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vandal-flower · 1 year

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Chapter 3 - A Whole New World

Blue Roses With Gold Lining

You learn the names of three women in the competition for the prince's hand. The queen calls all of you to her courtroom to start the competition.

MALE LEAD: Michael Kaiser

W.C: 1.9 words

WARNINGS:

You are threatened, mentions of deaths in the palace, mentions of the queen killing the concubines, the competition has just started.

I.¹ - II.² - IV.⁴ - V.⁵ - VI⁶

Michael Kaiser kisses you on your lips.

The sudden action has you paralyzed for a moment, and made you want him to get off you. But you notice how soft and smooth his lips are against yours. The way he holds you against him is gentle, as if he truly cares for you. He gives you two more pecks on your lips before pulling away from you.

Some small part of you wish he didn't pull away so soon. Only a small part.

"Did you enjoy my gift, my scriptwriter?", he asks you, his smirk appearing on his face. Is he ever going to stick to one pet name?

"I won't lie and say I didn't enjoy it, but it was unexpected coming from a man like you, it surprised me.", you answer, covering your mouth with your hands as if it could shield you from being a flustered disaster.

It can't and it won't.

His smirk grows even wider, "The best thing about a gift is the surprise, but what's even better about it is how it's kept between two people."

His flirtatious personality does not make your situation any better. Yes, you may be, or even could be winning the so called 'affection' of the prince, but you may also be winning the envy of the other women. It just can't be helped, you are in the competition to win the prince's hand in marriage.

Not by choice of course.

He unlocks the door and gestures you follow him out of his room. With no other option, you do. You step out of the room to see, the dog, royal advisor Alexis Ness in front of you and Michael. He glares at you for a while, before smiling at the man himself Michael Kaiser.

As if he didn't make it clear enough that he hated you with every fibre of his being.

"Alexis, take her to the room where the other women are currently in."

"Yes, your majesty"

Walking behind the royal advisor made you think more about the deal you and Michael made. How can you 'rewrite' the 'script' history has been using for years and how can it benefit you?

The amount of blood that has been stained on the palace walls can't be simply cleaned off and the same goes for history itself. You can't take a peaceful approach to every situation you encounter, and you also can't be ruthless as well. You'll end up dead in both ways nonetheless.

So you have to take caution in your actions and be one step ahead, and follow the instructions Madam Gertrude gave you. It's the only possible way you could live. As well as others.

Many people died in the palace walls for the littlest things. You not only want to escape death row, but the people around you as well. Their deaths have been seen as an 'accident', their lives seen as nothing but puppets to the people in power. Their deaths were seen as a form of entertainment.

You can't be like that. You'll end up taking more lives than needed, no, the lives of people in general.

Focus (Name), you just need to be aware of your surroundings.

The two of you reach the doors to where the other women were. Ness instructed the guards to open the doors, which they do and the both of you enter.

You're back into the courtroom. The same room which you had caused a scene in.

Wonderful.

"All of you will be in this room waiting for any instructions given by the Royal Family. For now, don't cause any problems for the family or staff. Failure to follow my advice and you will receive a proper punishment for disobedience. Are we clear, your graces?", Ness says, his voice serious and sounding as if he could kill. He probably can.

"Yes sir.", you all answer in unison, and he leaves the room.

The silence in the room is louder than any noise, until the woman with crimson lips speaks up.

"So, you're the lucky woman who was able to go to his majesty's room just because you caused a scene, a tantrum. Tell me, what were you trying to prove, or are you just that worthless that receiving the touch of someone of high royalty that scary?"

She said, her crimson lips stretching into a smile as other women in the room laugh at you. She's the type of woman to belittle others to anger others and gain the upper hand by manipulating their emotions.

You wonder if the crimson attire is actually a hint to her schemes in the past.

"I merely acted on instinct, I don't like being touched by people I'm not fond of. I don't wish not to be insulted for my appearance. Especially for something as small as lipstick.", you reply, looking directly at her and not raising your voice.

Don't raise your voice unless you want to look like a fool.

The room becomes silent. Miss Crimson Lips stares at you in rage as if prepared to throw a tantrum like a child.

"You dare insult me, I, Morrigan, Eldest Daughter of Palace of Ernaline, the House famous for putting all our enemies underground?", she yelled at you, her veins nearly bursting from her head.

You steady your breath and remain calm, not wanting to give her the chance to have any control over you. "I did not insult you, I simply recalled the event that had been held in this same room as you, chose to pick a fight with me. It's only right if I answer appropriately."

"You little-"

"Enough, both of you."

To everyone's confusion, one woman speaks up which causes everyone to stare at her. She wore a black dress with small gloves covering her hands. Her hair high up in a bun with her bangs falling over her face.

"We all heard the advisor, we are here to wait for any further instructions given by the Royal Family. If we cause any kind disruption for a people outside of these doors, we'll all be punished. Instead, let's introduce ourselves first before killing one another.", her voice makes some women cower in fear.

A woman of high authority. A woman of great status.

"I'll go first. I am Berdine Emery, Eldest Child of Palace of Emery, known for its ability to form resourceful connections. And you, I would like to know your name.", she walks to you and takes your hands into hers. Her eyes show no emotion, but her smile looks genuine.

"(Name), Eldest Child of the Minister of Finance, Palace of Ludwig. It's a great pleasure to meet you Berdine.", you greet her, feeling her gloved hands around yours, gently rubbing your hands.

"Daughter of a minister, shouldn't you be a daughter of a Palace, not just a minister?", Morrigan asked, her voice venomous and eyeing you up and down. A few women nodded their heads, agreeing with her.

"Unfortunately, the Palace of Ludwig only has sons, and some of the ministers' daughters are quite young, while others don't even have a daughter. I'm the eldest of these girls and as the only one who is at the age to get married, I was chosen."

You were chosen. You had no say in the situation. You were simply picked up to represent the Palace of Ludwig, because no one could do it. No one can do it. You wish to be the first and the last person to ever experience such sacrifice.

You wish to not experience anything like this again.

But you don't wish for the pity of others.

Morrigan and other women continue to eye you, but don't say anything. You hear someone whisper 'peasant', but ignored it. Entertaining them won't do much for you. The doors are then opened by the guards to reveal a servant. Not Ness. Odd.

"Your graces, please follow me to the Queen's courtroom.", she says.

As instructed, all of you follow the her as she walks out of the room, matching her pace as she walks. Some women form a group of themselves, talking about what the queen could be like.

"I hope she is nice to us unlike her son."

"I highly doubt it, if the prince is going to insult us because of our appearances, won't she be worse?"

"Maybe he is just testing us, and telling our reactions to his words to her."

"I pray that I didn't make an ugly face."

Their theories gave you ideas of what the queen may be like. With Michael brief telling about how his mother killed the concubines, and had a smile on her face gave you a proper idea what she is like.

A sadist.

If she was able to end the lives of those women, and have a smile on her face, she could possibly want each of you women dead. She'll could make you dance on the hot coals barefooted, laughing at each one of your terrified faces.

But such thought could be false, she only killed the concubines because it was what the king wanted. So she might be laid back when it comes to her son, only interfering when necessary.

You are interrupted by a tap on your shoulder, you turn around to see who it was. You see a woman who is shorter than you, her hair blonde and curled, pale blue eyes shining at you. Her key feature was that she smelled like lavender.

"Really liked how you defended yourself back there. Morrigan has been belittling everyone since she came here. My name is Maria, Palace of Contessa.", she whispered.

Her eyes were genuine, you couldn't help but smile at her. "Pleasure to meet you Maria.", you whispered back.

"It's a real honour to meet you, especially how you were able to keep calm against Morrigan and the prince's antics."

"I really don't deserve such praise."

"You do!"

The two of you whisper to each other about the other women and the two become friends. The two of you become quiet when you all reach the doors to the queen's courtroom. The doors are opened and you enter.

The room is larger than the previous room. The walls look as if it is painted with gold. And the woman herself seated on her personal chair, the queen.

Her gaze is sharp, and her smile wicked. You hear Maria breathe heavily behind you. You squeeze her hand tightly before letting go. She straightens herself and smiles. You hope she'll be okay.

She gets up and walks down the steps. She stops mid-way. "Form one row standing beside each other, facing me now." You all do as instructed.

She continues continues walking on the steps and stops when she meets the floor. "I've heard from my son about you all, and I've chosen to dismiss his claims as I wanted to meet you all in person."

Thank the heavens.

"Nevermind that, I shall start competition for the hand of marriage of my son, the competition is not based on education or skills, but-"

"Whoever can make the prince fall in love with them. To the very point of having his child."

What.

"One of you could be his wife, the others a concubine. Don't disappoint, or shame the Royal Palace of Kaiser."

How the world around you seems to have changed.

@lightoftheamethyst and @kimura-uzuri

I hope I made all my readers proud.

#blue lock #bllk #blue lock x reader #bllk x reader #michael kaiser #michael kaiser x reader #Blue Roses with Gold Lining #vandal-flower

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0wlzcr4ft · 13 days

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Hello. It appears you have summoned me to get to know about me.

Inhale

last song i listened to: Language of the Lost by RIProducer (it's their latest release and also they're a SEVERELY underrated musician like holy moly)

currently watching: Puppet History rewatch ftw!! I'm also getting into video essays again. I'm getting through one about Franbow by Uri Clarke. This dude's vibes are off the charts, would recommend

spicy/sweet/savory: Sweet tooth to a fault. My liquid composition is at least 10% chocolate milk

relationship status: I'm in a queerplatonic relationship with my darling partner @/thelightthatruins!! I love her so much <33

current obsessions: I feel like I don't even meed to say it but. Puppet History (and by extension, Watcher Entertainment). It's the main thing I've been thinking about for the past 7+ months and that's not stopping anytime soon. I'm also into Classic Literature (I've finished Dracula and Frankenstein and they make me go WHOMP) and there's a podcast called Malevolent that I adore so much (can't wait to get back into it)

fav colour: OURPLE (ourpl) (purpor) (💜)

urple is veyr goood, also TY FOR THE SONG SUGGESTION I love song suggestionssss :DDD esp from obscure artists, Its a good song :33333

#puppet history #the professor #chris p fried what?!

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shaniacsboogara · 1 year

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I made an AI write an episode of Puppet History about Shanesweep

The camera fades in on the set of Puppet History, where the Professor is sitting behind his desk, surrounded by various historical artifacts and documents. Ryan Bergara sits to his left, frowning as he reads over a stack of notes. A third chair is positioned to the right of the Professor's desk, and it is soon occupied by a smiling Steven Lim, who waves at the camera.

Professor: (beaming) Well hello there, students! Welcome to another exciting episode of Puppet History. Today, we're going to be discussing an event that's very near and dear to our hearts here at the Watcher network: Shanesweep!

Ryan: (rolling his eyes) Oh boy.

Professor: (noticing Ryan's attitude) Now now, Beef Boy, don't be a sourpuss. This is a very important historical event! After all, Shane Madej winning the Ultimate Tumblr Funnyman poll is nothing to sneeze at.

Steven: (grinning) I have to agree with the Professor on this one. I was rooting for Shane the whole time.

Ryan: (sarcastically) Well, that makes one of us.

Professor: (clearing his throat) Now, as you all know, the poll was a heated battle between Shane and the legendary Weird Al Yankovic. At first, it seemed like Weird Al had the upper hand. But then...

Ryan: (interrupting) Can we just skip to the part where Shane wins?

Professor: (chuckling) Alright, alright. I can tell you're just chomping at the bit to hear the results. So, after an intense few days of voting, Shane emerged victorious!

Steven: (clapping) Yes!

Ryan: (sighing) Great.

Professor: And it wasn't just any old victory, mind you. One of the Watcherinas even sent Shane a trophy in the mail to commemorate the occasion!

Ryan: (smirking) That's cute.

Professor: (leaning in) Oh, and let's not forget about the propaganda. The Watcherinas were so unhinged and insane, they really went all out with the campaigning.

Ryan: (raising an eyebrow) Propaganda?

