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the-sprog · 8 months ago

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Tumblr really didn't want me to have a good time writing this post.

Sigh. Anyway..

I am actually insane about my own AU so I don't mind whatever you want to add to this. Go for it. I love you.

My Pokémon knowledge is not as detailed as it once was, which is why I linked to so many sources, because I had to look up to be sure I wasn't pulling this out of my ass, so I really appreciate you adding your much more extensive knowledge of the lore! And don't worry about taking long to respond, especially to semething like this! It took me 3 days to write what I did!

So anyways here's more :3

(Same TWs apply: discussions of Drowning, bullying, major character death (about Danny though. So.))

Ok, starting with: when you mentioned Dialga teleporting Danny to wherever Ash is, this is the conversation I imagined would follow:

"Palkia." "What do you want?" "Dear sibling of mine-" "Don't you dare play me for a fool. What do you want, Dialga?" *Eyes narrow* "There's this kid-" "I swear to our progenitor-!" "-he died! He's been reborn a Zorua! A peculiar one, first of its kind-" "So? This used to happen all the time in -oh, what did the humans call it?- Husui." "... Zorua are extinct???" "No, not all- just get on with it." "Right, ok. He's going to do great things, my sibling." "... You got attached." "I-" "Arceus isn't going to be happy about you choosing a human for yourself-" "It's not like that! I merely wish to see this story to its end." *sigh* "Alright. But you owe me. What do you need me to do?" "He's been on the run for a while now, but between discovering his new abilities and trying to keep hidden, he hasn't been fairing well. If he's to be there for the portals-" "Wait, what portals?" "-he ought to get somewhere safe. And where would be safer than with Arceus' Chosen One?" "... You want to involve The Child into this? Do you desire for Arceus to cease your existence?" "Our progenitor would never-" "JUST-" *inhale* "Whatever. I'll help you. Although I don't understand why not ask that sprog of yours." "I do not wish to put Celebi at risk, Palkia." "But you have no qualms putting me at risk, I see." "I do not think you so weak, sibling, that you couldn't be able to handle it." *sigh* "I will not be blamed were Arceus to get involved, understand?" *chuckle* "Sure."

ANYWAYS me thinking I'm finny aside let's go for more!!

Thank you again for connecting my vaguely canon compliant rambles Imao.

Ash is absolytely Arceus' favourite, but you're so right that all the other legendaries have a special place in their heart for him. Maybe not the Birds[1], though...

I wanted to keep the spirit of the original way Danny died in all of this, as in keeping Tucker and Sam present for it all and having it be, yes, an accident, but also somehow related to a dare or something similar and careless Sam did. To keep that element of guilt for her.

I love your idea of what happens and of the "Ultimate Anti-Ghost-Type-Juice"! I'm trying to imagine what kind of container something like that would be kept in, and if it's enough for Danny to drown in, I'm thinking it could be like those tubes Mewtwo gets created in[2]. Maybe they also wanted to create an artificial Pokémon with it, to have a Dark-type immune to Ghost-types somehow. I think Obastagoon[3] is the only Dark-Normal dual type.

So maybe it's one of those pods and the three teens are fucking around in the Fenton's lab. Artifical Pokémon[4] aren't that uncommon actually, so the possibility of the Fentons succeding isn't that out there.

Also, writing my Dialga-Palkia conversatin I realized that Vlad would've had gone through the same. He's just a Zoroark[5] instead, and he's regular Husuian one (sidenote: I was convinced Zorua and Zoroark talked for some reason? Not like Meowth, but like Mewtwo. Or the Swords of Justice[6]. I'm wrong, btw. But whatever, let's just say Danny and Vlad can sorta do the mental communication thing like other Mythicals because they're half-human). Maybe instead of drowning like Danny, he got zapped in the face like in canon (and is the reason why the Fentons decided to keep it all under lock in a strong container. It just wasn't strong enough).

So, this is what I imagine happens (am I actually writing a snippet? Yeah. I am. Fuck I've got real strong brainworms):

"So," Tucker said. "This is where crazy happens." He looked around the laboratory, at the Pokéball shells thrown around the tables, and the scraps of metal and beekers of liquid balancing on shelves. "Yeah, well. We're not really supposed to be down here. So." Danny pointed to the laboratory's door, glancing at his friends. Sam rolled her eyes. "It's going to be fine! We're just looking around." They kepts glancing around until their attention is finally grabbed by a human sized cilinder of metal. "What's with that?" Sam asked. "It's just full of some Anti-Ghost types fluid," Danny pulled on a lever, making the metal receed, revealing the vat hidden inside it fulled almost to the brim with a neon green, almost glowing, fluid. It was mesmerizing, in the same way a HyperBeam[7] was. "Woah..." "I dare you to open it and take a good look inside." "What? Sam!" "Relax, Tucker. It's just another of the Fenton's experiments. Whatever it's supposed to do, it's not going to." She roller her eyes. Danny looked at the pod. He hesitated. On one hand: his parents had taught him and Jazz about lab safety. They weren't allowed in the lab alone, and when they were let in, they weren't allowed to touch anything their parents didn't tell them to. On the other: Sam was right. His parents' inventions never really did what they were intended to. They were yet to actually hurt humans, as Pokémon -specifically Ghost types- were their primary targets. "C'mon!" Sam gave Danny a little shove. "Don't tell me you're too Wimpod[8]," she smirked. Danny bristled. "What? No way!" He made his way towards the pod and started climbing the ladder to the top opening of it. The airlock took a while to twist open. It was heavy and Danny was only 14 and he wasn't supposed to open it and- He kneeled at the edge of the pod to fully open the hatch and his hand slipped. Sam and Tucker yelled something, but Danny was too busy falling to really pay attention. He tried grabbing onto the hatch, which turned out to be the wrong course of action as it slammed shut and its hinges bent out of shape. Tucker immediately ran towards the ladder, climbing it, going for the hatch. "TUCKER!" "I'M TRYING, SAM!" His voice cracked. "THE HATCH IS STUCK, YOU GOTTA DO SOMETHING!" With tears in her eyes she pulled at the Pokéballs on her belt. "SCRAGGY! HEADBUTT THAT- THAT THING!" "Scraggy!" The Pokémon squared up as soon as it appeared and charged head first onto the pod. The glass didn't even crack. Danny tried holding his breathe. He could see Sam panicking and Tucker's legs holding onto the ladder. His vision was tinted in green and his eyes and lungs are starting to burn. As Scraggy kept using Headbutt against the glass, Danny started panicking as his oxygen started depleting. He opened his mouth, trying to inhale some fresh air. Instead, he got a lungfull of mystery green liquid. Sam yelled again, but with the lack of oxygen, his brain struggled to put meaning to the sounds. Meawhile, Sam watched. Horrified. As the whole thing started glowing. She didn't take her eyes away from where Scraggy was, slowly but surely, creating a crack in the glass. "SCRAGGY! KEEP GOING!" Tucker didn't stop pulling, even as he looked at Sam's Scraggy making real progress. Even as the first tinkle of neon, glowing liquid started to exit from the cracks. Even as the pod finally gave way and Sam jumped to get her and Scraggy onto a surface and out of the way of the flood. All three of them stared, tears still rolling down their eyes, as a small bundle of black, green, and white fur appeared dragged with the liquid, Danny no where in sight. "...what?" Sam was the first one to break the silence. Tucker slowly got down from the ladder, flintching a little as his shoes touched the wet ground. He got cloeser to the... Pokémon? and squatted down to take a better look at it. "It... looks like a Zorua, somewhat." Suddently, it whimpered, and Tucker jumped back. It opened its eyes and groaned, closing them immediately after. "Guys?" Danny's voice startled them out of their stupor.

"...Danny?" Tucker asked.

The Zorua slowly sat up. "Yeah- what- this- something's off..." He looked around, making eye contact with his friends. "What... What's happened to me?"

ANYWAYS pt2

Tumblr is being a bitch so I'm gonna try saving this on app or posting it directly and I'll respond to the rest of what you said and add the links later.

Sorry.

I think if Danny existed in the same universe as Ash Ketchum, he'd be a fan.

This got really long so I'm just gonna

I'm a believer in "Ash is God[1]'s favorite idiot (positive...?) and so is eternally 10" and also anti the level reset propaganda. I think tales of the kid who went head-to-head with several legendaries[2] and won would probably get around. Maybe they wouldn't know his name, but a general description would make the rounds. A black-haired, dark-eyed kid who is always, always accompanied by a Pikachu. Often seen with some kind of red hat.

I think Danny "God's favorite idiot (Time God[3] edition)" would start looking for this elusive child who seems to be under a similar predicament to him (Hisuian Zorua[4]!Danny anyone? C'mon, this is the Pokédex entry "A once-departed soul, returned to life in Hisui. Derives power from resentment, which rises as energy atop its head and takes on the forms of foes. In this way, Zorua vents lingering malice[5]". He would be the specialest one, though. Because he'd be a green shiny instead of blue. Maybe that would be because he's half dead, not completely so? Or maybe because he'd be artificial, kinda like Type: Null[6]? (I know it isn't the first artificial Pokémon, but he's the first I thought of because of the design being like it's a Frankenstein of other Pokémon). Imagine though. Hisuian Zorua is extinct, right? Because it's from before Sinnoh was called Sinnoh[7]. So he's already a rare Pokémon, but he's not even shiny. He's truly a one of a kind.), though Ash, contrary to popular belief, isn't a Pokémon. Just un-aging.

Here, Danny's parents would be science-y people -maybe even some lower importance Pokémon professors- who don't believe in psychics even though the Pokémon world has people that can do telekinesis, and don't believe that Ghost types were once human, as most of them are said to be, anyway. They therefore believe that all Ghost types are malicious because they prey on people's grief and loss. They'd be the people to find out that Dark types are supereffective against Ghost types[8]. They'd have mostly Dark types with some Normal types as well.

Jazz would be a scholar probably, researching the myths and history around all the legendaries, but especially around Ghost types. She'd become an expert in behaviors from Pokémon like Litwick[9].

Sam would be on the front line, protecting the Ghost types from them. Hiding, harboring, etc all that she can think of. For her own Pokémon that she catches or at least takes care of (maybe she'd be more of an N type of trainer) she'd go more for the aesthetic or for rescued Pokémon (like Ash does quite often) more than their type or their abilities, but I also think she'd vibe with Fighting types a lot. I can see her wanting to be a Pokémon Ranger[10].

Tucker would be your classic inventor wannabe Electric type gym leader, but he'd be one of those hardcore competitive trainers. He'd be excellent at type advantages and IVs grinding, but I also think he'd struggle like Ash did with Charizard and some others. He would sometimes over level them and they'd stop listening to him, get an attitude when they evolve. Stuff like that. He's gotta learn that there's more to Pokémon battles than statistics and the theoretical. I think Ash is gonna end up being the one to teach him this. Also imagining his mom as a Nurse Joy.

However, when the Fentons find a... shiny? Zorua? In their house, posing as their son? They freak out a bit. They know it's not their son because the eyes are the wrong color, even if it speaks with Danny's voice and makes expressions with Danny's face. But they're in Unova. They recognize the Pokémon once it transforms.

Zoruas are known to play tricks on parents. They're Dark types with a mischievous side. They just gotta look for its mama and hope that it has taken Danny by mistake. They decide to take care of it in the meantime, even consider keeping it in case it doesn't have a mama and was using Danny's disappearance to keep itself safe.

Danny doesn't know what to do. At first he thinks about coming clean, but he knows. He knows that whatever invention of theirs blew up in his face didn't just turn him into a Zorua. People don't just turn into any kind of Pokémon. So he doesn't say anything, and plays along. He practices his illusions to try and get his looks as close as he can to before the accident, but it doesn't work for his eyes. No matter what he does, they're green, just like his fur markings when he's tranformed.

But then... Then they realize that it's not an Unovan Zorua.

This Zorus is a Ghost type.

A Ghost type taking Danny's form.

Their baby is dead. It killed him and this… this monster had the audacity to try and, what, replace him?

They start calling him Phantom.

Danny has to run.

It's easier to fake being a kid on a Pokémon journey than a rare version of a rare version of an extinct Pokémon. The only problem is that he's lacking the documents for it. Sam helps out with funding and supplies for the journey, enough to get to Professor Juniper and get a Pokédex, and with that a trainer license. At least until she and Tucker can join him.

They convince their parents to let them go on a journey, somehow. Sam's parents aren't thrilled by their daughter wanting to take part in the fights, they'd much prefer it if she joined Pokémon Contests, but perhaps her grannie Ida used to be a Gym leader of some kind and manages to turn them in Sam's favor. Meanwhile, Tucker's parents knew he wanted to become a Gym leader, so they were prepared and aware he'd one day go and leave the nest, but they'd always assumed Danny would be the one accompanying him, not Sam. They aren't surprised, however, that the kids want to get out after what -supposedly- happened to their friend.

The first few months are absolutely miserable all around. Danny is all alone, he has no Pokémon to defend himself, and he's still figuring out how his own powers work. What's his move set? His ability? And Sam and Tucker aren't fairing much better. They're like Misty and Ash at the very start, or even Iris and Ash. They're making good progress in terms of getting to Danny quickly, but they're not doing good on the Pokémon training part of their Pokémon journey.

Professor Juniper sends the Starters in the mail in the first Gen V game, while in the second Belle is the one to give them to you. I still think Prof. Juniper just. Shipped the Pokéballs over, and I imagine Sam wouldn't be too happy about it. I think she'd choose Tepig (as I said, I think Fighting types and her would vibe), and Tucker for Snivy (his first struggle. Snivys are snarky and a little self centered. if it doesn't want to listen to Tucker, it won't. Tucker gotta earn its respect). They leave Oshawott with Jazz, who promises to help them derail her parents whenver possible and uses Oshawott to sabotage them.

They end up in a kind of "Ash and Team Rocket"-like situation, where Team Phantom gets chased through Unova -and then Alola or whichever other region they decide to escape to- while the Fentons try to catch the Pokémon they're convinced killed their son.

Danny-as-Phantom would get a reputation because of his looks and the general mayhem his parents cause with their chase. Some people would get very curious about this Pokémon, especially Team Rocket. so maybe that's how meeting Ash happens.

Phantom gets separated from Sam and Tucker, maybe they got captured, or are busy distracting the Fentons. Ash ends up trying to console a scared little Zorua, one he's never seen anything like before, before Team Rocket shows up. He puts the little Zorua down behind him and goes:

"When are you going to give up?! I won't let you have Pikachu!"

"Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. No, twerp. We're not here for Pikachu this time. We're here for that little Zorua behind you."

"Oh. Well, we're not letting you get it, either!"

Cue Pokémon battle.

At this point I imagine Team Phantom got to Alola, so we can also have a Tucker+Sophocles meeting. I'm still not over that kid's name btw.

Ash would be starry-eyed at Tucker. Boy liked tech. Maybe Tuck gets himself a particularly stubborn Pichu during their travels and causes Ash to get flashbacks.

He'd be Phantom's rights n1 protector. Starts batting away all the pokeballs people try to throw at him, like physically getting in the way.

Ooh what if the Thermos is a Ghost type specific MasterBall? It has a 100% catch rate but only with Ghost types. It didn't used to work, but then Danny charged it with one of his moves and -since Ghost moves are supereffective on Ghost types- it charged it perfectly. Danny uses it to catch rowdy Ghost types, of whom he's slowly becoming the King without realizing. Arceus started this whole thing that he couldn't stand Danny, but Dialga really liked the guy so he let him meet Ash to see how it would go and damn. Ash likes him. I mean, it's hard for Ash to hate truly hate someone, so it's not that surprising, but now Arceus finds Itself incapable of taking Danny away from Dialga. Sure! It can keep the kid! Whatever! They all want to be like It nowadays >:( copycats.

