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[Ming Dynasty]Chinese Armor：Life of female general 秦良玉/Qin Liangyu
The only female general recognized by the Chinese Orthodox Histories,The Twenty-Four Histories (Chinese: 二十四史)
【Historical Artifact Reference】:
China Ming Dynasty Royal Painting:《出警图/Departure Herald》
In this handscroll is a great imperial procession making its way to pay respects at the imperial tombs. Departing from the Te-sheng (Victory) Gate of the Peking city wall, the artists here depicted shops along the way and the appearance of ceremonial guards to the final destination of the imperial tombs, the final resting place for Ming dynasty emperors 45 kilometers from the capital at Mt. T'ien-shou. Departure Herald is actually accompanied by another long handscroll painting entitled Return Clearing. That work depicts the process of the tomb sweeping and inspection tour. Usually considered as a pair, they are collectively known as Departure Herald and Return Clearing.
↑Emperor Wanli of the Ming Dynasty of China, Zhu Yijun, wearing armor
The emperor's guards and ceremonial guards, a good depiction of Ming dynasty armor
【秦良玉/Qin Liangyu：The only female general recognized by the Chinese emperor and official history】
Qin Liangyu (1574–1648), courtesy name Zhensu, was a female general best known for defending the Ming dynasty from attacks by the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty in the 17th century.
Early life and education
Qin Liangyu was born in Zhongzhou (忠州), which is in present-day Zhong County, Chongqing.Her father, Qin Kui (秦葵), obtained the position of a gongsheng (貢生) in the civil service examination. He believed that girls should receive the same education as boys, so he made Qin Liangyu study history and the Confucian classics with her brothers. He also taught them martial arts. Qin Liangyu learnt martial arts more deeply than her brothers and became proficient in archery and horse-riding. She was also known for her skill in poetry.
Marriage to Ma Qiancheng
In 1595, Qin Liangyu married Ma Qiancheng (馬千乘), the tusi and xuanfushi (宣撫使; "Announcing and Pacifying Commissioner") of Shizhu County, and accompanied him in minor battles against local warlords in the southwestern border of the Ming Empire. They had a good marriage and he often sought her advice.In 1599, when Yang Yinglong (楊應龍) started a rebellion in Bozhou (播州; present-day Zunyi, Guizhou), Ma Qiancheng brought 3,000 riders with him to suppress the revolt while Qin Liangyu brought an additional 500 to support her husband. They successfully quelled the rebellion and destroyed the rebels' camps.
In 1613, Ma Qiancheng offended Qiu Chengyun (邱乘雲), an influential court eunuch, and ended up being arrested and imprisoned. He died in prison later. Qin Liangyu succeeded her husband as the xuanfushi of Shizu County. Those under her command were known as the White Cavalry (白杆兵).
Resisting rebel forces in Sichuan
In 1620, Qin Liangyu's elder brother, Qin Bangping (秦邦屏), led 3,000 White Cavalry to Liaodong to resist invaders from the Manchu-led Later Jin dynasty. He was killed in action at the Battle of Hun River (渾河之戰).
In 1623, Qin Liangyu assisted Ming forces in suppressing the She-An Rebellion in Sichuan and Guizhou led by She Chongming (奢崇明) and An Bangyan (安邦彥). In the following year, her elder brother, Qin Minping (秦民屏), was killed in battle by An Bangyan's forces.
In 1630, when Later Jin forces besieged the Ming capital, Beijing, Qin Liangyu led forces from Sichuan to reinforce the capital. The Chongzhen Emperor showered her with praises in poetry and presented her with four poems as she passed through Beijing. In 1634, when Zhang Xianzhong's rebel army invaded Sichuan, Qin Liangyu and her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟), led their troops to attack the rebels, defeated them at Kuizhou (夔州; present-day Fengjie County, Chongqing) and drove them away. In 1640, Qin Liangyu defeated another rebel force led by Luo Rucai (羅汝才) in Kuizhou and Wushan. In recognition of her contributions to the Ming Empire, the Chongzhen Emperor appointed her as the Crown Prince's Guardian (太子太保) and awarded her the title "Marquis Zhongzhen" (忠貞侯; lit. "Loyal and Chaste Marquis").
Later life and death
The Ming Empire was overthrown in 1644 by rebel forces led by Li Zicheng, and its former territories were conquered by the Later Jin dynasty (later renamed to Qing dynasty). Some Ming loyalists formed a remnant state, the Southern Ming dynasty, in southern China to resist the Qing dynasty. Its nominal ruler, the Longwu Emperor, also granted Qin Liangyu a marquis title. Meanwhile, Zhang Xianzhong invaded Sichuan again, and Qin Liangyu attempted to resist him, but was defeated and forced to retreat, allowing Zhang to conquer most of Sichuan. She did however prevent her soldiers from surrendering to Zhang.
Qin Liangyu controlled part of Shizhu County and her policy of agricultural self-sufficiency made her region attractive for refugees. She helped about 100,000 refugees to settle down in Shizhu.
Qin Liangyu died in 1648 and was buried in present-day Yachun Village, Dahe District, Shizhu County, Chongqing. She was given the posthumous name "Zhongzhen" (忠貞; lit. "Loyal and Chaste") and was survived by her son, Ma Xianglin (馬祥麟).
Legacy
Qin Liangyu's life, along with her weapons and armour, is showcased in a museum in Shizhu County, Chongqing. A statue of her is in the Ganyu Hall of the Shibaozhai in Zhong County (that was preserved during the Three Gorges Project).Together with Hua Mulan, Liang Hongyu and He Yufeng, Qin Liangyu is one of the most well-known female warriors and heroines in China.
In the Twenty-Four Histories, Qin Liangyu was also the only woman whose biography was listed among the biographies of court officials and generals.
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Wrapped around my finger (Sebastian Sallow x F!MC)
WARNING: HARD SMUT
Summary: MC is currently in their seventh year, but during her fifth year, she made the fateful decision to betray Sebastian by turning him in. Now, it appears that he has managed to escape from Azkaban and has returned, seeking revenge. Will he make her pay for her betrayal, or is there another twist in store?
So yeah... I'm jus going to leave this here... Have a nice day <3
This one shot contains: bondage, a little too much of noncon, biting, fingering, p in v sex, spanking, choking, and a very dom sebby, use of the imperious curse for sexual intentions
ALL UNDERAGE CHARACTERS ARE AGED UP!
Word count: 10,455
I'm sorry if you see a few mistakes on the writing, English is not my first language
enjoy
Finally, after an extensive period of time, she had achieved mastery over her ancient magic, utilizing it to bring to life things that had once only resided within the confines of her imagination. Occasionally, she would venture to Hogsmeade, offering assistance to fellow witches and wizards in need. Her sixth and seventh years at Hogwarts were occupied with numerous responsibilities, as her professors were well aware of her exceptional abilities, and her classmates held her in high regard. Her proficiency in ancient and fundamental magic far surpassed her years.
The chilly autumn breeze tapped gently on the windows of the Gryffindor tower. It had already grown quite late, well past curfew. She found herself sprawled atop the large couch, positioned in front of the roaring fireplace in the Gryffindor common room. Her eyes remained closed, her face serene, while the dancing flames above her silhouette illuminated the room. Despite being the coldest of nights, the Gryffindor common room always exuded a warmth and coziness that she found irresistible. Although she had the option to utilize the Room of Requirement at any time, she couldn't resist the homely embrace of those walls and rugs surrounding her. A book rested upon her chest, rising and falling gently with her calm breaths, as she lay on her back.
Suddenly, her tranquility was disrupted by faint, rapid knocking sounds. She let out a groan and grasped the pillow beneath her head, covering her face with a wearied expression. This was her way of indicating to the prefects and head boys and girls that she desired peace and rest. She was well aware that it was late, but the comfort of the common room couch was too enticing. It was as if the couch would beg her not to depart whenever she attempted to rise, whispering, "Wait! Don't leave me! Let me embrace you a while longer!" A small smirk escaped her lips as she imagined the couch pleading for her company.
However, the knocking sounds persisted, quick and persistent, causing her to realize that this interruption might not be the work of a prefect or another student in the common room. She removed the plush pillow from her face and sought the source of the knocking. A cry from an owl drew her attention to one of the windows, where a black owl with golden eyes peered at her from outside the glass. She narrowed her gaze at the creature and approached the window, her expression marked with confusion.
With a swift flick of her wand, the window opened on its own, and the owl promptly flew into the common room. The girl could sense the bird's relief as its feathers were enveloped by the room's warmth. It perched itself on a small table filled with books and quills, fixing its gaze upon her. As the creature emitted a soft sigh, she noticed a message secured to one of its legs. She carefully took hold of the letter with one hand, while her other hand gently stroked the owl's black feathers. She attempted to open the letter, but it eluded her grasp, evading her every attempt. She let out a sigh, realizing that this was not the time for such games. Surely, it was Everett, attempting to prank her with bewitched letters. She seized the letter once more and directed her wand toward it. "Finite," she whispered, and the letter ceased its struggle against her grip.
Taking a seat beside the owl, she acknowledged that Everett had never employed a black owl to send her anything. In fact, none of her friends had ever done so. This newfound avian acquaintance was entirely unfamiliar to her. She peered at the owl while it groomed its feathers, a smirk appearing on her face. "Who has sent you, little one?" she inquired, receiving a faint howl hoot in response. She fixed her gaze on the letter, sensing a familiar aura and recalling memories from her fifth year.
A sigh escaped her lips as she reminisced about a missing presence among her friends. Sebastian Sallow, the Slytherin boy who had taught her the unforgivable curses, now resided in Azkaban. She and Ominis had made the difficult decision to turn him in—an action that had cost her a friend, someone with immense potential who had succumbed to the allure of dark magic and his own impulsive nature.
The echoes of Sebastian's screams lingered vividly in her mind.
"You both will regret this!" Sebastian's voice reverberated as he struggled against the aurors holding him in place. "I will come back, and I'll make you pay!" he bellowed, his voice strained. Ominis paid him no heed, refusing to even look in his direction. As for her, she locked eyes with Sebastian, witnessing nothing but rage and hatred burning in his brown orbs. "Especially you… I'm going to come back and make you—" Before he could finish his threat, an auror silenced him, and both he and Sebastian vanished from her sight.
She could have shed a few tears, but they never came. She knew that Sebastian's obsession with his research had put his best friend in danger. And considering she had known him for only a few months before he began to push her toward the dark arts…
No, he hadn't forced her into anything.
A gasp escaped her lips as a realization struck her. Throughout all the missions and perilous adventures, she could have said "No," avoiding all the troubles. Sebastian had never coerced her; he had merely extended invitations. It was her insatiable curiosity that had propelled her forward.
Shaking her head, she brushed aside those thoughts. The past was the past, after all. She shifted her focus to the letter and finally opened it. The paper was neat and the handwriting instantly recognizable.
"We must talk right now. Meet me in the Room of Requirement. Sebastian has escaped from Azkaban."
-Ominis
Overwhelmed by the contents of the letter, a mixture of apprehension and curiosity swelled within her. Sebastian's escape from Azkaban was a shocking revelation—one that ignited a cascade of unanswered questions in her mind. Why had he escaped? What did Ominis want to discuss? What role did she have to play in all of this? And why meeting her in the Room of Requirement instead of the Undercroft?
The flickering flames in the fireplace cast dancing shadows across the room, heightening the sense of uncertainty. She glanced at the black owl perched on the table, as if seeking guidance from the enigmatic creature. With a determined nod, she made up her mind. She couldn't ignore the call to action, the opportunity to confront the past and find closure.
Standing up, she gently patted the owl on its feathers before retrieving a cloak from the nearby hook. Wrapping it around herself, she concealed her identity and intentions as she ventured into the castle corridors. Each step carried her closer to the Room of Requirement, her mind racing with anticipation and a touch of trepidation.
The castle was eerily silent as she navigated the hidden passages, her footsteps echoing softly against the cold stone walls. Memories of past encounters with Sebastian flooded her thoughts. The dark arts, forbidden curses, and the inner turmoil he had instigated—each recollection reminded her of the price they had all paid for their choices.
Finally, she reached the seventh-floor corridor and approached the barren stretch of wall concealing the entrance to the Room of Requirement. Taking a deep breath, she focused on her intent, picturing the room she desired—the place where she would meet Ominis.
As if responding to her thoughts, the concealed door materialized before her, revealing the mysterious chamber within. Pushing it open, she stepped into the room. This time, the room manifested as a study, dimly lit with shelves lined with ancient tomes and parchment scrolls.
She gasped, her eyes widening as she took in the room before her. It bore no resemblance to her expectations. Gone was the familiar space she had envisioned, replaced by a chilling darkness that sent shivers down her spine. A sense of unease settled over her, freezing her in place. Before she could react, the door behind her slammed shut and vanished, trapping her inside.
"Ominis?" Her voice trembled with nervous anticipation, reverberating through the empty room. Her footsteps echoed, the only sound in the oppressive silence. In the center of the room stood a solitary table, devoid of any other objects. Her hand instinctively reached for her wand as Ominis' voice remained absent. She felt a surge of relief that she hadn't changed her attire before leaving the common room.
"Everett… Garreth… If this is another prank, I swear I'll unleash Rictusempra on both of you until you beg me to stop," she declared, her tone attempting to sound mature and intimidating. However, her words hung unanswered in the air, intensifying her growing unease. A few seconds passed, and a shiver raced down her spine as she sensed a presence behind her. A soft chuckle filled the room, causing her bravery to waver. She recognized that mocking, raspy voice instantly, even if it had matured over time.
"You…" Her words faltered, barely escaping her lips. "How did you…?"
"Escape?" The voice interjected, cutting her off. "I can't reveal all my secrets now, can I?" A mix of nostalgia and fear washed over her, leaving her frustrated. Finally gathering the courage to face him, she turned around, taking a few steps back, ready for any unforeseen actions. "Sebastian, where is Ominis?" she demanded, her voice laced with a threatening undertone.
Sebastian didn't answer immediately, his gaze locked onto hers. He looked almost the same, albeit taller than the last time she saw him. His expression remained neutral, his hair still disheveled. His unwavering gaze reminded her of the threats he had once made before the Aurors apprehended him.
"He is fine," he stated bluntly, his tone devoid of emotion. Her eyebrow arched in response. Sebastian chuckled, sighing as he shook his head. "I realized his family is punishment enough for him," he continued. She frowned at his words. "Allowing him to live, tortured by his family, is a more fitting fate than ending his misery with a quick death," he added in a cruel, detached tone. Relief washed over her; it seemed Sebastian was unaware that Ominis had reconciled with his family. At least he was safe.
However, she now realized that she herself was in great danger. Trapped alone with Sebastian in the Room of Requirement, which seemed unresponsive to her needs, it became evident that Sebastian's desires held greater sway over the room.
"Go on," he challenged, his arms crossed over his chest, his unwavering gaze fixed on her. There was no hint of a smile or his usual cocky smirk, only an expectant look. "I highly doubt the room listens to you anymore," he finally remarked. She shot him a defiant and enraged glare. "That's not how it works," she retorted. He shrugged, remaining motionless.
She wanted to demand what he wanted from her, but the answer seemed painfully obvious. Instead, she managed to ask, "Are you going to kill me?" Sebastian's expression shifted from neutral to one of intrigue, reminiscent of how he used to look at her during their first Herbology class, when Professor Garlick introduced her. He began to pace the room, his steps measured and deliberate, his eyes locked onto her. "No," he replied, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation.
Her relief was short-lived, for it was clear he had more to say. Sebastian retrieved his wand, deftly performing intricate wand movements as he advanced slowly toward her. "I want to torment you," he whispered, his words sending a chill down her spine. "I want to make you weep," he continued, taking another step closer. The room seemed to grow colder with each passing moment. "I want to hear you scream."
She tightened her grip on her wand, her apprehension mounting as Sebastian closed the distance between them. The atmosphere was thick with tension. "Then go ahead," she whispered defiantly, turning to face him with a challenging expression. "If you want to use the Cruciatus Curse on me, go ahead. I won't--"
"But I haven't finished," he interrupted, his voice rising above hers, halting her words in their tracks. "What would Professor Fig say if he knew what a spoiled girl you've become?" His words were laced with anger, but he quickly composed himself. Her fury intensified as he mentioned Professor Fig, as if he knew anything about her conflict with Ranrok.
