#while using all of their deaths to fuel the fire of his war

[azaleaniath]

~ AO'NUNG X FEM! SULLY! READER ~

Terrible liar

summary: Ao'nung loves to mess with your siblings, as they always get mad. Your reaction to his behavior though not only confuses but also frustrates him. Why are you always nice to him?

includes: swearing, cuddles, bullying, injuries, soft and harsh psychical touch, denial, anger, falling in love

SFW

5.4k words

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You lived in Awa'atlu with the people of the Metkayina clan for a while now.

Some of them were curious about you and your siblings. Others ran off as soon as you were near. Some of them even seemed to be disgusted by your presence.

Ronal did not want to have you here. She was certain that you would bring war and death above her folk.

Tonowari on the other hand had a kind heart and allowed you to stay here. If he would've been in Jake's position, he would've pleaded for Uturu as well, at least for his children.

The chief's daughter Tsireya proved to be a bubbly and lovely girl who had helped you voluntarily from the moment she saw you. She always helped wherever she could.

And then there was his son Ao'nung. He used every chance he got to bully you and your siblings. He found it absolutely amusing to see you fail, it entertained him to get especially Lo'ak all angry.

Seeing your brothers and sisters all pissed and annoyed was fuel to his fire. To him, is was only a game. A game he always won. Or so it seemed at first.

"Ooh, what have he here? A forest freak~" His friends laughed at his dramatic pronunciation. You sat on the dock all alone, carving an ilu out of a peace of wood you had found underwater.

You looked up to Ao'nung and his two friends with a genuine smile. "Hey guys, what are you doing?"

Your friendly voice already disgusted him, but he loved to mess with your family.

"Better question, what are you doing there?"

Reaching your carving out to him with a proud face, you watched his grin turn into a disgusted yet still amused expression.

"Can you see what it is? I'm as good as done! If you want to, you can keep it." Your smile did not seem to lessen, even when Ao'nung snatched the wooden figure out of your hand. He heard you wincing, but he did not really care.

For a tiny moment, his mask fell. The carving was very impressing, it really looked just like a mini ilu.

"Can't tell. You forest freaks don't have any other talents apart from swinging through trees."

His friends took a look at it as well, bragging about how 'awful' it looked.

"You could've just asked me to hand it to you, Ao'nung. It's supposed to be an ilu."

As you checked your hand, he also noticed the bloody cut across the palm of your hand. Now seeing that he had actually hurt you, he almost felt bad for it.

"Aw, did little (Y/N) get hurt? You're gonna run to you big brother now?" one of his friends teased before throwing the carved ilu into the reef.

"Whoops~" he flashed a wide grin, but you still smiled as friendly as before.

Instead of being angry, you thanked him, calling it a good idea.

The three boys watched in confusion as you sheathed your knife and jumped after the wooden ilu, retrieving it from the depths.

Once you came back to the water surface you held the carving out to them again. "I can practice diving like this! What a wonderful idea, thank you!"

Ao'nung looked into your eyes, trying to hide his grin and instead faked a mournful face.

"I should apologize for my behavior. I'm sorry for treating you like this. Boys", he turned to his friends, "apologize to her too."

They only looked at him in confusion. Ao'nung, saying sorry? There was no way.

"Seriously, guys. It's wrong to treat her like this."

For a moment you hoped there was an ounce of truth to his words, but before the thought could even blossom, his devilish smile returned to his visage.

"It seems that poor (Y/N) hurt her head, she probably fell face first off a tree. That's why she's so dumb."

His friends laughed together with him, so loud it also caught Tsireyas attention.

"That would explain everything!" They wheezed, slapping their knees while Ao'nung wiped his tears from all the laughter.

"What's going on?" Tsireya asked, as she rode closer on her ilu.

You showed her the carving you had worked on all day, and she immediately fell completely in love with it.

"That's so pretty! It looks just like mine. Here, look-"

She held the wooden ilu against hers, comparing them.

"And it's so small, it fits right into the palm of your hand!"

With that, she reached out to your wrist to place the ilu back into your hand, as she saw the fresh cut.

"Ow, you need to be careful while carving, (Y/N)."

When Ao'nung saw Tsireya inspecting your hand, he almost felt bad since the cut was his fault.

None of your siblings behaved like this. He loved how aggressive they got, his ego fed on that.

But you were so pure, so kind. It confused him. More accurately; it didn't even feel satisfying to mess with you. But why didn't it bother you?

You almost reminded him of his sister, even more as he saw you two next to each other.

"Let's just go, guys." He murmured with a shaking head and left.

~~~~~

The next morning you trained ilu riding with your siblings again.

Kiri and Tuk had already taken off as they had mastered these animals pretty easily.

Tsireya tried to teach it to Lo'ak, Neteyam watched closely.

Much to his displeasure, Ao'nung was designated to teach you.

"You're still doing it wrong, ugh! Get it together!" he hissed quietly, so that your brothers wouldn't hear him.

You shrugged lightly while he held his temples in annoyance.

"I'm sorry Ao'nung. But if you could teach me more precisely, maybe we can get through it quicker."

The young man sighed and grabbed one of your knees unpleasantly, pressing it against the ilu.

"Close your damn knees, skxawng. Now try again."

You gave a thanking smile. It worked better already, you noticed, as you took off for a quick round with the ilu before returning to Ao'nung.

"Finally. Took you long enough."

He turned to leave, but you stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. "Wait!"

"What else do you want? Unlike you I have something actual to do."

You guided your ilu closer to him to pinch his cheek.

"I wanted to thank you. For taking your time-"

"Like I have a choice." He slapped your hand away. "I'd rather be hunting."

You huffed at his comment and nodded. "You're always so stressed and angry, how about you come over and we teach you some human ways to calm down through training. A smile yould suit you so much better." 

Instead of a proper answer, all he gave you was that confused and disgusted look again.

"You're wasting my time."

With that, he swam off to the shore again and you decided to join your brothers and Tsireya again.

"(Y/N)! You got it!"  the young woman happily cheered while your brothers high-fived you.

As you looked back to Ao'nung, you caught him looking back to you as well. Once he noticed he turned away quickly, and it almost looked as if his cheeks seemed darker than before. Was he blushing?

~~~~~

A few days passed. You sat at the docks again, simply enjoying the warmth of the sun, until you noticed a shadow over your face. You felt someone kicking your leg, which made you open your eyes soon after.

"You think you can live here, sitting around doing nothing?" Of course it was none other than Ao'nung again.

"I've been busy until half an hour ago. How was your day?"

Ah, there was it again, that friendly smile you carried on your face, no matter what he said to you.

As you watched him closer, you noticed his bruised face.

"Great mother, what happened to you? Are you okay?" you asked while getting up to take another close look at his bruises.

Backing up a bit, he turned his head slightly.

"You can tell me how it happened, i won't tell anyone. Why don't you come to my marui, I can treat your wounds there?" He visibly froze as you invited him over. Something inside of him screamed to agree and follow you, yet he knew if your brothers would be there, he wouldn't get out alive.

"I'm a man, I can handle myself. I don't need you."

Why did he felt like he just lied to himself? Something about the sentence felt wrong.

Not listening to him at all, you grabbed his hand and dragged him over to where you stayed. Even though he refused to go with you verbally, he almost automatically followed. It felt like he was losing control over his own body.

A relieved sigh escaped from his lips as he saw that there was nobody else in here but you.

"Sit down, I'll treat your wounds. Just hold still for me, will you?"

Ao'nung internally cursed himself for following the order so easily. What kind of magic was this?

He hated you to hell and back, wanted to have nothing to do with you at all.

All he did was mess around with you, and yet you sat here now, treating his swollen face.

"Did someone hit you? You know", you gathered all of the utensils you needed before kneeling down next to him to take care of him, "I thought my brother was a troublemaker, but you're an entirely different story."

The young man did not say a word. All he did was stare at the ground, wondering why his heartbeat was betraying him.

He jumped at the cold feeling of the paste on his skin.

Giggling quietly, you covered your mouth with one hand.

"It's not gonna burn. Trust me, it will help you."

You spread the paste over his cheek with gentle touches. Some of it you also smeared across his bruised chest. He prayed you wouldn't notice his pounding heart which he couldn't even explain to himself.

"This will help you. See, that's better."

The treatment pleasantly cooled him off right away.

Ao'nungs eyes followed yours in mental absence. "Why are you always so mean to my family? We don't want to harm you, we just want to survive."

Your blatant words hit him like another punch and pulled him back to reality.

How the hell should he anwer this? He just didn't like your family. You were strange, different and new. He hated it for some reason.

On top of that, messing with your siblings just entertained him. But messing with you was... frustrating. And yet so strangely addictive.

You shifted into a more comfortable position and mustered him carefully. These doe eyes of yours almost made him feel guilty again.

"You seem so frustrated. Usually, people mess with others if they are hurt. They mostly are unhappy with something about themself. So in case you need to talk, know I'm here, listening."

Before he could get any word out, your parents returned to the marui. Neytiri and  Jake stepped in, looking at the two of you sitting on the ground. The entire energy around shifted in an instant. Jake decided to speak up. In english.

"Looks like your mind games are working, huh?"

"I think so. You should see how mad he gets when I don't react."

Ao'nungs body nervously tensed up from not being able to understand your words.

Were you talking about him?

Jake was very happy and proud that at least one of his children didn't argue with this young man. Instead, your mind games actually seemed to have an influence on his behavior.

You got up, held a hand out to Ao'nung then. He ignored your help and got off the ground by himself.

By now, your treatment had already eased some of the pain of his bruises.

"What did your father say?" he asked rather quietly as you walked him out of the tent a bit later. You bit back a smile seeing him so suddenly humbled.

"Oh, not much."

This didn't really help him at all.

"What kind of language is that?"

He slowly walked besides you, his posture not as arrogant as usual.

"English. I can teach you if you want?"

"Demon language?", he huffed, "What am I supposed to do with that?"

His eyes landed on you. After watching you closely for a while, he gave in.

"Let's hear it."

A wide smile spread across your face, and you gave it your best shot to teach him some basics. If only he knew what they actually meant...

Soon you arrived at the marui he shared with his family. They all looked rather surprised seeing the two of you actually talk to each other.

Tonowari walked over to you and greeted you with a simple nod.

Ronal also came closer, inspecting her son's bruises. Her eyes widened in surprise as Ao'nung told her that you had treated him, and she found nothing to complain about.

"We're eating soon. Why don't you join us?" Tsireya offered kindly. Seeing the two of you next to each other without him pestering you was a nice change of scenery for her.

Ao'nung looked at his sister in confusion, and something inside of him was pretty relieved yet also sort of hurt as you thankfully rejected her kind offer.

"I'm sure my family is waiting for me. I'll better be going. Good night."

As you gently patted his back, his muscles immediately tensed up again. It burned anf tingled, wherever you hands layed on his skin.

After saying goodbye to his family, you turned and left, leaving the young man rather speechless. Something about you worked like magic on him, and he absolutely hated everything about this.

He felt weak around you. There was nothing he could do to get you out of your positivity.

As he sat down to eat with his family, Tonowari mustered his son silently. Since you had treated him, he was so unusually quiet and seemed like he wasn't present with his mind.

"My son, it is good to see you getting along with (Y/N). She seems to be a nice young woman."

He did not answer, but only stuffed his mouth with his food so he wasn't expected to talk. Tsireya listened to her father attentively.

"Maybe you should invite her to eat with us?"

While Ao'nung stopped chewing immediately, he looked up to his father unamused, unlike Tsireya, who giggled at her fathers words.

"What a great idea! She's such a sweet soul, and apparently a great healer too! You've been circling her a lot lately, Ao-"

"Over my dead body. I can't stand her."

His father took a deep breath.

"If Tsireyas words are true, and I've seen it myself, it is rather hard to believe."

"I said I cannot stand her! What would I like about her? Her baby tail, her weird yellow eyes? Or her skinny arms?"

His words immediately reprased in his head. That delicate, graceful tail of yours that he caught twitching whenever he picked on you.

These shiny, golden eyes, which seemed so full of love.

Your elegant, almost fragile looking wrists which he could just wrap his hands around so perfectly.

"She's beautiful, Ao'nung, stop saying mean things about her!" Tsireya defended you in your absence, before their father spoke again.

"She seems like a good person. Bring her over to eat with us tomorrow evening. She can be our guest."

The young man balled his fists, both at his fathers words and his thoughts.

You were an ugly freak. Nothing more than that. A four fingered freak.

"Father I-"

"It is the least thing you can do since she treated your wounds." Tonowari said rather loudly, to which Tsireya agreed nodding.

His guts were tossing and turning. He wanted to hate you, but how could he? You had done him no harm.

"Agh!" he hissed in annoyance before he got up again to take a walk on his own, to sort out his thoughts.

'She is a freak. A forest freak.' Internally repeating this over and over again, a recent memory started to crawl up in his mind.

As you had treated him, your touch on his chest had burned. It felt like his skin was on fire. Yet not in a bad way, rather like a warm, tingly embrace.

You treated him like a friend, still all he did was pick on you.

You never took any defense. You never got mad.

It made him feel awfully bored at first, but that boredom turned into frustration, confusion and in the end; guilt.

Usually his ego fed on your hot headed siblings getting annoyed and even aggressive through his behavior. It was fun. But the more he bothered you, the worse he felt about it.

He wanted, no, he needed to get rid of these disgusting thoughts about you.

~~~~~

Tsireya hopped over to you and your siblings with a wide smile. All of you greeted her with the same energy, especially Lo'ak who was head over heels falling for her.

"Good morning, guys. Should we start with breathing lessons?" She asked, still smiling happily.

"Sure!" Lo'ak answered right away. You and Neteyam exchanged amused looks at his reaction.

"Wonderful. I see, you guys are getting better and better at swimming as well. Unfortunately I'll be teaching you alone today."

The girl smiled at you especially, as if this had to do with you. Did you miss anything?

"How come? Your brother's throwing tantrums again?" Neteyam joked, making everyone huff.

"Not at all. He's hunting right now, we're having a guest tonight. At least, that is the plan."

"A-a guest?" Lo'aks eyebrows furrowed at her words. Was she probably seeing someone he didn't know about? But she just shook it off quickly, seeing how his heart was about to crumble.

"Let's get to training, shall we?"

~~~~~

After training you decided to sunbath and relax in the sunlight on the docks again. Getting better at swimming and holding your breath did not make it less exhausting in the end. While dozing off, your thoughts gathered around one thing only; Ao'nung.

You couldn't help but smile at the thought of him. He was a pain in the ass sometimes, but after all, something about him made you all warm around your heart. By now, him trying to annoy you was almost something you adored. He tried so hard to make you mad, there was something cute about it.

You were almost sure that he actively seeked you even if it was just for his own entertainment.

The intense smile on your face almost hurt your jaw and cheeks, which lead you to the decision to cool yourself off. Immediate regret hit you after sinking your hot body into the cool water beneath the docks.

Your head started spinning soon,

swimming was only hardly possible.

"(Y/N)!" you heard a voice call out.

Yet you did not react, thinking this was only fabricated by your brain.

With heavily lidded eyes you tried to hold yourself over the water surface until you felt a hand wrapping around your waist.

Someone supported your body and held you up so you could calm down from the shock. Your upper body fell forwards in dizziness, against the chest of the person that held you up.

"Brother...?" you mumbled, trying to figure out who was supporting you.

"Yeah, take another guess."

It was Ao'nungs voice which was pretty close to you. While resting against him, you dropped the weight of your head onto his shoulder.

"And here I thought you didn't like me?"

Your voice was still quiet, even if the spinning lessened slowly.

"Don't get any ideas, skxawng. You helped me yesterday, so we're quit."

While he talked to you, you got even more comfortable against him. Never before had he been so close to you, but you were thankful. Him being caring for once was also something you could get used to.

Even as the spinning in your head disappeared slowly, you decided to stay like this.

"Did I get promoted from 'freak' to 'skxawng'?"

Ao'nung still held you close. One arm hugged your waist completely while the other one supported your back. He had gently pressed one of his knees between yours for more support, so you got to sit on his thigh.

"You're both."

You couldn't help but silently giggle at his comment, but so did he.

Your hands grabbed onto his shoulders while he still held you in his arms safely. You could swear that his hands traced along your back the slightest bit.

"How do you stay over water so calmly without your arms?"

"Cause I don't have such a thin baby tail like you."

You wrapped your tail around his waist, hearing his breath hitch as you tickled him like this. His facial expression hardened.

"It has other benefits." you grinned against his shoulder.

Again. He made fun of you and you laughed about it.

Ao'nung bit his lip in anger.

"You're weird."

"The way you don't give up mocking me is adorable and fascinating. Maybe this is just your love language?"

Chaos raged inside of his racing heart.

How the hell did you turn his insults into something so lovely? That's not how it was supposed to be.

He pushed you off of him and dipped your face under the water surface.

"Is this how you show your affection?" you asked with an amused smile once you came back up.

Ao'nung simply groaned and swam back to the dock, getting himself out of the water. You followed him and held him by his shoulder.

"Thank you for helping me."

His blue eyes stared at you in confusion. He was confused through not just your words, but also his feelings.

"Should've let you drown." he cursed before pulling away from your grip.

"Where are you going?" you asked as he stomped off, following him for a few meters.

"Prepare food for tonight. Why else do you think I went hunting earlier?"

"Right, your sister mentioned that you are having guests tonight. Who's coming?"

Ao'nung sighed, he didn't even look at you but just left.

