#we are being censured here

[thoughts-of-the-unheard]

thinking how the hunger games movies wouldnt be made today, how we can have sunrise on the reaping because its a failed revolution, we could have songbirds and snakes because thats just a man (and he doesnt look nearly as bad as in the book), but we could never have the mockingjay now, we could never hear the words "if you think for one second that the capitol will treat you fairly, then you are lying to yourself"

[bethanydelleman]

Hello! Sometimes I see people saying Darcy "raised a child (and on his own, is the unsaid implication)" via his care-taking of Georgiana, and I'm a little confused by that. Are we given a year when Darcy's father died? I thought it must have been just a few years ago, so Georgiana was already 12+ and might have been away at school or something - so it's not really Darcy changing his sister's diapers, is it? Plus I thought most of the actual day-to-day care-taking would've been done by Mrs. Reynolds and the other servants, while Darcy was mostly preoccupied with the estate and things, so does that really count as "raising" her? And he shares the guardianship with Col. Fitzwilliam anyway, who must've helped quite a bit, surely... by that definition, did Mr. Knightley "raise" his nephews/nieces every time he babysat for his brother? Did Captain Wentworth "raise" the likely prepubescent midshipmen aboard the Laconia or "raise" Dick Musgrove by making him write letters to his family?

Would appreciate your thoughts on this!

"My excellent father died about five years ago"

-Pride & Prejudice, Ch 35

Georgiana is sixteen during the action of the novel and fifteen at the failed elopement. Their father died when Darcy was around twenty-three and Georgiana was eleven. I personally, having experienced both parenthood and foster care (my parents fostered), would say that taking custody of a recently orphaned tween is harder than caring for a baby. I think that Darcy would be doing whatever a single father in the gentry class would generally do for their daughter or female ward.

As for raising/custody, I think that while Col. Fitzwilliam is a co-guardian, he's possibly just advising on legal matters and protecting the trust with Georgiana's dowry. Darcy probably has what we could call today primary physical custody. How much child raising he's actually doing is debatable, Georgiana is certainly in boarding school at some points and would have had a nursemaid/governess, but I would give him credit for being his sister's guardian and I would bet they had a hard year together after their father died (we don't know when the mom died, though it was likely prior to the father).

As to raising her, one of the things I've always found a little strange about the relationship between Mr. Darcy and his sister is that he's praised so much for being a considerate brother but he doesn't seem to actually be living with her. She has been taken out of school and lives with a female companion. Pemberley is not her permanent residence until the epilogue, so I assume she's living at the Darcy house in London. Henry Crawford in Mansfield Park gets a lot of censure for not living with his adult sister at his estate, but Darcy is fine even though whenever we see him, he's travelling without her. Now I don't know if the big difference here is that Mary is "out" while Georgiana is transitioning to "out," but I'd love to hear an expert opinion on this one.

As for your examples, I think Captain Wentworth and considerate captains like him were likely father figures for their midshipmen (remember these kids went in at 11/12 years old!) and I would count that as "raising" in some sense. Babysitting Knightley nephews, not the same. Darcy did, at 24, have primary custody of an eleven year old girl and I think he deserves some credit for raising her. I certainly would say that Sir Thomas raised Fanny Price and she was about eleven as well, though he did a terrible job of it.

[astroyongie]

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦ Kpop Tea Part 2. ꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

Note: there's the list of some teas to celebrate my come back <3 This second part is only concerning male idols! WARNINGS: All names are censured. Requests with emojis asking for names won't be answered. Some tea can be sensitive. One X per member per group. Take it lightly EVERYTHING DONW THROUGH TAROT ! Ps: Ta*** is not included in nct 127 nor will be mentioned in my nct posts again.

NCT 127

X has a lot of regrets on what is currently happening with the group and what happened with * . this message here leaves to believe he knew what was happening but never truly addressed the issue

X's also doesn't has any consentment responsibility

X's is actually happy that * left the group and he feels quite more free with that decisions but he believes that the fault is at the company too for giving some members too much freedom

X is currently dealing with some heavy addiction

X has received a proposal from another company to join after the end of the contract with SM

X's is hella happy that * left the group

X is super angry, so much that it is affecting him into another level. this because he didn't know about the whole scandal and when he learnt of it, it made him feel a lot of anger toward *

X is investing a lot on other things than the entertainment as he isn't planing to do stay around in SM for long years

NCT Dream

X knows a lot more of what happens in the company than what he lets to see. he probably has the most dirt on the other members

X is not happy in his relationship but he doesn't want to leave them because it would mean to beak down years of happiness. breaking this off would also mean a lot of issues

expect X to go through a physical transformation

X has what we call an artificial heart. he is incapable of feeling love for people that isn't tangled in desire or lust

X has been working so much on himself, trying so much to see himself, he sacrifices so much to be able to provide better life for himself, his members but also trainees

WayV

X is in a relationship but that doesn't stop him from cheating with people inside the company

X is under the influence of someone extremely negative for himself and his own heath, but he is too blind on this

X's intimate relationships could become an issue if they were exposed to the public

X has sometimes outbursts of physical violence toward others

X is super jealous of his other members and he will sometimes try to 'steal' what they have for himself

X is smart and he isn't afraid of competition or of people in the company.

Stray Kids

X is broken, all of his fragmented self is one constituting only one, the issue is that instead of fixing what's broken, he has picked up the fragments and tried to do something about it but it as made him more vulnerable

X's mental health keeps being my greatest worry. I am scared for him

X's truly needs to be careful with who he sleeps with unless he wants to have surprised and he also should go forward with his solo project

x has plain conscience that he is in a complicated situation with his love life and his career at the moment

X's energy is currently filled with jealousy, affective dependence and obsession that he has over his current partner. but x has also been having some self destructive behaviors

X has been too prideful which made him burn his fingers with this person. his goal wont work out

X believes that he was born to suffer which is the reason why he always accept the stupidities of the company, like he accepts the mistreatment and believes for it to be necessary

X is in a relationship, his affectionate and intimate life is all right but also this includes his family. he is truly happy

Monsta X

X has been calling for help via media and yet no one has noticed it

X regrets being an idol, as he believes that he wasn't born to be who he is. he regrets to have lost so much of his childhood to this

X could literally ruin everyone's career in the industry if he dared to open his mouth

X is preservating something that could potentially be problematic

X has been manipulating and cheating on his partner. he has turned his relationship into a toxic gaslighting one and he has Toal control over his partner

X is so blind to his own pain that he doesnt notice that he is hurting the people around him

TXT

X has big self esteem and self image issues which often result into body dysphoria and potentially into eating habits that arent healthy

X was able to adapt to the new situation that has been happening to him and the group

X is currently celebrating a win that he has been fighting for a long time

X isn't known to smell very well in amount the idols

X is alone in the world as a sense where he knows doesnt have close or true friends as one can understand it

Seventeen

X is the one who has the most financial gain surprisingly

X has been trying to get closer to his family and also putting boundaries between his idol life and his private life. he hates when fans ask about his private life

X is capable to see some type of ghosts or veils to a certain point

X has been feeling very vulnerable lately, mostly because he has allowed some people to see him In all his glory and naked self, without covers, revealing some of his insecurities

X's pride will be his downfall

X is full of positive energy and he is also preparing some time of solo project. he has been thinking about having a child

X is totally and unhealthy obsessed with his partner

X is going through some type of grief

X has sacrificed a lot on his life, love and family for this career and he hates that he isnt appreciated enough for it

X is taking a new step into his life. this man just wants to marry and be done with this

X was able to come to terms with his own demons, with his own griefs and issues as he is now focusing on himself and his health

everything you know about x, all the interviews, all the videos, all the content. that is 100 percent his idol self. his true self is nothing like that

X is currently in love and loving his true big passion

BTS

no matter what X will do with his career, there's victory for him and he knows it

X next solo will be a success

X's dreams are too big to be achievable even for him. it seems like producers arent keen to do what he wants

X is goign through a lot of introspection as he believes that his life needs to improve

X has been working in a project that will equal bring a lot of success and stability for himself

X is totally focused on his career right now, as nothing else matters

it doesn't matter how much X was broken in the past by the one person who turned him the way he is. he wont heal himself, he refuse to cry for the her

EXO

X loves his job, he really does, but he truly wants to end his contract so he can marry his partner and have his life

X is not living in the present and that is his biggest mistake

X doesnt want official relationships, he wants to mess around, to lie passionate things instead of a official relationship that because he believes love is superficial

X has been dealign a lot with his mental health and his sensibility can be seen and felt through his interactions

this X is nothing but lies whenever he opens his mouth to talk about something. his whole success is based on lies

X is going to go through grief, either from a family member, friend or a relationship (this doesnt mean necessarily physical death)

X is helped by shamans

X has been trying to heal from the abuse, the submission and the abandonment he has lived these past years. although he is trying to heal form all of it

X doesn't remember himself, he doesnt remember who he was before the fame and that kinda of fucks up his mentality and his mental health

Ateez

X has been struggling a lot with his mental health and you may notice how he has lost his 'color'

new opportunity coming for X

X is doign well after a very rough period on his life. he is glowing

X's latests communications in his social/interviews/media has been the realest he has been so far

X is currently going for revenge after someone has broken his heart in a way he never thought being possible

X and pregnancy scare

X has been forgiven by someone he has hurt pronfundly

X believes that he needs to atone for some of his behaviors he had in the past that could bring him issues

The Boyz

X has hope that everything he has done will be put under a rag

X is clear, probably one of the only male idols who has never done anything bad in his life

X is faithful to his relationship and has not cheated once

X is balanced and in good health at the moment

X should be using protection If he doesnt want to have a baby scare

X has been missing his family quite a lot, and it pains him that his schedule doesnt give him the freedom to be home

The company is protecting X from some info to go out in the public which could cause a big scandal

X is waiting for his contract to end so he can leave the company

X is often mistaken by someone evil but he is actually super compassionate with people

X's sexual energy is very heavy and he needs to be careful on who he gets involved with to avoid issues

X is still searching for his life meaning and for a love that could fullfy him

Enhypen

X is still in a relationship and he doesnt care of what people say since he is truly in love with them

I don't understand how X can be so pacifist and calm among so many thorns. this man could ruin a few lives

X has been equally protected of scandals by his company

somethign bad happened between x and a higher up that I cannot speak of

X has an important travel to do that will give him some media attention

X solo opportunity

ZeroBaseOne

X has good intuition which is the reason he seems like someone collected on the outside

X is single and completely free to do whatever he wants and he also doesnt care anyone of what the public says about him

the depths of X energy are quite heavy to look at

X is clever enough to avoid troubles even when he does them

X is equally enjoying his life by flinging with whoever he feels like

X has been being more careful compared to his teammates when it comes to do things that could be complicated to deal with in the public

X's mental health has improved greatly

expect X to change something about his visual !

X is currently dealing with a broken heart from his last relationship that terminated

Riize

X's is changing his whole self and probably changing a few things on his idol persona

solo opportunity or project for X

X's energy has been very active, I just hope he knows what he is doing

X might get violent sometimes when he feels overwhelmed

X realize that he hates being an idol but now he cant do anything about it

X's is physically and mentally the most stable in this group

it might not seem like it but X has so much power over his members because he knows things

[evilwizard]

I do want to say, my views on AI “art” have changed somewhat. It was wrong of me to claim that it’s not wrong to use it in shitposts… there definitely is some degree of something problematic there.

Personally I feel like it’s one of those problems that’s best solved via lawmaking—specifically, AI generations shouldn’t be copywrite-able, and AI companies should be fined for art theft and “plagiarism”… even though it’s not directly plagiarism in the current legal sense. We definitely need ethical philosophers and lawmakers to spend some time defining exactly what is going on here.

But for civilians, using AI art is bad in the same nebulous sense that buying clothes from H&M or ordering stuff on Amazon is bad… it’s a very spread out, far away kind of badness, which makes it hard to quantify. And there’s no denying that in certain contexts, when applied in certain ways (with actual editing and artistic skill), AI can be a really interesting tool for artists and writers. Which again runs into the copywrite-ability thing. How much distance must be placed between the artist and the AI-generated inspiration in order to allow the artist to say “this work is fully mine?”

I can’t claim to know the answers to these issues. But I will say two things:

Ignoring AI shit isn’t going to make it go away. Our tumblr philosophy is wildly unpopular in the real world and most other places on the internet, and those who do start using AI are unfortunately gonna have a big leg up on those who don’t, especially as it gets better and better at avoiding human detection.

