#{ i inherited anger from my father || the fighter } | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

jeannefostergoriot · 29 days

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Soo just saw a post saying they’d wish for more song analysis for KOTLC about someone else’s song than Taylor so here we go.

Driver’s Seat by Madd Buckley x The Vacker kids

“He didn’t mean to scream, then what does he mean?” is Alvar, who was always expected perfect, or perceived the situation that way, and if Alden denied it, Alvar would have been like “what, then??”

“I’m not who he thinks I am”: still Alvar, joining the Neverseen, trying to make himself… seen?

“Trapped in his anger, one-way road”: I doubt it’s express in anger in Glitter-Perfect-City. But. Deception, permanent deception of the one you look up to. Has the same effect.

“Familiar blood I hold alone”: it’s Fitz. Cause following Alvar’s betrayal, he is the one holding the old Vacker line expectancies. Alone cause Biana is younger, less important, less visible.

“I won’t be who he is”: Alvar about Alden. Fitz about Alvar.

“The apple’s falling from the tree”: when Alvar joins the Neverseen, when Fitz joins the Black Swan, when Biana goes fighting Vespera. They’re making their own choices, they’re starting to be independent

“The engine light is blinking brighter”: more time passes, more they go closer and closer to the edge, closer to snapping, closer to breaking.

“And I wasn’t raised to be a fighter”: nobody is raised for that in the Lost Cities. Especially not in the royal family…

“But it only takes one spark to blow”: but it only takes one thing for apparent perfect perfection to go down in flames, for everyone to lose their mind.

“And I wasn’t taught to tame the driver”: none of the three was ever said how to feel fine, how to correct the problems they felt deep down with their world, they weren’t taught to pinpoint what is wrong and what oppress them.

“Just how to delay the raging fire”: just how to play with the rules till another game is set. Set by older. Set by others. Set for others. But they can take part in that new game.

“That turn signal’s ticking, ticking, ticking til”: time is coming. Hurt is here. So the flame is burning in their veins.

“I will be who he is”: the boys. They didn’t want. But they realize. Alvar when he stopped taking measures, when he just went right into whatever the Neverseen were doing. And Fitz, well. That scene in Flashback where he almost killed his brother.

“He’s in the driver’s seat”. Maybe Alden. Maybe just the system.

“I am his rage”: Alvar.

“Inherit the engine and leak, no mistake”: Biana, inheriting the pressure that drives Fitz crazy and the Invisibility that lead Alvar to disappear. Can’t do any mistake to avoid the erasure. Has to fight to be seen. To make the whole thing working.

“I am the warning, the blaring that won’t let you sleep in peace”: Fitz. Fitz who grew up almost in another world, Fitz who says that things aren’t right, Fitz that warns when going in the same old ways will crash everyone in the wall.

“I am his only”: dunno is the singer means “his only something” or “only his”. For the analysis I’ll pick “only his”. Cause the Vacker are not theirs. They aren’t supposed to make their own choices. It’s been like this for centuries. They belong to the system. They have to be perfection.

“The little fist bruising the wheel and switching seats”: This is the idea that from childhood, from early teenage, they had to… punch a bit their way on life. The three of them differently. Alvar threw a big punch and joined the Neverseen. Fitz was switching worlds. Biana was disappearing. And she made her way at school. She’s seen as one of the popular kids of Foxfire. It doesn’t come just snapping.

“I’m biting my own tongue”: trying to keep the appearances up. It hurts them.

“I am my father’s lost son”: they can’t deny their family name. They can’t deny they’re the products of it.

“I didn’t mean to scream” Fitzroy Avery Vacker. Losing it at any occasion. And regretting it despite not knowing how to apologize.

“Don’t know what I mean”: Fitz. He doesn’t know where or what he is, he wants, not anymore.

“I’m not who you think I”: no matter how long we think about them, we’re gonna miss a part. They’re never entirely open

(This is the song btw: )

#Spotify #kotlc #keeper of the lost cities #fitz vacker #alvar vacker #biana vacker #driver’s seat #madds buckley

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morningmask27 · 10 months

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Hawkfrost X Whitewing?

WhiteHawk three au. Birchfall pulled a Thrushpelt. Ivy is the actual third, and a bio whitebirch kid. (Yeah plant 3 with neglected bird sister this time <3)

Fennelrush (Lionblaze) is strong and stubborn and a great fighter. He still has his canon powers and he's not going lightly with them. He definitely has killed a few cats accidentally during fights. He's a meathead, but in Very Rare occasions he makes a good decision. He has anger issues though.

Flaxroot (Jayfeather) still blind. They're smart and cunning and have a position between warrior and healer. They do patrols and hunt and have trained as a warrior apprentice, but since fights are slightly too much for them they usually (read Usually) avoid participating in them. They also have a huge knowledge of herbs and are thus a sort of extra healer for the clan. They still have their canon powers and they don't use them sparingly.

Falconstrike (Hollyleaf) is the one training in the dark forest. Falcon is obsessed by the code. She wants to be the strongest warrior of the clan too, she wants to be a respected warrior and maybe even leader, who knows, it's an interesting position. She's also very motivated by the kin of tour kin prophecy, she's special, guys, she's special! Right? She trains with Hawkfrost because he promised her the keys to becoming a strong and respected warrior.

White has her kits right after Hawkfrost died. She's having a mental breakdown when Birchpaw finds her and after Whitepaw explains the situation, this young kiddo proves how he has a heart of gold by suggesting he pulls a Thrushpelt and say he's the father of the kits. White accepts and yeah. Some cats still judge them for their "accident" bit it's better than half clan prejudice. White and Birch raise the kits together and the two start to become quite closer romantically. When the three are nearly warrior aged White is expecting kits again, this time from Birchfall. These are Dovewing and Ivypool.

While the three are apprentices, Flax, like in canon learns of the kin of you kin prophecy. Flax understands quickly it talks about them and their siblings. Falcon tries very hard to find her power, but fails to do so.

The three are amazing older siblings to Dovekit and Ivykit, but one night Falcon overhears White and Birch argue over if they should ever tell the three that Birch isn't their bio dad. White doesn't want to tell them, but Birch kinda does want to. Falcon is very shocked by that and then her dark forest mentor, Hawkfrost, taunts her, making her go mad. She's angry and confronts White and Birch in presence of Flax and Fennel. The two brothers are horrified. White confesses to everything, the three are furious.

Falcon also fully learns that she isn't a part of the prophecy, but Ivykit is. Having inherited Dovewing's canon power. This makes Falcon become even angrier and she threatens Dovekit and Ivykit to punish White. (keep in mind Dove and Ivy are about 4 moons at that point and realize very well what's going on). Eventually she breaks and runs off.

"little" drabble of the story, all in Whitewing's PoV.

I knew I should never have hung out with Hawkfrost. I knew he was a terrible cat and he didn't care about me, but he was the only cat I felt free around. My parents are amazing, but I have to be perfect around them, and they had their own problems in their relationship then and I didn't want to be involved. Hawkfrost gave me a way to escape the situation. He was funny and witty and never coddled me. He challenged me and laughed when he lost, he complimented me. Most cats in ThunderClan did, but these felt real, realer than any repetitive statement about a good catch by a clanmate, even though I knew he didn't feel anything for me.

I knew things would go wrong. I was still a -paw. Not that I was too young, I was barely a few moons younger than Hawkfrost, but the destruction of the forest had delayed my warrior ceremony and then, I decided to wait until Birchpaw was ready too, to not leave him alone in the apprentices den like I had been. That status of -paw did definitely make things complicated when I discovered it.

It was shortly after Hawkfrost had been found dead by the border, a foxtrap bored through his neck. I had to pretend very hard it didn't affect me. Why would it? He was a cat from an enemy clan, why would I be sad about his death? I felt sick. I had trouble doing my work because of how weird my belly felt. I thought it was because I mourned him.

I would have never thought it was because I was expecting kits. Leafpool was surprised, but I was horrified. I quickly escaped the den after begging Leafpool to not tell anyone. I ran into the forest and found a quiet spot. I began crying. I couldn't believe how badly those meeting with Hawkfrost ended. I knew it was him, I wasn't close to any other cat, but I still somehow hoped it wasn't.

StarClan must have heard me and felt pity because Birchpaw found me. Usually he can't find a mouse when it's right in front of him, so StarClan must have definitely sent him my way. He saw my tears and became worried. And asked what was wrong. I like Birchpaw, but I wasn't about to tell him what I had just learned, but he kept on asking. He wanted to know if I at least could tell someone, which I knew I couldn't, so I began crying again.

He silently pressed himself against me and let me cry. When I had ran out of tears he asked if I was ok again. I wanted to stracht his ears of, but his worried eyes made me decide to keep that for another time. He waited in silence for a response. I felt doubt tugging at me, but I told him anyway. I told him everything. From my parents to the meetings with Hawkfrost and the kits I was expecting now. I broke down crying twice while explaining everything and wondered why he was still there.

When I was done he silently nodded. I had never seen him so contemplative as that day. He was deep in his thoughts for a few heartbeats before looking at me. Determination visible in his eyes.

"We can say the kits are mine."

I was taken aback by what he had just said.

"It would still be awkward to explain, but at least some of the problems would be fixed, right? If the clan knows both parents, they're less likely to be prying."

I had honestly underestimated how smart Birchpaw could be sometimes. I thought about it for a very short moment. It was the most sensible option. The kits would be treated as fully clanborn kits and everything would be fine, but I needed to be sure about one thing.

"Would you genuinely be ok to be called the father of kits that aren't yours?" I needed to know. It all depended on him. If he was ready for this charade I'd go along, but he would have to play along.

"Yes, and I'd even love to be involved in taking care of them if you're ok with that."

He looked at me with such kindness. I then knew I had found a cat I should treasure.

—

"What do you think about Flaxkit for the white and cream kit?" He asked me. I nodded with a smile.

"It fits them." I answered. I then looked at the gray and white kit. It looked like it'd be a strong cat.

"Would Fennelkit suit the gray and white kit?" I asked. Birchpaw had jokingly suggested having a theme for their names, but I liked the idea.

"It is beautiful." He answered, adorating brimming from his eyes.

"Then Fennelkit it is." I affirmed. We stayed silent for a while. Neither of us really daring to say anything about the brown and white kit. I had seen the faces my parents had made when they saw it, I had seen Firestar himself flinch. I know brambleclaw looks a lot like his father and I know that kit looks like brambleclaw a bit. All that didn't change the fact this kit needed a name.

"Is Falconkit too close?" Birchpaw softly asked. I looked at my kit. This brown and white kit that had an uncanny ressemblance to one of the most feared and hated cats, whose son had fathered these kits.

"Falconkit would definitely suit them." I agreed. It would just be a name, nothing more. Their brown fur could be explained by Dustpelt, it was going to be fine. The kits would be fine.

—

"You know I can also stay in the nursery." I said. I looked at Birchfall, who had just recently gotten his name. I had gotten mine as soon as the clan knew I was expecting. It was mostly to not have a -paw in the nursery, but it was still very awkward. The clan had looked at me so weirdly. I didn't dare to look anyone in the eye that day and nowadays it's still hard sometimes.

"It's fine- oomph-" he was cut short by Fennelkit and Falconkit running into him. The three kits were growing every day. They were definitely going to become strong and big cats.

"As I said," Birchfall began after extirping himself from the two kits, "I like spending time here with the kits." I smiled again as I watched Flaxkit jump on Fennelkit's back. The two rolled until they hit my paws. They looked up and smiled at me. I smiled back and helped Fennelkit on his paws.

"Thanks mama." He mewed.

"If you're so sure." I answered. I couldn't help but smile as the kits swarmed him again.

"We got papa!" Flaxkit yelled.

—

I felt weird again. I thought I recognized the feeling from somewhere, so I went to ask Leafpool and Honeypaw about it. I was pregnant again. This time I was surprised, but also so happy.

Birchfall and I had been growing closer since we raised Flaxpaw, Fennelpaw and Falconpaw together. They have grown up so well and I'm very proud of them, but I was also excatic about the idea of having kits with Birchfall. I knew they'd grown up wonderfully too.

—

"We can't keep it a secret from them eternally" Birchfall stated. I felt my fur bristle.

"We raised them together to protect them from having to know it." I argued back.

"I had suggested this to protect them from the Clan judging them, I never thought you'd also want the kits not to know the truth." Birchfall lashed his tail as he spoke. I cringed unintentionally. What if they don't take it well? What if they hate us for having kept this a secret for so long? What if they want to learn more about Hawkfrost? I surely can't give them more details, but he definitely isn't a good cat? How would they feel of they learned that? I kept wondering. Birchfall looked at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

I shook my head. "Sorry Birchfall. I don't think it'd be a good idea. They might want to know who their father is and become angry."

"What? Do you mean I would not be their father if they learned the truth?" He tensed up, his claws flexing repetitively.

"No, you wait, that's not what I meant-" I tried to reason, but he was already walking away.

"I'll be taking care of my kits if you need me." He said.

I stood there and watched him leave. I heard some faint rusting from behind me, but I only looked in front of me, to where Birchfall had left.

What have I done?

—

"Tell us who it is!" Falconstrike yelled. She had her fur fully bristled out in anger as she looked at me. I couldn't more, not only because my kits were looking at me, but because I knew I had to say something.

"Tell us, now. Tells us who our father is!" She approached her face scarily close to mine, snarling from disgust as she looked me in the eyes.

"Falcon, I-" I stammered. How could I explain this without hurting them? How could I feasibly explain that their father is dead and from another clan?

"What do you mean from another Clan?" Flaxroot asked incredulously. They stared right at me. Fennelrush and Falconstrike looked horrified.

"Uh, yes. Your birthfather isn't Birchfall. He raised you and loves you three so much, but his blood isn't in your veins." I began explaining.

"Then who is it?" Fennelrush asked. He looks so much like Hawkfrost when he thinks like that.

"You weren't going to tell us our dad is Hawkfrost, right?" Flaxroot exclaimed. Their eyes were wide. How can they know all those things? I took a deep breath.

"Yes, your dad is Hawkfrost, but he has nothing to do with you three. You are still my and Birchfall's kits. We love you. We didn't tell you to protect you from how the clan would react." I pleaded.

"How could you love is if you lied to us all our life? We didn't even know who we are!" Flaxroot snided.

Falconstrike growled. "you lied to us. You broke the code and we are born from a crime and you never told us. We should have never been born, but you should have never even been allowed to approach us." She approached me again, slowly and with her claws out. She growled again and lifted a paw to hit me.

Fennelrush pushed himself between us. "Falcon, don't do this!" Falconstrike's hit deflected weirdly. Not hurting Fennelrush at all. She landed clumsily on the ground. "she might have lied to us, but you can't just attack her like that." He stood in front of me, but mostly paid attention to Falconstrike. She glared back at him and growled. He didn't move until she stood up and didn't make another attempt at attacking.

I watched horrified as my kits fought each other because of me. I never wanted any of this to happen to them, why couldn't they just live a happy life?

—

"I can hear a cat yelling." Ivykit said. I worried a lot about her lately. She often heard things that no-one else could and loud sounds overwhelmed her terribly.

