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longagoitwastuesday · 1 year

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I keep thinking of that reply in my Odysseus/Agamemnon post about how I regard differently Odysseus' and Agamemnon's actions, while acknowledging that at times Agamemnon is written as a sweet man and Odysseus is always straight up shitty, and how it was taken as some sort of defense for Agamemnon and as a form of pointing out the double standard; and that wasn't at all what the post was about for me, even though I can see where they were coming from. To be honest, given I didn't imagine it would spread anywhere other than my own blog, I didn't explain myself very well (or at all).

The fact is that when I talked about Odysseus not caring about hurting someone else's child to start and end a war I was indeed comparing his actions to Agamemnon's, but my words about supporting Odysseus' wrongs and cheering him in his terrible actions, while in a joking tone, weren't entirely a joke. I do think that Odysseus does some very shitty acts, and some quite terrible ones depending on the sources. That's a fact, that he does is at the core of his characterisation and it's what makes him so much fun; but not even when he is at his most cruel does he harm his family, his own son. Agamemnon, while sweet and loving at times in some texts, at his worst is willing to sacrifice Iphigenia. When readers regard with more sympathy Odysseus over Agamemnon despite both being responsible for children dying, I don't think there's a double standard in this aspect at all considering it's never his own kid Odysseus harms. And that's the key, I think.

Odysseus and Agamemnon have very different priorities, a very different view on loyalty and duty. It could be said that Agamemnon acts out of selfishness, but it could also be read in a kinder light, saying that Agamemnon is ruled by the gods first, and by his role as head of the achaeans; Agamemnon is not entirely himself. In opposition we see Odysseus acting perhaps mainly for himself and his own family and men; yes, he is a king, but he has not the role Agamemnon has. As a consequence, Agamemnon submits his family's wellbeing to the war, to the gods, while Odysseus stops the plow before hurting Telemachus but is (depending on the source) the cause of Iphigenia's sacrifice and Astyanax's death.

Both Odysseus and Agamemnon have reasons to support their actions, and both can be sympathised with; it's fiction after all. When it comes to fiction, at the end of the day which character a reader is drawn to or sympathises with is mainly an issue of personal taste, but I suppose it also implies a certain level of one's own views or preferences on morals, what makes us find certain actions more justifiable, or tasteful (perhaps that's a more accurate word), than others. Agamemnon sacrificing his daughter, no matter how sympathetic or understandable the reason, generally sits worse on people than Odysseus doing the same with someone else's kids, because they're someone else's. This different emotional reaction they provoke has place not just metanarratively, but also inside the very story; it is narratively significant, given it determines how their arrival home plays out, how their wives react to them, and thus their futures. Ultimately it determines whether they live or die.

I think both terrible acts go in line wonderfully with each characterisation, showcasing the role they hold in their world, what they value, what they care for, what they're willing to sacrifice for themselves and the others, how much of their own they're willing to give and bend. While looking at the wider picture it could perhaps be drawn that Agamemnon is the better person out of the two, but Odysseus' selfish actions are perhaps easier to empathise with, especially from a modern viewpoint. Odysseus is treacherous and prone to betrayal, but not against his own; Agamemnon follows the rules of the gods. How fitting in that context that Odysseus doesn't die at the end of his story, that he cheats the death heroes so often are fated to, almost as if cheating the narrative itself, bending the rules of the world he is ascribed to; how fitting in the context of those texts that point towards Sisyphus being his father. But that's another topic, and I've already talked a lot.

#Don't get me wrong. Odysseus is super shitty and this is a 'pick your poison' kind of situation #But I don't really think there's a double standard when it comes to the kids situation given that Odysseus doesn't sacrifice his own kid #I really think that's what lies at the core of this. Does that make him shittier and more selfish and a worse person? Actually yeah perhaps #But we are no kings with thousands of people depending on our decision yet cringe at the idea of hurting people close to us #It feels like betrayal. And this is where the moral preference takes the role. Which do you prefer? The one that would betray their family #for the greater good or the one who'd sell the world for their family and themselves? It's interesting because #while in fiction the first option is often the most frown upon while selfish actions for the beloved are easy to sympathise with‚#in reality these are usually worse regarded. I didn't want to go there because I already wrote so much it didn't fit in the tags #but I actually think the same thing happens with Galahad/Lancelot. Heathcliff/Edgar I'd say has a somewhat similar situation going on #There are many many examples but mainly I was thinking of Galahad and Lancelot #So this is not an 'Odysseus did nothing wrong'. This is an 'Odysseus did many things very wrong but he didn't kill his son #so while both him and Agamemnon were the cause of death of kids‚ their action are not the same so there's no double standard regarding #the particular action of sacrificing Iphigenia. In fiction that kind of betrayal makes characters often unlikeable'#I guess that action 'stains' the view under which Agamemnon's actions are seen and so his character is often seen under a darker light #He is presented a bit as an antagonistic presence opposed to Achilles who is very popular so I guess that also influences this?#Anyway I've been elated by the musical causing Odysseus art and posts but I do have noticed that he is very goodified in it and that #it has influenced how he is being regarded around here (the way it happened with The Song of Achilles as well I suppose)#And I must say I like that less. He is shitty in a fun way but not in a light way. He is very shitty #Definitely not better than Agamemnon depending on the perspective you take. I can't believe I'm 'defending' Agamemnon #He is not my thing at all I'm all for selfish actions for oneself and the loved ones through manipulation‚#lies and scams and letting the world drown if needed. In fiction Lancelot's‚ Odysseus' and Heathcliff's actions are a lot more preferible #to me than Galahad's‚ Agamemnon's and Edgar's. But yeah #I ALSO didn't want to go there because again it would have take me forever and I would run out of tags (yet here I am)#but there's also a Priam/Hector/Paris comparison in how they act and how they're regarded to be drawn here #Agamemnon/Iphigenia‚ Priam/Hector/Paris‚ Odysseus/Telemachus. And that is not even including everything with Elektra/Clytemnestra/Orestes #or Oedipus and his own family for that matter #But yes. I'll better shut up already. I'm talking a lot more than I intended #I just found that discussion super enthralling and I couldn't stop thinking about it. I still can't #I talk too much #I should probably delete this later

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starryhyuck · 17 days

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pairing: alpha!soulmate!jeno x afab!omega!reader

words: 2.9k+

summary: your first meeting with the notorious lee jeno sends you spiraling into heat.

genre: smut

warnings: a/b/o dynamics, knotting, breeding kink, cunnilingus, degradation, mating, some public sex

“You’re coming with me to the Governor’s Ball tonight.”

Your eyebrow raises at Hyewon, who is eagerly sitting across from you, practically jumping out of her seat. The Beta in her is naturally timid, so she must be extremely excited to be acting this way.

“And why would I do that?” You ask, displaying no interest in the event. “It’s just going to be a room filled with rowdy Alphas.”

“That’s why we’re going, duh,” Hyewon says as if you’ve lost a few brain cells. “It won’t just be an event with any regular Alpha — these Alphas will be the most handsome and richest of all!”

Hyewon comes from an affluent family that has an expectation of her to marry wealthy. You know she has been trying for years to pair with any man who has millions in his bank account, yet none of them can match her standards.

You, on the other hand, couldn’t care less about finding an Alpha to mate with. You’ve always envisioned yourself with a calmer Beta, someone who had realistic goals and expectations and wasn’t driven by the feral nature of their genetics. Alphas are known for being possessive and dominant, and it just doesn’t seem like an ideal relationship for you.

“Hyewon, I really don’t think that’s my scene.”

“Come on,” she pouts at you. “Do you know how lucky you are to be an Omega? I would kill to present like you and have every Alpha bend to my whim.”

The statement is slightly exaggerated but not entirely untrue. As an Omega, you do recognize that you have more of a leverage with Alphas as your scent is naturally more alluring to them than a Beta’s. However, you have always opposed the idea that Omegas are solely born to satisfy Alphas. They see you as nothing but a hole to fill and a neck to be marked.

Hyewon clutches to your wrist and pleads loudly, drawing looks from other students lingering in the cafe.

“Please, please, please-“

“Okay!” You huff, withdrawing your hand and looking down bashfully. “Fine, I’ll go with you.”

She throws her arms up and cheers happily.

—

Hyewon wraps you in a stuffy, form fitting dress which is covered head to toe in expensive crystals. She insists you have to shine at the event in order to stand out from all the other Omegas in attendance tonight. Despite your indifference, you let her play dress up as she wants.

She tugs you into the lavish Governor’s Ball, where most of the political leaders of your town are gathered. Hyewon’s eyes lock into the Lee family, the most influential household in werewolf existence.

You don’t know much about the Lee family despite their powerful presence, but Hyewon is quick to fill in the gaps. “That’s Lee Taeyong,” she whispers to you as she points to the stoic man standing across the room. “He’s the oldest, and he’s actually nicer than he looks. The one next to him is the middle child, Lee Mark.” The man she points to has a similar bored expression painting his face, slowly swirling his champagne glass to find a source of amusement. You can tell from the lilt in Hyewon’s voice that he is the Alpha she has her sights set on for the night. “And that guy is the youngest, Lee Jeno. Don’t even try with him, he’s a waste of time.”

Your eyebrows furrow at the Alpha, who appears angrier than any other male in this ballroom. You can practically feel his disdain coursing through your veins.

“Why is he so… grumpy?”

She laughs at your question. “I told you, he’s a waste of time. He’s always pissed off at these events for no reason and hates it when any Beta or Omega tries to make conversation with him. He’s the worst Lee brother to mate with.”

Hyewon soon leaves you to your own devices, heading off to try and win Mark over. You awkwardly make conversation with a few other Omegas around you, but they seem more interested in gathering the attention of the Lee brothers than actually engaging with you.

Midway through the event, you head to the bathroom down the corridor to freshen up. You gasp when you turn the corner and suddenly ram straight into someone’s chest. Your champagne glass falls to the floor and shatters across the marble, but that is the last thing you’re concerned about.

Your body suddenly starts to feel like it’s on fire, heat spreading through your core rapidly. You choke and clutch your stomach, glancing up to see the reason behind your misery.

Jeno stands in front of you, eyes blooming red as he drinks you in. You pant and take a step back from him, recognizing the signs of your approaching heat.

But that can’t be possible — your heat isn’t due to come for another few weeks.

“W-What did y-you do-“ You wheeze, embarrassed by the slick dampening your panties.

“Omega,” Jeno says, stern glare painting his face as he reaches for you. “Calm down.”

His fingers brush by your mating gland and you gasp. His touch feels like someone rubbed a match and lit a fire against your skin. You turn and run as fast as you can, reentering the ballroom and darting straight for Hyewon’s figure. Every Alpha’s head turns at the scent of your growing heat, baring their teeth at your lewd display.

“Hyewon,” you beg, clutching her arm. “You need to take me home.”

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

As a Beta, Hyewon can’t smell your growing arousal or detect the signs of you going into your heat. All she sees is her friend with a desperate look on her face. Mark, who is standing across from her, shifts his predatory gaze to you. Hyewon notices the change in him and she quickly pulls you behind her.

“A-Are you going into heat?” She asks quietly.

You nod and whimper. She asks no further questions, wrenching your figure close to hers and locating the nearest exit. She shoves you into the first limousine in the parking lot and shuts the door behind her, shouting your address at the driver.

You grasp her elbow and cry. “Hyewon, this is a strong one-“

A wave of arousal shoots down your spine, causing you to fall deeper and deeper into your subspace. If Hyewon doesn’t lock you in your bedroom soon, you’re afraid you might offer yourself to the first Alpha you see.

“Why didn’t you say you were about to go into heat?” She chastises, grabbing a tissue to dab at your sweltering forehead. “Let me call Jaemin.”

You stop her from taking her phone out of her purse. “N-No, don’t call him. I don’t want him.”

“What? You always use Jaemin for your heats.”

“No,” you shake your head, still unsure of why you’re denying her. She’s right — since your first heat, you have always asked Na Jaemin to come over and take care of you. He was a family friend and never took advantage of you at your worst. However, there’s a sinking feeling in your gut that’s telling you Jaemin is the last Alpha you want to see right now. “Just get me home.”

