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#and we see his journey towards redemption
dangerousdan-dan · 1 day
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you have one chance to introduce someone to Damian Wayne what one (1) comic issue do you choose?
I know what mine is but I'm curious about other peoples so 😈
BESTIE! That's a really good question. I thought about it and I have to go with Batman and Robin (2011) #8, "Born to kill: Black Dawn".
To me, it encapsulates everything I love about the character. It shows him at his lowest (after he broke the no kill rule) and it shows his motivations behind his actions (that he literally did it to protect the people he loves). It goes deeper and shows that behind his snappish attitude there's a child afraid of not being enough. He doesn't want to disappoint Bruce, but he also wants to take care of him and their home, and he's willing to die to make it happen.
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But MOST importantly, this issue is about him trying his best to be better, to do what's right. I see this as the first step towards his path to redemption.
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Look at him! He's just a kid, afraid of what he is and of what he could be, ashamed of what he has done. He wants to help and to protect, but he's still figuring out how to do it without relying on the only thing he has knows since he was born: violence and blood.
That's why that "Don't give up on me, father" always hits me. He's more than aware that he has a long journey ahead of him, and that it won't be easy, but above anything else, he's a fighter, and he won't give up either.
And last but not least, we get these beautiful panels of Damian playing with Titus. Yep, the same dog he didn't want at first, but who will soon become his most loyal companion :')
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sidsinning · 1 year
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 My girl Cinderella never once looked to be saved by a man, never once dreamed of a prince coming to rescue her.
(It ain't wrong to want a prince to save you but having that trope be part of so many female characters especially coming from male writers is blegh so I am appreciative to the ones who don't)
After the spell wore off she was like "ok, I was super into this guy, but realistically I probably won't see him again. That's ok, the experience itself is something I will treasure. I'm just grateful for the night of freedom I had to myself overall."
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Like??? She's so real legit. She did not just focus on the prince and his handsome face for the rest of the movie. This is why she's (supposedly) the oldest Disney princess yalls 💅💅💅
She knows she isn't being treated right but has to deal with the cards she's dealt. She KNOWS a loud rebellion would get her nowhere which is what she tells Bruno in the beginning of the movie when he acts up after being mistreated by the cat. Which is 1000% the reality of any child coping in an abusive household, and she knows it.
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(Literally wtf she has to give a dog advice bc she related to its mistreatment; like her family puts her almost at the same level as a dog and she knows it)
Girl is smart and pragmatic. Logical. She gets mad and frustrated, but knows she needs to hold those emotions back to not be punished further by her step family which would only make her life even harder. She balances out risk and reward.
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Which is why the fairy godmother is such an iconic figure. An abused and lonely child who's only dealt with the harsh realities and mind games of life, of maturing far sooner than she should've, getting to throw it all away for one night to embrace magic and freedom? The absolute dream come true she's always wanted.
Oh and I am totally forgiving towards the romance being stale. That the prince was just decoration for her journey and everybody knows it. Mans was there to be her arm candy and I'm here for it. It never got unnecessary screentime or infringed on her story and independence. I chalk it up to a purely fairytale element to sweeten the happily ever after ending.
(Fr think about it. The MAN being the background arm candy to a woman in 1950s American cinema. Ain't no way.)
Also we got his goofy wild ass in Cinderella 3 so redemption is complete
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valoisfulcanellideux · 2 months
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These Stones Remember - cover reveal
A few days ago I posted the full title and cover reveal for my upcoming Pixlriffs-centric (Copper King & Phantom Assassin) story, A Tale of Two Devotions. That beautiful artwork was commissioned from the amazing Sabira | @floweroflaurelin and at the end of the post I mentioned that I had one other commission currently sitting with them.
Well, that commission is now complete, and ready to share with you.
It's the cover for my 178,000-word fic These Stones Remember, and I'll admit that seeing this final image got me feeling incredibly emotional. There may or may not have been tears shed. There were. Oh heck, there were.
So here it is:
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I spent almost a year of my life writing These Stones Remember, and Sabira has more than done justice to these characters and this world. The Copper King, Onorait Paix al-Lareiff. His 2,000-year-old present-day version, Pix al-Lareiff. His devoted and faithful Chaperone, Mhenheli al-Q'isaraf. His adorable little soul companion kitty, Malin. And the Vigil and the Statue, and so many other tiny little details that you probably won't even realise have been inserted into the illustration unless you've read the story.
To say that I'm thrilled with this cover would be the understatement of the year. (I know this year is still young, so let's include last year, too!) It was a delight to work with Sabira, and to see the in-progress sketches and eventually this final render, with the beautiful hand typography for the title.
And, if the cover has piqued your interest but you've not yet read the story? Welp, here's a taxi to some sweeping ancient history :)
"The past changes a little every time we retell it." A wandering scholar and his ethereal companion find a long-abandoned treasure. At first glance he thinks has simply stumbled upon a ruined ancient capital, filled with the promise of incredible archaeological treasures and riven through with the history of a long-dead civilisation. But when he wakes up one day and finds the city has come alive around him, its people bowing to him as though they know and respect him, he has unknowingly begun a journey toward redemption for a terrible mistake he made two thousand years ago.
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heartgold · 2 months
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Something ingenious about ep3 is how Battler is at his worst here but in a markedly different way from his ep1 characterization... Also it's meta!Battler who acts that way rather than his piece, which marks not only the author shift but also this depiction being deeply allegorical
Like. Ep3 meta!Battler is super dismissive of Beatrice even as she tells him about the most horrific parts of her trauma through a fantasy lens that doesn't even obfuscate the worst of it (and Battler actually... manages to decipher it with some prodding from Ronove), and yet he still brushes it off. His relationship to Beatrice in the meta layer is super antagonistic at this point. He correctly figures out that she's confessing to something very painful but doesn't care to think about it or why she's bringing it up because she has already been characterized as a heartless cruel monster in his eyes, therefore she hasn't earned his sympathy and good faith. It might as well be a trick just to confuse him
The way their relationship improves the moment she starts "reforming" and acting all cute and pitiable is important because it shows her both playing into his fantasy of "fixing" her and making her change her ways just to sweep the rug from under his feet and prank him about it at the end AND playing into this good victim fantasy for herself and genuinely relishing in the understanding and good faith he was willing to extend to her once she played the role he wanted her to (this is blatantly Sayo's complex with becoming the person others want her to be in order to deserve their love... It hurts........)
This marking the author shift and being a meta-only dynamic is super interesting to me  because it can mean so many things. I like to think of the metaworld as a representation of the journey in understanding the story from within. We know that from the IRL angle Tohya wrote ep3 while not knowing the full truth and believing Eva to be the most likely culprit based off snippets of memory and her survival. You could read Evatrice claiming the role of the antagonist while Beato goes through a "redemption arc" as Tohya struggling with his memories, deep down knowing the painful truth but being unable to access that memory or accept it, therefore pointedly scapegoating Eva to process his feelings of guilt and grief towards the witch
But by wishing her to be blameless and pinning everything on someone else he is neglecting her heart and looking away from her true feelings, from all the things she wanted to communicate and from all the circumstances that brought upon the tragedy (and ultimately, from Battler's sin). I can see this internal struggle being meta-translated as ep3 Battler being selfish like that and refusing to engage with Beatrice until she becomes "good"... You can feel a lot of self loathing in it. It's a rocky start to their parallel journeys until they both Get It and it's so interesting to me how, in hindsight, it's very clear that it truly starts when the stories change hands
Overall it's a VERY good discussion of projection, with the added lens of how we engage with stories. How only seeing what you want to see flattens the complexity of humans into characters. Beato's "redemption arc" is tropey for a reason! She even shouts out dating sims and anime as the inspiration for it to make it clear this was just her reducing herself to a character archetype! Umineko is very critical of the idea of redemption in the first place and it really shows here
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cobra-diamond · 5 months
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What I Liked From Azula in the Spirit Temple
Now that Azula in the Spirit Temple has been out for a few days, I can confidently say I found the majority of the book compelling and worthwhile. However, it is difficult for me to say I enjoyed it due to the dark and depressing subject and its flaws, which I will cover later, but not all art is meant to be fun and I would consider Spirit Temple to be a work of art rather than entertainment. Here are the things I liked from Spirit Temple:
It Tackles Heavy Topics
Azula’s feelings toward Mai and Ty Lee’s betrayal. Her relationship with her father and mother. Azulon’s order to have Zuko killed. Her mother’s disappearance. Vengeance. Feudal piety. The consequences of going against royalty. Azula’s ability to reach into a dark place. These have been dangling plot threads since the show ended, for fifteen years, and this comic sufficiently touched on them to provide much-needed context and clarity.
The Asylum is Contextualized
A dumping ground for rebellious noble children. A place for the most traditional families to imprison their unruly daughters (read: sluts and lesbians) to punish them for “transgressions” against their proper roles in society. Scraps of humanity drifting down the river of life. This is high-level stuff with direct historical analogues. Not only is this how Azula saw her imprisonment at the asylum (dumped there to be humbled and broken) and saw herself while there (a scrap of a person), it world-builds the Fire Nation’s society in a much-needed way.
Hair-Down-and-Angry Azula
Thematically perfect. Not only does this feel like the “real” Azula bursting forth—angry, jaded, tormented, troubled—but it harkens back to pre-breakdown Finale Azula, when she was struggling with the very topics the comic addressed (see: throne room scenes). I love Hair-Down-and-Angry Azula. Some might call it Angry Wet Cat Azula. It feels like a return to the Finale when all of this “Who is Azula?” questioning began. Brilliant creative decision. Need more of it like I need oxygen.
Azula Hates Herself
This has long been speculated. Azula loathes herself and has low self-esteem despite also having immense pride, talent, and achievements to bolster her self-worth. She uses the word “loser” to describe Ty Lee and Mai, which means she views her current self as a loser. She hates that she is alone and betrayed. She hates that the best of herself doesn’t cancel out the worst. She hates that who she is is not who others want to be with. I think this is great for a prodigy who has experienced conditional love by her most influential parent.
Azula is Darkly, Horribly Conflicted
She loves her father, but also sees how he harmed her. She wants her family to be together and happy, but she also feels that if Zuko had been killed her life would have been better. She is proud of her achievements, but the consequences of what she had to be and do to achieve them makes her hate herself. Zuko was never this conflicted, even at the peak of his journey. This will take an enormous narrative effort to overcome, with likely tons of setbacks, but when it happens, it will make Zuko’s redemption look like a warmup.
There are professional authors who spend their entire careers never sniffing a character like this. I can’t say where the Avatar franchise will take Azula, and they could still fuck this all up, but this is a character capable of reaching the highest summits of literary storytelling. Capable of, not necessary will. There is not a character remaining in Avatar who can hold a candle to the moral and internal conflict found in Azula in this comic. The franchise has something special, if they handle it right.
Azula’s Desire for Family
If her family was together, that would mean none of the bad things would have happened. Her low self-esteem would be fixed by the love and admiration of her family. This is a good development. There are tons of evidence for it in the show based on how often Azula says “we” and “us” and acts like the Queen Bee of a group rather than a loner. She hates being alone and the idea of family and parental figures gives her the most security. Very realistic and compelling. Avatar has not had a character motivated by pain of loneliness and want for human connection.
Azula Continues to Use Collective Pronouns
A pattern existed in the show where Azula would very often use “we”, “us”, “our”, and other forms of collective pronouns or group references instead of “I” or “my”. The pattern continues in this comic. There are several instances where she uses collective terms when she could have said “I” or “my”. At this point, it is intentional by the writers. They are signaling something that shows up again in this comic: Azula wants community and teamwork, not isolation.
Azula is Willing to Accept Blame, But Not All of It
Just like a real person with strong will and pride would. We are all the heroes of our own journeys. Accepting blame is painful, and for a person like Azula, who has all these accomplishments under her belt, to bury herself under 100% guilt and culpability, and to allow people to denigrate those accomplishments in turn because of how "bad" she is, can likely come across as a bridge too far. She conquered Ba Sing Se, killed the Avatar, saved the capital during the Day of Black Sun. Who is anyone to tell her she did nothing right and everything wrong? Azula is also highly intelligent, which makes it easier for her to justify her actions and beliefs and craft narratives explaining it all.
Azula is recognizing she has flaws and has made mistakes. It even appears she wants to be able to talk about them. The door is not shut on listening to criticism. This makes Azula’s potential reconciliation with the heroes full of drama and dynamic conversations.
Azula Won’t Be Brow-Beat or Guilt-Tripped into Submission
If she is backed into a corner with accusations of being cruel, evil, to blame for everything, the cause of all her problems, a monster, like the Zuko apparition was doing, she will lash out. Call it denial. Call it a defense mechanism. She will not allow what she is proud of, what she feels was worth it, what has been her closely-held identity, to be thrown in the gutter. This is high-level literature and human psychology. And it holds an important implication for the future: the heroes will not be able to shame Azula into accepting their morality or worldview. Unless her feelings are taken into account, the back-and-forth dialogue observed in Spirit Temple will not happen.
Azula’s Walls Can Snap Up in an Instant
She can let her guard down and hear criticism, but if the criticism turns into a personal attack, her walls will snap back up and she will drop back into old habits and beliefs to protect herself. This is a tough problem for the narrative to solve based on its complexity, sensitivity, and need for tact, and so will require a special character to help Azula work through. I don’t think the franchise currently has such a character. Maybe a more militant, warrior-poet version of Guru Pathik could do this.
Azula Talks and Thinks Like a Feudal Princess, Not a 21st Century Teenager
This needed to happen. ATLA needs to start developing the politics of the Fire Nation if they are to successfully build out Azula’s and Zuko’s post-war dynastic struggles. This is the first time the franchise has taken this seriously. Azula calls her family traitors, thinks Ty Lee should have been grateful for having the ear of royalty. Royalty. Finally, the word is being used to describe the social dynamic between her and her friends. Great stuff. This is who Azula would be in “reality” and part of why she is so scary to us today.
Azula Sets Her Terms for Reconciliation with the Heroes
Apologies. Acknowledgments of the pain and damage they caused her. Them valuing the “good” things she has done for them, much of it from her feudal princess perspective, and some from her troubled teenage girl perspective. I don’t think this is everything she will put on the table, but it’s major pieces of the redemption and reconciliation puzzle. This is probably one of the most profound parts of the book, because it says the door is not closed between her and the heroes. Zuko being Fire Lord and the war being over are not showstoppers.
Azula Loves, and Hates, Her Dad
Her father has both hurt and helped her. She hates him for turning her into his firebending weapon, but loves him for how that led her to greatness, and the conditional love she received from him. She is a villain loving another villain. I think there is something significant here that might play a role in the future: Azula will continue to love her father until he shows he doesn’t love her. In fact, she might seek confirmation of love from him and his response might be a turning point in their relationship.
