#oh but the krakens were encouraging it

[lover-of-mine]

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[mechaknight-98]

Outrage II (NSFW) FT Nayoung

Operator's Notes: Now back with more x-men lore and gratuitous nudity

The hectic sound stage made finding where to go for the girl group Lightsum difficult. Thankfully their manager was there to guide them. She led them to their markers and where they were to stand when performing and gave clear directions as they waited. After this last show, they’d be free to explore California to their heart’s content. For Nayoung this meant seeing her best friend Davy Jones also known by his stage name Kraken. As the music played Lightsum crafted an excellent and explosive performance of their newest song. After the performance, they sat across couches from the talk show host.

“Well, Lightsum that was a Pretty great performance. (The audience claps while the talk show host gesticulates to encourage more) you guys are so talented. Can I ask what drives you?”

The interviewer shifted her attention to Chowon. “Chowon, what drives you?”

Chowon smiled confidently, leaning into the question with the poise of a leader. "Honestly, I think it’s the desire to keep improving. Whether it's dancing, singing, or just connecting with our fans, there's always room to grow. That pushes me every day. We’re constantly evolving, and I love being a part of that process."

The host nodded thoughtfully. "That's a great perspective, always reaching for more."

Next, she turned to Sangah. "And what about you, Sangah?"

Sangah, known for her strong stage presence, gave a warm smile. "For me, it's my family. They've always been my biggest supporters, so I do everything I can to make them proud. My younger sister especially—she’s like my biggest fan. So I just want to give back to them in any way I can."

The audience let out a collective "aww" as Sangah’s sincerity resonated with them.

"And Hina?" the host asked, directing her attention to the youngest member.

Hina beamed with her usual youthful energy. "I just love being able to perform! When I see people dancing along with us or singing our songs, it feels like we’re all sharing this huge, exciting moment together. That’s what keeps me going—it’s like we’re all connected through the music."

The host smiled at Hina’s infectious enthusiasm. "It sounds like the whole group has such a strong connection to your fans and each other."

Nayoung, sitting beside them, listened as her members gave their answers before offering her own thoughts on being enamored with performing. The interviewer noticed that Nayoung’s answer stuck out the most, however. She cited a love of performing and being enamored by it.

“Oh enamored with performing huh?” The host said Smiling. Nayoung nods as she shifts in her chair.

"Speaking of Enamored, it seems like you have the eye of another performer, and fellow mutant right?"

Nayoung blushed and said, "Oh Kraken is just a friend but also a good musical partner. Our flows work really well together." Nayoung explained.

The interviewer smirked and said, "Right? Well, then I hope you two do many collaborations in the future because the chemistry between you two is electric in any genre."

After the interview Nayoung and the rest of the group head back to their hotel. They move through really quickly as they all get into their rooms, and when she’s showered and done she texts “I’m done” to Kraken” She is happy when she hears the knock on the door. She opens it to see her boyfriend the unclean vocalist for The Flying Dutchman Davy Jones, but also known for his side project Kraken, which most of the world knows him as. Nayoung holds him tight before giving him a myriad of kisses all over his face covering him in her lipstick. Nayoung smiles and says, "I missed you,"

Kraken smiles and says, "Well I am here for you, and the weekend is ours."

Nayoung smiles and says, "I am going to have so much fun with you this weekend,"

Kraken smiled and said, "I look forward to it.

Kraken teleported Nayoung with him to the studio where his friends were. It was her last off weekend before their next comeback and she wanted to spend it with Kraken whom she hadn't seen in almost a month. However JD and the rest of "The Flying Dutchman" were back in the studio, working on more songs for their new album. After Fans heard the single with her and became ravenous for more. So JD started writing Sledgehammer. Their heaviest song yet.

JD's bandmates were surprised to see JD with a woman. They thought their friend had taken a vow of celibacy a long time ago, but here they were meeting his new "Friend"

"So what is she doing here?" Douglas the "nonchallant" member asked.

"She wanted to hang out and likes our music so this seemed like a good idea to show her the new stuff we were working on."

"Are you sure about this?" Jojo the more cautious friend asked.

Nayoung opened her jacket to show her "The Flying Dutchman T-shirt and everyone relaxed as she sat on the producer's side.

Nayoung sat in the cozy, dimly lit recording studio, watching as the band members of The Flying Dutchman adjusted their instruments and fine-tuned their equipment. Kraken had invited her to join them for the session, and she was thrilled to witness the creative process firsthand.

As Kraken excused himself for a quick break, Jojo, the band's drummer, approached Nayoung with a friendly smile. He was stout, with a very brotherly demeanor that belied his intense focus when he played.

"Hey, Nayoung, right?" Jojo asked, taking a seat next to her.

"Yeah, that's me," she replied, smiling warmly.

Jojo leaned back in his chair, glancing toward the door to make sure Kraken was out of earshot. "So, Kraken’s been talking a lot about you lately."

Nayoung felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "Really? I hope it’s all good things."

Jojo chuckled. "Mostly. But seriously, we’re all pretty protective of him, you know?"

Nayoung nodded, understanding the sentiment. "I get it. He's a great guy, and I’d never want to hurt him."

"That's good to hear," Jojo said, his tone still light but with an edge of seriousness. "Kraken’s been through a lot with the band and all the pressures that come with it. He’s like a brother to us, and we just want to make sure he's happy."

"I really care about him," Nayoung said earnestly. "I wouldn’t do anything to mess that up."

Jojo studied her for a moment, then nodded, seemingly satisfied with her sincerity. "I believe you. Just know that if you ever need anything or if something’s bothering you about the whole band thing, you can talk to me or any of us."

"Thanks, Jojo. I appreciate that," Nayoung replied, grateful for the support.

As Kraken returned to the studio, oblivious to the conversation that had just taken place, Jojo gave Nayoung a reassuring pat on the shoulder and stood up.

"All right, let’s get back to it!" Jojo announced, picking up his drumsticks and heading back to his kit.

Kraken smiled at Nayoung as he sat down beside her. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything’s great," Nayoung said, feeling elated.

When everything was set up Jojo started with some heavy percussions. Followed up by AJ's haunting baseline. To compliment Noah and Dougla's powerful riff lines on keys and guitar. The AJ started singing about Massive machines mashing municipalities. Nayoung watched happily. They worked so well together and then she noticed JD had taken his Psionic barriers down. And the edges of the room began to fray ever so slightly. Her eyes went wide as she hadn't really seen the visual effects of his powers but noticed that reality began to unravel at the seams.

She watched intrigue. Tentacles began to grow from the walls as his power superimposed itself on reality. The room seemed to take on an almost misty appearance like they were truly aboard a ghost pirate ship. Nayoung smiled seeing Kraken so at ease, and in his element.

"Controll the Mob, Master the tides. Control the people's covered eyes. Destroy identity and replace it with malady. Crush dissidents like a sledgehammer. Broken bones and dreams left to die."

JD screamed and Nayoung watched in awe as his voice tore through the slowly distorted reality. It created this super interesting effect on his voice that made it sound almost filtered. Nayoung listened to the rest and after finishing JD put his barriers back up and turned to see Nayoung rocking out and headbanging her hair whipping in the producer section.

"How was that Nayo?" JD asked taking Nayoung out of her trance.

"Oh, that was so good. I loved the breakdown where you held the Hammer growl for 15 seconds, and you guys (Pointing to the rest of the bandmates) killed it." Nayoung said happy. The rest of "The Flying Dutchman laughed and all started packing up. When they finished they all walked over to the other side and began listening to the runthrough. Nayoung sat in the back jamming as they mixed and mastered the song before she realized that one of the drum sections had a similar bounce to it like Honey or Spice. She turned to JD who was focused then smiled.

After they finished this song a couple of hours later Nayoung and Kraken were off in his car. As they drove Nayoung opened the window and had her hand wave outside of it when an idea popped into her head.

“We should go to Krakoa?” Nayoung says happily

“Um, why?” Kraken asked

Nayoung smiled, “Well You’ve never been and I’m sure you’ll fit right in.”

"I don't think that's a good idea," Kraken said and Nayoung noticed his psionic barriers were back up. Nayoung smiled and said,

"Worried? That's so unlike you." she chided Kraken.

Kraken raised an eyebrow and then said, "Um well the issue is my dad was quite vocal against the leadership of Krakoa. So the moment they hear my name there may be an issue...or several."

Nayoung looked at Kraken worried, "Well do you believe what your dad said?"

"Some of it yes, and some of it no. He believed that having a super sapient continent that allowed mutants to be gods was a bad idea, which I disagree with. He also believed mutants were safe with regular humans, and seeing what happened with him and various hate groups over the years I disagree, but at the same time quite a few of the people who are in positions of power aren't good people."

Nayoung's eyes widened and asked, "Who?"

" Beast is a xenophobic racist trying to put a wall around Krakoa... Well, it's a psionic barrier that hurts mutants but you get the idea."

"Oh I remember that, but he did say it was hypothetical." Nayoung countered.

"He also made mention of chipping, tracking, and cataloging mutants," Kraken adds.

"Yeah, that was a crazy thing to say." Nayoung agreed

"Also this is discounting what dude said about mutants who stayed with humans as being house n-words," JD answers.

"Yeah Spike was a bit angry then but he's calmed down. On second thought you may be right because they have been in a weird spot these last few years"

"you know what" Let's go. Kraken said

Nayoung looked at Kraken shocked and to ease her worries he said,

"Well you know if I live in fear my whole life then nothing will change, so I might as well try to live outside of that fear."

Nayoung smiled proudly at Kraken, "Okay Let's get you packed."

After getting packed for the weekend trip Nayoung used her mutant's band to transport them to the mutant nation. She arrived in her family's other home. She smiled as she led Kraken to the room they'd be sharing. Kraken was surprised by the massive size of the whole house.

"Wow is your family like rich here?" Kraken asked.

Nayoung shook her head, "No just early adopters. My dad and mom took a chance and were rewarded greatly. It might not seem like it but we are a pretty big deal here."

Kraken nodded as he responded, "Okay that makes sense."

"So you ready to go out and see the country?" Nayoung asked Kraken

Kraken nodded as Nayoung led him outside. As she walked out she shed her "human form" and took on her fiery Psychic form. Kraken smiles as he looks at her, and lets his barriers psionic barriers down.

As Nayoung and Kraken stepped out of the house, the warm breeze of Krakoa greeted them. The sky was an impossibly vibrant blue, the sun casting a golden hue over the lush, sprawling landscape. Everything felt alive here—the trees seemed to hum, the ground pulsed with quiet energy, and the air itself felt rich with possibility. This was a place where mutants thrived, and Nayoung seemed to be in her element.

Nayoung let out a content sigh as she shifted into her fiery psychic form, her energy radiating in soft waves that shimmered around her. She glanced at Kraken, her eyes playful and bright. “Ready for the full Krakoa experience?” she asked, her voice teasing but full of excitement.

Kraken chuckled, finally letting down his psionic barriers. He felt a lightness as the psychic weight he constantly carried dissipated. “Lead the way,” he said, feeling more at ease than he had expected. There was something about being with Nayoung, in this place, that made everything feel...right.

They wandered through the lively streets of Krakoa, where other mutants greeted Nayoung with warm smiles and friendly waves. She was clearly well-known and liked here, and Kraken couldn’t help but admire the way she fit so effortlessly into this world. As they walked, she pointed out some of the landmarks, explaining bits of history and culture.

“That’s the Arbor Magna,” she said, nodding toward a massive tree that seemed to stretch endlessly into the sky. “It’s where the resurrection protocols happen. If a mutant dies, this is where they’re reborn.”

Kraken raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Reborn? Like...completely?”

“Yep,” Nayoung replied, her fiery form flickering slightly as she spoke. “Their memories, their essence—it all comes back. It’s kind of beautiful in a way, knowing that death isn’t the end here.”

Kraken thought about it for a moment. “It’s...different,” he admitted. “But I guess it’s comforting, too. Knowing you can come back.”

Nayoung smiled, nudging him playfully with her shoulder. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you die while we’re here. I plan on keeping you around for a while.”

Kraken smirked, glancing down at her. “Oh, is that so?”

She looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. “Of course. I still have a lot of things I want to do with you.”

As they continued walking, they found themselves by the beach. The sand was soft beneath their feet, and the water was a sparkling turquoise, inviting and serene. Nayoung kicked off her shoes, laughing as she ran toward the shoreline. She looked back at Kraken, her fiery form now glowing more brightly in the sunlight. “Come on!” she called out, her laughter infectious.

Kraken shook his head, a small smile tugging at his lips as he followed her. The cool water lapped at their feet, and for a moment, everything felt peaceful. He wrapped his arm around Nayoung’s waist, pulling her close. “This place is amazing,” he said quietly.

Nayoung leaned her head against his shoulder, her fiery aura softly blending with his energy. “It is. I’m glad you came with me.”

They stood there in silence for a while, just enjoying the moment, the calmness of the waves, and the warmth of each other’s presence. Finally, Kraken spoke, his voice low and thoughtful. “You know, I wasn’t sure about this whole trip. Krakoa...it’s not exactly what I expected.”

Nayoung looked up at him, curious. “What did you expect?”

Kraken shrugged. “Something more...chaotic, I guess. With everything I’ve heard about the politics here, I thought it would feel oppressive. But it’s...different. It feels free.”

Nayoung smiled softly, reaching up to brush a strand of his hair from his face. “That’s what Krakoa is supposed to be—a home, a safe place for all mutants. Sure, there are problems, but every place has its issues. What matters is that we have each other.”

Kraken stared into her eyes for a long moment before leaning down to kiss her gently. The kiss was soft, sweet, and filled with all the unspoken words between them. When they finally pulled apart, Nayoung’s smile widened, and she playfully tugged him toward the water.

“Let’s go for a swim,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Kraken laughed. “You know I’m not really a swimming kind of guy.”

“Come on,” Nayoung urged, her hand slipping into his. “It’s Krakoa. Live a little!”

With a resigned sigh and a grin, Kraken followed her into the water, their laughter echoing across the shoreline. As they splashed and played, it was as if the weight of the world melted away, leaving only the two of them, wrapped in each other’s light and warmth.

For the first time in a long time, Kraken felt completely free. And he realized, as he watched Nayoung float effortlessly beside him, her fiery aura casting a soft glow over the water, that maybe this place wasn't so bad after all.