You barely register Hyewon helping you into your apartment, faintly remembering her guiding you to your bed.

“W-What should I-“

“Please leave,” you say, writhing and desperately pulling at the zipper of your dress to get it off you. “Trust me, you don’t want to see me like this.”

She frowns, her voice filled with concern. “But-“

“Please, Hyewon,” you plead. “Thank you for getting me here but you need to leave.”

You hear the front door close just as you fling your dress to the floor, quickly locating your vibrator in your nightstand. You pull your panties to the side and sigh in relief when you sink the toy into your heat. It only quenches your pain slightly, but it’s enough to simmer down the fire in your belly.

You’re unaware of how much time has passed when there’s another knock at your door. You’re writhing on the bed sheets, begging for another orgasm as your hand has grown tired of lazily pushing your vibrator in and out of your dripping pussy. Your fingers circle your clit slowly as you plead for the moon to end your misery.

You miss the sound of your door rattling off its hinges, mind overtaken by a cloud of fuzziness. Loud stomping echoes throughout your apartment and a large figure invades your room, growling when he sees the sight of you hopelessly twisting your hips to gain any sort of comfort.

A hand wraps around your throat and squeezes, forcing another gush of arousal to leak down your thighs.

“What do you think you’re doing, Omega?” His voice scarily questions, nearly spitting in your face. “How dare you touch what’s mine?”

They used to spread stories of true mates when you were in high school — stories of how when an Alpha meets the destined Omega they were born to be mated with, it would immediately send the Alpha and Omega into their corresponding ruts and heats. You always thought it was some odd wolf propaganda created centuries ago to carry on the belief that true mates still existed. However, as you look at Jeno hovering above you, there is no doubt in your mind that he is your true mate.

The fuzzy parts of your brain start to clear. “J-Jeno?”

He grins, leaning down to lick at the shell of your ear. “That’s Alpha to you. Present yourself.”

You scramble to follow his order, shoving your head into the pillow and arching your ass up in the air. He clicks his tongue mockingly.

“A pretty, submissive Omega. You know, I always wondered what cute little thing I was destined to end up with. I never thought the moon would grant me a beautiful mate like you,” he hums, digits collecting the remnants of your orgasm across your thighs. He groans as he licks the taste of you off his fingers. “You want your Alpha’s knot, baby?”

You nearly unravel at the thought of him filling you deep with his cum, giving you so much of it that it spills out of your tiny pussy.

“A-Alpha,” you whine. “Please Alpha, please knot me.”

You hear the clink of his belt buckle and your body thrums in excitement. He plants his knees down on the mattress, shrugging off his slacks and throwing his stuffy blazer to the side. He ducks his head to lick a stripe up your folds.

You shudder, bunching the sheets in your fists and practically sobbing at the need to have his cock inside of you. You’ve never felt this hopeless during your heat before, never craved another Alpha’s cock like this.

Jeno’s hands tighten around your hips as he laps at your cunt, groaning at the sweetness of your taste. It only takes a few seconds for you to gush into his waiting mouth, the sounds of him eagerly swallowing your release filling the room.

Your body slumps on the mattress at the weight of your orgasm. You barely have time to recover when you feel his tip prodding your entrance.

He growls. “Beg for my cock, Omega whore.”

“Please, Alpha, please fuck me. I want your knot to fill my pretty pussy, want you to mark me and make me yours-“

The thought of you being mated to him is what sends Jeno feral. He pushes his cock inside your waiting hole, slick dripping down your thighs and giving him easy access to slide in. You sigh in relief when he’s finally deep inside you, quelling the fire in your stomach that was pleading for him.

He doesn’t waste time — ramming into you at an inhuman speed, hands angrily digging into your sides and slapping your ass until his palm is imprinted on your backside. Your head lolls to the side, officially giving Jeno complete control to use you as you wish.

Just like with your other heats, your body throws you into climax after climax until the pleasure molds itself into your skin. Jeno is still spitting the most filthy, degrading words at you as his knot slowly approaches.

“Look at you, silly Omega. Offering yourself up to the first Alpha you see. Would you have given this cunt to someone else, hm? Let them take what’s rightfully mine?” At the shake of your head, he smirks. “That’s right. Pretty Omega’s pussy is made only for me. Designed for my knot, designed to breed for my future pups.”

The thought of him impregnating you with the future of the respected Lee line prompts you over the edge again. Jeno hisses and grabs the back of your neck, hoisting you up easily to his chest as you hear the sound of his balls slapping against your cunt forcefully.

“Gonna keep cumming around your Alpha’s cock? Never had a heat like this one before, have you, baby? That’s because the moon has finally brought you to your true mate, and you never have to spend another heat without me again.”

You cry in pleasure at the thought of being able to spend every heat with Jeno. You never minded Jaemin being your heat partner, but this satisfaction and connection is something you’ve never felt with anyone else. You genuinely think you’ll die if you go through another heat without Jeno beside you.

“A-Alpha,” you whimper, steadily holding onto his arm that’s securely wrapped around your middle. “Please knot me, Alpha. You’re the only one who can.”

“Yeah?” He groans at how desperate you sound for him. “Want your Alpha’s big knot? Want to be bred like a good little Omega?”

You nearly sob. “Y-Yes! Yes, please!”

He tilts your head and exposes your neck. His fingers carefully run over your mating gland, causing a shiver to run down your spine.

“And this? Is this for me to mark, Omega?”

You frantically nod. “Yes, Alpha. Only for you.”

You know it’s a big step, a permanent marking that would tie Jeno’s Alpha to your Omega forever. Your mind screams at you to reconsider this decision when you have a clearer head, but your heart tells you that there’s nothing to mull over — Jeno is your Alpha and you need the whole world to know.

As his knot begins to swell inside you, his teeth sink into your mating gland, uniting your souls into one. Every feeling Jeno’s ever had courses through your veins, multiplying your pleasure tenfold. Your thighs begin to shake at the amount of gratification flowing through your body.

You almost pass out from the overwhelming sensation, and your body goes slack in Jeno’s hold. His cum shoots deep into your womb, filling you and marking you as his until his release is leaking down your thighs.

You both collapse on the mattress, with Jeno pulling you close to ensure his knot stays rooted deep inside you.

Your head starts to free from your subspace temporarily, and you carefully scan your room as he licks at the wound on your neck to clean you up.

“Did you- Did you break my door?”

Indeed, you can see your front door laying flat in the hallway, nearly shattered. Jeno hums softly.

“It was in my way.”

You think about how your apartment floor must’ve had to evacuate from the profound smell of your scent mixed with Jeno’s. You would feel guilty about it but considering Jeno has no shame over it, his emotions overpower yours.

“Want to fuck you again, Omega,” he hisses against your skin. “Love being mated to you.”

His honest confession forces another wave of arousal to spill from your pussy, leaking around his knot.

“Yeah, Alpha?”

He grunts and starts thrusting into you again, only being able to move a few inches as his knot is still plugging his cum into you. You gasp and pull him down to kiss you.

“My friend-“ you murmur in between moans. “My friend told me you hate Betas and Omegas.”

“Of course I do,” he hisses, propping your leg over his hip so he can push in deeper. “I hate every Beta and Omega who thinks they have a shot at being my mate.”

“You looked so grumpy when I first saw you.”

“I am grumpy,” he mumbles, hands darting to knead your breasts. “Grumpy for everyone except you.”

He grins when you squirt around his knot, your cunt sensitive from the constant rounds of fucking. Your eyes roll to the back of your head at your unexpected orgasm, body twitching in your Alpha’s hold.

Jeno fucks you until the sun rises to indicate the start of a new day. You two barely sleep, exploring various positions throughout your apartment and even the hallway of your complex, ushering more and more residents on the lower floors to evacuate from your scents. Their dirty looks are quickly changed when they see the notorious Lee brother claiming his new mate for all to see.

His cock doesn’t allow your pussy to rest until he’s sure you’ve been impregnated.

When you finally come to, you’re sprawled on your living room floor with a mix of your slick and Jeno’s cum surrounding you. He continues to lick at your skin as if he’ll die without fully receiving his taste of you.

It’s odd since despite only knowing him for less than a day, you feel like you’ve known him your whole life.

“I want-“ you pant, trying to regain your breath. “I want to fuck you forever.”

He chuckles. “Is that so, Omega?” He raises his head to see you, a predatory gaze lingering in his eyes. You wonder if you have it in you to go another few rounds.

“Lucky for you, we’re mated for life. I’m not going anywhere.”

#nct smut #jeno #jeno smut

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daydreamerdrew · 2 years

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The Incredible Hulk (1968) #203

#ugh ok so the way that Jarella’s been written here is a good example of one of the big things that has prevented me from getting into her #like she starts off wanting to get married to the Hulk #and then all of the sudden she thinks that the Hulk should stay in the regular human world #‘if it is the will of the gods’#and that she’s going to go back to her world #and that ‘the gods have given me a sign that I must return alone’#like whenever Jarella returns she always leaves the book pretty quickly #as the Hulk simply can’t stay in her world long-term and remain interesting #and so far no one’s been really interested in writing Jarella as stuck in the regular world long-term #we’ll see how long this lasts but #her belief in the will of the gods and her sense to duty to her people has been used in annoying ways #she generally feels more like a plot device and less like a character to me #she’s the concept of a perfect woman for the Hulk who is briefly dropped into the story and then whisked away #and her existence is really for the emotions and reactions that that brings out in the Hulk #she’s not compelling as a character at all #whereas I actually find Betty interesting in her own right #I’ll also say that I don’t think that General Ross Samson and Talbot choosing to bring the Hulk back makes sense #like I don’t think that’s been properly justified before #General Ross has tried to kill the Hulk before #I don’t think Samson or Talbot has ever indicated anything really opposing the idea of killing the Hulk #like yeah doing so would also kill Bruce but I really don’t think that they’ve been portrayed as being that strongly opposed to that #not nearly as much as their opposition to the Hulk’s existence has been portrayed #marvel #bruce banner #jarella #thunderbolt ross #leonard samson #glenn talbot #my posts #comic panels

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mcflymemes · 8 months

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ASSASSIN'S CREED III PROMPTS * assorted dialogue from the video game, adjust as necessary

we never took them seriously. maybe we should have.

i'm getting ahead of myself.

we've been fighting them for thousands of years.

i've seen the truth.

it holds the power to change everything.

there's only so much we can do.

if we can't find a way to stop it, these next few weeks will probably be our last.

it worked. we think. we hope.

we're here. let's go.

you must find the key.

here we go again.

do you hear us?

you collapsed and entered into a fugue state.

you weren't in any danger.

i know what i'm looking for, by the way. it's a key.

i'd like to run a couple of quick tests.

have you seen it before?

my father brought me here as a child.

on to business then.

the stairs are watched. you'll need to find another way up.

you should have come to me.

for what it's worth, i'm sorry.

that's why we've called you here.

i am yours to command.

well, then i'd best be on my way.

my research has been stolen. without it, i'm of no use to you.

i'll see if i can't speed things up.

we need to find a way inside.

i believe i've found the solution to our problem.

we'll attack on my signal.

i made a promise to you, [name], one i intend to keep.

the sooner we're done, the sooner we can get out of this cold.

it does not engender peace to cut your way to resolution.

if we applied the sword more liberally and more often, the world would be a better place than it is today.

now i've upheld my part of the bargain, i expect that you will honor yours?

you seem disappointed.

you have shown me great kindness, [name]. thank you.

really? that's your response? it's like dealing with a six year old.

i sense my words cause pain.

do you even know what that symbol represents?

come on. i've got something to show you.

very well. i'll train you.

you're also going to need a new name.

what's true and what is aren't always the same.

you'll be happy to hear there's actually good news for once.

it's silly for us to go back and forth like this.

we cannot give up our home.

do you have a name? do you know who is responsible?

time will tell if you speak the truth.

why are you here? has something happened?

you should have heeded my warning.

perhaps you'll respond better to the sword.

are you threatening us?

i thought it might bring clarity or instill a sense of accomplishment. but all i feel is regret.

such sacrifices must never come lightly.

all of them must be dealt with in turn.

you speak the words, but do you believe them?

takes a true monster to do something like this.

every day i wait, more will suffer.

many who should've died today now live because of you.

we do the best we can with what we've got.

you wield your blade like a man, but your mouth like a child.

there are more important things at stake here.

i do what is right. no more. no less.

i don't even see a stall in here. what if i had to take a dump?

please just mute the microphone if you do.

life is not a fairy tale, and there are no happy endings.

in your haste to save the world, take care you don't destroy it!

our interests are aligned.

perhaps some time together might do us good.

i can kill you now if you prefer.

would you like me to come along and hold your hand, perhaps?

why the change of heart? where is this coming from?

you oppose tyranny. injustice. these are just symptoms. their true cause is human weakness.

you have said so much... but you have shown me nothing.

tell me of your latest exploits.

you have not come this far to throw it all away over misplaced sentiment.

there is nothing more to discuss.

i should have stayed.

now you must hide it.

what once was shall be again.