Azula is Developing Her Own Identity
She says she is the last of her kind, the only one left. Sounds like she sees herself as representing a version of the Fire Nation that doesn’t want to go down quietly, the version of the Fire Nation that Zuko needs to figure out how to redeem rather than destroy. Even though she recognizes the damage her father did to her, she retains enough pride and belief in the Fire Nation’s war to stand by him. This looks like a sign of Azula coming into her own person, even if it is villainous and could send her down a dark path. Regardless of the morality, she seems to be voicing her own beliefs, and beliefs are supremely important to developing character, as beliefs can change. Azula still has to learn the wrongness of the war. This might be her “Zuko Alone” moment equivalent to Zuko declaring his identity to the corrupt soldiers.
The Spirit Centipede
Awesome design and capabilities. It seems it was trying to pump her full of opium in the form of the beach dream whereby she falls into a forever sleep in that perfect world allowing the centipede spirit to eat her. Instead, Azula rejected it and the spirit discovered it doesn't actually know this human as well as it thought it did and so panics and tries whatever it can to get Azula to succumb to its offerings of pain alleviation. One of the best spirit designs we have seen in the post-show products in my opinion.
Coraline References
Fantastic movie. Still creeps me the hell out. I’m afraid Azula would not last a week against the Other Mother. The Centipede Spirit tried to be an Other Mother. It couldn’t hold a candle.
More Evidence Azula’s Design Was Inspired by Lady Eboshi
Page 72, Panel 3.
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Analyzing Loki's Love Interests (Canon and Foreshadowed and Not-So-Canon)
As always, spoilers for Loki, a multitude of comics, and the MCU. I'm focusing on primarily canon love interests and implied to potentially become canon love interests, with one glaring exception because I think they deserve to be included here.
Women Love Interests
Amora: leads Loki on and then betrays him (Where Mischief Lies)
Lorelei: betrays Loki in Agent of Asgard at least twice (and she's made appearances as Loki's love interest in other comics, too, but none that I've read). It should also probably be noted that Amora and Lorelei are sisters and both have also dated Thor in other comics.
Wanda: brief but a bit of a lead-on in Scarlet Witch 8. I wouldn't say she betrayed him, though.
Leah: they're children, mostly, so there's not explicitly romantic scenes. But Kid Loki is the reincarnation of his previous self, and Leah is a clone of Hela (which makes things weird, since Hela is inconsistently acknowledged to be Loki's daughter in the comics). Leah essentially betrays him, too. (Journey into Mystery)
Sylvie: Of course, she betrays Loki at the end of season one. On the one hand, it may be worse, because unlike all but Lorelei (of the comics I know), she led him on to the point of actually kissing him. Now, I will concede that she doesn't actually lead him on throughout the show (by my definition at least), so in this, she's certainly better than Amora or Leah. I think a few times she tried letting him down gently. But if you only look at the point of betrayal, I believe she and Lorelei are the only ones who kissed him, though Amora may have, too.
Men Love Interests
Theo: The only canon male love interest on the list; trusts Loki, believes he's better than the stories say, sympathizes with him and his feelings of being outcasted. He's courageous and determined and snarky, but with Loki he's ultimately soft.
Mobius: He knows Loki, from an academic standpoint, probably better than anyone. And then he gets to know Loki off paper, so to speak, and it rewrites everything he thought he understood, about this specific person, about himself, about reality itself. But his compassion remains, his kindness remains, and he directs it toward Loki when he needs it most. And he discovers he believes in Loki, and his potential, and his ability to dismantle everything everyone expects of him, at a moment when Loki's not even sure he believes in himself. And the trailer for season two means one of two things: One, if the Mobius from the finale is not our Mobius, then Mobius very quickly moves heaven and earth (or rather, alternate timelines) to get to his Loki. Or two, if the Mobius from the finale is a memory-wiped Mobius, then even when he doesn't know Loki, he's still determined to help him. (Or Loki was able to restore his memories, but even in the finale we can still see this care Mobius takes with a frightened stranger.)
Thor: I think the way Thor feels for Loki is clear (whether you interpret it as brotherly alone or romantic). In Ragnarok, you have his line "I thought the world of you." And you have the many times in the comics Thor claims him as his own. "You are my brother, and I love you." In Original Sin, it's so interesting to hear their language very subtly cause a conflict between them. When referring to Angela, Thor always says "our sister" and Loki always says "your sister." To the point that Thor actually calls him out on it once, though I don't think Loki really addresses it. And I think Loki's wording is an attempt more to distance himself from Odin and all the shit he caused, and now Freyja, too, after the betrayal of the All-Mother in securing Old Loki's promised future at the cost of Loki's penance and redemption. And then you have that moment in King Thor, my favorite comic panel, when the Necrosword is swallowing them in darkness and in the very last moment they reach for each other. Because Thor will never give up on Loki. And, try as he might, Loki cannot hate Thor. Not permanently.
I feel like Loki's writers, when they give him these women lovers, almost do it to spite him. They think this is the only type of woman to catch Loki's attention and that haha, Loki's been outmatched by a girl (if misogynist) or diva (if they worship the ground this woman walks on). This idea that the only interesting or believable romantic subplot for Loki is with a woman who will ultimately turn on him. Once again, in all aspects of his narrative, Loki's stuck doing the same thing over and over again. Except this seems like the one thing all writers are willing to let him keep up the cycle, and be seemingly okay with upholding the cycle.
In the case of canon, an argument could be made about this kind of woman (and all of these women are very different except in that they betray him eventually) being Loki's type. There's a rather sick sense of irony in being aware of the narrative, yet being so attracted to a certain quality that he keeps sowing the seeds of his own destruction even in knowing how it's going to end.
Of course, like I've said, this doesn't mean Loki can't love a woman. This doesn't mean I don't want Loki to ever have a girlfriend. I just want Loki to have a love interest for once who isn't going to hurt him before the novel or issue or season ends. I don't even care what gender they are. I just want him to be loved. Because he keeps insisting that he isn't and that he's incapable of it. And I'm tired of that story. And I think he might be, too.
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doctorofmagic · 6 months
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Why magic in the MCU has failed
I remember the "good" old days when Doctor Strange was about to debut back in 2016. I was obsessed with spotting every single little magic detail in the MCU in the hope that magic would slowly grow in status and importance, only to give up after so much disappointment.
But the major issue? The moment Feige stated that every side project was a part of the MCU. People who experienced phase 1 and 2 will remember that magic was a taboo. "It's just science we don't understand yet". While it's a common line quoted by Marvel's greatest geniuses, we all know it's pure arrogance on their part. Otherwise, they'd be doing what magic users do.
It was not MCU's case. Magic was INDEED treated as science. From Ghost Rider's portal being reproduced by a robot through the Darkhold to Wanda's powers being a product of an experiment but not explained at all. From a loooong season of Cloak and Dagger taking its time to finally introduce magic elements to Nico's staff almost falling to the same old "technology" trope. From whatever is happening in Asgard to Loki's limited magic. It's frustrating, but we'd still find a way to turn the tables, right? The Dark Dimension was introduced (twice?), the (third) Darkhold was finally attached to Chthon, Morgana and Lorelei debuted, Nico's powers were finally acknowledge as magic... So what happened?
My best guess? Structure.
There's no structure to define what is magic in the MCU. Doctor Strange (2016) tried. Really hard. And, although it got several things right, it failed in two fundamental aspects: pre-established comic book knowledge and magic deities.
Remember how we got three Darkholds? The first was just so detached from magic that it became a book used to create a VIRTUAL world in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The second was used by Morgan le Fey, but how was she associated with the Dark Dimension? Moreover, that was NOT the Dark Dimension from the first DS movie (or any comic book, really). Its last appearance, as seen in WandaVision and DSITMOM, finally mentioned Chthon, but it literally did NOTHING it was supposed to do. That MCU!Wanda has nothing to do with her 616 version, this is not new. But if we're going to use comic books as foundation to adapt a story, the very bare minimum you can do is do it right. Point is, the book does corrupt people, but it's because of Chthon's influence and his connection to Wanda. Where's Chthon in the movie? The corruption was badly explored and her journey towards evil and redemption doesn't make any sense from a magic point.
Now, the "main" magic cast in the MCU could have worked... Except that there's little to no information regarding how Kamar-Taj works as a temple/school for new sorcerers. And worse even, magic isn't connected to its deities. Sure, there were a few name drops, but does it explain where it comes from? And who chooses the next sorcerer supreme if the Vishanti isn't involved?
The truth is, magic was all over the place, and the creative minds were either too oblivious to the importance of learning about how magic works in comics (to the point of adapting a second Dark Dimension that has nothing to do with the original one) or too shy to introduce a magic hierarchy (as in, deities).
There's an actual attempt to create this structure now, but it's too late. Sure, you can ignore past tv shows, but the mess remains. Eternity was supposed to be an abstract entity, deeply connected to magic, cosmic aspects and life itself.
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Loki is still so embarrassing because the very foundation of Asgardian mythos started wrong (and why is that? Because no magic, of course!). While I find funny that Stephen trapped Loki in an endless freefall, there's no way the god of stories would be humiliated like that. Loki being taught magic by his alts is infuriating (and it's, again, mostly illusions).
Remember when Stephen was beaten by math? That also happened.
This is the moment I completely give up to see magic portrayed at its fullest, in all its beauty and complexity. Because it's not treated the way it deserves. It has never been.
And here's my boldest take: if you really wish to see the full potential of magic in the MCU, go for What If. The price you pay, the cosmic proportion of being misused, the creative elements... It's all there. Which is sad because it's not the main timeline. Anyways, this is it.
PS: This post may age poorly as DS3 comes out in 20 years. Let's wait and see.
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jedimandalorian · 6 months
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Ahsoka Episode 8 “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord”: The Story, the Symbolism, and the Score Part One
As the episode begins, we hear sinister drumming, then a low rumbling as the cargo transfer to the Chimaera is completed. Thrawn orders the dispatch of two TIE fighters. Sinister music plays as Morgan receives the “gift of shadows.” As she makes her pledge to the sisterhood and the old ways, Morgan’s Theme (the Nightsister Theme) is heard. Morgan’s eyes glow green and then turn black as power is transferred to her by the Nightmothers. Morgan receives the Blade of Talzin, a reference to the sword used by Mother Talzin in The Clone Wars animated series.
Thrawn’s Theme plays triumphantly as the Ahsoka title card and the episode title appear onscreen: “The Jedi, the Witch, and the Warlord.” This title is an obvious reference to C. S. Lewis’ novel The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and it isn’t the first reference to Lewis’ Narnia books in the Filoniverse. The World Between Worlds itself was inspired by Lewis’ “wood between the worlds” which allows passage across time and space to other worlds.
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The title of the episode does have a deeper meaning, but this may not be apparent until one has watched and fully understood what the episode is really about. The “Jedi” in the title is Ahsoka, who corresponds to Lewis’ Aslan, the magnificent golden lion who is the Christ-figure in the Narnia books, not unlike Tolkien’s Gandalf. The “Witch” in the title is Morgan Elsbeth and all of the evil that she and the White Witch of Narnia represent. The “Warlord” is Thrawn, who will travel between the galaxies just as the magic wardrobe in the Narnia books allowed passage between the worlds. Lewis’ novel is about many things, but at its core, it is a story about redemption. In the novel, young Edmund Pevensie, in his selfish desire for Turkish Delight, makes an a dangerous alliance with the White Witch and betrays his siblings to get what he wants. He later regrets this betrayal and repents of his selfishness. However Edmund’s debt must be paid. Instead of dying a traitor’s death, Aslan is sacrificed in Edmund’s place. The White Witch slays the Lion, but due to the Deep Magic from before the dawn of time, Aslan resurrects triumphantly and defeats the Witch.
Sabine Wren, whose all-to-human desire to be reunited with Ezra Bridger, led her to make an alliance with Baylan Skoll in episode 4 of the Ahsoka series. Sabine didn’t destroy the star-map because of her selfish desire to see Ezra again, and by making this choice, she set in motion the return of Thrawn and the possibility of another galactic war. By making this selfish but understandable choice, Sabine failed as a Jedi. As in Edmund’s story, Sabine is on a journey towards redemption for what she’s done.
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The next scene is of Ahsoka’s ship hovering low above the traveling Noti pods. Onboard the ship Huyang and Ezra bicker as Ezra constructs a new lightsaber for himself.
“Who taught you how to build a lightsaber anyway?” Huyang asks.
“Kanan Jarrus,” replies Sabine Wren from the doorway of the workshop. She smiles at Ezra.
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“He was my master,” Ezra says, his glance lingering upon Sabine for a moment. “He taught me everything I know.”
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Quiet music accompanies this conversation. When Huyang says that the relationship between master and apprentice is as challenging as it is meaningful, the camera pulls in closer to reveal Sabine’s expression, which shows sadness and even remorse.
A quiet rendition of Sabine’s Theme is heard as Ezra completes the construction of his new lightsaber. When Ezra asks “Hey Sabine, Ahsoka ever teach you how to…?” he turns to looks at her and sees that she is gone.
Ezra asks Huyang what happened between Sabine and Ahsoka. Huyang tells Ezra about the Purge of Mandalore, and that Ahsoka felt that if Sabine unlocked her potential at that time she would become dangerous.
Sabine exits the ship to talk with Ahsoka who is sitting atop the shuttle as it hovers. Soft strings accompany the conversation. Ahsoka’s Theme is heard, which is then followed by Sabine’s Theme played by cellos. Ahsoka knows what Sabine did but says that she will be there for her no matter what happens next. They discuss whether Sabine has kept up with her training.
“Being a Jedi isn’t about wielding a lightsaber,” Ahsoka explains. “Train your mind. Train your body. Trust in the Force.”
Ezra exits the ship, announcing that he just finished building his new lightsaber.
The music is much louder as two TIE fighters open fire upon them and the Noti caravan. Ahsoka’s ship takes a hit. Ahsoka and Ezra levitate it to save the Noti from being crushed. Sabine and Huyang attempt to pilot the damaged ship. On Sabine’s signal, Ezra and Ahsoka hurl the ship towards the two TIEs and the wings of the T-6 shuttle clip them, destroying both of their attackers. Ezra and Ahsoka run to the site of the crashed T-6.
“Got ‘em” Sabine says to them after exiting the smoking shuttle. She surveys the damage to the Noti pods. Ezra remarks that this will slow them down a bit, but Ahsoka responds “only if we let it.”
End of part one. To be continued! Let me know what you think of this analysis so far. It’s going to be a long one.
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lunar-years · 4 months
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and like, the thing about the amsterdam james lore was that if they wanted a james redemption, they could have used that as an opportunity to soft launch it! "my dad took me to amsterdam and we actually had a good time, but after we got back home he started drinking again and things got bad again." i still dont think thats justification for jamie reconnecting with him, but at least we could have canon evidence he was an okay dad when sober. but no, they doubled down, and made trying to kill a main character somehow *not* the worst thing james had done
Yeah I think what's most crazy is that scene solidified in my own mind so many missing pieces in my own headcanoned Jamie lore. We learnt SO much in that scene and not one single piece of information pointed towards "this is a character who is going to not only recover but act as a non-negative presence in Jamie's life."
