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#if this is real and it really is written just as niccolo in the book i will be mad. you give us the full name but get it wrong?
howdyboh · 1 year
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i have no idea if this is even true or a fake leak but anyway if Nico di Angelo's full name thing is true, it is written Niccolò with an accent on the O!
Also I don't get why they went with the double C version when his name is shortened to Nico but well. that's another story.
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jmaceofspades · 10 months
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The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure (Book Review)
The Percy Jackson series has always been very dear to me even though I just found out about the book series in the early 2020 before the Covid pandemic. Did my obsession with PJO altered my personality too much? Yes, yes it did, to the point that the words “Dam” and “Schist” are permanent additions to my vocabulary. Until now, its influence on my life is very much evident in my speech or way of talking. I’ve picked up a lot of things from various characters, like gaining more pieces for the puzzle that I call ‘my personality’. I think it’s a common thing for readers to just absorb their favorite character/s personality and mix it with their own. Now finding out that Rick Riordan or “Uncle Rick” as well Mark Oshiro, was writing a SOLO BOOK for one of my beloved demigods, Nico di Angelo, I was ecstatic (I screamed) when it was announced. I was anticipating it of course, especially after reading the last book for the “Trials of Apollo” series, I was just waiting patiently for it to happen.
BACKGROUND
The Sun and the Star: A Nico di Angelo Adventure is a stand-alone book written after the events of The Tower of Nero, the last book of the Trials of Apollo series released in 2020. This solo book is co-written by Rick Riordan, author of the entirety of the Percy Jackson Universe, and Mark Oshiro, New York Times #1 bestselling and award-winning Latinx queer author. The Sun and the Star (TSatS) is told in a third-person point of view of Nico di Angelo and Will Solace. It focuses on the relationship of Nico and his boyfriend Will, also known as Solangelo. The book was announced on October 6, 2021. To make sure that Nico’s point of view as a gay person including Solangelo’s romantic relationship to be authentic as possible, Riordan decided to co-write this book with YA author Mark Oshiro. On September 28 of the year 2022, the cover art of the book was announced alongside the official release date which was on May 2, 2023. The cover art of TSatS was done by Khadijah Khatib.
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Strengths
One of the strengths of this book is that they did not shy away from any sensitive topics that Nico and Will were experiencing throughout their whole journey together to Tartarus as well as their relationship. The topics about their insecurities, doubts, sexuality, PTSD, and emotions were nicely explored. Mark did a really good job in fleshing out their characters so well, especially with Will's real self finally revealed. These were never the main focus in Riordan’s previous works, which makes it a really nice experience to read through and see a character’s thought process and how emotions are presented as the story progresses. The struggles that my favorite demigods experienced felt really relatable.
Another one of the strengths is that they made their FIRST relationship to be realistic, there was no blind trust on each other. Blindly trusting someone does not always go well including the fact that they were venturing into Greek superhell. Throughout the book, Nico and Will communicated really well, of course there were some misunderstandings here and there but they weren’t even shy in bringing it up about it which is really refreshing! After reading so many stories with problems that can literally be fixed by just TALKING with one another, this book was an absolute blessing.
Weaknesses
If we’re talking about weaknesses, I would probably say the timeline, Nico’s official full name not really existing in Italian, and the horror of the place called Tartarus because it is superhell after all. The timeline of the Percy Jackson Universe has always been a bit confusing since characters made references to shows or movies that were released in the future where the actual setting is set. Nico mentioning and referencing Lil Nas X’s song titled “Montero” in the story set in the 2010’s is very much out of place because the said song was released in the year 2021. The name “Niccolo” does not exist in the list of various Italian names, but it can be seen as a typographical error unless said otherwise. The proper first name for Nico would be “Niccolò”, where stress is present. Lastly, Tartarus, this place was always presented to be one of THE most dangerous places that a demigod or a God would ever step in. I guess I kind of expected more thrill or horror once Nico and Will arrived there (it was probably a terrifying place for them though) just to live up to its name and the whole build up of it.
Thoughts
All in all, I love it with all my heart and soul. I would read it again anytime and any day as long as I have time in my hands. I love how they Tartarus as a metaphor of PTSD, a really witty choice on their part. The characterization of Will Solace outside of other people’s perspective was just so nice to see because he was always described as this cool, calm and collected head of the Apollo Cabin in the previous book. Seeing just how human he is while reading the book made me love his character even more. Another thing I adore is that Nico in the book started to be like his old self before everything became a dumpster fire, which made me cry because it’s so evident that he’s healing and becoming more open and happy! Seeing my favorite pairing have such an endearing dynamic with one another was an absolute blessing. I would definitely recommend it to anyone to read.
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ackermelon · 3 years
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"Niccolo," Jean said, fumbling with his fingers. "Tell her."
Niccolo, eyes taking an interest in the tiles under him, squirmed in his seat, clearly uncomfortable.
Jean breathed in, exhaling slowly. "You came here for my advice, and I'm telling you to simply tell her."
"It's not that simple." Niccolo swallowed. "I'm not ready for that yet. What if she-"
"You'll never be ready," he interrupted. "It'll never be the 'right time' for you. You just have to do it."
The clock's ticking echoed in the silent room, and Jean's eyes slowly softened the more he looked at the man sitting across from him. He swept his finger over the book sitting on his old wooden desk, its spine worn out with age; "Jean's sketchbook," written in soft handwriting, now faded and smudged, but the vision of delicate fingers writing it down still fresh in Jean's mind.
"If you love someone, Niccolo, you tell them," the corners of his lips tugged into the semblance of a smile, gaze never leaving the sketchbook. "I know you're scared that it's not the right thing to do, or not the right time to do it. Trust me, I've been there." A forced chuckle escaped his lips, but it was more like a shaky exhale, a desperate attempt to keep the tears at bay. "Even if you're scared that it might burn your world to the ground, you go and tell Sasha that you're in love with her."
He finally looked up, and Niccolo could almost feel the pain in his eyes. He got up, nodding, and without saying another word, he left the room.
Jean chuckled dryly again, fingers, once again, tracing the side of the sketchbook. He opened it, flipping through the pages.
One... Two... Three... His fingers stopped at the third page, tears stinging his eyes, forming pools but refusing to fall.
Rough fingers explored every last crevice of the page, gentle as to not smudge the lead. He counted the freckles on the paper with his eyes; twenty-seven. Again, he chuckled. "Marco," he whispered, only to the face smiling back at him. His fingers ran over the top of the page, eyes now closed, imagining soft, delicate fingers tangled up in his hair. "You would've liked my long hair, Marco."
With a smile on his face, he neared the sketchbook to his chest, wrapping his arms around it, eyes still closed, imagining slender arms around his body, the soft scent of lavender tickling his nose.
"I wish I'd told you sooner, Marco." His shoulders shook, cheeks now wet, tears reflecting the flickering candle light. "I wish it wasn't too late." He choked, struggling to breath. "I wish you were here."
"I miss you."
I've been in a JeanMarco kinda mood for a while now. Their tragic love story will never fail to make me cry. I just love them too much.
Listen to If I Could Fly by One Direction while reading if you really want the full experience. The real angst.
And yes, I did quote Mark Sloan for this. I miss him too.
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bluesylveon2 · 3 years
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My My, I Could Never Let You Go
Summary: Sasha Zoe just wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. There is only one problem: she doesn't know who her dad is! Sasha invites 3 men in hopes of finding out which one is her father. What could possibly go wrong?
Pairings: Levi x Hange, Sasha x Niccolo, and other background relationships
Disclaimer: This is a Levihan Mamma Mia au. This fanfic is inspired by Mamma Mia which is directed by Phyllida Loyd, written by Catherine Johnson, and uses music from the pop group ABBA. Attack on Titan is a manga/anime series written by Hajime Isayama and published by Kondasha
Author’s Note: NOW EDITED! This chapter and maybe the next few will include character background. I know the movie doesn’t include that, but I am! This story will have some added/deleted scenes from the movie. I hope you like it though! Also, the characters are in their Season 4 looks. The 104 group will be 20-21. Niccolo is 23. The adults:
Hange, Nanaba, Rico, and Mike - 43 | Levi - 45 | Erwin - 46 | Moblit - 40 | Pieck - 37 | Porco - 35
Yes, the adults are mostly in their 40′s, but look young. Let’s just go with it
I will try to keep a weekly or week and a half update depending on school. 
Now let’s move to the chapter where we meet a happy and engaged Sasha! 😁
Need to catch up? Catch up here!
Ch 1: Honey, Honey
Kalokairi, Greece
1 day before the wedding
Two passengers walk out of the docked ferry. Mikasa - the tall one with short jet black hair and dark brown eyes - was grabbing the rest of her stuff while her friend Historia - the shorter one with long blonde hair and blue eyes - searched for Sasha. It didn’t take Historia long to find her. Sasha wasn’t hard to find. Despite her wearing her brown hair in a ponytail and wearing casual clothes; she was running towards them at full speed. Sasha also held a small book with her. 
“OH MY GOSH! YOU ARE FINALLY HERE!!!!” Sasha screamed as she ran towards her friends on the dock. 
Mikasa Ackerman is half Japanese and half German. She originally lived in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in Germany but moved to Kalokairi after her parent’s death when she was a teenager. Mikasa’s parents dreamed of visiting the island one day when Mikasa was older. She used to sit on her mother’s lap as she told her about the island's beauty. After Mikasa’s parents died, her great aunt on her mother’s side reached out to her from Japan and provided Mikasa enough money to move to Kalokairi. Mikasa’s great aunt was unable to take care of Mikasa because of her old age, so Mikasa chose to live in Kalokairi to fulfill her parent’s dream. The only downside was that Mikasa lived alone. Her home is a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom home. It’s enough for a person, but Mikasa felt alone without her parents. It was where she met Eren Jaeger's family. Eren’s mom, Carla, often invited Mikasa to eat so she wouldn’t get lonely. Eren gave Mikasa a red scarf as she was leaving the Jaeger household. He claimed it was a gift, so she didn’t feel lonely. Mikasa, touched by the gift, started visiting the Jaeger family more, and she even met Eren’s freind, Armin. The Jaeger home became Mikasa’s second home, and Mikasa was not alone anymore. It changed after Historia moved the island. 