Treating AI as a fundamental, ontological evil is going to prevent us from having these deep conversations which are necessary for us—as a part of society—to figure out the ways to censure AI that are actually helpful to artists. We need strong unions making permanent deals now, we need laws in place that regulate AI use and the replacement of humans, and we need to get this technology out of the hands of huge megacorporations who want nothing more than to profit off our suffering.

I’ve seen the research. I knew AI was going to big years ago, and right now I know that it’s just going to get bigger. Nearly every job is in danger. We need to interact with this issue—sooner rather than later—or we risk losing all of our futures. And unfortunately, just as with many other things under capitalism, for the time being I think we have to allow some concessions. The issue is not 100% black or white. Certainly a dark, stormy grey of some sort.

But please don’t attack middle-aged cat-owners playing around with AI filters. Start a dialogue about the spectrum of morality present in every use of AI—from the good (recognizing cancer cells years in advance, finding awesome new metamaterials) to the bad (megacorporations replacing workers and stealing from artists) to the kinda ambiguous (shitposts, app filter that makes your dog look like a 16th century British royal for some reason).

And if you disagree with me, please don’t be hateful about it. I fully recognize that my current views might be wrong. I’m not a paragon of moral philosophy or anything. I’m just doing my best to live my life in a way that improves the world instead of detracting from it. That’s all any of us can do, in my opinion.

[herbert-best]

What Agravaine and Dinadan have going on in Book 10 Chapter 25 of Malory is unparalleled— (the world's longest post oh my GOD it didn't look so long while I was writing it)

First off, consider that they are both: known for their witty rudeness, their poeticism and cutting jokes and quick tongues ¹, their perceived unknightly values ², their knowledge of the private business of their fellows (to the point of spying on them in secret) ³, and their conscious use of rumor and reputation to influence how others are seen⁴— only, Agravaine is censured for it, and Dinadan is universally beloved at court, except by Agravaine himself ⁵. The heel-turn that happens in Malory with Agravaine & Mordred being suddenly villains happens in one chapter while they’re interacting with Dinadan specifically. It highlights the extent to which your reputation— how the court perceives you— shapes reality for a knight. A knight is only as good as his reputation. The way people speak of a knight is the only reality about that knight… whether or not it’s true. The series of events here is wild imho. Subtler readings of Malory seem few and far between but listen.

The frame of context here needs to start a couple of chapters before, in Chapter 11— Dinadan is traveling with King Mark (reluctantly).

“Right as they stood thus talking together they saw come riding to them over a plain six knights of the court of King Arthur, well armed at all points. And there by their shields Sir Dinadan knew them well. The first was the good knight Sir Uwaine, the son of King Uriens, the second was the noble knight Sir Brandiles, the third was Ozana le Cure Hardy, the fourth was Uwaine les Aventurous, the fifth was Sir Agravaine, the sixth Sir Mordred, brother to Sir Gawaine. When Sir Dinadan had seen these six knights he thought in himself he would bring King Mark by some wile to joust with one of them.”

He pretends they’re enemies and charges toward them, lance out, so Mark will panic and flee, and then—

“So when Sir Dinadan saw King Mark was gone, he set the spear out of the rest, and threw his shield upon his back, and came, riding to the fellowship of the Table Round. And anon Sir Uwaine knew Sir Dinadan, and welcomed him, and so did all his fellowship.”

Absolutely no beef with Agravaine and Mordred here. In fact, as we roll into Chapter 12:

“Will ye do well? said Sir Dinadan: I have told the Cornish knight that here is Sir Launcelot, and the Cornish knight asked me what shield he bare. Truly, I told him that he bare the same shield that Sir Mordred beareth. Will ye do well? said Sir Mordred; I am hurt and may not well bear my shield nor harness, and therefore put my shield and my harness upon Sir Dagonet, and let him set upon the Cornish knight. That shall be done, said Sir Dagonet, by my faith. Then anon was Dagonet armed him in Mordred’s harness and his shield, and he was set on a great horse, and a spear in his hand. Now, said Dagonet, shew me the knight, and I trow I shall bear him down.”

(Mordred is half-dead for like 70% of Arthuriana, poor kid) So they’re friends! More or less, anyway. At the least, they have overlapping friend groups, and, knowing who his options are, Mordred is specifically the one Dinadan chooses to bring into the prank— he didn’t know Dagonet was around, and though he might have known Mordred was too injured to do it himself, the prank still relied on Mordred’s willingness to give up his arms to someone else for the express purpose of scaring King Mark shitless.

But by Chapter 25, though— their next appearance on the page— Dinadan wants nothing to do with them. This is, again, the wrestling heel turn wherein Agravaine and Mordred get the minor-key leitmotif etc, etc. They’re theoretically portrayed negatively here and hereafter, where before they were mostly… doing things like pranking King Mark. There’s a reason in the intervening chapters, but we’ll get to that. Here’s how the chapter opens:

“Now leave we of Sir Lamorak, and speak of Sir Gawaine's brethren, and specially of Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred. As they rode on their adventures they met with a knight fleeing, sore wounded; and they asked him what tidings. Fair knights, said he, here cometh a knight after me that will slay me. With that came Sir Dinadan riding to them by adventure, but he would promise them no help. But Sir Agravaine and Sir Mordred promised him to rescue him.”

Now there’s an inauspicious start, if you want to say Agravaine and Mordred suck— a stranger, badly wounded, fleeing from someone who wants him dead, and Dinadan says it’s none of his business. The honorable, knightly task of protecting a wounded man asking for aid from a murderous pursuer is taken up by Agravaine and Mordred. Unfortunately for them, this is one of those Breuse Saunce Pité stories where he rides across the scene for no reason except to beat the ever-loving hell out of whatever knight of midrange skill happens to be center stage at the time, for no reason beyond devoted and passionate rat bastardry (Thomas Malory, a knight during the War of the Roses: “don’t you just hate it when that one guy shows up to just make everything suck in your entire province as much as possible with no higher motivation other than YORKISTS GO TO HELL? I know I do! Except when I am that guy, of course!” Thanks Tom.). So he yells his own name whilst obliterating Agravaine and Mordred with utterly unnecessary cruelty, to make sure they know who did it (gee, thanks).

Now, we don’t yet have any cause to think Dinadan and Agravaine & Mordred have had a major falling out— Dinadan has been previously established to not fight when the moon isn’t in the right lunar mansion to make him feel like it today, etc, and he’s abandoned people to handle things for him before without it stemming from ill will, but it does seem to take quite a bit to get him to concede to help— it seems like more than would usually be the case—

“And yet he rode over Agravaine five or six times. When Dinadan saw this, he must needs joust with him for shame.”

Agravaine is on the ground, being trampled over five or six times by a loudly gloating Breuse Saunce Pité, before Dinadan determines it will, in fact, reflect badly on him if he doesn’t do SOMETHING. He unseats Breuse successfully (“with pure strength” okay go off Dinadan. You could’ve lead with that tho.), who then grabs his horse again and skips town without pursuit. Breuse, as he leaves, is described as “a great destroyer of all good knights.” Paragraph end.

Now we get into the meat of this episode, starting with the immediate following sentence.

“Then rode Sir Dinadan unto Sir Mordred and unto Sir Agravaine. Sir knight, said they all, well have ye done, and well have ye revenged us, wherefore we pray you tell us your name. Fair sirs, ye ought to know my name, the which is called Sir Dinadan. When they understood that it was Dinadan they were more wroth than they were before, for they hated him out of measure because of Sir Lamorak. For Dinadan had such a custom that he loved all good knights that were valiant, and he hated all those that were destroyers of good knights. And there were none that hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers.”

At a glance, it scans as good sense. But then— why is it that Dinadan’s feelings about them aren’t mentioned, just theirs about him? It seems surprising that they hate him more than he hates them— and Breuse was JUST identified as meeting the precise description of what Dinadan hates, but Dinadan didn’t seem overenthused to act against him. And what’s up with the specific framing of “none that hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers”? Not ‘only murderers’? And, more importantly, didn’t this chapter start with “Now we leave of Sir Lamorak”??

Because, of course, Lamorak isn’t dead. He’s fine. The intervening chapters involved Gaheris’s killing of their mother in bed with Lamorak, Gaheris admitting that he and Gawain (specifically and exclusively— where was Agravaine, while we’re at it?) killed Pellinore to avenge their father, and telling Lamorak that it wouldn’t be right to kill him like this so just watch out but he’s not going to touch him right then but like watch out!! Gaheris has issues but that’s okay. Lamorak also threatened him right back with blood feuding, for his part, saying his own father’s death was as yet unavenged on the Orkney clan. (Never 4get that Malory’s Lamorak is offered a blood price by Arthur to mediate the feud and refuses it, saying he’s not done feuding yet. Play stupid games, my guy—)

But this leaves a big ol’ gap in the logic here. Agravaine and Mordred have never murdered anyone. Agravaine and Mordred have never destroyed any good knights. Why do they hate Dinadan so intensely on Lamorak’s account? They hated Lamorak the whole time, and Dinadan was clearly never on their side about it. Why does—

I would say again, “And there were none that hated Dinadan but those that ever were called murderers.” He’s known to be close only with good knights, and he’s befriended Lamorak. He’s known to hate people that act against good knights. And if you dislike him, it reflects badly on your reputation— maybe inherently (if you came into my house and said “hey I hate your cat” I would not like you ever, which is probably how Tristan at least feels) but this is also the guy who wrote that mean song about King Mark to ruin his reputation and humiliate him and had it taught to a bunch of people who were then sent out to perform it across Mark’s lands. With Arthur’s explicit approval, too— which makes it a political act of lowkey espionage, which is wild and very sexy of him (also one of the foundational elements of my ‘Geralt of Rivia is a purposeful adaptation Tristan’ rant but we don’t have time for that right now). He doesn’t have a reputation for gossip, but he’s very clearly not unaware of how influencing people’s reputations works. Everyone loves him, and anyone who hates him is publicly maligned in image as a murderer. Or do people only hate him if he’s maligned them that way? Is that something he does? It would explain why it doesn’t seem to apply to Agravaine and Mordred on a practical level, in spite of their explicit hatred of him.

But he was friends with them! Recently! And they haven’t killed anyone or been implicated in any deaths (Gaheris, as I mentioned, confessed that he and Gawain killed Pellinore to Lamorak, but Agravaine isn’t part of that, and Mordred was like 12 and per Malory in a fishing village in BFE presumably at the time). However— Gaheris certainly has. Lamorak has been telling everyone about Gaheris killing Morgause. Everyone is explicitly talking about it at court.

If Dinadan is prone to that sort of thing— leveraging his influence and significant skill with public opinion against those he thinks have done serious wrong— he’s likely been smearing Gaheris publicly in solidarity with Lamorak.

And, quite frankly, going after Agravaine and Mordred’s brother is the only thing that would make them madder than going after them.

But we left off mid-paragraph there, in fact:

“Then spake the hurt knight that Breuse Saunce Pité had chased, his name was Dalan, and said: If thou be Dinadan thou slewest my father. It may well be so, said Dinadan, but then it was in my defence and at his request. By my head, said Dalan, thou shalt die therefore, and therewith he dressed his spear and his shield. And to make the shorter tale, Sir Dinadan smote him down off his horse, that his neck was nigh broken. And in the same wise he smote Sir Mordred and Sir Agravaine. And after, in the quest of the Sangreal, cowardly and feloniously they slew Dinadan, the which was great damage, for he was a great bourder and a passing good knight.”

Holy shit. What the hell. For one thing that escalated extremely quickly. For another thing all three of these people are half-dead already Jesus Christ everyone chill. But also— The entire idea of Agravaine and Mordred being murderers ties into their blood feud to avenge their father. Malory doesn’t touch on Dinadan’s adjacency to it, but we know his brother Brunor (that Knight of the Hideously Cut Jacket, who I briefly imagine as David Byrne in a great helm whenever I think of him) for his sartorially-signified revenge quest— Dinadan’s father was murdered, which probably has something to do with his hatred of destroyers of good knights/murderers. So it’s wrongfully-slain fathers all the way down, and then this wounded knight— that Dinadan initially refused to aid in escaping being murdered by Breuse— suddenly interjects to accuse Dinadan himself of wrongfully slaying HIS father! We’ve never seen Dalan before and we never see him again, but I think this specific interjection can be read as doing some absolutely insane heavy-lifting for this scene.