As the day wound down Nayoung took Kraken to the last spot he "needed" to see the memorial of the fallen. As Nayoung and Kraken stood by the memorial of the fallen, the atmosphere was somber. The names of long-dead mutants etched into the stone served as a heavy reminder of the sacrifices made to build Krakoa, a place where mutants could be safe—at least in theory. The two of them stood silently, side by side, paying their respects to those who had fought and died for their people.

“I know I should probably say something deep here, but—” Kraken began, only to stop mid-sentence as his body tensed. Nayoung turned confusion and worry spreading across her face.

A pale hand erupted from Kraken’s chest, and blood pooled in his mouth. Nayoung’s heart raced as she watched, horrified, while a familiar, ghastly figure burst forth from Kraken’s body. Cassandra Nova. The pale figure smiled coldly, discarding Kraken’s body like an old shell.

"Ah, well, you were a good vehicle, Dai, but you’ve served your purpose,” Cassandra said casually, as though Kraken’s life had been nothing more than a tool for her rebirth. She extended her hands toward the graves. “Now, for revenge.”

Nayoung could do nothing but watch as Cassandra’s powers stirred the corpses buried beneath the memorial. The ground began to shift, and slowly, the long-dead mutants began to rise from their resting places, their bodies twisted and shrouded in shadowy forms.

Kraken’s vision dimmed, his consciousness slipping as Cassandra’s influence overpowered him. It was like fading into a dream he couldn’t wake up from. Everything became surreal—until a voice cut through the dark haze.

"Wow, that was horrible," the voice said, vibrant and full of energy.

“Huh?” Kraken replied, utterly confused.

“Well, long story short, Cassandra Nova used your mind as a Psionic safety deposit box to revive herself when she had enough energy. Unfortunately, killing you was kind of the last step in her plan. But good news! You’re not dead. At least, not fully. I can revive you, but there’s going to be some... changes.”

The voice explained that Cassandra had altered his X-gene, farming his psionic energy. That was why his barriers had always been up, protecting him even from his own powers. But now, his original mutation could reemerge.

Kraken nodded, unsure of what exactly that meant, but trusting the voice. “Well, I guess that beats being dead.”

“Great! I’ll fix your body, but you’re going to need to fight—like, right now.”

Before Kraken could even fully register what was happening, everything burst into a force of bright colors. Then, in an instant, he was back in the real world, standing face-to-face with a very surprised Cassandra Nova.

“That’s impossible!” she exclaimed, but her disbelief lasted only a second before Kraken’s fist connected with her face. The impact knocked her out cold, her body crumpling to the ground.

The next few minutes blurred together as Kraken dealt with the remaining shadowy corpses and assessed the situation. Nayoung rushed to his side, her face a mix of shock and relief. Kraken quickly explained what had happened with Cassandra Nova, how she had manipulated his X-gene and used him as a vessel for her resurrection.

As soon as he finished, Cyclops approached, his expression stern but not hostile. “We need to talk,” he said, gesturing for Kraken and Nayoung to follow him.

They were led to a secluded part of Krakoa, a quiet space away from the bustling center of the mutant nation. Waiting for them were Beast and Jean Grey, their faces serious as they gathered around to discuss what had just occurred. Cyclops crossed his arms, his eyes sharp as he addressed Kraken.

“We’ve been monitoring your arrival since you set foot on Krakoa,” Cyclops began. “We were aware of your connection to Cassandra Nova, but we didn’t know the full extent of it. Until now.”

Beast adjusted his glasses, his voice clinical but with a hint of concern. “Your X-gene has been... tampered with. Cassandra Nova didn’t just farm your powers for energy; she altered your entire mutation. What you have now is unlike anything we’ve seen before.”

Jean Grey chimed in, her tone softer. “We want to help you, Kraken, but we need to understand what’s happened to you first. You’ve been through a lot, and it’s clear Cassandra Nova manipulated more than just your abilities.”

Kraken shifted uncomfortably under their gazes. “I didn’t know she was using me as a backup plan. But now that she’s gone...”

Cyclops raised an eyebrow. “Is she gone? You knocked her out, but we both know someone like Cassandra Nova doesn’t stay down for long.”

Nayoung, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Kraken didn’t ask for any of this. He didn’t know he was being used. We should be focusing on how to help him, not interrogating him.”

Jean nodded in agreement, stepping forward. “You’re right, Nayoung. Kraken is a victim of all of this. But he’s also a survivor.”

Beast interjected, his voice more pragmatic. “We need to keep a close eye on him. If his mutation has evolved beyond our understanding, we need to be prepared for any potential dangers.”

Kraken clenched his fists. “I’m not a threat.”

Cyclops uncrossed his arms, his posture relaxing slightly. “We’re not saying you are. But we’ve seen how dangerous tampered mutations can be, especially ones manipulated by someone like Cassandra Nova.”

Kraken looked to Nayoung, her presence calming him amidst the tension. She gave him a small, reassuring smile before turning to the others. “He’s not alone in this. Whatever happens, I’m with him.”

Cyclops exchanged a glance with Jean before nodding. “We’ll keep an open mind. For now, get some rest. We’ll reconvene once we’ve had more time to assess the situation.”

As they turned to leave, Kraken felt Nayoung slip her hand into his, grounding him once more. They had survived Cassandra Nova’s return together, and whatever came next, they would face it side by side. They arrive at her house for the night and walk in exhausted.

"That knockout punch was so funny." Nayoung teased. Kraken rolled his eyes as they moved around the living room eventually finding themselves in their shared bedroom getting ready to sleep.

When Nayoung bent over to pick something up Kraken noticed her perky jiggly ass for the first time. It looked so soft and squeezable. His intrusive thoughts told him to "grab it" repeatedly. Without a second thought, he reached out and grabbed it. Nayoung yelled at the unfamiliar feeling but as she felt the large hand grope and tease her ass she felt herself beginning to get wet. She turned around to see a dazed Kraken mindlessly grab her ass. She smiled as she bit her lip before turning to him.

“Oh naughty boy,” she teased, and Kraken lost control. He brought Nayoung in for a lurid kiss as he continued groping her soft bouncy ass. He had no idea where these impulses were coming from but just followed them. Nayoung on her part felt his strong hands roam her ass and smiled at him seductively in between chaste kisses. As they kiss Nayoung begins to grind her ass on Kraken’s crotch she smiles as she watches him shiver in pleasure.

“You like my ass baby?” she whispers with a seductive voice before going in for another kiss. Kraken nodded

“Then you should fuck it,” Nayoung said seductively as she casually dropped both of their pants. She marvels at his hard cock.

“Oh nice.” she cooed. Kraken lines himself with her asshole and watches as it clenched. Without warning Kraken slams his cock into Nayoung. She moans and groans in pleasure in pain as she arches her back into him. She rams her aching ass back onto Kraken hoping to get his dick deeper in her ass. As she did she guided his hands to her petite but bouncy breasts.

“Oh fuck yes. Tear my ass up.” Nayoung moans as her slick drips under them. Krakens’s grip tightens around Nayoung’s Breasts as he pounds her tight little ass. She doesn't even need to read his mind to know his brain is overstimulated by her and his new feelings. She laughs when she feels him erupt inside of her ass.

“Oh such a big load for me,” Nayoung says.

Kraken catches his breath as he and Nayoung fall into the nearby bed. She stares at him tenderly. She notices he is still hard for her. She smiles as she gently strokes his cock. She stares at him with the biggest heart eyes she has.

"you know I was beginning to think you didn't find me attractive." Nayoung teased.

"Why would you think that?" Kraken asked

Nayoung groaned as she said, "Well you never made a move until now?"

Kraken shrugged "well the urge never hit me until now."

"Huh weird. I guess Mrs. Nova was locking your libido down too." Nayoung suggested as she began to pick up the pace a bit on her handjob. Kraken groaned as she did so. Nayoung smiled.

"this new body is so responsive. I don't think I have ever seen you so reactive." Nayoung teased.

"Fuck Nayo keep it up I'm close." Kraken moaned. Nayoung smiled and said,

"What if I were to just stop right here, and leave you on the edge." to illustrate her point she slowed down to a tortously glacial pace. she smiled at Kraken, who moaned and bucked his hips into her hand.

"Um no no. I am in control baby. you'll get pleasure when I say so," she says as she grips on his meat tighter. she smiles when little beads of precum drip out into her hand, and she continues to stare at Kraken with those heart eyes before saying, "Okay now." before taking an unrelenting pace that's only goal was to get Kraken to cum. a few seconds later he exploded in her hand, and Nayoung smirked reveling in her control of her man.

The next morning, the sun rose over Krakoa, casting a warm golden light over the island's lush landscapes. Kraken and Nayoung were sitting outside, enjoying the peace and quiet after the chaos of the previous day. Kraken, still adjusting to the idea of being back in his original body, let his mind wander, wondering what the day ahead would bring.

Just then, a shimmering portal opened in front of them, and out stepped X-23, Magik, and Nightcrawler. Kraken tensed, recognizing them immediately as some of Krakoa's elite. Nayoung glanced at him with a reassuring smile, though her eyes were curious as well. They both stood as the trio approached.

"Kraken, Nayoung," Nightcrawler greeted warmly, his distinctive blue skin and gentle smile instantly putting Nayoung at ease. He glanced at Kraken with interest before turning his focus back to the group. "We wanted to check on you after yesterday’s... unexpected event."

"Unexpected is one way to put it," Kraken muttered, his arms crossed. "But I appreciate the concern."

Nightcrawler’s golden eyes studied Kraken for a moment before a look of recognition crossed his face. “Wait… I know you. You’re Daizen’s son, aren’t you? Daizen from Stanford, the professor.”

Kraken blinked in surprise. He wasn’t used to people recognizing his family, especially here. "Yeah... that’s my dad. Daizen Ishikawa. You knew him?"

Nightcrawler nodded, his expression a mix of admiration and somberness. “He was a great man, a prominent pro-mutant activist. He always fought for understanding between humans and mutants. I remember hearing him speak at the United Nations once. But...” Nightcrawler hesitated, "he was also... vocal in his opposition to Krakoa, wasn’t he?"

Magik, standing next to Nightcrawler with her sword resting on her shoulder, raised an eyebrow. "He was the one who said Krakoa would turn mutants into gods, wasn’t he?"

Kraken sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, that sounds like him. My dad was always complicated. He believed in mutants and humans coexisting, but he didn’t like the idea of isolating mutants on an island. Said it made us look like we were turning our backs on the world instead of fixing it."

X-23, quiet until now, crossed her arms and stepped forward. "So what do you think? Are you like him?"

Kraken met her gaze, his face unreadable for a moment before he spoke. "I’m not my father. I don’t agree with everything he said. He believed humans were capable of protecting mutants if we gave them the chance. But after seeing hate groups rise up, after what happened to him... I can't say I have that much faith."

Nayoung placed a comforting hand on his arm, sensing the emotion behind his words. Kraken took a deep breath, trying to find the right way to explain his beliefs. "I believe... that standing up for yourself is the only way to survive. You can’t wait for someone to save you. If you don’t fight for your own freedom, no one else will. And when you stand up, it gives others permission to do the same. That’s how you build stronger relationships, whether it’s between humans and mutants or between anyone. You show people your strength, and that pushes them to respect you."

Nightcrawler tilted his head, thoughtful. “So you believe in mutual respect earned through action?”

“Yeah," Kraken said, nodding. "I think mutants have to show the world we won’t be victims anymore, but that doesn’t mean we isolate ourselves. We have to engage with humans, show them we’re not going to be pushed around, but we’re also not above them. That’s how real relationships grow."

Magik gave a small smirk. "Interesting. You sound like you’d fit right in here after all."

X-23 uncrossed her arms, her expression softening slightly. "You’re saying we need to be strong, but not just for ourselves. For everyone else, too."

Kraken nodded again, more firmly this time. "Exactly. Standing up for yourself teaches others to stand up for themselves. And once that happens, respect grows naturally. It’s not about being superior or inferior—it’s about being equal, but not relying on someone else to define that for you."

Nightcrawler’s gaze softened with understanding, and he nodded in agreement. “Your father was a wise man, and it seems that you’ve inherited his passion, even if your paths differ.”

"I suppose," Kraken replied, a hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "But it’s not just about mutants being ‘better’ than humans, or setting ourselves apart. It’s about making sure we’re part of the world, standing our ground, and not letting fear—or anyone else—dictate our place in it."

Nayoung looked up at Kraken, her eyes bright with pride. “You’re right. If we want things to change, we can’t just run away from the world. We have to face it.”

X-23 nodded, stepping back as if the conversation had satisfied her curiosity. "Sounds like you’ve got your head on straight. Guess we don’t have to worry about you being like Cassandra Nova, after all."

Kraken let out a small, dry laugh. “Definitely not.”

Magik’s smirk widened, her eyes gleaming with mischief. "You might just survive here, Kraken."

Nightcrawler smiled warmly, reaching out to shake Kraken’s hand. “Welcome to Krakoa, my friend. I think you’ll find there are many here who share your beliefs.”

As Kraken shook his hand, he felt a sense of acceptance from the group, something that had been missing since he set foot on Krakoa. Maybe, just maybe, he could carve out a place here after all.

As they turned to leave, Kraken exchanged a glance with Nayoung. "Looks like I’m not so out of place here, huh?"

Nayoung smiled. “Told you so.”

Kraken glanced at it absentmindedly, seeing that he was tagged in a post by The Flying Dutchman’s official page. He opened the app, expecting some promotional material for their upcoming album, but as he scrolled through the post, his stomach twisted.

The words felt foreign, even though they were written clearly in front of him. “New sound, new direction. Excited to welcome our new vocalist…” Kraken’s grip tightened on his phone as he kept reading. Anger flared first, but sadness soon followed, settling deep in his chest.

Nayoung’s voice was light and cheerful in the background, talking to her members, but the sharp contrast to Kraken’s mounting turmoil felt like static in his head. She turned back to him, noticing the shift in his energy before she even saw his face.

“You okay?” she asked softly, stepping toward him.

Kraken took a slow breath, forcing a smile that felt brittle. “I’ll try to be.”

Nayoung didn’t seem convinced. She leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his torso and peppering him with soft kisses. “I’ll see you in a couple of days. Stay safe, okay?”

