#the priestesses answer

[wingedblooms]

How do you interpret "A thing of secret, lovely beauty" in the bonus chapter? The first time azriel used it to describe the necklace. But the second time it was used to describe gwyn's happy smile.

Hello there! I feel like this is a trap. But as I’ve discussed before, readers interpret this differently and that’s wonderful. Interpretations can also evolve over time after rereads and new information. Mine has mostly remained the same (except for some specifics surrounding the second usage 😆). Part of my interpretation drifts into theory. As a reminder, theories are predictions of what might happen based on patterns of evidence in the text. No theory is guaranteed and it’s important to read any new books in the series with that in mind.

That said, Sarah is a fairly predictable and repetitive writer, so I try to pay close attention to her patterns. Many of my theories are based upon those patterns. For example, one of the most apparent patterns is that fate comes in threes. There are three faces of the Mother. Three sacred sister peaks that are barren and thrumming with power. Three stars that shine above Ramiel, the heart of the Night Court, each spring. Three blessed sisters who have been marked by fate and Made fae. Three winged males who found each other and are drawn to the three blessed sisters. There’s more evidence, but I think you get the idea. It can be helpful to use patterns to interpret and predict what Sarah has planned (e.g., the first and second sister have had their stories told, so it would follow that the third is next; there is also strong evidence that what she contributes to the narrative is needed next).

You’re probably wondering how this relates to my interpretation of the phrase secret, lovely beauty. Before I connect it to another clear pattern, I want to put it in proper context. When we first see the phrase, it is used to describe the necklace Azriel gifts to Elain. The setting in which this occurs is romantic: faelights dimming to cast little pools of gold amid the deep shadow of the longest night of the year. Put plainly, this is Sarah setting the mood. 😂 Azriel, who feels lonely despite the company of his shadows, finds himself suddenly moving into the foyer and there she is:

The Faelights gilded Elain’s unbound hair, making her glow like the sun at dawn.

On the longest night of the year, Elain glows golden like the sun at dawn. Like a pool of gold amid the deep shadow. This description follows a pattern in their imagery together, and it is lovely.

Their interaction is also raw and vulnerable, and therefore distinct in this bonus. When they come together, Azriel allows himself to feel and those feelings run deep enough to question his people’s traditions later on. Unlike every other interaction in this bonus, he doesn’t feel the need to put on a show for Elain (i.e., a cold mask, fake smile, or lying repeatedly to avoid emotional topics). In other words, he is himself with Elain. They share a quiet understanding and powerful attraction.

Now that we have this context in mind, we can move onto the the necklace and its chaos-inducing phrase:

The golden necklace seemed ordinary—its chain unremarkable, the amulet tiny enough that it could be dismissed as an everyday charm. It was a small, flat rose fashioned of stained glass, designed so that when held to the light, the true depth of colors would become visible.

A thing of secret, lovely beauty.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispered, lifting it from the box. The golden faelight shone through the little glass facets, setting the charm glowing with hues of red and pink and white. Azriel let his shadows whisk away the box as she said softly, “Put it on me?”

Notice something interesting here? Both Elain and the necklace glow with their true depth of color—golden and rosy, like the dawn—when faelight shines upon them. Dawn is when first light appears (pun definitely intended) and the world reawakens. Elain is linked to the rose amulet, and that follows a pattern of imagery she has already established in the text. This is the pattern I mean:

“I painted flowers for Elain on her drawer,” I said, sawing and sawing. “Little roses and begonias and irises.” (acomaf)

She was a rose bloom in a mud field. Filled with galloping horses. (acowar)

Even in the middle of winter, she was a bloom of color and sunshine. (acofas)

She plucked another figurine from the mantel: a rose carved from a dark sort of wood. She held it in her palm, its solid weight surprising, and traced a finger over one of the petals. “He made this one for Elain. Since it was winter and she missed the flowers.” (acosf)

Her gaze shifted to the carved wooden rose she’d placed upon the mantel, half-hidden in the shadows beside a figurine of a supple-bodied female, her upraised arms clasping a full moon between them. Some sort of primal goddess—perhaps even the Mother herself. Nesta hadn’t let herself dwell on why she’d felt the need to set the rose there. Why she hadn’t just thrown it in a drawer. (acosf)

This gift not only reinforces the pattern, but it also holds a secret message that has become central to Elain’s arc: the rose (like Elain) has hidden depths. The Feysand bonus echoes this theme. Elain’s outburst stunned her family and Rhys suggests there is more to her than they’ve seen thus far.

