#zero trust principles

[pjoshi12]

Maximize Your Growth: Unlock The Power Of Zero Trust Architecture

Boosting Scalability and Growth: The Quantifiable Impact of Zero Trust Architecture on Organizations

Amid rising security breaches, the limitations of traditional cybersecurity models highlight the need for a robust, adaptive framework. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), operating on the principle of "trust no one, verify everything," offers enhanced protection aligned with modern tech trends like remote work and IoT. This article explores ZTA's core components, implementation strategies, and transformative impacts for stronger cyber defenses.

Understanding Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture is a cybersecurity strategy that revolves around the belief that organizations should not automatically trust anything inside or outside their perimeters. Instead, they must verify anything and everything by trying to connect to its systems before granting access. This approach protects modern digital environments by leveraging network segmentation, preventing lateral movement, providing Layer 7 threat prevention, and simplifying granular user-access control.

Core Principles of Zero Trust

Explicit Verification: Regardless of location, every user, device, application, and data flow is authenticated and authorized under the strictest possible conditions. This ensures that security does not rely on static, network-based perimeters.

Least Privilege Access: Users are only given access to the resources needed to perform their job functions. This minimizes the risk of attackers accessing sensitive data through compromised credentials or insider threats.

Micro-segmentation: The network is divided into secure zones, and security controls are enforced on a per-segment basis. This limits an attacker's ability to move laterally across the network.

Continuous Monitoring: Zero Trust systems continuously monitor and validate the security posture of all owned and associated devices and endpoints. This helps detect and respond to threats in real-time.

Historical Development

With the advent of mobile devices, cloud technology, and the dissolution of conventional perimeters, Zero Trust offered a more realistic model of cybersecurity that reflects the modern, decentralized network environment.

Zero Trust Architecture reshapes how we perceive and implement cybersecurity measures in an era where cyber threats are ubiquitous and evolving. By understanding these foundational elements, organizations can better plan and transition towards a Zero Trust model, reinforcing their defenses against sophisticated cyber threats comprehensively and adaptively.

The Need for Zero Trust Architecture

No matter how spooky the expression 'zero trust' might sound, we must address that the rapidly advancing technology landscape dramatically transformed how businesses operate, leading to new vulnerabilities and increasing the complexity of maintaining secure environments. The escalation in frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks necessitates a shift from traditional security models to more dynamic, adaptable frameworks like Zero Trust Architecture. Here, we explore why this shift is not just beneficial but essential.

Limitations of Traditional Security Models

Traditional security models often operate under the premise of a strong perimeter defense, commonly referred to as the "castle-and-moat" approach. This method assumes that threats can be kept out by fortifying the outer defenses. However, this model falls short in several ways:

Perimeter Breach: Once a breach occurs, the attacker has relatively free reign over the network, leading to potential widespread damage.

Insider Threats: It inadequately addresses insider threats, where the danger comes from within the network—either through malicious insiders or compromised credentials.

Network Perimeter Dissolution: The increasing adoption of cloud services and remote workforces has blurred the boundaries of traditional network perimeters, rendering perimeter-based defenses less effective.

Rising Cybersecurity Challenges

Traditional security models often operate under the premise of a strong perimeter defense, commonly referred to as the "castle-and-moat" approach. This method assumes that threats can be kept out by fortifying the outer defenses. However, this model falls short in several ways:

Increased Data Breaches: Recently, annual data breaches exploded, with billions of records being exposed each year, affecting organizations of all sizes.

Cost of Data Breaches: The average cost of a data breach has risen, significantly impacting the financial health of affected organizations.

Zero Trust: The Ultimate Response to Modern Challenges

Zero Trust Architecture arose to address the vulnerabilities inherent in modern network environments:

Remote Work: With more talent working remotely, traditional security boundaries became obsolete. Zero Trust ensures secure access regardless of location.

Cloud Computing: As more data and applications move to the cloud, Zero Trust provides rigorous access controls that secure cloud environments effectively.

Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)

Zero Trust's continuous verification model is ideal for detecting and mitigating sophisticated attacks that employ long-term infiltration strategies.

The Shift to Zero Trust

Organizations increasingly recognize the limitations of traditional security measures and shift towards Zero Trust principles. Several needs drive this transition:

Enhance Security Posture:Implement robust, flexible security measures that adapt to the evolving IT landscape.

Minimize Attack Surfaces:Limit the potential entry points for attackers, thereby reducing overall risk.

Improve Regulatory Compliance

Meet stringent data protection regulations that demand advanced security measures.

In the face of ever-evolving threats and changing business practices, it becomes clear that Zero Trust Architecture goes beyond a simple necessity.

By adopting Zero Trust, not only can organizations stand tall against current threats more effectively but also position themselves to adapt to future challenges in the cybersecurity landscape. This proactive approach is critical to maintaining the integrity and resilience of modern digital enterprises.

Critical Components of Zero Trust Architecture

Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) redefines security by systematically addressing the challenges of a modern digital ecosystem. Architecture comprises several vital components that ensure robust protection against internal and external threats. Understanding these components provides insight into how Zero Trust operates and why it is effective.

Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

A cornerstone of Zero Trust is Multi-factor Authentication (MFA), which enhances security by requiring multiple proofs of identity before granting access. Unlike traditional security that might rely solely on passwords, MFA can include a combination of:

By integrating MFA, organizations significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access due to credential theft or simple password breaches.

Least Privilege Access Control

At the heart of the Zero Trust model is the principle of least privilege, which dictates that users and devices only get the minimum access necessary for their specific roles. This approach limits the potential damage from compromised accounts and reduces the attack surface within an organization. Implementing the least privilege requires:

Rigorous user and entity behavior analytics (UEBA) to understand typical access patterns.

Dynamic policy enforcement to adapt permissions based on the changing context and risk level.

Microsegmentation

Microsegmentation divides network resources into separate, secure zones. Each zone requires separate authentication and authorization to access, which prevents an attacker from moving laterally across the network even if they breach one segment. This strategy is crucial in minimizing the impact of an attack by:

Isolating critical resources and sensitive data from broader network access.

Applying tailored security policies specific to each segment's function and sensitivity.

Continuous Monitoring and Validation

Zero Trust insists on continuously monitoring and validating all devices and user activities within its environment. This proactive stance ensures that anomalies or potential threats are quickly identified and responded to. Key aspects include:

Real-time threat detection using advanced analytics, machine learning, and AI.

Automated response protocols that can isolate threats and mitigate damage without manual intervention.

Device Security

In Zero Trust, security extends beyond the user to their devices. Every device attempting to access resources must be secured and authenticated, including:

The assurance that devices meet security standards before they can connect.

Continuously assessing device health to detect potential compromises or anomalies.

Integration of Security Policies and Governance

Implementing Zero Trust requires a cohesive integration of security policies and governance frameworks that guide the deployment and operation of security measures. This integration helps in:

Standardizing security protocols across all platforms and environments.

Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and internal policies.

Implementing Zero Trust Components.

Implementing Zero Trust involves assessing needs, defining policies, and integrating solutions, requiring cross-departmental collaboration. This proactive approach creates a resilient security posture, adapting to evolving threats and transforming security strategy.

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a strategic endeavor that requires careful planning, a detailed understanding of existing systems, and a clear roadmap for integration. Here's a comprehensive guide to deploying Zero Trust in an organization, ensuring a smooth transition and security enhancements to ensure a practical realization.

Step 1: Define the Protect Surface

The first step in implementing Zero Trust is to identify and define the 'protect surface'—the critical data, assets, applications, and services that need protection. Such an implementation will involve the following:

Data Classification: Identify where sensitive data resides, how it moves, and who accesses it.