Kraken only nodded, watching as she headed off with her group. Once she was out of sight, he turned and walked home in silence.

Two weeks later.

At Nayoung’s concert in LA, Kraken sat in the audience, enjoying the energy of the crowd, though a part of him still felt disconnected from the excitement. Afterward, they met up at a quiet burger joint, the dim lighting and soft murmur of conversation providing a sense of calm after the high-energy performance.

Nayoung looked at him curiously, sensing something had shifted in him. He looked different somehow, more distant. She couldn’t quite place it.

“You know,” she began, taking a sip of her drink, “there’s this new artist I found recently. Reminds me a lot of you. His name is Daikaiju. He’s really good.”

Kraken raised an eyebrow, his lips quirking into a small smile. “Oh yeah? What’s your favorite song of his?”

Nayoung beamed, glad to see him smile, even if just for a moment. “Definitely Rampage. It’s eerie and moody but the lyrics are so fascinating. It’s like he’s trapped in this city full of people who use him. And then there’s Calamity, oh man, that one’s about standing up for yourself even when it’s terrifying.” She paused, watching him for a reaction. “Kind of like you.”

Kraken chuckled softly, nodding. “Sounds like my kind of music.”

“But enough about that—how’s The Flying Dutchman doing? I thought you guys just dropped a new album.”

Kraken’s smile didn’t reach his eyes as he shrugged. “You should give it a listen.”

Nayoung frowned, confused. She took out her phone, pulling up the album she’d saved but hadn’t had time to hear yet. She tapped on Sledgehammer, expecting to hear Kraken’s familiar voice. As the song played, she frowned, skipping ahead. His voice was nowhere to be found.

Her confusion turned to shock as she checked the lead single—the one they’d worked on together. Nothing.

“They kicked you out,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kraken nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yeah.”

“But why? What happened?” she demanded, her anger rising.

Kraken’s smirk was bitter. “It’s simple, really. They saw the fight in Krakoa, saw me getting involved with mutants, and got scared. Said it was bad for the band’s image. I guess it wasn’t about the music anymore.”

Nayoung’s eyes flashed with fury. “That’s ridiculous!”

Kraken shrugged again, the weight of it all heavier than he let on. “It is what it is.”

Nayoung reached across the table, grabbing his hand. “You didn’t deserve that. You’re an amazing artist, and if they can’t see that, screw them.”

Kraken’s smile returned, softer this time. “Thanks. But hey, at least there’s always Daikaiju.”

Nayoung squeezed his hand, determined to support him, no matter what. Kraken smiled mischeviosky as Nayoung hugged him. She noticed and said,

“What is it?”

“Oh nothing,” Kraken responded. Nayoung pouted, “you're hiding something.” she said suspicious of Kraken.

“I am but I can't reveal everything just yet.”

Over the next few days, Nayoung found herself listening to Daikaiju more often than she intended. At first, it was just curiosity. The artist had dropped four singles seemingly out of nowhere, and the buzz around him was growing by the day. But it wasn’t just the hype—it was the music itself that grabbed her and wouldn’t let go. Each track carried a weight, as though the artist was unburdening himself with every note, every word.

Rampage was the first to hook her. It began with a slow, steady pulse of industrial beats, building gradually into a cacophony of heavy guitars and eerie synths. The sound was so raw, almost unpolished, but in a way that felt intentional. Like the music itself was a fight to maintain control, to keep from spiraling. The lyrics were sharp, almost biting. Daikaiju spoke of being trapped, surrounded by people and forces that drained him, used him, and cast him aside. But beneath that rage was something more—a sense of defiance.

The bridge of the song was quieter, almost a whisper, and Nayoung found herself leaning in, waiting for the next line. “Claws sharpened on broken chains… wings clipped, but I’ll soar again,” he sang. There was something unmistakably mutant in that imagery, something that spoke to the struggle of hiding, of being forced to suppress a part of yourself that should be free.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d heard this story before.

As the days went on, Nayoung dove deeper into Daikaiju’s music. Calamity came next, and she listened to it on repeat for hours. The song was slower, more haunting, with dissonant chords clashing against a backdrop of ambient noise. The lyrics painted a picture of cowardice and bravery, of the terrifying moment when you have to choose between hiding or standing up for yourself. “Courage isn’t in the absence of fear,” Daikaiju’s voice crooned, “it’s knowing fear, and standing anyway.”

There was something achingly personal in the way he sang those lines. It felt less like he was performing and more like he was confessing.

Every time Nayoung played one of his tracks, she felt a sense of familiarity tugging at the edges of her mind. It was more than just recognizing the themes of struggle and defiance—it was as if the person behind the music was someone she knew intimately. His voice carried a vulnerability she recognized, though it was often masked by the layers of distortion and effects. Daikaiju didn’t just sing about pain, isolation, and determination—he lived it in every note.

Late one night, Nayoung was scrolling through fan comments on one of the music forums when something caught her eye. Someone had written under a post about Eclipse, one of Daikaiju’s singles: “This guy sounds like Kraken but with more raw emotion. Anyone else getting that vibe?”

Her heart skipped a beat. Kraken. It couldn’t be, could it?

She tried to shake the thought from her mind at first. Kraken had been through a lot lately—getting kicked out of The Flying Dutchman, the fight in Krakoa—but this? This seemed almost too coincidental. But the more she thought about it, the more it made sense. The sudden change in Kraken’s behavior after the trip to Krakoa, the distant way he had been acting during their last few conversations. There was something unspoken hanging between them, something Kraken hadn’t been able to say outright.

And now, listening to Daikaiju, she could feel it. It was Kraken’s voice. Not just in the literal sense, though it had that same familiar grit and tone—but in the emotional depth, in the way he laid bare his struggles without fully explaining them. This was Kraken, stripped of the bravado and stage presence of The Flying Dutchman. This was Kraken speaking directly from his soul, unfiltered.

Her fingers shook as she hit replay on Rampage. This time, she listened even more intently, her mind racing. She heard the subtle shifts in his voice, the way he struggled to keep the anger in check. She recognized the lines that spoke to her directly, that made her think of the conversations they’d had late into the night about what it meant to be a mutant, about the battles they faced just to be themselves.

It was all there, hidden in plain sight. The identity Kraken had hidden from the world was woven into every beat, every word of Daikaiju’s music. He hadn’t explicitly said it, but it was there, for those who listened closely enough to understand.

Nayoung’s heart swelled with pride—and a deep sadness. Kraken had gone through this alone. He had taken all of the pain, the rejection, the confusion, and turned it into art. But in doing so, he had distanced himself from the people who cared about him.

She couldn’t help but wonder how long he had been planning this. Daikaiju wasn’t just a side project—it was his way of rebuilding himself, of finding a new voice after losing his place in the band. But it was also a way of hiding. By releasing this music under a new name, he was protecting himself from the vulnerability of exposing his true feelings.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized how deeply personal Daikaiju was. Kraken had taken his childhood nickname—Kaiju—and combined it with his first name, Daizen, to create something entirely new. It was as if he was reclaiming a part of himself he had lost over the years, a part that had been overshadowed by the fame and pressure of being in The Flying Dutchman.

Nayoung smiled, a bittersweet feeling washing over her. She had always known Kraken to be someone who fought for what he believed in, who stood up for himself no matter the odds. But now, she was seeing a different side of him—a side that was more introspective, more vulnerable. And she admired him even more for it.

With a soft sigh, she put her headphones down and sent Kraken a text: “You should know, Daikaiju is amazing. I’m proud of you.”

A few minutes passed before Nayoung’s phone buzzed, breaking her reverie. It was Kraken—no, Daikaiju now, she reminded herself. She couldn’t help but smile as she answered, excitement bubbling beneath the surface.

“So, you figured it out. My little sleuth,” he said, his voice laced with a playful mischief that immediately made her heart skip.

“Yeah,” Nayoung replied, trying to match his teasing tone, “on my fifteenth listen of Rampage, I finally cracked the case. I didn’t know you had more in you than just metal, Kraken.”

“Daikaiju,” he corrected, but there was no seriousness in it. “And yeah, there’s a lot I’ve been keeping under wraps. Metal’s great and all, but there’s more to me than just screaming and shredding.”

Nayoung grinned. “Mmm, there is, isn’t there?” She let her words hang in the air for a moment, enjoying the way they teased out a little silence before Kraken spoke again.

“Well, you know,” he began, his tone becoming more reflective, “one of the biggest things I pushed for in The Flying Dutchman was trying new sounds, experimenting beyond metal. But for them, it was always about being technically perfect. Especially Douglas. Everything had to be precise, academic even. Time signatures had to be flawless, tempos had to be perfect, and they were obsessed with hitting every mark.”

Nayoung could hear the frustration in his voice, though he kept it light. “Sounds exhausting.”

“Oh, it was. They were so caught up in making the music ‘perfect’ that they couldn’t finish anything. Before I joined, they could barely complete a song. It was like they were more interested in the mechanics of music than the art. I remember at one point saying, ‘Look, how are we supposed to play half of this stuff live?’ You know? Live performances are where we make a big chunk of our money, and some of their ideas were just impossible to pull off.”

She laughed softly. “I can’t even imagine trying to sing along to that.”

Kraken chuckled in return. “Exactly! It got so bad that it sucked the fun out of creating. Music stopped being about making something that spoke to people—it became a math equation. Sure, we sounded good on a technical level, but we were missing soul.”

“Well,” Nayoung said, her voice teasing again, “I think you’ve done an exceptional job with Daikaiju. Your sequencing is impeccable. You’ve got a way of blending chaos with melody. It’s clever. Really clever.”

“Thank you,” Kraken replied, a warmth creeping into his voice. He paused, as if taking a moment to absorb her compliment. “Daikaiju’s different because... it’s me. Completely independent. I can do whatever I want with it, release music when I’m ready, on my own terms.”

Nayoung giggled. “So, basically, you’re saying you can release music at an almost uncontrollable, chaotic rate?”

Kraken laughed. “Pretty much. Like a wildfire—once it starts, it’s hard to stop.”

“Sounds like you’re enjoying the freedom,” she said, a smile evident in her voice.

“I am. It’s been liberating. No more pressure to fit into someone else’s vision or be perfect all the time. I get to mess up. I get to create without the fear of being judged for it. And it’s funny... the less ‘perfect’ I try to be, the more people seem to connect with the music.”

Nayoung’s heart softened at the vulnerability he was showing. “That’s because people can hear you now. The real you, not the version someone else wanted you to be.”

“Maybe,” Kraken replied quietly, almost to himself. Then, in a lighter tone, he added, “Alright, last question, detective Nayoung.”

“Wait, no,” she protested, “I get to ask the last question!” She couldn’t stop herself from grinning, even though he couldn’t see her.

“Fine, fine,” he said, playing along. “What’s your final inquiry, detective?”

She bit her lip, a mischievous twinkle in her eye. “When’s the Daikaiju tour, and when are you coming to Seoul? I want to see you again.”

Kraken laughed—a deep, rich sound that sent a flutter through her chest. “Ah, that’s the question, huh?”

“Of course. I’m your biggest fan now,” she teased, her voice softening. “I think I deserve a VIP ticket, at least.”

“You’re more than a VIP,” he said, his voice dropping to a lower, more intimate tone that made her pulse quicken. “I could visit Seoul anytime. You know that.”

“Hmm, well, I’m waiting,” Nayoung said playfully. “Just tell me when.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I’m packed. How does that sound?”

Nayoung’s smile widened. “It sounds like a plan. Just make sure you bring Daikaiju with you.”

“Oh, I’ll bring more than that,” he replied, his voice full of promise. “I’ll bring everything.”

Nayoung’s heart fluttered at the playfulness of his words, but there was an underlying sincerity that made her feel like this was more than just music. Kraken—no, Daikaiju—was stepping into a new chapter, one where he was fully himself. And she couldn’t wait to be a part of it

[duxbelisarius]

The Dragon has Three Heads or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Believe That Young Griff is the Real Deal

Before going any further, I want to warn anyone reading this analysis that it will contain spoilers for A Dance With Dragons, so proceed at your own risk.

This essay came about from an 'epiphany' I had while reading ADWD on break at work, specifically chapter Daenerys VII. In this chapter, Quentyn Martell and his companions present themselves to Daenerys and offer her a marriage alliance with Dorne. This being the day of her wedding to Hizdahr zo Loraq, Dany refuses and makes note mentally of Quaithe's earlier warning about not trusting "the Sun's Son." The identification seems simple enough, with House Martell's sigil featuring the sun and Quentyn being the son of Doran Martell, Prince of Dorne, but there are serious problems with this conclusion.

The issue with labeling Quentyn Martell the Sun's Son stems from how Dany reaches this conclusion; for starters, this is the original quote given by Quaithe in Daenerys II:

"No. Hear me, Daenerys Targaryen. The glass candles are burning. Soon comes the pale mare, and after her the others. Kraken and dark flame, lion and griffin, the sun's son and the mummer's dragon. Trust none of them. Remember the Undying. Beware the perfumed seneschal."

And this is how Dany identifies Quentyn as the Sun's Son in Daenerys VII and VIII:

Something tickled at her memory. "Ser Barristan, what are the arms of House Martell?"

"A sun in splendor, transfixed by a spear."

The sun's son. A shiver went through her. "Shadows and whispers." What else had Quaithe said? The pale mare and the sun's son. There was a lion in it too, and a dragon. Or am I the dragon? "Beware the perfumed seneschal." That she remembered. "Dreams and prophecies. Why must they always be in riddles? I hate this. Oh, leave me, ser. Tomorrow is my wedding day."

...

The pale mare. Daenerys sighed. Quaithe warned me of the pale mare's coming. She told me of the Dornish prince as well, the sun's son. She told me much and more, but all in riddles.

George has talked about the fickle nature of prophecy in the books and publicly, citing the Duke of Somerset's death at the Battle of St. Albans in Shakespeare's Henry VI as an example of why the literal or easiest interpretations are not always the most reliable. While Dany's conclusion that Quentyn is the 'Sun's Son' seems straightforward, she bases it solely on Barristan's description of the Martell arms. Her reasoning is mainly to justify marrying Hizdahr by dismissing the Martell offer, as Dany herself barely remembers Quaithe's warning and bemoans her 'riddles'.