It’s not uncommon in medieval writing for a sort of moral predestination to hang over everyone— saying that Agravaine and Mordred hate Dinadan, only murderers hate Dinadan, and then that they go on to murder Dinadan could all be viewed as a fulfillment of the middle statement— they ARE murderers, even if they hadn’t killed anyone yet, so the statement is true! Except for Dalan’s outburst. This guy was badly injured and fleeing from Breuse, knowing he wasn’t strong enough to face him. Dinadan unseated Breuse in front of Dalan, and the guy isn’t getting any less injured— and yet Dalan hates Dinadan so much and holds him so accountable for the same wrongdoing Dinadan himself hates that he challenges him anyway, in spite of being injured, in spite of Dinadan having defeated in a joust someone who had been strong enough to defeat Dalan in the first place. And avenging a wrongful death, as an act, isn’t inherently censured in Malory— Dinadan’s brother does so offscreen, but it’s acknowledged as a noble thing that he succeeds in his quest to avenge his father’s murder. If you challenge someone honestly, even being incorrect about your accusations towards them doesn’t make it dishonorable of you (that’s how half of these idiots make friends, after all). So whether or not he’s wrong in blaming Dinadan for it, he is HARDLY implied to be a murderer— which means that right in between ‘Only people who get called murderers hate Dinadan’ and ‘Agravaine and Mordred DO murder Dinadan later btw’— there’s a brief exchange that establishes that what the narration has presented as a fact— only people who are called murderers hate Dinadan— is NOT TRUE. Dalan hates Dinadan, and isn’t a murderer— in fact, he may think Dinadan is one. What’s been said about Agravaine and Mordred isn’t true— even if it becomes so, it didn’t have to. What does that mean for the rest of— well, the entire narrative? For one thing, we can to some degree tie this disproving back to the lead-in of Dinadan having this particular ‘custom’— it’s not an actual fact, it’s just something presented as fact, believed to be fact— something that affects the realities of a knight’s life and knighthood as if it were fact, even though it isn’t.

Whether or not you take it as authorial intention doesn’t really matter— Malory is SO interesting if you take your cue from this series of escalating sentence-by-sentence underminings (Dinadan won’t help a stranger but Agravaine & Mordred will— but they’re morally corrupt and he isn’t; Breuse is a renowned destroyer of good knights and was announcing his presence like a Pokémon— that’s the exact thing that Dinadan hates most which is the cause of his beef with Agravaine & Mordred, but he didn’t want to get involved in fighting the guy; everyone who hates Dinadan is a morally bad person— except this other guy who’s right here currently too). The narration is NOT objectively giving you the truth— the narration is giving you what is ACCEPTED AS TRUTH by the court, by society at large, what will be remembered, because a knight is only as good, only as strong, only as virtuous, only as accomplished, as the stories told of him— only guilty of the crimes people gossip on, but guilty of the ones believed, whether or not they’re true. The narrative is influenced by what is and isn’t known, by what’s hidden and revealed to the world. It makes for an incredibly fun and good reading of Malory throughout!

And there’s a lot of room to say, too, that it makes Agravaine and Dinadan insane narrative foils, because any which way you think to develop and expand on Agravaine’s motivations and desires in Malory, Dinadan is doing something similar to great affection, approval, and acclaim— where Agravaine receives disapproval, approbation, and… nothing else. Agravaine is “ever open-mouthed”, waiting “every night and day” to root out Lancelot’s secrets— when he succeeds, Arthur blames him after his death for what comes to pass, even though he was right and what he uncovered was true. It’s Dinadan’s “manner to be privy with all good knights”, so he reads Lancelot’s mail while he’s sleeping, and Lancelot is glad of it, and lets him help. Agravaine is manipulative, Dinadan has influence with his friends. Agravaine, who values his honor greatly, is dishonored for it as vengeful and jealous. Dinadan, who is careless of his own honor, never bruises it with anything he does. Agravaine is considered resentful and ungracious to others, Dinadan is a beloved jokester who harangues his friends with affectionate invective to cheer them up.ᵃ Dinadan is what Agravaine isn’t allowed to be— and yet he’s a version of it that Agravaine has no desire to be, someone who doesn’t fit in the knightly mold, who isn’t respected the way he wants to be respected, someone reliant on the aid and influence of friends, someone who laughs first at himself, at his own lack of honor. To be envied and yet also to be disdained, to Agravaine’s sensibilities, and to Dinadan’s there’s nothing that Agravaine would criticize he cares about.

And yet— they were friends, too. And what ruined that friendship may well have been the same desire that killed Agravaine in the end— the desire to see that a position of privilege at court didn’t protect a knight who’d done wrong from the truth being known, or from facing the repercussions of his guilt and shame— only it was Dinadan who was repeating the gossip, Dinadan exposing the wrong, and Dinadan died for it, too, just as much as Agravaine would later. And in both their cases, their claims were never fully proven, except in the acts of their own deaths.

But can you IMAGINE the incredible amount of dirt they must’ve dug up between the two of them, before they both got killed by their shared streak of weird, stubborn justice, one by the other’s hand? Can you imagine how utterly fatally they’d be capable of roasting you into a charcoal brick by their powers combined? Can you imagine how terminally nasty they’d be if they were fighting, and how annoying they’d be if they weren’t and they got in your business? What an insane combination, what a silhouette of deeper characterization in the negative space that isn’t addressed!!ᵇ It has so many potential implications for the narrative overall and their significance in it as arbiters of social thought and public opinion.

¹ ² ³ ⁴ ⁵

1.“no good qualities except his beauty, his chivalry, and his quick tongue”, as the Vulgate describes Agravaine (quotes that made my wife say out loud, “what else is there?!”), plus that one translator’s note about the idiomatic and metaphorical way he speaks— Dinadan is constantly described that way— “Right so came Dinadan, and mocked and japed with King Bagdemagus that all knights laughed at him, for he was a fine japer, and well loving all good knights.” etc etc. he’s a fucking bard who wrote the hardest diss track of all time (see footnote 4). Also sends his gay friend group™️ (Lancelot, Galehault, Dinadan, and Guinevere) into hysterics with his potshots at Lancelot and Galehault at a tournament dinner. More on that later.

2. Agravaine is known for being extremely jealous, petty, a bad sport and a gossip, dishonorable and vengeable— Dinadan ONLY fights when he feels like it… '

“And at the first recounter, said Sir Kay, he smote me down from my horse and hurt me passing sore; and when my fellow, Sir Dinadan, saw me smitten down and hurt he would not revenge me, but fled from me; and thus he departed.” (He’s literally present while Kay is saying this like 🤷‍♂️ ya)

“So on the morn Sir Dinadan rode unto the court of King Arthur; and by the way as he rode he saw where stood an errant knight, and made him ready for to joust. Not so, said Dinadan, for I have no will to joust. With me shall ye joust, said the knight, or that ye pass this way. Whether ask ye jousts, by love or by hate? The knight answered: Wit ye well I ask it for love, and not for hate. It may well be so, said Sir Dinadan, but ye proffer me hard love when ye will joust with me with a sharp spear. But, fair knight, said Sir Dinadan, sith ye will joust with me, meet with me in the court of King Arthur, and there shall I joust with you. Well, said the knight, sith ye will not joust with me, I pray you tell me your name. Sir knight, said he, my name is Sir Dinadan. Ah, said the knight, full well know I you for a good knight and a gentle, and wit you well I love you heartily. Then shall there be no jousts, said Dinadan, betwixt us.” (I just fucking love this exchange. He really said ‘is your challenge from love or from hate? Oh from LOVE? Wow okay well that’s some kinda love coming at me with a LANCE :(‘ like babygirl why are you a knight.)

Also openly refuses to fight or runs away from combat when traveling with Tristan, when traveling with Mark, when traveling alone (the chapter in question, at first) when traveling with Tristan again, etc, and never denies this

Hates when knights fight for women and thinks it’s stupid. “For such a foolish knight as ye are, said Sir Dinadan, I saw but late this day lying by a well, and he fared as he slept; and there he lay like a fool grinning, and would not speak, and his shield lay by him, and his horse stood by him; and well I wot he was a lover. Ah, fair sir, said Sir Tristram are ye not a lover? Mary, fie on that craft! said Sir Dinadan. That is evil said, said Sir Tristram, for a knight may never be of prowess but if he be a lover. It is well said, said Sir Dinadan; now tell me your name, sith ye be a lover, or else I shall do battle with you.” Tristan promptly tells Isolde about this later and she gives him endless shit for it.

His exchange with Isolde abt it is very funny. He’s a fruitcake. “Now I pray you, said La Beale Isoud, tell me will you fight for my love with three knights that do me great wrong? and insomuch as ye be a knight of King Arthur's I require you to do battle for me. Then Sir Dinadan said: I shall say you ye be as fair a lady as ever I saw any, and much fairer than is my lady Queen Guenever, but wit ye well at one word, I will not fight for you with three knights, Jesu defend me. Then Isoud laughed, and had good game at him.” Y’know that song in the Oliver Twist musical where they’re trying to teach Oliver the concept of chivalry? That never happened for Dinadan and now he’s like this.

Lies all the time for no reason? Presumably it’s for The Bit™️ most times bc he LOVES jokes and pranks. Tristan ropes him into lying to Palamedes uhh hang on let me count in my head. Four? At least four times.

Basically Dinadan took a knightly oath the way other people agree to Terms & Conditions. He knows this abt himself. (See footnote 5)

3. Okay we know about Agravaine but UH “And so privily she sent the letter unto Sir Launcelot. And when he wist the intent of the letter he was so wroth that he laid him down on his bed to sleep, whereof Sir Dinadan was ware, for it was his manner to be privy with all good knights. And as Sir Launcelot slept he stole the letter out of his hand, and read it word by word.” DINADAN WHAT THE HELL? Agravaine and Dinadan were out here bumping into each other surveilling Lancelot’s fuckjgn bedroom I GUESS no wonder Agravaine killed Dinadan later awkwarddd

4. Agravaine is “ever open-mouthed” repeating gossip and spreading rumors to put pressure on Lancelot and Guinevere at court before he resorts to telling his uncle; Dinadan is imho implied by this chapter to be part of the reason Agravaine’s reputation fully tanks (also a gossip) but there’s also the lay he writes to humiliate King Mark and teaches to people to perform throughout Cornwall to ruin him: “And when Dinadan understood all, he said: This is my counsel: set you right nought by these threats, for King Mark is so villainous, that by fair speech shall never man get of him. But ye shall see what I shall do; I will make a lay for him, and when it is made I shall make an harper to sing it afore him. So anon he went and made it, and taught it an harper that hight Eliot. And when he could it, he taught it to many harpers. And so by the will of Sir Launcelot, and of Arthur, the harpers went straight into Wales, and into Cornwall, to sing the lay that Sir Dinadan made by King Mark, the which was the worst lay that ever harper sang with harp or with any other instruments.” (“And when Sir Tristram heard it, he said: O Lord Jesu, that Dinadan can make wonderly well and ill, thereas it shall be.”So true man. What a track.)

Also Dinadan once manipulatively provokes, mocks, belittles, and sneers at Tristan to get him really angry, because he’s letting someone else win a tournament and running support, basically— so Dinadan takes it upon himself to talk incredibly mad shit at him until he gets angry enough to stop being helpful and start fighting properly.

5. This is the chapter where we start to hear about the extent of Agravaine’s censure for his perceived dishonorable traits. As for Dinadan:

“and all the court was glad of Sir Dinadan, for he was gentle, wise, and courteous, and a good knight.”

“Sir, said Dinadan, wherefore be ye angry? discover your heart to me: forsooth ye wot well I owe you good will, howbeit I am a poor knight and a servitor unto you and to all good knights. For though I be not of worship myself I love all those that be of worship. It is truth, said Sir Launcelot, ye are a trusty knight, and for great trust I will shew you my counsel.” <— also this is when Lancelot just woke up from his angry nap and Dinadan is just. There. Having read his private secret letter from the Queen. But it’s fine for some reason I fucking guess!! Idk!! Starfucker extraordinaire Sir “Personal Key to Lancelot’s Bedroom” “Doesn’t Fight His Own Battles But His Friends Will For Him <3” Dinadan like. Agravaine experiencing heretofore unknown levels of gay homophobia. And he’s right.

a. Even adaptations love to make Agravaine Experience Homophobia™️ but rarely Dinadan, who habitually “lies with”, and “makes great joy of” in their beds overnight, his personal ranking of the top three strongest knights of the Round Table at any given time (“at any given time” meaning that he promptly does that to Palamedes as he takes spot #3 when Lamorak kicks it— presumably the secret reason he dies on the Grail Quest is bc he needs to get dick on the reg from the strongest knights in the world to survive and Galahad categorically does not fuck. RIP to a legend), loudly disdains romantic relationships with women, and is pranked on the page by Galehault and Lancelot for being unmanly or effete and afraid of women— by being knocked off his horse on the tourney field by Lancelot in a dress, carried off into the woods, stripped to his underoos, tussled into a dress himself, and paraded through the tourney field and then the hall at dinner in it (Always Sunny title card Lancelot Commits a Hate Crime. Wildass anecdote. Bet a night out on the town with Tom Malory was a HOOT. Guinevere canonically laughs so hard at this she falls over.)

b. Anyway this is why they’re an insane and compelling ship also. I rest my case. This is actually also the introductory post to a piece of fanfiction I’ll put somewhere later in which I used a shortened ballade form taking inspiration and structure from The Flyting of Dunbar and Kennedie to write Agravaine and Dinadan having a flyting competition. Y’know, real normal shit.