Professor: (nodding) Oh yes. Memes, gifs, videos, you name it. They even got Watcher to reblog the poll on Tumblr with the caption, "We did it Joe!"

Steven: (laughing) That's amazing.

Ryan: (grumbling) I don't see what's so amazing about a bunch of internet trolls rigging a poll.

Professor: (smiling) Well, that's one way to look at it. But from another perspective, it just goes to show the power of community and how passionate people can be about something they believe in.

Ryan: (nodding) I guess you're right.

Professor: (clapping his hands) Well, speaking of believing in something, it's time for our quiz! Are you ready, gentlemen?

Steven and Ryan both nod, and the Professor grins widely.

Professor: Excellent! Alright, first question. What year did Shanesweep take place?

A multiple choice question appears on the screen:

A) 2018

B) 2020

C) 2023

D) 2050

Ryan and Steven both quickly scribble down their answers.

Professor: (smiling) Alright, let's see what you got. Ryan, what did you choose?

Ryan holds up his whiteboard, which says "C".

Professor: (barking) We've got a couple of sea dogs

Steven: (laughing) I also chose C.

Professor: (grinning) Well, you're both correct!

Professor: (holding up the coveted cup) Now, it's time to reveal who the winner of today's quiz is. And the winner is... Steven Lim!

Steven: (grinning and holding up the cup) Yes! Thank you, Professor!

Ryan: (looking incredulous) What? But I got the same answer as him!

Professor: (smiling) That's true, Beef Boy. But you see, Steven made a really funny joke earlier, so I decided to give him some extra jellybeans. It's all in good fun, right?

Ryan: (grumbling) I guess.

Steven: (laughing) Thanks again, Professor!

As Steven continues to thank the Professor, Ryan can't help but feel a bit resentful. He's been coming to Puppet History for months now, and he's never won the coveted cup. But before he can say anything, the Professor suddenly looks up, his eyes widening in shock.

Professor: (gasping) Wait a minute... Steven, I think I know what's going on here.

Steven: (looking concerned) What do you mean?

Professor: (leaning in) I think... I think you might be an alien.

Ryan: (looking surprised) What?!

Steven: (laughing nervously) What are you talking about, Professor? I'm not an alien!

Professor: (shaking his head) Oh, but I think you are. You see, there have been some strange things happening around here lately. Mysterious lights in the sky, unexplained power outages... I think you might be here to study us.

Ryan: (looking skeptical) This is ridiculous.

Steven: (laughing) Come on, Professor. You're just joking around, right?

Professor: (shaking his head) I'm afraid not, Steven. I think it's time for a little test.

The Professor reaches into his desk and pulls out a jar of peanut butter. He holds it up to Steven, who looks confused.

Professor: (smiling) Do you like peanut butter, Steven?

Steven: (nodding slowly) Um, yeah. I guess.

Professor: (grinning) Well then, let's see what happens when I give you a little taste.

The Professor dips his finger into the peanut butter and holds it out to Steven, who hesitantly takes a lick. Suddenly, his eyes widen and he starts convulsing.

Steven: (shouting) I am an alien! I am an alien!

Ryan: (looking shocked) What the hell is going on here?!

Professor: (calmly) It's alright, Ryan. I knew this day might come. You see, Steven is from a planet that's allergic to peanuts. It's how we were able to finally confirm his identity.

Steven continues to writhe and convulse on the floor as the Professor calmly explains the situation to Ryan. Eventually, Steven recovers and stands up, looking sheepish.

Steven: (rubbing his head) I'm sorry about all of that, guys. I guess I really am an alien.

Professor: (patting Steven on the back) It's alright, Steven. We're just glad we could finally figure it out. And who knows? Maybe now that we know you're an alien, we can learn even more about the universe!

Ryan: (still looking bewildered) I can't believe this is happening.

Professor: (smiling) Well, that's the beauty of Puppet History, Beef Boy. You never know what you're going to learn or who you're going to meet. And speaking of learning, I think we've got time for one more question before we wrap up.

Ryan: (nodding) Alright, let's do it.

Professor: (grinning) Alright, here we go. What historic event happened on March 10th, 2023?

Ryan: (thinking) Um... I don't know.

Steven: (smiling) I actually know this one! It was the day that Shane Madej won the Ultimate Tumblr Funnyman poll!

Professor: (smiling) That's right, Steven! And what's even better is that one of our amazing Watcherinas sent Shane a trophy in the mail to celebrate his victory.

Ryan: (looking a bit annoyed) How did you even know that, Steven?

Steven: (shrugging) I just spend a lot of time on Tumblr, I guess.

Professor: (laughing) Well, there you have it, folks. Another successful episode of Puppet History in the books. Join us next time for even more historical hijinks!

#the peanut butter twist got me #puppet history #shanesweep #shane sweep #shane madej #watcher #ryan begara #all hail the watcher #steven lim #the professor #shane and ryan #watcher entertainment #professor mcnasty #ghost files

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itfitsitshipsart · 10 months

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Farewells

Woo, slight angst time! Cause I can't write about Raven/Schwann without angst cause this poor man has quite the history! Anyways, for reference, Shwann has been a personal knight to Evelyn for quite some time now, and they've all but fallen in love. But now he must leave, as ordered by his superior.

His hand hovered over the doorknob, and for some reason he found entering the room difficult. For several months now, Captain Schwann had spent many hours in that room, and found himself enjoying the company of the girl who called it hers. He sighed. There was no point in keeping her waiting.

Evelyn smiled at the knight as he came into the room, and tilted her head as he silently closed the door.

"Is something the matter?" She questioned, gesturing to the other chair. She always seemed to be able to read him, no matter how stiff his mask was. He sat down, and a soft sigh escaped his lips once more. He looked down, not wishing to meet her eyes.

"I'm afraid I will have to take my leave soon." He stated, his voice calm. "Commandant Alexei needs me for another job. I go tomorrow."

"Oh." Her voice was quiet. A silence fell over the two, not quite as comfortable as the times prior. Both had eyes cast to the ground, so many words unable to speak. Evelyn looked up after a small while, a soft yet sad smile gracing her face. "I guess this day had to come though, huh. After all, it would be silly to think I'd be allowed to keep you here to protect me."

"I apologize for how sudden this is-"

"No," she shook her head, quickly cutting him off. "This isn't something you need to apologize for." He slowly looked up to meet her eyes. The soft silver always seemed so warm when they looked at him. Her smile widened, though he noticed it a little forced. "I'm.. just going to miss you. It'll take some time getting used to not having you around."

Schwann closed his eyes, a soft smile forming. To think she would genuinely miss him…

"It's been an honor serving you." He quietly stated, standing up. She rose to her feet in turn, giving him a soft nod.

Just like that, the two became more formal to one another as when they first met. A noble woman and a knight, nothing more than a protector and protected. He bowed, not wishing for the goodbye to last any longer, and turned to the door.

"Schwann, I…" Evelyn murmured, and he paused. She shook her head and took a deep breath. "I hope we can see each other again soon, is all."

"Perhaps we shall." He answered softly and left.

He couldn't say if he wished the same or not. Part of him wanted to. Part of him felt a need to be by her, to continue protecting her. To see that smile she graced him with, and her laugh and touch.

To one day feel those lips upon his own…

But no.

She still had a life. One day, she would fall in love and be wed. It was for the best to leave before he felt anything more.

After all, a corpse wasn't supposed to fall in love; a puppet and mask is merely to do as told.

She deserved a man who could love her, who had a heart. Not the pitiful shell he was.

#hurts that after this interaction the next thin he hears about her some days later is that she might be dead #he just cant catch and break and happy times can he #i take blame for some of it tho cause i could write him happy things but NO #i love him so we must both suffer before the haply ending #self ship #self ship writing #all my heart ❤

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littlekingbergara · 2 years

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top 5 watcher shows :)

so sexy of my laptop to crash as soon as i finish answering this so i have to type it all out again... :) this one was ALSO so hard to decide what to put in number 5 because i don't want to leave any show off the list 😭 i love them alll.

5. dish granted. it was Tight between dish granted and homemade but i think dish granted beat it out just bc there's More of it. i love steven lim in the kitchen and i love how much effort he puts into making things for the people he loves. even though it stresses him out i think it's so sweet and beautiful that he came up with this show because he wanted to give the people he cares about their Dream meal. he's so thoughtful and i love that.

4. top 5 beatdown. oh my god this is SUCH a ryan bergara show. i miss the ryan's living room days but i also love the set up in the office. overall just happy they're shooting it in person again but it also was such a good format for remote shooting. they managed to keep most of the energy of the in person season even if they were exhausted of shooting apart. i love the interactiveness of it too and how we all list our top 5s after the eps <3 i think it's a sweet little activity for all of us.

3. too many spirits!! especially after this last season like are you kidding me??? all those hugs! i love that they have a theme and give me fun little drinks to try (even if i only made one this season) (i do make the deconstructed professor all the time) i watch it with my parents and we all try the drinks it's so funnn. also the vibes of it being the first thing they shot in person during the pandemic where the energy was so electric because they were so happy to not be behind a screen and they've still managed to keep it up after 5 seasons even though they're seeing each other every day now. it's literally just getting fucked up with your bestie <333 still pushing for too many spirits high edition and a pride theme. hoping they get blue man group to agree to blue man-y spirits even if i hate excessive makeup like that bc i know they would have fun with it.

2. weird wonderful world!! obviously!!! a TREASURE of a show! the vibes are INCREDIBLE and they have so much fun hanging out learning a new activity and exploring a new place. and the theme song is literally so perfect it's just everything you want in a show i think. a perfect theme song and an excuse to hang out with your bestie and learn something new and i love the intro... i love shane's curious little friend ryan bergara... i love ryan's say! where are we 🤔?

puppet history!! the one that started it all!! i love that it's a spiritual successor to ruining history and that they were able to keep a lot of the same team. and the professor is such a perfect little creature. i don't know if they expected everyone to be as captivated with the blue guy as we are but man he's perfect and the guests all think so too and that's lovely. it's the best parts of ruining history + the hot daga that showcases shane's creativity and dedication and pisses off ryan just enough and it is just a delight. it was such a strong choice to launch the channel with it and i love that it grew into one with deep lore and a strong storyline and characters and i hope the professor comes back For Blood. and the songs! of course! what can i say about the songs!!

honorable mention Of Course to tourist trapped. begging an airline or car brand or city tourism board to sponsor an episode so they can bring it back. and pretty historic!! it's just starting but selorm is a magnetic host and it's such a great concept and i can't wait to see more of it.

ask me my top 5/10 anything!

#i was reading comments on shane's instagram last night and found this absolute freak who was so mad about sara guesting on puppet history #they said she RUINS every episode she's in because she's arrogant and she throws off the professor and ryan's dynamic AND YOU CAN TELL THAT #RYAN DOESN'T LIKE HER. as if they aren't LITERALLY ALL BESTIES. they said she has the personality of CARDBOARD #and that shane is off his game when she's the guest 😭 she's literally the professor's moon and stars... who wouldn't be off their game #when she's around. the claim that ryan doesn't like her is literally insane like imagine being that person... imagine embarrassing yourself #like that online and in public. they were on another of his posts too calling sara the most boring person alive. i hope they get help.#ANYWAY. THANKS NOA FOR THIS <3 #ask game #outer-space-face

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hbyrde36 · 8 months

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get to know you game! thanks @thefreakandthehair 🥰

I wasn't going to do this again because i feel like i did something similar (prob the same one) a few weeks ago, but most of the answers should be different? so what the hell!

last song: Do I Wanna Know - Arctic Monkeys

favorite color: black. sometimes purple depending on my mood or the day 🤣

currently reading:

Book: Shadow of Night - Deborah Harkness (my annual discovery of witches re-read)

Fic: I'm about to dive in to Genius Loci by Ayes & itskleo

and of course i'm following so many amazing ongoing fics here on tumblr

last movie: Titanic (hadn't watched it in ages and for some reason my partner threw it on the other night and I got SO sucked in. I forgot so many things about that movie!)

sweet/spicy/savory: savory, still and always

relationship status: married 💜

current obsession:

I'm fully on my Halloween Horror Nights bullshit, because we get to go in 6 weeks!! AND it'l be my baby's first time at a horror event (she's a tween and NOT an actual baby to be clear 😆) AND they are doing stranger things! I just can't wait to see a scareactor in a shitty wig do the Master of Puppets scene. I NEED IT.

last thing i googled:

"boombox history" i don't know the last time i googled something that wasn't fic related 🤷‍♀️

currently working on:

Shelter in Place pt.2, which is my priority fic to complete this week, but I've also been making notes on Life is a Game chapter 7 off and on and i'm so ready to get that out soon too!

