//scuttles in
Hey you should totally talk about Kasimir
Kasimir And The Terrible Horrible No-Good Very Bad 400 Years
CW: Sororicide, Child Death, discussion of mental health, discussion on the nature of shame.
This is going to be so, so long. Disclaimer that this is our table's interpretation of Kasimir Velikov. Spoilers for Curse of Strahd and the Dusk Elves abound.
Guilty, Not Remorseful
Kasimir is one of those characters who seems to be very consistent in characterization across tables. I do believe that if you asked DMs to list their Kasimir’s traits, a majority would hit the Trifecta of Misery:
Guilty
Sad
Desperate.
A massive part of our Kasimir’s characterization is how my DM draws the line between regret, guilt, and remorse.
He feels fathomless guilt surrounding killing Patrina, but he never describes himself as feeling remorse. To explain, I’ll divide it like this:
He feels guilty because he knew it would have a repercussion. He did it anyway. Patrina was engaged to Strahd.
He did not expect the repercussions to be all that they were. This was a mistake, but I don’t entirely know whether he sees his decision surrounding killing Patrina as one or not.
He does not feel remorse, because that would require him to regret what he did (killing his sister). Our Kasimir does not feel remorse for killing her, and it makes him guiltier because of everything her death set off, not to mention the love he held for his sister.
He tells himself that he did what he had to do (he did not), and wishes there were another way (there undoubtedly was), which gives way to shame.
"I had to do it, but I wish I didn't." "... Did I have to? Surely, yes?"
So, he has these interplaying themes connected to the overarching theme of guilt, all of which drive his every action in our campaign.
He is okay with this.
He is okay with the idea that every day is a punishment. He did what he had to do, he says, and he believes he should pay that price forever.
The Whole Patrina Thing
In our game, Patrina didn’t seem to be so much in love with Strahd as she was in love with power. My running theory is that she was intending to dethrone Strahd or overpower him once she’d been turned.
Because (I believe) in our game, he was one of the first vampires, if not The First Vampire, she didn’t quite realize how spawn mechanics worked— and to that end, neither did the dusk elves.
The Story
Kasimir holds to the story he told us. He discovered his sister half-turned, having received two of the three bites required to undergo the bride ceremony.
I believe he discovered her in the process of trying to feed (a la Lucy Westenra) and came to the conclusion that she had been irrevocably turned into this horrifying, unknowable dead thing. So he gathered the dusk elves and killed her, setting off the chain of events.
In the years since he’s been confronted with new information regarding vampirization and the process of turning, but he’s also said that if Patrina hadn’t died, she likely would’ve gone through with it anyway. Is this to avoid heaping more guilt onto his shoulders? Maybe. I don't know. Despite his guilt, he still, interestingly, provides a justification.
We have nothing to contradict his word with.
However, he also told us that he’s been experiencing dreams where she tells him how sorry she is, how much she hates him, how much she loves him, and how much she would have changed if he'd let her live.
His foundational beliefs get preyed upon, because what if he was wrong? What if he doomed everyone because he couldn’t compromise his morality for a moment?
Kasimir’s Backstory Is Misery In Case You Were Wondering
In our campaign, Kasimir and Patrina were raised to be the leaders of their communities and witnessed Rahadin’s exile and subsequent alliance with King Barov.
When the Dusk Elves regrouped after a crushing defeat, Kasimir, who is a Druid in our campaign, was voted in to be the head of the remaining families, and Patrina, an Archmage, left for Ravenloft intermittently.
I think there was an effort for peace being made with a marriage between Strahd and herself, but obviously, the Tatyana Conundrum came in (Kasimir Win!), and then a couple years down the line, the Patrina Conundrum happened (Kasimir Fail!).
By the time he made his big bad decision, he was not only the head of his community but was also the father to a small child and the husband to a man who would die defending their family.
So, as far as he’s concerned, Kasimir is almost directly responsible for the deaths of his entire family.
He’s in a constant internal battle between blaming Ravenloft— perhaps predominantly, Rahadin— for enacting disproportionate revenge and blaming himself for pulling the trigger. Two things can be true. And still, to this day, his remaining people trust him. He still leads them and protects them. Yowch.
Kasimir As The Moral Compass
While traveling with our party, Kasimir was militant about doing what he believed was right. It could’ve been because he might’ve literally snapped in half if he took on any more shame, but probably had more to do with the fact that he was likely projecting heavily onto our party.
He held his hand on the metaphorical stove for so long that he has nothing but bone left, so when he sees the party tentatively edging towards the fire, he takes action.