“I think she’s kind, and I’ll take kindness over nastiness any day. But I also think we haven’t yet seen all she has to offer.” A corner of his mouth tugged upward. “Don’t forget that gardening often results in something pretty, but it involves getting one’s hands dirty along the way.” (Feysand)

Feysand then agree to help Elain after Nesta, which is Sarah’s way of reinforcing the other pattern she put in place (fate comes in threes—first Feyre, then Nesta, and now Elain).

With Elain’s character arc in mind (and the fact that she herself has suggested she doesn’t feel seen), Azriel’s gift is actually incredibly insightful. He gave her something that says, I do see you, and he knew she’d be able to appreciate its meaning. Even the words that describe her gift—secret, lovely beauty—refer to specific things we learn about Elain in the text.

Secret: Feyre compares Elain’s ability to learn and keep secrets to Azriel’s own secrecy (one of many parallels). She is a seer, after all. What other secrets might she know and keep hidden from others?

Before Feyre could reply, Azriel said, “What about Mor?”

Feyre smiled. “Elain was the only one who guessed. She caught me vomiting two mornings in a row.” She nodded toward Azriel. “I think she’s got you beat for secret-keeping.” (acosf)

Lovely beauty: We learn from Nesta that their mother predicted Elain would marry for love and beauty, which I think @juusworld5728 observed sounds a lot like lovely beauty:

My Nesta. Elain shall wed for love and beauty, but you, my cunning little queen…You shall wed for conquest. (acosf)

This last phrase, love and beauty, is connected to the rose Papa Archeron carved for Elain. It is a symbol of love and beauty and goodness in the world, and for such a simple carving, it has unexpected weight just like the rose amulet has unexpected depth (Sarah hit this theme hard).

Her father had died for her, with love in his heart, and Nesta held love in her own heart as she pulled the small, carved rose from her pocket and set it upon the gravestone. A permanent marker of the beauty and good he’d tried to bring into the world. (acosf)

Why does this little rose matter? It is also linked to Wyrd. In acosf, Nesta felt the need to place Elain’s rose next to a figurine of what we now know is farseeing and benevolent Wyrd. Wyrd, the higher force of the universe, found Elain so lovely that she gifted her such powers and purrs like a kitten in her presence. They even share the same blooming imagery. Over time, Wyrd became known as a goddess (probably because she uses female forms as vessels, if I had to guess based on the evidence), but she is in fact a force, a mother to all, a cauldron brimming with creation. Now, where have we heard those terms before?

Gwyn huffed a soft laugh. “In part. We honor the Mother, and the Cauldron, and the Forces That Be. We have a service at dawn and at dusk, and on every holy day.” (acosf)

Gwyn’s words nearly echo the Under-King’s in hosab and hofas. The priestesses worship Wyrd. Let’s look at the description of their worship:

The music was pure, ancient, by turns whispering and bold, one moment like a tendril of mist, the next like a gilded ray of light. It finished, and Merrill spoke about the Mother and the Cauldron and the land and sun and water. She spoke of blessings and dreams and hope. Of mercy and love and growth. (acosf)

Elain’s strength lies in finding beauty even in dark chapters. She is a rose bloom in a mud field—the embodiment of blessings and dreams and hope and mercy and love and growth. The priestesses, including Gwyn, honor that benevolent force and seek to bring it into the world with their services. They are the voice of the Cauldron. And in this world, we know like calls to like. Now that we’ve read hofas, it’s highly likely that the ancient, spell-like music the priestesses perform is ancient summoning magic, which is magnified by the properties of the cavern (ahem, witch glass) in which they sing. So, is it a surprise that Azriel had every intention to return Elain’s rose amulet, a symbol of love and beauty, and found himself at the library during their worship of such things instead? No, it actually makes a lot of sense.

Azriel expressed no forethought in giving the necklace to Clotho for Gwyn. He did not select it for her and did not intend it to be a romantic gesture, which is why he tells Clotho to give it to Gwyn or any other priestess who might appreciate it. The setting and interactions in this part of the bonus are not described romantically because they are not intended to be romantic.