Not going to tag because I know this had been going around a lot and i'm always afraid i'm annoying people🙃 but if you see this and you havn't done it, please consider yourself tagged and go for it (and tag me so i can see it!) I love getting to know people around here 💜

#tag games #getting to know you

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terra-kha · 9 months

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9th Day- RAIN (Scene 8)

There's no time to think. I can still move my legs and arms. Then I just need to move forward and pull Tohsaka――――

"Tohsaka――――!" "What?" Tohsaka doesn't even budge when I grab her arm and pull. It seems she's heavier than she looks.

"Damn, you're heavy――――!" She doesn't move even when I pull with both my arms. Then all that's left is… "Damn, just move――――!" I charge at her to push her away…!

"――――Ow." I hear a dull piercing sound.

"―――W-What are you doing!?" "Toh――――" I can't hear her voice clearly.

…My body is burning. Everything is hazy, as though I have a high fever.

"――――Senpai?"

…A familiar voice from a distance. My sense of reality is fading. My mind whites out and my left arm bleeds red, mixing like paint.

"――――No."

I see Sakura staring at me as I fall to the floor.

"Nooooooo…!!!"

And she falls to the ground like a puppet with its strings cut.

"How do you feel? Have you calmed down?" "―――――――――" Sitting on the church's long bench, I nod silently.

"I see. Then there's no need for treatment. Your wounds should all heal as your energy returns, so just rest for now."

Tohsaka sits a bit away from me. …The distance between our minds is much greater than this. There's no idle conversation as we wait for Kotomine.

"―――――――!" My left hand screams with pain when I clench it. It feels like there's a nail driven through my palm. The cut from grabbing the knife hurts more than the bruises from Rider or the stab wound from Sakura.

The dark clouds block the view of the night sky. The rain clouds tell me that it's going to rain soon.

"……" …I guess the spear-like thing that attacked Tohsaka was Sakura's magic.

The magical nature that the Matou household inherits is "absorption". When lack of magical energy made Sakura suffer, she unconsciously cast the spell. She probably aimed at Tohsaka because she had the most magical energy there. It stabbed and entangled around my arm because I pushed Tohsaka away, and it sucked all the magical energy out of me.

Magical energy is life force. It's natural for me to lose consciousness when it's sucked out of me. I'd already used up my energy when I fought Rider, so I easily fell unconscious, and Tohsaka brought me to the church after that. …I hear Sakura fainted when she saw me fall.

"―――She attacked herself." Tohsaka murmurs and explains to me that she's getting treated in the back right now.

It seems Sakura is in critical condition. The liquid that came out of her earring was poison, and Kotomine is purifying it now.

Tohsaka doesn't say anything. Neither Archer nor Rider are here. Only the two of us are in the church, waiting for Kotomine's return.

"――――Tohsaka." Still sitting down, I call out to her. "What?" "I want to ask you something."

"……I thought so. Fine, I'll tell you. It's no use hiding it from you, and it's meaningless to do so now. So you want to ask about Sakura?"

I nod. Tohsaka takes a deep breath and starts to talk in her normal tone.

"―――It all started quite some time ago. The Matou blood started to run thin, and their children were born with fewer and fewer Magic Circuits. The family is originally from another country, so I think the land of Japan didn't suit them. Their decline started when they started living here, and the Magic Circuit finally disappeared in this generation when Shinji was born."

"…The history of Matou ended with that. They should have taken an apprentice or something if they'd wanted their quest to continue. But the Matous are a distinguished family, and to the last, they refused to take in an outsider.

"As a result, their successors had less magical energy, and it finally ran out in the end. …They finally started looking for an apprentice when that happened, but no magus would come to a fallen family. Hundreds of years of Makiri history should have ended at that time."

"But they weren't people who could give up then. Shinji's father adopted a child and taught the child magic."

"―――So. I expect you wouldn't know because your family is a special case, but a family of magi hands down its secrets to only one child. They don't teach magic to any other children. Zouken said this, right? If there is a sibling, one is your successor, while the other is raised normally or put up for adoption."

"――――――――" There's no need for two successors. In a case of siblings… no, "sisters", what would be done to the one who wasn't needed?

Some may raise her and hide from her the fact that they are a family of magi. But that's difficult and inefficient. If they trained their Magic Circuit over many generations, it would not be their wish to waste the excellent gene even if she is not chosen as the successor. Then――――

"Tohsaka." "Yes. I had a sister a year younger than me. …The declined Matou family had no hope of someone giving them a child for adoption. It's only natural for them to rely on the Tohsaka family, the ones they held a pact with for a long time."

"I don't know which one of us my dad intended to make his successor. But I remained a Tohsaka, and she was taken to the Matou family. That was eleven years ago. I couldn't go see her much after that. It was an agreement made with Matou, and I couldn't readily go see the successor of the Matous."

"I see. Then you and Sakura are…" "Real sisters. …Well, we never called each other like that."

…I don't know how much emotion is contained in those simple words. But that makes me understand. Why she always asked about Sakura. Why she didn't let Archer use his Noble Phantasm.

"…That's good. You're on Sakura's side." A dim light shines into the gloom of my mind. …I don't know what's going to happen to Sakura, or what she's going to do from now on. But if Tohsaka cares for Sakura, there just might be hope waiting on the ominous path ahead.

"No. I'm not her ally or anything." ―――But… Tohsaka denies me as if reading my thoughts.

"Not her ally…?" "Right. If Sakura can't be cured, I'll dispose of her, just like I would with any other Master gone rampant. I can't sit idly by while a magus indiscriminately attacks people. If Kirei can't treat Sakura, then I'll just have to get rid of her myself."

"W―――What are you saying…!? Sakura's your sister, isn't she!? Don't ever say something like that…!"

"Sakura is a child of the Matous. She stopped being my sister eleven years ago." "Tohsaka, you――――"

"…Hmph. The outcome won't change even if Sakura is my family as you say. It wouldn't change anything. In fact, that would give you even less right to interfere." Tohsaka speaks as if it's a matter of course.

"―――――Then you're…" No different from Shinji. But before I can say the worst thing possible…

"What are you doing? The operation is complete, but she is still in critical condition. If you want to make a commotion, go do so outside." …Kotomine Kirei emerges from the back of the church.

"…Hmph. I can't tell if you two are on bad terms or in good harmony."

"Oh――――" "――――H-Heh. You're just mistaken."

"I see. Then sit down. I shall explain the state Matou Sakura is in."

"――――――――" "――――――――" Taking our separate seats, we listen intently to the priest.

"To put it simply, there is a poison, a worm, in Matou Sakura's body. The worm is called crest worm. It is like an artificial sanshi, the three corpses. Do you recognize this name?"

…I shake my head. Sanshi―――a bug said to inhabit a human body that reports the person's evil deeds to the Judge of Hell. I've heard of sanshi, but I've never heard of a crest worm.

"So you do not know. Well, it was originally just a harmless parasite. It's a familiar that lives off of its host's magical energy. It is of the lowest rank of familiars, as it does nothing beyond telling its master whether or not its host still lives."

"……I see. So it's like a monitoring device. So Zouken's monitoring Sakura with that?" "Oh. When was it decided that Matou Zouken is the master of the crest worm?"

"―――I'm sorry, but I'm in no mood for your long talk. Who else but that old bastard would do something like that to Sakura?" "I see, that is certainly true. Matou Shinji cannot use crest worms. So it can only be that vampire."

"Right? Just go ahead and tell me the result. Can Sakura be saved or not?"

"―――You are being hasty, Rin. You seem to understand her condition, but the boy does not. We should explain for his sake, right?" "……!" Tohsaka looks away awkwardly. Judging by her expression, she doesn't want me to find out.

"Well, what shall we do, Emiya Shirou? Rin says she just wants to know the result." "……No. Please explain things in order, Kotomine."

…I'm sorry for Tohsaka. But I can't yield to her about this. If this has to do with Sakura's life, I have to know everything about it.

"Then let me continue. The crest worm I explained earlier is undermining Matou Sakura's nerves. It must be the result of eleven years spent growing within her. The crest worm has turned into a nerve, like a Magic Circuit, and it has entangled with her own, swarming all throughout her body. It has transformed into her Magic Crest. Under normal circumstances it is suspended, having no effect on Matou Sakura's body."

"But once activated, it will violate Matou Sakura's nerves and will keep moving using her magical energy. That's what happened earlier. The crest worm roamed through her body, absorbing her magical energy."

"Had she remained in that state for half a day, she would certainly have died. The crest worm would suck all of her magical energy as its power, then eat her flesh as nutrition. It means she would have her body consumed after her magical energy was sucked dry."

"If you have a Magic Crest, you should well know how painful it is. Even the faintest trace of a foreign substance puts a human body through discomfort, and can even be life-threatening. Having another creature entwining its nerves with your own, moving within you, would easily be enough to kill you."

"……In that regard, I'm surprised Matou Sakura was conscious until just now. I do not know if Matou Sakura has a strong will, or if she is just used to the crest worm's activation. We will need to ask her if we want this answered."

"――――――――" I hear a sound. It's the sound of my teeth grinding. 'If you have a Magic Crest, you should well know how painful it is'?

I couldn't possibly know. I cover myself in sweat just to insert one Magic Circuit into my body. Sakura has it several times worse. I couldn't even guess at her pain.

"…Hold on. You said if it's activated, right? Then the crest worm isn't usually active?"

"That is correct. The poison put on her only awakens the crest worm. The crest worm is only an observation device. It is only activated as punishment for the host, Matou Sakura, when she breaks a 'certain condition'."

"――――――――" Just listening to his words makes me go crazy. I know it's not something Kotomine did, but I almost attack him for saying that.

I suppress my selfish emotion and… "What is the condition?" I urge him to go on and tell me the heart of the matter.

"Matou Sakura fell, and Rin tried to save her. But Rider prevented her from doing so. Then the condition is obvious. To abandon the battles as a Master. That should be the restriction of the crest worm."

"She has approved of the battles by entrusting Rider to Shinji. But the crest worm will torment her as she refuses it now. It has calmed down for now, but the crest worm will keep tormenting her. It will tell her, 'What are you doing? If you are truly a Master, then go kill the other Masters. If you cannot, I will eat you and kill you'."

"――――" My mind almost breaks down. Just hearing about it makes sparks flash in my vision. More than anything, I want to kill that old man.

"…That's the condition Sakura must follow?" "It seems so. Nothing else seems likely." "Then――――! Can't she just not be a Master? If she uses up her Command Spell and cancels the contract with her Servant, she won't be a Master anymore―――"

"I would not recommend that. I told you that the condition of the crest worm's activation is to abandon her duty as a Master. If she cancels her contract with Rider, the crest worm will consume her for sure."

"I see. So she can fight and survive, or refuse to fight and be killed by the crest worm. Those are the only options Sakura has, right?"

"Right. The crest worm will torment its host for as long as the Holy Grail War continues. If her condition keeps up, her body will not last long, and her mind will be destroyed. She has a Magic Crest all over her body, after all. You should understand how absurd that is, Rin."

"…Yeah. Even though it should be familiar with my body, I still periodically get the urge to cut off my arm. I'm like this with one arm, so her function as a human being should be violated if she has it all over her body. She's no magus, but a cluster of Magic Circuit. The human mind should be overwritten by the wave of magical energy."