Because he lives in a cesspool of anguish, I think an argument can be made that he wants to ensure his actions aren’t repeated by someone else. That is for HIM.
How It Affects Dynamic
This makes him fun to have in the party, because not only is Sororicide “Hypocrite” Velikov telling us not to do things, but it also provides a good bit of levity to what is otherwise one of the emotionally heaviest characters in our campaign.
Having this ancient elven druid sternly ask if kicking the corpse of enemy #6 made you feel good and having to shamefully tell him ’no’ creates a bond like no other.
It’s also an interesting way to have him trying to semi-atone without explicitly expressing remorse. Because he judges himself so harshly, he judges the party by the same standards.
Kasimir Will Make The Same Mistake Over And Over
The problem is that shame is poison to recovery.
Kasimir does not believe he has a place in a world in which he is not suffering, so whenever he is confronted with redemption, he’ll do what keeps him rotting.
I don’t know how my other players feel about this, but I’m convinced that it’s not that he can’t break the cycle, it’s that he won’t.
In trying to do the right thing, I think he will choose the wrong thing. He will stone her to death again and again and not know why.
There He Goes Again!
It’s why I think these dreams are such a big problem. I think they’re goading him. Whatever’s causing it (the Dark Powers, Strahd, or Patrina herself) knows him well enough that he will make a horrible, horrible decision. As far as theory goes, I think it may really be Patrina, because who would know him better than his sister?
In our campaign, Kasimir is currently acting as a mentor to a half dusk-elven wizard/druid who habitually toes the line between good and evil. He waffles between wanting to save her and wanting to nip the problem in the bud, propelled by his profound shame for wanting to do it.
He knows he shouldn’t have anything to do with it, but whereas Van Richten isolates himself out of necessity, Kasimir creates this wall between them because he sees the cycle starting again and feels helpless to stop it. It’s like he doesn’t realize he’s actively recreating the cycle.
Sound familiar, Strahd?
He and Van Richten are two characters who might have the biggest questions of the nature of redeemability hanging over their head, and both grapple with themes of guilt.
I think they differ because, in our campaign, Van Richten is actively seeking redemption. Kasimir is not.
He can’t imagine atonement even exists.
25 notes
·
View notes
I'm writing a reed900 fic but idk if I should keep writing it or abandon it. what do you think of this extract ? would you want to read it ? :]
•
Gavin swallowed thickly, prepared to brush off the concern only for his words to melt away as his attention quickly returned to big dog padding towards him.
"Sumo–" Connor began, but it was too late; the dog was out of his reach now, his pace growing faster as he excitedly made his way towards the detective, excited to socialise with a new face. A gasp ripped out of Gavin as he stumbled backwards in an effort to scramble away, eyes widening as he hit a hard chest behind him, hands grasping his hips to stop his escape.
"Sumo, down." The voice behind him said sharply, causing the panting fiend to stop in his tracks, sitting down with a whine.
Nines.
Gavin's chest was rising and falling rapidly now, hands still raised in the air as if he was frozen in shock.
"Detective Reed?"
Gavin blinked, Adam's apple bobbing in his throat as he swallowed what little saliva remained in his dry mouth. "Uh."
Real smart—but Gavin could kick himself for it later.
"Sumo, come here!" Hank called gruffly from the kitchen, the dog quickly disappearing into the other room eager to receive affection, an excited bark jerking Gavin in Nines' grip. His hands flew down to grasp the android's wrists, hands still gripping Gavin's hips tightly to keep him steady.
"Detective, are you—" Connor began.
"He's okay." Nines answered immediately, voice low and calm, and dangerously close to the detective's ear. So close that Gavin had to fight the urge to shiver at the sensation of hot air blowing against the shell of his ear at each word. "Just tired. I will show him to the bathroom."
69 notes
·
View notes
Hello! I saw you've been traveling? I hope you have a good trip!
I'm not sure if you'll have time or want to write this one, if not I totally get it :)
Could you maybe write about ShangZhi and an ambush/sneak attack of some kind? Some whump and angst always welcome since it's whumptober; whatever you feel like/the story takes yooouuu
A/N: I swear, I hadn't meant for this to spicy lemons, but the lemons happened and the spicy followed. So :)
Tags: PWP, Rape/Non Con, Extremely Dubious Consent, Cousin Incest, Dual Cultivation as a Plot Point, Fuck or Die, Injured Gong Yuanzhi, Dark Shangjue, Anal Sex, Anal Fingering, Unconscious sex, Dead Dove: Don't Eat
🌶️🍋🌶️🍋🌶️🍋
--
The energy that presses down around them is oppressive and hungry. Shangjue casts one last look around the cavern and feels his stomach drop. In his arms, Yuanzhi whimpers, turning paler with every second he wastes.