"Regardless," he continued, his tone returning to its previous calmness, "as I was saying…"
"Expelliarmus!" she screamed, her wand pointed directly at him. In an instant, his grip on his wand weakened, yet it didn't flew off his hand. Sebastian's expression transformed from surprise to serene, a small smirk playing upon his lips as he nodded subtly from side to side. "Are you going to let me finish?"
"Sebastian, you have ten seconds to leave this room, leave Hogwarts, and leave me alone," she yelled at him, her fury drowning out his question. Sebastian leaned against a wall, his body relaxed as he smiled at her. "Or else?" he inquired, his old cocky smirk returning, as if he held the upper hand.
"You may not have the guts to kill me--"
"But I had the guts to turn you in, and I can do it again," she interjected. Sebastian's smirk vanished, his mind seemingly grasping the gravity of the situation. "Indeed… you did," he conceded, his voice now a low, whispered admission.
Sebastian's admission hung in the air, the tension between them palpable. Their eyes locked, each trying to gauge the other's next move. The room seemed to close in on them, amplifying their confrontation.
A wave of conflicting emotions washed over her—anger, fear, and a sliver of doubt. As much as she despised Sebastian, there was a part of her that remembered their shared past, the moments of camaraderie and laughter before everything went awry. But those memories were overshadowed by the darkness that consumed him, the cruelty he had shown. She couldn't let sentimentality cloud her judgment now.
With a resolute expression, she took a step forward, closing the distance between them. "Sebastian, you're walking down a dangerous path," she warned, her voice carrying a mix of concern and determination. "Whatever twisted sense of justice you think you're pursuing, it won't lead you to anything but more pain."
Sebastian's face contorted into a bitter smile. "Pain is what I've come to embrace," he retorted, his voice tinged with a hint of regret. "You have no idea what I've been through, what I've endured." His gaze hardened, reflecting the turmoil within him. "But you will."
A surge of defiance coursed through her veins. She couldn't let him break her spirit, not after everything she had fought for. "I won't be a pawn in your game, Sebastian," she declared firmly, her voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through her.
Sebastian's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and admiration. A hint of the old spark that used to exist between them seemed to resurface for a brief moment. "Very well," he conceded, a glimmer of respect in his gaze. "Let's see if you're as formidable as they say."
The room crackled with an electric intensity as they circled each other, their wands raised in anticipation. Spells flew through the air, clashing with bursts of vibrant colors, filling the room with flashes of light. Each parry and countermove showcased their skill and determination. It was a battle of wills, a clash of two former allies turned adversaries.
Despite her best efforts, she found herself gradually being pushed on the defensive. Sebastian's prowess was formidable, his every strike precise and calculated. His determination to break her was evident in each spell he cast. She fought back with every ounce of strength she possessed, refusing to yield.
As the intensity of the duel reached its crescendo, a sudden surge of power emanated from Sebastian. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent glint as he unleashed a spell she had never encountered before. A dark energy crackled around him, swirling and twisting like a vortex of shadows.
Time seemed to slow as the spell raced toward her. Instinctively, she tried to conjure a protective shield, but it was too late. The spell struck her with a force that sent her sprawling backward, her body crashing against the cold, unforgiving stone.
Pain seared through her, each nerve screaming in protest. She struggled to regain her footing, her vision swimming with a mixture of pain and determination. Gasping for breath, she glared at Sebastian, her voice barely a whisper. "You… won't… break me."
Sebastian's eyes gleamed with a mixture of triumph and regret. His wand remained pointed at her, his grip unyielding. "We shall see," he hissed, the words carrying a chilling finality.
As darkness closed in on her consciousness, she fought to stay awake, clinging to the last vestiges of her strength. She vowed to herself.
Summoning her inner resolve, she tapped into the depths of her being, drawing upon the ancient magic that flowed through her veins. A surge of raw power emanated from her, swirling around her in a dazzling display of ethereal energy. It crackled and danced with an intensity that even Sebastian couldn't help but be momentarily taken aback.
With a flick of her wrist, she unleashed a torrent of ancient magic toward Sebastian. The force of the spell sent him hurtling backward, crashing into a nearby wall. But as the dust settled, he emerged, his expression twisted with a mixture of fury and determination.
Sebastian gritted his teeth, his eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. He had anticipated her hidden well of power, and he knew he needed to neutralize it if he stood a chance of overpowering her. Drawing upon his own knowledge of dark arts, he began to weave a complex counter-spell, designed to disrupt and freeze the ancient magic coursing through her.
The air crackled with an intense clash of energies as Sebastian's dark counter-spell collided with her ancient magic. Sparks flew, casting an otherworldly glow across the room. She fought with every ounce of strength she possessed, trying to maintain control, but Sebastian's spell was relentless, seeking to bind and suppress her power.
Slowly, inexorably, her ancient magic began to falter. Its vibrant radiance dimmed, flickering like a dying flame. The weight of defeat settled upon her shoulders as she realized her efforts were in vain. Sebastian had found a way to subdue her most potent weapon.
With a surge of desperation, she launched one final, desperate attack, aiming to catch Sebastian off guard. But he was prepared, sidestepping her spell with an almost effortless grace. In that moment, her energy depleted, her defenses shattered, she knew she had been outmatched.
Time seemed to stand still as Sebastian closed in on her, a predatory smile playing on his lips. "You fought well," he sneered, his voice laced with a mixture of triumph and derision. "But in the end, your ancient magic was no match for my cunning."
Her body trembled with exhaustion, her muscles refusing to obey her commands. She tried to summon a defiant retort, but her voice came out as nothing more than a strained whisper. The cold, unforgiving stone floor beneath her became her final resting place as Sebastian stood over her, his victory assured.
As darkness enveloped her, she couldn't help but wonder where it had all gone wrong. How had Sebastian, her once-trusted friend, fallen so far? And what would become of her now, trapped in his clutches?
Her breath caught in her throat as she observed him drawing nearer, the shadows deepening around them. The weight of the situation bore down upon her, suffocating her hopes. Sebastian's countenance remained impassive, a mask of indifference, until a sly grin etched itself upon his face, mirroring the twisted dance of shadows. She passed out.
A surge of consciousness flooded her senses, and her eyes fluttered open. Gone was the comforting embrace of the common room couch, and the cold stone floor of the Room of Requirement. She found herself sprawled upon a table at the heart of the room, its hard surface chilling her to the bone. Her desperate search for her wand was interrupted by a haunting whistle that sliced through the air, directing her attention to Sebastian. He stood a few paces away, toying with her wand, manipulating it with a deftness that mirrored his sinister intentions.
Rising with a mixture of defiance and fury, she longed to confront him, to unleash her pent-up anger with a well-aimed blow. Yet, an insidious force seemed to tether her to the table, an invisible chain constricting her movements. Sebastian's voice, dripping with both amusement and malice, cut through the silence, prodding her discomfort. His gaze lingered upon her attire. Reflexively, she tugged at her shirt, only to discover the metallic links of a chain encircling her waist. Attempting to grasp it, her fingertips passed through the ethereal barrier, the physical and the intangible locked in an unsettling dissonance. "What have you done to me, Sebastian?" she demanded, her voice teetering on the edge of desperation.
Sebastian silenced her with a mere gesture, his voice a hushed admonishment. "Hush now... I merely sought to ensure that you couldn't rely on your ancient magic to extricate yourself from this predicament." Her feet found the ground once more, each step carrying her farther away from him. A profound emptiness settled within her, her magical essence snuffed out like a flickering flame in a gust of wind. The scene played out before her like a cruel mockery, for even if her wand were within reach, it would be an impotent tool against his malevolence.
"Stay away from me," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and defiance. She retreated further, his hand quickly relinquishing its grip on her wand, casting it into the abyssal darkness. "Why bother stifling my magic? The Cruciatus Curse alone would have sufficed to--" Once again, his laughter severed her words, an icy reminder of her powerlessness.
Sebastian's laughter echoed through the room, resonating with a chilling malevolence. It reverberated within her, fueling a mix of frustration and anger that threatened to consume her. She watched him, her eyes burning with a fiery determination despite the shackles that held her magic captive.
"Oh, my dear," Sebastian taunted, his voice laced with wicked delight. "Do you truly think I would rely on such a mundane curse to break you? No, no, I have something much more exquisite in mind." He approached her with a calculated stride, relishing the power he held over her.
Her heart pounded within her chest, a defiant rhythm that matched her unyielding spirit. She knew she had to find another way, a way to outsmart him, to break free from his clutches. Her mind raced, searching for a solution amidst the encroaching darkness.
"You see," he continued, his voice dripping with sinister amusement, "I have spent years studying dark magic, delving into ancient secrets that most wizards fear to touch. And now, my dear, I have discovered a method to suppress even the most formidable of magical abilities."
Her eyes narrowed, a flicker of defiance igniting within her. She refused to accept defeat, even in the face of overwhelming odds. With a surge of determination, she called upon her innate resilience, drawing upon the reservoirs of her ancient magic that remained dormant within her.
As she channeled her energy, a faint glow enveloped her body, like a shimmering shield against the darkness that threatened to consume her. She extended her hand, a torrent of raw power surging forth, aimed directly at Sebastian. But to her dismay, her magic dissipated into thin air before it could reach him, as if swallowed by an unseen force.
Sebastian's laughter intensified, his eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure. "Did you truly believe it would be that easy? Did you think your ancient magic could overpower me?" His tone dripped with disdain, reveling in her futile attempt.
Defiance turned to frustration, frustration to desperation. She needed to find a weakness, a flaw in his plan. Her mind raced, piecing together fragments of knowledge, memories of ancient texts and forgotten spells. And then it hit her—a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness.
She closed her eyes, shutting out the world around her. Focusing her thoughts, she tapped into the deepest recesses of her being, drawing upon a forgotten incantation whispered by long-lost ancestors. The words formed on her lips, infused with a resolute determination.
The room trembled as her incantation reverberated through the air. A surge of energy pulsed from her, rippling outward in a wave of raw power. The chains that bound her magic quivered, their ethereal hold weakening with each passing moment.
Sebastian's eyes widened in surprise, his smug facade crumbling. He stumbled backward, momentarily disoriented by the force of her counterattack. The tables had turned, if only for a fleeting moment.
Sensing an opportunity, she seized the chance to act. Summoning every ounce of strength and willpower, she lunged forward, aiming to reclaim her wand and regain control over her destiny. But just as her fingertips grazed the hilt, a surge of dark energy emanated from Sebastian.
A wicked smile curled upon his lips as he pointed his wand at her, uttered a single word—a word that held unimaginable power.
"Imperio."
The air grew heavy with malevolence, and an invisible force seized hold of her, forcing her body to freeze in place. Her eyes suddenly now glowing when the spell hit her body, feeling a weird peace embracing her body.
Sebastian let out a frustrated sigh. "Surely, you have many tricks up your sleeve," he said, stopping right behind her. His head was now placed on top of her shoulder, his breathing touching her ear as he spoke. "But I also know a few old tricks."
Meanwhile, in her mind, she couldn't understand how, even under the Imperius curse, she was able to notice everything around her. However, she couldn't control her body anymore, only the warm and threatening breath of Sebastian on her ear. The sensation was too good, yet it felt so wrong. The spell gave her a peaceful sensation, while her conscience made her fear her surroundings. Her body wasn't hers anymore, but at least she still had her mind.
"Look at me," he demanded in a raspy voice. She slowly turned around to see him, her eyes shining with the curse upon herself. Sebastian smiled, but this was different from any other smile he had made before. It was a victorious smile, a dominant one.
"Sebastian," she managed to whisper. He placed a hand on her cheek, slowly rubbing his thumb on her face. She wanted to move away, but she couldn't. "What are you going to do to me?" His expression changed when she asked that question. She couldn't sense his plans now.
"Get back to the table," he demanded, but she fought the spell. Her body insisted on moving. "No," she said, giving the answer she should have given him three years ago on their first adventure. But suddenly, she was caught by Sebastian's hand around her throat, squeezing it just a little. "Get back to the table," he repeated slowly to her. Her body moved towards the table, and she sat on top of it.
She gasped for air as Sebastian let go of her throat, his hand now gently rubbing the spot where he had just held her. "You don't have a choice in this," he said, his voice low and dangerous.
She shook her head, trying to clear the fog from her mind. "I'll never be yours," she spat out, her eyes flashing with defiance.
Sebastian's grip tightened on her arm. "You'll learn to obey me," he said, his eyes glinting with a cruel light. "Or you'll suffer the consequences."
She gritted her teeth, refusing to give him the satisfaction of seeing her afraid. "I'll never obey you," she said, her voice trembling with anger.
Sebastian chuckled darkly. "We'll see about that," he said. "For now, I have other plans for you."
He pushed her down onto the table, her body splayed out before him. She tried to resist, but the imperius curse was too strong. She was powerless to stop him as he began to trace his fingers over her body, starting on her chest and then move slowly down her belly. A cruel smile appeared on his lips.
She closed her eyes, trying to block out the sensations, but it was no use. She was trapped, a prisoner in her own body, forced to endure Sebastian's unwanted advances.
He had her trapped, pinned against the table, his arms forming a barricade on either side of her trembling body. She fought to maintain her composure, her legs pressed tightly together, attempting to create a barrier against his advances. But his persistence was unyielding.
Leaning in, he traced a path with his lips, trailing delicate kisses along the warm skin of her neck to her chin. Each touch sent ripples of sensation through her, causing her to writhe involuntarily. His arrogant chuckle reverberated against her now sensitized flesh, stoking the fire of desire within her.
Sebastian, attuned to her body's reactions, swiftly discerned her feeble attempt at resistance. With a knowing smirk, he remedied the situation without the need for his hands. "Spread your legs," he commanded, his voice a velvet rasp against her heck, close to her ear. In response, her traitorous body obeyed, granting him access to the intimate space between her thighs. The room filled with the sounds of their mingled breaths and her whispered whimpers.
"Sebastian…" she pleaded once more, her voice a plea tinged with a mixture of desperation and hope. Her words hung in the air as his fingers traced a tantalizing path along her waist, descending down her leg, making her gasp at his touch. The fabric of her skirt, a cruel accomplice to her misfortune, offered little resistance as his finger tips journeyed toward her bare skin. Each inch of progress elicited a shudder and a sigh from her quivering form.
A feigned concern danced in his eyes as he feigned ignorance to her escalating arousal. "What's the matter?" he inquired, his voice dripping with false sympathy. "Is it too overwhelming for you already?" he whispered into her ear, his breath teasing against her delicate lobe. Her breaths grew louder, more ragged. He invoked her name, a calculated maneuver to reclaim her attention. "I asked you a question," he murmured, his thumb grazing her exposed skin with a painfully slow deliberation. She instinctively turned her face away, seeking to evade his proximity, while simultaneously responding to his inquiry with a voice laced with a unique blend of longing and protest. It was a tone that only fueled Sebastian's sadistic pleasure, coaxing a wicked smile to form on his lips.
"I cannot… please," she implored, her voice barely a whisper, laden with a mixture of defiance and desperation. However, Sebastian's unrestrained hand seized her chin, forcing her back into his grasp. "This is my first--," she murmured, her voice tinged with resignation.
His fingers traced up her skin, tantalizingly slow, and then he pulled up the fabric of her skirt. Her heart raced as he reached her thighs. She was so lost in his touch that she didn't even notice him pulling out his wand. His biting and licking on her neck left red marks and bruises, and she couldn't resist the pleasure it brought her.
With a swift motion, the tip of the wand pointed towards her skirt and a ripping sound filled the room, accompanied by a gasp from her as she felt her clothing tearing apart on its own. "Seems your attire won't be much of a defense this time," whispered Sebastian with a sly grin.
He scrutinized her body, his mind contemplating his next move, until his gaze fixated on her eyes. "Do you want to hear something intriguing about the Imperius Curse?" he remarked, his hand gripping her thigh tightly, causing her to flinch from the sudden strength of his grip. "I can make you say whatever I want..." Her cheeks flushed with fear, and a look of apprehension washed over her face. "Wait, Sebastian!" she exclaimed, attempting to raise her voice, knowing he was about to make her speak against her will, but he silenced her by placing his hand over her mouth. "Shhh… there," she whimpered, attempting to pry his hand away from her mouth. "Calm down," he whispered, his tone so intimate and tranquil that it brought tears to her eyes. "I simply want you to look at me and beg for my forgiveness," he demanded, and she looked bewildered. "You know what I'm referring to." He removed his hand from her mouth and then placed it on her cheek.