Danny is close to becoming a mystical pokémon due to all he does and the myths he's causing during his journey, but Arceus isn't convinced it's a good idea for him to have that status. First of all, because Darkrai might riot, second of all because it hasn't been that long and Danny is still, at the very least partially, a human child.

Shut up, It's not being hypocritical >:( it's fine when It does it.

But also Danny can now communicate with all pokémon with ease. He's not a Ditto, so he still can't fully comprehend some specific pokémon languages, like Electric types communicating via electric currents, but he gets around.

He doesn't like playing translator, though, and Pikachu learns that pretty quickly when pi starts to try and pester him to convince him to tell pi's trainer all about their journey from the beginning from pi's perspective. Danny makes it to the bike stealing before he uses an illusion to vanish.

Pikachu just has a lot of feelings about it all, ok? Pi loves Ash so much and pi wants him to know! Wants to talk about Ash-Greninja, about the Kalos Crisis, about Latias, about Delia, about N, about all the pokémon they left behind, about the pokeballs, about evolution.

Pi also wants more ketchup, but it's low on pi's list of priorities.

Danny isn't up for playing mediator, however. Though he might mention the ketchup stuff. Just to piss pi off.

@jadenoryuu hope you don't mind the tag, I thought you might have ideas or just like this one lol no pressure.

Husuian Zorua can learn some Ice type moves, I'm imagining Lillie's Alola Vulpix learning with him.

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aerialflight · 4 years ago

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Fic Recs (cause it's always nice to give a shout out and get people into things I'm into rn)

[The Magnus Archives] (I recently finished the podcast and I fell into a hole for a while so here you go)

Sing a Song of Sixpence by Kaiel

Ship: Jon/Martin

In which Jonathan Sims is a Siren, and he fails to notice any new abilities granted to him by the position of Archivist. Or really anything about the Entities at all.

Takes place in season 1 featuring Jonah Magnus’s slow decent into madness

(The new mythology interwoven with tma's worldbuilding is so freaking good and I love how all the characters change and develop because of these changes. Also, f you Elias)

Along Came a Spider by Dribbledscribbles

Ship: implied Jon/Martin

Sasha James is the Archivist, as expected. Martin Blackwood is menaced by Jane Prentiss, as expected. Elias Bouchard weaves his web, as expected.

All goes as it should.

At least until something calling itself Jonathan Sims steps in.

(Web!Jon in this makes me want to weep, it's so freaking good. A pretty long, very excellent oneshot on what could've happened if Jon got taken by the web when he was a kid. And Sasha as the Archivist is ALWAYS so cool, we love her in this house.)

A Break in the Clouds by Ash_Rabbit

“I’m eight.” the kid sniffs as if eight was any different from four, maybe not an unspeakable horror then, just a regular horror. “And I heard that the Magnus Institute deals with-” his little nose scrunches, cute. “-spooky things.”

“Do you have a-” he cracks a grin, and then rethinks it as small hands tighten against their burden.”-spooky thing to deliver?” gods he hopes not, it’s bad enough when adults walk in and lay out all of their baggage, but for a child-

“There’s a spider in this book.” the kid says solemnly, raising his textbook sized parcel. “It ate Evan Pritchard.” a bloody fucking Leitner. Of course an eight year old would find a murder spider book. “This seemed like the best place to bring it.”

(I never thought about what the Original Elias could've been like AND NOW I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT IT BECAUSE OF THIS FIC. I LOVE HIM, HE'S COMPLEX AND HE CARES AND JON CARES AND THEY BOTH CARE ABOUT EACH OTHER. THIS IS THE CONTENT I WANT, OMG. Also, Jon being even smaller than usual is adorable, so cute. No wonder Elias wants to hug him, a LOT.)

See the Line where the Sky meets the Sea by The_Floating_World

Ship: Jon/Martin, Jon/Oliver Banks

When Jon is a child he looks into the infinite abyss of space. The Vast looks back into him.

(One of my all time fave fics in this fandom, no questions asked. I have reread this three times and am open to doing it again, god. Vast!Jon, such a concept. It's written so beautifully and the relationships Jon develops, so good. ugh. My heart. Please please read.)

Sweet As Roses by Prim_the_Amazing

Ship: Jon/Martin

“Come in, Martin,” he says, not looking up from his notes.

“Hi, Jon,” he says, and Jon stops writing at the sound of his voice. “We’re out of the green tea, but we’ve got lemon?”

Jon looks at him. Martin smiles at him in his usual tentative way as he sets the mug of tea down on Jon’s desk. Heat spikes so sharply in his gut that he twitches with it.

“Thank you, Martin,” he says, mouth dry, and he stands up.

“Oh,” he says, sounding almost surprised. He smiles again. “No-- no problem-- um, what are you--”

Jon takes Martin by the shoulders, leans up on the tips of his toes, and kisses him.

(You have no idea how much I howled through this fic, my god. *buries face in hands* The number of times I wanted to cry from sheer hilarity and horror reading this good lord.)

Things Could Always Be Worse by theOestofOCs

Ship: Jon/Martin, Georgie/Melanie

Sometimes, the most horrifying thing of all is what might have been.

Somewhere, Jon could swear he heard a crowd laughing.

Or: in which Jonathan Sims is forced to swap places with his alternate self—a tall, chivalrous hero extraordinaire, who knows neither fear nor nuance—and is sent to the aggressively straight alternate universe the Magnus Archives was never meant to be.

“Whatever place this is,” Jon announced, “I just want to be sure it knows I hate it.”

(I will say this once, THIS IS THE MOST CURSED THING IVE EVER READ EVER. Like holy hell. I can't believe this thing exists. please read it oh please please please)

[Supernatural]

heard from your mother (she don't recognize you) by Schmuzz

Ship: Dean/Cas, Jessica/Sam

A man named Cas wakes up in 2003 with no memories, but he's able to piece together a few things:

1. Supernatural creatures exist, and most of them will hurt innocent civilians if he doesn't stop them; 2. He has abilities that no human hunter should have, but he knows enough about human hunters to keep that to himself, and finally; 3. He keeps running into another hunter named Dean Winchester, who seems to be about as lonely as he is if he's willing to put up with those former facts long enough to help Cas unravel the mystery of who (or what) he really is.

For his part, Dean's still (not) dealing with Sam's departure to Stanford, and figures distracting himself with a bit of mystery and intrigue is as harmless as it gets, right? Right.

(THE fic I'm most into right now, been following this from the very start and it's AMAZING. Cas has agency and is making friends and S1 Dean is growing out of John's influence and is becoming a Person and the both of them first being friends then more. The slow burn as their relationship develops, SO GOOD. SO SO DAMN GOOD. *screams* Seriously one of the best spn fics I've read in a long, long time.)

anamnesis by cenotaphy

Ships: Castiel/Dean, Sam/Eileen

Chuck is depowered, Jack is the new god, and the world is free. Dean and Sam get into the Impala and chase down the miles on an endless highway, and their story is finally, finally their own to follow. At least, that's what Dean tells himself. But the diners and motels and painted interstate lines are blurring together and the smallest details keep catching at his brain like tiny fishhooks and he can't quite shake the feeling that not everything is exactly as it should be.

* Fix-it/alternate series finale. Canon-compliant through the end of 15.19.

(THIS IS THE FIC THAT GOT ME THROUGH THE FINALE OKAY. WHY COULDN'T THIS HAVE BEEN CANON. It's Disturbing and honestly plot-wise this makes more sense. Why couldn't we have had this. *screams*)

[Avatar: The Last Airbender]

where the stars do not take sides by WitchofEndor

Ship: Sokka/Zuko

When Azula is nine, she becomes an only child. She hears the Fire Lord call for Zuko's life, and in the morning, her mother and brother are gone. Azula may be young, but she isn't naive. She knows what happened to them.

Which makes it all the more surprising when Azula tracks the Avatar down and fights his group of peasant friends, only to find herself staring into an eerily familiar face.

(The fact one of the tags in this fic is, "Sibling Dynamic: Fucked Up But Wholesome" should give you an idea what this fic is like. Chaotic as HELL and I just love Azula here, she loves Zuko so much in her messed up way and Zuko loves her back in the exact same way lol. It's batshit and I am Here For This.)

[Naruto]

Eclipse by AislingRoisin (JayBird345) for HybrisAnaideia

Ship: Nara Shikaku/OFC

"In life, it's easier to remain stagnant and wallow in your troubles. But life isn't merely about continued existence, nor is it meant to be gone through alone."

(This is a fic that's slept on and I NEED people to read this. A self-insert fic that I find really interesting in its approach and the worldbuilding for the post-third war shinobi world is fantastic. I feel like there's a certain pattern with self-insert fics, not that is a detriment in any way to how much I enjoy them, so this fic feels fresh to me in a way I haven't read in a while. I am waiting eagerly for this to get updated! Please read!)

On Freedom and Other Formalities by iaso

Ship: Kakashi/Genma/OFC

When push comes to shove, Hiwa Inuzuka doesn't go down easy. Reborn into a new, dangerous world? She puts her past life as a spy to work. Thrown into a war? Hiwa does her duty, for Konoha. And when she's forced into an arranged marriage? All there is to do is beat them to the punch and get married first. Thankfully, Genma Shiranui is willing to lend a hand. Literally. SI/OC

(Listen, LISTEN, it's about the slow burn, the longing, the communication (it both has and hasn't and isn't THAT great??), the messy way you fit three very different people together, it's so freaking good! Also, Kakashi is so Chaotic here this is my fave characterization of him, you can't change my mind. And Genma is a Good Boi who is Doing His Best, along with the Self-insert character who I LOVE SO MUCH, SHE'S FANTASTIC FNEIWOPAF. Sped past this fic in the speed of light, I could not stop reading!)(Honestly, read all of the author's fics, they're all really REALLY good!)

Building a Castle by WhisperingDarkness

Without needing anyone to tell her, Sakura knew that talking to someone no-one else could see or hear would make her weird. It would draw the bad kind of attention to her, something people could make fun of her for.

She didn’t like being weird, but she did like the voice. Her inner voice was helpful and it was a part of her that had always been there. The idea of it not being there would have been so much weirder than anything else.

It was during her first year at the Academy that Sakura realised the voice was not in her head at all, but that it came from a cloudy shape floating next to her.

(Basically a short-ish retelling of Hikaru no Go. Only with more Shogi and Nara and Ninja's)

(Sakura can see ghosts (I'm noticing this is a popular trope for her) and it's really cute haha! Her relationship with Tobirama is sweet and I just enjoyed reading this so much.)

[The Magicians]

So Long (And Thanks For All The Books) by IncompleteSentanc (Erava)

Ships: Quentin/Eliot, James/Julia, Quentin/Margo/Eliot

When Quentin is told Julia wasn't admitted to Brakebills, he realizes he has a drastic decision in front of him. If he tells Julia about magic, he'll have his mind wiped as well as hers. But he can't just leave her behind, either. He can't lose his best friend, and he can't let her life a life with her magical potential stolen away from her.

So he makes a third choice.

(Really, and I mean REALLY well-done canon divergent fic, this is the Quentin & Julia friendship fic I have been looking for forever. It explores so much of what could've happened and I just love Quentin here, I really really do. Characterization done so right. I also recommend the author's other works too. Been a follower of them for a long time, they're great.)

[Game of Thrones]

The Road to Victory by writing_as_tracey

Too late in preparing for the Night King and the Long Night, the last stand at Winterfell is close to falling. Bran takes desperate measures to ensure victory, and Jon, Sansa, and Arya pay the price for it in a time unfamiliar to them, on the cusp of another war. [GoT, time-travel fix it]

(I swear, this fic made me laugh so many times, all the Stark are BAMF and fantastic, and Rhaegar gets Wrecked lol. It's crack btw, and the plot goes in directions you'll never guess and it's amazing hahaha!)

[Haikyuu!!] (I am very very late to the fandom but here I am)

Ballare (To Dance) by MidnightSparks

Ship: Iwaizumi Hajime/Kageyama Tobio/Oikawa Tooru, and platonic Kageyama & Kentarou (really love their friendship)

Kageyama’s first love is volleyball. His second, however, is ballet.

In one world, Kageyama Tobio is left behind by his parents. In this world, the existence of soulbonds keeps Kageyama’s parents in Miyagi and leaves Kageyama in the care of his grandma and grandpa.

(In which soulmates exist and that changes everything and nothing at the same time.)

(*buries face in hands* I have fallen for this ship so hard and I can't get out fudge me. I understand now. Their DYNAMICS FIEWONPAF)

Kings of Tomorrow by bokubroya (liarielle)

Ship: Kageyama Tobio/Oikawa Tooru

On the eve of Tobio’s 16th birthday, he counts down the seconds to midnight, and emerges with Oikawa Tooru’s name on his wrist.

It’s been two years since then, and Tobio thought they had an understanding. A silent, never spoken about understanding that this thing between them is nothing, and they’re going to pretend it doesn’t exist.

Of course, it’s just like Oikawa to change the game and leave Tobio wondering what comes next.

(I am WEAK for soulmate fics between these two, I don't even really like soulmate fics half the times what is WRONG WITH ME-)(Please suffer with me, I'm begging you. Its a good fic, thumbs up.)

[Crossover]

Honey and Magic by JustARatherVerySillyWriter, White_Squirrel for Super Carlin Brothers

Fandoms: Matilda (yeah you read that right), Harry Potter

Everyone knew Matilda was a rather extraordinary child, but even she didn't know she was a witch. Matilda Honey receives her Hogwarts letter in the year of the Triwizard Tournament, and soon, she will leave her unique mark on the magical world.

(Do I even need to explain how amazing it is to have Matilda in the wizarding world? And Matilda is a HUFFLEPUFF AND I WILL DIE ON THIS HILL THIS FIC IS GREAT PLEASE READ!!!)

An Eye for an Eye by DpsMercy

Fandoms: The Magnus Archives, Welcome to Night Vale

In which Jonathan Sims is not from the UK but instead, if you took his origins and turned them sideways twice then flipped them over, he technically would be from the US, the town of Night Vale specifically. Elias can’t do shit about it and gets a headache and slowly creeping madness instead.

(Look, I know probably everyone has read this because if they haven't, what have you been DOING with your lives??? Jon interning at Night Vale is Incredible, nothing phases this man, it's Delightful. I laughed so many times reading this, I'm not even kidding right now. Read or perish.)

The Favour by R_Cookie

Fandoms: Harry Potter, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them

Ship: Original Percival Graves/Harry Potter

Percival is ten years old when his grandfather tries to tell him that he's ensured the greatness of the Graves legacy for him, that he ought to be eternally grateful - but the explanation is hijacked by a stranger who manages to intimidate Chester Graves with an ease never seen before.

or: Hadrian (Harry) Potter is the Master of Death, who grants Graves a boon. Nobody could have known that the Deathly Hallows didn't turn you so much into the 'Master of Death' as into the anthropomorphic personification of Death. And so, Death becomes Percival's guardian angel, and Percival does not spit out his cereal.

(Look, I don't know how I stumbled back into the FBAWTFT fandom either, it just happened and I'm grateful for that. Otherwise, I wouldn't have found this amazing fic. Their relationship is slow and strange and I just love how Percival is characterized here. Also, one of the tag promises that it deviates from canon so I am really, really excited for that! XD)

baby that's what i do by natanije

Fandoms: Naruto, Katekyou Hitman Reborn!

"Are you telling me," Hidan exclaims, incredulous, "that you collect money all this time to give to orphans?!"

Kakuzu pauses. He blinks a few times.

"Huh. I guess I do."