"They're in need of help!" She yelped. "We need to go find them!" She looked at me desperately.

"Sweetie, are you sure you heard things right?" I asked, hoping she'd tell me it was a lie or something.

"No, mama, this cat needs help!" She stubbornly responded. She looked a bit further away and saw Flaxroot passing by.

"Flaxroot! Flaxroot! Please, I need help to help a cat!" They stopped in their tracks as Ivykit ran to them. I followed her hesitantly. I knew they were still angry at me and I didn't want to make things worse. I prepared to scoot Ivykit away, but Flaxroot asked Ivykit.

"What do you mean by a cat needs help?" They looked at her.

"A cat in the first is yelling in pain, we need to help them!" She responded hurriedly.

"Ivykit, please-" I tried to keep Ivykit from bothering her sibling.

"No, you, stop." Flaxroot snapped at me. I shut my mouth immediately and looked at what was happening.

"Tell me more about that cat, Ivykit." Flaxroot gently nudged her.

She stood confidently. "a cat in the forest needs help. They are in pain, we need to save them."

"Do you know who that cat is or where they are?" Flaxroot asked.

"I- uh. I can hear water not too far from them?" She tried.

Flaxroot narrowed their eyes while Ivykit was lost in her thoughts. At this point a patrol emerged from the entrance.

"We need a healer!" Brackenfur yelled, "a WindClan cat, Heathertail, got attacked by a fox by the stream and no-one knows where Kestrelflight is!"

Flaxroot immediately turned their head towards the patrol. "Leafpool and Honeypaw are out gathering herbs, but I can grab some and go with you."

Brackenfur hurriedly nodded. "yes, please, she's been at the stream for a while, I don't know how long she still has if her wounds aren't treated soon."

Flaxroot nodded. Before they went to the healers'den they turned their head to Ivykit again. "We will be talking again after this is done, okay?"

Ivykit happily agreed.

—

"Falconstrike, no-" I exclaimed. I tried to get closer to where she was standing with Dovekit and Ivykit, but when I tried she just pressed her claws deeper in Ivykit's fur. Ivykit let out a pained squeak.

"Don't. Come. Closer." Falconstrike slowly threatened. I obeyed her, but kept my eyes focussed on Ivykit and Dovekit. Dovekit was cowering from behind Falconstrike's legs and Ivykit was pinned on the ground by one of Falconstrike's paws.

"Please, Falconstrike, why are you hurting your siblings?" I asked. I hoped it at least make her reconsider, but she just spat at me.

"Those aren't my siblings, I don't have the same blood. Because of you!" She yelled. The two kits peeped in fear from Falconstrike's anger. "you broke the code and that caused us, and then you believe you can just have better kits after that? These kits don't deserve to live, just like we shouldn't have been born!" She yelled.

"Falconstrike, this isn't true. Please, don't take out your anger on these kits, they are innocent. If you need to punish someone, it's me. Hurt me if you need to, but leave the kits out of this." I bowed my head down. Please let this work, please, Falcon let the kits go. Falconstrike looked hesitantly between me and the kits. She didn't move and furrowed her brows.

Ivykit let out a small cry while she was thinking and Falconstrike broke out of her thoughs. "oh, shut it, you worthless kit!" She hit Ivykit on the face. Ivykit yelled out in pain and covered her face as well as she could with her paws. I briefly saw red, this was too much. I sprang on Falconstrike, pushing her off Ivykit. Dovekit ran to her sister and dragged her away, out of me and Falconstrike's path.

We rolled over the forest ground until I had her pinned under me. She struggled to escape, but I had more experience and kept her stuck on the ground. She eventually gave up after a long struggle.

She let herself go limp. "come on then, finish this. You brougt me here, so now finish me." She blankly said. I stared at her in pure horror. How could I ever hurt her? She's my kit and I love her.

I let her go as I said: "Falconstrike, you are my kit. I can't kill you, I love you too much for that, no matter what happened."

She stood up and glared at me. "No matter who my father is, huh? Is that why you replaced me and my siblings by these two worthless spawns?" She raised her voice again. "I- I-" her voice broke. She fought back against tears as she looked at me. I tried to comfort her, but she pulled away from me. "don't touch me!" She yelled. She took a step back and then turned around. She ran off. I watched her leave. When I knew she was gone I slowly turned around to find Dovekit and Ivykit. They need me right now. But so does Falconstrike. How could I mess this up so badly?

#i am allergic to making things short and simple it seems #warrior cats #hypokits #whitewing #hawkfrost #lionblaze #jayfeather #hollyleaf #birchfall #sorry for making the kits a po3 the three au #it just doesn't make practical sense to have TWO halfclan litters that are firekin and don't know about their parentage #so leafpool is fine in this au. sorry queen for making you a background character <3 #and honeyfern is her apprentice

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ambriel-angstwitch · 2 months

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Driver’s Seat through the lens of Jason Todd

He didn't mean to scream Then what does he mean?

Bruce is not the best at emotional regulation. So when he's scared he often lashes out and seems angry. His fear of losing his kids often pushes them away

I'm not who he thinks I am

Jason as the second robin probably often compared himself to Dick. He’s not Dick. He can’t be him. He’s afraid that when Bruce looks at him he’s looking for Dick.

Trapped in his anger, one way road Familiar blood I hold alone. I won't be who he is

The thing is that all these lines can apply to both his bio father and Bruce. Bruce has anger which Jason shares some of. But then there’s also the familiar blood that only Jason holds, his bio father was a criminal whose anger he perhaps also inherited and holds anger towards for leaving him and his mom alone. After his death Jason doesn’t wish to be either of them. He can’t be Batman, and doesn’t believe completely in the way he goes about things, and he never wanted to be Willis.

(The apple's falling from the The apple's falling from the tree)

The drift between him and Bruce grows wider

But he's in the driver's The check engine light is blinking brighter And I wasn't raised to be a fighter But it only takes a spark to blow

Jason just like anybody else wasn’t born a fighter. Though it doesn’t take much to change that. He had to become a fighter and thief in order to survive the streets of Gotham. It is interesting though because after that he is literally raised to be a fighter

(I won't be who he is) And I wasn't taught to tame the driver Just how to delay the raging fire

Jason wasn’t really taught how to stop anything. He doesn’t know how to stop Bruce from being anything. Jason is a reactor, he tries to stop the bad things (the fire) once they're already there, delay it. He doesn’t know how to stop them from coming.

That turn signal's ticking, ticking Ticking (I will be who he is), ticking 'til

Jason’s had many turning points in his life. I will be who he is contradict the previous I won’t be who he is. This could refer to Bruce once he chooses to become Robin or once he decides to start working with the Batfam again as Red Hood. Or it could refer to the fear that he’s just like his Bio dad once he becomes Red Hood

He's in the driver's seat x2

Bruce is the one in control he always has been. Jason’s life has been defined by his relationship to Batman.

I am his rage Inherit the engine and leak, no mistake

Jason inherited a lot of the worst pieces of Bruce. He inherited his rage. His fighter instinct.

I am the warning. The blaring that won't let you sleep in peace

Jason’s death affected Bruce deeply. Jason sees himself as the warning of the danger of letting Joker live. Bruce doesn’t change in the way Jason wanted.But Jason’s death still haunts his nights

I am his only The little fist bruising the wheel and switching seats

Jason sometimes worries if he’s the only mistake. If he sullied the goodness of robin. He is Bruce’s little fist, he copied his violence and took on his own mask, just like Bruce.

I'm biting my own tongue I am my father's lost son

Jason is self destructive. He hurts himself with what he does even if he intends to hurt Bruce with the words he says. He is his father’s lost son. His dad watched him die and even now that he’s back. He’s not his little boy anymore, he’s fundamentally changed and he’s not really Bruce’s anymore.

The next lyrical part is really confusing to written down but all three verses overlap eachother and it’s wonderful. It emphasizes the confusion and panic of the singer, and Jason. Jason doesn’t really hate Bruce. He hate what’s happened, that his death didn’t seem to change anything. He’s too much of Bruce and not him at all all at once

I didn't mean to scream Don't know what I mean I'm not who you think I-

Jason didn’t mean to become as violent as he is. The pit affected him and so did the Trauma. He was a child soldier who died. He can’t come away from that easily. He’s not who Bruce thinks he is and this time it doesn’t mean that he’s not Dick. It means that Bruce doesn’t really know him anymore

#Spotify #jason todd #jason robin #dc jason todd #robin dc #dc robin #Robin #robin and batman #batman and robin #batman #dc batman #batman dc #song analysis #lyric analysis #madds buckley #drivers sea

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troutberryspoon · 13 days

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Fun Facts about (pre-tadpole) Durge Villi

Name: Villiame Redvalok (his adopted surname was originally Redvale but the Bhaalists Bhaalified it). He prefers Villi, but Sceleritas has expressly forbidden anyone in the temple from using it. 'It's far too informal, Master.'

Role(s): Pureblood Bhaalspawn, Bhaal's Chosen, leader of the Balder's Gate temple, herder of cats.

Physical description: I don't really describe him physically other than the fact that he is shaped like a human male and has blue eyes that some people find quite pretty. He has lots of scars, no tattoos.

Age: He is 36-ish at the start of my pre-game fic Unhallowed Heart. Shameless link here.

Personality Type: ESFP (The Entertainer). He has to repress his true personality to meet expectations in the temple, but at his heart he loves being with others, good food and drink, music and dancing, competitive sports, fighting, anything that gets his heart pumping. He gets caught up in the moment and wants to sweep other people up too. It also means he gets bored easily and isn't great at long-term planning.

Distinctive skills and abilities: Fighter class, battlemaster subclass. Greatswords are his favourite weapons to use in battle, daggers for up close and personal encounters. Speaks fluent Ghukliak. Skilled with a scalpel, and has a surgeon's level of knowledge of anatomy.

Greatest fear: Being forsaken by his Father.

Misbelief about the world: That fear == respect. He believes that no-one would dare to make a move against him if he's the biggest bad in the room.

What happened to make them believe this lie: Sceleritas has been blowing smoke up his arse for years, and before that he spent 14 years living in a goblin tribe.

How do they respond to emotional pain: Anger and avoidance. He tends to deal with it by getting 'high', and by that I mean he seeks out Bhaal's Ecstasy of Murder blessing by committing some kind of small atrocity. I headcanon that it's akin to an opiate high, taking all your cares and worries away for a time.

What do they criticize others for: Being boring, unadventurous or unambitious.

Love language: Touch! Touch, touch, touch.

Top 3 things they value (physical or abstract):

1. Competence. He admires people who are good at what they do.

2. Obedience. He wants people to do what he says.

3. Crisp and clean bed sheets. He slept on lice-ridden straw for years. This is non-negotiable.

Is there an object they can’t bear to part with and why: He owns a steel greatsword called Endbringer, it's like an extension of his body. I'm not quite sure (yet) where the sword came from or how it came into his possession, but he loves it above all other things.

Typical outfit: He inherited a luxurious wardrobe when he arrived at the temple. There's a lot of crimson and black. He generally looks well put together, opting for style over comfort most of the time.

Method of manipulation: Intimidation.

#bg3 #bg3 durge #durge: Villi #character development #from tribe to temple

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itsclydebitches · 2 years

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I'm very curious about the conflation of anger with violence in rwby. Specifically with Yang since it is (literally, even) such a defining part of her. Her eyes turn from lilac to Raven's red ones when's angered, suggesting its her similarity to her blue-eyed father that keeps her "balanced". I guess I'm surprised her red eyes never come up? Whether it's in battle or normal conversation, they're supposed to invoke fear and that's the end of their utility.

While I get that Yang’s eyes began as just a Rule of Cool style choice to cue the audience in to when she was going Remnant Super Saiyan, I’m surprised that nothing came of the change later considering the importance of Ruby’s eyes. I mean, we literally have a MAJOR plot-reveal that boils down to “Some people possesses special powers whose existence is directly linked to their eye color” and not only did Ruby ignore that for about three Volumes (never over it), but she ignored it as a character with direct access to someone in a potentially similar situation. It’s amazing to me that there was never a conversation where Ruby went, “Wow. Uncle Qrow says I’ve got a unique ability because of my silver eyes. Yang, you (kinda?) have a unique ability when your eyes change to your mom’s color. Isn’t it wild that both of us carry this connection to our mothers? What do we think about these inherited abilities tied to eye color of all things?” Imagine if Ruby actually got to connect with Yang over this, sparking Yang's desire to seek out Raven, helping her work through her depression, and setting Ruby on a journey to discover more about SEWs out in the wilds of Remnant. Instead of, "Recovery arcs are boring and we're seeking revenge on the villain who killed our friend except oh wait, never mind, we're just hanging in a safe house now because there's cool war stuff going on. What were our motivations again?"

Not only does the show not thematically engage with what it’s put out - such as Yang’s anger and double-edged strength being directly connected back to her bandit, betraying, cowardly mother - but it doesn’t even acknowledge this stuff on the surface level either. Qrow despises his passive semblance but never talks to Ironwood about his own semblance that, apparently, causes similar, debilitating problems off screen. Ruby is traveling with another SEW and is partnered with, as far as we know, the only other fighter with a genetically inherited ability (Weiss), but she only has a single, vague conversation before “mastering” her power. Oscar’s entire arc is supposedly about holding onto his identity in the face of the merge, but he’s never allowed to ask what the merge is, or what happened to the hosts that came before him, or anything, really, right down to, “Oh wow, we have a nuke inside our cane? Cool! No reason I would have asked about our weapon in the months we've been using it.”

The characters don't talk. Not about anything important. And yeah, that includes Yang’s dropped arc regarding her anger and penchant for violence. I hate that the last season took us backwards in the most obvious way possible - Yang charges an enemy without thinking in an effort to save a loved one, just like what happened with Adam, and this time she dies, the exact thing Tai feared would happen if she didn’t take a more strategic approach and worked to keep her emotions from getting the better of her - but I’ll be shocked if the writers realize that, let alone incorporate that revelation/a response to the backslide in Volume 9.

#rwde #rwby #mymetas

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gothamghostwhispers · 2 months

Text

“You’re right… my father is watching… I know exactly what song I want present with him in mind”

Artem changes out what instrument they’re using. The salt crunching under their feet and the cage sways slightly as they move about.

“He didn't mean to scream

Then what does he mean?

I'm not who he thinks I am”

The congregation already seems restless hearing the opening but Micheal quiets them with a wave of his hand.

“Trapped in his anger, one way road

Familiar blood I hold alone

I won't be who he is

The apple's falling from the-

The apple's falling from the tree

But he's in the driver's-“

Artem changes instruments but they feel their head throb, lips in the crowd quietly muttering along as they project the complicated emotions surrounding their father. That makes sense. Everyone here probably has complicated feelings about their parents.

“The check engine light is blinking brighter

And I wasn't raised to be a fighter

But it only takes a spark to blow”

The recall the last time they saw their father as their dad. The confusion and betrayal.