"You." he said while walking away.

~~~~~~

You had spent the rest of the day with you siblings before going over to the chief's family marui.

"Dude I'd trade my ikran to be where you get to be tonight!" Lo'ak hissed at you.

"She isn't even trying to, bro", Neteyam laughed, "I guess she is the chosen one."

His exaggeration made Lo'ak turn his eyes. He would've done anything to get invited for dinner with Tsireya.

Kiri sat next to you and fumbled with her braided hair. "I don't think it was her choice, and I'm certain it wasn't Ao'nungs choice either."

You looked at her nodding, then back to Lo'ak who was still more than jealous.

"Is (Y/N) going on a date?" Tuk asked, she didn't fully understand what was happening.

"Yes." Neteyam grinned.

"No."  You corrected right away.

Tuk didn't understand. But in all honesty, neither did you.

Neteyam pulled his youngest sister into his lap and covered her ears before speaking again.

"He has to choose a mate soon, I'm sure Tonowari had this in mind when inviting you."

"As do you, dear brother. I'll better go, don't wanna be too late."

With that, you got up and left. It only took a few minutes until you arrived at the home of olo'ekytans family. Tsireya was the first to greet you, she got up as soon as her eyes landed on you.

"It's so good to see you!" she cheered happily while leading you inside.

You greeted their family with a humble gesture before sitting down at the place between Tsireya and her brother.

Ao'nung barely looked at you. Ronal and Tonowari on the other hand mustered you from head to toe.

"Our son's bruises healed in no time. May I ask what exactly you used?" Ronal asked with high interest.

"I've used yalna bark. I know you don't have that here, but I brought some from home."

Ronal nodded in approval.

She seemed to like you, so the first ice was broken.

Tsireya meanwhile got some of the grilled fish on a flat leaf that served as a plate and handed it to you.

"So, do you enjoy our customs and our way of living?" the chief asked, thrilled to get to know you better. He had no doubts about his son following his footsteps, but he needed a wife, and a worthy one at that. Some times already he had seen the two of you interact, Tonowari was sure that you would be able to handle Ao'nung well. On top of that, you were the daughter of another olo'ekytan and tsahik.

A few hours passed in no time. You sat with the chiefs family, ate, talked and laughed until it was late at night. It was getting so late that your father even came to check on you to make sure you were still with them.

Tsireya turned to yamn silently, it had been an exciting and exhausting day.

Most of the time you had talked to Tsireya and Tonowari, even Ronal had gotten comfortable to talk to you a bit more. Yet Ao'nung didn't say anything unless he was personally spoken to. He only watched his family and you interact.

Over the time, he caught himself staring a few times, and so did his sister. She found it rather amusing to see him like this while Ao'nung hated the fact that his heart wanted to jump out of his chest whenever his eyes landed on you.

He wanted to find negative aspects about you, but during his mission to find anything, he only ended up appreciating the smallest details about you more and more.

"I'm glad you joined us tonight. Know that you will always find a place here in the future. Feel free to visit us anytime."

Ao'nung clenched his jaw at his father's comment and took a deep breath. He hated how his father was trying to get the two of you together.

"I think I will go to sleep." Tsireya announced in a tired voice before she got up and went to her mat.

"As should we all." Ronal said, visibly tired as well. The chief hated to throw you out, he would've liked to see you and Ao'nung interact more.

You got up and wished a good night to the entire family, thanking them for the invitation and the meal before leaving  the marui.

As you did, you watched watched the stars burn bright above the horizon.

What a pretty sight, you thought, until your ears twitched at the sound of silent voices.

"Son, I'm not discussing that with you!"

"She's old enough to walk home alone, isn't she?"

"It's about courtesy and politeness!"

You sighed as you heard Ao'nung and his father arguing and hissing at each other.

"I can't stand her anyway! I hate her! She's an ugly forest freak, useless and stupid! It's annoying enough already to teach her our ways, I can't wait for her to get back to wherever the hell she came from! Disgusting demon halfblood!"

"Ao'nung!"

Even if you did like him, his words did not hurt. You knew that he had a weakness for you no matter how much he denied it.

You looked back to the marui as its curtains swung open, only for Ao'nung to step out in fury, he wanted to cool his head off, but as he saw you so close he was sure you had heard him.

Even if he said the same things to your face already, he was still shocked that you heard his words. But seeing you smile nonetheless was something he did not understand.

"You're a bad liar." You smiled while looking up into the stars again.

"There are some things in this world that we have to accept. Some things we cannot change. It's childish to think we could control them through denial."

You calling him childish only fed his fury. Ao'nung balled his fists in frustration.

He wanted you to leave and never come back. You made him weak, made him lose all focus whenever you were around him. The most embarrassing part for him was the fact that bobody believed him anymore. More than anything he denied his feelings for you but nobody seemed to believe it.

Was it so obvious?

He came a few steps closer only to drag you away with him. Nobody else was supposed to hear this conversation.

No matter how frustrated he was, his thoughts betrayed him again.

Ao'nungs curiosity about your wrists got confirmed; he could just wrap his entire hand around them. It fitted like they were made for his hands.

Shaking his head once, he got rid of the thought. At least, he tried to.

You looked around to where he was leading you. In no time he had guided you to a small bay, away from the village, where the two of you could be alone.

He turned towards you and pulled you closer by your wrist.

"Why?" was all he managed to get out, but all you did was look at him in confusion.

"What why?"

Aonung closed his eyes for a second, trying to remain focussed.

"Why are you so nice? I don't understand! I treat you like this, I pick on you every day and all you do is laugh! You never defend yourself! By Eywa, why are you so friendly? Why do you like me?"

You watched how he got completely mad, his eyes were filled with rage.

"Frustrating, isn't it?"

"You've been doing this on purpose?!"

His jaw dropped in anger while you simply smiled.

"You mocked me and my siblings on purpose too. It's fun to see them get mad, right?"

Ao'nung was completely speechless. It suddenly clicked in his head. All you had ever done was making him feel how he made your siblings feel.

And now that he thought about it, your behavior was only fair.

Something deep inside of his mind visibly changed. His anger turned into realization. He couldn't be mad at you, as much as he wanted to hate you.

"See, Ao'nung, I was never mad at you because that is what you wanted to achieve."

He swallowed the big lump in his throat. Nothing compared to the hatred he felt for admitting that you haven't done anything wrong. His tight grip around your wrist had loosened, his furious eyes seemed to calm down as well.

You came closer to him and took his hands instead, but he pulled away. Sighing, you engaged once more and placed both hands on his cheeks to hold him in place.

"Be honest to yourself; do you really hate me that much?"

At the question, his eyes darted right at yours, then softened at the sight of your gentle expression.

"... Maybe not that much..." he mumbled in shame, knowing this was definitely an understatement.

Your thumbs caressed his cheeks while your over four fingers softly traced over his neck.

"I forgive you, Ao'nung."

He almost overheard your voice since he was only paying attention to your soft touches and these golden eyes of yours which he secretly adored so much.

Once more he swallowed as he lost himself in your eyes.

As guilt took over his heart completely, he simply pulled you closer and held you pressed against himself. His arms fell around your neck, one hand buried in your hair, caressing your head carefully.

"What I said to my father about you-"

"No worries. Like i said, you're a terrible liar."

He swallowed heavily at your words again. Was he so transparent for you?

"I know you like me. But you've grown on me as well." you giggled into the crook of his neck.

"You're weird... but at least you have a good taste in boys..." You looked up to him, his face actually turned into a genuine smile.

"You're a skxawng , you know that, Ao'nung?"

You pinched his cheeks playfully until he pulled away, only to lift your head and look into your eyes once more.

"And you're a freak. My freak."

[daenerysies]

deep diving into the episode three line from rhaenyra, “no one is here for me,” and how if the takeaway from that scene is that rhaenyra is a selfish brat you aren’t proficient enough to do anything past surface-level reading.

in episode one rhaenyra expresses to alicent that she hopes her father gets his son, “for as long as i can recall it’s all he’s wanted.” which leads us (the audience) to understand that while rhaenyra loves both of her parents she feels ostracized from her father (and mayhaps even her mother, to some extent, because of her constant pregnancies) due to his ‘need’ for a son to continue the targaryen dynasty. she is a daughter, only seen as valuable for her womb, which is evidenced that she knows about when talking to her mother. rhaenyra wishes to be a knight and ride off to battle and glory, with aemma giving her a gentle reality check on her lot in life. she does not want to serve the same purpose as her mother.

aemma dies near the end of the episode, with viserys ordering her butchered for the chance that his long-awaited male heir might live. this is a violent and gruesome scene, followed by rhaenyra not even being given the privilege of hearing her mother’s death first. she is instead relegated to members of the small council being alerted, even corlys and rhaenys learning about this before her, she is a silent member on the sidelines. she does not know the extent of what has happened, but she knows that something is wrong.

we have to think about how she learns of her mother’s fate. did otto tell her? did rhaenys? did viserys? did she see her mother’s body ripped open? did she see the bloody sheets left at the scene? was she allowed to hold baby baelon, considering he didn’t die immediately? was she there when he took his last breath? maybe it would bring her some comfort, she didn’t get to say goodbye to her mom. maybe she held him until he passed. did her father offer any explanation? we’ll never know, but these are all such heavy questions in regards to what she experienced that day. she’s fourteen, has spent her entire life watching her mother grieve dead baby after dead baby, losing little bits of herself in the process. it’s no wonder this was a traumatizing period for her, fueling her want (her need) to not be shackled down by marriage and childbirth.

even at her mother and brother’s funeral she isn’t allowed to just grieve, to just be. she has to hold her head high, she has to comfort her father, she has to order their corpses burned. was her father happy for the few hours he had a son? she wouldn’t know, she never will be that for him. how long does he spend wallowing is his self pity? he reprimands daemon for not being there for his niece, but where was he, her father? he banishes daemon, takes comfort from his daughter’s best friend. he finally comes to her, tells her of a great danger rising from the north; from my blood comes the prince that was promised, his will be the song of ice and fire. she hasn’t heard from him in days, a targaryen must be seated on the iron throne to unite the realm against the cold and the dark. her mother is dead, and he has wasted the years since she was born wanting a son. she is now enough, her mother never was.

it has now been six months since her mother's death (murder), and she has been heir the *entire* time. her father won't talk to her, she is still the cupbearer for the small council. lord corlys is angry about a war he says has cost him, the crown will not help. she suggests they use dragons, a show of force against their enemies. her father admonishes her, "it isn't that simple, rhaenyra." he allows the lords at the table to belittle her efforts. the only one appreciative is corlys, "at least the princess has a plan." otto says there are better uses for her talents, she has been heir to the iron throne for six months. she's been given the chance to choose a future kingsguard, she wants one with actual combat experience. the hand is exacerbated, she is firm in her decision. ser criston cole will be the replacement for ser ryam redwyne.

alicent has been visiting her father in his private chambers secretly, corlys wants his daughter to be the next queen. viserys begins openly courting lady laena of house velaryon. rhaenyra and alicent visit the sept, she expresses her worry, her mother has only dead for half a year. the lords seek to replace her, alicent convinces her that she cannot worry about the plots of lords and men, she is the heir, however. why shouldn't she worry? she misses her mother.

she meets with her father, he reassures her, "i loved your mother very much." she apologizes for speaking out of turn at the small council meeting, he tells her she will learn (will he be the one to teach her, though?) daemon has taken a dragon's egg and seized dragonstone, bringing news of his future marriage to lady mysaria. the king means to go himself to stop him, otto will not let him. daemon took baelon's egg. rhaenyra is angry. she reaches dragonstone just after otto's party, she knows they were about to come to blows. she confronts daemon, she is the reason he was disinherited. if he kills her, he'd be done with all this bother. daemon scoffs, walking away from her. he throws the egg whilst still retreating. rhaenyra smiles and leaves. her father is mad once he learns what she's done. she left without his permission, but she retrieved the egg and prevented bloodshed, he should be pleased with her efforts. otto would never have been able to accomplish what she did, he relents.

rhaenys lectures her about the order of things. the realm will never accept a woman ascending the iron throne, but it's different for her. her father is the king, rhaenys' father dies as a prince. her father made the lords of the realm swear obeisance to her, rhaenys never had such a thing. the lords chose viserys over rhaenys at the great council, viserys has not given them a choice. rhaenys is the the queen who never was, rhaenyra is the queen to be. when she is queen she will create a new order, rhaenys warns there will be war (unfortunately she is right).

another meeting takes place between father and daughter. he must take a new wife, someone to help propagate the targaryen line. they are vulerable, to easily ended. rhaenyra understands, it is his duty as king. obviously he will marry laena, the daughter of one of the most powerful houses in the realm and of pure valyrian stock, it is a fine match. alicent is still visiting her father in secret.

her father calls a small council meeting, he means to announce his next wife. rhaenyra is ready, she gave him her blessing (why is alicent here? she never has been before.) her father starts speaking, "i intend to marry... the lady alicent hightower." corlys is enraged, otto is pleased, alicent is anxious. rhaenyra was ready, it has all fallen apart. alicent is her best friend, that friendship dies before her very eyes. she runs from the room.

it has been two years. viserys and alicent are married, and they have a son, with one more baby on the way. the boy's name is aegon, it is his second birthday. he has past his infancy, the lords believe it is only a matter of time until the king names him heir, rhaenyra is well aware of this. the queen visits the godswood where rhaenyra sits. she overrides rhaenyra's authority, commanding the singer to leave. she states the king wishes for her to join them, he wants them to have fun as a family. they do not need her to celebrate his long-awaited son. it is the king's command, she leaves unhappily. alicent wishes for things to be different, rhaenyra knows they never can be.

together they all sit, traveling towards the kingswood. rhaenyra asks after alicent's well-being, viserys reminds her that she will be in this position sooner than late (the same position that killed her mother). "it isn't so bad, the days are long but aegon came quickly and without fuss." the queen states. rhaenyra is hurt, she tries not to show it. the king reminds her she has duties, rhaenyra retorts sarcastically. how long will these duties last, once her father names alicent's son as heir over her? her life will be forfeit before long. no one is here for her.

"no one is here for me." translates to "no one has been here for me. i’ve been alone and angry and terrified for years. i am my father’s heir, but what does that mean? what will it cost? you put me here. daemon put me here. alicent put me here. you have a son now, he outlived baelon and my other siblings. how long until i am cast aside again? made to be some petty lord's wife, made to be a broodmare until it kills me? i don't want to end up like my mother. this heirship is all i have. it will soon no longer be mine. i'm only seventeen. no one is here for me."

rhaenyra is never shown the same amount of grace as alicent for her strifes and anguish in life, for the fact that she too was a child from episodes one through five. rhaenyra might not have been a child bride, but she still spent her life being told she was never enough. she was not a boy, she could not be the heir, her father needed an heir. he kills her mother for it, he ignores her unless she can benefit him. he makes her believe that he will marry laena, only to blindside her by marrying alicent. she realizes alicent has been lying to her for months. her father continues to undermine her throughout the years. he names her heir to spite daemon, which she admits she knows about in episode two. he allows the lords to ignore her. it takes him two years to reassure her he won't replace her. rhaenyra is an angsty teen who has seemingly lost everything and has no support to counter that. she is not upset that no one showed up to a two-year-olds birthday party with her in mind, she is upset that her father continuously overlooks her, that he takes and takes and takes everything from her. he took her mother, he took daemon, he took alicent, he had a son. she has not been able to catch a break due to her father's selfishness. in all honesty, she should have acted out worse, maybe burn everything to the ground. viserys would deserve it, she was far too lenient with him.

[creativepromptsforwriting]

Prompt List: Royalty

Masterpost by creativepromptsforwriting

Prompt #103

This marriage was supposed to bring peace to our lands but all it created was awkwardness.

Prompt #106

If we kill the king, they’re just going to put another one on the throne.

Prompt #270

Why can’t the pirate get the princess for once? {Submitted by: daughterofhadez}

Prompt #279

“Stop calling me Princess!” “I apologize, my Queen.”

Prompt #360

“The King is dead! Long live the Queen!”

Prompt #450

“I thought it would be fun to be a real princess in a real castle with real knights, but everything stinks, they really don’t have dragons here and I miss Netflix. Let’s go home.”

Prompt #460

When two people fall in love, empires will fall next.

Prompt #493

“Do me a favour and don’t start a war while I’m gone.”

Prompt #542: Quotes (66)

“Aren’t you a little old for a tiara?” “Tell it to the queen.”

Prompt #566

Every family has their own scandals. But being in the royal family means yours are bigger and a lot better documented.

Prompt #572

“Your place is on the throne.” “No, my place is by your side.”

Prompt #640

Even a king could use a hug from time to time.

Prompt #645

“You are my queen and I will serve you until my death.”

Prompt #708

Their relationship was at any given point only seconds away from causing an international incident and they didn’t want it any other way.

Prompt #717

Probably not a lot of people had ever felt the feeling of true power of having a king kneeling before them.

Prompt #755

“Chin up, princess. You’re a warrior, remember?” {Submitted by: thesaurus-lover}

Prompt #757

To fuel the fire to a feud between two royal dynasties, an enemy queen from a third kingdom secretly sends her twin daughters as spies and conspirators their way. {Submitted by:  thecenturybookworm}

Prompt #815

When people started to kneel in front of him, he thought there had to have been a misunderstanding.

Prompt #821

“Who died and made you king?” “Oh, haven’t you heard the news yet?”

Prompt #853

“Why are you wearing all of your expensive heirloom jewels?” “Because I’m having a crisis!”

Prompt #854

It was one thing to disappoint your parents, it was another to disappoint a whole kingdom.

Prompt #855

He was standing on the balcony, looking down into the faces of his people, who loved him, who trusted him, and he almost couldn’t get the words out.

Prompt #990

“Why are you kneeling in front of me? Stand up, this is awkward.”

More: Royalty Masterpost

[sassyplantsspacetree]

This past weekend, US Airman Aaron Bushnell self immolated in a self-described “Extreme act of protest” to draw attention to the ongoing atrocities committed by the Israeli Defense Force each and every day. An entire generation of Americans are seeing American complicity in this genocide first hand. Multiple generations are. We are being traumatized and radicalized in a way that no previous generation has. We watch on in horror while the American government continues to unconditionally support Benjamin Netanyahu. We watch while the media, our supposedly free media downplays and distracts from the atrocity using words like “people found dead” to describe the slaughter of Palestinian women and children. We watch in horror as Palestinians post videos of the elderly sniped from rooftops. We watch as doctors amputate fully treatable limbs, often without anesthesia. We are scared. We are horrified. We feel powerless.

My government is not powerless. Washington is full of supposedly democratically elected officials. I pray that they use their positions of power and privilege to end the violence. To work with their peers for the betterment of humanity, to start to repair the soul of a nation stained by what is perceived by many to be unconditional support of a monstrous regime. Please, how many more need to die before we work to end the suffering. We should be rebuilding schools and hospitals, not adding more fuel to the fire by allowing Israel to buy bombs and other implements of war. Bombs that we all know will cause the deaths and dismemberments of children. Palestinian children. Human children. Collateral damage or intentional slaughter, no matter your personal belief, it doesn’t matter. Children are dying.