"Wha―――then Sakura is…" "She is in danger if her condition keeps up. I don't know how many more days she can last, but the crest worm will spread further with each successive day. She will die if we cannot remove it before it infects her whole body, but her body will not last that long in any case."

"The only thing I did was to purify the poison. The surgery to call back her lost magical energy and mind is after this, but the chance of success is very low. ―――That is all. To sum everything up, Matou Sakura cannot be saved. Are you satisfied now, Emiya Shirou?"

"――――――――" There's no way I'm satisfied. Sakura can't be saved? That's ridiculous. She was doing so well until yesterday, so why are things like this now…!?

"―――What about removing it? Can't you extract the crest worm? If you know it's there, you should be able to take it out, right!?"

"Extraction would be difficult. The crest worm has already integrated itself into her Magic Circuits. Even the one who implanted it wouldn't be able to extract it now. …Yes. If you wanted to extract it, you would have to rely on a miracle, or the Holy Grail."

"――――!" The Holy Grail. So that's where it ends up, huh? Sakura's only choice is to keep fighting as a Master, and the power of the Holy Grail is the only thing that can save her――――?

"I understand the situation now, Kirei. Let me thank you." She bows without showing much gratitude and confronts the priest.

"But isn't this too sudden? The crest worm wasn't implanted in her yesterday. So why did she suddenly reach her limit?"

"Why do you ask that now? Matou Sakura's body was tampered with many years ago. The changes were so extensive that even her hair and eye colors no longer reflect her heritage. This did not start recently."

"Well, it seems it was never intended to kill her as it's doing now. It seems Matou Zouken did not intend to use Matou Sakura in this war. She is not adjusted to fighting. I would assume she was treated that way because unexpected conditions were met."

"Unexpected conditions, huh? …I don't know what those are, but that means Sakura suddenly won Zouken's confidence?"

"Probably. I would assume some change occurred within her that Zouken did not expect. But that is only one factor. There are other reasons for her drastic change. She is now constantly using magical energy to maintain her Servant. If she cannot spare any for her crest worm, what will the starving worm do?"

"…I see. Regardless of the conditions, it'll drain her body to acquire the magical energy it's not getting――― But she wouldn't lose magical energy if she doesn't use Rider, so――――"

"Yes, she should be able to live as before, for a while. But I don't think the old man will let Matou Sakura do as she wishes."

"……Right. He wouldn't plant a creature like that in her otherwise. The worm will kill her if she doesn't fight, and her body will also be destroyed if she fights and uses up magical energy. No, not only that, but Zouken can do anything he wants with Sakura because he's the one who planted the worm in her."

"―――He can do anything he wants with Sakura…?" "Yes. Zouken is holding Sakura's life in his hands. So defeating Zouken is the only way to save Sakura. ―――But Emiya-kun. You have to defeat Sakura before you can defeat Zouken. She's his puppet. I'm sure he would use her as his shield if you corner him."

"Exactly. Matou Sakura is a convenient tool for Zouken. He will control Matou Sakura as he instigated Matou Shinji. In fact, she is superior as a Master. She is urged on by her worm, and she will run even wilder than Matou Shinji, just like Zouken wants." "―――――!"

"…But I will be a bit irritated if everything goes his way. I will perform the surgery on Matou Sakura. I have purified her poison and anesthetized her. The healing and the extraction of the crest worm will be performed next."

"Huh…? Hey, Kirei…" "It is hopeless, but I will do my best. I cannot simply allow Matou Sakura to die. And what sort of priest would I be if all I could do was rely on the Holy Grail?"

"――――――――" Tohsaka's surprise is natural. His words are surprising even to me, and I've only known him for a short while. …This isn't a guess, but a conviction. Kotomine is seriously trying to save Sakura. It might just be because he's a priest, but this is too much even for that.

"…What's going on? This is the first time I've seen you support someone like this." "It's not just a whim. It is simply too wasteful to let her die. Well, I suppose it is better for the two of you to have another Master eliminated."

The priest's response is plain. Tohsaka glares at the priest… "―――――I'll leave her to you. I'm going to come back when the surgery should be over." …And leaves the church with those words.

Tohsaka leaves, and the church regains its silence. The priest silently sees Tohsaka off, and I can't even stand up because I can't think of anything.

"What are you doing? You are of no use to me here. I want no distractions. Go kill some time until the surgery ends." "――――I won't bother you. I trust you when it comes to surgeries. You helped that woman before too."

"Hah. The scale of this surgery is much greater than before. Matou Sakura stopped herself by shooting herself. She is suffering from autointoxication probably because she harmed you. To put it simply, she killed her own mind to stop herself since she was controlled by Zouken."

"The procedure I'm about to perform is like starting a heart that has stopped. …Well, the crest worm has kept her body alive. If all I have to do is recover her mind, it should succeed."

"But your presence here is a liability. If you come barging in when you hear her scream, I will certainly fail. In any case, you bear no responsibility for her sufferings. You and Matou Sakura are strangers now."

"――――Strangers?" "I am telling you not to have any sympathy for her. There is nothing you can do. Leave, like Rin has done."

"―――Why? Can't I pray for her sake here if I can't do anything?" "That is a crime. You have no right to share her pain. Do you not understand? I am telling you the surgery will fail if you are here. You are only a harmful enemy to Sakura right now."

"Wh――――" I can't finish my sentence. His words are heavy, and they are pointing out the crimes I didn't know I had committed.

"Matou Sakura feels some kind of guilt towards you. If you are near her, she may refuse to wake up." "…Guilt towards me…?"

"Yes. It is more like repentance than guilt. ―――She is a victim of sexual abuse. It is easy to imagine the kind of training Matou Zouken imposed on her. To state the fact, Matou Sakura is not a pure virgin, but a woman who knows men."

"――――――" I'm not surprised. I know this feeling. It's just like when I found out Sakura was a Master. I silently accepted the truth when I saw the Command Spell on her hand.

"The girl tried to hide that fact from you, but always sought salvation. I don't know how long the abuse called inheritance of magic lasted."

"But―――what do you honestly think you can do now, when you stood by her side, completely oblivious, for all that time? That's what I mean by you not having the right to pray here. But if you still care for Matou Sakura, leave. That's all you can do for now."

"――――――――" …I get up. ̊ It's not that he's talked me into it. It's just that―――what he's saying is correct. I shouldn't be here if I really care for Sakura. I shouldn't be allowed to care for Sakura when I can't think at all.

I turn my back to the priest and head for the door. "Oh. I do not think I even need to mention this, but…" I don't have the composure to turn around. I stop, still facing the exit.

"That incident you mentioned earlier. A woman was attacked when Matou Shinji still controlled Rider. She was saved thanks to you, but she would have died under normal circumstances."

"――――――――" I'm pissed. Somehow, I understand why he's bringing this up now.

"That's right. I need not mention who is at fault here. When Servants attack people, the responsibility lies on the Master."

"Are you saying Sakura's at fault?" "Of course not. I am only talking about the responsibility. I am not talking about good and evil. In reality, that woman is alive because of you."

――――But… If I made a wrong decision back then, Rider would've killed that woman.

That means―――― "Yes, this is about the future. If Matou Sakura recovers, it will be the same in the end. The same thing is bound to happen again even if she regains her consciousness. Which one will you protect then?"

―――We don't know when Sakura might do the same thing.

"――――――――" I have nothing to say to him. I quickly make my way to the exit as if to run away from his words.

"Emiya Shirou. Do you remember why you became a Master?"

I grit my teeth and walk on. His words are an ultimatum.

"You said you would be a superhero. Then make your decision. Will you, or will you not cast aside your own desires like Emiya Kiritsugu―――to protect your ideal and your belief."

I shut the door. The door to God's house is heavy like the cross.

―――I smell rain. The plaza is empty, and no one is visiting the church. There…

Stands a man, waiting for me without his master.

"―――Archer." I strangely don't wonder…. Why he's here and why he's waiting for me.

The red knight silently stares at me and closes his eyes once as if to part with something. "You know, right, Emiya Shirou? What you are fighting against, and who you must kill."

He clearly states the question I must answer.

"――――――――" His words freeze my heart. …I know. I vowed to fight to stop the war, to stop Masters who involve innocent people.

That was my decision, and that's why I asked for Saber's help. I can't go back on my word. Then―――Sakura is the Master I should be stopping first.

"――――――――" I know, but I can't say anything. "――――――――" The knight in red remains silent. We stand there staring at each other under the gray sky.

"……Then do as you wish. My goal has changed. Now that the thing has appeared, it is not the time to be caring about personal grudges." "What……?"

"…This is a warning. If you're going to protect the belief you've had until now, that's fine. But―――if you choose another path, there will be no future for Emiya Shirou." "―――Does that mean I'm going to die?"

"If you equate self-imprisonment with death. Isn't that right? You have existed until now to let people live. How can you throw away that oath and discard everyone to save one person?"

His declaring words contain no scorn. Archer's words contain determination and emptiness.

"I don't know which path Emiya Shirou will choose. But if you are to deny everything you've done to save one person―――the crime will definitely judge you."

…Archer leaves. Unable to stop him, I start down the hill, paralyzed by indecision.

When I finally come back to myself, I'm sitting on the bench in the park. I don't feel like going home, and I can't wait at the church.

This park is far away from both. …It's been a few hours since I found out Sakura is a Master. Its location suits an indecisive guy like me.

"――――――――" An answer. I have to come up with an answer, but my brain is so messed up that I can't even come up with what I should be thinking about.

―――She has suffered sexual abuse. It is easy to imagine what kind of training Matou Zouken imposed on her. To be blunt, Matou Sakura is not a pure virgin, but a woman who has known men―――

"………Shut… up." Don't repeat it. I understand. I'm a magus, even if I'm just an amateur. I know what it means, and I can tell what Sakura has been through――――

―――That girl tried to hide that fact from you, but always sought salvation. Someone who sat by, oblivious, has no right to care for her―――

"Shut up, shut up, shut up…! I know. You don't have to tell me such a thing――――!" …Such a thing… Why couldn't I notice it?

"……!" One of my back teeth cracks. I grit my teeth too much today. It's a wonder it didn't break until now.

"Damn――――Damn, damn, damn――――!" I grind on the bare nerves. Pain assails my brain. But it can't even drown out the hatred in my brain.

"――――――――" A fire ignites inside my head. Now that I know the truth, thinking about our time together drives me crazy.

Sakura was smiling. She was always smiling gently. I never knew what kind of pain she went through, and I accepted her as a matter of course.

…I don't care if her smiles were real or fake. It makes me want to kill him, just thinking about what kind of pain was hidden behind her smiles.

"Matou Zouken――――!" I can't forgive him. I don't need recompensation. I want to eliminate him and remove him from Sakura's life.

Because everything is his fault. Sakura would've been able to live as a normal girl, and she would've never had a crest worm in her body if it wasn't for him. She wouldn't have become a Master, and Shinji wouldn't have lost himself if Zouken didn't exist. So… If he had never existed, none of this would've happened――――!

I punch the bench. The wound on my hand opens up, and blood drips down onto the white bench. The clear colors transfer into my head.

"How stupid―――what would've happened if he didn't exist?" I'm disgusted with my own foolishness.

"…That has nothing to do with this. Why am I pushing the responsibility onto someone else?" Why am I trying to make myself feel better? I won't deny what Matou Zouken has done to Sakura. Just thinking about it disgusts me. It makes me jealous, as if something important has been taken away.

But it doesn't lessen my guilt. I'm the one who didn't notice. No matter what Zouken did, it's my fault for not noticing.

"――――No. It's not that I didn't notice. I…" I just didn't try to notice. The night when I confronted Zouken. He said Sakura was unrelated, and I believed him.

…How stupid of me. Why did I believe his words? There's no way she'd be unrelated when she's of the Matou family. On the night I lost Saber, I realized Matou Zouken is a monster who doesn't care about other people's lives.

If that monster gave Rider to Shinji, there's no way he'd do nothing to Sakura.

But… I believed his words because they were convenient for me.