Asset Management: Catalog and manage hardware, software, and network resources to understand the full scope of the digital environment.

Step 2: Map Transaction Flows

Understanding how data and requests flow within the network is crucial. Mapping transaction flows helps in the following:

Identifying legitimate traffic patterns: This aids in designing policies that allow normal business processes while blocking suspicious activities.

Establishing baselines for network behavior: Anomalies from these baselines can be quickly detected and addressed.

Step 3: Architect a Zero Trust Network

With a clear understanding of the protected surface and transaction flows, the next step is to design the network architecture based on Zero Trust principles:

Microsegmentation: Design network segments based on the sensitivity and requirements of the data they contain.

Least Privilege Access Control: Implement strict access controls and enforce them consistently across all environments.

Step 4: Create a Zero Trust Policy

Zero Trust policies dictate how identities and devices access resources, including:

Policy Engine Creation: Develop a policy engine that uses dynamic security rules to make access decisions based on the trust algorithm.

Automated Rules and Compliance: Utilize automation to enforce policies efficiently and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.

Step 5: Monitor and Maintain

Zero Trust requires ongoing evaluation and adaptation to remain effective. Continuous monitoring and maintenance involve:

Advanced Threat Detection: Use behavioral analytics, AI, and machine learning to detect and respond to anomalies in real-time.

Security Posture Assessment: Regularly assess the security posture to adapt to new threats and incorporate technological advancements.

Feedback Loops: Establish mechanisms to learn from security incidents and continuously improve security measures.

Step 6: Training and Culture Change

Implementing Zero Trust affects all aspects of an organization and requires a shift in culture and mindset:

Comprehensive Training: Educate staff about the principles of Zero Trust, their roles within the system, and the importance of security in their daily activities.

Promote Security Awareness: Foster a security-first culture where all employees are vigilant and proactive about security challenges.

Challenges in Implementation

The transition to Zero Trust is not without its challenges:

Complexity in Integration: Integrating Zero Trust with existing IT and legacy systems can be complex and resource-intensive.

Resistance to Change: Operational disruptions and skepticism from stakeholders can impede progress.

Cost Implications: Initial setup, especially in large organizations, can be costly and require significant technological and training investments.

Successfully implementing Zero Trust Architecture demands a comprehensive approach beyond technology, including governance, behavior change, and continuous improvement. By following these steps, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity defenses and build a more resilient and adaptive security posture equipped to handle the threats of a dynamic digital world.

Impact and Benefits of Zero Trust Architecture

Implementing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) has far-reaching implications for an organization's cybersecurity posture. This section evaluates the tangible impacts and benefits that Zero Trust provides, supported by data-driven outcomes and real-world applications.

Reducing the Attack Surface

Zero Trust minimizes the organization's attack surface by enforcing strict access controls and network segmentation. With the principle of least privilege, access is granted only based on necessity, significantly reducing the potential pathways an attacker can exploit.

Statistical Impact

Organizations employing Zero Trust principles have observed a marked decrease in the incidence of successful breaches. For instance, a report by Forrester noted that Zero Trust adopters saw a 30% reduction in security breaches.

Case Study

A notable financial institution implemented Zero Trust strategies and reduced the scope of breach impact by 40%, significantly lowering their incident response and recovery costs.

Enhancing Regulatory Compliance

Zero Trust aids in compliance with stringent data protection regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS by providing robust mechanisms to protect sensitive information and report on data access and usage.

Compliance Metrics

Businesses that transition to Zero Trust report higher compliance rates, with improved audit performance due to better visibility and control over data access and usage.

Improving Detection and Response Times

The continuous monitoring component of Zero Trust ensures that anomalies are detected swiftly, enabling quicker response to potential threats. This dynamic approach helps in adapting to emerging threats more effectively.

Operational Efficiency

Studies show that organizations using Zero Trust frameworks have improved their threat detection and response times by up to 50%, enhancing operational resilience.

Cost-Effectiveness

While the initial investment in Zero Trust might be considerable, the architecture can lead to significant cost savings in the long term through reduced breach-related costs and more efficient IT operations.

Economic Benefits

Analysis indicates that organizations implementing Zero Trust save on average 30% in incident response costs due to the efficiency and efficacy of their security operations.

Future-Proofing Security

Zero Trust architectures aim to be flexible and adaptable, which makes them particularly suited to evolving alongside emerging technologies and changing business models, thus future-proofing an organization's security strategy.

Strategic Advantage

Adopting Zero Trust provides a strategic advantage in security management, positioning organizations to quickly adapt to new technologies and business practices without compromising security.

The impacts and benefits of Zero Trust Architecture make a compelling case for its adoption. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the principles of Zero Trust provide a resilient and adaptable framework that addresses current security challenges and anticipates future threats. By embracing Zero Trust, organizations can significantly enhance their security posture, ensuring robust defense mechanisms that scale with their growth and technological advancements.

Future Trends and Evolution of Zero Trust

With digital transformation emerges highly sophisticated cybersecurity threats pushing Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) to evolve in response to these dynamic challenges. In this final section, we explore future Zero Trust trends, their ongoing development, and the potential challenges organizations may face as they continue to implement this security model.

Evolution of Zero Trust Principles

Zero Trust is not a static model and must continuously be refined as new technologies and threat vectors emerge. Critical areas of evolution include:

Integration with Emerging Technologies

As organizations increasingly adopt technologies like 5G, IoT, and AI, Zero Trust principles must be adapted to secure these environments effectively. For example, the proliferation of IoT devices increases the attack surface, necessitating more robust identity verification and device security measures within a Zero Trust framework.

Advanced Threat Detection Using AI

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will play pivotal roles in enhancing the predictive capabilities of zero-trust systems. AI can analyze vast amounts of data to detect patterns and anomalies that signify potential threats, enabling proactive threat management and adaptive response strategies.

Challenges in Scaling Zero Trust

As Zero Trust gains visibility, organizations may encounter several challenges:

Future Research and Standardization

Continued research and standardization efforts are needed to address gaps in Zero Trust methodologies and to develop best practices for their implementation. Industry collaboration and partnerships will be vital in creating standardized frameworks that effectively guide organizations in adopting Zero Trust.

Developing Zero Trust Maturity Models

Future efforts could focus on developing maturity models that help organizations assess their current capabilities and guide their progression toward more advanced Zero Trust implementations.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

As Zero Trust impacts data privacy and security, future legal frameworks must consider how Zero Trust practices align with global data protection regulations. Ensuring compliance while implementing Zero Trust will be an ongoing challenge.

The future of Zero Trust Architecture is one of continual adaptation and refinement. By staying ahead of technological advancements and aligning with emerging security trends, Zero Trust can provide organizations with a robust framework capable of defending against the increasingly sophisticated cyber threats of the digital age. As this journey unfolds, embracing Zero Trust will enhance security and empower organizations to innovate and grow confidently.

Concluding Thoughts:

As cyber threats keep evolving, Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) emerges as the most effective cybersecurity strategy, pivotal for safeguarding organizational assets in an increasingly interconnected world. The implementation of Zero Trust not only enhances security postures but also prompts a significant shift in organizational culture and operational frameworks. How will integrating advanced technologies like AI and blockchain influence the evolution of zero-trust policies? Can Zero Trust principles keep pace with the rapid expansion of IoT devices across corporate networks?