Assuming that the 'Pale Mare' refers to the 'bloody flux' that the Astapori refugees bring to Meereen, and that the Kraken, dark flame, lion, griffon and mummer's dragon refer to Victarion Greyjoy, Moqorro, Tyrion, Connington and Young Griff respectively, the sequence of Quaithe's warning makes no sense with Quentyn as the 'Sun's Son.' At the end of ADWD, Tyrion is outside the walls of Meereen while Victarion and Moqorro are en route with the Iron Fleet, and Connington and Young Griff are in Westeros. If Dany's return to Meereen from the Dothraki Sea is followed by her journeying westwards, then this sequence makes sense. Victarion will likely destroy the Slaver's fleets and is seeking Dany's hand in marriage, while Moqorro is with him for the purpose of acknowledging her as Azor Ahai and encouraging her to free the slaves of Volantis. Given Tyrion's association with Varys, Illyrio, Jorah and now 'Brown Ben Plumm,' and his family's role in Robert's rebellion, it makes sense that he would not immediately seek out Daenerys on her return to Meereen. Connington and Young Griff await her in Westeros, but Quentyn as the 'Sun's Son' precedes all of them, breaking Quaithe's otherwise sensible sequence. If Quentyn were the 'Sun's Son' he could just as easily have been paired with the Kraken, since both are sent by the heads of their houses to offer her an alliance, while Tyrion and Moqorro travel together on the Selaesori Qhoran (the 'Perfumed Seneschal') and Connington and Griff are in league with Varys.

The far greater issue with Dany's interpretation is that we have access to Quentyn's POV, and there is nothing to suggest that he seeks to betray Daenerys. His purpose was to approach Dany with a marriage alliance, to assist her in reclaiming her crown; his party was even sent by Tatters to scope out the situation in Meereen for a possible double-crossing of the Yunkai'i, specifically to aid Dany. The only thing close to untoward that he does is attempt to claim one of her Dragons, and this was a desperation move driven by his insecurities and his fear of returning to his father empty handed, which would mean that his fallen companions died for nothing:

"What name do you think they will give me, should I return to Dorne without Daenerys?" Prince Quentyn asked. "Quentyn the Cautious? Quentyn the Craven? Quentyn the Quail?" (The Discarded Knight, ADWD)

Volantis, Quentyn thought. Then Lys, then home. Back the way I came, empty-handed. Three brave men dead, for what?

...

His father would speak no word of rebuke, Quentyn knew, but the disappointment would be there in his eyes. His sister would be scornful, the Sand Snakes would mock him with smiles sharp as swords, and Lord Yronwood, his second father, who had sent his own son along to keep him safe … (The Spurned Suitor, ADWD)

Disqualifying Quentyn as the Sun's Son leaves us with only three options, of which only one really works. Trystane is the only other son of House Martell aside from Quentyn via Prince Doran, and given his limited roll in the story thus far I think it's safe to cross him off the list. Doran could theoretically work as the 'Sun's son,' as his mother was Princess of Dorne before him; given that Quaithe describes the figures as going to Dany, Doran's limited mobility and poor health would disqualify him. This leaves us with only one 'son of a sun,' that being 'Young Griff,' aka Aegon VI Targaryen, the son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Elia Martell, Princess of Dorne.

This association of Aegon with the Martells via his mother fits with the copious amounts of imagery linking him to the Rhoynar and to 'Egg' aka Aegon V of "Dunk and Egg" fame, specifically that character's travels in Dorne. Tyrion finds him living on a pole boat in the Rhoyne River, home of the ancient Rhoynar culture that Dorne descends from. The Shy Maid is operated by Yandry and Ysilla, so-called 'orphans of the Greenblood' which are another allusion to Dunk and Egg's travels on the Greenblood River in Dorne:

A poleboat had taken them down the Greenblood to the Planky Town, where they took passage for Oldtown on the galleas White Lady.

...

When they’d been poling down the Greenblood, the orphan girls had made a game of rubbing Egg’s shaven head for luck. (The Sworn Sword)

In Tyrion IV of ADWD, a massive horned turtle appears in the river by the Shy Maid, an obvious reference to the Rhoynish 'Old Man of the River,':

It was another turtle, a horned turtle of enormous size, its dark green shell mottled with brown and overgrown with water moss and crusty black river molluscs. It raised its head and bellowed, a deep-throated thrumming roar louder than any warhorn that Tyrion had ever heard. “We are blessed,” Ysilla was crying loudly, as tears streamed down her face. “We are blessed, we are blessed.”

Duck was hooting, and Young Griff too. Haldon came out on deck to learn the cause of the commotion . . . but too late. The giant turtle had vanished below the water once again. “What was the cause of all that noise?” the Halfmaester asked.

“A turtle,” said Tyrion. “A turtle bigger than this boat.”

“It was him,” cried Yandry. “The Old Man of the River.”

And why not? Tyrion grinned. Gods and wonders always appear, to attend the birth of kings.

When Tyrion and Haldon visit the Painted Turtle inn to find information about Daenerys' whereabouts, we have an interesting description of the inn from Tyrion:

The ridged shell of some immense turtle hung above its door, painted in garish colors. Inside a hundred dim red candles burned like distant stars. (Tyrion VI, ADWD)

We once more have Rhoynish symbolism in the turtle, while the 'garish colors' are reminiscent of Young Griff's hair, which is dyed blue in the Tyroshi fashion. Tyrion's description of inside the 'Painted Turtle' is one of dim red candles burning like stars, which can be seen as an oblique reference to the red rubies on Rhaegar's black breastplate, thereby associating the red of Targaryen heraldry with the cultural symbols of the Rhoynar.

The 'Dunk and Egg' imagery goes further, with both Egg and Aegon wearing distinctive straw sun hats, and being accompanied by their Hedge Knights from the Stormlands, both of whom have titles derived from their own simplistic personalities (Duncan the Tall, Rolly Duckfield). Moreover, Egg's journeying to Dorne ends up giving him refuge from the Spring Sickness that ravages Westeros, while Aegon's time in Essos serves as a refuge from Robert's spies and the chaos of the War of the Five Kings. While these similarities might be viewed as a doomed attempt by Varys to recreate Egg through Aegon, I think the purpose of these parallels is to establish both princes as following similar trajectories: both are sons of a Targaryen prince (Maekar, Rhaegar) and a Dornish noblewoman (Dyana Dayne, Elia Martell); become King of the Seven Kingdoms through unexpected circumstances: and if George plans to end ADOS with a mini-Dance of the Dragons, I would expect Aegon VI to meet a fiery end like Egg did.

If Young Griff is actually Aegon VI Targaryen as well as the 'Sun's Son,' this leaves the 'mummer's dragon' without any clear identity. Part of this is due to the conviction that Dany's identification of the cloth dragon from the undying visions with a 'mummer's dragon' or puppet dragon must be correct. In truth, there are countless cases from ADWD alone that show us that a mummer's object is not necessarily a puppet, but more broadly means something which is not as it appears:

I know one stands before me now, weeping mummer's tears. The realization made her sad. (Daenerys III, ADWD)

"Not here," warned Gerris, with a mummer's empty smile. "We'll speak of this tonight, when we make camp." (The Windblown, ADWD)

"My lord, I bear you no ill will. The rancor I showed you in the Merman's Court was a mummer's farce put on to please our friends of Frey."

...

I drink with Jared, jape with Symond, promise Rhaegar the hand of my own beloved granddaughter … but never think that means I have forgotten. The north remembers, Lord Davos. The north remembers, and the mummer's farce is almost done. My son is home." (Davos IV, ADWD)

His reign as prince of Winterfell had been a brief one. He had played his part in the mummer's show, giving the feigned Arya to be wed, and now he was of no further use to Roose Bolton. (The Turncloak, ADWD)

Fat Wyman Manderly, Whoresbane Umber, the men of House Hornwood and House Tallhart, the Lockes and Flints and Ryswells, all of them were northmen, sworn to House Stark for generations beyond count. It was the girl who held them here, Lord Eddard's blood, but the girl was just a mummer's ploy, a lamb in a direwolf's skin. So why not send the northmen forth to battle Stannis before the farce unraveled? (A Ghost in Winterfell, ADWD)

Mummer's tears and smiles are obviously false emotions, being affectations put on to hide what someone truly feels. Wyman Manderly is engaged in a mummer's farce wherein he pretends to be loyal to King Tommen and Roose Bolton, but in truth is scheming to restore the Starks to Winterfell and assist Stannis against the Boltons. Roose Bolton, Petyr Baelish and the Crown have in turn engaged in their own mummer's farce by sending Jeyne Poole north to wed Ramsay Snow in the guise of Arya Stark, "a lamb in direwolf's skin." If the 'mummer's dragon' is in fact a dragon that has been made to appear as something else, then Jon Snow more than fits this bill. By birth he should be a Targaryen, having been fathered by Rhaegar Targaryen upon Lyanna Stark; instead, his fortuitous Stark features inherited from his mother, and Ned's claiming Jon as his bastard and raising him amongst his children at Winterfell, has allowed Jon to hide in plain sight from those who would kill him for being Rhaegar's son.

The significance of Dany, Jon and Aegon being the three heads of the dragon is due to their mirroring a less conspicuous triad in George's World: elemental magic and it's connections to the Long Night. We are aware of three forms of elemental magic in the story, being pyromancy, cryomancy and hydromancy. Pyromancy is the most obvious, being the control and use of fire as we see with followers of Rhllor, and also tied to dragons. Cryomancy or ice magic appears in the powers of the Others and in the Wall separating the Seven Kingdoms from the lands beyond. Finally we have hydromancy or water magic, which was used by the Rhoynar against the Valyrian Freedhold and by Nymeria's Rhoynar settlers to support their communities within the deserts of Dorne. Company of the Cat has an excellent video discussing these three 'schools' of magic, but to summarize what she's said: Blue, Red and Green are the colours commonly associated with Ice, Fire and Water/the Sea in ASOIAF; in addition to being featured on the arms of ancient houses such as Massey and Strong, these elements are in turn associated with three magical items in the books. The first, The Horn of Joramun, can raise and lower The Wall (Ice); Dragonbinder, a horn that was likely used alongside similar horns to control the volcanoes of the fourteen flames in Valyria (Fire); and the 'Kraken summoning horn' which is most likely the Hammer of the Waters, since the Hammer raised the seas to swamp the 'Arm of Dorne,' which would have filled the seas fill with corpses of the dead and 'summoned' krakens, which would have fed on the bodies of the drowned.

The Valyrian, Northern and Rhoynish heritage of Dany, Jon and Aegon ties them to these three forms of magic respectively, and by extension to the Long Night. We are given three accounts of the Long Night between ASOIAF and TWOIAF, which I dub the 'western,' 'far eastern' and 'near eastern' versions. The 'western' account concerns the First Men, the Night's Watch, the Last Hero and the Others; the 'far eastern' account covers the 'Jade Compendium' and the Yi Tish account of the Blood Betrayal; and the 'near eastern' or Rhoynar account in which the children of Mother Rhoyne sang a song to return light to the world. Aegon is tied to the Rhoynish account through his mother's heritage, with references to the Rhoynish account in the 'Old Man of the River' appearing in ADWD and Dany's vision of Rhaegar talking about Aegon's 'Song' (that of Ice and Fire):

The Rhoynar tell of a darkness that made the Rhoyne of Essos dwindle and disappear, her waters frozen as far south as the joining of the Selhoru, until a hero convinced the many children of Mother Rhoyne, such as the Crab King and the Old man of the River, to put aside their bickering and join in a secret song that brought back the day. (TWOIAF: Ancient History: The Long Night)

...

“Will you make a song for him?” the woman asked.

“He has a song,” the man replied. “He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire.” (Daenerys IV, ACOK)

Jon's connection to the Northern account is obvious given his Stark lineage and service in the Night's Watch, as well as his dreams in ADWD:

Burning shafts hissed upward, trailing tongues of fire. Scarecrow brothers tumbled down, black cloaks ablaze. "Snow," an eagle cried, as foemen scuttled up the ice like spiders. Jon was armored in black ice, but his blade burned red in his fist. As the dead men reached the top of the Wall he sent them down to die again. He slew a greybeard and a beardless boy, a giant, a gaunt man with filed teeth, a girl with thick red hair. Too late he recognized Ygritte. She was gone as quick as she'd appeared.

The world dissolved into a red mist. Jon stabbed and slashed and cut. He hacked down Donal Noye and gutted Deaf Dick Follard. Qhorin Halfhand stumbled to his knees, trying in vain to staunch the flow of blood from his neck. "I am the Lord of Winterfell," Jon screamed. It was Robb before him now, his hair wet with melting snow. Longclaw took his head off. Then a gnarled hand seized Jon roughly by the shoulder. He whirled … (Jon XII, ADWD)

Finally, Dany is directly referred to as Azor Ahai in the books while her visions from Daenerys IX of AGOT connect her bloodline to the Great Empire of the Dawn. The eye colours of the figures she sees match the titles of four of the eight emperors of the GEOTD, Opal, Jade, Tourmaline and Amethyst, with the Bloodstone Emperor killing his sister the Amethyst Empress and causing the Long Night. Azor Ahai and the Bloodstone Emperor are themselves connected, and I recommend David Lightbringer's Nightbringer series and "Azor Ahai the Bad Guy" video for a concise explanation. It's worth noting that David is well within the Faegon Blackfyre camp, but I think his theories here more than fit my own conclusions also.

Aegon being one of the three heads also fits in with the symbolic relationship between water, fire and ice and the green, red and blue colour scheme. As Company of the Cat points out in her video about the magic horns (timestamp 26:52), green is a secondary colour made from a 'cool' and a 'warm' colour, placing it in the middle of the spectrum while red and blue are polar opposites. Similarly, fire can melt ice back into water and water in turn quenches fire, situating Aegon at a middle ground between Jon's ice and Dany's fire. Whereas Jon's only aspect of himself that ties him to House Targaryen is his father and otherwise he is firmly associated with his mother's house, Dany is tied symbolically to her Targaryen identity in the books, being a product of Targaryen incest, the first to hatch dragons in over a century, and her ties to fire through her 'rebirth' on Mirri's pyre under the Red Comet. While Aegon's physical appearance and his father tie him clearly to House Targaryen like Dany, the support of his mother's family alongside his Rhoynar lineage and symbolism place him in a similar situation to Jon, besides their being half-brothers. This also calls to mind the three accounts of the Long Night: if Jon is the Last Hero leading the Night's Watch and Dany is Azor Ahai driving out the darkness with her 'lightbringer' (ie her dragons), Aegon is the unnamed hero who rallied the children of Mother Rhoyne to sing a secret song which brought back the day. To quote alexis_something_rose's essay about Young Griff, "I can wager who will be bickering and who will tell them to set their differences aside and join together in a secret song that will bring back the day."

