you hold sacred.

• Coins or gemstones.

• Items associated with transformation and change, such as feathers or shells.

DEVOTIONAL ACTS FOR RAUM:

• Burning a red or grey candle.

• Working hard in your studies, work, etc.

• Burning dragon's blood incense.

• Giving "riches" to those who need it, such as money.

• Spending time with your significant other or crush.

• Practicing divination with cards, dice, books, music, etc.

• Engaging in a physical challenge or exercise that pushes you to your limits, and dedicating the results of this challenge to him.

• Creating jewelry or talismans with his sigil or name and wearing them as a symbol of your devotion.

• Participating in a ritual or spell that harnesses your emotions and energy to benefit Raum.

• Performing an act of service or charity in his name, such as volunteering for a cause he is associated with.

IS IT SAFE TO EAT OR DRINK AN OFFERING I GIVE TO HIM?

It is not recommended to eat or drink offerings given to Raum because he is a powerful demon associated with the underworld. It is always better to err on the side of caution and avoid consuming offerings that were given to Raum.

[jadeandroses]

I did it

(Practiced) Ease

(Ao3 Link!)

The Mushroom Kingdom was an ancient, storied land. The sort of thing one would only find in fairytales, in which good kings and queens had passed thrones onto only the worthiest of descendants, ones who would care for and protect their land. As such, there wasn’t a whole lot of what one would call “centralized wealth”.

Sure, there were taxes—mostly for infrastructure, and to maintain the single castle that the kingdom as a whole took great pride in—but there were rules governing their collection. Principles that were set in stone by kings and queens long before the modern day, and advisors solely to advocate for the people’s benefit in this matter.

All of this was the explanation the Princess was given when she asked why there were only three crowns for her and her fiancé to chose from, for their rapidly approaching wedding and coronation day.

(Her fiancé doubted it was that simple. Rarely were things ever that simple. But that was a question for a day in which he wasn’t worrying about the imminent upending of his entire life.)

All of them were opulent. The absolute height of luxury, with their nation’s history woven into every strand and in every hammer strike. There was one meant for a ruler, crafted a mere thousand years ago, with giant diamonds woven into delicate strands of gold and silver, dangling from its arches. Even that was only to be broken out on special occasions—but what could be more special than this?

Even if it wasn’t crafted for the Princess, it was clearly meant for her. She wore it so beautifully. Every arch dazzled in the light, and even its massive weight seemed like nothing on her head.

Mario tried not to be jealous. But he had a chance to try on the other two options, and they were all just so heavy.

Peach’s new crown was almost five pounds on her head. He went for the lighter of the two remaining crowns—a mere two and a half pounds, even with the massive rubies in the outer portion—and yet, even just having the thing resized, his body was beginning to ache.

It was too much.

So when they took it off to take some measurements of the stones, he bolted.

He didn’t go very far—just to the nearest bench, to pop his neck and stretch out his shoulders. When he heard the crack of his neck, he sighed in relief, and slumped backwards into the wall behind him.

What was he doing here, anyway? What right did he have to the luxuries of a world that wasn’t his?

And wow, wasn’t that a selfish thought. They weren’t talking about mere luxury, they were talking about crowns. It wasn’t just the object, it was what the object represented—power. Rulership. The fact that the weight of their land now rested on his shoulders. Was he even worthy to carry it?

These thoughts—that had plagued his mind for months—came back again full force. It was like he couldn’t get rid of the weight on his head, couldn’t quite shake his shoulders out.

The only thing he could do was to pretend they weren’t there. He shut his eyes, and tried to focus on something—anything—else.

“…Mario?”

Her voice—like a beam of light through the clouds—snapped him out of his own mind. He looked up, and found her face knit in concern.

“Is everything alright?”

It wasn’t, not really—but the common tongue wasn’t cooperating with him right now, so he couldn’t even deny it. Instead of answering, he scoot himself over, so that she could sit on the bench beside him.

She did.

They were rigid, at first. Shackled by the eyes that watched and bound by tradition and propriety. But then Peach set her Queen’s crown aside on the nearest countertop, and then curled into him. He felt himself melt in the warmth of her touch.

“It’s a lot, isn’t it?” she whispered.

He nodded.

“I know it sounds ridiculous,” he muttered, his voice unsteady, but strong, “but they’re heavy.”

“It takes some getting used to.”

“Easy for you to say, you’ve been wearing it your whole life!”

She shrugged. “Yes, I still question the logic of putting a half pound crown on the head of an infant, but I suppose that’s a conversation for another day.”

Mario sputtered out a laugh. Peach smiled, faintly, her eyes sparkling like that was the plan all along.

His chest warmed. A smile crept up his face, burning away the worries creeping into the back of his mind. He wondered if it was her, her magic, her charm—or if it was the force of how much he adored her.

Because stars, he loved her. He loved her so much, he would endure the weight of a crown for her. Even if he was unworthy. Even if his neck broke under its weight.

He was so wrapped up in her, he didn’t realize when the sparkle in her eyes changed from playful to thoughtful.

“Wait a moment,” she murmured.

And she stood.

He was briefly disappointed by her sudden departure, but not for very long—disappointment gave way to confusion as he watched her approach her jewelers with a thoughtful finger pressed to her lips.

A moment later, the fourth crown of the bunch was back in her hands.

Her crown. The one that the jewelers insisted had to be left behind, as she embarked upon this new stage of her life.

“I’ll admit, I’m more attached to this old thing than I thought,” she admitted humorously. “Try it on.”

He blinked. Once. Twice. But when it finally processed, the sheer shock of that request sent him right back to his feet.

“Cara mia, I can’t,” he protested. “That’s yours!”

“And, realistically, it’s the lightest one in my whole kingdom, and apparently it’s a bad look to have a new one commissioned.” She grabbed his hand. “Mario, love, I want you to be as comfortable as possible. Don’t you understand? We get to build our life together, however we want to. And if it makes this any easier on you, then I want you to have it.”

He rubbed his thumbs over her knuckles. “Won’t it look bad?”

She fixed him with a look. “Maybe. However, consider that you’re about to become Prince Consort, and you’re already very highly respected. What you do can no longer be called into question.”

“Except by you,” he teased.

“Ah, well,” she stammered a bit, grinning, “I expect the same courtesy from you.”

“Always.”

“So just try it on. Love, it won’t hurt to try.”

She looked so earnest—rosebud lips curled into a concerned pout. He wanted to deny her, but he couldn’t. Not even in this.

“…okay.”

