#program: leto

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Somehow I only just realized that I put the hydrokinetic sea serpent god in a universe where one of the driving forces of the plot is a valley full of cursed springs.

When she eventually takes a break from beating herself against the brick wall that is getting the Nerima Wrecking Crew to actually listen to someone and actually explores the server she's invested herself in things are going to get very messy very quickly. I mean we've seen what she's like when something catches her interest so imagine it with something that actually fits her elemental affinity. And can't talk back.

*stares in horror*

Oh it'll get so messy.. oh it'll get so messy so quickly..

[sahind]

TRON: Ares (2025) Directed by Joachim Rønning

[syn0vial]

saw the tron: ares trailer

i am thoroughly whelmed

[gladiatorcunt]

summary: leto atreides x afab concubine!reader

cw: daddy kink, pregnancy, power imbalance, dark fic coded, implication that the other concubines “disappeared”, overstimulation, body worship, i would do anything to be in reader’s position here i’m being so real, not included but got reader pregnant in the full nelson position, the smut is in a flashback, mention of the reader having hip dips, mention of leto with others but he realizes you’re the one after lmao, probably dune world/lore inaccuracies, reader’s a member of the duke’s breeding program, mention of choking, intended age gap but you can read it as otherwise

wc: 1k+

block & move on if uncomfortable !!!

do not repost, translate, or give ai my work

kinktober masterlist

“It’s to wake up, my love.”

Your eyes flutter open to see Duke Leto Atreides standing over your bed, one of his hands brushing back some of your hair away from your face. He smiles warmly when you tiredly meet his gaze, and holds out an open palm. You take it and let him help you sit up, though that’s as far as he’s willing to let you go. Leto hovers his hands over your baby bump, borderline paranoid about you doing anything that could jeopardize the health of the baby.

“I thought my appointment with the doctor wasn’t until next week, my lord…” You yawn, resting your hands on your belly as you fight off sleep. Being heavily pregnant was no easy task, and most days it feels like you have as much energy as a corpse.

“It is, I simply wanted to see you.” Leto answers, petting your hair and curling one arm around your lower back to support it. “When we’re alone, get rid of the ‘my lord’, what we have is more than the results of an obligation.”

You sigh, leaning into his touch as you consider his words. Months ago, you were just another member of the Duke’s harem. One of many meant to produce heirs until your body shriveled up. Your family was noteworthy but not noble enough to stay afloat, you heard that the Duke was looking for breeders and you left without looking back. Though you will admit that Leto Atreides is not the worst man you could’ve taken inside you. He was gentle and the way he kissed you suggested that he felt more than just gratitude.

You pretended to not mind the sounds and stories you heard from the other concubines in the beginning. You knew perfectly well what you were signing up for, the feelings came from nowhere, you swear.

Leto’s mannerisms during sex were impossibly adoring and intimate, and he would tell you were special every time in the midst of the afterglow. You stopped hearing heart dropping noises and nauseating stories, and the day after you found out you were pregnant you heard nothing at all. The Duke took longer than usual to meet with you that night.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“I’m sorry I kept you waiting.” Leto calls out, wrapping his arms around you from behind as you get ready for bed.

You finish tying the strings of your nightgown and turn around to face him. There are strange little flecks of red in the wrinkles on his face, but they could be a trick of the light so you brush the curiosity off.

“I am always waiting for you, my lord.” You repeat the same thing you say everyday, noting the way the corners of his smile flatten in displeasure.

He cups your face and walks the both of you backwards towards the bed, shooting his hands out to keep himself from crushing you when you inevitably fall on it.

Time passes by in a blur, every moment filled with cries of “Daddy” and overzealous movement from him that punches the breath of your lungs. He’s not incredibly rough, just passionate enough to have tears dot your lashes and his thumb buried in your mouth. Every kiss is a hot swirling mess of saliva and tongues colliding that gets you so wet, you really believe it could kill you.

“Mm, your tongue feels amazing, clumsily chasing after mine.” Leto grunts at some point, rutting and slamming his balls against your ass with no rhyme or reason. “The tightest cunt i’ve ever had, fuck-“

You hum around his thumb, suckling on it like he’s your god and his thick fingers in your mouth are your only reason to live. He grinds his teeth together when you make eye contact, and you struggle to keep it up as you hollow out your cheeks around his coarse digits.

“Wanna make you proud, Daddy, gonna be so good for you.” The words are muffled past the point of comprehension, but your eyes allow him to get the gist.

If you were not already pregnant, the flood of fresh cum in your pussy would’ve done the trick. You clench around your lord’s fat cock and let yourself break, squirting all over yourself.

When you come to, Leto’s busying himself with latching onto your tits like a leech and bullying your battered pussy.

“These are already so sensitive, aren’t they? And to think that I made them that way…” Leto trails off, licking a broad stripe over your nipple and pinching your clit.

You jolt and throw your head back, “Yes, Daddy, you did.”

He groans at the frequently used name, pinching your clit harder and digging his fingers in deeper. You’ve had more orgasms than you ever thought possible in the last hour alone, but your lord was insatiable like this. His head is too high in the clouds with visions of his future family to calm down.

Your legs shake but he takes his hand away from your clit and smooths his palm over your thigh to steady you.

“It’s alright, you know i won’t be too rough honey, you can take it. You’ve already taken my seed beautifully, growing my son in your womb.”

You know there’s no chance of stopping until Leto’s sure that he’s kissed and lavished every inch of your delectable body in Daddy’s attention. He gives each of your buds a ‘Goodbye for now’ kiss and wipes down the dips in your hips with his tongue, soothing the love bites and caressing the necklace of bruises around your neck he left when he lost control.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The bed sinks with Leto’s added weight, and your cheeks warm as you come back to the present. You look down at your joined hands to see a box clenched tightly in his free one. Like he’s scared of dropping it. You gaze up at him questioningly and he smiles once again before softly kissing the skin between your eyes.