Clotho, who is observant like Elain, can see the shadowsinger’s sadness despite his deflection and offers him comfort in a dark moment:

Clotho’s pen moved once more. She deserves something as beautiful as this. I thank you for the joy it shall bring to her.

Her words spark hope in him and for whatever reason, he is able to picture Gwyn’s eyes lighting upon the rose amulet in his mind. The vision is a thing of secret, lovely beauty.

Some interpret this moment, a vision of Gwyn described as a thing of secret, lovely beauty, as an indication of Sarah shifting romantic pairings. I think this interpretation falls short of the full context, especially since days (in acosf) and months later (in hofas), Azriel is still upset and refuses to even discuss the topic of mates.

Rather, I think that—like the sister caverns, which are linked in song and dreaming—Elain and the priestesses (especially Gwyn) are also connected. They are part of the solution to the problem that was introduced in the first half of this bonus as well as the overarching plot. Like @silverdreamscapes, @silverlinedeyes, @offtorivendell, @willowmeres, and others I’m sure, I believe Elain—a seer chosen by Wyrd—will work with the priestesses that worship her (the most logical partnership in the series, when you think about their respective powers). It wouldn’t surprise me if a dawn service, especially if it involves groundings, helps Elain push the limitations of her powers like the dusk service did for Nesta.

I also agree with many (notably @silverlinedeyes and @merymoonbeam) who think Gwyn’s voice holds magic and, depending on what we learn, relates to being a lightsinger. That is likely the hidden depth (a thing of secret, lovely beauty) that was hinted at in the image since her eyes light upon Elain’s rose amulet. I believe @silverdreamscapes and @silverlinedeyes have suggested her voice, which summons and pierces during the dusk service, could clear mist and shadow in a vision if needed. I also think it is interesting that Gwyn is the first to sever the Valkyrie ribbon, a string tied not to a rib, but a post. Perhaps she and the priestesses could help Elain sever an unwanted bond and weave a different fate for herself, one that binds her to someone she loves? That would be the most epic end to the near-constant arguments over ships.

[amimuu]

Who is your !! Favorite character to draw!

Probably Tabitha! But specifically how she looked before her canon events happened LMAO—

She used to be a high priestess of the old faith.

[priestess-priestess]

Emo priestess alert

Aren’t you a bottom?

[flymmsy]

Gortash Sex Party WIP

Proof that the Gortash Sex Party fic is alive and well, just slow going. Here's a sneak peek! Not explicit (the final fic will be very very explicit), but mentions of sex.

The Dark Urge sat across the desk from Gortash, as had become their routine. They would often sit and watch as the Banite scribbled furiously upon parchment after parchment, his brows furrowed in concentration, breaking only to raise his gaze in response to one of Durge’s more clever comments. Tonight, however, it was Durge’s turn to knit their brow, their gaze sweeping over the man before them as if he were a relic in the Hall of Wonders.

“Something the matter, dearest Bhaalspawn?” Gortash did not look up from his papers. Instead, he merely quirked an eyebrow in Durge’s direction, the hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

“No,” Durge quickly replied, flicking their attention back to the dagger held lazily in their hand. They inspected it with great care, the glint of steel in the light now suddenly the most interesting thing in the room. The longer their gaze stayed on the weapon, the heavier the air in the room became. When a few moments had past, Durge looked back up to see a smirk now fully blooming across Gortash's face.

An exasperated sigh escaped Durge as they straightened themselves, clearing their throat before they spoke.

“Some interesting rumors have reached the Bhaal Temple, lately.”

“How curious,” Gortash was quick to respond, but his attention remained on his work, “I wouldn’t take Bhaal as one for idle gossip.”

“Regarding you, actually.”

At that, the Banite finally put down his quill, slowly bringing his gaze up to meet Durge’s own. He held it for a moment, smirk still clear as day, before leaning back in his chair.

“Go on.”

“They speak of rather interesting…parties,” At that, Durge shifted in their seat, dipping their eyes to focus on Gortash’s gauntlet now resting on the arm of his chair, “held here, at your manor.”

The gauntlet lifted as Gortash shifted his weight. His chin came to rest in his own palm as gilded fingers curled against his lip, his index finger bringing one claw to rest against his temple. Durge’s eyes followed the movement, the last claw locking them back into Gortash’s gaze. The Banite nodded once, prompting Durge to continue.