She took her hand back, and balanced her own crown in two hands. He bowed his head slightly. It felt right—probably because been drilled into his head by constant training for the day to come, but also because it was her.

His Princess, his love. The woman to whom he had pledged his life, privately, years ago. This wedding would just be the confirmation of vows he had already made in his heart.

And the crown? Well. That was just a public vow to a land he loved.

When he thought of it like that, the weight on his head seemed to vanish.

“How does that feel?” Peach asked gently.

He opened his eyes. Straightened out his neck. Shook out his shoulders. Even those movements felt lighter, looser. Regrettably, he found himself enjoying the feel of this crown.

He opened his mouth to protest, but then his gaze landed on her hopeful smile.

Peach—more than probably anyone—thought he could do this. In fact, she believed in him so much, she willingly put her own crown on his head.

And logically, for a matter pertaining to royalty, whose opinion mattered more than hers?

(Logic and reason had never been his strong suits when it came to her very presence. He could try, though. Maybe it would keep that gentle, lovely smile on her face.)

“It’s good,” he told her.

He didn’t let her say anything in response. He didn’t think he would be able to respond if she did. Instead, he pulled her close and started showering her in kisses.

The brilliant, happy sound of her laughter was enough to make everything worth it.

[getvalentined]

@sephirthoughts: my tumblr app isn’t showing your ask box for some reason so i’m asking here 😂 8, 12, 35, 47 for vincent please? 🖤🖤🖤🖤

(I turned it off and back on again so let me know if you see it now! I just turned it back on today after having it off for a couple weeks, so I'm not shocked it's a bit buggy.)

[For the Random Character Asks game.]

8. Unpopular opinion about them?

I mean my most unpopular opinion about Vincent is definitely that he's the single most compelling character in the entirety of Final Fantasy VII, but with regard to like...headcanons and character interpretations, it's probably that I don't think most of his monsters are actually entirely separate entities with their own unique personalities—I don't even interpret Chaos as sapient the majority of the time.

Aside from Hellmasker, who I've discussed before, any personality seen in Vincent's monsters is literally just a facet of Vincent's own with various traits and aspects stripped away based on the trauma through which they manifested. Galian and Gigas are more like partially-dissociated identities, not complete entities unto themselves, while Chaos has the capacity for periodic sapience only after decades of filtering itself through Vincent's consciousness via the protomateria. At its core Chaos is really just an animal, meaning any personality it might seem to express is the result of it mimicking Vincent over time, which is why it's just vicious and out of control when it manifests in Dirge without the protomateria. (I think my take on the protomateria is probably also wildly unpopular, but I actually can't remember seeing anyone else ever talking about how they believe it functions, so I'm not sure you can call something "unpopular" when there is no "popular" option.)

Fandom really likes portraying all of them as completely separate fully-fledged characters, and it's easier for my Vincent to refer to them similarly in most contexts, but he knows that's not really how it works—he just chooses not to explain it.

12. Crack headcanon?

Vincent is the king of Junon. No, I'm not kidding, this is consistent in basically all my renditions of Vincent. Even if it doesn't come up, if I'm portraying Vincent in basically any version of the canon universe wherein the Wutai War took place, Vincent is the king of Junon.

My version of Valentine family is founding nobility in Junon, which is a crowned republic, with the royal family basically operating as a ceremonial figurehead. The royal family has no actual ruling power at this point, but people like having them around—particularly the other noble families, who use their existence as a way of maintaining the right to a share of taxes and the like—and between the war with Shinra and everything else, nothing has ever really been done to change that.

I was going to try to explain the genealogy behind this, and then I remembered that I have a chart—and I'm gonna put it and the rest of this post under a cut, because this is stupidly long at this point and I'm two questions deep.

Vincent's extended family tree:

Okay so, Vincent's second cousin was Queen Adelaide, who took the throne fairly young due to her mother passing away; the one who "married in" doesn't keep rulership after the death of their spouse except in cases where their heir is still a minor, and then rulership passes to the heir upon adulthood. If there is no heir, the title gets kicked to the next royal-by-blood on the line. Adelaide died in the late '90s, unmarried and without an heir—but there were no other royals left. She was an only child, and all the others were dead.

...Well, probably. See, Vincent had been listed as missing in action since 1978. Because of the clandestine nature of the department, Turks that disappear aren't listed as dead until there's either a body recovered, or they've been missing for 50 years, whichever comes first. Legally, Vincent was still alive, and the Junon Society of Royals (aka the JSR, the group responsible for keeping Junonese nobility in their wealth) grabbed onto that to perform what's called a "paperwork ascension." These used to be pretty common back when heirs would get sent away to war or for school or whatever, gone for years at a time whether their ruling parent died or not.

The plan was for the JSR to plug Vincent in temporarily and proceed to dig back through the entire genealogical record to try to find some distant heir who was actually present and definitely alive to put on the throne instead (there is also a mechanism for this in Junonese tradition) but there was the whole war with Wutai, and then a bunch of terrorist nonsense happened, then everything went sideways with Meteor, then Geostigma, then Omega—and then King Vincent Vickalor Valentine VII, a man who should have been about 60 years old and whom everyone assumed was actually dead as hell everywhere except on paper, reappeared working with the WRO in 2010.

Vincent had absolutely no idea any of this had happened. He had no fucking clue that he'd legally been king of Junon for over a decade. Upon finding out via a very angry letter from the JSR asking him to pass the crown to another noble family and please do not come be King Cryptid the public cannot take it, he instead routed as much of the royal family's share of taxes as he was legally allowed to the WRO as a recurring charitable donation, including that same percentage from the escrow account into which that share had been fed since Queen Adelaide's death, and divvied up as much of the rest as was permissible to various other charitable causes. A good chunk of it is stuck just sitting there, which is annoying because he doesn't want it, but if he dissolves the monarchy then the WRO stops getting that funding so he can't do that just yet. He will eventually, since he can't die and thus the JSR screwed themselves over by putting him "in charge," but it will be a while before he does it.

This means that the king of Junon owns three pairs of pants, lives in an apartment that contains only a mattress and a radio, and hasn't gotten his hair cut in over 30 years. The JSR do not broadcast his existence and he doesn't meddle too much with their bougie nonsense, so it's not general public knowledge.

Reeve knew the entire time and just never said anything.

35. Their idea of a perfect day?

This one is actually really hard, because my Vincent doesn't really...think that way? He doesn't really make his own plans or have his own aspirations, because if he thinks about his future he won't stop and that's pretty crippling for him what with the immortality, so the idea of a perfect day hasn't crossed his mind since he was sent to Nibelheim.