Next thing you know, Duke Leto Atreides is kneeling before you and opening the box to reveal a large ring. It’s magnificently crafted and all the details align with your taste perfectly.

“Will you marry me?”

[doyoulikethissong-poll]

30 Seconds to Mars - Fallen 2002

The self-titled debut studio album by 30 Seconds to Mars was released in 2002 after having been in the works for a couple of years, with "Fallen" being one of - if not the - very oldest of the songs. The style of the album combined progressive metal and space rock with influences and elements from new wave and electronica, utilizing programming and synthesizers. The demo work of 30 Seconds to Mars generated the interest of record producer Bob Ezrin, who had previously worked on several groundbreaking projects, including The Wall by Pink Floyd, Love It to Death by Alice Cooper, and Destroyer by Kiss.

Upon release, 30 Seconds to Mars received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who commended the album's lyrical content and the band's musicianship. The album debuted at number 107 on the Billboard 200 and number one on the US Top Heatseekers. While Shannon Leto played the drums, Jared played guitar, bass guitar and the synthesizer on "Fallen" in addition to singing.

THIS album and the following one, A Beautiful Lie, is what I mean when I say I'm forever a 30 Seconds to Mars fan and those two albums are my main playlist in my car. THIS music is what was so amazing to listen to. And so many of you agreed that "Fallen" sounded terrific, which makes me so happy!!! 😍💖💖💖💖 "Fallen" got a total of 62,4% total yes votes!

[novaursa]

Of Gods and Men (exodus)

Introduction

This is Dune/GOT/HOTD/FAB/ASOIAF crossover AU that you've voted for. If you always wanted to see House Targaryen in space, I got you. Please note how some of the lore of both universes is bent to blend in both worlds. This is my original idea that I've been cooking for at least two years. Be gentle with my work, and enjoy the ride.

- Summary: House Targaryen survives their ancient exile after being overthrown by House Corrino and the Bene Gesserit. Fleeing to the unknown planet Albiron, the Targaryens build a hidden civilization powered by drakaon crystals, reviving their dragons and creating advanced technology. Millennia later, whispers of their survival begin to surface as the Bene Gesserit confront a mysterious Red Woman on Arrakis, who warns of a coming Prince That Was Promised destined to challenge their control. The Targaryens secretly prepare to return, ready to reclaim their legacy.

- Pairing: reader!Daenys Targaryen/Leto Atredies

- Rating: Mature 16+

- Note: For more details about House Targaryen and their technology, please check out the masterlist.

- Next part: contact

- Tag(s): @sachaa-ff @alyssa-dayne @oxymakestheworldgoround

Millennia before the reign of the Padishah Emperors, before the Guild navigators learned to bend space, and long before the Bene Gesserit began their breeding program, there was another power, a House whose name was whispered with awe and fear across the stars—House Targaryen of Valyria.

In those ancient days, Valyria was a shining jewel of the universe, a world of towering spires and grand pyramids, whose mighty fleets ruled not one world but twelve. From the skies of Laansarad to the distant colonies of Qohar and Sarnor, their banner—a red three-headed dragon on a field of black—was a symbol of dominion, and their words, "Fire and Blood," were a promise. Their secret to power was not only their advanced technology or their skill in combat, but something far older, something the Imperium would come to call "unnatural." For the Targaryens were bonded to creatures of legend—dragons—whose very existence defied the laws of nature and technology.

But their power, their fire, had not gone unnoticed.

Once they emerged, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, ever-seeking control of bloodlines to further their goals, had long coveted House Targaryen's strength. Yet they could not penetrate the Targaryen bloodline, for the House was immune to the Sisterhood's manipulations. Rumors abounded that the dragons themselves had gifted their riders with an ancient magic that made them resistant to the spice and to the Bene Gesserit’s arts. The Targaryens did not bow, did not mingle their blood with the lesser Houses of the Imperium, and did not submit to the Sisterhood’s schemes. This isolation, this defiance, would be their undoing.

It began as whispers in the shadows of the imperial court of House Corrino, whispers that spoke of Valyria’s growing influence and its potential threat to the Emperor's rule. Fearing the power of House Targaryen and the dragons they commanded, House Corrino, in secret alliance with the Bene Gesserit and several other noble houses, set in motion a betrayal that would forever change the galaxy.

Without warning, the skies of Valyria turned dark as Corrino's fleets descended upon the planet like locusts. Great dreadnoughts unleashed their fury, raining nuclear fire upon the unsuspecting cities. The Targaryens, though powerful, were not prepared for such treachery. The star cities of Valyria, with their grand pyramids and towering spires, were reduced to ash in a matter of hours. Their colonies—once strongholds of the Targaryen vassal Houses—were similarly annihilated in the firestorm.

The Bene Gesserit, cold and calculating, had played their part well. They ensured that no Targaryen blood would escape their reach, confident that the ancient dragonlords were now a cautionary tale, a reminder that even the greatest Houses could fall.

But they were wrong.

In the chaos, a single fleet—a fraction of the once-mighty armada—managed to escape the inferno. Led by Aenar Targaryen, a visionary dragonlord, and his most loyal vassals, the remnants of House Targaryen fled into the void. Their dragons, too, escaped, fleeing with their riders into the unknown. With the enemy forces closing in, Aenar made the hardest decision of his life. He ordered the abandonment of the civilian starships—hundreds of them—that could not jump through space at the speed needed to escape. Tens of thousands of men, women, and children—innocent lives—were sacrificed to buy time for the chosen few. As the slow ships limped away at sub-light speed, doomed to be caught by their pursuers, the core fleet vanished in the blink of an eye, jumping to coordinates no one in the known galaxy had ever seen.