“Interesting as in…” Durge sighed, “…of an intriguing nature…”

Gortash raised his eyebrows, shaking his head innocently as one claw continued to trace the line of his lips, “I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean, dear Bhaalspawn.”

“Sex,” The words escaped Durge in an embarrassing burst. They cleared their throat again, tempering the rising heat at their neck, “an evening of carnal indulgence.”

“Ah,” Gortash nodded, seeming to consider the words for a moment. Then, in one fluid motion, he dipped his head and returned his attention to his parchment, his expression otherwise one of disinterest.

Durge could feel the deep lines between their own brows as they watched Gortash continue to scratch away. Had he heard them? The silence made them uncomfortable. It wasn't the sex itself that concerned them, sex was nothing. Well, everything and nothing. But the thought of Gortash...he was their business partner, and thinking - hearing - about him having --

“Well they are correct, of course.”

Durge was grateful that Gortash’s eyes were still on his paper as surprise flashed across their face. A few moments passed in silence, Durge trying and failing to process the response. A sigh escaped the Banite, accompanied by a rather large scratch across the parchment, the sound stirring Durge.

“Ah,” was all that escaped their lips, echoing his earlier reply. At that, Durge could see the smallest crack in the aloof façade that had settled upon Gortash.

“Does this concern you?” Gortash gathered the papers on his desk before lazily tossing them aside.

“I had dismissed the rumors as some Banite ritual,” Durge began, now uneasy as Gortash’s full attention returned to them. He leaned back in his chair once more, but this time his expression was perfectly measured.

“But the report,” Durge continued, “the report says it is a mix of people throughout the city. Banites, patriars, priestesses…”

Gortash had steepled his hands but flexed them in a gesture for Durge to continue.

“It seemed…uncharacteristically risky of you.”

At that, a smile split across Gortash’s face. His voice was smooth but full of amusement, “You’d be surprised at how discreet people will be for their own pleasure.”

“But the rumors reached me,” Durge retorted.

“That they did,” Gortash held their gaze for a beat, and Durge felt the heat rising again within them. Just as Durge was about to break the silence, Gortash spoke again, “I suppose I’ll have to find that pesky leak.”

Durge attempted to retreat with a shrug, turning their attention back to their knife, but Gortash was quick on their heels.

“You seem troubled, dear Bhaalspawn.”

Durge rolled their eyes, eager to be done with this conversation, but turned back to Gortash regardless. They hesitated, searching for the right words, “I just didn’t take you for one to mix business with pleasure.”

When Gortash’s grin turned razor sharp, they realized they had found the wrong words.

“Oh, you are quite mistaken,” Gortash’s eyes were truly alight now, “I delight in mixing business with pleasure.”

“Yes, well,” Durge swallowed hard, “I just thought you should know…about the rumors…”

“How thoughtful,” Gortash cooed mockingly, eliciting a snarl from Durge. They were increasingly feeling like a mouse caught in a cat’s claws. The mockery broke them, prompting them to rise from their seat and slam their hands down on the desk.

“I don’t like being played with, Gortash.”

“No? A shame, really,” Gortash quipped but tempered his smirk, rising from his own chair, “However, I’m afraid you have reminded me of a rather important engagement I must keep.”

Durge’s head swiveled incredulously as Gortash circled them to move toward the door.

“One of my attendants will see you out,” the Banite flicked his wrist back in acknowledgement as he departed the room.

Durge seethed in his wake, their hands curling into the wood of the desk. Gortash had made their blood properly boil now. Someone, a Banite servant, called to them from the door frame.

***

“Are you sure I can’t offer you a –”

“No,” Durge allowed the second of Gortash’s servants to lead them out, now trailing blood in their wake. When they arrived at the garden door, the servant reached out one trembling arm, a delicate envelope in their hand.

“The master wished I present you with this,” the servant flinched as Durge took the envelope from them, quickly scurrying down the hall now that their duty had been fulfilled.

Durge flipped the envelope over, nose crinkling at the distinct smell of vanilla and rosewood. They retrieved their dagger, wiping it first on their leg, and popped the elegant seal.