If we're going outside his thoughts on the concept and into what would be a perfect day for him within the feasible bounds of his general existence immediately postcanon, it would vary depending on which headcanon universe I'm working with. Going with the one I've been playing in the most recently, it would start with cloudy weather in Junon and a short workday at WRO HQ—busy enough to keep occupied but slow enough that he can afford to head out early—followed by his mostly-monthly visit to Edge to help Tifa deep clean the bar and kitchen at Seventh Heaven. After that, he and Tifa and Cloud (and Barret, who is stated to live in Edge as well post-AC) would hang out in the closed bar and catch up, maybe have a few drinks; once it's dark enough, Vincent and Cloud would split off, finding somewhere quiet and secluded to recover from all that peopling. Maybe up on the roof, maybe a little ways out of town, and they'd stay out there until Cloud got sleepy, at which point Vincent would get him home. Maybe Vincent would stay the night, but realistically it'd only ever be to sleep. Someday maybe it would be more than that, but Vincent does his best not to think about the future.

A perfect day is being useful, getting to pretend he's still a normal person, and spending time with the people who won't call him out on the lie.

47. Their dream job?

Vincent's dream job is being a Turk. Period. It doesn't matter what point in time we're talking about, that's the answer.

Postcanon, this isn't because he wants anything to do with Shinra (the Turks don't actually work with Shinra anymore by then in my headcanon, the department was absorbed into the WRO just after AC), but because it was the only thing Vincent ever really wanted to do before. He and Tseng would butt heads too much for him to rejoin the department, but that doesn't even matter—Vincent is extremely mako-enhanced, among other things, and Turks aren't allowed to have any biological augmentations. His abilities may have been forced on him, but they're still very much enhancements, so Vincent's physiology bars him from the only job he ever wanted.

Vincent is no longer a Turk, and never will be again—no matter how much he might dream about it.

[isadomna]

Berenguela and Blanche of Castile

Daughters of Alfonso VIII of Castile and Eleanor of England, Berenguela maintained strong connections with her sister Blanche, Queen of France. Their letters are in Latin. Latin was still, at the beginning of the 13th century, the language of writing, while French and Castilian became the languages ​​commonly spoken, even at court. Berenguela and Blanche were well-educated, competent and forceful like their formidable grandmother Eleanor of Aquitaine.

The two sisters will also lead a parallel existence, each exerting, in their own country, a comparable influence. Much like her younger sister Blanche in France, Berenguela presents an interesting case of co-rulership with her son in Castile. Furthermore, both have ties with warfare and played determinant roles in the success of military campaigns as well as access to – and maintenance of – the throne.

Berenguela and Blanche directed a great deal of their personal energy into assuring that all of their children were appropriately married. It was Blanche who suggested sending Joan of Ponthieu as a bride for her nephew Fernando after his first wife's death. Berenguela and Blanche became the mothers of fighting saints King Fernando III and King Louis IX.

In the Archives Nationales de France are nine letters written to King Louis VIII and his wife Blanche of Castile, during Louis’s brief reign from 1223 to 1226. These letters informed Louis VIII that Alfonso VIII of Castile had intended his throne to pass to a son of Louis and Blanche, if his own son Enrique died without heirs. Louis VIII should therefore immediately send his son to Castile, where his correspondents—the scions of several major Castilian noble houses—would take up arms to set him on the throne and overthrow the “foreigner” (alienus) who was in power. The most prominent of these Castilian magnates were Rodrigo Díaz de Cameros and Gonzalo Pérez de Molina. This conspiracy was an explicit attempt to dispose of the current Castilian monarchy and replace it with a new configuration of rulers. It was therefore a far more serious threat than either Rodrigo Díaz’s or Gonzalo Pérez’s earlier revolts had been. And it was aimed squarely at the legitimacy of the reigning monarchs.

The letters’ most perplexing feature is the suggestion that Blanche’s claim to the Castilian throne superseded Berenguela’s. Some historians have even taken this as evidence that Blanche was the elder sister, though that claim is patently false. Yet the plot to overthrow Fernando III was first of all an attempt to unseat Berenguela. It was through her that Fernando III claimed hereditary right and legitimate descent from Alfonso VIII. To say that Alfonso VIII had excluded Berenguela from the succession, and to describe Fernando as a “foreigner,” was to reject the Castilian identity that Berenguela had tried to reclaim during her ten years as a solitary queen in her father’s court, and that she had negotiated with varying success during her regency and the subsequent wars. It was to define her not as the daughter and sister of the latest kings of Castile, but as the cast-off wife of the king of León.

To be sure, Blanche and her sons were at least as French as Berenguela and Fernando III were Leonese. But the rebels were apparently willing to overlook this quibble; their appeal was directed as much to Louis VIII as to his queen. Besides, the threat of union with France was diminished by the fact that Blanche and Louis VIII had no fewer than five living sons at the time that they ruled France. The rebels never insisted that the son sent to them should be Louis VIII’s firstborn, and a younger brother’s accession in Castile considerably reduced the risk of union between the crowns. All five French princes were underage, but so much the better; the minorities of Alfonso VIII and Enrique I had proved how much power nobles could gain in a regency. Louis VIII was sufficiently intrigued by the rebels’ offer to have asked them for proof of their promised support. His wife, however, was likely to be less sympathetic. A combination of Blanche’s unwillingness to contribute to her older sister’s overthrow and Fernando III’s military successes after 1224 probably quashed the plot.

Sources:

JANNA BIANCHINI,THE QUEEN'S HAND: POWER AND AUTHORITY IN THE REIGN OF BERENGUELA OF CASTILE

Regine Pernoud, La Reine Blanche

[sw5w]

Jar Jar Bring Uss-en and Da Naboo Together

STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace 01:42:53

[talonabraxas]

Think of it in terms you are the sun and the planets are energy points, energy centers, access points, dimensions, chakras, different bandwidths to access within the same energy. --collectiveconsciousness @conciouscreator

This differs somewhat between Western and Vedic astrology, but the best guideline for the chakra/planet rulership is found in Yoga:

Root Chakra - Mars and Saturn - “I am” Sacral Chakra - Venus, Pluto, Jupiter - “I create/I feel” Solar Plexus Chakra - Sun, Mars - “I do/I relate” Heart Chakra - Moon, Venus - “I love/I connect” Throat Chakra - Mercury - “I speak/I communicate” Third Eye Chakra - Saturn, Neptune, Jupiter - “I see/I perceive” Crown Chakra - Jupiter, Uranus - “I know”

You must activate your chakras by light (visualization). Imagine lighting seven stars in the sky with gold fire. Then we twist (with an Imaginary finger) the third chakra (in the Abdomen) clockwise on our body.