Historia Reiss came from Munich and ran to Kalokairi to get away from her family. She felt confined in her home when all she wanted was freedom. She had also learned the ugly truth behind her family name a week after moving in with her father, Rod Reiss. Her uncle, Uri, was the CEO of the Fritz company, a conglomerate in Germany with other branches across Europe. The company also did some shady business orchestrated by Rod, but it was hidden from the public. The only plus for Historia staying home was seeing sister, Freida, more often. 
The only downside of running away to another country was not knowing the language. Historia was walking around the island when she accidentally bumped into Mikasa. Mikasa noticed how lost Historia looked, so she invited her into her home. Historia spills her entire life story (including her real name) to Mikasa the moment Mikasa sat down in the chair in front of her to eat dinner. Historia was horrified after she finished her story. She just told her story to a stranger who is most likely going to kick her out. Historia flinched when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to find Mikasa looking down at her with a smile. Mikasa understands what it is like to be alone, so she invites Historia to stay in her home. The girls eventually lived together as roommates until they had to leave for their modeling careers. Mikasa and Historia have even walked in Milan Fashion Week. 
The home is still under Mikasa’s name (originally it was under her great aunt, but it went to Mikasa after her passing). The girls (and everyone in their friend group), use it when they stay on the island. The current inhabitants are Hanami and Mina since they were the first to arrive. Mikasa, Annie, Hitch, and Historia are the only girls from the group staying at the hotel. 
Historia also started going by her real name after an incident with the company. Rod went to prison and Freida became the new CEO. She and Freida keep in touch often via mail to make up for the lost time and update each other of their lives. Historia told Freida about her freinds, her new maternal figure (Hange), and her girlfriend, Ymir.
Sasha met Mikasa and Historia on the island in high school. Mikasa was with her friends, Eren and Armin when Sasha met her. They were often paired up for projects and events that their friendship happened naturally over time. Sasha met Historia when she gave her some bread after Sasha was caught eating in class. Mr. Shadis, their teacher, is really a strict man. He made Sasha run laps around the whole school as punishment. Sasha wouldn’t stop thanking Historia after that. 
“SASHA!!!!!!” Historia shoved her stuff towards Mikasa and began running towards Sasha. 
“MIKASAAAAA!!!! HISTORIA!!!!!!!!!” Sasha continued yelling before glomping Historia. Luckily Historia caught herself without falling into the water.
“And where is my hug?” Sasha heard behind Historia before looking up to see Mikasa smirking at her. Sasha opened one arm out to initiate a group hug.
Mikasa briefly put both her’s and Historia’s stuff down and joined in on the hug. 
“Ugh, it’s been so long! I missed you both so much!” Sasha complained dramatically as she let go of the girls. Mikasa and Historia grab their things and start heading towards the beach with Sasha. 
Sasha looked at the group and noticed someone was missing.
“Is Ymir not coming, Historia?” Sasha asked while tilting her head to the side.
“No,” Historia says sadly, thinking about her girlfriend as she looks down as she walks. “She has caught up with work lately and won’t be able to attend your wedding.” Historia looked up and smiled “She wanted me to tell you congrats on your engagement though.”
“Well we would have been here earlier, but someone” Mikasa glared at Historia “insisted on being fashionably late” Mikasa grumbled. She gave air quotes on the words fashionably late with her free hand. 
“Well are we?” Historia giggled. She waved her hand innocently while ignoring Mikasa’s last statement 
“No” Sasha laughed “Aunt Nanaba and Aunt Rico will be here later on today, and Aunt Pieck will be here tomorrow.”
Aunt Pieck is Sasha’s only known family member from her mom’s side. 
(Sasha also heard about a grandmother, but her mom never talks about her)
According to Hange, Pieck is Hange’s younger cousin. Hange’s mom and Pieck’s mom are sisters, but they weren’t that close. Hange’s mom was more focused on her singing career, and Pieck’s mom wanted to focus on her daughter. As a result, Hange would often visit Pieck’s house in Santorini. Pieck would tell her stories about Kalokairi during one of Hange’s visits. Pieck’s stories of Kalokairi sparked Hange’s interest in the island. Pieck is currently a photographer who lives in Portugal after marrying Porco Galliard. She met Porco after a photoshoot in Spain. 
Porco is a veteran from Portugal. His brother, Marcel, is also a veteran and he was in the same unit as Porco. Both brothers began traveling around Europe after finishing their service before settling down. One day, the brothers were in Valencia, Spain after hearing of the La Tomatina Festival in Bunol. Porco met Pieck during the festival after she threw a squashed tomato straight at his face. Porco had to face her alone (Marcel was somewhere deep in the crowd) and decided to get back at her. It was a battle between speed (Porco) and stamina (Pieck, Porco had no idea how Pieck was not getting tired). According to Aunt Pieck, it was like the others in the crowd didn’t matter to them. It was her vs Porco. The two got to learn more about each other after the festival ended, and they exchanged numbers. 
Sasha has not seen her Aunt Pieck since her high school graduation. Her aunt had moved to left Greece after marrying Porco, so her visits were less frequent. Nevertheless, Sasha enjoyed looking at the postcard and photos her aunt sends every year. Seeing her aunt and uncle’s happy faces puts a smile on Sasha’s face. She wishes her mom had a similar experience. 
“I knew we should’ve waited longer,” Historia complained to Mikasa and threw her arms up for dramatic effect.
“Yeah me too,” Mikasa says sarcastically and rolls her eyes.
“Speaking of guests, are the other girls here already?” Historia asks Sasha and looks around the beach expecting the others to magically appear before them.
“The other girls are here,” Sasha replies “Mina is hanging out with Marco, Hitch is dragging Marlowe around the island, Annie is on a date with Armin, and Hanami is probably trying not to kill Jean. She has been here longer and is working together with Jean on the wedding”
Hanami is a sweet but oblivious girl they had all met in high school. She is known for making rash decisions, and it worried them. Jean usually reprimands her for being rash, and Hanami would fight back verbally. She and Jean used to not get along before, but their friendship has improved over the years. Nowadays, the both of them just like messing with one another. 
“Let’s hope that your wedding does not end in disaster,” Mikasa says with a hint of worry in her voice.
Their friend, Hanami Richter, is Sasha’s maid of honor. She was born in Greece after her parents moved from Cambridge. She is both Japanese and German like Mikasa, but looks more European. Hanami has short dark brown hair, dark brown eyes,  and wears glasses. She looks like she could be Sasha’s long lost sister. (The girls switched places once, but Hange figured out ‘Sasha’ was not Sasha. Luckily Hange didn’t get mad, but she was impressed).  Hanami is currently attending the University of Vienna to study International Business Administration. 
“Oh!” Historia exclaimed in an attempt to change the subject “Show us your ring!”
Sasha laughed before stopping their walk to extend her left hand. She showed Historia the beautiful ring on her ring finger. The ring consisted of a 2-carat diamond glistened from the sunlight. The ring was not too over the top. It was a white gold ring with a diamond placed in the center surrounded by smaller diamonds to form a halo. 
Historia let out a whistle “Niccolo did really well! Let me take a picture and send this to Ymir. She was expecting a big diamond”
Niccolo is a young chef with wavy blonde hair and green eyes. Niccolo dreams of working as an executive chef after traveling the world. However, no one appreciated his cooking despite working in a famous restaurant. Sasha met him when she and her girl friends went on a summer trip to Italy. During the trip, the group decided to eat dinner at a well-known restaurant in Rome. Everyone, especially Sasha, was enjoying their meal until Sasha started eating her lobster. The girls will never forget how Sasha couldn’t stop complimenting the lobster that she wanted to meet the chef who made it. Niccolo was shocked when his co-worker mentioned what was going on outside the kitchen. Someone was actually appreciating his cooking and he moved them to tears! Niccolo had no choice but to agree. He wanted to meet this person. Surprisingly to the girls, the restaurant let her meet the chef, but only after closing time. Sasha was in tears as she hugged Niccolo, and Niccolo was shocked to see how his food affected her. (Niccolo never told Sasha, but it was love at first sight for him). They met again months later when Jean invited Niccolo over to Kalokairi to surprise Sasha. Sasha and Niccolo eventually started dating, and Niccolo proposed to her after 2 years of dating.
As Historia took some pics on her phone, Mikasa remembered what Sasha mentioned in their group chat before they arrived.
“Sasha, what’s the big news you mentioned a few days ago?”
“Right!” Sasha exclaimed and covered her mouth with her unoccupied hand “I want you guys to guess before the big reveal.”
Historia was pocketing her phone and let Sasha drop her hand back to the side. Historia let out a gasp. She put one hand on Sasha’s shoulder and the other on her stomach. 
“You're pregnant?!?!?!” Historia yelled
“No no no! You're wrong Historia.” Sasha laughed and held up both of her hands in front of her body
(Historia was relieved. Mikasa considered Niccolo lucky because won’t be sporting a black eye on his wedding day. She didn’t say that out loud)
“So what is it then Sasha?” Mikasa after the girls started walking again.
“Weeeellllllll. I invited my dad to my wedding!” Sasha screams with glee
“What?!” “You finally found him” Mikasa and Historia shouted at the same time and looked at Sasha
“Not exactly,” Sasha replied before sitting down on a rock down the beach with the girls. Their spot at least gave them some privacy to talk.
Suddenly, Sasha’s happy expression turned serious. “You also cannot tell anyone what I'm about to say. You have to promise me that and do the salute to it too?” 
“Yes ma'am. We promise” Mikasa and Historia said before facing Sasha and doing their salute. They put both of their hands in a fist. They placed their right fist over their heart and their left fist behind their backs. It was the secret salute their friend group came up with in high school. Mikasa and Historia sat down on some rocks across from Sasha after they did the salute.