“I won't be who he is

And I wasn't taught to tame the driver

Just how to delay the raging fire

That turn signal's ticking

Ticking, ticking

Ticking 'til (I will be who he is)

He's in the driver's seat

He's in the driver's seat”

Tears well up in their eyes and they’re not alone. Some of the ones not as effected, who can’t relate to the foreign feelings are starting to whisper to one another

“I am his rage

Inherit the engine and leak, no mistake

I am the warning

The blaring that won't let you sleep in peace”

Artem moves to the center of their gilded cage, pressure was building behind their eyes. Some who are mumbling along with the song are being shuffled out.

“I am his only

The little fist bruising the wheel and switching seats

I'm biting my own tongue”

As they take a deep breath for this emotional climax, the rage and disappointment and longing for connection- blood begins to trickle down their face.

“I am my father's lost son

He's in the driver's seat I won't be who he is

He's in the driver's seat I will be who he is

I'm in the driver's seat the apple's falling from the tree

I'm in the driver's seat the apple's falling from the tree”

As the song slows down, a different cocktail of emotions gets stirred. Fear and worry that they’ll fail as a parent and be like their father.

“I didn't mean to scream

Don't know what I mean

I'm not who you think I-“

Their blood drips onto their white dress and the salted floors and some of the members of the congregation seem to be excusing themselves. Ah… guess they weren’t ready to relate.

#whispers #only in gotham rp #only in gotham #dc rp #gothamite rp #gotham roleplay #tw religious themes #tw religion #tw abuse implied #powers backlash

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durtlesloveformagi · 6 months

Text

-Kousachiko

-Baldric

-Bo

-Meilin

-Koucho

The BaiMei Love Children!

This Blog contains all of Baira’s and Koumei’s children.

I am aware that Koumei is a male in Anime, but he’s Transgender man in my headcanons. Hence the seahorse daddy.

Baira and Koumei are my main oc x canon ship so I gave them children.

For those who wants to see Koumei and Baira in their 40’s in my vision. Click here - https://www.tumblr.com/durtlesloveformagi/704372143728754688/okay-i-was-just-curious-and-wanna-draw-what-baira

KOUSACHIKO AKA ARTSY CHILD

Personality: Elegant, Graceful, Calm, Empathic, and Flirty.

Likes; Plays, Arts, playing with her pet rabbit, Yue, Nature walks.

Favorite Uncle/Aunt (besides Kouen): Kougyoku and Rasika

Favorite Food: Moon cakes and Kiwi

Favorite Animal; Rabbits

Favorite Colors: Pink and Light Green

Hero/Heroine: Moon Goddess Chang'e and Wonderwoman

Hobbie: Many Traditional Arts of Dancing, Chinese Calligraphy, and Singing. Also a secret MMA Fighter trained by Baba.

Quirks/Habits: When a child, she was not afraid to sing or dance with a big smile on her face. She loves to make new games or activities for her younger siblings. Older, Sometimes Kousachiko recites quotes from stories out of the blue. She's also very scary when angered, and forgets she has amazing strength that she inherited from her father, Baira. Always humming to herself and daydreaming.

BALDRIC AKA THE SMART ONE( MOMMY'S BOY)

Personality: Serious/Stoic, Quick-Witted, Strong-Willed, Overprotective, and Loyal.

Likes; Quality times with his family, especially with his mother, tasks done on time, Henna Tattooing with Aunt Rasika, and reading books in a quiet library.

Favorite Uncle/Aunt (besides Kouen): Rasika and Hakuryuu

Favorite Food: Spicy Chicken Curry

Favorite Animal; Owls

Favorite Colors: Burgundy and Gold

Hero/Heroine: Marduk and Ironman

Hobbie: Researching on subjects, Bird watching, Playing strategy mind games/puzzles, Sketching, and Polishing his combat training in his wolf beast form.

Quirks/Habits: When a child, Baldric is glued to Koumei's leg and very shy due to his lack of confidence with his stutter. Always asked Mommei what he was reading or to read a book to him. He has a stutter, it gets worse when flustered, overexcited, or angered. Can speak normally when discussing something that he's passionate about. Older, whenever he goes on his bird watching mission, he takes advantage of his wolf beast assimilated form to move quickly and quietly like he was hunting, just to draw the birds in his study books. Will defend his family over anything, even if it was just a joke. Easily gets annoyed by Meilin's mischief, and then enjoys watching him getting punished or grounded by their parents. Petty Brother? XD

BO AKA THE SWEET SHARK BOY

Personality: Shy, Easily Fluster, Kind, Gullible, and Generous.

Likes; Ocean, Making his family happy, Kind People, and Volunteering for those in need.

Favorite Uncle/Aunt (besides Kouen): San Wenyu ( @babymagi )

Favorite Food: Sea Food

Favorite Animal: Whale Shark

Favorite Colors: Pale blue and Lavender

Hero/Heroine: Poseidon and Aquaman

Hobbie: Swimming, Crafting trinkets /jewels out of recycling like fish nets and such, and collecting Coral/Sea Shells from deep diving, and descale fish.

Quirks/Habits: When a child, Bo hates leaving the house because he was extremely self conscious. Always hides behind either Baira's or Koumei's legs. Whenever he smiles, he tries to keep his lips closed to hide his sharp teeth. Unless you are one of the lucky ones that he loves and is comfortable with. Older, Bo always constantly being the voice of reason to Meilin to keep him out of trouble. Bo wants a boyfriend/girlfriend, but is too scared to kiss anyone because of his teeth and thought he might be too "hideous." Hate to be angry because he looks too scary when snapped, but always apologize to those that he did not intend to scare them.

MEILIN THE PROBLEM CHILD(DADDY'S BOY)

Personality: Daredevil, Mischievous, Smooth, Dramatic, and Saracatic.

Likes; Giving his father a near heart attack, annoying Baldric, Singing and belly/hips dancing, Crop tops, Horror/thriller theme, and Beating bullies' ass.

Favorite Uncle/Aunt (besides Kouen): Sachan, Judar, and Kouha all equal.

Favorite Food: All Meat, but absolutely no beef due to family religion.

Favorite Animal; Snake or Horse

Favorite Colors: Green and Teal

Hero/Heroine: Loki and Loki

Hobbie: Gymnastic Athlete, Pranks, Collecting Crystals and Knives, Witchcraft/Magic, horseback riding.

Quirks/Habits: When a baby, he constantly cries unless Baira was holding him and he shrieks when someone tries to take him away. When a child, he was a menace, constantly jumping off shelves or a horse to show off tricks and Baira constantly had to use dad superpower to save him nonstop and always called for him when he couldn't sleep. Older, Meilin always cried crocodile tears to Baira for anything resulting in Koumei being the law against him. Hence Koumei and Meilin get in arguments weekly over his reckless and rebellious actions or unfair rules. Baira will step in to put his foot down to show that he and Koumei are serious. Despite all the pranks and mischief, Meilin has a very strong sense of right and wrong as he also inherited Baira's Beowulf Djinn Ancestor Power. Meilin also loves to tease his naive boyfriend, Sinna, Son of Sinbad.

KOUCHO THE BUBBLY HAPPY CHILD

Personality: Happy-go-lucky, always giggling, sweetheart, creative, and rambunctious.

Likes; Braiding hairs, following everywhere Mommei goes, horsey rides with Meilin, sneak attacking her baba with flowers in his office, basically all kinds of quality time with her family.

Favorite Uncle/Aunt (besides Kouen): Judar and Hakuei

Favorite Food: Milk Balls (Gulab Jamun)

Favorite Animal; Butterflies

Favorite Colors: Baby Blue and Pink

Hero/Heroine: Ushas, Goddess of Dawn and Starfire

Hobbie: Hair styling, collecting butterflies, scrapbooking, stargazing, and writing stories.

Quirks/Habits: When a baby, she shocked everyone by wanting Judar to hold her, it was mainly because she was fascinated with his braided hair and butterfly accessories given by Alibaba. Always makes grabby hands to anyone that comes near her to be picked up and giggling along with cute snorting. Always have her butterfly shaped binky on her. When a child, Koucho follows everyone, but mainly her Mommei and has her own blue jade beads jewels. She was always filled with questions. "Are you sure Mommei said you can go out, Meilin-Ge?" She even has enlarged canine teeth like her Baba. She cannot cook, yet she looks up to Hakuei for cooking like she's a goddess… Run… and poor Baira's heart is shattering. Have her own protect the baby squad among both Ren and Sharma families.

#magi oc #baira sharma #koumei x oc #the Ren Sharma siblings #Kousachiko #Baldric #Bo #Meilin #Koucho #Baimei’s children

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anki-of-beleriand · 2 years

Text

Moments with you

Gif is not mine, taken from @enigmaticlook

Pairing: Thorin Oakenshieldx Female!Reader

Rating: M

Warnings: some light smut, fluff, confussion

Summary: There afre some moments in life you can't forget

Notes: This is my summer gift for the amazing @middleearthpixie I really hope you like the story and that you enioy it!

This story is part of the @gatesofsummerexchange!!!

Thanks for letting me participate, guys, hope you enjoy it!

The first time you two met it was at Thranduil's presentation.

He was supposed to be at the archery tournament, his equipment all ready and neatly organised back in his room while you waited for him and Legolas to show up.

You were bored, wearing baggy pants and a tank top. Your hair was put up in a ponytail just because your mother told you to wear something girly, and you felt like obeying her request was against your basic principles.

Making her life a living hell.

Oropher didn't mind, and your stepbrothers just encouraged you so you didn't see the harm in doing what you wanted.

"Thranduil!" There came a roar, the door of the room banged against the wall and there was a young man, not older than Thranduil, standing with his mouth hanging open and a flush crossing his cheeks.

Dark hair, broad shoulders, tall with deep blue eyes, the man was certainly quite handsome and you would have the opportunity to hit Thranduil for never introducing you to him.

The young man had face contorted in a rictus of anger and disbelief, his naked chest covered by black ink. You arched a brow, looking appreciatively at the man, just before you let out a chuckle at the non-permanent tattoo on the man's chest.

I'm a loser for you was written with hearts and smiley faces all around it.

"He is not here." You broke the silence, your lips curled in an amused smile.

The young man stood there, shook his head and soon you spotted a nice, flustered expression on him.

"Right, where… and you…" Then he cleared up his voice, straightened up and try to cover his chest with his hands. "Where is he? Who are you?"

"Out. I'm Y/N." You replied leaning back on the bed, your lips curling teasingly.

He blinked a couple of times, and you could see he was having a hard time keeping his eyes on you and not the rest of your body.

"Oakenshield!! What the fuck are you doing?? Are you flashing yourself to my sister?!"

In came the voice of Thranduil, the man squealed when a Thranduil threw cold glass of water to his back.

"Sister?!"

A fight broke out afterwards, and you realized that coming to the campus to see Thranduil was not such a bad idea after all.

The image of young Oakenshield quite engraved in your memory.

The second time the both of you met you were adults.

He was the head of the Oakenshield Company, he inherited it as soon as his grandfather died and his father was incapable of taking over the empire.

You learned of the hardships life brought to him, the tragedy surrounding his growing success. The passing of his grandfather, the craziness of his father and the death of his sister and brother.

It seemed as if life was making sure Thorin Oakenshield was either a fighter or a quitter.

He ended up being a fighter.

You admired him from afar, your mind always bringing the memory of that first meeting. It always brought a smile to your face, and made you wonder…

Now, almost ten years after that first encounter you saw him coming down the stairs after a passionate speech. The crowd was standing up, clapping at the young man that many congratulated with huge smiles and promises of support to his new projects.

"They said he wants to run for office." Thranduil whispered, his eyes following Thorin then settling on you.

"Good for him, that would be a nightmare, but he could win." You said taking another sip from your champagne. "He has the money, and the influence to do so."

Thranduil nodded, cocking his head, your eyes following the young man until he was in deep conversation with a group of older men. You could tell Thranduil was dying to say something, rolling your eyes as you looked up to see him smiling.

"Are you imagining him without a shirt?" His lips curled into a mischievous grin, you laughed shaking your head.

"You're impossible." You placed a hand on his forearm shaking your head, your eyes flickered towards the man and your breath caught in your throat when you saw him looking back at you.

"He wasn't that impressive back then; I don't think much have changed right now." You were trying to sound confident, uninterested but sometimes it was impossible to fool Thranduil.

The both of you had become real siblings, and while the older man could be a pain in your ass you loved him as much as he loved you.

"Thranduil Oropherion I know if I offer Dorwinion wine you will come." His voice had not changed much, perhaps it is deeper, commanding, and entrancing.

You couldn't help yourself, your eyes flickered up finding those blue ones looking directly into you.

"Of course, I wouldn't show up to these boring reunions if there wasn't something I'm interested in." Thranduil offered a hand that Thorin shook with real happiness.

"It's good to see you again, Thranduil and in the company of such a beautiful girlfriend."

It was subtle, a casual conversation amongst friends. A chance for Thranduil to first introduce you and second establish his real relationship with you.

Your lips curled into a half smirk, you stepped forth stretching out your hand. You felt a shiver run down your back when his hand, warm and big, wrapped tenderly around yours.

"Y/N, his step-sister, Mr. Oakenshield." You replied letting go of his hand slowly, almost teasingly. "And we met before, you were using less clothes than you're doing right now."

A flash of embarrassment went through those blue eyes, but it soon was replaced by an interesting glance he sent your way.

"Of course, the beautiful sister he hid from m… his friends." Thorin said lowly, almost invitingly.

Thranduil scoffed at this, your smile only grew.

"Let me guess: a genius, billionaire, playboy and philanthropist." You straightened up, your heart almost stopping at the sight of his laughter.

"Did you really quote to me Iron Man?"

"Oh, my… you are a genius, not many get the joke." Then you made a face, a know-it-all smirk on. “Though, that’s from Avengers.”

In an instant you and him started talking, Thranduil got bored and left the two of you discussing everything and anything. He was a DC lover, you were a fan of Marvel, he loved Harry Potter and you preferred Tolkien.

It was strange, the conversation soon changed and then you were talking business. His plans for the future. Your plans for yours.

You would try to act cool, as if you didn't care he was closer and closer, his eyes on you at all times. As if it didn't matter your heart was beating fast and hard against your chest, or that your eyes would drift to his lips every once in a while.

The night advanced and, as it did, you found yourself alone with him in a private balcony, his perfume overwhelming your senses, his body warm against yours.

"May I kiss you?" He asked, always the gentleman, nothing that had led to that moment was done without your permission.

And yet, you just wished he would throw his manners out of the window and just… pinned you and kissed you until you forgot how to breathe.

He was teasing, and you knew he was doing it by the twinkling in his eyes. The insufferable smirk he wore just as his warm breath played on your skin making you shivered.

Two could play that game, though.

You smiled innocently at him, biting your lower lip, you let your hands travel down his shoulders to his arms then moving up until you were rubbing his chest coming dangerously close to his crotch. You almost let the triumph show on your face when you heard his gasp.

"Tell you what, make your people call mine and we will see next time." Your lips brushed against his before you placed a kiss on the corner of his lips. Your card in his hand.

You left, the smirk on your face and the gleaming on your eyes told everyone who wanted to know that you won this round.

Thorin stayed behind, your card in his hand. His smirk softened into a smile.

It wasn't until your sixth meeting that something changed between the both of you.

He made sure his people called yours, and an appointment was made. He brought a single flower, your favourite: azalea. And, on top of that, a business proposal.