[growingstories]

The greatest king

In a distant land far away, ruled King Eustace, beloved by his people and presiding over a prosperous and safe country. The king, once a handsome and muscular man in his youth, had now grown older and his girth had expanded to become a symbol of status. With his seemingly limitless wealth, he indulged in a lavish lifestyle filled with extravagant parties sumpt, rich food, and exquisite wines in his grand castle.

Having lost his wife during childbirth, King Eustace was left with only one heir, his son Reginald. The crown prince, now a handsome young man of eighteen, had spent his formative years exploring the outskirts of the kingdom, honing his physique and training with the armies. Like his father, Reginald possessed a kind and honest heart, endearing him to both the soldiers and the common folk.

By the time Reginald reached the age of twenty-five, news reached the castle of an invasion along the borders. A letter from a loyal servant urged the prince to take action, to defend their land against the impending threat. Concern filled the hearts of all, including the king who wished for his son to remain safe within the castle walls. However, heedless of his father's worries, Reginald left for the borders to face the enemy.

Miraculously, Reginald's skills on the battlefield brought about a victorious outcome. The enemy was vanquished, and the kingdom expanded as its borders grew. In order to maintain peace and prevent further conflict, Reginald pursued unconventional methods. He ensured that the soldiers were kept content with lavish parties, decadent foods, and plentiful wine. Reunions with their families were organized, and training was gradually abandoned. The soldiers grew sluggish and lazy, their once lean and agile bodies slowly succumbing to weight gain. Many opted to leave the army behind. They got a som of money if they would never return to the army.

The defeated king of the infiltrating country approached Reginald with an offer: to marry his daughter and rule alongside her as a united force. King Eustace, mulling over the proposal, ultimately agreed to ally through marriage, unaware of the brewing discontent among certain factions within the kingdom.

Those who opposed the union sought to eliminate the threat posed by the new queen and her influence over King Eustace. Poisoned by these dissenters, the beloved king met his untimely demise. The mantle of rulership fell upon Reginald, who found himself consumed by paranoia.

Fearful of falling victim to the same fate, he appointed one of his servants as a royal tester. This young man, burdened with the responsibility of ensuring the king's meals were safe, gradually gained from weight the excessive and constant feasting. Week after week, he required new clothes to accommodate his expanding size.

Reginald himself did not escape the consequences of his sedentary lifestyle. Lacking the time for physical exercise and consumed by the demands of ruling, he too, experienced a steady increase in weight. The court, reveling in the pleasures of extravagant feasts, encouraged this newfound heftiness. Above all, the new queen found solace and delight in the presence of a corpulent king.

As the years passed, Reginald indulged himself to the point of excess. The people adored him more with each passing day, praising his greatness as he continued to grow in size. His wife, ever attentive to his needs, surrounded him with devoted servants who urged him to consume his meals.

After years of uninhibited indulgence, Reginald truly became the greatest king the land had ever known, both in stature and in the love he received from his subjects. The kingdom prospered, its people relishing in the reign of a benevolent, albeit obese, ruler.

[huihuiheart]

Kinktober D13: Three For The Price Of One - Jeonghan, Joshua, DK

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Kinktober 2023 Masterlist

Seventeen Masterlist

Pairing:  Elf Prince! Joshua x Human Princess Reader, Fey Prince! Jeonghan x Human Princess Reader, Desert Dweller Prince! DK x Human Princess Reader

Genre: Fluff, Tiny Bit of Angst, Smut

Summary: A week of diplomatic discussions between future rulers leads to life long friendships, and perhaps even more than that between the four kingdoms.

Warnings: Foursome, Somewhat implied virgin reader, oral (f! receiving, nipple play, unprotected sex, bathtub sex, light biting, dirty talk, some cockwarming themes, praise, cursing, alcohol.

Word Count: 5785

(A map to help you further understand)

Trekking out of the familiar kingdom that you had always called home, the one built into the coastal cliffside was not an easy venture. It was however necessary as the discussions the previous generation had attempted had never ended well they decided to allow their heirs an attempt. At the very least the four would grow acquainted with one another and develop necessary skills for their future rulerships. So your personal guard and your few closest advisors had set out from Steilera to the long established meeting place near the center of the isle Sejan. Meeting the first of the others once you have reached Goshen about a days journey east of the tower. 

His golden hair so light you nearly mistook it for white, the hair looking delicate and soft as it was parting back off his forehead and down over her neck some. A ring of golden ivy around his forehead serves as a crown informing you he was the prince and not any of the other nearly as beautiful men along with him. The point to his ears and his build letting you know that this was the prince of the elves, the only others to the east of the tower. 

Your knees bend in a courtesy as he approaches, head bowing and hiding him from your gaze for a moment, before you’re looking up to smile at him, “Prince Joshua I presume? It is an honor to finally meet you. I have heard many good things.”

Joshua extends his hand for yours first, kissing the back of your knuckles first, before bowing his head until his forehead presses gently against where he just kissed as is their custom, “The honor truly is all mine princess. The tales regarding you since the joyous occasion of your birth truly do no justice.” 

You fluster, feeling a bit out of place as the simple statement reminds you the lifespan of elves in comparison to your own even if that hadn’t been the point, that and the attentions of the beautiful man before you, “You flatter me too much your highness. I’m certain I do not hold a candle to your or any of the others as I am simply human.” 

“Oh, but you could have fooled any man into believing you were a goddess.” Joshua assures easily, before offering you his arm, “Would you please join me for a bit? We were about to have dinner and I’m certain you could use it as well after a long day of travel. I’m certain we have much to discuss as well with how our parents have established relations between our kingdoms. After all, I'm certain that it is only the start of something great.” 

You nod, agreeing easily with him in regards to that sentiment as you allow him to guide you to a seat underneath a larger tent they have set up, the front pulled open so as to keep your pure image intact while still allowing you both to dine together just the two of you.

“Though I do have one piece of advice to offer you before we arrive princess.” Joshua changes from only praise itself as he reaches for a jar of one of the finest elven wines they have brought along to pour you each a glass as you wait for dinner to be brought. 

You thank him, brows furrowing in concern wondering if by chance you’d already done something to offend him, “What is it?”