Aaron’s sacrifice, his desperate act of protest, is forever burned into my memory. Into the collective memory of a generation. His screams echo with but a tiny fraction of the suffering caused daily, on scales that we can barely comprehend. Please use his sacrifice as the fulcrum by which we move the world.

[ratcate]

I'm here to admit that I may have developed a hyper fixation on your OCs (especially on Zerion and Sir. Valentine) so can you perhaps tell us more about them? (And other OCS)

oh hey!! great selection of characters. Makes me really happy you wanting to know more about them! I love them a lot, but Sir Valentine more, as Zerion's personality and setting is pretty nebulous still. info about them both under read more!

Zerion is some sort of cartoony super villain, heavily inspired in the night of the bald mountain monster interpretation from Fantasia(disney)

(art from 2020)

I think he's a very strong dark mage or something. Right now I have him reduced to a joke. A cartoony villain living his slice of life, but always awaiting action, the smallest spark chaos, to join in, in a world where nothing ever happens. He has his sidekick, Vampina (I think that was her name). A vampire chick who lives in the moment and is Zerion's servant, as long as he provides him with some blood every now and then

(2023)

(2021)

she almost never pulls off that relaxed smile from her face, her brain usually has no thoughts more than "can i eath this?" "I can eat this" Both of them are pretty evil. I remember once i tried to sketch out a first chapter, where they had a visit of income tax department agents, coming to remind Zerion he hadn't paid his taxes, and both Zerion and Vampina made a whole intricate plan on how to get rid of them and torture them, to show the government they're not to be fucked with. Though, all their scare tactics were just confusing, failed magic tricks for the men, now tied to apparent non functioning electric chairs, looking at each other through their sunglasses, stoic faces, while confused to what Zerion is yapping about in his villain monologue, while Vampina eats a stale bread in the BG. ---------------------------------------------------------

I don't have much about Sir Valentine either, but I certainly have drawn him more. For now, His name is Sir Cannon Valentine, but we'll get to that in a bit.

(both from 2020)

This is the first art ever I made of him, and that's a lot of his vibe. (2019)

This MAN, is some warrior who died in his armor but is back by some whack magic, and he's impatient, easily irritated, screams instead of talking, and I've always imagined having him a strong accent. He's here to fight and go headfirst into everything bc he really cannot die.

As of 2024, Sir Valentine is Sir Cannon Valentine (you can still call him the first version), BECAUSE, besides him being reborn and inmortal, angry and ready to fucking obliterate anything in his way, now his body works as a canonball

He went through my manic episode of redesigning many of my characters, after getting a taste of Pizza tower's cartoony characters, and became this. Much more functional, easily drawn, flowy. he just works, i can animate him in a snap of fingers. Still consistenly working to improve his design even more.

I will probs change the story, but this guy is resucitated as a last resort for a war between kingdoms, as a mistake, bc they wanted to revive some other guy, but got mistaken and went to his thomb. This guy revived him, after a ritualistic dance and some lightning

and then he is like "oh wait I fucked up", and Valentine is like "TOO LATE BITCH I'M FREE!!" and blasts away from him, as a cannonball, fueled by his own fire and methane gas from the catacombs he is in lol. This story is very not much constructed, but I love Sir Valentine a lot, and the characters I can surround him with. I see him falling for a bourgeoisie woman, or a princess even, bc all my stories need the romance, I'm nothing without the romance. I am also thinking of including another character of mine, Sayen, as the daughter of this death guy

Sayen previously appeared as a participant in a nsfw comic in my twt alt account lol. I love her and her design very much.

[eponastory]

I know you most likely already realized this, but I was just thinking about Aang as a father in LOK, and realized something. If Katara ended up with Zuko and eventually had children together, Zuko would likely end up being a better father than Aang. Aang never even met his parents, and only had instructors as parental figures. They're like parents but mostly just in the way that a school teacher would be. But Zuko understands what good parents and what bad parents look like because he knows what his own parents are like. His memories of Ursa and Iroh would be his guide to what you SHOULD do for a child, and Ozai is an example of what you should NOT do. Zuko doesn't have the pressure of repopulating firebenders because firebenders aren't virtually extinct, so there wouldn't be as much (if any) pressure to pay unfairly extra attention to one child over the other. Zuko knows what it's like to be neglected by a parent that's supposed to love because of something you can't control. Aang clearly doesn't, hence why he neglected Bumi and Kya II in the first place. Zuko also has experience with Azula, and would know to recognize any bad signs of sibling jealousy and/or hatred, and put an end to it because he knows what bad sibling dynamics look like.

I feel like he would also be a better husband to Katara. He's not as naive as Aang when it comes to marriage; Zuko has the experience of growing up with two married parents, and would know what not to do. Katara would relax better because the distribution over who watches the kids would be more fair, as Zuko would give them ALL attention. While Aang made Katara jealous from always being around the Air Acolytes (in the comics), I feel like Zuko would not give polite attention to women who are rude to Katara/flirting with him because in the show, Zuko knows exactly how hurtful it feels for a romantic partner to flirt with/give polite attention to people who are obviously pursuers. Imagine being in an alternate dimension where Zutara was the main endgame couple, and we get to see their parental dynamics in LoK. There would probably be a flashback of Katara getting worked up about one of their children, and Zuko would ease her into calming down because he sees a solution that she didn't.

Aang's issues are more than he doesn't know. He is selfish by nature. Selfish parents aren't good parents. I know this for a fact. It's an endless cycle of 'It's your fault' or 'what about how I feel' every time you try to say something. It's not fun, and it's damaging. I can totally see Aang using this behavior as a way to get what he wants. As far as him being naive... yes. He is very naive and doesn't take anything seriously.

Like the war, for instance. He was only there for the last year of it. He wasn't born into the war like Zuko, Katara, Sokka, Toph, and Suki. They aren't naive. They know what war is like. Toph is the same age as Aang, and she is much more mature than he is. He's got this idea that killing anyone is bad, but he is responsible for a lot of deaths. Honestly, he has a kill count from the Fire Nation attack on the NWT, and a lot of people overlook that for some reason. Actually, the show overlooks it because Aang is the Hero, and it's okay if he killed people. So, when all is said and done, all of the things that he does afterward is overlooked too. It's a huge writing flaw with the show. So how does this translate to him as a parent?

It makes him a hypocrite.

Plain and simple.

He's so focused on reviving the Air Nomads that he has little knowledge on what they actually believed. What we are given is a few Taoist, Hindu, and Buddhist proverbs to go off of. Then, it's completely disregarded (disrespected as well) for 'Love'. This 'Love' is actually deep infatuation fueled by jealousy and possessive behavior. Which is actually frowned upon by the three religions mentioned above. It is a 'poison' to the spirit. And disconnects you from being enlightened (I think that is what the proverbs/scriptures are eluding too, if I'm wrong, please do not hesitate to explain, I'm super interested in cultures and eastern religions) or granted a place in Heaven (or their version of it). Letting go of all earthly possessions is common place in most religions. Aang does not do this. But I digress.

So, while there is the Nature vs Nurture aspect of parenting... where Katara does most of the Nurturing because that is how her character is written post-war and LoK. Notice how is said Written. Written by two misogynistic men who stripped her of a lot of her characteristics from the original run of the show. This is the problem. And it's the same with Aang. I can't take him seriously because he doesn't take any of it seriously. Especially with his children. He's not a serious character. He acts like he's serious, but he never really left the 12 year old boy behind to mature. Probably because in his fictional relationship with Katara, she enables him to keep doing what he always does. Which is to not grow. Relationships grow sour when the two people in them do not grow. It's not really about who grew up with parents at that point because it's the current parents that are the ones that should be to blame.

Now on to Headcanon space...

Zutara is a Headcanon ship. Did it almost happen? Oh yes I believe it did because the writing supports it heavily and Bryke's actions post show also scream 'lairs'. Sorry, but I have a pretty good Bullshit metor and Bryke set it off big time by their immature behavior.

But I digress.

Zuko grew up with a Narcissistic Sociopath as a Father and a Mother who was caught in the middle of a choice she was essentially forced to make. Ursa was also forced to forget her own parents never existed after she married Ozai. This is all canon, by the way. Her life before her marriage was great, but then it was taken away so she had nothing left but her morals and beliefs. However, while she loved both of her children, her influence on Zuko is essentially what made him who he is. Ursa didn't get to influence Azula like she did Zuko. Why? Because of Ozai.

Ozai pit his children against each other. This was apparently a Fire Nation Royal Family tradition because it sounds like Azulon did this with Iroh and Ozai as well. This kind of parenting style is abusive to its core. What Ozai did to Zuko isn't neglect... it's straightforward abuse and control. How do you make a child do what you want? You hurt them, or you take something away from them. Ozai both hurt Zuko and took away his home by banishing him. If Zuko wants to go back home, he has to find and capture the Avatar. It's that simple, but at the same time, it's also near impossible.

Flash forward to Canon Zuko and we see he has one child and he is a very loving father. Actually, he's the best father in the show. His experiences with growing up as the not so favorite child has made his choice to have one child easy. Probably because he and his spouse had a less than perfect relationship. This also may have influenced him to be protective of Izumi (as we can see he's still protective over her even at 90 years old) because of the loveless relationship his parents had. It was enough to damage him deeply when it came to relationships. This is likely also why he had trouble with Mai as well.

Headcanon space now...

Zuko loving Katara is what makes the difference here. Love is giving your partner the freedom to make their own choices and support them. As long as there is good communication, trust, and honesty. Something Maiko does not have, by the way. So it stands to reason that even with Nature Vs Nurture in the way of parenting, both win here. I'll tell you why Zuko's relationship with his parents here have no effect on why he would choose to have more children with Katara.

Because if written well, it's a very good relationship between them. We already know they work well as a team. The show gives us this. We know that Zuko absolutely cares about Katara. The show also gives us that. We also know they become lifelong friends. So why do they make great parents?

Because they rely on each other.

It has nothing to do with how they were raised individually, but everything to do with how they support each other narritively. They trust each other to make good decisions together. They rely on being honest with each other. They also communicate with each other. This by itself is the building blocks for a healthy and stable relationship. With that in mind, parenting is easier. There is no need to be afraid of becoming a bad parent because they hold each other accountable. It's a deep relationship. Having multiple children is easier because it is a loving relationship. There's no conflict besides the silly little arguments over simple things that happen all the time. It's just an overall healthy dynamic.

And that is what appeals to Zutarians.

While it was almost canon, I'm glad it isn't because Bryke would definitely not get it right. They tried to make Korra and Mako happen out of spite because they believe Zutara is toxic. It's not. Their children would turn out absolutely fine because Zuko would not change a thing about Katara. It's in the show. He doesn't try to change her because that's not his job. His job in TSR is to let her find closure. He offers it to her because he cares about her. Bottom line.

Anyway, I probably forgot what you said at this point because I just tend to go on and on, but I tried my best to stay on topic... ADHD is both a blessing and a curse.

[class1akids]

Am iI the only one that doesn't like who shoto seems to constantly be put down?

Its always emphasizes how much stronger Toya is and how shoto can't compare its kinda frustrating and I know that this is from shotos pov but we're not gonna anyone else's pov when it comes to this stuff like mid war when shoto did get his moment it got taken away immediately by Toya copying shoto and then for the final fight despite endeavor not doing anything and the rest of the familys efforts not being anywhere near enough when shoto stopped the explosion the entire fam got the credit and then Toya got an ice quirk (which I hate so much it's like if shoto suddenly got blue flames out of the blue like no this is literally shotos thing) and the we are reminded again of how shoto can't compare

Toya is always victimized and while yes he is a victim the fact the he doesn't get the right to kill ppl is only said once and thats not enough compared to the amount of times it's pointed out that it's not his fault while shoto on the other hand isn't and it's rather frustrating it feels like he's always getting the short end of the stick

Really like the shoto and AM talk, it was really overdew (also makes it seem like what allmight said to shoto mid war less like pressure and more like encouragement which I'm sure is how it was intended)

I'm personally not too bothered by it:

The hero being an underdog is a pretty common trope. If you look at all the other major fights, the hero is always on the back foot. Shouto deciding to go up against Touya despite his brother's overwhelming firepower is brave and admirable and people point it out repeatedly how almost everyone underestimated Shouto.

The entire framework of the Todoroki family is Endeavor's fire. Everyone's value is always measured in relation to fire, (Ice user? Worthless. Hotter fire? Good.) without ever pausing for a moment to think what that hotter fire is for. This entire fire is fueled by resentment. Endeavor's resentment against All Might starts it, it spreads over to Touya and Touya's resentment of Endeavor fuels it to new peaks. Touya's blue fire represents the generational trauma and the negative emotions of the family.

Phosphor is the perfect endgame move for Shouto. It's narratively beautiful, it brings together everything Shouto has learned and it represents ultimately the power of healing - both Shouto's personal healing, him coming to terms with his fire, his past, but also the family coming together. Shouto's two-sided power, channeled through his heart is born after his mother and father finally meet again after a decade and the whole family comes together for Touya.

So Touya copying Phosphor to me is hopeful because Touya up until then never copied anyone but Endeavor. Taking Phosphor is a special connection with Shouto Touya never forged with anyone else. I don't think it's fully paid off yet, but I think it will.

Touya having ice also doesn't bother me. It's to be seen if Touya can use it like Shouto does, but the moment it came through was about Endeavor. It was for him to know before what he thought was his inevitable death that the son he threw away at 5 was a "masterpiece" too - in fact all his children are. I don't think that Touya having ice makes Shouto somehow less valuable - only if you accept Endeavor's rules and the children's value is decided by their quirk or power level. I'm fairly certain Shouto does not resent Touya having ice - he's more happy that his brother is still alive.

Horikoshi did delete in the volume version Shouto's quip about not being a masterpiece. We still don't know why - I suspect that Shouto and the Todoroki family will be back in Phase 3 of the fight, and maybe it will all make sense then. But the way I read that line was basically Shouto pointing out that Touya (and not Shouto) is the culmination of what Endeavor dreamt of as a heir when he started his genetic project. Someone who can take his fire technique to new heights. But what did it achieve? A burnt firstborn, a broken family, a bunch of civilians in grave danger. Endeavor's masterpiece is not a badge of honor - it's madness.

Shouto not becoming what Endeavor wanted is a good thing, and in line with his arc. He took his power in a new direction (the right way to put out a fire) and he's doing what he does for the right reasons, while also becoming a reassuring, authentic hero - which is what he wants to be. His power-level is absolutely amazing still - but that's not what the story is really about.

So let's see where it all ends. Like I said, I'm still waiting for the conclusion of the Todoroki family. Horikoshi has been "hiding" them since Shouto's Rising chapter; now that people are warping in, I'd be surprised not to see them (especially Shouto) pop up eventually. I also would not be surprised to see a power-up for Shouto, considering he's the only one who hasn't had one in the final arc, and absorbing Touya's nuke would be a good reason to give him one and also make the power-ups between the brothers go both ways. I think that was the idea with the "mingling" comment.

Finally, the family resolving its issues, they should now use that power instead of fighting each other to help the overall endgame goal.

[bohemian-nights]

Arlī(Anew) Chapter 9

Word Count: ~10,044

Rating: 18+

Warnings⚠️: Uncle/niece incest; violence; blood

Description: Envy is a disease that festers. Rotting the mind like a wound that was never tended to. Becoming gangrenous as it spreads throughout the body. Infecting each limb and tissue along the way until the body is overwhelmed. Succumbing to the sickness at long last.

AN: This story takes place from episode 5 onward. I’ve changed things up a bit but I’ve kept the timeline intact

The finale.

Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 6, Chapter 7, Chapter 8

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131 AC- Kings Landing

War is inevitable. Peace does not last forever. It can not. The nature of man will not allow it. The very nature that brings about men’s volatility and propensity for violence. Conflicts always arise. Old grudges are hard to forget. The sins of past wrongs bubbling to the surface. Our emotions can not be so easily pushed to the side. They can only be repressed for so long before we must give in. The cost being too high to not do so.

Nothing in life is without its costs. We are in a constant battle of give and take. When we do not get what we want we become hungry. Greedy for what we feel is ours. Seeking glory and redemption no matter the cost or the burden. Seeking to protect what is rightfully ours. Though the matter of what is yours or mine is a subjective one. Entirely fueled by our boundless wants.

Envy is a disease that festers. Rotting the mind like a wound that was never tended to. Becoming gangrenous as it spreads throughout the body. Infecting each limb and tissue along the way until the body is overwhelmed. Succumbing to the sickness at long last.

Such is the case with war. Those who yearn for power claim it through less-than-honorable means. Harvesting the seeds of discontent that were planted eons ago. The starving man can not help but feast upon its ripe flesh. Curing its weary soul and broken body. What is honor compared to desire? For he is hungry and has long since been denied. Envy makes bastards of us all.

Were envy and greed the reason why it had all come to this? Peacetime at long last ending across the Seven Kingdoms in the wake of Viserys death. Petty grievances and blood feuds perhaps killed it. It had been a slow painful death as was the late kings, but he had found relief in his departure from this mortal plane. That would not be the case for the Kingdom he had left behind.

For the first time since the dreaded bloody reign of Maegor the Cruel war was on the horizon. There was no stopping the not-so-distant sound of swords being drawn, shields clashing upon the battle, of dragons roaring above them, firing down upon them. There was no stopping it all. Not unless something drastic were to happen, but the balance was rapidly tipping in favor of the Warrior. One could only accept their fate and pray to the Gods that they would be spared. War was what was coming for them all.

“We hold twelve full-grown dragons to Rhaenyra’s five.” Daemon's voice reigned around the small council chambers that were already beginning to take on the image of that of a war room.

While the lords and ladies of court celebrated Aegon II's crowning, the prodigal son succeeding his father upon the Iron Throne, his chief supporters were called to the small council's chambers. There was too much to be done to leave it for the morrow. Drinking and feasting would be postponed. Their guests could enjoy the merriment for now. There was too much at stake. Too much that could go wrong. Too much that had already done so.