Lord Enver Gortash requests the pleasure of your company at his upcoming salon…

[ancientdeitygirldick]

I don't think goddesses need anything like "consent" I know I would have no authority to complain or fight back if some inconceivable hot nasty cock started humping all over me and forcing it's way inside me

she gets itttt. btw do u wanna be a sacrificial offering it's just getting eternally raped haha just kidding your answer doesn't matter im gonna do it anyways

[thescrolls-haveforetold]

a nameless child and her guardian, Una

[shima-draws]

Saw your tags and omg HARD AGREE. Dragon Cry is SO bad nfkanmdsa

ME AND YOU SHAKING HANDS

Actually yes thanks for giving me the excuse to rant. Hold on. I'm typing furiously rn.

-Okay first of all they gave us the most ridiculously confusing plot I've ever seen. The twist with Sonya being Animus was kinda cool but they never really. Explained why she had a bond with him? She mentioned he used to be kindhearted at some point but we never see that literally ever at any point in the movie?

-The storyline is so all over the place it's a HOT mess. Especially the scene right after Natsu escapes the weird bird cage thing he runs off to find the others and suddenly they're all there? For some reason? Where did they come from. Why didn't they have a little reuniting scene. I literally rewound the movie to make sure I didn't accidentally skip a scene but nope they just made the most awkward cut/story progression in history I guess!!!

-The fanservice was so. SO bad. Like yeah the majority of the time I can at least tolerate it but this time it just made me extremely uncomfortable. Why are Erza and Lucy's boobs SO fucking large. Why did they have to make Lucy dance in like two strips of cloth. I thought I woke up in an alternate universe where Fairy Tail was a hentai. I genuinely wanted to vomit lmao

-The animation style really threw me off like I can tell it was either animated by a different studio or they wanted to try a different art style for the movie? But it just felt wrong and the proportions and faces were weird and. Yeah idk.

-What was up with the Three Stars?? Iirc we never got to learn their names or what their motivations were they were literally just. There. And they were built up to be these super powerful wizards only to get their asses kicked by FT like two scenes later. I get that being a movie obviously the fights had to be shortened but they literally did the same thing in Phoenix Priestess but WAY better. They really were like yeah uh we need some enemies for Team Natsu to fight let's just go with these guys and not give them any personality or backstory or motivations. (Except for the doll dad he was okay I guess)

-WHY WAS LEVY THERE. LITERALLY. ACTUALLY. She literally did nothing she served NO purpose in the movie she was just there?? Did they just want to shove in as many cameos as possible??? I know generally Levy isn't much of a fighter which is fine, I was kinda expecting them to do a Gajevy scene where Gajeel rescues her from some soldiers or smth which would have been fine but they didn't even do that. She literally just stood there and had like 2 voice lines. GO GIRL GIVE US NOTHING

-SPEAKING OF CAMEOS this is more personal beef than anything but man WHYYY wasn't Loke in the movie,, my boy my beloved my stupid idiot lion I'm so mad he wasn't even onscreen for like, 5 seconds

-I'm sorry but Juvia was so unhinged this movie her possessive/stalker behavior over Gray was actually super fucking creepy lmao

-What did they do to Happy. What the FUCK did they do to Happy

THEY MASSACRED MY BOY. LOOK AT HIM. HE'S GOT ANXIETY

-ALSO the scene where Happy and Lucy were crying over Natsu and we got tons of flashbacks from his POV of people who are important to him? WHY THE FUCK WASN'T HAPPY THERE?? They literally showed everyone from Fairy Tail precious to Natsu except Happy and I'm just sitting here like. HELLO?? You are SO wrong for that

-I will say I DID enjoy the little Nalu teasers we got especially the scene where Natsu showed Lucy the stars 🤧

But yeah I was here for this and this only:

The Nalu + Happy family bonding moments made it OKAY

Anyway sorry rant over. Dragon Cry bad. Natsu's brief moment of looking half dragon was a super sexy character design choice but the buildup is not worth it imo

[bloomingdarkgarden]

Hi! Just wanted to say that you're incredibly talented! I adore WBITD, I love the way you write! Reading the story, it kind of makes me fall in love with words (if that makes sense?)

So thank you so much for sharing your work!💙🩷

It is a great honor to make anyone fall in love with words, I'm in love with words, so thank you bby.