“The way you spoke of yourself earlier… as almost distasteful… do not speak of yourself in such a light once we arrive. Remember you belong there no less than any of the rest of us. We are all equals. Though we are less familiar with the other two princes and so if they see a spot of weakness they very well just might try to trample you down. Don’t give them such an opportunity.” He settles back comfortably in his own seat, sipping on his wine as he makes that suggestion. Watching you take a shaky breath before sipping your own, knowing that he had a point even if your personality might make that slightly more of a challenge.

“I will bear that in mind, your highness.” You nod in assurance he smiles.

“Ahh that is enough formality don’t you think? We have a long week of discussions ahead and an even longer journey of kingdom agreements beyond that. We ought to grow comfortable with each other, so please do refer to me by my name. I will not be offended in the least. If anything I’d be offended by you not wanting to be friends.” His last statement is teasing and it makes you laugh, but it certainly does break any remaining tension. Something the gentlemanly elf seems to be rather good at throughout the evening and your dinner together.  You leave with cheeks warm at the mix of Joshua’s actions and the alcohol you both had shared that evening. 

The next morning Joshua is offering his hand out to you as you both decide to take on the final day of traveling together. His grip on you steady as you travel along paths not often seeing civilization and certainly ensuring your safety on more than one instance upon the journey. Arriving as the reddened hues of the setting sun begin to fill the sky. Entering the tower to find that one of the other princes has already arrived. Stepping forward to courtesy to the man. His hair is a more golden blonde than Joshuas and far longer, falling past his shoulders. The man having sat himself down at the head of the dining table with a smirk.

“Ahh Joshua you’ve arrived and I see you’ve brought the princess along.” The man announces as if there was a crowd needing to be informed and you see Joshua roll his eyes, but smile a little, going over to hug the man in greeting.

“Good to see you again too Jeonghan.” Joshua chuckles as they hug one another, “Surprised you made it not only on time, but first.” 

Jeonghan flicks Joshua at the playful teasing, “Oh hush, I figured we’d all be wanting to eat upon arriving so I figured we should get here first. That way I could decide on dinner.”

Then the prince who you’d put together based on name and personality must be the fey prince turning his attention to you again, motioning you forward with his fingers, “Come here princess, let me look at you.”  

You’re shyly walking forward, but move yourself to greet him, “It’s a pleasure Prince Jeonghan. I’ve heard much and have been looking forward to meeting you.”

Jeonghan’s finger is under your chin, lifting your head some to bring eye contact, “Such beauty are you sure you’re not part fey or elven? I’ve never heard of a human being so radiant in appearance so effortlessly.” 

“Yah! Jeonghan!” Joshua scolds, smacking him lightly when you’re too stunned by his words to speak. Though Jeonghan simply laughs.

“Apologies princess, I should have warned you about how I am before coming off as quite so overbearing.” Jeonghan apologizes though his grin says nothing about him is genuinely sorry and you are beginning to tell why people refer to this man as trouble, “Anywho dinner is done and seeing as how there is no sign of our fourth I say we begin.”

Joshua comes around to get the chair for you as Jeonghan begins to pour wine for the three of you, “Jeonghan.”

The man snickers at the warning, “Relax Joshua, I’m not giving her feywine. After all she needs to keep her senses for this week of diplomacy.” 

His statement makes your eyes widen a little, still slightly hesitant due to having picked up at his troublemaking nature. When Joshua takes a sip and seems content however you’re at ease and find it doesn’t take anything else for you to sip the liquid as well. Those who had come with Jeonghan and taken to the cooking that evening brought you each the foods you were accustomed to, though it seemed of such a high quality that it nearly overwhelmed you. Eating until you felt content, settling back into your seat for comfortable conversion and to finish your wine. That is until the door swung open to reveal the final royal diplomate to arrive. 

“My apologies for being late, everyone. There was a sudden dust storm that we hadn’t accounted for along the way.”  The prince apologizes with a bow, before standing to remove the opaque fabric he had wrapped around his head and neck for desert travel. Two large fluffy ears popping up, white on the inside and a light tan with just the faintest tinges of a burnt orange on the back. His tan muscular arms on display, gold bangles wrapped tightly around his biceps. The man rolling his shoulders as he gets settled, the action pulling his shirt open just a tad more as it has an open v, revealing some of his chest as well. He wears a necklace with a pendant that is a beautiful swirl of colors, the way they sway and clash reminding you of waves of the ocean only in a wider variety of colors. “Am I interrupting anything?”

“We’d just finished dinner and were getting acquainted.” You assured him, gesturing to the seat beside you, “Would you like to join us?” 

“I would be honored princess.” He smiles, but shakes his head, “I however think I am going to settle in for the night. We’re quite the mess of dirt and dust currently and I would hate to create a mess of anything. I look forward to truly making everyone’s acquaintance in the morning and may you all have a restful night.” 

His gaze lingers on you only a moment longer, smile remaining before he’s turning to leave for the evening, bushy tail now visible behind him. Something you’re doing not long after, still needing to rest and recover from the journey yourself. That and the other pair seemed as though they had some catching up to do and so you felt you should leave them to it.

After a restful night you put yourself together in a dress of purple and gold, one of your attendants helping to bustle the sides of it so that you can move around more freely despite working to look your absolute best for your interactions with the other princes today. Still you grab some of the skirt to walk down the hall rather quickly to where some of your advisors were staying, knocking and waiting for the door to open before requesting that they prepare the gifts you had brought for each of the princes. Once you were assured everything would be arranged you took a breath and started to make your way to the dining hall to join the others for breakfast. 

Seokmin the only one there upon your arrival, "Good morning princess. I hope I did not offend last night. I truly would have loved to accept your offer, but I didn't want to dirty you after my journey." 

"Don't fret your highness, I wasn't offended in the least. Are you feeling more refreshed now?" You inquire moving to find a seat, though he moves as well to pull it out for you something which you thank him for.

"I do. I feel much better. Eager to speak with everyone and hopefully create lasting friendships with each of you and your nations." He beams much like he had the previous night and then he's taking his seat again.

"Well if we are to be friends then you should use my name." You smile at him before looking over the table before your eyes land on a strange new fruit. A few varieties of colors in them as you're intrigued by them.

"Are you interested in them, princes- Y/N?" He asks moving to pluck one from the bowl with ease despite the thorns on them. 

“They can be eaten then?” You ask and he nods with a chuckle pulling out a knife to skin and slice it onto a plate before handing it over. 

“Different cacti in our desert fruit them, the varieties are slightly different, but we enjoy them all nonetheless. Go ahead and try it and if you like it feel free to have as many as you like this week.” He happily offers, ears twitching as he anticipates your reaction to the first bite. Beaming as you let out a happy hum at the taste and quickly go back for another bite.