The king himself had chosen to sit in on the council meeting. His presence at his council was a shock though not necessarily an unwelcome sight. Some measure of duty must have snapped into him from his crowning. The adoration of the people was more sobering than any tonic that Grand Maester Orwyle could concoct and give to Aegon. He was king now. For the first time in Naerys nephew's life, he had a true purpose.

All eyes were upon Daemon as he lectured the council. Even Ser Otto who listened to the Targaryen man with a clenched jaw, but otherwise he too let the Rogue Prince lead on. A certain stilted truce had been erected between the two men. A common goal did wonders for their ability to tolerate the other’s presence though both took to glaring at the other in scorn when his head was turned. It was hard to forget the history that stood between them. Naerys strongly suspected that if given the chance they would strangle each other.

Nonetheless, the Hand of the King had offered Daemon a position upon the small council. His pick between his old position of Master of coin or Master of ships. He could be by the king's side, but it was the wrong king.

He declined both. For accepting any post would mean leaving Dragonstone in the care of Daenys and Aemond for the foreseeable future. Their daughter was more than capable of ruling in his stead. She had been groomed as heir since she was four name days old and by all accounts had the makings of a thoughtful and firm steward.

However, baseless as it may be, Daemon did not fully trust their new good-son with the sole care of their daughter nor did he see him as deserving of the position. The boy had been corrupted by his grandsire. He was not to be trusted. Who knows what he might do if he was not there to watch over her. It was a matter that Naerys would put aside to deal with later. They had more pressing concerns to deal with.

Aegon’s crowning, though successful, had almost been overshadowed by Rhaenys and her dragon. Uninvited guests. Crashing through the Dragonpit with no care for the small folk or its other occupants. It was not them who she spared. No, it was the king himself this time. A warning. He would not be so lucky the next.

“My niece will want to claim Dragonstone for her own.” Naerys recalled how Daemon and Otto spoke with hushed voices earlier that day. The older man walked beside them as they made their way out of the now-ruined Dragonpit back to their wheelhouse. Her husband’s grip on her loosened somewhat, but he had not let her go.

Rhaenys' stunt had shocked him enough not to. He kept her arm and hand resting in his, rubbing circles into the back of her hand with the pad of his thumb. She had to confess, it had been a comfort.

The Rogue Prince had tried to grab ahold of Daenys as well, but the girl remained glued at her new husband's side. It was a battle he folded to Aemond with a clenched jaw. There was not much he could do on that front anymore. Their daughter was undoubtedly not just theirs anymore.

Daemon cast his violet gaze down at Naerys. Giving his niece-wife a small smirk as she had shifted where she stood. He knew exactly who would put it into Rhaenyra’s head to make way for Dragonstone. Sixteen years of marriage would tell him if nothing else. Ser Otto no doubt had his suspicions as did the rest of those present. It was more than obvious.

Naerys was the most likely person to aid in her aunt's ill-timed escape. She herself would not correct their assumption. The princess had intended on smuggling Rhaenys out of the Red Keep. Albeit under a different set of circumstances, but she was in part to blame for her flight. They all might have paid the consequences for her sentiments had not the elder princess exercised caution or her husband acted with haste.

Dragonstone had no dragonriders to speak of upon its shores then. They had an urgent need to remedy their seats' present circumstances. It would not do to let such an asset fall into the hands of Rhaenyra and her ilk. The small island presented too much of a temptation, a goldmine for her to turn a blind eye to.

“It is what I would do.” Rhaenyra would grieve for her father that could be sure. Her greatest supporter. The man who put her before all others was lost to his sick bed, but she could not grieve long. With Rhaenys flying for Hide Tide, they could be sure that the older princess would inform her that Dragonstone’s Lord and Lady were presently absent from their keep. “Naturally, she’ll try to install Jaecerys as Prince of Dragonstone.”

Driftmark was only a half-hour flight from Dragonstone. It did not take a military strategist to see that the Black Queen had a chance. A small window of opportunity that she would not be able to miss. Could not miss it. The island after all possessed an edge Rhaenyra desperately needed if she were to turn the odds in her favor.

Four unclaimed dragons called Dragonstone their home. Sheepstealer, Grey Ghost, Cannibal, and Vermithor. The first three were wild, having never been claimed by man, but the last, though not wild, had not been claimed for near on thirty years. For his last rider had been no other than Naerys' great grandsire, the Old King Jaehaerys.

Silverwing would often wander off to coil herself around Vermithor in his cavern beneath Dragonmont where he had taken up residence, but he was a fearsome thing. It would be a difficult endeavor to tame all the dragons wild and old alike though not impossible.

Riders would of course have to be procured. Dragonseeds were not so hard to find. One need only look for their silver heads, or their many shades of violet eyes, or both, upon the shores of Driftmark, Dragonstone, and the alleys of Kings Landing. The Targaryen’s had always been more than generous with their favors and amorous attention upon the small folk of the realm. It was a gift to bear the fruit of a God. Or as close to it as mortally possible.

The capture of Dragonstone could easily turn the tide of the war in Rhaenyra’s favor if she moved quickly. If she had enough sense and foresight to employ its treasures to their fullest extent. The Greens had precious little time before the Realms Delight would gather her strength and strike. They could not lose their advantage to the hands of the would-be queen and her allies.

The castle had been left in the care of Maester Orlys. The kindly old man was as loyal as they came. As were the rest of their household and islands’ occupants, including a small garrison numbering less than five hundred. Daemon had always inspired a certain level of loyalty in his men, from his time as lord commander of the city watch to now. Always rallying their spirits.

Their soldiers would defend the ancient Targaryen seat in their prince and princesses name, but what was their loyalty to the might of a dragon? Or better yet two full-grown dragons? The Blacks would take the island under threat of their queen's house words' reigning true.

Daenys volunteered to journey back to father's seat. She was to be Lady of Dragonstone after him. The island was her home. The young princess would not see it fall into her cousin turned half-good-sister's clutches. She had been born on its smoky shores and she would rule over them when the time came. Why should she not insure its safety?

Her father was needed in the capital and he would not want her mother out of his sight. The two rarely parted from each other. He would not wish for her to defend, but they did not have much choice. Aemond had his mission at Storm's End. As much as she loathed to be parted from her husband so soon after their nuptials, Daenys was well-equipped to handle the issue on her own.

Helaena, who had looked and sounded more than elated at the prospect, extended her own services. “Two dragons are better than one and Dreamfyre is swift as is Moondream.” Neither her good sister's parents nor her brother would allow Daenys to go by herself. The little queen would more than makeup for her brother’s temporary absence.

At any rate, the she-dragons, apart from Daeron's Tesserion, with rider and dragon alike gathering support in Oldtown, were the fastest dragons in their possession. Both were lithe nimble things that would take the new queen and her good-sister to Dragonstone before Rhaenys or Rhaenyra could rally their own dragons and ships to make way for the fortress.

Truth be told, Naerys thought that the young queen was a great deal overwhelmed with her newest occupation. Helaena had always been a girl who preferred the close intimacy and company of those she loved best. Not unlike her good-aunt.

Her ladies, her family, and her non-human companions shined brighter in her violet gaze than all the dazzle of court. She had never taken to the spotlight as her sister or even her now good sister had. The now queen would have made an excellent lord's wife. Somewhere in the Reach or the Westerlands mayhaps.

She would have done well to marry into her mother’s house. In the comfort and safety of Hightowers towering stonewalls. There was much entertainment and less idle tattling to be found outside the barrier erected by her crown. Alas fate had other plans for Helaena.

Although it was done with care, Aemond shot down his sister's assistance. “You are needed here sister. Kings Landing can not be left without its own protection.” In her own words, just as Dragonstone would be better off with two dragons instead of one so would the capital. “I shall journey with my wife.” The pale girl’s eyes lost some of their brilliance, but she conceded with a small nod of her silver head.

The one eyed prince would give Rhaenyra more of a pause than either Daenys or Helaena. She would hesitate to strike Dragonstone with her half brother and his dragon upon its shores. Slow and old Vhagar might be, but she had seen war. She was the largest dragon in the world and though her rider was untested in battle, he was a force to be reckoned upon dragonback with or without a sword in his hand.

Of course his business at Storms’ End could not be delayed. With Daeron away in Oldtown gathering the support of the Reach lords alongside their cousin Lord Ormund it fell down to him to insure an alliance with the Storm Lords. He was to propose a betrothal between one of Lord Borros’ daughters and his younger brother on his behalf.

Time could not be wasted on the onset of war. Aemond could only stay long enough to cement his wife’s position on Dragonstone before taking to the skies for the Baratheon seat. He would only be gone for a few hours, but that would be more than enough time for Rhaenyra to try something if she was alerted of his absence from his Daenys’ side. His wife would have her fathers guards, but Aemond, as men often want to mark their territory, wanted a man of his own with her.

The prince asked his grandsire for leave of Ser Criston. He was a valued friend and mentor. It was clear to all that he trusted the Dornish knight with his own life. He would be up to the task of guarding his little wife while both himself and her parents were away from Dragonstone. Should the need arise he would be able to whisk her away to safety.

A resounding no was the answer to his request. From his goodsire and grandsire and surprisingly Naerys. The first and viewed the knight with the utmost distrust. His wife was prone to agree with him. While she did not think she did not believe him to be a malevolent man as her husband would describe, she did not believe that he would do all in his power to defend her daughter if it came to it.

Thankfully, Ser Otto had need of him. As the new Lord Commander of Aegon’s Kingsguard Ser Criston could not leave the capital. Not while their new king's reign remained tested and the exact whereabouts and plots of their enemies were yet unknown. Aemond was given his uncle Ser Gwayne Hightower instead.

Though he was no Ser Criston he was a worthy and honorable knight. Unlike in the case of the Dornish knight, his regard for his nephew extended to Daenys. He viewed her as her mother’s daughter rather than her fathers. The issue was settled when no objection was given. While it pained him to admit to it, viewing him to be over familiar when it came to her, Naerys knew that her husband trusted him enough to see to their daughters welfare. For a short while at least, Ser Gwayne was safe from Daemon’s suspicion as long as he kept to his person and minded his post.

“Helaena mentioned a beast underneath the floorboards.” Daenys had leaned in to not so subtly whisper to her mother on the walk up the hill where Vhagar and Moondream rested. Apart from Naerys and her husband, who were to see the newlywed’s and the Hightower knight's departure, the rest of their party had gone back to the Red Keep.

The now queen in question had always been a unique child. Insects called to her more than people, even animals. Dragon dreams. A gift to some or rather a curse for others. She was a sweet girl, but it was clear that the Dreams had taken a toll on her.

Giving the appearance of a half-scattered mind. Daenys the Dreamer had been half made they say. Prone to getting lost within the rich fancifulness of her imagination rather than the solid reality that stood in front of her. Her imagination was what ultimately led to House Targaryen’s continued survival. Past the doom and beyond.

“Nyke gaomagon daor pendagon bona ao istan se cause hen skorion massitas? Muñnykeā. Nyke pāsagon ziry istan va moriot meant naejot massigon.” I do not think that you were the cause of what happened mother. I believe it was always meant to happen.

Naerys felt her face heat up as Aemond and Daemon guffawed at Daenys remark. Ser Gwanye could neither speak nor understand Valyrian, but he seemed to infer what had been said when he added his own chortles to the fray. Whatever doubt they had at her part to play in the incident vanquished. If both Daenys and Helaena could see what she had inadvertently caused, there could be no uncertainty.

“Do stop fussing kepa. You look so grim.” Daenys laughed lightly when her father placed a kiss into her curls after she had saddled her dragon. “My husband will see that I am comfortable before he leaves and he won’t be gone very long.” It went without saying that Ser Gwayne would deal with both Daemon and Aemond’s ire should anything happen to the young princess.

Daenys then went to place a kiss upon her mother's cheek as Naerys pulled her in for a hug. Letting out another round of laughter at her mother's tight grip. “Don’t fuse either. I shall see you both soon enough.” The newlyweds and Ser Gwayne, who climbed upon Vhagar’s back with some hesitation after his nephew, were off to Dragonstone.

With both Aemond and Daenys away securing Dragonstone and Storm’s End the present agenda rested on their strengths and allies in relation to Rhaenyra’s. The chief among them being their dragons.

The loss of Meleys was a greater inconvenience than her rider. There was always a danger that came with the opposition gaining an additional dragon, but they held both more dragons and dragonriders than Rhaenyra. They were at the advantage in the skies as Daemon had reminded the council, but he, and Aemond, would hesitate to send either herself or Daenys ride into war. In all likelihood they would not need to.

The Blacks' five dragonriders comprised mainly of the would-be queen's children. They all knew that Rhaenyra, like her uncle and second brother, would be reluctant to send any of her boys into battle unless need demanded it. Jacaerys and Lucerys, who while were more than adequate riders, were learning the commands and capabilities of their beasts as well as themselves. Joffrey's dragon was too small to be ridden into war. Rhaenys would no doubt hesitate to send her granddaughter the Lady Baela into battle as well.

Lady Rhaena had no dragon to speak of. Only three dragon eggs, given to her from one of Syraxes clutches that had all yet to hatch. Though the sweet young lady did pray to the Gods every night that she would be made a dragonrider as her mother the late Lady Laena had been. To join the fold beside her grandmother and elder twin. Naerys had heard that the youngest Lady Strong could seldom be parted with her eggs.

Dragons of course were not the only way to win a war. They were an advantage sure enough, but they were to be the last option on both sides. They brought more danger than they were worth many times over. For when dragons dance, the destruction can be endless.

It could not go without saying that the Rhaenys' escape had left them with little time to execute the Greens' more diplomatic plans. Plans which depended a great deal upon the older princess’s temporary captivity within her guest quarters. It was a setback, but not one that they would not be able to recover from.

Ser Otto had sent a raven to Driftmark for its maester. A man, who in addition to studying as a novice alongside Grand Maester Orwyle many ages past, was a great friend of Naerys' late uncle Ser Vaemond. So much so that he often sought his counsel ahead of that of his own brother. Of course, this tendency to seek guidance in the form of Hide Tide’s maester was helped by him being a blood relation to the Velaryon knight's now widowed lady wife.

When an acolyte takes his vows and forges his chain to become a maester, a degree of impartiality is expected to follow. One’s previous allegiances to their house, their name, and the lands from which they come from must fall to the wayside, but the call of blood is a hard bond to break. He had been shown to hold his lord's brother’s opinions and interests on matters relating to the Driftwood throne. The maester kept council and advised his sons in the wake of their father's untimely end.

Driftmarks maester would have alerted Ser Vaemond’s sons of recent events in the capital upon receiving the hands' letter. A king had been crowned. A king who was sympathetic to their woes. Knowing all too well of the plight of the rightful heir against that of their enemies.

Offering the hand of friendship if needs be. The need only to embrace said friendship and a hand would be lent to place one of Naerys' cousins upon their rightful throne. However, with Rhaenys traveling back to Driftmark they could no longer be so sure that their friends would be able to act on their good faith.

With good weather, the Queen Who Never Was could be back on Driftmarks shores by the day's end. Meleys was older now, but she rose to the task when needed. There could be no doubt that Rhaenys would alert Rhaenyra of the Greens' treachery and treason. Of the danger that would soon be upon her and her sons. Bringing her a worthy ally and a much-needed dragonrider. However, the situation at present was temperamental.

Naerys could not doubt that if she were to transport herself within High Tides' white stone walls she would find a den of discontent. Unease brewing from an unwelcome guest upon its shores. An interloper. Filling up every chamber within the castle. Waiting. Building up dread until the cup would overflow.

What was supposed to be a time of triumph had become a time of mourning for too many reasons to name. They had been made a fool. The sons of House Velaryon. The blood of the seahorse and old Valyria. The rightful heirs of their uncle’s throne. First Ser Vaemond and now they too were being pushed aside. Their pain was being paraded over by a feckless woman and her bastards.

If nothing else, the disquietude should unsettle the Black queen. She was an island surrounded by enemies. It did not occur to her that she had made a mistake coming to Driftmark. She had thought herself safe even with her sole advocate, the formidable Sea Snake lying in his sick bed. She had another that would scare off the monsters for her a thousand leagues away within the Red Keep, but he was dead now. Gone to the seven hells. If Rhaenys did not make it back to her husband's shores in time, Rhaenyra could find herself fighting her own battle within her chosen place of refuge.

A series of what-ifs had overtaken fate. Naerys cousins’ would not speak a word against Rhaenyra and her sons for fear of the king's might and reach, but their silence would only last for so long. They would not forget who made them so low. Never mind if it happened a day ago or ten years.

If Ser Otto’s letter was received before Rhaenys arrival it would only take to gag and bound the would-be queen and her sons. Delivering them to the Red Keep. To Aegon to do with as he pleased. All would be right with the world then. Driftmark returned to its proper heirs. If not, a fight would commence for another day.

“Our support lies heaviest in the south.” Ravens had been sent to houses small and great alike throughout the Seven Kingdoms but had yet to receive replies in mass. It was the early days yet. The lords of Westeros waited to see where the deck would land.

The Riverlands were divided at best. It had always been that way. The support of the Reach and the Westerlands were all but guaranteed. Aemond was dealing with the Stormlands. The North was unlikely to join their cause, but they were unlikely to be of much help to Rhaenyra either.

Winterfell and the lords of the North were a long way away from Driftmark much less Kings Landing and as the Starks' house words do so dutifully remind both friends and foes, winter is coming. With the heavy snows of winter, the journey south would be a long one. The fighting might be down before Lord Cregan Stark ever reached the neck. The Vale was without a doubt lost.

“Perhaps we might send the princess to parlay with Lady Arryn?” The new Master of Coin Ser Tyland suggested, but he backed into himself once Daemon began to glower at him from the opposite side of the small council table. “Or mayhaps a messenger or a raven might be better suited to offer terms of friendship.”

“Jeyne Arryn would sooner see the Prince of Dorne as king than Aegon.” Jeyne Arryn’s blood was Rhaenyra’s. Enmity remained well within the lady’s mind. Her opinion of Daemon remained sour. He was reason enough to side against the Greens. The Rogue Prince had twice done her kin over. Leaving Rhaenyra to fend for herself. Turning his back to her when she needed him most. The business of him marrying his daughter to the son of a traitor would further leave a foul taste in her mouth.

Lady Arryn neither trusted Ser Otto nor Alicent to keep her interests at heart. They had crowned an unworthy man, a usurper, all because he had the luck to be born with the right appendage betwixt his legs. She herself had to contend with countless attempts to unseat her as Lady of the Vale from her own less-than-worthy male relations. If they were to send an envoy it would be a wasted effort.

“We should send an envoy to Hide Tide.” Daemon turned to Ser Otto. “Before we do anything. We might be able to settle things peacefully.” Ser Otto held his tongue though he did narrow his eyes at the Targaryen man's suggestion. “She’s at a disadvantage.” War was a last resort or rather it should be, but for the Hand, Naerys had found that he believed war to be their only option. They were dealing with an unreasonable foe blinded by her emotions and entitlement.

“She has the support of House Velaryon and House Arryn at the least.” More houses were soon to follow. “She is not so weak.” Ser Otto said as his light eyes flitted to the map spread out in front of them. “The princess will not give in so easily.”