You thanked the flower with a kiss, and the business proposal with a headstrong personality. The discussion went far beyond lunch time, and he ended up inviting himself to your lunch until the deal had been settled.

In the end you conceded. He called it a win, you called it a weakness. He was rather hot when negotiating, and he was just as passionate as you were about your legacy, your people, your future.

On that sixth encounter he invited you over to his ranch right outside the city. His nephew was to turn sixteen and he wanted you to meet him.

You panicked.

So far the both of you had played a dangerous game, whenever the both of you met it was games and teasing, whenever you spoke over the phone things heated as much as they did when you two texted one another. You weren't sure what was happening, at least for a couple of weeks this man had occupied your mind as if he had always been a part of your thoughts.

Your heart shrank with emotion whenever he was closed, or whenever you knew he was writing to you. It was more than the sexual innuendo in your conversations, it was his questions about your day. Or what you thought about a book or a song. It was his interest in what you did or what you thought.

It was the fact he made you stay up until it was dawn talking about anything and everything.

"You look thoughtful," he offered you a beer, his fingers lingering on yours for a moment. "Did you like the celebration?"

You smiled knowing he was closer than was probably necessary. You lifted your face and realized just how utterly handsome he really was. His lips curled into a relaxed smile, his short hair unkempt after the afternoon games and dancing, the casual clothing he wore making him look handsome.

"I did, you are a great man, Thorin and a great uncle."

"I try my best, my sister would have done a better job." There was sadness there, and you couldn't take it whenever he tried to downplay his love and his passion and everything he was.

"You are the best at what you do, Thorin. You are an amazing uncle, an amazing friend, an amazing man." you declared knowing your cheeks were burning at how evident you were being at the moment.

Thorin smiled dipping his head, you placed a hand on his forearm clearing your throat until his eyes were on yours.

"You really are the kind of man I considered to be by my side without a hint of hesitation." That was as far as you go with this confession.

You were nervous not knowing how he would answer.

Your voice was trembling, his hand placing on your waist. Without any warning, he leaned in brushing his lips against yours, then with a tilt of your head and your hands on his shoulders and chest he deepened the kiss.

The fireworks he had planned for the afternoon ignited the sky around you.

Without a doubt your relationship with Thorin Oakenshield changed

"You taste so delicious, love." He growled in your ear, his hands were holding you up, your dress around your hips and his pants on his thighs. You gasped, throwing your head back, whimpering as his lips travelled down the length of your neck.

He knew what he was doing, his hips grinding against yours, his length filling you in ways you never thought possible. Your hands on his shoulders, nails digging on his clothes.

You dared to look at him trapping his lips in yours, his hips thrusting making you groan into the kiss.

The tenth time you two met, was to go out on a date. Something different. A club. Dancing and some teasing made him jealous, pressing his body to yours as the both of you danced into the night until your grinding was far too much and he dragged you to a more private setting.

It had been this way for quite some time.

The teasing, the games of dominance…

Until he finally had you where he wanted you. And you were right where you wanted to be.

He was everything you didn't know you were looking for. You moan his name into the night, he sucked on your skin speeding up the movement of his hips, your inner walls clenching around him.

"Gods, Thorin I love you…" The declaration left your lips at the same time as you finally gave in and came around him.

Instead of stopping or being shocked, Thorin speed up his movements reaching his climax while grunting in your ear.

"I love you too."

Many would say it wasn’t romantic, it was the heat of the moment. As the both of you are coming down from your climax, you knew it wasn’t like that. It had been a declaration that define your relationship with Thorin. Passionate. From the heart. From the very soul.

Time passed.

You were still the head of a great company; your name was in the mouth of everyone that was a someone. It wasn’t only because you were a shark for business, or that you singlehandedly were managing the fortune of two families and doing an amazing job at it. Everyone had something to say about the woman that, in less than two years, had captured and conquered the heart of no other than Thorin Oakenshield.

It had been a rumour at first. Many had seen the both of you together, some said Y/N was the new conquest of the night. Many envious girls (and boys) dismissed her, for Y/N was known to be a cold-hearted bitch that had no man around her, not now and not ever.

You didn’t mind the rumours, really. Never bothered to hear them or to actually felt affected by them. If anything, as of late, she enjoyed them

Thorin stood close to you, his hand on your lower back. He was talking with Dwalin and Balin, you were playing with the flute of champagne while looking around the room to try and locate the idiot of a brother you had. He and Legolas promised to be there, but of course they were late.

“So, you heard the latest gossip?” Dwalin turned to you, he was smirking winking at you while you just chuckled taking a long sip from your champagne.

Thorin blinked confusedly, though he turned to you amused.

“Latest gossip?” He asked and you shrugged.

“Yes, apparently you are cheating on me with Tauriel, a jailbait girl that spends an extremely inhuman amount of time in your ranch going around in underwear.” You replied as if you were talking about the weather, Balin almost choked on his drink, and Dwalin burst out laughing when he saw the pale expression on Thorin.

“That I what?” He exclaimed and many guests turned to your group shooting curious glances your way. Thorin sputtered indignantly, he took your hand making sure to look into your eyes. “I would never do something so…who the hell is spreading such hideous rumours?”

You couldn’t help it, you laughed alongside Dwalin and Thorin had to blinked away his confusion as the both of you hold onto one another waiting for the amusement to stop.

“What’s so funny? I don’t think you should be laughing!” Thorin grumbled out crossing his arms, “This is serious, what would happen if you didn’t know me or if…”

You silenced Thorin with a deep kiss, your body pressing against his humming pleasantly when his hands placed themselves on your hips putting you closer to him.

“Oh, get a room…” Thranduil drawled with disgust, Legolas scoffed at the scene lifting his chin glaring daggers at Thorin.

“Already have one, Thrandy, just waiting to get away from here.” You winked at the blond-haired man who merely rolled his eyes.

“And you, my dear lover,” You turned to Thorin who was slightly daze after the kiss. “as I said, those are rumours, partially.”

You waited until the words registered in Thorin’s mind, he turned sharply to you with a frown.

“What do you mean?”

“She is dating Kili.” Legolas explained enjoying the sudden transformation in Thorin’s face. “And they really spend a ridiculous amount of time in your ranch, Mr. Oakenshield. Doing god knows what.”

The rest of the night went with everyone teasing Thorin, the man later on would admit to you he never noticed this unexpected development. Though, he didn’t regret it. Kili was a good lad, and Tauriel was a nice young woman.

You had laughed, enjoying how he was trying to sound like a mature adult instead of the concern father figure he was.

By the time the both of you reached the room you had booked for the night, you thought it would be a complete surprised for Thorin but the one that ended up surprised was you.

The room had been decorated with candles and azaleas.

There was wine, and a nice melody filling out the romantic atmosphere. When you turned to him, he was on one knee, a ring on his hand. You almost fainted, your breath caught in your throat.

“Y/N, I never thought I would find someone like you,” he started and you could see the sheer emotions gleaming in those eyes of his. “I thought that love was meaningless, nothing important. And then, I met you and I realized, love was everything.”

You swallowed down your emotions, tears forming at the corner of your eyes. You almost jumped out of your skin when his hand reached to yours, his features softening in a look of pure and unadulterated love.

“I can’t imagine a future without you, and my heart is completely devoted to you.” Thorin continued, he took a deep breath before continuing. “I would be honoured if you were to spend your life with me, by my side. So, Y/N, would you marry me?”

You broke down, for the very first time you broke down kneeling right in front of him and wrapping your arms around him.

“Yes, Thorin, I will marry you.”

Every day was a new day, every meeting with Thorin was just another fabulous meeting.

The day you two married had been one of the happiest days of your life, the both of you had been happy amongst friends and family. Your life as a married couple was filled with sweet moments, as much as they were filled with hardships and fights and tears and love.

Thorin never changed, not even once.

He was always a great man, sweet and attentive. He took it upon himself to work hard to keep up with you; because, even after the marriage the both of you were still business partners with separate business.

He always respected you, as a person, as a woman, as her partner.

He kept the details and the flowers, everyday he made sure to make you fall in love with him all over again.

You leaned against the threshold watching as Thorin argued with Thranduil, your face breaking into a softened expression as your hand went directly to your abdomen.

Thorin was everything you wanted and more.

You never thought you would find love. You didn’t even believe in it.

Until he was there.

Until he loved you.

Until he gave you a family.

Rubbing your abdomen lovingly, you pushed yourself from the threshold to make your way to your husband. Thorin stopped all argument, his eyes gleaming at the sight of you, his hand outstretched to take your in his putting you closer to place a soft kiss on your cheek.

“Now, my love, tell me who is right.” You chuckled knowing you were being dragged in a childish argument, loving every minute of it.

The news about the growing family could wait, right now you just want to enjoy this moment with him.

#Thorin OakenshieldxFemale!Reader #ThorinxReader #Gates of summer exchange #gos2022

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noveratus · 4 months

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Art of some of my DND characters I finally got around coloring today:

Name: Koji Askim

Class: Druid, Circle of the Sun (homebrew)

Race: Half Oni (Homebrew)

About: Essentially a fusion between Yamato from One Piece and Naruto with a God theme to him. Koji was born when his mother fell in love with an oni, which angered the gods enough for one of them to send a terrible monster after the village to punish them for hef crimes. Instead, they managed to trap the creature inside of Koji's body and sent him away in the hopes that the monster would destroy not the village, but those that were around the baby once it broke out. Koji grew up as an orphan in a big city until he witnessed a gangster murdering someone. Instead of killing the kid, the gangster decided to buy his silence by giving him a home and food. Now he works in his bar as his main chef. (Note: This is a very high level campaign so characters are meant to be stupid broken. He is a bisexual trans man)

Name: Irwin Bleu

Class: Wizard (Evocation)/Fighter

Race: Human Variant

About: This character was originally my second DnD character ever, but has been through a lot of changes since first created. He was also inspired by a competitor of a reality show that I really liked. The descendant of a family of chefs and cooks, Irwin was born with a natural talent when it came to cooking, warranting him quite the attention from a young age as he was considered a prodigy of the art, however, as he grew older, he became more and more uninterested in the subject, much for his mother's dismay who wished that the boy would become the next owner of the restaurant. Instead, he inherited his father wanderlust and desire to help as many people as possible, a desire that led to an early demise before Irwin was even old enough to remember him. Now, Irwin wishes to travel the world to try to help as many people as he can and bring them smiles, be it through magic or cooking. (Note: He is a asexual panomantic and in a very unhealthy relationship with two other men and they are everything to me ❤️. The scar on his eye was actually caused by one of his boyfriends.)

Name: Narlu Mooney

Class: Sorcerer (Dragon)/ Warlock (Marid)

Race: White Dragonborn, but flavored as a moon dragon hybrid

About: This character was created while I was in a star wars mood as I played Star Wars Fallen order. He is meant to appear similar to the inquisitors from that series and be a parody of overly edgy/arrogant characters. In an asteroid far far away Narlu was created as part of an experiment to create the perfect soldier for the astral elves through experimentations involving dragons, such as moon dragons, however, Narlu was considered a failure and was nearly discarded by his creator, until an opportunity came for the mutant to prove himself by fighting an artifact believed to be lost in the material plane abd returning home. Despite the way he acts, he is quite dumb, something that is even more accentuated by his arrogance. Like moon dragons, his scales change color depending on the moon phase. (Note: He never takes his helmet off in the presence of others. He is demisexual biromantic)

#dungeons and dragons #dnd #dragons #art #asexual #trans #biromantic #demisexual #my art #my characters

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adlbeay · 3 years

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I wanted to talk about the themes in the Walk in the Dust event. The story of Arknights has always had a high level of thematic consistency, but it’s especially prominent in this event. I feel like a lot of the discussion of the story in certain places comes down to “lore” and surface-level plot details, so I wanted to get this out there somewhere.

The two big ideas that are covered in Walk in the Dust are that of revenge and the homeland. Let's talk about revenge first. Long post and story spoilers under the cut.

In the beginning, we are introduced to Elliot, aka Passenger, who by the time we meet him, is an aimless husk of a man. He is utterly empty inside despite being the most powerful figure in the Reefsteep black market, with vast wealth and political influence under his thumb. Having completed his decades-long quest to slay everyone who was involved in betraying his teacher, he has no more goals for his life. After killing the Lord Ameer of Ibut, the last of his targets, he realizes that the revenge he had been pursuing was ultimately empty, that the weapons he built and the schemes he engineered to that end no longer moved him. Even the death of the Lord Ameer didn't matter one bit in the political landscape of Sargon.

As for the Sargon army... We live in different times now. The ruling Padishahs simply care not about what is happening here in this barren wasteland. My guess is that it matters not to them whether it's the father or the son that's in charge. Actually, to tell the truth, it hardly matters to me either.

Ultimately, no one cared if the Lord Ameer was murdered or simply died in an accident, not even Elliot himself. Sargon continues to be exploited by the Columbian military and the ruling Lords. Professor Thorne remains dead. His research, once entrusted to Elliot to prevent it from becoming a weapon of war, has nonetheless been used by Elliot himself to bring even more death. Now, 22 years later, Passenger sees finding Kal'tsit as his only path to salvation, so that she can once again give him a purpose like she did when she rescued him the first time.

Folinic's mom, Lillia, also shares the same kind of story. Her husband was killed in Chernobog when the count decided to purge the researchers working on the sarcophagus device. Among the children of the families broken up by this incident are Lyudmila (later Crownslayer), Alex and Misha (later Skullshatterer), and Luisa (later Folinic). Lillia finds Kal'tsit after months of searching, intending to take revenge on Grand Duke Vanya not just for her husband, but also for Luisa, who never got to know her father because of it. Kal'tsit tries to talk her out of it, even during the final phases of the plan, but Lillia's mind is set. She entrusts Kal'tsit with taking care of both Luisa and Lyudmila, as she knows she won't be able to come back to live a normal life after this. And... she succeeds. Although it is Kal'tsit who ultimately administered the poison, their plan works flawlessly and Duke Vanya is finally dead.

Except it still ended up being completely meaningless. The Grand Duke was in a glorified nursing home already near the end of his life, and if Kal'tsit didn't kill him then some other conspirator from the Ursus political backstage would have done it anyway. He was already crippled and blind, and as we find out during the confrontation with the Emperor's Blade, even Kal'tsit only agreed to Lillia's plan because it defused the conspiracies of other powerful figures who would have used the Duke's death to spark another rebellion. The only thing that Lillia ended up accomplishing was making sure that Louisa would grow up without both a mother and a father, and Lyudmila would never get the answers she really wanted about her family's death. And, although she ended up not doing it, she was even also planning to go back to Chernobog to kill Sergei, Alex and Misha's father, for his betrayal.

And this carries on through the future outside the event. Crownslayer ends up joining Reunion because she thinks it will give her the answers she wants and avenge her father. Folinic almost lets her anger at Atro's death get her into a confrontation with Wolumonde. In the end, Crownslayer is stopped by Kal'tsit and Folinic is calmed down by Suzuran, but we might be able to imagine what would have happened if they managed to carry out their vengeance.