In their flight, they left behind only death and ruin, convincing the Imperium that House Targaryen was no more. The Bene Gesserit believed the bloodline had been wiped out. House Corrino celebrated their victory, confident that their throne was secure.

But the Targaryens were not dead.

As the surviving ships jumped further and further into uncharted space, their surviving dragons roared in defiance. Aenar Targaryen vowed that his House would rise again. The fire that had consumed Valyria would be reborn, and one day, the red three-headed dragon would fly again over the stars.

Their enemies had only bought themselves time.

In the vast, unknown reaches of space, the last of House Targaryen sought a new home, far from the grasp of the Empire, far from the Bene Gesserit’s eyes. In their hearts burned a single truth: fire and blood. It was all they had left.

And it was all they would need.

Far beyond the reach of the known universe, in the vast and uncharted depths of space, the last of House Targaryen drifted. For weeks, their ships had traveled through the void, their destination unknown, their hopes tethered only to the coordinates embedded in their ancient star charts. Aenar Targaryen, now the sole leader of his House, stood at the helm of his flagship, his mind consumed by thoughts of what was lost and what might yet be found.

Then, the scanners caught sight of something—a planet unlike any they had ever seen. Its atmosphere glowed a rich, deep red, the color of blood under an alien sun. Its oceans shimmered like rubies, and its vast jungles, though strange and wild, thrummed with life. The planet seemed to call to them, a beacon of hope in the darkest night.

"This is it," Aenar said, his voice carrying the weight of a prophecy. "We shall call it Albiron."

As the Targaryen ships descended upon the planet's surface, they found a world brimming with untapped potential. The air was thick but breathable, rich with minerals that nourished the vast jungles below. Towering mountains stretched into the sky, their peaks capped with dormant volcanoes. Aenar made his home there, at the highest point, building a grand pyramid into the volcanic chain that would serve as both fortress and palace. Around it, more pyramids soon rose, connected by a complex nexus of pathways above the dark amber forests. Below, cities began to form, hidden by the jungle canopy, shielded from prying eyes.

Albiron was a world of secrecy, and House Targaryen would see to it that their new home remained unknown to the Imperium and its allies.

As they delved deeper into the planet's surface, they made a discovery that would change the course of their history. In the heart of a vast canyon, buried beneath layers of rock and time, they uncovered a crystal unlike any they had seen before. The crystals, translucent with a faint golden hue, pulsed with an energy that seemed almost alive. Aenar named them drakaon, in honor of the dragons that once ruled Valyria, and the power they held was nothing short of revolutionary.

The drakaon crystals, as they soon learned, could be harnessed as a new energy source. They could be used to fuel their ships, making long-distance space travel possible without the reliance on melange—the spice that had kept the Imperium in control of the stars. For the first time in millennia, the Targaryens were free from the constraints of the galaxy’s economy, free from the Guild's stranglehold on space travel. Their technology advanced rapidly, fueled by the power of the drakaon crystals, and soon, the Targaryens had fleets capable of crossing the stars without detection, fleets that no longer needed to bow to the powers of the known universe.

In secret, they thrived. The cities of Albiron grew more complex and advanced, their pyramids rising higher, their pathways extending further across the planet’s vast jungles. Their ships patrolled the unknown regions, mapping uncharted stars and ensuring that no one would find their new home.

But the greatest secret of all lay within the depths of their new world.

Within hidden caverns, deep beneath the volcanoes of Albiron, Aenar and his descendants built vast hatcheries. Here, using knowledge salvaged from the lost archives of Valyria, they revived their ancient bond with dragons. Clutch by clutch, new dragons were born, their eggs glowing with the same fiery life that had once illuminated the skies of Valyria. The first to hatch was a magnificent beast, its scales a deep, molten red, its eyes like twin suns. They named it Vexarion, a harbinger of the new Targaryen age.

As the hatcheries grew, so too did the dragons, each one bonded to a rider, as had been the tradition for millennia. Once more, the Targaryens flew on dragonback, their fire-breathing companions reclaiming the skies of Albiron. They were stronger, fiercer than ever, their lifespans prolonged by the spice, their health enhanced by the crystals, just as their ancestors had once done. The galaxy believed the last dragons had died millennia ago, but here, on this blood-red planet, they lived—and they thrived.

Under Aenar’s leadership, House Targaryen rebuilt its strength. They did not forget their defeat, nor did they forgive it. But they had learned patience. For now, they would remain hidden, waiting, watching, biding their time in the shadows of the Imperium. They would rise again, but not yet. For now, their future lay in the skies above Albiron, in the bond between dragon and rider, in the power of the drakaon crystals that flowed beneath their feet.

Thousands of years had passed since the fall of Valyria, and the known galaxy had all but forgotten the name Targaryen. House Corrino ruled unchallenged, the Bene Gesserit continued their manipulations, and the spice flowed as the lifeblood of the Imperium. The Targaryens, once feared and powerful, were now little more than a cautionary tale—a story told to remind the galaxy of the dangers of defying the throne.

But in the far reaches of space, beyond the gaze of the Emperor, beyond the Sisterhood’s influence, whispers had begun to circulate. Minor Houses in the fringe systems spoke in hushed tones of strange transactions, of peculiar spice shipments that defied the standard flow of commerce. Most notably, a small, unassuming House known as House Vex had begun to quietly sell a specific brand of spice to select, discreet buyers.

The spice itself was nothing extraordinary at first glance—reddish-brown in color, with the same faint glow that all melange possessed. Yet, when examined closely, it held properties that puzzled even the most skilled refiners. It resisted traditional refinement processes, requiring a unique method of rensfuration to unlock its full potency. And it was always purchased by the same anonymous entity, whose representatives never gave names, never left a trace.