His other hand began to slip beneath her blouse, but she promptly halted him with her voice. "I'm sorry…" she whispered, causing him to redirect his gaze back to her eyes while his fingers lingered on the warm skin of her stomach. "I'm listening," he stated, still desiring a more sincere apology. "I'm sorry for… betraying you," she whispered, avoiding his gaze. "For what? I didn't hear you," he taunted, resuming his movements. "I'm sorry, Sebastian! I shouldn't have betrayed you!" she shouted, and he abruptly ceased, allowing her to exhale and feel a sense of relief as he withdrew from her. "Good girl," he whispered.
"But you see," he continued, his tone almost conversational, "I don't just want you to say sorry. I want you to mean it. And to show me just how sorry you are."
Her heart rate quickened as she realized the true nature of his intentions. She tried to push him away, to fight back against his advances, but he was too strong. His hand covered her mouth once more, muffling her protests as he leaned in even closer.
"Let me show you what it really means to be sorry," he whispered, his free hand sliding up her blouse and tracing the curves of her body.
She whimpered, feeling trapped and helpless in his grip. But despite her fear and confusion, a small part of her couldn't help but feel a growing sense of excitement at his words. She knew it was wrong, that she shouldn't be enjoying this, but she couldn't help the way her body was responding to his touch.
And as he continued to dominate her, to make her feel things she had never felt before, she knew that she was his. Completely and utterly his, and that there was nothing she could do to resist him.
With a sly grin, Sebastian waved his wand, causing her blouse to rip apart, exposing her bare chest. He took a moment to appreciate the sight before him, relishing in her vulnerability. "Seems you made a poor choice today by not wearing a bra," he murmured in a deep, seductive voice. She didn't resist this time, which intrigued him. "Oh, how I adore it when you cease to run away," he taunted, but she paid no attention, trying to ignore is glare. He rolled his eyes, growing impatient. "Very well, if you insist on playing hard to get…"
He forced her gaze to meet his, their eyes locking intensely. "I would be delighted to hear you beg me to fuck you," he stated, and the curse took hold of her voice, knowing exactly what he desired.
"No…" she began, only to speak again, her voice now laced with desperation, "Please, Sebastian--" Her words were cut short as his fingers traced a path back down her thighs, lingering at the edge of her panties. "Go on, I'm all ears," he prompted, a wicked gleam in his eyes. She attempted to speak, the words barely a whisper, "Do it…" she pleaded, but he feigned ignorance, making her intentions clearer. Slowly, his hands eased her panties down her legs, exposing her most intimate self. "Fuck me…" she uttered, her voice filled with a mix of desire and defiance. "What was that?" he teased, his fingers now tracing along her inner thigh. "Fuck me!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the room. His smile grew wider, relishing in the power he held over her. "How do you want me to fuck you?" he inquired, his voice dripping with anticipation.
"I don't care," she retorted swiftly, her voice filled with urgency as the curse made her be honest. "Just get it over with." He chuckled, finding amusement in her impatience, and his fingers delved into the wetness between her legs, eliciting a sharp intake of breath as she bit her lip to stifle a moan. "I've barely touched you, and you're already a mess," he teased, taking pleasure in her vulnerable state. She glared at him with a mix of desperation and anger, but he merely shook his head with a smile. Using two fingers, he gently parted the lips of her throbbing sex, then began to caress her clit in slow, tantalizing circles, causing her legs to involuntarily close in response.
"Hey, I never gave you permission to close your legs," he commanded, spreading her trembling limbs wide open once again as her pleas and whimpers escaped from her trembling lips. "Stop fighting it..." She ceased her struggling when one of his fingers entered slowly inside her warm insides.
Moans of pleasure escaped her lips in tandem with each thrust of his fingers, a seductive rhythm that drove her wild. His gaze fixated on every nuance of her face, relishing in the symphony of expressions that played upon her features. The sound of his ragged breath tickled her neck, sending shivers down her spine. Each penetration of his fingers elicited a delightful squirm from her, her body surrendering to his skilled touch. Feeling how his finger went in and then out with a painful slow motion, along with the waves of pleasure each time his thumb pressed her clit.
As she attempted to utter words once more, he swiftly silenced her with a cocky smile, capturing her lips in a passionate kiss, surprising her... but she just closed her eyes, the softness of his lips felt even better than the imperious curse. The warmth of their mouths melded together, and through the exchange of breath, soft whimpers escaped, blending with the fervent exchange. While his thumb continued its slow dance upon her sensitive clit, his finger explored the depths of her being with an achingly slow tempo, a tempting tease that heightened her desire. She could feel the mischievous curve of his lips against hers, his teeth gently biting at her lower lip, making her open her open her mouth, letting his tongue meet with hers, all while her head rested upon the cool surface of the table, her tousled hair framing her face in disarray. Aware of her unrestrained arms, a surge of hope surged within her, and she attempted to push him away, but the allure of the curse whispered in her ear, questioning her resistance. The pleasure he bestowed upon her was too intoxicating to deny.
A smirk danced upon his lips as he acknowledged her futile struggle. He paused the kiss, leaning back as a thin thread of saliva was the only thing that connect their mouths "Oh, how could I forget about that?" he remarked, observing her futile attempt to repel him. With a swift motion, he seized her wrists with the hand that had been orchestrating her pleasure, leaving her with a hollow ache as his finger abruptly withdrew. Resistance proved futile as he retrieved his wand, its tip gliding sensually along her leg, grazing her skin with tantalizing precision. From her leg to her waist, the wand traced a path of anticipation, then moved with a delicate shift to her belly, until finally, it pointed directly at her wrists. The words poised to escape his lips were familiar to her, their implications heavy with restraint. His fingers brushed against her wrists, now imbued with the wetness of her arousal, as he whispered, "Incarcerous." In an instant, a rope materialized, skillfully binding her wrists together. He guided her bound wrists to rest behind his head, drawing him closer to her, heightening the intimacy of their connection.
He reclined against the velvety expanse of her collarbone, his lips tracing a trail of fervent kisses along the slopes of her breasts. Her hands clenched the fabric of his shirt collar, her grip desperate yet filled with a longing that mirrored his own. A flicker of mischief danced in his eyes as he dipped his hand between her trembling thighs, fingers grazing the delicate flesh.
With a deliberate slowness, he penetrated her depths with two fingers, luxuriating in the sensation of her slick warmth enveloping him. Each movement was a carefully choreographed symphony of pleasure, orchestrated by the rising cadence of her ragged breaths. He curled his fingers inside her, angling them to elicit a gasp of pleasure, while his thumb caressed her swollen nub with a tantalizing rhythm.
The resounding symphony of her moans reverberated through the room, a testament to the electric current that pulsed between them. He relished the raw power he held over her, each stroke of his fingers evoking a crescendo of desire. Just as her climax drew near, he abruptly ceased his ministrations, savoring the exquisite frustration etched across her face.
A few seconds of maddening stillness hung in the air, teasing the edge of her yearning. And then, like a maestro returning to his opus, he resumed his movements, expertly navigating the contours of her pleasure. With each calculated pause, he reveled in the plea that escaped her lips, an intoxicating melody of need and surrender.
"Why..." she breathed, her voice laced with a mixture of confusion and desire. "Why are you doing this?" Sebastian halted his kisses, his gaze locking with hers, their lips a hair's breadth apart. A mischievous smile played upon his mouth as his warm breath mingled with hers.
"Do you mean why I deny you release before the pinnacle of pleasure, or why we find ourselves entangled in this intricate dance?" His voice was a seductive murmur, an invitation to delve deeper into the realms of their shared desire.
"I... I thought you said you wanted to torment me... to hear me scream," she murmured with innocence, prompting a chuckle from him. "Oh, I do want to torment you," he replied, his fingers delving deeper into her, moving with deliberate grace. "So... so intensely." Her back arched, and a sensual moan escaped her lips, tempting him to take her right then and there. "We're only just beginning," he paused for a few seconds, sensing her imminent climax. "I could prolong your pleasure each time you approach the edge..." His voice barely reached her ears amidst her pleas and whimpers. "But since I'm a gentleman... I'll allow you to choose your torment." Withdrawing his fingers, he moved her wrists away from his neck. Stepping back, she watched him in confusion, only causing her expression quickly transform from uncertain to a mixture of surprise and flustered anticipation as he removed his shirt. Now she beheld the body of the one about to consume her, covered with battle scars and freckles. Sweat already glistened on his skin, causing her to instinctively close her legs once more. She felt too vulnerable, too insignificant, too easily manipulated.
Drawing near, he placed his hand gently on her cheek. His expression evoked a disconcerting sense of wrongness, his desires felt tainted, and she never imagined him like this, not even once... and she was certain he hadn't either. Yet, as his thumb tenderly brushed her cheek with care and attentiveness, she couldn't help but become lost in that mix of ambition and determination reflected in his eyes. His caring countenance abruptly turned cold, reminding her of the reality that she was still ensnared by the imperious curse, still yielding to his will, still trapped with a murderer.
"Turn around and lay yourself on the table," he commanded, and this time her body yielded without resistance, as if under the sway of a new master. "Good girl," his words sent shivers coursing through her entire being. "Since someone is so eager to discover how I shall torment them..." He trailed his hand along the skin of her back, gradually descending. "Let's embark on the enjoyment right away." His hands came to a halt on her buttocks. Swiftly, she discerned what would happen next, snapping out of her trance. She looked over her shoulder, only to see him raising his hand. "S-Sebastian! Wait! Please!" The resounding slap filled the air, accompanied by a sharp gasp, reddening her cheek. "Fuck... you have no idea how much I longed to do this since the day they took me to Azkaban," he whispered, before another slap abruptly cut her off.
The exquisite pain electrified her senses, each contact of his hand against her skin sending tremors through her legs. "Not so powerful now, are you?" he whispered, surprising her with another slap. "Without your precious ancient magic... I wonder where that witch everyone idolizes has gone." His name escaped her lips as the next slap landed on her other cheek. "For here I stand, staring at her... so small... so weak." She bit her lip, suppressing another moan. "So exquisitely obedient," he finally remarked, delivering another slap that resounded in the room, yet she managed to remain silent. He raised an eyebrow, observing her, then smiled. "Ah, so you still put up a fight," he said, striking her once more, but even as her legs trembled, she refused to make a sound. "Even if I can't fight..." She whispered, turning her gaze to him. "I won't let you have me so easily, Sebastian
"Very well," he responded calmly. Then, his gaze shifted to her tightly closed legs, and a slow chuckle escaped him. "I'm starting to think you enjoy having me command you to open your legs." Her cheeks flushed as the imperious curse obeyed Sebastian's desire. Merlin's beard, she couldn't fathom why she felt even more nervous now. Despite already being penetrated and slapped, this position, presenting her red and sore cheeks to him, felt unbearably intimate. She sensed him lean closer between her spread legs once again, and instinctively, her gaze met his. However, he seized her hair and forced her face away, towards the wall in front of her, pressing her head against the wooden table. His other hand gradually moved from her legs to her inner thigh, discovering her profound wetness, with her juices starting to trickle down her trembling limbs. "Oh, darling... Are you that desperate for me to claim your virginity?" Her gasp at his words elicited a lip-biting response from him. Now in such close proximity to her body, she startled slightly as she felt something hard pressing against her throbbing center. Her heartbeat quickened as the sound of something unzipping reached her ears.
"Do you recall when I granted you the choice of your torment?" His voice resonated with a deep, urgent rasp. It was clear that a mere nod wouldn't satisfy him; he needed to hear her answer. And so, she nodded, seeking that intoxicating sense of pain, and it was delivered. His palm collided with her already tender skin, and this time, she didn't suppress her moan. "Oh, my..." Genuine surprise laced his tone. "Seems someone has embraced her rightful place... What prompted such a swift change of heart?"
She attributed it to the imperious curse—or at least, that's what she tried to convince herself. Deep down, both she and he knew that the curse had become superfluous; her body and mind had willingly surrendered to him. But she fought, not to liberate herself from this predicament, but rather because the sensation of him exerting control over her, dictating her every action, felt exquisitely intense. "Regardless," he continued, his victory evident in his smile. "As I was saying... I'll grant you the choice. Shall I continue denying your orgasms until you climax on my cock?—" He paused, his hands exploring her form, squeezing her breasts, teasing her nipples. "Or are you eager to discover how many times I can make you come?" He whispered into her ear. Her breaths echoed throughout the room as he awaited her response, her embarrassment palpable. But the imperious curse quelled her hesitation. "Well? I'm waiting... Or would you like to experience both scenarios?" Sebastian chuckled as the curse compelled her to vocalize her inner thoughts. "I... desire to witness how many times you can make me come... I need you to fuck me, Sebastian."
Magic truly was a wondrous thing. Her candid words slipped effortlessly from her lips, despite her attempt to conceal her flushed embarrassment. He required no further encouragement. She gasped when, this time, three of his fingers slowly entered her, the warmth of her depths meeting his touch once more, offering a mixture of painful relief and utter satisfaction. She bit her lip as he skillfully guided his fingers in and out of her wetness. She yearned to gaze into his eyes, but he forced her to avert her gaze, pressing her head against the table. Her moans intensified as his movements quickened and delved deeper. "Merlin... If only I could listen to those sounds every day..." He whispered, intoxicated by the symphony of her pleasure.
She surrendered herself completely, her eyes shut tight, her lips brushing against the table's surface. Sebastian had found the perfect rhythm, his fingers hitting that sweet spot deep inside her. A fervent desire coursed through her, urging her to break free from the confines of the rope binding her wrists. She longed to feel his touch, to grasp him, to witness the emotions playing across his face at this very moment.
"Please... Sebastian," she pleaded, her words catching his attention. But he didn't cease his thrusts; instead, he intensified his movements, pushing her further towards the edge. "Sebastian..." she called again, yet he delivered another forceful thrust, denying her plea. His voice carried a frigid edge, laced with a hint of mercy. She swallowed, gathering her courage, before she could beg him to grant her a glimpse of his expression.
But as she spoke, a searing heat began to radiate from the depths of her womb, spreading downward between her legs. She grew closer to the peak of pleasure, her walls constricting around Sebastian's fingers. Her moans betrayed her, inflating Sebastian's ego. He turned her face to meet his gaze, delicately brushing away strands of hair that clung to her damp skin. He sought to capture every nuance of her expression in this pivotal moment. He didn't need to ask if she was nearing her climax; he could feel it, and she herself felt an unusual sensation, a mix of bliss and urgency that compelled her to act.
In the next few seconds, her moans filled the room, a symphony of ecstasy mingled with her desperate pleas. "I... I can't," she gasped, her voice fraught with a strange unease. "Sebastian, something feels off... wait, please," she implored, her words teetering on the edge of an admission she could no longer hold back. "I think I need to...," she trailed off, interrupted by Sebastian's hand placed firmly over her mouth, a sly smirk adorning his face. "Now, now... just let go," he coaxed, his voice coaxing her body to surrender completely. "Come for me... I want to hear you, every raw, uninhibited sound," he whispered, his encouragement fueling her release.
Her body quivered uncontrollably as waves of pleasure washed over her, flooding her senses. Her whimpering cries subsided, giving way to a deep, soulful release that consumed her entirely. She felt the warmth spreading, drenching her thighs and legs. Sebastian merely chuckled, withdrawing his fingers, while she struggled to steady her breath, her gaze averted from his penetrating gaze.
"I must admit... I anticipated you would derive pleasure from this encounter, but I never expected such a fervent response," he remarked, a smug smile gracing his lips as she turned her attention away, unable to meet his gaze.
Just as she felt the rekindling of energy coursing through her body, Sebastian seized her by the waist and forcefully pulled her closer to him. This was far from over, and deep down, she knew it. After all, she had implored him to continue making her succumb to waves of pleasure, and he wasn't one to trifle with such requests. The next few minutes unfolded like a tantalizing dance between ecstasy and torment. He skillfully teased her most sensitive regions, coaxing one orgasm after another, each release more exquisite than the last.