I could've easily realized it. It's something I could've guessed with even a little thought. …That's why I wasn't surprised. I knew it was obvious when I found out Sakura's a Master and that she's been raped until now. But I didn't think about it because I couldn't keep going if I realized it.

If I realized, I'd have to fight. If Matou Zouken is evil… The superhero has to fight against him.

"――――――――" …No. It's clear what I must do. If Sakura is going to be Zouken's puppet and use Rider to indiscriminately attack people, it's clear what I must do.

That's why I learned magic. I've been able to live because I have to save people from unreasonable disasters.

"――――!" So it's clear. It's just like that red knight said.

―――Senpai. If I become a bad person―――

I don't want to hurt Sakura, and I feel sympathy. But there can be no exceptions. No matter how important it is to me, if it would create a disaster like that time…

―――Yes. I wouldn't mind if you do so.

"Uh――――, guh……!" …I just need to eliminate it. I shouldn't have to think twice, so why… "Haa――――, uh, guh――――!" Why am I desperately trying to keep myself from throwing up…?

"Ah――――haa… haa, haa, haa――――" I endure the nausea. …How long has it been? I don't have time to be worrying about stupid things. Tohsaka said she'd be back when the surgery ends. The town smells like rain. I have to go back to the church before it starts raining, find out how Sakura's doing, and――――

"Let's play, Shirou!" I'm suddenly embraced from behind.

"…Ilya." I can tell without turning around. The one I meet at this park is always this white girl.

"Heehee, were you surprised? I had to greet you because I saw you." Ilya laughs cheerfully.

"――――――――" Her innocence is painful right now. I know it's selfish of me, but I don't want anyone smiling in front of me right now.

"Oh. What's going on, Shirou? Why are you ignoring me? It's rude to keep looking down when a girl's talking to you." "……" …I wish she'd be quiet. I don't have the composure to talk with someone right now.

"Humph. Hey, Shirou! You have to listen when people talk to you!" "……Ilya. I'm sorry, but I can't afford to do so right now. If you want to play, you'll have to do it by yourself."

"What? I got to see you, so that's boring. You never came here after that day. If I let you go today, I bet you won't come again."

"…I didn't promise to meet you here every day. And it's night already. Don't Masters kill each other at night?"

My unkind words bring a renewed wave of nausea. …I hate myself so much that I want to punch myself. I'm driving Ilya away so that I can be at ease.

"Why? You're not a Master anymore, right? So I'm going to let you go for tonight." "――――'I'm not a Master anymore'… Ilya?"

"Hah. There's nothing I don't know about. You lost Saber, and Rin was almost defeated by Rider. But Rider's Master collapsed, so there are only two more left." Ilya speaks cheerfully.

"――――――――" It looks like she knows about Sakura's condition and…

"It's obvious now who's going to win. Rider's Master will self-destruct, and Archer isn't a big deal. No one can beat my Berserker now that Saber's gone. See, so let's play! You're not a Master anymore, so I'll specially invite you to my castle!"

Ilya hugs me without reserve. Seeing her innocent smile makes me so angry that… "Shut up…! I said I don't have such time! Go play by yourself if you want to play around!" "Kya…!?" I push Ilya away in a fit of rage.

"Oh―――――――" ―――It's too late to regret what I've done. Ilya is standing there in shock. I can tell without looking how shocking that must've been for her.

…I have pushed aside an honest, pure show of affection. It's like a parent rejecting a child. I have just ruined everything Ilya felt for me.

"――――――――" She stares at me in silence.

"……" Unable to hold her gaze, I look down――― "I'm sorry, Shirou." A small hand pats my head.

"…What?" I raise my head again. Ilya is looking at me with a worried expression.

"……Ilya. Aren't you going to get mad?" "No. You're about to cry, Shirou. I don't know what happened, but it'd be too bad for you if I hate you. So I'll be your ally no matter what you do."

"――――――――" My vision is covered in white. …It's just one phrase. But that phrase washes everything away from my head.

"My… ally――――?" "Yeah. It's natural to protect the ones you love, right? Even I know that."

Someone's ally. Ilya easily tells me the motive to be on someone's side.

"――――――――" …I know what's right and what's wrong. What I've protected until now, and what I want to protect right now. I know which choice is correct, and which is wrong. With that in mind, I――――

#votestaynight

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theoneandonlyyeti · 3 years

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listen. ya like squids? (cw for animal death as i mention predators a lot. please tag this as "long post")

here is this . the giant squid

although the first sighting of a live boy was in 2004, this chonky thing was described in writing as far back as Aristotle himself . ever seen Watcher Puppet History? remember good ol' Pliny the Elder from the Vesuvius episode? my guy wrote about this absolute unit and was . surprisingly close on describing them? considering the state of natural science at the time. the boys reach around 30-35 feet max, but the females are more around the 40-45 foot range. gaslight giant squid girlboss or whatever

my boys only known predator is the sperm whale, which is why the whales that we find are always covered in scars and sucker marks. battle been waged for centuries. montagues and capulets WISH they had what these things have. (to be fair, it might also be possible for pilot whales to eat them too. oh, and also other giant squid. it's a cephalopod-eat-cephalopod world out there.)

now, listen. here's the thing. the giant squid might be the LONGEST mollusk in the ocean, but she sure ain't the heaviest at a measly 600lbs. while not much is known about the colossal squid, we DO know that they ABSOLUTELY can reach - wait for it - 1 0 0 0 lbs. and that's not all! based on remains found in sperm whale stomachs, my guy might reach FIFTEEN HUNDRED POUNDS. this may not be much in the grand scheme of things considering their predators can range anywhere from 30,000 to 90,000lbs, but for a cephalopod (read: glorified mollusk) that is, in the words of 2015 internet, A HECCIN CHONKER.

(^ here is one when they caught it. unfortunately she was close to death from unrelated causes when they found her and she died soon after, but her body was donated to science and we learned a lot so it wasn't in vain! she doesn't have a name but one of the scientists who helped at the time was named kat so now this squid is named kat.)

now here come the weirdos.

mx. bigfin squid, why are you so strange?

we don't know much about these boys since they're pretty rare encounters, but they have big ear flap type things they use to move which is why they're called what they're called

additionally, all of their tentacles are...strangely identical. anyway, they're very long and Ribbony and, as you can see, positioned into little strange elbows perpendicular to their body. since we haven't seen or caught many, nobody really knows...why. it might be a feeding thing (some people think they use a trapping method, waiting for zooplankton and stuff to bump into their arms, or maybe even a bottom-trawling method where they drag their arms along the seabed and pick up whatever they find. nobody knows) but. who knows <3

lastly for now since this is getting long, my absolute favorite, the VAMPIRE SQUID

just a little guy. surprisingly, they're actually the only known cephalopod who doesn't catch and eat live animals!! this tiny boy eats marine snow (which you can see in the picture); basically just little bits of nutrients and sediment that floats down into the Deep Dark. a LOT of animals depend on marine snow, but that's a story for another time

as for the vampire squid's name, it's actually a funny story!

this is why.

as a defense mechanism, my boy curls up inside out to reveal tens if not hundreds of razor sharp "teeth" on the inside of his legs :) (some people call this "pineapple mode" which helps the nonchalant horror of it all)

anyway, fun fact! red light has a much longer wavelength compared to blue, yellow, or green (or orange or violet), meaning it has the most difficult time penetrating water and thus can't make it far into the ocean! this is why most deep sea creatures are red or black - since black is impossible to see in an environment with no sunlight and red effectively appears black at the same light level, these colors are most effective at hiding from prey and predators alike!

blue has the shortest wavelength and thus has the easiest time getting through water. this is why the ocean looks blue and why almost all ocean bioluminescence shows up in blues! (look up firefly squids. they're my second favorite squid but this ask is already too long so i cant explain in detail. basically tiny little squid lights up bright blue like fireflies to communicate/attract mates/attract prey/etc. and they migrate to the surface at night. lights up a beach like you wouldn't believe)

thank you void this is the best thing ever

also thank you for bringing back my memories of watching wild kratts and learning about the giant squid and the colossal squid back when i was a wee lad. this was an honest joy to read

i can also read the excitement in these words and am feeding off of it i love it sm /g

(i really appreciated the romeo and juliet reference aksjdlf)

#cw animal death #long post #marine life #squids #ask #void-vanilla-tag #void please send more infodump i love reading these and I could read so much much more /g #<3

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calciumcryptid · 3 years

Text

I Have Elected to Ignore Midnight's Death

Polarmare's First Day

It was the first year Kenta would be teaching at U.A. A longtime friend of hers requested to take up the open teaching position, and who was Polarmare going to deny a change of scenery?

Besides, her sister lived in Japan and was elated to know that the Fuyuhito sisters were getting back together so that was the housing situation solved in under five minutes.

U.A. paid good as well which was good for a single mother like Kenta. She adored Seko with all her heart from the first time they met in Japan two years ago when she saved him from prison. Sure the paperwork was a bitch, but Seko loved the opportunity to meet so many different heroes.

So they packed their bags, and headed off to Japan where she was reunited with her sister.

The day after they arrived she made sure her paperwork was sorted by the Hero Safety Commission, then made sure to pick up Seko for her tour at UA.

There she met Nezu, who seemed just as crazy has he had been over the phone and her fellow coworkers.

She took an instant liking to Powerloader and Snipe as they bonded over creating weapons. Vlad King and Ectoplasm seemed chill too, and it was nice to see other dedicated teachers.

Midnight was cheering about another woman on the staff, though seemed to deflate when Kenta snipped her sexual flirting at the bud.

Present Mic was loud, but reminded Kenta of a friend in America so the familiarity was nice.

It was interesting meeting All Might after seeing his last stand on the news, but Kenta hoped they would be able to get along even if he seemed like a bumbling mess half of the time.

Recovery Girl was alright, a bit jaded but it was hard to find a hero so old who wasn't.

Aizawa seemed like someone she needed to keep her eye on, his knee jerk reaction upon learning she was an international hero was hostility while he worked under the impression she was a spotlight hero.

With a swing of her axe, and a clarification of the fact she was a Neighborhood Hero who worked mostly under Rescue and Underground terms, he simmered down real quick.

The General Ed teachers seemed chill, and Kenta hoped she would be able to grab some drinks with them after a long day of work.

Seko loved every one of the them, and was excited by the prospect of their quirks though Kenta made sure to cover his eyes and ears whenever Midnight was in the room.

After final arrangements with Nezu, she was given the dates of the entrance exams. The Fuyuhito family left in good spirits.

The day of the Management Entrance Exam came around, and Kenta came in her formal hero uniform. She took a seat beside Snipe and Powerloader, and was introduced as Polarmare.

Polarmare watched as potential students came in to present one by one, and she made notes. At the end of the day after helping the potential support students present Polarmare was happy with her picks.

It wasn't over though as she spent a while in her new office she looked at each students history, made a few calls, and at the end picked out a good sixty for the first years.

Sixty may seem extreme, but there were many parts of management and business so they wouldn't all be in one class.

She went home to tend to her son, and went to see the sights with her family.

The day of the hero entrance exams arrived, and Polarmare took a seat in the viewing room. She studied the motions of the potential students, their interactions, and was pleasantly surprised to see Nezu took her suggestion of making Rescue Points public and hiding a new type of points known as Cooperation Points.

The big scale robot had been toned down a bit, and at the end Polarmare had a few qualms but didn't have any outward complaints.

Eventually, the first day of the school year came around and Polarmare did her introductory presentation. She explained each branch of management and business, the schedules, and sent them on a tour with Snipe of the business building.

While that occured, she had a meeting with the votes on representatives and outlined what she expected of each of them. She was pleasantly surprised to find them ready to meet the challenge, and was off once again.

She let the students spend the first week exploring the changes she made, and getting used the renovated building. She didn't see the need to challenge them too much considering they were in a new environment.

At the end of the day, Polarmare made her way to the Conference Room and took her place. The first thing she noticed was a lack of Gen Ed teachers present, which concerned her.

Snipe and Powerloader seemed surprised to see her there, and it was Snipe who leaned over.

"The Management teacher usually doesn't come to these meetings as they center primarily around the hero course."