Rumors swirled throughout the Imperium. Some said the spice had properties that could extend life far beyond what even melange could achieve. Others whispered that it had been tailored for use in genetic experimentation, perhaps even to create a superhuman race immune to the Bene Gesserit's influence. The most outlandish rumors claimed it was being used to resurrect a forgotten House, one whose bloodline had been immune to the Sisterhood’s powers millennia ago.

At first, the whispers were dismissed. Minor Houses always had their secrets, after all, and House Vex was hardly influential enough to warrant concern. But as more and more shipments of this peculiar spice quietly disappeared into the unknown universe, suspicions began to grow. The Spacing Guild noticed the irregularities in the spice routes, and the Bene Gesserit began to pay attention. Still, no one dared speak openly of it—House Corrino had no interest in encouraging the notion of a long-lost enemy returning from the shadows.

In truth, the rumors were closer to the truth than anyone realized.

Deep within the jungles of Albiron, the Targaryens had mastered the art of spice refinement—not for their own use, but for their dragons. The spice, in its raw form, had always been a valuable tool to extend human life and grant certain enhancements, but the Targaryens had discovered a very specific strain, a rare and potent variant that, when carefully refined, could do far more. It extended not just the lifespan of their dragons but enhanced their vitality, their strength, their fire. The dragons of Albiron, already magnificent creatures of fire and fury, became more resilient, more powerful than they had ever been in Valyria.

This strain of spice could only be harvested under particular conditions, and it required an even more delicate process of rensfuration, one that took years to perfect. The Targaryens had kept this secret for generations, using it only sparingly to ensure their dragons thrived in exile. And to maintain their anonymity, they allowed House Vex—a small House bound to them in loyalty for centuries—to sell a portion of the raw spice to the wider galaxy, hiding the true purpose of the refined strain.

The transactions were always discreet, the buyers carefully selected to ensure that no one could trace the spice back to Albiron. Yet despite all their precautions, the galaxy had begun to take notice. The mystery surrounding the spice—and the shadowy figures who bought it—grew with each passing year.

The Bene Gesserit, ever watchful, sensed a disturbance in the patterns of the Imperium. Though they could not put their finger on it, the Sisterhood had learned to listen for the subtle currents of power that ran through the universe, and something was shifting. The idea that a House immune to their influence could have survived all these years in secret sent a ripple of unease through their ranks. They began to dig deeper, their agents searching for any clue that might lead them to the source of the rumors.

House Corrino, too, grew wary. The spice trade was the lifeblood of the Empire, and any irregularity in its flow could have disastrous consequences. The Emperor’s spies were dispatched to the farthest corners of the galaxy, though none returned with answers.

Still, the rumors persisted. The spice that had no clear origin. The mysterious buyers from beyond known space. The possibility that a forgotten House might yet live.

In the halls of the Imperium, no one spoke openly of House Targaryen. To do so would invite questions that no one wanted to answer. But in the dark corridors of power, in the quiet whispers between those who dealt in secrets, the name began to surface again.

Targaryen.

Fire and blood.

The galaxy had forgotten them, but House Targaryen had never forgotten the galaxy. And as their dragons grew stronger, as their power in exile continued to build, they waited.

For one day, the whispers would no longer be rumors.

And when that day came, the stars themselves would tremble.

The scorching winds of Arrakis blew fiercely through the narrow streets of Arrakeen, carrying with them the dry scent of spice and the whispers of rebellion. The city, usually shrouded in an oppressive silence broken only by the occasional hum of machinery, now thrummed with tension. A crowd had gathered in the heart of the city, their faces hidden beneath hoods and veils to protect against the harsh sun, their voices rising in fervor as they listened to the woman who stood before them, bathed in the blood-red light of the setting sun.

She was known only as the Red Woman, a stranger from a distant corner of the galaxy, draped in flowing crimson robes that shimmered in the heat. Her eyes burned with an unnatural fire, and her voice, rich and commanding, seemed to cut through the dry air like a blade.

“Brothers, sisters,” she called out, her voice echoing through the square. “You have been deceived! For too long, the Bene Gesserit have whispered their lies into the ears of your leaders, guiding the hand of the Empire toward a future of darkness and death. But the Lord of Light has seen their evil, and He has sent me to show you the truth.”

The crowd murmured in agreement, their eyes locked on the Red Woman as she raised her hands, flames seemingly dancing at her fingertips.

“The night is dark and full of terrors,” she intoned, her voice growing louder. “But there is a light coming, a flame that will burn away the lies of the Bene Gesserit. The false messiah they prepare will lead to the deaths of billions! But the Prince That Was Promised, the true savior, will rise and deliver us from their evil.”

The crowd erupted into shouts of agreement, their fists raised toward the sky as the Red Woman’s message of salvation stirred their hearts. But not everyone in Arrakeen was so moved by her words.

From the shadows of a nearby alley, a figure emerged, flanked by a dozen Bene Gesserit acolytes. The Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam, her face etched with the lines of age and power, strode forward with the grace of a predator. Her sharp blue eyes took in the scene before her, the riotous crowd, the Red Woman at their center, and the burning passion in their eyes. She had seen such passion before, in other corners of the universe, and she knew well the danger it posed.

The Red Woman turned her gaze toward the Bene Gesserit as they approached, her lips curling into a cold smile. “Ah, the serpents come to silence me,” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “Do you fear the truth, Mother?”

Mother Mohiam’s expression remained unchanged as she stepped forward, her voice as cold as the sands of Arrakis at night. “You have no place here, woman. You are not of Arrakis, and you bring only chaos to these people. Leave this world, now, or you will face the consequences.”