(Tsuna reincarnates as Kakuzu and it's HILARIOUS. HE'S SUCH A MOM HAHAHA)

#Fanfiction #AO3 #Fic Rec #Fic Rec List #Podcasts #The Magnus Archives #Supernatural #Avatar The Last Airbender #Naruto #The Magicians #Game of Thrones #Haikyuu!!#Crossover #Matilda #Welcome to Night Vale #Harry Potter #Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them #Katekyou Hitman Reborn

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raijinhasverybigpecs · 5 years ago

Text

THE RE-UP: Tu’er Shen, the Leveret Spirit 🐇

“While other gods may proclaim endlessly over the power they have over their domains, causing no end of trouble for their fellow pantheon members and their followers as a result, Tu’er Shen patiently and quietly tends to those who request his services with unmatched loyalty and dedication.”

Name: Tu’er Shen, the Leveret Spirit

Pantheon: Chinese, Minor Diety

Class: Hunter/Healer Hybrid, Medium Difficulty

Positives: Healer, High Movement

Negatives: Hybrid Specialisations

please click on the read more for everything else lol

appearance details 🐇

old (above) vs new (below)

so perhaps i made him a bara rabbit after all lmao. blame the new outfit and how much better it’d look if tu’er shen has big ol bitties to work with :^) it’s still the same hair as the ears work really well with that colour but the basically the whole face has changed to be a lil more Dramatic(tm). the makeup skills have also improved with new tu’er shen rocking more subtle eyeliner alongside some very pretty and shiny pink liner. the eyes are also another major change, they’re a pretty grey as it goes nice with his hair. i still love the idea of his eyes changing colour according to his mood and grey is just a neutral mood :^) anyways, yes he looks beautiful, yes you can compliment him!

outfit details 🐇

tu’er shen now has an in-game outfit!! yay 🥳 it’s been a while coming mostly bc i have no art or visual character design skills but i’m pretty proud of how this turned out lol. it’s super cute and p goddamn chinese if i say so myself but it’s still very hoe and feels modern enough to fit smite’s standards i feel lol. big thanks to @izahunny (who is dead on that blog but a clown on twitter) for helping me with designing the outfit, the back layers and lil extra dress fabric for the front bottom left corner of the dress were his idea and they make everything much more balanced 🥰 i didn’t add a weapon but he’s just using a bow, i might update this later if i care enough to add that lmao

abilities 🐇

(please note that i am terrible with stats and don’t care about how viable in-game he actually is, these are just general ideas and the stats can be changed lol)

PASSIVE - Protector

Tu’er Shen passively grants a medium range aura of regenation around him to his allies, increasing their HPS, MPS and magical and physical protections by 5% of their totals for each statistic. Additionally, Tu’er Shen gains a 3% movement speed bonus every 4 levels.

40 unit aura radius, 5% increase of total HPS, MPS and protections

3% bonus movement speed every 4 levels, total bonus is 12% at level 20

ABILITY 1 - Passion Arrow

Tu’er Shen charges his arrows with passion, amplifying his next basic attacks with a small AOE on hit or at max basic attack range and causing them to go through minions. If Tu’er Shen hits an ally while Passion Arrow is active, he heals them for a flat amount. If an enemy is hit the charges deal increased damage on impact and if they are hit 3 times they are charmed and walk harmlessly towards Tu’er Shen for 1.5 seconds.

Cooldown: 10 seconds

3/3/4/5/5 charges, Heal: 50/75/95/125/150 + 30% scaling

Extra damage: 10/30/60/90/120, Mana cost: 55/60/70/75/85

ABILITY 2 - Matchmaker

Tu’er Shen calls upon his matchmaking skills to select and connect two allied gods or one ally and one enemy god with each other in a 55 unit targeter. If two allies are linked then their damage is increased by 10% and they receive a heal over time. If an ally and an enemy are connected then the enemy is revealed to Tu’er Shen’s team and the enemy deals 20% less damage to their partner. Additionally, the connected ally receives 50% of their enemy partner’s healing.

Cooldown: 20/19/18/17/16 secs

Duration: 6 seconds, Heal over time: 20/25/30/35/40 + 20% scaling

HOT ticks every 1 second, Mana cost: 50/55/60/65/70

ABILITY 3 - Bunny Hop

Tu’er Shen hops in the direction he is currently travelling. If Tu’er Shen hits a wall, player-made deployable or god he bounces off the surface, doubling his movement. Additionally, enemy gods are stunned for 1 second upon impact. Tu’er Shen can store 1 charge of this ability.

Cooldown: 14/13/12/11/10 secs

2 charges maximum, range of 55 with an amplified range of 110 units

Damage: 100/150/200/250/300 + 100% scaling, Mana cost: 70/80/90/100/110 mana

ULTIMATE - Romantic Rush

Tu’er Shen, after a short duration, channels the full extent of his love powers, amplifying all of his basic attacks with the effects of Passion Arrow for 10 seconds. If an ally is hit and they are at full health they receive a a health shield equal to half of Passion Arrow’s healing. On enemy hit, the charm duration is doubled but they cannot be charmed again while Romantic Rush is active. The effects of Matchmaker are doubled and Tu’er Shen receives a 20% damage buff if he is linked with another male god.

Cooldown: 80 seconds

Duration: 10 seconds

Mana cost: 80/90/100/110/120 mana

lore 🐇

While other gods may proclaim endlessly over the power they have over their domains, causing no end of trouble for their fellow pantheon members and their followers as a result, Tu’er Shen patiently and quietly tends to those who request his services with unmatched loyalty and dedication. For he is not a god who takes to the spotlight easily, but one who will see his responsibilities through to help and protect those who he serves, an opportunity he was once not afforded in his youth.

Such are the origins of Tu’er Shen, the Leveret God.

Once a young man known as Hu Tianbao, he fell deeply in love with a handsome imperial inspector of Fujian Province. Such was the intensity of his love that he looked upon the inspector while he bathed, peering at him through a bathroom wall. Tianbao was caught in the act, confessing his sincere affections for the other man in hopes of reaching an understanding. The inspector was quick to retaliate in violence, sentencing him to death by beating.

Underworld officials, seeing his crime as one of love, sought to justify his death by appointing him the god and safe guarder of homosexual affections. A month after his death, he appeared in the dreams of a man from his hometown – not as Hu Tianbao but reborn as Tu’er Shen. From this came the erection of a humble shrine for his worship and Tu’er Shen has dutifully served those who seek him ever since.

The battlefield of the gods is a strange place to find Tu’er Shen, usually one so far removed from the world of ugly violence and mindless bloodshed. Even so, perhaps love can soothe and heal the wounds caused by the warring of pantheons, or maybe it can even help end the war in some way. Knowing firsthand the true cost of thoughtless hate and violence, Tu’er Shen picks up his bow in the hope that he can protect even one person of those who cannot protect themselves in the war of the gods.

voicelines 🐇

god selection

“Tu’er Shen!” (duh)

introduction

“Is anyone in need of my services?”

“Let’s see what I can do.”

“Wonder if there are any cute gods around? Wait, no! Work first, then play later!”

“In their own ways, everyone here is fighting for love.”

(this isn’t an official one but as a joke it was highly entertaining) “Come on Season 6 let’s get sickening!”

abilities

ability 1 - passion arrow

“Fallen for me yet?”

“I’ve got you!”

“Coming for your heart!”

ability 2 - matchmaker

self/ally match - male gods only

“Our connection is strong.”

“Let your heart speak to me.”

self/ally match - general

“Together we’re stronger.”

“I’ve got your back.”

ally/ally match

“You’d make a good pair.”

“Another successful match.”

ally/enemy

“Swipe left next time!”

“This’ll end badly.”

ability 3 - bunny hop

“Excuse me!”

“Coming through!”

ability 4/ultimate - romantic rush

“Feel the love!”

low health

“I will not give in just yet.”

“I don’t mind playing rough, but this is a bit too much even for me…”

items

when placing wards

“Reveal their hearts to me little ward.”

“Any romantic confessions I should be aware of?”

when buying consumables

“Isn’t this interesting?”

“The colour is lovely.”

when buying offensive items

“I don’t want to harm others but if I must.”

“Love hurts indeed…”

when buying defensive items

“Will this protect my ears?”

“Hope this won’t slow me down.”

“Even the gods have to use a little protection.”

kills

when in a killstreak

“I can heal them later on, right?”

“Love never misses its mark.”

when killing a jungle boss

“That creature was awfully big…”

“Thank you for your sacrifice.”

when destroying a tower

“Love conquers all, man and structure alike.”

“Ack, that’s so loud!”

death

“You’ll never kill my spirit…”

“Love is eternal…”

directed voicelines

Aphrodite - “It’s a great honour to finally meet the goddess of love, I have much to learn from you.”

Cupid - “Speaking from... past experiences, it seems as though you should work on your aim.”

Jing Wei & Xing Tian - “I admire your perseverance in the face of insurmountable odds, we are not too dissimilar in that way.”

Loki - “If you haven’t already, I suggest you pay Chiron a visit at some point. He is single after all...”

Bellona - “Any luck asking Amaterasu out yet? She’s still waiting for you to make a move you know..”

Raijin - “I’m willing to bet you’re more satisfying in bed than you are an opponent on the battlefield.”

Bacchus - “I’m not the drinking type... but perhaps you’d like to come in for tea?’

Achilles - “How’s Patroclus doing? Maybe you should spar with him more often, you’ve gotten rusty.”

Apollo - “Playing the lyre isn’t the only thing you make look easy.”

Ravana - “When I see you, the term ‘rope bunny’ comes to mind...”

jokes

“I hope Cupid doesn’t get jealous of all the time I’m spending with Aphrodite…”

“Technically I’m not this closely associated with actual rabbits, but the aesthetic was too cute to pass up.”

“Considering what I’ve been through, I think I’ve earnt the right to proud of who I am.”

“It is technically homophobia if you hit me. Just saying.”

“The Jade Rabbit? He’s certainly cute... but I think there’s another rabbit who’s cuter.”

taunts

Animation: Tu’er Shen draws a neon heart in the air, shooting an arrow through it shortly after.

“[Yawns] I think I might have a nap, perhaps that’ll give you a chance to catch up.”

“You have an awfully big weapon there, are you compensating for something?”

“I’ll show you why they say love hurts.”

“Fighting for your overblown ego isn’t a good reason to wage war.”

“Take it from a matchmaker, I don’t think anyone’s standards are low enough for you.”

skin concepts 🐇

new tu’er shen body

floral fairy

squeaky clean, night corps, bunny server

country cowboy, casual, devilish

old tu’er shen body

kitsune, spring revelry, leather bunny

hello nurse, debonair devil

old notes 🐇

this concept is super inspired by Kaios’ concept for Tu’er Shen (which you’ll find linked in the description of this post), i loved his ideas for rabbit lad and wanted to add more to the concept. my final kit concept is a lil bit similar but i think i’ve changed enough for it to not be a copy lmao. anyways, i’ve wanted a hunter support since i played tyrande a while ago in heroes of the storm. she was super fun and the mix of dealing strong consistent damage and still being able to support allies is something i’d kill to have in smite

tu’er shen is also a really cool god, and recently I’ve been prokoved by my mutuals making lots of god concepts when i haven’t made any in a very long time lol (if you remember my other smite oc you’re a real stan). obvs i don’t think hi-rez would do him justice and gamerbros would totally complain about the Gays™ shoving their unsatiable need for Representation™ down their throats and what not but it’s still a fun concept regardless!

new notes 🐇

he’s back and 10x beefier and sluttier looking than ever lmao. the self-insert squad may be missing plenty of people (y’all better come back like...) but it’d be a waste of time and effort to not do more with tu’er shen. also i love him so! i’m still kinda sad over twink tu’er shen being replaced by bara tu’er shen but it’s for the best, he’s v handsome now and big ol bitties in that dress? iconic. he does fit better into the male cast, the added beef makes him more attractive to basically everyone (he’s serving taric teas now lol) and he was a soldier so there’s plenty of reasons to make him a hunk. anyways... i don’t have much to say about the outfit than it’s flawless lol. it was interesting and p fun to make although i always feel awkward about posting drawn stuff in a serious context. it’s weird but i’m happy about the final product 🥰 i’ll try to write more stuff about him soon but don’t expect too much lol

links/resources 🐇

personal

headcanons (they’re a lil outdated in reference to his body lol)

tu’er shen’s tag

original post

my smite oc tag

other

kaios’ super cool concept for tu’er shen you should check out as it’s cooler than mine lol. his art of tu’er shen goes full furry and it’s kinda cute ngl

other links you can read for more information about tu’er shen: 1, 2

a beautiful short film about tu’er shen helping a guy accept his sexuality, gore warning towards the end

thanks for reading if you got to the end! please send asks or whatever, i’m dying for any excuse to talk about him lmao 🐇

#smite #smite game #hi-rez smite #smite oc #gay rabbit stuff #MY OCs #pwease support my boy. i care him

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duhragonball · 5 years ago

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Dragon Ball Z Movie 12: Fusion Reborn (6/6)

One of the criticisms I’ve seen about this movie (From Team Four Star, because they seem to be the only ones still sleeping on how cool Movie 12 is), is that the Veku vs. Janemba part takes up too much of the film. I find this absurd for a couple of reasons.

First, it illustrates the immense risk involved with the Fusion Technique. If you screw it up, you may end up worse off than when you started. As far as I can tell, Veku has greater power and stamina than Fat Gotenks, and he lasted a lot longer against Janemba than Goku or Vegeta did individually, but he’s still in deep trouble, and things could have gone even worse depending on how badly our heroes botched the pose.

I think the presumption here is that Goku and Vegeta should have pulled it off on their first try, allowing time for an epic fifteen-minute brawl with Janemba to close the movie. But that’s not how Fusion works in this franchise. It’s a high-risk/high-reward manuever. If you get it wrong, it’s a disaster, but if it works, you can overwhelm an opponent in minutes, if not seconds.

The second objection I have is that every gorram one of these movies wastes a bunch of time on goofy stuff. Movies 3 blows like a third of its runtime on a camping trip that has nothing to do with Turles or anything else. And then Movie 5 goes on another camping trip,because I guess they still had camping stuff they hadn’t used the first time around. Movies 1 and 2 had friggin’ musical interludes.

The only exception I can think of is “Mystical Adventure”, which has a frantic pace very similar to “Fusion Reborn”, but I feel like that whole part set in Penguin Village was kind of a weird diversion, even if it did function as the climactic battle of the movie. The point is that even if Veku was a big waste of storytelling time, it’s well inside the bounds for these movies. And it’s not a waste of time, because this is part of the effort to master fusion.

Anyway, when we last left Veku, he had fled Janemba to hide in what’s left of the Needle Mountain in Hell. But now Janemba’s tracked him down. To attack him, Big J uses a spike from the mountain and somehow transforms it with his weird powers, making it extend towards Veku like a spear.

It’s kind of hard to get this across with just screencaps, but you can tell by the look on Veku’s face that he’s in deep trouble.

But then at the last possible instant, Veku’s fusion expires, and he splits into Goku and Vegeta, avoiding the impact.

Janemba is shocked. Maybe he didn’t realize Veku was his previous two opponents fused together? Before he can figure this out, Goku and Geets sucker punch him and fly away,

I don’t know how smart Janemba is supposed to be, but by now he’s probably figured out that Goku and Vegeta are trying to combine together to keep fighting him.

As they run away, Vegeta is livid. He didn;t like the idea of fusing with Goku in the first place, and that was when he thought it might actually work. Then he goes through with it, and it ends up making them weaker.

Then King Kai contacts Goku telepathically, and explains how Vegeta screwed up the last part of the pose by not extending his fingers. Goku’s all smiles, because now that they know what went wrong, they just need to try it again and it’ll work perfectly.