While her senses soared on the wings of pleasure, Sebastian himself held back, grappling with the torment of his throbbing desire. He yearned to savor her completely, to claim her in a way that transcended the realms of mere physicality. As she lay there, breathless and drenched in perspiration, he pondered the threshold of their shared passion.
"I can't take it any longer!," she pleaded with Sebastian, her voice heavy with a mixture of exhaustion and longing. Yet, her words fell upon deaf ears as he seized her once again, defying her pleas, and positioned her atop the table, her back pressed against the unyielding wood.
At this point, even her ancient magic stirred, a feeble attempt to aid its wielder, but the ethereal chain encircling her waist rendered her powerless, its cold touch a constant reminder of her captivity. "I regret to hear your distress," Sebastian retorted, his eyes gleaming with a blend of mischief and revenge. With a flick of his wand, he revealed his intentions. "But my retribution is far from complete, and you shall endure it," he declared, his gaze fixed upon her womb. He pressed the tip of his wand against her, uttering an incantation too faint for her ears to discern.
Suddenly, an electrifying surge of warmth coursed through her, leaving her trembling and apprehensive. Fear etched across her face as she scrutinized Sebastian's wand. "What have you done to me?" she demanded, her voice trembling with a mixture of anxiety and anger. "You will see," he responded swiftly, forcibly turning her back around to face the table's surface once more.
With a tantalizing display of dominance, Sebastian allowed his pants to slide down his legs, revealing his hardened desire. In a wicked twist of fate, her legs parted eagerly, as if driven by an unseen force, drawing a chuckle from his lips. She remained blind to his actions, her senses heightened with anticipation, until she felt an unfamiliar presence at the apex of her thighs. It was neither his fingers nor his tongue that greeted her, but a pulsating intensity that left her breathless.
A surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins as Sebastian plunged his cock deep inside her, igniting a symphony of pleasure and pain that erupted in a fervent cry of his name. He held her head firmly against the table, keeping her at his mercy, while tears cascaded down her cheeks. His feigned concern was laced with sadistic amusement as he inquired, "Is it too much for you?" Yet, despite the overwhelming sensation, she managed to summon a whispered confession, "It's too big." Sebastian's smirk deepened, savoring the power he held over her vulnerability.
Part of him yearned to prolong the exquisite torment, to revel in her quivering need, but the hunger for fulfillment drove him forward. With deliberate, agonizing slowness, he began to move, each thrust a calculated symphony of pleasure and discomfort. His groans mingled with her intoxicating moans, their union a testament to the intoxicating blend of pain and pleasure. The tightness of her walls constricted around him, intensifying his own primal urges, urging him to push deeper, to claim her completely.
The room became a sanctuary of their forbidden desires, as Sebastian reveled in the sweetest symphony he had ever heard—her melodic moans. Triumph surged through his veins, knowing he was the first to possess her, and he intended to be the last. His teeth sank into his lower lip, suppressing the primal urges that threatened to consume him entirely. Each thrust of his hips became a declaration of dominance.
Every thrust sent delicious shivers coursing through her body, causing her to writhe with pleasure. In a moment of astonishment, she realized her wrists were no longer bound. Sebastian hastily broke the spell of the rope, urgently spinning her around until her back once again met the table. Her legs found their place on his shoulders as he continued his relentless penetration. Leaning in, he captured her lips with a hunger that mirrored their shared desire, and she surrendered to the intoxication of their kiss, her arms finding solace around his neck.
An exquisite ache reverberated through her as the tip of his cock grazed a tender spot, and in response, she raked her nails along his back, a feeble attempt to temper the explosive pleasure that consumed her. One of his hands tenderly caressed her face before descending to her breasts. Despite the stark contrast in their size and strength, the intimacy they shared felt nothing short of heavenly.
Amidst Sebastian's groans resonating in her ears, an unintended confession slipped from her lips. "I love you." The sudden halt in his movements sparked an uneasy sensation within her, as if she had crossed a forbidden boundary. "I... I'm sorry," she stammered, her body silently pleading for him to resume their passionate connection. "Say it again," Sebastian whispered, resuming his thrusts with renewed fervor, eliciting moans of pleasure from her lips. "Go on," he urged, his whispers dripping with temptation. "I love you," she repeated, her breathing growing labored as waves of pleasure washed over her. To her surprise, Sebastian savored her declaration, relishing in the raw vulnerability she displayed. "Tell me more," he entreated, his warm breath caressing her ear. "Please... let me hear you." His tone held a mixture of longing and sadness. Biting her lip, she obliged, her voice trembling, "I missed you... so much."
In that moment, he seemed to possess an intimate understanding of her desires, effortlessly guiding her deeper into the indescribable realm of lust that coursed through her veins. "I needed you so bad," Sebastian confessed, prompting her to hold him even tighter, desperate to bridge the distance between them. "I know," she whispered in response, their words forging an unbreakable bond. Suddenly, the scorching heat intensified, signaling her impending release, and Sebastian was keenly aware of it. With each thrust, he pushed himself deeper, but her hand on his chest implored him to ease his pace.
"Sebastian... we must stop," she uttered, her voice laced with a mixture of urgency and yearning. He sighed, his gaze fixed on her, exhaustion and hurt etched upon his features. "Why?" he queried, the tone betraying a sense of weariness. "Because... you," she began, her words interrupted by a moan as she struggled to compose herself. "I'll be pregnant..." Her words, tinged with embarrassment, ignited a chuckle from Sebastian, his favorite sound to hear. "What spell did you think I casted on your womb?" he inquired, expecting her to comprehend the implications. And comprehend she did, her cheeks flushing crimson as she nodded in acknowledgment. "You're too adorable, you know?" he whispered, his voice betraying traces of fatigue. "Now, just let go," he nibbled on her ear. "I yearn to fill you with my seed."
Unable to hold back any longer, she succumbed to the tantalizing torture that had built within her, a moan escaping her lips. It wasn't solely the sensation of her release that overtook her, but also the feeling of Sebastian's seeds surging inside her, flooding her with an overwhelming mixture of pleasure and satisfaction. Her entire body trembled as the hot, sticky essence filled her depths, her voice intertwining with his name in a symphony of bliss. In the throes of their mutual climax, Sebastian groaned, succumbing to the torments of his own pleasure.
As their bodies slowly recovered from their ecstatic union, they remained locked in an intimate embrace, their breathing gradually returning to a calm rhythm. The world around them faded into the background, their connection an oasis of shared vulnerability and desire. With whispered words of tenderness and the lingering warmth of their union, they reveled in the aftermath of their passion. As the waves of pleasure subsided, fatigue swept over her like a gentle lullaby. With a contented sigh, she nestled into Sebastian's arms, her eyelids growing heavy as sleep beckoned her. He held her close, his touch tender and protective, his fingers gently caressing her skin. The exhaustion from their intense encounter took its toll, and soon she succumbed to the sweet embrace of slumber.
Hours passed in blissful silence, their intertwined forms finding solace in the peaceful stillness of the night. Sebastian watched over her, his gaze filled with adoration and a touch of concern. He brushed a stray lock of hair away from her face, his fingers tracing the delicate contours of her features, cherishing the serenity that now enveloped her.
As the first rays of dawn peeked through the window, gentle warmth danced upon her face, coaxing her back to consciousness. She slowly blinked her eyes open, her senses gradually awakening to the familiar surroundings. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, she found herself lying on the couch in the Gryffindor common room, just as she had before the arrival of the black owl.
A soft smile curved her lips as memories of the previous night flooded her mind. She turned her head to find Sebastian sitting nearby, his eyes fixed on her with a mix of affection and relief. He had remained faithfully by her side, watching over her as she slumbered, ensuring her safety and comfort.
"Good morning," he whispered, his voice a gentle caress in the tranquil space. "How do you feel?"
Her response came as a languid stretch, her body still tingling from their passionate encounter. "Sore, but in the best possible way," she replied, her voice laced with a hint of confusion. "How did you--" She wanted to know how he managed to took her back into the Gryffindor common room, but she quickly noticed the current situation.
Sebastian chuckled, the sound carrying a mix of tenderness and amusement. "I'm glad to hear that. I was worried I may have been a bit too... intense." Then he saw how the morning was touching the common room. "Don't worry, I will leave soon"
She sat up, her eyes meeting his, filled with genuine worry... Yet she knew he hand all under control "You were perfect, Sebastian. More than I could have ever imagined." It was difficult for her to speak the truth after being soo long under he imperious curse.
A warm glow suffused his features, and he reached out to gently brush his fingers against her cheek. "You mean the world to me, you know that, right?" Her expression changed to a confused one.
"But I though you hated me" She whispered as her hand touched his. He chuckled and sighted. "I did... but then I started to understand I crossed a line... after I taught you crucio, after I manipulated you and Ominis to look the cure for Anne... after I killed my uncle" Her heart swelled with affection, a sense of belonging washing over her. "Everyone misses you... Even Ominis" she whispered, her voice brimming with emotion.
Sebastian leaned in, capturing her lips in a soft, lingering kiss, a testament to the connection they had forged. As they pulled apart, he rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling.
"Rest now," he murmured. "We have a lifetime of adventures ahead of us."
With a contented sigh, she nestled back into his embrace, her head resting against his chest. As she closed her eyes, she knew she was safe and loved, and in Sebastian's arms, she had found her sanctuary. Together, they drifted into a peaceful slumber, ready to face whatever the future held, united in their love and the magic they shared.
#sebastian sallow smut#harry potter#sebastian sallow#hogwarts legacy#hogwarts#sebastian x mc#sebastian sallow x you#sebastian sallow x reader#sebastian sallow x mc#hogwarts legacy x reader#hogwarts legacy x you#hogwarts legacy x mc#hogwarts legacy fanfic#Hogwarts Legacy fanfiction#sebastian sallow fic
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At Ease
Pairing: Luke Skywalker x F!Jedi!Reader
Warnings: none, just fluff and Luke being an awkward lil bean who thought he’d be better at talking to pretty girls after becoming a Jedi Knight, but he’s not.
A/N: "Remnants" is a series of Luke Skywalker x F!Jedi!Reader one shots in no particular order about the budding relationship between you and Luke as he trains you in the ways of the Force. Reader has long, naturally curly hair in this one (because I'm just feeling self-indulgent).
Summary: Luke has a little trouble functioning after seeing you fully relaxed with your natural, curly hair for the first time.
Read here on AO3
Luke sighed as he held C3PO’s detached foot in his hand. The droids had joined Leia and Han on an afternoon walk around Endor that was now possible six months post-battle. The Empire was becoming more scattered and unorganized by the day, but their work was far from finished, especially with Leia and the other diplomats beginning to plan how the New Republic would function. But still, they were starting to get more free time than they had previously.
“I’m so sorry, Master Luke!” 3PO cried in dismay from the table. “R2 pushed me over a log and my foot got stuck.”
R2 whistled in protest next to Luke, who sat at a table in the mess with his tools, attempting to put the droid back together.
“Oh, you did too, you insolent—”
“Calm down, 3PO, we’ll get you fixed up.” Luke turned to his sister and shook his head in amusement as she withheld her laugh from where she stood behind him. “Where’s Han?”
“He went off with Chewie and Lando somewhere,” his sister replied. “Something about maintenance on the Falcon. I tried to listen, but someone was very distraught.”
“Oh, yes,” 3PO said, “as you should be, R2!”
R2 beeped and shook slightly.
“They mean me?!”
“What happened?” a familiar voice asked just as Luke began lining up the droid’s foot and leg to re-bolt it.
“Hi, Y/N,” he heard his sister say behind him. He wished he could turn to give you a smile, but 3PO’s foot was being more stubborn than anticipated. He’d been training you as a Jedi for about four months now and the two of you were becoming fast friends. He enjoyed getting to know you and wasn’t sure how you had time for sleep with Jedi training and still helping at your old job in med bay. “3PO tripped and lost his foot.”
“I was pushed!”
“Oh boy,” you laughed behind him. “Hi, Luke.”
“Hey, Y/N. Sorry, I’m having to concentrate here.”
“Oh, it’s all good. I just wanted to ask—”
“Wait, is that your natural hair?” Leia asked in surprise.
“Oh—um, yeah. I just usually have it up when I’m working, but had a bit of a headache today and had some free time, so…” You trailed off, but Luke smiled at the vivid picture of your usual shrug.
“It’s gorgeous!”
“Oh, thanks,” you laughed nervously.
Curious, Luke paused in his work and turned to you only to do a double take at the natural, bouncy curls that fell down your shoulder and back. He had no idea your hair was curly—come to think of it, he’d never even seen it out of its usual updo. He felt his mouth open in a small “o” of its own accord but couldn’t seem to shut it.
Not that he’d ever thought you unattractive—far from it—but he almost hadn’t realized how attractive you were until now. He’d never had time to think about it before, with the remaining Imperials to deal with, mourning his father, and training you (not that you needed much; you were already proficient in the ways of the Force thanks to secret practice from the last few years). But now that he looked at you—really looked at you—he could see why many of the Resistance pilots practically drooled when you walked by.
Oh, he thought to himself, continuing to screw 3PO’s foot on while not paying a lick of attention. Oh no.
You met his eyes several times as you continued to talk with Leia, your conversation completely lost to him. You began to fidget with your clothes before turning to see what Leia was pointing at. With her other hand, his sister reached over and gently closed his mouth with her forefinger. Luke snapped back to reality and turned back to the droid in front of him, screwing the last bolt in place.
“Um,” he cleared his throat, “t-there you go, 3PO.”
“Oh, um…” the droid paused. “Master Luke, I hate to embarrass you, but my foot appears to be on backward.”
Luke thanked whoever was listening that he had his back to you as he felt the heat crawl up his neck onto his face. As hard as she tried, he could hear Leia fail to stifle her laugh behind him as you quietly asked her if he was okay.
“He’s fine, he just was apparently a bit distracted.”
“Oh, should I go?” you asked, completely oblivious to your effect on him.
“No!” Luke answered a little too quickly, turning to look at you and laughing nervously. Realizing his face was probably still red, he whipped back around, not expecting 3PO to have leaned forward to inspect his foot. He smacked his head against the droid’s with a hollow thunk, biting back a curse as he brought a hand to his throbbing head. “Noooo,” Luke groaned. “You can stay…ugh…”
Leia was now laughing so hard, he could see her double over in his peripheral vision. He turned to throw her a glare, but now you were also trying to hold back a laugh.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry!” 3PO said. “Are you all right?”
R2 let out a series of beeps that sounded suspiciously like a laugh before whistling at his companion.
“Um, yes, I think that would be a good idea. Master Luke, R2 has suggested perhaps he completes the repair?”
Still holding his head, Luke slowly slid down the bench to give the astromech room to work. “Uh-huh, yep. Go ahead.”
A hand on his shoulder made him look up to see you looking down at him, amused but still concerned. “Do you want ice?”
“I’ll go get it,” Leia replied before he could respond and left suspiciously quickly.
His attention returned to you as you gently moved his hand out of the way. “I’m fine, I promise. Just a little…uh…”
“Distracted?” you teased, a smile threatening your lips.
He chuckled. “Uh, yeah, I guess…”
“You don’t feel concussed, do you?”
“I promise, I’m fine. I don’t need doctor mode Y/N, but thank you,” he said with a smile, grabbing your hand to move it away from his head.
“You sure?”
Your E/C eyes bored into his, filled with genuine concern and for a moment, he couldn’t help but stare. He’d never really admired the color before, but they were striking. Especially framed with your curls, it made his stomach do somersaults and he could only give a quiet “yeah” in response.
You nodded, looking over his face just as intensely before clearing your throat. “Um…Luke?”
“Yeah?”
“Can I…have my hand back?”
He blinked, realizing he was not only still holding your hand, but gently rubbing back and forth with his thumb. “Oh! Yeah, sorry, sorry.”
You smiled and Luke felt his heart sink unexpectedly as you were called away. “I’ll see you for training later?”
Not trusting himself to speak, Luke simply nodded, sneaking a glance at you as you walked away. Leia returned just as you left with Han in tow, snickering when she realized what her brother was staring at. She laughed and shook her head as she gently pressed the ice pack to Luke’s forehead.
“Weeellll,” Han began, “from what I heard, you sound like you’re super smooth, kid. I’m impressed. And here I thought I would have to give you some pointers.”