Furthermore, questions about their scalability and adaptability remain at the forefront as Zero Trust principles evolve. How will organizations overcome the complexities of deploying Zero Trust across diverse and global infrastructures? Addressing these challenges and questions will be crucial for organizations that leverage Zero Trust Architecture effectively.

How Coditude can help you

For businesses looking to navigate the complexities of Zero Trust and fortify their cybersecurity measures, partnering with experienced technology providers like Coditude offers a reassuring pathway to success. Coditude's expertise in cutting-edge security solutions can help demystify Zero Trust implementation and tailor a strategy that aligns with your business objectives. Connect with Coditude today to secure your digital assets and embrace the future of cybersecurity with confidence.

[aroacettorney]

tbh its kinda disappointing that aup focused so much on the power struggle between marias and casey to conclude their sibling arc when their conflict was much more subtle/psychological and had little to do with whether they could beat each other into submission.

marias didnt corner casey and scare her into agreeing to an engagement/arranged marriage just by force, as it would have ruined the reputation of both of them. instead, she seems to have given casey extremely generous terms when it comes to choosing her own love interest, but thats only because she lowkey already knew its not gonna happen, fully aware that casey had zero interests in love or romance.

the deal between them was rigged against casey from the start, and it was even done under the guise of giving casey a fair chance to fight for her own happiness. casey, being herself — living only in the present, gave it a lick and a promise without any second thought, not knowing that even her reaction was also a part of marias's grand scheme to put casey under her control.

marias was absolutely certain of her win against her beloved sister, which was why she didnt even bother to check up on how casey was actually doing before sending the letter to call her home, but miraculously for casey, ludger agreed to help and everyone in the entire continent for some reasons seemed to be convinced there was something that ambiguously could be romance between them.

marias is the extraordinarily cunning politician archetype of character — one that is on a par with eileen von exilion in terms of foxiness and cannot simply be defeated through brute force or sheer strength, while casey is... casey, ever straightforward in her problem solving approach. casey might have won in terms of raw power but it would still mean nothing if she couldnt outwit marias. the fight between the selmore sisters didnt end with the holy war; it barely just started.

[spiderweb-wine]

9) some folks just plain don't appreciate off-leash dogs outside of dog parks. Leash your dog in public. Please.

Everyone else talked about outdoor cats, it's time for me to talk about offleash dogs

[sirgawainofgalifrey]

Not to knock on Wrightworth or other Phoenix ships but people like to make most of Phoenix's actions have a romantic undertone and really miss out on the fact that he'll just about die for anyone he considers a friend.

Like he took on a clearcut murder case with zero experience (what's a cross-examination lol) because he was friends with Larry in school.

He STRAIGHT UP ATE GLASS AND METAL for the girl he was dating and was willing to ignore that she'd murdered someone.

He changed his whole ass career to get in contact with Edgeworth again just to make sure he was okay emotionally (and for other reasons that people like to ignore just for making it all about Edgeworth), even though they literally were like in 4th grade together for like half a year.

The first case he defended Maya was almost entirely because of Mia, because he didn't know Maya yet.

Literally EVERY CASE that he defends Maya in he's going above and beyond all reason and logic to prove that she's not guilty.

Him literally going against all reason and evidence and Edgeworth's own admission in the Edgeworth case to prove he's not guilty.

HIM LITERALLY ONLY TAKING ON THE SKYE CASE BECAUSE EMA AND LANA REMINDED HIM OF MAYA AND MIA.

Him literally in the Engarde case willing to compromise all his principles to get a murderer off the hook to save her (they give you the option of going with pleading that Engarde is innocent, even though it doesn't effect the outcome).

Him literally running across a burning bridge at night over a huge cliff to make sure she's alright.

All I'm saying is I think the writers more intended to characterize Phoenix as someone who is willing to do almost anything for people he cares about (even if he acts like a grumpy asshole most of the time), more than emphasizing any one romantic relationship.

(I also think that's why he took Edgeworth faking his death so hard, and was so pissed at him for it. Like he felt betrayed and helpless at Edgeworth commiting suicide, mad (at Edgeworth and himself) that Edgeworth thought he couldn't come to him for help, when he would do anything for him. And then he finds out he was deceived, and couldn't understand how anyone could do that to someone they care about, like it's not in his friendship vocabulary ((also the fact that Edgeworth had confided in Gumshoe and not him that he was still alive, meaning he trusts Gumshoe more than him as a friend.)) It all comes down to Phoenix being betrayed that he's not trusted and his devotion to his friends not returned.)

Anyway sorry this is so long I hope it makes sense.

(also I've only played the original trilogy)

[silasoctakiseron]

I understand why this is the case, to be clear, because what we see of his character is extremely limited, but I find that so much fanon characterization of Colum Asht relies on the presumption that he's a normal person. Specifically, that he's a normal person who could be rehabilitated by people treating him normally.

In context, this is generally true, because he exists primarily in relation to an obsessive religious zealot whose external socialization consists primarily of telling people about themselves with zero regard for whether that's a normal or decent thing to do in context. Because we see Colum, with very few exceptions, constantly attached to Silas throughout GTN, he looks significantly more like a regular person who's sort of being forced to drag around a purse dog who bites. I believe no one has ever deserved to step outside for a cigarette and stare at nothing more than Colum; again, I understand where the characterization comes from. I do however think it's wrong. This post is very long. Sorry or whatever.

Colum Asht is deeply, fundamentally Eighth. I've talked before (warning: another long post) about the fact that Houses have individual cultures, rather than personality traits. Colum is exactly as bound up in Eighth religious practices as Silas is, even though those religious practices are explicitly used to oppress him into an early grave rather than elevate him to a position of power.

Until the full implications of Lyctorhood come to light, at no point does Colum ever reject a wholehearted embrace of Eighth beliefs. I think a lot of people consider the argument he has with Silas in ch. 28 to be a criticism of the religious beliefs Silas embodies, and I sincerely could not disagree more. Colum is angry about the fact that Silas has grown into someone who could be deliberately duplicitous and lie to another person to take advantage of them. He might be angry about the institutional processes that made him that way. He does not believe that this means that he, personally, should have expanded rights over his body or that his cavaliership to Silas is something he could or would walk away from. He does not believe that Silas is wrong with regard to his attitudes toward the Ninth as a whole.

We know this because Colum isn't exclusively following Silas around throughout the book, and he takes actions independently that are still indicative of deeply ingrained religious bigotry. Colum is perfectly allowed to talk to other people, but individually refuses on principle to talk to Gideon one-on-one or be in a room with her outside of a specific social context. Colum is explicitly not apologetic about taking Gideon's weapons from her when she comes into the Eighth's rooms despite being aware that it places her at a disadvantage and requires her to trust people who actively distrust her.

Even when Silas is present and seems to have more power over Colum's actions, Colum isn't uncomfortable doing things like asking Gideon to leave a common space entirely so Silas doesn't have to try to consume food and look at her at the same time. He wholly expects Gideon to acquiesce to this, not happily, but at least without argument. Colum isn't at all fazed by Silas accusing an entire room of people of being faithless sinners for refusing to bow to the will of the Order.

Silas' methods aren't Colum's methods, and Colum seems normal in comparison to him because he's significantly quieter about his beliefs and doesn't always follow Silas to every rhetorical extreme. Colum tends to do the polite thing where Silas is extremely blunt. He won't be in a room with Gideon or speak to her alone, but he'll bow to her before he leaves. Colum is sitting at the Fifth's dinner party speaking to Babs in some way that sounds normal enough for Babs to keep haranguing him, while Silas is telling Ianthe her parents should have been willing to experiment more when she was born dying/dead. Either way, neither of them acknowledge Harrow's existence.