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littlelesbinonny · 3 months

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The Devil's Den

Chapter 44: In Which The Daylight Has Dawned Pt. 2

You can read this also on Ao3 at: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46831621/chapters/117962293

The weight in the air wasn't so much heavy as it was palpable.

Alcina had done it.

Mother Miranda was dead.

To those who had stood behind, supported, and were loyal to Alcina, this was a pivotal moment. They had seen what had taken place in the city hall. They had heard the words of Mother Miranda, seen her display of power, and battled with her very own minions she had brought to take over the city. To them, this was a most grand and rewarding moment.

To those who had not been on Alcina's side, who had never fully supported or liked her, this was a moment drenched in perplexity. To their dismay she had proven her strength and resilience. Her fortitude. Her unwavering loyalty to the underground and all those in it; including those opposed to her.

This historical event would reverberate through every vampire sect that existed, on this continent and every other. To kill ones' own kind was heavily frowned upon, and in some places condemned by death. To challenge a rival to the end was done only in the most unavoidable circumstances. But, vampire and lycan alike were a species of keep what you kill, regardless of the terms in which it was done.

Mother Miranda had been slain, and Alcina, by right of the vampire way, was unchallenged and unmatched. There would be no faltering now; she must make good of her actions.

This fateful moment, dizzyingly silent, was finally broken as Karl Heisenberg, overcome by his pride for Alcina began to howl.

He had stepped forward from his place in the circle, tilted his head to the ceiling and bellowed his cry of subservience.

Every lycan from all around could be heard joining their leader in his howl; expressing their congratulations to their leaders reign that wouldn't be coming to an end any time soon.

Alcina had shaken herself fully from her blood-rage and couldn't help but snicker at their unabashed, and loud, display. She chucked the halves of Miranda's skull towards her dead body and turned to face her people. She expected half to be in scowls, but to her surprise they were not. For the first time she can recall in her reign, everyone bore nothing less than a look of approval. Except two.

She found her daughters on the front lines in the crowd to her right, and with them was Mia and and a now conscious Ethan; on their knees held against their will with sickles protruding from their shoulders. Now there were the looks of pure detest. Alcina grinned widely.

The howling came to an end and Alcina straightened her shoulders, making herself even taller and more striking than you thought imaginable. She was covered in dried blood, looking the perfect part of a conqueror after a great war. It made you weak in the knees.

"My kin..." she stated firmly, "this is the start of a new age. No concern will go unheard. I will convene with the council promptly. Anyone who is injured, please get yourselves to the medical bay at once. I will send word to our medical staff to be present immediately. The city... has suffered much damage, this must be addressed; I will have scouts dispersed to notate every area affected. And our new... guests," she motioned warily to the mutants that were still lingering unmoved, "will be dealt with - please leave them be for now. There is much to discuss going forward. Please, keep your eyes open for anything we may miss. Come prepared to City Hall when the gathering date and time is announced. I wish to hear and speak with any who have something to say. Now, let me, your military, and council get to work. Go rest and wait for word."

With much murmuring and scuffling, vampires and lycans that weren't immediate in ranks went off, weaving through the mindless droned mutants that were standing littered like mannequins in the streets.

You noticed through the commotion some familiar faces coming in; Karl, Cassandra, Bela, and Daniela, while you were turning your attention to your crows who'd gathered once more at your feet.

"Listen," you said with a smile as you knelt down to them, "I don't know how you got in here but you should get home... I hope you all understand how grateful I am to you. I promised you all the croissants and I wholeheartedly mean that," you grinned, "I'll see you guys up top soon, ok?"

They clearly understood you, giving you sharp nods and short coos before hopping up into flight and taking off in the air to a dark corridor on the bleak stone walls of the underground a long ways from you to the left.

You sighed. What a fucking day. Er, night. Week, month? Reality was still feeling pretty foreign for you at this moment.

Suddenly you felt a gentle arm wrap around your back and there beside you was Donna.

"You and I have a lot to talk about," she smiled at you, "I do look forward to getting to meet you properly, now that what could have been vampire Armageddon is over."

A short guffaw escaped you as she ushered you slowly with her over to the gathering of people whom you all thankfully recognized.

"HOOWEE!" Karl burst, basically trotting over to the group, "What a fun fucking time! Goddamn! Haven't had that much action since you and I went to dukes, eh? Miss new Queen of the Underworld!"

Alcina took very little joy in his elbowing of her arm from him, but she was unable to reply before he went off on another path entirely.

Karl jolted over to where Miranda's jaw had been displaced from her face and discarded to the ground, grabbing it with utter glee, "you don't want this, right? Like, you don't need it? Can I have it? I'd really like it - I'll just - I'll just take this, I'ma take this - I need it for reasons and stuff."

Alcina already had her face buried in a palm by the time Karl was pocketing the jaw and rejoining the group.

"Mother?" Daniela asked brightly, tugging her prisoner over with no remorse, "What would you like us to do with these two? And for your information they bled all over the manor... like, all over."

Daniela's wicked smirk made Alcina chuckle, "did they, now?" She asked rhetorically as she reached for her daughter and kissed her forehead, "Well, we shall add that to the list of offenses they will face in their trial," she straightened her spine as she peered with a scowl down at Ethan and Mia and took a deep, nonchalant breath, "take them to Dmitri. I want them in a holding cell with full security. Tell him I sent you."

"Understood, mama!"

Alcina beckoned each of her girls to come closer as she took them into a strong embrace and kissed the top of their heads, "my darlings, I'm so proud of you. When you deliver them to Dmitri, tell him I require he and Sylvia's presence at the council meeting, as I will of all of you. We have so much to do and in a short amount of time."

"Yes, mother," the three answered in tandem and set off, dragging the two offenders with them.

Your attention was now occupied by Angie and Karl, who were in deep conversation about what other parts of Mother Miranda's body they should hang onto; hands maybe, or the two halves of her skull; for decoration purposes and future warning. Something foreboding, of course. You giggled as Angie made a compelling argument about how the skull pieces would make for an excellent talking piece hanging on the front of City Hall; blonde hair drenched in blood and all.

It was around that time Alcina had caught onto the conversation and stepped in.

"Her body is going to the sun tower." She enunciated sharply.

Angie dropped her shoulders, "aww, c'mon. All of it???" she whined, "I really think you're missing out on an opportunity here. Can't I get a memento, too?"

Alcina gave Karl a very long drawn stare accompanied by a slow blink, the pursing of her lips and hand on her hip telling more than she needed to say, "see what you start?"

Karl shrugged dramatically, "pookie has a good point!" He nodded to Angie, "there are occasions for important mementos and I highly agree this is one of them."

Pinching the bridge of her nose exasperatedly, Alcina waved that same hand in the air and turned on her heel, "just - fine - whatever. But you both make damn sure the rest of her body is sealed up in a sun tower never to be opened again, do I make myself clear?"

She didn't actually wait for a response. She'd send Dmitri to check on it later. For the time being she really desired to change into some clothes that weren't shredded or drenched in blood before she met with the council.

As Alcina approached you and Donna, she took a deep breath and smiled, "Donna, will you please round up the council members? I'm heading to the council hall now."

"Of course," Donne nodded, "but, wouldn't you like to change first?" she inquired looking up and down Alcina's blood stained, tattered clothing.

A small pause passed but Alcina's smile only grew in size at her friend, "absolutely not."

"Georg was lost in the battle, I regret to report, and Clarice is in the medical bay," Donna went relayed to the group, "but we aren't lost on members as it stands right now."

She was right; the room was quite full.

As it was currently, everyone, plus some outside the council, were present: Alcina, you, Donna, Angie, Karl, Mitch, Dmitri, Gerard, Mateo, Elina, Sylvia, Bela, Cassandra, Daniela, Vincent, Brutus, and Salvatore were here to discuss the myriad of things on their large proverbial plate.

You could not have felt more out of place.

"My Lady," Donna began again, "where would you like to start?"

Alcina lit a loose cigarette and you did everything you could to hide how fucking sexy that was. Not that you really found smoking all that attractive, but goddammit everything that woman did dripped with finesse and sex-appeal.

A long cloud of smoke gathered in front of her and slowly began to dissipate into the air as she pondered, lifting her head Alcina leaned back into her chair with a face brimming with thought, "these mutants cluttering the city must be taken care of... Salvatore," she said with a hint of a bite, "your expertise on the matter would be much appreciated."

The air was crackling as all eyes turned to the man at the end of the left side of the table, his demeanor, as if it weren't small before, shrinking even further.

"Ah, y-yes, well, m-my Lady," he cleared his throat, "as I had explained earlier -"

"You explained only to the small group of us and I in the Eastern sun tower tunnel," she stated sharply, "please, indulge the rest of the room what you told us there."

Salvatore swallowed and cleared his throat once more, fixing his posture as he began his rickety tale.

Hearing it again didn't make it anymore digestible to you, it still provoked a grating anger and hatred to the woman who was quite dead, but that didn't take care of the problem that her experiments were still walking, or existing in limbo, freely all over the city.

"Since Mother Miranda no longer lives and breathes, they cannot function without the queen of their hive mind, to my knowledge at least."

Angie slapped her hands down on the stone table, "vampire Borg drones. I'll be goddamned - we're dealing with vampire - Borg - drones! Ok, so who's getting assimilated as the new Borg queen?" She asked dryly looking around at everyone, arms wide open as if asking for participants, "Eh? Anyone? Anyone? No takers for a creepy ass parasite to control a big freaky-deaky mutant army?"

"Angela Beatrice Beneviento!" Donna barked.

"Awww man, she used my full name." Angie grumbled with a crumpled pout.

Karl was not hiding his cackle, "BEATRICE?!"

"You are SO not allowed to use that against me!" Angie shouted, "Karl Adalbert Heisenberg!"

"Oh - oh! That is the LAST time I trust you with a secret!"

Donna was trying to get back in the middle and restrain Karl and Angie from going to blows while everyone else in the room was looking back and forth between themselves, Alcina, Donna, the two bickering on opposite sides of the table, to you, Donna, and back to Alcina.

You were stunned and unsure entirely what to do. Your eyes, too, turned to Alcina, who you assumed in cases like this would be brutal and demanding of seriousness. But she was chuckling silently, a smirk not hidden on her face at all as she let out a long drag from her cigarette.

"Adalbert?" Alcina's voice spilled out with a drawl, stopping everything in its tracks.

Karl slunk back into his chair with a thin line that was once his mouth. Angie too, slowly slipped back in her chair, eyes wide and face going blank.

You could tell by everyone's facial expressions that this was definitely not how anyone had expected this to pan out. Whether that be the situation itself or Alcina's reaction was your utter best guess.

Her chuckle permeated the otherwise twistedly tight air and you watched and waited for what more would unfold.

"Salvatore," she said smoothly, segueing effortlessly, her face not nearly as cross as she knew everyone expected her to be, "you were saying?"