[odinsblog]

And you know that there are many journalists who are very concerned about the pressure that's being applied about the sensitivities of this conflict.

And let's just be very clear here. We have the Israeli government, has a lot of supporters in Congress, has a lot of supporters in the media, has a lot of supporters in activist groups on K Street. There is a, quote unquote, pro-Israel lobby which does apply pressure on media organizations.

If you've worked like I have, both in American media and British media, you've seen the emails from honestreporting .com, and Kamera. And some of these groups your listeners may never have heard of. But I'll tell you what, every newsroom has heard of these groups; “Why is your headline this,” and “Why is your reporter showing bias?”And, “Why do they tweet this?” In this recent case, it's Louisa Lovelock, who is a British journalist at the Washington Post. It's a fantastic Middle East correspondence. Covered Syria, covered Iraq, covered Gaza, covered a bunch of things.

It's so absurd, the dossier they've produced against her. One of the things they go after is she took part in student protests at university in England against tuition fees. And..? A) that's a bad thing? B) that means she can't cover Israel's bombing of Gaza? It's so absurd. The stuff that they pull with me. Of course, I've had stuff going back 20 or 30 years that they've thrown at me. And it's a real problem where people get intimidated into not saying, not speaking what they want to speak about.

And we live in a world where the right is obsessed about cancel culture and free speech when, let's be very clear, the greatest victims of, quote unquote, cancel culture in this country have always been Palestinian activists, both on campus, in the media, and in politics.

I mean, let's just be clear, we have a Congress filled with white supremacists. We have a guy, I think, Andy Ogles from Tennessee, this week who was caught on tape saying, “Kill them all.” Alright? None of these guys get any attention. No votes of censure. Who is the only member of Congress who's been censured since October the 7th? The one Palestinian woman.

So let's just be very clear who the victims of, quote unquote, cancel culture and suppression and intimidation are. It tends to be people who speak out on behalf of Palestinians. And that's the case with reporters who aren't even taking positions. They're just reporting what they're seeing, and what they're seeing of course, is not favorable to the Israeli narrative, because what they're seeing is mass starvation. What they're seeing are mass killings. What they're seeing are kids being pulled out from the rubble. And, of course, that doesn't help the Israeli narratives.

—Mehdi Hasan, on ‘cancel culture’ and how journalists and reporters are attacked for simply reporting the truth about Gaza 🇵🇸

[siringadev]

HQ 3k artwork

"In their childhood, Miquella saw in Radahn a lord. His strength, and his kindness, that stood in stark contrast with their afflicted selves. And so Miquella made his heartfelt wish. That Radahn would one day be his king consort."

Miquella said: “Lord brother. I’m going to be a god. If we honor our part of the vow, promise me you’ll be my consort. I’ll make the world a gentler place.

I hereby swear. To every living being, and every living soul. Now comes the age of our eden. A thousand year voyage guided by compassion. Beginning here, love encompasses all. No living thing will be denied, no deed censured. I am ready. To embrace the whole of it. Let us go together. Radahn, my promised consort.””

[spotsandsocks]

Fuck it Friday!

@tizniz @diazsdimples

As they say I did not mean for this to exist and yet here we are 1.3k later. Will put on ao3 later and tag everyone later- in my lunch and running out of time. And I need to set this free so I can know peace.

I got in my Eddie feels - aren’t we all right now, had thought and now… have some pain with a hopeful ending. I’m still sold in eddie being so deep in comphet he has no idea what to do. This is the push he needs. Demi Eddie for the win. No Eddie bashing here! Chris loves his dad and wants to help.

When you walk into your living room and find you parents, your son and your best friend sitting there waiting for you, you know things are bad.

To be honest he should of expected something like this.

Eddie stands frozen, awaiting his fate as his dad speaks first.

“We need to talk son.”

At least that’s true Christopher has barely said a word to him since it happened. Not that he blames him.

“We’re worried about you.”

Buck goes next but those words aren’t new he’s already said that and again Eddie doesn’t blame his friend for his feelings. Like he said last time he’s worried about himself too. It’s hard to get his head around the recent choices he’s made harder to think about the consequences.

It almost like it wasn’t him making the decisions. It’s almost like he doesn’t know who he is anymore but then has he ever?

“I’m going to go to Texas”

The third sentence comes from Christopher and is possibly the worst thing he’s ever had to listen to and Eddie has had to hear heartbreaking words so many times.

“What?”

That’s his voice. the first thing he’s said but it’s a barely a whisper. Surely even with everything that’s happened Chris can’t mean that.

His son looks at him, calm and steady and repeats himself.

“I’m going to Texas with grandma and abuelo.”

Eddie turns to his parents all his hurt and betrayal rushing to the surface, he’d thought… he’d let them back in, trusted them

His voice is louder now, “How could you? Why? Why would you try and take him away from me again. I thought..”

Chris stops him in his tracks

“They didn’t ask me. I asked them.”

There’s no words available to respond to that.

“Dad?”

His heart hurts. His head too, everything hurts. He’s fucked up again. Again, again, again. The worst things he knows he deserved this, he caused this nightmare it’s his fault, his fault every time.

Chris’ voice sounds far away.

“It’s not ‘cos I’m mad.”

Eddie doesn’t even hear him. He’s found words and they sound desperate.

“I’ll come with you.”

If Chris wants to leave he’ll do it. No matter the cost. No matter what he leaves behind.

Then that sacrifice is taken from him too.

“No. I don’t want you to.”

He can’t breathe. He’s dizzy, he can’t think. What has he done?

He can’t hear them when they call him.

“Dad?”

“Eddie?”

“Son? Mijo?”

“Eddie?”

“Dad?!”

He turns from them all and he runs.

An unheard voice chases after him.

“I’ll go.”

*

Standing by his sink trying to breathe like he’s been taught when this happens to him he doesn’t need to know who followed him when the footsteps stop.

Buck. Always Buck.

“He’s not trying to punish you”

He can’t turn around. Can’t look, not yet.

“Feels like it”

Soft and concerned, that’s how he sounds. Buck sounds like that a lot recently.

“He’s not. He wouldn’t. He loves you.”

There’s nothing but bitterness in his own words.

“Does he? Maybe he shouldn’t.”

“Eddie!” There’s censure in that word, Buck obviously disagrees and disapproves of that sentiment.

“He loves you. He’s angry and he’s hurt but he still loves you. You can be upset with someone and still love them. I think you know that better than anyone.”

He does.

“Then why is he going.”

He wishes he didn’t sound as heartbroken as he feels. Wishes he could still manage to hide some of his heart from this man.

“Because you need him to.”

Spinning around he turns on his best friend to challenge the stupidity of those words.

“What? I need him here with me. He has to stay with me.”

“Eddie.” Buck’s face and voice hold nothing but aching sympathy. It’s like a knife cutting him open which isn’t fair he’s already got so many wounds.

Then it gets worse because a new voice enters the kitchen.

“Dad… you always tell me I need to be myself, that that’s good enough.”

Eddie stares at his son standing there, just behind Buck, so tall now, so much older than he is in Eddie’s heart.

“But I don’t think you do that. You should do that if you want me to.”

It’s all to much and even rubbing his face doesn’t stop him feeling tired and defeated.

“Chris what are you talking about?

Buck looks down at Chris who nods. There’s unspoken words flowing between them and it’s obvious they’ve been talking about him.

Chris says “Buck can tell you. He worked it out. And he’s right. I do love you.”

Then he walks away, leaving Eddie staring at his friend and waiting for answers.

“Eddie, its it’s like… well, you were a dad and a solider and a medic and a husband. All before you were 20. Man! That’s a lot!!”

Buck takes a step closer.

“Hell Eddie I was a kid at nineteen, a baby, I had no idea who I was what I wanted, and you had to be all that. And your dad told me you had to “be the man of the house” when you were even younger than that.

So who are you? How can you know?

You’ve been so many things for everyone else. You try so hard to be “normal” I see that and I I know you think you’re broken, but you’re not.

You just haven’t really met you yet. How could you, when did you have the time?

That’s why Chris is going away. Just for the summer. He wants you to have time to be you. Find out who Edmundo Diaz really is.”

Eddie listens stunned and horrified. Are they right? Is that all true. He’s terribly afraid it might be.

Buck smiles soft, eyes still worried.

“It’s ok to go look for him.”

His words get stuck for a moment but this is Buck. He can say this to him.

“What if I don’t like him when I find him? What if he’s … not normal?”

“What’s normal huh? And seems unlikely- I think I know the real Eddie Diaz a little bit at least and he’s pretty great. Always will be.”

Buck’s close enough to touch now. He really wishes he would. He’d like a hug.

“Eddie, your life gave you no room to look for what you truly want for yourself. You have to do that now or I’m scared what might happen to you. You need time and space..”

“I don't want to be alone.”

The words leave his lips scared and true and then he gets something he wants for himself for the first time in a long time as Buck folds him into a hug.

He gets to be held while Buck speaks quietly.

“You won’t be. You got me. You’ll always have me. You told me I could have you back any day, well it’s any day and here I am - I’m not going anywhere.”

It’s a lot to deal with, think about but maybe he can do it with help.

“Promise?”

Buck’s body shakes with a laugh

“Pinky promise and Maddie would kill me if I broke one of those.

“He’ll come back?”

Eddie lets himself be held and given comfort by the only person who could. Which is probably something else he needs to think about.

“Of course he will, this is his home, you’re his Dad.”

He can share his fears with this man, he knows that he has before and he does again now.

“I don’t know if I know how to be anything else.”

Buck’s arms tighten around him.

“I know, but you’ll work it out cos even if you’re not sure who Eddie Diaz is, I am and I know he can do anything.”

Buck sounds so sure, maybe he’s right, maybe with help and time he can work out who he really is and what he really wants and then once he knows that, maybe he can find it.

Buck keeps holding him, keeps believing in him and that he can do anything even find happiness.

Maybe he can and maybe he won’t have to look very far.

[butmakeitgayblog]

Oh yeah!!!! I have few words, mostly not very censured, to describe my feelings about the comments. Now I understand why ADS does not publish anything about his personal life. This comment exactly summed up my thoughts

Well, not to catch strays on my own blog here but I agree with about... eh, 85% of that 😅

It is weird that people keep bombarding her with "I thought you were gay 😩" type comments just because she played a lesbian once. Like, the girl has said she's straight, her friends have said she's straight, and most importantly: man, people really have GOT to learn to separate fiction from reality. Actors are not their characters. It's concerning the amount of people who can't seem to make that distinction, and not just with her. It's reoccurring theme in celebrity comments sections, and it's disturbing.

The part about Eliza. Pfft. Lol. Lmao even, absolutely the worst example to use in this situation. Like, I can't stress that enough. Bob sucks and has always sucked AND he's abusive, and Eliza not only was implicated in those allegations, but she also started acting like an ass toward her LGBTQ fans after getting with him. So yeah no. They've recieved trolling and hate, but for deserved reasons. Anyone who was mad about it due to character/fandom shit, again, needs to get a grip on reality. Beyond that, they were criticized for legitimate reasons.

I know some people have issues with her and the ugly frog man for different reasons that I'm not getting into here because none of it is actually known as fact nor based on any allegations other than made up ones by "fans", just rumors and guesses, but again I think that really crosses a line of appropriateness just as much as harassing someone for not being gay. We don't know these people. We don't actually know what goes on in their lives and we do not know their day-to-day actions. Assuming you know personal things based off of vague timelines and heavily curated IG posts is at best immature and naive, at worst delusional. Stop it. It's not healthy.

And lastly, all of those comments pale in comparison to the ones that literally post as though they know her personally. Like stalker type comments. Comments that fully show these deranged people have made up an entire relationship with her in their heads, and now feel slighted as though she's somehow betrayed their "relationship together". These people need to be on a fucking watchlist, and I'm very serious about that. Someone on her team should be watching her comments and doing strategic blocks instead of letting that shit run rampant because there's several of them, and shocking, they're all cis men who talk about being violent to him and sexually violent to her. Like, someone on her team? Lock that shit up, what is she paying you for.