Colum doesn't disagree with the basic religious principles on which Silas generally acts. Colum is fine with that shit. If Silas hadn't tried to resort to lying and taking advantage of another person to achieve his ends in a manner offensive to Colum's sense of honor and morality, there's zero evidence that Colum would have found anything else about his conduct objectionable enough to raise as an issue.

All this to say that I think if Magnus Quinn invited Colum for a pint he would show up and be reasonably respectful and courteous the entire time while calmly saying what to literally any other person would be the most deranged religious claptrap they'd ever heard. Colum thinks it'd be more humane to simply nuke the Ninth out of existence too fast for anyone to feel it rather than conducting a systematic inquisitorial dismantlement of the church involving spiritual torture. Colum is referring to necro/cav relationships using insanely antiquated and offensive terminology that he genuinely believes is the polite and considerate way to talk about them as opposed to deliberately derogatory language more commonly employed on the Eighth. The second Colum leaves Magnus orders himself five shots and includes them on his expense report.

[nyaagolor]

Ranking the Ace Attorney main cast on whether or not I think they'd be a narc

I was making a more coherent, serious post about the different approaches to justice each of the characters have and how that is shaped by their backstory... and then I realized a funnier question is what they would do if they saw you eating a weed brownie so I made this post instead

Phoenix: In the trilogy era, yes. He trusts people, but believes that trust has to be built on pursuing justice and always accepting the harsh reality. He'd be sad about it, but a narc nonetheless. In his Beanix era he's making his money through "totally legal gambling" and on the hunt for questionably legal evidence so I have no doubt in my mind there's a pot farm under the WAA for supplemental income. He gives up his narc ways and for that I salute him

Apollo: If I were to pick a single member of this cast who is NOT invited to the rotation it would be him. He had zero hesitation throwing Kristoph to the wolves after working for him for years so I know he has absolutely zero qualms about ratting out his friends or coworkers. Loyalty means nothing in the eyes of justice and it means nothing to him. He's a narc.

Athena: She's gonna lecture you and look all sad about it, but she's no snitch. She's been through the rounds with Simon so she gets it. Having to know you hurt her feelings is enough of a punishment in her eyes

Edgeworth: He's not a narc but he IS obsessed with being right, so if you don't immediately fess up with exactly what you're doing he's going to send your stoned ass to the chess dimension and honestly I think that's worse

Franziska: Unfortunately she is a cop. Narc.

Godot: Diego-era yeah he's a narc, but after the coma? I feel like he has better things to worry about, he would just ignore you. He has some soul searching to do and some grief complexes to unlearn he doesn't have the time to be a lil snitch. Post prison I think he's stoned somewhere in Kurain and chillaxing, as is his right

Klavier: Don't let his rockstar attitude fool you he's a narc and extremely annoying about it. The gavinners tour bus is dry as hell and it's all Klavier's fault. Daryan offers him a line and he gets all uppity and says "the only LINE i want you doing is the third line in the prechorus, you keep messing up the syncopation" and that's the end of that discussion

Simon: He's been in prison so he knows what's up. Not a narc. Might glare at you until you share though

Nahyuta: He's a narc and will lecture you so long about it you're tempted to turn yourself in to get out of earshot. He also never forgets and never forgives. Datz is trying to reform him but it isn't going well

Sebastian: Yes, but I think the idea of him having to turn in someone for it would make him cry so they end up comforting him instead. Kay thinks he needs to try a weed brownie

Maya: I want you to look at me and tell me she doesn't smoke weed. Not a narc

Pearl: I think if she found out that her big sister figure smoked weed she would have a heart attack. Def a narc

Trucy: I can say with absolute certainty that if you really wanted weed she could find you a dealer faster than anyone in the cast. Trucy is a magician and has grown up around a variety of people involved with some seedier institutions, she knows better than to snitch. Has not been and will never be a narc

Kay: Will help you shoplift. Not a narc

Gumshoe: A narc on principle, but would feel really bad about it and would probably let you off with a warning if you started crying or acting upset because I think he's a softie. He's not unreasonable

Ema: If you think she has even the tiniest sliver of respect for cops you're lying to yourself. Not a narc and will actively help you evade police out of principle. A homie, honestly

Fulbright: Not only is he a narc but he definitely runs the DARE program at the local highschool and is printed on half the posters they put up in the precinct. I'm also like 80% sure he doesn't actually know how weed works

[4mrplumi]

ZERO (ii): SCAVENGERY . (ms/prev/next)

-> plot synopsis - you don't think you're as odd and horrifying as the news makes you out to be. but you have never much cared for the validation of others, and certainly not theirs. 

-> batfamily x serial killer reader. playlist (wip) ask 2b added to taglist

-> tw; gn reader, toxic relationships, fem love interest, unhealthy coping mechanisms, obsessive compulsive disorder, paranoia, murder, sociopathic tendencies, full on master list.

> a/n; this entry is skippable! while ive done work to establish the laws and details for the insert and the world around them, the batfamily moments one would look for scattered across. the prologue is planned for this world building exactly, and the next part will be focused on the family.

you have to be prepared. profiled. planned. not paranoid. you are not paranoid.

plans upon plans, plots behind plots, ploys behind ploys. by sixteen, you had your entire life planned out, exactly what you'd do, what you’d do if that didn’t work out, and another two back up plans just in case. you were prepared for yourself to get moved around like this too, driving into the third option you’d laid for your life. with its own backup plans, own what if’s and what not’s, probables and situations.

order. organisation. prepared.

it only makes you a little sick to see your behaviour mirrored on the man of the house, with his contingencies and protocols. but you’re not that stuck up, surely. you do it only out of resentment, you're nothing like him. he and your family are unable to save the scraps they've left, you have to do this to make up for the mess they've created.

you make sure none of your outings, meeting areas, contact lists or even the names you sign on grocery bills are the same. you can’t let any common clue stick out, whether it’s in your civilian life, or under the duty you’ve taken up. even though you’re relatively low on their radar right now, studying the world’s greatest detective’s tactics and those of his rogues has taught you that a frayed past never does anyone any good. it was a backup plan, a just in case, in the event you gained too much unwanted attention.

you want your family out of your business. it’s funny how the teenage, "i’m my own person" phase has so morbidly warped in your life. but you mean it. you don’t trust them with their rules, and will not risk anything trying to correct their errors and making yourself a target. they can live in oblivion, but you won't let them intrude. you don’t trust them.

to ensure your “friends”, as you have termed them, stay similarly in line, you make sure they update you on everything. no detail of common interest is hidden, because everything is common, aligned, on your principles and clues. everything must be known, not because you are paranoid. you check in on them, their health, their whereabouts, their families. they’re in debt, with not much space to refuse, taking the burner phones you force into their hands wearily. but sentimental isn’t the best word to use for you.

you are concerned for the wellbeing of your accomplices only to the extent that they remain in your line of work, alive. yes, you will feed their families and see to their wounds, but only and only to tip the scales of their debts towards you. it’s the exact reason why you make sure the work you put on them isn’t too much, so that there's a low chance that scale could be imbalanced, this time, against your favour. they need to remain in your control, to propel your movements and wipe out the instance of a snitch, a tattle tale.

in a way, with much reluctance, this is a trait you’ve picked up from the batman. you’ve learnt that his training comprises many different things, how to stop a man from running, how to disarm their guns, how to keep them from fleeing. but never how to kill.

of course, you don’t do as much fighting as he does, but you’ve taken the liberty to curve his ways to suit you. you’ll teach the people who work for you how to figure out plots, hidden intentions, the next move and the one after that. but never your next move.