“You know what my mom says when I ask about my father. It was a summer romance, and he was gone before she realized she was pregnant with me. I would accept it and never ask more questions.”
Historia put a hand on Sasha’s shoulder and gave her an empathetic smile. She understood where Sasha is coming from. Historia didn’t know much about her family as a child since she grew up with only her mom. She met them after her first year in high school, but it was not a pleasant experience, and she would rather choose to forget it (except for Freida). 
Mikasa also gave Sasha a smile before motioning with her hand to continue.
Sasha smiled at both of her friends. “Well guess what Hanami and I found while looking through the attic for wedding decorations,” Sasha says before pulling out a leather journal. It was a brown journal that looked worn and had a leather strap to seal the book closed. 
“Is that-?” Mikasa asked
“No way-” Historia began
“Yes!” Sasha squealed “It is my mom’s old diary she kept while she was pregnant with me.”
Sasha set the diary on her lap and opened it to one of the bookmarked pages. She began to read a journal entry. 
July 17
What a night! Levi took me to a secluded beach here on the island. We danced on the beach. We kissed on the beach and-
“Dot dot dot,” Sasha said
“Dot dot dot?” Mikasa asked with a perplexed look on her face.
“What does that mean?” Historia asked Sasha confused
“Who knows?” Sasha replied with a shrug “It’s from the olden times. They had weird terminology back then. Now let me continue.”
Sasha stood up abruptly and walked off from Mikasa and Historia. The girls quickly grabbed their things as they stood up and followed Sasha.
Levi is such an amazing guy! Yeah, he may be short, is always scowling, has a funny way to drink tea, and tells poop jokes, but he is such a sweetheart. He never shows it to others, but only me. Me! I get dizzy looking at his charm and going on new adventures with him. Is he some sort of a love machine? He's practically everything I want in a guy! I really think he's the one.
“Your mom sounds like she’s really in love with this Levi guy.” Mikasa comments (she also starts questioning Hange’s tastes in men. A guy who scowls and tells poop jokes? That baffled Mikasa.)
“I think it’s cute,” Historia says with hearts in her eyes and turns to Sasha “Is Levi your father?” 
“Oh but wait” Sasha stops walking on a cliff that overlooks the sea. She gestures to Mikasa and Historia to sit down before continuing.
All this time Levi tells me he loves me, but I’m doubting that now. He’s been hiding things from me, and I found out about it this morning. He suddenly announced that he was engaged, and had to leave to get married. 
How dare he?! I was too blinded by anger to think rationally. I packed Levi’s stuff, dragged Levi out of my house, and threw his stuff (and Levi) to the nearest ferry while demanding him to leave. I didn’t want to see him again, and I didn’t want him to see how heartbroken I was. 
“Oh no. Poor Hange” Historia says sadly. Mikasa didn’t say anything, but she scowled instead. 
“The plot thickens,” Sasha says and continues reading
I texted Nanaba and Rico to do some snooping for me since the internet can be weak here on the island. I gave them the information I knew about Levi and let them do the rest. Rico managed to find some things about Levi.
How dare he? He lied to me this whole time about his last name, how he is the heir of Ackerman Bank, and possibly his love for me? No wonder he was acting mysterious when we first met. I just want to-
Sasha stops abruptly. She looked at the page again to be sure she was reading it right. The page had her mother’s writing, but there were some scribbles and small crinkles. Sasha knew right away that her mother must have cried while writing the entry.
“There are multiple tear marks and some scribbles here” Sasha comments with a solemn expression on her face.
Historia and Mikasa looked at Sasha with sorrow. It seemed as if her mom went through a lot before she was born.
There was a moment of silence until Historia spoke up in an attempt to lighten up the mood. 
“At least your mom didn’t damage the diary, or we wouldn’t have any clue who your father is. Remember that time Eren and Connie accidentally knocked over that old vase at the hotel?”
All 3 girls shivered at the memory
“Well, at least the journal didn’t meet your mom’s wrath. We got lucky there.” Mikasa says with a small smile on her face
“Yeah” Sasha laughed. It’s rare for her mom to get angry. She has only seen her mother really angry once, and it was after the incident. Luckily, her mom never got mad at her. She showered her with love and affection instead. 
Sasha turned the page to another bookmarked section and looked to her friends sitting nearby. Historia looked as if she was in deep thought. Her arm was propped up on her knee and she rested her head on her fist. 
“Something on your mind Historia?” Sasha asked
Historia perked up at Sasha’s question. She then glanced at Mikasa and then the journal. Historia looked at Sasha.
“You said Levi’s last name is Ackerman, right? What if Mikasa is related to him?”
Historia gasped and turned to Mikasa with a gleeful look on her face “You and Sasha could be related! Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“I would rather not be related to Mr. Poop Jokes. He hurt Hange and he sounds like an asshole.” Mikasa scoffed and dismissed the idea. It would be nice to be related to Sasha, but not through Levi. 
Meanwhile, Sasha laughed when Historia’s smile turned into a pout. She and Mikasa are really close friends. It would be nice to at least have one of her friends be blood-related to her.
���Wait until you hear this,” Sasha says before standing up and walking away from their spot on the beach. She started heading towards the stairs along a cliff while reading at the same time. Mikasa and Historia stood up and followed her. They don’t want to miss the rest of the story if they let Sasha walk away.
Both of them sweatdropped as they ran towards Sasha
“I don’t understand why she needs to walk off from us. I get that she needs to guide us to the hotel, but couldn’t we have heard the story all in one sitting?” Historia says to Mikasa
Mikasa shrugs before jogging (and dragging Historia behind her) to catch up to Sasha. Luckily Mikasa is still athletic from high school, so it didn't take her long to catch up. 
August 4
I met Erwin Smith - a tall man with blond hair, blue eyes, and the biggest eyebrows I’ve ever seen. He looks like the star of the latest superhero movie - out of the blue when I was walking around town. He looked lost, so I offered to show him around the island. He’s such a sweet and understanding guy. Although I’m still obsessed with Levi, one thing led to another and-
“Dot. Dot. Dot” Sasha says laughing
Mikasa and Historia gasped as the girls made it towards the entrance of Hange’s hotel (aka Sasha’s home)
August 11
Mike Zacharias - a tall man with blonde hair, light green eyes, and has a tendency to sniff people - took me to his yacht for our nightly yacht ride. We spent the night gazing at the stars and telling stories. 
The girls climbed up the steps towards the hotel. Once they made it to the top, Sasha stopped and turned around to face Mikasa and Historia before finishing up her story. 
Mike is so wild and such a funny guy. One thing led to another and-
“Dot! Dot! Dot!” Sasha and Historia squealed at the same time. Mikasa watched her friends excitement with a smile on her face
A door opens behind the girls. Hange Zoe comes in with her full glory wearing her signature white shirt with overalls while carrying a broom. She sets it off towards a nearby wall.
“Here come the bridesmaids” Hange sang with her arms open for a hug
“Hange!” Mikasa and Historia say with excitement and run to get a hug and a kiss on the cheek from Hange. Sasha quickly hides the diary behind her back. She is thankful that her mom was focused on her friends instead of her.
“Look at you! You’re both so beautiful and you need to start growing” Hange ruffled their hair and laughed
“You look like you’re having fun” Hange smiled and gave them the proud look only a mother would give towards her children
“I used to have fun” she added with some reminiscence in her voice. She thought of the 3 men who impacted her life as she turned around to pick up her broom. 
“Oh, we know.” Historia giggles before Mikasa discreetly elbowed her to tell her to shut up.
Hange looked at the girls suspiciously and Sasha smiled before motioning to her friends that they needed to go. Hange shrugged before going back to the door she came from, leaving Sasha and the others alone.
The girls let out a sigh of relief before heading to Sasha’s room. Hopefully, no one else runs into them or it would raise suspicion.
Sasha walked towards her bed and sat down once they made it to her room. Mikasa and Historia set their stuff off to the side and stood in front of Sasha.
“So, who is your dad? Levi, Erwin, or Mike?” Mikasa asked
“I don’t know!” Sasha exclaims 
“But which one did you invite?” Historia asked
Sasha didn’t answer and stayed silent. Historia and Mikasa picked up on her silence and immediately knew
“Oh. My. God.” they said while simultaneously stepping back and sitting down on a nearby chest
Sasha squealed as she stood up. A big smile grew on her face 
“Do they know?” Historia asked
“Well, would you write to a total stranger ‘Will you come to my wedding? You might be my father?’ No! They think mom sent the invites and no surprise with what’s in here-” 
Sasha picks up the diary from her bed
“They said yes!” Sasha squealed causing Historia and Mikasa to jump up with glee
The girls proceed to have an impromptu dance party in Sasha’s room to celebrate. They danced around for a bit but stopped after Sasha decided to head out to her balcony with her mom’s diary. Mikasa and Historia stayed behind and sat down on Sasha’s bed. They wanted to give her space to think about everything so far.
“I’ve heard so much about them, and I want to know more about them too,” Sasha says softly to herself. She glances down at the diary and smiles “Once I do, I can know how much they mean to me.”
Skiathos, Greece
1 day before the wedding
Two taxis were heading to the Skiathos port. Both taxis were trying to reach the ferry before it left for Kalokairi. 
Erwin sat calm and composed with his business suit, but he was nervous on the inside. How would Hange react to his sudden appearance? What would she say? Is she still with the other man? He can feel the timer to the meeting counting down in his head. “If only the taxi went a bit faster,” Erwin thought to himself. 
Meanwhile, in another taxi, sat Levi. He was starting to get impatient. Levi cursed his luck before putting his pocket watch back in his shirt pocket. He would have been on Kalokairi a lot earlier if the 1 stop of the flight didn’t take too long. Levi leaned forward to tell the driver to speed up, but it seemed as if the ride to the port was too slow (in Levi’s opinion). 