New information I gathered from the Amsterdam scene:
As you pointed out, physical/emotional abuse of his son and nearly murdering Beard are not the topmost crimes on James Sr.'s scorecard.
leading into, Jamie is a csa victim
Jamie doesn't remember it happening. we've discussed at length what that could stem from and yes there are multiple explanations but. well. uhh. none of them are good. i think.
Others disagree, and that's completely fine, but I very much think the scene is coded as This Is The First Time Jamie Has Told Anyone What Happened and Roy is Now the Only Person Who Has this Information.
At the time of taking Jamie to Amsterdam, James Sr. was trying to get back together with Georgie and playing up the "Superdad" routine
Others disagree with this as well, but I read that line as Jamie implying it was neither the first nor last time James had tried those tactics (and possibly been successful at one or more points, we don't know one way or another)
Georgie allowed Jamie to go to Amsterdam with James and then presumably allowed James to continue seeing Jamie afterwards (we're given no information to the contrary, anyway)
So taking all of that together, to me it's not just the confirmation that the abuse Jamie suffered at his father's hands was even more abhorrent than we thought or that Jamie's trauma runs deeper than we previously thought. It's also evidence that Jamie has never been in a position where he's felt comfortable with confronting that trauma and has yet to unpack all of the things he has gone through.
Furthermore, the scene hints that what we see at the end of s3 is (imo quite possibly) not the first time James has been in rehab or at least claimed to have sobered up or shown signs of recovery, only to fall back into his old ways shortly afterwards. This is indicated by Georgie allowing him to take their son out of the country, which (considering we meet her later in the season and get a sense of her character, including her deep love for her son) I cannot imagine her doing had James been obviously still a drunk. This is also why I personally believe Jamie hasn't told her what happened, because he continues to see his father after he returns. I just can't see Georgie allowing that had she known.
None of this sets the scene for a successful James recovery arc. In fact, for me it makes the whole thing worse and so unlikely to end for good because 1) Jamie forgives his father before even processing everything his father did to him, and without informing any of the people closest to him, let alone consulting an actual professional. This to me does not indicate Jamie is in the right mental place to be embarking on this new journey. 2) There is absolutely a more-than-plausible chance James Sr.'s current rehab stint will follow the same cycle as times previous: he's better for a while. he's superdad! until he's not. and Jamie as usual becomes collateral damage.
I therefore am forced to conclude Jamie could very well be opening himself up to more hurt and more pain at his father's hands, when he hasn't even dealt with his current backload of hurt and pain. If we were supposed to feel hopeful in the final scene where Jamie visits him--I have to say, because of what THEY told us and wrote about their backstory, I feel anything but.
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everlastingdreams · 3 months
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The Weeping Monk x Reader : Born In The Dawn Chapter 25
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Story Summary: Locked inside a dark room in a dungeon, kept alive only for your power, you believed you’d never see the daylight again. That is until the Weeping Monk finds his way down and steals you from your captors. It is the beginning of a journey that leads you through hardship and newfound hope, but nothing is assured in a world that is changing for the Fey. The magic that runs in your veins is drawing out the worst the world has to offer, does it include the man who pulled you from the dark?
Chapter Title: Home And Heart
Notes: 
Warnings: Grief. Violence. Torture. Sexual Assault. Rape Threat. Gore. Enemies To Lovers. Pining. Trauma. Flagellation. Manipulation. Strong Language. Blood. Gore?. Misogyny. PTSD. Spicy and smut parts. Slight redemption arc.
Other warnings: Jealousy. Forbidden Love. Romance. Slow-burn…
Word count of this fic: +190K
Chapter:  25/ It’s a secret.
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The dawn offered the warmth of the sun again across the land.
You delayed waking Lancelot up, he looked so peaceful whilst asleep.
When he wasn’t awake yet an hour later, you nudged your shoulder against his.
All it got out of him was a disgruntled sound.
Another attempt was made when you patted his arm and got no response.
“Lancelot?” You snaked your arm around his and gave it a gentle squeeze with your hand. “Time to wake up.”
Finally, there were signs of him waking up, he was stretching his legs somewhat.
You released his arm when his shoulder wasn’t leaning against yours anymore. You got to your knees and sat at his side, “Lancelot?”
Gods, he was returning from a deep sleep…
Waking people was not one of your talents, so when you decided to softly tap him against the cheek repeatedly it was in the hope that it would annoy him enough to wake him up. Whilst doing so, you placed a hand on his shoulder for support as you leaned closer and kept your voice soft to not startle him. “Come now, the sun’s up.”
The reflex in him to catch your wrist was so fast that you lost your balance.
A quiet scream fled out of your lungs as your body threatened to fall sideways to the ground. His reflex to make sure your head did not hit the ground, or his legs, was even faster and the painful impact you expected never came. It was a bit disorienting to be facing the cloudless sky above your head all of a sudden.
“Shit.” The startled curse passed your lips.
The moving of his fingers against your scalp is what made you register that he had protected your head in the fall.
The skies in his eyes replaced the one above your head, “Are you hurt?”
“I don’t think so.” You stammered.
He helped you sit upright, his hand moved from your head to your neck before leaving.
Lancelot seemed as confused by the situation as you were.
“I was trying to wake you up.” You told him. “It took some effort. I didn’t think you would respond like that.”
He blinked the sleep from his eyes. “Forgive me, I am not used to being awoken by a woman slapping me.”
You rolled your eyes at him and got up from the ground. “You know I wasn’t slapping you! Gods, you’re-… it’s not even midday yet and you’re already getting on my nerves.”
He ignored the fact that his legs needed a little more time to wake and stood up as well, using the tree for some support, “You prefer I do it after midday?”
You turned to look at that smug grin he had now, rolling your eyes again whilst smiling. “Oaf. Come on, you said you’d get me home by midday.”
He brushed the fallen leaves from his trousers and shook them off his cloak while walking towards the horse that had just finished drinking some water from the river.
He gestured for you to mount while he made himself look decent, and you did.
“We are riding there?” You assumed.
Lancelot walked over and mounted as well, his arms came around you to take the reins. “Yes. It’s not far anymore. If I recall that map well, the barn near your home should not be a long ride away. I believe this river connects to the one you know off.”
“That is possible.” You agreed.
He spurred the horse into a trot.
You relaxed into the swaying of the horse’s movements. “I can’t wait to be home again, to see Squirrel and my family. Just let me be the one to speak to my father first, I’ll try to convince him not to murder you.”
He dared to joke about the possibility. “If he does, do bring me back again.”
You shook your head at his nonsense. “Yes, Sir.”
He brought his arms in closer, it was enough of a warning to let you know he was going to spur the horse into a gallop.
This horse was not as fast as Goliath, it was still fast enough to gave you the feeling that you were flying across the forest.
It still took two whole hours before you passed by the barn near your home, the horse had long since returned to a calm walk.
The forest was familiar now, the village was close.
You reminded him of it, “We should dismount further up ahead, remember the archers that keep watch over the village.”
He realized something, halting the horse before the forest was too close. “I have no veil to hide my markings…”
By reflex you looked behind you. “Gods…”
Lancelot dismounted and looked at his attire to see what he could use or rip apart.
You got off the horse as well and took off your vest. “I’ll cut a sleeve of my shirt. I’ve got clothes at home I can change into.”
Whilst he did not have an extra set of clothing on him.
His protest did not stop you from handing him your vest to hold.
“Let me do it.” He said once he saw you reach for your sword.
He drew his short sword and made a single small cut in your left sleeve, to avoid accidentally cutting you with the blade he proceeded to rip the fabric instead. Often did he look away, as if he was uncomfortable doing this.
“You alright?” You couldn’t ignore it. “Scriptures forbade this?”
He answered both questions with a nod.
This would have earned him countless lashes of the scourge to clean this off of his soul. Ripping the clothes off of a woman was a sin grave enough to ensure a multitude of punishments. Besides that, this just felt like he was crossing a line and the only thing keeping him calm was how calm and trusting you reacted to it.
He finished ripping the fabric quite fast, then came to a sudden stop, his hand curled around your bare arm. It made you look and saw that he was looking at the darkening marks on your arm. Bruises you had obtained from the Brotherhood
He brushed his thumb along one, “I wish you could heal yourself instead of others.”
That was perhaps one of the most considerate things someone had ever said to you…
You smiled at him. “It would be a waste though, healing only one instead of many others.”
That depended on who you asked, to him it was not a waste if you were alright.
He released your arm and handed you back your vest that he had put down on the saddle. “If you were the only one, then it is enough for me.”
That sure warmed your heart. “Thank you… for saying that. My people, we’ve been used for what we are for decades. It’s nice to hear that not everyone only wants us near because of our magic.”
While you put your vest back on, he bound your former sleeve around his face like a veil. “I hope your father will see that I come with good intentions.”
Well… that was to be seen. “Good. Keep hoping, we’ll need it.”
He agreed on that and gestured to the horse, “Do we walk from here?”
You shrugged your shoulders. “We’re close to the village, no point to mount again for the last part?”
With a hum, he took the reins and guided the horse to walk beside him.
It wasn’t long before you came upon the Fey archers who hid on the platform they had build within the high trees to protect the village.
“Halt!” The same archer who had greeted you the previous time ordered.
“It’s me again.” You shouted up at them. “Dawn Folk.”
The Faun Man was stunned to see you there, “And your friend?”
You gestured awkwardly to Lancelot. “The same one from last time.”
The man saw no issue. “Alright. Weren’t you with a black horse last time?”
That sure had Lancelot’s attention. Goliath could not have been far from the village, it was possible someone had found him wandering the woods.
You hoped the Faun Man had asked because he had news about Goliath. “We were. It… ran off. Have you seen it?”
The man had good news indeed. “Ser Matthew found a black steed in the forest, said it was yours. He took it to the stables up the hill.”
Lancelot was relieved to hear that his loyal steed was safe.
You were too, but something the archer had said had gotten your attention. “I’m sorry… did you say ‘Ser’ Matthew?”
Why were they addressing him as a knight?
The Faun Woman with him was surprised you needed to ask, “Did Helio not tell you yet? Ser Matthew was knighted yesterday, he’s up in the fort with the rest of them.”
Knighted?!?
Why would Matthew choose to become a knight?
You admitted that you had no idea, “My father did not speak of his plan to me…”
Your father rarely said a word of his plans to anyone…
The Faun Woman signaled for you to continue on your path. “I am certain he will tell you when you get home. Give your mother my regards if you see her.”
“I will. Thank you.” You shouted back and gave Lancelot’s arm a pat so he would follow.
“Ser Matthew?” Lancelot had a similar reaction to yours. “He is a knight now?”
It was just as much a surprise to you. “I’ll ask him about it. I guess I will be seeing him a lot at home now.”
“You must be glad to hear the news then?” He asked.
You were curious as to what the situation was at home. “I’m not against it. It will be nice to talk to him more often. I didn’t always get the change when I was younger, my father often kept me away from those who caught my interest.”
He understood your father’s view on it. “It is normal that a father wishes to protect his daughter.”
You never liked the way your father could be so quick to see a problem in something innocent. “I didn’t need to be protected from Matthew, he has always been kind to me. Besides, he only had eyes for others, not for me.”
His response to it came quick. “Perhaps that has changed, and maybe your father is no longer opposed to the idea of a match between you.”
You had little hope that it was ever possible. “Let’s stop talking of this. I don’t want a thousand thoughts running through my mind when I arrive home. We have enough on our heads as it is.”
Silence came from him instantly, and when you glanced at him you noticed he was fidgeting with the reins while keeping his eyes on the ground as he walked. He must have been nervous to be returning to the place that had wanted to imprison him for the rest of his life, that was what you thought was running through his mind.
Upon walking into the village, people recognized you again and greeted you as they walked by. Lancelot had put his cloak over his swords again, and the hood was keeping his face into the shadows of it. Still the two of you drew attention, the dried blood on your clothes must have been an odd sight to them.
You craved some warm water to bathe in after these past few days, just a moment for yourself to rinse your skin from the memories.
The Ash Man must be wishing for a similar experience with the amount of blood he had gotten on him.
The walk up the hill began and it was at that moment that you felt the toll that everything had taken on your bodies. Of course, both you and him were too proud to let it show that your legs had grown tired already.
From afar, you could see the portcullis be lifted open and a familiar face stepped into the field. Your father’s newest knight was there to greet you. Lancelot let out a quiet sigh when he noticed it too.
Matthew approached as you walked up to the gate, “What on earth happened to you?” His face filled with concern at the state the both of you were in. “We thought you would never return to us.”
You looked at the hand that he had placed on your shoulder. “I’ll explain everything, but I have to speak to my parents first, Matthew.”
Before he could answer, Lancelot asked, “Where is my horse?”
Matthew did not look happy to see him at all, “Your steed is in the stables, Monk. Why? Do you plan to flee like a coward again?”
So he had learned the truth of Lancelot’s past…
You had never heard him speak so rudely before. “Matthew!”
Matthew withdrew his hand from your shoulder. “Your parents will wish to see you. Are you sure you want to bring him into your home again?”
You stood your ground against him, “I know you’re angry, but-”
He turned his back and walked away. “Follow me, I’ll try to hold back the other knights from killing him. Leave the horse in the courtyard, it will not be stolen here.”
Lancelot glanced over at you and saw the pout on your lips, you looked at him to see if he was still certain he wanted to go through with this. With a shallow nod to you, he began to follow Matthew and moved the veil down from his face and to his neck instead. In that moment he was braver than you, but then again to him your parents were strangers, to you they were family. The gate was lowered again once you were behind the curtain wall and into the courtyard. Lancelot did as asked and left the horse at a hitching post he had spotted. Matthew opened the door that led into the entrance hall of your home.
You followed at a few steps behind Lancelot, seeing Matthew now open the door at the far end of the hall.
Your mother almost bumped into Matthew as she was on her way to see what the noise was she had heard, “What-”
Mirena’s eyes fell on Lancelot first, than you.
The fast clicking of her low heels against the tiles should have been a warning.
Not even Lancelot saw a reason to expect the palm of her hand to strike him across the face with force, it stunned everyone there to see it.
A loud gasp fell out of your mouth and your feet were rooted to the spot.
Lancelot was visibly shaken by the violent welcome, he stood frozen in place as well.
“How dare you?!” She shouted in his face, “Taking her away in the middle of the night! Have you no honor?!”
The Ash Man had the look of a scolded child on his face that would have drawn pity out of her if she hadn’t been so angry.
“Mother!” You squeaked in shock.
Mirena noticed the bruise on your temple and her rage took to a new height, “What have you done to my daughter?!”
She took a step closer again and it was perhaps the first time you had seen Lancelot take a step back from someone.
“Mother, no!” You hurried to him and became the needed barrier between them. “It’s not what you think!”
Mirena held back from shouting at you, she never rose her voice to you or Ciro, instead she came closer and cradled your face in her hands.
The bruise on your temple had her highly concerned, “My Little Moon, who hurt you?”
Her angry glare went over your shoulder and send the Ash Man another step back.
“Mirena.” Matthew called out, warning the three of you before the doors flew open.