He rapid blinked and fought with his jaw to work properly, "uh-hh... well, they, uhm, they will be useless with direct order. They have no real mind of their own, Miranda made sure to this. Unless you can alter their genetic make-up, I'm afraid they are shells of living beings. That... was why she wanted your blood so badly." He finished, looking directly at you.

Your skin crawled at that statement.

"Mm," Alcina mused, taking the attention off you, "Sylvia, would your scientists be willing to work with ours to see if we may make heads or tails of Miranda's work to... I don't know, help these creatures in some way? While locking them all in the sun towers and ridding them of their simple existence would be easy... if we could bring them back to some kind of functioning people again, I'd like to try."

Sylvia stepped towards the crowded table and nodded, "absolutely, My Lady. And if it isn't out of line," she hesitated, focusing on you then back to Alcina, "depending what we find with her research, may we run tests with her blood?

Alcina's eyes narrowed quickly, "she has a name and a mind of her own," her visage now settling on you with a firm yet comforting way, "that choice is entirely yours, draga. Do not feel pressured for anything."

"Apologies," Sylvia back-peddled, "I meant no disrespect." She stated bowing her head to you with a hand over her abdomen.

"N-no, no it's alright," you finally voiced yourself in front of everyone, looking to Sylvia who met your gaze, "please let me think about it."

She nodded once more and swallowed, "of course, of course. I am General Sylvia Martel. If you need anything or have questions, do not hesitate to speak with me."

Her smile was warm and you introduced yourself back.

After the tension of that passed, Sylvia took a deep breath, "now, in the meantime, what would you like us to do with the mutants?"

"There is plenty of room in Miranda's secret lair, is there not?" Dmitri chimed in.

Salvatore nodded, "yes, plenty. It would get them out of the way."

"Good thinking Dmitri," Alcina took another drag, "Salvatore you will aid him and Sylvia with whatever they need, is that understood?"

"Yes, My Lady."

The conversation went into depth about the damage done to the structures of the city for at least half an hour. You were impressed by the workability of everyone present and by the sounds of it, they'd have everything repaired or rebuilt within four to five days. If only humans were this efficient.

"And what about her?" Elina, the vampire who had remained pretty silent for the most part added smoothly.

The conversation was coming to a close on everything, but now all eyes turned to her in curiosity to the question.

Elina was motioning to you, her face void of malice or any emotion, really.

Once the confirmation was made, now everyone's vision flung to Alcina who had narrowed her eyes once again.

"What about her?" She countered sharply.

"Yeah, what about her?" Karl chimed in even sharper.

Elina took a breath and relaxed in her chair, "the vampires have already begun to talk. I realize she is not human, but she is also not one of us, a vampire or a lycan... I only assumed you would wish to know they're having opini -"

"Let them," Alcina stated briskly, "let them have their opinions. The fact of the matter is that she is an ally, and will now be a protected member of the underground. No harm is to become of her. Do I make myself quite clear?"

There was that uncomfortable silence again.

"You will all make that very clear. And while I'm at it, I would also make it clear that I am not taking advantage of my power; she is not a pet; she is not a commodity, nor a toy. She is a person all her own. A powerful one. If it still escapes anyone, allow me to elaborate, which I expect all of you to reiterate at great length when permitted; had it not been for her aid and magick - which she did not have to give, but did regardless completely unaware of the foe she faced - it is entirely likely I would be dead and you would all now be under the rule of that tyrant whose head I split in two, with her help. Yes, let them have their opinions, but make sure they're well informed ones. And... if this perceived problems persist, anyone is welcome to bring it up with me personally."

Everyone outside of the people you knew were already on your side began to nod and you breathed a short and quiet sigh of relief. Nothing like being put on the spot by a bunch of immortals in their own territory.

"Is there anything else?" Alcina asked coolly.

Not a word.

Cleary this concluded the meeting.

You remained in your seat one down from Alcina and waited patiently while everyone shuffled their way out of the room. Karl, Angie, and Donna made it a point to give you reassuring nods and smiles as they left, which was repaid with a beaming smile of your own; a silent thank you for everything.

And now it was you and Alcina in the disheveled room that was still full of Miranda's totes and things she was eagerly moving in.

Finally rising from the chair, you noticed Alcina had returned her focus to you after snuffing out her fourth cigarette in the black ashtray on the table.

She looked... intense.

"Draga mea I don't want you to put an ounce of thought into what Elina said," she began as she beckoned you to her with palms outstretched, "no one will dare lay a finger on you. You are welcome here."

Your smile was soft but tired as you took her hands and she tugged you close, "I thought that was all very much against the rules, though."

"I make the rules now," she tilted her chin upwards, the dark dried spots and splatters of blood making her look increasingly menacing if you didn't know a thing about her, "you are my companion. You will walk freely here whenever and however long you desire... which, I hope... is for a long time."

Her smile coaxed the weariness in you out in full force and you fell into her, nuzzling your nose into her chest, eyes closed, arms tightly wrapped around her torso, "kinda crazy isn't it?" you mused mindlessly.

"Hm?"

"All of it."

Alcina grinned, stroking your hair, "mm, yes. I can only imagine it is ten fold for you, dragoste."

"Oh, by far," you wearily chuckled, "byyyy far, babe."

The moments didn't feel long enough, but she held you and you could feel the exhaustion really setting in. You'd been thriving on the adrenalin rush, and pure fight or flight for several hours, and now that you were all safe, that come down was searching for you with vigor.

Leaning back to steal a peak at the clock on the far wall, you released a heavy sigh at the time. After 2 PM. In truth you didn't know how much time you'd been lost down here, but you unfortunately had a life above ground that was very likely in dire need of your attention.

Alcina hummed once more, cupping your cheek to bring your eyes to hers, "talk to me."

You groaned softly, "I have no idea what day it is. My work may have called out a search party for me, or fired me," you laughed, "but as much as I... don't want to go back up there right now, I know I need to."

Her eyes grew slightly severe, the slate color edging on a somber darkness, "you are spent, draga. Must you go? Would you not stay and rest here before venturing out?" Her inquiry was stitched together with the knowing you did need to return to your life, and also the heavy desire to keep you close, for the sake of pure selfishness but also your safety, "My bed is large enough for the both of us..." Alcina smirked through her coo, intending to sweeten the deal, "and if you stay until nightfall, I will take you home myself."

Oh, damn her.

Really, she didn't need to try too hard to convince you to stay, but this was a deal far too good to pass up.

"You know what?" You grinned, "you make a very compelling offer... I think I'll have to accept."

That was exactly what she wanted to hear.

Alcina smiled brightly, "an excellent decision."

Her kiss was languid and you let it linger for a thick moment before she was linking your arm in hers.

The manor was impressive beyond your wildest imagination. Alcina hadn't ever gone into great detail about it, but even what you had conjured in your mind didn't come close to how it actually looked.

It dripped class and sophistication. A perfect home for your vampire.

Her bedroom was your favorite spot so far, and not just for the obvious reasons. The white, red, and gold accents were a stark contrast from the rest of the house that matched her personality with perfection. That large four-poster bed was the only thing with black; those sheets and plush pillows looking all the more inviting as you looked around. Not to mention you'd kill for that closet space, to be honest. Plus the giant, lion-pawed bathtub? Yes please.

Whether it was the comfort of the room, the quietness of it, or the reverb of everything that had taken place in the last several hours, time did seem to slow and the two of you found yourselves looking at one another with great pause.

Yes. That had all really happened.

Alcina was the first to grab for you; wrapping one arm around your middle back, the other reaching to cup your face and study you like a fleeting sunset she wasn't ready to let go of.

Oh, the immensity of this was so much to take in.

You were here with her in the underworld; a place no human had been in decades. You aided her in the defeat of Mother Miranda; that blood-sucking leech, no pun intended, she never thought she'd be free of. You were powerful in your own right and quickly coming into your fae-hood; the possibilities for your future surely now endless. She could barely grasp it, and you, with any comprehension.

"How you've turned my world, you precious thing," she whispered, the softest most elegant expression gracing her face, "and how we've made it to this point, I..." her voice broke off, pulling you closer, resting her forehead against yours, "can hardly believe it's real."

Leaning into her wasn't hard at all; you could melt into this woman without question at any given time.

Closing your eyes and holding her tight, you nodded and smiled, "yeah, both our worlds got flipped upside-down, huh?"

Alcina pulled back ever so slowly and studied you again, her face turning just a little more somber, "you're alright; you're not hurt at all?"

You shook your head, "I'm fine, tired but fine... what about you?"

"Nothing time won't fix," she beamed, "your blood allowed me to heal very quickly during the fight, and endure much more than I probably would have alone."

"Plenty more where that came from, "you wiggled your eyebrows.

"Draga you are going to sleep. In my arms. As soon as I shower, that is." Alcina instructed firmly, "But, we can visit that offer later," she winked, "now let me find you something to wear."

She left you with a kiss and meandered to her closet, letting your curious eyes really take in your surroundings. You could get used to this place. Quickly. But, there was little energy for all of those thoughts as you felt yourself growing heavier and heavier. Waltzing slowly to Alcina's vanity, you let your finger trace her pearl handled hair brush and comb, eying the marble jewelry box, the ornateness of the wood around the mirror, and overall smiling at her fine things that you could tell were quite old. You loved it. Her room felt so comfortable, familiar even.

And then you caught her reflection in the mirror as she emerged from the closet.

"How this ended up in my closet baffles me, but," she said, walking to you with a warm smile, "I'm grateful as I don't think much of my things would fit you. Here," she offered the article to you, "this is an old nightgown of Bela's. She won't mind, I assure you."

It was a lovely navy blue satin thing; spaghetti straps, a cowl neck, and looked like it would rest just below your knee.

You took it a little warily but smiled up to Alcina and nodded, "if you're sure she won't mind... it's pretty."

Alcina hummed and leaned to press a kiss to your forehead, rubbing your arms lovingly as she grinned, "change and crawl into bed, I'll be there shortly."

You sighed.

When she returned from her shower, her hair was dried and nearly styled as she joined you in bed. She wore a slinky black nightgown much the same as yours but it hugged her in such a scrumptious fashion. If you weren't so tired, you would have exploited the slit up the side without remorse.

She turned out most of the lights aside from one small, dim lamp in the far corner from where the bed was, giving the room an ambiance of a fire-lit cabin. It was warm. Welcoming. Almost as beautiful as her.

Alcina lay facing you, and you her, taking the time, all the time in the world, to enjoy these quiet moments together.

Reaching out with a delicate hand, Alcina traced the side of your face while humming with contentment, "I must admit something to you, draga..." she said softly, memories wafting in like heavy smoke, "the night you fell into my life... when you went limp in my arms and slipped into the limbo abyss, I brought you here. To my bed. And I watched you for hours... I shouldn't have, but I couldn't let you go. I knew I had to, and I did, at least for a while," she laughed gently, "but... I admired you much like this once before. Though I must say, I like this better. I like you here, with me, in my home, in my world."

Oh. Wow.

The smile on your face couldn't be helped, "really? You little devil," you teased, "stealing me away? I can't believe you didn't tell me this until now."

"Well," she cast her eyes down briefly, "it's not something I'm necessarily proud of. I was terrified just as much as I was captivated by you. Bringing you back here was reckless and dangerous, for you and me but, you'd cast your spell on me whether I liked it or not. You struck me with such force... I hardly knew what to do with myself."

Vulnerability looked stunning on her.

You scooted closer to her and grasped her hand, "I'm glad I did whatever I did to snare you, then. I can't imagine living my life with the ghost of you forever; knowing in my core this was real, you were real, and you'd always be out of my reach."

Alcina took a deep breath and squeezed your hand, "perhaps fate never would have allowed me to stay away. I clearly couldn't." Her lips pulled into a tired smile.

"I'm happy you couldn't."

"Me too." She sighed, shifting in the bed and opening her arms for you.

As the two of you snuggled into each other, tiredness sunk into your bodies and swiftly carried you away.

Alcina whispered an 'I love you' before you fully faded, smirking at your exhaustion drenched reply, took one more deep settling breath and finally, after far too many years to count, drifted off to sleep without a worry in the world.