As Levi sat back, he dug into the pocket of his slacks for a small blue pouch. He untied the knot and dumped whatever was inside the pouch onto his palm. A simple yellow gold ring with a diamond fell out. Levi bought that ring weeks after coming back from Kalokairi and settling his family drama. It was kind of a dumb purchase if Levi thought really hard into it. He broke Hange’s heart and she kicked him out. It’s simple, really. Hange would not say yes if he had returned to Kalokairi and proposed to her. 
Nevertheless, Levi thought yellow gold would look good on Hange’s skin because it reminded him of the yellow shirt she wore when they met. He only kept it because of the memories they had, and Levi will always treasure it. Levi puts the ring back in the pouch and pockets it. He doesn’t see himself opening it again if Hange decides to kick him out for a second time. 
Both taxis make it to the port, and both Levi and Erwin run towards the ferry only to see it leaving.
“Damn it!” Levi yells
“I agree,” Erwin calmly says next to him
Levi looks up to find a tall man with blond hair and the biggest eyebrows he had ever seen, He didn’t notice Erwin’s presence until he spoke. Levi looked at him. He internally prayed to himself that he would make it to the wedding on time and see Hange. 
“When is the next ferry leaving?” Levi asks Erwin. Levi didn’t know much Greek since Hange was the one who helped him before. He hoped the blonde stranger at least knew something
Erwin walks towards the nearest sign and reads it using basic Greek he learned years prior 
“Monday,” Erwin says dejectedly and Levi groans in frustration
“Hey!” they hear from the sea and turn their heads
They both see a tall, blond-haired man with a mustache and a beard waving to them from a yacht. There was another man with him who looked like he was doing last-minute preparations before sailing. 
“Are you heading to Kalokairi?” the man asks Levi and Erwin
“How did you know?” Levi yells. The man is a good distance away from him after all.
The man laughs “I could practically smell the desperation off of you”  Erwin’s face turns red from embarrassment. Levi scowled
“You can come with me. The name’s Mike Zacharias by the way. That man over there” He points to a guy with brown hair styled in a pompadour “That’s Gelgar. He’s been taking care of my yacht since I was away. He can help bring us to the island.”
“Sure,” Erwin spoke up. “My name is Erwin Smith. He then raised a hand and gestured to Levi 
“This is-”
“Levi Ackerman” Levi finishes for Erwin. Levi revealed his last name to them unlike when he first met Hange. Luckily both men didn’t make any connections between him and his family business.
Mike turned to Erwin “Well then, Erwin.” He turned to Levi “and Levi. You better hurry up and board the yacht soon. We are heading to Kalokairi once you are settled.” Mike said and walked off to check on everything with Gelgar
Levi sighed. He had no choice. He might as well go with Erwin and Mike since Mike is his only hope of reaching Kalokairi on time. 
Meanwhile, Erwin recognized Mike after many years. He had some physical differences but didn’t look much different overall. Erwin knew that Mike was the man Hange was with when he came back to see her. 
There is only one question that kept playing in Erwin’s head. Is Mike still with Hange?
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©: This is where I insert all rights reserved stuff. This story belongs to me. Do not modify or republish
References used/Notes:
Obviously the salute used in the military
Sasha having the girls salute is a nod to OVA 2 where she makes Reiner do it
Some inspiration from both Mikasa and Historia’s backstories
Hanami is my OC from AOT 2 FB (I posted what she looks like on my Tumblr bluesylveon2)
I added more characters because I want Sasha to have more friends in her bridal party
Levi being the heir of Ackerman Bank is based on list I found of big businesses in Germany. Two were based in Frankfurt and were only banking, hence the name
But Levi owns a cafe in the Prologue? Will be explained later
Sasha and Niccolo’s first meeting is from the recent episode
I decided for Porco to be Portuguese because Porco means pig in Portugese
I’ve heard of La Tomatina and it looks like fun
I base the character nationalities on names/some reddit posts. I saw one where Pieck was Greek so I added that to her character
I picked Santorini because it’s a city I want to visit one day. Also Sootopolis (from Pokemon) is based off of there
Hange’s diary is the same journal as the one seen in AOT (Ilse’s notebook and AOT 2 FB)
The ‘Erwin from a superhero movie’ is because of Chris Evans
Hange is canonically the scariest when mad. I tried to portray this with Levi’s backstory and the vase incident 
I added the ring scene with Levi for future purpose
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best books with morally ambiguous narrators!
all y’all’s problematic faves and villains! :) also included are third person narrators but in books with morally ambiguous leads/themes 
Sci-fi
Scythe by Neal Shusterman: in a future free from pain, disease, and war, people can live forever. ‘scythes’ are given the power to decide who lives and who dies to preserve the balance. sad and kinda gives of hunger games vibes, if you like that.
Neuromancer by William Gibson: basically invented the cyberpunk genre. strange and removed protagonists. (a team of computer hackers have to face off against an evil AI). you kind of dislike everyone and suddenly you’re crying over them. one of those trippy sci-fi classics.
The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut: very beautiful and very very sad (same author as slaughterhouse five). the richest man in america has to face a martian invasion. more about free will and bad people doing good things than a plot that makes any kind of sense.
The Man in the High Castle by Philip K Dick: set in an alternate universe where the germans and japanese won world war two. not really like the tv show at all- it’s not an action story, and there’s not really the hope to somehow fix the world that drives a lot of dystopia stories. instead its about how people survive and connect to one another in a hopeless society.
The Scorpion Rules by Erin Bow: a supercomputer convinces the leaders of the world to keep the peace for hundreds of years by taking their children hostage and obliterating any city that disobeys. what happens to the hostage protagonists when war seems inevitable? lots of morally fraught decisions and characters slowly losing their identity. (plus a fun lesbian romance)
Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson: a brilliant mathematician and a dedicated marine fight to keep the ultra secret in world war two. fifty years later,  a tech company discovers what remains of their story. one of the most memorable sequences in the book is a japanese soldier slowly becoming disillusioned with his nation and horrified by the war even as he continues to fight.
Blade Runner by Philip K. Dick: another one of those sci-fi classics that’s not at all like the movie. there is a bounty hunter for robots, though, as well as a weird religion that probably is referencing catholicism and a decaying society with a shortage of pets. kind of a trip.
Wilder Girls by Rory Power: girls trapped in a boarding school on an isolated island must face a creeping rot that affects the animals and plants on the island as well as their own bodies. the protagonists will do anything to survive and keep each other safe. very tense (and bonus lesbian romance whoo)
The Fifth Season by N K Jemisin: three women are gifted with the ability to control the earth’s energy in a world where those who can do so are forced into hiding or slavery. some veryyyy dark choices here but lots of strong female characters.
Historical Fiction
Fingersmith by Sarah Waters: two victorian lesbians fall in love as they plot to betray each other in horrific ways. lots of plot twists, plucky thieves, gothic settings, and a great romance.
Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiwicz: a powerful roman soldier in the time of Nero plots to kidnap a young woman after he falls in love with her, only to learn more about the mysterious christian religion she follows. very melodramatic but some terrific prose. 
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr: a blind girl in France and a brilliant German boy recruited by the military struggle through the chaos of the second world war. ends with a bang (iykyk.) very sad, reads like poetry.
Boxers by Gene Luen Yang: graphic novel reveals the story of a young boy fighting in the boxer rebellion in early twentieth century china. the sequel, saints, is also excellent. beautifully and sympathetically shows the protagonist’s descent into evil- the reader really understands each step along the way.
Fantasy
Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake: three triplets separated at birth, each with their own magical powers, have to fight to the death to gain the throne. lots of fun honestly
Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo: everyone in these books is highly problematic but you love them all anyway. a ragtag game of criminals plan a heist on a magical fortress. some terrific tragic back stories, repressed feelings, and revenge schemes.
The Dark Tower series by Stephen King: idk how to describe these frankly but if you can put up with King’s appalling writing of female characters they’re pretty interesting. fantasy epic about saving the world/universe, sort of. cowboys and prophecies and overlapping dimensions and drug addicts galore.
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud: lots of fun! a twelve year old decides to summon a demon for his cute lil revenge scheme. sarcastic demon narrator. lighthearted until s*** gets real suddenly.
Elegy and Swansong by Vale Aida: fantasy epic with machiavellian lesbians and enemies to lovers to enemies to ??? to lovers. charming and exciting and lovely characters.
The False Prince by Jennifer Nielsen: an orphan boy must compete with a few others for the chance to impersonate a dead prince. really dark but very tense and exciting and good twists.
The Grace of Kings by Ken Liu: fantasy epic. heroes overthrow an evil empire and then struggle as the revolution dissolves into warring factions. interesting world building and three dimensional characters, even if they only have a small part.
Circe by Madeline Miller: the story behind the witch who turns men into pigs in the odyssey. madeline miller really said, i just used my classics degree to write a beautiful gay love story and now im going to write a powerful feminist retelling because i can. queen. an amazing and satisfying book that kills me a lil bit because of the two lines referencing the song of achilles.
Heartless by Marissa Meyer: the tragic backstory for the queen of hearts in alice in wonderland. a little predictable but very fun with a compelling protagonist
A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones) by George RR Martin: ok I know we all hate GRRM and rightfully so but admittedly these books do have some great characters and great scenes. they deserve better than GRRM though. also he will probably never finish the books anyway....
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket: not really fantasy but not really anything else either. plucky, intelligent, and kind children fight off evil plots for thirteen books until suddenly you realize the world is not nearly as black and white as you thought. 
Classics
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier: gothic romance!! a new wife is curious about the mysterious death of her predecessor in a creepy old house in the British countryside...good twists and lovely prose.
A Separate Peace by John Knowles: not really morally ambiguous but one awful decision suddenly has awful consequences and certain people are haunted by guilt forever.... really really really beautiful and really really really sad. boys in a boarding school grow up together under the shadow of world war two.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: while imperial russia slowly decays a beautiful young woman begins a destructive affair. a long book. very russian. the ending is incredibly tense and well written.