Whether or not all three or some combination of them will play a decisive role in defeating the Others, or if that will be Bran's part to play, I believe strongly that Dany, Jon and Aegon will be the 'three heads of the dragon.' If 'Young Griff' is truly Sun's Son, Aegon son of Rhaegar, his joining with Dany and Jon represents a unification of the three Dawn Age narratives of the Long Night and it's eventual end. Uniting the icey North, the dragon lord's fire and the songs of Mother Rhoyne would make the endgame a true 'Song of Ice and Fire.'

[themattress]

“Remember, kids, if you’ve got a racist grandparent who espouses negative views toward an entire group of people, then you’d better listen to them because they’re right! Some entire groups of people are just collectively evil and can never be trusted!” - Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken

If there’s no discourse about this now, then I suspect there will be soon once more people see or hear about this movie because good lord. For those who don’t get it, the context is that in the film the main character Ruby discovers that she’s actually kraken royalty and this of course creates generational angst between her and her mother and grandmother because everything’s gotta have generational angst in it these days. She is told by her grandmother that mermaids, the long-time enemies of the krakens, are all evil and untrustworthy sirens who manipulate people and seek domination over humans. Ruby also befriends a mermaid named Chelsea, who specifically calls attention to this feud between the two species and specifically says that she wants to put a stop to it with Ruby’s help. And so Ruby naturally says “screw your bigotry, Grandma; I’m standing by my friend even if she’s a mermaid”.

......Which leads to the inevitable third act “reveal” that Chelsea was actually manipulating Ruby the whole time in order to acquire a source of power, doesn’t actually desire peace between the species, and just wants to assert domination over humans as is her kind’s wont. 

Look, if the bullshit about krakens and mermaids was not present in the movie, then despite what a hackneyed obvious “twist villain” scenario this is I still would have accepted it because it would just be an isolated incident between two individuals. Without the species feud, you could just freely respect Ruby for having such an open heart and positive nature, and freely hate Chelsea for remorselessly taking advantage of that for her own self-serving agenda.

But because this occurs against this specific backdrop, the movie is flat-out saying that racism is justified and that the teen protagonist should’ve listened to her racist grandmother! All mermaids ARE evil, untrustworthy sirens who manipulate people and seek domination over humans, and Ruby was a total dumbass to dare to believe otherwise about Chelsea!

Imagine if in The Little Mermaid, Ariel is exposed as a mermaid, Prince Eric immediately reacts with disgust before he and his followers harpoon her to death before cooking and eating her bottom half. Guess King Triton was right, all humans are heartless barbarians!  

Or imagine if in Luca, the townspeople accept all of the sea monsters at the end, only for the sea monsters to murder them all in their sleep and lay waste to the town. Guess all those fearful superstitions about sea monsters were accurate and should have been listened to!

Or imagine if in Zootopia....oh heck, do I even need to give this example?

If you think I’m overreacting here, then just swap everything said about mermaids in the movie and replace “mermaid” with “Jew”. Chelsea’s Jewish now. Ruby has the audacity to believe that her Jewish friend isn’t some heinous caricature made of her people, only to learn that actually that caricature is spot-on, so from now on she will never trust a Jew again and will accept her position defending humanity against the evil Jews. Sounds fucking horrible when I put it that way, doesn’t it? I recently said that it’s a good thing that kids have recently been getting more stories calling out how wrong prejudice is, so to see a movie aimed at kids that is actively justifying and encouraging prejudice is mind-blowing in the worst way possible. Who the Hell signed off on this? Did nobody stop to consider the unfortunate implications? Did they think making Chelsea a caricature of a pretty, popular, two-faced Mean Girl justified applying that characterization to her entire species? Or was this Jeffrey Katzenburg being a petty bitch (again) over the fact that The Little Mermaid was being remade without him and he just wanted to stick it to Disney? Whatever the case, I’d recommend giving this movie a pass.

[mourirderire]

NHL Fic Rec list

Hiii!!! I just wanted to share a few fics that really made me feel strong emotions...

Oh and make sure to check the warnings before reading :)

Avalanche:

Four times You Run Into Cale Makar and the One Time He Runs Into You - @kailyn-writes

i miss you like the very first night (Cale Makar) - @mattyanonwrites

Mistletoe Magic (Cale Makar) - @the-penalty-box-imagines

Nothin' Like You (Cale Makar) - @ghstandpucks

Teach Me To Please (Cale Makar) - @pucksalotguys

Annoying Little Brother (Erik Johnson) - @ghstandpucks

Apartment 352 pt 1 (Erik Johnson) - @imaginingsoftly

Have My Cake and Eat It Too (Erik Johnson) - @mikkorantanev

Like Father Like Son (Erik Johnson) - @ghstandpucks

look what you started (Erik Johnson) - @mattyanonwrites

Only All the Time (Erik Johnson) - @antoineroussel-archive

Overwhelming Light (Erik Johnson) - @burkymakar

the nanny (Erik Johnson) - @holy-pucks

Two Slow Dancers (Erik Johnson) - @hockeywocs

The Turn In Our Relationship (Gabriel Landeskog) - @yourfavewriteress

The Second Time (Nathan Mackinnon) - @wyattjohnston

Till Forever Falls Apart (Nathan Mackinnon & Sidney Crosby) - @pucksalotguys literally heres their whole masterlist i encourage you to read them all

Blues:

Right Under Our Noses (Colton Parayko) - @yourfavewriteress

Bruins:

5 Times the Team Told David He Was in Love + 1 Time he Realized it (David Pastrnak) - @mainlypastrnaksbae

Canucks:

Coach Hughes (Quinn Hughes) - @matsmarts

Midnight Rain (Quinn Hughes) - @babydollmarauders

Milkshakes AU (Quinn Hughes) - @hugheshugs

Devils:

Lies (Jack Hughes) - @nolanmoylee

Kraken:

Four Times His Teammates Said "I love you," and One Time He Did (Vince Dunn) - @blueskrugs

Panthers:

Baby, It's Cold Outside (Matthew Tkachuk) - @raysofcrosby

Wish We Were Older (Matthew Tkachuk) - @sorryjustafangirl

Penguins:

By The Water, Euphoria (Sidney Crosby) - @flashyfucker

Illicit Affairs (Sidney Crosby) - @blueskrugs

Two Little Lines (Sidney Crosby) - @pucksalotguys

Maple Leafs:

What Once Was (Mitch Marner) - @idontgiveaflyinggrayson69

Sabres:

All's well that ends well to end up with you (Tyson Jost) - @mattyanonwrites

[hel-phoenyx]

Domhildr is from @soupedepates, Oli from @thal-ent, Meili from @azeler and Kaizarz from @corneille-but-not-the-author

"Holy shit, how did you get that many scars ???"

I sigh. We're changing after a day of training, and I got off my shirt because anyway, every single person here saw me half-naked at some point. For either training, silly games or simply going in my room when I was changing reasons.

Well actually this is the first time I don't try to hide myself. I've never been that much of a prude, for the Coast's standards, but I still don't like being laid bare for too long. I guess it's legit Oli looks surprised I am covered in traces of ancient battles.

I still smile, a bit sarcastic.

"Well, the usual way, I suppose."

"Yeah, but nah, you're like, one of the most resistant fighters I know. Some look really painful and probably took a long time to heal, but aside from the day you lost your hand I didn't even see you flinch !"

"It was that day, was it ?" interjected Domhildr, curiosity on her tiny face.

My eyes darken. Domi, you know enough about me to understand that if it was really that day, I wouldn't talk about it.

So, I guess this time you are very lucky.

"No, most of them are from before. Either accidents with my powers, or just classic raids back when I was fifteen. Also, it's normal I recover quickly, Oli. I also have the spell from the royal lineage, might I remind you."

Not like I enjoy boasting about that, but I prefer giving the real explanation rather than let them believe I was some kind of superhuman when I had both my hands.

I see Meili's eyes focus on me right when I say the words "royal lineage". He may look like he's uncaring, but I know he's interested. Kraken nobility always keep an eye on adversaries. I know, since I was born from kings and high nobility alike.

I don't blame him. Paranoïa is a common thing in my life, why wouldn't it inhabit his.

Meili and Oli nod silently, but Domhildr pouts a little.

"Still, those look painful as shit. Especially the big one next to your liver. How did you get it ?"

Oh, this one. In another time, I would have looked upon the memory fondly, but it was before all of this happened. Still, I guess it's nothing wrong to talk about it, at least, how I got it.

"This one ? That was my first raid with Kaizarz. I blame my fighting technique."

All of them look at me with interested eyes, encouraging me to carry on, but I do not utter a single other word.

I only remember.

There were several ships leaving for the gulf, in a zone where Inkan marine was spotted on our kingdom's waters. I was the one who brought the intel to the crown, but they gave me the alarm, so I was allowed to bring them with me. I was supposed to command the ship, since I was the highest nobleborn on it, but when we sailed, I let the commands to the real captain.

We quickly encountered the enemy, engaged the fight. They were surprised to find us here, especially with the king, that was at this time the prince but leading like a true commander. Soon we ended up fighting on the same boat.

We were searching for the Inkan admiral. I have to admit, I'm not the one who killed it. Kaizarz was. But I stopped the second in command from a sneak attack that wouldn't have done much damage anyway, and no other ship could come to assistance thanks to their manoeuver to cut their path.

He was fighting next to me and Kaizarz and at that point I thought maybe just maybe I could link my two worlds together. Future proved me wrong, and it was a feeble hope anyway. But it was one of the only times I was truly happy.

That man fought fierce, and hard. Soon I only saw one way to stop him. My favorite technique, letting the enemy believe they won.

He striked one of my vital points. I felt the blood flowing from the wound, I heard Kaizarz shout my name, I saw his smile. Then the smile of my foe, persuaded he just killed the stupid teen leaving him so big of an opening.

His smile was still big when his head fell on the ground, eyes wide open in absolute surprise.

He thought me unable to move quickly that wounded but here I was, catching his wrist to stop him from pulling his sword out, and using that opportunity to swing Dainsleif. He was properly decapitated in an instant, and his last vision was my victorious smile.

Afterwards, the fight was a formality.

I hadn't finished healing when Kaizarz took out the admiral. He ran towards me almost immediatly, face twitching with worry, but I just pulled out the sword and smiled at him. The wound was already closing for I was of royal lineage, after all.

I remember him laughing right behind me.

"That's Tyr for you, always being so reckless in battle. The day he stop bringing his foes to wound him so he can reach an opening is the day the Kraken Coast is finally free."

I shrugged, still looking at Kaizarz. Seemingly less worried than earlier, but I could still see a shadow in his eyes.

"That was a good fight. But by War I thought he was gonna kill you."

I heard a whisper, of which I guessed the nature, but my concentration was on Kaizarz, and Kaizarz only.

"Bah, the one that can kill me is not born yet. Or it's gonna be you, and I sure hope you wouldn't want me dead..."

... would you ?

He smiled.

"I would never. Ever."

"Good, then you don't have to worry about me dying anytime soon."

"Alright, stop boasting, you dumb fuck, he said with a hearty laugh. We got to bring the ships back to the castle. His Majesty certainly will have a generous reward for us, yes ?"

"With today's catch ? Absolutely !"

And that was it.

I blink, not realising I spent a long time silent. Oli, Meili and Domhildr are still looking at me, still waiting for more. They're all way too patient with me.

Well, except Domhildr, that just poked the scar.

"That's all ? No story ?"

"Heh, you can always ask Kaizarz. I'm sure he remembers."

Why wouldn't he ?

That day, both him and I thought it could only get better.

[lovebugs-and-snakecharmers]

LBSC Lukanette MerMay 2023

Lukanette MerMay officially begins today! 

You may do as many or as few prompts as you like, in any order. No word limits or time limits! The event will run throughout the month of May. Be sure to tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog your work! Rules are at the bottom of this post below the cut. You’re welcome to join our discord server to chat and share your WIPs, or just for some encouragement!

If you post to tumblr please tag @lovebugs-and-snakecharmers so we can reblog.

If you use AO3 you are welcome to add your work to our collection for this event.

You may participate on any platform, but please leave a link either in our ask box or on our discord server so we can make sure to include you in our event summary post!

1. Pirate/Mermaid

The kind mermaid/merman that likes to explore on their own has a deserted island they like to visit. One day, a pirate on the run takes haven there. They don't look as menacing as the rumors say though

Pirate capitan luka having a mermaid wife, she always follow his ship and luka had a tank on his room for when she spend the night, also mermaid marinette is fascinated by clothes, Luka had an storage space for all the clothes she like

2. Accidental/Involuntary Transformation

Luka is turned into a merman to save him from drowning, and the smitten Marinette shows him his new underwater home. (Or vice-versa.)

If you wish upon a shooting star it becomes a mermaid/merman if it lands in the sea....

luka and marinette (two mermaids) accidentally get turned human after messing with some magic. chaos ensues while they attempt to blend in with other human beings.

The kwami powerup for water turns ladybug into a mermaid

H20: Just Add Water AU

3. Sirens

"You had earplugs in! Why did you steer straight for the Siren's Rocks??" "Did you see how blue the siren's eyes were?"

Siren decides this sailor is too cute to kill

4. Songs of the Sea

Luka the "drowned one" plays the guitar underwater (apparently that's a thing you can do) to a group of fascinated deep sea mermaids

"Where on earth did you get to last night?" "I heard the mermaids singing." “That's your excuse every time you disappear.... Oh my god, that really is a mermaid!"

On a deep sea mission to collect whalesong (for an album project?), there's something else down there with them, and it's singing back.