You put a hand on Lancelot’s chest and moved him further back when your father entered the hall with his following of knights. The ruckus must have alerted them. The bravery Lancelot had shown when walking into your home, had been slapped out of him by your mother.
Helio had him in his sight immediately, his voice thundered through the hall. “Seize him!”
By stepping back and into Lancelot’s chest, you showed them that they would have to use force if they wanted to get past you.
“I was the one who released him from the dungeons, father!” Your voice struck the hall like lightning, “It was my plan, not his!”
The knights looked at him to see if he would change his command.
Helio stepped forward and marched right over to you. “How could you? With him-… after what he has done!”
It was obvious that they thought there was something more between you and the Ash Man than friendship.
You raised your voice to him. “If you would let me explain, I can tell you that what you are thinking is not what happened!”
He was too stubborn, like always, to listen to you and commanded the knights again, “Take him back to the dungeons. If he resists, kill him!”
Even your mother tried to convince him to hear what you had to say, to no avail.
Lancelot must have sensed that you were close to your breaking point, he put a hand on your arm, “Y/n-”
“Why won’t you ever listen to me?” You nearly screamed it at your father. “Why?!”
It proved a mistake.
“Ser Aodh, walk my daughter to her room so she can calm down.” Helio gave the order to one of the older knights
“No, father!” You stepped back at seeing the knight get closer to undoubtedly grab you. “No!”
The threat of being parted dug it’s nails into him.
Lancelot had moved you out of reach of the approaching knight within the blink of an eye, his sword was at the knight’s throat before he could get within an arm’s length of you. The low warning was instant, “Don’t touch her!”
The knight stilled completely, the others became visibly unsettled by the speed the Ash Man had when it came to handling a sword.
Helio looked gravely insulted. “How dare you?! Lower your sword or I will have you executed!”
Lancelot fiercely defended his response, his voice like a strike of thunder, “Your daughter does not want to be touched by another stranger!”
Your eyes fell to the floor upon hearing it, they would know the truth under that statement. Whilst Helio looked confused by the Ash Man’s outburst, Mirena was horrified.
It made you sick to the stomach to tell them about it, “The Brotherhood captured us after we parted ways in the forest the night I helped him escape. The Reaper wanted to create a Brotherhood of Dawn Folk. Dawn Folk that were born from me.”
What shocked them too was to see their daughter, a Fey of the Dawn Folk clan who were known for their lack of trust, reach into the pockets of a man like the former Weeping Monk.
You held the ring up for all to see. “I will not let you kill or imprison the man who saved me from the Reaper, and Lancelot made certain that no one will ever be reaped again.”
By tossing the ring to Helio’s feet, you made a statement, it clattered against the tiles and stopped at his boots.
Helio knelt down and plucked Soran’s ring from the floor.
While he stared at the ring in disbelief, you told him of the risk you had been in. “Had the Hidden not come to my aid and Lancelot not freed me from my cell, I…”
Helio and Mirena were staring at the ring that had belonged to the one who had haunted the Dawn Folk’s nightmares for years.
His eyes lifted up to the weeping ones of the Ash Man, “You killed the Reaper?”
Lancelot looked the knight at his blade in the eyes as he answered Helio, “I did.”
You stepped closer and made a last attempt to make your father see beyond Lancelot’s past. “Please, father. Lancelot could have left me there or traded me for a place within the Church again. But he didn’t, he brought me home. And I always wanted to come back home, even the night I helped him out of the dungeon. Had the Brotherhood not caught me, I would have been home.”
Helio rose from the ground, eyes darting between you and Lancelot, “You wanted to stay with us?”
It was as if he never expected you to willingly want to stay home.
“I want to come home.” Your eyes got watery. “But how can I, if it means I would have to let my friend head into the world alone? Has he not earned a second chance?”
Helio took a few steps to the side while looking at the ring, “You believe he has?”
You had not doubts about it. “Evil gets it strength when good people do nothing. He saw evil and fought against it. So yes, I believe he has earned it.” Your eyes drifted to the Ash Man. “Lancelot is a good man, I have witnessed this many a times.”
Lancelot seemed taken aback by your kind words.
He had never thought that those words could mean so much to hear.
Helio walked passed you and went over to the Ash Man who tensed up somewhat.
“Many Fey died at Soran’s hands, many died at yours.” He held the ring up under his nose.
Lancelot lowered his sword, moving it away from the knight’s throat, and bowed his head in shame.
Helio was firm when he spoke of his expectation, “You owe the Fey a debt. Honor your people, honor the Ash Folk. You cannot save souls as the Church claims, but you can save lives, do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.” The Ash Man tilted his head respectfully.
“Good.” Helio held the ring right in front of Lancelot’s eyes. “One chance. Do not leave this hill.”
Lancelot could only nod in understanding , he was not completely free to roam yet, but it was better than wasting the rest of his days in a dungeon.
Helio turned to the knights. “The Ash Man will be given sanctuary here. Keep an eye on him, see to it that he does not leave the hill.” Then he turned to you, placing his hand on your shoulder. “You have your mother’s heart.”
“She has your strong head.” Mirena stated with a coy smile that drew Helio’s attention like a moth to a flame.
Helio beckoned for Matthew to come closer. “I am giving you the task of arranging a place to sleep for the Ash Man.”
“Yes, Sir.” Matthew accepted the task without a fuss.
“Tonight we celebrate the death of the Reaper.” He announced to all, then turned to Matthew and quietly said, “Get him some fresh clothes.”
Matthew looked Lancelot up and down, “Of course.”
Now that the air seemed to clear between you, you walked over to Lancelot and gave his arm a soft squeeze. He was visibly tense.
Mirena watched with curiosity, but then saw the way her husband looked at the small gesture.
“You must be craving some clean clothes.” She said and came to take you by the arm to guide you. “Come.”
Mirena walked with you to your room and left only for a moment to fetch a bucket of water while you picked some clean clothes from your wardrobe. She saw that the sleeve had been ripped from your shirt and you saw the change in her eyes.
“Did the Reaper force you to…”
You didn’t need to hear the rest to know what she was trying to ask. “He tried. But the Hidden helped prevent it. He knew that the moon was required for the Dawn folk. Someone must have been tortured severely to have given him the secret.”
She hummed and took a seat on your bed. “Even if it had happened, know that you do not have to be afraid to tell me. I am here to help you.”
It was sweet to hear her remind you of it.
You placed the clothes you had picked on the bed and sat down beside her. “I know. But there won’t be ‘little moons’ for a while, mother. Do not worry.”
She grinned a little. “We still have two running around the castle now.”
You knew who she was speaking off, “How is Percival and Ciro?”
Mirena thought for a moment, then said, “Ciro is well. He is getting better with the sword, but still prefers books.”
Your cousin had always been the more quiet withdrawn kind that got lost in the tales that books contained.
She continued, “The youngest knight of the castle has been rather quiet since you were gone. I can tell that it has gravely upset him.”
It hurt to hear it, but it did not surprise you. “Poor Squirrel… I would never abandon him. He must think I did.”
She stroked your cheek. “Do you want me to speak to the boy? I can tell him that you did not just leave him.”
“Would you?” You knew your mother had a gift when it came to facing angry people, sometimes you believed she could tame the storms in the heavens if she wished to.
That hopeful look in your eyes made her smile. “Of course. I will explain it to him, you have gone through enough. Rest, I shall take care of things.”
It was a weight being lifted from your chest.
“Thank you.” You said and embraced her. “I’m glad to be home.”
“Do you truly plan to stay?” She asked as you released her.
There was one condition. “As long as I can still help our people. I could help you heal those who come to the castle?”
She sounded proud, “So we shall work together? I am certain those of the village below will be glad to hear it. I often have to ask them to wait for healing when I am too tired, but your magic is far stronger than mine.”
You nodded. “I am glad I can give something back to our people.
“So am I.” She cradled your face again and kissed your forehead before standing up from the bed. “We are blessed to live here. The village below has not forgotten how our kind has served them for centuries. And we should continue to do so if we wish to rebuild the court that has once ruled here.”
That piqued your interest. “A new court of Dawn Folk? Is that what father wants?”
She turned to you. “I believe he wants the Fey to see that the Dawn Folk has not given up and is trying to rebuild what was lost. There are other courts still surviving, why shouldn’t ours? We cannot let the Church believe they can just push the Fey aside.”
There was truth in her words. The Snake Folk, Faun Folk and Moon Wings still had their court, why not fight for the Court of Dawn to survive as well?
“I see his reasoning.” You said, understanding how your father was trying to keep the legacy of the Dawn Folk alive.
Mirena headed to the door. “Good. I wish he was as patient as you when it comes to listening. But you know him, he won’t listen until someone knocks him over the head and binds him to a chair. If that would even work…”. She hummed, like she doubted it would. “I will speak to the boy, let us hope he is a better listener.”
A nervous chuckle fell out of you. “May the Hidden give you strength, mother.”
A small sigh came from her, “Freshen yourself up, this fort celebrates tonight. I do hope you will wish to make an appearance?”
You were a bit reserved towards the celebration, “Maybe. If I am not too tired yet.”
She understood, you had been through a lot and rest would be preferred. “Do not overexert yourself. If you do not feel ready to, rest.”
It was a relief to hear that she would respect your wish to rest.
With a little bow of her head, she left your room.
~~~♡~~~♡~~~♧~~~♡~~~♡~~~
This newly knighted knight had brought him to a room and offered him a set of clean clothes.
Ser Matthew said not a word to him that wasn’t necessary, and neither did he.
He could tell that the knight did not like him, it was in every look and every cold word shared.
Matthew had placed the clothes down on the dusty table beside the bed. “The clothes should fit you. Try them on. There’s water over there-” He pointed at a bucket off in the corner, “-if you want to clean the blood off. I hope you do, you’ll frighten the people here otherwise.”
Did he think that he did not hear the undertone?
Lancelot held his tongue and chose to not let his annoyance speak for him. “They do not have to fear me.”
Matthew scoffed. “I believe they should. We only know you as the Weeping Monk, for all we know, you could be tricking us. I hope y/n is right about you. I hope we can trust you.”
The knight had a right to be distrusting towards him, but there was something in his tone that made this feel like a personal matter.
He was rather short with him, “I do not play tricks, Ser Matthew.”
“I do hope so.” Was Matthew’s cold reply.
The knight gestured around the dusty room that had multiple cracked floorboards and a part of the glass window was broken, letting in the cold air. “We do not have many rooms left unoccupied. Consider yourself lucky to have this one.”
Had this been anyone else, he would have been far less patient with the attitude coming from Matthew.
He said nothing and let the silence take over the conversation for him. Nothing he said would get this ‘knight’ to think better of him.
Time would have to pass between them.
A knock at the door freed them from the building uncomfortable atmosphere in the room. After they both called out to the visitor to enter, Mirena walked in, and with her was Percival. The boy locked eyes on Lancelot immediately.
“Will you give us a moment, Matthew?” She asked.
He gave a polite nod and walked out of the room, leaving the door open behind him.
Lancelot barely dared to meet the boy’s eyes.
Would he hate him for leaving him at the castle when he had escaped the dungeon?
Percival ran up to him with the speed of a fox and threw his arms around the Ash Man’s waist.
“I told him what happened.” Mirena tried to put his mind at ease.
The boy mumbled with disappointment, “Were you going to leave without telling me?”
He plucked the boy’s arms from around him and knelt down to his level. “This is home for you now, Percival. There was no place for me here, only the dungeons. Y/n did not want me to suffer a life of imprisonment, she wanted what was best for both of us.”
Percival nodded a little. “You’re not in the dungeons now… does that mean you get to stay?”
Lancelot’s eyes flickered to Mirena, who clearly hoped she would not have to disappoint the boy. “I was offered a chance. We shall see what the future brings us.”
Percival saw right through him, “You don’t know if they will let you stay, do you?”
He sighed a bit and admitted to it, “I do not. But they have been generous enough to offer me a place to sleep.”
The boy looked around the room, scrunching his nose, “Here?”
So Percival saw the poor condition of the room as well and was more blunt to state it.
He bit back a smile and squeezed Percival’s arm, “Better than the dungeons, and closer to you, I think?”
Mirena saw Lancelot look at her. “It is. Ciro and Percival share a room. At the end of the hall, turn right. It’s the first door on your left.”
He gave her a grateful nod in return for the information.
The boy looked him up and down. “You look terrible.”
The blunt child was talking of his clothes, that was what he chose to believe at least.
He pointed to the clean clothes on the small bedside table that were waiting for him. “I’ll change into something less bloodied.”
“And shave.” The boy was ruthless.
Mirena turned and fixed her eyes out the window. By reflex, Lancelot touched his jaw and felt that it might indeed be a good idea to trim here and there again.
Of course he would not tell the boy that.
Mirena walked over to Percival. “Come young knight. Let us give him the chance to do so.”
That cheeky boy was grinning up at him. “Alright then.” He gave one last spoken hit to the Ash Man’s ego,“Good luck.”
Did he look that bad?
Mirena turned to Lancelot. “I apologize for earlier…”
He held no grudge towards a mother’s will to protect her child. “I understand.”
It helped that he was rather impressed with how hard she had been able to hit him. He was starting to see the resemblance between you and your mother.
She was visibly relieved that he understood her response. “If there is something you need, or wish to ask, tell me. I am not as quick-tempered as my husband.”
Lancelot arched a brow, amused by the statement.
“Most of the time.” She quietly admitted.
He respectfully bowed his head. “Thank you.”
Mirena steered Percival out of the room with her, leaving the Ash Man a moment to himself.
~~~♡~~~♡~~~♧~~~♡~~~♡~~~
You had placed the bucket of water on the wooden washstand beside the tall old mirror. It was nice to be able to use the familiar linen washcloths and towels again, some of it even had your initials embroidered on them as they had been gifts from your mother. You took off your vest and planned to wear the warmer one, that was buried somewhere in your wardrobe, considering the weather was getting colder. A quick look at your bodice and you decided to change it for the clean one as well. Your shirt was a lost cause after having lost a sleeve, you undid the knots at the neck so you could pull it over your head to take if off. Once they were loose, you began lifting it up and it was halfway at your back, when you faintly heard the door behind you open.
“Y/n?-” Lancelot choked on the rest of his words at the sight of your bare skin and spun around faster than he’d ever done in battle.
You let the shirt fall back into place and swallowed the startled sound that threatened to spill. There you stood, hugging yourself in the corner whilst your face felt far too hot. This was not the first time he had seen your bare back, but you didn’t expect someone to just barge in this time. And if he had been a moment later, your back would not have been the only thing he’d have seen.
“Forgive me.” He finally said and you could hear the remorse. “I did not know you would be… undressing.”
You scolded him for coming into the room without a warning, “If doors are closed, you should knock before entering, Lancelot.”
He did not turn to face you, as if something had distracted him.
“Lancelot?” You frowned in his direction. “Is everything alright? Was there anything you wanted to say?”
It took him a few seconds to reply. He spoke over his shoulder, eyes not lifting higher than the floor. “It can wait. We will talk later.”