Lord of the Flies by William Golding: I think you know the plot to this one. the prose is better than you remember and the last scene is always exciting.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: one by one, the guests on an island are slowly picked off. one of Christie’s darkest mysteries- no happy ending here! very tense and great twists.
Contemporary
The Secret History by Donna Tartt: inspired the whole dark academia aesthetic. college students get a little too into ancient greece and it does not end very well. lovely prose but I found the characters unlikable.
Honorable Mentions
The Dublin Saga by Edward Rutherford: has literally a billion protagonists, but some of them are morally ambiguous ig? follows a few families stories’ from the 400s ad to irish independence in the 20s. beautifully captures the weight and movement of irish history.
Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer: how morally ambiguous can you be if you’re, like, eleven? a lot if you’re a criminal genius who wants to kidnap a fairy for your evil-ish plan apparently!
Redemption by Leon Uris: literally my favorite novel ever. the sequel to Trinity but can stand alone. various irish families struggle through the horrors of world war one. the hero isn’t really morally ambiguous, but the main theme of the novel is extremely bad people suddenly questioning their choices and eventually redeeming themselves. sweeping themes of love, screwed up families, redemption, and patriotism.
The Lymond Chronicles and House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett: heroes redeem themselves/try to get rich/try to save their country in early renaissance Europe. if I actually knew what happened in these books I'm sure it would be morally ambiguous but its too confusing for me. in each book you spend at least a third convinced the protagonist is evil, though. lots of exciting sword fights, tragic romances, plot twists, and kicking english butt.
Bonus: Protagonist is less morally ambiguous and more very screwed up and sad all the time
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt: you know this one bc its quoted in all those quote compilations. basically the story of how one horrible event traumatizes a young man and how he develops a connection to a painting. really really really good.
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: hard to describe but strange... not an action novel or a dystopia really but sort of along those lines. very hopeless.
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thelucyverse · 4 years
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Andromaquynh In Your Stead
Part 1 - Part 7
Part 8: Quynh
Have you ever had a dream so realistic, you thought it was a real memory?
One that felt so real that, after waking up, you were not entirely convinced that reality might not be the dream, and the dream reality?
Sometimes, Quynh is not sure which body, which reality, is hers anymore.
Drowning for what feels like forever, yet it all blurring together into one long and nightmarish moment of pain- there could be minutes or centuries in-between the more tangible time spent as Andromache.
She tries to tell the time by the change in style and technology she sees there, but all it tells her is that there are probably at least years in-between her visits- whether they are years, decades or centuries or millenia, she still doesn’t know.
Maybe she should try to look for a written date somewhere, but her reading comprehension isn’t what it used to be, many of the fonts look incredibly foreign, and- and she is a little afraid of just how much time might have passed.
It’s a blessing, sometimes, not knowing.
One time, when she wakes up, she happens to be alone with Yusuf and Niccolo. They are cuddling on the couch, the three of them, and somehow, their familiar presence calms her enough to speak. 
“Do you remember Bukhara?” she asks in Vietnamese. “We used to all sleep on a couch just like this.”
A normal enough sentence that they will not expect her to be anyone but Andromache, yet there is a wistful tone to her voice that makes Yusuf- Yoshua, Niccolo calls him- hold her closer as he describes the city the way he remembers it.
It’s the first time since the witch hunts that she actually has a conversation, even if it is only one reminiscing about the past.
Other times, she sees the third man again- Livre, his name or nickname is. French for ‘Book’, which Niccolo- Nico- also calls him sometimes.
Yet another time, when she comes to she is lying down in what must be An's sleeping place, a paper book with metal binding in hand.
For a moment, she stares at the letters on the page it is opened to, not automatically reading them... it’s a short sentence, just three words scribbled into the middle of the page- can it be? Is it a message for her?
When she finally remembers enough letters to decipher it, tears form in her eyes. Andromache’s eyes that she is so temporarily using.
‘I miss you.’
An really is switching with her, then, knows that she is still alive, knows that she is here right now.
Quynh fumbles for the strange fountain pen laying next ot her- it is already full of ink, and she gets some on her hands as she struggles to open it. 
With a shaky hand, she writes:
I  you  too
She used to be able to write these letters and many others in beautiful cursive, and there were different ways of writing she had known as well... Now, she is just copying the style she has seen in Andromache’s current world, vaguely remembering a time when it was new.
It will have to do.
Once she is pulled back into the sea, she still thinks of An’s letter for several moments of half-lucidity in-between her next deaths, longer than she had managed to stay focused down there in centuries.
~
Part 9
Improved ao3 version
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bibookmerm · 5 years
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My roommate gave me a vampire book (The Delicate Dependency) for xmas, and they said it's not gay, but I'm at a point about 60 pages in where if I just stopped here, I could believe it takes a gay turn.
Like? Hear me out:
When he was 8 years old, Dr. John Gladstone saw an angel in the garden, who appeared to him out of the shadows bearing the exact likeness of an angel from the background of a Da Vinci painting. He ran to tell his father, but Dr. Gladstone Sr. dismissed angels as not real.
Decades later, John's carraige driver accidentally hits someone who ran into the road. When John looks at him, he sees the exact angel from his childhood, who appears about 19 and hasn't aged a day. John rushes him to the hospital to operate on his crushed legs. When the young man awakens later, John wants to know if he is the same angel. The "angel" scoffs and says it's impossible, and says he must leave the hospital because "people will fear and hate him". He also reveals that he has no friends and family.
John refuses to let him leave before he even starts to heal. The "angel", Niccolo, requests that no sunlight enter his room, takes no food or drink for a week, and takes strange pills John can't identify. When the nurses try to sedate him so they can give him an IV because umm, he's gone a week without water???? he is unaffected by the high dose of sedative except that it makes him feel sick.
Niccolo urges John to help him escape after the sedative incident, and John thinks that the rest of the hospital staff will begin to experiment on him to find out what he is. So, for his safety, John makes a hasty escape plan and whisks him away to his private estate. Niccolo asks why "he alone is so different from the others and treats him with compassion" and John says he "has amends to make".
So uh. What level of back to the future meet cute is this? "Oh God, I've injured you terribly, but don't worry....I'm a doctor." "The others fear you, but I think you're an angel and I'll do anything to protect you". That's BI John! You're B I.
I'm going to keep reading just because I really want to see how edgy it is when John finds out his patient is not an ~angel~ but a ~creature of the night~ like omg yes, that's the Good Shit I signed up for.
I just had to pause to say this first because I'm gonna be sad when they're very straight. .-. Unless it's like that thing where they're "straight" but John calls Niccolo beautiful 200 times in his head. I'll keep track of how many compliments John gives Niccolo and let you all know later, lol.
Lastly, I want to mention that John's late wife Camille deserved so much better and I hate that she had to ~die tragically during childbirth~ to further John's arc. This book was written by a white man in the 80s and it's pretty :/ :/ :/ in a lot of ways, jsyk. Let's stop killing women who could live happily without changing the story much.
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countrymadefoods · 5 years
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The Prince: Why One of the Most Hated Books in History Still Matters
“[O]ne work of Renaissance literature in Italy still stands out as one of the most important books ever written, and still strikes us with an uncanny feeling of understanding and dread when we think of it; The Prince, by Machiavelli. Few books have garnered as much controversy during their existence as The Prince. It has been banned by the Catholic Church, seen as cynical by many, and was the basis for the naming of one of the worst psychological traits a person can have-Machiavellianism. 
This is the book that gave us such quotes as “It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot have both”, and “The ends justify the means”. History’s greatest how-to-rule guide has also been one of the most widely reviled books of all time.And the worst part? This book is still incredibly relevant to us today.
The book begins by telling us that it is about how to run (specifically) an Italian renaissance autocracy in the same way that the (irony alert) ever relevant Art of War pertains to iron age warfare...The Prince still offers us practical lessons in politics today.”
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“A prudent man should always follow in the path trodden by great men and imitate those who are most excellent.”
“It is essential therefore for a prince to have learnt how to be other than good and to use, or not to use, his goodness as necessity requires.”
“All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it's impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.”
“Be it known, then, that there are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beasts. But since the first method is often ineffectual, it becomes necessary to resort to the second.”
“And here we must observe that men must either be flattered or crushed; for they will revenge themselves for slight wrongs, whilst for grave ones they cannot. The injury therefore that you do to a man should be such that you need not fear his revenge.”
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“As you can see, many of the pieces of advice in the book are benign or even admirable. Most of them, however, suggest that a wise leader tend to healthy doses of brutality, suppression, and nighttime raids as needed. An idea that offends those of us who suppose that a righteous leader will always prevail in the end. It is that very idealism we love that The Prince warns us against.
The Prince was a satire on how brutal autocracy can be. In all likelihood, however, The Prince is a sincere how to guide on bringing wealth, glory, and stability to the state, by any means necessary...Machiavelli’s The Prince reminds us to focus on the real, understand that the virtuous politician is not the same as a saint by any measure, and that it is better to be feared than loved not only for kings, but also for political books.”
(via Why Do People Still Read The Prince, A Book From 500 Years Ago? - Big Think)
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Duke of Valentinois
“Duke of Valentinois, formerly Count of Valentinois, is a title of nobility, originally in the French peerage. It is currently one of the many hereditary titles claimed by the Prince of Monaco despite its extinction in French law in 1949. Though it originally indicated administrative control of the Duchy of Valentinois, the duchy has since become part of France, making the title simply one of courtesy.It has been created at least four times: on August 17, 1498...Louis XII created Cesare Borgia, Duke of Valentinois...Both the Italianized form of this title and his previous appointment as Cardinal of Valencia led to his commonly used nickname: "Il Valentino". After Cesare's death, his daughter Louise Borgia became Duchess of Valentinois.”
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Cesare Borgia
“Cesare Borgia, Duke of Valentinois, was an Italian condottiero, nobleman, politician, and cardinal with Aragonese and Italian origins, whose fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Machiavelli. He was the son of Pope Alexander VI (r. 1492–1503.)” 