“Don’t go spoiling breakfast now.” You hear Joshua’s voice tease with a soft chuckle as he enters the room now as well. “I’m assuming we’re all in agreement of no business at the table this week? We still need a space to enjoy some peace after all.” 

You two easily agree though you look around noticing that Jeonghan still hasn’t arrived, making Joshua laugh a little as he notices before speaking up, “Get used to waiting on him. It’ll happen often this week.” 

“I heard that Joshua!” Jeonghan’s voice calls out scoldingly from outside the room before he enters, “I won’t be late… not for food anyways.”

He goes around to greet everyone, stopping with you and bringing your hand to his lips before glancing over you with a hum, “Such a pretty dress on such a beautiful princess. The sleeves look like pretty little flowers, are they truly fabric? Or have you been graced with a dress of petals to make our acquaintance today?” 

“I’m not the fae here your highness, so I would not be adorned in such a way.” You tease just slightly and it makes the man have to hold back a smirk.

“Just Jeonghan is fine.” He simply says though he looks almost proud before going to sit down so that you could all enjoy breakfast together. The three then escort you to the room where most of your diplomatic discussions would take place throughout this week.

You smooth your hands down the front of your dress to settle the nerves you’re feeling in the moment before smiling at the three, “Before we begin. I would like to thank you all for being such gentlemen thus far and for your equal treatment of me being here. I would also like to present something that I have prepared for you all.”

The three look intrigued, but allow you to do this first even if they all have their own items to present to all as well.

You start with Joshua, some basic gifts of gold and sea salt and such, “For you specifically I have brought sea shells. I personally went out and found the most precious of them. I have been told that elves love crafts, but prefer the forest to the sea. So I thought I could collect them for you to use and enjoy.” 

Next you’re to Jeonghan the basics are the same, though with more honey and other food items, “ There are many dried flowers and herbs more unique to our coast in there for whatever you may desire to use them for. I also included a few candles of which I took the time to make and I hope there are to your liking.”

Finally you’re onto Seokmin, who has been eagerly anticipating your attention from the start up until now. “ I have heard that not only does nearly all of the finest glass come from your kingdom, but also that you quite like glass as well. So  I have brought all the seaglass that I could find for you… any colors I noticed that had washed ashore. Along with stones smoothed out by the ocean as I heard there aren’t often many smooth pebbles in the desert.”

They all seem rather pleased and then begin to take their turns presenting gifts to you. Joshua presents you with a wooden bow with golden engravings of ivy woven over it, much like the crown he had worn when you first met. As well as a dagger and a cloak. Though you flustered slightly as you admitted you weren’t a great shooter, something he offered to assist you with that week. Jeonghan gives you a crown of flowers with a matching bracelet which he helps you to put on.

“They will never die and they have protection bound into them. Each day you wear them they will grow even more.” He informs you with a smile as he steps back. 

Seokmin’s cheeks are dusted pink when it is his turn, “My gift is not nearly as extravagant, but I hope you’ll like it all the same.”

He gives you a necklace with pendants of blown glass. The centerpiece has swirling blues to mimic the ocean waves, then foaming as they crash against the tan and gold to mimic sand at the top of the pendant. Telling you that they do in fact love glass and they make different pendants and charms to tell stories that they wear with pride, now offering you one as well. 

“I must admit I have something else, though I wish to exchange it for a treaty of research.” You draw their attention again, “Some of you have already discovered my affinity for fruit. I have been looking into ways to allow them to grow in wider varieties of environments. Where it be more heat resistant or for a damper environment, however I can only mimic so much in my coastal home. Therefore I would like to offer fruits that I have been working with. To hopefully be able to grow in each of your homes based off my research. I simply ask that you inform me about how they do and perhaps of any further help they may need. Then possibly in the future I can come do the same with what is specific to some of your kingdoms as well.” 

To say you are not quite what they had expected would be an understatement. However, none of them had any complaints about that. If anything it only made them more eager to discuss things with you this week. The week progressed far too quickly. Spending much time with the four of you, though you did each spend time to yourselves and one on one with each other establishing friendships and discussing situations between your kingdoms specifically. It proves that the previous generation should have just left this up to the four of you from the start.

Seokmin clears his throat as you all sit around looking over recently shared research, breaking the silence, “Y/N I have been carefully considering and I think in the best interests of our kingdom and in the desires of my heart I would like to ask for your hand. This week has expressed something clear to me and that is that simply being neighbors will not be enough for me and if you would allow me the honor I would like your hand.” 

The question stuns the three of you, all looking at him in utter shock, you and Joshua sharing burning cheeks though the first to react is Jeonghan who bursts out laughing.

“Oh my gods Joshua I can’t believe he beat us both to it.” He nearly falls back out of his chair due to how hard he is laughing. You and Seokmin not looking at him with furrowed brows and confused nearly simultaneously asking what he means. “We had gotten a little heated two days ago because both had told the other we intended to ask for your hand. So we decided that we would both plan and see who got to it first. I can’t believe it was neither of us.” 

You blink, before feeling lightheaded suddenly. Joshua catching on and rushing over to move a chair over, helping ease you into it where you then fanned yourself looking between the three.

“So let me get this straight… All three of you wish to ask for my hand?” When they all confirm you take a shaky breath, your mind is overwhelmed at this. "I… Can you all…"

"Y/N." Joshua calls softly, getting your attention again, "Take a breath. We're in no rush."

At his assurance you take a breath helping your mind slowly begin to wrap around what was going on. Though now Jeonghan was looking at you confused.

"Princess, you're acting as though no one has ever asked for your hand before." He speaks up softly and it flusters you.

"Well they have, but not truly. No one has ever asked me. It is always my father they ask. No one has ever asked for it due to attraction to me, but rather to the position. This is….new." You explain, looking away at the astonishment on each of their faces. "Would it be alright if… if I had some time to consider?"

When they all agree you smile tentatively before walking out to go back to your own sitting room. Though it wasn't long before you were bombarded by your advisors and their man opinions. Being thoroughly reminded that not only was your own fate in your hands, but the entire kingdom's. At which point you had had enough and told everyone to promptly get out. Rubbing at your temples with a sigh and going out to your balcony to find a peaceful place. After some time there you notice how your messenger bird is around and work up a letter to write back home, specifically for your father and send it off. Though knowing you wouldn't get a response until it was nearly time to leave. Still pacing as the time for dinner comes around, the thought of it not even coming to mind until there's a gentle knock on the door. Peeking out to find Joshua and your breath stops for a moment.