The theme of homeland is one that's intrinsically tied to Kal'tsit and has at least a bit of relation to the broader story outside of the event. It's harder to talk about since it's not clearly split into individual stories like previously, but there's at least one character that exemplifies this theme the most: Old Isin.

Old Isin is appropriately to his name, old as rocks. He remembers being a servant to some lord of a long-lost city that very few even know once existed, and spends his time telling fortunes while trying to seek out people who, like him, also share that past. According to Kal'tsit, the city's people were scattered when it was destroyed, and now only Isin even remembers the origin of the name "Reefsteep". Even then, Isin only has vague memories, and believes it to be his unforgivable sin that he has forgotten so much about the city.

Old Isin originally helps Kal'tsit and Elliot because he hopes that she can help him remember about the lost city, and thus absolve his "unforgivable sin". And Kal'tsit indeed does help him. Isin begins to recall the conquests of armies a thousand years ago, something even with his age he should not have been a part of, much less remembered. Kal'tsit dispels the illusions clouding his memory, and reveals that what Isin remembers is only the stories that the padishah recounted to him, that the glory of his old city was only a memory of another memory. In truth, the city in Old Isin's memory was merely a stepping stone for the padishah's ambition to conquer the uncharted deserts, and was abandoned just as easily when that campaign failed. His homeland's glory was just an illusion created in his mind by the padishah's charisma.

Which brings us to the Emperor's Blade. Wherever he stands is the dominion of the Empire of Ursus. Whatever he does carries out the Ursus Emperor's will. Or at least, that's how the Royal Guards imagine themselves, single-handedly carrying out their homeland's legacy. Kal'tsit lays it out clearly:

Kal'tsit: Tell me, what does the current Ursus Emperor think of the Pine Valley affair? Or do you mean to tell me the seeds of that uprising, the origins of the crisis were all the will of the Emperor? Feel free to keep deceiving yourself, but the truth is the young emperor is unaware of the events that transpired there. You believe he has no need to know. You... all of you seek a bygone era. You are just caught up in the former emperor's grand vision!

As does Patriot in Chapter 8:

Patriot: I fought with your fathers. Your strength and tactical acumen are no less impressive than theirs. But you look at the Ursus of those times with rose-colored glasses. What you see is nothing more than your wild fantasies.

The Royal Guards are described in not too unclear words as soldiers who probably believed too much of their own grandiose affect. They are unparalleled fighters, to be sure, but it isn't hard to infer that those words about executing Ursus's will and each Royal Guard being his own nation are words intended to strike fear into their enemies rather than statements of any real truth. Indeed, if you know anything about the internal politics of Ursus, the idea of "Ursus's own will" can be seen as more of a nostalgia at a bygone era when Ursus was, or at least seemed, united in conquest under the previous Emperor. The perceived glory of their homeland is what motivates the Emperor's Blade, but like with Old Isin, the truth behind it is shaky at best.

We also have the contrast between the retired veteran at Pine Valley and Grand Duke Vanya. While talking to Witte, the veteran cuts off one of his own fingers, claiming that the scars he has suffered in Ursus's wars, once considered symbols of his glory and honor, were ultimately meaningless, and he wants this self-inflicted wound to be his only legacy to Ursus. At the same time, the Grand Duke is postulating about how the seeds he had sown in the winter would give birth to beautiful flowers. Even though his actions and the crimes he committed never bore fruition, he is convinced even in death that Ursus's soil will bloom.

The issue of a real or imagined homeland, and its loss, is also shared by the Sarkaz as a whole not only in this story but in the main story and many other events. It's even arguable that Rhodes Island's mission to help the Infected was originally inherited from Babel's goal of establishing a stable homeland for the Sarkaz. After all, as pointed out in many places, the Infected and Sarkaz share much of the same discrimination.

Sarkaz Mercenary: Home...? How could us devils... us Infected possibly have one... Kal'tsit: The Sarkaz have tried to rebuild 'Kazdel', their home for centuries, though they have never succeeded. Everyone has a different idea as to what the term 'homeland' means, but as it stands right now, Kazdel is perhaps as close as you can get to the term's original meaning.

And in Twilight of Wolumonde:

Armed Infected: We’re going home? To what home?

Mudrock: Kazdel. There may be no place for Sarkaz outside of Kazdel. But in Kazdel, there is a place for you. Not because of tolerance. But because there is... nothing there. Kazdel... is where the homeless go. A land of rootless people.

So what does all this have to do with Kal'tsit?

In the ending cutscene, Passenger asks Kal'tsit whether this "Rhodes Island" is yet another passing persona to be used to accomplish a goal and discarded when it's complete. Like the persona of the Trusted Advisor, or the Servant, or the Laterano Cleric, will she abandon Rhodes Island as well? Kal'tsit initially puts up a front saying he has no right to ask, then bluffs about having thousands of answers, but is pushed by Passenger saying he'll even accept a lie. In one of the only times we get to see Kal'tsit faltering, she actually has no answer to this.

Unlike the other characters we see throughout the story, Kal'tsit has no homeland. No matter how fake or illusory it is, Old Isin and the Royal Guard have something to believe about a place where they can belong. The nobles in Victoria, as incompetent as they appear from the outside, are dedicated to defending the peace of their home despite having no ruler. Even the ostracized Sarkaz can ultimately go back to Kazdel, as unpleasant as that might be. But while Kal'tsit wanders the earth to keep the homelands of others from falling into chaos, she has no homeland of her own to go back to.

In one of the trailers for Chapter 9, we hear a recording from Theresa, addressed to Kal'tsit: "I hope this Rhodes Island can be a place to call home, a place you can always return to."

#arknights #arknights spoilers #kal'tsit

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mandoalorian · 3 years

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Borrowed Time [Din Djarin x F!Reader]

ੈ♡˳‧₊*: • Chapter 1: The Plea ✩࿐ ˚.✧

Summary: You are the princess of Mandalore, held hostage on your own planet by Moff Gideon and his army of Imperial troopers. Left with no choice, you send out a distress signal; a plea for protection— and who comes? None other than Din Djarin, a foundling of The Death Watch. He, by creed, is your sworn enemy. And where you have asked for his protection, he has been told by his mentor that he must marry you and gain the ability to restore Mandalore to its former glory.

Word Count: 1800>

Warnings: canon typical violence

Series Masterlist ** reblogs appreciated!

You were just a child; small and naïve. The screams of anguish and pain that came from outside the palace walls were enough to still traumatize you all these years later. You were the heir to the Mandalorian throne; the daughter of the late Satine Kryze. Her sister, Bo-Katan, had been caring for you since your mother was killed by the treacherous Darth Maul, ally of The Death Watch. After many failed attempts of taking over Mandalore, The Death Watch became part of Maul's Shadow Collective and successfully took control of your sacred home planet. They were responsible for the destruction of your home, the killing of your people and the brutal assassination of your own mother— and you swore that if you were to ever come into contact with a Child of the Watch, they wouldn't live to see the dawn of a new day. To say you held a grudge on that specific Mandalorian tribe was an understatement. If it wasn't for them, your family would still be alive. Your planet would be under Mandalorian reign, free from Imperialism and war.

But now, almost fifteen years later, you were faced with a new problem. A new enemy.

"You have something I want." Moff Gideon snarled, his lips curling upwards into a smirk. His tongue dripped with venom as his dark eyes settled into you.

Your blood boiled as you faced off with the man; an Imperial officer who clearly had more motive than just serving the Empire. You clenched your fingers into a tight fist and took a deep breath, you had to stay calm. Acting irrationally and letting your anger consume you was not the way of Mandalore. You were not a fighter.

"I have nothing. The beskar is long gone— scattered amongst the galaxy for foundlings to utilize. You can't have it," You shot back, folding your arms over your chest. Negotiation was usually your forté but today you were having none of it. "We have nothing here. Nothing you could possibly want."

Moff Gideon chuckled, circling around you. Of course, there was one thing… but surely not. What would a simple ISB officer want with an ancient Mandalorian weapon?

"The darksaber," He affirmed, and your greatest fears had been realised. "Where is it?"

You swallowed, shaking your head profusely. "I have no idea what you're talking about." you lied. Stay calm. Stay calm.

"You are the princess of Mandalore, are you not? Your mother was Duchess Satine Kryze. You were a child born out of wedlock… never knew your own father…" he chuckled as he noticed the way fear flicked in your eyes. He may have had access to the Imperial Security Bureau but how could he possibly know so much? There was definitely more to Moff Gideon than met the eye. "Yes dear, assume that I know everything. I suppose you aren't the first controversial thing to come out of the Mandalorian culture." Moff Gideon made a sweeping gesture with his gloved hand and two of his flame troopers stormed past you, entering the secret underground lair of your palace.

The lair was where you kept everything of significance. Every memory, every piece of history. Your collection of Mandalorian armour, your mother's keepsakes from her time in power, your personal supply of beskar, and of course, the darksaber.

"You and your people have already taken everything from me," you spat, a helpless tear falling down your cheek. "What more could you want?"

Before he could reply, you heard the troopers' modulated voice through Gideon's commlink. "Sir, we've located the weapon."

Gideon grinned and pushed past you, his crimson trimmed cape brushing against your body as he entered the lair. You couldn't even formulate words. Your blood ran cold and there was nothing you could do to stop the Moff. The Imps were raiding your palace and they were taking everything from you, showing absolute no remorse. When Gideon returned, he was wielding the darksaber. He held the fizzling blade to your neck and your whole body stiffened.

"I won't kill you." He said after a few anxiety induced moments.

"Then you are not worthy." you protested. Moff Gideon cocked his head but you did not regret your words. He could strike you down in this moment and it would all be over. He had the power. "Those who wield the darksaber are the rightful rulers of Mandalore," you had no doubt he already knew this, but it didn't stop you from speaking your many thoughts out loud as you desperately tried to comprehend what was going on. If Moff Gideon wielded the darksaber it meant that you had to forgo your title of princess. "You are the Manda'lor now." you confirmed, feeling completely and utterly exasperated. The kingdom was his. You were worn out— you had cried one too many tears. There had been so much bloodshed and you couldn't help but feel responsible. This was your moment of weakness.

"I know that," he scoffed. "But nobody is to know that I took the darksaber. This remains a secret between you and me. Understood?" The Imperial Officer ignited the saber once more and impaled the two flame troopers who had helped him raid your secret lair. "Who would've thought killing could be so fun?" He chuckled as the bodies fell to the floor. The screams of your people became louder, ringing like bells in your ears as you closed your eyes. You could only hope that some managed to flee and leave the planet.

"You're a monster." you gritted out.

"Is that any way to speak to your ruler? Now, I still have things to do… people to see. From this day forward I declare Mandalore under Imperial reign, and you my dear… you are still the princess. I can't kill you because you may be the last of the Kryze bloodline— I need you, here, ruling my kingdom," Gideon turned off the saber and attached it to his belt. "Until we meet again." he smirked before spinning around on his heel and exiting the palace.

You ran to the bay window of your bedroom and pushed it open, clambering out onto the balcony. You gazed upon the horizon as his ship departed the docking bay. The cold air took your breath away and tears glazed your eyes as you watched stormtroopers raid your town, killing anybody who dared to stand in their way. Bodies were piling up. So much death and destruction. You reached up to your chest and pulled out your mythosaur pendant; the one you had inherited from your mother before she died, and let your thumb graze the details of the pure silver beskar.

You felt like a failure. You'd failed your mother, you'd failed Bo-Katan, and you'd failed the Mandalorian creed. You swore from that moment on that Moff Gideon's decision to keep you alive would be the biggest mistake of his life. You were the princess of Mandalore and you would gain control of your planet once more.

One year later, and you were still filled with deep-seated anguish. You hadn't seen Moff Gideon since that dreaded night where his troops raided and took over your home planet of Mandalore. All you could do was smile and put on a brave face— but you were walking on a fine line and every day was becoming more and more and unbearable. More death and decay. You were losing hope. You wanted to fight this yourself, just like your mother had raised you, but you knew that you were no match against an army of Imperials. So you sent out a distress call to any living Mandalorians. You lived in a vast galaxy and you knew you couldn't be alone. There had to be someone who could help you. There had to be someone out there.

The Armorer was forging a new pauldron for Din Djarin when the call reached her. Upon hearing your voice, she dropped everything, her tools and the beskar clinking as they fell to the ground. She raced to accept your plea for help, noting down every ounce of information that you provided her with.

"The princess of Mandalore lives." she gasped, turning to Din.

"The princess?" Din asked, furrowing his eyebrows together in bewilderment. Despite his face being masked by a helmet, the Armorer was Din's mentor and she had known him long enough to sense when he was confused. "I thought she died during the great purge… I thought that-"

"Mandalore was under Imperial reign?" The Armorer cut him off. "It is. But the princess somehow lives."

"As an Imperial?" Din beckoned further.

"As a hostage to the Empire." The Armorer revealed, shaking her head in disbelief as she tried to process everything you told her.

"What did she say?" Din questioned. The Armorer pondered for a second before looking up at the bounty hunter and placing her hands on either side of his broad shoulders.

"She requires help— protection, if you will. She wishes to form a rebellion against the Empire and restore Mandalore to its former glory."

"There's no way," Din huffed. "She must have a death wish."

"I know… everything about this is unusual. But the last time a Kryze sent out a distress call was after the death of Duchess Satine. It sounds serious. And she is the Manda'lor therefore we must do as she wishes." The Armorer informed Din coldly.

"And what is that?"

"As a Child of the Watch I am sending you out to Mandalore to protect the princess."

"Me?" Din gasped, his voice rising an octave as he pointed his own fingers into his chest. "No no no. I live here, on Nevarro. I'm a member of the Guild. I can't leave that all behind. What if it's a trap set up by the Imps?...And I have Grogu now."

"Sometimes there are sacrifices you must make as a Mandalorian, you know this," The Armorer said matter-of-factly. Din hated that she was right. "The Princess of Mandalore needs you. I'm afraid you don't have a choice."

"And when I get to Mandalore, what do I do?" Din sighed.

"You marry her, of course. Before Clan Kryze, we were the ones who ruled Mandalore. Our tribe are the rightful leaders of that planet and to have one of our Children of the Watch marry into the monarchy would mean you could not only restore Mandalore to the Mandalorians, but you could restore it to the old way, the right way. The way of tradition and the way it used to be. It would change the galaxy forever."

Din blinked momentarily and looked to his feet. Marriage? To a princess? There was no point in arguing with the Armorer because Din knew that deep down, she was right, and he could not deny her. The creed had brought him in and gave him everything. They provided him with a family when he'd lost his own, and if marrying a princess was what he had to do to respect his honour, then so be it.

"This is the way." The Armorer chanted, picking up her tools and walking back over to her work station.

She was right. "This is the way."

Permanent taglist: @paintballkid711 @supernaturalgirl @phoenixhalliwell @ah-callie @luvzoria @stardust-galaxies @wickedfrsgrl @goth-topic @nerdypinupcrystal @wonderfulfluffer @kiwi-the-first @pedroepascal @castiel-barnes @honeymandos @rocketqueen @ladycumberbatchofcamelot @dybalalover10 @girl-obsessed-with-things @elena-myth @moth-guillotine @pedro-pascal-love @hayley-the-comet @pinkninja190 @maxiarapamaya @autumnleaves1991-blog @artsymaddie @harrys-stan @kennedywxlsh @cripplingmoon @cheekygeek05 @mrschiltoncat

Borrowed Time taglist: @rye-flower @technicallykawaiisoul

Let me know if you wish to be added to my permanent taglist or my Borrowed Time taglist.