Anyway long story short, she does deserve to be happy and even if you feel whatever way about her having a boyfriend (one she's had for 2 fucking years like omg this is not new they haven't exactly been hiding idk why this is such a sudden Thing now), acting like a fuckhead in her comments section isn't going to do anything other than make you look crazy. Just be normal my goodness

[oceanblueeyes03]

To the request Anon on my ego Luke Anon ask,

You asked about my opinion of Nicola Coughlan and Luke’s intentions towards her. In a nutshell, I think Nicola is doing her best to maintain professionalism right now. So many fans love throwing Nicola’s words back at her because she went to bat for Luke repeatedly. When she said her remarks, I do believe she was genuine. But something changed, didn’t it? That’s what most don’t want to acknowledge because there is a marked difference in their relationship towards each other right now.

And as I’ve read on this & other blogs there are more realistic opinions out there that are secreted or swept under the rug among the Fandom because they are afraid of censure or of being ostracized. Fans disagree in “public” echo chambers but quietly agree in “private”. Hell, I’m writing this Anonymously – so go figure? LOL 🤪 As time has passed, the more extremes of the Fandom appear to be the ones who have remained while the folks in the middle got off this ride a long time ago or learned to shut up & watch the circus.

So my take? It’ll be like my previous post. I’m not breaking ground or saying things that haven’t been expressed within the Fandom over the year I’ve been lurking.

In my opinion, Nicola felt betrayed by Luke & his actions at the end of their WT. Did Nicola read into things between them? Did Luke let her read into things? Probably a bit of both. But imagine all the hard work, conversations, & time that went into making season 3 the success it was. Could you imagine giving it your all while being completely vulnerable to the process, only to find out your efforts/feelings weren’t reciprocated? That maybe your bond wasn’t as strong, as you thought. When you believed you were a team? Have you ever been betrayed in love or friendship? Have you ever done a group project & been the one to pull all the weight? To quote the movie 27 Dresses: I feel like I just found out my favorite love song was written about a sandwich. What a kick to the cu$#. And then feel the responsibility to save their season by throwing continual support Luke’s way… being the number 1 fan of Lukey Newts or whatever she said. AND HE UP AND GHOSTED. UP. AND. GHOSTED. Are you f&#@ing kidding me?

There is no human on Earth who would not feel a certain way after all that. There’s a saying don’t 💩 where you eat. Welp… They are tied to one another from here on out “until they’re old a gray.” Always Colin & Penelope. Always Luke & Nicola. You gotta play nice. So Nicola rolled out the dictionary listing every iteration of friend she could find: pal, dude, etc. She’s very aware of this Fandom & the expectations therein. As I stated above, Nicola may have also had some expectations of Luke herself. I think Nicola thought “oh no, how do I break it to the fans so they don’t feel lied to when even I don’t know how to process all this?” Because what is Luke going to do to help us with this situation…

To that point, what has passive Luke done? Disappeared. Did no promotion. Went yachting while his friends rode his coattails. Popped up looking like a brooding 70’s Lothario wannabe model with Antonia at BOSS. Then had the funniest about-face in front of all of us… the SAG Awards. Fans rejoiced convinced Luke was back. Even Nicola was startled. Didn’t you see that on her face? He went from abandoning Nicola to the doting Luke of WT. Simple as that. Whether you want to believe they were always just colleagues, friends, or lovers – that’s still a hard pill she had to swallow. Jekyll & Hyde. Two-faced. Nicola physically recoiled then her professionalism kicked in. We all saw it. I imagine she said to herself, “I’m not doing this to myself again” & decided game on. She followed Antonia on IG. Instead of having Luke’s bullshit pushed on her, she pushed back & flipped the table. She said, you don’t get to play the Fandom & me again with Antonia and your “pookey-ness”. If you don’t have the balls to claim her, I do – I’ll claim Antonia for you. So Nicola did. In the process, she pissed off everyone but… I understand her motives.

Enough is enough. Nicola wants to be as far away from Luke as possible. I would want to, too. I’d be afraid I’d break down & deck him with my tiny Irish fists or a nearby folding chair. And Luke knows it… he senses something’s off. Well welcome to the class, Mr. Newton. The rest of us have been waiting for you to wake the f$#% up.

WOW ANON this is AMAZING!!!! Perfectly written ❤️

Love Love this! Thank you for sharing this!!!!

I agree with everything ��️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Going to post a link to this on to my pinned post!!!

[the-supremeverse]

happy birthday epic sansequel !

oh. you really are blind, arent you?

blindBrainac [BB] opened private board "Epic le bruh". blindBrainiac [BB] added desertedDoofus [DD] to the board. blindBrainiac [BB] added doughtyBoxer [DB] to the board. blindBrainiac [BB] added cautiousBeliever [CB] to the board. blindBrainiac [BB] added dramaticCalculator [DC] to the board. [BB]: Oops. Wasn't supposed to add last one. [BB]: Actually, nevermind. [BB]: It's not like she's reading messages anyway. [DD]: May I perchance ask a logical question that naturally arises in this situation? [BB]: Add your bruh here bruh. [DD]: Understood. desertedDoofus [DD] added chronicCriminal [CC] to the board. [DD]: By the way, you didn't answer my question. [BB]: I know. [CB]: Oh, hello [CB]: What's this? [BB]: This is a chat where you all can ask me whatever you want bruh. [BB]: And for you it's for talking, i guess. [CB]: Thanks! [BB]: No problem bruh! [CC]: what the hell [CC]: cole why did u add me to this shit [CC]: wait dont answer [CC]: its about talk to people shit aint it [CB]: Hi Kyle! [CC]: who r u again [CB]: We talked a month ago [CC]: k [DB]: HI GUYS [CB]: Hello! I don't remember talking to you [DB]: I DONT TOO [DB]: dsjfgifosdnfgiudfniogncviongfcihgf [CC]: weirdo [DB]: what the fuck is this [CC]: takin my words back this guy rocks [DB]: erin i asked you [DB]: what [DB]: the fuck [DB]: are you doing [DD]: Language. [DB]: what do you mean language [DB]: im not your son [CC]: i am [CB]: Are you really? [CC]: nah [CB]: Sad [DB]: [DB]: erin you didnt answer my question [DD]: If you read the whole conversation throroughly, you'll see that our toastmaster didn't answer me either. I believe this is because he secretly does "LOL" so to speak, as if we are here for his amusement. [CC]: nerd [DB]: nerd [CB]: Nerd [DD]: While I can see you being somewhat conflicted about my manner of speach, I prefer that you don't straight up insult me. [CC]: can i insult u not straight up [DD]: No. [CC]: sad [CB]: So... What are you guys doing? [DB]: are you blind [CB]: No, I can see... [BB]: I can't. [DB]: there you are [DB]: answer me you dirty sock [CC]: pfft [DB]: why did i say that [CC]: man ur so laughable [CC]: do u have ana [DB]: what the fuck is ana [CC]: collection of anecdotes duh [CC]: even i know it

[CB]: Guys [CB]: I think we should talk [DB]: we are doing that now dingus [CC]: pffthahaha [DB]: why did i fucking say that [DD]: I don't like to judge people by their manner of speech, but it appears that you have an unstable mental condition. [DB]: fuck you [CB]: GUYS MY NAME IS ALEX!!!!!! [CC]: tysm for the reminder [CC]: well if we r introducing ourselfs [DD]: Ourselves. [CC]: that he said [CC]: names kyle [DD]: Cole. [DB]: im dan [CC]: huh [CC]: i thought ud say smth like [CC]: hurr hurr why did tell them my name hurr [DB]: why should i say that [CC]: cuz ur laughable [DD]: Can agree with my friend's claim. You do seem like a funnyman. [DB]: and youre all numbskulls [CB]: Guys, he's like a kid! [CB]: He can't swear like a fine man [CC]: well he can say fuck for some reason [CC]: dont say language dad please dad [DD]: I won't animadvert you, son. After all, you're a grown man. You should know how things work here, in the world of adults. [CC]: yes thank you dad ur the best [DB]: what the hell is animadvert [DC]: To criticize or censure. [DC]: Yes, I'm alive. [BB]: Holy bruh! [DC]: Erin, why did you add me to this chat? [BB]: For funsies, obviously. [DB]: so youre answering some random girl but not your best friend [DC]: Shush, adults are talking. [CC]: pffthahahahaha!!!! [CC]: i like u [DC]: I know who you are. [CC]: sheesh [CB]: I don't understand [CB]: Is that some kind of science experiment? [DC]: Bingo. [DC]: Now shut up and listen. [BB]: So as i said earlier this chat is for you bruhs talking. [BB]: Welcome! [DB]: im going to hell

[probablyasocialecologist]

The backlash is in full swing. People who speak out for Palestine, for Palestinians, for Gaza are being punished simply for using their voices to advocate against genocide and for the preservation of life. Many of the high-profile examples of people being punished for their speech involve absurdly banal statements. Some folks didn’t even mention Israel by name. The CEO of Web Summit has resigned after tremendous backlash over the comment, “War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are.” It would be comical if the implications weren’t so disastrous. Forced out for saying war crimes should always be called out. This obviously correct statement should’ve received no backlash at all, and instead cost this man his job. And yet, as we’ll get into here, the response to such a mundane statement hints at Israel and Zionism’s immense fear over public opinion turning, and on an even greater scale exposes the vulnerability of Western hegemony in this moment. Paddy Cosgrave, the Irish entrepreneur and CEO who stepped down at Web Summit, is not alone. Authors, workers, and politicians who speak out against Israel’s actions in any way are being censured and forced out of their jobs. The famed 92nd Street Y in New York City canceled the talk of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen for signing an open letter condemning Israel's "indiscriminate violence" against Palestinians in Gaza. The editor-in-chief of eLife, a scientific magazine, told the world he is being replaced for sharing a piece from The Onion that called out indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians. There is again a comic tragedy to someone firing an editor for sharing a headline from a satirical magazine that reads, “Dying Gazans Criticized For Not Using Last Words To Condemn Hamas” and not realizing how they are proving the very point they hope to suppress. In short, by suppressing, firing, and attacking those who uplift the humanity of Palestinians and condemn war crimes, powerful people are making it clearer than ever that they are not in fact on the side of justice. Even more plainly, when they condemn Hamas as barbaric again and again, but then go after people who oppose crimes against humanity and say that thousands of innocent people in Gaza should not be slaughtered, they expose themselves as barbaric and depraved. I hesitate to even use the language of barbarism, as implying the absence of civilization has over centuries become synonymous with dehumanization. But as Israel runs ads in Times Square that say “Be Human. Stand for Israel” and relentlessly bombs Gaza, killing thousands, it becomes hard to ignore how nearly every move made both by the state of Israel and many Zionists has the opposite of its intended impact.

[syntheticavenger]

Splinter - Three

Two

Dark! Alpha! Thor x Omega! Female Reader

Word Count: 3K

Warnings: 18+ ONLY, world building, Alpha/Omega dynamics, intimidation. We get some Breakable and Fragile mixed in here as well. I know I said the last part was going to be tame and this is… sort of tame but we’ve lit a match for sure with this powder keg.

Summary | Your dream job provides prestige, security and a chance to shape your future. When one little mistake leads to Thor saving you in a time of crisis, his past promise comes back to haunt you.

As if on cue, the three warriors bow to you, Paloma’s eyes widening as her hand covers her heart. They place their fists on their chests, tapping twice. You’ve seen it once before, a long time ago in Asgard.

What she finds as a sweet gesture, you know the importance of what it means.

An unbroken promise.

“It’s been a long while,” Volstagg says with a heavy nod. “You’ve done well for yourself. A peacekeeper in a time of uncertainty. Much like our Thor. He’s taught you well.”

The trio laughs, Paloma joining in before your eyes narrow at his comment.

“He did not teach me to be a peacekeeper. I know my own way.”

Their laughter ceases at your censure, Paloma clearing her throat to try to ease the tension. It’s obvious that she’s enthralled with the men in front of her. They look massive standing next to her, their eyes still on you.

“They’ll make sure you’re safe,” Paloma reminds you, giving you a careful gaze of a reminder to not lose your temper. “That reminds me… there’s a dinner tomorrow, I believe the Ambassador to Sakaar has invited you to a dinner to discuss their opportunity to bring sanctions to the Scrappers.”

”Sakaar,” Hogun repeats, turning his head at the mention. “What do they want with you?”

Before you have a chance to answer, Paloma rushes in.

“The Sakaarians have a bit of a problem with people being stranded on their planet,” she says quickly. “With the creation of the IDD, the Intergalactic Diplomacy Division, they are looking at a possible goodwill tour of how they are perceived in the general universe.”