The Red Woman laughed, the sound high and sharp, cutting through the murmur of the crowd. “I serve only the Lord of Light, not your false Empire or your twisted Sisterhood. You, who claim to see the future, who shape the paths of men to serve your own ends, are the true servants of darkness. You pave the way for a false messiah who will bring nothing but death and destruction to the universe.”

The Bene Gesserit acolytes shifted uneasily behind Mother Mohiam, but she stood firm, her eyes locked on the Red Woman. “You speak of a prophecy you do not understand,” she said. “The future is not for the untrained mind to glimpse. You meddle with forces beyond your comprehension.”

“The future is clear to those who serve the Light,” the Red Woman retorted. “Your Kwisatz Haderach, your so-called savior, will be the harbinger of death. He will lead the universe into a war that will consume entire worlds, killing billions. But the Prince That Was Promised will come, and he will burn away the lies you have sown.”

The crowd began to stir again, their fear and anger rising as the Red Woman’s words took hold. Mother Mohiam could feel the pulse of the mob, the heat of their desperation, and knew that if she did not act soon, this riot would spread like wildfire through the streets of Arrakeen.

“You play with fire,” Mother Mohiam said softly, stepping closer to the Red Woman. “And fire will consume you.”

The Red Woman smiled, her eyes gleaming. “The night is dark and full of terrors, Mother. You would do well to remember that.”

With that, the Red Woman raised her hands, and for a brief moment, flames flared at her fingertips once more before she stepped back into the shadows. Her followers, emboldened by her defiance, began to chant, their voices growing louder as they echoed her words.

“The night is dark and full of terrors. The Prince That Was Promised will come.”

Mother Mohiam watched as the Red Woman disappeared into the crowd, her eyes narrowing in thought. She had faced zealots before, had seen the power of faith wielded as a weapon. But this… this was something different. The Red Woman’s words echoed in her mind, unsettling her in a way few things ever had.

As the crowd began to disperse, the tension lingering in the air like the scent of spice after a storm, Mother Mohiam turned to her acolytes.

“Find her,” she said quietly. “Find her and bring her to me. We must know who she truly serves.”

For a moment, she stood in the empty square, the wind stirring the dust around her feet. She looked up at the burning sky, the twin suns casting long shadows across the desert, and a chill ran down her spine despite the heat.

The night is dark and full of terrors, indeed.

And Mother Mohiam knew that the terrors were only beginning.

- A/N: Let's see how well this does before I post another part.

[traceytonight]

Tracey rambles about Tron Ares again

Tron Ares fills me with so much dread, each passing day is like a countdown to the death of a franchise I care so much about.

The producer, title & main character, is literally Joker Morbius alleged pedophile since the early 2000s himself Jared Leto. That alone ruins the movie for me, and yet every following bullet point makes everything about and around it so much worse.

-Premise is explicitly "What if the Grid came to the real world".

NO, the interesting part of the series is THE GRID, where all of the deeply meditative commentary about our world and visually interesting splendor is supposed to be! Yes we had the lingering plot thread of Quorra coming to our world, however;

-Nothing directly tied to Tron Legacy is specifically being followed up

So no seeing where Sam Flynn could have taken Encom, no Quorra adjusting to our world, No Edward Dillinger Jr scheming with the resurrected MCP; But most disrespectfully of all, they didn't even bother to get Bruce Boxleitnter back, THE GUY WHO PLAYS TRON (and Alan Bradly & Rinzler). The one guy who actively loved this series and campaigned for a Third Tron film for over a decade, and previously Tron Legacy for even longer. But you know who they are bringing back?

-Kevin Flynn is back

THE GUY WHO FUCKING DIED IN THE LAST MOVIE. Undermining the noble sacrifice that was integral to the core themes of the film.

And just today we got this:

This is so far from an advancement design wise of the Light Cycle from either film. None of the simple shape language of the original. None of the sleek visual melding of human & technology of Legacy. While the light cycle was always cool for being a futuristic video game-ass motorcycle, its was just one of the multitude of visual elements that served the thematic purposes of Tron flawlessly.

Meanwhile, this not only physically separates the driver from the cycle, they further emphasize it through all the little gaps where there were none on either prior design. They so easily could've had the red line on Ares connect into the obviously aligned part of the bike.

Even if this is meant to show the separation of the programs from the grid for some thematic element we're unaware of at the moment, we're already going to be getting a lot of that considering the movie takes place in an average ass city.

Also, to be truly nitpicky, it looks really uncomfortable to sit in & I don't like all the added greebles.

To circle back around, what I really hate about the cast, besides the obvious one, is that there are a lot of actors who I think will work extremely well in the world of Tron. Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters? Inspired casting choices.

Meanwhile production wise we're literally taking David Fincher's collaborator trifecta. Jeff Cronenweth (Cinematographer), Tyler Nelson (Editor), and Trent Reznor (Composer, backed up by Nine Inch Nails) all worked on The Social Network, another one of my favorite films. Jeff is literally the son of Blade Runner's cinematographer, Nelson was co-editor on The Batman, a film with incredible pacing thanks to their hardwork, and while I'm not the most familiar with Reznor's full body of work, I've sincerely liked everything I've heard and think in conjunction with Jeff & Tyler he will make something fantastic and fitting for the tone of this film.

However, the screenplay is done by the writer of Harry Potter & the Cursed Child, and is being handled by the director of Pirates of the Caribbean 5. Choices that feel at odds with the prestige praise I was just handing out a paragraph ago.

Theres so many good elements that are eclipsed by its central glaring protagonist, seeming lack of the interesting setting/designs or integral thematic elements that I look for in Tron, and lack of expectation regarding the choice of director & writers.