You weren’t given a chance to question it, he was out of the room not a second later. Before you continued your wash, you locked the door to prevent another incident. You’d talk about it to him later.
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babyiamperfectforyou · 11 months
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The Unleashed Desire (Pt.2)
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Summary: Princess Y/N had the most unforgettable experience of her life with a demon in the forest. Would she go back to him, leaving behind her royal life? Part 2 to this.
Warnings: Smut, smut, smut! Name calling, blood.
Word count: 2.5 k
A/n: We are back!!! We finished our exams, which means that we'll be active more! Enjoy ❤️
Xoxo,
G and M
Masterlist
-----------------------------------
Darkness made its way through the western horizon. Everything was hushed, except for the melody of rain sprinkling the walls and pillars of the palace of Elorda. Something dangerous was lurking behind the darkness, princess Y/N could feel it in her bones. But as usual, horror excited her. She leaned to the corridor of the eastern end of the palace which was in front of her room. Sky was dark with rain clouds. Chirping of crickets could be heard from the forest far away. A glimpse of the raincloud - coloured forest was enough to retrieve the memories of the most adventurous journey of her life. She couldn't stop thinking about the emerald eyed demon waiting for her at the far end of the forest. She wanted to relive those memories; retrace those sculpted muscles and sharp jaw with her slender fingers.She wanted to pepper kisses around those crinkles near his eyes. And those lips, she wanted to crash her lips onto his to get another taste.He tasted like elixir. All this was possible if she could make up her mind to leave behind all her duties to the world. 'But was he worth it?'
Her trail of thoughts were interrupted when a strong arm wrapped around her. She was pulled towards a hard chest. A small rumbling could be heard from the owner of the hands.The smell of pine trees and rain along with a strong masculine scent invaded her senses. She took another whiff of air to retrieve the unmistakable scent.
"Har….ry?" Her own words seemed impossible to her ears. It couldn't have been possible for Harry to enter the Palace of Elorda. But she was sure it was his hands that snaked around her waist like he fucking owned it.
"Shhh '' the owner of the hands mumbled.He dipped his face into the curve of her neck, breathing her in like a man who struggled to breathe. It seemed like if he couldn't get a whiff of her right then, he would die starving. His sharp nose traced her jaw. Her breath caught in her throat. She couldn't even turn around. She was rooted in the place when he nibbled on her earlobe.
"You took a lot of time darling, I can't wait a fucking second more. So be ready for your punishment."
The word punishment excited her like always. The memory of him punishing her by tying her up in a rock, beat inside her like a second heart. She hissed with pleasure when he pressed a feathery kiss against her jaw. She felt herself whimpering when he retrieved his hands from her body. She felt empty and lost. Like she lost her path to redemption.
"You never came back " The statement was delivered with what she thought was hatred and she expected a look of anger while turning around. But what she saw broke her heart. His eyes were filled with pain and vulnerability that shook her heart to its core. He knelt in front of her, like she was the only one that could give him salvation and that shook her defenses.
"Please " he pleaded like he was unsure why he was doing this. She was also unsure why her eyes filled with tears and admiration for a demon who knelt in front of her to plead her not to leave him. All her life she felt like a burden to everyone around her, a mismatched piece that couldn't fit into the mold; a doll to be used and thrown away. And here a demon that could make her his slave with a snap of his fingers, was on his knees for her, with his eyes filled with veneration.
She could feel herself getting lost in his eyes. He looked at her from behind those lashes like she was his Goddess. In the heat of the moment, she rushed to him and fell onto her knees crashing her lips to his. She kissed him until he could see only her. It was a kiss of urgency, like they couldn't get enough of each other. His hands snaked around her waist to secure her close to him. She could feel the erratic pumping of his heart. Her own heartbeat matched the rhythm. His rain clad cloak engulfed her nightgown.She squealed with excitement.
His fingers traced the shape of her bosom like he was cherishing his memories.The only barrier between his hands and her body was a night gown. Her lips left him in a gasp for air.
"You….." he couldn't complete the sentence. He was panting heavily like he ran a marathon.
"You are the only one that could do this to me , like ……"
"Like? " her voice was barely a whisper .
"Like, like you could break me into a million pieces and yet I'd gladly bestow my bleeding heart at your feet "
She couldn't breathe under the intensity of his gaze. She felt immortal under his scrutiny.
"You're the object of my admiration, the only joy of my heart and delight to my sensation.You are the light to my broken heart and only salvation possible to me. I know I'm not enough for you. I'm just a demon, a brutal one.But…”
"But ?" She rasped.
"But I'm not ready to give up on you. You would be my queen, my world for whom I would get on my knees willingly; for whom I would tear down the world. If you want me to be your knight I'll be your knight.If you want me to be your slave I'll be your fucking slave. If you want me to be your guard, I'll be your guard breaking down the bones of every fucking fingers that dare to question you. Will you come with me?"
Her lips found their way to his. This time it was a desperate kiss. They kissed like they would die without the taste of each other. It was sloppy, harsh breathing and teeth clicking filled the room. Harry bit into her bottom lip with his fangs. Strong metallic taste filled her mouth. She whimpered when he lifted her up from the ground without breaking the kiss. She was cornered against a wall. His arms secured her waist in a safe hold. His hard chest flattened her breast. His tongue traced the outline of her lips tasting blood from her lips. Something about the fucked up situation aroused her. No, she was aroused at the very first moment she smelled his intoxicating scent, as creepy as that sounds.The pain of his nails raking her shoulder blades and his fangs biting her lips made blood buzz in her ears. His tongue invaded her mouth like he had conquered that territory a long time ago. Her tongue rolled over his in urgency. She fumbled with his buttons. He left her mouth to nudge his face between her shoulder and neck. She dug her fingers into his shoulder trying to keep the balance. His fangs bit her shoulder blade making her see the stars. Blood oozed from the spot to the valley between her breast.Harry looked straight into her eyes with eyes darkened with lust and lips red with her blood. He lowered his head to lick the blood with his hot tongue. She threw her head back in pleasure when his hot breath caressed the spot he bit. She bit his shoulder while hooking her legs around his waist. He growled in a carnal voice that made her weak on her knees. She fumbled with his cloak buttons. Her back hit something feathery. It was only when Harry crawled to her that she realised that she was on her bed. Him fucking her to oblivion in her own castle stirred something inside her.The thought itself made her dazed. He stood on his knees tearing down his cloak in one go like it was paper. He lowered himself towards her ears.
"Ha…."He stopped her by placing a finger on her lips. His hot breath tickled her ears.
"Let me worship you " He murmured in a rough voice that was sent straight to her core.
His hard cock was pushed into her stomach. She bit back a moan. He grabbed a handful of her hair, making her arch her back. He wrapped the other hand around her throat. His hold was strong enough to choke her. His lips came back to her. He devoured her like she was his most treasured conquest. He choked her, wrenching their mouth apart. She panted and begged for more .
She took hold of his cock gently, giving it a squeeze and an animalistic groan escaped his mouth. Suddenly he became the demon he was. He tore her nightgown apart in one Swift motion. Her panties followed suit. She lay there, naked and vulnerable in front of him. He touched every inch of her skin with his eyes like he was memorizing each and every word in his favorite book. When his eyes met hers she was taken aback by the devotion in it.
"You….you're the most beautiful piece of art to ever exist in this world, my darling. You're fucking gorgeous"
It made her confident and desperate for him. She pulled him back to the bed straddling his lap and she peppered feathery kisses along his jaw, stopping at the nape of his neck, biting him there. His cock twitched against her belly.
She took his hard cock in her hands giving it a hard squeeze. A carnal moan escaped his throat and it sounded painful. She rubbed his hard cock up and down.
"Fuck " Harry cursed under his breath,
"Princess, you better not touch my cock. I'd come within seconds if you look at me like that."
"Like what?", she cooed.
"Like you'd straddle me and ride my cock and allow me to fuck you to the oblivion."
"Your wish is my command " Y/N teased him.
She straddled his lap, his hard cock lining at her opening. She hissed in pain while adjusting to his size.He was huge.
"Fuck, you're so tight "
''And you're so big "
They were so desperate for each other that she didn't wait any longer. She rode his cock with urgency while he grabbed her hips to guide her.
"You're such a slut for me, my queen.Taking me like a good little temptress "
His degrading words and praise stirred something Inside her. Her pace increased. He was moaning at the sight of her perfect tits bouncing up and down. He took a nipple in his mouth while his other hand squeezed her boobs. She shuddered when he bit her nipples. His claws left marks around her breasts.The sight of his handprints on her breasts aroused her, her walls clenching around him. She could feel fire pooling low in her stomach, her pace becoming erratic. He flipped them around so that he was on top of her.
"Fuck, I'm coming" He growled.
"Harry….."
"Yes darling,come for ..
He couldn't finish the sentence, both of them pating while they came together. Their moans and whimpers filled the large castle room.
"I'll be yours Harry. No, I am yours. I had been, since the moment I saw you in the forest. "
"And ?" She blushed while Harry teased her thighs with his long calloused fingers.
"And what, darling?"
"Are …are you mine ?"
"You still doubt whether I'm yours. I'll be yours forever. I was yours from the moment I saw those fierce eyes of yours daring me to break your defences, from the moment I got a taste of you. You're it for me. "
Her gaze traveled across his body from his sweat clad forehead to the perfectly angled jaw.Her mouth went dry at the sight of the hard ridges of his chest and how his abs flexed under her fingers. She was so engrossed in his beauty. He was gorgeous. He was completely hers .The feeling aroused a sense of completeness within her. Her breath hitched when he pulled her against him. He hovered over her .
His eyes were filled with so much adoration and words unsaid. He was looking at her with so much warmth that made her skin prickle. She was overwhelmed by his gaze.She was sure her eyes were also filled with fondness towards him. Their eyes conveyed a lot of things their words couldn't. Her breath hitched as he pulled her by the hips until his cock was at her entrance.
“You're mine princess .” It wasn't a question.
He slid inside her, slowly caressing her walls, cherishing the feeling of being inside her. She shivered at his warmth. Her eyes rolled to the back of her head when he started riding her.
"Oh God. That feels euphoric" she gasps.
"No, princess.You feel euphoric. My fucking salvation. Mine" The word mine was uttered with so much possessiveness that it made her tremble.
"And you're mine, Harry. Let anyone else touch you, you'd see how fast I can burn her into ashes." Bile rose in her throat at the thought of someone else with him.
His lips found her and she lost herself in that kiss.
She closed her eyes and savoured the feeling of him inside her. He started moving slow and steady as his mouth devoured her. His hand reached between her thighs to flick her clit.
The moment was so intimate. The confession along with the slow passionate movement of his body against her felt really intimate to her. Soft moans teared past her lips as he picked up his pace slowly but steadily.
"Please " she murmured.
He bit down on the lobe of her ear, drawing a shudder from her. He picked up his pace, groaning against her lips.
" You're so beautiful that it hurts, my love. I never thought there would be a day where I'd feel complete.You filled a void inside me that I never knew existed." He said without breaking eye contact. With each word, he thrust deeper and harder into her. She felt like she was in heaven. A jolt of pleasure consumed her body.
"I Love You " She couldn't help but pour her heart into her mouth. She didn't regret confessing her feelings. He abruptly stopped, looking straight into her eyes like he's searching for her to laugh at his face any moment. He couldn't believe the idea of someone loving him. She caressed his face with her fingers making him see the genuineness of her words.
"Fuck " he gulps. He slams deeper into her.
"You drive me insane, Princess. You drive me insane with the fire in your eyes, your stubbornness and your fucking laughter. And I fucking Love You for that. I Love You."
Her orgasm washed over her like a hurricane. He came with a groan. He lay there, pulling her towards him gently brushing her hair behind ears and whispering sweet nothings to her.
He was home.
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verona2314 · 18 days
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Judgment of the Damned (translation) PART VI
Link part V
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Summary:
In the realm of Limbo, where souls deemed too good for Hell but not virtuous enough for Heaven reside, Victoria finds herself thrust into an unprecedented mission. When a notorious sinner, Sir Pentious, achieves redemption and ascends to Heaven, it sends shockwaves through all realms. Tasked with unraveling this mystery, Victoria, a minor judge of souls, is sent to the infamous Hazbin Hotel in Hell. For the first time, an emissary from Limbo steps foot into the fiery depths, tasked with observing and judging the denizens of Hell for their potential for redemption. As Victoria navigates this unfamiliar territory, she captures the unrequired attention of the enigmatic Radio Demon, Alastor. Amidst the chaos of demonic antics and the pursuit of understanding redemption, Victoria must confront her own beliefs and judgments. As she delves deeper into the secrets of the Hazbin Hotel, Victoria uncovers hidden truths about sinners, redemption, and the ultimate fate of souls caught between damnation and salvation. With each soul she encounters, Victoria's journey becomes not only a quest for answers but a personal voyage of self-discovery in the heart of darkness.
Chapter 6: A sign of trust ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alastor
The judge looked at him dumbfounded for a moment before her expression returned to one of complete calm. She picked up her book and began to walk towards the door with her characteristic elegance.
"I don't know what you're talking about," she declared as she continued to move away.
Alastor didn't want the conversation to end, not now that it was getting more interesting, so he transported himself in front of the door to prevent the judge from leaving the room. "My dear judge," he said, trying to contain the excitement of having discovered her, "you know perfectly well what I'm referring to. It was an interesting display of your power."
"Was it?" she replied, raising an eyebrow. "Don't beat around the bush, Alastor. All Seilmon did was set a passphrase to release the finger trap. I just had to say the exact words in the right tone. That 's all."
"It's hard for me to believe you, judge. Especially considering you showcased your ability in our little meeting with Charlie when you called for silence," he countered, feeling very confident. He knew he had cornered Victoria. Even if she denied the existence of her ability, Alastor was convinced his conclusion was correct. Victoria looked at him confused for a moment before understanding what he was referring to.
"Really?" she said, laughing lightly. "That wasn't a mandate from the judge, Alastor. It was just me using my ability to assert respect and presence in a polite manner."
"I see," he replied, narrowing his eyes. "But you're not denying the existence of that ability. Come on, judge, I won't let you leave until you're a little more honest."
"Are you saying you're going to hold me against my will?" she said, crossing her arms. Alastor simply smiled even wider. "That could be considered kidnapping," the judge continued jokingly.
"Kidnapping!" Alastor responded, delighted by Victoria's sarcasm. "My dear judge, it seems you have a tendency to blame me for crimes I haven't committed. I'm not kidnapping you, I'm just preventing you from leaving the room so we can continue our conversation."
"Yes, clearly that's kidnapping," Victoria insisted.
"Don't try to deflect the topic of conversation, dear," Alastor leaned slightly to study the judge's face better. He couldn't help but notice how that expression of calm was slowly disappearing, revealing Victoria's true emotions. It was absolutely satisfying to be the cause of those reactions. He hated to admit it, but he really enjoyed his conversations with the judge; they were mentally stimulating.