The girlies have spoken and the verdict is that my particular combination of words is apparently wildly poetic / strange / atmospheric lol and it's taken me a while to ... idk recognize that truth. My voice is distinct and odd. I am not a writer, I'm a naturalist. If you cut me open a thousand wild plants would spill out and no words at all, words are hidden deep and hushed and I don't share them easily with anyone. I'm just a girl who works in the deep heart of the forest with thoughts that manifest in strange reveries.

I'm glad my reveries resonate with you 🥀✨🌿

[adm-starblitzsteel-4305]

I saw that I could ask Mothra Astra something, so...

What is your relationship with humans like? Is there a human you are attached to or like more than others?

Mothra Astra:

"The humans foresaw me as their goddess and guardian. In return, I do help them in any situations. My relationship with them is clear and concise. Dad told me his and Mom's stories about humans coexisting with the Titans and how one of their humans have a unique bond for them."

"And yes, I have a human who has a strong connection/bond with them. Well, two little girls - twins rather, they're not really priestesses like my Mom's Shobijin Priestesses - both have different eye colors, IDK why, but they love to play with me."

"There's a possibility about there are more humans with unique bond of me because I am deeply connected to the Star Goddess and all, maybe they all learned spiritual celestial powers I guess."

"Thank you for answering me your question!"

[zorroinarkham]

@dyavol asked: “When have I ever steered you wrong?” -Robin

Suspicious Sentence Starters

"Do you really want me to answer that?" A bit of light ribbing. There's even a flicker of a smile. The truth was, Tim had grown into the role of detective the fastest of all the Dark Knight's wards. A prodigy of a sleuth before he ever put on a mask. Easily qualified to take the lead on this particular case.

The ultraviolet flashlight steady in the Caped Crusader's hand, he narrows his eyes at the words scrawled on the wall. It certainly narrows down the primary suspects, but the purpose and reasoning for the well-hidden message in the storeroom of the Gotham Museum of Antiquities, discovered after a seemingly uneventful break-in, was a mystery for the moment.

Cloth'd in yellow, red, and green,  I prate before the King and Queen; Of neither house nor land possess'd,  By lords and knights I am caress'd.

Rather than making any of his own observations on the possible answers and their significance, Batman looks to his partner, keeping the light steady. "But if you've already reached the solution, I'm ready to hear it."

[inu-yasha]

One thing Inukags like to always claim in their favor is that “Kagome loved and accepted Inuyasha for who he is and didn’t want him to change unlike Kikyo,” when actually this is false on two accounts and Imma tell up why!

1. If Kagome truly does love and accept Inuyasha as a hanyou then why does she treat him like a literal dog instead of just another person like Kikyo did? This proves that she actually does have racial bias against his demon side and doesn’t wholeheartedly accept him as her racial equal the way InuKaggers always try to claim. She literally treats him as if he’s nothing but a low-IQ animal that’s her pet, forgive me for saying this but isn’t this literally racist? If hanyous are an allegory for mixed race people in the real world then Kagome is no different than racist White Saviors who treat the racial minority half of a mixed person as “inherently animalistic,” at least Kikyo never let Inuyasha’s demon side prevent her from treating him as an equal and with the respect a person deserves, he was just another person to her unlike Kagome who racially stereotypes Inuyasha and thinks him being half-dog gives her the right to treat him as one.

2. It’s wrong to say Kagome completely loved and accepted Inuyasha for who he is and didn’t want him to change because what do you call her wanting him to completely forget and throw away his feelings for Kikyo then? Does that not count as “wanting him to change?” His feelings and love for Kikyo are a part of him too and she obviously can’t accept that and constantly tries to change him on that account, meanwhile Kikyo had always accepted that he had “moved on” with Kagome and never tried to guilt-trip him regarding his feelings for Kagome except very early on in the series whereas Kagome was constantly doing the opposite - Kikyo had the grace and was selfless enough to accept Inuyasha’s newfound love for Kagome and never tried to change or sway his feelings, whereas Kagome couldn’t offer him the same courtesy for his feelings for Kikyo.