Human luka and mermaid marinette singing a duet

5. Culture Clash

Mermaids have a very specific ritual for finding the (shell, rock, trinket. Etc) to propose with

Mermaids like shiny things

Mermaid clan wars

Merfolk dragging their s/o underwater for a quick kiss 

Merfolk can change at will, but their hands are cold regardless of their current form.

Mermaid in a sushi restaurant

6. Atlantean Miracle Box 7. Sea Witch 8. Selkies 9. Not Your Typical Mermaid

Luminescent Mermaids (different colors represent different clans/pods/locations/elements)

Octopus mermaid 

Deep sea mermaid 

Seashorse mermaid

Kraken mermaid

Shark Mermaids

10. Mermaids of Unusual Size 11. The Hunted  12. Curiosity Killed the Catfish

Marinette the mermaid excitedly asks Luka questions about the human trinkets she found. 

Watching (and crushing on)  the other from afar

13. Human/Mermaid

Human luka and mermaid marinette singing a duet

Mermaids had soulmates, everyone knew that. Humans had soulmates, or at least the legends said they did. Nobody had ever heard of a mermaid/merman and a human being soulmates before. But the proof was right there as your (whatever sign of a soulmate you want to use) showed the human was your soulmate.

Luka brings Mermaid Mari to a costume party

Mermaids and human work together to save the oceans

Rescue the human from drowning

14. In the depths

Abyss AU: underwater research team finds more than they anticipated

Deep sea mermaid 

15. Mermaid Hanahaki

you start losing your scales and then the ability to breathe underwater and will get stuck as a human if your love goes unrequited for too long

16. Dragon/Mermaid

RULES

This is a Lukanette blog and a Lukanette event. Some form of Lukanette must be included. Romantic, platonic, pre-relationship, even breakup fics are fine, as long as no other ships involving Luka or Marinette are included, except as past relationships. The decision about what qualifies for reblog rests solely with the LBSC moderators. If a piece hasn’t been reblogged within a couple of days, either the mods felt the piece didn’t meet the criteria or it was simply missed; you are welcome to reach out in the asks to inquire which. 

NSFW entries are permitted but characters must be of age and content must be properly rated and tagged. 

Posts that don’t follow these guidelines will not be reblogged. 

[mariesdeluluworld]

A Dance of Lions & Wolves

The sounds of screams and the horrific deaths of his family has plagued the Lord of Winterfell. The Old Gods speak to him, while the jaws of Winter ravage his precious Northern Lands, depleting its food stores, killing both low and high born, and with little resources to plant crops and feed his people, Eddard is forced to turn to the South for help, writing to the Reach, Stormlands, Crowlands, Riverlands, and Westerlands. Only one responds, with terms and conditions.

After having prophetic dreams of the fall and ruin of his house, Tywin Lannister has remarried after the death of his second son, and heir Tyrion Lannister, with hopes of having more children to replace Tyrion and kingsguard Jamie Lannister, and prevent the foreseen downfall of his house. In order to restore the pride lands, the lions must work with the wolves to heal their respected territory, however the Stags, Lionesses, Vipers, Krakens, and Dragons are also awakening, threatening the world the Wolves and Lions wish to build. Together, Lion and Wolf must lead the charge and protect their legacy from burning.

285 AC, Westerlands

Prologue: The Raven

Children's laughter brought the Warden of the West from his desk, abandoning the newest correspondence from the wintery wilds of the North, to the open window of his study. Tywin Lannister watched his twins play in their mother’s garden at Casterly Rock with their cousins. He watched with narrowed eyes as the golden haired cubs ran after one another. From what he could hear from his study, the children were playing knights and ladies.

“Fair maiden! I, Lancle Lannister, son of Keven Lannister, am here to rescue you from the tower!” He bowed and little Lancel, ran towards their makeshift tower, wood sword in his hand, as he “charged” the ferocious beast that was a dragon guarding his own daughter, Jeyne. His son, Damon, was the dragon, he wore the costume his twin made him in her lessons with the Septa’s, and he roared and slashed at Lancel.

“Fight me if you dare, little knight, but know, no one has defeated me in all these years I’ve guarded this tower!” Damon slashed his faux claws and Lancel jumped back, as they began their duel. Cousins “fought” while Jeyne shouted encouragement at her cousin Lancel.

“Be careful Ser! Watch from the dragon’s talons!” Jeyne shouted.

Man and beast danced, all while Tywin’s goodsister Dorna and sister Genna, watched the children from their pergola. He watched as his son and nephew fought until Lancel dealt the killing blow. Damon shouted and fell to the ground, making “dying sounds'' as his cousin stood over his dying body, smirking while Jeyne and Twyin’s sisters clapped, applauding the brave knight. Lancel bowed in his aunt and mother’s direction, before climbing the tower to rescue Jeyne.

“Oh Ser! How brave you were, defeating the dangerous dragon! How ever can I thank you?” She played up her role as the defenseless maiden. “My lady, only your favor will do, so I can show the world that I deserved the favor of Lady Lannister!” Jeyne giggled, placing her favor of westerlands roses and primrose, on her cousin’s wood sword.

Damon jumped up from the ground, clapping his hands as he jogged over to his twin and cousin. “You’ve been practicing your sword play cousin!”

“Yes. Yes I have. Was I better than last time?” Lancel questioned, insecurity filling his light green eyes. “Drastically better than last time! This time I had to avoid your blows and your footwork was more solid!” Damon complemented. Lancel thanked his cousin, together, he and Jeyne helped Damon out of the dragon costume. Free from the sweaty fabric, he shook his damp auburn hair. Jeyne shouted as the droplets of sweat splashed in her face.

“Sorry, Jeyne,” He blushed, scratching his head.

“Jeyne, darling, come here,” A tall woman, with auburn hair, wearing a light blue gown with primroses on her hem, walked towards Jeyne, a white handkerchief in her pale, slender hands. She bent down, wiping Jeyne’s face, brushing away her twin’s sweat.

“Thank you, mumma,”

Tywin looked away from the scene, and went back to his desk, leaving his new wife and their twins behind to focus on the letter in front of him. The North, Eddard Stark was writing about possible increase in trading. The winters were brutal and after the Rebellion, everyone in the North was replenishing their storages. However, it was impossible to feed the entire North while creating sufficient storage. Lord Eddard’s people were dying, and he was requesting help. Tywin laced his fingers together, staring long and hard at the Northern Lord’s blocky script. He thought of all the advantages this opportunity brought. Tywin had always wanted to infiltrate the North, and now with a new King in King's Landing, he was free to do whatever he pleased without an paranoid old fool mistaking his actions for treason and shouting for his and his family's heads on a chopping block.

He could finally reach his vision of having a Lannister in all seven parts of the Seven Kingdoms. Winterfell was known to be an impregnable castle, like his beloved Casterly Rock, and from what he could recall from his visit when he was but a boy, the castle was strong and has the potential to be another Rock, with thousands of men on guard. With his influence, Tywin could usher in a new reign of Cregan Stark with Eddard Stark. He could turn the second son into a formidable Lord like his ancestor. Afterall, the man was in mourning. Losing a son in the winter. Tywin huffed out a laugh, it seemed he held the key to Eddard Stark's salvation, or destruction.

With another look at the window where his family played and laughed, Tywin wrote a reply to the North, sealing Lords of winter fates.

[spellbook-gayboy]

🍲 & 💚 for kyle, 🍒 & 🦖 for ian! :]

🦅🛡:

🍲 SOUP- do they like to cook? are they good at it?

Oh, definitely! Kyle’s mother was definitely a big influence in him learning how to cook, and his years at college definitely put his skills to the test! He also got a lot better through the decades. One thing I feel the need to mention is that growing up, the kinds of food that Kyle could eat was limited to fruit, pork and grains, but as he got older and lives in different places, he definitely gets the chance to experiment with new cuisines and flavours.

💚 GREEN HEART- how do they know they love someone? what usually are the signs for them?

It’s actually really subtle for Kyle. He’s always been an open and friendly guy, so knowing he’s really in love like that can be difficult for him to figure out, compounded by how... dumb of ass he could be in his younger years. In case you were wondering just what that sign is, it’s pretty simple: he can’t sleep. The person just... invades his thoughts at night, and it drives him crazy sometimes. But hey, that’s love for you.

🔮🪄:

🍒 CHERRIES- a random sweet headcanon.

As he gets older, Ian welcomes the idea of being someone for the new kids to look up to. He’s pretty good with kids, and he can relate to those who grew up poor and/or homeless really well. When the next version of the Teen Team, he keeps more of an eye on them than the actual leader, and never hesitates to help them out given the chance. Also, when he trains up an apprentice, he encourages them to mingle with not only other young wizards, but also heroes, in order to help them understand the responsibility that comes with their abilities. 

🦖 T-REX- what is the biggest creature they have ever seen?

If we’re going by Earth standards, then a kraken. Like Pirates of the Caribbean size kraken.

If we’re not going by Earth standards, then definitely one of the many old gods he’s dealt with. Going by sheer physical size alone, Syrocc the Treacherous is said to measure in the hundreds of feet in height, a fitting stature for the ruler of Hell itself.

[cryinginblaseball]

7, 13, 34!

7. tell us about the plot of the first fanfic you ever wrote

ha ha ha oh god. I can barely remember what I wrote, but I do remember the first one I finished was a sonic (of the archie comics variety) fanfic where everyone died. Don't bother looking for it, it wasn't under any name I use now and has been scrubbed from the net lol

13 .talk about a writing experience that has pleasantly surprised you.

getting back in to writing fanfiction, specifically for blaseball, has been such a positive thing for me. the fandom itself is such a positive experience. At the time I dropped my first blaseball fic, I had been going through burnout and was kind of giving up on writing. so to have a community full of amazing people who are so, so encouraging, it was wonderful, and a great way to get back into writing.

34. how do you name characters and places?

vibes. like seriously! typically I get an idea of them, I might even draw them out, and then I just kind of go with what feels right.

There's a few other ways too: in Ultimate League, most of those people were named with the onomancer via SIBR, but a few weren't: Razija's name I got from a list of Bosnian entertainers (same with Dino Dzesic), Girlfriend Montreal is just a parody of Boyfriend Monreal, and Oliver Trashcat because I like the way it sounds together.

In my first book, the Secrets of the Kraken, a lot of those names are either census or Wikipedia names, but a few are recycled, and a few are vibes. Cait and Molyneux both come out of the Scottish census. Billy McGuire comes from a list of names of Hong Kong people, mixed and matched. Burian Lake and Auburn Nash are named after places in the Seattle Area. Jace and Tre were older characters that got recycled in. Xiphos was from an old computer game my friend liked. And Frankie was vibes.

There's others too, and I could ramble about them. A lot of my other OCs are names I liked at the time: Rory, Ally, Elliot, Gimble, Meryl, Ty, Bryan. Vibes!

[pocketramblr]

unapologetically prompting for kraken au afohiko, except it's tamaki asking his uncle about the Legends, and yoichi going "😬 that… may or may not have happened… i wasn't exactly playing third wheel to my brother's exploits up on the surface…"

SHIH im ok. ah. ok. man tamaki is going to have no idea what to expect of sorahiko kjhjk

"He hates me." Tamaki said it softly, into the palm of Yoichi's hand. His tiny nephew was curled up even smaller, shaking a little.

"No, Kiki, he doesn't." Yoichi rubbed his back slowly.

"He hates me and he's going to keep me in this cave forever now."

There might be a little bit more truth to that second part, but Yoichi knew what not to say to make the fry feel worse.

Unlike his horribly stupid older brother.

"He loves you."

"The only one he loved died a million years ago on the surface, and he ran out of love for anything else."

Oh, great. Yoichi didn't know who Tamaki had overheard that from.

"No. He's less than a thousand years old, and I was there when he came back from the surface." He assured his nephew. "I've known him longer than anyone here. I've known you your entire life. I know he loves you."

One day, that won't be a comfort. But Yoichi won't keep him from the balm today just for that fact.

Tamaki sniffles, and peers up at him.

"You were there. Did you meet his siren?"

Oh.

No, he had not. While Yoichi's brother had been exploring the land and falling hard for another mage there, he'd been trapped under their father's thumb, unsure how long until it came down and finally squashed him dead.

"I heard he had big white wings, and crawler legs."

"Don't call them that, but yes, he did." Yoichi had heard his brother crying about the wings his lost love's otherself had. Just like his humanself, they were strong, and majestic, with an unfortunate (for Yoichi) stamina.

"I heard he could sing, and you could hear it all over the land, and the singing called Papa out of the water." Now that last detail was categorically untrue- the man had been fleeing their father's wrath, and staying anyplace under the sea would mean death. But did Tamaki's other father have a good singing voice, or were those romantic rumors?

Yoichi couldn't say.

"I can't sing." Tamaki's voice trembled at the mere thought.

"You can-" Yoichi tried to encourage.

"No. I can't sing." Tamaki's voice was flat, but it didn't need to be sharp to carry the tone that could shut anyone else up.

Now, which father he'd gotten that from, Yoichi was certain.

"They said that the singing stopped when he died, and that's how Papa knew. And why he went crazy and killed his own father."

"He didn't go crazy." He was crazy from something else. "And your grandfather deserved it. He didn't go crazy, he was just sad. And lonely. His special siren was gone, so he came back home where I was, so I wouldn't be lonely."

Tamaki stared at him, dark eyes deep and sad too, in a way far younger than Yoichi normally saw. He wasn't sure if the boy believed him, but he didn't look away.

"What was his name?" Tamaki asked.

"I don't know. He's refused to say it." Tamaki curled back up, and Yoichi knew.

As soon as his nephew was asleep, Yoichi was going to shake his brother by the hair to get answers about why he'd freaked out so much by merely seeing Tamaki's face over the surface of the water when he'd brought the fry there himself, to the point that Tamaki thought he hated him.

Then he'd shake him some more for not even telling Tamaki his name.

He didn't have to tell Yoichi, or anyone else. He could protect the name from the rumors long after death. But Tamaki deserved to know it.

[hereforbords]

Baby, what the deal? We can chill

Hi, allow me to introduce myself...I am the anon affectionately known as “Dad Bordy anon” (on @owenpowpow’s page). Real talk though, I got hooked on Michigan hockey thanks to the Olympics (I know my hometown Kraken drafted Matty, but I wasn’t really a fan of his until recently. LOL). Since then, I have fallen head-first into UMich hockey and can’t seem to (and really don’t want to) dig myself out of the hole I’ve dug.