He wanted to push her to the limit more and more just to see if she could keep up with him. He needed to know if she could continue challenging his barriers and force his wits not to lose against her sharp comebacks. On the other hand, his ego was also wounded. He needed to score another point on the scoreboard after suffering the humiliation with the finger trap. Objectively, the judge's smile was pleasant to look at and her laughter was melodious thanks to her soft voice, making it pleasant to hear, but being the object of that laughter deeply bothered him. His pride prevented him from letting her go without at least getting a clear and direct response from her.
"Does the kidnapping of a judge seem less important to you than your conspiracy theory?" She would respond, feigning exaggerated indignation.
"My dear judge," Alastor said amidst laughter, "believe me when I say that your kidnapping would be my top priority if it were to happen. But as I said, I'm just preventing you from ending our conversation prematurely. I'm not asking for much, judge. Just a little honesty considering that we are now somewhat closer."
"Closer?" she questioned.
"Don't you think my unfortunate situation allowed you to relax a bit in my presence? Even now, I owe you a favor, and don't doubt that I will help you. I'm a demon who takes his word very seriously. So, could you give me a bit of your sincerity?"
"Oh, changing tactics? Are you being kind and polite to get answers? Well," the judge sighed, "I suppose a bit of information won't hurt if it gets me some peace."
"Wonderful!" he exclaimed, excited by her response.
"I'll be completely honest with you. I have no idea where you heard about the judge's mandate, but yes, it's real. But I didn't lie when I told you I haven't used it. If you saw me focused when I freed you from Seilmon's little prank, it's because I really needed to use a specific tone of voice."
"Interesting. But my dear judge, wouldn't it be easier for you to do your job using that power to command obedience? You could even order me to be silent and thus achieve the 'peace' you just mentioned," he replied, leaning on his cane.
"There are several reasons. But mainly, it's a matter of principles. I don't like imposing myself on others and forcing them to act against their will just to get something. I find it abusive and it goes against freedom. Such ability should only be used when the situation warrants it and as a last resort."
"I understand. It's curious that a celestial being is so considerate of freedom. Perhaps it's because you're from the limbo and not from heaven, but beings like you tend to be the opposite. After all, they punished several just for the small matter of free will. It seems you're quite a just creature, aren't you? You seek to protect the weak, freedom, and other values, but you also recognize the gray areas. Tell me, my dear judge, do you have compassion for sinners? Do you believe they deserve redemption?" Alastor couldn't help but look at her attentively, expectant for her response. He was slowly piecing together the puzzle that was her. He had the impression that she was a being who would defend her convictions to the end.
"Now I see why you invest your time in me. You must be rather bored, wouldn't you agree?" The judge responded, maintaining eye contact with a half-smile. "I hold faith in compassion only once punishment has been served and genuine remorse has been shown. Redemption's validity hinges on the belief that individuals are capable of change. However, many here have erred without malice or selfish intent. Therefore, I am skeptical that everyone warrants redemption or possesses the capacity for it. To qualify, they must acknowledge their wrongdoing and experience genuine remorse. I doubt a being devoid of empathy could achieve that.
"My dear judge, I won't deny that our conversations have relieved me of boredom. You strike me as an intriguing and intelligent creature unafraid to express your ideas. It's certainly refreshing to interact with you despite how irritating your stubbornness can be. I would love to continue this debate on redemption, but it seems we have another matter to attend to. Would you like to start immersing yourself in the social circles of Hell, right? Allow me to introduce you to the most charismatic and sociable individual I know." Without waiting for the judge's response, he took her by the arm and led her out of the room, ignoring her protests.
"There's no need to drag me around like a ragdoll! I can walk."
"But where's the fun in that? Besides, dear judge, we're going out of the hotel. Hell is a bit... messy. We wouldn't want you to get lost and fall into less-than-gentle hands. No, no. Better to keep you close."
Alastor knew exactly who the right person was to help Victoria successfully navigate this ring's society while keeping her true identity hidden. The last thing they wanted was to cause a stir. However, he hated having to ask Rosie for yet another favor. She was a busy woman and would certainly seek some benefit in this situation. What could he offer his esteemed friend in return without exposing the judge? He couldn't afford to fail. This brought him one step closer to earning the judge's trust and eventually gaining access to the files in her briefcase.
"I'm going to insist that you let go of my arm," Victoria continued to complain.
"Would you prefer me to carry you then?" he responded mockingly.
"Of course not! And forget any idea related to that," she exclaimed indignantly.
"Oh, save those claws, dear. I was only joking. I would never dare to treat such an important judge of the Limbo like that."
"Your sarcasm is quite apparent from here," she muttered, more irritated.
"Fantastic! For a moment there, I was worried you wouldn't be able to see it from down there, considering how small you are," Alastor finished, excitedly. This day was going to be fun.
Charlie
She didn't want to admit it, but she was still a little upset about what happened with the chandelier. After her meeting with the judge and expressing her concerns to Vaggie, she had spent the entire day searching for sinners interested in redemption, to no avail. It was always frustrating not to get more guests, but now the feeling was more intense, as she knew that redemption was possible, was something real.
She didn't want to admit it, but she was still a little upset about what happened with the chandelier. After her meeting with the judge and expressing her concerns to Vaggie, she had spent the entire day searching for sinners interested in redemption, to no avail. It was always frustrating not to get more guests, but now the feeling was more intense, as she knew that redemption, if possible, was something real.
She understood the reasons why she had to keep the secret, but that didn't make it any easier. Nor did she know if the judge shared her vision or was as severe as most angels from heaven. On the other hand, she looked quite... human. Did all beings from limbo look like that? Did they all exude that sense of calm? She wasn't really sure if Victoria was a friend or an ally, and that made her nervous.
All these feelings invaded her mind as she entered the hotel late at night and came across the shattered chandelier on the floor. Vaggie immediately appeared to explain the incident and also how they had tried to make a good impression. Although the attempts hadn't lasted long, Charlie really appreciated that they had tried. Besides, according to Vaggie, Victoria had gone to the hotel bar with Husk and Angel and had a good conversation. What she couldn't understand was why no one had cleaned up the mess. She understood Niffty's stance, who refused to "alter a crime scene," but... shouldn't Alastor have taken care of it? He was supposed to have supervised the installation. That night, Charlie decided to go to bed and deal with the problem the next day, and so she did. That's why, now, this morning, she was in the hotel lobby with Vaggie picking up the remnants of the chandelier.
"Where's Alastor?" her girlfriend growled. "He should be helping us with this."
"I don't know. He wasn't in his office, his station, or the room. But don't worry, Vaggie. We can handle this, and we'll get a better chandelier, and this time it will be properly installed," she replied with the utmost enthusiasm.
"I still don't understand how this thing fell again. It was supposed to be secure," Vaggie added.
Charlie was also wondering the same thing. She looked up at the ceiling to locate the beam to which the chandelier had been anchored. She could see the holes from the screws and anchors. Upon counting them, she realized she hadn't found them all yet.
"Are you sure Niffty only touched the crystals?" she asked Vaggie.
"Yes. She was just cleaning the lamp. She never approached the ceiling or the bracket. They were probably of poor quality. Why do you ask?" the former exterminator replied.
"I haven't been able to find some things among the chandelier remains. Pay no attention to me, they're probably under some furniture. After all, they must have flown far from the impact," she said with a forced laugh.
"Charlie, what's going on? You can tell me," Vaggie inquired, approaching her and gently taking her hand.
"It's a crazy idea. But... what if the chandelier had fallen even without Niffty?"
"It wouldn't surprise me. As I said, the screws and anchors were probably of poor quality. The important thing is that no one was injured, and this time, I'll make sure it's done right," Vaggie replied.
"Yes, you're right," she smiled again. However, it didn't reassure her. Charlie knew that Alastor was meticulous in the things he did when he really set his mind to it. This also didn't seem like his style of joke. Could a minor judge from the limbo die, ending their existence? Would it have to be a celestial weapon? If gravely injured, would they return to the limbo? Why was her mind wandering into these ideas? It's not like she was thinking of harming Victoria, quite the opposite. For some reason, she felt that this chandelier incident was very strange.
Ceaseless murmurs abruptly snapped her out of her thoughts. Alastor was entering the hall dragging Victoria by the arm. The judge was visibly annoyed, while the radio demon chose to turn a deaf ear. The scene was eerily reminiscent of the day before, and Charlie seriously questioned if Alastor had ever left the judge alone.
"Alastor!" Vaggie exclaimed, "Where were you? You should have taken care of this," her girlfriend continued, pointing to the remnants of yesterday's incident.
"Oh! I'm terribly sorry. I completely forgot. Something else just caught my attention," Alastor replied, not giving much importance to the matter.
"Can you tell us what you're doing to the judge?" Vaggie persisted.
"Me? Nothing! I'm just taking her for a stroll around hell. Right, dear judge?" Alastor responded. Victoria opened her mouth to say something, but the red demon cut her off. "Fantastic! Then let's be on our way."
"Wait a moment, Alastor!" Charlie spoke with a slightly firmer voice than usual. She walked briskly towards them and took Victoria by the shoulders. "Judge, if you need help, blink twice."
Victoria smiled faintly before replying, "Thank you very much for your concern, Miss Charlie. You don't need to worry. I am accompanying this peculiar individual voluntarily. However, I would greatly appreciate it if the gentleman could release my arm and let me walk on my own."
"Alright, if you insist, dear judge," Alastor said, releasing Victoria's arm. "Why didn't you mention it earlier?" he added sarcastically.
"I'm sure she did," Charlie interrupted before the two of them could argue again. "Anyway, Alastor, what happened with the chandelier is not trivial. You were supposed to oversee the installation to ensure it was firm and secure."
"And I did, dear," the radio host replied proudly.
"Well, I'm not sure how to say this, but perhaps, just perhaps, the materials weren't the most suitable," Charlie continued, trying to be as gentle as possible. She didn't want to blame Alastor for what happened.
"You'd better take it seriously," Vaggie added. "That thing almost crushed the judge yesterday."
"Really?" Alastor responded, looking up at the ceiling, squinting slightly. After a few seconds, he looked back at Charlie and spoke cheerfully, "Well, it's certainly strange that happened. I made sure the installation was proper. I even personally ensured we got the best quality materials. Anyway, I guess you can't trust today's craftsmanship, can you? It's a relief that our esteemed judge came out unscathed."
"But Alast—" Charlie was about to continue speaking, but the radio demon interrupted her.
"Don't dwell on it too much, dear." Again, Alastor dragged the judge by the arm until they reached the exit. "Don't forget. To err is human."
"Wait!" Charlie called out, but Alastor ignored her and left the hotel with the judge again demanding to be let go. The demon's words churned her stomach. Why was she the only one seeing this whole situation as suspicious? Was she overreacting? Concern was engulfing every fiber of her being. She couldn't shake this uneasy feeling off.
"Charlie?" her girlfriend called out worriedly.
"I know I've already told you this, Vaggie. Yesterday you said that maybe I was just nervous about the judge's arrival. And yes, I was, and still am. But for some reason, I can't shake the feeling that something isn't right. This whole chandelier incident gives me a bad feeling. And now Alastor is dragging her out onto the street, exposed to everyone. I mean, I know eventually the judge would have to leave the hotel to do her job, but... do you understand what I'm trying to say? Vaggie, I don't really need you to give me logical reasons why I feel this way. I just need you to—" At that moment, her girlfriend hugged her tightly, stroking her back.
"It's okay, Charlie. I believe you. We'll sort this out, okay? As soon as the judge returns, we'll ask for a meeting so you two can talk calmly. I'll make sure no one interferes. For now, let's finish cleaning this up, and then we can watch something on TV to distract you until Victoria gets back."
"Thank you, Vaggie. I can always count on you," she replied to the former exterminator with a big smile, feeling much better. "Although it'll take us ages to clean this up together," she added with a small laugh.
"Don't worry. I'll get the others to help us. Trust me. They won't refuse." LINK CHAPTER 7:
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chutkiandchotte · 10 months
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Khushi, Family, and Unconditional Love
This post happened because I started thinking about how, for Khushi, having the Raizadas as her in-laws is such a critical part of her personal happy ending and the healing-from-her-trauma journey. 
Certainly, in my opinion, they represent a MUCH happier family unit for her than the Guptas. Now listen, this isn’t a Guptas-bashing post (though I can definitely whip one of those out, some other day maybe). But if we’re talking about Khushi’s trauma and her ultimate happy ending, we have to talk about how the Guptas treated Khushi, and that brings out some harsh truths!
Little Orphan Khushi
Note: I’ll exclude Shashi from this analysis for the time being because he truly accepted Khushi as a daughter, loved and took care of her to the best of his ability, and nearly giving his life to protect her. 
But Buaji and Garima, are NOT the same as Shashi. It’s absolutely undeniable that underneath the surface of their love and care for Khushi is an undercurrent of neglect, contempt, and discrimination. Khushi IS family, but she ISN’T the same as Payal. Payal is truly beloved, for herself. She is considered an ideal child, full of virtues. Khushi? Khushi is loved as a duty, taken care of as the orphan burden. And this sentiment isn’t buried too deep - its a little too close to the surface, awaiting only a little anger, to burst out. 
Khushi is a PROBLEM, to be managed, to be controlled, the best they can. Payal is nurtured and a little spoiled, to be protected from the worst of the what the world has to offer, whereas Khushi takes on burdens entirely to large for her age for the sake of her family, and it’s all taken for granted. She is given way too much responsibility, she is the one making sacrifices to protect THEM and it is all subtly accepted and normalized. 
Why was Payal, the unmarried elder one, not linked with Shyam, if he was so eligible? Because for all his charms, he was ALSO the orphaned connection-less paying guest whose background no one knows much about. If it was Payal who went to work at the Raizadas the second time, would Buaji even CONSIDER letting her go? Would Buaji let Payal keep a secret about her stalker/sexual harasser, forcing her to hang around this same man all the time, for the sake of protecting Khushi’s future? 
See, they aren’t fairy tale evil step mothers. So it’s not that they don’t care for Khushi at all. They do care! They just don’t care AS MUCH as they do for Payal. The care for Khushi isn’t instinctive and emotional the way it is for Payal, the care comes from a sense of duty towards a child under their responsibility. And Khushi knows it. She feels it ALL. Will she ever admit this to anybody? Nope! But she knows. 
What Do We Do With The Problem of Khushi?
So, if they’re not evil and beyond redemption, then why are the Guptas like this? It’s not that they’re looking for reasons to hate Khushi, in fact, they observably do have a certain amount of affection and care for her. But, I believe, there’s a filter that distorts how they view her and how they love her that limits them. That is the filter of “she is an orphan we adopted who is draining our common financial resources and adding to our net worries by her very existence”. 