So all in all it’s incorrect when InuKags say that Kagome loving and accepting Inuyasha for who he is is the one thing she has over Kikyo, in actuality if you really analyze the text it looks more like Kikyo was the one who loved and accepted Inuyasha wholeheartedly from the start unlike Kagome. They always like to bring up Kikyo “asking Inuyasha to wish to become full human” in bad faith, when they know it was merely a suggestion on her part that she thought would make both of their lives easier - not that she wouldn’t still love him if he remained a hanyou. Meanwhile they conveniently ignore any evidence that portrays Kagome not being so wholly accepting of Inuyasha for who he is as they so claim…

Actions speak louder than words, InuKags can say Kagome accepts Inuyasha more for who he is than Kikyo does but the way both girls treat him suggests another story.

very good points

[euniveve]

i got tagged by aine (@ainescribe/ @lychniis) to post about my wips so here i go! (multichapter unless stated otherwise)

The Ongoing Longfics:

The Laws Regarding Attraction (neuvillette/f!reader) chap 8-9

diving deeper into avocate's headspace and neuvillette trying to pick up the pieces and mend some broken trust

The Phoenix to His Dragon (zhongli/f!reader) chap 26

family reunion with hijinx (i will not elaborate)

The Upcoming:

I'm Okay, I think (zhongli/gn!reader)

reader with debilitating perception of their self worth is the spouse of the ever calm, ever loving Wangsheng Furneral Parlour Consultant. hurt/comfort, oneshot.

Rex Lapis' Wife Would Like To Rest In Peace (zhongli/f!reader)

new world-building premise makes it possible for suicidal reader to wish for her death to rex lapis directly, in exchange, he wanted her to be his wife for the next 10 years. arranged marriage, post archon-war liyue, emperor!morax, imperial harem.

This Blade That Carves Loneliness (zhongli/f!reader)

reader who is a super slammer, world-class figure skater who retires because of a scandal that destroys her career (among other things) is coaxed by zhongli on the promise he will be her coach. figure skating au, modern au, yuri on ice inspired, dealing with topics of depression, burnout, and guilt.

Shattered You (zhongli/f!reader)

(this one i have abandoned admittedly because idk how to progress the story) reader who have DID (dissociative identity disorder) is friends with zhongli. hurt/comfort, friends to lovers, diving deep into life of a person with this disorder.

tagging (no pressure ofc my pookies): @meritamiau @silentmoths @localplaguenurse @otomempress @ansy-tea @meimeimeirin + whoever wants to join in

[royaldreamweaver]

What is the significance of inventing the Shihakushō - why did she actually invent it and why was it worth a 'promotion'?

All right, I'm now mentally in a place to do an hc of something this integral as a concept. So--lets journey!

First, lets think about what the shihakushou is and how it behaves.  I think that it actually has a lot to do with some of her cohorts, as it makes sense to me that her own abilities work with, and are shaped by the powers of her closest friends—as Oetsu invented the asauchi/zanpakuto, and Tenjiro invented healing kaido.  Shutara’s strengths are not in what she is herself…but how she can see the spaces between. One cannot have one without being a ‘shinigami’, but canonically it’s not necessarily true that a shinigami is aware of this fact to the profundity of its truth.   If you follow the narrative from inside the Seireitei, it’s given to a shinigami—once they graduate from the academy, the wearer moves from dressing in the student robes to the professional garb of the black shihakushou. Yet it can also be manifested when one suddenly becomes a shinigami—such as when we see Ichigo’s power come into existence with a shihakushou automatically.  I strongly believe he was clothed transdimensionally. GIven that Oetsu can canonically understand who has a zanpakuto and what condition they're in--it makes sense that she has a mirrored ability in her own connection to cloth and wearer.

A shinigami’s shihakushou will go fully white and altered in form if a shinigami tranfers all of their Reiryoku, as in the case of a shinigami transferring their powers to a human via a zanpakuto.  In certain cases like with Unohana speaking to Ichigo about her healing, his own shihakushou’s tattered state was tied to the fact that his reiryoku was in tatters even though his physical body was in good shape after being healed in Hueco Mundo.   It’s intimately tied into the wearer, their status, and the qualities of their soul.

So…given that in order to truly ‘wear’ a shihakushou as intended, one must a) have an energy that can harmonize with the fabric (ie be a being with shinigami-like spiritual power), b) have the potential to command a zanpakuto—even if it’s not well understood by the user, and c) harmonize with the fabric enough to let it become one with you to allow for others to heal you, see your status, protect you, and it allows for your identity to blend with others even when you are displaying in the state of the garment how you are as an individual. 