Polarmare took in the words before responding, "Business and Management is a huge part of heroics so I believe I should be present for any meetings regarding the Hero Course."

Snipe nodded, and straightened back up.

After a couple more looks, the rest of the teachers settled down to prepare the meeting.

Nezu got up on his little podium, and smiled. "Welcome to the first hero course meeting of the year. Since we have a new teacher with us this year, I would love to hear her thoughts on how she plans on interacting with the hero course."

"First, may I record the meeting?" Polarmare asked. "I work better if I have audio to listen to afterwards."

A few of the teachers gave each other looks, but Nezu nodded.

Polarmare tapped her recorder before she stood up. "I plan on calling the second year students to the business building to discuss their media presence. With permission from you and their gaurdians, I want to make sure they have profiles set up on Hero Watch. It would be good for them to interact with other heroes, and it will open internship and work study opportunities for them."

Nezu hummed, "Permission granted, you may start as soon as you can."

"Once I get their gaurdains approval," Polarmare resaid with a firm stare. "I shall send out the email tonight, and set up conferences if needed."

Polarmare noticed some of the teachers looking at her in confusion, but she made her notes.

The rest of the teachers went around, and Polarmare made her notes. Admittedly more on their body language then what they have to say.

The last person to talk was Aizawa. He stood up and gathered a couple of papers.

"All of the expulsion forms have been filled out." Aizawa passed them around towards Nezu.

Polarmare slammed down her hand before they could be passed the final length. She turned them over to look through them.

"Polarmare, may I ask what you are doing?" Aizawa asked through gritted teeth.

"You know Eraserhead, this seems quite light for expulsion papers. I see a distinct lack of reference to any evidence or record of you meeting with the student to discuss the expulsion."

"What are you talking about?" Aizawa asked.

"According to the Student Rights, the student should be made aware of their expulsion with any evidence before they are expelled." Polarmare looked over to Aizawa, "I assume this is the first time Nezu has seen these, so I also assume he has been expelling students based on your word without a meeting or evidence."

Aizawa stared Polarmare down, "U.A. does not work on the regular rules schools are legally allowed to abide by."

Polarmare shifted the papers in her hand, "Actually, Student Rights apply to all schools. If this is the case, and you have been expelling like this, it is a miracle you haven't been sued."

"Nezu handles the lawsuits," Snipe said.

"Ah, that explains that. Let me clarify, it is a miracle that someone who outranks you hasn't caught on and sued you." Polarmare adjusted her posture, "Now what is your reasoning?"

"The students show a lack of potential," Aizawa stated matter of factly.

Polarmare raised an eyebrow, and waved her hand. "And?"

"What more is there to say?"

Polarmare sighed deeply. "Tell me Eraserhead, how do you measure a concept as abstract as 'Potential'."

"A series of trials," Aizawa stated.

"Yeah, I saw those trials being performed. I noticed that they are all physical. Are you saying you are measuring potential on how physically experienced your students are?"

Midnight giggled.

Polarmare shot a glare before turning back to Aizawa, "I am going to look through these students and read out loud their quirks."

"This is uneccesary-"

"Marinette, this quirk allows the user to control those with human intelligence or faux human intelligence like robots as though they are simply puppets. Hmm, I don't see how this could apply to something like a grip test or ball throw. Though this could be a way to give heroes confidence or maybe even to control villains. This student sounds like a great Underground or Neighborhood Hero if they so desired.

"That is only-"

"Oh! Gnaw. This one is interesting. This quirk gives the user sharp appendages as long as they are made out of keratin on some level. Can't think of how this would help a sit-up, but imagine there was a super strong net that could be useful. This student sounds like an amazing Rescue Hero if they so desired."

"Two-"

"Slowdown, a quirk that allows the user to slow down anything that is moving. That is amazing on its own, and if they know how to dismantle robots in the time allowed they have to be some sort of mechanical genius! They could go down any hero path they wanted and he so successful. A shame I can't think of how this would help on any trials unless they were sabotaging others. Were they sabotaging others?"

"No," Aizawa said.

"This is a bad trend Eraserhead," Polarmare warned. "Of course if you insist on wanting to expell them, then why don't you allow me work out some private study transfers. I know what, like five? Ten? Twenty? Probably like something hundred pros who are on the waiting list that would love to work with some of these quirks."

Aizawa glared at her.

"Then again why is there such a focus on their quirks? Oh! I know, it is because you don't care how they act if Mineta and Bakugou is anything to go by." Polarmare said. "Don't think I've noticed the large amount of tapes and complaints filled out regarding them."

Polarmare looked up at Aizawa, "I'm just saying there is some good evidence here to create a good quirk discrimination and abuse of power case. Unfortunately for you, I happen to be friends with a lot of lawyers and reporters who don't exactly love UA and would love to get their hands on this information."

"Nezu!" Aizawa shouted.

Nezu who was blankly smiling throughout the whole exchange looked at Aizawa. "What? She has a point, and we can not take another hit like this to our reputation. Polarmare you have permission to disband the expulsions."

"Thank you."

"Oh shit," Present Mic muttered but it was audible due to the complete silence of the room."

"With that, I believe this meeting shall be adjourned. I employ you all to spend some times to reevaluate your students."

Polarmare collected her notes, and looked over the expulsion sheets. She wasn't lying before, she was sure she could find some good mentors for these students depending on what they want to do. She'll have to add those meetings to her calendar. Maybe Seko had some ideas, and her sister would probably snatch up one of th-

Something ling and grey wrapped around her mid section, and she didn't have to turn around to know who it was.

"Eraserhead, what do I owe the pleasure?" She turned her head to see his eyes aflame with red.

"I have been managing my class like this for years, and I do not appreciate you coming in here and dictating what I can and can not do."

"I do not dictate it, the law does." Polarmare sighed as she looked at his eyes. "Cancelling my quirk is useless considering it isn't and offensive quirk," She pointed out.

Aizawa let his capture scarf wrap back around his neck as he blinked. He stared at her with narrowed eyes.

"Bakugou is a perfectly fine student, and I do not see why you brought him up-"

"The boy has a record of telling people to die, I don't care if it is his thing it fucks with your head. Not to mention the physical assault and berating he does, because unlike you I read the complaints."

"The complaints are useless, I judge my students without any prior knowledge."

Polarmare raised an eyebrow, "Does that include background checks because I thought UA prided themselves on those."

Aizawa gritted his teeth.

"If that is all, I need to get home to my family."

#polarmare #bnha writing #bnha fanfic #bnha ocs #bnha business course ocs #bnha management course ocs #aizawa is nezus favorite #aizawa critical #aizawa negative

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hosts-of-valyria · 3 years

Text

"Oh the world will sing of a Storm King a thousand years from now. And not because he passed some laws or had that lofty brow while bonny good King Aegon leads the great crusade he's on. We'll all have to slave away for that good-for-nothin' Robert! Incredible as he is inept whenever the history books are kept, they'll call him the phony king of Storm's End. A pox on the phony king of Storm's End. A puppet on a string and he throws an angry tantrum if he cannot have his way. Too late to be known as Robert the First. He's sure to be known as Robert the worst. A pox on that phony king of Storm's End", sang Jaskier in Harrenhal.

Myrcella, Joffrey, Tommen, Margaery, Arya, Gendry, Sansa, Rhaenys, Aegon, Robb, Jon, Geralt, Daenerys, Ciri and Yennefer applauded, "a pox on the phony king of Storm's End!"

The scribes crossed Robert the First from the books and wrote Robert the Worst from Storm's End.

"A true hero isn't measured by the size of his strength, but by the strength of his heart", said Yennefer to Jon.

Harrenhal: Independence for the Kingdoms at the end of Robert's Rebellion when Elia Martell and Lyanna Stark fell in love. Elia and Lyanna fall in love in Harrenhal. Rhaegar's victory over Robert Baratheon when he proclaimed independence and destroyed the Iron Throne with the wildfire. Rhaegar has to avoid the Trident, he has no chance against Robert in the open field. Rhaegar must intervene in King's Landing. Rhaegar removes Aerys from the throne when he demands the head of Brandon and Rickard Stark and locks Aerys away on Dragonstone. Rhaegar, Arthur Dayne, Barristan Selmy, Lewyn Martell and Gerold Hightower entered the Red Keep, "Aerys Targaryen! Come down from the Iron Throne! I'm capturing you for the attempted murder of Rickard and Brandon Stark! I am placing you under house arrest on Dragonstone. I will send you doctors and Rhaella will visit you from time to time to make sure of your condition", said Rhaegar.

Lord Commander Gerold Hightower refuses to take further orders from Aerys. Gerold Hightower files a petition against Aerys for insanity

The knights handcuffed Aerys. Arthur Dayne and Gerold Hightower drew their swords, "the guard arrests Aerys Targaryen! If you refuse to come down from the Iron Throne, we will use violence. We refuse to take further orders from you."

Rhaella watched Aerys scream insanely, "I burn you all", Lyanna and Elia hugged each other stormily. Barristan Selmy led Aerys away in chains, "Dragonstone is waiting for you Aerys."

The soldiers attached cranes and ropes to the Iron Throne and tore it from the throne room, "bring the throne to the furnaces and melt it down with the wildfire."

As soon as Rhaegar moves to the Trident he is dead. Rhaegar puts down the rebellion as Robert stands at the Trident. At that moment Rhaegar Targaryen declares independence for the kingdoms. The Trident becomes a death trap for Rhaegar. Varys, Barristan Selmy, Arthur Dayne, Gerold Hightower, Elia, Lyanna, Rhaella, the people cheered loudly when Rhaegar proclaimed the Declaration of Independence. "I, Rhaegar Targaryen hereby restore the Kingdoms to independence. I give sovereignty to all kingdoms. The Iron Throne is gone. I'm no king of Westeros!"

Rhaegar Targaryen crushes the rebellion. The bells rang for the Declaration of Independence in King's Landing. The news spread like a wildfire through Westeros, "Independence for the kingdoms!"

A big wonderful family

Ciri looked wide-eyed when she saw the fortress, "Dragon fire. A blown ruin. The fortress needs to be repaired", Jon, Yennefer, Daenerys, and Geralt nodded, "Aegon the Conqueror burned Harrenhal. Harren the black thought Harrenhal was his legacy, Ciri. The fortress was built to withstand 500,000 soldiers. But when dragon fire came he died in his own halls. Harren and Aegon the Conqueror were tyrants", and Ciri nodded, "Aegon the Conqueror built the wheel."

Jon's tremendous empathy: A general's yardstick. The son is more powerful than his father. Jon's magical ability: control of fire and ice to freezer burn. Lyanna teaches Jon how to reason properly

"The armies have found their general, they would follow him to death. When Jon speaks correctly, massive armies will answer his call. Tyrants bow their knees before him. He knows things", thought Yennefer and Lyanna as they looked at Jon.

Conscription: The shining hero and general for armies: A born general, soldier, commander and leader: Jon resigns from the Night's Watch and becomes general of the armed forces of Winterfell and King's Landing, replacing Rodrik Cassel and Gerold Hightower: A military career for Jon Stark. Live to love and love to live! Don't live to work, don't work to live.

"Interesting. The more penises on a uniform, the higher the rank", Medals from wolves, fishes, three-headed dragons, snakes were on the uniform. Ciri, Jaskier, Daenerys, Elia, Lyanna and Yennefer looked at the badges on their armors.

Brynden Tully and Petyr Baelish patted Jon and Geralt on their shoulders, "a picture for tomorrow's newspaper."

An artist painted a Photo of Jon, Geralt, Petyr Baelish and Brynden Tully.

"Jon Stark and Geralt of Rivia on par with Randyll Tarly", it said in the newspaper. Petyr Baelish's new newspaper from Westeros. And it was a box office hit. People bought Petyr Baelish's newspapers with gusto.

Jon's vow: "I am a soldier, general, commander. I wear a uniform. I am a born soldier and warrior. I swore to change Westeros", thought Jon in Harrenhal. Yennefer examined him carefully, "Empathy is always the key, Jon."