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”Niccolò Machiavelli met the Duke on a diplomatic mission in his function as Secretary of the Florentine Chancellery...In The Prince, Machiavelli uses Borgia as an example to elucidate the dangers of acquiring a principality by virtue of another. Although Cesare Borgia's father gave him the power to set up, Cesare ruled the Romagna with skill and tact for the most part. However, when his father died, and a rival to the Borgia family entered the Papal seat, Cesare was overthrown in a matter of months.”
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“Machiavelli attributes two episodes to Cesare Borgia: the method by which the Romagna was pacified, which Machiavelli describes in chapter VII of The Prince, and the assassination of his captains on New Year's Eve of 1502 in Senigallia. Machiavelli's use of Borgia is subject to controversy. Some scholars see in Machiavelli's Borgia the precursor of state crimes in the 20th century. Others, including Macaulay and Lord Acton, have historicized Machiavelli's Borgia, explaining the admiration for such violence as an effect of the general criminality and corruption of the time.”
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“Cesare Borgia briefly employed Leonardo da Vinci as military architect and engineer between 1502 and 1503. Cesare provided Leonardo with an unlimited pass to inspect and direct all ongoing and planned construction in his domain. While in Romagna, Leonardo built the canal from Cesena to the Porto Cesenatico.”
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Was Machiavelli really not Machiavellian?
Be Like a Fox by Erica Benner review
“The renowned 16th-century diplomat and politician was a staunch republican and reformer who denounced corruption in high places and detested tyrants, which was not the best recipe for a quiet life in the Florence of the Medici family. As a humanist in the mould of Livy and Cicero, he urged his fellow citizens to question conventional wisdom and take nothing on authority...You should treat your enemies justly, uphold the rule of law and show respect to others, if only to win them over to your side.”
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“Erica Benner... sees Machiavelli not only as non-Machiavellian but as a good-hearted, Gary Lineker-type guy. This is revisionism with a vengeance. Hardly a word of rebuke for this admirer of the bloodstained Cesare Borgia...Despite her remarkably charitable treatment of “Niccolo”, Benner does not overdo the fake dialogue and dreamed-up scenarios.    
So what of the Machiavelli who advocates force and fraud? Most of this inconvenient stuff is to be found in The Prince, and in Benner’s view is meant to be ironic...Demonising Machiavelli does no justice to the complexity of his life and work, though idealising him isn’t the answer either.”
(via Be Like a Fox by Erica Benner review – was Machiavelli really not Machiavellian? | The Guardian)
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Machiavelli, Not Such a Bad Guy?
“Machiavelli was not simply a political writer...a skilled literary stylist who deliberately courted controversy. Machiavelli used irony and sarcasm...he was aware "that virtually every precept that he gives — or many of them — are going to be understood to be comic inversions of the accepted wisdom about things."
“This raises the question whether it is better to be loved than feared, or the contrary. My reply is that one would like to be both; but it is difficult to combine love and fear. If one has to choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved.
Is it black humor or sage advice? That's open to interpretation. What's not ambiguous is the fact that Machiavelli's name, especially when used by a politician, continues to carry a very specific and very negative connotation — as it has for centuries.”
(via Machiavelli, Not Such a Bad Guy? | NPR)
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Become the Prince of Romance This Valentine’s Day with The Advice of Niccolo Machiavelli
“If you want to win over some woman of oppressed class this Valentine’s Day, look no further than the authoritarian methods of the world’s most dangerous lover as outlined in his famous work, “The Prince”
“So, there she is...You’ve spotted her across the bar/street/continent/world map. What do you do next in order to take her future under your indivisible command?”
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“If the lady already has a boyfriend, dispose of him and his entire family. This is absolutely necessary... Next, you must take her late ex’s place by employing all of his romantic tendencies...You can’t scare her off by making her start all over with a new relationship. This would be disaster. You are simply trying to sneak into her life without her noticing.
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“Which is why you need to move into her apartment immediately. Make yourself available and close. Do absolutely everything she does, so she knows you’re not a foreign threat...Another option is to sneakily establish a colony in her apartment. I know what you’re thinking. ‘Niccolo, why a colony? Can’t I just use my standing army?’ No, my fellow bro, you may not. Do you want to go bankrupt?”
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“People say the French are romantic. But King Louis XII was a fool. Don’t be like King Louis...He did everything wrong, starting with asking the King of Spain to be his wingman, who was...more hot than he was...This all goes to show that you must choose your bros carefully.  “Make sure your bros are no more than 3/4 as attractive as you.”
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“You can gain a lady through wicked actions, or through the support of fellow citizens, or through luck or your own means. Obviously if it’s through wicked actions, you can get the lady but not an honourable rep. Without an honourable rep, people will hate you and you cannot gain more...women...obviously. This next part is key:”
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“You have to be cruel. Cruelty is necessary in order to rule over women in successful dictatorial relationships. But, my bro, it must be cruelty well-used. It must diminish over time. Thus, on the first date, you must tell her everything...Control the conversation...Look through her phone and text-threaten every contact with a male name. Incite every argument you will ever have. Eat all the food in her refrigerator, steal the remote, change the wifi password, and give her a curfew. Then, as you get nicer over time, she will be more inclined to love you.”
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“The ruler of a relationship (that is you) must have enough resources to not be dependent...That is key. But you want to SEEM generous without actually being generous. Generosity is lovely...[until]...you can’t keep up the charade of wealth. There are two ways to fix this. First: pretend you’re still rich through deceit. Fold bills in half in your wallet so it looks like you have double, and slip people coupons when she’s not looking. Second: spend other people’s money like there’s no tomorrow.”
“Who must fight your lovers’ squabbles? You and your own wits. If you employ mercenaries to fight for you, your bros perhaps, they will either fail you by losing the argument or steal your girlfriend away with a sympathetic ear and kind touch. You must always be thinking about and preparing for war or else it will catch you off-guard... Be vigilant, my bro.
“So is it greatest to be loved or feared? The answer, obviously, is both...However, if it is safety you desire, it is better to be feared, because then she will obey you, which is clearly the proper dynamic for a longstanding regime...I meant relationship.”
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“Rulers must have the ferocity of a wild animal and the wit of a man...You must seem to be compassionate, trustworthy, sympathetic, honest, and religious, but you don’t have to actually be those things. Also, don’t be erratic, capricious, effeminate, pusillanimous, irresolute...You should be personally detached from decisions that influence her, and consult many good advisors. You should amuse her with festivals so she does not revolt.
“Remember: the goal of this relationship is to bring...[her]...fame, honour, and glory. And nothing else. Godspeed.”
— Niccobro Machiavelli”
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(via Become the Prince of Romance This Valentine’s Day with The Advice of Niccolo Machiavelli | The Temporary Waitress blog)
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docandprof · 7 years
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What are we getting ourselves into?!
How is it going you poor souls who have stumbled upon the stupidity that will be this blog? I am doctorfacial and this blog is just a way for my best friend and co-blogger professorsouls to tell each other about our weeks and what weird things happened and popped into our heads in a way more fun than texting and what not. So have fun reading about our lives as we fake our way through a lot of stuff and just have some plain old fun.
Hey bud!! What a week I had so far. We decided to make this blog as a sort of joke because of my English “blog” post about a place I had never been on campus yet. I think we are pretty interesting dudes, but like our psych teacher told us, we are all just really average. Some of the exciting things about this week: I learned how to conquer nations and keep power from a super old dead guy, I played a chess match to the death with the devil and tried to stop a ghost marriage (unsuccessfully in both occasions), and got a surprise from home. Also I got a girlfriend!!! hahah I got you bud, I was joking!! Oh man now my not having a fake girlfriend makes me feel bad about my life....*single tear*
So back to the “good” stuff. SOOO yeah I can pretty much destroy my enemies now thanks to my handy dandy guide to death and peace. Not many people have heard of it I think? It isn't like some sort of classic book, it’s called The Prince, written by some dumb Italian guy Nick Pastrami? No, Bolo MachOnePastaroni? OH! Niccolo Machiavelli, that's the guy! Anyway, he says that you pretty much should just kill everyone that hates you or is a threat to you, or make them your best friend. So which side are you on Mr. Souls? And this was all for my writing seminar course, so in class we played a game. Our professor (a real professor) rolled dice to determine how our class decision faired. At one point, we had a small uprising, if there is such thing as a “small” uprising, in one of our cities at the northern border. We did the traditional go in and kill the rebel leaders (rebel scum!) to dissuade the revolt. Buuuuuttttt it didn't work because our prof rolled very poorly for us. So we had to make a decision on what to do next, and this was my favorite part of the class. While everyone was thinking in silence, this one kid says, “we could go to some small, random town in our empire and just kill them all to show the rebels we mean business”. It was great!! Just kill some innocent people for the sake of making an example, and the even crazier part was that it is theoretically sound choice to rule an empire back in the days when nations were called empires. I love hypotheticals.
Also, throughout the week I have been playing some games with my friends here at college, and watching Westworld (10/10 would recommend, can we watch that together soon?), and one game that we play a lot is called Betrayal at the House on the Hill. So you basically explore this haunted house with your friends and shtuuuufff happens and you pick up items and fall through floors and ride magical elevators until something called the Haunt starts. When this happens, one of the players is revealed to be the betrayer and 1 of 50 storylines plays out based on certain things. *Sidenote: everything functions based on dice rolls of die with only blank sides, 1s, and 2s.* And the first time, our friend betrayed us and summoned the devil to play chess with us and if we lost, we died, and he had cheats that screwed us and we all died. Then the next game, a ghost bride, named Bridey, killed our friend and married his dead corpse thinking he was her betrothed, conveniently named Groomy. The upsetting part was that we had found Groomy’s body and their wedding rings and we were one turn short of getting him to the chapel. ALSO, played a sweet VR game called Keep Talking and Nobody Blows Up, where the VR wearer has a bomb in front of them and they must diffuse it. BUT, there are a series of puzzles you need to solve to disarm the bomb and your friends around you have puzzle guides that help you solve the puzzles and not die. Great game.