This is a little something that was rattling around my brain, and I felt like I needed to get it out. For @owenpowpow, since she was so willing to listen to my thoughts and give me the encouragement I needed to be brave enough to post it. Thanks! :)

Who knows, maybe there will be more fic in the future...guess time will tell! 

The first time one of the boys had called you “mom”, you were a little shocked. Bords had quickly laughed and told you that the boys called him dad, so by proxy, you were now their mom. Overnight, you adopted 20 boys. Now whenever one of them called out, “Mom?” your response was, “Yes?”.

Today, it was Brendan who came over to sit by you. “Mom, can I ask you a question?”

“Sure thing hon. What’s up?”

“Your lipstick looks nice. What brand is it?”

You chuckled. You had quickly caught on to Bords trying to figure out your favorite things. He had recruited the boys’ help. “It’s called ‘Vanilla Cream Pie’ by NYX makeup. In case your dad was wondering.” You laughed.

Brendan laughed too. “He was.” Brendan looked at you. “It does look really nice though.” He smiled. “You know, you should get red lipstick. Match his jacket. Don’t tell him though. Surprise him.”

You stared at Brendan for a minute. “You do realize that if I do that, your dad and I might make out and you would have to see that?” You grinned. You liked to rile the boys up sometimes.

“Ew!” Brendan played along, groaning and covering his eyes. “Gross!” He stood up off the couch. “I gotta go to practice. I’ll see you later.”

“Have fun!” You called out. As soon as you were sure the house was empty, you left and headed to the store. Brendan might be onto something with the red lipstick. You found the perfect shade and hid it in your purse, knowing Bords and the boys would never go through there.

*

You were just getting the food out for lunch when the boys came crashing through the door. “Wash your hands!” You yelled, chuckling as you heard a chorus of “Yes mom!”

Matty was the first one to come in. “You need some help with the food?”

“I got it, thanks. Do you want to set the table?” Matty had just turned around to set the table when you felt arms wrap around you. “Hi mama.” Bords said, kissing the back of your neck.

“Hi dad.” You said, turning around in Bords’ arms. “How was practice?”

“Good.”

“That’s good.” You said, handing him the salad bowl. “Put that on the table, would you?”

“Ok.” Bords did. “What are your plans for the rest of the day?”

“Nothing, why?”

“I was thinking we could go out and see a movie?”

“Thomas Bordeleau, are you asking me out on a date?” You teased, giggling as the boys made gagging noises and covered their eyes.

“I am.” He said. 

“Sure.” You smiled. You turned to face the boys. “Owen is in charge. Behave. No breaking things. We’ll be back in a while.” You gave your best “mom” speech.

“Yeah, what your mom said.” Bords said. “I want the dishes done when we come back.” He added, reaching out his hand to you. “Ready?”

“Ready.” You laced yours and Bords’ fingers together. “Bye boys!”

“Bye mom and dad!” They called out.

*

You and Bords got home from the movie to find a silent household with all the boys sleeping. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it this calm in here before.” You remarked, chuckling softly.

“I haven’t either.” Bords admitted.

Matty chose that minute to wake up. “Oh, you guys are home. I can start on dinner, since it’s my night. Just got to run to the store first. Do you need anything?”

“I’m good, thanks.” Bords said, nodding at Matty, who returned it. You just shook your head no, and didn’t even try to figure out what the nods were for. You set the table, and when Matty came back and handed you the bag of Sour Patch Kids, you got the head nods.

“Thanks Matty.” You said, then turned to Bords. “Thank you too.”

You woke up the boys for dinner, and then it was time for you to go back to your own place for the night. Bords insisted on walking you home.

“I had fun today.” You said.

“Me too. Same time tomorrow?”

“You know it.”

*

When you got the panicked, “Mom??! Can you come over?” text from Jacob, you were up and over to Bords’ place before you even realized you hadn’t changed out of your pajamas. Jacob let you in and pointed you to Bords’ room.

“What’s going on?” You asked, looking at him curled up in the bed.

“Don’t feel good.” He croaked out, another coughing fit taking over.

“Give me 10, ok? I’ll take care of you. Gotta get our boys taken care of first though, ok? Rest.”

You herded the boys through the morning routine and got them all off to their respective areas (you called and excused Bords from practice; Matty said he’d come back right after and make some chicken noodle soup) and then went back upstairs to find Bords asleep, snoring through his plugged up nose. You took the chair by the side of the bed and waited for him to wake up.

“Feeling any better?” You asked, handing him a Gatorade and another set of cold pills.

“Uh.” He said, reaching out. “Cuddle with me.”

“You’re sick.” You said.

“If you’re not sick after all that making out we did last night, I think you’ll be fine,” he laughed, which set off another round of coughs. 

“Fine.” You agreed. “Make room.” After you two were securely bundled up, you said, “Sorry you’re not feeling good.”

“I’m better cause you’re here.” He said, eyes slipping closed. You let yours close as well.

Matty came in and found the two of you sleeping. He lightly tapped your arm until you woke up. “I made some soup if you want to try to get him to eat anything.”

“Thanks Matty.” You turned and gently woke Bords up. “Hey, Matty made you some soup. Think you can try some?”

“Ok.” Two bowls of soup later, you were pushing Bords to the shower so you could change the sheets. You got him all tucked in and then went back home for the night.

The boys kept texting you updates and it was almost midnight when the fever broke. After that, most of the cold symptoms went away quickly, and he was back to normal by the next day.

“Hey, thanks for taking care of me when I was all gross and sick.”

“No problem.”

*

“Hey mom?” Owen called out.

“Yeah, Owen?”

“What was that show you were binging again? I need something to watch.”

“Let’s see. There’s Killing Eve, any of the FBI series, Resident Alien, and a lot more.” You said. “Though, I think dad is trying to figure out what TV show series to buy me, isn’t he?” You chuckled.

“Yes.” Owen said.  

“Tell him to get the complete series of As Time Goes By. It’s a good British show. Or Castle. I’ll even let you watch it with us if you want to.” You added.

“Ok. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome, baby.” You loved that sweet boy like he really was your kid. “Anything else you need?”

“That’s it.” Owen stood up to leave. “We like having you around.” He added.

“I like being here too.” You said.

*

The red lipstick you had bought complimented his jacket perfectly (and you were right; Bords could barely keep his hands off of you after he saw you in it.) 

You had just sat down in his lap and leaned in for a kiss when Brendan walked by and yelled, “Gross! Mom and Dad are kissing.” You and Bords chuckled and pulled back, each grinning at Brendan. 

“I warned you.” You teased. “But would you listen? No.”

Bords just laughed. “Listen to your mother Briss. She’s right-most of the time.”

“Uh huh.” Briss said. “I’m going to my room now.”

“Night!” You and Bords said. He got his kiss and then said, “I guess we should go to bed too. We’re going to have 20 very loud and rambunctious boys to deal with in the morning.”

“Yeah.” You agreed. You had offered to do a team breakfast for their first playoff series, and all the boys were sprawled out around the house right now sleeping. “Gotta be the responsible team parents, right?”

“Right.”

***

Bords had been hanging out with the boys more frequently, and while you were glad, you also kind of missed spending time with him just by himself. When he had invited you out tonight, just the two of you, you had jumped at the chance. You hadn’t even noticed Matty and Briss in the back of the restaurant.

He walked you home, and when you got to your door, he said, “Wait a minute, I have something for you. Close your eyes.”

You did, and felt a tube of some sort be placed into your hands. When he told you to open your eyes, you did, and found a lipstick tube. It was a vibrant red, and a little darker than what you would normally wear. “Thanks.” You said.

“Look at the name.” He said. You turned the tube upside down, and saw “Wife Goals” listed on it.

“Thomas?” You asked, looking up, only to find him down on one knee with a ring. You couldn’t help it as your hand flew to your mouth and the (happy) tears started.

“My cherie amour, my darling. You have made my life so much better and I don’t want to spend another day without you by my side. Would you do the honour of being my wife? Will you marry me?”

“Yes!” You grinned, letting him slide the ring on your finger. You gave him a big kiss, and as you pulled back, you said, “We should tell the boys about this.”

“They already know.” Bords grinned, pointing over to where Matty and Briss had been filming the whole thing. “I had to make sure they were going to like their new mom first.” He teased. “I love you, Mrs. soon-to-be Bordeleau.”

“Love you too Mr. Bordeleau.” You grinned. 

When you got back to the house, the boys had decorated the house and there was a big vase of flowers on the table. You got hugs from all the boys telling you and Bords both congratulations. You couldn’t keep the grin off your face and you couldn’t help but stare down at the ring on your finger.

“Can we make it Instagram official?” You asked.

“Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.” Bords got Kent to take a photo of Bords down on one knee, holding your ring like he was sliding it onto your finger. You both posted it on your Instagrams.

Bords leaned in for another kiss on your cheek. “I’m glad you want to spend the rest of your life with me, mama.”

“We’ll, there’s no one else I’d rather be with, daddy.” You said, watching his eyes darken a little. You started laughing. “That is not what I meant.”

He started laughing too. “I know. Just had to mess with you a bit. Come on, bed.” That set off a fresh round of laughter. “To sleep.” He added.

“I knew that.” You laughed, climbing into your side of the bed. “Night. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

[condorclaw]

Tommy frowned, staring.

Michael stared back.

Tubbo and Ranboo could only watch this scene unfold, somewhat expecting that this would happen between their friend and their son. What they didn't expect was how quiet Tommy was.

It was silent in the room for a minute or two more, before Tommy reached out a hand and softly booped the top of Michael's nose. The zombie piglin let out a honk of approval, making Tommy's eyebrows raise in amusement. With the piglin happy, the boy turned to face Michael's parents.

"I don't think this is a dog, fellas."

Tubbo and Ranboo both released large sighs of relief that they didn't even know they were holding in, Tommy slightly tilting his head in confusion.

"Well, we said he wasn't a dog, Tommy. We said he was our son."

"Some people call their dogs their kids, so I could only guess."

As the best friends talked, Ranboo gazed over at Michael with affection, feeling a grin spread across his face. What Ranboo didn't expect, however, was how closely Michael seemed to be watching Tommy.

Surprising Ranboo again, the piglin stood up on wobbly legs, trotting over to where Tommy was leaning on a piece of furniture. Snorting, he clutched on to one of Tommy's legs, leading Tommy to jolt from the sudden contact a little, before instinctively trying to lean away from Michael. Recognizing that Tommy was having a bit of a rough time at the moment, Tubbo leaned down and carefully removed Michael's arms from Tommy's leg, mumbling soft words of comfort and encouragement to both Tommy and Michael.

After Michael was removed, Tommy had to take a moment to catch his breath and clear his thoughts, his eyes shutting for a moment as he muttered unintelligible words to himself. Tubbo and Ranboo waited for him to recover, Michael watching with curiosity.

"A'ight, I'm okay now," Tommy inhaled deeply, letting out an equally deep exhale before opening his eyes again.

"I'm really sorry about that-" Ranboo began to apologize before getting cut off by Tommy.

"Nah, don't apologize, big man. Michael's a fetus, he doesn't know about complicated adult things like trauma."

Tubbo let out a snort of laughter, which Michael tried to copy the sound of.

"He's not normally physically affectionate like this on first meetings," Ranboo spoke, though mostly to himself more than anyone else.

Michael let out a squeal of frustration, alerting the trio to the piglin trying to wiggle out of Tubbo's arms. Tubbo and Ranboo's ears stood up in surprise at the sudden noise, the two looking down at their son worriedly. Tommy had looked startled when Michael began his outburst, but now looked much calmer as he leaned down a little to come face-to-face with Michael.

Tubbo and Ranboo's surprise grew even bigger as Tommy began to make squealing and oinking noises himself, causing Michael's fit to stop. The piglin's eyes were wide with excitement as Tommy spoke, his stubby arms starting to wave in excitement as he continued his excited honking, which Tommy responded to as well.

"What the fuck," Tubbo whispered in shock, his eyes wide, and Ranboo had to agree with him there.

Tommy proceeded to sit down on the floor, glancing up at Tubbo with a lopsided smile. "You can put 'em down, Big T. It's alright."

Following Tommy's instructions, Tubbo set his son down, who immediately sprinted towards the blonde at high speeds. He halted in his tracks when Tommy barked out another noise, one that Ranboo and Tubbo didn't understand, that brought Michael to a slower pace. It sounded somewhat familiar to Ranboo, but he didn't know why.

Michael ended up standing in front of a seated Tommy, the taller boy laughing as he reached out his hand slowly. The piglin stepped forward slowly, moving to grip one of Tommy's fingers gently, which allowed Tommy to carefully wrap his hands around Michael, lifting him up to eye level. Tommy let out a small noise again, causing Michael to oink in delight.

Smirking with satisfaction, Tommy looked back over at the stunned parents, sticking out his tongue a little. "Surprise, motherfuckers."

"HOW DID-" Tubbo began to belt out, quickly stopped by Ranboo by the taller boy pressing down on Tubbo's head gently. With this sign from Ranboo, Tubbo cleared his throat, continuing to speak.

"Tommy, and I mean this in the nicest way possible: how the fuck did you do that?"

"Wot? You jealous that I can speak piglin?"

Ranboo was learning so much today that he didn't expect in any way whatsoever.

"One," the enderman spoke, trying to keep his voice at a calm level while his husband stood slack-jawed. "Yes, I am. Two: how do you know piglin?"

The shit-eating grin on Tommy's face grew wider upon seeing how he stunned his friends, causing him to look back at Michael and speak in piglin once more, making the kid chirp out happily.

"Tomathy Danger Careful Kraken Innit Minecraft, you tell me what you just said to him right now," Tubbo folded his arms, trying to hide the previous shock on his face with little-to-no success. Ranboo, meanwhile, now had to process the fact that he had never known Tommy's full name.

"I just told him that I was cooler than the both of you," Tommy barked out a laugh, Michael giggling along with him as Tommy set him back down on the ground.

"Anyway," the blonde continued, watching as Michael began to walk in circles around him. "I learned piglin from Techno. He suggested we use it for commands in battle so nobody else would understand what we were saying."

It suddenly made sense what Tommy had said to Michael that sounded familiar. Ranboo had heard Technoblade use that exact sound when they were exploring in the nether, and had come face-to-face with a piglin squadron. "Wait, were you telling Michael to approach safely?"