“You’re never gonna let me forget this, are you?” Luke groaned.
Leia and Han smiled at each other before simultaneously answering, “No.”
#luke skywalker x reader#luke skywalker imagine#luke skywalker fanfiction#star wars fanfiction#star wars x reader
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Fall 2023 Anime Overview: Pluto and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Pluto
Premise: Somebody- or something- is killing the most advanced robots in the world, along with humans involved with robots (either robot rights activists or scientists). Gesicht, a robot police detective, is trying to track this killer down. But has the detective himself been compromised? What is going on with these strange memories that keep appearing in his head?
Based on an arc in Osamu Tezuka's Astro Boy, this anime is a tense, tightly plotted robot murder mystery that kept me engrossed and invested. Stuff that deals with "android" rights can often feel cringey at best and insulting at worst, but Pluto avoids this by having a future where robots have already gotten their civil rights. It instead largely uses robots as a metaphor for being seen as a disposable tool in a corrupt system, for how if you resist being a weapon for violence and imperialism, those in power will either discard you or fear you. And it asks the question--can robots feel human emotions like hatred? What happens when they do?
Speaking of imperialism, there are some very obvious allusions to the Iraq War in this and I mean obvious like the "United States of Thracia" stars a war with the "Kingdom of Persia" under the pretense of finding "robots of mass destruction". The anime is deeply sympathetic to the, uh, Kingdom of Persia (and very accurate about how much the United States of "Thracia's" government sucks and is imperialistic), but it does feature content that can be tough to deal with (especially right now), and does have some Middle Eastern antagonists, though they're not one-dimensional . I don't feel qualified to dig into it too deeply, but I just have to note it.
Pluto is impressive with it's sizable cast that all have their own distinct stories. It makes you feel for almost every character. A lot of the plot twists punch you in the gut, and the animation is generally stunning. I
I did find parts of the final episode fell flat. It was a solid finale, but the world-ending stakes and the focus on pretty predictable action beats were so different than the gripping, investigative stuff that came before it that it was a bit of a let down. And it really beat you over the head by constantly verbally repeating the central message.
(I also hate the trope of a male character lying to a female character about information she's begging for and affects her deeply, and it being treated as a great kindness. I wish female characters got more to do overall in this, because the two we had were potentially very interesting. It did give a nod to the female robots being just as advanced at the male ones but that being ignored because they weren't advanced in a traditionally masculine way. But you could feel it's Astro Boy roots in how male dominated the cast was.)
Overall, this is one of the most well-crafted anime of the last few years-- a psychological thriller and meditation on humanity and conflict, rich with story and themes, with not a second wasted. I definitely recommend giving it a shot, you'll probably be hooked in no time. And expect it to break your heart. A lot.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
Yes, this counts as an anime. It was animated by a Japanese studio, the director is based in Japan and has worked in anime for years. But there are some spoilers in the premise itself here, so I'm going to put it under the cut.
You have been warned!
Premise: Scott Pilgrim meets a cool girl named Ramona Flowers and falls for her, only to find out she has seven evil exes he must defeat. Unfortunately, he seemingly dies at the hands of the first one. This leads Ramona on a journey where she must confront her evil exes and see if Scott is really dead after all.
So, I was a fan of Scott Pilgrim as a teen. Moreso of the comic than the movie, since the movie didn't have the interesting arcs for the female characters the comic did thanks to it's short runtime and what it prioritized. (Ramona, especially, was done dirty). I liked Ramona a lot in the comic, especially how she went from a mysterious figure to someone just as messy and screwed up as Scott is, and the "final boss" was actually the abusive relationship she was stuck in, and she was the one who really had to defeat it. I liked how Knives outgrew Scott, and I liked how Kim exposed Scott's fantasies as not real, and let her crush on him go. I liked how Scott's arc was realizing he'd treated the women in his life badly and that he needed to grow up and stop being so selfish.
So I was a little excited to see a more comic-accurate version... but what we got was even better. A story that was more from Ramona's perspective, that centered her from the very beginning, and which focused on her understanding, and often reconciling with her exes, rather than them being enemies to defeat. I especially loved seeing Roxie finally get her due. (The comic handled Roxie better than the movie's bullshit, but it still left a lot to be desired). Ramona's ex-girlfriend finally gets treated as an ex-girlfriend, with no "just a phase" bs from Ramona and no Scott doing the straight guy "ooh lesbians so sexy" bs. Instead, it's a sincere, emotional look at their relationship and the ways Ramona hurt Roxie, along with a killer fight scene.
It was also great to see Knives thriving without Scott around, and Matthew Patel getting more of a spotlight. The series has grown up over the years ,but the themes are as sharp as ever. It examines the bad decisions Ramona and Scott have made, and not only the fear of growing up as a young adult, but the fear of what you'll grow into. It explores the fear that relationships will become regrets, the messiness of people trying to connect, and how you need to keep trying to communicate and move forward and take risks anyway.
There were a few things I wish we could have seen more of- like Kim and Envy. (And small yet bothersome nitpick, I also disliked how when Ramona talked about her pattern of "running away" from relationships, Gideon was included, despite the fact he was abusive to her in this version too). The English voice cast was also weak with the voice acting sometimes (likely because most of them were more used to being on-screen actors)- though there were some stand out performances like Satya Bahba (Matthew Patel), Michael Cera (Scott) and of course Mae Whitman (Roxy) (I also think Winstead settled into her role well too)-- though I got used to it after a while, and the Japanese cast is aces.
The animation was also phenomenal, and it had a killer soundtrack.
I'm not sure how this anime would hit if you haven't seen either the comic or the movie, (I've heard some newbies say they liked it) but as a fan of the source material, I was very pleased and found it a treat. Definitely worth checking out.
#scott pilgrim takes off#scott pilgrim#ramona flowers#fall 2023 anime#anime overview#pluto#naoki urasawa's pluto#pluto anime#my reviews#finished at LAST I watched TOO MUCH ANIME this season#but to be fair it was an excellent season
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To better upRoot our miseducation about settler-colonialism, antisemitism, islamophobia, apartheid, and the growing military industrial complex, here are a few urgent and timely reading recommendations from your friendly neighborhood historian (books with ** are my padawan picks)
Books on Muslim Identities & Solidarities:
Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire: Twenty Years After 9/11 | Deepa Kumar **
The New Crusades: Islamophobia and the Global War on Muslims | Khaled A. Beydoun
Tolerance and Risk: How U.S. Liberalism Racializes Muslims | Mitra Rastegar **
The Muslims Are Coming: Islamophobia, Extremism, and the Domestic War on Terror | Arun Kundnani **
Things You May Find Hidden in My Ear: Poems from Gaza | Mosab Abu Toha **
The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine | Ben Ehrenreich
Erasing Palestine: Free Speech and Palestinian Freedom | Rebecca Gould **
Books on Jewish Identities & Religious Imperialism:
Holocaust to Resistance, My Journey | Suzanne Berliner Weiss **
A Land with a People: Palestinians and Jews Confront Zionism
Ten Myths about Israel | Ilan Pappe **
Voices from the Warsaw Ghetto: Writing Our History
Whatever Happened to Antisemitism?: Redefinition and the Myth of the 'Collective Jew' | Antony Lerman **
Books on the Histories & Afterlives of Palestine:
The Palestinians | Rosemary Sayigh
The Balfour Declaration: Empire, the Mandate and Resistance in Palestine | Bernard Regan **
The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017 | Rashid Khalidi **
The Great War and the Remaking of Palestine | Salim Tamari
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine | Ilan Pappe **
Stone Men: The Palestinians Who Built Israel | Andrew Ross **
Gaza Under Hamas: From Islamic Democracy to Islamist Governance | Bjorn Brenner
The Biggest Prison on Earth: A History of the Occupied Territories | Ilan Pappe
The Battle for Justice in Palestine | Ali Abunimah
In Search of the River Jordan: A Story of Palestine, Israel and the Struggle for Water | James Fergusson **
Books on Queer Liberation & Apartheid:
Queer Palestine and the Empire of Critique | Sa'ed Atshan **
We Have Always Been Here: A Queer Muslim Memoir | Samra Habib **
Terrorist Assemblages: Homonationalism in Queer Times | Jasbir K. Puar
Exile and Pride: Disability, Queerness, and Liberation | Eli Clare
Books for Young Readers & Growing Families on Palestine, Apartheid, and Racism:
Young Palestinians Speak: Living Under Occupation **
You Are The Color **
The 1619 Project: Born on the Water **
A Little Piece of Ground
Wishing Upon the Same Stars **
The Shepherd's Granddaughter **
They Called Me a Lioness: A Palestinian Girl's Fight for Freedom **
A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier **
We Are Displaced: My Journey and Stories from Refugee Girls Around the World **
Books for upRooting Political & Academic Imperialism
Except for Palestine: The Limits of Progressive Politics | Marc Lamont Hill + Mitchell Plitnick **
Tolerance Is a Wasteland: Palestine and the Culture of Denial | Saree Makdisi
The Palestine Laboratory: How Israel Exports the Technology of Occupation Around the World | Antony Loewenstein **
We Are Not One: A History of America's Fight Over Israel | Eric Alterman **
Beyond Occupation: Apartheid, Colonialism and International Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories | Virginia Tilley
Set the World on Fire: Black Nationalist Women and the Global Struggle for Freedom | Keisha Blain
Beyond Walls and Cages: Prisons, Borders, and Global Crisis | Matt Mitchelson
Books for Decolonized Scholarship & Community Building:
The Wretched of the Earth | Franz Fanon **
Necropolitics | Achille Mbembe **
Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement | Angela Davis **
Captive Revolution: Palestinian Women's Anti-Colonial Struggle within the Israeli Prison System | Nahla Abdo **
Europe's Fault Lines: Racism and the Rise of the Right | Elizabeth Fekete
The New Age of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World | Kehinde Andrews **
The Republic Shall Be Kept Clean: How Settler Colonial Violence Shaped Antileft Repression | Tariq D. Khan
Decolonial Marxism: Essays from the Pan-African Revolution | Walter Rodney
You can explore more decolonized book recs + history reads over on Neighborhood Historian or access deeper history lessons (and support these public resources + works) through my Patreon.
#books to read#solidarity with palestine against apartheid#black solidarity with palestine#free palestine#free us all#padawan historian#decolonize your bookshelf#the fire is here#our history is your history#book recommendations#resources for you#antiracist resources
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🌃//Writeblr Intro//🌃
Hello! Welcome to my corner of the internet. I am Kae Luna. You can call me Kae or Luna. I am pretty new to Writeblr, so please bear with me.
╮ (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) ╭
(Banner made with canva)
🌊About My Writing🌊
✨Genres: sci-fi, fantasy, supernatural, action, drama, psychological, LGBTQIA+
✨Subgenres: dystopian, cyberpunk, biopunk, solarpunk, post-apocalyptic
✨Common themes: diversity, anti-capitalism, female empowerment
Links🌐
Since I like both anime art and storytelling, I'm planning to make light novels. Some of them may be short stories, standalone novels, or series. :3 Going to put some of them on Wattpad and Tapas.
I try to balance unique settings with complex characters.
🌊About Me🌊
I've been writing and drawing since I was little. And before I could write, I would tell my mother my story and she'd write it down for me. I've always had a crazy imagination. When I was a tween, I got into anime and manga, so I learned how to draw in that art style.
I am 25, queer-romantic asexual, and feminine-presenting nonbinary. I identify as both a girl and a demi-boy. You can refer to me as she/her, he/him, or they/them. I don't mind. I'm also white and have ADHD, dyspraxia, anxiety, and depression that prevents me from getting a "real" job.
I'm pretty shy and anxious, but once you get to know me, I may say some weird stuff and dad jokes. I'm a big nerd and simp as well.
I am also a Vtuber, but made this alt identity since I didn't think my work would fit that persona.
🌊About My Blog🌊
Here I am going to post about my WIP stories and some of my art. I will also reblog others' art and writing. Many aesthetics, fandoms, and other stuff may be reblogged as well with tags if it inspires my work.
Here I hope to find more creators to connect with and find some epic creations. Feel free to message me if you'd like, though I am kinda shy. :3
I am okay with:
✨Asks
✨Tag games
✨DMs. I'm happy to make friends. :3
🌊My Likes & Favorites🌊
✨Aesthetics/genres: vaporwave, cyberpunk, pastel, eco punk, nature, grunge, post-apocalyptic, solarpunk, steampunk, fantasy, LGBTQIA2S+
✨Movies: Alita: Battle Angel, Ultraviolet, Aeon Flux, Spider-Man 2, Howl's Moving Castle, Black Panther, The Matrix
✨Shows: Doctor Who, Stranger Things, Umbrella Academy, The Witcher
✨Anime: Death Note, Attack on Titan, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure
✨Games: Skyrim, Baldur's Gate 3, The Sims 4, Minecraft, Fallout
✨Cartoons: Aeon Flux, Batman The Animated Series
🌊WIP(s)🌊
Ultra Drive - Intro Post | Directory Post
Links: Wattpad | Tapas (coming soon)
✨Genre(s): sci-fi, cyberpunk, action, drama, psychological, dystopian
✨CWs: government stuff, pandemic mention, gore probably at some point
When AlexiKa was a child, her world was changed forever when her family was forced to immigrate to the imperial city of Venicula after the Ebony Plague - caused by mysterious eumalyptus spores - infected her home town. Now a young adult, she works as a courier (and secretly an anti-corporation activist). When going on a delivery, she accidentally uncovers dark secrets and ends up infected with the same Ebony Plague that haunted her hometown as a child. But when she survives the illness and instead develops superhuman abilities, she joins a mutant resistance group to fight against the Veniculan Empire, the Gaia Corporation, and other mutants with immoral goals.
Adventures in Alsteria - Intro Post (coming soon!)
Links: N/A
✨Genre(s): fantasy, comedy, slice of life, action, adventure, LGBTQIA+
✨CWs: None ATM? Violence probably?
A trans femboy wood elf named Nel finds the homeland of his people - the rain forests of Falinor - and goes on an adventure to form a guild of adventurers! Still kind of in the vibes stage I guess, but I have some ideas formed for lore and characters. :> Something more cute and lighthearted for me to write in contrast to Ultra Drive.
Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I don't have much that I can share at the moment due to much of my writing being lost (school assignments or lost on old computers) or attached to other identities. I also had a looong writer's/art block.
#writeblr#writers on tumblr#writers of tumblr#cyberpunk#writeblr introduction#creative writing#writer#fantasy#sci fi#solarpunk#science fiction
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Winter 2024 Anime Roundup
Anime of the Season – The Apothecary Diaries
I’ve been hearing about this series since Raven of the Inner Palace aired a while back, and the fans spoke so highly of it that I was dubious of anything living up to the expectations they’d set. Luckily for me, they weren’t exaggerating one bit, and the anime adaptation delivered a story that had me itching to watch the next installment as soon as the episode ended each week.
The story opens with Maomao getting abducted and sent to work in the imperial palace, where she intends to keep her head down and just quietly do her work in the inner palace, only to find a little matter involving poison she can’t resist poking her nose into, leading a powerful young man in the palace to take notice of her. Throughout the story, her desire to mind her business and not get tied up in palace affairs wars with her absolutely insatiable curiosity wherever drugs or poisons are involved, and it leads her in and out of a series of mysteries involving the residents of the palace, changing the course of her life. It was an absolute treat to watch her and Jinshi dance around each other, as Maomao wants nothing to do with the beautiful man all the women fawn over, and he finds her lack of interest in him irresistible, and seeing the way all the seemingly unrelated mysteries built towards a larger conspiracy was immensely satisfying. When you combine all this with an equally colorful supporting cast, a gorgeous color palette, excellent background art, and solid animation, you get the sort of anime you feel lucky to get to watch. 9/10
First Runner-Up – Brave Bang Bravern!