#alcina dimitrescu #alcina dimitrescu/female reader #alcina dimitrescu/original female character #alcina dimitrescu/reader #lesbian #f/f #fanfic #wlw #fic #donna beneviento #karl heisenberg #salvatore moreau #daniela dimitrescu #bela dimitrescu #cassandra dimitrescu #angie beneviento

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kayssweetdreams · 13 days

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The Perfect Finale Ch23

All of Wonderworld seemed to fly into a panic. Yin. The Banished Maestro. The Maestro who had nearly DESTROYED WONDERWORLD ITSELF had somehow come BACK. The Tims started chirping in fear as All Negati had retreated into the shadows, including the Negabosses. The Costumes had initiated to initiate an "Emergency Evacuation of Wonderworld" as BOTH Maestros were frozen in fear.

"It's Yin! What do we do?!" Emma shouted "Emma dear. You and the others must flee. Leave taking care of Yin to Lance and Me." Balan said, though his voice also was laced with fear. "But we still didn't find Kaylo! And if Yin is here, then his first target is going to be her!" Mei said. "Mei. This is not up for debate. Follow the Costumes so that you don't suffer a grisly fate." Lance said, his voice cold and serious, but also sounding scared.

Lora narrows her eyes "Lance. We are NOT leaving without her." She said. Unfortunately, the maestros weren't going to argue. Lance snapped his fingers and called upon the Negabosses. In a second, they dragged the humans into the deepest and darkest part of Wonderworld...the realm of the Negati. The humans resisted as much as they could...but when you pit a costume-less human against a Negaboss...it was a losing battle.

"Grim! Let go!" Iben said, hoping her own Negaboss would listen to reason. "Iben. No. You have no idea what Yin is like! If he is coming back to Wonderworld, then the power he will have will be overwhelming! He could kill you! Destroy ALL of you!" Grim shouts, trying to get Iben to stop struggling. "We can't just LEAVE Wonderworld! What will happen to everyone?! To Balan and Lance! They barely survived the last encounter with Yin!" Attilio yells.

"But Clown Bro! Yin isn't Lance! He won't take pity on humans! If he sees you he will most likely reduce you to a smoking crater!" Princess Marey said, holding the clown like a toy and shivering in fear. "Well we have to do something! He'll kill Balan and Lance!" Cass shouts. "There's nothing we can do...Yin is a maestro, and maestros are the highest power in Wonderworld...nobody can oppose a Maestro's power." Purrla pointed out

The humans felt more helpless than when Lance had trapped them all in Wonderworld the first time. If there was no higher power than Maestro, and Balan and Lance were the only two maestros that could BARELY fight Yin...what could they do Unbeknownst to them, Kaylo had been seeing what was going on, and she was trembling in fear. She was WITH what Yin wanted...and he was HERE. And nobody else knew where she was. "What am I going to do?! That crazy psycho is here!!" She panicked.

That's when she heard the coaxing Wonderworld sound again "Dear Child...You and your friends must defend the future of Wonderworld..." it whispered "But how?! How do you fight against something as strong as a maestro? Let alone one as crazy and bloodthirsty as Yin?!" She asked out. "You will know...Yin will not get what he is after..." the sounds said.

The pink haired girl didn't know what it was talking about, but that's when the crystalline heart began to float in front of her "Take me now...Descendant of Mirabella. Protect the heart of Wonderworld..." it said.

That was the thing she heard before everything faded to white...

Mei belongs to @sundove88

Rebecca belongs to @thehyperrequiem

Trisha Jane belongs to @lovelyteng

Lora belongs to @alex-frostwalker

Aria belongs to @shadowqueen402

#Balan Wonderworld

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woodsfae · 11 days

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B5 S03E22 Z'Ha'Dum previous episode - table of contents

Flashback central - Anna talking about signing onto the Icarus. Kosh saying "Z'Ha'Dum," Delenn and Sheridan talking about the Icarus landing on Z'Ha'Dum, Morden being a dickbag.

Anna doesn't seem very sincere, and I don't buy her "I'm an open book, but DELENN didn't tell you...no, I shan't say..." schtick.

I know I made all those predictions about how this will play out, but I really don't know how this is going to play out. Will the future be subverted and the prophecies less than self-fulfilling? I don't know!

Partner: "Do you think these guys did like, late-night interviews in the 90s or was it not popular enough?" Me: "Hm let me consult my extensive memories of being 0-6 years old in an anti-technology cult in the 1990s."

Anna: "I'm your wife." Dr Franklin: "That's your wife." Sheridan: "If that's my wife, then what was all my years of grief-processing for?"

Excuse me Sheridan, take your hands off Delenn. Don't shake her just because you're emotionally overwrought.

I am on Delenn's side in this argument. Delenn said clearly that anyone who wouldn't have served the Shadows would have been killed. Therefore, Anna was either dead, or completely opposed to the life and wellbeing of every living thing in the galaxy.

yeah yeah Sheridan, you have big emotions. But don't be a dick.

Londo's political maneuvering has resulted in a promotion and he's bummed because he can't be satisfied with anything. He's a voracious pit of longing that can never be filled. When he's made an ambassador, he rages because they're sending him away. When he's given a prestigious advisor position, he's mad because he deserved it twenty years ago.

Mr Morden Jr is here. Sounds like there's about to be an attack on B5.

Looks like Dr Franklin just found something in his scans on Anna Sheridan.

Anna is refusing to answer any questions about anything unless John goes with her to Z'Ha'Dum to hear the answers there. Not even why she stayed and let herself be declared dead and all her loved ones grieve her death.

Aaaan he agrees to go to Z'Ha'Dum if she explains why she stayed. Against future!Delenn's pleas.

Anna says - IPX found a Shadows ship buried under the surface of Mars. As soon as they unearthed it, it sent a message. IPX took some parts and put a homing device inside. When another ship turned up and took the first one, they tracked it. (didn't the second ship also kill a fuckload of people? She doesn't mention anything about that.)

The Icarus went to the coordinates and found the Shadows. In a pit. Very foreboding. She says it was an accident that the crew was killed, and also destroyed the comm system. She says they portrayed themselves as vunerable coming out of hibernation and cut a deal that they could stay and study their tech if they didn't try to contact their homeworld(s).

It would be a cool plot twist if Anna was telling the truth and he really was about to find out he's been on the wrong side this entire time. However, I don't think that's the case. The Shadows haven't been taking out governmental heads, they've been displacing populations, causing genocides, anmd spreading suffering.

I do wonder what this secret task he's given Garibaldi is.

It's incredibly foolish to run off to the ACTUAL HOMEWORLD of your mortal enemies. But there goes John Sheridan! trot trot. Well, they did hit him where he's most vulnerable. The wound of losing a loved one never really goes away.

They're taking the White Star - what a fucking security vulnerability! Also, so funny that Sheridan is taking the White Star when he's only SEEN the Minbari pilot it. Aviation law must have gotten lax in the future.

Z'Ha'Dum doesn't have a breathable atmosphere. He goes off, alone, with his formerly-dead wife. To the enemy's planet. With no breathable atmosphere. And just nods and hands over his gun. And doesn't even keep his oxygen mask at hand!

Dummy.

And Morden's here. AND Anna gives HIM John's gun! goddddddddddd

Poor Delenn, she looks wrecked. John's message to her talks about his time jump and Delenn's plea to not go to Z'Ha'Dum. He says he went because maybe in that future, he listened to her and DIDN'T go, so he's going in case it changes the future.

Well.

Justin on Z'Ha'Dum says that most of the higher races left this part of the universe, and the Vorlons stuck around to be parents. Clean your room, behave, etc. The Shadows, though, want to release their potentials...through conflict. "Those who survive are strong, better," Justin says. And Morden says if you knock over an anthill, the future generations get better at building anthills.

hm.

"...but I love my mom and dad," - noted parents-guy John Sheridan, hopefully.

"A few get lost along the way," Justin says. Yeah. Like the Narn got directly targeted and attacked repeatedly until they lost their telepaths, then almost lost everything? Literally they were T A R G E T E D. It isn't a neutral "they got lost," they were pummeled into near-oblivion.

Oop, the Shadows have arrived at B5.

Morden would have us believe that sonnets came from wars. Bullshit - sonnets came from the Italian courtly style and was developed in order to flirt better. (per Partner's masters of poetry)

Ahhh, the Shadows are hanging out over B5 as the hammer over Sheridan's head. Sheridan's too good at diplomacy, so he's preventing the species' growth through warfare. boooooo.

I could go through and rebut the things they're saying point by point but ehhh. It's a lot. But it's 99% bullshit and 1% mispresented.

Sheridan drops a bomb: Anna has been altered in the same way as the people who were being sent to become components in the Shadows ships.

Whoop, Shadow incoming. And gun incoming! John Sheridan had TWO GUNS. badadadada

oof, poor Sheridan. He's arming the White Star to detonate, and Anna's turned up saying that Anna is dead, but she can love John as well as Anna ever did.

"I want you to know that I love you, Delenn. Bye." he says, in the video message.

And there's the Kosh fragment! Sheridan jumps into the pit of doom in the center of Z'Ha Dum as the White Star bursts through the central dome.

Anna didn't like that!

Kosh said he couldn't help Sheridan if he helped then. And then he helped anyway. lol

I like the G'Kar voice-over. Andreas has such a marvelous voice and he really knows how to use it.

One of the fighters is missing - piloted by Garibaldi! And the marvelous CGI depicts it floating in a Shadows ship. Well. At least we won't run out of plot anytime soon. :P

#woodsfae b5 #john sheridan #anna sheridan #delenn

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spicyviren · 9 months

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After reading the case for Viren connecting with the Star Arcanum and him having visions because of it, I made myself a beautiful tinfoil hat.

Humor this giant spaghetti noodle:

This is a vision of Claudia performing Infantis Sanguine.

Viren is initially pulled out of his catatonic state when he sees Claudia wade into the water to retrieve the prison and immediately recalls her walking into a red sea. And this would track with his premonition, but the giant orb in the sky and the approaching wave are missing.

Entertaining the idea that this is indeed a vision of the future and not purely metaphorical elements of Viren's own mind, exactly what is the orb in the sky? An eclipse, a dark star, a black hole?

A full moon?

Vision Claudia drags her legs through the water, which trails red behind her (BLOODUH).

IRL, she's squeezing her blood into black pentapus ink...

...and Terry explicitly remarks on it.

The wave I'm less sure about. Aaravos repeatedly invokes the rising sun as kind of harbinger of Viren's death, so my semi-joking, semi-serious idea is that Claudia finds a loophole by somehow managing to prolong the night or otherwise block out the influence of the sun. So first thought was eclipse which, looking at Viren's nightmare revelation, uh-check!!

AND THEN cursory research confirms that the increased gravitational pull of a sun and moon aligned causes bigger waves called spring tide and I was like, yes very good for me that science is on my side for this magical made up scenario in which the rules are made up and the points don't matter!

SO! Wave is there because SCIENCE says so. But also, eh, kinda looks like sound waves! Like, a nice tableau of Claudia chanting the words of a spell in a pool of her own blood to save her father's life.

An additional element which further convinces me that Viren is having Star Primal-type visions is that child Claudia only skips on one side of Viren's footprints, foreshadowing her losing a leg.

I think the biggest question about Infantis Sanguine is whether or not "the sacrifice" is just some blood or all of the blood, and therefore, whether or not it's something Claudia would be able to do and walk away from using herself as The Sacrifice. Alternatively, she does carry with her a blue flower which begins to fall apart into the water, which if I really wanted to, I could maaaaybe buy as representing Sparklepuff (as sacrifice) or as Viren himself (who is also falling apart and dying lol). Could totally be something else though.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing I don't know the exact cause of Viren's horror at Infantis Sanguine - if it's simply the prospect of using any part of his children as a spell component, or, more plausibly to me, that he's simply operating under the reasonable assumption that "sacrifice" in this context = death.