you’ve wondered morbidly, only once, if he’d be proud of you, if your skills were somewhere more suitable, per say. but you have no intentions to change your ways for his peace of mind. you do not care for his pride.

you’ve made of yourself an independent dependant, unreliable. you'd caught on early that having expectations from others and expectations on yourself was an unnecessary burden. your first year in the manor was terrible, and it has improved only out of your isolation, your distrust.

you trusted just about no one, and made sure no one trusted you. no debt, no obligation.

you had to know everything, but not because you were paranoid.

there are only five people out of the handful you keep, allowed into your inner circle. people to confide in and accompany you when you need a plus one. they’re the easiest to keep in line, students or workers, and of course, her. your ‘girlfriend’ who too was a device for your plotting.

however, with her drawling voice and less than weary affections, you need to remind her of it often. you’ve heard very little endearment from people in your life; called “kid” or “doll” by the people in your childhood, your proper legal name by your ‘family’, and a plethora of less pleasant things by self-proclaimed rivals in school and on the streets.

so when she takes to calling you angel, you pause from smacking her hand away from curling in your hair. in an attempt to decipher her intentions, knowing damn well she did all this to gain your favour (you would not so kindly give it), you think upon it. for more hours than considered normal.

is she calling you inhumane? damian had said the same thing to you once, coming across your little hobby in the greenhouse once. is she calling you frightening? you were kinder to her than the others, just by a sliver. dick grayson had looked at you with weariness once, perhaps seeing the hint of a familiar scowl on you. or is she genuinely, as genuine as the glorified scum of your accomplices get, being genuine? an angel… you.

you don’t dwell on it any longer after that, pushing her hand aside and her legs off off of yours, leaving. you were not weak, and if that was what she was trying from you, it would not work. you were not weak, and not ashamed to show that you weren’t. people deserve to know their faults. and you’re no exception.

you did not ever, ever hide your disappointment nor disgust. damian wayne was scorned out loud for his empathy, dick grayson scowled at for his sensitivity and tim drake hissed at for his distance. jason todd for his dramatics, but not to his face, and duke for his concerns.

you judged, as an interrupting scoff that broke their peace, and did none of it for fun. you did not gain anything by irritating your brothers, nor did you hope to lose anything. you were speaking your mind, what they deserved to know.

if they resented you for it, fine! you couldn't care less, since you didn’t owe each other anything for it. you wanted them out of the way, and needed none of their kindness. you are unbothered.

you are not paranoid, but you can always be more prepared.

> a/n; i hope i’ve made a good effort to build on the mindset here. i had to rewrite this whole chapter cus the styles weren’t matching up (- - ;;) the prologues are super just set ins. plot starts from ch1 that i'm hoping to get out before my exams.

i’m incredibly happy that people are finding interest in this!! however, i need opinions on the relationship dynamics you think would be visible with the “friends”. i will expand on it maybe in a drabble? even though this is something i’m writing, i think it's important to know what kind of thoughts my sentences create. this means valid criticism on the writing is also appreciated (just please don’t be mean).

thank you for reading!!

taglist: @boredselkie @shirp-collector-of-fixations @randomlyappearingartist @bat1212 @maicenitas @xjesterxjacksx @heartjwonie @lucienneb1ue @vikkus-main @adornedlace @cuntiesweet @minorlyatfall @staarflowerr

[sadsongsandwaltzes]

The problem with modern dating culture is that it’s too casual for too long. We play games with each other, take what marital benefits we can from each other without the commitment. There’s no intent behind it. If there’s any intent at all, it’s just to have fun and use one another, and maybe at some point you’ll accidentally fall into something more serious.

The problem with purity courtship culture is that it’s too serious too quickly. The couple can never truly get to know each other. They have zero time to honestly look into each other’s minds and hearts and assess if they have the same goals and values. You cannot have those very honest and serious conversations you need to have before marriage.

I think the answer is to date with the principles of courtship. You have an end goal. You keep in mind this is a real person who doesn’t exist merely for your own amusement. You keep family and friends involved insofar as they can help you read situations more clearly and help you discern if this person really is a good match for you. You create reasonable boundaries to keep yourself on the correct trajectory as you see fit. But you do, in fact, date. You take those dates to go do something fun, alone, and use the time wisely to get to know each other. To build a bond of sorts. A bond of close friendship. To learn that you can trust and rely on one another. To acknowledge your similarities and differences.

I think this is the healthy way.

[yanderes-galore]

its okay if you decline but..

Platonic Yandere! Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece with very distrustful darling that is a regular human ?

Okay! Here's yet another with your "friend" Luffy who has zero boundaries. If something is wrong, my bad, I am still very new to One Piece :(

Yandere! Platonic! Monkey D. Luffy with Distrustful! Darling

Pairing: Platonic

Possible Trigger Warnings: Gender-Neutral Darling, Obsession, Clingy behavior, Oblivious behavior, Overprotective behavior, Jealousy, Dubious companionship.

Luffy has met distrustful people as a pirate.

It comes with the title.

Plus, you have your own reasons to be distrustful in this world.

It doesn't need to be pirates... or the marines... or whoever....

You may just prefer to trust your own gut.

Let's be honest, Luffy himself already sets off a few reasons to be distrustful.

He's a pirate... but you know he's not normal besides that.

When you meet him and you see his inhuman abilities, of course you're on edge.

Considering the fact you're a normal human... Devil Fruit powers aren't a common sight.

Even if they were... not many good people utilize them.

Luffy's Devil Fruit powers aren't the only thing that makes you nervous.

It's his strength, endurance, speed, agility, etc...

He just doesn't seem human to you.

Especially with the whole... rubber human thing.

He's easily excited and comes off as overbearing.

So imagine your panic when Luffy catches an interest for you.

Maybe his crew saved your home from disaster? That or you've just seen the Wanted Posters when he came to your island?

Ever since then Luffy's grown attached to you who helped him out of principle one time.

A debt is a debt... he helped you, you helped him, end of story.

Not for Luffy, however....

Luffy doesn't mind normal people.

He likes strength and dislikes weak people usually... but with you, he just seems comforted in someway?

You're just someone who fishes for your hometown or maybe even has a shop.

In return for his crew's help or to just get them out as quickly as possible, you offer supplies.

Stuff like food or medical aid.

We all know Luffy has a thing for food...

It's really no wonder that he's around so often.

But that's just an idea of how he and a darling who doesn't trust him could meet.

Luffy can be suffocating as a yandere... even when he's just platonic.

I can also see Luffy as oblivious to how wrong his behavior is.

He's childish and often just thinks he should get what he wants.

So when he's jealous he probably expects his new friend to give him attention.

Luffy doesn't understand why you don't trust him.

Are you really that scared of him?

Or are you just scared of pirates in general...?

Luffy doesn't want you to not trust him.

He wants you to like him, to view him as your friend.

Luffy wonders if your distrust comes from someone hurting you in the past.

When in reality it could be something as simple as fearing how abnormal he is.

He seems like he'd be so fixated on the idea of someone hurting you in the past that he tries to pry that info out of you.

He comes off as scarily aggressive at the thought of someone hurting you.

Especially if it hurt his chances of befriending you.

Meanwhile he's only proving your point by scaring you.

The rest of his crew probably feel a little bad at how desperately Luffy is trying to earn your trust.

He's a very charismatic guy... so he just doesn't get why you're so closed off?

He doesn't seem to grasp the concept of you just not wanting to be friends.

You find his powers and strength unnatural and intimidating.

Him trying to encourage you to like him only does the opposite.