But Vegeta’s outraged that he would even suggest doing all of that a second time. Bad enough that he had to do it once, and it nearly got them killed. Well, they’re already dead, but you know what I mean. Don’t you? Look, Janemba’s not trying to tickle these two, that’s all that matters.

But they have to do it again, because this is still their only hope of winning. They just need to get the pose right this time, because now there’s no margin of error.

Trouble is, Janemba’s onto them now, and they can’t do the fusion dance because he keeps shooting ki blasts at them. WIthout the element of surprise, or a decent place to hide, they won’t have time to fuse, properly or otherwise.

But then...!

Fuck yeah, Pikkon’s here! I guess he sensed all the trouble they were having, or maybe the Kais asked him to run interference for Goku and Vegeta. Yeah, that must be it, since he already knows what Goku is trying to do.

So Goku’s all grateful to Pikkon, and he thanks him as they move to a safe distance.

And I love this dirty look Vegeta gives Pikkon before he leaves. “Look, I don’t know who you are, but you stay away from my rival, thot.”

So now it’s Pikkon vs. Janemba, and you’d think he’s screwed, right? I mean, he got clobbered by Janemba’s first form earlier in the movie, so what good can he do against this red version?

Ah, but Pikkon knows exactly how to keep this guy off-balance, because he’s been dealing with Janemba’s barrier all this time, and so...

I’m pretty sure “mental defective” isn’t quite what Pikkon called him in Japanese, but verbal abuse is verbal abuse, and it works! Janemba’s skin cracks up just like that barrier did.

I’m not quite sure what to make of this image. Is this just shadow, or is the idea that Janemba is hollow on the inside, like a Faberge Egg? I like that idea, even if it’s not what they had in mind. Janemba’s made of the spiritual waste of a buttload of wicked souls. For all his power, he’s just a shell of a person. Maybe that’s why he’s vulnerable to harsh words. He can’t stand being called out for what he is.

Then Pikkon shoots ki blasts at him, and I don’t understand that at all, because that didn’t do anything to the barrier, so why even try it on Janemba himself? The insults were working, buddy. Just call him a tiny-handed idiot and tell him his red trucker hat makes him look like an even bigger jackass than that stupid combover on his scalp. Tell him that he’ll go down in history as a total joke, and he’ll rank among world leaders somewhere between the Roman Emperor who married his horse and the other Roman Emperor who clubbed amputees to death while pretending to be a gladiator. Sorry, I got distracted there for a minute.

But Pikkon doesn’t do any of that, and I guess his harsh words are only effective enough to surprise Janemba, and maybe only hurt him a little bit. Like the barrier around Yemma, Janemba seems able to withstand it to some degree, so he does the disassemble-y relocation trick, reappears behind Pikkon...

And boxes his ears! Owwwwwww!

But meanwhile!

OH YOU DIDN’T KNOW?

Janemba would probably finish Pikkon off right here, except he’s seen that blinding light before, which means....

.... This thing! What is it? What does it mean? I dunno!

But then we see this badass mofo right here. Who be bad now, Janemba? WHO BE BAD NOW?

Pikkon looks over and sees that the fusion worked, and he breathes a sigh of relief as he passes out.

So they did it. Vegeta didn’t want to do this, but it worked. Now he can defeat Janemba, but as part of Gogeta, not as himself. There’s something kind of bittersweet about this, because there were no options for Vegeta to retain himself in this. In death, he was doomed to lose his identity as a disembodied soul. Restored as he was by Janemba’s tampering, he was too weak to fight Janemba on his own, which was the only thing that would have given his temporary resurrection any meaning. He could have run away, or even helped Janemba to preserve his own existence, but doing that would betray his principles, and that would erase his identity too.

The Saiyans are extinct. Goku and Vegeta were the only ones left, and they’re both dead in this movie. They’ve been dead for a while now, as far as I can tell. But what they stood for, their ferocious martial skill and their boundless courage, will live on. That’s what this is about for Vegeta. He’s already gone, but he can at least see to it that someone can rise up to defeat a monster like Janemba. If that warrior doesn’t exist, then he can at least fuse with Goku and create him.

And when this is over, that’ll be it for Vegeta. He’ll go back to hell, and eventually be reincarnated as a dolphin or something. Eventually, even the legacy of Vegeta will fade from living memory, and no one will remember who and what he once was. This moment can stand as a coda to his fleeting time in the universe. Z stands for the end.

But not yet. Not yet.

Somehow, Goten and Trunks can sense their dead father’s fusion and it inspires them to do their own fusion. I’m not sure why they didn’t just do this in the first place. Given the crisis on Earth, maybe they didn’t want to risk using fusion early, in case they might be too tired to do it later.

I also don’t understand why the boys need to go to these lengths to beat Hitler and his army of zombie Nazis, but they did it anyway. Well now you got Gotenks, dummy. Shoulda just stayed in the bunker.

Gogeta only gets a few lines in this movie. Really, he doesn’t get a whole lot to say anywhere, because he has so few appearances. This is his debut, of course, and then Toei brought him back for the fuck-finish of Dragon Ball GT. Then he came back in 2018′s Dragon Ball Super: Broly, where he got a lot more time to shine, but it was after a 21-year drought.

Anyway, Janemba seems to know this is serious business, because he takes one look at Gogeta and powers up.

So other than promising to avenge Pikkon, all Gogeta has to say in the original script is this: I am neither Goku nor Vegeta! I am the one who will destroy you!” That’s how it was worded in Budokai 3, anyway.

In the dub, Gogeta’s lines are a little different. First he says “I am not Goku or Vegeta! I am Gogeta! It’s over, Janemba. I’ve come for you!” Then he says in this shot: “Every force you create has an echo. Your own bad energy will be your undoing.”

I dunno, the lines are memorable enough that I managed to quote them without looking, but I would have preferred they stuck to the Japanese script more, mostly because Schemmel and Sabat sounded so cool playing Gogeta in Budokai 3. That was the problem I had with the later Funimation dubs. By 2004 I was playing video games that covered movies and GT episodes I hadn’t seen yet, and when Funi! finally adapted those scenes, they never seemed to hold up to the video game performances.

In any event, I feel like there was a push at Funi! to have Gogeta a) identify himself for the audience, and b) provide some sort of explanation for what was about to happen next. I’m not sure this was necessary. Does it really matter if Gogeta says his own name? Lobot was never identified in Empire Strikes Back, but I still know who he is. As for the rest...

Well, these streaks of light jump from Gogeta and hit Janemba in the chest, leaving craters in his body. At the same time, Gogeta slides forward, moving behind Janemba.

Then he just turns around and drives his knee into the back of his neck, twice. Janemba manages to turn around, but he just eats a kick to the face for his trouble.

Then he raises his hand, and turns around to stare at Janemba, who doesn’t get it until...

Gogeta makes a glowy, sparkly ball with his hand. Actually, Janemba seemed to sense this before it happened, so I guess he has some idea what’s going on here.

Now maybe this is some variation of the Spirit Bomb, perhaps combined with some technique of Vegeta’s. All I know is that this ki ball shrinks and disappears, and then Gogeta closes his empty fist. But there’s light coming out of the fist, so yeah.

Anyway, it scares the hell out of Janemba, so he knows something’s up.

So he charges Gogeta, who throws his attack, but it just looks like harmless sparkles, and Janemba doesn’t even slow down once it hits him.

But you can see how nettled Janemba is. He’s clearly afraid of Gogeta, for one reason or another.

When he closes the distance, he throws a punch, and it looks like it connects. Gogeta doesn’t block it, and he doesn’t flinch. Dude doesn’t even move.

And for a moment, it looks like Janemba’s doing okay, and then he suddenly looks shocked, and his whole body begins to sparkle.

Then his back explodes. Ouch.

In the games, this movie is called the Stardust Breaker, which I never totally understood until now. The glowing orb always distracted me from the fact that the attack itself looks like stardust, and stardust explodes out of Janemba’s wound, and Janemba himself seems to dissolve into stardust. The breaker part speaks for itself, though.

This shot confuses me, because it makes it look like Janemba’s fist never actually made contact with Gogeta’s face, although the previous screencap suggests otherwise. Maybe Big J took a step backward after the attack got to him. In any case, Gogeta ain’t hurt, and Janemba’s body is disintigrating.

All he can do is scream as he fades away.

And Gogeta just watched like he knows exactly what’s going on.

And then the Tank Clerk reappears. Did Gogeta plan all of this, or is it just a lucky break?

Anyway, the Tank Clerk takes one look at Gogeta and runs in terror. We can see from the scenery that things are already returning to normal. All those jellybean things are gone.

And Gogeta seems amused by the Tank Clerk’s panic. The kid has no idea what just happened, and maybe that’s for the best. So it’s a weird fight, and very short, but I think that’s what makes it so captivating. We didn’t need a long martial arts clinic to put Janemba away. The whole idea of this movie is that Janemba is this anomaly in creation, and that it would take something more than just a powerful warrior to beat him. If punching were enough, Goku could have handled this on his own.

This is why I’ve never been a big fan of Gogeta vs. Broly as a scenario, because no matter how strong Broly is, he’s still one Saiyan, so having Goku and Vegeta combine into this otherworldly character to beat one Saiyan kind of cheapens the concept. It should be reserved for villains like Janemba, Omega Shenron, and Majin Buu, who demonstrate bizarre powers that defy reality.

This is also why I’m not crazy about the dub’s effort to explain the Gogeta/Janemba fight. It sort of defies explanation. What makes Gogeta look so awesome here is that he not only beat Janemba in a few seconds, but he seemed to know exactly what he was doing the entire time. It’s like his fused mind could sense exactly where and how to strike. Why did he bother kicking Janemba in the neck? Was that somehow part of his offensive, or was he just getting his measure? We’ll never know. That’s what makes it so cool. Gogeta’s a man of mystery. In thirty minutes, he won’t even exist anymore.

I think a lot of Gogeta’s mystique was calculated as a response to Gotenks. When Goku first spoke of Fusion in the main story, he seemed confident that if he could fuse with Gohan or Vegeta, they would beat Majin Buu easily. But that would be a fusion of adult Super Saiyans. Gotenks is a kid, and the results haven’t been as great. So this movie sort of shows what Goku originally had in mind. With greater experience, Gotenks could eventually reach the same heights...

But as a kid, he’s limited to bizarre techniques based on whatever he thinks is cool. Which is why he’s doing the Super Ghost Kamikaze Attack again, only this time with 100 ghosts instead of one or ten.

And it works. The ghosts blow up all the bad guys, but it’s only a hint of the incredible things Gogeta is capable of.

Thirty minutes later, the fusion expires, and hell looks like it’s back to normal, right down to the bloody pond. Vegeta smiles at Goku and tells him he never wants to do that again, but somehow you can tell he doesn’t quite mean that. It reminds me of his farewell to Future Trunks in Dragon Ball Super, where he says he never wants to see him again. It’s not that he hates the guy, it’s more that he wants Trunks to become strong enough to handle his own problems without having to use the time machine to get help. Likewise, in this movie, the only way Vegeta could ever return to fuse with Goku is if another Janemba popped up, and he doesn’t want that to happen.

Goku says he’ll see Vegeta “later”. I don’t know if that’s supposed to be ironic or if Goku’s just not thinking, or maybe he’s got some faint hope that Vegeta will return somehow and Goku will meet him again somehow, some way.

Anyway, Vegeta fades out, which is kind of sad, but the smile on his face is a nice consolation.

And all the dead people on Earth fade out the same way. So that takes care of that.

King Yemma’s back in business, and all is right with the universe once again.

Videl and the boys head back after a long day of punching the undead. They don’t know what happened or why, but at least it’s over. But Goten and Trunks claim to know who saved the day. I guess they figure their fathers fixed things in Otherworld, since they could sense them fusing.

But they won’t tell, I guess just to mess with Gohan and Videl. So why couldn’t Gohan sense Gogeta’s ki if Goten and Trunks could? Oh, right, he was making out with Videl the whole time.

Anyway, Gohan chases the boys, anxious to learn their secret, and Videl gets flustered because they’re leaving her behind. This background is gorgeous.

Oh my gosh this is such a good movie.This scene doesn’t even matter and it’s still beautiful.

So that wraps things up, right? Wrong. There’s just one last piece of business...

No one made any wishes, so Shenron’s still waiting patiently in Bulma’s front yard. D’oh!

And then the credits roll, including this shot of Goku from Movie 8, for some reason.

I posted caps from the credits earlier, but hot damn I like these. And the ending theme is just magnificent. This is such a good-ass movie. No wasted motion, villain shows up in the first ten minutes, and there’s tons of stuff going on that’s all tied into the main plot, so the supporting characters can get their hero moments in without getting in the way of the main players. There’s tons of action, plenty of comedy, and the visuals are gorgeous from start to finish.

The only complaint I could possibly have is that it’s too short. A story like this could have easily been expanded into a 90 minute film, or even longer. You could have Goku and Vegeta botch a second fusion attempt, or just pad out the fights that are already in the story, or add some other characters running around dealing with the dead villains. Piccolo and Krillin fight Dr. Gero or something. Dabura and Broly try to gang up on Gohan and he gets some bloody satisfaction. Shoot, have Videl beat up some Red Ribbon Army guys. By now she’s probably strong enough to take most of them. And of course, Tiencha vs. Perfect Cell.

But you know, as a 50-minute affair, this thing rocks. I’ve sat through movies three times as long that weren’t even a third as good. It’s just so good. Ahhh...

Bravo.

#dragon ball #2019dbliveblog #dbmovieliveblog #fusion reborn #movie 12 #the return of fusion!! goku and vegeta #janemba #goku #vegeta #gogeta #veku #pikkon #goten #trunks #gotenks #tank clerk #gohan #videl #king yemma

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sineala · 6 years ago

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Hi! I really love your fic, and sorry if this is a bit of an awkward question, feel free to ignore it, but which comics would you recommend as ‘essential’ stony reading? You seem very knowledgeable about them :)

That’s not an awkward question at all! And thank you!

When people who haven’t really read comics ask me what comics they should read to get into Steve/Tony, I usually say that they should read Captain America: Man Out of Time – it’s short, it’s modern, it redoes Steve’s origin story in an interesting and approachable way. and it has some very sweet Steve & Tony moments. If you read it and like it, it’s probably worth seeking out other comics. But the thing is, I wouldn’t say it’s “essential” Steve/Tony reading, because it hasn’t really made an impact on fandom either in its plot events or its characterization of Steve & Tony. Like, if you go to AO3, you’re not going to find a lot of fic specifically about it. (Also it’s a retelling so it’s… not really canon in exactly the same way as the regular comics.)

So when you say you want “essential” comics, I am interpreting it as the comics that are basically the greatest hits of Steve/Tony fandom. Comics everyone is expected to know because they are featured again and again in fanfiction and because they have shaped our understanding of Steve and Tony’s characters. That’s what I would consider essential. I mean, much as I love, say, v3, you can probably get by without reading most of v3 because most of it doesn’t show up in fanfic (although you may eventually want to know who Rumiko and Tiberius are and what the deal is with the Sentient Armor).

I’m going to stick the list under a Read More.

Anyway, here’s a stab at making such a list for 616:

Avengers vol 1 #4: Necessary reading for any Steve/Tony fan. The Avengers find an iceberg, and there’s a body in the iceberg wearing red, white and blue, and… yeah, welcome to the future, Captain America. The first voice he hears is Tony’s!