Generally, I tend to believe that Aaravos doesn't straight up lie, but I do think he obscures a lot by simple implication and is happy to sit back while people stumble through a maze of their own incorrect interpretation. Things Aaravos never says are, "you must kill the homunculus" and, "one of your children must die so that you can live." The only time Aaravos explicitly talks about death and dying is in relation to Viren himself (and even then, he throws in mysterious stuff about death in tandem with the sun rising).

What he DOES say is this: And I will show you how to use every drop of his living essence to restore your own life...AND your future.

I'll admit that I'm reaching a bit here, but the fact that Aaravos is invoking the future with regard to Sparklepuff's living essence (as opposed to Sparklepuff's magical essence) does kind of hint to me that Sparklepuff wouldn't necessarily die as sacrifice. Which might also explain (what I perceived to be) Aaravos's rather muted response to Viren's refusal at what could essentially be a magical blood transfusion.

Last bit to add - the pentapus and ATLA by extension. This isn't my favorite thing to bring up because a lot of the time I feel like TDP is a bit in ATLA's shadow (but they DO keep making references...) so tossing in a tenuous but relevant nod to a character stealing a literal celestial body from the sky AND a solar eclipse blocking out the power of the sun.

#the dragon prince #tdp spoilers #viren #claudia #aaravos #speculation #tinhattery #crackpottery #noodoodlery #INFANTIS SANGUINE #!!!#.......infantis linguine #thanks for coming to my pasta boil

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duckyhowls · 1 year

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Daenerys Targaryen x Fem!Baratheon(Lannister) OC - 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘦𝘯 (P2)

DuckPanda Original - PART 1 Daenerys Targaryen x Lannister!OC (Mercia Baratheon)

SUMMARY: The young queen, Mercia Baratheon, is the last living heir to King Robert after all three of her siblings die horrible deaths. As the Seven Kingdoms are on the brink of collapse, Mercia does all she can to hold it all together - though struggles arrive when the Long Night draws near, and The Dragon Queen comes for her throne. But perhaps there is a compromise they can arrange?

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Mercia stroked the soft neck of her loyal lioness, Potami, who sat committedly at her legs as the Queen rested upon the Iron Throne.

Once again, the young queen was holding court with at least a hundred guards rowed on either side of the room, something that Mercia did just to ease her mother's paranoia. For all of Mercia's siblings had been killed, two out of three were assassinated – so she didn't blame her mother for becoming desperate to have a ridiculous number of guards positioned to protect her last remaining child.

Near Mercia's lioness stood The Mountain, only two paces left of the throne with Maester Qyburn. On Mercia's right was her uncle and her mother, staring down stoically at all of the lords that Mercia had summoned to Kings Landing to speak with.

"If the last Targaryen takes the Iron Throne, she'll destroy the realm as we know it," Mercia spoke, not taking her eyes away from her lioness whose piercing, blue gaze scanned the lords below. "Some of you are bannermen of House Tyrell, but House Tyrell is in open rebellion against the crown. With their help, the Dragon Queen has ferried an army of Dothraki to our shores. Unsullied soldiers who will destroy your castles and your holdfasts for their queen without a second thought. Her armies will burn your villages to the ground, rape and enslave your women and butcher your children."

Mercia lifted her green gaze to the many lords standing before her, all of them listening intently, hanging on to every single word that came out of her lips. "This is how Olenna Tyrell rewards centuries of service and loyalty?"

Her mother then spoke up, stone-faced. "You all remember the Mad King," she called out. "Do you remember the horrors he inflicted upon his people? His daughter is nothing less."

Mercia glanced at her mother for a moment. She hated it whenever her mother sounded so sure. Mercia, despite being the Dragon Queen's enemy, knew from the accounts of spies that Daenerys was nothing like the Mad King. From all that Mercia has witnessed through reports, Daenerys Targaryen was an anti-slavery monarch whose only goals are to free the people of the world and take back her ancestral throne. That, in itself, was different, but not mad in the slightest. Nonetheless, they had to convince the lords to join their forces with the crown. For the sake of Mercia and her family’s lives at least.

"In Essos, her brutality is already legendary." The words tasted bitter in Mercia's mouth, as she forced herself to twist these stories to make the Targaryen Queen sound like a mad tyrant. "She has crucified hundreds of noblemen in Slaver's Bay. When she grew bored of that, she fed everyone that opposed her to her dragons. It is my sworn duty before the faith to protect the people, and I will, but I need your help, my Lords."

"We must stand together," Cersei interjected once again, sounding confident and determined to convince these men to side with them. "All of us. If we hope to stop her."

The lords whispered amongst themselves for a moment before Lord Tarly stepped forward, stoic and tall as he addressed the young queen. "Your Grace, forgive me but she has three full-grown dragons. The same as Aegon when he conquered the Seven Kingdoms. How do you propose to stop them? With your lions?" Some men in the room laughed.

Mercia's hand that was stroking Potami's fur went still, and her eyes met the old Lord's. Then, she turned her head to Maester Qyburn and nodded to him.

The thin, frail man looked over at the lord, blank-faced as usual. "We are currently at work on a solution, my Lord."

Mercia stood then, clasping her hands together and giving the lords a small smile. "Please, discuss this together. Take your time, we have all day. For now, I must insist that I get off this damned, uncomfortable chair. I will call for the court again in a few hours."

Turning to her lion, she lightly tapped her hand on her thigh once. "Come, Potami."

The lords all watched the young Queen leave the throne room with the huge tawny lioness loyally trotting at her heels.

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"I am Eddard Stark," said the man that had been forced to kneel before the enraged common people of Kings Landing. "Lord of Winterfell and Hand of the King."

The man glanced towards his right, where, nearby, his eldest daughter, the Lady Sansa Stark, nodded to him in encouragement. On her left was the newly titled queen regent, Cersei Lannister, her golden hair long and ever so beautiful. She was smiling proudly at her eldest son, the newly crowned King of Westeros, Joffrey Baratheon, who stood near Eddard Stark, smirking satisfyingly at the discord before him.

Mercia watched with a frown from Sansa Stark's right as the man, her late father’s closest friend, who had been in the dungeons for days, was now being publicly humiliated. Mercia had never felt this ashamed of her brother as she did now, watching Joffrey seem so pleased at this poor man's suffering. Despite being a traitor to the crown, Mercia only had heard such kind things about Eddard Stark, that he was the most honourable and one of the most prominent lords in the country. And with every spoken word they have exchanged, even if there wasn’t much to be said, he always treated her with kindness and the upmost respect. This lord did not deserve this shame.

Looking away, down to the ground now, Eddard Stark continued. "I come before you to confess my treason in the sight of the Gods and men. I betrayed the faith of my king and the trust of my friend Robert. I swore to protect and defend his children, but before his blood was cold, I plotted to murder his son... and seize the throne for myself."

What? Mercia whipped her head to look at her mother, Cersei, who turned to look at her with a small smile, though the young girl could see the harsh warning behind the older one's green gaze. ‘Do not say a word’.

Meanwhile, the crowd had erupted in an outroar, one peasant in the sea of people even throwing a small stone at Lord Stark's head, causing the man to gasp in pain as blood seeped through the wound and drip from his brow. Beside Mercia, Sansa gasped and grasped the princess’ hand. Mercia turned her head away from the sight, squeezing Sansa’s hand back.

"L-let the High Septon and Baelor the Blessed bear witness to what I say: Joffrey Baratheon is the one true heir to the Iron Throne, by the grace of all the Gods, Lord of the Seven Kingdoms and Protector of the Realm." Through every word, Eddard Stark's face contorted, as if he were in pain of speaking falsehoods. Mercia knew of the letter and will her father had left behind, asking his friend to rule until Joffrey came of age.

The crowd murmured amongst themselves angrily, but Maester Pycelle stepped forward. "As in sin, this man has confessed to his crimes in sight of Gods and men. The Gods are just, but beloved Baelor taught us they can also be merciful." Maester Pycelle then turned to Joffrey and bowed his head. "What is to be done with this traitor, Your Grace?" he asked, spitting the words as if the man accused was some worthless demon.

The crowd jeered and called out angrily, but Joffrey raised his hand with a pleased smile, as if all this chaos excited him. Mercia knew that it did.

The crowd went silent, and Joffrey spoke, "My mother wishes me to let Lord Eddard join the Night's Watch. Stripped of all titles and powers, he would serve the realm in permanent exile," he continued, looking to his betrothed, the Lady Sansa. "And my Lady Sansa has begged mercy for her father."

The Lady Sansa smiled softly at the King and Mercia frowned. She knew her brother better than to be someone of mercy.

She was right when he announced his next words, and Eddard Stark's head was put to the sword and placed on a spike on the city walls for months.

Mercia never forgot the Lady Sansa's screams that dreadful day.

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Part 3 Coming Soon!

#daenerys x reader #part 2 #joffrey baratheon #sansa stark #cersei lannister #ned stark #game of thrones #dany x reader #fem x fem #queen #lannister #baratheon #targaryen #dragons #kings landing #maester pycelle #the mountain #khaleesi

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ladystoneboobs · 4 months

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A memory prodded at Theon. In one of his rare curt letters, Lord Balon had written of his youngest brother going down in a storm, and turning holy when he washed up safe on shore. -Theon I, aCoK

this little glimpse of balon/theon's strained long-distance relationship kinda fascinates me now. can't believe i'm going to defend balon as a father to theon in any way, however small, but i feel like hindsight has kinda blinded fandom into thinking balon gave up theon for dead and gone the moment he gave him away as hostage. this also carries the underlying assumption that balon was always going to rebel again making theon's life already forfeit to him.

thing is, while balon undoubtedly called his banners before theon came home, that also coincided with robert and ned both being recently dead, making that 2nd war seem really opportunistic. as if the only thing balon learned from his first rebellion was that king robert was strong enough to defeat him, the only man capable of defeating the great balon. so when that enemy dies, balon's crown is all but won in his mind, and with the death of ned too he could use his next war to take revenge on the (dead) man who took his son from him. maybe with robert's lifestyle he could have hoped to outlive him despite being older than robert, but robert and ned together? that must have seemed like a miraculous chance straight from the drowned god himself, a chance to rise up and take revenge that it was his duty to take for his people, even if it meant risking the life of his youngest child who'd been gone for 10 years anyway.

but before all that, even if robert being still alive was the real deterrant keeping him from warring again, he was, in effect, not only keeping theon safe by paying the hostage-ransom of keeping the peace, he was also keeping up a bare minimum connection with theon through rare and curt correspondence updating him on family events like aeron getting born again (and i'm assuming that's also how theon knew what asha's ship was named). idt we should so easily ignore that this is a society which views kinslaying as a grave offense regardless of circumstances or personal feelings, and one which greatly values male heirs over female heirs. i doubt balon was so much a feminist girldad that he just switched 12yo asha into the son slot right away as soon as all her brothers were lost. imo it was more likely a gradual process done not so consciously as asha proved herself worthy growing up and theon's time in the north stretched on and on. all until such point as asha had achieved son status and only son status at that, (maybe also coinciding with alannys leaving him so he had even less reason to keep up with her baby boy?), and then theon could be written off as belonging to the enemy, no longer ironborn or a son of balon, so sanctity of greyjoy life no longer applied to him. (real ironborn greyjoy son already killed by darth greenlander theon, from a certain point of view.) only then could balon be a not-father to theon, not welcoming him back home or even giving him a chance to prove his loyalty by providing intelligence on the northerners and the lands they were about to invade. (which could have made balon's war plans a touch less stupid. see, it all comes back to criticizing him in the end.)

in fact, come to think of it, i wonder if one thing ned and balon had in common is just not thinking of the danger of theon being executed as a hostage, not taking ownership of that possibility bc it hadn't happened yet. and hey, if it ever did come to that they could each tell themselves it would be the other guy's fault really, i was just doing my duty to my king/as a king to all my proud people. and that meant their actions didn't have to be obviously at odds with ned's view of himself as a good man opposed to killing children or balon's view of himself as great greyjoy patriarch and victim of the greenlanders (who could ofc prevail against them all if given the right chance).