They're out of time.
Shangjue quickly brings Yuanzhi to a raised stone dais in the corner. Whoever had set this trap up had possibly knew that this area used to be an ancient stronghold for some long-dead sect. There are much secrets in this land that has yet to be uncovered, much more still to be feared.
Yuanzhi trembles when he tries to lay him down. Shangjue's heart aches. It should have been him to be hit with that attack but Yuanzhi... This stupid, self-sacrificial, ridiculously brave Didi had taken a jump in front of him, taking the full brunt of the wave of evil energy.
The poison will soon reach Yuanzhi's core and by then, it'll be too late to do anything. He doesn't have anything on him that can help with an attack like this.
There's no other choice.
Shangjue must dual cultivate with Yuanzhi to keep him safe.
With one last caress to Yuanzhi's cheek, Shangjue pulls away. And begins.
Undressing Yuanzhi is easy enough when you're intimately aware with the clothes your Didi wears. And Shangjue is aware. He had them tailored made for him after all.
Shangjue tries to make it as comfortable for his Didi -- bundling up his own outer cloak as a pillow for Yuanzhi to use, carefully disrobing Yuanzhi down to his undergarments.
He tries not to linger, but it's impossible.
Not when the creamy paleness of Yuanzhi's skin tempts him to do wicked things with every inch he reveals. Not especially when Yuanzhi whimpers so beautifully when Shangjue finally pulls that last layer away, baring him in all his glory.
Shangjue calms himself. He's doing this for Yuanzhi. He's doing this to save Yuanzhi. Nothing more.
He has never dreamt of doing this to his precious Didi, Shangjue tells himself, he doesn't want this.
Shangjue was never the best of liars.
Coating his fingers with the oil he keeps on him to clean his sword, Shangjue spreads Yuanzhi's legs apart. Sliding an index finger into the secret hidden flower, he ignores the stirring in his own groin, focusing instead on the way Yuanzhi's nipples harden, a blush growing on his cheeks as his moans fill the cavern.
He slides in his middle finger.
"Shh," Shangjue coos, breath sticking hot in the back of his throat when his voice seems to calm Yuanzhi down a little. "Shh..."
The tightness around his fingers is virginal. Shangjue has always known his Didi was a virgin, of course he has. It shouldn't surprise him, but...
Shangjue repositions himself, keeping a rhythm to the way he is moving his wrist, spreading out his two fingers in Yuanzhi until he can feel the muscle loosening, then adding a third.
Yuanzhi takes him so beautifully.
"Gege has to do this," He starts to say out loud. Yuanzhi's brow furrows, lips parting around a whine when Shangjue's fingers reach deep enough to press up against a spot. "Yuanzhi, Gege is doing this for you..."
Shangjue wonders if Yuanzhi would understand when he wakes. Or will he lose his precious Didi forever because of this one life-saving act.
He pushes that thought back. Curling his fingers, he feels his cock jolt at the way Yuanzhi shudders under him. Looking down, he finds that his Didi is not unaffected. It's the furthest thing. Yuanzhi's cock is heavy against his hip, staining the creamy skin there with his precum.
The sight burns a fire in Shangjue's belly.
He did that.
He caused that.
Pulling his fingers out after one last thrust, he unties his own pants, freeing his hard cock. "I'm..." Shangjue tries. Licking his dry lips, he shakes his head. Lifting Yuanzhi's legs up, he holds them open by hooking them over his elbows, carefully gripping himself by the base, he gently rubs the head of his erection over the hot pucker of Yuanzhi's hole.
"I'll never hurt you, Didi, you know that right?"
He pushes in slowly. Torturous. It takes every ounce of his self-control to not give in into the monster in his mind that whispers to just--
Shangjue can tell the moment it snaps.
In its place is one singular thought. Yuanzhi, Yuanzhi, Yuanzhi, Yuanzhi....
Yuanzhi's tears as he makes him take the last inch of him. The faint scent of blood that coils around something in Shangjue's mind that he can't bring himself to care about. Yuanzhi's face, gaining colour again, lips parted, with little breathy moans that come in tandem with every single time he pounds into him.
Yuanzhi's tight heat. Yuanzhi's sucking him in.