Equal parts sincere and farcical, this series takes all the tropes and homoeroticism of mecha anime and dials them to eleven. It boasts some of the best 3D mecha animation I’ve seen, a star-studded voice cast, and a story with the perfect mix of comedy and action. If you’ve ever clapped your hands and cheered for an over the top robot fight, this is the show for you. 9/10
Second Runner-Up – Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
The entire series is beautifully drawn and animated, with a perfect soundtrack and voice cast to match, and it takes a fantastic, heartfelt story about valuing the connections you make with others and elevates it to another level. A poorly paced exam arc in the second half that takes the focus off the main trio dampened my enjoyment somewhat, but it easily would’ve been my anime of the season in most seasons. 8/10
The Dangers in My Heart S2 – Kyotarou and Anna keep getting closer and closer over the course of this season, and the way they timed the emotional high of each episode to the soundtrack and the title card has me ready to swoon the moment I see the word “karte” written in white on a black screen. A nicely produced romance about a middle school boy and girl pushing each other to be their best selves that I’m really glad I watched. 8/10
Kingdom S5 – Xin and his Fei Xin force are under the command of the ruthless general Huan Yi in this arc, and they rediscover how merciless and inhumane war is as they fight a battle in Zhao territory as part of Qin’s effort to unify China. Xin’s voice actor completely knocks it out of the park here, delivering several emotional speeches with the perfect amount of gravitas. 8/10
7th Time Loop: The Villainess Enjoys a Carefree Life Married to Her Worst Enemy! – I knew when the female lead leapt off a balcony in front of the male lead after being jilted by her fiancé and he immediately fell in love with her that I was in for a good time, and it never let me down. Rishe’s constant scheming that drew on things she learned in her six previous lives, and Prince Arnold’s mix of bewilderment and affection for his unpredictable fiancée, made this one of the best fantasy romance series in years. 8/10
Mr. Villain’s Day Off – The premise of a general in the evil organization fighting the rangers for control of Earth strictly avoiding work on his day off sounds like the setup for a sit-com, but the story it actually settles in to tell is one that quietly highlights the beauty and comfort found in the ephemeral moments of daily life. A relaxing slice of life series that was the perfect capstone to my Sunday evenings this season. 7/10
A Sign of Affection – I have some nitpicks about some adaptation decisions in the anime that made the female lead appear less disabled than she is in the manga, but, on the whole, this was a lovely shoujo romance about a group of young adults doing their best to forge their own path in the world, with some nice production values. 7/10
Cherry Magic! Thirty Years of Virginity Can Make You a Wizard?! – If you can look past the wild title and premise, and you don’t mind some inconsistent character models or animation, there’s a nice workplace romance in here centered on a group of grown men talking things out and supporting each other as they navigate their messy feelings. (It’s not as funny as the manga is, though.) 7/10
Sengoku Youko – It took me a few episodes to warm up to this historical set fantasy adventure, but once the story got going, with a solid mix of strong character development and the occasional emotional punch to the gut, I was all in. The character designs are unique and expressive, the action is nicely choreographed and animated, and the voice actors really put their backs into some of the more intense moments. 7/10
Undead Unluck – The pacing was a bit of a problem, with some incredibly long recap segments in episodes in the second half, but the chemistry between the two leads – a man who can’t die and a young woman who causes life threatening bad luck to anyone who touches her – made this action series about fighting to stop the apocalypse a really fun time. 7/10
The Witch and the Beast – If you’re like me, and you go weak in the knees for a chain smoking man with bedroom eyes in a long coat, and a messy woman who might get you both arrested when you go out drinking, then this supernatural themed noir is the show for you. Production values are inconsistent over its run, but the writing and voice acting are solid throughout. 7/10
The Wrong Way to Use Healing Magic – A boy getting isekaied by accident when his classmates are summoned to be heroes in another world could easily have been the start of yet another story about an aggrieved loner making it big as an overpowered hero in a fantasy world, but it thankfully subverted expectations and delivered an isekai adventure with a bit of heart and a cast of likeable characters. 7/10
The Foolish Angel Dances with the Devil – What appeared to be a gimmicky battle of wits love comedy in the beginning turned into a solid forbidden romance between a demon and an angel with genuinely good chemistry between them. The two leads were easy to root for as they caught feelings for each other while fighting their way through the ridiculous situations they kept landing in. 7/10
The Demon Prince of Momochi House – This is a neither good nor bad anime about a teenage girl inheriting an old house in the woods that serves as a gateway between reality and the spiritual world, and moving in with the mysterious teenage boy and his ayakashi attendants who protect it. The characters are likeable, and the romance is pleasantly cheesy like an otome game, but the rushed pace of the relationship development and the quickly resolved yokai cases just feel like they adapted more manga than the runtime supported. 6/10
Villainess Level 99: I May Be the Hidden Boss but I’m Not the Demon Lord – Deadpan, autistic-coded Yumiella is a ton of fun as the OP main character in this otome isekai, and she and her love interest make a great couple, but the level grinding wasn’t exciting enough, and the jokes weren’t funny enough to overcome the poor visuals. 6/10
Bucchigiri?! – Hiroko Utsumi directing an original anime mixing old school delinquents with Aladdin and the Lamp sounded like it could be a rollicking fun romp in the style of her previous original, Sk8, but pacing issues led to a repetitive first half, the main character was deeply unlikable, and the rushed ending felt unsatisfying. The art and animation were generally quite good, with some great fight scenes, but the writing needed to be better. 6/10
Solo Leveling – The series is very well produced, with exciting action scenes set to a lively soundtrack, but any time I started to relax and enjoy some nicely animated fights, the main character would come out with some eye-rolling, angsty teen speech about the strong preying on the weak, and it just wasn’t for me. 6/10
Shangri-La Frontier – There’s little to criticize in the production of this VR MMO themed action series. The voice actors gave great performances, the monster fights are well animated, and the art has a distinctive feel to it. Unfortunately, the story just never really grabbed me, the stalker girl really annoyed me whenever she appeared, and the extras at the beginning and end of most episodes felt like padding. 6/10
My Instant Death Ability is So Overpowered, No One in This Other World Stands a Chance Against Me! – An unusual teenage boy with the ability to instantly kill anyone by just thinking about it gets sent to another world with a bus full of his classmates, and the ensuing adventure kept me entertained the whole time, but I can’t quite call it good. The manzai comedy dynamic between the male and female lead was a fair bit of fun as they traveled across the land, poking fun at common isekai tropes. 6/10
Blue Exorcist: Shimane Illuminati Saga – I remember really enjoying the first two seasons of this series, and I still love the characters, but this season just never clicked right for me. The opening arc felt rushed through, and the main arc had a cartoonish buffoon of a villain that completely undercut the horror of the story. It wasn’t a chore to watch or anything, but it could have been better. 6/10
Metallic Rouge – Like many others, I had high hopes for this original sci-fi series Bones put out as an anniversary project, but despite the generally solid visuals, the poor writing drags the whole show down, making this one of the biggest disappointments of the season. The incoherent plot fails to come to a point, the dialog is a terrible mix of forced quirkiness and tedious monologuing, and the characters are largely one-note and undeveloped. 6/10
Sasaki and Peeps – The hour-long premiere episode suggested this story about a middle aged salaryman who discovers his new pet bird is a reincarnated wizard from another world might be a fun take on the isekai genre, but the end product felt more like someone playing with their dolls than crafting a coherent story. It continually introduced new characters and new tropes all the way through to the last minute without tying anything together. 5/10
The Fire Hunter S2 – On the one hand, I appreciate how different it is from other series, with unusual character designs and an imaginative fantasy story that isn’t an amalgamation of light novel conventions. On the other hand, though, the production is incredibly rough, and the plot got increasingly hard to follow, making this a bit of a slog by the end. 5/10
Fluffy Paradise – I was basically on board in the first half to two-thirds of the series, when it seemed like a harmless little reincarnation isekai about a girl collecting animal and monster friends, but it completely lost me when it broke out the reservation camps and dead bodies in the last arc. Just a poorly written show that misunderstood its appeal. 5/10
#anime#winter anime 2024#anime 2024#the apothecary diaries#brave bang bravern#frieren#the dangers in my heart#7th time loop#mr. villain's day off#a sign of affection#kingdom#cherry magic!#sengoku youko
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"It has become clear during the past two months in the Gaza Strip that the Zionist entity is plenty capable of equaling the belligerence of the American frontier, an era of wholesale ethnic cleansing thought to be a feature of history. (“It could never happen today,” people sometimes would foolishly declare.) Colonial atrocities of the past—Wounded Knee, Sand Creek, the Trail of Tears—are now everywhere in evidence. The Zionist entity is carrying out a kind of primitive violence with modern technology.
This violence fills our computer and television screens. People around the world get minute-by-minute accounts of massive destruction and widespread murder. Certain images have become horrifyingly familiar: throngs of refugees queuing for bread; ambulances dodging tank and machine gun fire; hospitals in disarray; once-dense neighborhoods transformed by aerial bombardment into kilometers of rubble. We scroll through photos of men blindfolded and stripped to their underwear, lined up on the ground like antiquities in a museum courtyard. The scrolling continues into pictures of white body bags in shallow trenches and then into videos of little girls and boys screaming trauma into the ruins of their childhood. We are perhaps the first generation to witness genocide in real time. History books about the horrors of the past are written every time somebody opens social media.
The theory that bearing witness will curtail Israel’s ability to act on exterminationist fantasies no longer holds. Information and knowledge, it turns out, aren’t reliable bulwarks against genocide. Impunity isn’t beholden to disapproval.
What does it tell us that the Zionist entity can conduct this genocide in high definition, with no credible deniability and amid condemnation from all corners of the world?
It tells us that people serious about Palestinian liberation were right to despise the so-called radicals who laundered Zionism through celebrity activism, academic credentialism, NGO astroturf, and the Democratic Party. An entire class of influencers arose from Bernie Sanders’ failed presidential campaigns. They populate hundreds of podcasts and livestreams. They wasted incalculable energy and resources promoting a man who would go on to repeatedly justify the bloody campaign in Gaza. Now they deplore Sanders after having extracted all the clout appended to his name and having ostracized the outliers who accurately tagged him as a fraud from the get-go. It was the most noteworthy example of a timeworn practice: pursuing access to microphones and New Yorker profiles by subsuming Palestinian liberation to institutions constitutionally hostile to revolutionary politics.
It tells us that international governing bodies and legal institutions are at best useless. Despite some halfhearted hemming and hawing, the UN has been an accomplice to the Zionist entity’s genocide. The ICC will never see an American, Israeli, or EU war criminal on its docket. The Arab League pretends to care, but its performance is entirely unconvincing. Such institutions have been captured by imperialism since their inception.
It tells us that “dialogue” was always a pathway to submission. The idea that Israelis and Palestinians should dialogue as a means to peace was always dubious if only because dialogue can’t work in situations of disparate power. But now, with Israelis overwhelmingly in favor of the genocide, it should be clear that Palestinians never had anyone to dialogue with in the first place.
It tells us that Western academe was completely unprepared for the material demands of decolonization despite its popularity as a professional brand. Many among the intellectual class, including scholars of Fanon like Adam Shatz and Lewis Gordon, either disavow or diminish anticolonial resistance or ignore it altogether. Academe is where resistance goes for processing and beautification after it has been completed. It’s rarely a place for the organizing stage.
It tells us that deterrence isn’t a game of strategy played by eggheads on the internet, but an onerous project conditional on guns and rockets. Academics generally are too scared to say it, or, in an object lesson on arrogance, don’t actually believe it, but a cache of weapons will always be more important than a conference panel.
It tells us that electoralism is a sham. There is no meaningful ideological variance among U.S. politicians at the national level. In practice, they range from center-right to fascist. In the upcoming presidential election, for example, voters will get to decide between two scarcely-functional old farts with histories of sexual misconduct and a complete devotion to Zionist genocide.
It tells us that racism isn’t simply an attitude, for its origin is social violence and eventually it will become physically violent in order to perform its civic mandate. In the framework of settler colonization, racism manifests as a yearning for cultural purification through displacement of the native.
It tells us that capitalism makes death a valuable commodity. The Zionist entity isn’t merely an imperialist beachhead; it is a major player in the international weapons trade. It tests new munitions, chemicals, and surveillance technology on Palestinians. It arms reactionary forces throughout the Global South. It serves as a conduit and accomplice to U.S. policing. Because of Zionist occupation, corporations enjoy the use of human subjects as raw material for development and innovation.
It tells us that we wasted a whole lot of time trying to convince the oppressor that we are worthy of life when the oppressor cannot live without our extinction.
More than anything, it tells us that in the benighted West there is no democracy, no free speech, no legislative remedy, no human rights, no right even to be human. These are illusions people repeat in an effort to survive pervasive depravity, or myths they cynically invoke to gather the crumbs of deprivation. There is a ruling class and various iterations of the dispossessed and the dispossessed exist only to serve ruling class gluttony.
That’s why countless people can deplore a genocide zoomed into our personal devices without being able to stop it. We are not simply ineffectual in the world of policymaking; policymakers are taunting us with their depravity.
What can we do, then? It’s important to start by recognizing that the entire political class, from presidents to online pundits, has no regard for us—detests us, in fact—and is therefore never a reliable source of empathy or relief. Denizens of this class do not want our feedback; they want us to scroll through the debris of their malevolence.
Upon this recognition, the possibilities become clearer, albeit less convenient. But in the spirit of urgency, we can keep it simple: whether it happens in darkness or light, on screen or off, the Zionist entity needs to become an archive we browse as a cautionary tale, or else our future on this planet will be history."
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Do you have any favourite period dramas or films?
Hello anon! Yes I have a lot of favorites because period dramas are really the only tv shows I like! I will list my top 5 favs and why I like them so much!
Outlander: it is a period drama that starts out in the 1940s but then the main character Claire travels back in time to the Scottish Highlands in the 1740s and meets her soulmate Jamie. I love this so much because it is just so perfect. The perfect costumes, the perfect love story, and just the overall perfect vibe. I really recommend it! You can watch this on Netflix and Starz or Amazon Prime!
A Small Light: this follows the story of Anne Frank and one of her helpers Miep Gies (the main character.) It is set in the 1940s during WWII in Amsterdam and gives us the true untold story of Miep Gies. I really love this because it is just so captivating and interesting. It gives the characters so much depth and it is so quirky. It also gives a a real view of what a persons life was like during the holocaust. You can find it on Disney + and Hulu!
3. Romanovs: An Imperial Family: this is what I would say the most historically accurate film ever made about the Romanov Family. It covers the events of Tsar Nicholas II’s abdication in March 1917 to the execution of NAOTMAA in July 1918. It is a Russian film so it is in Russian but you can find it on YouTube with English subtitles! I really recommend this because all of its settings and almost all of the information is accurate. I can point out only a few faults but besides that, it is a really good representation of the vibe of the Romanov family.
4. The Wonder: this is a period drama starring Florence Pugh who plays a young English nurse who travels to Ireland to investigate a case of a girl named Anna who supposedly hasn’t eaten food for months. It is very creepy and disturbing to some people but I like it very much. It take place in the late 1800s and has superb costumes and settings. I really recommend it for people who just want to watch a creepy movie that takes place in the past rather than something that involves real events. You can watch it on Netflix!
5. Jojo Rabbit: this is more of a comedic period drama about a boy named Jojo who is growing up in Nazi Germany during WWII. He loves Hitler and imagines him as his best friend. It also shows how people close to him are resisting the Nazis and how Jojo changes his views about them. It sprinkles loads of comedy throughout the film and is very emotional too. You can watch it on Netflix!
I have many more favorites but I do not want to bombard you with them lol! Thank you for asking!
#answered ask#period drama#outlander#a small light#romanovs: an imperial family#the wonder#jojo rabbit
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jane eyre handers for the wip meme?
Ty! This idea was entirely @aria-i-adagio's fault, but it tracks so well.
It's been very much on the back burner because gestures vaguely at everything but basically it's straight up Jane Eyre, chapter by chapter, except starring everyone's favorite blond bombshell apostate mage throwing lightning at people.
Lowood becomes a Circle Tower, and the themes of oppression/class structure/equality blend neatly with the universal Dragon Age themes of... well, oppression and (in)equality. Very on brand. Helen becomes Karl (until he dies of Tragic Hero Disease) and if Anders is Jane, of course Rochester has to be Garrett Hawke. Add in some Free Marches political wrangling and the whole 'trying-to-keep-baby-mages-secret' aspect of child guardianship... and then things get complicated.
Chunk o' chapter 1 under the cut.
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He was far away, lulled by the rain and floating on phantasms when the library door opened.
“Where’s the Ander?” Joven demanded. “Alora, did you see where he went? He’s not in here.”