"Hell yeah, Ranboob" Tommy gave a thumbs-up, Michael trying to copy the gesture with his own hooves. "When I was still living with him as well, I'd go to the Nether when we had nothing else to do. Yeah, the Nether is a horrible shitty place and I want nothing to do with it, but it was the only way I could make friends while I was still in exile."

"WAIT," Tubbo's eyes widened even more, his face looking like it might split open from surprise. "You spoke with piglins in the Nether!?"

Tommy's reply was shooting finger-guns towards his best friend with a grin, with Michael trying to copy them once more.

"As fascinating as this conversation is, and trust me, I'm absolutely going to ask you to death about this," Ranboo pointed at Tommy in a jokingly accusatory manner. "Tubbo, I think we just lost our son."

Tubbo looked towards Michael, the little one trying intensely to copy Tommy's movements. "God damn it Tommy, you stole our son."

"Hey, I'm not stealing him," Tommy protested with laughter, reaching over to gently pet Michael's head, Ranboo noticing how his touch lingered on the thin layer of hair, stroking it softly. Ranboo noted to himself that piglin hair seemed like a comfort texture to Tommy. He’d tell Tubbo about it later, but for now he’d play along with the bit of his friend stealing his son. “Oh really? Then why’s our son copying you?”

“Because I’m the coolest uncle.”

Silence stretched throughout the room once more, with both Tubbo and Ranboo’s eyes wide. The small on Tommy’s face slowly changed into a worried one, and he looked away from the couple and at the ground. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know if-”

“Watch how hard I can cry,” Tubbo mumbled, his eyes looking bright with joy before he went to Tommy’s side, kneeling down to give him a genuine smile. “Tommy, dude, I think that’s the best thing I’ve ever heard in my life. Even better than Ranboo proposing to me.”

“Um, rude,” Ranboo giggled, kneeling at Tommy’s other side and allowing Michael to climb up on his lap. “But yeah, I know what Tubbo’s getting at. We weren’t sure if you would even want to be Michael’s uncle-”

“Wot?” Tommy sounded genuinely surprised at that, his own eyes wide. “Why wouldn’t I want to be? He’s my best friend-brother’s son!”

“I mean, yeah, but after what happened with Techno, we weren’t sure if piglins would...”

Tommy fell quiet, his eyes shifting to gaze at the ground as uncertainty crossed his face. After a stretch of silence, only filled with Michael’s occasional chirring, Tommy gazed back at the two parents. “As complicated as my relationship with Techno might be, that shouldn’t impact this little guy,” Tommy bore his fangs in a grin, making Michael clap with his little hands. “Besides, I can understand him while you two can’t. Who else is gonna teach you two piglin without fuss?”

“Are you holding our child’s language for ransom?” Tubbo was about to playfully punch Tommy in the arm, but appeared to suddenly remember the situation and placed his hand back down.

“Noooo, but now you two need me.”

Ranboo rolled his eyes, making Tommy pretend-pout at him. Tommy folded his arms, faking disappointment. “You’re so mean to me, Ranboo. I take back my marriage blessing.”

“My husband! No!”

“We can elope, Ranboo. Tommy can’t stop us.”

“I’m holding your whole son for ransom then.”

“Actually, I don’t need my husband anymore.”

“Tubbo! How could you do this to me?

And Michael squealed with delight as the three continued on into the night.

[2af-afterdark]

Kinktober '21 - Day 4: Take it Slow

Rating: Mature

Archive Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply

Category: F/F

Fandom: Monster Girl Club Bifrost

Relationships: Kraken/OC

Characters: Kraken, OC

Additional Tags: afab!OC (she/her), tentacles, prostitution, monster girl

Summary: The Kraken gets a female client; something rare indeed.

A/N: Monster Girl Club Bifrost is an 18+ game with inherent dubious consent, but I writing this as though the Kraken is consenting. Just for me. Also, staying roughly drabble length is hard. lol

Word Count: 525

"I so rarely get female visitors," the Kraken chirped in a voice that sounded far too enthusiastic. Her eyes roamed over the human woman's bare form, taking in every little roll and curve that made her up, "You're much prettier than my normal clients."

The Kraken's smooth hands came up to cradle the full volume of her guest's massive breasts, seemingly fascinated with the size of them and how they spilled out of her awaiting hands, "I don't think I've ever gotten to touch anyone else's but mine. Yours are so lovely." It wasn't like she saw the other women being kept often. Even if she did, she doubted she would have the time or desire to lay with them.

She experimented with the weight in her hands a little longer, completely distracted from the nervous eyes and red face that watched her with equal curiosity. A curiosity that was piqued in both of them as the soft pads of her thumbs brushed against her slowly pebbling nipples and her client let out the softest of moans in response.

“Oh! You’re sensitive?” It was cute. She had never realized before how cute other women were and, unlike men, their bodies were familiar and pleasant to the touch, “It’s okay. I’ll be gentle with you.”

Her hands continued to massage the other woman’s full chest, drawing out more lewd mewls as her fingers suck into the delicate flesh. Down below, one of her cool, muscled tentacles found a spot against the woman’s thighs and latched on with the many tiny suckers that ran along the underside. Another did the same to her other leg, pushing the two wider apart so a third could brush ever so lightly against her core. The woman twitched at the contact.

“I’ve never… with someone not human...” She blushed as her eyes turned away, unsure what to do as she was fondled. She knew everyone had to have their first experience at some point, but she was still embarrassed by the fact.

“Yes, yes.” She was known for being the monster first-timers would come to, so she wasn’t surprised by the information. Her boss really liked to hand her the fresh meat it seemed, “We’ll go nice and slow then, okay?”

Her tentacle continued to rub against the other woman’s heat, finding relief in the wetness that dripped between her legs and encouraged by the sounds of enrapture she made with such little contact. The Kraken laughed softly, dipping her head between the woman’s breasts and kissing the valley in between before moving to take a nipple into her mouth while tweaking the other between her fingers. Her tentacle, fulling coated in slick, began to prod against her folds, teasing them apart and she slowly suck the tapered end in and wriggled it inside.

Female clients were so rare for her, but the Kraken was known for making anyone that came to her chambers fall in love. This woman would be no different. The only thing that changed was that, this time, she was interested in seeing how she could reduce a human woman to a shaking, orgasmic mess around her.

[synonymroll648]

Continuing because telling you first was honestly just a courtesy. (/lh)

Anyway so it's a Camp AU and Sophie, Fitz, and Keefe are all Counselors of different cabins. Keefe and Fitz have both been there for three summers, and Sophie's a newbie this summer and is actually replacing her sister.

The camp is called Camp Alluveterre, and there are a total of five cabins. Each cabin is run by at least one councilor, but some of them are run by two. Each year the cabins aren't just places to sleep, but also quite competitive to try and win at all of the different activities. The counselors only encourage this behavior, because they're all insanely competitive (more so then the majority of the campers).

The cabins are:

Moonlark Cabin: Co-run by Counselors Marella Redek and Sophie Foster

Dragon Cabin: Run by Counselor Fitz Vacker.

Murcat Cabin: Co-run by Linh Song and Tam Song

Kraken Cabin: Co-run by Keefe Sencen and Dex Dizznee

Alicorn Cabin: Run by Biana Vacker

Sophie's the New Guy In Town, and has no idea what's happening, but pretty much the rundown is:

-Everyone except Sophie has been going to this camp for the past 7 years, and all of the campers who aren't new here know that there is a LOT of relationship drama going on.

-Both cabins joke that Keefe and Fitz are in love, and they decide to play along. However, they're now actually starting to catch feelings and this is a Very Bad thing because they're best friends and what if they ruin it?

-Biana and Tam are actually terrifyingly competitive. It's actually scary. They hate each other's guts and they both have a title won from best cabin, this is the tie breaker. But something's...different this year. They're falling in love, but don't worry! Both of them are too prideful to admit it.

-Linh and Marella are both literally the most oblivious pining lesbians and both of their cabins are DYING. Because they're literally crushing so hard on each other but Linh's not catching on to Marella flirting and Marella isn't realizing she's flirting...it would be too bad if someone were to...forge a love letter...

-Sophie's first day comes around and it's already a disaster because of the shit mentioned above. She's a little overwhelmed and has some big shoes to fill (and maybe a love letter to help the campers forge). But then, she finds out that Cabin Kraken is known for pranking...the hard way.

-She ends up getting a bloody nose in the chaos of trying to calm her campers down and is livid at Keefe because "what on earth would make him think this was a good idea?" But Keefe is really really apologetic and walks her to Elwin's cabin and introduces himself.

-Then a week later she has to Co-Captain a team with Fitz for capture the flag but oh no he's so pretty wtf she's in love with two camp counselors and it turns out that they've been DATING for three years but oh they're so smart and funny and...

Anyway, everything is actually a disaster and no one knows what's going on. Y'know, keeper style.

[^first ask that was referred to in the beginning.]

dude???? i would so read this???? this sounds so interesting???? "...everything is actually a disaster and no one knows what's going on..." is also the best summary of the romantic sides of kotlc i've ever seen. this ramble really does stay true to kotlc's love triangle antics smh. except better

[bellfort3]

SBI Fanfics of the Week (week 67)

If I Lie (Maybe I'll Believe It) by weepingvirtue

8/?

At sixteen years old, Tommy knew so many things.

He knew that people were predictable and selfish. He knew not to trust, not to take, and not to get comfortable for too long. He knew that the concept of family was as fake as the highlights in his foster mother's hair.

Tommy had known for years that life was painful and had no extra love for some ratty foster kid like him. He knew that it was him and his copy of The Odyssey against the whole world. He knew that he only had to survive long enough to make it to his eighteenth birthday before he could escape.

But when Tommy ends up fostered in the Watson household completely by chance, he finds that maybe he never knew anything in the first place.

or, the one in which Tommy Innit has never really experienced love, family, or belonging, and is suddenly surrounded by it all at once.

grant me a daffodil (here's a white tulip). by sunsetsomewhere

1/1

Technoblade 12/23/2020

good job today theseus

tommy 12/23/2020

oh, techno your words of encouragement are the only thing keeping me going

lets become roommates irl technoblade how about that???

Technoblade 12/23/2020

big day tomorrow kid rest up

tommy 12/23/2020

hello???? techno my QUESTION u dickhead

Looking back on it, Tommy realizes he hadn't considered that Techno wasn't answering the question as a joke. He wasn't answering the question because he was uncomfortable of even seeing Tommy in real life. Of course.

Tommy clicks off of his old messages, embarrassed.

Tommy thinks Techno doesn't want to meet up in-person. He couldn't be more wrong.

how important every friend is that makes you wanna live. By sunsetsomewhere

1/1

"Tommy?" he calls gently. "Are you alright?"

He isn't. He knows that, and he knows Wilbur knows, too. "I just–" He takes a deep breath. "What if the Prozac doesn't fix me?"

Wilbur's eyes furrow, hand coming up to rest his chin on. "What?"

Tommy winces. "What if I stay like this," he gestures vaguely to himself, to his tired eyes, unwashed clothes, and messy apartment, "forever."

Or, a collection of Crimeboys drabbles where Wilbur is a good older brother and Tommy is trying his best. 

Stay underneath my wing by sircantus

24/?

"Wilby says that- that if a stranger ever tries to grab me, I can bite them." Tommy nods, giving a little glare towards Techno and his bitten hand.

"Okay." Technoblade says slowly. "But don't bite me."

"No, I'm gonna bite you."

SBI Zombie apocalypse AU, in which Tommy is a little kid who's been separated from Wilbur. While Wilbur is on a desperate search for his little brother with Phil, Tommy stumbles across Technoblade, who is the definition of 'no chill' in the zombie apocalypse.

Techno accidentally gains a new little brother.

Getting The Most Extensive Grounding Of Your Life The Day Of The Full Moon Is Not A Good Idea by WistfulWriter

3/?

Tommy Danger Careful Kraken Innit -ok, well, maybe that wasn't his legal name, but he didn't remember his birth family, and there was no way he was going to accept that Simons was the latter half of his legal name. No, no, he was much too cool for that.- had always considered himself to be a careful boy. I mean, he had been in the system since he could remember, and seeing as none of the homes he'd ever been in had discovered his secret, he felt he'd earned the title.

But back to the main point. Tommy Innit considered himself a very careful boy. Considered. Right now, he really. fucking. didn't. Because he fucked it up. So now, here he was, everyone scared fucking shitless, as he pressed himself as hard as he could into the recently shit-ily painted frosted emerald walls -the paint that he could still clearly see in Wilbur's hair no matter how many times he told him there was still more- with his tail tucked between his legs, ears pinned back, and going between whining in fear and discomfort, and growling and snapping at his- his fucking pack for the same fucking reasons.

So to anyone still confused, getting the most extensive grounding of your life the day of the full moon is not a good idea.

making up problems that don't exist by eelsinspace

1/1

Tommy finds himself making his way through the cutlery section when he sees it— horribly yellow with its old person patterns, that, in the distance, makes the mug look made out of wet sand. There’s a mismatch of fonts at the front of it. It reads ‘Don’t talk to me I will cry’.

And— and, Tommy can’t just not take it.

Or, five times Wilbur makes him feel loved and the one time he repays the favour.

A month (or three) in the life of Tom Simons by Drhair76

3/?

"Come over," Wilbur says.

"Brighton nightlife is out on the prowl, Wilbur," Tommy points out. "They're gonna scoop me up and spit me out."

or, this is Tommy's life now - he, for one, adores it.

you were gone for a moment and i missed you by plantform

1/1

Wilbur takes a deep breath. “What time is it.”

“Three.”

“I mean…obviously.”

“I’m going to kill you.” Wilbur’s eyes open to stare blankly at the sheepishly smiling boy. “And it will be a slow and painful death.”

“Hear me out!” Tommy gets over his meekness, and shoves until there’s enough room for him to jump onto the bed and sit next to him. “I had this really weird fucking dream, Wil!”

“Scratch that, I’m going to torture you, and make it long and horrible and then I’ll kill you.”

Or: Tommy keeps showing up at Wilbur's apartment unannounced.(Or, or: they're best friends and they love each other.)

(Or, or: they're best friends and they love each other.)