Rhaenyra was a proud woman. If she believed herself wrong or denied what was hers she would not give up. From where she stood, damn the laws of men and Gods alike. Her father had seen to such. The Iron Throne was hers. She would not turn her back upon it now. Or ever if she had the means to. She would fight. For as long as she could, but no one fights a war which they could not win.

“We still might reason with my aunt.” Rhaenyra had the support of House Velaryon, but without them, even with her four dragons, she would surely lose. No allies would come to her rescue if the Velaryon’s left her out to dry. Taking away her support would stop the chaos before it began. If they were to take away the Velaryon’s and their fleet, this war could be over by the end of the day.

Rhaenys did not want war herself. Not truly. Not a woman who had sacrificed her own crown near thirty years past to prevent one, but what could they offer her? She sided with Rhaenyra for her granddaughters. For their just due. Naerys did not doubt her aunt's words. Everything she did was for them. They could not offer her eldest granddaughter the crown, but perhaps they might offer Lady Baela Driftmark to rule over in her own right. By all the natural laws in the land, it should be hers.

“Rhaenys has made her decision.” The dowager queen kindly reminded her. Painfully so. The Dragonpit would take weeks to repair from her choice of action. Alicent gave her a soft smile and pulled her brown hand in her pale one before turning to face the rest of the council. “My good daughter has not. We might still reason with Rhaenyra. We offer her fair terms. Jaecerys will be the lord of Driftmark after Lord Corlys if he so wishes.”

It would anger Naerys' cousins, true enough. Though it was a necessary sacrifice for the time being. Surely a future betrothal could smooth things over when the time came to. War was too much of a burden to give into her cousin's demands as honorable as they may be.

“Lucerys a Lordship of his own. Joffrey may become Aegon’s cupbearer or Aemond’s squire at Dragonstone or your own Daemon.” Her husband snorted, throwing his violet gaze at the king's mother. However, he did not say anything against the proposal. Ser Otto looked as if he too wanted to object, but he once again stayed his tongue. The Hand of the King was increasingly becoming outnumbered.

“They all will be welcomed at court.” She gave a pointed look to her father who stiffened in his chair, “and they may keep their titles. On the condition that Rhaenyra journeys to Kings Landing, bends the knee, and swears loyalty to our king.” Alicent turned her eyes toward her son in acknowledgment. Aegon’s violet eyes seemed to liven at the image that his mother painted. “She is Viserys' eldest daughter. Not his son. It is time she recognizes that.” If Naerys' cousin were to give in she would stand as no threat. The once crown princess had bastards for heirs. She was a woman. She was not a threat.

Ser Otto conceded as did the rest of the council. The right course of action dictated it. Diplomacy demanded it. If there was any way to solve this matter civilly then by all means. The dragons may not dance yet. They must first exhaust all of their options before declaring war upon Rhaenyra and her allies. Only then if she rejected their offer of a truce. Their offer of kinship, would they have no choice, but to pursue less than peaceful measures.

It had been ten odd years since Naerys had last stepped foot onto Driftmarks shores. The castle remained unchanged. She wondered if it was even a possibility that it ever could. Some things were stuck within the ages. Remaining a static fixture in our memory. Hide Tide stood as a reminder of youth. An echo of a distant past. Of the joy and naivety she had in it.

The people, however, were a different story. Hide Tides' occupants were more changed than the castle in which they resided. Very much so. Seasons came and went and they were weathered by the passing storms of time. Weary from the days that stained and left their mark upon their skin and in their eyes. The hauntings of past lives and lost chances.

Rhaenys and to Naerys' shock her uncle Lord Corlys were waiting for them. Her mother's eldest brother's umber complexion looked dull in the dusk from his sickness. His neck had been wrapped in gauze. He should be resting, but the man had become especially obstinate in old age. No warm words of welcome were exchanged between the two factions upon the beach where they had landed Caraxes and Silverwing. The only greeting they received were weary looks. Her aunt would not fully meet her eye as she looked on ahead past them.

“Where is Princess Rhaenyra?” Ser Otto was the first to speak. His raspy voice sounded out over the crashing waves. Naerys and her uncle-husband were well suited to offer terms of alliance to Rhaenyra, but the older man had insisted upon journeying with them. His trust in Daemon was fickle at best and Naerys relationship with her cousin was less than idyllic. If they were to choose diplomacy, the occasion called for a steady hand to guide them which is what the Hightower man believed himself to be.

Lord Corlys lips parted in reply, but then there was no need to supply an answer. A roaring could be heard above them. Syrax’s. On top of the golden she-dragon sat Rhaenyra wearing her fathers crown.

Rhaenys was not the only one to have made a half-mad escape from the Red Keep during Aegon’s coronation. Ser Errk had turned his white cloak. At least in service of the new king. The last anyone had seen of him was brother seeing him off Blackwater Bay aboard a ship to Driftmark no doubt. To his queen. He had taken Viserys crown with him that now rested on top of the Black queen's white head. If Rhaenyra could not have the crown of the conqueror, her fathers would have to do.

“I wish to speak to my uncle.” Rhaenyra kept her eyes trained upon Daemon as she climbed off her dragon to face them. Only briefly strained her lilac gaze down at Naerys. She looked the part of queen. Had made her entrance as such, but she was ever herself. Queendom would only make her more so. “Alone.”

Daemon made to answer her. Something crude judging by the smirk upon his pale brow, but Naerys beat him to it. “Go with her kepus.” She met her cousin's narrowed stare with one of her own. A crown upon Rhaenyra’s head would not change her. Her father’s death would not bring her humility, but their was something upon her pallid visage that did show a chink in her queenly armor. She would not deny her closure. Let this be the last of it.

Daemon did not listen to his niece-wife. “My wife can wait in the hall dear niece.” He sneered at the realms delight as he grabbed Naerys small hand. Her husband pulled her along towards the castle without sparing the Black Queen a second glance. Rhaenyra fummed, but she held her head high when she saw her cousins’ dark amethyst eyes turning back to glimpse at her.

The rest of their party attempted to follow them, but guards blocked a positively vexed Ser Otto and his men from doing so. The Lord and Lady of Driftmark scampered off when they were back behind the safety of their stone walls.

They came to a standstill at the heavy oak doors leading to her uncle’s Great Hall. Her husband placed a kiss on her brown forehead smoothing back her silver coils before pushing her towards a bench outside of the hall. Her cousin took care to slam the door shut after Daemon went through.

Naerys did not know how long she remained sitting on that bench. Time seemed to become immaterial.There was nothing to mark it by. She did not worry herself with her thoughts. There wasn’t much Rhaenyra could do or say that would move her husband. There was no harm in leaving the two alone. Good may in fact come from it.

Her cousin cherished their uncle’s opinion above all. She was obsessed with it. If anyone could make her see sense it would be he. She heard no noises coming from behind those shut doors. Not until she heard a loud bang. Dread made her pull open the door. The scene she walked into was a half-surprise.

Daemon and Rhaenyra stood on opposite sides of the long table which occupied the center of the room. Much like a map of the Seven Kingdoms was spread out on top of it. Naerys' husband was leaning over a chair. Seemingly trying to control his breathing. Her cousin stood pacing around her side of the room. Her eyes were red-rimmed. Whatever queenly veneer she had slipped out from her.

“Leave us.” Rhaenyra turned her head to hiss at her. For a brief moment, Naerys was transported back sixteen years. Back to Dragonstones shores. A distant memory of her happening upon them when she went to fetch a book she left in the painted table’s chamber. She had told her the same then.

Naerys was frozen. Trapped in time. Mayhaps people change less than the chambers and halls in which they take up, but she wasn’t a girl anymore. She herself needed reminding of that. Her husband's voice snapped her back to the present.

“Do not listen to her little one.” Daemon breathed harder than he would have had he been sparing with his men around their training yard. He held out a white hand for her to take. His face had lost what little color it had. still leaning over the chair as he motioned her to him “Come here my sweet girl.” He kissed her forehead again before burying his face into the top of her coils when she had reached him. Drinking her in. He seemed to calm somewhat. “That’s a good girl.”

“Kepus.” Naerys tried to begin, but he only buried his head into her neck. The princess sighed as she brought a hand to run through his silver strands. Grazing the scars that ran down his neck. She would let herself bring him comfort once more. Questions on what had upset him could wait for when they were behind the safety of their own walls back at Dragonstone.

“Sweet kind Naerys, you’ve done everything that’s been expected of you.” Her face had turned sour. As if she had bitten into a lemon cake made without sugar. She spoke through clenched teeth. It was a wonder how they did not break from the strain. Her lips screwed up into a frown. “Everything apart from giving our uncle sons. I guess your womb is where it all comes to rot. You were never worthy of that.”

“You are a placeholder.” Rhaenyra continued on. Hurling half-truths in rapid succession. Her mask was put back into place. The appearance of ease. Of self-surety, but her eyes, the eyes always tell. Frustration. Neither darkness nor truth, but her displeasure was unrestrained. “That’s all you really are Naerys. My replacement. He couldn’t have me.” She would never let her forget that. My father wouldn’t allow it, so he took you.”

Why was she still here then? There was no need to have her still. If she had overstayed her welcome there was nothing tying him to her. Apart from what her dear cousin did not want to name. Daemon loved her. He was not an easy man, but she pleased him. She was sorry for it. Naerys pleased him beyond measure and that was what haunted the would-be queen. She made him happy as he did her. It was unexpected, but she would not feel ashamed for it.

“Rhaenyra, dear niece I couldn’t have your father.” Daemon let out a snigger that resounded around the room. No longer leaning upon Naerys to stand. while placing a hand to stroke down her arm. “We could have been each other’s everything had circumstances been different.”

Rhaenyra blanched at their uncle's words. Her thin mouth opened and closed like a gaping fish. “I even pictured Viserys in your place on occasion when we fucked. Naerys was the first time I hadn’t the need to.” Rhaenyra collapsed into a nearby chair. Naerys herself felt as if she too might collapse at her husband's admission had he not held her up rubbing circles into her back to calm her.

“You’ve bewitched him!” Naerys could not help but laugh at the utter ridiculousness of it. She had no tricks up her sleeve. No wiles which to capture him by. She had been a girl ten and five when she had married Daemon. Whatever she had done to make her husband care for her she had done unknowingly. One could not take what was freely given.

The anger came then in Rhaenyra’s pale glower. A frown dropped across her brow as her eyes darkened. A spark. Lit by scorn. By rejection. “Do not take it as a compliment dear cousin.” She spat the next words at her. Leaning over her chair to do so.

“I chose her.” He removed himself from his wife’s side to stride over to where Rhaenyra sat. “She does not know her power over me. She does not know she wields such a thing.” Rhaenyra sank further into her chair at her uncle's approaching form. She recalled the last time she had stoked his temper. Her dress's neckline covered the evidence of it. “Naerys did not climb into my bed in the middle of the night to seduce me away from you.” It had never been about her. “Have you actually ever loved anyone Rhaenyra?”

He came to a stop to bend down to meet her cousin's eye, but the woman avoided him. Taking to staring at Naerys instead, before Daemon yanked her head to face him. His eyes were grim. “I have already told you that if you had her you would understand. She’s given me more than I deserve.”

He reached out to take her wrist in his hold. Her cousin struggled against his strength, but he only tightened his grip. “She would have given me a son, but what good is a son without her?” Rhaenyra wasted no time in snatching away her hand when Daemon released his grasp. “I admit I am a selfish man, but I would do everything for her.”

“Nyke sorry ziry gaomagon ao.” I am sorry he used you. Naerys spoke out. Having to take a breath to steady herself. Both sets of pale violet eyes turned to face her. “Nyke sorry syt bona.” I am sorry for that. Her cousin was a victim in her own way. That could not be denied. Her husband had greatly misused Rhaenyra. He had used and discarded her when he had seen fit. More than either suspected. She knew her uncle. He would never apologize for it.

“Yn nyke emagon dōrī ōdrikagon ao.” But I have never hurt you. She had not made him do the things he had. Daemon was his own person and he had chosen to bend to her. He chose her own on his own violation. He had strung her cousin along, but Naerys was not the cause of it. The Rogue Prince had started his games long before her husband had set his gaze upon her.

“Nyke emagon dōrī jeldan ao ōdrikagon.” I have never wished you harm. Despite everything she had done to her to the ones she loved, Naerys could only feel pity for her rather than true contempt. Tried as she might to rid herself of the sentiment she could not hate her. To do that would mean she resented her. Rhaenyra had nothing of value that she wanted except for her surrender.

“Ziry does daor emagon naejot mōris bisa ñuhoso.” It does not have to end this way. Honey words. The call to kinship. The Lady of Dragonstone could not forget why they were here in the first place. Peace. It was for peace. It was up to the would-be-queen. They could avoid the destruction of their house. If she bent the knee to Aegon and gave up her claim to the Seven Kingdoms. She could live a life here among House Velaryon. Make her court there or wherever she wished. “Ao kostagon sagon dāez Rhaenyra.” You may be free Rhaenyra.

For all her posturing, Rhaenyra was not a warrior queen. She rode a dragon, but she was no Visenya. She was not even Queen Rhaena. She was a princess of leisure. Preferring the comforts of court and its admirer’s than the endless toil of battle. She was not a political woman either. She was no more suited for war than she was to sit upon the Iron Throne after she waged it and paid the price in blood she did not have.

Rhaenyra glared at her. A shadow blotted her face. She sensed her pity and she did not want it. Pride. It would keep her cousin from doing what was right. Her conceit would not fall today. It would be her undoing.

“You are considerate to try little one, but Rhaenyra is just as mad as her father.” Daemon removed himself from looming over the Black Queen, sauntering over back to Naerys. “Believing in dreams.” Letting out a chortle at her cousin's sullen expression. “Even if that prophecy my brother obsessed over is true, we are all the conqueror’s blood. It could mean any one of us. In case you have forgotten, my wife has given me a child. My blood, my grandson shall sit upon the Iron Throne.”

He grabbed her hand before Naerys could process the meaning of her uncle's words. So much had been said she felt as if she was being thrown from one revelation to the next. Barely keeping a hold onto her head. “If all you wish is to talk of is riddles, then there is nothing left to discuss.”

Daemon gestured to the Dark Sister at his side.“I could end it all here. I’d be doing the realm a favor but for the love I bore your father. I spare you this kindness. Let it be my last.” He left the chamber doors wide open as they made their exit. Storming out the castle at double the rate which they had entered into the halls of High Tide.

“You shall do as you please Lord Hand.” Daemon snarled as they passed Ser Otto. He had been proven right. The Hightower man’s eyes gleamed beneath his solemn face as he gave the signal to his men to move out. Naerys' husband helped her onto Silverwing before mounting Caraxes who was just as tempestuous as he rider. They took flight for their smoky shores without another word exchanged.

Dragonstone was quiet when they arrived back. Their welcoming party consisted of Maester Orlys and a couple of servants. The genial old maester informed them that Aemond had not yet returned back from Storms End. Daenys had retired to their new apartments in the Sea Dragon Tower far enough away from her parents in the Stone Drum.

That did not stop Daemon from ordering a servant to fetch Aemond as soon as he arrived so that he may enlighten him of the outcome of his mission. “It can wait kepus.” Naerys uncle’s mood remained foul, but that did not mean that he needed to bother the boy. It would be well past a decent hour whenever he and Vhagar landed. Whatever business he had with their good son could wait until the morrow.

Both he and their daughter deserved the night to themselves. He did not argue with her, but being reminded of their daughter's recent nuptials seemed to set him off further. Leading him to march up to their chambers while whispering curses under his breath.

Naerys could recollect that Daemon had kept her in their bed for a week after they had wed. He had not even loved her then. Of course love had very little to do with attraction. “I believe I have broken you.” He had laughed then when she frowned in confusion as she pulled slightly off his chest after their lovemaking.

She had been mostly frightened of him and the emotions he invoked in her. Emotions he likely shared. “Issa iā sȳz run dōna riña.” It is a good thing, sweet girl. He pulled her back down to lay her on top of him, lining her heat up again with his hardening member. Bringing the back of his rough hand up to caress her face. “Pāsan emā pryjatan nyke tolī.” I believe you have broken me too.

Naerys called for a bath to be brought for their chambers. It had been a long day. The first of many to come. They could worry about what would happen in the coming weeks tomorrow. For now, they needed to rest. They would be no good in the agitated state they were in.

The steaming water calmed their nerves. They sat in quiet contemplation. Daemon had taken to pulling her onto his lap after they had finished bathing the grime of the day off of each other. Resting his chin on top of her head. Stroking a warm hand up and down her bare arm while the other took her hand in his to play with her fingers. Naerys closed her eyes daydreaming of a not-so-distant future.

“It shall be nice to have children running around here again.” Daemon hummed in reply kissing her forehead. Naerys recalled that even in the darkest days when she was laid up in bed the little patter of Daenys feet and her laughter bouncing off their walls had been the most blessed sounds she heard. It had kept her sane in spite of her failures. “Future kings I suppose.” She would not pressure him for an explanation, it would come naturally.

“Aegon is not worthy to sit upon the throne.” Her husband looked at her as if it was obvious as she turned her gaze up to him. He was right about Aegon himself, but their nephew's line did not end with himself.

“Aegon has sons.” Jaehaerys and Maelor. Sweet little cherubs. They held their mothers' temperament rather than the impudence of their father. With the proper training, Jaehaerys could be an honorable heir. “Our nephew is healthy.” Their king was a lustful drunkard, but he otherwise was in perfect health.

“Men die every day as do children, especially in war.” Daemon breathed into the shell of his niece-wife’s ear. “In any case, they would need a regency.” It would never come to that. They both knew it. The lords of Westeros would rather seat a grown man upon the throne than boys even in peacetime. It was why during the Great Council Ser Laenor was passed over in favor of Viserys claim. “We would need a strong king to lead us.”

Aemond. He was next in line and conveniently married to their daughter. An overstep that Ser Otto and Alicent had missed in their haste to secure Dragonstone for themselves. An advantageous position for an ambitious man. For a second son.

“As well as a strong Hand to lead our king.” Her husband let out a chortle at her musings. Aemond no more liked his new good father than Daemon liked his good-son, but he was not too fond of his grandsire either.

Daenys would no doubt convince her husband who was besotted with his little wife that her father would make an excellent hand should it come to it. Naerys did not wish for her daughter to find herself in the precarious position of queendom, but our fate is rarely within our control. The Gods have the final say.

“Viserys was a weak man little one.” He sighed into her hair. “I will not let my affection for him blind me to his faults.” More than brotherly love by his own admittance. Or rather more than brotherly worship. It had been an obsession. “He is the reason why we find ourselves in this mess. My brother was never meant to sit upon that damned throne. He let vipers rule his court for him.” Daemon would not allow the same mistake to happen twice.

“From my blood come the prince that was promised, and his will be the song of ice and fire.” The riddle. The one that had caused her husband to spiral before she arrived. Daemon let out a snort. “The conqueror’s blood. My brother thought it referred to his line as does Rhaenyra.” Presumptuous given that neither he nor Rhaenyra were the only ones with the blood of the man who united the Seven Kingdoms running through his veins. The folly of their house. A lack of hubris. “It could just as easily be ours.” Their blood upon the Iron Throne. A call to right the past wrongs. The idea was too great to ignore.