"Y/N we'd all like you to come to dinner please. We all agreed not to bring anything about the proposals up, we just would like you to eat and relax. We do not mean for it to weigh this heavy on you, please." Joshua pleas with you softly. You worry your lip between your teeth before nodding and allowing him to guide you to dinner. Where the other two seem to relax some upon seeing you arrive with Joshua. You allow dinner to distract you some for the moment before speaking up.

"I am still overwhelmed and uncertain, but I do not want this to affect our other interactions this week. If this bothers anyone, feel free to withdraw your proposal with no hard feelings."  When none of them respond you nod softly, "When I have come to a decision I will present it to you all."

That's when you head off again hoping a night of sleep would help you settle before the next morning when discussions of kingdom relations would resume. And so it did for the next two days until your response arrived. Looking over the note from your father and sitting down as it made your head swim again.

"... follow your heart my daughter. I know you will make the right decision…."

It stuck with you making your thoughts swirl. What did your heart want? And was it something that you could even have. With a sigh you decided to return to the room where the three men were, drawing their attention when you entered. 

"I have been thinking and have spoken to my father. There are so many opinions of this decision and on what the decision will mean for my kingdom. However, my father simply told me to follow my heart. The problem that lies in that is that my heart cannot make a decision. It has grown fond of all of you and so choosing just one is presenting a challenge." You confess to them, unable to look at any of them. 

"So you're saying that you want all three of us?" Jeonghan inquires, raising a brow. When you nod shyly though he smirks, "Well I'm not one to deny you princess. What about you both?"

When they both agree seemingly as easy as Jeonghan did his smirk only grows while you’re stunned. Watching closely as Jeonghan comes over to tilt your head up to look at him.

“Well princess, what do you think? Would this idea suit you?” He asks as if it were so simple while your brain still continues to overthink things.

“That’ll only create more problems won’t it? Where would I live? In which kingdom? And with whom? Besides, how would any of us get our kingdom’s to agree to such terms? How would we ensure you’re all viewed as my husbands and no one considered an affair?” As you confess what is weighing on you, Jeonghan tsks softly. 

“It will only create problems if you allow it to. Who says we couldn’t just live here? Where we can get to any kingdom? Besides, relations would never be better than in this case, if we all became one. We are the future of the kingdom, what we determine here this week goes. Including wedding arrangements and happenings. As for your last question…we simply consummate the marriage together… all four of us.” He offers you some answers to calm your mind.

“Very well. Let’s plan something simple here for the four of us and prepare messages for back home. After it is already official and cannot be undone we can have a larger ceremony with our families present and honoring each of our customs.” You agree, smiling at them all only for Seokmin to lunge at you unable to hold back any longer as he presses his lips to your before pulling back and giggling shyly at your flustered face. 

“Sorry I just couldn’t wait any longer.” He apologizes, backing away a little to give you space.

“Kisses are fine, just no more until after we’re all married.” You tell them, it still feels foreign to consider being married to any of them, let alone all of them. Though that is all the permission Jeonghan needs to move in and kiss you as well. Joshua, letting them both have that chance before he kisses you next. 

You excuse yourself after going back to those with you and begin discussing arrangements. Getting most things in order in time along with a dress for you. The ladies you brought along helped you into it. The princess skirt settles around your waist, but only the lace overlay, underneath slightly more form fitting. The lace overlay also comes up around your neck, poofing into large sleeves that are fitted from the elbow to your wrists. The ladies help you button the front and sleeves before setting the overlay of lace daisies again. A bow tied around your waist and right under the poof of each sleeve. Your nerves ever present as you walk out to meet the three men that await you. The simple ceremony going off without a hitch. Followed by dinner where the four of you got privacy. Seokmin then took your hand and led you and the others off to the room he had been staying in, not that any room would have felt crowded with the four of you. He helps you sit back on the bed, arms on either side of you as he leans in. Jeonghan is about to impatiently express his discontent, but Joshua stops him, putting a hand out.

“Seokmin did ask for her hand first Jeonghan, it’s only right he’s the first to have what he wants.” Joshua offers though Seokmin is in his own world, working on all the buttons with a focused pout before he gives in.

“It’s taking too long. I can’t wait.” He huffs softly before getting onto his knees, pushing the skirt of your dress out of his way to reveal your panties. All the material nearly covers your face as you fall back when Seokmin pulls your legs closer. He nips at where your thigh meets your core and is most sensitive, then laving over the spot with his tongue. “You smell heavenly.”

He’s then ripping your panties to get to your arousal, quick to lap it up. Jeonghan moves to take over the buttons where Seokmin had left off, wanting to get access to your breasts. Joshua coming behind you to lay your head in his lap.

“What about you?” You ask him softly, noticing how he’s not getting access to any part of you like the other two currently are. He smiles down at you, gently brushing your hair away. 

“Don’t worry, I’m content to put you back together once they shatter you princess.” He says despite smiling so sweetly and you begin to wonder what exactly you’ve gotten yourself into. At least until Seokmin sucks on your clit and makes your brain go blank only moments later. The man hungry in his treatment of your core, eager to get all that he can from you. Pulling away only when you’ve cum, though his eyes are still clouded with hunger. Able to pull your dress off now that Jeonghan has undone all the buttons to be able to toy with your breasts. Before he can push in though Jeonghan stops him.

“I want to know what she tastes like untainted first, don’t you Joshua?” He expresses and when Joshua hums in approval he reaches down to swipe two fingers through your soaked lips. Cleaning you off one with a moan before offering the other to Joshua who you watch as his eyes flutter shut at the taste. “Okay Seokmin go ahead.” 

Seokmin grabs the back of each of your knees and folds you nearly in half, pressing them in closer to your chest before slowly pressing in until he’s all the way in. Letting you feel him so deep now, the feeling making your eyes glaze over as you’re already somewhat dazed at all the feelings. Jeonghan chuckles as he bites a little above your nipple to get your attention onto him for a moment.

“You gonna let the eager fox mate with you?” He teases though it’s not just you but also Seokmin who huffs in response, thrusting in harshly when you go to answer so that all you can do is squeak out a yes. 

“Not a fox, but I will mate you good princess.” Seokmin assures, pushing Jeonghan away from you so he can lean down and press his weight on you as he starts thrusting harder, nippling and licking at your neck as if he truly cannot get enough of you. Jeonghan weaving his hand in between you two to rub at your clit while Joshua gently strokes your hair.

“That’s it, being such a good girl and taking him so well. Are you going to cum for him, princess?” Joshua asks and when you moan out an affirmation while nodding he chuckles, “Hear that Seokmin, she’s gonna make a mess on your dick. Are you going to make a mess of her back?”