Tales of Suspense vol 1 #58: Marvel had distribution agreements throughout most of the 1960s that limited the number of different comic titles they could sell; as a result, instead of solo books Marvel had a bunch of anthology titles (Tales to Astonish, Strange Tales, Journey into Mystery…) that became “split books” with solo tales of two different heroes. Tales of Suspense had up to this point featured Iron Man, but with this issue it became an Iron Man/Captain America split book, and in this issue Iron Man and Cap team up to fight the Chameleon, by which I mean that the Chameleon impersonates Captain America and Tony accidentally fights the real Cap. Whoops.

Nomad (Captain America vol 1 #180-183): You should probably start reading at about #176 for context. Anyway, Steve is disillusioned with the government after he discovers that Richard Nixon, who commits suicide in front of him, is the leader of the evil Secret Empire, and so he gives up being Captain America and decides to be Nomad. He’s only Nomad for about four issues, but what a glorious four issues it is.

Demon in a Bottle (Iron Man vol 1 #120-128): The original arc that established Tony’s alcoholism. If you see references in fanfic to an incident with the Carnelian ambassador, that’s this arc.

Avengers vol 1 #216: Steve finds out that Tony is Iron Man, because they’re on an Avengers mission and the villain magically strips Tony out of his armor, leaving him standing there wearing only his underwear.

The second drinking arc (Iron Man vol 1 #160-200): Tony starts drinking again and loses everything, to the point where he’s living on the streets in a cardboard box. Rhodey becomes Iron Man and Obadiah Stane takes over the company. This is the drinking arc you want to read. Highlights include #172, in which Steve bridal-carries Tony from a burning building, and #182, in which Tony nearly dies in a blizzard.

Armor Wars (Iron Man vol 1 #225-231): Tony tries to steal his technology back from everyone who has it; you will want to read #228, the issue where Steve tries to stop him. (Stories referencing an incident with the Guardsmen are talking about this.)

Operation Galactic Storm: This is a massive crossover from the early 90s where the Kree and Sh’iar have a fight and Steve and Tony disagree about whether to kill the Kree Supreme Intelligence. You don’t need to read the entire crossover; the part you do need to read is the issue afterwards, Captain America vol 1 #401, in which Steve and Tony make their apologies to each other.

Tales of Suspense vol 2 #1: This is a one-shot issue from the mid-90s in which Steve and Tony team up; its claim to fame is that it includes Tony thinking the following line about Steve: "Captain America. Steve. I look at your handsome face, into your clear azure eyes, and as ever, I feel the same guilty envy.“ (Steve also thinks similarly complimentary things about Tony – it’s very much mutual admiration society/mutual inferiority complex.)

Captain America/Iron Man 1998 Annual: Tony wipes Steve’s mind! Steve finds out and is mad! Then they fight MODOK, get lei’d, and make up at the end. It’s a lot of fun.

Red Zone (Avengers vol 3 #65-70): Tony exposes himself to a deadly disease because Steve is more important than he is and he has to give Steve mouth-to-mouth to save his life. Includes giant panels of their lips touching.

Civil War: You should really read Civil War and everything after.

Avengers Prime: This is a miniseries taking place after Steve comes back to life where Steve and Tony end up on an adventure in the Nine Realms together, Tony gets naked, and also they get some closure about Civil War. They hug it out at the end.

One Night in Madripoor (Captain America & Iron Man #633-635): Steve and Tony team up to fight Batroc, MODOK, and robot bees in Madripoor. There’s a lot of banter.

Avengers vol 5 & New Avengers vol 3: After Civil War, Hickman’s Avengers run is probably the second most popular canon setting for comics Steve/Tony. It’s controversial in fandom, and there’s no happy ending… but you can’t deny that it is absolutely about Steve & Tony’s relationship. A hundred issues of pain and betrayal!

Civil War II: The Oath: Okay, yeah, so, I think we can all agree that Secret Empire (the recent one, not the original one) was a terrible idea and it was a very bad decision to make Steve a fascist dictator – but “The Oath” did give us Steve canonically declaring his love for Tony, so, you know, it has that going for it.

The Cap-IM Tumblr maintains a list of Slashy Moments if you’d like to see panels from most of these (and more). Also, the 18+ 616 Steve/Tony Discord maintains a list of resources and summaries of these and more issues.

I also specifically want to say a little more about Civil War because I think of all the storylines you could read it is probably the most essential for Steve/Tony fans. CW is where the pairing really got its start and I think it’s the most popular setting for stories that engage with a particular era of canon. So if you are going to read one era, Civil War should probably be it.

I recommend starting with New Avengers vol 1, which as a bonus is very good for Steve & Tony up until about #20, when Civil War hits. The Cap and IM runs of the time are also generally viewed as very good and you should definitely read them – that would be Cap v5, by Brubaker, which has the Winter Soldier arc, and IM v4, which starts with Extremis and then continues on to Execute Program and then reaches Civil War.

You are going to want to read the main Civil War storyline but if you’re a Steve and Tony fan honestly most of the fun is in the tie-ins. My abbreviated Civil War reading list is as follows:

Civil War #1-7: You’re gonna need to read this.

Captain America vol 5 #22-24: Honestly I don’t remember most of this but you might as well.

Iron Man vol 4 #13-14: Tony’s motivations are explored, Steve and Tony attempt to come to an agreement during the war, and also Happy Hogan dies and it’s sad.

Captain America/Iron Man: Casualties of War: One of the two key issues you absolutely must read, in which Steve and Tony meet during the war and try to talk things out, and they also summarize what they’re doing and why and basically their entire friendship up to this point.

Civil War: Front Line #11: Toward the end of the war, reporters interview Steve and Tony. Tony lies on the floor and cries. I think I would summarize the post-CW era as a whole as “Tony cries a lot.”

Captain America vol 5 #25: The one where Steve dies.

Civil War: The Confession: READ THIS. If you read nothing else, read this. This is why we have a Steve/Tony ship. This is the essential issue.

Fallen Son: The Death of Captain America #1-5: Features Steve’s funeral. Well, both of Steve’s funerals. If you guessed that they also involve Tony crying a lot, you would be right.

What If? Fallen Son: Mostly worth it for the cover art.

What If? Civil War: After Steve’s funeral, a mysterious stranger shows Tony two worlds in the multiverse where the war could have gone differently. More tears for Tony!

After that, you probably also need to keep up with New Avengers/Mighty Avengers plus the major events up through Steve’s return to life – that would be Secret Invasion (the Skrulls invade), Dark Reign (Norman Osborn runs everything), and Siege (Osborn decides to invade Asgard; Steve comes back for this one). Steve’s return to life is in a miniseries called Captain America Reborn.

I would also recommend the rest of Iron Man vol 4 that takes place after Civil War – it’s renamed to Iron Man: Director of SHIELD because that’s the job Tony gets after Steve dies. Tony is basically a grieving mess. There’s also a miniseries called Avengers/Invaders in which Tony and the post-CW Avengers meet the WWII Invaders – including Steve – and it is a glorious pile of feelings and time travel and sadness.

So, uh, yeah, that’s a lot of issues but honestly I think if you get up to speed on Civil War and the couple years after you will be able to understand a lot of where fandom is coming from. (And then if you read Hickman’s run that’s basically the other run you are most likely to need to know.)

If you can find a copy of it – it’s out of print, alas – there’s a really great trade called Iron Man/Captain America (not Civil War: Captain America/Iron Man, that’s the one with the CW tie-ins, but you will probably want it too) that reprints several pre-Civil War issues focusing on Steve & Tony, including several of the ones mentioned above, like ToS 58, the 1998 annual, and the issues of Armor Wars and the second drinking arc that have Steve in them. Notably, I think it’s the only place that the ToS v2 one-shot (the “azure eyes” issue) has ever been reprinted.

(I take that back, the ToS one-shot is now in a trade called Avengers: Tales to Astonish. And now that I’m looking, the ToS one-shot is now on Marvel Unlimited and comiXology. Sweet!)

I hope that helps!

#Anonymous #replies #comics reading lists

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autumnslance · 7 years ago

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A Lore Nerd’s Analysis of Oaths and Warriors of Light in D&D and FFXIV

This is @wearepaladin‘s fault. Kinda. Actually, I’ve been planning on doing something for awhile, and the idea began to solidify more in a r/ffxiv thread where someone asked “Anyone notice Dark Knight is more like a traditional Paladin lore wise?” My own comment can be found here, where I say I’ve been long thinking of the ways the Dark Knights and Paladins of Eorzea match up to the various Paladin Sacred Oaths of Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition. I figured I ought to expand on that sooner or later.

So yeah, “I’m your host LynMars/Dark Autumn, you can go below the cut for my TEDTalk on the Warrior of Light, Dark Knights, Paladins, and the Sacred Oaths of D&D 5e”:

Now, as a disclaimer, I have not completed the Paladin quest chains yet. I am nearly to the end of the original lvl 30-50 A Realm Reborn (ARR) chain, though, and since I usually don’t care too much about spoilers, already know what’s going to happen. Partially because I could easily guess and so just looked over the chain info. Anyway.

Paladin (PLD) is a traditional sword-and-shield wielding class of holy light users in Final Fantasy, like in most settings. In FFXIV, the primary group of paladins is the Sultansworn. As the class trainer, Captain Jenlyns Aesc, explains when you first approach him:

“A paladin swears allegiance to the sultanate. A paladin shall be the sword and shield of the sultanate. A paladin defends the people of the realm. Sellswords and gladiators and others of their ilk wield their blades for themselves, but a paladin serves the greater good. Do you understand me?

“The battle arts that the paladin learns have been held secret, nurtured, and perfected within the ranks of the Sultansworn elite for nigh on these six hundred years. Of all those sworn to protect the sultanate--the soldiers, the mounted guards, and the knights--we are the elite of the elite. Our conviction unwavering, our hearts true, our sword skills without peer.

“But the glory of the Sultansworn...Well, much of it is buried in the past now. Our brotherhood grows smaller by the year, we are a shadow of what we once were, and the sultana turns to sellswords to defend her palace. All this, because of one traitor--no, because of a blot of dishonor left by one who shall not be named...And because of him, we have been forced to seek the help of able-bodied adventurers.

“And here you are. We shall instruct you in the paladin military arts. You will not be inducted into the Sultansworn, but serve as a free paladin. However, first you will show us that both your sword and heart have mettle, and you are worthy of the honor.”

So how does this relate to the best-known traditional tabletop RPG? In 5th edition (5e), the traditional classes are handled a little differently than before. To add customization, early in leveling (mostly lvl 3, though a few classes start off right at lvl 1), players can choose a type of their class they want to be; what Bard College they study, what Cleric Domain they know, what Druid Circle they are attuned to, etc. For paladins, they choose a Sacred Oath to swear. This gives them their moral code to follow in the service of their deity or ideal that grants them their divine abilities, while also loosening some of the constraints of the old alignment system, and gives both players and game masters a framework for what the paladin’s behavior should follow, lest they stray and lose their divine favor.

The Sultansworn would fit best into the Oath of the Crown:

Law: The law is paramount. It is the mortar that holds the stones of civilization together, and it must be respected. Loyalty: Your word is your bond. Without loyalty, oaths and laws are meaningless. Courage: You must be willing to do what needs to be done for the sake of order, even in the face of overwhelming odds. If you don't act, then who will? Responsibility: You must deal with the consequences of your actions, and you are responsible for fulfilling your duties and obligations.

This oath is for those paladins “sworn to the ideals of civilization, be it the spirit of a nation, fealty to a sovereign, or service to a deity of law and rulership.” (Sword Coast Adventurer Guide, pg 132). As the name implies, the Sultansworn are dedicated to Ul’dah and the Sultan(a) sitting on the throne. As the Sultansworn train free paladins, however, the Oath of the Crown doesn’t apply. A free paladin, Solkzagyl Keltnaglsyn, challenges the player:

“Simply learning paladin swordplay does not make you a paladin--nor does the armor you wear, or the status you claim...Strike off the shackles that bind your spirit, lift the visor that blinds, and find the true path of the paladin.”

Free paladins would fit better under the more traditional Oath of Devotion, from the Player’s Handbook (PHB):

Honesty: Don't lie or cheat. Let your word be your promise. Courage: Never fear to act, though caution is wise. Compassion: Aid others, protect the weak, and punish those who threaten them. Show mercy to your foes, but temper it with wisdom. Honor: Treat others with fairness, and let your honorable deeds be an example to them. Do as much good as possible while causing the least amount of harm. Duty: Be responsible for your actions and their consequences, protect those entrusted to your care, and obey those who have just authority over you.

All the things the Sultansworn strive for, but without the strictures of devoted service to the sultanate. The Knights of Ishgard (often called Temple Knights if part of their military), though not called paladins in game, can also fall into one of these two oaths. In fact, let’s turn to the Holy See of Ishgard now...

(Aside: “But LynMars,” you might say. “My Warrior of Light doesn’t fit either of those Oaths.” Hold that thought for the end, fam.)

So where do Dark Knights fit in? Why consider them “paladins” in all but name?

Dark Knights (DRK) are from Ishgard, like the Temple Knights; most knights of the Holy See should fit into Crown or Devotion, especially with the emphasis on the worship of Halone the Fury, one of Eorzea’s Twelve gods. But, sometimes...holy men aren’t so holy, especially when so many are younger sons sent to the Church because there’s just no other place for them in the noble household structure. When many are orphaned poor joining out of desperation--and finding they’re still given short shrift over their nobleborn brethren. When sometimes, those in power are corrupted by power, or were corrupted to begin with. What then?

I already have a post about the historical origins of Dark Knights in Eorzea, from the Encyclopaedia Eorzea lore book and the official website. In summary, a lowborn knight, Ser Tryphaniel, solid and true and everything a knight ought to be, saw a priest doing unspeakably evil things to a child. Tryphaniel killed the priest on the spot in rage, and as a result--and thanks to Tryphaniel’s unpopularity among the elite due to his staunch beliefs--the knight was stripped of his rank for killing a “holy man.” Tryphaniel gave up his shield, with its crest and symbology, and used only a great sword.

“A heart bleeds, a man weeps, a soul burns. Thence comes the darkness, to consume…Yet even in the depths, the flame endures…Submit to the flame and harness the abyss…” - Ser Ompagne Deepblack

The Dark Knights appear as heretical monsters to the pious of Ishgard. Their abilities are given names such as “Souleater”, “Abyssal Drain”, “Salted Earth,” “Bloodspiller”, “Shadow Wall,” “Living Dead.” They glow with red and black energy. Ser Tryphaniel decided to fight using “any means necessary” in his crusade to protect those the Church could/would not, the great swords of those few Dark Knights acting as beacons in the dark. Those he trained, those also disaffected by the Church and the corruption in its heart (the plot of Heavensward addresses that), followed in his bloody footsteps.

Dark Knights fit perfectly into the framework of the Oath of Vengeance:

Fight the Greater Evil: Faced with a choice of fighting sworn foes or combating a lesser evil, I choose the greater evil. No Mercy for the Wicked: Ordinary foes might win my mercy, but my sworn enemies do not. By Any Means Necessary: My qualms can't get in the way of exterminating my foes. Restitution: If my foes wreak ruin on the world, it is because I failed to stop them. I must help those harmed by their misdeeds.

This is still a paladin oath from the PHB. The Oath of Vengeance is described as “a solemn commitment to punish those who have committed a grievous sin.” The PHB even says Vengeance Paladins are “sometimes called avengers or dark knights--their own purity is not as important as delivering justice.”

“To walk the path is to suffer. To sacrifice. Justice demands no less. But we must never lose sight of why we chose to walk it.” - Sidurgu Orl

I rather like @castthemintotheabyss’ low-spoiler summaries of the DRK quest chains. Identity and duty to yourself vs others; family and justice vs vengeance and mercy; to guilt and grief and acceptance of self.