“Ziry dōrī ivestretan issa.” He never told me. Daemon took to gazing at the flames from their chamber’s fire. Its light cast shadows across his pale face. He squeezed her hand. Bringing it to his lips to place a kiss upon the back of it absentmindedly. Giving her a half smile. “Hae baseless hae ziry istan ziry dōrī ivestretan issa se nyke istan zȳhon dārilaros.” As baseless as it was. He never told me and I was his heir. Dreams were not always so baseless. Naerys wondered if her uncle truly believed his own words. Surely he could not. His face was too troubled for him to believe it was pure conjecture.

A knock sounded at the door. Daemon barked at the poor soul on the other side of their door to bother them in the morrow, but the interruption came with urgency. Aemond had arrived back worse for wear. Rambling. His Hightower uncle Ser Gwayne had been the one to greet him. Whatever condition the young Targaryen Prince returned in had stoked his uncles’ distaste. The two quickly found themselves in a shouting match within the Painted Tables Chamber.

Daenys was called for and she had tried her best to diffuse the situation, but she could not make sense of it and had descended into her own mutterings. They did not need to be told twice when their daughter was in great distress. Daemon Hastily jumped from the bath helping his wife dress before grabbing Dark Sister. The two bound for their map rooms chambers across the Stone Drum that remained eerily muted.

The reason for Ser Gwayne's repulsion and their daughter's distress was apparent to the naked eye when they entered the chamber. “What have you done boy?” Aemond was soaked to the bone. Half drowned was more like it. Drenched by rain from the Stormlands and something darker. Crimson specks scattered across his face and into his long silver strands. He paced the room running his hands down his face while his young wife was comforted by her lady’s maid. Ser Gwayne stood.

“I was owed an eye.” His expression, red with irritation and rage, was as wild as the rest of him. Turning to face his good-fathers assessment. Rancor had clouded his judgment. The fury of a vengeful God. Or rather a young man who thought himself such. “The debt has been paid nuncle.” At the cost of their lives.

“Lucerys was there.” Ser Gwayne supplied with his hand still furiously rubbing his temples. Bringing up the other to pinch the bridge of his nose in frustration. “Delivering a message from his mother. He had left. The boy had left, but he chased him down.”

“I was owed an eye!” Aemond repeated. Daenys tried to go to him, but her mother held her back. Pulling her daughter's head to her side. Petting her silver strands like she did to soothe her as a girl. The young princess had worked herself into a frenzy. “I had every right—”

“Were you owed his life as well?” Naerys' husband met the younger man’s wroth with his own cold fury. The boy backed down some. Glancing at Dark Sister strapped to his good-fathers person. Aemond played the part of a God Daemon was every bit a malevolent Valyrian God of old.

“Aemond did what he thought was necessary kepa.” Only Daenys came to her husband’s aid. Breaking free of her mother's hold. The young girl put her hand in his. Her honey face was pale and her violet eyes were red-rimmed. The first blush of a new bride was gone.

Aemond had the veracious nature of a man of his house. Feed by the fire of youth. He did not know how to control his temper. Rash anger rather than reason Daenys had gotten her first taste of the violent passions that a man such as her husband possessed. A Targaryen man in his prime. Naerys herself had married one. He had mellowed over the years, but sleeping dragons do not lie dormant forever.

“He was her son.” Aemond went rigid at Naerys' chiding. Not expecting his good-mother's reprimand. It was as if his mother was in the room with him and not in her chambers in the Hands Tower oblivious to what he had done. “Rhaenyra would gladly die for any of her children.” Her cousin was many things, but she was a mother above all else. Naerys knew what a mother's love could do.

“As would I! As would your mother!” He was a boy beyond his depth. He was not a mother. He did not understand the depth of that bond. To carry and give birth to a child only to have him snatched away from you. He could not know. His half-sister would repay them in kind ten times over.

“A son for a son. That is what she will want. Do you have any idea of what you have done you half-blind fool?” It was Naerys who had to rest her hand upon her husband to calm him. To stop him from throttling their good-son. “Aōha mandia jāhor emagon aōha bartos valonqar!” Your sister will have your head boy! The Lady of Dragonstone thanked the Gods Daemon had the good sense not to reach for Dark Sister.

Understanding that her new husband provoked her father's ire and that nothing good could come from staying in his company, Daenys dragged Aemond to their apartments. Putting some distance between the two Targaryen men was for the best. Ser Gwayne rushed from the chamber to the rookery to inform his father and sister of the events that had unfolded tonight.

Rhaenyra would not stop until she had her fill. Her feast upon their innards. Until they felt as she did. They would know her pain. A mother's broken heart. The sound of Valyrian steel slicing through bone and flesh alike played in Naerys head. Dragons flames. Burning everything in their path. Colliding with each other in a crimson blaze beneath ash and ruin. Only blood would pay for what was spilled today. The price of vengeance.

Ao3 Link:

Tags: @misssilencewritewell @parizparis @thanyatargaryen @i-love-morally-gray-characters @mariaelizabeth21-blog1 @bubblebuttwade @beggarsnotchoosey @m-indkiller @pearlstiare @green-lxght @lazypinkpig @mvrylee @janelei

[banabotch]

Chemistry

Description: Some things are given the perfect name. Natasha finds beauty in that. Some things are and sound as they appear, nothing deeper hidden underneath. Just a word and an obvious definition. That’s why she’s a fan of one-night stands. It’s not deep. It’s one night. Then, it’s over. So, you can imagine she’d get upset when one moves in.

Warnings: (Nat x OC! Series) smut, cringe-worthy awkwardness, angst, fluff, death, war, typical MCU stuff, trauma

(Prologue)

Lucky didn’t even begin to describe the way Kora was feeling. She was dreading going out at all, feeling out of touch in the crowd since being a mother. She had a teen pregnancy. Sure, she was an adult. 18. That didn’t mean she hasn’t missed out.

She got pregnant in highschool, and she could deal with that. She could handle the rumors that got out of control, the dirty looks, the rude teachers. None of it bothered her, not at first.

Then, her daughter came into the world. She couldn’t go to school. She didn’t trust anyone to watch her baby while she was there. That meant she couldn’t go out, unless it was child friendly.

News Flash: Highschool and college students aren’t child friendly.

With all the change, she was forever grateful to keep Anna. Her best friend for life, her ride or die, her family. But Anna was a kid too. She was still young, still experiencing. Kora didn’t blame her for choosing a fun time over her.

It was only natural for a kid to want to have fun. Kora understood, because she longed for that same carelessness and spontaneity. She didn’t blame her friend at all, but it still sucked. She had no support system, even now.

Kora loves her daughter more than anything; there is nothing that could replace the fulfillment of being a mom, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t feel the loss of connection to her youth. She could feel it, and it made her nervous.

She considers herself lucky, yes. The bar isn’t, by any means, packed. In fact, there were only a few people occupying the space. It eases her mind, being less overwhelming than a nightclub. She doesn’t want random people grinding up on her or slipping something in her drink. She wants a good fuck, and that means being pickier. Unfortunately, her luck didn’t supply her confidence. That’s a job for liquor.

She makes her order: a screwdriver, double. Kora always found that alcohol provided her with lust. She found it particularly hard to see more than aesthetics without substances. Even with them, she preferred to close her eyes, preferred the absence of them, of who was fucking her. It often made her feel weird; different; outcasted. For a girl already so set apart from her age group, from society even, it only added fuel to the fire. So, she drank.

“Another?” The bartender asks, a thin line of sweat on his brow, rag thrown over shoulder, looking down at her. One could say the man was gorgeous, and Kora noticed. She looked at him a moment, considering his words, feeling the beat of the music thump around her and the heat of her drink swishing down her chest towards her liver. She could use another.

“Yes.” She doesn’t have to ponder on it for long. She’d been there 2 hours now, drinking and drinking, starting to worry that maybe she isn’t as pretty as she thought. She had a few guys come up to her, but none were attractive.

Come to think of it, she doesn’t think anyone hot ever had come up to her before. If it did happen, her guess is their mouth made them ugly. She wonders if she would mind taking the bartender home.

She supposes that she would, if the opportunity arose. There’s something about men she can’t have that turns her on. It’s exciting, being desired so badly that a man would risk his job to be with her.

“Penny for your thoughts? A drink?” A woman speaks beside her, drawing her out of her head and back into the dark room. She swirls the last of her drink in the bottom of her glass, hesitating. Something inside her is bubbling. She figures she’s excited to make a new friend.

“It’s not much of a party in here, is it?” Kora smiles, gesturing to the quiet atmosphere. The woman is pretty, that’s for sure. She doesn’t look like she belongs in a place like this. It’s so run down, gloomy, and cheap. It’s not the setting Kora would imagine to meet someone that looked like her.

“That’s why I like it.” She smiles back, ordering that drink with an air of comfort. Kora assumes she’s a frequent flier, maybe even friends with the bartender, a man she thanks by the name of Kevin. She calls him Kev, flashes a smirk, and returns her attention to her drink.

“You don’t like parties?” Kora can’t stop herself from asking, the question leaving her lips before she can so much as think about it. Something about the woman is captivating and Kora can’t look away.

“Most nights, I don’t. You’re looking for one?” Her eyebrow raises, drawing attention to the woman’s eyes. They aren’t brown, but they seem dark from where she sits. Kora finds herself leaning forward, trying for a better look. She blushes at the realization of her actions, leaning back in her seat awkwardly as she runs a hand through her hair, similarly raking through her mind for an appropriate response.

“No. No, I was just thinking that it’s surprising a bar this close to the university isn’t packed.” Kora’s blush deepens at the look she receives from the other woman. She can’t decipher what it means, but it’s gone soon enough.

“Are you disappointed?” She questions, finishing her drink and waving for another.

“No. I was relieved, actually.” Kora smiles, looking away from the woman’s cherry red lips and the way they press firmly against her glass.

“Oh?” She smirks, raising her brow, yet again. This time, Kora only glances at her for a second, looking at her own drink, and taking a sip before responding.

“My friend wanted me to get laid. Although, most the guys in here are old, so I think I’m off the hook.” Kora laughs, glancing back at the woman. She doesn’t know why she’s talking so much, rambling on to someone she only just met.

“You don’t want a good fuck?” She asks, her bluntness throwing the girl off-guard. Kora’s surprised she didn’t blush, or choke on her drink. The woman asked the words casually, gluing her eyes to Kora’s as if she hadn’t been the one speaking, as if she had only been listening; observing.

“Not from an old man.” She laughs, looking around the room again, as if to solidify there was nobody to catch her eye.

“Their loss.” Her voice is low, and Kora feels her heart speed up. The woman looks so casual and confident that Kora is desperate to appear a similar level of carefree.

“They’re too fragile, I think.” Kora doesn’t know how she meant for it to come off. She’d never have this conversation sober. Maybe that’s why she got drunk.

“So you like it rough then?” She smirks, watching an embarrassed blush color the girl’s cheeks.

“I don’t know. I definitely don’t like it weak.” She smiles, taking another sip of her drink. There’s nearly an air of awkwardness, one Kora knows is her making, but the other woman paints over it quickly.

“Has no younger man tried to pick you up?” She gestures to the rest of the bar, which has increased in size since Kora first arrived. Kora notices, as the woman moves, that the light bounces off her hair, making it shine in an almost red hue. It makes her wonder what color it really is, if it feels as soft as it appears.

“They have.” Kora avoids the woman’s intrigued gaze. She feels embarrassed, as if she’s been caught acting a way she’s not supposed to.

“I don’t doubt it.” She sounds so sure, so much so that Kora can’t help but glance up, almost as if to see if her face told another story.

“You asked?” Kora is not easily distracted by flattery, even when drunk. She’s suspicious now, her own eyebrow raising with a scrunch.

“That, I did…I wanted to ask why you haven’t gone with them, but that seemed too crass.” Her voice sounds slightly unsure to Kora. She appears utterly at ease, as if she’d just spoke about the weather. It confuses Kora slightly, who feels a strange sense of far-off excitement at what it could mean.

“Oh.” Kora doesn’t know what to say. However, she is desperate to keep the pretty woman talking. “I guess they just weren’t good enough.” Kora mentally curses herself at the arrogance, but the woman is only amused.

“So you play hard to get?” She smirks at this, takes a drink, and Kora looks away.

“Not usually.” She blushes, embarrassed by how easy she must sound. A woman as pretty as the one before her has likely had many men kneeling at her feet. Kora sees no possibility of this girl going home with just anyone.

“What changed?” The woman speaks again, turning her body slightly, as if to make the other girl more comfortable or open.

“I haven’t been satisfied.” Kora almost slaps a hand over her mouth. Her words came out sultry, sexy, and with a sense of challenge. The alcohol must’ve gave her more than confidence.

“Yeah? That’s a shame.” Her voice is raspy, and her pointer finger runs the rim of her glass. Kora feels her eyes burn with gloss, as if watching that act had burned a hole, all the way down to the apex of her thighs.

“It is?” Kora feels her eyes snap to the other woman’s, desperately trying to read the words. They could mean anything, if she really thought about it.

“If I had a pretty girl like you, well…” The woman smirks, taking a swig of her drink, and emptying the glass. Kora notices herself watching as the alcohol is pushed down the woman’s throat. She notices the eyes smugly looking over at her, waiting for the moment Kora realizes that she’d been caught. Kora catches her eyes, but surprises the woman.

“Well?” Kora pokes, trying her best to appear the way the woman was. She keeps eye contact, straightens out her posture, and tries her best to look neutral. She can’t find it in herself to not see how this goes, but she doesn’t want to look desperate.

“Well…” A devious and arrogant glint passes over her eyes, “I’d fuck you just for saying that.” The words sucked air from Kora’s lungs and lit a fire below her stomach.

“Too bad nobody has me.” She shrugs, a playful glint in her eye as she mixes her drink slowly with the umbrella straw.

“Oh, no. That’s no bad thing, sweetheart.” She purrs, causing Kora to look up in confusion.

“Why’s that?” The other woman is confusing Kora in many ways, but at this, she’s starting to think it’s just a game. It’s fun, but not quite what she’s looking for.

“If nobody has you, that means I get to fuck you and not feel bad about it.” She states, finishing her drink without even the slightest reaction.

“You think you’re gonna fuck me?” Kora may be affected by the woman’s words, but something inside her wants to play with the other woman too, payback almost. She was on the edge of disappointed, about to jump off and kill the question of her desire. The woman had put her there and pulled her back just as carelessly.

“You don’t want me to?” Her eyebrow raises, an amused expression raising her face. Kora hates how the woman can keep her cards drawn in close, how she remains so constantly cool and sexy.

“I-What if I didn’t?” She poses the question with procrastination, part of her scared of her own answer, of her own desire.

“I’d call you a liar.” She states, drawing over the bartender to close her tab. Kora can’t find a response, blown away at the knowing arrogance of the woman before her. “Look, I’m heading out. You can come with me, or you can stay here. I don’t care.” Kora watches as the woman stands, pulling out a wad of cash to count, before leaving a generous tip. Kora notices even her actions are careless, as if she had no concern over getting mugged. It turns her on, makes her feel strangely safe. No woman is stupid enough to be careless in New York City.

This woman? She lacks fear, which Kora finds enthralling. As the woman turns to leave, she finishes her drink and runs after her, gripping a surprisingly muscular arm to steady herself. For the first time in years, Kora is excited.

—-

A sound akin to a squeak slipped from Kora’s mouth when their lips smashed together. It felt tingly. It made her tingly. The woman’s mouth was warm, really warm. It made the cool air of the hotel room seem a little more cold, or maybe that was the fan. She couldn’t think about it. When hands cupped her jaw, Kora found herself leaning into it, enjoying it. She got lost in it.

She whimpers when she’s slammed against the wall. The woman pushes closer to her at the sound. She’s getting more confident, more aroused. Kora never thought a kiss could feel so good. She wondered how the rest of the night would go when she already felt like this. It made the Apex of her thighs feel warmer.

A hand drops to her neck, wrapping around the back, pulling her into the woman. Kora’s own hands set themselves on the woman’s hips, feeling her curves, sliding up her tank top to touch the soft skin of her waist.

The woman groans at this, pulling back to leave hot kisses down Kora’s jaw, heading to her neck, where her pulse thuds and her heavy breathing only gets heavier. A soft moan leaves her mouth when the redhead finds her sweet spot, pulling the skin tight and into her mouth, caressing the sting of her teeth with a wet tongue.

Kora raises a hand to the red hair in her line of sight. She sighs at how soft it is. It feels better than she had imagined. She runs her fingers through it, and she can’t help herself. She tugs. A grunt falls from the woman’s lips, who was working on slipping the dress past Kora’s shoulders. The woman allows herself to be tugged up, back into a hot and heavy kiss.

A firm grip lands on Kora’s hips. They’re pulled up and into the other woman, who grinds back, and Kora moans. The hands slide down, feeling for the bottom of her dress, sliding up her thighs, revealing her lacy panties. A strong thigh slips in between her own and she can’t hold herself back. She grinds down, feeling her throbbing get better.

She lets herself fall into it, back and forth, back and forth. When she fails to kiss back, lips leave hers and drop to her neck again, sucking harsher. The hands on her hips guide her, moving her again and again against the rough fabric of the woman’s jeans. Even as she shudders, as one hand finds the woman’s hair, and the other slips under her black leather jacket, feeling the tight muscles of her back shifting with movement, the repetition stays the same. Even as she moans, as she clutches the woman tighter to her, breast to breast, and face falling into the crook of the neck before her, the woman keeps moving her.

Forward, now back, forward, now back. Forward and her stomach is clenching, growing more uncomfortable by the second. Slightly faster and she can only focus on the coil in her belly. It’s getting hotter, twisting harder, and she knows she’s close to getting what she so badly wants.

“You’re moaning so pretty for me, sweetheart.” That’s all it takes. Just 7 words wrapped in the sweet sound of her voice, dripping with sex. Kora’s thighs clench around the woman’s. She gasps against her neck, letting herself come undone, arching back into the wall behind her, feeling the familiar warmth of lips returning to her neck.

The woman stretches her high, continuing the grind against her thigh, feeling the warm wet path of juices on her leg. She sighs at the feeling, at the woman grasping onto her, at the sweet taste of sweat on her neck, and the soft skin under her dress. She can feel the girl shift, the overstimulation likely growing uncomfortable. The woman loves it. She wants more.

“Please.” Kora pants, the sound coming out at the level of a whisper, with the tone of a whimper. She doesn’t know why she’s begging, or how to ask for what she wants, but the woman appreciates it nonetheless. She can tell by a groan at the words.

She’s pushing them backwards, further into the room. Kora’s knees hit the mattress, and she climbs back shakily, situating herself comfortably in the center, the woman staring her down, taking in every inch of Kora.

It almost leaves her uneasy: the hungry look on her face. If she wasn’t feeling the same way, she’d close her eyes. But she keeps them open, locking them with the woman, seeing what she missed in the bar. They’re green. They’re sharp and careful and calculating. They’re bold and make her want to look away, to cower. She blushes instead.

Those eyes gloss just a tad more, getting closer and closer, until they drop to the dress, to her hips. She climbs up, on all fours, hovering over Kora, looking down at her with pure lust. She takes in the sight. The straps to her dress are still pulled over her shoulders, down her arms. Her collarbone is exposed, and the woman runs her eyes over it, jogging down to her cleavage and walking lower to the curves accentuated by her dress. She smirks at her thoughts; reveling at the body below her; ready for some real fun.

Slender hands slide down under Kora and pull her up. One hand holds her like this, steady in the air. Kora nearly moans at the display of strength. Her hand falls to the woman’s arm, feeling her up, all the way to her shoulders. The woman unzips Kora’s dress, a slight blush rising up her neck while she’s being felt.