“Does Thor know about this?” Volstagg questions.

“No,” you answer. “And he doesn’t need to know because there will be a full security detail, including yourselves apparently, to make sure that the meeting does not go off the rails.”

”Sakaarians,” Fandral repeats to Volstagg. “They’re not to be trusted.”

”Well,” you say loudly, interrupting their side conversation. “Since you’re deemed to keep me safe, be on your guard then. But I’m going. This is my job, you’re here to keep me safe at my job and that is that.”

Their silence unnerves you when you continue down the hallway, hearing Paloma clap her hands together before speaking.

”Shall we order take out?”

⚡️

“The Intergalactic Diplomacy Division is kicking off the first of their initiatives, created by President Miriam Sharpe to attend to the universe’s complex societies after they were first discovered over ten years ago. Congress voted to create the division after much speculation surrounding trades with other planets,” a news reporter says, Steve looking up at the TV.

”I don’t like it,” Steve says, crossing his arms over his chest. “Since when does the government lean into diplomacy?”

“Since you decided to ignore everything about the Sokovia Accords,” Clint reminds him.

“Didn’t make sense then and it doesn’t now,” Steve counters. “What about her?”

He points to you, standing next to a senator and a person identified as a Zehoberi, a green skinned man wearing a formal suit as you smile for the camera as they sign a declaration of peace.

Thor doesn’t look up from what he’s doing, reading a message from Fandral before he hears his name being called again.

“Let her believe that she is creating peace in worlds that I know will never see it,” Thor says with a shrug. “What is the harm?”

”First the Zehoberi,” Clint chimes in. “Then what, the Sakaarians? They’re next on the list, aren’t they? They shake hands with the Kree and -”

”It won’t happen,” Thor snaps. “She wouldn’t betray us, meeting with the Kree.”

“Does she know the history? With Steve’s wife stepping down from her director spot, the job hasn’t been filled. Not for lack of Fury trying. All these threats,” Clint reminds him, slapping a hand on Thor’s back. “Makes sense this diplomacy division is suddenly created if we’re trying to scramble to make sure every society is on their best behavior.”

”That’s our job,” Steve replies, meeting Thor’s gaze. “She’d tell you if she met with any of them, wouldn’t she, Thor?”

”She has a security detail,” Thor answers with a simple shrug. “They’ll tell me before she does.”

Steve seems to relax for a moment, Thor showing him his phone as there is a picture of you sitting down and going over a stack of reports, Volstagg in the background. Your expression is tense, your eyes focused on the giant man sitting behind you.

”Warriors Three,” Steve says with a smile. “Why didn’t you say so?”

⚡️

At the knock of the door, you open it to find Hogun standing in front of you. He says nothing at first, giving you a once over before he finally speaks.

“For your event tonight, will the Sakaarians accompany you there or are they sending you transportation?” He asks.

“I have my own,” you reply, Hogun nodding at your response. He seems a little relieved but you know there is more under the surface of his calm demeanor.

“Do you think it’s wise to meet with them? Sakaarians do business with the Kree.”

“This isn’t about the Kree. This is about the Sakaarians trying to make amends for the people who have been stranded on their planet.”

“Stranded,” Hogun repeats. “Is that what you think?”

“It’s what I know. Scrappers drop them off at a planet and the Sakaarians are forced to take care of them. It is a strain on their resources but they continue to do so out of goodwill.”

“Forced to take care of them? Is that what the ambassador told you? You are a smart woman. I would have expected you to do your own research.”

“Asgardians have an understandable grudge against the Kree that goes back centuries, maybe more. Sakaarians may do business with the Kree but I’m not sitting down with the Kree, am I?”

“Not yet,” Hogun counters. “Not that it would matter. I highly doubt you would kowtow to the Kree, even if you and Thor are no longer together.”

“Is that why you’re guarding me? To make sure I stay in line?”

Hogun stands at his full height, giving you a hard look.

“I have to tell him you’re meeting with the Sakaarians.”

“No,” you snap, shaking your head. “You do it and you’re no longer part of my security detail.”

“We don’t answer to you. We answer to Thor, who provided us to keep you safe. When he tells us that we can go, we’ll go. But he’ll want to know that you’re determined to meet with them.”

“Determined?” You echo. “It’s my job, Hogun. I’m sorry that you can’t understand that. I’ve worked for years to get to where I am and I’m not letting anyone, not even an Asgardian God, stop me from what I’ve worked for. Tell him that.”

“Does the Ambassador know about your designation? They are a sensitive sort, nearly primitive in a way. You might want to think about that as Paloma has blocked out your calendar for next week, hasn’t she? Thor has made it clear he wants to help you. I can’t see this boding well for you if you don’t take heed of what is happening biologically.”

“I can take care of myself.”

Hogun simply cants his head toward you before walking away.

Closing the door, you lean up against it, opening your shirt to inhale your scent. Gripping the collar, you close your eyes in defeat, knowing your upcoming heat cycle will be here soon. Hogun is right - Sakaarians could hold it against you, especially if you find yourself fending for your designation.

There’s only one way out of this and you know you won’t be able to get past the three of them by going out the front door.

Opening your bathroom medicine cabinet, you spy the suppressants in the bottle, only a month away from expiration, leaving two pills left. It had been for emergencies, you’d told yourself, popping the top off before you pause, looking in the mirror.

This was one of those times.

⚡️

Even though you don’t see them, you know they are hiding somewhere in this upscale restaurant, Paloma following you to the table. She’s been oddly quiet, so much so that you’re beginning to wonder why she’s changed in such a short amount of time. Perhaps it’s the fact she has to wrangle three burly men without much of a plan, navigating their directive to guard you and get you to your events in a timely manner.

“Ah, welcome,” the Ambassador to Sakaar greets you, shaking your hand as he motions to a woman in a tuxedo, her hair slicked back as she gives you a cold smile. “This is General Topaz. She is the direct head of the Sakaarian Guard and personal assistant to the Grandmaster.”

Paloma freezes at the statement, watching you extend your hand to General Topaz.

“It is a pleasure to meet you,” you begin, General Topaz warming to you by placing her hand on top of yours.

“The Grandmaster is very sorry he could not be here today.”

“He was going to be here?” Paloma sputters, gaining a concerned look from the Ambassador and General Topaz. “I… I’m sorry, I just didn’t know that he was planning to come. Was the IDD notified? This is a big deal.”

“He was planning on making it a surprise but he was held up, as the Grandmaster seems to be more often than not,” General Topaz admits. “He extends his best wishes and hopes that you will visit him in Sakaar very soon.”

The Ambassador narrows his eyes at the invitation, shaking his head slightly.

“How very flattering,” he says, assisting you into your seat. “I’m sure there will be time for that, one day. Right now, we are here to discuss an on-going issue, one that General Topaz is extremely passionate about.”

General Topaz shifts in her seat, looking at the champagne being poured in the glass.

“You have shimmering water here,” she says in awe. “Very dangerous to drink on Sakaar when it flows from the mountains.”

“It’s champagne,” you correct, the General picking up the glass to sniff it, looking at you for a moment before she takes a small sip. She pauses for a moment, looking back at you and the Ambassador before she takes another.

“Not poison,” she grunts with a laugh. “Dry… but good.”

”General Topaz, please tell me about Sakaar and some of the issues you’ve been facing.” You want to get back to business, feeling eyes on you that you know won’t reveal themselves until they are ready.

“Most think of us as a scavenger planet. That all we do is pit the stranded ones against each other in a fight to the death. We are so much more than that,” General Topaz declares. “The system is designed for them to have dignity. Those who survive, continue on to be greatly well regarded in our society. Much like your… people on the… televisions, you call it?”

“You’re still allowing them to fight?” You question, giving the Ambassador a look. “Under Title 4, I believe Sakaar had promised they would not be pitting survivors against each other.”

General Topaz downs the champagne, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“We’re scaling back.”

“Scaling back?” You question the Ambassador. “Were you aware of this?”

“That’s why I asked you to come. We need your assistance, your counsel in this delicate manner,” he says in a near plea, Paloma shaking her head in disbelief.

“Delicate manner? You’re killing the stranded! I fail to see how I can assist you. You’re due to sign a treaty in three weeks, pledging peace.”

“Then you understand that time is of the essence,” General Topaz agrees. “I know that we have a lot of work to do but I assure you, we will cease fighting in the arena.”

“That’s not a promise that you will cease your fighting altogether, General,” you point out, General Topaz nodding.

“That would be for the Grandmaster to decide.”

”Then you need to go back and demand him to stop it.”

General Topaz lifts an eyebrow at your command.

“You want me to demand him to stop it,” she repeats. “He takes no orders from me. Only counsel.”

“Then counsel him to cease the fighting or there will be no treaty.”

General Topaz’s polite demeanor fades, her eyes narrowing at the Ambassador as she speaks rapidly in a foreign tongue. Whatever it is, you know she’s not pleased, the Ambassador nodding as he replies back in the same tongue, stopping the conversation to sigh, giving you his full attention.

Before he can speak, you look up to find a man standing there, placing his hand on the Ambassador’s shoulder.

”Ambassador De Wren, what a surprise running into you.”

The Ambassador looks up, pushing back his chair at the sight of Sergeant Bucky Barnes, shaking his hand as the two men greet each other.

“I didn’t mean to interrupt,” Sergeant Barnes continues. “I heard some commotion and I wasn’t sure if I needed to assist.”

“A spirited conversation,” General Topaz interjects with an embarrassed laugh. “The sparkling water, it makes my tongue loose.”

”And you, advisor?” Sergeant Barnes asks, looking right at you. “You’ve been very popular in the political circuit. You’ve done well for yourself, all things considered.”

“Considered as what?” You ask.

“The Intergalactic Diplomacy Division is a fledging government branch and yet, you sit here with General Topaz herself. Outstanding work for someone who started out as a local journalist. Thor must be happy.”

You refuse to correct him, knowing that he is aware that you and Thor are not together. Paloma greets him, breaking your irritation for a small moment to slide in a small jab.

“Fury must be happy to find a new surveillance director, I’m sure. Seeing as you were up for the job, I’m sure it must be a relief to know that you’re being utilized for other positions.”

Becky’s smile fades as you take a sip of your champagne, Paloma nudging you under the table with her foot.

“I’ll let you all attend to your meeting. Good to see you all.”

When he leaves, you follow, seeing him look toward the right as you spy Fandral sitting with his back to you. The simple reminder that you’re being watched only sours the mood, leaving General Topaz to continue to the subject at hand.

“Let me get back to you on the Grandmaster’s agreement on ceasing the fighting. We can continue this at another time.”

Before you can stand, Paloma smiles brightly as a camera somewhere snaps. 

“It has been a pleasure, Ambassador De Wren and General Topaz,” you bid in a farewell, a full smile on display. “I look forward to our next meeting.”

When you stand, Paloma follows suit, Fandral, Volstagg and Hogun standing up nearly in unison as you walk out, feeling them following behind you.

“I want them gone, Paloma,” you instruct through bared teeth, smiling for the cameras snapping once you open the door.

“This is dangerous,” Paloma smiles back, waving to the photographers. “Once they find out what’s happening, the treaty is off the table.”

“Then it’s off the table,” you answer. “The IDD won’t have blood on their hands.”

“I’m not worried about that,” Paloma says, leaning close to you as the car door is opened, looking back at the three men behind you as they whisper to each other. “I’m worried about you.”

⚡️

Scrolling carefully, you stop at a picture of a woman, smiling cautiously while out in the field, her S.H.I.E.L.D. badge on display as she stands with Nick Fury, celebrating a win over a takedown of communications that were in the hands of HYDRA. 

S.H.I.E.L.D. Surveillance Director Goes Missing 

Clicking another article, you find a picture of her again, a grainy photo of her at a grocery store.

Saved By Captain America, Former Surveillance Director Gives Up Job for True Love

Narrowing your eyes, you remember the whispers, the gossip of how quickly she had disappeared after rising in the ranks to be Fury’s right hand. There had even been talk to have her join the IDD to help with their translations and training.

Fury Still Looking For Top Spot Of Surveillance at S.H.I.E.L.D. - Still Mum On If Former Director Will Ever Return

She stays on your mind on nights like this, thinking back to when Thor had threatened you. Largely, it’s been out of mind, out of sight but seeing Sergeant Barnes sent you right back down the rabbit hole to find out what happened to her. S.H.I.E.L.D. had been rocked by illegal drugs dealt and sold within the ranks, Steve Rogers himself going after the suspects. While she had not been named as a suspect, the rumor had been that the rampant illegal suppressants and drugs had happened right under her nose. Fury had disputed this, fiercely until the rumors had stopped and she had been seen with Steve, renouncing her role as surveillance director and giving no interviews.