Anders held his breath, clutched the edges of the book, and tried not to blink. He heard footsteps—the three of them, clustered at the door—and then Lissa gave an exasperated snort.
“He’s behind the curtain, you dolt. Look. Over there.”
Anders closed his eyes and wished a thousand horrible things would happen to her. Possibly all at once. He hugged the book tighter, and was still holding it to his chest like a shield when Joven ripped back the curtain. Anders opened his eyes and glared at the boy.
“What do you want?”
Joven’s broad, bullish face folded into a scowl. He turned to his sisters. “See how he speaks to me? The churl!” He smacked an open palm against Anders’ shoulder. “Say, ‘what do you want, messere.’ I’m Messere Reed to you.”
Anders made no effort to disguise the curl of his lip. But he’d go along with it, if it shut Joven up. “Fine. What do you want, messere?”
Lissa and Alora giggled. Lissa pushed her brother’s arm. “Are you going to let him talk to you that way, Jo? Truly?”
Like a cloud milling slowly over a hillside, realisation spread across Joven’s face, where it turned to indignation. His scowl deepened and he grabbed Anders by the back of his shirt.
“I want you to come here. Come here and address me properly.”
Joven had four years and a substantial size advantage over Anders. There wasn’t much way of resisting when he dragged him forcibly from the window seat and flung him to the ground. Anders caught himself on his hands. The book he’d been reading scuttered across the carpet, pages flying. The bright illustrations looked like jewels spilled on the floor.
“He was stealing a book, Jo,” Alora whined, pointing. “He shouldn’t even be reading our books. I don’t think he can read.”
She simpered at Anders. It was, despite her pristine good looks and perfectly curled hair, a deeply ugly expression.
Joven drew himself up to his full height, looking as imperious as he could manage, which didn’t bode well for his future as lord of the Reed estate. Anders tensed, waiting for the inevitable blow. He didn’t actually see Joven draw back his arm. That was surprising. Perhaps the boy’s martial training had been paying off. Maker, perhaps he’d even make it as a knight some day. The thought of that made Anders grin, even as his cousin’s closed fist struck the side of his head. Pain bloomed like a flame. Anders’ teeth snapped together, his jaw shaken and his bones jarred.
“That’s for being rude to me,” Joven announced. “And for your impudence to Mama. And this is for the look on your face when I spoke to you.”
His foot connected with Anders’ stomach. Anders hunched, dry-heaved, and fought the instinct to curl around the pain. He would not give them the satisfaction. Not until he had to. He swallowed the awful taste on his tongue and focused on breathing.
“You have no business taking our books!” Joven went on, grandstanding for the girls now. “Mama says you’re a dependent. Your filthy Ander father spent all your mother’s money and left you none. You ought to beg, not to live here with gentlemen’s children like us, eating the same meals we do, and wearing clothes our mama pays for.”
The girls giggled. Lissa scooped up the book and handed it to Joven. Anders glanced up to see him weighting it in his hand like a discus.
“Oh, no. No, don’t—”
“I’ll teach you to take my books. They are mine, you know. This whole house will belong to me in a few years, when Mama’s gone. Go and stand by the door, out of the way of the mirror and the windows.”
Anders shuffled back on his hands, but an idea was a precious thing. Once Joven had one in his head, perhaps because such an event was so rare, it was impossible to shift it again.
He’d made it only halfway to the door before Joven threw the book. Anders tried to duck, but it caught him in the side of the head, sharp corners first. The pain was immediate, wide and vast. A wet trickle slid down his temple.
The anger was familiar. Anders knew rage intimately, in all its forms: the kind that boiled up, hot and rapid; the kind that surged in a tide, coating everything it touched with salt and bitterness; and the kind that came down like light, like a blinding wash of something pure and bright, burning away his resistance. He’d been angry for years, angry with grief and sorrow and resentment, angry with injustice, with pain and irritation… but this time he felt it more deeply than ever. It burned in the twist of his gut, the ache of his teeth, the sting of his injured pride. It burned in the pulse of blood that dripped from his head, whispering with power and promise. And, when he raised his arm to shield himself from the next blow, it burned all the way down to the tips of his fingers.
Something flared behind his eyes, under his skin. After that, Anders wasn’t sure what happened.
Alora screamed for the maids while Lissa grabbed a rug and tried to beat out the flames. Joven wailed and yelled as if he himself were on fire… Anders was mostly sure he wasn’t but, as he tried to get up and help, Joven let out a guttural yell and hit him again. He stayed down this time, as close to the ground as he could get, beneath the reach of the scalding rage and all the terrible things he might do. Beneath the fists and knees and curses.
Beneath the low and terrible song in the blood.
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I trust your taste
Can you recommend some fiction books? Fantasy is highly appreciated!
Oooh what a sign of trust!! OK so I don't actually read a huge ton of fantasy, so I'll do my best with a couple of non-fantasy that I just can't resist mentioning at the end.
Also, this got... a bit long... so I'm putting it under a Read More lol
A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K Le Guin - classic fantasy about a boy who becomes a great wizard. I realise this is likely one you've already read, as a fantasy fan, but it's a classic for a reason! Absolutely beautiful, and really powerful for me as a Quaker because of its rejection of the idea that fantasy must always be about The Goodie winning over The Baddie by doing killing better than them. If you've read it already, read it again lmao Also there's a new audiobook that came out a few years ago read by Kobna Holdbrook-Smith which is just brilliant.
The Fifth Season by NK Jemisin does come with a decent load of content warnings so do tread carefully if necessary, but it's also the best fantasy I've read in YEARS. The book is split over three different narratives in a world where magic users are an oppressed class, and again the audiobooks are amazing, read by Robin Miles.
Meanwhile I very much do NOT recommend the audiobook for Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb, though I did enjoy the book when I read it. The audiobook is, I believe, read by an American putting on what he thinks is an English accent, and um. Well. It sure is something. It's pretty classic fantasy too, and one of those books that you're like "what in God's name do you mean, this wasn't intended to be gay??"
The Heavens by Sandra Newman always makes my rec lists because it made me cry a lot and it's just very beautiful. Again the narrative is split, one taking place in an alternate, utopian present and one in Elizabethan England, with the narratives linked by the fact that the Elizabethan stuff is happening in the dreams of the woman in the present.
My favourite book ever is Fire & Hemlock by Diana Wynne Jones, it's about an unlikely friendship between a girl and a young man with lots of fae things and that brilliant blending of magic and reality that DWJ does so well. It's so much my favourite that when I recommend it to friends, I ask them to please not tell me if they didn't like it - just pretend you didn't read it haha Honestly I recommend any DWJ, but F&H is my baby <3
Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrlees was one of those books I read once that just stayed with me. It's about a Perfectly Ordinary English Town that sees an influx of fairy fruit and has to deal with that, and while I'm fuzzy on remembering the details, I know I loved it!
And then because I actually read more SF than fantasy as a general rule, here's a jumble of SF titles that I adore (though I'll spare you the waffle!):
the Imperial Radch triology by Ann Leckie about a troop carrier who becomes a person (she also has a fantasy book - The Raven's Tower - if that appeals more and all her audiobooks in the UK are read by Adjoa Andoh who I would simply die for)
the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells, about a security bot who becomes a person (audiobooks are read by Kevin R Free, of Nightvale fame, and they're brilliant)
This is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, about two soldiers in warring time-travel factions sending letters to each other (also made me cry)
To Be Taught If Fortunate by Becky Chambers, about space researchers who change their bodies to adapt to the worlds they find and what ethical issues they come up against
The City We Became by NK Jemisin, about people who become living avatars of the different districts of New York to fight an alien presence (also a good audiobook - Robin Miles again)
All Our Wrong Todays by Elan Mastai, about a man from a utopian timeline suddenly stuck in our timeline instead (good audiobook too)
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, about a travelling theatre troup in a world where civilisation collapsed after a terrible pandemic (obviously tread carefully wrt how upsetting that might be for you!)
And then it isn't SFF in any strict sense but The Man Who Was Thursday by GK Chesterton (Simon Vance does the audiobook I like) is just very very fun and good and I like it a lot. Also the Lord Peter Wimsey novels, for the same reason!
#not podcast related#get to know your podcaster#sorry if i got carried away#no im not who are we kidding#i had a great time with these#if anyone reads all these and is like WOW DO I HAVE A BOOK REC FOR HERO then please do say!#lmao i just realised that To Be Taught If Fortunate and Station Eleven ALSO made me cry haha#i think i teared up at The City We Became too...
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Muirne / マナ, Deimne / ディムナ and Corrine / カレン
Muirne is an Isaachian cleric and a member of the imperial resistance in Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War. She is named after Muirne (also called Muireann Muncháem), the mother of Fionn mac Cumhaill in Irish mythology. Her father - a druid - foresaw her marriage leading to the loss of his home and thus prevented her from being with any of her countless suitors. Cumhall, however, stole her away from home. By the time he was found and killed in battle, Muirne was already with child. Her father, disgusted, ordered her to be burned to death. Only by the grace of the High King was she spared and went into hiding to give birth to her son. After leaving the child in the care of Cumhall's sister Bodhmall, she returns to society and married a king. Muireann's refuge with Bodhmall and Finn being born in hiding may relate to Muirne's part in the resistance movement, their base hidden in the town of Tirnanog. The mythological figure marrying into royalty may also relate to Murine's crush on Seliph.
In Japanese, Muirne's name is マナ (rōmaji: mana), romanized as Mana. Despite the romanization, the name is likely derived from マーナ, the common rendering of Muirne.
Deimne is an Isaachian bow knight in the imperial resistance and Muirne's brother. In Irish mythology, Deimne is the birthname of Finn mac Cumhaill, who came to lead the Fianna like his father once did. Under this name, Deimne came to serve anonymously under various lords and kings, but would be dismissed when his parentage was realized, as Cumhall's rival Goll mac Morna and his family were seeking to kill the boy. In most tales of his youth, Deimne found himself studying under the poet Finnegas, who was fishing for the Salmon of Knowledge, a fish that, when consumed, granted understanding of all things. When the salmon was finally hooked, Finnegas gave it to Deimne to cook; it was while the meat was searing that the boy burnt his thumb. He reactively put the finger to his mouth, and the salmon's wisdom was bestowed. Learning of what had happened, Finnegas gave the boy both the fish and the name Fionn.
In Japanese, Deimne's name is ディムナ(rōmaji: dimuna), romanized as Dimna. This uses one of the common renderings of Deimne in the language, the other being デムナ.
Corrine is a girl from the Isaachian capital and a suggested love interest of Deimne. This fan-localized name was likely to help differentiate her from Thracia 776's Karin, as their names are similar in Japanese. In the native language, her name is カレン (rōmaji: karen); while this is typically used for the name Karen, it can also be used for the Irish name Cullen. In The Boyhood Deeds of Fionn mac Cumhaill, the boy briefly stayed in a village called Cullen. Here he met Cruithne - daughter of the smith Lóchán - who quickly fell for the young hero. Despite not knowing each other long, Lóchán gave his daughter to Fionn and forged two spears at the youth’s request. After being told to avoid a certain road in Munster known for an aggressive boar was found, Fionn sought out and slayed the beast. He then returned to Cullen with the boar’s head gifted to the smith in exchange for taking Cruithne for a bride. This episode with Fionn and Cruithne serves as inspiration for the romantic nature of Deimne and Corrine's relationship.
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Day 12: Past
“You’re looking for people to make the run, aren’t you?” Aislinn pressed. “To pass information to the cells outside? I can do it.”
“No.” Jorund ground out.
“Yes, I can. I made it past those two. Probably could’ve snuck right by without them lifting their heads.” she waved an arm back towards Rundulf and Connor who stood catching their breath. They passed each other a dark look. “I’m quick. I’m nearly invisible. No one pays me any mind. And those patrols aren’t going to be looking for someone like me. They’re not going to suspect me of carrying Resistance intel.”
There was the briefest pause of silence and then, “She makes a good point, Jorund.” one of the other men spoke up.
“I said no.” Jorund snapped his head towards the man, glaring in his direction.
“We’ve been sending our boys who could fight if it came down to it but maybe that’s the problem. They look like they could fight. Empire ain’t gonna look twice at this wisp of a girl.” he continued on, undeterred.
“And if she runs into trouble?” A woman next to him countered.
“You heard her, she can run.”
“She can outrun two boys, not an Imperial patrol, Bernier. I don’t know about you but I’m not comfortable sending a girl headlong into the waiting arms of Garleans.”
Behind her, Aislinn heard Connor make a low noise in the back of his throat that sounded distinctly like an ‘I told you so’ to her.
“Oh, but sending our boys is alright?”
“Don’t pull that shite. I know as well as anyone here what a patrol will do to the girl if they get their hands on her.”
“I’m tellin’ you, they ain’t gonna be looking twice.”
“Quiet.” Jorund’s voice, instead of rising to meet the others, had grown soft and still. It brought an immediate halt to any conversation. He stared down at Aislinn with a dark sort of anger but she saw something behind that. Something raw and broken. Something that told her he would forever see her as the child she had been, the little girl he had bounced on his knee. And any hope she had fostered of taking a meaningful part in this Resistance faded to nothing. She knew her da’s answer before he even opened his mouth.
“She’ll get caught. And do you think she’ll hold up under questioning? Or do you think she’ll spill every little detail she knows and bring the Empire down on us? We’re the only ones feedin’ th’ others intel from the inside. We can’t let something like tha’ happen.” he growled and though he spoke to the others, he kept his flinty gaze trained on her, hammering the words home. Willing her to understand once and for all. “She’s too much of a risk. Send Connor. She's not strong enough.”
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The memory came back to her often, usually after every successful run for the cartel, and later, after every success in the field as a mercenary. The grim satisfaction sank its teeth in her. The vindication burning in her blood.
‘I can do this.’ A hundred times. A thousand. 'Just like I told you I could.’
She wondered if he ever heard her.
#febhyurary#ffxiv#FFXIV Screenshots#ffxiv writing#febhyurary 2023#Day 12#Jorund Ironfist#Aislinn North
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Part Five
Words: 1,740
Warnings: Grief, depression
Summary: Crosshair and Senna mourn what they have lost. A mysterious message is received.
The Sniper and the Surgeon
Kamino
Crosshair woke at the sound of his name, wincing as he rolled over from his huddled position to blink up into the driving rain. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes.
“Senna?”
The white of her uniform glowed in the eerie storm light as the doctor knelt down on the duracrete beside him. She reached out to place her palm against his hollow stomach, her other hand soft on his cheek as her lips curved into a gentle smile. “I’m here.” Crosshair pulled himself up into her arms.
How was she here? Despite the storm, Senna was warm and dry as he pressed his face into her collar, breathing in the familiar smell of antiseptic and sweet soap that had always been her. Her hands smoothed up and down his soaked back. “It’s alright, sweetheart,” the doctor whispered. “You’re alright.”
Crosshair let out a long, shuddering sigh as her warmth spread through him, soothing away the ache of his bones against the hard ground. “Can we go home?”
“Of course we can.”
Another sigh. She’d come for him. She still loved him. They were going home. Crosshair curled further into the comfort of her arms, sinking into his relief as he felt her kiss the top of his head. Sen.
Then the doctor’s hands stilled. “Cross?”
Crosshair felt a prickle of unease at the sadness in her voice. Don’t, he thought, instinctively, but Senna continued.
“Where is home?”
Where? Crosshair blinked and lifted his head to meet her eyes. “It’s—”
He twisted to look out at the city, but it had finished sinking days ago, anything beyond the platform now obscured by sheets of cold rain. Thunder cracked like a cannon overhead and he turned back, startled to see water washing down her face, falling from her lashes like tears. The prickle turned to dread. “Sen?”
“I’m so sorry, dear.”
Crosshair woke with a gasp, grinding his knuckles into the rough duracrete as the thunder rolled again. He pounded the ground with his fist.
The fucking, Sith-damned dreams. At least once he was dead, there wouldn’t be any more dreams. His tears mingled with the puddle of water beneath him as the doctor’s quiet words echoed through his head. I’m so sorry, Sen.
Imperial City
Dr. Divehdi woke with her alarm. She showered, dressed, and ate a ration bar with her caf.
She felt nothing.
Dr. Divehdi attended her morning staff meeting. One of the new nurses, a girl from Corellia, laughed as she announced her engagement.