Uniforms are powerful statements.  It identifies one as part of a group to an outsider, as well as fosters a group identity in an individual when worn.  It is a statement of teamwork.  And of course as a leader of the Divine Blades, she understands a plain uniform that must blend in, but allow for exceptional work  It is not lost on Shutara that there are much flashier inventions in Soul Society.  However, as simple as a black garment may seem, it is equally complex as the creations of those she works beside.  The work of Tenjiro’s healing on a person can be seen easily on the body—but through cloth, you can see what’s not there overtly, and its so simple that even someone who cannot sense reiatsu could find someone injured, see the gravity, and get them help.  Oetsu’s work is honored in tying the ability of the fighter and their weapon into one readable unit.  It’s simple as breathing to her to think about who is beside her and what they need.  Just the same as the fact that she lends her name to the Shutara scale used in alerts, Shutaras abilities exist to keep many under her protection or her thrall, and she doesn’t much care that her abilities are defensive in nature; she cares about the sheer number she can save.  She is the humility of Toyouke, goddess of cloth and necessity, dressed up in the resplendence of Amaterasu, goddess of silk-making.

She is known for being an illusion caster in a group setting who must keep MANY in mind.  She is a living avatar of the importance of fighting beside and for others instead of as a single warrior obsessed with their own strength and power—this is a difference and not a weakness.  If she is in battle, she is not doing so on her own unless the straits are dire.  There is strength in numbers and relying on your team.  She has made a basic, humble cloth, that makes people in fandom wonder why that is an ‘invention’ in the first place…let alone one that would place her in the Guard.  But that’s precisely why she’s there.  She fills in gaps, highlighting the strengths and buffering the weaknesses in her comrades. The oldest protection spells in human history are knotwork, clothing your family in the power of your love spun in cloth--and this realty isn't lost on me.  Her own gift is just as cloth is…something that ties together people and keeps them covered.  And even more than that, like any woman’s work—easily taken for granted.

[bebemoon]

I’d love to see what you come up with for Priestesses of Delight!

(top images) cult gaia "iza" pleated satin skirt & "juniper" pleated satin top in color "pine"

kindred black "dangerous pleasures" perfume oil {"known as 'the carnal flower', the scent of tuberose has been said to be so intoxicating that the victorians believed it could induce spontaneous orgasms in young, impressionable women. other cultures advised that young women should not be permitted to inhale the heady fragrance after dark."}

unearthen turquoise and brass ring

aeyde "natania" laminated golden leather sandals

[beyondthetemples-ooc]

'reddit atheists' WERE known as being the 'god is dead i'm better than you if you believe in any spirituality you're [ableist slur]' type. they've BECOME redpilled anti-sjw types, incredibly misogynist, and hate most marginalized identities and 'censorship'. granted i haven't been caught up on them for about 3 years i don't know what they're doing nowadays and don't really want to know

Oh wow, that's a big YIKES from me actually. I wouldn't care to catch up on what they're doing, either. Hell, what they WERE known for is asshole-ish. Thank you for clarifying!

@heresylog I voted that I'd rather be a reddit atheist in your poll without knowing this context, and now I take back my vote. Being Catholic sounds fine.

[universestreasures]

@ofhardknoxxx Sent: ♡ A Munday Game ♡ (Accepting)

💌 (Send in this emoji + one of my characters for a random fact about them) + Ishizu

Ishizu, like many of the DM cast, has multiple variations in eye color depending on the media. The main colors are blue, lavender, and a maroonish color.

For my Ishizu, her eye color is blue, which is the color in the anime. I really like them on her, and I think they symbolically represent her intense sadness at the situation presented before her with her brother (and is a throwback to how, in her first technical appearance in the YGO franchise, being Forbidden Memories, she used a water deck.)

However, her ancestor, Priestess Isis (who I also write here as a bonus), has the lavender eye color from the manga. I chose this not only to differentiate her from Ishizu (which is also why I choose go with Ishizu over Isis for the character), but also because I think the color contrasts with the gold of her headdress and purples in general always have had a reality to them and considering she is a high-ranking member of the Pharaoh's court, it fits her well IMO.