For the usual Omegas, it seemed like a romance novel come to life - the hardworking Omega falling for a strong Alpha who could take care of her. The parallels had seemed too good to be true, at least when you looked at yourself and Thor.

At least you knew the truth - Thor wanted you to fall in line and you were never that sort.

At the knock of the door, you close your laptop, padding to the door to open it to find Volstagg. He seems apologetic, finally looking you in the eyes before he speaks.

“I come with good news,” Volstagg says in a whisper. “Grandmaster is apparently going to cease all fighting. Not just in the arenas.”

“What?” You ask, Volstagg tapping his finger to his lips.

“They want the treaty,” he says.

Exhaling softly, you feel like you can finally breathe.

“That’s great news,” you finally say. “Thank you Volstagg. You made my night.”

“Get some rest. I’m sure tomorrow they’ll announce it and you’ll get to travel to Hala to see it in action.”

Nodding sleepily, you give him another smile of thanks, closing the door.

Hala. A name you’ve heard before but barely, mostly by political commentators. 

You’ll research tomorrow, you tell yourself, climbing into bed and falling asleep.

[galedekarios]

you seem to be reputable source to ask this and i haven't found a walkthrough anywhere else, do you know how to trigger the boat scene where gale has already decided not to go after the crown? like where he says you'll always be enough for him.

i've tried so many combinations and can't figure it out! sorry if you've already posted this

thank you for your message!

you have to sway gale away from the crown as best you can over the course of act 2 and 3, and then follow a certain chain of events to set the correct flags to trigger the alternate boat scene.

i've reliably managed to trigger it in act 3 with the following steps:

1: get the annals of karsus from sorcerous sundries

2: don't give gale the annals of karsus right away when he asks for the book

3: go to camp, but not as a long rest -> pick the go to camp option instead

4: speak to elminster and initiate his conversation (he should have a ! over his head and you can initiate the next step in progressing gale's act 3 quest, however: this is sometimes bugged if you haven't unlocked the elfsong tavern yet as a camp space, i.e. elminster will turn up, have a ! over his head, but his dialogue doesn't trigger, essentially soft-locking the quest)

5: go to the stormshore tabernacle to progress the quest

6: pick the option that encourages gale to seek mystra's forgiveness -> Player: Seek her forgiveness, Gale. It might be your only hope of curing the orb.

7: do a long rest

8: the alternate boat scene should trigger with gale at this point (he should be at camp with a ! to show he's ready to speak to the player)

i'll also share a screenshot of the conversation from the files (CAMP_Gale_CRD_ROM_BeMyGod) and highlight which flags are important:

alternate boat scene dialogue

Gale: Ah. You're still talking to me then?ORI_Gale_Knows_KarsiteWeave, LOW_StormshoreTabernacle_State_GaleSeeksForgiveness Gale: I wouldn't blame you for giving me a wide berth. I thought the orb's ever-present censure had tamed my wilder ambition, but that wasn't the case. Gale: I needed Mystra's intervention. She offered me a path to redemption at last, and it might yet leave my mind and body intact. Gale: Please - continue to believe in me. I want to show you the wizard I am capable of being, rather than the poor excuse for a man who's kept you company thus far. - Player (Option 1): I believe in you Gale. Always have, always will. ['Gale 10'] Gale: That's all I ever need to hear. - Player (Option 2): You're willing to give up the chance of unlimited power. I'd say your ambition is under control. Gale: If that's true, it's thanks to you, and the trust you show in me at every turn of this strange adventure of ours. - Player (Option 3): I hope so, because honestly you have been a poor man recently. Especially on the romance front... Gale: I'm sorry. It's not easy living for more than just yourself, when for so long just staying alive was accomplishment enough. - Player (Option 4): You're more to me than magic, Gale. ['Gale 10'] Gale: You stole the words from my mouth. - Gale: I know what I must do. The Crown belongs under Mystra's stewardship, not mine, and I will ensure she gets it. Gale: That means there'll be no permanent place in the heavens for us. But we could still visit. - Player (Option 1): Close your eyes. Gale: Astra navigabimus. - Gale: Few mortals ever glimpse what you're about to see. But don't be alarmed - I'm here with you. Now... open your eyes. Gale: Quite the view, isn't it? The Outer Planes are a place of profound, sometimes overwhelming possibility. Gale: I conjured this illusion often during my confinement in Waterdeep. An escape for the mind, where there was none for the body. Gale: It was easier to stare at the celestial abyss than recognise the emptiness within myself. Easier to pretend my destiny lay among such stars, than work to salvage a life on solid ground. You changed all that. Gale: You see me as I am, and do not find me wanting. With these stars as my witness, I swear - you will always be enough for me. ORI_Gale_State_RejectedBeMyGodProposal ['Gale 10']

as you can see, both the ORI_Gale_Knows_KarsiteWeave (mystra reveals this knowledge to gale at the stormshore tabernacle) and the LOW_StormshoreTabernacle_State_GaleSeeksForgiveness (set by picking the seek her forgiveness option during the stormshore tabernacle scene with the protag, gale and mystra) flags are integral here.

if you want to watch the alternate boat scene, i posted a video of it here.

i hope this was helpful to you! 🖤

[humongousgothskeletonfarm]

TGR CHAPTER 2 THOUGHTS

- jeremy “had been made to sorely regret that little rebellion” by his stepfather? we are finally delving further into jeremy’s family lore which i have been WAITING for. this line definitely makes me think that my theory about jeremy being abused by his family is true - his stepfather seems horrible from what little info we have

- CAT HELPING JEREMY GET OFF THE PHONECALL WITH HIS STEPFATHER BY PRETENDING TO TAKE HIS ORDER IS SO FUNNY I LOVE HER

- NEIL JOSTEN MENTIONED LETS FUCKING GOOOOOOO

- COACH RHEMAN I LOVE U

- “He thought about Jean tugging the chain last night, rattled and worn. He wouldn’t have to lock the door today. How horrible of Jeremy, to feel such relief at that thought.” GODDDDDD

- “Jeremy didn’t have to elaborate on who Neil was. He doubted there was a single person in NCAA Exy who didn’t recognize the name.” I KNOW THATS RIGHT

- ok so we have learnt that jeremy’s dad is in the airforce, location unknown and didn’t raise his kids (but it seems jeremy still loves him/has a decent amount of respect for him considering he kept his last name and was so quick to answer the phone) also i can’t remember if this was stated to or just alluded in the last book that one of jeremy’s siblings had died? i haven’t reread it so i can’t remember if i was just reading into that but jeremy says his dad missed “all five - four - high school graduations” of his kids which, unless one of the didn’t graduate, it seems like one of the siblings died? which was my thinking from the last book

- “His mouth twitched again, but Jean dug his fingernails into his lower lip to stop the smile from forming. ​The self-censure was regrettable, but then Jean said, “Pop. How easily these monsters die in the end.”

STOP IT JEAN ADMITTING GRAYSON WAS A MONSTER OUTLOUD IS SOMETHING THAT IS SO IMPORTANT HES HEALING OMFG JEAN I LOVE U U DESERVE THIS U DESERVE TO BE HAPOY AND FOR UR MONSTERS TO BE DEAD

“good riddance, too” “yes” AHHHHHH!!!

- “you do not have to trust him” jean said “i do.” BE STILL MY NEILJEAN FRIENDSHIP HEART OMFG IM SIBBING I LOVE THEM SO BAD

- “that ill-bred child is not my friend” THANK U NORA FOR FEEDING ME

- WHAT DID JOSHUA SAY ALSO I NEED TO KNOW WHAT WENT DOWN IN JEREMYS FAMILY

- “are we adding you to the groupchat, or are you not ready to be that sociable yet?” ITS GIVING NEIL THEY ARE MIRRORS UR HONOUR

- god i love how funny jean is lmaoooo “i would also destroy my phone if it went off as incessantly as yours do”

- “A SINGLE WORD IS SELDOM RUDE ENOUGH TO MAKE A POINT” JEAN I FUCKINH LOVE U PLS BE MY FRIEND

- JEREMY BEING WILLING TO LEARN FRENCH OMFGGGG HE IS TOOOO CUTE

- “You were hurt yesterday. Kevin will want to know.” ​“He will not care,” Jean said again. ​Jeremy was flabbergasted. “He is your friend.” ​“He is not.”

“i just wanted him to die”

““I was glad when he lost his hand. Exy is all he has and all he loves; I knew it would destroy him to lose it. A month in the Nest without it, maybe two, and he would have no recourse but to kill himself. I was only alive because he made me promise to survive. If he died, who could hold me to that? I would have slashed the tires on his car before I let him escape us, and he knows it.”

GODDDDD I KNEW OF COURSE THAT JEAN AND KEVIN DONT HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP AND THERE IS TOO MUCH HISTORY BETWEEN THEM TO UNTANGLE BUT READING THIS WAS SO DEVASTATING TO ACTUALLY SEE IT WRITTEN OUT AND ACKNOWLEDGED IS SO SAD. NORA U JUST STABBED ME

- cat telling jean they’re glad he is alive because they love him and they want him to be happy and him telling her not to say that literally killed me

- “most things about u are” “jean? i’m glad you’re here too. our lives are better with you in them” mine would be better if you would stop talking” THEYRE IN LOVE UR HONOUR

[candyswirls]

Is it Heresy to Fall in Love With a Warp Entity?

Finally! I posted a teaser a while back, and I've just been yapping about this story in the Primarch Kids discord (despite it not being primarch kids), and I now have the first chapter ready! I'm excited to present to you these two and their romance.

Is it Heresy to fall in love with a warp entity?

Am I really to be censured and struck out from my chapter as penance? What traitorous action have I done to merit this?

I have taken no steps towards chaos, and every decision was made in favor of my legion and the Emperor. I have merely done my duty and followed through the natural direction my hearts have taken me.

Is it because of the warp entity? The nature of how we met? Or is this type of feeling not granted to one of His angels?

Just as I have been loyal, she has born no ill will to anyone but the ruinous powers themselves.

Is it heresy to fall in love with a warp entity? One who showed me great kindness and understanding. Who fought alongside me and my battle-brothers? Who, when possessing them, not of her own volition, took the utmost care of them?

Is it heresy to fall in love with a warp entity?

Is it Heresy to love the unlovable?

***

He refused to look. Perhaps he needed a higher dose. Yes, the stress of the recent war was just getting to him. Just like it was his brother... and those other brothers.

"Just because you ignore me doesn't mean it's not happening," his brother's voice piped up.

But it wasn't his brother. It was his voice. But not in his regular tone or manner of speaking. He even was sitting like a degenerate. This... this - no. Do not name or acknowledge it. This isn't happening.

He flipped through his backlog of doses and times he took his medication. Meetings with his chaplain and captain. With other apothecaries. The magos shrinks. It spanned the last forty years. Other records that had been archived went back to when he was first diagnosed.

He frowned. He hadn't missed a single day, a single dose, or a single meeting. Not once or for any reason. A perfect and immaculate record.

He rubbed his face, keeping his breathing level.

He turned, and his brother was right next to him. He nearly slammed him to the table, but they caught his hand with-with... with in-astartes speed.

"Let's relax and not be so jumpy," he said. "You're obviously on edge."

"Hush!" He hissed. "If the chaplain finds out- urgh! Why am I even entertaining this?! No, this isn't happening. It's not."

It went silent for a moment.

"I'm still here," they said in a whisper.

"Emperor, give me strength," he muttered.

"Who?"

He looked at his battlebrother, bewildered.

"Please tell me you're joking," he demanded. "The Emperor? Master of All Mankind. The God-Emperor."

"Oh, you mean him," scoffed his brother. "Big guy. Massive psykic aura. Likes gold. Comically bad at reading Tarot of all things."

He stared, "What madness are you speaking of?"

"What madness are you speaking of?" They demanded, placing his hands upon his hips.

"You!" He gritted as he pointed a finger at him. "You are... agh!"

"I'm what? A dude? I can see that."

Hallo muttered, "This makes no sense. Absolutely no sense."

His brother threw up his arms, "I agree. Let's sit down and talk about it so we can come to a conclusion."

Hallo looked into their eyes. It was slight, but he could see some type of light hiding behind the pupils.

"I am Apothecary Hallo Iche," he said. "I want to protect my brothers, but I demand to know why a warp daemon has been and is able to possess them."

"Entity," the corrected.

Hallo wrinkled his nose, "Excuse me?"

"Warp entity," they clarified. "I am no daemon."