He's just so giddy and looks like he's unable to relax around you.

He's incredibly affectionate, always coming off as extreme and emotional towards you.

You can probably see Sanji, Nami, or Zoro trying to restrain him from tackling you during visits.

Most of the time they just come for supplies, but Luffy is the one who actively seeks you out.

He genuinely does see you as just a friend, yet he's so clingy?

You may not see him as a friend... but Luffy sees you as close friends....

He likes to see himself as someone to protect you and make you happy.

Meanwhile you're distant due to his behavior and fake your smiles half the time.

He tells you over and over again to not be afraid of him.

Yet you can't help it, not when he stares at you from a distance or clings to you when you hate it.

With you he has no boundaries.

His favorite thing to do is cling to you, due to his anatomy, it's a weird feeling.

Luffy no doubt means well.

He just... has trouble understanding the fear you have for him.

It's worse when he subconsciously confirms your fears due to him being reckless and dangerous.

He hates that you're so distant.

Yet when he tries to fix that... you push him away.

He's so frustrated at that.

When others try to tell him your reasoning for not trusting him... he still doesn't get it.

Why would you be scared of him?

He wants to be friends! He wants to have fun!

You're scared of his powers?

He'd only use his powers to protect you!

He isn't aware that his violent need want to protect you... doesn't help.

Luffy would bloody himself to avenge those he cares about.

Plus, he's envious of the fact you get along with other people.

Luffy does not hide his jealousy.

He wants your trust and attention.

Why do other people get to have that but not him?

Other people can notice him distressed or pouting when you don't entertain his obsession towards you.

He can try his best to make you trust him... but that's up to you.

He needs to be patient... but unfortunately...

Luffy is not a patient person when it comes to you.

He's optimistic you'll return his affection at some point.

He just needs to try harder...

Much to your dismay.

[alicent-vi-britannia]

Lelouch's relentless search for purpose in life

I've previously talked to you about Lelouch's trauma through the enneagram to explain why Lelouch refuses to open up and trust others and insists on doing everything alone to feel self-sufficient and strong. I've also used the enneagram to explain that Lelouch has locked himself into a protective shell and is uncomfortable feeling vulnerable because of his trauma and his upbringing in Darwinian values ​​in Britannia. However, I haven't talked to you directly about one thing that is very important and perhaps because it is so obvious I have overlooked it until I stumbled upon a small thread on Twitter.

In the last conversation Lelouch has with his father, Charles nullifies the meaning and value of his existence by telling him: "But you're dead. You've always been dead, from the moment you were born. Who gave you the fine clothes you wear, a comfortable home, the food you eat, and your own life? I gave you all of that. You are nothing to me because you have never existed." At that moment, Charles kills Lelouch in symbolic terms, causing him enormous psychological and emotional damage from which he never recovers.

We have this flashback in episode 7 of the first season and later Lelouch threatens CC with suicide if she does not let him go to face his sister, Cornelia: "Until I met you, I was dead. A corpse that existed behind a false appearance of life, a life in which I did nothing real. I experienced the emotions of living day to day as if I were a zombie, with the feeling that I was dying little by little. And if I have to go back to that, then I prefer… [And he places his finger on the trigger of the gun]." The series connects those two scenes through a Dutch shot focused on Lelouch's gaze. The Dutch shot is a steep horizontal tilt shot that is used to indicate instability or danger or that something is not right. In this case, it warns us, on a superficial level, that Lelouch has felt dead since his last meeting with his father and that he has been fighting against that (unfounded) belief and these negative feelings and, on a deeper level, that this is a wrong and harmful belief of Lelouch's that has been poisoning his mental health ever since.

(It's sad to compare the two shots. Little Lelouch's eyes show deep pain. As the Bart and Lisa Simpson meme says: it's the exact frame in which his heart broke. Teenage Lelouch's eyes, on the other hand, are empty. A dead look.)

There are several moments in the story that give us an idea of ​​the young prince's struggle. For example, in the first Audio Drama, "The Uninvited Prince," a young Suzaku rescues Lelouch from some children who are beating him and reproaches him for not standing up for himself and disregarding the hospitality his home provides him and his sister, to which the child Lelouch replies, "I am here and I will live. If I live by my own strength, then I will never be dead again." Little Suzaku, of course, finds Lelouch's statement absurd and just thinks he is a strange child. But this response reflects the boy's insane desire to be self-sufficient (to the point of rejecting the help of others) in order to feel that he is alive (remember that Charles told him that he is alive because he has given him everything he has).

We also have a Picture Drama (I'm sorry I don't remember or have the exact number of the PD, but if it's part of the alternate universe, we can ignore it because they are different universes that shouldn't be mixed) with a monologue by a teenage Lelouch: "I've made a vow to use the strength I have to save Nunnally. That will be the proof that I exist in this world."

These words evoke in me a part of Lelouch's song "Back to Zero" (for the fantastic Code Black album in Ashford) in which our hero sings: "Oh! Can you hear me? This fight is how I know I'm alive."

That is, Lelouch tries to prove his father wrong by looking for a purpose to live that reaffirms his existence and, in principle, Lelouch finds it in Zero and the rebellion since they are the means he has to destroy Britannia and create a kind world for Nunnally. And that's why later on he abandons Ashford Academy, the Zero mask and his friends and gives in to depression (in the future, I'll talk about this moment in more depth in another analysis). Then his goals change and his motivations are reconsidered for a series of reasons and events that I won't stop to explain here, but I will point out that I find it interesting and moving how Lelouch goes from clinging to a purpose in life to giving up on it and dying, in order to fulfill his new goals, obtain results and atone for his sins (the magic of a powerful script and a narrative arc, Larry).

Also, all of this explains why Lelouch lost his temper in the season 1 finale when Suzaku yelled at him that his existence was a mistake and that he needed to be wiped off the face of the Earth. Not only did it bring back memories of Vietnam for Lelouch, it was another important person to him who was denying his existence. Suzaku's words hurt him because, as President Snow said in the Hunger Games trilogy, "the people we love the most are the ones who destroy us." I'm not sure if Suzaku knew what Charles told his friend since Lelouch never reveals his secrets to anyone (people around him, including his loved ones, find out on their own), but Suzaku certainly hit a sensitive button that mentally unsettled Lelouch.

Poor Lelouch. He just wanted his existence validated.

[crooked-wasteland]

Sir Pentious and the Importance of Narrative Structure

There are some aspects of Hazbin Hotel that leave me genuinely blind-sided. Like standing on the sidewalk when you suddenly witness a catastrophic car crash only for someone on the other side of the road to get distracted from rubbernecking and cause a second collision . That is the only way I can describe the feeling I get whenever I think about how the series handled Sir Pentious.

I have never seen a show fumble such a big plot point, not once, but twice and in the same exact way. First in the episode where the characters are engaging in “trust exercises”; the narrative entirely neglects the cast of Husk, Pentious, Angel, and Nifty for a very rudimentary plot that feels straight out of season one Steven Universe for Vaggie and Charlie. Instead it skips to them returning to the roof as a group and Angel Dust carrying Pentious and that is the end of the series attempting to show this bond until the second to last episode. Which also just does nothing with the first opportunity to watch that assumed relationship actually come together.

We never saw them actually help each other during the Turf War, but there was an opportunity that would have worked even with zero changes to the rest of the series to rectify that fact and it would have only cost at most 90 seconds of screen time:

Just have these characters talk to each other and treat it like it means something.