Suddenly, Kora drops. A gasp leaves her lips, blush darkening. The woman smirks again, watching her body react to the fall. Her breasts bounce, her arms brace, pushing her chest up, and the dress slides further up her thighs as her leg comes up to steady herself. The woman smiles, but it’s not sweet or comforting. It’s dangerous.

Her dress is removed delicately but quickly, slipping down her waist without the slightest scratch. She’s surprised by this. Although, that emotion could be the product of the woman’s warm body slipping between her legs, pushing her deeper into the bed.

It all feels so good. The weight, the way hands gripped her hips, felt her stomach, her breasts pressed against the other woman’s. She’s never been with a girl before, and Kora finds herself slightly anxious. She doesn’t know how to make the other woman feel good too.

Her own hands fall back into the red hair. She loves the silky texture, and even more so enjoys the feeling of soft lips on hers. She decides to take more control, sliding her mouth across the woman’s jaw, feeling her clench, dragging her fingertips over the tight muscle. She places a kiss there, and continues down. The girl’s neck is nearly burning, but it feels nice. It’s like hot tea on a night without sleep, warming her insides, tasting so sweet, and filling her head with a fluffy swirl of daze.

The woman smells like sweat and honey. Kora finds herself breathing it in, almost as if to save it for memory as she licks a stripe up her neck, stopping occasionally to suck and wrap a leg around the woman, pulling her further into Kora. The woman breathes heavier, but doesn’t allow this for long.

“Tsk, I’m not the one getting fucked tonight, am I?” Her voice is raspy, dark, and oh so pleasant to hear. The words turn Kora on even more than she’d like to admit, more than she understood to be possible. That, accompanied by the woman gripping her jaw, forcing her face closer. Their breaths mingle, Kora’s lips tickle with the air, her nose picking up the sweet scent of whiskey.

“No.” Kora breathes, letting the woman pull back.

“That’s right. So be a good girl and keep these hands to yourself.” Kora watches the woman grab her wrists, pulling them up above her head. Her hips raise, gliding along the woman’s toned torso. The pleasure only lasts a second, a hand firmly holding her hips down into the mattress. A pout finds her lips and the woman smirks.

Kora’s hands are left lying there, her hips devoid of relief, and the woman sinks lower. Their eyes are linked, a never ending staring contest taking place. Kora is curious. She doesn’t know what’s going to come next. The woman is craving a reaction.

A manicured hand runs up Kora’s chest, snapping the strap of her bra against her skin. Kora gasps, the slight sting matching the fire in the woman’s eyes, the contact making her all the more wet.

Her other hand starts at Kora’s calf, running up lightly, reaching her knee, her lower thigh, and just slightly higher. She’s right below where she’s needed, just watching, running her thumb back and forth in a featherlight manner. She watches Kora’s chest rise and fall with heavy pants, the glazed look in her eyes, the twitch of her hips, the tight hold on the sheets above her head. The woman doesn’t linger here long and for that, Kora is glad.

The hand on her thigh stops moving. She leans back on her legs, her hands pulled to her own thighs. She looks contemplative; excited but undecided. Then, she climbs up. She straddles a leg, pushes her knee up into Kora’s sex, and drops her torso over the other girl. Kora moans, grinding down on her again. With hands holding her up on either side of Kora��s head, the woman smirks.

“Arch for me.” Kora is taken aback, but does as she’s told. Her breasts touch the woman’s above her, with only the fabric of her bra keeping her from feeling more than a light skim over her nipples. Just then, the woman reaches under her, undoing the clasp on her bra as if having read her mind. She pulls it off gently, sucking in a breath at the sight. Kora blushes.

“So pretty.” She purrs, gliding a black fingernail over her collarbone, down, down, down, until it brushes against the soft skin of her nipple. Kora’s stomach flexes, her hands gripping the sheets tighter, anticipation filling her veins, raising goosebumps on her skin.

“Thank you.” She breathes, her cheeks burning hot at the look she receives. Kora feels desired and equally so, desire. The woman turned her head just slightly at the gratitude, confusion tugging at her brow only for a millisecond, before she relaxes and a smirk grows again. Something about Kora’s words seem to turn her on.

Kora gasps as a warm, wet mouth lowers on her lower breast, sucking slightly. Her other hand rises to give attention to the other. She sharply tugs at the nipple, surprising Kora, whose back arches slightly, a pretty noise escaping her mouth while her hand drops to the woman’s hair. She runs her fingers through it, holding the back of her head to ground herself. The woman groans against her, a ripple of vibration releasing a soft whine from Kora.

“Did the pretty girl forget?” Kora stills at the words. She hadn’t realized she’d gone against the rules. She rolls her eyes, annoyed.

“Must have.” She snarks.

“Your hands stay up here.” She practically growls, firmly holding her wrists above her head with a challenge. When Kora realizes she can’t pull away, her legs clench around the woman’s waist, and she sighs. She hadn’t expected the woman to be so strong.

Pressing her hand over Kora’s underwear and hearing a gasp, the woman smirks. “For someone so wet, you really should listen…Only good girls get to cum.” She whispers in the girls ear, shrugging as she moves her hand away from the soaked cloth and the hips so desperately searching the air for contact.

“Wait…please.” Kora begs, the ache between her legs beginning to pulse. She can’t remember ever being so worked up before. She also can’t remember sleeping with a woman.

“Only this once…because you asked so kindly.” She purrs, ripping the panties from her skin. Kora hears the fabric rip and a hand hushes her complaints, settling itself over her lips. Excitement flows through her veins and a finger slips through her folds. She gasps, lifting her hips into the feeling, satisfaction filling her breaths as her clit receives much missed attention.

As it starts slow, with soft circles around the bud, Kora begins to shift around, pushing into the hand that only pulls back to the same level of ghostly pressure. The feeling is good, but not enough. She can’t stand the lightness of the touch, the breeze of her fingers, instead of their full presence.

“I need more. Harder.” Kora begs, her words muddled by the hand covering her mouth. She locks eyes with the woman who had situated herself straddling a hip, one hand still hiding Kora’s lower face, the other below sight.

“Harder? What’s the magic word?” She husks, turning her hand to drag her fingers down Kora’s mouth, pulling her bottom lip out, feeling it shake with anticipation.

“Please.” She breathes, watching with hooded eyes as the woman takes her in completely, as if she had to consider Kora’s body, as if she wasn’t sure if she felt like giving in so easily, as if she longed to watch a struggle.

“Good girl.” She purrs, smirking as she soaks in the sound of the moan pulled from the girl beneath her. She’s enjoying this too. Kora can tell. She can feel the wetness on her hip, the wetness that’s discolored the jeans she still wears, making Kora frown. She wants to see skin too.

“Take off your clothes.” Kora pants, almost moving her hands to help. She caught herself before she could, her arms only slightly twitching with the thought. Either by this, or her words, the woman’s eyes light up. Kora feels uneasy by it, in an exciting way.

“And I thought you had manners.” She says raspily, pulling away from Kora’s body with a teasing frown. The girl stops herself from protesting the lack of contact, instead watching the woman unbuckle her jeans, pull the zipper down teasingly slow, and begin to wiggle out, looking up through her lashes as she makes eye contact, savoring the moment, the look on Kora’s face, the feeling of air brushing her damp skin.

She slides her jacket off her shoulders, folding it in half and tossing it onto a chair near their bed. Kora’s legs shift together, and the woman notices, but so does Kora. Kora notices the toned muscle and prominent veins on the woman’s arms, the skin of her lower belly, as that too becomes exposed, and the hunger she feels. She aches to reach up and run her hands over her stomach, to feel the ridges in her abs. She’d enjoy any contact at all.

“Better?” The woman asks, her eyebrow raising in question. Kora nods, having enjoyed watching every sliver of skin become exposed while the tanktop came off. She feels awe-struck, lying there, staring up at the women who’d yet to touch her again. “Use your words.” She orders, crossing her arms over her chest, covering the black design on her bra.

“Yes. Much better. Please fuck me.” She whines, begging, pleading with her. Kora’s sex feels uncomfortable. It’s pulsing, begging for contact, aching so badly to be filled. She’s desperate. The woman loves desperate.

Slowly, the woman sits how she had, sliding her hands over the girl’s stomach, using it to steady herself as she straddles Kora’s hip, sighing at the pleasure of it. She looks up, taking in Kora’s breasts, their perkiness, her neck, littered with a hickey or two, her mouth, open and panting, her arms pulled up over her head, and her hands that take hold of the comforter, yet again. She grins, watching the girl’s hooded eyes widen and her mouth part further with a hoarse moan as she slams her fingers into the girl’s pussy.

In: harsh and deep, out: pulling against her spongy walls, each thrust searching deliciously for that one special spot. Kora closes her eyes, her face scrunched in pleasure, her mouth hung open, silently moaning.

Gasp after gasp, and she feels herself getting closer and closer. Her stomach feels like it’s shriveling up, sucking for air, for release. Then, it stops. Nothing is inside her anymore. She feels her sex clenching around nothing, her eyes opening in confusion. The woman waiting for her, for those glossy eyes to open.

Just as Kora moves to speak, to question her, it starts again. It’s slower this time, it’s not enough. She feels herself clench again, sucking the woman’s hand further inside her. Suddenly, she gasps, stars lining her vision as if she had stood up too quickly. Her hips shoot up, making the woman slide down her thigh, a trail of wet heat following her. The woman moans, throatily, unexpectedly, and it’s a noise that has Kora’s thighs shaking, awaiting more pleasure.

“Keep your eyes open this time.” The woman almost looks annoyed at her, setting her hand on Kora’s lower stomach, pressing her weight into it as she pulls herself back to her prior position. Kora moans at the pressure of her hand, pleasantly surprised at the feeling.

Kora doesn’t have time to respond. The words are stolen from her tongue and her mind when two fingers enter her this time, gliding against that spot gracefully.

“Jesus, you’re so fucking tight.” She groans, skillfully fucking Kora whilst maneuvering up her body. Kora moans, her hooded eyes glossed over so much that she wonders if tears will fall. The slender fingers pump into her faster, and Kora feels it all. Every edge and side of them rolls smoothly against her walls. She feels almost perfectly full, another finger stretching her slightly.

“Oh my go-od.” Her whole body begins to shake, the sting of the stretch lighting the match in her belly, fireworks just seconds away from releasing from their container. Lips press softly against her neck, a vast difference from the hard thrusts of her hand and the rough grind of her wrist against Kora’s clit.

Kora heard the pops of the beautiful lights in the sky. She must have, because her ears are ringing and her vision is gone and all she feels is pleasure. She’s sure she’s moaning, she has to be. It feels so good. It lasts longer than expected, the woman stretching it out with lazier thrusts and gentle caresses on her breasts.

It’s then that Kora knows she’s screwed.

[blackbutlerfandomnerddomain]

RANDOM DEATH NOTE HEADCANONS I WANT TO SHARE THANKS TO ME WANTING TO EXSPAND MY AU:

LIGHT:

Has survivor syndrome. What's that? Survivor syndrome, also known as survivor's guilt, is the response of a person when they believe they have done something wrong by surviving a traumatic event when others did not, often feeling self-guilt. This can be from being Kira or set before Kira, like an incident from his youth that he forever lingers with. This mixed with his "where's the justice" mind set only adds fuel to the fire of the war in his mind

Favorite food isn't apples as many would assume/joke about

The poor boy didn't really think of his sexual orientation until collage, didn't have the means or needs to and it wasn't only until he dated Misa and began to hang out with L he started to think on it more

In my AU Ryuk and Rem didn't give Light and Misa the Death Notes again and L, Light, Misa, etc didn't die, so this technically takes place the amnesia arc which I argue is a favorite okay?! Still doesn't mean Light gets dreams of him as Kira and isn't aware he was.

MISA:

Got really into the Gothic look after her parents' death where someone was a jerk and said a "joke" when she was still wearing black while she was still grieving

Didn't really fall in love with L right away (obviously) but she did care for him in a way that showed she cared

Loves bubble baths

Like Light she still has dreams of Rem and often find herself crying over the waking of her dreams as if someone killed her loved one in front of her

And like Light she knows after Rem confronted her she was the second Kira and feels terrible about it

Has a beautiful singing voice

After a lot her and Kiyomi kind of became friends, she honestly feels as if Kiyomi reminds her of someone she knew before (ie rem)

L:

Dude, this man was aware he liked both for a loooooonnng ass time, since Wammy actually

He knows Light and Misa were Kira, I mean he subspecies it since day one but to actually be right honestly hurt him.. He didn't want to be right in this case. So, he swore not to say a word since they're no longer Kira and 2nd Kira

Loves baths more than Misa

His family died in an domestic abuse murder suicide and he wandered out the house alone in which an officer found him and discovered his family's death, since then he's been emotionally isolated

Is autistic just doesn't get meds

Has lots of stim toys and objects he uses a lot when he thinks hard or under/overstimulated

Loves hot cocoa with marshmallows and whipped cream

Watari was basically his father after the many years they've known each other, doing the most of a father like role than others, helping the boy when needed, etc. And while L doesn't show emotions he generally is greatful and sees Watari as his father figure, even having him his best man and father-of-the-groom for his wedding

MISALIGHTL:

As mentioned with L when I said "wedding", the three didn't really want a huge public wedding since that would exposed L's identity and it would be a headache to deal with so they had a secret small ceremony with friends and some family with Watari being L's father-of-the-groom, Sayu as Light's Best Lady, and Kiyomi was Misa's maid of Honor. They each wore a mix of white and black with some red elements thrown in there for many reasons but mostly cause L said they looked good so yeah

Their wedding cake was similar to these two:

They all live in an apartment together, similar as to the building they were all stuck in, and have their own rooms/studies for work while Misa keeps working as a model and actress and both L and Light kept working as detectives until Light decided to leave being a detective after so many nightmares of cases and being Kira and decided to be a true crime/mystery novel writer

One day while they were chilling, pre-marriage them btw, L decided he's going to visit Wammy to get any plans of who his next "L" would be if he died and they came along with him. There they were able to meet Near, Mello, and Matt. The three kids hung out with them during their stay back in Japan to see who is perfect for the next role. Weeks pass and all three are doing really well and it didn't really sink in until later that L is actually doing this to see if he wants kids. Well, Misa and Light like the idea and they ended up adopting Mello as their son in which he admittedly cried

They go on date nights three times a week, one for each pair with their trio dates mostly being at home

After a few years of marriage they had two kids of their own in which Mello likes the role of older brother

NEAR:

Like L, Near is autistic (I believe that's canon and people hate it??)

Is nonbinary. I'm sorry I honestly can't see this baby as cis at all!

Owns lots of pants, shirts, skirts, dresses, tights, boots, heels, flat shoes, socks that'll work with him with any gender dysphoria and day

Primally goes by Near since that sounded right

Suffer from night terrors which is how his spark of studying happened cause that distracted them

Demi-Sexual bean!

Got adopted by Kiyomi and gets spoiled rotten

MELLO:

Choco-holic what else is new

Suffered an eating disorder which was quickly helped fixed with Matt and his new family

Mentioned above with L, Light, and Misa adopting him, he adores his family gratefully and it's not just cause L chose him out of everyone

Him and Near still have a rather strong rivalry but it's healthy now and also more so childish thanks to their adopted families

Likes his Uncle Matsuda a lot (Matsuda ends up marrying Sayu in this)

Is kind of that kid in school who knows shit and will market the crap out of soda and candies to the kids who have money and parents who won't allow sugar in his household

Often gets caught sneaking out to see Matt and sometimes (a lot) Near by his parents

Is Pan and always knew it

MATT:

Got adopted by Stephen and Teru in this AU

Still is obsessed with video games and eats candy cigarettes until he's legal to smoke if he wants to

Is straight besties with Mello and Near

Has so much gaming stuff it's unreal

Loves the rain

MATT X MELLO X NEAR:

Got together sometime after Near was adopted with Matt and Mello being a thing first and Near joined after

They're both protective of Near

And then Near would shock everyone with a thrown of a textbook to the face if someone says something bad about either of them

Misa is overly supportive of this relationship, Kiyomi loves to tease Near often, and the many times Teru and Stephen would interrupt calls with them to tease is too much

[theship-thewalrus]

hello!! i was wondering if you can do a oberyn x lannister(could be adopted/bastard up to u)!reader where reader goes like “kill me and be done with all this bother” kind of thing because he hates them? the ending is entirely up to u :>

oberyn martell x gender neutral! lannister! reader

what the request says:)

word count: 954 words reading time: about 5 minutes warnings: metions of death threats and a knife

Your eyes bore into Oberyn's dark ones, the fire that roars behind your eyes boring over into your speech. Since he had arrived in King's Landing he had been at the throats of the Lannisters. His words always have an underlying threat to them, tip-toeing on the line of simple conversation or a threat. It annoyed you to no end at his tone and words, his looks of hatred but also curiosity. Watching your sister try to keep her cool at his words, you notice her fists clench, eyes widening slightly, she was worried. For he was a dangerous man, a skilled and seasoned warrior who could attack at any moment. You both knew if Oberyn wanted to he could kill you, it would not be hard.

Having a moment alone with him, without your family or any guards came as a surprise to you. Although everyone was spread thin with the murder of your nephew, the imprisonment of your brother and the morning of your sister. Your family was at it's weakest point but your father refused to believe it, needing to be appear strong. Guards were posted at every door, at every corner, running through the streets. He murder needed an answer, the added security was to show the crown was still in power, still in control.

The conversation with him started out as casual, though it quickly turned into threatening. The topic of his sister and her children was once again brought up, the man seeming to be able to weave it into any conversation. You did not blame him though, what happened to her was horrible, a crime that should've been answered. But it was a time of war, and the same thing happened to many women and children of the time. If your family was not as powerful and strong, you feared something like that would have happened to you. But despite being a bastard you still held Lannister blood and were to be protected at Casterly Rock.

As you listen to him babble about revenge and injustice, as though he was the righteous hand of the gods. Put on this earth to right wrongs, though you knew if the roles were reversed he would not care less. There was no formal apology or mention of grieving for the woman, adding fuel to the fire in his blood. "I will kill every las-" but the man was cut off, you had seemingly heard his threats one too many times. "Then do it and be done with all this bother," silence fell over the pair of you for a moment as your words set in. He was surprised by your words, believing you only said them to appear unbothered and brave. You had no one here to protect you, no one to stop him if he decided to kill you. Thus, you were felt to use a fake sense of bravery to defend yourself.

"You are a brave one, but that bravery is fake," you almost laugh at him. "Or maybe your threat is fake?" You were quick to counter his words, sick of all the tension and hostility. If he was going to do something he should do it, or he should not mention it at all. An outsider would say you sounded like your father, calling out other's bluffs, almost pushing them to do something. Though the man took much more risks in his younger years, now days he was more of a seasoned warrior.

Oberyn opened his mouth to respond with something witty or simply another threat. To try and scare you, to make you fear him like the rest of your family appeared to. But you had beat him to it, speaking once more "Take the dagger at your belt and slit my throat. Leave me here to bleed out to be found by my family. For them to mourn over me while they also mourn for their nephew, son and grandson. Make it two funerals instead of one. But if you aren't going to do that," you take a few steps forwards to whisper in his ear, "then shut the fuck up."

Stepping away from him you try to read his face, but you could not. His mind was going through thousands of thoughts, and thousands of emotions, anger, surprise, and arousal. Maybe you were not like the other disgusting Lannisters, you were something more, something better. Thinking you had finished the conversation you moved to leave, but his hand moved out to grab your arm. His grip was firm but not painful, more to keep you in place the to stop you from moving.