He looked at her, "get out of my head honey."

Yennefer laughed out loud and kissed him, "Sorry never happens again. I'm a good wife, please don't punish me. I am submissive too."

Lyanna caught Jon and Yennefer making out, "I should have known that I would catch my daughter-in-law and my son kissing wildly. Move your asses. If you two want to fuck, find a bed", Lyanna said, slapping both of them on the buttocks. Yennefer giggled, "yes mum", Lyanna smiled, "be glad I let you get away with so much", Yennefer and Jon kissed her cheek, "you're the best", Lyanna smiled, "oh that's nice of you two. You said that really nicely."

A new office created by Rhaegar Targaryen: Director Tissaia de Vries, Director of the Elite Guard

Rodrik Cassel, Arthur Dayne, Gerold Hightower and Tissaia smiled when they saw Jon and Yennefer, "Lord Commander we greet you. Ah the Commander of the Night's Watch and the sorceress are here. Have you chosen your successor yet, Jon", Jon nodded, "Dolorous Edd will be my successor."

Jon and Yennefer hugged Sansa and Aegon, "the two political geniuses have arrived. The King and Queen of King's Landing", Jon and Yennefer hugged Robb and Rhaenys, "the king and queen of the north are here", the six went to dinner and Sansa put a banana in Aegon's mouth, "swallow and don't spit, Egg", Sansa kissed him and he swallowed the banana.

Tissaia leaned over to Yennefer, "will you give me some of the pie", Yennefer looked at Tissaia, "what's the magic word?"

Tissaia shrugged, "but Pronto", Rhaegar, Eddard, Gerold Hightower and Arthur Dayne laughed out loud.

Gendry's steep career in the craft: A born craftsman: The blacksmith of King's Landing and Cintra and his two beauties: Gendry doesn't want anything to do with Robert Baratheon and is suing him for maintenance. Elia Martell and Lyanna Stark the lawyers and they drag the Storm King to court. Mya, Gendry, Edric and Bella are suing Robert Baratheon for maintenance costs

Ciri and Arya got dressed and kissed Gendry, "you ruined our pussies, we are sore and can barely walk straight. Tomorrow we'll be sore between our legs", Ciri, Arya and Gendry came out of rooms as they faced Eddard, Geralt and Jon, "oh fuck we can explain that."

Geralt, Ned and Jon grabbed Gendry, "did you fuck them both well?"

Gendry nodded, "with the heat of a stag. The two of them can't get enough of my hammer. Arya howled like a she-wolf and Ciri groaned after Mummy."

Ned patted his shoulder encouragingly, "very good Gendry."

Arya and Ciri rolled their eyes, "Gendry Baratheon!"

Geralt and Jon looked at Ciri and Arya, "didn't you think the joke was funny", Gendry and Eddard laughed aloud.

Ciri and Arya looked at Gendry, "your mother was a dumb whore with a fat arse. Did you know that", Gendry smiled cynically, "and you two could use a breastplate stretcher."

Ciri and Arya looked at him with their mouths open, "did you call us fat? Next time you can jerk yourself off!"

Sansa, Rhaenys, Yennefer, Daenerys, Lyanna and Catelyn laughed aloud, "yeah girls. The men sometimes have no manners, don't listen to them."

Jon, Eddard and Geralt gave Gendry a high five, "Well done Gendry."

"Have a drink in advance, food will be ready in a moment", said Elia and Lyanna, sticking a spoon of soup in Rhaegar's mouth, "Try", Rhaegar nodded, "it tastes great. You two have outdone yourself once more", Lyanna and Elia giggled, "Rhaegar Targaryen can be so diplomatic at times", Oberyn and Eddard looked at Rhaegar, "Crawler." Rhaegar shrugged, "if it works", Sansa, Ellaria, Jon, Oberyn, Yennefer, Elia, Eddard, Catelyn, Lyanna, Rhaegar, Aegon, Rhaenys, Robb laughed aloud.

Yennefer and Jon hugged Brandon, Ashara, and Rickard, "we missed you. You came from Starfall. How things are going with Ashara?"

"Have you laid her flat yet", asked Brandon to Jon. Yennefer rolled her eyes, "it was clear that this question comes from you."

Lyanna, Catelyn, Ashara, and Eddard looked at him, "Brandon Stark", Jon nodded, "More than once", Brandon smiled, "That's my nephew. Never too shy to take what he wants. Bang her hard Jon", Rickard laughed out loud.

Seven Stark children

Karhold: Rickard Karstark hugged Edric and Alys, "look at you, Karstarks and Starks belong together. Do you like Starfall, Alys", she nodded, "it's wonderful, Ashara is awesome", Edric leaned over to Alys, "he's always been an asshole", Alys giggled, "oh yeah."

Brandon smiled, "oh it's going perfectly with Ashara. Alys and Edric will come with us next time. The two are on their way to Karhold."

Ashara took Yennefer with her, "my nephew Jon has good taste in women. Tissaia, you must be very proud of Yennefer that she is so successful", Tissaia nodded, "she is a good girl."

Rhaella Targaryen's memories of the Targaryen Kings on the Iron Throne: Jon's paternal grandmother

Stories from bygone times, a three hundred year old dynasty.

Regular visits for Aerys by Viserys, Rhaenys, Aegon, Rhaegar, Jon, Robb, Yennefer, Elia, Lyanna, Rhaella, Daenerys, Geralt, Sansa, Brandon, Ashara, Ciri and Rickard Stark. Doctors from Sunspear and Oldtown are providing medical treatment for Aerys Targaryen.

"Do you still know who I am grandfather", asked Jon, Aerys shook his head, "i am your grandson Jon. You showed me the big map of Westeros and we ran against each other on the beach, you always let me win."

And Aerys nodded.

Yennefer and Jon helped Aerys get up and Yennefer gave him medicine and Rickard changed the sheets, "this is for your heart condition. Jon and I wanted to take you for a walk on the beach of Dragonstone. We're spending some time with our grandson, Jon's wife brought wonderful soup and homemade bread. How does that sound, Aerys? It smells wonderful."

And Aerys nodded.

Yennefer and Jon smiled and she gave him some soup, "I am Yennefer. I am happy to see you Aerys. I got the recipe from my mother when she was still alive. You could run a marathon Aerys", Rickard laughed out loud, "oh how does that sound Aerys? A marathon would be great", and there was a smile on Aerys as if to say yes.

Aerys Targaryen the last Targaryen king on the Iron Throne when Rhaegar removed his father and destroyed the throne. A heart condition in Aerys Targaryen. Loss of language. Loss of motor skills. Bedridden. Alzheimer's disease at Aerys Targaryen

Aerys Targaryen dies of a heart attack 25 years after the Rebellion. Aerys Targaryen buried in the Red Keep where the Iron Throne stood

Geralt as commander of the forces of Dragonstone.

Diane Kruger as Queen Mother Rhaella Targaryen, 60 the new 40: Niece of Maester Aemon Targaryen, mother of Rhaegar, Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen, Widow of the late Aerys Targaryen on Dragonstone, whom she survived by 40 years. Death of Rhaella Targaryen in King's Landing at the age of 100

Rhaella grabbed Geralt by the neck, "so you're banging with my Dany yeah? I wish I was young again. You have to be Ciri, the lion cub of Cintra. Calanthe's granddaughter."

Ciri curtsied, "Cintra, Aedirn, Temeria and the Northern Kingdoms send you their greetings, Foltest and Virfuril send greetings. I am happy to meet the Queen Mother Rhaella Targaryen. You saw the Targaryen kings on the Iron Throne."

Rhaella smiled, "oh that thing was just shitty and ugly. That thing could have been thrown in the trash and I wouldn't have cared. I haven't seen anything more beautiful than the Iron Throne burned greenish through the wildfire. The Targaryen were refugees from Valyria, Aegon and his sisters could have lived here in peace, but instead Aegon was a conqueror and tyrant. You see what he did to Harrenhal, Ciri, a blasted ruin. Aegon built the wheel as we knew it when he subjugated the Kingdoms and Balerion's fires forged the Iron Throne. Aegon the Conqueror was no better than Harren the Black when he brought firestorms", Ciri nodded.

Daenerys looked at her, "mum. You can live another 40 years."

Rhaella laughed, "oh you know Dany I look in the mirror in the morning and say to myself: that's just the way it is. Oh, I was good back then", Geralt and Ciri laughed aloud. Daenerys smiled, "mum, this is Geralt", Geralt swallowed and nodded, "Dany fucks me in every imaginable position. She already fucked me on Drogon's back."

Ciri kicked his shin, "careful daddy. The witcher models for his Khaleesi."

Rhaella laughed aloud and stroked his hair, "he's got beautiful silver hair, Dany. Don't you think Ciri", Ciri and Daenerys laughed when Geralt blushed, "definitely."

"You were so cute Lyanna when you cried in Harrenhal when Rhaegar played the harp", said Benjen.

Lyanna poured wine over Benjen's head, "I think you're familiar with it Benjen."

Rhaella, Arthur, Gerold, Tissaia, Ashara, Brandon, Rickard, Eddard, Catelyn, Geralt, Ellaria, Daenerys, Yennefer, Ciri, Elia, Rhaenys, Rhaegar, Aegon, Sansa, Robb, Arya, Gendry, Jon, Oberyn laughed out loud.

A life in the shadow of Rhaegar Targaryen: Robert Baratheon, who never came out of the shadow of his adversary for the rest of his life. Robert's mistake: Incompetence, these are the types of people who fail every interview. Robert's lack of respect for others. The incompetent Lord of Storm's End: At Casterly Rock, Tywin Lannister laughed out loud, "oh the Storm King has always been incompetent, a bad king, a drunkard and a thug."

Jaskier collapsed laughing when he saw Robert. Margaery pulled Jaskier up, "I'm sorry Storm King, my husband has never seen a fat pig", Trystane, Shireen, Mya, Bella, Edric, Myrcella, Tommen and Joffrey collapsed laughing. Jaskier laughed out loud, "haha haha such a fat pig."

Rhaegar always wins regardless of the outcome. Rhaegar's insurmountable power, a father's love for Jon, Aegon and Rhaenys. Eddard Stark, second father for Jon.

"I have to reinvent myself", said Rhaegar in his melancholy.

Lyanna and Elia looked at him, "renewal is cool. No need for melancholy, honey", and he kissed the two women.

Lyanna and Elia as successful lawyers. Rhaegar as a successful politician. "Lyanna is so wise", Elia thought.

"Elia is so great", thought Lyanna. "Rhaegar is such a strong father", thought the two.

Three successful characters in life: Determination, powerful, wisdom, respectful interaction, sustainability, renewal, loud, wild, dark, sad, feared, beautiful, sunshine, beloved, risky, elegant, dreamy

Rhaegar's respectful treatment of the mothers of his children. The mothers of his three children: Rhaegar's love for two women. Elia's and Lyanna's love for the father of their children. Wilf Scolding as Rhaegar Targaryen, Freida Pinto as Elia Martell and Megan Fox as Lyanna Stark

In Storm's End, a heavily indebted Robert Baratheon cursed the incompetent Storm Lord who wants to drink himself in his grave so that others can do his shit, "damn shit Rhaegar always wins. I don't want to be Storm King! I want to drink myself in the grave! I want to go to a brothel next to a marriage! I hate you Rhaegar Targaryen! You wouldn't stand a chance against me in a fight! You only won because you declared independence and burned the Iron Throne. I hate Martells, Lannisters, Targaryens. I hate that the Starks are kings and queens in the north. Elia took Lyanna away from me, how am I supposed to fight a woman. You and your smelly ex-wife this dornish bitch dishonored me."

Elia and Lyanna giggled in Harrenhal, "Lyanna's pussy is mine. Rhaegar's cock is ours. He eats our pussies like a hungry dragon", Lyanna and Elia looked at Rhaegar as the two women kissed, "Do you want to watch or participate?"

Rhaegar sat down, "Oh, I'll watch first." Lyanna and Elia giggled. "He wants to see a show."