For middle class people, the financial burden of an extra child is nothing to be sneezed at, ESPECIALLY when it’s an additional girl child. The context of conservative, middle-class, small-town India is ever present in every scene with the Guptas. Again I repeat, there are no villains here (except Shyam) nor are you supposed to hate Buaji or Garima. It’s just that, to understand these delicately imbalanced family dynamics, you have to consider the society that they live in. A girl child represents a net financial drain. And that can’t be waved away no matter how evolved you are. The BEST case scenario is a man like Shashi, kind, generous, liberal-hearted, fair-minded, and loving, who would take Khushi in and NEVER blame her for any of this. But he can, and he very much does, worry about how to give his daughters the protection and the happiness they deserve considering his limitations. He worries. And the stress of it all takes an undeniable medical toll on him. He can never resent Khushi because he knows it’s not her fault. But he is absolutely worrying extra because of the fact that it’s two daughters, not one. 
By the way, this kind of bias is incredibly common (and extremely depressing). You’ll see a step child kind of attitude towards many girl children, even those who are fully blood related, in certain sections of society in India. Where will the dowry come from? Who will pay? What is the worth of a girl child when all she will do is take away a chunk of her family’s wealth with her? The indictment here is largely for the social structures that perpetuate this kind of terrible injustice, generation after generation. The best meaning individuals can be at wits end as to how they can take care of their families in such circumstances. 
THIS is also the crux of why Khushi really feels that burden of unlimited gratitude towards her parents, this is why I believe she is so extra EXTRA motivated to be the breadwinner, protect her family from financial woes, to prevent her father ANY amount of extra worry especially any on her account. As a girl child, Khushi wants to prove to them they haven’t made a “bad deal” by taking her in. She wants to show them the rich dividends of doing this great favor of loving her. (Let’s all take a minute to hug Khushi) (Arnav thinks this way too!!! Exactly this, just that being a man his motivation is more aspirational and less emotionally and logistically complicated).
The other aspect of this, is that in desi cultures, girl children are also considered a greater as well as trickier moral and social responsibility. The “honor” of women is fragile and must be protected blah blah blah and other nonsense. So any bad behavior on the part of Khushi is seen as particularly ungrateful in a way Payal’s would never be. Why? Because Khushi was rescued by them from the horror of being a girl alone in the world, given a home and protection and respectability, and in turn, she owes them a lifetime of being EXTRA careful, EXTRA perfect, so as to not add to their stress of raising girl children.
So, viewing Khushi through this girl child orphan/burden filter, they can never quite appreciate her for what she is, never quite let themselves love her for her own self, completely. They see her exuberance, her mischief, and worry about it causing logistical problems for them. They see her charming yet innocent nature, and worry about her getting intro disrespectable situations which would reflect badly on them and Payal. They see her “sanka-devi ness” ie her weirdness and penchant for trouble, her headstrong and stubborn nature, and worry about how that makes her bad marriage material, on top of already being an orphan. And you know what? They’re not entirely wrong; some of these qualities Khushi has, are NOT what people look for in an ideal Indian woman in the marriage market. But as her family, the Guptas should help her make the best of these circumstances and support her in her journey, rather than making her feel less than, and problematic, just for being her natural self. But, those are their limitations! From their perspective, they definitely think they did the best they could do, and they for sure did much more than what most others would have done. 
This is a bit of a head-canon, not entirely show-based, but it’s one I like: I think that it’s only when the Guptas see Khushi through other people’s eyes, specifically the Raizadas’ eyes, that they learn to fully appreciate her strengths. And it’s when she’s actually gone from the house, that they start to realize how much joy and emotional strength she lent to their household. 
Khushi’s Deepest, Unspoken Desires
So how does all this shape our little orphan Khushi, naturally affectionate and giving, sensitive and self-esteemed, determined and naive and idealistic and passionate all at once? She LOVES the Guptas, she would lay her life down for them, she can’t hear a word against them or question them even in her own thoughts. She can never consciously acknowledge any flaws in her adoptive family or their upbringing of her. But nevertheless, their attitude towards her DOES influence her subconscious desires and deepest ambitions. She sublimates her unmet family needs into her marriage dreams. She is seeking resolution for the trauma of her broken family and life as a burdensome adopted child, from her idealistic and actually quite unrealistic dreams of her perfect future husband and in-laws. 
The one thing that Khushi craves for, that she secretly, and desperately hopes for, is unconditional love and acceptance. She longs to be in a family unit where despite having no blood relation, she has full rights to her proper position, a claim to every material and emotional consideration, and no one can question it or take it away for any reason and she needn’t feel obliged to anybody for what she gets. It all - the love, the care, the money, the house, is unquestionably hers. In short, the type of acceptance and position you can get from being a beloved and respected wife and daughter in law.
Also, she wants a husband and in-laws who love her for what she is and just as she is with no asterisk or element of duty. She wants that unconditional love, with full freedom to be herself, to express her full range of Khushi behaviors. She’s seen how all her life, her mother and aunt have struggled to accept the extremities of her sanka-devi-ness. Considered it a problem. Even Shashi, though he accepted and encouraged her, didn’t represented a source of full comfort and support for her simply because Khushi herself never wants to worry or trouble him, she is so scared to disappoint him or bother him too much. She craves to be around people who she doesn’t have to work quite so hard to impress by suppressing her natural self and being what they want her to be; people who spontaneously enjoy her natural dorky, energetic, impulsive self; people who don’t need anything from her but just want her around, for herself. It’s her ultimate dream because Khushi is a loving, selfless soul deprived of a healthy family unit. She craves the same kind of love that she gives out.
Khushi’s Khushi: A Realistic Fulfillment of Unrealistic Dreams
Now, as I said, Khushi puts a lot of onus on her future marriage to help her achieve her deepest desires. I think that’s what marriage, the divine, lofty ideal of it that she cherishes in her heart, means to her. Of course, this 18 yr old girl’s dream of achieving all of the above through marriage is just that - a quite silly, though poignant dream. It’s not realistic. An average marriage does not encompass most of what Khushi wants from it. An average conservative desi marriage, even less so. But never fear. Devi Maiyya, and ASR, are here - to both teach Khushi a few lessons in the realm of reality, and then also to eventually give her the much more realistic, tempered, mature version of her cherished dream. 
To clarify - I don’t think Khushi having these dreams is silly or stupid. Khushi is valid, all right??? She’s got every right to seek the kind of love and acceptance via romantic and “found family” structures which she never got in her adopted family. What I am saying is, her dreams are immature, the way teenagers’ dreams often are - they aren’t based in reality and aren’t reasonably achievable. That doesn’t mean you have to give up on the dream, it just means that with life experience and learnings, you learn to tailor and temper your dream to a more nuanced, realistic version, that encompasses life’s complexities. Like Khushi does!
This is one of the reasons, despite all surface evidence to the contrary, Arnav IS the perfectly imperfect man for Khushi, the balm for all her wounds, the answer to all her duas (wishes/dreams). Arnav’s unique and loving family is an important part of what he offers Khushi, just like Khushi’s easy and effortlessly loving relationship with his family is an important part of what Khushi offers him. These are the building blocks of their long-term suitability for one another as life partners.
Why The Raizadas Matter, And Not Just As Arnav’s Family
The great thing about the Raizadas is, they aren’t just “Arnav’s family who like and accept Khushi”. The Raizadas are, in a sense, like Khushi’s own found family. She has relationships and attachments with them independent of Arnav. They actually gave her what she wanted, that is, a family that loves her for all of who she is, who never viewed her as a burden, who truly want her around with no qualifications to change who she is. 
They just are always so tickled by ALL of Khushi’s drama and silliness and pranks; and yet appreciate how responsible and wise she is for her age. And even when she messes up or crosses a line (mostly Arnav-related lol) they rarely take offence, even though they would actually have the right to on several occasions! They ENJOY having her around, they seek out her company, find her jokes funny, ask her for ideas, want her opinions, respect her capabilities. They appreciate all her strengths - her bravery, her intelligence, her creativity, her sense of humor, her people-savvy skills, the way she mingles with everybody, the way she can find solutions to every problem. They’re all a little bit in awe of her, I think, the same way they are in awe of Arnav. As they should be!!! Arnav and Khushi are truly THAT power couple, equally matched in their intelligence, beauty, and bravery (and also in their irritating stubborness lol) . And the Raizadas see that.
[ Also like, just, shoutout to the Raizadas for actually being a surprisingly chill, mild, and reasonable family in the landscape of Indian television populated with EXTREMELY dramatic, viciously misogynistic, and needlessly hostile family units. (Seriously those of you who do not have this context, believe me, compared to your Average Tellywood Family, the Raizadas are practically angelic, all right?) ]
It’s absolutely funny to me how much the Raizadas enjoy seeing Khushi dominate Arnav. Like, let me tell you, if this was Your Average Tellywood Show, they would all HATE Khushi from witnessing her resignation speech for humiliating their darling male son heir child. Instead, they are hilariously amused and kind of in awe and low-key cheering her on whenever they see her taking on ASR. 
And, psycho Indian to-be in-laws would be all set to blame Khushi for the Arnav-Lavanya break up. Instead, they are SO partial to Khushi the whole time she works there, to the point that it actually makes Lavanya feel really bad that she’s working so hard to fit in and not fully succeeding while Khushi is doing it effortlessly. It’s not even about the sanskaar (cultural knowledge which Khushi has) or any of that - its just about the natural chemistry that Khushi has with the Raizadas, it’s much stronger and flows easier than with any other potential bahus, including La and Payal. Like, they’re all friends, and they get along, and its all fun and chill!
And by Tellywood rules, after the elopement, they should be cursing her as a characterless woman. And after the Shyam thing (during the Didi ki saut track) -  don’t even get me started, we got mad at what we got but it could have been MUCH MUCH WORSE you guys. 
Nevertheless, we can’t let them off the hook completely, just because they aren’t as evil as their counterparts in some other stories! The Raizadas were definitely being unfair to Khushi, with a typical patriarchal bent, in their in their judgements and scoldings and expectations during these high crisis periods. Their reactions were understandable to a certain point (speaking about just general disappointment) as they still didn’t have the complete picture at that point. But blaming a woman and letting a man off the hook for the same mistake? Not even considering the power imbalance at play that might have influenced circumstances? Not okay! 
In their favor, even when they are in the throes of confusion and understandable disappointment at Khushi, they treat her with reasonable ire. I mean, there’s no dramatic hair pulling or excessive name calling or physical violence (except for Mami’s cruel taunts, but she’s been consistent with those from day 1). Just quiet and cold disappointment, which of course, is bad enough, but it’s realistic, it’s not overdramatic. And again - in their defence - they don’t know the extent of her suffering - she never tells them the whole truth. They think these are her decisions, and they are as disappointed as they would be in a friend they trusted, who let them down. And while they may be disappointed, and they may hold back in expressing their affections, it’s clear that the inner love for her never wavers, they never cross over into hating or abusing her. Even when Anjali is at her most Shyam-manipulated distorted perspective stage, she never hates Khushi or wishes her ill; her inappropriate or misplaced reactions/emotions are mostly focused on herself, her relationship with Arnav, and the loss of her husband. 
A great example of the Raizadas natural affection for Khushi is in the contract marriage period, especially Holi. They are quite easily won over with Khushi’s efforts to woo them and the madcap antics on Holi. You know why? Because they just LIKE her too much to stay mad at her! And it’s hard to stay mad all the time at somebody you inherently like and want to hang out with and make plans with lol. Once they forgive her, they let go of all the resentments. They accept her whole heartedly. They support her in all of her craziness and outlandish ideas, her wishes and ambitions like her dabba service, her home tuitions, even in her irritating Arnav shenanigans! Not quite understanding what’s wrong with contract marriage era Arnav and Khushi, they even clumsily try to play matchmaker, and marriage counsellor, trying to bring them closer to each other. Crucially, it’s not just Arnav they worry about - they genuinely and earnestly worry about Khushi and her happiness, her safety, too. 
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that Khushi was adored by Nani, befriended by Anjali and later NK, and liked/respected by the likes of Akash LONG before there was any idea of “arshi” in any of their heads. In fact, Khushi was Arnav’s enemy. They actively FOUGHT Arnav to keep Khushi in their lives, to keep hanging out with her. She was on “their team” first lol. In terms of interests, hobbies, and likes, she has so much more in common with Raizadas, than with Arnav, who is a bit of an odd fish in his family. So, they like her as herself, first, and then think of her as “Arnav’s wife” whom they would be obliged to like and politely get along with no matter who she ended up being.
That natural and unconditional affection that she has from her in-laws, is a HUGE dream come true for Khushi. Seeing the kind of acceptance she gets from them, I think, heals an essentially broken part of herself and allows her to come into her fullest potential. 
I THINK that’s what they were going for with the Miss India track, from the family angle - to show a full circle for Khushi’s character, to show her standing strong and independent after achieving her dreams, backed by the support of a truly loving and accepting family who are extremely proud of her, with the unwavering love of her Arnavji who is always there to catch her when she stumbles. No denying, they FAILED (big time) in the specifics of achieving this intention because of the terrible execution of the last couple of tracks in IPK. 
But if I consider the overall picture, the complete end-to-end journey of Khushi in the TV show as a whole, then I can definitely see how the character arc of a outwardly happy, inwardly traumatized little orphan seeking true unconditional love and acceptance, not just from a man, but from a family, was beautifully fulfilled.
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thestayathomedragon · 11 months
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I've been thinking about Luis Serra a lot lately. Obviously. And I just feel even worse about the way things ended for him. And yeah sure there was hope at the end. He did save Leon and Ashley and by doing so probably a lot more people than he ever could have dreamed. But still I feel so badly for the way his story went.
And I know his death was meant to be seen as some kind of redemption in it's self but I can't help but think about all the lore you find on him in the village as you go through the game and how these events in his life turned him into what he became.
Like how losing his grandfather, the only family he had at such a young age left him out in the world on his own to have to figure so much out by himself. I mean he was born and raised in a isolated rural village out in the middle of nowhere Spain with a bunch of traditional devout Catholics.
What could he have possibly learned about the way society works outside of the village until he was actually outside of the village? How old was he when he left? I mean it's clear he was still a bit naive even after all he's already been through when we meet him, so imagine what he must have been like in the beginning of his journey.
Was he truly taken advantage of? And what exactly did that look like?
I mean he was convinced once, twice, almost three times that he was doing the right thing with his research that it was going to lead to helping people. Which he seemed obsessed with doing. So much so that he was blind to the consequences until it was too late. Even with Leon and Ashley. He wanted to help them so badly that he put himself into the line of fire time and time again.
I feel that he did truly do it because he wanted to feel better about his past mistakes but look at all the risks he took with Leon. Even Leon was scolding him about taking things more seriously toward the end. I don't believe he truly thought he would be killed.
I get that this was a remake but the story beats were always going to be the same. That Luis was doomed by the narrative that had already been written but I don't know how I feel about him having to die to be redeemed. Sure he made mistakes, a lot of them, but so does everybody. It's unfortunately the human condition. We will make the same mistakes over and over again, fooled every time because they're wearing a different coat of paint, or outfit, or name. But it's the same ones.
What we do in response to those mistake does matter of course but I don't know if the lesson here should be that someone deserves to die because of it.
I feel like once again Capcom and Resident Evil missed out of giving us a very complex and interesting character that we get to see move on from terrible, terrible things and potentially teach a much more valuable lesson.