And it’s not hard to figure the reasoning of the writers was to have the reveal that the side characters didn’t leave be the big cherry on top this episode’s happily ever after. Instead, it's a completely forgotten plot point that only keeps the audience from ever believing these characters cared about each other enough to mourn one of them being killed off in the most abrupt way.

Sir Pentious’ death was pathetic. The heroic buildup to him buying the others time is undercut by his actual uselessness. And that compounds the problem with the fact his death is an intentional joke, but simultaneously supposed to be an impactful character moment? That isn’t how you get an audience to laugh while crying.

The art of achieving that dram-ody effect is fundamentally based on two grounded principles: familiarity to the character and pacing. Building up to sadness is a process, and trying to achieve something as primal as sadness requires some surprisingly complicated setup. In an undeveloped prefrontal cortex, the brain is still hardwired to mirror as a form of empathy. It’s why so many young fans can say without irony that Pentious dying is “Sad”, because they are caught off guard by his sudden passing to then be inundated with the named characters crying and being sad. They are sad because the characters are sad, but there was no one crying for Pentious like the characters are, not without a psychologically concerning degree of parasocial attachment. It’s “Sad” as in its “disappointing”, but the animators intentionally attempt to highjack the wave of disappointment to convince a child audience that they are feeling a different kind of grief.

And it didn’t need to be anything special, even a cookie cutter “Power of friendship” scene would have still fixed that gap enough to at least allow for a course correction later on and presenting the characters as more fleshed out. If time constraints were really that large of an issue, setting yourself up to succeed by laying the foundation to fix these narrative gaps is the only way to rectify it. Especially with announcing an already pre-approved second season that the crew would have been parallel planning for and thus had knowledge on where to save certain aspects for later.

To be frank, this is why people remember Helluva Boss’ first season so favorably, but it ultimately suffered the opposite issue. Season 1 of HB had a better grasp of setting up plot points early and giving themselves enough space to keep people theorizing and allowing them the opportunity to adapt the characters and narrative dynamically. The whole allure of the series originally was anticipating the payoff for these “mysteries”. It is just that the series had no intention of utilizing those mysteries for any meaningful narrative and quickly killed them off to focus on a predictable and uninteresting ship.

And I am sorry to snatch those rose-tinted glasses, but the first season wasn’t good, we just had clear narrative gaps that felt intentional and anticipated a story/arc/effort where there was no intention behind the scenes to really dedicate any resources to it. And alternatively HH is being handled far less skillfully from the jump, so it attracts the audience that will dedicate themselves to it (children) without any expectations in regards to quality.

[luimagines]

Out of all the links that don't really like humans, how would they react if they found out their soulmate was a human? Would any of them try to deny it, or would they try to learn to accept it and move past their dislike for humans for their soulmates sake? The idea of a hylian that hates humans, and a human that doesn't trust hylians very much because of their obvious dislike of humans, going through enemies to lovers is so interesting to me. And it has the potential for some hilarious moments I think 😆

You. You get the potential.

Warrior, Legend, Hyrule and Four are the ones that are the most "skeptical", to put it nicely. Time is a pure middle ground.

Time would likely need little convincing but he's incredibly apathetic, not wanting to get too close for personal reasons. I mean he's had to say goodbye to everyone who was ever important to him. It's not even about Reader being human. His issues are more about being soulmates tbh.

Four is the runner up. His soulmate would need to put in a little work (whether they know it or not), but it'll be fairly easy to get past his defenses afterward. Humans, with the superior weaponry and craftmanship, would be able to garner the respect and admiration of the blacksmith once they start talking shop. All Four needs is a little time to get used to the idea and eventually grow to not care about what they are and begin to care about who they are.

Legend is all snark and attitude and it'll take something literally hitting him in the head to get him to consider Reader as potential. It sound like I'm trying to be metaphorical. Nah. Legend is gonna have to be in a life or death situation where Reader save his hide before he's going to admit to anything, let alone start to open up to them.

Hyrule is worse believe it or not. He won't be snarky, but he'll avoid Reader like the plague purely on principle. It's not even actively being disrespectful, he's just got Reader on the peripheral if they ever decide to act up. He's got zero reason to trust them and doesn't want to give them any opportunity to prove him right. He'll be civil.... on good days. But good luck getting him to even look in Reader's direction. And add soulmates on top of that? Hyrule is gonna just ignore it all together. Because- no. It can't be. He refuses. And if he believes hard enough, maybe it'll manifest into reality.

Warrior takes the cakes. Good luck, Reader. You'll need all the help you can get. Fervently thinks of Reader as an enemy even if they have never met before that. In fact, being his soulmate makes him hate them more. Because of course they are his soulmate. Just his luck. Surrounded by traitors and sketchy people just like before. Now, we know he has no reason to think this way, but he's not afraid of voicing his "distaste", for the lack of better words. He's like Legend in which he's going to need a life or death situation for Reader to gain his respect. and he's like Hyrule in which he'll avoid Reader at all costs. But to be his soulmate? He's gonna need even more time than Four. He's got ideas and they run deep. You'll the patience and determination of Frisk from Undertale just to even remotely be considered on good terms with this guy. Of course, there's potential for him to come around- just like all the other boys. But he's quite literally worse case scenario.

[chiqelatasblog]

-> Chapter One is here.

-> Ao3 link is here.

Pairing : Sub-Zero | Bi-Han x Reader

Tropes : arranged marriage, slowish slow burn, enemies to lovers, angst, hurt/comfort, protective!bi-han

Summary : It was inevitable that this moment would come. Ever since your brother took over as the head of the Tengu, he had been waiting for the opportunity to eliminate the Lin Kuei.

And now, that opportunity had finally presented itself, with you as the key to making it happen.

.

.

.

P R O L O G U E : Shadows of Yin

You had always known that this day would come.

The long-standing feud between the Tengu Clan and the Lin Kuei Clan has reached a critical point, and as a member of the Tengu, you find yourself at the center of this conflict. Your brother, -the head of the clan-, had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to eliminate the rival clan, and that moment had finally arrived.

The Lin Kuei has long been considered the most deadly and powerful clan in the Arctika region, if not the world. Their training from a young age and their sheer numbers made them a force to be reckoned with. You have grown up understanding the threat that the Lin Kuei poses. The ongoing conflict between the two clans had resulted in numerous failed assassination attempts on the Lin Kuei, fueling your brother's determination to put an end to the threat once and for all.

And now, you are the most important part of his strategy.

As the only warrior woman in the Tengu, you possess a unique power - umbrakinesis, the ability to control and manipulate shadows. While the other warriors are trained to take lives without hesitation, you have always struggled with the idea of killing. Your aversion to violence has made you an outcast within your own clan. The memories of your father's attempt to end your life at a very young age still haunts you at night. And serves as a burning reminder of the rejection and shame you have endured within your own family.

Despite the challenges and prejudices you face, you have dedicated yourself to honing your skills in stealth and agility, becoming a formidable warrior in your own right. You have pushed yourself to the limits, training tirelessly to overcome the physical differences between you and the other warriors. Your determination and resilience have earned you calloused hands and scars, a stark contrast to the expectations of a noble woman in your clan.

Now, as you find yourself married to the leader of the Lin Kuei, you are presented with a mission that will test your loyalty to your clan and your own moral beliefs. Your brother sees this marriage as an opportunity to infiltrate and dismantle the Lin Kuei, and he expects you to play a crucial role in this dangerous game of deception and betrayal. This marriage was your ticket to infiltrating the Lin Kuei Clan and gaining their trust, all in the name of bringing vital information back to your brother. It was a dangerous and high-stakes mission, but you were determined to do it.