Dark Knights are considered “edge lords” and “emo” and “gothy” and sure, some of that is true to an extent! But this is a class where the capstone lvl 70 ability, “The Blackest Night”, is a protection cooldown based on love. The “flame in the abyss” is the love the DRK feels for those dearest to their heart, their friends and found family--that is what fuels their darkly named and appearing powers.

If you’ve done the DRK quests, and/or don’t mind some spoilers, I highly recommend @haillenarte‘s translations (part 1, part 2) of the original Japanese text for the ARR DRK quests; the English version is rather different, though I think there’s room for both interpretations of Fray to inform each other. I’m also eager to see translations of later quests in this chain (and how the Stormblood NPC matches up).

I also have a Dark Knight tag where I link some of these resources, thoughts, art, and summarize several of the DRK story quests to be minimally spoilery and showcase how the WoL progresses through the self-reflection these quest enforce (kinda amazing for a MMO, actually). I originally completed the lvl 30-70 quests between October-November 2017, if you check the archive.

“They say the war’s over now, but it never ends for people like you, does it?” - Lowdy

There is one more oath I would like to touch on, due to the unique nature of the player character--the Warrior of Light (WoL)--in ANY of the FFXIV jobs, and how the game’s canon generally tends to assume they’ll roughly behave:

Oath of the Ancients: Kindle the Light: Through your acts of mercy, kindness, and forgiveness, kindle the light of hope in the world, beating back despair. Shelter the Light: Where there is good, beauty, love, and laughter in the world, stand against the wickedness that would swallow it. Where life flourishes, stand against the forces that would render it barren. Preserve Your Own Light: Delight in song and laughter, in beauty and art. If you allow the light to die in your own heart, you can't preserve it in the world. Be the Light: Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds.

I think FFXIV players see how it fits. In D&D 5e, the Oath of Ancients has naturalistic/Fey origins. The PHB describes Oath of the Ancients as:

“...paladins who swear this oath cast their lot with the side of the light in the cosmic struggle against darkness because they love the beautiful and life-giving things of the world, not necessarily because they believe in the principles of honor, courage, and justice.” (pg 86)

The WoL is Chosen of Hydaelyn, the World Crystal Herself. Certain enemies call them the “Bringer of Light.” To other NPCs in the storylines, they are the “Weapon of Light.”

If your Warrior of Light fits Crown, Devotion, or Vengeance, awesome! I hope you find some inspiration in roleplay and/or writing from seeing those oaths and how they can interact with the FFXIV lore. These aren’t even all of the Sacred Oaths, either! There are others out there, some official and some homebrew, and some even for evil characters (traditionally anti-paladins or blackguards).

A big part of me, though, feels like the Warriors of Light in general due to the storyline, are on the path set by the Oath of the Ancients; the WoL goes through the main story as a beacon for others, struggling to preserve the light in others, in themselves--and, in the case of the Dark Knights, in the depths of the abyss.

Still, it’s up to each player, and this is just some personal analysis on how the classes presented in FFXIV coincide with elements in D&D. In the end, it’s something that can be used, or not, as one likes (or not). I’ve just found the comparisons neat and wanted to get it down, and fate kept conspiring to push me to do that until I finally wrote all this. So thanks for reading my rambling on about nerdy things.

#Final Fantasy XIV #Dungeons & Dragons #D&D #Dark Knight #Paladin #Warrior of Light #minimal spoilers

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dailyaudiobible · 6 years ago

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07/20/2018 DAB Transcript

2 Chronicles 1:1-3:17, Romans 6:1-23 , Psalms 16:1-11, Proverbs 19:20-21

Today is the 20th day of July. Welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and, of course, it's a pleasure and an honor to be here with you today as we continue forward in our week. Of course, we’re getting to the end of our week but we’re at the beginning of a new book. We’ll begin 2 Chronicles today and there’s not really anything to tell. We talked about the books of Chronicles when we began first Chronicles. We’ve reached second Chronicles, but that's just a delineation. This was all one larger scroll that had been broken apart for ease of finding references. And generally, we come to the end of David's reign and move into Solomon's reign. And that's where we find ourselves. And that’s sort of the delineation here in the books of Chronicles. So, we begin. 2 Chronicles chapter 1 verse 1 through 3:17 today. And we’re reading from the Christian Standard Bible this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So, over the last several days in Romans we’ve gone back to Abraham and realized that it was his faith in God and not his obedience to a law that was the activator for God's promise to him. We’ve learned that the law's purpose was to reveal our helplessness and inability to achieve perfection before God. In other words, in our own strength, we will never be able to stand before God and claim that we deserve to be there because we have achieved perfection. We also learned that even while we were enemies, alienated, estranged from God, He loved us so much that He came to rescue us and that he actually wants a relationship with us. And I chuckle because it’s like, if someone is willing to die for you, than they love you, and they won’t to have a relationship with you. So, within that context Paul discussed sin in our reading from Romans today. He asked the question, should we keep on sinning so that God could be more gracious to us. Of course, Paul denounced the idea. He said, we know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin can lose its power over us so that we’re no longer the slaves of sin. So, let’s think about this. The idea that sin will always be an ongoing part of our lives is really not supposed to be our reality, but this is not something we can achieve our own. Like, brute force isn’t gonna get us to not sin, right? Even though we believe in Jesus, we cannot on our own lead a sinless life that leads us to perfection without Gods help any more than the Jewish people could achieve righteousness before God by obeying the law, which is Paul's point. But his point is also that we’re no longer on our own. When we put our faith in Jesus, we underwent a spiritual transformation. Right? So, the person that we were without God, that person ended and we were re-created or reborn into a new life, completely, one intertwined with the divine nature of God through Jesus. Sin isn’t the default posture anymore, which is why the good news of the gospel is good news. This is all going to boil down to who and what we choose to obey. That's what Paul said, and I'm quoting him here, “don't you know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey, either of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness.” So, when we look at this clearly, some things become obvious. We don't have to live with one foot in darkness and the other in God's kingdom. In fact, what that would be is the most uncomfortable way to live, probably at all. That's what the gospel offers, like a halfway in. We were invited to live as new creatures who are no longer enslaved the darkness in any way. That's the offer and it's impossible to move in that direction without cutting ties with anything that would chain us to any other outcome than this collaborative life of faith with God. So, let’s give that some thought today.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, we invite you into the places where we continue to choose to be enslaved to sin. This isn't supposed to be and doesn't have to be our reality, but we realize that every time we cross those thresholds into sin we are making choices to do it, and at times feel powerless to do anything about it because we have no power to do anything about it. What we fail to do often is to submit ourselves, which is also a difficult thing at times. What we fail to do is run to you for protection. And, so, Holy Spirit show us the ways that were exposing ourselves to the darkness and allowing it to seep into our lives and allowing it to wreak havoc with us. Come Holy Spirit we pray. In Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

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Community Prayer and Praise:

Good morning DAB good morning DABbers. This is Brady from __ Georgia. I’m calling to ask you all to pray for my mother and not just the one time but, you know, not to be selfish, but, you know, nonstop, without cease. Her name is Rose Marie O’Neill. And she suffers with a mental disorder. In her mind, she feels that she’s being attacked, that there are lasers in the sky that are being shot down at her and causes her great pain. I recently relocated her here to live with me in Georgia because she had a meltdown where she left out of her home and she was walking around the neighborhood in a nightgown when it was cold. The neighbors called the local authorities. They took her to the hospital and there she was admitted to the state hospital. And, so, we finally got her to a point where she was cognitive to say that she has a son and my contact information. I was able to get information and then relocate her to Georgia with me. But, you know, it’s all new. And, so, I’m asking you for me, I’m asking that you all would pray for her that she would be restored, her mental health, and then for me to give me strength because it’s all new for me. She’s afraid to even go to the restroom. Sometimes at night, you know, __ it’s like she lost control of her bladder, her bowels, so she wears diapers. And, so, like I said, it’s just __. And then on top of that if you could pray for my daughter Hilary, that she can find employment and that God would really just touch her and give her the ability to...

Hallelujah. Hey it’s Matthew Fouts. It’s July 17th, 2018. It’s nine years for me since I gave my life to Christ. I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible walking around the yard in such a few months before that day. And there was a man, his name was David S. I worked with him. He was a fork truck driver. And he came in he knocked on my office cube. He said hey, come to this meeting were going to build this place full of Christian men. And I was going to church a little bit at the time. I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible. So, I figured, hey, I’m a Christian man. So, I went to that meeting and I heard a gospel. I heard about Jesus, born of a virgin and lived to sinless, perfect life. He died on the cross and He’s raised from the dead man. And it made sense to me. And I gave my life to Christ and I honestly didn’t think He could do anything. But He changed everything. He’s healed by relationship. He delivered me from a pornography addiction. He delivered me from depression, anxiety. Jesus is Lord man. And if He did it for me He’ll do it for anybody out there. So, my prayer today is for the person that hasn’t yet heard the gospel, hasn’t yet read the Daily Audio Bible. I pray that those doors be open, that they hear it, that they receive Jesus, are healed, delivered, set free, saved in Jesus’ name. That’s my prayer and I know you’ll all agree with me because that’s the will of God. It’s His will and that none should perish but that all should come to him. All should come to repentance He says. So that’s a change of mind, change of heart. That’s what he does. He loves us and I love you because he first loved me man. God is real. It’s nine years and He’s never let me down. You know what? He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. God bless you. I love you.

This is Michael from North Georgia. I don’t usually call in that much. I’ve only called in maybe two or three times and requested prayer. The particular reason being I love to listen to other people’s requests because it gives me something to pray for and I’m not really the type of person to ask for much. But the few times that I’ve called in I’ve requested prayer for my wife because she was sick and she’s getting better but she’s not 100%. So, please continue to pray for my wife, Sandy, she has a lung disease called vasculitis. She will probably, unless the Lord decides to heal her anytime soon, will have that for the rest of her life. She also has a heart condition, something, cardio myopathy, or something to do the heart, heart races. And one sides enlarged. And she’s a diabetic and she has thyroid trouble as well. So she’s, it’s a real hard struggle for her day-to-day. My daughter Abby, that I requested prayer for. She’s 15. Her blood sugar level has stabilized for the most part. She’s doing a lot better and she got to come home. And my little brother Wesley, he passed away Thursday night, Friday morning of this week. On Friday the 13th he died. They found him dead in his house. He was really sick and he didn’t get better. God brought him on home. So, today I am going to bury my little brother. Please pray for me that I will be able to find the joy of the Lord again in this. I know that God’s got him and I know He’s holding him close. But where else do we hear. And I need the prayer from every one to keep me. Thank you for every one of you in the name of Jesus.

Good afternoon Daily Audio Bible family. This is Chandra calling from Maryland. I want to get everything out. I had to pray before I called because I get really nervous. First, I have to say thank you Brian, Jill, and everybody who does the behind the scenes work that makes everything possible. Thank you guys so much. Well, I want to say, first to Keisha, I was listening to the broadcast from the 14th of July and I was hearing Keisha’s request and how she mentioned about how what we may pray for, it will come through, but it may not come through in the way that we pray for it. I’m just saying verbatim, how everyone may interpret things. I do understand, I do want to share a short testimony. I have shared with you guys how I’ve been dealing with multiple sclerosis and I’ve been dealing with being confined to a wheelchair, which is a whole other story. I pray vigilantly that the Lord help me get back in the pool and once I get back in the water that will help me to become more able to and stronger to get out of the wheelchair and do other things. Well, the Lord’s answering my prayer but not in an expected way. He actually is having me in this water aerobics class where I would have to use muscles that I haven’t used in a long time. And just by the fact that I’m going there and I’m able to get out of the wheelchair and get into the pool and exercise even though my legs are weak, it’s being a testimony to people who see my progress or see what I’m going through. And I just want to share that with any…

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glorfindel-of-imladris · 7 years ago

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@goldfish-tea Because I am a technologically-challenged frog, I am sorry for answering your ask this way. T_____T BUT! What a wonderful thing to leave in my ask box! I do so love hearing from people who have read my stories, so thank you so much for leaving this. ♥

Arda Marred – Er, this series… actually has a third installment? Because OF COURSE I love Gil-galad and I can’t just leave him alone, so I’m totally with you that the story calls for a happy ending. It is still a (very) rough draft though, barely just an outline and some dialogue. Crossing my fingers I get the opportunity to continue it given the mountain of WIPs I actually have… er, lying around in like, a mess of… uh, “notes”. (Hush, I am channeling my inner Tolkien.)

Re. Erestor – I realise my Erestor does have a wider room for character variation compared to Glorfindel, and you are correct in that it is mostly me exploring possibilities. We have more or less enough material for Glorfindel for me to form a more substantial headcanon for his character. We know his history, his accomplishments, his being favoured by his king and even by the Valar themselves, to the point that he was reimbodied and returned to ME. I know angst and the horrors of death is a common theme for Glorfindel, but he was supposedly cleansed and renewed in Mandos, truly reborn and as pure as the Eldar who never left Valinor. I have therefore pictured an Elf who is steadfast and wise, inspiring, strong, generous and noble – really, an Elf with not much drama. Not to mention, true wisdom to me brings a wealth of other great traits, not least of which is humility, openness to love and the beauty of life and the simple things �� these ideas are now inseparable from Glorfindel in my mind. This is why he hardly changes much for me from story to story.

Erestor, on the other hand, is a character limited to a few dialogues in FotR and a line in RotK. Really, the only substantial thing we have for him is his title and role in Rivendell, and it is even a title that, while impressive, really has no canon job description other than he sits beside Elrond. There is therefore a wealth of things one can do with Erestor. He is like a blank slate, but better – he is an accomplished, high-status blank slate, and Glorfindel’s peer. One need not establish him in terms of ability and status; he already has them. I probably spend an unhealthy amount of time just thinking about what I can do with Erestor, how to stretch his character further and fit someone like him in the vast, rich world of Arda. Was he Calaquendi? Was he from Fëanor’s host? Where was he when Gondolin stood? When did he meet Elrond? While I generally picture him as a serious and reserved sort of fellow, variations in his personality can either be plot-driven or based on what history was given to him in the story. Fëanorian!Erestor, for instance, would be harsher, while Erestor who followed Finrod and dwelt in Nargothrond and then maybe Lindon would be more on the softer side. I find that I remember more details in the legendarium when I make stories out of them, so finding places in the timeline where these characters can fit has sort of become a hobby. ;)

When it comes to Erestor’s “true” qualities when I write him though, I stand by the following:

1. He is loyal to Elrond and his household.

2. He is intelligent. One does not just become chief counsellor, and beside an Elf like Elrond, one would think a person would have to earn that title.

3. Erestor is a reflection of most Elves in the Third Age – old, tired, has seen much of how Eru’s music has unfolded in ME, and likely has grown used to things and only watches its seemingly fleeting moments from the sidelines. Let us not forget that Erestor’s most memorable act was to suggest giving away the One Ring to someone who could hide it away from Rivendell. He also may have more baggage than one as blessed by the Valar as Glorfindel.