Robert Baratheon insults Jon and Geralt

Ciri and Arya were standing by Gendry's shop in King's Landing as they looked at the gate. Gendry wiped the sweat from his chest and looked toward the gate, "Look at who we have there. The fat Storm Lord", Jon and Geralt leaned over the horses when Robert Baratheon came into the capital.

Ciri and Arya stood next to Gendry so demonstratively that they caressed his muscles when Robert came to the capital, "look at this Gendry, Robert ignores his own children", said Ciri and Arya and Gendry nodded, "he has always ignored me, Mya, Bella and Edric."

"You still owe your children 15,000 coins for maintenance", called Sansa, Arya and Ciri to Robert.

Yennefer, Daenerys, Sansa and Aegon were visiting the cavalry when they saw Robert, "oh look at that thing."

The cavalry with banners of the Starks, Martells and Targaryens laughed at the Storm King loudly, Jon and Geralt did not make any facial expressions when Robert rode past them. He looked at the laughing, heavily mounted riders, "no decency in the army. I'll kill you dragonspawn! And this mutant Witcher fucks a Targaryen cunt and is named Targaryen by marriage."

Jon stopped Geralt from drawing his sword, "no stop Geralt."

Yennefer, Ciri, Daenerys stopped Geralt, "Calm down Geralt, breath deep."

Geralt roared, "He insulted me and my best friend!"

Jon and Geralt bully Robert

Jon and Geralt looked at Robert, "welcome to King's Landing Lord Baratheon. You don't respect us so they laugh at you. They laugh at the Storm King who is too fat for his own horse", answered Geralt and Jon.

Jon formed fire and ice magic in his hands, "fire or ice, Lord Baratheon?"

Geralt and Jon looked at each other briefly. Jon formed ice in his hands and shot a snowball in Robert's face, "Winter is coming Lord Baratheon! You have enough fat for a whole garrison."

Aegon, Gendry, Geralt, Tyrion, Daenerys, Arya, Ciri, Sansa, and Yennefer collapsed laughing, "you two are right."

Rhaegar sat on the horse, "Geralt, Jon, Randyll Tarly invited the three of us to Horn Hill. The defense minister wants to speak to the generals."

Rhaegar, Jon and Geralt looked at Ciri, "don't laugh about Robert, Ciri."

She nodded, "I try hard."

The riders and the people in the streets burst out laughing that Robert Baratheon immediately disappeared from the capital. Tyrion looked at Jon and Geralt, "may I wave goodbye to him, generals", Geralt and Jon nodded and Tyrion waved after Robert. Arthur Dayne, Gerold Hightower, Jon, Geralt and Rhaegar rode out of the capital with cavalry. The children were amazed at the mounted armed forces, "we want to serve in armies later."

"They laughed at me, Ned", said Robert to Eddard in Riverrun.

Brandon, Ashara, Edmure, Roslin, Catelyn, Robb, and Rhaenys rolled their eyes, "ask yourself why."

Ned got up, "you've been laughed at all the time, but you're too drunk to realize it. You got yourself into this shit all by yourself. Rhaegar has nothing to do with that. The Iron Throne has been gone for years, Aerys has passed away, the kingdoms are independence. You are a grown man. I am sending you to the Citadel in Oldtown to fight your alcoholism. My foster son, whom you call dragonspawn, never laughed at you. Geralt, Daenerys, Ciri, Arya, Gendry and Jon's wife Yennefer aren't laughing at you because Jon is stopping them, Robert. Ciri, Geralt and Yennefer would have laughed at you long ago. Ciri doesn't laugh at you because Jon is a father to her too. Cirilla would have blown your brain away with her scream long ago she only listens to Geralt and Jon who are neutral."

Rhaenys, Robb, Elia and Lyanna left the room.

Robert roared, "Lyanna was mine! My ego gives me a right to a woman's body!"

Eddard yelled back, "I dare to doubt that your ego gives you a right to a woman's body! Oh are you a victim of bullying by Jon and Geralt? Forgive me Robert if I don't shed a tear for you. Oh poor Lord of Storm's End! How old are you Robert? Are you a little kid complaining about how unfair it is? Ask yourself why they are bullying you.

I can also scream, unattractive pig who makes himself dependent on others! Incapable king who believes Lyanna is power! You don't even know that your son Gendry, has a reasonable relationship with Ciri and Arya."

Catelyn kissed Ned, "Very good Ned. You heard Eddard, Robert. Go to the citadel."

Horn Hill: Randyll Tarly's boss mode. Horn Hill Secretary of Defense

Randyll was reading the newspaper over Starbucks coffee. Randyll Tarly shooed Melessa, Talla, Dickon, Sam, Gilly, through the rooms.

"I have distinguished visitors and I want everything to be in good condition! I have to finish the reports, balance sheets, and army reports. My two generals Jon and Geralt are coming to visit. I need the medals of House Tarly. Now!"

Melessa, Sam, Dickon, Gilly and Talla groaned, "you are a slave driver!"

Randyll sat down and signed documents and roared through the rooms, "I can no longer watch you work your way off, finally close the kitchen door!"

Sam and Dickon looked at each other, "the boss is in his element."

Randyll roared again, "I have heard that! And I didn't want Starbucks coffee! What madness is this? Where is the staff? Incapable staff everywhere! I can't work properly like this!"

Emilia Clarke, Anya Chalotra and Freya Allan ran away laughing, "we couldn't resist."

#yennefer and jon #kit harington #lyanna stark #anya chalotra #geralt and daenerys #ciri #freya allan #eddard stark #sansa and aegon #robb and rhaenys #richard madden #henry cavill #emilia clarke #elia martell #oberyn martell #freida pinto #rickard stark #megan fox

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dtrhwithalex · 3 years

Text

TV | Loki (102)

102: THE VARIANT

D: KATE HERRON. W: ELISSA KARASIK. Original Air Date: 16 June 2021.

Non-spoiler-free recap and review of the second episode of LOKI, which airs every Wednesday on Disney+.

RECAP

We open this episode in what looks like the medieval period, but turns out to be a Renaissance Fair in the 1980s. Another TVA team has been deployed in the search of the rogue Loki Variant and is promptly attacked by said Variant. Taking control of HUNTER C-20 (SASHA LANE) similarly to how we have seen Loki do during THE AVENGERS, the Variant eliminates the team and leaves the Fair through a time-window, taking C-20 with them.

Hunter B-15 and her team, as well as Mobius and Loki travel to the event to investigate and reinstate the sacred timeline. During the investigation, Loki plays at analysing his rogue counterpart, but Mobius sees through his stalling for time, and calls for the timeline to be restored. Hunter C-20 is declared MIA.

Back at the TVA, Mobius meets with Ravonna Renslayer to discuss the failed mission and the risk Mobius is taking with using Loki to find the Variant. Mobius insists Loki is, if not trustworthy, still useful to them. He tasks Loki with researching every Loki variant that has ever existed and "bans" him to the archives. Begrudgingly studying the files, Loki eventually tires of reading the exact same thing over and over again, and attempts to read up on the secrets of the TVA. However, his attempts are foiled by the Archivist, who only allows him to read one file -- his own.

However, in reading the file, Loki finds out about the events of RAGNAROK and realises that this is the key to finding the Variant. Disrupting Mobius' lunch to explain his theory -- and ruining Mobius' salad in the process -- Loki convinces him to go to an apocalyptic event such as Ragnarok to test the theory that, because of the complete destruction, nothing able to create new timelines would actually register as such. Reluctantly, Mobius agrees and takes him to Pompeii in 79 AD shortly before Mount Vesuvius erupts. Despite Mobius' warnings, Loki does as he does best: he creates chaos. He frees goats, throws things around, tells the people of the imminent eruption, that he is from the future -- and to Mobius' surprise, none of it registers as a deviation from the timeline.

Returning to the TVA, Loki and Mobius attempt to narrow down the specific apocalyptic event the Variant may be hiding in. However, it is not until Mobius remembers the child from the French church, that they are able to do so. Using the specific brand of chewing gum the Variant gave the child to create a specific time-window, Mobius and Loki find the one plausible catastrophe: New Haven, Alabama in 2050, destroyed by a hurricane.

Once on location, Loki is paired with Hunter B-15, despite Mobius' objections. While Mobius and the other Hunters take to the refugee camp, they search the store and come upon a single shopper. Touching him he drops to the floor and the possessive energy is transferred to Hunter B-15. Loki realises that this is the Variant, using their powers to, essentially, make ventriloquist puppets out of other beings.

While Loki tries to find out what it is the Variant wants, and offers up his own secret plans -- infiltrate the TVA, gain their trust, be granted an audience with the Time Keepers and take them out, ultimately wanting to rule the TVA himself -- Mobius and his team find the traumatised C-20. Although strongly disoriented, C-20 is able to reveal that she gave up the location of the Time Keepers to the Variant.

Meanwhile, Loki discovers that the Variant has been rigging the entire store with the time-reset devices. As they go active and vanish through individual time-windows, the real Variant reveals themself to Loki: the VARIANT (SOPHIA DI MARTINO) is a blonde, female version of Loki. Shocked by this revelation, Loki watches as the Variant opens another time-window and vanishes. Hearing Mobius and the Hunters approach, Loki makes a decision and follows the Variant through the time-window, which closes before Mobius can reach it.

As the time-reset devices vanish, the TVA registers anomalies and the agents monitoring the screens watch as multiple new timelines branch out of the sacred timeline, leaving only one conclusion: the timeline is being bombed. Watching her own screen in shock, Renslayer grabs her Hunter gear and leaves her office.

FAVOURITE MOMENTS

There were quite a few moments in this episode that I really loved. I adored this vibe of 'Loki Has A Day Job'. His whack-a-mole fight with Miss Minutes was a lot of fun. I loved the scenes in the archive, his somewhat flirty attempt at getting the Archivist to let him read classified files (also shushing the lady behind him? Hilarious). His chaotic energy and great Latin speech in Pompeii was absolutely fantastic too. God of Mischief indeed.

And I just adored all the banter scenes with Mobius. They have such a great buddy-cop dynamic, I really love it. The whole salad scene was just A+ comedy (also big yay for Casey!!). Their conversation about existence and free will was so good, too. And I adored the scene where Loki explains the difference between the two powers of projection. What a nerd. I love him.

I thought the reveal of Sophia di Martino as the Loki Variant was amazing. I think it's really interesting that this doesn't seem to be a version Loki himself was expecting to meet, which I'm sure will make for some great moments between the two in upcoming episodes.

Oh and, of course, lest I forget: setting the opening fight between the Variant and the TVA team to Bonnie Tyler's "Holding Out for a Hero"? Whoever made that choice is an absolute genius.

FAVOURITE CHARACTER(S)

I mean, Loki, duh. But I also really enjoyed Ravonna Renslayer in this one. I am really intrigued by her character and I can't wait to see more of her -- especially in action. Also I am very curious about her and Mobius' relationship. I smell history.

QUESTIONS, CURIOSITIES

Do all Hunters know the location of the Time Keepers? Or did the Variant have to keep nabbing them until finding C-20 who had the information they were looking for?

Also I am not entirely sure about the Variant being played by another person. I mean I get it from like a visual storytelling perspective, that it is easier to have two different faces when Loki and the Variant interact, and like, from an acting perspective too. I get that Loki is a shapeshifter, so whatever body he assumes does not necessarily have to look like himself -- in this case Tom Hiddleston -- and I guess some people would have complained about him playing a female version of himself as being drag or a mockery thereof or something, but... I don't know, I am just not entirely sure about it. It just feels very gendered, somehow, if that makes sense. A very "gender is tied to body" kind of thing. But I'm gonna wait until I see more of it before forming more of an opinion.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

An absolutely brilliant and compelling second episode of this show. I am enjoying it tremendously. I completely adore the Loki we get to see in this show and the character dynamic between him and Mobius is so funny and so well done. Loved the reveal of Sophia di Martino as the rogue Loki Variant, and I cannot wait to see more of her in this role. Next Wednesday cannot come soon enough!

[still image taken from imdb page of the episode]

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