#pedro pascal #pedro pascal x reader #din djarin x reader #din djarin #the Mandalorian #the mandalorian x reader #jose pedro balmaceda pascal #grogu #baby yoda #moff gideon #giancarlo esposito #mando #mandalorian

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aspoonofsugar · 3 years

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Jaune: Zero to Hero

Pyrrha: It's not about why; it's about knowing. Understanding dark and light helps us manifest our Aura. Everyone has some of both.

Knowledge, Creation and Destruction all lead up to Aura. This is just another way to say that they lead up to individuality, which is something Grimms lack:

Pyrrha: They are creatures of Grimm, the manifestation of anonymity.

Individuality is conveyed through Choice. This is why Choice is the most important and final gift. It is symbolic of self-actualization, which is what our characters are pursuing in their coming of age story.

Jaune’s personal arc comments the group’s collective journey and marks each stage very clearly.

In which way does it happen? And what do these stages mean for Jaune’s growth as an individual?

THE IGNORANT WARRIOR

Pyrrha: Jaune, do you... know what Aura is?

Jaune: Psch! Of course I do! Do you know what Aura is?

Jaune is introduced as inexperienced and ignorant. He lacks combat experience and knows nothing about key concepts like Aura, Landing Strategy or Semblances.

His journey starts because Pyrrha shares her knowledge with him:

She awakens his aura, his very soul and later on trains him, so she helps his body get stronger:

In other words, Pyrrha is the one who puts Jaune on the right path to become a true “hero” and a “warrior”.

This is Jaune’s objective since the beginning, but he initially pursues it in the wrong way:

Jaune: I don't want help! I don't want to be the damsel in distress! I want to be the hero!

He is fixated on an idea of hero which is outdated and has its root in toxic masculinity:

Jaune: Cause this is always what I've wanted to be! My father, my grandfather, and his father before him were all warriors! They were all heroes! I wanted to be one, too. I was just never good enough.

This is why symbolically Jaune wants to be like his male ancestors. He wants to grow into “a real man”:

Cardin: Let's see how much of a man you really are...

And this is conveyed also through his Weapon:

Jaune: It's a hand-me-down. My great-great-grandfather used it to fight in the war.

Jaune did not forge his own Weapon, but he inherited it. Crocea Mors initially represents the legacy he wants to live up to. However, this legacy, instead of driving him, slows him down because he can’t grow until he remains in his ancestors’ shadow. Jaune needs to develop his own individuality instead.

In order to do so, he needs to grow not only as a figther, but as a person too.

As a matter of fact, Jaune’s ignorance is not only limited to the world he has stepped into, but also to the people around him:

Jaune: That's easy for you to say. You've probably got guys clamoring over each other just to ask you out.

Pyrrha: You'd be surprised.

He is so self-focused that he does not notice others’ feelings and hurts them unintentionally.

However, Pyrrha teaches him once again:

Pyrrha:Tell her exactly what you said. No ridiculous schemes, no pick-up lines. Just... be honest.

It is thanks to her that Jaune manages to become a better man:

He is even able to call Neptune out the way Pyrrha did with him:

Jaune: Then just go talk to her. No pickup lines, no suave moves, just be yourself. I've heard that's the way to go.

And as a result, even Jaune’s relationship with Weiss gets better:

Weiss: You said you were embarrassed at first. What made you come talk to me?

Neptune: You're looking at him. You got some good friends looking out for ya.

Because the girl realizes Jaune is not only after her money or her romantic attention:

Weiss: All my life, boys have only cared about the perks of my last name.

But wants to genuinely be a good friend to her.

In short, Jaune starts the story as immature both as a fighter and as a person to the point that he is considered unfit and annoying by other characters:

Glynda: I don't care what his transcripts say. That Jaune fellow is not ready for this level of combat.

However, thanks to Pyrrha, he is given the chance to mature.

Not only that, but while other characters see a weakness and a nuisance in Jaune’s ignorance and inexperience, Pyrrha sees it as a possibility:

Weiss: Jaune, is it? Do you have any idea who you're talking to?

Jaune: Not in the slightest, snow angel.

Weiss: This is Pyrrha.

It is specifically because Jaune is new to Pyrrha’s world that he is free from bias:

Pyrrha: That's what I like about you. When we met, you didn't even know my name. You treated me just like anyone else. And thanks to you, I've made friendships that will last a lifetime. I guess, you're the kind of guy I wish I was here with. Someone who just saw me for me.

This is why Pyrrha feels she can forge a genuine bond with Jaune. What is more, the girl has faith in his potential:

Pyrrha: It's all right. I used my Aura to unlock yours, but the energy that protects you now is your own. You have a lot of it.

She sees in him what others do not and helps him develop both as a man and as a warrior.

This is well highlighted by the metal motif the two characters share.

As @hamliet explains here Rwby has several characters linked to the seven metals of alchemy.

The goal of alchemy is to create gold thanks to a process of refiniment that purifies the metal and has it go through several transformations.

The seven metals are nothing, but a scale that goes from the heaviest and most raw metal (lead) to the most purified (gold) passing through the others (tin, iron, copper, mercury, silver).

For a story, it simply means that a character goes through a process of change that leads to self-actualization.

In Rwby this idea is conveyed through specific characters embodying a metal (Ironwood, Penny, Mercury) or even thanks to metal motifs commenting a specific part of a character arc.

For example, Yang is associated with gold:

I am the golden one Who burns just like the sun

But Adam takes her arm away and has her regress in the scale of metals to iron. This regression is not simply physical, but psychological as well:

However, Yang re-affirms herself and moves forward. The first step of this process is to symbolically make her new arm “gold” again:

When it comes to Jaune, I think that he may be the character associated with lead aka the “prima materia” that needs to be molded into gold. Even if this is not true, metal is at least definately still a motif in his arc, as it is in Pyrrha’s. This is why both characters wear metal armors, differently from others.

Pyrrha is already close to her self-actualization and she reaches it in the climax of the Vale arc, where she completes her (tragic) arc and dies a Maiden.

This is why her armor is gold, while Jaune’s is white and gray. Pyrrha is at the top of the metal scale and close to the end of her journey, while Jaune is respectively at the very bottom and at the very beginning.

He is the embodyment of the prima materia that has potential for greatness, but only if he is rightly guided and if he himself works hard.

Pyrrha takes over herself the duty to help Jaune mold himself.

This is underlined also by Pyrrha’s semblance:

Pyrrha: Well, Ruby has her speed, you have your glyphs. My Semblance is polarity.

Pyrrha can control and bend metals and she shows her power for the first time when she helps Jaune against the Ursa, so that he can overcome his self-issues.

So, Jaune starts the story as the lead and is going through a path of self-refinement which will lead him to become gold, so more similar to Pyrrha herself.

Pyrrha offers him the basic knowledge to start this journey, but unluckily leaves him too soon and now Jaune has to move forward on his own.

THE CREATIVE AVENGER

Pyrrha: I want you to know that I'm just happy to be a part of your life. I'll always be here for you, Jaune.

Even after Pyrrha’s death, this stays true:

Blacksmith: That was some fine metal you brought me. Accents the white nicely. Where'd you get it from?

Pyrrha has become a part of Jaune.

This is a recurring motif in Rwby:

Penny: I won’t be gone, I’ll be part of you.

It is the idea that grieving is a process that leads to acceptance, but also to integration with a lost one. It is a way to have the deceased keep on living through the survivors.

In Jaune and Pyrrha’s case, this is conveyed through Pyrrha’s metal being used to enrich Jaune’s Weapon.

As stated by Ruby:

Ruby: Just weapons? They're an extension of ourselves! They're a part of us! Oh, they're so cool.

Weapons are symbolic of the self, just like Semblances.

What is more, Weapons and Semblances are also a declination of the dychotomy of body and soul, presented by the series.

Weapons are wielded by bodies, while Semblances are a materialization of the soul.

In other words, Pyrrha’s gold becoming a part of Jaune’s Weapon is symbolic of Jaune’s first step in a painful process that will lead him to overcome his partner’s death and to inherit Pyrrha’s legacy.

Jaune must keep on learning from Pyrrha and become more like her. As noted by @hamliet, this is symbolized also by Jaune’s design aquiring more golden details as he goes on in his journey:

Jaune: Guess I was going to grow out of it eventually.

Ren: A sign of progress.

Jaune: Progress.

That said, grieving is not easy and Jaune must struggle with much pain and negative feelings.

This is why the changes he makes to Crocea Mors are finalized to increase its attack power:

It is because Jaune feels anger over Pyrrha’s death and wants revenge.

In the Battle of Haven he gives in to his fury and tries to kill Cinder. He is trying to superficially imitate Pyrrha’s sacrifice:

Jaune: If I die buying them time, then it's worth it. They're the ones that matter.

However, he is not doing it out of bravery or necessity, but out of recklessness and self-hate. This is why his actions lead to this:

Once again, Jaune risks to lose another loved one:

Jaune: No, no, no, no, not again! Weiss, c'mon, please!!

However, this time he is able to save Weiss thanks to his Semblance:

Jaune: My Semblance?

Nora: How else do you think you're healing her, dummy?

Jaune gives up on using his Weapon to fight and chooses to use his Semblance to cure. He chooses soul over body and Creation over Destruction.

At the same time, Jaune’s activation of his Semblance is meaningful on two levels:

Jaune: No. I don't think I'm healing her. Our Aura heals our bodies. It feels... it feels more like I'm using my Aura to amplify hers!

Nora: Wait, aren't you worried about running out?

Jaune: Pyrrha once told me I've got a lot of it. I still believe her.

First of all, Jaune’s Semblance is rooted in the idea that people heal themselves. His power is not to cure others, but to amplify others’ auras, so that they can become stronger and can heal. It is about bringing out the best in others. It is a power fit for a leader, but also an ability symbolic of Jaune’s own process of healing. He can heal himself through helping others to heal.

Secondly, Jaune’s Semblance is in itself a nod to Pyrrha. Pyrrha used her own aura to awake his and Aura Amp is simply an evolution of this idea. It is not about activating others’ auras, but it is a power that lets Jaune share his. It also makes good use of something Pyrrha noticed immediately aka Jaune’s huge quantity of aura.

In other words, Jaune ends up acting like Pyrrha in the Battle of Haven, but not because he fights Cinder, but because he shares his gift with others, just like Pyrrha did with hers.

Pyrrha is a part of Jaune both in body (Crocea Mors) and soul (Aura Amp), but Jaune must still truly understand what this means.

He makes progress in Lost:

Red-Haired Woman: She understood that she had a responsibility... to try. I don't think she would regret her choice, because a Huntress would understand that there really wasn't a choice to make. And a Huntress is what she always wanted to be.

This is the essence of Pyrrha’s sacrifice. Jaune comes to understand it and chooses to make a similar choice together with his team:

Jaune: I think... I think she knew she wasn't going to win. That she might not come out alive. But... she also knew she was the only one that could try.

Ren: So she did.

Nora: Maybe we should too.

Jaune: Yeah, we should.

In this way, it will be as if Pyrrha were fighting together with them:

Nora: Pyrrha may not be by our side anymore, but we can fight like she is.

Jaune: And in a way... she will be.

Jaune tries to overcome his anger and his sadness for Pyrrha’s death in order to keep fighting like she did.

So, once again he chooses this:

Ruby: I wanted to protect my friends.

Maria: Precisely! It is the desire to preserve life which fuels the light inside you. And to make no mistake, it is light. Preservation is an extension of creation, or, at the very least, an enemy of destruction. The Creatures of Grimm were made by the God of Darkness, but your light comes from his brother.

He chooses to protect life and this is the essence of Creation.

Once he confirms this choice, he is free to explore Creation’s potential and he does so in the land of Creation itself, Atlas.

He strengthens his shield instead of his sword:

And he trains his Semblance:

Oscar: Nice, your recovery is getting faster.

This all leads him to become stronger psychologically:

Ren: Him on the other hand... There's no fear at all. I can see it, he believes we're going to get this done.

That said, Jaune starts meeting limits to his new found strength rooted in Creation:

Jaune: Ah, sorry. No matter how much I boost you, they won’t go away.

Jaune: Did... I stop the virus?

Penny: No. It’s still there.

Jaune’s way to move forward is to heal himself through healing others. Still, what to do when this is not possible?

THE DESTRUCTIVE HEALER

Penny: No… there’s not enough time to heal me…

Penny: But there is something you can do…

What happens in Atlas is an inversion of Haven.

Penny pushes Jaune’s Semblance away and touches Crocea Mors.

Jaune is asked to give up on healing her and to speed up her death instead. He is asked to choose his Weapon (body) over his Semblance (soul) and Destruction over Creation.

This marks the characters entering the Destruction phase:

Leaving Creation (Penny) behind.

For Jaune, this means that his own self image that he has worked so much to build and to make his own:

And that has been enriched in Anima thanks to Pyrrha...is shattered:

At the same time, he is once again put in a similar spot as Pyrrha:

They both become unwilling agents of Penny’s death because of Cinder (and Emerald and Mercury in the first case):

Pyrrha: Ruby, I... I'm so sorry.

Ruby: Me too. But it wasn't your fault.

Jaune: She's right. Whoever was on that microphone... they're the ones that did this. And we have to make sure they don't take anyone else.

So Jaune’s journey to integrate with Pyrrha, to understand her and her struggle continues.

What now?

It is too soon to say because we have yet to properly start our journey through Destruction and what it is about.

That said, there are two things that are worth highlighting. The first is a motif Rwby is following, while the second is a general theme found in many stories.

1) As @hamliet has stated in many metas and as I have written here, Rwby is an alchemical story. Alchemical stories are usually marked by three important deaths. Each death is symbolically linked to a color. They are usually black, white and red. However, sometimes there can be yellow instead of the white or the red. This is the case here, where a resonant death is the yellow death aka Penny’s.

It is a death that happens while the characters are surrounded by yellow:

And it happens through a weapon called “Yellow Death” (Crocea Mors’s meaning). So, it is really not subtle. Penny’s death is meant to mark an important passage for our protagonists, just like Pyrrha’s one (the black death).

2) It is common in stories that deal with healers to explore the concept of death as well.

The basic idea is that a healer is a person meant to cure. That said, they will meet people impossible to cure and that will die on their watch. This is an unescapable truth a true healer must live with.

Let’s highlight this theme is found in works very different for genre and culture.

Let’s have two examples.

Scrubs aka an American comedy about doctors deals with this theme multiple times. In many episodes the characters must simply accept they can’t save a life, but must still not lose hope and keep on living themselves.

Yosano from the manga BSD says so:

Her backstory explores the link bewteen life and death further since it is shown that a power that cures fatal wounds can be used to cheapen life itself:

It is too soon to say if Rwby will explore a similar theme, but the fact that Jaune, (the healer) is the one that has to speed up Penny’s death might be a very powerful and poignant choice. This is true especially because Rwby does not refuse Destruction (and so does not refuse death), but presents it as a principle equal to Creation (so as a part of life).