4. Specifically for writing Glorfindel/Erestor stories, no matter what their history (even if they start off as rivals or are constantly bickering), Erestor would soon enough find that he and Glorfindel are similar/compatible in ways that matter. This one is a bit more difficult to define and touches on shared principles and values, even if outwardly they can be very different people. The best I can describe it is like how we find that person that we can sit quietly with, or how we find that person whom we just instinctively know can be a very good friend. At the very least, I think such wise and senior members of Elrond’s household would respect one another, but I just love the idea of companionship and deep friendship, even if not in a romantic sense, and it makes me feel better to think that there is a constant or an anchor in the life of every Elf. Glorfindel is my favourite character and I want to see him happy, so admittedly I may have created this ideal companion for him in my head to keep him company in… what, the 5,000+ years he was returned to ME? Erestor was just the closest to a peer or an equal that Glorfindel might have in Rivendell, and anyway they already live together and are seen together. Very little actual support for a grand romance, I know, but what is fandom but one’s creative playground? ;)

Er, so in that vein, lastly re. Witch-King’s Curse (interesting that I am now getting more feedback for this story these days) – Erestor’s personality here is an element to the story, so please stay tuned? ^^;

#omg was this a ridiculously long answer to an ask #sorry #i keep going on and on don't i #tolkien though #i mean don't get me started on these characters #seriously though i am sorry #and thank you for leaving this wonderful message #ask #reply

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eirabach · 8 years ago

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Renegades [9/10]

Here we go folks, the final proper chapter. I hope I did you proud @seastarved. Thank you for being the best human I know. @losttalongthewayy, @thegladelf, @natascha-remi-ronin, @katie-dub and everyone else who’s supported Renegades and me, including the ever wonderful writers hub ladies who’ve been listen to me moan about this fic for months on end - you guys rule. I love you masses.

Screenshot from kissthemgoodbye.net

This chapter 5.1k.

On ao3 HERE and catch up on tumblr [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8]

Chapter Nine: Captured Ghosts

There’s little they won’t do for her, these people who are now her own.

They find Pinocchio hovering at the edge of the forest, and although he looks at Killian with nervous eyes he’s more than willing to lend them the maps they’ll require for the last part of their journey. He offers to guide them himself, offering Emma a floor scraping bow as he reiterates once again how his father was once one of her mother’s inner circle, but Emma feels the way Killian stiffens at her shoulder and shakes her head.

He offers to gather a retinue - volunteers to staff her new home, men for the army she’ll be expected to lead - and she scoffs at the idea. She doesn’t need ladies-in-waiting, or a cook, or footmen to gossip in stairwells and dark corners.

“Maybe not, my Lady,” Pinocchio says with a wry smile. “But a Queen does.”

They make slow progress along the roads marked on Pinocchio’s map. Emma finds herself almost constantly mobbed by gangs of pathetically grateful villagers, all of whom seem to want to grab a piece of her clothing, a moment of her time, a word from the lips of the woman who’s banished the despot under whom they’ve suffered for so long.

There are decent meals, too. Offers of warm beds. Clean clothes and hot baths and the souls of their firstborns too probably, if she should ask for them.

It’s both nice and worrying in turns. The sheer joy of many of Regina’s ex-subjects is infectious, and in many places they are followed along the road by bands of musicians, dancers, small children who press flowers into her hands and beg to kiss her cheek, but in others their gratitude shifts into a darker, more bitter thing. Old widows who turn their faces away as she approaches, men who scoff as they tell their story, disbelief in the furrows of their brows. Hard-eyed women with scrawny children clutching at their skirts who ask the question she can’t answer.

What took you so long?

Killian stays by her side through it all, whether he’s riding beside her in a borrowed hay wagon or offering to lay his coat over puddles as they walk.

(She jumps in them instead, sending mud flying up their legs and the children into paroxysms of laughter, and he looks at her like she’s the sunrise and she doesn’t even mind.)

But it takes its toll, journeying through a land so cowed and desecrated and hers, and when a woman attempts to cut a chunk from her hair - only stopped from leaping onto Emma’s back with her homemade razor at the ready by Killian’s swift actions and liberal waving of his hook - she decides she’s had enough.

“What about your magic, love?” Killian asks when she starts to flag, her smile strained and her steps staggered. “You’ve transported us before.”

“I wasn’t thinking about it then,” she grumbles. “What if I get it wrong? We might end up anywhere.”

“And that wasn’t a concern before?” he asks, lifting an eyebrow.

She shrugs, turning to wave at some well-wishers so that he can’t see the unhappy twist to her mouth.

“It wasn’t my main concern, no,” she mutters.

“Well,” he says, pulling her into his side as the crowd push a little too close. “Leave it to me this time. I’ve got an idea.”

–

She smells the ocean before she sees it, the salt and tar traveling on the wind, bit even without that she’d know where they were heading just from the smile on Killian’s face and the way his steps grow lighter and quicker until, by the time the pine needles underfoot give way to sand, he’s practically jogging, Emma tripping over her skirts in an effort to keep up.

They burst out onto a spit of sand at the edge of a curving cove, a small natural harbor tucked against the mossy cliffs at the far side with a few rambling harbor side businesses alongside, their gas lights lit against the encroaching dusk.

“Why do I feel like this is going to end badly?” she asks.

Killian grins.

“I thought you liked adventure?”

“I like you,” she tosses back. “But I’m a princess now I can’t just go…” She gestures to where a few small ships bob gently on the waves. “Do whatever it is you do.”

“Well then don’t love,” he says, offering her a silly little bow. “I am at your service.”

“I thought we didn’t work for anyone anymore?” she says, swallowing a laugh.

“It’s not work,” he says lightly.

“Oh.” She lifts her eyebrows. “Duty is it?”

“Not quite,” he says, and his face takes on that too soft expression again, the one that fills her with a warmth she can’t control. “It’s you.”

They hold hands as they make their way along the beach, pausing only for Killian to rinse the old blood from his sword and hook.

“Don’t want to give the wrong impression,” he says with a wink as the water sluices away the evidence of death.

“Or the right one,” Emma says.

“That’s why you like me,” he says, and sweeps her up in his arms as if threatening to dunk her in the ocean - cloak and all - her laugh echoing off the cliffs around them.

(Like is not quite the word, she thinks. It’s not the word, but the right one won’t fall from her lips.)

He leaves her in an old tavern right at the harbors edge, with a flagon of rum and a mug of weak ale for ‘old time’s sake, and heads out into the gathering dark. She sips her rum slowly, watching the old salts at the bar and the tired looking bar girls with a practiced eye. She sees the way one drunk’s coin pouch is slipping, little by little, onto the bench beside him, and catches the eye of one of the girls who seems to have noticed the same thing.

Emma looks down into her drink, and says nothing.

It’s not like she can judge, after all.

(She could. Should. She just doesn’t know how.)

When Killian returns he doesn’t sneak in, nor does he storm the place with weapons drawn, and although she’s not really an expert on the details of how one commandeers a pirate ship, she’s reasonably sure it doesn’t involve enlisting a little old lady carrying a brown package tied tight with fraying string.

“Here she is,” he says, gesturing widely with his arm to where Emma pauses, halfway through rising from the table, “Princess Emma of the Enchanted Forest!”

The drunken man belches loudly.

There’s a moment of silence, and then the bar girl who had been eyeing the coin purse bolts for the back room as if Hades himself is at her heels. Most of the patrons turn to stare at her with cautious, rheumy eyes, but the old woman with Killian looks at her as though she’s the answer to all of her dreams come true.

“Your Majesty,” she says with an arthritic curtsey. “I’ve waited many years for this.”

“Yeah?” says Emma. “Welcome to the club.”

The woman dodders over to the table, Killian following her with a twinkle in his eye that puts Emma immediately on edge.

“It’s not a crown, is it?” she asks, as the woman reverently lays the package down before her. “I’m not sure I’m a fan of crowns.”

“Really? You stole enough,” grumbles Killian good-naturedly, and she shushes him harshly.

“Ixnay on the robbery, okay?”

“But it’s how we met!” he says, all mock offense, and she barely resists the urge to stick her tongue out at him.

“You’re just like your parents were,” sighs the old lady, tears shimmering at the corners of her eyes. “It’s like seeing them reborn.” She looks at Killian, and the corner of her mouth twitches slightly. “If a little… rougher around the edges.”

Emma sits back down hard enough to send her ale slopping over the rim of her mug.

“You knew my parents?”

“Very well,” the woman smiles. “You look very like both of them you know.”

“What were they like?” It comes out a little breathless, but she can hardly help it, leaning forward as if the woman’s words might somehow disappear before she can hear them.

“Brave,” says the woman, her tears threatening to fall. “So brave. And good. Good and kind, and oh sweet girl, they loved you so very much.”

“Really?”

It’s a child’s voice, a child’s plea really, and the woman leans over the table to take Emma’s hands in her own wizened ones.

“Really.”

“She said they were still alive,” Emma says, squeezing as tight as she dares. “Do you believe that?”

The old woman shakes her head, but she’s smiling nonetheless.

“I think if you believe that, it’s all that counts. Your mother taught me that. To have hope.”

She nudges the package forward with their joined hands.

“Well, open it dear. The tide is in and time’s wasting.”

Emma struggles slightly with the strings, the knot worn tight with time, but eventually the packaging falls open to reveal an old piece of fabric. She pulls it free and watches as it spills over the table, slightly singed at one edge, but still recognizable.

“A flag?”

“Your flag,” the woman says. “To fly from the ship your companion just purchased. A Royal standard.”

Emma gapes.

“You purchased a ship?”

“It’s a day for firsts,” Killian says, and scratches behind his ear with his hook.

“Thank you,” she breathes, “how can I ever repay you - ” She grimaces slightly. “I’m sorry, your name is?”

“Granny,” says the old woman. “At least, that’s what your mother called me.”

“Granny,” repeats Emma, her vision blurring. “Thank you Granny.”

“No,” Granny says with a final squeeze of Emma’s fingers. “Thank you.”

She nods once to Killian, then tilts her head at the half empty flagon.

“Of course if you’re not going to finish that?”

Emma pushes it towards her, tucking the flag up under her arm as she does so.

“No,” she says. “It’s all yours. We have somewhere to be, right Killian?”

“Your Majesty,” he says with a bow, and reaches out so that she can place her hand in his. “Your kingdom awaits.”

–

They sail through the night on the small sloop, Killian at the helm focused on the stars, and Emma at the bow, her knees tucked under her as she faces into the wind, the Royal standard flying above them both.

Sunrise finds them close-hauled and bobbing gently into the mouth of a bay, the tide carrying them where the winds will not. The first pink rays catch the edges of a high promontory that reaches out like a long finger, and, at its tip, glowing golden as Emma’s hair -

Home.

“It’s beautiful,” she gasps, leaning forward over the bowspit for a better view of the grey-gold castle.

Killian ties the helm in place and comes to stand beside her, his hook hovering over her back as though he’s worried she might fall overboard in her excitement.

“Aye,” he says, and when she turns her face to him he only has eyes for her. “That it is.”

“I meant the castle,” she teases, standing upright so that he can wrap his arms around her, his warmth soothing the ache in her muscles from a long night’s watchfulness.

“Oh, well that has its appeal too I suppose,” he says, before pressing a kiss to the delicate skin beneath her ear. “I think I’ve the better treasure, though. Don’t you?”

(She thinks she does, actually. A treasure made of leather and sin and devotion. But she says nothing, just hums as he works his kisses down her neck, and wonders when the words will come.)

They drop anchor as the sun reaches its midpoint, the royal dock overgrown and storm battered but still recognizable by the few long faded tattered rags fluttering from sagging flagpoles, the scorched stonework of the castle’s outer walls rising up alongside.

“Home sweet home,” says Emma, rubbing her hands over her arms in the stiff breeze. “Looks cosy.”

Killian leans back, looking up to the tumbledown ramparts with his hand tucked into his belt.

“Could use a lick of lime I expect,” he says brightly. “But it’s an improvement on a tree trunk.”

Emma scowls and swats at his arm.

“I liked my tree trunk,” she hisses.

“As did I,” he agrees. “Looked lovely from my net, but you can’t deny there’s something to be said for a roof.”

“And a bed,” she says without thinking, and he hums lowly.

“Now that we can agree on.”

–

Pinocchio must have had more difficulty convincing people into a life of Royal servitude than he’d expected, or the winds must have been to their benefit, because the castle is empty apart from the two of them and a family of feral cats who watch them with glinting eyes from darkened doorways.

There’s a pile of rubble where the throne room once stood, and Emma spends a long time - too long really - staring at the broken splinters of wood that were once her parents’ council’s chairs. At the bleached white bones without names.

As they explore further they discover a beautiful library - dusty and damp, but intact - and Killian spends almost an hour lovingly stacking a fire in the grate while she watches from a moth eaten sofa until the flames spark and bring the room to life along with them. He turns to her with pride written in all the shadows on his face, and when she whispers perfect against his lips, it’s not the room that she’s referring to.

They spread the food they’ve carried from the villagers out on her cloak in the room that was once a royal kitchen and wipe cobwebs from silver cutlery. Emma curls into Killian’s embrace as he feeds her grapes, the juice running down her chin as she laughs, and the echoes bounce off the old stone walls, the castle itself seeming to laugh right along with her

She feels like she’s been waiting her whole life for this - not the castle, not the crown, those she could have lived without - but for wide blue eyes and a ridiculous grin as he tosses a grape up into the air and catches it in his mouth. For someone who loves her. For someone she loves.

Before the sun dips below the horizon, she knows she’s not waiting any longer.

She leaves him examining the spines of the books in the library and heads up the most intact staircase she can find, on a mission to find a bed that’s not been already reserved by a cat and her kittens.

Her eye is immediately caught by a door that stands ajar at one end of the corridor, the setting sun throwing an arrow of light along the flagstones, and tempting her to peek beyond it.

The room is dusty and battered, but was clearly once grand. An upturned cradle lies at its center, toys scattered across the floor and on every surface, and she knows that when she closes the door - her heart pounding and her eyes hot - she closes it forever.

Somethings can never be recovered, after all.

There are plenty of beds to be found elsewhere. Beds full of mewling kittens and beds full of bones, beds sunken and stinking from damp and mold. One, four-posted and grand, is covered with silken sheets that are stained red-brown with old blood, the remains of what was once a man lying ragged and mildewed at its foot.

They don’t exactly scream romance, or a peaceful night’s sleep.

Killian laughs at her pout when she tells him, dropping a kiss to her forehead and swearing solemnly that he doesn’t need a bed, just you, Swan. That’s all.

He sweeps her off her feet, dropping her on the couch and then trying hard not to cough as clouds of dust rise up around them, Emma’s giggles becoming almost hysterical as it settles in his beard.

“Very distinguished,” she sniggers. “How old are you again?”

“Old enough,” he says, tapping his hook against his lips as he considers her. “Now stay put.”

“Not very romantic,” Emma snorts, crossing her arms over her chest.

“Not finished,” he says with a wink, and sweeps out of the library, with a final warning wag of his finger. “Stay.”

She huffs, but stays put, watching the lazy whirl of the dust through the air and allowing the crackling fire to soothe her still ragged nerves.

Occasionally she hears an oath muffled by distance, and once she sits up, alarmed by a terrible clatter coming from somewhere above her head, but mainly she just seems to drift - warm and hazy - until her eyelids grow heavy, the hiss of the fire playing like a whisper through her dreams.

Emma, Emma, Emma.

“Emma?”

She jerks awake, her hand already going for her knife, her bleary eyes taking a moment to recognize Killian’s silhouette without the bulk of his coat.

“I’m sorry,” he says softly, kneeling beside her. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“Yes you did,” she yawns, plucking at the edge of his shirt. “You did it on purpose.”

“All right,” he says, his teeth flashing white in the dying firelight. “Maybe I did.”

“Hmmm,” she sighs, shuffling slightly towards the edge of the couch until her nose is almost pressed against the thin fabric of his shirt, her breath stirring the hairs beneath the open buttons. “Wonder why.”

“A princess shouldn’t sleep on an old moth eaten couch,” he says, curling a lock of hair around his hook and tugging lightly. “So instead -”

She hooks a finger under the next button on his shirt and pops it free, pressing her lips to the freshly exposed skin.

“Instead?”

She feels the vibration of his sigh under her lips as she works her way to the next button.