Because my two greatest fears are not about if the movie is awful and destroys the franchise as I'm expecting it could, it's either:

What if the movie is genuinely good? Well acted and performed, somehow actually has the same level of philosophical inquiry that Legacy & Identity have? How am I gonna face that reality with the enormous horrific issue starring in it?

What if the movie is bad in everyway that I think it will be, but does financially and/or critically better than the first two? The franchise is not killed again, but revives and bases everything going forward around this awful outlier in the series?

Unless this movie fails so horrifically that Disney wants to scrub it from existence, as they tend to do, the future of any Tron media will undeniably be forced to cohere itself to the existence of Ares.

If you want something that actually expands on the musings and universe of Tron, play Tron Identity. A game so lovingly crafted for fans of those elements of Tron as a connected series. And I know this factually, as the writer of the game itself (who also created Thomas Was Alone) watched my twitch stream of it and confirmed my ramblings about the deep seeded lore and intent of design of the TREES that appear in the game. Only one example of the incredible attention to detail the game delivers on. Plus its also getting a sequel that unlike Ares, I'm awaiting with bated breath.

[encom-official]

So new Tron: Ares trailer dropped, & I have many thoughts & many fears.

Number one, I really don’t want this to be an alien invasion type movie, & I don’t want it to primarily focus on the human world- I don’t enjoy Tron for Earth, I enjoy Tron for the Grid, & it’s reflection of us.

Number two, obviously Jared Leto being a main character is worrying, but even more worrying is the fact that he seems to really resemble Rinzler- he was a favorite so it’s not out of the question that they’d try to bring Tron back in that way. He seems to form whole cloth in one scene, which might alter the lore of how programs are made, or who can make them.

You can hear Kevin’s voice at one point, & I swear to god if they don’t do something meaningful with that I’m gonna be pissed. His death in Legacy served a purpose, & to me was a well written moment. If they retcon this somehow it retroactively makes Legacy worse.

Where is Sam? I don’t think he’s shown, nor is Quorra. This worries me mostly because I’d expect them to be the focus if we’re really pulling the story into the real world, out of the grid.

This is a minor nitpick really but the scene of the light cycle splitting the cop car in half made me frown. It’s not bad effects by any means, but it’s so cookie cutter action movie- part of my love for Tron is the way violence & destruction is treated differently in the Grid, & that includes how it looks. The visual splendor of pixels spilling, rather than melted metal. I don’t want a Marvel movie for Christ’s sake, & I don’t put it past them to try & recreate that success with Tron- we all know Disney loves their formulas.

On the bright side I enjoy the aesthetics of the programs, i think so far that they’ve faithfully recreated the style of the Legacy designs, & I’m excited to see what Nine Inch Nails can do for the music- though I’m somewhat skeptical they can live up to the iconic performance of Daft Punk.

[approximateknowledge]

what dune is about: a rant

so

dune

that weird giant in the background of modern sci-fi that everyone knows about and nobody seems to get, not really

what is dune?

is it about the epynomous planet, dune, arrakis?

no

it is an epic story about paul atreides' ascent to power through the combined power of a monopoly on the supply of navigator space-cocaine and the boundless light of islam?

also no

dune is not a space opera, dune is not an epic fantasy story set in space

fundamentally dune is about ecology

and the main character of dune is not paul. nor is it leto ii. nor is it sheeana, or odrade, or miles teg, all names that mean nothing to people who only know the setting through adaptations. the main character is not even duncan idaho

it's the bene gesserit

what is the bene gesserit?

well, it's complicated. everyone knows about their "breeding program" but few people actually think about what the implications of it are

the great houses are not in charge, really. they're gene lines. they're in a very real sense different strains of *domesticated human* selected for different traits. they're not "special" for any reason of faith or exceptionalism

they're "special" in the same way a racehorse is special. because it was bred to be fast. the mythologies are all artificial additions, memetic scaffolding to surround the actual project

and then, what traits?

well, the bene gesserit sought a broad prescience. a "leader" like guidedog is a leader, leading a blind humanity through a future without hitting any metaphorical walls

they misunderstood their own mission, and they learn as much, before the end of their relevance

because paul was an ephemeral storm,

and leto is a wolf, a predator in the ecological sense, a selective pressure on the memetics of humanity, driving them out of the forest, driving them out of their spot at the top of the food chain. no longer their own worst enemy

dune is about the prelude and memetic extinction events before the scattering

it's about a domesticated humanity breaking free, becoming feral, becoming everything else

dune is about the endless struggle for humanity to find its niche before it drives itself extinct, and in doing so finding an infinite amount of niches, for an infinite amount of different humanities

it's about ecosystems and predation and diversification and extinction events both biological and memetical, and how it is ruthless, cruel, and most things go extinct without descendants, but as long as something survives it keeps going

about humanity breaking through its last great filter: itself

such is the golden path

[thoughtfulfoxllama]

Ok, I realized something while watching "Dune: Prophecy" (at the time of writing, we are only on Episode 4)

(I have also only gotten through part of God-Emporer, so I only have a big picture knowledge of Heretics & Chapterhouse, and know nothing about the the Brian Herbert books (although I know many consider them non-canon, but they're the inspiration for the show))

Lady Jessica royally f--ked up 10 millennia of planned breeding. The Original Kwisatz Haderach was not meant to be Paul Atreides, but the Son of "Pauline" Atreides & Feyd Rautha (and I believe it was never going to be Rabban, despite him being older, we can see in the first chapters of "Dune" that the Baron was grooming Feyd to succeed him, and was plotting to have Feyd remove Rabban after killing the Atreides)

This Son (let's call him "Leto Harkonnen," to symbolize the union of the Houses, and because Emperor Leto was a Kwizatz Haderach in Canon) was intended to marry the daughter of Empress Irulan. So, this would give the Kwizatz Haderach the power to actually enforce the Golden Path across the Imperium. But, Pauline was Paul, so that all messed it up