She felt nothing.
Dr. Divehdi performed a successful surgery on a natborn soldier. A corporal. He said he had a husband and a little boy at home.
She felt nothing.
Dr. Divehdi lost a clone patient to an infection that had resisted all treatment. He was the last of his squad.
She felt nothing.
Dr. Divehdi smiled at her chief medic when he told her he’d see her in the morning. She accepted his hand on her shoulder, his wish for her to sleep well. She wished him the same.
She felt nothing.
Dr. Divehdi was shutting down her console when a blinking icon caught her eye. She frowned, hovering over it for a moment while she struggled to remember when she had last received a message at that address.
Senna selected the message, eyes widening as an unrecognized decryption program launched on her screen. “Shit.” Nothing dangerous could have made its way past the Imperial firewalls, surely? She’d been assured that the security on the army’s servers was the highest in the entire galaxy. Still, the doctor’s mouth was dry as the program finished its process and an image appeared on her screen.
Senna gasped when she realized what she was looking at. It was Crosshair, lying in his blacks on a table in one of the labs on Kamino. As she stared, he shifted on the table, and Senna realized she was watching a recording. Then, a voice.
“CT-Nine-Nine-Zero-Four's genetic mutations have altered much of his cranial activity, including his inhibitor chip.” It was Nala Se! She was talking about Crosshair. The doctor’s eyes narrowed as another voice responded, this one cold and male.
“Yet he exhibited loyalty to the Empire during their mission.”
The geneticist replied, “While the chip is not as active as a standard clone's, the order does appear to be working.”
“Can you intensify the programming?” the man asked.
“Yes.”
“Then proceed.”
Senna watched in horror as Crosshair’s body tensed, then began to jerk in silent pain, her own hands clenching into fists as she watched his do the same. No! What the hell were they doing to him? She leaned towards the screen as if she could thrust her hands through it and pull him out.
The recording came to an abrupt end and the doctor was suddenly faced with her own reflection in the monitor, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Senna scrubbed it away in shock. She scrambled to find the message again, but there was no trace of it left, no sign of its origin.
What the kriff. What the kriff. The other voice in the video. She had recognized it. The Imperial officer she had met on Kamino when the war had ended. Tarkin. Admiral Tarkin. He had made Mistress Se uncomfortable, she remembered that. And Hunter had said, before they left that last time, that Tarkin had assigned them a mission. What had he done to Crosshair? The “order” he had mentioned, Tech had also said that, asked her if she’d heard “the order issued”. They hadn’t had time to talk then, but she knew it had concerned the execution of the Jedi. But Hunter had said they hadn’t followed it.
A wave of frustrated exhaustion swelled over the doctor as she pressed her fingertips hard against her eyelids. Why would someone send her this? Why now, after…after he was gone? After they were all gone?
Dr. Divehdi covered her mouth as she cried.
The first thing Crosshair saw when he woke up in the hospital on Coruscant was Senna. She was seated near his legs, hunched over the side of his bed, her fingers stuffed up under her braids to tangle against her scalp.
He blinked as the room came slowly into focus, looking down at the many wires and tubes running from his body. He’d made it back. If this was another dream, it had better be his last.
Crosshair licked his dry lips. “Sen.” Her head jerked up at the sound of his hoarse voice.
“Cross?” Senna burst into tears, the datapad on her lap clattering to the floor as she lurched forward to wrap his shoulders in a tight embrace. He could feel her shaking as he grabbed her back. Please be real.
“I’m alright.”
Senna surprised them both by pressing a fierce kiss to his bristly cheek. “They told me you were dead. Crosshair. They said—”
“I’m not dead.” Crosshair coughed, voice rough with disuse.
He’d almost been. After more than thirty days trapped in the middle of the ocean, Crosshair had given up on being rescued. Hunter had taken his pack and rifle when he’d left with the others. It had been a week when the fear had set in, brushing his skin with cold fingers and whispering that, if he died there, he’d never be able to tell her he was sorry, never be able to make things right. His brothers and the kid were gone, safe somewhere far away. But Senna, she’d think they’d all died in the destruction of the city. He couldn’t stand the thought of her adding their names to the list in her office. Couldn’t stand the thought of her mourning them because of him.
He had told the troopers who rescued him that he was the only survivor, but she needed to know the truth.
“I’m okay, Sen,” Crosshair rasped, coughing again. "Sorry for scaring you.” He dared to reach up and touch the side of her face, chest tightening when the doctor leaned into his hand. Senna’s eyes were swollen and rimmed with red. Dark circles bloomed like bruises in the brown skin beneath them.
“I thought I’d lost you. Your brothers," she whispered brokenly. "Honey, I—”
“Sen.” He squeezed her shoulder sharply, glancing around the curtained room before looking back and deliberately placing his hand in hers, flipping the edge of the sheet over it.
Crosshair and his brothers had communicated with a secret language of hand signals since they’d been small. Tech, in his usual bossy way, had taken it upon himself to teach Senna and she had been delighted to trade messages back and forth with the cadets. It was the same code they used to signal in combat, but now Crosshair signed directly into her palm, hoping she remembered the meaning.
Squad. Safe.
She blinked down at his fingers under the sheet, then back up at him. “What?”
He repeated the signs, slowly and deliberately. Then–Hunter, Wrecker, Tech, Echo, Safe.
The doctor’s eyes widened in understanding. “Omega?” she breathed. Crosshair nodded.
Senna slumped in shock and relief. The last month had been the worst of her entire life. She hadn’t been able to work for a week after the news, only dragging herself back when the fear of Rampart’s scrutiny became too much. She’d lost weight, unable to eat as the days had passed in a haze of grief and shock. Bern had wanted to ban her from the medbay, but Senna had begged him to let her stay. The only time she felt in control was when she was helping patients. Then she could bury herself in someone else’s needs and ignore the pain that threatened to drown her. The troopers still needed her. Bern still needed her. She’d struggled mightily to keep herself afloat.
When she’d received the comm that CT-9904 was being transported back to base, Senna had been sure she was dreaming, her exhausted mind desperate for hope.
But it had been true. He was there in front of her, horribly thin and with a month of new beard and hair, but it was Crosshair. And now he was telling her they were all alive. Her boys and Omega.
Thank you. Oh, Maker, thank you.
Taglist: @kybercrystals94 @lightwise @freesia-writes @clonethirstingisreal @just-here-with-my-thoughts @bad-batch-lurker
#star wars the bad batch#clone force 99#the bad batch fanfiction#star wars oc#tbb crosshair#dr divehdi#the little moment writes#only what burns you back
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Does literally every swtor player post lineups of their legacy? Yes. Is this going to stop me from jumping on the bandwagon? Hell no.
Jedi Knight (Disaster Lesbian Space Nun)
Nandaraza (Nanda Kylraza, telekinetics sage) should probably have been a Consular, but she just doesn't have the patience. Or the drive. No, instead she uses her telekinesis and mind-control powers to hurl rocks at people, and probably would have been a padawan forever if she hadn't passed her trials in spectacular fashion by hauling an entire Sith Lord in to face the Temple's justice. The good news: This got her knighted. The bad news: This also got the Sith Lord assigned as her padawan. Somehow, they both survived to defeat the Emperor, and then they got frozen in carbonite and had to do it again. Twice. After surviving all that, she's dating Kira. She likes Huttball, gambling, helping people, and amateur archaeology.
Sith Warrior (Autistic Lady Knight In Shining Armor/Only Sane Bitch In The Empire)
Yaellia (Yaellia Quinn, carnage marauder) is the scion of House Ivros, a proud and ancient Sith line...which was founded by a slave, a bastard daughter of the House's patriarch only tenuously recognized by her father. Understandably, this has given Yaellia herself an extremely dim view of slavery and a rock-solid sense of honor, mercy, and noblesse oblige that comes as a complete shock to...well, most people. Including (especially) Malavai Quinn, even now that they're married with children. After being frozen in carbonite for five years and discovering the Empire was still just as awful, she joined the Republic on Iokath and has been a saboteur ever since. She loves spending time with her family, but she also gardens, cooks, podraces, and explores the secrets of ancient Force ruins with her bestie Talos.
Jedi Consular (Functionally A Priest, But Not A Very Good One)
Evrard Briardionne (madness sorcerer) is what happens when a Chiss is exiled from her homeworld for using the Force, gets to Dromund Kaas, marries a nice local boy, has a son she teaches Chiss meditation techniques...and then dies along with her husband, leaving young Evrard a fresh Korriban Academy graduate who joined the Inquisitors to pay the bills while hiding he was about as Dark as an overcast day. He proceeded to half-ass his job as much as humanly (Chissly?) possible before deserting for the Jedi, where he now puts his mental manipulation and impressive connection to the Light to use as a healer. He is much, much more devoted to this than he ever was to the Sith. Shame about all that Force Lightning, though. And the fact that his boyfriend's a Darth (Nanda's padawan; the Jedi thing uh...did not take). When he's not working, he likes drinking, gardening, and curling up with a good datapad. He is supposed to have white hair, but alas.
Sith Inquisitor (Manic Pixie Dream Girl With A Knife And Trauma)
Ritanelle Sunveil (lightning sorcerer) is not a Sith and might electrocute you for calling her one, but is nonetheless Sith-trained; born a slave on an Imperial colony, she worked in Korriban's mines for some years before her Force sensitivity expressed itself. Now her chains are broken, and she's determined to make it her former masters' problem. Her boyfriend being an Imperial agent is the only thing keeping her on that faction. During the KOTFE timeskip, she makes a name for herself freeing slaves and slaughtering Hutts; joining the Alliance was a fun break from that which also helps further her absolute hodgepodge of Force training. In her free time, she's a big holovid junkie, amateur historian, and highly experimental chef.
Smuggler (Alien Han Solo But Angry)
Jaiyu Kylraza (sharpshooter gunslinger) is a simple man. He loves credits, freedom, and not being beholden to anyone. He hates the Empire and all that it stands for. Accordingly, much of his fuel is burned shuttling refugees and supplying resistance groups. He's a distant relative of Nanda, which--following her first defeat of the Emperor and her resulting fame--has become something he also hates. Fame is bad for his less...legal businesses, mostly various forms of spice. He spends a lot of his off time drinking, carousing, and gambling. His lekku are definitely at least three times as long as the sad ingame stubs.
Bounty Hunter (Good, Bad, I'm In It For The Money)
Rhiavi Spens (marksmanship sniper) was born on an absolute no-name one-speeder planet somewhere on the edge of Wild Space, and became a bounty hunter pretty much entirely for credits. And, alright, to get away from her seven older, more overbearing sisters. She'll work for almost anyone if the price is right, but there are lines she refuses to cross--a position which has oddly endeared her to an SIS agent who ought to be her next target. Currently, Yaellia Quinn's signing her paycheck. Her hobbies include droid repair, Corellian crystal tree bonsai, and sharpshooting.
Trooper (Mirialan Captain America)
Corthak "Corrie" Bacard (gunnery commando) is a good man. This makes him a less-than-perfect soldier, particularly given how badly he wants to toss General Garza off a high-rise. Still, he serves the Republic with the utmost loyalty and leads Havoc Squad with a firm and caring hand. (He hasn't even thrown Tanno Vik out of the airlock yet.) He's happily married to Elara Dorne, and has four children with her. He likes barbecue and cheesy romance novels.
Imperial Agent (Sleazebag With A Heart Of Gold-Ish)
Erasmus Westmoore (lethality operative) grew up on Balmorra. Then the Republic abandoned it, and he--holding a considerable grudge--signed up for ImpInt. It didn't take too long for him to realize what sort of people he'd agreed to work for, but he didn't care too much as long as they didn't find out about his under-the-table deals. It wasn't until learning that they were using chemical conditioning on their own people--including his partner--that he was motivated to quit. When he's not working (an act he does as little as possible) he parties and watches daytime soap opera holovids.
Bonus!
Smuggler
Ras Westmoore is literally just my IA; he retired after the events of the class story, and now runs guns, drugs, spice and stims across the galaxy. He'll hook up with basically any species that looks like they're down for a fun time.
Sith Warrior (Socially Awkward Murder Puppy)
Akhavesh (Akhavesh Qoyuwsar, rage juggernaut) is the Empire's Wrath. Having initially been granted the position seemingly out of nowhere following the defection of his predecessor, his swift, firm enforcing of his Emperor's will kept getting derailed by meeting Vette, Yaellia's "sister" and, Akhavesh believes firmly, the one bright spot in the galaxy. Nobody's surprised when they're married by the time KOTFE hits, except maybe Akhavesh who still can't figure out how he stopped stammering long enough to ask. Being flash-frozen for five years has given him more confidence, but it hasn't lessened his disdain for the Republic. Fortunately, he'd rather be playing with his pet tuk'ata than slaughtering entire city blocks. He's too chill for that.
#swtor#sith#jedi#togruta#mirialan#my ocs#kav and yael basically split the wrath storyline in that yael has the SW's crew but she's basically just a random Sith#kav is the actual Wrath with a huge ship/crew/etc
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Legion of Super-Heroes: Rank the Versions
The Legion of Super-Heroes was my entry point into comic books. My uncle handed me a digest-sized reprint of their early Silver Age appearances, and it has been my strongest comics love since that point. Others come and go but the Legion (and its million characters) will always be my true love in comics.
I saw a thread on reddit the other day asking readers to rank the various versions of the Legion of Super-Heroes, so lets go:
The Original (1958 – 1989): This is an obvious number one. The original LOSH laid the foundations for every version, reboot, and homage to come. All the mainstays – heroes, supporting characters, enemies, locations – debuted in this run. The most classic moments and famous storylines occurred with this version. Easy number one.
The Reboot (1994 – 2004): Another strong version that successfully modernized multiple characters. Lyle Norg’s reboot had to quadruple his fan base. The White Triangle storyline was fantastic. This version had a few questionable choices but overall was very strong.
Five Years Later (1989 -1994) The most controversial version but I love it. Not a perfect run but the characters were awesome. I have never loved Jo Nah as much as I have in this run. Cosmic Boy, Night Girl, Kent Shakespeare, Infectious Lass, and Spider-Girl were other standouts. Roxxas was hilarious but terrifying in his insanity. The Subs were badass, fearless warriors in the resistance. Jacques had something to do besides utter random French words! Tyroc became something other than a walking cliches! Glorith was something other than a devolved blob of goo! Sun Boy’s downfall was painful and horrifying! Love this run!
Threeboot (2004-2009): Mark Waid returned to the Legion for another reboot and threw everything sideways. It was great! Lyle was vastly different than the reboot but still received more character development than his original version. Loved the Cosmic Boy and Brainy rivalry. The addition of Supergirl was unnecessary and the ending was weak but still – many enjoyable moments.
Legion of Super-Heroes (cartoon): Nothing ground-breaking but it was fun.
The Retroboot(2007 -2011). I wanted to love this more than I did. The storylines and characters were bland. It started off strong with the Lightning Saga, the Superman/Legion vs Earth Man’s Justice League, and the Legion of Three Worlds storyline. Even the first year of the title wasn’t bad – Earth Man joins the Legion, Titan is destroyed, etc but it turned into forgettable blandness. Way too many new characters were introduced that weren’t memorabIe. I did love the spotlight on Night Girl and her relationship with Cosmic Boy. Tyroc again was something other than a stereotype. Legion Lost didn’t amount to anything – too bad as it was an interesting concept.
The Imperial Guard (Marvel): A Legion by any other name is…the Imperial Guard. I remember reading their first appearance in a Classic X-men reprint and I immediately tagged the group as a Legion homage. Always fun when they make an appearance. I love that Marvel keeps the group strong even though the team is an homage to a competitor. The Guard won the trial of Jean Grey/the Phoenix. Gladiator defeated the Fantastic Four. Gladiator and the Guard were standouts of Marvel’s 2000 cosmic runs. Love it.
Bendisboot (2019): Speaking of blandness, there is this hot mess. I didn’t even finish the run and that is the only time I can say that about a Legion run. Team books are not Bendis’ forte – his Avengers run should have proven that so I am unsure why DC thought he would be a good choice for a writer of the biggest team in the comic book industry.
There are other versions that I didn’t list simply because they only appeared for an issue/episode so there’s not much to rank. I did enjoy most of the “one-shot” Legions.
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