And finally, today I got a surprise from my parents. I got a surprise package that had new Sperry shoes in them that I wanted to buy! I have the best parents, which I have to call....
So yeah that has been my week so far, hope you have a good weekend, see ya next time space cowboy.
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bluesylveon2 · 3 years
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My My, I Could Never Let You Go
Summary: Sasha Zoe just wants her dad to walk her down the aisle. There is only one problem: she doesn't know who her dad is! Sasha invites 3 men in hopes of finding out which one is her father. What could possibly go wrong?
Pairings: Levi x Hange, Sasha x Niccolo, and other background relationships
Disclaimer: This is a Levihan Mamma Mia au. This fanfic is inspired by Mamma Mia which is directed by Phyllida Loyd, written by Catherine Johnson, and uses music from the pop group ABBA. Attack on Titan is a manga/anime series written by Hajime Isayama and published by Kondasha
Author’s Note: I’m glad you guys are liking this series. Tbh I was ready for it to sink the moment haha. Anyways, I am uploading another side story because...Feb 22 is MY BDAY!! 🎉 I hope you guys like it!
Need to catch up? Catch up here!
Ch 3: Money, Money, Money
Levi stood on a different part of the yacht watching the waves go by as it headed to Kalokairi. He originally sat next to Erwin until the other man, Mike, started sniffing him randomly. Levi did not like how close Mike was to him, so he decided to sit in a different part of the yacht. Levi and Eren had already helped Mike and Gelgar fix the sails. Now the three men were sitting around and watching the waves pass by while Gelgar was busy sailing the ship. 
(Mike claims Levi smells like detergent)
Erwin was staring at the invitation he received months ago. Mike, who was curious, took a small peek and recognized the invite anywhere.
“Bride or groom?” Mike asks
“Bride” Erwin answers and puts the invitation away. He slightly turns his head towards Mike  “although I actually never met her.” This interests Levi. 
Erwin turns to fully face Mike “I know who you are, you’re Mike Zacharias, aren’t you” Erwin recognized the man from 21 years ago when he saw Mike with Hange. Of course, he did not mention that part out loud. Who knew one of Erwin’s favorite authors would be him? It must be a small world after all.
“Uh-huh,” Mike looked at Erwin and agreed. Mike sniffs Erwin discretely. 
(Erwin smells like cologne) 
“You know,” Erwin began “your books have really helped me get through the dull business trips. I may look like I am living out my life in some fantasy. In reality, I am surveying across some corner of the planet’ 
“You should try it for real sometime” Mike suggests
Erwin chuckles “Certainly. I’ll never be the spontaneous adventurer. Not with my current job at the firm. 
Levi, overhearing the conversation, turns to Erwin and Mike “You’re a close friend of Hange?” It’s a good thing Levi wore shades or else the men would see the glare he was giving them. Levi wanted to know how she knew these men and what their relationship is to her. 
Mike shook his head and looked up at Levi “No, I haven’t heard from her in 20 years-”
This raised Levi’s suspicion “Really?" It's a good thing the two men didn't see the shock in Levi's eyes. 
Mike continued on “-then she sends this invite out of the blue.”
Now it was Erwin’s turn to be confused. He assumed Mike was still close to Hange. “You know, that’s a coincidence. Neither have I.” 
“Going about!” Gelgar yells at them from the front of the boat. 
Levi leaves his spot to help out “You got it?” he asks Erwin
“Right,” Erwin says and stands up. He unties the rope from the side of the boat (AN: I don’t know anything about boats), but it manages to pull him; almost making Erwin fall in the water. Luckily, he kept his balance and saved himself from falling.
“You ok?” Mike asks and looks at Erwin worriedly
“I’m fine” Erwin calls back and pulls the rope
The sails move, and the yacht begins heading towards Kalokairi island. 
---
Hange was driving to the port in her light blue Land Rover. She is going to meet her best friends Nanaba and Rico. Nanaba Foster is Hange’s English friend and a fun-loving author. Rico Brzenska is Hange’s Polish friend who is a three-time divorcee. 
Hange met the two in New College in Oxford when Hange was studying Biological Sciences. Nanaba was studying English, and Rico was studying Music. The three were an unlikely group since they were in different parts of the college. Hange met Nanaba first in the library when Nanaba asked Hange for feedback for a story she was writing. Hange loved listening to Nanaba’s stories, and she (and Rico) were her number one supporters on her journey to become an author. Hange and Nanaba met Rico while walking through the Garden Quad on campus. Rico was surrounded by many admirers who would not leave her alone. Hange and Nanaba saved Rico from her admirers and were confused when they saw how annoyed Rico was. Rico was not annoyed by the two saving her; the issue was that none of the guys were up to her high standards. Rico was looking for a man who was going to make a lot of money. It was like a 6th sense for her, but Rico could tell who is/is not compatible with her with one look. 
Nanaba and Rico have been with Hange through her highs and lows. They were present when they performed as a band in Kalokairi, comforted her after Hange’s crazy love life, and were present at Sasha’s christening. Hange cares for the two dearly. She saw them as part of her family (other than Pieck) when she felt like had no one (except for Pieck, but she has her own life to live. Hange didn’t want Pieck to worry about her too much ).
Hange parked her car just in time to see Nanaba and Rico get off the ferry. Hange runs to the edge of the dock but doesn't run to meet her friends just yet. 
"Well will you look at what the tide brought it" Hange yells
Nanaba turns and places her back towards Rico "For one night-" Nanaba yells back and holds a pretend microphone up in the air. 
"-and one night only" Rico copies Nanaba's pose except she Rico is facing the opposite direction. Rico and Nanaba stand back to back. 
"Hange and the Survey Corps!" they all yell at the same time. Hange runs up to her friends and meets them in the middle of the dock to hug them. It's been many years since they last visited, and Sasha was only 9!
Hange came up with the band name to illustrate her personality. Hange loves to discover and learn about new places. It's the main reason why she now lives in Kalokairi after hearing so much about it from Pieck. 
(Rico's suggestion was Hange and the Garrison, but it didn't have the same ring as Survey Corps). 
“Look at you,” Hange says to her friends. They look more beautiful since the last time she saw them.
“Look at you” Rico reflects back to Hange.
“You look fantastic,” Hange tells Rico as she poses and shows off her latest designer clothes.
Rico laughs and points at Hange “You look like an old hippie.” Hange has dressed in her signature outfit after all (overalls with a white shirt. She was also wearing a hat this time)
Hange put her hands in her pockets and slightly leaned back. She poses by raising her left foot up in its toes and puts her weight on her right leg. 
“She looks fabulous” Nanaba compliments Hange.
Hange noticed Rico’s new outfit. It’s different from when she last saw her, and it looks more expensive. Hange wants an outfit like that for herself.
Hange walks up to Rico and grasps her white jacket “Where did you get these?” she asks with a gleam in her eyes.
“Husband number three!” Rico laughs along with Nanaba and Hange
‘Well, I’m sure you must be excited to see Sasha again.” Hange laughs as they pull apart, and starts walking towards Hange’s car. Nanaba and Rico put their stuff in the back and hop in.
“So any men at this wedding?-” Rico asks Hange as they leave the pier and head to the hotel. 
Hange couldn't help but laugh. She had a good feeling where this might be going.
“Gorgeous Greeks of independent means?” Rico inquires and waves a hand around
“Here we go again! Husband number four!” Nanaba yells. She also had a feeling of the direction of Rico’s question was going. 
Rico laughs at Nanaba’s statement “Not for me. For her.” She gestures to Nanaba. 
Rico knows how successful Nanaba has been since becoming an author. She thinks Nanaba needed a handsome (and rich. It’s a plus) to marry. She knows about Nanaba’s previous crush on Mike from 21 years ago. Sure he is caring, a flirt, and owns a boat, but Rico knows Nanaba can find a man who is 20x better for her. The last time she heard of Mike was from Hange, and it was from their nightly boat trips. Rico and Nanaba left a few days after meeting Mike. Nowadays, Hange does not talk much about him anymore.
“He’s coming!” Nanaba yells while ignoring Rico. She knows she does not need a man right now)))
Rico continues to go on anyway “Now that Nanaba’s book is a bestseller and she has the whole world stuffing-”
“Stuffing of what? Vegetables? Meat?” Nanaba laughs
“Don’t give Sasha any ideas, Nanaba.” Hange teases
“I just think it’s time to find Mr. Right,” Rico tells Nanaba with a lace of concern in her voice. 
Nanaba dismisses Rico’s suggestion instead “Oh please! Boring!”
“You two are great role models for Sasha. A serial bride and lone wolf.” Hange laughs 
“That’s me!” Nanaba points to herself with her thumb and grins “I’m a lone wolf”
Nanaba begins howling like a wolf as Hange drives up towards the hotel. Hange laughs. That’s the Nanaba she knows and loves. Meanwhile, Rico looks dejected after another failed attempt at getting Nanaba a husband.
Nanaba stops howling and looks over at Hange “So when are the two love birds flying the nest?” She is aware of Sasha’s friends leaving the island, except for Sasha herself. Good thing Niccolo is financially stable and is ok with staying in Kalokairi to be with her. 
“Oh, God! Who knows?” Hange exclaims as she parks her land rover  “I don’t know what is going on in Sasha’s head sometimes. She wants a big, white wedding-” Hange throws her hands up in the air to emphasize how big Sasha wanted her wedding to be. “-and she and Niccolo are making big plans for the hotel. Sometimes I don’t know if she will ever leave!” 
“Yeah, but do you really want her to leave?” Nanaba asks questioningly. Hange could see it in Nanaba’s eyes despite Nanaba wearing shades. 
“Well, I just want what is best for her'' Hange says and looks out to the distance. She then turns to her friends. “Of course not!” The three women laugh and exit the car. 
Hange looks up to find Niccolo and all of Sasha’s guy friends heading in her direction.
“Niccolo! Come meet my backup girls. Guys, come catch up with Rico and Nanaba!” she yells.