#valyrianscrolls #asoiaf meta #asoiaf #theon greyjoy #balon greyjoy #unclear to me if balon would rebel if ned had survived robert's death #like hed obvsly still be stewing in resentment hankering for that great victory in his head #but ned and robert both dead w the north seemingly undefended was the impetus in canon and not a chance anyone could anticipate #and balon didnt even fight in that 2nd rebellion #so maybe not actually so bold anymore or eager to put his fantasies into practice if it meant fighting ned again actually in the north #taking kids hostage is fucked up and inherently abusive imo #but from a self-preservation standpoint why keep taking hostages if enough distance obvsly made them worthless?#ie the majority of people would still value heirs for the sake of inheritance and family honor if not love #thats a reasonable thing for people to assume including theon #(c)lsb

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supremechancellorrex · 1 year

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In all honesty I'm getting a little bored of people absolving the Jedi Order of even allowing slavery because the Order was drafted. Muhammad Ali was drafted and he resisted, and others have as well. There's always a choice, however dire the situation. The idea that a 'moral' organisation of Force Users powerful enough to lead the war effort, with abilities, lightsabers and mind tricks, couldn't even think to try is patently ridiculous.

The Reasons the Jedi Order isn't "good" anymore by the peak of the Republic

Slick: "It's the Jedi who keep my brothers enslaved. We serve at your whim. We do your bidding. I just wanted something more."

In the canon, as it is, Slick accuses the Jedi of keeping his brothers enslaved and nobody, not even Anakin or Obi-Wan, deny it. He didn't even accuse them of starting the slavery and system, just helping maintain it. The fact is, the Jedi could advocate for clone rights and side with actually helping people who need them in a meaningful way but they don't because they maintain the status quo, the Republic, however vile and corrupt it gets. Even when they're told, as part of Palpatine's cover story, that their men's brains have just been a little neutered by the 'inhibitor chips' to keep them less aggressive and essentially more servile.

Choose your side, a corrupt state blatantly sliding in to fascism (and believe me it wasn't subtle) as it fights separatists or actually freeing slaves being abused and killed right in front of you. The Jedi choose the former for the vast, vast majority of the War.

This is because...

Master enablers, again

Jedi Master Dooku: "The Jedi blindly serve a corrupt Senate that fails the Republic it represents."

More than once, the Jedi are accused of siding with corrupt entities over victims. This is shown explicitly in the Tales of the Jedi, but it continuously remains obvious with the clones and the Ahsoka trial. Now, I've heard people accusing panicking teenage Ahsoka of "making herself look guilty", but the Jedi weren't even fully convinced of her guilt. The reason they jettisoned her was primarily political.

This is what Mace Windu says in response to Obi-Wan's protest that things don't quite add up and Ahsoka could be innocent.

Mace Windu: "I understand your sentiment, Obi-Wan. But, if the council does as you suggest. It could be seen as an act of opposition to the Senate. I'm afraid we have little choice."

Apparently, innocence is a matter of "sentiment". Again, politics, their dated mandate and the system matter more to the Jedi Order than fighting for the right thing. When laws are unjust, it is a moral imperative to resist them, and allowing unjust courts and slavery is too big a pill to swallow even for war. Plenty of fascist states had soldiers and civilians follow inhumane orders, systems and laws throughout history, it still doesn't absolve them of just going along with it.

Not all that Compassionate

Ahsoka: "It's every citizen's duty to challenge their leaders, to keep them honest, and hold them accountable if they're not.”

From enabling slavery as opposed to resisting to just flat out callous decisions like never investigating Pong Krell's casualty numbers to leaving clones' bodies to rot while pausing a high stakes mission for the late Evan Piell to have a Jedi funeral, none of the Jedi's individual-based kindness absolves them of their role in the Republic's corruption and the systematic hierarchy of slavery that is GAR, draft or no.

Fives: "We are loyal soldiers. We follow orders, but we are not a bunch of unthinking droids! We are men! We must be trusted to make the right decision, especially when the orders we are given are wrong!"

At the end of the day, Fives was more of a hero than any of them and it shows. Resist, regardless! Sure, be smart and tactical, but resist, regardless. The fact we're even debating on the morality of system-propping organisations and characters allowing slavery for "the greater good" is making me despair.

#star wars tcw #star wars #the clone wars #clone rights #clone troopers #the clones deserve better #jedi critical #anti jedi #arc trooper fives #the jedi order aren't pure and innocent #I know I did a post like this before but whatever

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seths-rogens · 1 year

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HERE IS THE REPEATED IMAGE OF THE LOVER DESTROYED

AO3 | Part 2

The sounds of battle were almost completely quiet by now. It had seemed, for a while, that the clanging of swords and the screams of wounded and dying men weren’t getting any quieter, no matter how far away they walked from the battlefield.

It was slow going. Stephen was unsteady on his feet, steadily losing more blood as they continued on. He only remained standing because of the weight Edmund took, hoisting his arm around his shoulder and steadying him at the waist.

One of Stephen’s hands sat clutching at the back of Edmund’s armour, while the other pressed tight against the wound on his abdomen. He could feel the warm, wet red of his blood slipping down over his fingers and dripping onto the forest floor. He had been stabbed before of course - it came as part of the job - but never quite like this. He could feel himself dying, his life slipping through his own weak grasp.

It was no longer a case of ‘if’, but ‘when’.

He hoped no one was following them, as he was surely leaving a stark crimson trail behind, and he would hate for them to catch Edmund. He deserved his freedom, not a cruel death at the hands of a man who craved power over all else.

Despite their opposing crests and colours, Stephen had become quite fond of Edmund over the previous months. He had been wary at first, of the man in the deep purple cloak who came to his chambers at night whispering the secrets of his enemies.

That was treason, he could be killed for that, people had been killed for less.

And yet, in spite of this, every Tuesday, at 9pm on the dot, when the castle was dark and the wains were sleeping, Edmund would slip in through the cracked window. He would sit at Stephen’s small dining table, a goblet of wine in both their hands, sipping idly as he detailed King Henry’s next nefarious plan. An invasion here, an execution there. His cruelty was becoming far too normal.

Stephen couldn’t tell you when their meetings progressed to more. When they moved from the table to the bed, lying next to one another like parallel streams. When Edmund’s standoffishness became tender, gentle. When they finally bridged that unspoken divide.

Edmund fantasised of a better, freer future. A peaceful one. He would whisper about it at night, under the blankets like they could hide from the world.

He believed Stephen would be the one to start and lead the revolution, to build an army and fight back. Take the crown for himself.

Stephen hadn’t been so sure. He was only a Lord, after all, presiding over a small town of a few hundred since the deaths of his parents. He didn’t think people would follow him - didn’t think they had reason to - but something about Edmund’s ferocity almost made him try anyway.

Stephen was surprised when the townsfolk rallied all too quickly to follow him. He turned to Edmund with a confused smile, receiving a told-you-so smirk in return.

They had a war to fight.

Yet now, here they were, a crown traitor traipsing through the forest with the dying would-be king half hanging off his back.

Stephen dug his heels, bringing them to a stop. “You’ll have to go on without me. I don’t think I’ll make it much further.”

Edmund stumbled, nearly dropping Stephen from around his shoulders. Stephen winced, sucking in a breath as the action tugged on his wound.

Edmund searched his face, trying desperately to meet his eyes. Stephen denied him.

“No. I cannot. We must keep moving.” Edmund grit his teeth, readjusting his grip and taking another step forward.

“Ed-Edmund… You must leave me, I am only slowing you down.” Stephen spoke desperately, avoiding Edmund’s watchful eye. It was over for him, he knew that, but he couldn’t let Edmund get caught. “If you stop me here you can still escape before someone comes looking.”

Edmund dropped his hold on the arm around his shoulders to instead grip Stephen’s jaw and force eye contact. His touch was first but still gentle. Edmund was always gentle. “I will not leave you, my liege. There is still time for you yet. Okay?”

A pit opened in Stephen’s stomach, he felt a prickle behind his eye. “Okay.” He whispered.

Stephen ducked his head. They took another step forward, then another.

“We keep walking,” Edmund grunted. “If we walk to the edge of the forest, we’ll see it. Your manor is just over the ridge. We can make it.”

He spoke with a sick sort of desperation, a refusal to be swayed ran tight like a bowstring down the line of his body. It was only a matter of time, Stephen knew, but if his presence offered Edmund comfort, then for this short while he would allow it.

They were quiet for a while - the only sound the squelch of wet leaves beneath their boots - as they made slow progress through the forest.

Stephen could feel his eyes drooping, his hand falling limp from where it clutched his side. He stumbled, falling to his knees and dragging Edmund with him. He heaved in a gasping breath as Edmund dropped to his own knees in front of him. He felt warm, calloused palms cup his cheeks, a thumb stroking softly over his cheekbone.

“You have to stand up, Sire. We’re almost there. I can see the break in the trees.”

“Edmund, I am no king.” Stephen covered Edmund’s hand with his own, wetting it with his blood. “I never was.”

“You were mine.” Edmund whispered. “You are mine.” He sniffled, biting back tears. “Come on, if you just stand up I can carry you, and we can make it. We can get you help.”

“No.” Stephen heaved a breath.

“Stephen, please.”

“No.” Stephen smiled. “It is my time. I have accepted that.”

“No.” Edmund shook his head. “No. We can still help you. I can still save you.”

“Edmund. My love. I am not long for this world.” Edmund choked out a sob. “Lay me down. If I am to pass, I would like to be comfortable.”

Stephen could only stare, taking in every feature of the other man’s face as he laid him down, as he cried for him. He was set down on a bed of leaves, soft green moss and small white flowers. It was a beautiful place to die, he only felt sorry to mar it with his blood.

Edmund knelt beside him, running tender hands through the dirty strands of his hair. “I do not want you to go. I am not ready.”

Stephen reached up, caressing Edmund’s cheek, stroking away a tear. “You will see me again.”

“Not soon enough.” Edmund cried, forcing a shaky smile.

Stephen could taste copper in his mouth, though he could no longer feel the pain of the hole in his side. He felt drunk, his movements sluggish. He smiled, but at the way Edmund flinched, he assumed it must be gruesome.

“Sunshine, my love. If I am to die, would you kiss me? Just once more? I have a long road ahead of me.” His voice was weak. Each word trailing after the other.

Edmund smiled, a beautiful sight for Stephen’s tired eyes. “Of course, my sweetheart. One for the road.” He chuckled wetly, leaning down and pressing a hard kiss to Stephen’s red lips.

___________________

When Edmund pulled away, still cradling his lover’s face, he sucked in a harsh breath. Stephen’s bleary eyes gazed up at the sky, to where the sunlight dappled its way through the high leaves like stars.

“Can you see that, Edmund? The stars are out already.” A soft smile fell upon his face, his eyes awe-filled. “Aren’t they beautiful?”

It was daylight. Several hours from night. Stephen was fading fast.

Edmund could not pull his eyes away from the man beneath him. He held back a whimper. “They are. Just like you.”

“Oh, Edmund. You flatter me.” Stephen laughed, his breath whistling in his chest. “Would you get my dear Robin. She does so love the stars, and I think I can see a new constellation. I’m sure she would like to name it. Though perhaps I should, I did find it first after all…”

“Yeah? What’re you going to name it, my dear?”

Stephen smiled, meeting Edmund’s gaze. “Mîn frîge, sunnanscîma. For you.”

Edmund laughed, though it sounded more like a sob.

Stephen’s eyes glazed over, a gentle smile still tugging on his lips. He fell limp in Edmund’s arms.

“No. No!” Edmund near yelled, shaking Stephen’s body in his arms. “No, please, it isn’t time yet. I need more time!” His voice cracked, dropping to a whisper. “We didn’t have enough.”

Edmund curled over Stephen’s chest, as tears spilled down his face - wracking sobs that shook his whole body - and mixed with the red blood that still painted his lips.

He cried until he was tired. Until his body felt weak and empty.

He pulled away, adjusting Stephen’s limbs so he was lying straight, clasping his sword against his chest. He looked dignified.

If not for the blood, he would have looked as if he was sleeping.

Edmund surrounded his body in the flowers he found around the edges of the meadow - pink corncockle and pale bluebells. He weaved him a crown of yellow blossoms and white snowdrops, and laid it to rest upon his head.