THE CHOOSING HERO

Jaune’s arc is about living Pyrrha’s death over and over again with different scenarios and outcomes. This happens so that in the end he can finally overcome it.

So far, it has happened three times and each time has been in the climax of an important battle.

The Battle of Beacon has him witness powerlessly to Pyrrha’s death (lack of knowledge and passivity).

The Battle of Haven has him saving Weiss (creation).

The Battle of Atlas has him killing Penny (destruction).

What is more, every time Jaune becomes more proactive and conscious of what he is doing.

In Beacon he has no idea of what is happening. He works with little information and things happen to him without him being able to do anything.

In Haven his actions lead to Weiss being in danger, but he manages to save her. That said, he does not do it consciously. He unlocks his Semblance because of emotional stress. It is an unconscious choice and not a conscious one.

In Atlas he makes a specific conscious choice, but it is a choice that is forced on him because of external circumstances. It is also a choice that is meant to challenge and temporally break him.

In other words, he is slowly and painfully approaching Choice aka self-actualization. Right now, he has to face the consequences of Penny’s death, but this will probably lead him to finally enter the Choice stage and to complete his arc by becoming a “hero” aka gold (probably).

At the same time, this final choice will also be about healing and overcoming grief. It will be the final integration with Pyrrha and him being able to honor her legacy.

After all, we have been told from the beginning what Pyrrha’s fate would have been. We’ve just failed to notice:

Pyrrha: For it is in passing that we achieve immortality. Through this, we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all, infinite in distance and unbound by death. I release your soul, and by my shoulder protect thee.

June and Pyrrha’s bond is eternal and she is meant to be the key character in Jaune’s arc. It is only through confronting and finally overcoming her loss that Jaune can finally self actualize and become the person Pyrrha has always known he could be. Pyrrha will symbolically be with him in this struggle. Her memory will protect and inspire him.

#rwby #rwby meta #jaune arc #arkos #rwby arkos #pyrrha nikos #tw: penny's death #jaune x pyrrha #my meta

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earthlyyan · 3 years

Text

Little Trainee (Platonic(?)Yan! Childe x Reader)

For @bye-bye-sunbird (thanks again for your help) Warnings: Abuse, Graphic descriptions of violence, Implied Torture, Eye Trauma, Unhealthy Sibling relationships, Childe being a sadist, Kidnapping? If you squint? Imprisonment? Betrayal

Word Count: 3084

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He was gone.

Tartaglia held his younger brother’s fur-lined cap in his calloused hands, bringing it close to his chest. He’d taken off without it, wanting to be as far away from the killer that was his big brother so badly, he’d neglected to dress for the cold.

Despite his best efforts, Tartaglia had been unable to find him, and though tempted, he had refused to get the Fatui involved. It would further remind Teucer that his brother’s job was a terrifying one, too dark for the mind of a child to fully grasp. A child’s mind would never truly grasp why he had to kill, only that he had taken the life of another. And how that was an unforgivable sin.

He’d requested a day off work to prevent him from making any rash decisions on duty. He’d spent the day wandering aimlessly, desperately trying to gather his thoughts. He’d found himself in the familiar shambles of Dunyu Ruins. Perhaps he’d take out his frustrations on some ruin guards, or at least he’d considered it, until he saw you.

In and out and in and out.

Your sword found its way into the ruin guards eye again and again. It had been dead after the first thirteen stabs, but you didn’t care.

Your thrusts were becoming harder to maintain, your shallow breaths and sore arms halting your rage filled pursuit. Your legs straddled its large, heavy body, thick vines restrained its arms and legs.

It killed him. It killed your brother. The laser sliced his body while simultaneously cauterizing the wound, leaving him in two, unable to bleed. His face still frozen in that of agonizing pain.

It was going to kill you as well until a blinding green light appeared before you; a dendro vision.

You didn’t know how you did it, but now it was dead, and the gift of the archons laid on the ground before you. You hated it.

A gift of the gods, what a fucking joke.

You choked back the urge to vomit at the rancid scent before removing your sword from the gaping glass wound.

You kicked the hunk of metal as hard as you could before losing your balance and falling back onto the ground.

A man stood there; a couple years older than you. You’d fallen right at his feet.

He wordlessly helped you up off the ground before clearing his throat, as if to clear the air with it.

“You know, I’ve never seen someone receive a vision before.” His voice was light and airy. “I had been walking when it’s light blinded me. I regret not showing up sooner.”

You refused to look at the strange man, his words not registering. Your mind was too busy trying to process what had just happened.

“Hey,” His voice was louder, shaking you from your stunned stupor. He held out a handkerchief from his pocket. “You should probably get out of—”

“He’s dead.”

The man’s brow furrowed. “I’m sorry?”

“That thing killed him. He’s dead.” Your words were empty. You contemplated if you should be feeling anything else other than thinly veiled anger and disgust. You should’ve been sadder. The only thing you had felt at the time of you mindlessly stabbing the guard was desperation for your own survival, and fear that it would get up again. You were revolted at the sight of the corpse before you, but you weren’t terribly torn up about the death in itself. And that disgusted you.

Anyone else would’ve been. Anyone would’ve been devastated if they had watched their own kin get cut in two. But no, you were more worried about what you’d tell your mother.

You walked over to the remains of your brother and poked it with your foot, your blatant disrespect for the dead caught the man off guard. Your gut did flips in your stomach at the gruesome sight.

“You don’t seem too upset about it.” He seemed to lack the same feeling of fear at the sight of a corpse. You didn’t quite know how to feel about that. “Though, you don’t seem like you’ve got the guts to orchestrate it.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

He laughed. “The way you kept stabbing the poor ruin guard made me think it was self-defense, and that the death was an accident. But the fact that you’re not devastated at his death made me wonder that you did it intentionally.”

“And if it was?” “Then I think I’d applaud your ambition.”

The man introduced himself as Childe, a member of the Snezhnayan organization called the Fatui. He claimed to be a warrior of sorts, and that he had gone to Dunyu Ruins to take out some frustrations he had one some ruin guards. He then had stumbled across you stabbing a lifeless robot corpse.

He had treated you to lunch in Liyue, saying that leaving you to stew in your thoughts after witnessing something of that caliber was ill-advised.

“What were you doing in Dunyu Ruins?”

“My brother wanted to do something there. He wouldn’t tell me what it was.” You mumbled.

“And the sword?”

“The sword I have with me was the one he was carrying, but when his torso disconnected from his legs, his scabbard landed close to me. So I thought I might as well use it.” You stirred your soup with your spoon, not having much of an appetite.

“So why did he have the sword?”

“Archons know.” You sighed. “If I’m being frank, I think he was going to kill me.”

Childe lowered his tigerfish from his mouth. A light laugh left his lips, startling you. “What makes you think that?”

“I was father’s favorite, though I am the younger of the two of us. So when he found out he had left the inheritance to me instead of his eldest son, he thought it unfair.” You reluctantly brought the spoon to your lips and swallowed. “We had never gotten along; I was like a punching bag than his younger sibling.”

“And I suppose that’s why you’re not crying and mourning the loss?” His voice was mocking.

“Well, would you?”

Childe hummed. “I’m not sure, family is family, but…” his voice lowered into an inaudible mumble, pondering.

He was silent for a moment. He took a few bites of his grilled tigerfish. His eyes wandered to the scabbard at your hip. “You don’t know how to fight.”

“What? Where did this come from?” He hadn’t even finished his thought from before.

“The way you were holding the sword as you used it to kill the ruin guard was way off. Had you kept going, you could’ve gotten hurt. If you had held it properly you could still be stabbing it now. If you didn’t get that vision when you did, it could’ve killed you with how poorly you were handling yourself.”

“That’s the whole point of getting bestowed a vision. Saving you when you’re on the brink of death or something like that.” You shoved your spoon in your mouth again.

“Yes, true.” He sighed and set down the now empty skewer. “But if you hadn’t gotten it you would’ve ended up like—” “Okay jeez I get it!” You grumbled around the metal in your mouth. “What are you getting at?”

“Luckily for you, I’m quite skilled at the sword.” His chest puffed in pride. “And it’s not like you’re going to go home with half a brother in tow, yes?”

“So you want to train me? What good does that do you?” “I’ve always wanted to train someone in a weapon.” He smiled, though there was a tinge of sadness in his voice. Like he was looking forward to it before the invitation presented itself. “And now, I can.”

You were on the ground again, some shallow, superficial cuts littered your body, Childe’s blade inches from your throat.

“You left yourself open again. I told you this weeks ago and yet you can’t get it.” A disappointed sigh escaped his lips as he pinged the bridge of his nose. “Hunch, keep your legs apart, again.”

Some part of you wondered if Childe got off on hearing your groans and hisses when he slashed you. Something about the way he bounced on his legs and the way his grin seemed more genuine had you worried.

You slowly got yourself off the ground, your bones and muscles creaking in protest as you readied your brother’s blade again.

“If you’re sore it means its working.” His laugh echoed as he lunged himself at you again, leaving you a moment notice to swerve out of the way. “If you weren’t sore before it means you were doing it wrong.” He dodged an oncoming attack from your sword and swept your legs, leaving you on the floor again. Yup, he was definitely getting off on this.

Three months under Childe’s tutelage toned your body significantly. He seemed to be more eager to fight you these days. Saying that you were finally getting fun to fight or something like that.

“Despite your form issues in the beginning, you’re practically a natural.” He beamed as he extended a hand to you. “Fighting you is actually fun these days, and less boring.”

“It was boring before?” You were borderline insulted.

“Fighting against you was boring. Seeing you grow and mature as a fighter was interesting.”

“Uh huh.” You wiped the sweat from your brow. “Sure.”

He’d been gracious enough to let you room at his house. And for someone of his age, it was quite impressive for him to have one of this stature. You had your own room across the hall from his. He only had two rules when staying with him.

One: The lower levels were off limits. No matter what. He said that it had to do with his work, and that it would be unprofessional of him to allow someone to interfere.

Two: Don’t ask about his work.

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t curious about it. Sometimes he’d leave for days on end and come back beat up, other times you’d hear noises from the lower levels.

They sounded like screams.

You wondered what he’d have to do for a living to hear such noises from below. Sometimes he’d go down for hours and come up itching for a fight with you, other times he’d leave satisfied and covered in blood. You’d wondered if it was his own.

Something about it didn’t sit right with you, but a fight with Childe was not one you wanted to engage in. He’d know all your moves, considering he’d been the one to teach them to you. Whenever you’d try to bring it up, you’d be shut down with an uncharacteristic coldness from him. One that barely used, only when he was talking about his work, that is.

But tonight the screams were louder. They reached your room in the depths of the night, even with the door closed and pillows blocking your ears. You had to know.

You were sick of being left in the dark here, you were sick of hearing those screams from downstairs. You had to know.

Were you training under a serial killer? Childe didn’t seem like the type, or was he?

The strange amount of pleasure he’d get when watching you get hurt by his hand. The ruthless way he’d slaughter hillichurls and treasure hoarders alike. No matter who or what it was, its death was no different to Childe. It seemed to light him ablaze, having him itching for a fight with anything that moved, and when it stopped moving, he’d be disappointed.

The screams had died down after a few hours. You had to wait until you heard his boots go back upstairs and into the room across the hall.

You had to be more quiet if you were going to get in and out of there before he noticed you.

After these escapades he would take a shower, the running water would be enough to cover your footsteps going down the hall, truly.

A minute after the shower started running you made your move. It was easy to pick out what door led to the basement, due to the sheer amount of deadbolts and locks keeping it closed. He’d left the key in the door, probably to stop whoever was in the basement from looking through the keyhole. Smart move for him when it came to living alone, but with company, it was practically begging to be used.

And use it you did. Deadbolt after deadbolt, you finally turned the key.

The basement was warm and sweet smelling. But not in the pleasant way sweets were supposed to smell.

It made your stomach ache and twist as you descended the staircase, closing the door behind you.

The clinking of chains got your attention before the sight of blood had. The lights had flickered on, illuminating the sight before you. You couldn’t hold back your vomit anymore.

Your suspicions were right, or so it seemed, with the sheer amount of bodies below. One was still living, trembling, and hunching away from you. “Did Childe do this?” You knew the answer but had to be sure. Perhaps it was an associate he worked with, or some weird fetish.

The man nodded, “I didn’t have enough money.”

“What?”

“To pay back the Northland Bank.” He stammered. “I couldn’t pay them back, so they sent him.”

“He’s a debt collector?”

The man shook his head. “No. He doesn’t care about collecting the debt, not like the others.”

There were others?

“He gets sent in after the warning deadlines are up. You pay with your—”

The man abruptly stopped, looking past you and onto the stairwell. Then he couldn’t see at all.

An arrow flew past you, barely grazing your ear before finding itself in the mans eye socket. He slumped to the ground, lifeless. You whizzed around to meet the source, only to find Childe, an arrow drawn taught in the bow you’d barely see leave his side.

“Well that’s disappointing.” He sighed. “I was hoping to make him last another day.” He grimaced. “That was a warning shot, by the way.” He walked down the stairs slowly, still aiming at you. “Put your back to the wall.”

He almost sounded sad. You were too shocked to move.

An arrow landed at your feet, standing straight up against the ground. “I said put your back to the wall. That wasn’t a suggestion.”

You tripped over the man’s corpse while making it to the wall. “Childe I—” “Nope, too late for that. Hands up.” He slowly lowered his weapon and made a show of putting it away. He wanted you to know he still had it. He leaned in close to your face. “Now that’s a look I haven’t seen in quite some time.” His voice was low, husky. “Betrayal looks so good on you.”

You could feel his hot breath on your neck. You growled and threw your head forward, colliding with his. He took a step back.

Blood ran down from his forehead, his eyes practically glowing with excitement. “Oh hoh~ Now that’s what I’m talking about. A real fight from you.” He drew hydro blades from his sides and threw one at you. “I’m expecting improvement from you, my little trainee.”

You picked up the cool blade from your feet, never breaking eye-contact with him. “I’ll kill you.”

“You better hope you do. For your sake, at least.” You lunged at him, swiftly finding your way behind him, ready to strike.

“Your stance has gotten better.” He smiled. “But I’m afraid it still leaves you open” He kicked off from the ground and into the air, his foot collided with your chin sending you reeling.

“You bastard.” You hissed, picking yourself off from the ground with the steadiness of a newborn deer. “Why not be more quiet about your escapades down here? If you’d had your victims quiet down, I would’ve never found about what you were doing.”

“I never said I never wanted you to find out what I was doing.” He ran at you again, slicing your shirt and your left shoulder along with it. “I was hoping you’d have enough faith in your teacher to follow my rules.” He sighed. “I didn’t take you for the curious type.”

“I’m not.” You said, you swept at his leg, but he narrowly escaped, jumping just high enough to miss it. “But I enjoy liking to sleep in peace knowing my upperclassmen isn’t a serial killer.”

“I’m no serial killer!” He laughed, landing a cut to your lower back, then stepping hard on it. You fell to the ground trapped under his heel. “I’m simply following orders. I have nothing against these people.” He pressed harder.