“Backup girls, my ass!” Nanaba and Rico yell at the same time. They weren’t going to let Hange have all of the spotlight.
“He’s the leading man for tomorrow’s shindig,” Hange says as Niccolo walks over to Nanaba.
“The lucky man” Niccolo laughs. He extends his arms out towards Nanaba but does not hug her yet.
“You must be-” he pauses a bit to think about the names of Hange’s friends Sasha mentioned to him before their arrival.
“Nanaba” 
Nanaba nods in approval. “I am” Nanaba smiles. 
“How are you?” Niccolo asks as he leans forward to hug Nanaba
“Very well” Nanaba laughs. She likes this man already.
Niccolo lets go of Nanaba so she can catch up with Sasha’s friends. Niccolo heads over to Rico as she leaves the car.
“And you must be Rico. I’ve heard so much about you” Now it’s Rico’s turn to hug Niccolo.
“All bad, I hope” Rico laughs.
Niccolo smiles. He’s heard a lot about her from Hange “Yes” he nods.
“And all true!” Hange yells from the trunk. Niccolo noticed the big suitcase Hange tries to pull out from the trunk. He quickly walks over to Hange to help.
“Hange. Let me get them for you.” Niccolo says and grabs the suitcase for her. Nanaba and Rico look over after talking to the rest of Sasha’s friends. They watch the interaction with a smile on their faces. They definitely like Niccolo. 
---
“Why did I wear stilettos?” Rico complains as she climbs up the steps to the hotel.
“Oxygen. Sweet oxygen” Nanaba gasps after finally finding a place to sit. Niccolo and the other guys bring Nanaba and Rico’s luggage to their hotel room. 
Hange was amused by her friends reactions. It’s been many years since they last visited. Meanwhile, Hange was unfazed with climbing up all those steps. Heck, she could most likely run up a flight of stairs and sing a musical number at the same time! 
Sasha hears the sounds of her aunt’s voice and runs out to her balcony. It seems like they aren’t used to climbing up so many stairs after all. Sasha laughs. It’s been years since she’s last seen them. 
“Aunt Nanaba!” She yells and smiles gleefully before running down to meet her aunts
“Heeeyyy,” Nanaba calls back. She is still exhausted from the climb up.
Rico turns to Hange “Look at Sasha. She is so beautiful!” 
“I know” Hange replies gleefully. She is proud of how her little girl grew up to be a beautiful woman.
Sasha pauses briefly when she makes it to the door. Nanaba notices Sasha nearby and the big smile on her face. She can’t believe how much Sasha has grown.
“Come here, Sasha!” Nanaba says and opens her arms for a hug. Sasha runs over to her with excitement in her body.
Nanaba pulls away from Sasha to see how much she has grown in person.
“Sasha Zoe, you are more gorgeous-” Nanaba places her palms on Sasha’s cheeks and lightly shakes her head “-every time I see you. You really do.” She compliments her. Sasha couldn’t hide her happiness after Nanaba complimented her.
Rico looks over to Sasha from her spot next to Hange “I bet you don’t remember me.”
“Not with all that makeup and plastic surgery” Nanaba teases with a smirk and Hange laughs.
Sasha runs up to Rico to hug her. “Of course I do, Auntie Rico. You haven’t changed at all.” 
“I’m so happy for you,” Rico tells Sasha during their hug.
“Look at my baby,” Hange says proudly and gently pulls Sasha away from Rico to hug her herself.
“Her whole life ahead of her” Hange coos and leans towards her daughter
Sasha laughs at her mother’s antics “Oh please, I’m getting married, Mom. I’m not joining a convent!” she says while wriggling away from her mother’s grasp. Sasha starts heading towards the hotel.
“She’s feisty. I like that” Rico compliments. 
Nanaba walks up to Hange and puts an arm around her shoulder “She’s a chip off the old block” she laughs.
Hange dismisses the thought as she and her friends climbed up the steps to the hotel. “If she were like me, then she wouldn’t get married at 20”
“Or married at all” Rico chimes in. Hange laughs
Hange keeps walking and realizes something. She forgot to put the laundry down! Hange groans internally and turns back towards her best friends
“Sorry! I meant to take the laundry down before you came. I would have asked Moblit, but he was busy fixing some things.” Hange pushes some of the sheets off to the side to make space to walk through
“You think with all this new technology, they would make one make the beds” Hange grabs the nearest sheet in front of her and rolls it up as she walks. Sasha notches her mom carrying the sheet and begins walking towards her. 
“If only you had majored in Engineering instead of Biology” Rico jokes
“If they did, you’d be going along behind it making them again. I know you, Mom” Sasha laughs as she grabs the sheet off of Hange’s hands and kisses her on the cheek. Meanwhile, Niccolo walks up to Rico and Nanaba with glasses of water. They were exhausted from the climb up.
“But I am gonna modern it!” Hange calls back. She turns around and notices Niccolo.
“Tell them about your idea” Hange walks off to do a few errands while Niccolo presents his plan.
“The guys and I are designing a website. I think this place has so much potential, and no one knows we’re here. The only way you could know is from locals. I was one of the lucky few who got to experience the island for myself.-” Sasha walks towards Niccolo and stands by his side. 
“-All of Sasha’s friends want to pitch in their specialties too. If we market it really well, then people would come flooding in.”
Rico and Nanaba couldn’t stop smiling after hearing the idea. They too got to experience Kalokairi’s beauty. It is a shame very few people got to see it after they first visited. 
“We just want this to be the ultimate romantic destination” Sasha pipes in “This was once the site of Aphrodite's Fountain. You know, the goddess of love. If you drank the water-” she turns and faces Niccolo with a loving smile on her face.
“-You’re supposed to find true love and perfect happiness” Niccolo couldn’t stop smiling at his fiancee. He goes in to kiss her.  
Hange is already walking back by the time Sasha finishes explaining her plan for the island. 
“I’ll take a glass of that” Rico tells Hange and wraps an arm around her shoulder.
“I’ll take a whole bucket,” Nanaba says and drinks some of her water.
“Aphrodite's Spa?” Rico questions Hange as they head inside the hotel. They didn’t need to stand there while Sasha and Niccolo were spending some quality time together. That would be awkward for all of them.
“I thought you didn’t want a boatload of tourists?” Nanaba adds
Hange turns her head to face them while she walks ‘Oh no. Not boatloads. No.” She says firmly
“But you know, a few more would be nice” Hange playfully rolls her eyes and laughs. 
Hange walks into the bathroom and remembers the toilet situation. She turns back to her friends and becomes serious.
“Now, the thing about the toilet. If it does not flush, then go get Moblit. If he is unavailable, then go-” Hange moves her hands in a go motion “-and just walk away. Come back after a while and it should..” Hange trails off 
She puts her hand near her ear nervously before walking off. “Nothing works around here except for me and Moblit.” 
Rico and Nanaba look at Hange worryingly as Hange walks towards the main room.
Hange stops near the window. The glass pans were open, but the shutters were closed. Hange turns to her friends “I’ve been running this hotel for 15 years, and I never had a day off. I constantly work though I have an assistant!”
Rico and Nanaba look at each other nervously. Hange sounds like she was ready to blow with her “I’m fine, but I’m not really fine” tone in her voice. Hange noticed their exchange.
“But it’s fine. I’m fine” Hange tries to reassure them and leans on the window shutter causing it to fall to the ground nearly hitting Moblit and a few other workers.
Hange grabs the window sill and looks down at who she possibly hit. “Oh my god! I’m so sorry Moblit!”
“I’m ok Ms. Hange. I didn’t get hurt!” He calls back hoping to ease the situation. He leans down to pick up the broken shutter. Looks like another thing to add to the list. 
Hange sighs before complaining to her friends “I work hard every day to pay the bills, and there’s not enough left for me.”
Nanaba saw a nearby chair and was sitting down to be comfortable while listening to Hange’s story. She knew the moment Hange starts talking then there is no stopping her. 
“Don’t sit down there. It’s broken” Hange says before walking off. Luckily, Nanaba caught herself on time.
Hange walks over to the balcony and looks out to the sea. Rico and Nanba follow behind her.
“You know, I have plans, and it would work if I married a wealthy man. Think about all the things I can do!” Hange exclaims 
The trio heads towards the surprisingly empty kitchen. Hange leans back on a counter. Rico stands on her right, and Nanaba stands on her left
“Wealthy men are hard to find” Rico states.
“I can’t get him off my mind. Even if he were free, he wouldn’t want me!” Hange exclaims and walks to another part of the hotel.
Nanaba and Rico share a look before following. They knew someone who did fit the criteria. Too bad he broke Hange’s heart to marry someone else. 
“Might as well go to Las Vegas or Monaco!” Hange complains by the time Rico and Nanaba catch up to her in the hotel plaza
Hange could see it already. The boat rides, the places she could visit, discover flora and fauna. The possibilities are endless! Sadly for her, it’s a rich man’s world. 
Hange was not paying much attention when a sudden crack appeared in the plaza. She and the others moved away on time to avoid stepping on it
“What happened here?” Rico gasps 
“The earth moved! We’re falling apart!” Hange says while fascinated by the sudden shift in the ground 
“Really?” Nanaba asks skeptically. Hange waves it off with one hand.
“Don’t think much about it” She laughs and grabs her friend’s arms. “Come on. Let’s go have fun!” 
It’s time to drink wine and have some girl time! 
---
Meanwhile, on another part of the island, Levi, Erwin, and Mike had arrived in Kalokairi. All three men were heading towards the hotel. 
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©: This is where I insert all rights reserved stuff. This story belongs to me. Do not modify or republish
Author’s notes:
I was going to use another name for Hange’s band, but Survey Corps has the same number of syllables as Dynamos.
Nanaba does not have a last name, so I picked Foster like banana foster haha (a dessert made from bananas and vanilla ice cream, with a sauce made from butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, dark rum, and banana liqueur.) It was better than Pudding or Bread
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