Shangjue groans at the thought of keeping Yuanzhi like this. Forever. Under him, in his bed; sitting on his cock, keeping him warm while he works; teaching Yuanzhi to hold him in his mouth, his throat.
He thrusts deep and hard at the thought of Yuanzhi being his. No one one else's, his and his alone. For him to have and to hold.
Shangjue surrenders to the wickedness in him. Gives in to the desire that has burned in the back of his mind for the longest time. The wants that have accumulated over the years, not helped by the way Yuanzhi is practically someone he has raised to be perfect for the place by his side.
"Ge?"
Shangjue thinks he comes a little at the soft, uncertain voice. "Yuanzhi, don't be scared," He instructs, still fucking him hard. Yuanzhi must have realised something is wrong and tries to push him away, but he's weak. It takes nothing for Shangjue to press down, right at the secret spot his fingers had discovered earlier and it is a dark delight to watch Yuanzhi's face go slack, eyes rolling to the back of his head as he stiffens, coming all over his belly, sobbing through his very first orgasm.
His cock throbs. Shangjue pauses only to release Yuanzhi's legs, letting them fall on either side of his hips while he presses down, pushing himself deeper. Cupping Yuanzhi's cheeks, he gently kisses them, licking the salty tears, murmuring sweet nothings to calm a Yuanzhi who was slowly coming back to himself.
"Gege..." Yuanzhi hiccups. "Gege..."
"Shh, good Didi," Shangjue croons. "You have to let me take care of you."
"Take care of me? What...?"
"Yes, my dear Didi," Shangjue smiles, reaching back to press back on Yuanzhi's knee, giving himself more space to feel the way Yuanzhi's hole tightens at the touch. "We're dual cultivating."
"Dual cultivating?" Yuanzhi slurs, a glassy look coming over his brown eyes. "With me?"
"With you." Shangjue pulls himself back. Then slams back into Yuanzhi. Brutal and cruel, with none of the care from before. He lets the wickedness drive him. Take his body and draw sob after sob from Yuanzhi that excites him to the bone.
Shangjue feels his body grow warm. Initially he thinks it might just be the clothes that he's still wearing, but then he looks to see Yuanzhi's core glowing. Ah, he dimly thinks, so this is what it means.
Finding a last well of strength in him, he moves faster, lifting Yuanzhi into his arms, kissing him hard on the lips to swallow down the quiet cries and pleas as he connects them in a way that no one will ever dare separate.
Shangjue loses time after that.
"Be good."
The words are thick. Rough and rasping. Almost painful as they leave his lips. Shangjue blinks and comes round to the way Yuanzhi is riding his cock desperately. He's drooling, eyes wide and dark as if this is the one singular purpose he has left in life to do.
Yes, something curls in the back of Shangjue's head purrs, all he needs to be is your little slut now, nothing more. Isn't this what you've raised him to be?
He feels something flow from Yuanzhi into him and something warm trickling from him into Yuanzhi. It takes him a moment, distracted as he was by Yuanzhi coming in weak dribbles on the mess between their bellies -- when had he even disrobe? -- to realise that it was their core energies melding together.
"Gege..."
He kisses Yuanzhi. Licking into his mouth, devouring him. Distantly he feels hands coming up to the base of his skull, pulling him closer. He hides his smile in the way he can taste himself on Yuanzhi's lips.
Shangjue cannot get enough.
Later, when they manage to break free and walk right back out into the sunlight, they're greeted by the worried looks of their men.
"Jue gongzi, Zhi gongzhi, we were unable to note the trap in time and caused you to be trapped. We will gladly take any punishment."
"Good that you are aware," Shangjue snarls. Keeping a hand around Yuanzhi's waist, he waves his other hand. "Go find a carriage. My Didi requires rest on the journey home."
Yuanzhi seems to flush at that. "Ge, I'm fine. Please don't trouble yourself."
"And I'll be joining him in the carriage," Shangjue continues to the men, dismissing them to their task. Turning to Yuanzhi, he leans in, pressing his lips to his ear and whispers, "Gege must personally see to his Didi's... injuries. We must be thorough and check you thoroughly."
A surge of energy coils deep in his belly. Shangjue smiles, uncaring if there were anyone left to witness the little kiss he licks to the corner of his darling Didi's lips.
He spies the way Yuanzhi's eyes glass over and pulls him closer to his side. If his hand somehow slips and he gropes at the wetness between his thighs. Well.
Yuanzhi's his now. To have and to hold.
12 notes
·
View notes