You suppressed a scream.

“I do have a problem with those who interfere. You were going to help him, weren’t you?”

You’d be lying if you said you were going to leave him to die.

“Weren’t you?” His voice was closer to your ear this go round.

“Yes! Yes, I was!” You sobbed. “I just wanted to—”

“I’ve heard this before. Suddenly you have the moral upright to save a dying stranger? But you sat back and kicked your brother’s corpse?”

“That was different!” “Sure it was. A man is a man is a man, yeah?” His foot lifted from your back and turned you onto your stomach. “See the difference between me and a serial killer, is that if I was a serial killer, I probably would kill you right now.” He sighed. “But see, I like you. So I think I’ll let you live. Though don’t expect things to go back to normal. I can’t expect you to stay quiet and continue your training in the open alongside me.” He leaned you up against the wall, easily fighting against your protests. He took your wrists and cuffed them to the wall.

The restraints were still warm.

You shuddered.

“See, here’s the thing.” He said. He cupped your cheek with his spare hand. “I don’t want to leave you the way you are, half trained. I do enjoy fighting you.” He finished tying you upright and smiled, admiring his handiwork. “I’ll let you go under one condition.”

For the first time since you’d met him, his smile finally reached his eyes.

“You’re free if you can kill me.”

#yandere writing #genshin #yandere genshin impact #yandere childe #yandere genshin x reader #reader insert #childe x reader #genshin tartagalia #tw: violence #tw: injury #tw: graphic depictions of violence

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palbabor-writes · 3 years

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i've said it before and i'll say it again lmao, the differences between anime dabi and manga dabi are so wild. anime dabi for some reason got broader shoulders and a wide chin that probably tries to emulate his dad, and makes him bigger than he actually is. Bones clearly doesn't love him because they also gave anime dabi those stoned ass eyes that make him look like he's been tripping balls for days and a tiny head stuck between those wide shoulders. so you get a man that looks like

i mean i suppose if there's one thing that i can appreciate, it's his tits. but i honestly do prefer manga dabi, who has the delicate, rounded face he inherited from mama Rei lmao

1000% agree. and you are so right to say it my friend!

plus, lovely anime tits aside, dabi just isn’t a bulky guy. nothing in his appearance & clothing choices suggests that either.

he’s a limited, short burst fighter who prefers sneak attacks to drawn out battles - his bodily incompatibility with his quirk also makes a long fight fairly impossible - so he’s not going to be brawny. he’s just not. & Horikoshi doesn’t draw him that way.

his clothes hang and he has his belt notched to one of the furthest loops. this, to me, implies that he’s got more of Rei’s build than his fathers. so imma give BONES 3 outta 10 for that part of his design.

warnings: spoilers for upcoming anime bits/manga spoilers from 219 on below the cut

speaking of Rei! i love the reflection of her in Dabi’s panicked stare with his fight with Geten.

and here’s Rei right before she splashes Shōto with boiling hot water.

they’re so much alike & we love to see it.

but my biggest, uggggh, with the anime has been the Dabi/Endeavor fight.

like come on.

it’s already outta order, & should have been shown in season 4, but i was so bummed with how he looked during that all important appearance.

we got this:

when we had the beauty of this:

the shading. the steam that’s curled around him. the intricacies of his staples, jacket, SKIN. he looks so freaking good - like you could reach out and touch that roughness & raw anger that’s simmering beneath the surface. it’s just… ugggh.

so once again, manga dabi is vastly superior to anime Dabi. in every way. and his animation makes me so nervous for Tomura’s arc. please BONES, toss us all a bone and make him look nice. please :(((

OH! and one last thing…while i got you.

loathed that this was cut out ENTIRELY:

wah! gimme my Frankenstein reference. i was ready & waiting for it. so why u cut?? why hurt me like this?

#hi fran!#ty so much for chatting with me about this #cuz it’s been peeving me every week a new episode drops #with a whisper #asks #answered asks #dabi #touya todoroki #bnha #bnha anime #bones

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neoptolemid · 3 years

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Neoptolemus super doc ? ??

ARE WE ABSOLUTELY SURE,, , ,, ,

uh okay, I pull together my super document of Pyrrhus, have pardon cause it's a bit old and i'm gonna spread it through like 3 or 4 posts probably , , so uh enjoy and I'm sorry for all grammatical errors

Skyros

Pyrrhus was born by the name Pyrrhus and this was based either on his red hair or due to Achilles name of Skyros being Pyrrha.

When it comes to appearances I generally describe him as a good mix of both Deidamia and Achilles’ traits, having inherited Deidamia’s red hair and Achilles Blue/teal eyes. He is around the middle of both of his parent’s height as I make Achilles 6’0 and Deidamia 5’3 when full grown, Pyrhhus rounds out to be 5’6. He also has a number of beauty marks which are similar to Achilles’.

It is unknown how long Achilles stayed on Skyros or when Pyrrhus was born. Either way Achilles did know about his son, we know this from the fact Achilles makes references to his son within the Iliad and Odyssey.

I like to believe that part of Pyrrhus growing up with his mother and aunts is that he has a lot of appreciation for women’s crafts and what they do. That he as a younger child would simply sit and be by his mother and/or aunts as they worked enjoying their company.

He would try his best growing up to join into their songs and dances, and at least once dressed himself in girls clothes to show his mother and aunts which got a good laugh out of them.

From Quintus ‘Fall of Troy’ we are informed that learning to fight and it was Odysseus and Diomedes who came with their black sails to ask him to join the war cause. He was promised to marry Menelaus’s daughter Hermione, he was also promised to have Achilles’ armor and gold, riches, and glory for coming with them.

While work will generally age him to being a young man or simply portray him to be very well spoken, if you follow along with the time line it is very possible that Pyrrhus is only 11 or 12 when he leaves Skyros, I tend to write him as being 13 for my own comfort.

Another thing to note form Quintus’s piece on Pyrrhus is they depict this being especially sad for Deidamia, she is written as having weeped and weeped. She doesn’t want him to leave because she doesn’t want him going to war and leaving her. She doesn’t want him hurt and she doesn’t want another person she loves leaving her again.

Deidamia Pyrrhus’s mother is written as loving him and I interpret bits of this story as Pyrrhus is the only tie to Achilles she has. Generally I prefer the idea that Deidamia did care for Achilles and so it did break her heart that he left and she had hoped that he would return eventually to her and their son.

Over the years she understood more and more that he would not return, so all she had was her son, and then eventually they come and take him from her as well.

Mattering on the version of the story, it is fully possible that Deidamia may have never seen her son again once he left the island.

Dawn climbed the wide-arched heaven, straightway they rose from their beds. Then Deidameia knew; and on her son's broad breast she cast herself, and bitterly wailed: her cry thrilled through the air, as when a cow loud-lowing mid the hills seeks through the glens her calf, and all around Echo long ridges of the mountain-steep; so on all sides from dim recesses rang the hall; and in her misery she cried: "Child, wherefore is thy soul now on the wing to follow strangers unto Ilium the fount of tears, where perish many in fight, yea, cunning men in war and battle grim? And thou art but a youth, and hast not learnt the ways of war, which save men in the day of peril. Hearken thou to me, abide here in thine home, lest evil tidings come from Troy unto my ears, that thou in fight hast perished; for mine heart saith, never thou hitherward shalt from battle-toil return. Not even thy sire escaped the doom of death -- he, mightier than thou, mightier than all heroes on earth, yea, and a Goddess' son -- but was in battle slain, all through the wiles and crafty counsels of these very men who now to woeful war be kindling thee. Therefore mine heart is full of shuddering fear lest, son, my lot should be to live bereaved of thee, and to endure dishonour and pain, for never heavier blow on woman falls than when her lord hath perished, and her sons die also, and her house is left to her desolate. Straightway evil men remove her landmarks, yea, and rob her of her all, setting the right at naught. There is no lot more woeful and more helpless than is hers who is left a widow in a desolate home."

Lemnos

Pyrrhus agrees to go with them and on the way they stop by the island of Lemnos to get Philoctetes. Odysseus makes Neoptolemus lie to Philoctetes because he knows that he hates Odysseus because he is the man who abandoned him on Lemnos and he knows that Philoctetes doesn’t want to go to Troy but back to Greece and to his home.

This causes a Pyrrhus strife because he has been taught to be noble up until now, in the play Philoctetes by Sophocles we are shown multiple times how this causes him strife because he is having to lie. Philoctetes also considers Pyrrhus to be a friend because Pyrrhus lies and says that he wants to go back home to Skyros because of the way he is treated by the other Greeks even though he hasn’t met any of them yet to our knowledge.

Good lines from this play that I personally characterize him are

‘It would have been better if i had never left scyros. Everything around me oppresses me ..’

‘He’ll (odysseus) claim i’m too soft-hearted’

‘I can’t. It is right and in our interest to listen to those in authority’

Some of the best development to see from this is how he was raised to be noble and how he doesn’t want to trick people or lie, he wants to be honest.

Another thing I find interesting to read from specifically this play is how Pyrrhus is very rarely called by his own name, he is almost always referred to ‘son of achilles’ and also in this play he is often referred to as ‘child’ or ‘boy’.

While none of these things are brought up as an issue in the play I do think it is a detail you can play with, like how it might weigh on an individual to be always referred to by your famous father or how people don’t recognize you by your name but by your father’s.

I think these are things that would weigh on Pyrrhus he wants to live up to his father but it also oppresses him to be referred in such a way. He wants to be like his father but he is still his own individual which he doesn’t feel recognized by as people continually anything but his own name.

To the idea of playing into the fact he is also often called ‘boy’ or ‘child’ These could be names that eventually upset and anger him. He is being dragged into this war like he is old enough to fight, which he is not and yet he is not recognized as such by those around him.

It is a case of a child feeling indignatinge by being called terms which denote being naive, though I like to think there is some justification for his anger because this isn’t just a small thing but he is being taken into a man's world.

In Philoctetes he is referred to by the name Neoptolemus, he was given this name by Phoenix, a man also considered to be a father by Achilles. Phoenix is one of the oldest men in the Trojan war and he is either involved with Pyrrhus coming from the island to Skyros to the war or some time later down the road. He gave him this name because it means ‘new war/warrior’ it is meant to reflect how Achilles himself was a young man when he entered the war.

It is honestly more common to see Pyrrhus referred to as Neoptolemus by the Greeks and Pyrrhus by Roman sources to my knowledge. (i’ll be using Pyrrhus just for simplicity)

Troy

There are a lot of various stories that have to do with the fall of Troy, we have records again from Quintus “Fall of Troy” and the “Aeneid” by Vergil. There are also a number of plays by the three tragedians of Ancient Greece(Sophocles, Euripides, Aeschylus) that have to do with the end of the war and various stories of the aftermath.

While Pyrrhus doesn’t appear in these very often they still help to give more insight to his possible character.

Pyrrhus makes a minor appearance within the play of ‘hecuba’ and is in the background of ‘andromache’, he makes no appearance within this story but he is directly related to things happening in the play.

Back onto the subject of the fall of Troy, he is regarded as the killer of both Astyanax and Priam. These are generally agreed upon details and sometimes Odysseus fills the role of Pyrrhus when the story decides they don’t want to introduce more characters.

He is generally described as being ‘battle-eager’ ‘Fierce-hearted’ and a few other epithets relating to fighting. In general he is not described as being worse than anyone else. The fall of Troy is a greek work and all the Greeks within this work are killing and fighting people. He is by all means a competent fighter within the text.

In the Odyssey when Odysseus goes into the underworld and speaks with the dead, and when Achilles comes to speak he asks about his son.

Odysseus describes him as

‘but I can tell you all about your son Neoptolemus, for I took him in my own ship from Scyros with the Achaeans. In our councils of war before Troy he was always first to speak, and his judgement was unerring. Nestor and I were the only two who could surpass him; and when it came to fighting on the plain of Troy, he would never remain with the body of his men, but would dash on far in front, foremost of them all in valour. Many a man did he kill in battle- I cannot name every single one of those whom he slew while fighting on the side of the Argives, but will only say how he killed that valiant hero Eurypylus son of Telephus, who was the handsomest man I ever saw except Memnon; many others also of the Ceteians fell around him by reason of a woman's bribes. Moreover, when all the bravest of the Argives went inside the horse that Epeus had made, and it was left to me to settle when we should either open the door of our ambuscade, or close it, though all the other leaders and chief men among the Danaans were drying their eyes and quaking in every limb, I never once saw him turn pale nor wipe a tear from his cheek; he was all the time urging me to break out from the horse- grasping the handle of his sword and his bronze-shod spear, and breathing fury against the foe. Yet when we had sacked the city of Priam he got his handsome share of the prize money and went on board (such is the fortune of war) without a wound upon him, neither from a thrown spear nor in close combat, for the rage of Mars is a matter of great chance.'

In general from the greek sources he is described as nobly.

He is noted for killing quite a few people during the fall of Troy but his most notable kills are Priam, who he kills within the throne room (to my knowledge) and Astyanax who is killed after Troy has fallen.

In the Aeneid by Vergil he is described in ways that frame him a more villainous or evil way

‘The fatal work inhuman Pyrrhus plies,’

During when Pyrrhus is about to kill Priam there is a line that I believe characterizes him as more of a tragic character than anything else. Before killing Priam, Priam berates him about how Pyrrhus is about to treat Priam because of how Achilles showed him humanity and how Achilles gives Priam his son’s body back. This is partly brung up because Pyrrhus getting into the throne room kills one of Priam’s sons in front of his face.

The line basically translates out to be Pyrrhus telling Priam that when he dies and sees his father to tell him of the terrible deed of his son, of how terrible his son is.

In the translation that I read they use the line ‘Tell him of degenerate Neoptolemus’

When in the context of the Philoctetes I think this paints Pyrrhus as being a rather tragic and sad character, because prior to going to the island of Lemnos Pyrrhus tried to act most noble, he wants to be noble like his father. When on Lemnos he has his morals questioned and is forced to go against his morales at the hand of Odysseus.

I interpret this as him vocalizing how he might be upset with himself as he is forced to look at the reality of war which isn’t noble or glorious at all. He wants to live up to the noble idea of his father and everything he is forced to do makes him feel terrible.

I personally think that Pyrrhus probably doesn’t know a lot about the terrible things that Achilles has done or he tries to ignore them. When fighting in the war he might realize his idea of his father might not truly be acturte, he was raised on stories from his mother telling him of his outstanding father.

In terms of justifying his actions during the war because going off my own headcanon he probably wouldn’t be so interested in killing so many people, I imagine he kinda just turns off his head and acts purely on his emotions and just acts like that of a soldier. (Is this PTSD?)

He follows the orders given to him and acts without questioning and lets all his emotions out. I personally don’t assign Pyrrhus that much pride but I like to think he inherited some of his fathers famous anger. All of his anger at what he is being forced to do comes out when he is forced to fight.

That is where the brutality of his portrayal within the Aeneid comes from.

#super doc sorry #my thoughts #my terrible terrible thoughts of my boy #I am sorry some of these thoughts are kinda old and need to get updated lol #neoptolemus #pyrrhus #the iliad #(I guess)#my super doc of all things

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