Pulling you into him and trapping you against him, he spoke "You think you can speak like that to me and get away with it? You think you are so smart, huh? That I am not going to do anything?" His voice was low like yours had been moments ago. The warm breath hitting the shell of your ear sent shivers through your body, some of your confidence leaving you in his embrace. He takes notice of your increased heart rate, your quickened breath, a cocky grin forming on his face.

Silence engulfed the pair of you for a few moments, simply staring at each other as you both non-verbally fight for dominance. "(Y/N)!" Your name was called somewhere in the distance, breaking you both from the little world you both made. Stepping away from you, you sent a final unsure look before leaving. Oberyn simply watches your form disappear around the corner, finding himself intrigued by you.

[meetje-rotyourbrainhere]

The most top notch garbage game gave us some of the best canon fuel for angst

Sonic forces is literally enuf angst for us to last atleast 5 yrs but make it even more traumatizing by adding a metal virus that made sonic isolate himself physically and not sleep for a solid week atleast i think.

SEGA is putting a 15yr old boy who got pushed into the hero shtick from really young age through some of the most unbearable things that someone of that age shouldn't go through

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

Some examples for angst for fanfic writers (because i'm nice and absolutely adore those kind of fics ❤️😏:

- yr own take on what could have happened in those 6 months death egg

- how sonic felt while the metal virus was a thing

- post sonic idw 56 (that shit was fucking traumatizing to read imagine if you had to go through that)

- post sonic Sa2

- a couple specials for the boom writers ❤️, how sonic is feeling while living in the village, post just a guy episode, how he feels abt his friends (who are honestly absolute trash sometimes) and why shadow and sonic their relation in that universe is so shitty and just a dumpster fire

- you could make a pretty angsty backstory if you want

- another forces idea is to rewrite it but much darker like they are actually going through a war for the world and ofcourse sonic his torture

- maybe unleashed like how it felt to be the werehog

- or just how sonic feels because we all know he is really good in pushing aside his feelings

If you wrote any of these ideas please message through the comments with the link to the fanfic in this post so i can read it ❤️

[felixcloud6288]

My biggest takeaway after reading Fire & Blood revolves around the constant goalpost moving revolving around a woman's right and what they are allowed to be in a society. House of the Dragon starts at the events right before the Dance of the Dragons, but really it was a powder keg that existed since Aegon the Conqueror's time and each new succession just added more fuel.

So the Targaryen history starts with Aegon and his sister-wives conquer Westeros and Aegon's crowning as king becomes the year 1 AC(after conquest).

In 37 AC, Aegon dies leaving behind two sons:

Aenys: Aegon's older son through his younger wife

Maegor: aegon's younger son through his older wife

It's ultimately decided that Aenys will succeed Aegon. So the precedent set is "Succession goes to the eldest child and their heirs followed by the second eldest and their heirs, etc"

In 42 AC, Aenys dies leaving behind 5 children:

Rhaena: his eldest, a daughter

Aegon: his eldest son, married to Rhaena

Viserys

Jaehaerys

Alysanne

Before Aenys's successor can be decided, Maegor usurps the throne but dies in 48 AC without an heir. But during his rule, he killed Aegon and Viserys.

When discussions about Aenys's successor are finally able to begin Rhaena is suggested due to being the eldest child but she ultimately declines and lets Jaehaerys take the crown. So now this precedent suddenly changes the rule of succession to "Succession first goes to the eldest son and his heirs, then the second son and his heirs, etc, then the eldest daughter and her heirs, then the second daughter and her heirs, etc. "

Jaehaerys's two eldest children who survived to adulthood were Aemon and Baelon. Aemon, being the eldest was Jaehaerys's heir but in 92 AC, he died in battle leaving behind a daughter Rhaenys. Jaehaerys decided to declare Baelon his heir at that point only for him to die in 101 AC from what I would assume is appendicitis. Baelon left behind two sons, Viserys and Daemon.

In 103 AC, Jaehaerys dies and Rhaenys and Viserys were the primary candidates for succession. When Rhaenys pointed out by rite she has the greater claim due to being the first heir of the king's eldest son and she has a son of her own, the council (who were all men I should mention) rewrote the rules during the council. Now the rite of succession was "Succession first goes to the eldest son and his heirs who have an unbroken male ancestry, then the second son and his heirs who have an unbroken male ancestry, etc, then the eldest daughter and her heirs, then the second daughter and her heirs, etc."

So Viserys becomes king. The only child he has through his first marriage is his daughter Rhaenyra. He decides to publicly and frequently declare her his heir and keeps insisting she is even after he has sons through his second marriage. To his dying breath, he said Rhaenyra was to succeed him.

After his death in 129 AC, his second wife, Alicent Hightower, stages a coup to place her eldest son Aegon on the throne, beginning the Dance of the Dragons.

At one point, Rhaenyra manages to take King's Landing and assumes her rule as queen. Her time ruling was so disastrous due to the war causing food shortages and due to her own poor mismanagement that she was chased out of King's Landing by an angry mob 6 months into her reign.

And now, the old men who never wanted a woman to rule could use her as a scapegoat to justify why women shouldn't. "We let Rhaenyra rule and look how bad that turned out. Women shouldn't be allowed to rule."

It's worth noting that it's impossible to know if she would have been a good ruler or not under normal circumstances. Maybe if she had gotten the crown with no fuss, she would have been a great ruler. Instead, the Rhaenyra who took the throne was the one who had to fight for what she and everyone had been told was hers. This Rhaenyra was the one who lost three sons during the war, one of whom was murdered while acting as a diplomatic envoy. This Rhaenyra had been betrayed by her brothers and many of the lords who had sworn fealty.

So yeah, the unjust will always try to move the goalpost and will use the flimsiest excuses to justify themselves.

[knuckle]

GENEVA (19 October 2023) – UN experts* today expressed outrage against the deadly strike at Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, which killed more than 470 civilians on Tuesday (17) and trapped hundreds under the rubble. The strike reportedly followed two warnings issued by Israel that an attack on the hospital was imminent if people inside were not evacuated. “The strike against Al Ahli Arab Hospital is an atrocity. We are equally outraged by the deadly strike on the same day on an UNRWA school located in Al Maghazi refugee camp that sheltered some 4000 displaced people, as well as two densely populated refugee camps,” the experts said. The experts raised serious humanitarian and legal concerns over Israel tightening its 16-year siege of the enclave and its population and long-standing occupation, depriving 2.2 million people of essential food, fuel, water, electricity and medicine. An estimated 50,000 pregnant women in Gaza, are in desperate need of prenatal and postnatal care. The number of internally displaced people across the Gaza Strip is estimated at around one million.

They recalled that the UN Security Council has repeatedly condemned the use of starvation of civilians as a method of warfare, which is prohibited under international humanitarian and criminal law. The unlawful denial of humanitarian access and depriving civilians of objects indispensable to their survival are also a violation of international humanitarian law, the experts warned. The UN experts called for the protection of all humanitarian workers, after the World Health Organization (WHO) documented more than 136 attacks on health care services in the occupied Palestinian territory, including 59 attacks on the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the death of at least 16 health workers since the beginning of hostilities on 7 October. Israeli bombardment on Gaza has also killed 15 staff of the United Nations Refugee Works Agency (UNRWA) and four Palestine Red Crescent paramedics in an ambulance. An ambulance driver of Magen David Adom in Israel lost his life while driving to treat injured people. “The complete siege of Gaza coupled with unfeasible evacuation orders and forcible population transfers, is a violation of international humanitarian and criminal law. It is also unspeakably cruel,” the experts said. They recalled that the wilful and systematic destruction of civilian homes and infrastructure, known as ‘domicide’, and cutting off drinking water, medicine, and essential food is clearly prohibited under international criminal law. “We are sounding the alarm: There is an ongoing campaign by Israel resulting in crimes against humanity in Gaza. Considering statements made by Israeli political leaders and their allies, accompanied by military action in Gaza and escalation of arrests and killing in the West Bank, there is also a risk of genocide against the Palestine people,” the experts said. “There are no justifications or exceptions for such crimes. We are appalled by the inaction of the international community in the face of belligerent war-mongering,” the experts said. “The Gazan population, half of whom are children, have already suffered many decades of unlawful brutal occupation and lived under the blockade for 16 years,” the experts said. “It is time to immediately cease fire and ensure urgent and unimpeded access to essential humanitarian supplies, including food, water, shelter, medicine, fuel and electricity. The physical safety of the civilian population must be guaranteed,” the experts said. “The occupation needs to end and there must be reparation, restitution and reconstruction, towards full justice for Palestinians,” they said.

[sturthepotofmadness]

I wanted to add more to my accidental Unicron Redemption AU, so that’s what this is. Link to the original post: https://sturthepotofmadness.tumblr.com/post/698121264982786048/i-just-thought-of-a-crazy-transformers-au-that

LONG POST AHEAD

I mainly wanted to do this because I just remembered the fact that Skyquake is on Earth before the main human kids encounter the bots so...

aka this is addressing all the Cybertronians on Earth between the humans waking up Unicron (20XX +1) and Unicron getting his body back (24XX)

Since I already mentioned him, let’s start with Skyquake.

Also, I misremembered Skyquake’s pod location as the Arctic, but I don’t want to go back and fix it so he’s in the Arctic now.

Say it’s 219X (random year, could be any year between the previously mentioned dates) when humans manage to create portable heaters powered by Dark Energon that can be incorporated into gear made for extremely cold temperatures.

Humans start exploring the Arctic and Antarctica much more thoroughly compared to before they had the Dark Energon heaters.

While exploring, they com across this massive pod that is Cybertronian in nature. Humans take it back to a place where they can possible study it and ask Unicron about it.

They do so, take a picture of it, then show the image to Unicron. The god of destruction and chaos is already attached, so tells them what it is and how to open it.

The humans wake up Skyquake and the poor dude is smacked so hard with whiplash because what the hell did he wake up to

He expected to wake up to some Decepticons either getting his help or telling him the war’s over, not... these tiny hyper organics who praise Unicron and said god being effectively affectionate towards said organics.

After some rapid fire questions and answers from the humans, Skyquake gets some time to speak to Unicron without the humans crowding him like a flock of birds. There’s still some humans around, of course, there’s now a lot less of them mentally poking him around.

Unicron explains the humans to Skyquake and the seeker asks about the war, which the god just gets confused by, so Skyquake assumes the war never reached or has yet to reach wherever he is currently.

Skyquake can still feel Dreadwing’s side of the bond, but can barely interact with it, so he knows his brother is alive, he just can’t connect with his brother again for a long while.

The humans keep some of the Energon as straight Energon for Skyquake, but never figure out how to properly keep recreating regular blue Energon, so Skyquake is eventually forced to switch over to Dark Energon. Its weird switching at first, but he gets used to it.

Skyquake eventually also gets attached to the humans and joins them in resource gathering and planet hopping/building.

Around the same time the humans found Skyquake, they also found the Scraplet pod, but took one look at them, asked Unicron about them, saw Unicron freak slightly, then allowed the Scraplets to freeze to death in the Arctic before leaving.

The Insecticons, however...

For the sake of this, say its 230X (could be any year between the original two dates, just using this as an example) when humans finally successfully make the first drone using Dark Energon as fuel without said drone accidently destroying any loyalty coding it might have. Skyquake believes making these drones is wrong, but Unicron thinks its fine, so the humans go through with it.

Unicron eventually tells Skyquake that the drones are nothing like Cybertronians. Despite both Skyquake and the drones using Dark Energon as their main fuel source, these drones cannot act on their own without a guiding force. They’re physically unable to. Cybertronians, to his understanding, were created with such an advance intelligence that their knowledge and ability to do things on their own could never even be considered artificial intelligence.

More of that drone are made and become specialized in certain things, such as recording, mining, flying, diving, etc

Some mining and recording drones stumble upon the Insecticon stasis pod nest on Earth and alert the humans about it.

The humans come to the nest location and begin to properly obverse and take note on everything about the nest, once again getting images of it to show to Unicron. When the images are shown, Unicron identifies the Insecticons and the humans begin getting ideas.

After some discussing, Unicron decides to join them and only one of the Insecticons is freed. The Insecticon stares at these weird tiny organics in confusion as the humans immediately begin making observations.

The Insecticon attempts to attack the humans, but is immediately stopped by Unicron. When its stopped, it immediately attaches leader status to Unicron and allows the humans to continue... whatever they’re doing. They take the Insecticon back up to the surface with them to study more, leaving the rest of the nest behind and making some recording and guard drones behind to watch over the nest.

Eventually, but before Unicron gets his body back, they see the Insecticon clone itself into a smaller being and a final idea is made.

The humans make an artificial planet made specifically for “breeding” Insecticons, then poisoning them using a mix of Dark Energon to harvest them for their metal. They keep the more feral babies and kill the more intelligent babies and older Insecticons.

They, of course, free a good few more of the Insecticons to have a good base to start out with for the “breeding” farm, but they kill the rest for their metal.

I’ll probably make another post sometime later of the Autobots and Decepticons interacting with the humans and Unicron (and Skyquake) in this AU. This feels really long already and I don’t want to make it too long.

[questionablepastries]

Wahoo I beat armored core (just now now!) thoughts below (and spoilers of course)

I can’t believe they made me fight an upgraded balteus lmao but what balteus wasn’t ready for was an upgraded ME 😈

Good game! Visually very very pretty to look at, mentally I’m clapping a lot at the credits rn lol

And the choices the game made me do lol aaaaaghhh. I almost considered putting the game down for the day when it asked me to betray carla. Same thing with eliminating G1 Michigan, only because I thought VIII Pater was my friend (turns out he’s sick in da head!! Scary guy. Really lives up to his AC name “dual nature” whew) less messed up arquebus members the better. In the end I went with ayre all the way but not because I like ayre but because of 2 things

1) carla she did try to kill me once (she made up for it by saving my ass out of prison tho)

2) (the more important reason why I sided with Ayres idea) — who knows what the ecosystem of the planet would be like with the complete removal of coral, not to mention coral is semi sentient so it’d be like super massacre if I went with Carla (and Walters) idea of destroying it all. ALSO, the destruction of the giant space ship crashing into that coral harvesting place, like what would life be like for the rubiconians? Even worse? Nobody has their interests in minds bc as far as they’re concerned they’re always caught in the middle of some corporation war, so if I sided with Carla it’d be adding fuel to that corporation war fire :(

Like ayre says at the end though, I’m sure we can avoid a fires of ibis situation 2.0 if we work really hard together. 621 is a human that didn’t lose their mind completely after contact with coral voices and maybe it has to do with the fact that they’re a fourth generation human (since the later generations worked out the kinks of not having to hear coral anymore)

Also. During the very sad heartbreaking (for me) killing carla mission, do u know how excited I was to beat the shit out of snail lmao

After reading that his augmentations were only perfected thanks to who knows how many innocent deaths, and his mind re-education shenanigans I’ve hated his ass since DAY ONE. Even IF he’s a sassy funny guy

Ok the ps just told me the trophy for this ending is called liberator of rubricon. Whatever ending that is lol idk what ppl are calling it

God I already miss Walter why’d they make me kill him too lol

ON THAT NOTE I MISS RUSTY I THINK WALTER MAY HAVE KILLED HIM. I’m gonna stick to anime rules for this one and that’s “no body seen no death” yup rusty is still out there (<- copium)

Oh wow ok I guess NG+ just starts like that huh, that’s ok w me I’ll do a NG+ run just to see the other endings, they better not make me actually kill rusty tho that’d break my heart more than it did to take out carla and chatty : (

Also pvp is fun but I’m ok at it lol I keep losing a ton but I’ve had a couple of close matches and won like 4 matches so far

Oh right about snail tho, back in the Carla mission? I was talking mad shit while fighting him like “I ALREADY BEAT YOUR DATA IN THE ARENA YOU THINK YOURE HOT SHIT??” that sorta thing. And u know how dissapointed I was that I didn’t kill him right then and there? His ass escaped that ass beating. Don’t matter tho I terminated his ass for good when he was riding that toddler ass upgraded baby chair balteus 2.0

Idk how from soft does it but they keep making these super super climatic boss fights and super fucking awesome attack patterns that are both visually appealing and difficult to evade/survive but when you do it’s like you’re really in the fight in that moment it’s awesome :) this happened with balteus, balteus 2 purple laser moment, and the fuckinnggggg icewormmmm, malenia elden ring comes to mind (alongside demon souls king of storm)

And I can’t believe they got me with the sekiro monkey “it’s not dead! It’s getting up again!” Moment too god damn that flying boss whew, sad the game wouldn’t let me use that boss’ sweet ass wings as a part to equip :(

Rusty really warmed up to me, initially I was a hater because his ass was always setting me up with these missions that always had an extra lil spice in them meant to kill me or set me up in some way (probably arquebus’ fault) but he…. Waghhhggg………”the first to join” ok cool….ty for being so eager to reunite with me rusty…I honestly thought he was dead after the ice worm mission….and the fucking line he says “there’s only one person who can keep up with me” with 621 in on the comm to listen in on….what are we…….(we’re buddies…)

Great game. And amazing cast of characters, like maybe it’s the voice acting that really nailed it but for me to care about a bunch of people (g1 Michigan…..) that you never actually see in game and only hear is wild lol

I do not care for ayre tho. I’m sorry I’m a hater, she always said some common sense stuff like “remember to dodge” baby we been on how many missions together now please. If she was a deep voiced lady I would’ve been on my hands and knees tho, and if she had a male voice I’d be even worse lol

Cortana ass!!!! Anyways cutest ayre moment was 621 and her watching these giant nuke missles hit a massive structure and she’s like (cutely) “they’re really like fireworks” & I had to laugh and be like we gotta get u some real fireworks ayre they don’t look like this gsvdvdvd

Right and do u know how much I was pogging when the fake raven or Rather the Real Raven showed up??? Damn what was that guys situation about and their handler too? Hmmmmm (dlc potential?)

Fun ass game! Slow start but momentum wise it keeps speeding up and then the end is like WHAM did ya like it and I gotta be like YEAH. I DID. Now I have the urge to play the other endings in ng+ since my AC is geared the fuck up to handle anything I feel like. Kinda wish the pacing at the start stayed the whole way as in slow pacing the entire game with the game letting me kill more shounen protagonist types lol (although that would mean killing ppl like Rusty hmmm my sadism for wanting more murder of naive protagonist types and love for rusty is like oil and water when it comes to that idea lol)

One complaint tho just one, the ost can be somewhat lacking. It has its moments tho!! There’s like 3 tracks that really kill it, and they’re at important moments too. Iceworm, balteus 2.0/snail showdown, and Carla fight are good. The rest went over my head tho sowwy

Now that I’ve achieved credits in this game im a certified armored core fan (even tho this is my first one) and I’m glad this game is getting attention! I really hope they release more AC games bc this kicked ass, maybe they can take a break before taking that on though, because every single mission is pretty breath taking visually, and MASSIVE in terms of sheer size sometimes like damn. Lots of love!