But, to my point about "Dune: Prophecy" below the Cut

Am I supposed to honestly believe it wasn't intentional that Valya Harkonnen was the second Reverend Mother Superior, and the Breeding Program ended with "Leto Harkonnen" on the Throne

Seriously, Valya's entire thing is restoring her house to the lofty station it had before the Jihad. Tell me she didn't change the Breeding Plan to end with House Harkonnen in the highest place of honor in the Imperium

And, if Valya had daughters (which I believe would probably be the case, for the reason I get into below), then any descendants on the Female Line would have her whispering to them after becoming Reverend Mothers (meaning she would be able to advise any changes to the Plan for the entire history of the Order)

[forthedancingandthethriving]

Thought of which games Leto and Ozymandias will be using for their attempted SMG takeovers.

Ozzy's picked Vendor Quest!, a game made by CCC about an RPG shopkeeper named Rosin who ends up having to take the Hero's place and save the world when they die in the first dungeon, while also maintaining and expanding her shop. He actually finds playing it rather relaxing.

Leto, meanwhile, decided to go the Easy Route and use a non-video-game piece of media instead. In this case she went with Ranma 1/2 (yes I do in fact have a plan for the Ranma that Francis made that ties into this mess).

Of course, being who she is she feels the need to take total control of the world she's using. As you can probably guess she hasn't done her research and has no idea how futile trying to control anyone in Nerima will be. And by the time she realizes it she'll be too stubborn to give up.

So while they're waiting for the time to strike Ozzy will be having a wonderful time and Leto will be trapped by her pride and hubris in a hell of her own design.

Oh this is great, lol. I love how the omnicidal snake gets the relaxing game and enjoys it, while the sea serpent that has a god complex gets the one world where she can't control everything. This is glorious. I love it so much

[framesperfilm]

Tron: Ares (2025)

directed by: Joachim Rønning (USA)

written by: Jesse Wigutow, Jack Thorne / based on characters by Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird

release date: October 10, 2025 (USA)

It’s been 15 years since we saw Tron: Legacy. This time, after years of development, a new standalone movie is finally coming. This will mark Jared Leto's comeback after the poorly received Morbius. The cast also includes Jeff Bridges, reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, along with Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Gillian Anderson. Nine Inch Nails composed the score.

[3gremlins]

"nobody wants to have tea with the god emperor"

bit of scribbly dune fan art i did on the plane back in october, just playing around with procreate's painting brushes again. i still don't really like it as a painting program tbh (it's fun to doodle in but i have a harder time doing composition in it versus csp)

i know denis villeneuve's said he's stopping after the next dune movie but ah it would be so good to see his take on leto II. like the most artsy version of the god king sand worm emperor please and thank you.

(i liked dune part 2 because it went so hard on being artsy AF. like you just don't see that in these huge blockbuster movies anymore and i really appreciated the dedication to the WEIRD it had. idk, it just stays with me, i don't even remember the plot, i just appreciated that they went balls to the walls on making CINEMA lol)

[etymology-of-the-emblem]

Python / パイソン and Forsyth / フォルス

Python (JP: パイソン; rōmaji: paison) is a wise-cracking and apathetic member of the Deliverance in Fire Emblem Gaiden and its remake, Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia. Most of you likely know that a python is a type of snake; specifically, the Python genus belongs to the Pythonidae family, consisting of nonvenomous serpents.

Before the name was carried by this subset of snake, the name was attributed to the mythical Python (also called ピュートーン; rōmaji: pyūtōn), enemy of the Greek solar god Apollo. Typically depicted as a great serpent, Python resided at Pytho (later called Delphi), thought to be the center of the world. The story goes (according to Hyginus, at least) that after the goddess Hera learned that her husband Zeus had an affair with Leto, the enraged queen of Olympus sent Python after Leto to prevent the birth of the twins she carried—Artemis and Apollo. Leto found a reprieve, thanks to Poseidon, on the island of Delos and gave birth; not four days after, Apollo would pick up the bow and arrow and sought out Python. Alternatively, some versions tell of Leto and her children leaving Delos for Delphi, only to be attacked by Python once more. All adaptations end the same, however: Apollo brings an end to the serpent by arrows, and Delphi and its oracle would then belong to the sun god. Most likely, the Python in Fire Emblem being an archer was inspired by the mythological beast's slayer.

Forsyth is a straight-laced and passionate member of the Deliverance and Python's best friend. The name Forsyth is Scottish in origin, and has been carried by many notable people. Possible figures that could tie into the character's scholarly background include Scottish theologian P. T. Forsyth and founder of the Royal Horticultural Society and namesake of the forsythia plant—William Forsyth. Also worth noting is the English military journalist and writer Frederick Forsyth and the historic Clan Forsyth of Scotland.

In Japanese, Forsyth is instead called フォルス (rōmaji: forusu), officially romanized as Fols. In Greek mythology, Pholus (JP: フォルス), also called Pholos (JP: ポロス; rōmaji: porosu), was one of the two wise and sophisticated centaurs alongside the more famous Chiron. He appears in the story of Heracles: after the hero captured the Erymanthian Boar, Heracles was offered hospitality in Pholus' cave as he passed through the area. However, when a container of wine was opened, the smell disturbed the wild centaurs in the area, sparking aggression. Heracles would them off with arrows coated in the blood of the Lernaean Hydra, which was capable of inflicting instant death. Pholus, the coward that he was, fled from the battle, but in his curiosity, took to examining a loose arrow, only to drop it on his foot. The gods showed him mercy and placed Pholus in the stars as the constellation Centaurus. (Note that it is common for versions to instead claim Chiron was the one killed by one of Heracles' arrows and made into a constellation).