***

He walked down the hallway to the apothecarium, and fellow marines refused to step out of the way. Others did it solely out of finding him annoying and unbearable.

His mentor had not dealt with such disrespect. He was held in high reguard. But even as the old marines apprentice, that had not rubbed off on himself.

He had yet to learn of his nickname. The Inquisition's Lackey Boy. He trusted them completely. Much to the chagrin of his fellow astartes.

He cared not for his brothers' opinion of him, though. At least that is the lie he told himself.

He was a proud Son of Dorn. His father had locked away his librarians after Nikea despite his grief. He would show the same discipline.

He had gained a name for himself even before arriving with the fifth company. He wished it was a name associated with honor and positivity. Not one scorned by the chapter master himself.

Not the name of a failed apprentice chaplain. He'd get his mentor to speak to him again.

He had received a cold greeting upon arrival and immediately began attending to his duties. Only a few months after arriving and his battle-brothers hated him. Believing him not to understand the meaning of loyalty or the joy of relying upon the brotherhood of the chapter.

Or what he saw.

The life of a chaplain was a lonely one. He'd wear it gladly for his Father and the Emperor, beloved by all. He just needed to prove he could still be one. It had been his dream. For throne sakes, his own mother had given him the middle name of Chaplain in anticipation!

The apothecarium slid open, and he marched in towards the astartes on the table.

Apothecary Vierro intercepted him before he could get to the other.

"Brother Hallo Iche," He greeted. "What brings you here?"

He explained, "Yonathan Bairen, one of the scouts recently promoted to battle-brother. He was down on Redma battling the orks and fell into a Suscoma due to injuries near the old chaos temple they commandeered. He awoke yesterday and seemed perfectly fine. But as of this morning, he woke with no memory, no knowledge of the imperium or astartes. You are unsure of this due to his wounds or if it has anything to do with the temple."

The other apothecary, Balto Fage, muttered, "Who in the warp told you - no need to worry Iche. A lot of details you have are wrong, but we are handling it. Thank you for your concern. You may go, Brother Iche."

Vierro glanced back for a moment and then gave a smile to Hallo, "What can I help you with?"

Iche stood there a moment before sighing and handing forth the prescription note.

Vierro took it and raised a brow.

"They're placing you on them now," he mumbled, already counting out the amounts on his hand. "You should sleep well with these. Then, ones for itching... sores around carapce ports... yes... yes..."

Iche did not reply and just folded his arms across his armor, trying to ignore the itching and feeling of something crawling across his skin. As Vierro went to fill the prescription, Iche glanced at the sick battle-brother. He was sitting up and staring at the wall.

Balto went to a supply room.

It grew eerily silent, and Yonathon slowly turned unblinking eyes upon the apprentice chaplain. His shadow upon the wall grew long and writhed outwards.

Yonathon's irises flashed a yellow glow, and he collapsed back onto the table, the shadow disappearing.

"Apothecary!" Iche called as he drew his bolter.

Balto rushed in, "What happened? What are you doing?!"

"Possession!" He hissed. "I saw it! Strap him down!"

Yonathon didn't move, but cackling came from him.

Vierro dashed back in and moved towards Iche, "Hallo Iche, calm yourself! Put the bolter down and tell me what you saw."

"Silence daemon!" Iche snapped. Just stop, please stop the laughing! He'd had enough of it in his dreams!

Yonathon's eyes went wide, "Daemon? No, Iche. I am no daemon. I am a loyal battle brother! I've only fought front lines in battle! I would never betray the emperor or imperium! Apothecary, help me!"

"Hallo Chaplain Iche," Vierro spoke again. "Perhaps we can follow the ways of the codex and report this to a chaplain as we sh -"

He whipped the bolter to Vierro, "I am a chaplain! You- you... you..."

That was not Apothecary Vierro. It was his mentor and master, Kagrus. Blood dripped down his eyeless face, and half of his skull was exposed.

"Hallo?" He inquired. "Why didn't you save me? Why did you betray me? You lost your faith in the God emperor. Heretic. You have become a heretic."

Hallo's hands shook, "I'm not a heretic. I'm not a heretic. I am not a heretic!"

"Hallo!"

His bolter went off. Yonathon yelped as a bullet grazed his thigh. Kagrus had leaped forward in an attempt to get the bolter away.

He dashed out of the apothecarium, breath hitching in his throat as he raced to the elevators. Blood was seeping up from the floor.

There was foul play going on here. The dark forces wished to enter in? They would be met by him and the emperor's light.

As he entered the lift, another marine staggered out from their quarters. Sergeant Hoskins. He had just gone through the rubicon primaris not even a week ago and was still in his robes. He blinked and looked around. They caught sight of the him and lit up. The lift began to move, but the marine easily leaped in.

He looked shocked at himself.

"I've never been able to do that before!" He excalimed. "That was so cool! This body is amazing!"

His tattoos moved across his skin, hopping back and forth between scars.

Iche froze, "Yes... the benefits of the rubicon primaris surgery."

Hoskins was looking at his arms, "The Rubicon is named after a famous River on Terra."

Iche slowly reached for his bolter.

"You read this in the archive, imposter?" He asked cautiously.

"Hmm?" The other marine questioned as he looked up. "Why are you reaching near your hip?"

Iche drew the bolter, pointing it at the Sergeant's chest. Ink like tears spilled from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

"Withdraw from the Sergeant immediately!" He ordered. The next floor would be coming up soon.

The Sergeant put up his arms.

"Let's just all calm down and take -"

He bashed the bolter over their head, and they collapsed on the ground.

"Chaplain!" Barked a lieutenant.

They had arrived at the next floor, the brothers there only seeing Hoskins back and Iche knocking him out.

"He's possessed!" He yelled. "By a daemon! restrain him! We are infiltrated! I must get to the reclusiam!"

He sprinted past, not allowing anyone to stop him. His name was called, but it began echoing, following him long after it should have stopped.

He rounded the corner to the reclusiam and froze. Black webbing and pustules covered the walls, ceiling, and floor. A writhing mass was within the Reclusiam.

He hid in an alcove and tried to catch his breath. Why was this happening? Was this happening? No! He'd only dealt with such things before becoming an Astartes! Hadn't he been suppressing his psykic powers enough?

He took in a deep breath. He had to warn everyone.

He was alone in the hallway when another battle brother came out. He didn't know his name. Just saw him and his eerie demeanor. This marine had such a sickening grin plastered on their face.

"Let's head to the Reclusiam, Hallo," he said in a distended voice.

Hallo whipped out his bolter again, but the marine smacked it out of his hand. It flew over the railing and down far below. It would eventually reach the bottom and shatter. It was so far down he wouldn't be able to hear it.

The marine spoke again, mouth unmoving. "Let's go to the Reclusiam. I don't want to hurt you."

He tried to punch the primaris, but they caught his arms and held them down to his sides. Their grip was beyond what it should be. Strength far exceeding his own.

He kicked and used every bit of combat doctrine he knew. But he was still a novice and struggled to break free.

Iche yelled. "Daemon! Help!"

He heard the voices grow as black bugs crawled out of the other marines armor and into Hallo's.

He shrieked and knocked his head back into the possessed marine.

He managed to break free, dart away, but he misjudged the force behind his movement. He broke through the guard railing. He fell down towards his death, breaking any and all cherubim cages he hit on his way down.

He was going to die while daemons were rampant through the ship. He had failed yet again.

***

He came to, staring up at the light from the void of each level. For a moment, he had thought it to be the light of the afterlife.

Pain echoed in his body. He knew many bones were broken and could taste blood.

He could hear the hum of a dreadnought engine approach. One leaned over him and spoke.

"You are incredibly lucky," He said.

Iche sighed, "Thank you, revered brother."

Iche side eyed the dreadnought.

The silence was defeaning. A shadowy figure broke open from the dreadnought and began crawling towards him.

Iche flung himself to the side and seethed at the pain.

"I'm not going to hurt you, Hallo," the creature assured.

"GET AWAY FROM ME!!" He screamed.

The ground was suddenly gone, and he fell again.

***

He gasped awake, hearing voices, seeing mortals climbing towards him, and the image of the dreadnought looking down the hole at him. They were far away. A woman, chained in silver and glowing, was floating down towards him, grabbing him by the chest and shoving him backward. He melted into the metal till there was nothing left.

He lost consciousness.

***

Awakening in the apothecarium felt shameful in a way. Especially as Captain Antaros stood at his bedside, looking disappointed.

"Sir," he croaked, trying to sit up, but realizing he was strapped down.

The captain sighed. "You have caused massive panic throughout the ranks. Raving about daemons, attacking a wounded brother, striking down a sergeant, falling several floors, then sending yourself down even more.

"I didn't!" He insisted. "There were daemons -"

"Tyren Dantus and several mechanicus saw it after you tried punching a brother who had just exited his room," the captain said.. "There are witnesses. Then our dear ancient one managed to wake up to try and save you, and you crawled away from him screaming and failing to notice an open maintenance hatch. It took hours to get you out of there, and most of the work was done by servitors and serfs. "

"Daemons are haunting the ship and possessing each person you speak of!" Iche burst. "It's haunting me! Constantly hounding and obsessing over me! It followed me and now appears in my dreams! Captain, this is a seriously terrible and horrible matter! Bugs came out of the Sergeant, and I can still feel them crawling on me! I could feel them before! They're in my carapace ports!"

Captain Anteros just sighed and stood.

He turned to Apothecary Balto, "Send a message to the home base apothecaries. Hallo Chaplain Iche will need intense psychiatric care."

Iche gaped, "My lord?"

"You were sent here because of what happened with your mentor and former squad. You've endangered countless marines, refused to listen to orders, are extremely paranoid, and now your hallucinations are so severe you're seeing daemons and attacking your own brothers? This company is full of loyal sons of dorn who despise chaos. You are obviously not well from Minon. You experience such intense horrors and PTSD that you fully believe that all the brothers here hate you."

"It is my duty as chaplain -"

"You're not the chaplain!" Anteros retorted. "You're an apprentice! Were an apprentice. You still won't acknowledge the fact that your mentor, Kagrus, died in front of you! You are not fit to be an astartes. Not mentally, at least not right now."

Iche could feel his hearts break.

"No," He whispered. "Please."

"You are being sent away to receive help," the captain informed him. "It pains me to see you like this. Jist hbainh freshly graduated from being a scout. You can't even see the state you're in. Your weapons and armor have been confiscated. You are not allowed to pick up any weapons and, in turn, are not allowed in the training cages. Apothecary Vierro will be over seeing you, and you will require an escort anytime you exit your room."

Tears streamed down his cheeks at hearing this.

"Your life has worth, Hallo," Antaros said. "It has been one too many times that you've tried to end it as of late. You can't even remember them. I hope you become well enough to return to the ranks, but if it ends up that you are forced to retire and work with the neophytes, then so be it."

"My duty is to the emperor," Iche choked. "It doesn't end till I perish in battle!"

"Not when you endanger the lives of your brothers," the captain said coldly. "Not when your mind is ill and you can not make proper choices. If this continues, you will die but not in the emperor's way. The decision has been made. Pick-up will be here within the week."

"Please!" He begged through sobs. "Captain, please!"

He pulled against the restraints to no avail. He thrashed for a while but eventually gave up.

Once he calmed down, Vierro came over. He still had his soft smile.

"Vierro," he cried. "I'm not a heretic."

"No one said you were," Vierro assured him.

Iche shook his head and laid back, "I... what am I to do?"

"Take one day at a time," he said as he shined a light in Hallo's eyes. "You've given us all a massive scare."

Hallo squirmed. He could feel the bugs crawling, but... they weren't there??

"What is happening? He sniffed. "Am I cursed?"

"I sent for your medical file for both during and before the astartes process," Vierro stated. "I suspect you are experiencing psychosis and are in the middle of its peak. Back as a boy, my father developed it. The medicines take time, but he never had an episode again."

The apprentice went quiet.

"You've been told this before, haven't you," Vierro deduced.

Hallo nodded, "It never was confirmed... but doctors had suspicions. I never had it evaluated... it ran in my family."

Vierro nodded as he took blood samples, "It's extremely common for Astartes to develop it due to war and warp travel. Usually easily treatable and caught quickly. Sounds like yours developed beforehand and has grown worse. You require better amenities and help than what we have here."

The apothecary dabbed away tears from Hallo's face.

"I never should have become a chaplain," he mumbled.

"You could become a librarian," Vierro offered. "You are quietly skilled with your psykic might."

Hallo just shook his head. He'd failed his mother.

***

He stared at this... warp entity...

"You can call me Circa," they smiled.

Master Post - Next