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kalolasfantasyworld · 17 days
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Paper Hearts and how it came to be
Hi everyone this a post nobody asked for, but I really wanted to make. I admit that I was inspired to make this after reading the afterword of the Embers of Sun and Flame by @thoughtfullyrainynightmare.
Paper Hearts spoilers - not plot specific, but overall concepts. I wanted to reveal a bit of how it actually happened that I came up with it and I can tell you it was a journey.
3 main points below and then I will expand:
Noelle and Nozel are my favorite characters, while Noelle finds herself and becomes happy. Nozel... we don't really know much about, but we know that he's been not great.
SILVA REDEMPTION - it was supposed to be a redemption story since the beginning. I wanted to give all the Silvas a more "human" outlook. A chance to make mistakes and change for the better. A chance to become a family.
The story did not start with Helena. She was "created" for the Silvas, to help them grow and learn. I couldn't do this with an already existing character without changing canon. Helena sees the whole BC (literally 5-170 episodes, plus a bit of manga until the Spade Raid) story from her perspective, a new perspective and gives an outlook on what the Silvas did then. However she developed as a whole well rounded character with her strengths, quirks and flaws. 💕
Nozel x OC
Nozel was in the dark for a long time. A cave filled with perfectionism, guilt, self loathing and unhealthy ambition. A very cold place. (a tiny reference to Allegory of the Cave by Plato, obviously this is a slightly different case)
I know he would not so easily get out of his cave towards the light
He needed to be "forcefully pulled out of it" and that's where a nosy, cheerful, talkative, very stubborn and at times annoying OC comes in
She helps him see the light in the outside world, by teaching him how to simply have fun, but also notice the good inside himself.
She pulls him out to that "shining light" and that's how her name came to be -> Helena meaning sun ray, torch, shining light
Nozel is by no means weak in this story, on the contrary I want to show him as a strong character who found some ways to cope with his past even though they were certainly not the best ones. However he is able to grow and learn (such as admitting, that he was wrong, or being vulnerable with time).
Silva redemption
We've seen moments, literal snippets of Nebra and Solid acting not like the last pieces of trash (when Nebra checks up on Solid, when he's hurt, Nebra realising that she is an obstacle after she's hurt, or when Solid tells Noelle to go to the shadow palace, little more besides that) and I think that to each other they were never that awful. I wanted to expand on that.
So let's introduce Helena, but hey they will treat her awful if she's below them in social hierarchy -> let's make her a princess with a lot of mana
A princess? which house? She's supposed to have a "fresh view" -> she has to be a foreginer
Foreigner?! Are you kidding?! they will eat her alive (I mean they did xd) -> There has to be some familiarity and how better to achieve that then through Acier, thus Luciana (Helena's mom) and Acier were best friends and Helena is actually half clover half diamond
She has to warm up the atmosphere -> once again the little light. Helena becomes friends with Nebra (Nebra learns how to treat a friend well), and she cares for Solid like a little brother (somebody will bite back and he will learn respect), Nozel... you know the story and with Noelle you will see how it goes.
However there will be more to their growth then just Helena and sometimes she will simply witness the changes
They are assholes to lower class people -> Helena is not, but why? even though she is a princess -> backstory time ;)
Nozel, Nebra and Solid are STILL very much ASSHOLES in Paper Hearts!!! I just give them an additional face and a chance to grow over time, to be more than that.
Character growth
people make mistakes, and these characters will make them in Paper Hearts, but they will learn and grow because of them
This story will be long, because it will not rush through changes. They happen over time and a year and a half is a lot. I want these to be natural.
Helena
her character was explained a bit earlier, she has to counter the cold of the Silvas and be full of life
She comes from a big, warm family so she can show the Silvas how does a healthy family life look like
She has FLAWS, quite a few actually, because people are not perfect and that's what makes them special and beautiful. She's supposed to be relatable.
Helena is not traumatised, depressed or broken. She has her past and it affected her, but she's learnt a lesson instead of letting it control her.
Another reason for why she is a princess -> I've always had a hard time picturing Nozel being long term with someone outside of nobility. Not because of arrogance, but simply responsibilities. Helena knows how to take care of a house, knows Royal customs and will be a good lady of the house, someone Nozel can lean on in his duties, who understands how important it is to carry the name. So they have some similar values and backgrounds helping them understand one another. Especially at the beginning of the story, when he would simply not talk to anyone below his status and that's when Helena was introduced. (also based on the assorted questions brigade that's his type)
Helena's hispanic -> I simply love hispanic characters, spanglish is a fun addition to the story (my friend pointed out to me, that I may have been subconsciously inspired by Lance from Voltron)
Helena's looks -> I wanted her to have that sun kissed, hispanic look
Her eyes are dark brown, almost black -> I wanted a silver haired baby with super dark eyes 😍 (that's Natalia and literally the only reason for Helena's eye color)
She wears red -> the red blue dynamics, although they kind of flipped, because usually the blue are funny and silly, while the red grumpy, but you know what I mean
There's a four years difference between her and Nozel, I wanted her to be a bit younger so that she would have an easier time connecting with the younger Silvas (there's 1 year between her and Nebra) and overall Helena is filled with that "youthful vigor"
her perspective is new and fresh, she's a foreigner and we learn about Clover with her
Paper magic... that's a lot to unpack especially since you don't know (she doesn't either) how her spells develop yet -> let's say I wanted her to be "weak" at the beginning and paper seems pretty timid and the "blank page" metaphor (song unwritten fits her so well). You have to trust me that Paper Magic was very carefully and deliberately thought through.
Helena has not and never will become a magic knight. She's supposed to be different than Nozel and have her own thing, which is healing. This also is relevant towards her not changing canon, but being able to interact with it.
Why Diamond out of all the suit kingdoms? -> You'll see xd (forever in the future though 🥲), but it came with the development of the story. As I said Paper Hearts started with the Silvas then branched out. However I do have some Diamond Kingdom lore.
CANON
this story is written in a way that it could happen in the show
meaning Helena is watching something but not interacting where the "BC camera rolls"
I need to rewatch quite a bit while writing, but I'm not complaining (okay the festival chapters were hard and there were times when I wrote a scene only to be like "No! This character can't be here!" and I had to delete it 😭 "bye bye funny scene")
I wanted for you to see what the Silvas are doing, while BB are on their adventures
So it can be the reader's favorite game -> I wonder what is Helena doing in this part of the series?
assorted questions brigade is my literal guidebook (Nozel is a lightweight, socks on during sex 😁)
Actually writing
I haven't written anything in YEARS
I've never finished a fic
I was self conscious about my stories and how I wrote characters (terrified that people will say "oh they would not act this way at all!")
writing is still one of the most personal things I have (it lies closer to my heart even than my art)
Miraculously I opened up and told my not BC friend the main plot of Paper hearts story -> she said "it's good write it" -> that same evening I had the first chapter drafted
That's why I explain literally everything in Paper Hearts (you're getting specific descriptions of how each character looks like). I want her to be able to read it without her needing to watch the show. So it's written that non BC people will understand it and people who are just watching won't get spoilers, because I give spoiler warnings.
Those who know BC see the foreshadowing, little hints and easter eggs, so it's just as fun.
Humor
I love humor
I laugh so much while writing this story and I do my best to make it really funny
Helena is hilarious
And the sunshine x grumpy relationships are my favorite
so Helena and Nozel deliver me so much content
Besides there are Finral and Vanessa
Finral and Vanessa
I love them
They are an amazing trio with Helena, so funny too
I wanted to let the readers know what's happening in BC and keep them in a loop where we are with the BC storyline, so they tell Helena about their adventures
Obviously there is much more to them than being a source of information
Platonic relationships
This story will have a lot of them, such as relationships between Helena and each one of the younger Silva siblings, or mentioned above Finral and Vanessa
It is a romance, but also much more
There are quite a few chapters in which Nozel is just not present and they're still fun, but focus on different things
Hard topics
there are and will be some tougher, more angsty chapters and sadder ones as well
BC story has its ups and downs in terms of characters well being. It can't be happy all the time.
Once again PEOPLE MAKE MISTAKES
I want them to learn from them
Action
I actually found out writing fight scenes is not awful
so I describe them (wait for the elf reincarnation arc chapters...😁)
Romance
This is obviously a romance, spicy, funny, thoughtful, lovable and at some points relatable, but it also has its downsides
IMPERFECTIONS!!!
Pink tinted glasses
Helena and Nozel don't miraculously fall in love, they learn it and it happens over time, they become "friends before lovers" it's natural.
Yhm sexual tension -> a lot, this story is rated mature for a reason!
Support
building relationships takes time
MISTAKES!!!
misunderstandings
It is soft, touching, but painful at times
There's a song in my first language saying (this is my translation):
Love is no teddy bear, no flowers
It is also not a horned devil
Nor it is love, when one is crying
And other is jumping on them.
Because love is not a film at any cinema.
Neither roses, nor kisses - little, big ones..
But love... is when one is falling down
And the other is pulling them up
that's the Nozelena I'm going for ❤️💙
Song additions (as you can see above😉)
i love music and I love incorporating it in this story
so song guessing like in chapter 21 was so much fun
I even created a full playlist for one of the latter chapters (i listened to it while writing, now it sometimes plays when I drive a car xd)
And there are some songs, which just fit the characters and I will link them
I'm really just goofing around with this, but it makes me so happy
Other ships
i know they're not there yet
but they will be in the right time of BC storyline
Helena is too nosy to not butt into other relationships and not be a matchmaker or something...
I just wanted to give some love to the characters I like and won't really gallop of canon, but they will have some cute scenes (not all the ships I like though, that would be too much, so I chose those fitting the plot, very sadly no Greyche, no MagLuck 😭, maybe mentions of them though)
Canon is the reason why I'm doing mostly "canonic" ships
Other characters that appear
This story ends up being not Helena x Nozel, not Helena x Silvas, but Helena x BC characters overall
it's funny and interesting how they interact
And I want to show some love to other still amazing characters, who just did not find their place in my top of the top, or did not really fit the plot of this fic as mains
Development
writing this story is a process
and I have it plotted out, so everything really does happen for a reason. I'm not changing the plot whatsoever since I came up with it and it was before setting up Ao3 or this tumblr account.
but then there are some little things, which I don't see coming and an additional chapter appears (I'm loosing control over the length of this story)
The "story tells you what it wants" and I follow it, so the chapter details are not set in stone
I also realised I can't write short chapters any more, so it prolongs the story too and sometimes I need to split them in two (for example the festival chapter was supposed to be in 1 mayeeebe 2 -> it's in three, elf reincarnation was supposed to be one -> it's in three)
But I think that what's in there is necessary, interesting and just fun so i won't make this story shorter on purpose, that's not the point
Illustrations
They happened. There's nothing to explain here. I just like to draw. I've read two fics with illustrations and I found them fun. I wasn't planning on illustrating every Paper Hearts chapter, but it may happen.
I'm truly exploring what I can do with my art in those illustrations so they are made in multiple styles, at different points in time and they differ greatly.
The title/s
You will understand why Paper Hearts, when I finally will get to a chapter titled this way
It's obviously connected to Helena's paper magic
Each chapter title matters -> I spend a lot of time on thinking them through and they greatly foreshadow what will happen, a lot of times in metaphorical ways
They are made in a specific style "The ...." -> I just thought it would be fun to stay consistent
Damn, this was a loooong post!
I hope you guys enjoyed this little (not really 😂) explanation and are enjoying my passion project called Paper Hearts.
For those who are reading Paper Hearts I hope you like how it came to be and continue with me on this journey through BC. I'm forever grateful for your support.
For those who haven't read it I strongly recommend it to you. The first few chapters are a bit icky, because I was just learning how to write and setting up the scene, but it's a good story. This statement I've actually never doubted. 💕
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Title: "Shattered Bonds"
oml this is angsty . 😀
sirius x reader (no established relationship)
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You, his closest friend and confidante, had watched helplessly as Sirius spiraled into self-destructive behaviors. He had pushed everyone away, including you, in an attempt to isolate himself from the guilt that gnawed at him.
One gloomy evening, you found him in the dimly lit library, surrounded by books and empty bottles of firewhisky. His eyes were bloodshot, and his face was etched with despair. You approached cautiously, fearing his reaction.
"Sirius," you whispered, "you can't keep doing this to yourself."
He didn't look up, but his grip on the bottle tightened. "I don't deserve forgiveness," he muttered, his voice trembling.
Tears welled up in your eyes as you sat down beside him. "No one blames you more than you blame yourself," you said softly. "But you can't keep punishing yourself like this."
His haunted eyes met yours, and for a moment, you saw a flicker of the Sirius you used to know. "I can't face them, not after what I did."
"You don't have to face them alone," you insisted. "We all make mistakes, Sirius, but that doesn't mean we're beyond redemption."
A bitter laugh escaped his lips. "Redemption? There's no redemption for me. Not after what I did to them."
You reached out and gently took the bottle from his hand, setting it aside. "You're wrong, Sirius. You have to forgive yourself before anyone else can forgive you."
He looked down at his trembling hands, tears finally spilling over. "I don't know how," he admitted, his voice barely a whisper.
You took his hand in yours, offering what little comfort you could. "We'll figure it out together," you vowed. "But you have to let us in, Sirius. You don't have to face your demons alone."
For the first time in weeks, Sirius didn't push you away. He clung to your hand as if it were a lifeline, and together, you began the painful journey towards healing and forgiveness, one small step at a time.
But the path to redemption was fraught with obstacles. The Marauders, who had once been as close as brothers, now harbored deep resentment toward Sirius. James had been the most vocal in his anger, his betrayal by one of his closest friends cutting deeper than he could express. Remus, the gentlest of them all, was devastated by the events that had torn their group apart.
One night, as Sirius lay in his darkened room, he heard muffled sobs coming from the adjacent room. It was Remus, the moonlight casting an eerie glow on his tear-streaked face. Sirius couldn't bear the sound of his friend's pain, and yet, he couldn't bring himself to face him.
The cries haunted him, a constant reminder of the anguish he had caused. Each sob was like a dagger in his heart, and he wished desperately that he could turn back time and undo the terrible prank that had shattered their friendship.
As the days turned into weeks, Sirius continued to struggle with his own demons while listening to Remus's silent cries of despair. The weight of his actions pressed down on him, threatening to suffocate him.
But one evening, as he sat alone in the library, he heard footsteps approaching. It was Remus, his eyes red and swollen from tears. He didn't say a word as he walked up to Sirius, who couldn't meet his gaze.
Finally, in a voice filled with pain, Remus spoke, "Sirius, we're all hurting. But we were brothers once, and I can't stand to see you suffer like this."
Tears welled up in Sirius's eyes as he finally looked at Remus. "I'm so sorry, Moony. I never meant for any of this to happen."
Remus nodded, his own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I know, Padfoot. But we have to find a way to heal, together."
With those words, the first steps toward reconciliation were taken, and though the road ahead was long and filled with pain, Sirius and Remus knew that they couldn't continue to let their past mistakes define their future. They had lost much, but perhaps, with time and forgiveness, they could rebuild what had been shattered.
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