“I thought you were tired,” he mutters as she flutters kisses over his navel, her fingers tangling in the laces of his leathers.

“Second wind,” she counters, looking up at him through her lashes as she works at the knot. “You were gone a while.”

“I was busy,” he grunts, his hips canting forward. “Creating a bedroom fit for a princess.”

She pauses, tapping her fingers against the hard ridge of him where he strains against the leather.

“I think you like that.”

“Like what?”

“The princess thing.”

He smiles down at her, his face softer than she might have expected considering the heat of his arousal against her hand.

“Do you know,” he says, his palm against her cheek and his hook in her hair. “I suspect it’s more the Emma thing.”

“You’re making it difficult to seduce you you know,” she huffs, leaning into his touch. “Getting all soppy on me.”

“My apologies, Swan,” he says with a grin. “Please, don’t let me stop you.”

She leans back against the sofa, lifting her arms above her head as she stretches languidly, and quirks an eyebrow at him.

“I don’t know, maybe I am too tired.”

Killian doesn’t seem to take the bait, instead still watching her with those too soft eyes.

“How about you let me take you to bed then, hmm? Perhaps you can consider your next move from a position of comfort.”

“Sounds wild,” she scoffs.

His lips twitch.

“Sounds like you’ve got a - how did you say - pirate thing.”

“Maybe I have,” she drawls, biting down on her lower lip as she loosens the stays of her corset to expose the rise of her breasts. “Want to find out?”

“Maybe,” he says, reaching to catch hold of her wrists so that he can pull her back to the edge of the seat. “But right now, there’s one thing I really would like to discover.”

“Oh?”

He tugs a little more firmly so that she rises to her feet, the loose halve of her corset falling away and leaving her in only her chemise and skirts, the heat of his body through the thin material sending warmth flooding through her as he presses her into his chest.

“Trust me?” he asks.

It’s never in doubt. Not when he wraps a piece of cloth around her eyes, nor as he leads her through the hallways of the castle, up a flight of stairs and down another, his hands steady and sure on hers whenever she threatens to stumble.

Finally they stop, Emma bumping into Killian’s back. The room is warm after the chill of the journey, the scent of candle wax strong in the air, and when Killian steps away the draft of the door being shut sends shivers down her spine.

“Scared?” he asks, the amusement in his voice laced with something darker, something that sets goosebumps shouting across her skin for more reasons than just the chill.

“Hardly,” she answers, “now can I take this thing off or - hey!”

She’s briefly weightless, flailing through the air, magic sparking through her blood like panic, and then she lands on something soft, her undignified squawk almost muffled by Killian’s chuckle.

“I’m sorry,” he sniggers against her ear as he tugs at her blindfold. “I couldn’t resist. Pirate, see.”

She blinks against the soft glow of candlelight as her vision is restored, Killian’s flushed, happy face hovering over her own as he kneels above her.

“You,” she says, “are an asshole.”

With only two swift moves she flips them so that he’s lying, pink and breathless, on the feather bed he’s somehow procured, while she sits back on her haunches, his thighs trapped between her own.

“Aye,” he says, with a lightness she barely recognizes him capable of, his smile making him look years younger as he lifts his hand and hook to rest them behind his head. “I dare say you like it.”

She leans forward, resting her thumbs on his cheeks as she brushes her lips oh-so-lightly against his, her next words barely a breath between them.

“I dare say I do.”

They’re not the words he truly wants to hear, nor the ones she can feel lying heavy on the tip of her tongue, but he surges up to taste them nonetheless, his mouth hot and certain as he draws out the words she cannot say, the truth of her feelings for him stuttering out in a series of half choked moans as he cants his hips up to meet hers.

“Too many clothes,” she mutters into his collarbone. “Why are there always too many clothes?”

“Not this time,” he mutters, pushing the cotton of her chemise down her arms until it falls to her waist exposing her breasts to his hungry eyes.

“So beautiful,” he groans as he reaches for her , but she stops him with a hand on his wrist, the other hovering over the straps that hold his hook in place.

“May I?” she asks gently, aware of the way his eyes widen and his breathing seems to speed up as she turns the brace gently and presses a kiss to the hook. “For the first time in probably both our lives, no one is out to get us. We don’t need this…”

He licks his lips, his skin a little paler than before, and winces slightly as she runs a finger around the braces edge.

“Swan I -”

“I’m not a princess,” she says. “And you’re not a pirate. Not any more, not right now. We’re just us, just you and me.”

“Us,” he says, a smile breaking over his face. “I like that word.”

“Yeah,” she says. “Me too. So, let me see you? Please?”

He nods shortly, and she concentrates on working the buckles loose, years of ocean air having stiffened them to the point where she wonders just how often he actually removes the thing.

“Alright?” she asks as the final one comes free.

He nods again, his gaze fixed on the way her fingers close around the leather as she pulls the brace gently towards herself. For her part, she watches his face, never letting herself waver even as she drops hook and brace to the floor with a resounding clunk and brings his wrist close to her body.

“Too many clothes,” she tells him again, taking hold of his hand and resting both against the exposed skin of her waist. “Help a girl out?”

The nervous expression disappears in a moment, replaced by a familiar smirk - the one he’d sent her over a tavern bench a lifetime ago, all swagger and promise (and by the gods can he keep a promise).

“With pleasure.”

It doesn’t take much, just the lifting of her hips as he works her skirts down her legs, and then she’s over him again, leaning down to run damp kisses against the scars on his chest, her hands sliding lower until he’s the one squirming out of his trousers, kicking them off the end of the bed as he rises up to crush his lips against hers.

She grabs at his shoulders as he moves his mouth lower to lavishes kisses on her throat, his teeth nipping at her collarbone and then lower, lower until she’s keening against him as he turns his attentions to her breasts, his hand and wrist pressing her down until she’s practically grinding herself against his heat, tossing her head back so that he can draw more of her nipple into his mouth, her body straining towards him.

“I’ve dreamed of this,” he rasps against her damp skin. “Ever since you came back to my ship that first time, it’s always been you.”

She mumbles something that’s lost to a gasp as he slides his hand between them, making her nerves sing s though she’s an instrument he’s been playing all his life.

“The way you feel,” he sighs, rolling her clit between his fingers until she whimpers. “The way you taste.”

And then it’s her turn to be on her back, taking great gulps of air as he throws her legs over his shoulders and plunges his head between her thighs.

It’s all she can do to hold on, her hands fisting in his hair as he winds her higher and tighter until her vision bursts white behind her closed eyelids, pleasure flooding through her in waves as he laps and sucks like a starving man, the crook of his fingers inside her almost enough to make her see stars, but that highest peak is just out of reach, her body arching off the bed as she strains toward it, her thighs trembling around his ears.

“Please,” she begs, hardly sure what it is she’s asking for but just knowing that she needs it - that she needs him - heavy and hard and hers all hers. “Killian please.”

I love you I love you I -

And then he rises up her body, his mouth bruising and tart as he kisses her, and slides slowly, perfectly, home.

I love you.

–

She’s settled into the afterglow before she realizes they’re in some sort of tower room, the stone walls bare of any decoration save for the flickering shadows cast by the candlelight, and the steady glow of the dying fire. There’s a great arched window on the wall opposite the foot of their bed, and of they weren’t so high up - so high up that she can see the boat they arrived in as a mere speck against the silver-black sea - she might be self-conscious about lying here clothing in nothing but moonlight and shadow, her head pillowed on Killian’s chest while the waves crash against the rocks below.

She isn’t.

They lie in silence for a while, Emma content to count the beats of his heart under her ear and run gentle fingers over the scarring at his wrist. Killian lets her, only moving to toss the crumpled sheet over their entwined legs when the cool night breezes make her shiver, and then settling back, pulling her tighter against him as he does so.

Maybe it’s the need she feels in him then - the slight uptick of his heart rate, the shudder in his breathing as he presses his nose into her hair - or maybe it’s the wind picking up and sending the candles stuttering with the sound of the ocean’s displeasure, but her contentment is short lived.

“When will you leave?” she asks, her fingers stilling against the worst of the marks, the scarring much bolder in the struggling light.

He doesn’t move to sit up, but she feels the tension in his body, the way he holds his breath before he answers.

“Excuse me?”

“To go back to sea,” she says.

The wind howls, and the last of the candles gives up in the face of its wrath. Killian shifts himself and lifts her chin, forcing her to attempt to make out his expression in the pale moonlight.

He looks sad, she thinks. She thinks maybe he always has, somewhere beneath the leather and swagger. Somewhere beyond the anger and flirtation.

It dawns on her that she’s not the only one exposed tonight.

“What on earth makes you think I’d do that?”

“But you said -” she starts, then pauses, wracking her brain for what he’d said that made her think he planned to leave. Something on that first night perhaps? When he was freshly betrayed and they were freshly lost?

(Or found.)

He stares at her, and it dawns on her that it’s not unhappiness written in the shadow at his jaw or the quirk of his brow.

The bastard’s trying not to laugh.

“Emma,” he says in that gentle tone he seems to save for when he thinks she’s ridiculous. “What possible reason could I have to leave?”

She doesn’t know how to answer that, her only reference a lifetime of reasons she was left.

“But the sea, your ship, your crew, don’t you have to keelhaul them or something?”

He hums and nods, pouting slightly as if considering the idea, but his hand is traveling down her side, his fingers splaying against her hip as he sits up, adjusting her on his lap so that she can wrap her legs around his back. The sheets fall away again, but she barely notices, not when he’s stoking the fire within her all over again with tender touches and his lips at her ear.

“The thought is tempting, but I have a better proposition.”

“Oh? What’s that?”

“It involves a castle, a princess and a dastardly pirate. I think you’ll quite enjoy it.”

“You think?”

“Oh darling, I know.”

–

FIN

#cs ff #captain swan #cs crew #cs au #cs smut #clare vs writers block #renegades

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beyondsarah-blog1 · 8 years ago

Text

5 steps that might help in surviving terminal cancer grief

The loss is beyond your existence, you are completely shattered, lonely after you inherited a journey of pain. You are facing what you spent long nights in tears dreading just the idea that it might happen but you are in it now, in your worst nightmare. where every memory you had is a scar, and every hope you once got adds to your wounds.

You were the caregiver, but now you discovered that it was you who needs the care, and it is you who do not have any treatment protocol…

It's grief…inside you, burning you out and seeking to possess your soul, so that you are not you anymore.

And I am not claiming that what I am going to write will help you, but I can claim that it helped me…

1. Understand what life is all about

For me, life is a journey specifically designed for every one of us to bring the best in him, or the worst according to his own choice. I always visualize that I am climbing a mountain, trying to reach the top and with each challenge that I am facing and overcoming I am more purified and more close to the end.

The road is full of signs and inspirations but emotional pain and hardships are also signs from another perspective. Signs for changing the path and alerts for a creative change of ways and perspective.

My visualization may appear naive and simple, but for me, it is deep and connected to the story of all humankind, the story of Adam and Eve, the Holy apple story presented in the three divine Books.

From this story, I understood why I always seek happiness in “perfection”, because as a daughter of Adam, I was not created to live on this earth, instead I was created for Paradise and as long as I live I will unconsciously seek it.

And from this story I learned that God did not punish me by letting me "go down" to earth, instead, he gave me the opportunity to rise again, and be up to the perfection level I truly seek.

If you know the story, you'll sure know that in spite of Paradise perfection, Adam's act was its only flaw. His inability to control his greatest blessing and responsibility: "free will" made him choose to eat from the only forbidden fruit in Paradise, ignoring all the other available and allowed options. So it turned out to be that God forbidding the tree while making it available was not a set up for Adam, rather it was a subtle way for him to realize that he is not ready yet to meet the level he is striving to and that he must admit his flaws and hold responsibility to beat them.

It is up to Adam and all humankind to choose their own path and to rise again to paradise, the place they are continuously longing to, the place that was created not for them, but for the very best version of them, in order to remain perfect and eternal also for them.

it is up to us, to accept the journey, and accept the pain and loss as our teacher and our path and always seek to rise towards better versions of ourselves.

With this sophisticated and philosophical mindset, and I totally understand if you decided to end reading my words right now, but I am authentic enough and willing enough to help you in the only way I know. So I am sharing it with you as a part of my journey, climbing my own mountain and facing my own fears in order to reach my peak or the best version of me.

2. Fake it until you make it.

I believe in Mindset, self-connection and mind programming. I tried it and I think it works most of the time. If you keep telling yourself that your loss defines you that you will never be happy again, then probably you will be. If you keep remembering how you and your loved one suffered, how it is totally unfair that you experience all this pain you will grow weaker and more vulnerable. You are probably right, and I respect and honor every moment of pain you've been through but there might be a different mindset that you can “fake” until you “make”.

Probably your loved one suffered no more than a baby suffers during labor, during his transition from the small world of the mother's womb, the safest place he might be on earth, to a much larger world that might not be as safe but a world beyond everything he knew. But you were standing there witnessing the newborn miracle with tears because you were welcoming him into your world, where everything is known to you, seen and understood. I don't think anyone witnessing the baby born ever thought about how much pain and fear he experienced while leaving his small world into our world! Instead we celebrate it with tears and emotions, only because “we know".

I believe that death, as painful as it may seem, doesn't differ much from birth, the only difference is that your loved one is going to be reborn in another life, a life you have no idea about. And just like a baby doesn't leave the womb until he is ready, I believe no one dies before being ready to go. And just like no one of us remembers the pain of his own birth, I believe our loved ones will not remember the pain they suffered while leaving this life.

As for you, yes, probably you will not be the same again, and that is true. But who defined “you” in the borders of your loved ones except “you”… and who said that you can't explore other versions of yourself after your journey took another path. If you’ll ask me I think you deserve to explore, and you must dare to honor your potentials and the reason you were created for. I know these might just be fantasies, and merely words but we can still at least “fake” it until we “make” it

3. Know that your loved one is okay

For me,I am just thankful that I believe in God and afterlife because that was the cure. I “know” with God’s will and grace that my loved one is okay and I know that God loves him more than I do, and in this I found the relief I needed to go on. One can also be positive and seek connection with the loved one through sincere prayers, and good deeds on his behalf.

4. Fill your void and emptiness

Do not let yourself to be torn apart with your own fears, loneliness, memories and pain. Accept the fact that you miss your loved one, and that it’s okay. You must keep reminding yourself that you are worth saving from losing yourself to pain and despair and that now it is your turn to seek the help within you before anyone else. Fill you emptiness with whatever makes you comfortable, it is time to try and experience new things.

Be inclined to explore other sides of you, to avoid memories and respect your weakness. Avoid listening to your favorite songs, at least in the beginning and allow friends and loved ones to help.

I believe that helping others and being connected with bigger causes and problems helps you to connect to yourself. Seek to know your worth through giving a helping hand as much as you can, try to light the darkness of others in order to find your own light. It might be the closest persons to you who needs you or even people that you do not even know.

And if you are like me, a believer, and a spiritual person this is the time to fill your void by connecting to your creator, asking him to guide you along your way, to make you understand what you don’t know, and help you discover underlying powers in you beyond what you have ever imagined.

5. Honor your journey

Just as we are flooded with self-esteem and self-acceptance posts every day to be better persons and achieve a positive mindset in life, I am suggesting honoring and accepting our own journey of life. I am suggesting seeking for moral lessons in our own stories that may lead us to this happy place where our memories are the least hurtful. I might not be there yet, but I am trying to. And reflecting on my story, I tried to seek a positive perspective, and that was experiencing love” beyond love” which I shared previously.

I hope that by sharing my attempt to survive grief, I may inspire at least one heart, or ease the pain of at least one soul. And I am really sorry if I made it seem simple because I truly believe it is not but at least I am trying...

#grief cancer gbm

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