He looked regal. Like the king he was never able to be.

Edmund wiped the blood from Stephen’s mouth and knelt back. It was easier to pretend he was asleep. That with a nudge, or a whisper in his ear, his lips would pull into a smile and he would open bleary eyes. That he would tackle Edmund into the flowers, pressing kisses everywhere he could reach.

But Stephen lay still. He would not awaken.

Edmund sniffed, wiping the tears from his face. He leaned forward, cradling Stephen’s face in his palms and pressing one last, lingering kiss to his lips.

He stood on shaky legs and turned, began to walk away.

He couldn’t turn back. If he did, he’d never leave.

———————————————

aaaa hello it’s been a long time since i’ve written or posted fanfic so i hope everyone likes this!

i don’t have many steddie mutuals but it would be very cool to kinda join the gang lmao

sorry for the MCD, this came from a writing prompt i was given in one of my classes and i couldn’t help myself!

Mîn frîge, sunnanscîma = ‘My love, sunshine’ in Old English

reblogs appreciated!! <3

#MAIN CHARACTER DEATH #MCD #steddie #steddie fic #steddie ficlet #steve harrington x eddie munson #steve x eddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #king steve #except almost literally #my fic: hitri

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kitkatopinions · 13 days

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So since you're rewatching A:TLA, do you have any problems with how Jet and Hama, victims of colonialism & genocide, were depicted?

Every time there's a 'revolutionary revolts too close to the sun' plot, I have a 'this again' exasperated reaction and on the general whole, I think that less people ought to make them. More often than not, these plotlines fail and are bad and what they're saying winds up feeling like propaganda. However, on the whole, I think that ATLA does it about as well as I've ever seen.

Please keep in mind that I haven't seen the later seasons of ATLA in a few years, so there might be things I'm not remembering specifically with the Hama episodes. I've never really analyzed this show to the extent that I've analyzed other things, as well, so... Yeah.

But, when looking at these sorts of revolutionary revolts too much plots, there are a couple of questions that I feel are worthwhile to ask:

Are the victims actually treated as victims and is their suffering given weight and understanding? Have the mains also suffered at the hands of this oppression?

Is the show itself and the main characters interested in opposing and dismantling the system of oppression?

How does the show portray violence against oppressors in general?

What is the revolutionary doing that makes them an enemy? How is that conflict articulated?

Are the antagonistic victims treated worse or better than the actual oppressors?

How much time is devoted to fighting revolutionaries who revolt too much compared to the actual oppressors?

I remember the conflict with Hama less than the conflict with Jet since I just watched the first season, so I'll be using Jet as an example, whereas I can't really speak much on Hama.

Jet's suffering at the hands of the Fire Nation is acknowledged and sympathized with, both with Katara and iirc also gone into in the episode where Jet meets Zuko. In fact, Katara compares her situation with Jet's because they've both lost parents to the Fire Nation, and Aang lost his entire people to them. This isn't a case where the main characters are less affected or not at all affected by the oppression that the revolutionary who revolts too much faced. The entire show is built around saving the world from the oppressors and colonizers and restoring peace. The very premise of the show is that Aang and his friends must help dismantle the system of oppression in place. If this was a case of these revolutionaries reacting to their oppression, but the mains and the story not really caring about ending the oppression (or even worse, fighting to maintain the system,) then it would be an instant no from me. But the story is actually about ending the oppression. The show in general doesn't portray violence against oppressors as bad. The gaang uses force when necessary even to the point of injuring people iirc, and the soldiers fighting the Fire Nation are also portrayed as heroes point blank period despite the fact that they're most likely willing to kill even though we don't actively see it (in a kid's show, this is more than fair.) Even though Aang himself wants to follow the strict 'no killing' policy of his people, the others want to kill the Fire Lord and they're never portrayed as bad or even really in the wrong for wanting it and working towards it if I remember correctly. And even then, Aang was more or less coached by other Avatars of the past to kill regardless with them talking about how they should have or did kill for the greater good, and Aang was fully set to tragically disregard his own moral code to do what had to be done until he realized there was a way for him to defeat Ozai without comprising what he believed in (also not bad in a kid's show if you ask me.) What made Jet different from the violence of the mains was that Jet wasn't only hurting the soldiers and leaders of the Fire Nation in order to free people from oppression, he was actively taking the stance that civilians and children (and I think also innocent Earth Kingdom civilians but I could be misremembering,) were a necessary causality to defeating the Fire Nation. Jet - and I believe Hama - were both portrayed as people who had been deeply hurt but who fell into the trap of dehumanizing their oppressors that resulted in them no longer caring who deserved what punishment, or what would cause the least amount of harm. Instead of being villainized for hurting the people who hurt them, they were acknowledged as having gone too far and hurting even children who had no part in the horrors that had happened to them. Jet is treated with much more sympathy and given much better treatment than Ozai. Despite the fact that Jet dies, he's given not only ample sympathy before he does, but a full 'redemption arc' for lack of a better word. He regrets the fact that he hurt innocent people, he's forgiven, and ultimately recognized as a hero. The fact that his early portrayal included him learning not to dehumanize the enemy to the point of killing children didn't mean that he wasn't still a freedom fighter who wound up doing good, it didn't mean he was unforgivable, it didn't mean the heroes wanted him to die, and in the end his actual death was a tragedy. The only reason Ozai didn't die - in contrast - was because of Aang's desire to not compromise his principles and to carry on the traditions of his people. Even Ozai's own son wanted him to die. When he was defeated, Ozai was actively made fun of. He spent the rest of his life in prison. He was treated as an evil vile man. Fighting Jet and Hama and talking about their crimes is devoted to literally two episodes out of sixty two, whereas the whole premise of the show is defeating Ozai. Not much time is expanded to talking about revolutionaries who go too far.

Again, it's been a long time since I've seen the Hama episode, so I can't speak much to that (and if Hama was more mishandled, it makes the Jet storyline feel different.) The problem with ATLA I feel is... Why did they have to have episodes focused on revolutionaries revolting too much in the first place? Why did two white men who have been criticized for their carelessness in portraying Asian cultures feel the need to write it? I don't know. A part of me is of the opinion that it's not wrong to talk about how dehumanization of the enemy isn't going to help anything and can lead to just more active harm. For another example, I don't feel like I have a problem with President Coin in the Hunger Games being a bad guy and even less of a problem with Katniss's struggles with her and Gale's different moral codes when it comes to Capitol Citizens. I do think that maybe they went a little hard on it, like they had to make Jet really bad to try and ensure that the people who get angry at anything that isn't revenge based excessive punishment wouldn't get angry at them. But those people are always going to have a problem with it no matter how it's portrayed, and it made Jet feel a little unrealistic. I can acknowledge that they should've made it something that maybe was less pre-meditated, or that it could involve citizens but not so decimating an entire town... I don't know.

But I personally do not believe in cold-blooded revenge based violent punishment - especially collective punishment - if it's at all avoidable. However, another part of me is just sick of seeing it in general and is confused about why it has to be said all the time. Writers invent these characters so they can talk about the evils of revolting too much, and it's like... Why? What value did it really have to Avatar? It didn't do much to set up the future conflict of Aang not wanting to kill the Fire Lord, and it didn't do much to establish Sokka's morals imo. So what was it doing there? Just to establish that Fire Nation citizens don't all deserve to die? They do well enough portraying that throughout the whole show. So why would they need the Jet conflict? I go back and forth. There's a conversation to be had about whether or not Jet's storyline or Hama's storyline needed to happen, and I think the end conclusion is that it didn't need to be made. But in regards to Jet in particular, I think it was done about as well as a person can do that kind of storyline. As I said, I haven't seen the Hama episode in a hot minute though, so that one could be a lot worse than the Jet one and I'm just not remembering.

#atla #is there an atla critical tag I should be using?#atla critical #just to be safe

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tired-reader-writer · 3 months

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Finally, finally I am back on my ArSen bullshit. So starting from where I last left off (chapter 94):

Fr tho, Hilmes, where was this when I needed you to have the attitude? This just reads as copium ffs.

I normally don't give that much thought to Team Zahhak's philosophy, but this time I decided to sit down and mull on it a bit. Evil is the way of the world, the root and origin of all things, and humans have established “justice” to oppose it. The problem? Justice isn't One True Thing as many like to think— to borrow Narsus' metaphor it's actually like a thousand stars fighting to dominate the sky. And what this causes is conflict, everybody thinks they're right, and therefore the others must be wrong, and to prop up their own justice blood is shed.

One would normally associate bloodshed with, y'know, evil. Which makes me wonder if Team Zahhak thinks of justice as a hypocrisy— in fighting for their justice the pain and loss the fight inevitably causes is no different from that which evil would cause. In seeking to banish evil they just kept inventing evil itself over and over, with a prettier facade on top.

Maybe Team Zahhak sees it as a pointless, fruitless endeavor, and thus chases evil in its own right instead of dressing it up in pretty ideals that ultimately mean nothing.

That's my interpretation of these panels, I buy that line of philosophy obviously, but I think I can see where they're coming from, especially considering the origins of Zahhak himself (which, to make it as vague as possible, he was born from evil, so surely that must've shaped his worldview?).

I want to say, “what did you think was gonna happen when y'all went crazy like rabid dogs on the capital and let Bodin run free to do whatever he wanted???” because I am right— but my anger is tinged with dread/grief because the consequences. They're going to bite Hilmes in the ass.

Interesting. VERY INTERESTING. I'm spinning this in my head. What can I do with this, hmmmm~

They were conscripted, ey?

There's something about their faith taking the shape of brutality. That their “love” for their God wasn't characterized by, like, I dunno how to put it, a genuine connection with Yaldaboath nor spirituality nor anything like that if that makes sense, but rather in the form of... Gah, my brain isn't cooperating.

The way they were so proud of killing the defenseless and vulnerable (women and children) leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

“I think we've done our duty to God well enough to call it a day.” my god my fucking god, like, killing enough people means you did your job means you don't have to do anything more no meaningful deeds or introspection you don't need to do more you've murdered and that's apparently fucking enough shut uuuup.

I know they were manipulated by those above them, the clergy and the higher-ups who wanted this campaign but ugh. Ugh.

If one were to only look at the deeds of followers of Yaldaboath, I don't think it would be inaccurate to say that Yaldaboath is an ever-hungering bloodthirsty god who demands bloodshed and human sacrifice as worship.

Of course, it's not the case, I'm sure the faith means something else, something far less murderous, but there's a point where the original intent and purpose is lost and the twisted version takes over. It is the real, tangible impact it has on the world and the people in it that ultimately matters.

Of course, this is not a problem unique to the faith of Yaldaboath, the Parsian priesthood is pretty corrupt (@innerchorus made a post about that, I'll link it if I can find it again), and y'know, all institutionalized, big religions seem to follow the rough chops. Hell, in my homeland's history one of our kings went to war to seize Buddhist texts from another king!! Like what!! That's so antithetical to what Buddhism is supposed to be about!

Where am I going with this? Honestly, I've got no fucking clue. I just needed to rant, I suppose.

Everybody's big sister comes into clutch and nudges Arslan to not lose focus.

Also, is it just me or does Arslan's hair seem kinda long in this scene? Like,

Am I imagining things???? Was his hair always this long?

After two whole rants in the same post I no longer have the brain juices to dedicate any meaningful thought about the Royal Academy thing but I will say that I definitely want to know more about it. Who attends it? Is it a boarding school? Do other regions of Pars have similar academies? How do children of nobility and the wealthy in more rural areas learn? At home, with private tutors? This was never elaborated on and I'm left with a bucketload of questions.

They!! Alfarīd looks so cute here, look at that smile! And Farangis is so fond. I really love their bond, though I wish it was featured a little more (I guess it kinda is, but it involves Farangis pushing Alfarīd onto Narsus and I'm not sure how I feel about that so yeah).

And between and behind the two there's one of the dresses Alfarīd showed Narsus later on! The one she didn't end up buying, though I have to admit it's a cute design.

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