Lastly, I feel it must be mentioned that there is a very real possibility that these two characters may be named after two programming languages. Python (JP: パイソン) saw its first release in February of 1991,in the middle of Fire Emblem Gaiden's development. Unfortunately, I have no idea how quick Python caught on in the beginning—even less how known it was in Japan in its first year—which is why I feel the Greek inspirations are more likely. That said, Forth (JP: フォース; rōmaji: fōsu) was another programming language made public in the 70's and became very popular in the 80's. Though the katakana used is different, フォルス can still be read as "fo[u]rth," and could potentially have been a stylistic choice.

[boymanmaletheshequel]

Symbolism of Artemis

🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹

The twin sister to Apollo/Apollon, daughter of Leto, Artemis is the sacred goddess of virginity, hunting, foraging, feminism, childhood, and the forest, as well as the lady of the moon and the hearth. A goddess known for her fierce mood swings, strict and convicting chastity, and disdain of traditional and toxic masculinity and human perversion, She is among the three virgin goddesses of Hellenic mythology. She was known to take the appearance of animals, such as boars and deer, often favoring them to her human form, which she almost only ever utilized while hunting or bathing in her sanctuary. Although she is inclined to women, she loves all her followers, including her non binary and male followers such as myself. Let’s go over some of her sacred symbolism:

🌈 colors

* In Hellenic Mythos, Artemis is a goddess of the forest and the woods, as well as a generally nature bound goddess, often depicted wearing or represented by shades of green, brown, and muted blues, all colors often associated with the woods and the earth.

🌸 flowers

* red amaranth: known by its taxonomic name of amarantos, Amaranths are the most commonly associated flower with lady Artemis, seen as a symbol of the immorality and violence of nature, as well as their relation to her name in Latin, meaning “unfading” representing her chaste virginity.

* red Carnation: another major flower iconic of Artemis is the carnation, as in Hellenic mythology, it is said that red carnations sprouted from the ground after she gouged out the eyes of a Shepherd who had dared to gaze upon her naked while she was bathing.

🦌 animals

* Stag/Deer: arguably the most well known animal associated with Artemis, and a creature she was known to assume the form of commonly, is the deer. It is said that some epithets of lady Artemis displayed great horns or antlers upon her head. Deer and their venison were also a major source of hunted food in Ancient Greece amongst the civil class.

* Boar: often associated with Artemis’s animalistic fits of rage, boars are one of her more sacred animals, often seen as a facet of her more violent tendencies. They were also an animal she loved to hunt.

* Bear: in the story of Callisto, a faithful devotee of Artemis who had promised her chastity to her, Callisto is seduced by zeus who causes her to break her chaste, infuriating Artemis who turns her to a bear and cast her into the woods. Later, in a plot by her own son to murder her, Zeus had mercy on them both and cast them amongst the constellations as Callisto to Ursa Major (great bear), and her son to Ursa Minor, (little bear).

💎 Gemstones

* emerald: The beautiful green hues of emerald are iconic of natures infatuation and affinity for the color, and as a goddess of nature incarnate, it is therefore often associated as the primary gemstone or crystal associated with lady Artemis.

* Moss agate: Named for its intricate dendrites that mimic the appearance of wild mosses, moss agate is a stone of nature and mystery, both aspects often referred to Artemis by. This makes it an easy, affordable choice of a stone to dedicate to and associate her with, especially for pagan wishes who may wish to decorate an altar for her!

* Moonstone: The stone of the moon, known for its Labradoresence and beautiful muted tones, it makes since that a stone named for the moon would be heavily associated with Artemis. It is also one of the stones associated with Virgo, the astral sign most widely connected to lady Artemis. (I too am a Virgo!)

🪐 Planets:

* The moon: Artemis is the patron saint of the earths moon, known for her affinity for her sacred night hunts, and has long inspired stories of lunar exploration. In fact, in 2017, NASA began work on the Artemis program, a plan to construct and launch a space shuttle that is to be used to land on the moon, delivering the first female astronaut ever to its surface!, and mark the first time a human being has set foot on the moon since 1972 when it lands there in 2026

🌟 Astrology

* Virgo and Cancer: Artemis, a goddess associated with various characteristics, is most often associated with two signs in traditional astrology, the first is Virgo, due to her inherent connections to the earth and virginity, and the second is cancer, due to her connections to the moon and her unique independence in Olympian society.

🏹 other iconography

* Bow and Arrow. Ever since I was a little one, I LOVED the idea and character of katniss Everdeen of the hunger games universe, and I would go into the woods and create my own bow and arrows, and set up targets to shoot! I now realize that’s one of the many reasons why I’ve always been drawn to Artemis! She is the ultimate expert with the bow and arrow, her sacred symbol and weapon of hunting.

🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌🏹🦌

What things or moments so you associate with lady Artemis? She is one of the many more intimidating goddesses I’ve come to adore, but as the first god I ever worshipped after leaving Christianity, I’ve found her more forgiving and patient than one might expect!

[dreadbirate]

I swear this book is less “feints within feints within feints ” and more “love triangles within love triangles within love triangles”

Siona and Nayla clearly have something going on, Nayla is religiously devoted to Leto and as a fishspeaker is counted as one of his “brides”, Leto meanwhile is in love with Hwi, Hwi has a thing with the latest Duncan, and said Duncan is supposed to breed with Siona for Letos breeding program. And of course the sight of Duncan climbing a cliff results in Nayla cumming (what the fuck Herbert).

And that chain leaves out that Moneo was supposed to be the one to father Hwi’s child in Letos plan.

I’m not the first one to say it (that would be @/soaplantro in my comments) but this book really is a Soap Opera disguising itself as a work of philosophical science fiction