“Fuck yes, going to fill her with cum.” Seokmin moans out, keeping true to his word and coming when Jeonghan pinches your clit and makes you cum around him. Pumping every last drop deep inside of you before pulling out and gently easing your thighs down as he moves to the side to catch his breath and let someone else take his spot.

Jeonghan the next one to move in as Joshua stays where he is supporting your head. Jeonghan standing between your legs at the end of the bed and hooking one knee over his elbow while the other is around his hips and pulling him closer. That being all the encouragement he needs to push in. His fingers on your clit nearly immediately as he does.

“You came so fast when I played with your clit while Seokmin was in you. Will you cum that fast for me now too?” He questions though expects no answer as he picks up a brutal pace simply listening to you cry out in pleasure. Watching as you claw at the sheets. Joshua calls Seokmin over to whisper something to him before Seokmin leaves and Joshua has your nipples between his fingers to toy with. Your hypersensitive body is already on edge again. “It’s okay if you do princess, none of us will last long in this messy little cunt of yours, especially not when it’s squeezing us tighter right when you’re about to cum. So go on, give me a reason to fill you filthy fucking pussy.” 

His words are the final nail in the coffin as you’re cumming around him, him helping ride you through it before he’s cumming as well. Leaning down to kiss you softly as he slowly eases out, before him and Joshua are helping you to sit.

“Come with me princess.” Joshua urges, helping you off the bed and to the bathroom where Seokmin had drawn a bath. He gets in first before helping you in and to settle onto his hard cock, leaning against his chest while surrounded by the warm water. “Just relax and let the water ease your muscles.” 

You hum, eyes closing as you lay your head against his shoulder. Not sure how long you both stay like that before his hips start to grind just a little into you. Though you’re kept from sitting up as his arm slips around your waist holding you in place. 

“Easy princess, just keep relaxing while I make you feel good again.” He tells you, pelvic bone grinding against your clit with each small roll of his hips. The water sloshing around you both slightly but neither of you can find it in you to care as the slow sensual feelings make you both feel as though you’re floating. Joshua keeps that up until you’re both cumming. Then he’s gently moving you into a shower instead to wash you both up, helping you to dress before he’s taking your sleepy form to his room where Jeonghan and Seokmin have already cleaned up and settled for the evening. Allowing all four of you to settle into bed after the eventful day. 

There certainly were endless more details to resolve and no doubt challenges that would arise when news of what you four had done arrived home. However the four of you together worked better than anyone in history seemed to and therefore the four of you together had this chance that no one else would. A chance to make the island whole for once. A chance to make each of you whole for once.

If you enjoy my work please keep in mind how much time and effort goes into it and show support through comments and reblogs, or consider buying me a kofi. (Caffeine fuels the chaotic gremlin in me who creates content.)

[thepastisalreadywritten]

Rassam Cylinder, a ten-sided clay cylinder that was created in c. 643 BC, during the reign of King Ashurbanipal (c. 685 BC - 631 BC) who ruled the Neo-Assyrian Empire from 669 - 631 BC.

It was discovered in the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh, near Mosul, present-day Iraq, by Hormuzd Rassam (3 October 1826 - 16 September 1910) in 1854.

In over 1,300 lines of cuneiform text, the cylinder records nine military campaigns of Ashurbanipal, including his wars with Egypt, Elam and his brother, Shamash-shum-ukin.

It also records his accession to the throne and his restoration of the Palace of Sennacherib.

The cylinder is the most complete chronicle on the life of Ashurbanipal.

There are some extracts from the cylinder below:

"I am Ashurbanipal, offspring of Ashur and Bêlit, the oldest prince of the royal harem, whose name Ashur and Sin, the lord of the tiara, have named for the kingship from earliest (lit., distant) days, whom they formed in his mother's womb, for the rulership of Assyria; whom Shamash, Adad and Ishtar, by their unalterable (lit., established) decree, have ordered to exercise sovereignty.

Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the father who begot me, respected the word of Ashur and Bêlit-ilê (the Lady of the Gods), his tutelary (divinities), when they gave the command that I should exercise sovereignty.

In the month of Airu, in the month of Ea, the lord of mankind, the twelfth day, an auspicious day, the feast day of Gula, at the sublime command which Ashur, Bêlit, Sin, Shamash, Adad, Bêl, Nabû, Ishtar of Nineveh, Queen of Kidmuri, Ishtar of Arbela, Urta, Nergal, Nusku, uttered, he gathered together the people of Assyria, great and small, from the upper to (lit., and) lower sea.

That they would accept (lit., guard) my crown princeship, and later my kingship, he made them take an oath by the great gods, and so he strengthened the bonds (between them and me)....

By the order of the great gods, whose names I called upon, extolling their glory, who commanded that I should exercise sovereignty, assigned me the task of adorning their sanctuaries, assailed my opponents on my behalf, slew my enemies, the valiant hero, beloved of Ashur and Ishtar, scion of royalty, am I.

Egyptian Campaign:

"In my first campaign I marched against Magan, Meluhha, Taharqa, king of Egypt and Ethiopia, whom Esarhaddon, king of Assyria, the father who begot me, had defeated, and whose land he brought under his sway.

This same Taharqa forgot the might of Ashur, Ishtar and the other great gods, my lords, and put his trust upon his own power.

He turned against the kings and regents whom my own father had appointed in Egypt.

He entered and took residence in Memphis, the city which my own father had conquered and incorporated into Assyrian territory.

A swift courier came to Nineveh and reported to me.

At these deeds, my heart became enraged, my soul cried out. I raised my hands in prayer to Ashur and the Assyrian Ishtar.

I mustered my mighty forces, which Ashur and Ishtar had placed into my hands. Against Egypt and Ethiopia, I directed the march."

Rassam Cylinder records the reign of Ashurbanipal until c. 645 BC.

The latter years of his reign are poorly recorded, probably due to the fact that the Neo-Assyrian Empire was plagued with troubles.

One of Ashurbanipal's last known inscription reads:

"I cannot do away with the strife in my country and the dissensions in my family; disturbing scandals oppress me always.

Illness of mind and flesh bow me down; with cries of woe I bring my days to an end.

On the day of the city god, the day of the festival, I am wretched; death is seizing hold upon me, and bears me down..."

Rassam Cylinder is currently on display in the British Museum.

A truly remarkable, yet biased, insight into the reign of Ashurbanipal and the world in which he lived.

📷: © Anthony Huan