The promise of acceptance and recognition within your clan hangs in the balance, but at what cost?

Will you be able to navigate the treacherous path ahead without sacrificing your own honor, values and principles?

Can you betray the trust of the Lin Kuei, the very people you have been taught to see as enemies, in order to fulfill your brother's ambitions?

You had never failed a mission before, and you were not about to start now. This was your chance to finally earn the respect and recognition that had eluded you for so long. With a steely resolve, you swore an oath to see the mission through to the end. You would not be deterred by the challenges that lay ahead.

You were a warrior, and you were ready to prove yourself in the most crucial mission of your life.

[coquettishbaguette]

“Not a white rose”

Today I learned about Die Weiße Rose, a nonviolent resistance group that formed against the ruling German regime in early 1940’s. They threw pamphlets out a school building’s window and two of them were executed for treason only two days later. The following is a translation from one of the pamphlets:

Who among us has any conception of the dimensions of shame that will befall us and our children when one day the veil has fallen from our eyes and the most horrible of crimes - crimes that infinitely outdistance every human measure - reach the light of day? If the German people are already so corrupted and spiritually crushed that they do not raise a hand, frivolously trusting in a questionable faith in lawful order of history; if they surrender man's highest principle, that which raises him above all other God's creatures, his free will; if they abandon the will to take decisive action and turn the wheel of history and thus subject it to their own rational decision; if they are so devoid of all individuality, have already gone so far along the road toward turning into a spiritless and cowardly mass - then, yes, they deserve their downfall.

I want to believe in the inherent goodness in people, but I have over 80 million reasons not to do so.

My natural tendency is to become an embittered hermit. I’ve canceled all my newspapers (the Washington post, The Guardian, NYT) and several magazines (The Atlantic and The Economist and maybe The New Yorker (that one is difficult to “pull the trigger” on so to speak) as I feel their values are no longer aligned with mine, and perhaps never were. As a member of a mixed family married to an immigrant, my plan is withdrawal with zero tolerance or contact with any ideology that rejects our right to be. To become a spore until environmental conditions are more viable.

But maybe I’m wrong.

Many, perhaps most, of the readers of these leaflets do not see clearly how they can practice an effective opposition. They do not see any avenues open to them. We want to try to show them that everyone is in a position to contribute to the overthrow of this system. It is not possible through solitary withdrawal, in the manner of embittered hermits, to prepare the ground for the overturn of this "government" or bring about the revolution at the earliest possible moment. No, it can be done only by the cooperation of many convinced, energetic people - people who are agreed as to the means they must use to attain their goal.

It’s not over. I read a a book years ago that I judged to be garbage, “The Fourth Turning”. A poor argument supported by vapid bluster. Yet here I stand decades later looking at exactly the outcome predicted by Strauss and Howe. The cycle continued and will continue. So what do I know.

Maybe I am waiting for that chilling call to raise my hackles and join likeminded brothers and sisters?

Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake, fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!

But why do I wait for this; for someone else to lead the charge? Am I a coward? I don’t know.

I don’t want to be a fungus. I want to be a white rose.

[opinated-user]

this is a lie. KP actually withstood for months people saying that kind of things to her because well, that was her friend and she thought that friend was a good person so who cares about what complete strangers with zero influence power has to say? since the very start of their friendship KP has been tolerating people treating her as a apologist for all the horrible things LO has done, just in principle, not even directly dismissing the allegations that she has. LO, you literally took that info from me and completely twisted what it meant for this. to not admit that KP left you because she believed Courtney. she still does to this day. she saw the allegations, saw the evidence, listened to it's testimony and realized that you were a dangerous, disgusting and awful person that she couldn't stand being around anymore. it was so easy, that's the part you sadly don't understand. it was so easy because from the start KP never liked you as much as you liked her. she trusted MO and MO trusted you, that was all there was to it. for the record too, whenever LO uses the phrase "fair weather friend" you can add that as a red flag. not only is that what she keeps calling Brittany, when she isn't lying about having sex with her like the creep that she is, it's also the phrase that Twilight uses in Stockholm to describe the kind of people who won't support her through the raping of her own wife or Rainbow Dash after molesting a child. since the start, LO has always use it, whether intentionally or not, specifically for people who refuse to tolerate abusive behavior. because a good friend, according to her, would have left her lie about Tara/Alison all she wanted. a good friend would have ignored her sibling speaking out. a good friend would have closed off their ears and pretend everything was okay despite everything. a good friend would never call her out on her obviously predatory actions. that was the ultimate lesson of Stockholm that LO is still applying even to this day. just in case anyone needed the reminder that Stockholm exist, LO wrote it and is so much worse than just being pro pedophilia.

[incomingalbatross]

I've been seeing your posts and now I'm VERY interested in The City Between and need to know. More about it. Like the vibes and the general story. Do ramble (without spoilers!) I am very interested. And also is it clean because I wanna read it

:D I will happily ramble! ...In fact this came out Long. Feel free to skim if need be. xP

Last question first: Yes it is clean. Some romance threads but with NO sexual content.

(It DOES possibly need a content warning for gore - we start with a brief flashback to the gruesome murder scene of the protagonist's parents, and violence does tend to be a recurring presence between fights and crimes scenes. But it wasn't a dealbreaker for me, so I think it should be fine. And it DOES come with some whump. ;P)

General rambles: I feel like I've mainly talked about character dynamics on here, because I love this cast. But the worldbuilding and general story are really good too!

Cast: Pet, teenage girl out of her depth but Doing Her Best; Zero, fae lord who my brain kept wanting to call "Zoro" for A WHILE; Athelas, other fae who is devious and untrustworthy and very easy to like; and JinYeong, vampire who is mostly here to have fun and look pretty (if you asked him, anyway).

Worldbuilding-wise, it's set in a world where reality has "layers": the human world, the World Behind where fae and goblins and such come from, and Between, the soft liminal space touching both sides. This leads to a really cool magic system where everything is more than it seems, depending how you look at it -- a house is simultaneously a house and a cave, becoming more cave the deeper Between they go but never quite losing the houseness. There's a lot of turns sideways out of normal reality into something eerier, or more beautiful, or more dangerous (mostly all at once) that I really enjoy.

The tone is a VERY fun mix of like... 1/3 Domesticity, 1/3 Reality-Bending Fantasy, and 1/3 Cutthroat Violence And Intrigue. They go out to see a gruesome crime scene and then come home and have tea and coffee about it. Pet goes on a perilous adventure and is almost lost for good in another realm, then falls asleep on the couch. But ALSO this means the domestic conversations have a lot of sharp edges to them -- the Intrigue is coexisting with the Domesticity, and not terribly peacefully.

Pet is one of my new favorite protagonists, partly because she's always balancing several motivations at once: her self-interest (keep her head down, stay alive, stay in her house), her principles (getting involved when she sees other humans in trouble), and her need for attachments (latching on to "her three psychos," because they're the first people she's had any kind of relationship with since her parents were killed four years ago). Overall she does a really good job of balancing all these, even though they all end up in conflict at some point. She's brave and clever and she manages to keep her heart open without falling into "I can fix them" territory or trusting too easily.

...This is getting long but I DO have to mention Zero again to clarify: it's not JUST his name that had my brain autocorrecting to "Zoro." It's the fact that he's a big brawny stoic sword-carrying fighter with a primary drive to Protect. He's much broodier and less well-adjusted than our mosshead, because he doesn't like his protective drive and he wishes it would shut up and stop trying to get him involved in things... But the similarities are There.

Finally here is a snippet from the second book, to illustrate some of the Themes: