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[my-castles-crumbling]

James's Amortentia

Hey guys! Someone requested I do some writing exploring the ways Amortentia can smell (that it doesn't always reflect romantic love) so I decided to so a series of microfics about it! I'm hoping to get a few of them done today.

Five

Fleamont had been a master potioneer since before James's conception, so James was raised around all types of potions. His father had taught him, when he'd deigned to be interested, about all different concoctions and their effects.

He'd smelled Amortentia for the first time when he was five.

He knew what it was and had a vague idea what it meant, so when he smelled the warm spices he associated with his mother's cooking and the deep mint that reminded him of his father's aftershave, he was only reassured. He loved his parents more than anything, after all. It made sense.

Twelve

Though he hadn't bothered to check how his Amortentia smelled as he grew, he wasn't shocked when he sniffed the colorless concoction and caught whiffs of the Quidditch Pitch and the Dorm and the Gryffindor Common Room. He cared deeply about his friends and, as he explained to Sirius, the depth one could love a friend was as deep or deeper than romantic or familial love.

So the swirls of the warm fire and the soil of the Pitch and warm spices and their messy Dorm and minty aftershave all mixed together, creating a wonderfully comforting scent.

Except for the one, poignant spike of lilies that was weaved throughout, sharp but somehow fleeting.

Fifteen

That scent of lilies drove him throughout the next few years. Every time he and his friends snuck a vial of Amortentia, he breathed in deeply checking to make sure the floral aroma was still there.

He became obsessed with the idea. That Lily Evans was his true love, that the potion deemed it so. Never mind that Lily Evans wore lavender perfume or used, according to Remus, vanilla-scented hair products. The potion knew best.

Seventeen

His entire worldview was changed in a single moment. The moment he found Regulus, newly escaped from Grimmauld Place, sitting silently on a bench in the Potter family garden, staring a thousand miles away.

And James felt his heart being pulled completely in the younger boy's direction.

"Alright?" he murmured, sitting next to him, wondering why he felt so compelled to be close.

"No," Regulus mumbled, not looking up.

But James just sent him a small, reassuring smile. "You will be," he whispered, reaching backward and grabbing a random flower off a stem and gently placing it into Regulus's hair.

It was only after he walked into the house, catching whiffs of his mother's cooking, that he realized, his mind zeroing in on the way the scent mixed with the floral one still wafting in from outside:

The flower he'd placed into Regulus's hair was a lily.

[redbatchedcumbermayned]

Heinrix as Saint Sebastian and Isha as Saint Irene by @thatzombiecat

Inspired by the great master artists, I'm immensely grateful to @thatzombiecat for taking on this commission and creating this masterpiece.

Words can't describe how happy I am. It is stunning, magnificent, so tender and gentle. It is as if you had pulled it right out of my brain and given it shape.

It beautifully encapsulates the spirit of their relationshipand is the underlying theme of Much Ado About The Rogue Trader, woven subtly into every chapter and interaction between them.

The amount of symbolism you put into there, TZC, is just stunning. I was blown away by seeing you iterate through the different versions of this painting. Each preview was already perfect, but this is just mind-blowingly beautiful!

Thank you, my friend, from the bottom of my heart. <3333

[kleinv01]

hi everyone! this one's a bit of a long post, i want to publicly address something that i still receive comments about, so to avoid further confusion i'm making this post and i will put it in the master list so everyone may see it.

a while back, the creator of pocket lover (bingzi) reached out to me regarding similarities between our games. after checking out the game, i understand why she might feel upset when seeing certain aspects of my game resembles hers- and i see why it might be hard to dismiss as coincidence. i want to reiterate that prior and during the development of my own game demo, i had no knowledge of pocket lover. that said, i made adjustments to my game's page and scripts. and ever since i've been made aware of this, moving forward i've been trying to be more mindful progressing with my own game's narrative with respect for her work and to avoid any further misunderstandings and still is now

i never intended to plagiarize. i can confidently say that my game is progressing with its own ideas, narrative, and story direction, which i believe sets it apart; especially as more updates come out

as a last note please refrain from leaving comments on bingzi’s pages about this issue, as i’m sure she doesn’t want to be reminded of it anymore. and if you see anyone brings this up anywhere, i’d appreciate it if you could refer them to this post. i do understand that those who are unaware may unintentionally hurt everyone involved

to bingzi too, if you’re reading this, i appreciate your work and wish you the best, please know that if you ever wish to have a discussion about this again or share any further concerns, message me and i'd be happy to listen. i'm truly sorry for the stress this might've still caused you.

thank you again for everyone's understanding and support !!

[dinsbeskar]

*HIGH PITCHED DOLPHIN NOISES*

*KLAXONS AND SIEGE HORNS*

*HORNY EDM PLAYING IN THE BACKGROUND*

Babe. I have so many feelings. I copy-pasted so many lines, holy shit. This was just gorgeous, just insanely beautiful, I can't, it's so good. I'm gonna try though.

You watched Varda situate the stars in the heavens above Arda as if they were jewels and you were the one setting them alight with the fire burning within you for they could lighten up the firmament. You were responsible for the treacherous element that the fire was – useful in many ways but also dangerous if not used correctly or with malicious intent.

GORGEOUS

I absolutely love her being the Mother of Flames, oh it's perfect!!! Bc of course Aulë would be drawn to her, and Mairon as a result. Morgoth doesn't know he's got a good thing there smh

Aulë The Smith began to court you as he watched you set the stars on fire. He was dreaming of how perfectly you two would go together if you were to fuel the fire inside his forge – the source of all his creation would come from you.

The source of his creation, fucking hell I love this concept!! Perfect

What a source of inspiration you were for Mairon, though. The same way others worshipped Varda, Mairon worshipped you. Everytime he stared at the fire inside the forge, your image was all he could think of as the thought of you lingered in his mind constantly. You were long gone from Arda after eloping with Melkor but he hoped it was not yet over, that he would see you again. In the early days, when his spirit was still pure, he often fantasised about you being taken back by the Valar and forgiven by them, so he could build altars for you amongst the kins that would yet awake to inhabit Arda.

Oh god this is gorgeous

The yearning???? The devotion???? Building altars for his goddess??? Give me everything!!!

Some of his bolder daydreams were about another form of punishment for you – he would have you humbled in the name of redemption, bound to a lowly Maia. He meant himself, of course. He imagined the Mother of Flames becoming the source of his creation, fueling the fire within his forge and watching over his craft as his very own wife. He wondered how jealous Aulë would be then and how humiliated you would be, yet he was certain he could make you happy and fix the malice of your spirit with his undying love and endless devotion.

Oooooooooh I love this though!! Even as a pure uncorrupted spirit, he's still coveting the woman who was supposed to be his master's wife, ooof I love it!!

In his greatness, he dwelt in solitude and his mind remained ungraspable for you. He would rarely let you inside to allow you to see the world the way he perceived it. Though he desired you, it was not as an equal, neither as companion nor as lover. And even in his desire, there was contempt, too, because as Varda’s sister you were a reminder of her rejection, which still lingered within your husband as a wound unhealed. And your beauty, your power, your holiness… They were nothing but pale echoes of your sister’s qualities; faint reflections of her no matter how hard you tried. And each one of your failures to meet Melkor’s towering expectations was met with your husband’s wrath.

Fuck this guy!!! Morgoth is the worst!!!!! Lmfao nothing like being in your sister's shadow, especially in the eyes of your evil husband

Alone in his presence you felt belittled and humbled. But by his side before others, you were exalted and invincible – cloaked in the might of his dominion – and that illusion of power became intoxicating. For allowing you to get sedated with such greatness was enough to worship him like he was Eru himself and out of all your offerings, he loved that devotion the most about you.

"Cloaked in the might of his domination"

This is poetry!!! Absolutely amazing turn of phrase

When Mairon came to your husband’s service, you sensed immediately the amount of his worship and devotion towards you. You sometimes wondered if the Maia joined Melkor for him and his power or were you the real reason for his spirit’s betrayal. His devotion amused you but you offered him no kindness as his yearning for your favour was met with cold indifference. Even though he was desperate for more of it, he should know better and be grateful for your rejection. Because if Melkor would realise the true nature of Mairon’s feelings, he would not go easy on him and his wrath would be merciless. 

Ooooooh it's so juicy!!! So she's sparing him Morgoth's wrath, but she also won't sink to his level, but she is amused by him, I just love the layers 🤌

Sometimes you wondered how it was possible that Melkor could not sense Mairon’s admiration for you. Perhaps he thought of it as something innocent – something expected from his servants to feel towards his Queen. Perhaps he thought of it as silly and pathetic, unworthy of his attention, because he knew you would never humiliate yourself to betray him for a servant.

Or perhaps your husband cared about you even less than you suspected.

Ooof the last sentence!! Ouch!!!

I do think it's more like, these two would never betray me bc they know what would happen, I have no need to worry

But ouch

Mairon was the one who took all the responsibilities upon his shoulders and while committing to his duties, he would always emphasise he was fulfilling them in your name. Forever a servant he would remain. 

God we love a dutiful husband (I know they're not married but uhhhhh it's my fave Sauron lmfao)

Your wish, however, was to go much further away and Mairon knew about it, which was worrying him. He was trying his best – nearly desperately – to reunite your husband’s armies and dark creatures of the shadows, to become their leader and build a realm for you to rule over. To become worthy of you.

Oh godddddddd "to become worthy of you" it's giving dutiful husband!!! (Dutiful wanted to autocorrect to pitiful, which is an amusing Freudian slip, bc he is both and we love him for it)

He swallowed thickly out of fear but his eyes remained soft, filled with nothing but pure admiration. In Melkor’s eyes you had been Varda’s unworthy shadow. Perhaps no one had ever perceived you with such devotion as Mairon.

I started not breathing here, goddddd I love this

“I shall build you altars in my realm; in every village, every town, every city. And in the capital of my kingdom where I will reside, I shall build a temple where you can find your peace,” he breathed out. “Just, please, do not abandon me.”

DO NOT ABANDON ME

NEVER, KING, NEVER

Holy shit this whole bit was gorgeous

“Come to me,” you ordered, harshly. You watched him trying to stand up slowly but you quickly stopped him. “On your hands and knees,” you explained.

THE WAY I GASPED

OKAY GO OFF QUEEN

Domming the hell out of him, we are here for it!!!

He cursed Eru himself for creating him as such a low spirit because this way he could never be worthy of you and to be able to walk by your side as your equal was all he had ever wanted.

Oh ouch oh no

Just wanna kiss him better lmfao, a hug would fix him!!

“Let it be then… Anything to be close to you, my Lady,” he cooed. “Please, allow me to touch you,” he begged as he moved even closer to your legs.

THE BEGGING, HOLY SHIT YES

However, he had never been so close to them. To you. He crawled up even closer as he planted soft and devoted kisses to your exposed skin. You had never known kisses like these because Melkor had been mostly devouring you, tormenting you, using you. 

Oh goddddddd

He's the first to show her that soft devoted affection, my heart hurts!!! The trauma!!!

Wicked thought it was for you were the most corrupted and fallen out of the female Valar and yet you doubted any of them were worshipped with such eagerness as you were now.

I fucking love this, she's still thinking of the other Valar and comparing herself 😂🤭

Pleasure without pain was an experience brand new for your flesh and you had to steady yourself as he watched in awe.

"He watched in awe" I am dying

"Pleasure without pain" Oh god she has suffered!!! He can fix her!!! Or make her 10 times worse!!! Let's find out!!!

Your body of a goddess allowed you to go on without breaks; a peak after peak as you shivered and trembled, caressing his head and meeting his hazy, devoted gaze once in a while to let him know he was doing good. Your praise meant everything to him for all he had always known was your husband’s reprimands. 

That's so sweet though???? It's the encouragement for me, bless his tiny black heart

“Do not fear me, sweet Mairon. I only want to see for myself if it is true that you have fallen and corrupted yourself so much with your devotion towards me that you have been gifted with desires of the flesh,” you smirked. “Or cursed with them,” you pointed out as your hands worked on his robes and the trousers underneath them swiftly and quickly.

A gift or a curse?? Let's find out!!!

I stopped copying after that, I was overwhelmed by the writing. holy shit that was so hot??? And beautifully written??? So gorgeous???

Sub!Sauron, my beloved, you wrote him so well, and her cruelty is perfect oh my lord

I can't wait to read part 2!!!

— HUMBLED (I)

PART TWO

PAIRING — Sauron x fem!Vala!Reader // Morgoth x fem!Vala!Reader

SUMMARY — Grown tired of living in your sister's shadow, you offered yourself to the one whom she had rejected once – Melkor. You regretted it quickly as he turned out to be a cruel lover and you became the very first subject of his twisted tortures meant to reshape one's spirit. In his eyes you were nothing by Varda's shadow but in the eyes of Mairon the Maia you have always been the only and the most holy goddess. When his master is gone, he can finally get close to you.

AUTHOR’S NOTE — I had two ideas for Sauron with Morgoth's ex and honestly? I will probably write one more because I like the other idea a lot, too. This fic is quite dark because of the nature of Reader's relationship with Morgoth. Not gonna lie, it was a challenge to write a Reader who is a literal Goddess but Sauron himself inspired me to explore this dynamic when he seemed to be so proud of the fact that it was a God himself torturing him... 👀 The Reader in this fic is a Vala (and Varda's sister but she remains undescribed as well), so she changes her appearance like Sauron does but I am not describing any of her forms in any details. In the next part there will be some goo/blob!Sauron + Halbrand and in this part our favourite ginger loser makes his comeback! 🦊 Apparently, I can't write him as a dom... 😂 Well, surely not with someone who is so much above him. Huge thanks to @dinsbeskar once more because we were brainstorming about this idea together. ⭐ Special thanks to @olchr-1 as well! 💚 PS – I haven't described how Morgoth looks like either but I imagine him as a tall, black haired hottie like on the fanarts. 💀😂 There is also a slight mention of the Reader being originally promised to Aulë, which was inspired by the story of Hephaestus and Aphrodite.

WARNINGS — Reader is evil (reshaped by Morgoth but not completely evil), domestic abuse (with Morgoth), mentions of Sauron and Reader being tortured by Morgoth, SMUT, sub!Sauron

WORD COUNT — 4,330

🔞 THIS FIC IS 18+ 🔞

ENGLISH IS MY SECOND LANGUAGE.

HUMBLED (I)

The very first thing you remembered was beholding your sister Varda being crowned one of the mightiest of the Valier and Queen of the Valar, Queen of the Stars, a beauty beyond the description of Men and Elves. So pure to reject Melkor and marry his brother Manwë instead – King of the Valar.

You followed your sister nearly everywhere, hoping to bask in her light but it never seemed to be enough to make you feel warm. You were greedy – at first, you were jealous of her husband and insisted on her spending more time with you than with him, striving for all of her affection. Once you realised that it was a lost cause, you began to detest Manwë.

You watched Varda situate the stars in the heavens above Arda as if they were jewels and you were the one setting them alight with the fire burning within you for they could lighten up the firmament. You were responsible for the treacherous element that the fire was – useful in many ways but also dangerous if not used correctly or with malicious intent.

Aulë The Smith began to court you as he watched you set the stars on fire. He was dreaming of how perfectly you two would go together if you were to fuel the fire inside his forge – the source of all his creation would come from you.

Everyone, including your sister, was encouraging you to become his wife for his heart was of a noble kind. Your own heart remained unsure but you wished to marry as well instead of only watching Varda and Manwë sharing a bond you could only dream of. Aulë, however, was not who you were dreaming about.

It was Melkor that you were drawn to; Manwë’s powerful brother, the very same whom your sister had rejected once and he had grown to resent her. You were observing him often because he fascinated you and you probably were the only one amongst the Valar who understood him. You were outcasts, both of you, but you were better at hiding it.

He was sometimes observing you as well, from the corner of his eye. You could feel his gaze on you and you knew that he had to feel the same way you did – he could see the malice inside of your heart for his was the same.

Whenever you would spend time with Varda dancing in the flower fields, you could feel Melkor creeping in the shadows and watching. Of course, he was there for your sister but still, some of his gazes were reserved for you only.

Therefore, on the eve of your wedding to Aulë, you forsake the light and seeked the shadow as you sneaked out of the palace you lived in and you found yourself knocking upon Melkor’s doors. There was no fear inside of you, only pure determination.

And you knew you could never replace your sister; your power was a mere shadow of hers. Yet, you offered yourself to Melkor on that night and he took you in, claimed you as his own and made you his bride. Before dawn, together, you fled from Arda for some time, leaving behind sorrow and dismay.

Your sister was most grieved by your betrayal. Alongside her, Aulë descended into a state of melancholy until Manwë mentioned to him the possibility of courting Yavanna instead and The Fruit-Giver became his wife – that union became one of harmony and love unlike the one you would have with The Smith.

You always fascinated Mairon the most – (Y/N), Mother of Flames, Aulë’s lost love. As his disciple, Mairon observed you humbly before and he knew his master’s heart enough to know that Aulë would always feel bitter towards you. Yavanna was his love match but she could not fuel the fire inside his forge and become the source of his creation.

What a source of inspiration you were for Mairon, though. The same way others worshipped Varda, Mairon worshipped you. Everytime he stared at the fire inside the forge, your image was all he could think of as the thought of you lingered in his mind constantly. You were long gone from Arda after eloping with Melkor but he hoped it was not yet over, that he would see you again. In the early days, when his spirit was still pure, he often fantasised about you being taken back by the Valar and forgiven by them, so he could build altars for you amongst the kins that would yet awake to inhabit Arda.

Some of his bolder daydreams were about another form of punishment for you – he would have you humbled in the name of redemption, bound to a lowly Maia. He meant himself, of course. He imagined the Mother of Flames becoming the source of his creation, fueling the fire within his forge and watching over his craft as his very own wife. He wondered how jealous Aulë would be then and how humiliated you would be, yet he was certain he could make you happy and fix the malice of your spirit with his undying love and endless devotion.

And perhaps that blasphemous dreams of Mairon the Maia, bold in their insolence, would be a kinder fate for both of you and the whole Arda. Because, in the meantime, you were starting to realise with bitter clarity why you should have stayed away from Melkor, the Dark Lord, in the first place.

In his greatness, he dwelt in solitude and his mind remained ungraspable for you. He would rarely let you inside to allow you to see the world the way he perceived it. Though he desired you, it was not as an equal, neither as companion nor as lover. And even in his desire, there was contempt, too, because as Varda’s sister you were a reminder of her rejection, which still lingered within your husband as a wound unhealed. And your beauty, your power, your holiness… They were nothing but pale echoes of your sister’s qualities; faint reflections of her no matter how hard you tried. And each one of your failures to meet Melkor’s towering expectations was met with your husband’s wrath.

None among his servants who would later know him as a cruel master ever dared to complain about his punishments in your presence because you were his first subject of torment, his earliest experiment in reshaping the will of another and they knew that you survived things they could barely think of. You were a Vala and you could endure the worst treatment, therefore in your suffering he reshaped you in ways that would shatter even the mighty Maiar. Melkor forged you anew and twisted your already spoiled essence to his dark design.

Alone in his presence you felt belittled and humbled. But by his side before others, you were exalted and invincible – cloaked in the might of his dominion – and that illusion of power became intoxicating. For allowing you to get sedated with such greatness was enough to worship him like he was Eru himself and out of all your offerings, he loved that devotion the most about you.

To be his wife was not easy – it was a torment and perhaps you were burdened with the most difficult fate out of all the Valar. Yet, it was what you had chosen willingly for yourself and you carried this responsibility with pride, trying not to think too much of the life you could have lived instead. You were made for much bigger things than spending your whole lifetime resting in the sunlight and being followed by the forest animals like some of the Valar ladies were. No, you were aiming for greatness and the price for it was pain.

When Mairon came to your husband’s service, you sensed immediately the amount of his worship and devotion towards you. You sometimes wondered if the Maia joined Melkor for him and his power or were you the real reason for his spirit’s betrayal. His devotion amused you but you offered him no kindness as his yearning for your favour was met with cold indifference. Even though he was desperate for more of it, he should know better and be grateful for your rejection. Because if Melkor would realise the true nature of Mairon’s feelings, he would not go easy on him and his wrath would be merciless. 

Sometimes you wondered how it was possible that Melkor could not sense Mairon’s admiration for you. Perhaps he thought of it as something innocent – something expected from his servants to feel towards his Queen. Perhaps he thought of it as silly and pathetic, unworthy of his attention, because he knew you would never humiliate yourself to betray him for a servant.

Or perhaps your husband cared about you even less than you suspected.

After Melkor’s defeat, you were hiding inside your fortress in the North from the wrath of the Valar. Your husband’s absence was welcomed by you with relief but also a huge emptiness within your soul. You had been his companion for ages and to be left alone now felt oddly wrong. Many of the creatures of darkness expected you to take the leadership but you stepped away instead, wishing for a calmer and more peaceful time at least. 

The power you had once craved now was something you dreaded. Your husband’s ways had drained you nearly completely, you were a shell of your old self. You wanted nothing but to crawl inside a hole and spend another eternity there, resting as a person unknown to the outside world. 

Mairon was the one who took all the responsibilities upon his shoulders and while committing to his duties, he would always emphasise he was fulfilling them in your name. Forever a servant he would remain. 

Now, without Melkor’s eyes observing him constantly, he gained more courage to bask in the remains of your corrupted light. You sensed his gaze on you wherever you would go.

Your wish, however, was to go much further away and Mairon knew about it, which was worrying him. He was trying his best – nearly desperately – to reunite your husband’s armies and dark creatures of the shadows, to become their leader and build a realm for you to rule over. To become worthy of you.

“My Lady,” he kneeled as he approached you and he kept his eyes low although you knew he dared to look up here and there, too tempted not to lay his gaze on you. “Please, grant me an audience,” he pleaded.

“You wish for an audience, Mairon? But is it not you preparing to get crowned very soon, my cunning spirit? Soon it shall be me asking for your audience,” you teased him and he looked up, his eyes filled with panic. Melkor would punish him for such schemes but you were not him and his influence was upon you no more. 

“I might crown myself the new Dark Lord, my Lady, but I would never consider myself to be above my Goddess,” he confessed and you smiled sadly as you approached him to grab him by his chin.

He swallowed thickly out of fear but his eyes remained soft, filled with nothing but pure admiration. In Melkor’s eyes you had been Varda’s unworthy shadow. Perhaps no one had ever perceived you with such devotion as Mairon.

“I shall build you altars in my realm; in every village, every town, every city. And in the capital of my kingdom where I will reside, I shall build a temple where you can find your peace,” he breathed out. “Just, please, do not abandon me.”

Your soft smile turned into a smirk when you let go of his chin and moved your hand to his ginger hair to caress it softly like he was your pet.

“I must, Mairon. When you build your temple for me, though, then I might come back to reside there. But until then, we must part,” you insisted and walked away at the sight of his eyes getting wet.

“Will they ever follow me without you by my side?” He asked, unsurely.

“They will not. Not all of them. Can you not see that it is a cursed path, destined to become a failure, to follow Melkor’s steps?” You turned around to look at his face once more. “Run away with me, Mairon. Forsake this realm, forsake your schemes,” you proposed and he gasped, visibly contemplating his answer. But the sparkles faded away from his eyes very quickly.

“No,” he shook his head. “I must stay and heal Middle-earth. I cannot abandon its people because of my own selfish desire,” he resisted you as you chuckled at that.

“You are no god, then, Mairon. Gods do whatever they wish. Spirits like you were created to serve,” you teased, cruelly as you sat on your armchair and he moved uncomfortably, looking away, but he remained kneeling and humbled.

“Allow me to serve you then, Mother of Flames,” he dared to whisper, nearly inaudibly, his breath shaky and lips trembling.

You tilted your head, thinking about his words. You would leave this realm soon, perhaps forever. He surely deserved a little treat before your departure for all the worship and devotion he had been gifting you with. And you deserved to give in to desires of your flesh as well after all the treatment your husband had given you.

“Come to me,” you ordered, harshly. You watched him trying to stand up slowly but you quickly stopped him. “On your hands and knees,” you explained.

Mairon glanced up at you as if he could not believe the amount of humiliation you would put him through now. It was true that back in the day you had often contrasted with Melkor’s cruelty but now Melkor was no more and you had been taught the craft by the very master of it.

Perhaps his influence was still upon you and it would remain there forever. 

You waited with an eyebrow raised and Marion gave up eventually, crawling on the floor towards you. He might have been humiliated and embarrassed but his eagerness was obvious in the way his eyes sparkled at the sight of your legs getting closer and closer to him. And when he was nearly in front of them, you opened them slightly as he gasped and looked up at you with admiration. He could not believe the access you had just given him while you smirked at his obedience.

“Serve me, Mairon,” you requested, wickedly. “Let my taste remain on your lips and might you never forget it while you build your kingdom in my name. I will come back to you then, my sweet, unless the Valar find and imprison me before,” you leaned in to caress his cheek with your finger gently.

“I shall fight them then. No matter how much it takes, I will release you and bind you to me instead,” he whispered.

“Bold of you, mighty Maia, to speak of such matters,” you let out a laugh. “Even as the greatest of your kind, you would still only be gifted with a mere shadow of my powers. We will never be equal, Mairon,” you reminded him and his eyes welled with even more tears at such a harsh reminder.

He cursed Eru himself for creating him as such a low spirit because this way he could never be worthy of you and to be able to walk by your side as your equal was all he had ever wanted.

“Let it be then… Anything to be close to you, my Lady,” he cooed. “Please, allow me to touch you,” he begged as he moved even closer to your legs.

“Proceed,” you nodded and watched him closely, observing his every movement, every gaze, which probably intimidated him even further but you could sense his desire to please you becoming too grand to care about anything else.

His hands wrapped around your ankles and moved up slowly, brushing your skin as the skirts of your dress pulled up, revealing your calves for him to admire. He had never seen them.

Well, perhaps he had. He had often sneaked up on you here and there and you had known about it but welcomed it with nothing but a chuckle as you had been pretending to be oblivious.

However, he had never been so close to them. To you. He crawled up even closer as he planted soft and devoted kisses to your exposed skin. You had never known kisses like these because Melkor had been mostly devouring you, tormenting you, using you. 

Mairon sighed and you felt a shiver go down your spine at the feeling of his fingertips brushing the back of your knees. You slid lower on the armchair as your skirts pulled nearly all the way up, exposing your thighs to him. Your obedient servant gasped and looked up at you once more as if he was asking if that part of you was allowed for him, too.

“Have I told you to stop?” You challenged him and he nodded before burying his head between your soft thighs to kiss and lick them softly, breathing the sweet scent of your skin as if you were the holiness personified.

Wicked thought it was for you were the most corrupted and fallen out of the female Valar and yet you doubted any of them were worshipped with such eagerness as you were now.

“If we never left Valinor and I never followed Melkor,” you breathed out, caressing Mairon’s ginger hair and playing with the delicate strands of his hair between your fingers, “you would be my disciple and we would spend forever in the fields under the sun with you worshipping me, my sweet spirit,” you shared your fantasy with him and he whined at that as he moved his face further and deeper, his nose nudging your glistening cunt as he requested for your legs to open even wider.

“So impatient,” you pointed out and grabbed him by his throat to pull him away. You felt him swallow underneath your hand and then you forced him to look up by grabbing his chin. It was slightly wet already from your leaking cunt and you leaned in to give him a possessive, open-mouth kiss; to taste yourself on him as his eyes widened but he gave in immediately.

While granting him with a kiss he would never forget, you opened your legs further and further, giving him full access to the sweet nectar between your thighs and he whined into your mouth like a brat when he realised what you were doing. He laid his trembling hands on your thighs and moved the folds of your dress even further to the back, making sure your cunt was all exposed for him.

The cold air of the room caused your clit to twitch and swell before his thumb found it and brushed it. Now it was your time to moan into his mouth. You broke the kiss and pressed your forehead to his as you closed your eyes and took a few deep breaths in. Pleasure without pain was an experience brand new for your flesh and you had to steady yourself as he watched in awe.

“A-allow me…” Mairon pleaded and your eyes opened once more as you looked deep into his with a nod.

You laid back in the armchair and watched him with curiosity but also a hint of contempt to see a spirit so mighty humbled like this – perhaps you could understand Melkor more than you had ever expected to be able to but it was truly fascinating and pleasurable to humiliate other spirits. 

To be able to kiss and lick your cunt, to devour it – it was surely a life-changing experience for your sweet Mairon. His usually calm demeanour changed in an instant, reminding you of a hungry hound as he whined and whimpered, lapping on your juices as if it was the sweetest nectar granting him immortality. He was intoxicated as his hands squeezed your thighs to keep them open and allow him to feast eagerly. 

Your body of a goddess allowed you to go on without breaks; a peak after peak as you shivered and trembled, caressing his head and meeting his hazy, devoted gaze once in a while to let him know he was doing good. Your praise meant everything to him for all he had always known was your husband’s reprimands. 

Your flesh could go on and on but your mind of a goddess was a demanding one and soon you grew simply bored of his ministrations, therefore you pushed his head away and crossed your legs, taking away the access from him.

Mairon’s face was flushed, his eyes foggy and skin glistening from sweat and your juices dripping down his chin. He was kneeling and looking up at you mindlessly as if he would follow your every order now, no matter how self-destructive it would be.

“You’ve served me good, Mairon,” you grabbed his chin and smiled at him. “Good servant,” you emphasised.

“P-please,” he whimpered and you furrowed your brow before realising what he begged you for.

His own release.

“Was not your kin created to serve mine? I do not think our creator blessed you with such desires, Mairon. Do not be a dirty liar,” you teased him.

“Please, my Lady,” he whined, desperately.

You sighed and rolled your eyes.

“Alright, then, let me see for myself,” you smirked and pushed him down onto the floor before getting out of your armchair and straddling him like a predator would trap her prey before sinking her teeth into him.

He looked so pretty like this – both excited and turned on but also absolutely terrified of you. You could do everything to him and he had no other way but to accept it. And he knew – he knew very well – that you could be as cruel as Melkor if you only wanted to be.

Melkor’s brutality had been driven by his own whim. Yours would be driven by your revenge for all the centuries of being treated like his dog. Beaten dogs tended to bite deadly and Mairon knew.

“Do not fear me, sweet Mairon. I only want to see for myself if it is true that you have fallen and corrupted yourself so much with your devotion towards me that you have been gifted with desires of the flesh,” you smirked. “Or cursed with them,” you pointed out as your hands worked on his robes and the trousers underneath them swiftly and quickly.

You gasped and laughed when you saw how hard he was already after all those hours he had spent between your legs. He blushed even further and his cheeks were crimson red now like his clothes.

“This must hurt,” you pointed out with a sinister chuckle. “Is it the first time for you?” You asked, brushing his thighs with your fingernails, making him shiver under your touch but refusing to actually pay any attention to his hard and reddened cock with its tip swollen and twitching, leaking precum.

“No,” he confessed, nearly inaudibly.

“Interesting,” you hummed to yourself and leaned in, your face so close to his that your noses brushed. “And what were you doing usually when it happened?”

“Nothing,” Mairon confessed, his face wincing out of shame. “Nothing, my Lady. I would never… I would never dare to…” He gasped after every word, so sweetly desperate and frustrated but not brave enough to ask you to do anything in particular. He would never order you around.

“Oh, my sweet, poor Mairon… You should have come to me each time and I would have helped you,” you grinned at him although you both knew it was not true. None of you would have ever dared to commit such an act behind Melkor’s back. “Do you want me to ease you now?” You asked.

“P-please…”

You reached towards his twitching cock and grabbed his wet length as you watched with cold fascination while he struggled and writhed underneath you. A few pumps of your hand was enough to make him spill himself with a whine, bucking his hips into your hand as you kept jerking him off to make more and more of his seed spurt out. 

His body of a Maia did not need breaks but there was always a limit to how much seed any male flesh could produce. And when you felt he could absolutely do no more, you stopped and watched him catch his breath as you giggled, laying on top of him and intertwining your legs. One of your hands kept caressing his sore and softening cock gently as your other hand pulled his head closer to your chest, burying his face between your breasts and caressing his ginger hair strands.

“Please, do not go… I will be so lost without you,” Mairon looked up to meet your gaze and you smiled sadly at that.

“Do not start again,” you scolded him.

“Can you at least stay for the coronation?” He pleaded but you shook your head.

“No. I must leave tonight, as soon as possible,” you leaned in to kiss his forehead and a short while of silence occurred.

It surprised you greatly but some part of you began craving to take care of him now. As if the sinful act you had just performed with him, which stained you in a way – because what else would you call lowering yourself to pleasing a Maia? – as if it had forged an attachment between you two and bound you to him indeed like he had blasphemously suggested before.

You definitely had to leave and hide from the Valar, seek your own peace of mind. But you knew already that you would be back for your sweet Mairon sooner than both of you expected.

MASTERLIST

[lennythereviewer]

Theory: Jax is NOT a self-aware NPC nor is he actually trapped in the circus: He's a hacker who can leave at any time.

Even what little we got in terms of Jax content in episode 3 has been reinforcing a belief I've had for awhile, and in fact Jax's brief standout moment in ep 3 added a new wrinkle to my thought: That he's not some NPC who gained sentience and slipped in with the humans, he's actually a hacker who backdoored his way into the Digital Circus, and he's not trapped there.

Jax seems to have an affinity for keys and getting into places he shouldn't belong. Twice now he's done this thing of spinning a key on his finger while boasting about it. He mentions in episode 1 that "I got keys to everywhere" and in episode 2 he swiped the key to the kingdom from Ragatha, and the candy monster calls him a "Master of Unlocking Things" which I think could be genuinely some subtle foreshadowing. A hacker would potentially be able to do something like clip out of bounds, find security keys, crack passwords, and so on and so forth. All he's done with this however is seemingly just pull pranks and leave things in peoples rooms; he's a troll.

We've all speculated about the mysterious pin-back covers: The official pin merch line showing everyone's rooms except for Jaxs, which only shows his door and peeks of The Void tearing through the wall. We're not privvy to what's in Jaxs room if he even has one at all. His room door might actually be his own sort of exit door since he's not trapped. For him it's like loading into a VRChat server and he can log off any time he wants, he's just always sure to be there when everyone else is active so no one notices.

A small stupid thing but, "Jax" is not too far off from "Hax"

Okay, so if Jax is a hacker who can come and go as he pleases, a question is why? Why does he keep coming back to torment everyone around him? His brief gag in Episode 3 I think filled in the blanks for that: He's not just a hacker, he's a streamer and he's broadcasting everything that's happening in the Digital Circus to a watching audience.

He's the one character who has consistently broken the fourth wall in all three episodes so far, the first two episodes were him mugging to the camera and giving comical shrugs and knowing glances to the viewer, but in this episode he outright addresses the audience while seemingly talking to no one to the POV of the other circus members. He's acknowledging his chat. Plus in merch promotion Jax has openly acknowledged his IRL popularity, another form of fourth-wall-breaking.

This may also explain his overall behavior; the reason he's always causing problems on purpose or forcing the group to go on the most dangerous path or take the most 'exciting' option in their adventures: It makes for a good show. Audiences don't want some stupid silly candyland fantasy! They want car chases and explosions! They want to see what wacky things happen to the other circus members! The show must go on! Jax is chasing content, and when he can't get that content it upsets him like the end of Episode 2. Maybe that ties into his self-worth, maybe he needs that sort of validation from his chat and audience.

This angle also adds a bit of a meta angle to the entire series: We the viewer also tune in to watch our favorite circus buddies suffer through whatever zany adventure Caine cooked up. Are we any better than Jax's livestream audience who tune in to see how they're tormented by Caine this week? Heck maybe in-universe we're the audience Jax is playing to! We too want to see them sweat and suffer to get that sweet character growth so are we part of the problem?

Time will tell whether this comes to pass and whether or not I'm overthinking this, but I've had this thought for awhile and only after this episode did the livestreamer angle come to mind.

[bonefall]

Hey, what makes a character a 'plot device but not a character'? And how do you not do that? I'm trying to do it on purpose but also I need to still make them interesting because it's on purpose, yknow?

A good skill to pick up is to learn to criticise criticism itself. A "plot device" is simply a thing that moves the plot along, it's a neutral literary analysis term! Usually, when people are angry that "a character has been used as a plot device," it doesn't mean they hate plot devices. It means they're gesturing at something deeper.

Runningwind and Bumble are equally plot devices in their deaths. They are both killed by the antagonist to escalate political tension. Runningwind is rarely "accused" of just being a plot device, and yet, we're talking about Bumble for the same thing.

So, why?

Well, Runningwind is just a background character, but in life, he was a part of the community. He was characterized as impatient but responsible. Yet, he wasn't SO important that he died with a bunch of unresolved plot threads.

He is mostly an extension of the entity of ThunderClan. His killing by Tigerstar, and the fear and paranoia that settles on the group after this, feel like a progression of the story insteas of something forced.

Bumble, on the other hand...

Is hated immediately by Gray Wing, when she's established as Turtle Tail's friend. Bumble's abuse at Tom the Wifebeater's hands invites even MORE investment. The rejection is shocking and upsetting. There's a story there about our main characters being imperfect; jealous, bigoted, and judgemental.

But, she is simply killed off. Everything they set up for this character is gone with little personalized fanfare. It's not a tragedy with a lesson about cruelty, or something anyone regrets.

It's just... plot. Gray Wing whinging that no one will like his shitty brother now that his body count is 2.

More than that, in the discussion of women in particular, "Fridging" was coined to give a name to the way women characters often don't get their stories told at all. There is a CULTURAL trend of female characters facing disproportionate violence, for the sake of advancing male plots.

Bumble has a lot going for her. Petal had a lot going for her. Turtle Tail had a lot going for her. Bright Stream had a lot going for her. When they died, they took their potential with them.

It's not always wrong to kill off a character of high potential, mind you. In Gurren Lagann, Kamina's death is sudden and shocking, leaving a massive hole in the hearts of the cast that never heals. Grappling with that loss, but also letting his memory fuel them, is a major theme of that story.

All that to say... there's no formula for avoiding it. You've gotta identify what the deeper issue is, in your specific narrative.

I can't say for certain what that will look like for your story, but here's some things I keep in mind;

When you make characters who exist to die, make sure they're people before you axe them.

Ask yourself; what about them does the cast miss?

If they just miss them because they were (pre-existing relationship), go back to the drawing board.

Fluttering Bird as an example. Who was she? Dead sister. Why do they miss her? Dead sister. No traits until after her death.

Runningwind was short-tempered and helpful. Kamina was a valuable leader who made people believe in a brighter future. Swiftpaw was fiesty and desperate to prove himself. The better characterized, the more profound the loss usually is.

If this is a female character who is dying just to serve the plot, be aware of cultural bias and tropes. How is the gender ratio looking in your cast? Is this happening disproportionately with your girls?

Note how Quiet Rain's litter had both a boy and a girl, but the girl was chosen to be "weaker" and wither away.

And how most of the time in DOTC, whenever a man had to be upset, a girl would get killed for it.

If you ever feel like the character on the chopping block is NOT a full character, ask yourself why it needs to be a character at all. You don't need to spend narrative time building out someone when a literal object of high value might suffice.

"My sister died when I swore to protect her and I can't face my family" = Old. Tired. Ive seen this.

"I lost my heirloom sword when I swore to protect it and I can't face my family." = Fascinating. Why was the sword so valuable? Will they really not take you back? How did you lose it?

When you do kill off "high value" characters, try to make sure you're not leaving too many plot threads hanging. Or at least make a point of how they will never get closure.

[bagheerita]

Oh man, I love the idea that sentiment is Tain's own weakness which is why he tries so hard to teach Garak to not give in to it. I do agree that he sees himself as being exceedingly generous to Garak. He may be manipulative and controlling, but he would consider such an accusation a compliment.

Personally, I think that, being a master of everyone's secrets, what greater thrill is there than having your own secret you can wave under everyone's nose without them suspecting?? I think having a secret child was something he would totally do as an extension of the arrogance it must have taken to be the person who would climb to the top of the Obsidian Order. And I think that while he's sentimental, he is also a monster, so if anyone found out, he could have Garak and/or Mila eliminated without too much trouble, and he'd move on: it wouldn't be a secret, or a sentiment, that would cripple him- unlike Garak in ASIT, he would have a plan. He mentions multiple times that he could have had them killed, but he didn't- I think he toys with the idea as way of controlling his own sentiment. Is he horrified by the idea of killing them? No? Well, then we're still okay: the sentiment is something I indulge in, it doesn't rule me; carry on.

I love this line of yours: The more love he has for someone, the more they must submit to him, and the more of a betrayal it is when they fail to do so perfectly. Mila is a great example of someone who submitted to Tain's expectations perfectly, which is why she's the perfect partner to him in this "scheme." She never would have betrayed the secret, and she doesn't: it's Tolan who's the weak link. Tain says in TDIC that he's thinking about killing her- which he totally could do, especially at this point where he's on the edge of totally losing it(IE his mind)- but I think it's really just part of Garak's test, to see if he still lets sentiment rule him. (Garak is the one who first brings Mila up in this conversation, iirc, and this is after their talk about Doctor Parmak and how good Garak was at his job, when Garak is the one who asks whatever happened to Parmak and then they talk about Mila.) It's so interesting to me that Mila was so close with Tain and is one of the only people to survive that proximity.

Anyway, I feel like I'm rambling now. But omg, thank you for making me think about Tain so much, because, totally outside of my control, I think he has become a character than I'm going to obsessively (unwillingly) rotate in my head, lmao.

So I read A Stitch in Time and one result of that which I was certainly not expecting was that I feel so much sympathy for Enabran Tain. Garak's life is a tragedy, but Tain's is a fucking black comedy.

I mean, he's a terrible person and an absolute shitbag, but can you imagine? You have this kid. You go to all the trouble of arranging for him to be raised in a family situation where he won't be rejected from society for being your bastard. You get him into the nicest indoctrination school where he can hobnob with plenty of uppercrust kids. You get him a job in your Order and all the proper training. And he's actually, like, really good at it. But he has this fatal flaw of being completely incapable of not making stupid, short-sighted, emotional decisions.

A scene I imagine has to have happened just prior to Garak and Tain's confrontation at the end of part II:

Like goddamn. When Tain asked "what's your plan for getting rid of her husband?" and Garak's just like "plan what plan." Dude. I'M disappointed, I can only imagine the guy who's job it is to know and plan for everything isn't at least as disappointed.

I know he didn't actually, but do you think there was ever a time when Tain wanted to be like, You know what. Just go back to Tolan and become a gardener. Join that illegal hippie cult. It's fine.

[saturnaous]

flirting with my boytoy on magma(drawing ingo and emmet) and I wanted to see how far i could draw Ingo's synga suit from memory. boytoy started shouting at me when I got stuff wrong(/silly)

the ingo in question btw. (if you're curious I originally put his stripes and lantern on the wrong side and fucked up his shoes)

[camellcat]

just recently rewatched the end of time specials, and I can't stop thinking about the way the master caught the doctor only to let him drop anyway. hey guys. what the fuck? I like had a visceral reaction to that and I don't even know why. that's. what. why'd he do that. do it again

[souenkun]

I don't see this talked about often in the english side of the fandom, as this tidbit got lost in translation, but:

In the japanese versions for both texts and voice lines in the middle-aged opposites venet, kabu addresses larry with "—kun (くん)" in their second meeting in front of the restaurant. It's a japanese honorific to address someone who is a junior than you, in terms of either age or work experience/status. Inferring from this, kabu may either (1) be slightly older than larry in age (as I think they both have equal years of experience, just that larry happened be slightly superior to kabu in terms of their workplace status because he is also an elite four member), (2) be that friendly and warm as a person that he calls larry with "—kun (くん)" right away in the second part of their event's story, or (3) both.

Take what you will from this, friends! 🫡

[untilthcyrot]

Nadja had her eyes carefully trained on him. Mostly it was because she didn't want to ask questions that were too personal to him in his own home. She found herself in a very vulnerable situation, minding the eggshells that she walked on because she didn't know where else to step. Dare she upset her host and she could be tossed out, left to decide where to flee to next and avoid any more trouble. Besides, there was the sun to worry about. She may not explode underneath its burning light in the very instant she stepped into it, but it wouldn't be pleasant either.

No, the other part of her watching him with keen eyes was to gauge his reaction, and in his subtle movements, she got them. He seemed just as uncomfortable at the mention of having a master as she did. Then there was the disgust in his voice. Suddenly she didn't feel so alone in hating her master, but as curious as her question was, she was not one to pry. She would leave it at that.

❝ Have you ever wondered if there's such a thing as a claustrophobic vampire that would prefer coffins but can't sleep in them? ❞

It wasn't as if Nadja never found herself in a position where she openly flirted with someone, serious or not. She wouldn't have reciprocated had he not seemed open to the idea of her doing so, just being playful or otherwise. Her mood had altered since she first appeared at his doorstep desperate for help and shelter, too. She wasn't as fragile and scared of what had been out there in the dark trying to kill her. She was warmer, even as sleep called out to her.

❝ I'm a vampire, ❞ she purred back to him, ❝ Of course, I'm into biting. ❞

Biting came with the territory of being a vampire, though she would argue there were different degrees to that. Thrust into heated passion, she didn't always feel the need to sink her fangs into someone to feel turned on. Sometimes playful nipping was enough. Being with another vampire was different though. Abraham was the only vampire she had been with intimately. As much as she didn't want to think about him now, she couldn't help but recall her only intimate experiences with another vampire. Biting wasn't always involved but it played a part in it sometimes.

❝ Dusk, ❞ she simply repeated back to him, feeling her mood shift once again, no thanks to the unwelcome thoughts of Abraham and the complicated feelings she had for him. Hate, she reminded herself, they were feelings and memories filled with hate. When he left her, she did in fact turn to the wine that had been offered to her, wanting to settle in with a glass before getting some sleep.

His jaw clenched slightly at the mention of having a master. Scarlet hues narrowed for a moment as he suppressed the bile from rising. It had been sometime since anyone had asked him if he had a master.

"No, I do not. That bastard is dust now", he said voice tight with revulsion.

The change of subject though with her laugh shifted his mood. A ghost of a smirk played at his lips. He'd never met any spawn who had ever used coffin but then until Cazador he'd never known any vampire. It had only been what he'd read in fantasy books at least from what he could recall. He had though seen a few in the attic of the palace the very few times he'd been able to roam about the place.

"Good because it's quite cliche don't you think? I mean we're undead not rotting corpses", he mused.

Noting the shift in her mood at his little flirtatious jest he could not help but laugh.

"Don't worry darling, I've fed for the evening, I promise I won't bite unless you enjoy that sort of thing", he teased as he looked her over.

Of course he was jesting though, intimacy of any kind was something he had been working on slowly now that he was free to do with his body as he pleased. But he also did not want her to rest uncomfortably in the small room and the bed was spacious enough for several to sleep upon it. Nothing like the drow twins' bed in Sharess Caress but it was luxurious none the less.

"Suite yourself, but should you change your mind it is big enough for two", he said as he gave her a wink and turned to make his way back towards the bedroom.

"You may help yourself to the wine if you wish. It's a lovely vintage though I'm afraid it is nothing full bodied or warm. See you at dusk", he said as he gave her privacy.

[louwhose]

I love Frieren and Himmel's relationship so much and I mean of course I do there's so much to love. An elf that thinks a human's life passes away in the blink of an eye and human that loves her? I'm already hooked. But add into that he doesn't say anything because he knows nothing will come of it with how she views things when he knows her and is content to just admire her for all she is as she is? The fact that she cares for him in spite of thinking his life is so short and getting to know him in the time they were together but regretting not coming to know him better after he died? I mean she's literally following their journey and remembering him along the way and the end destination is the chance to see him again, but I feel like she'll realize she truly know and loved him even if they never reach heaven.

And there's just. So many tiny details. I will try to recount a lot, but I'm sure I won't get all of them.

Frieren remembers so much about him. Regardless of where they go, it's usually a memory about him more than anyone else. She remembers his favorite flower, and takes the time to find it (though she doesn't consider time a least bit rare commodity). And she remembers it, which means that even though at one point she didn't try to learn about her companions, she afterwards made the point to remember their favorite things. And when she talked with Old Man Voll, who was regretting losing his memories of his late wife and asked if she could still remember her companions clearly, she refused to consider that she ever won't. She considers their memories that precious.

And then there's Himmel. Oh my goodness. Beyond just his initial attraction, the way he's always fascinated by her magic and her making enough of an impression on him at a young age that he sought her out years later for such an important quest is delightful. And did I mention that he just loves her magic? BECAUSE HE DOES!! And it helps her to love collecting her weird spells that much more, so good and supportive, Himmel.

And fear not I shan't neglect to mention the mirrored lotus ring because I am incapable of being normal about that scene. He had Frieren choose a ring (my respectful man there where can I get me a Himmel) and when he saw which one she chose he knew what it meant and chose to present it to her in a way that was sure to be memorable to her. Even though she didn't yet know the meaning of it, once she does, she can look back on the memory of him pledging his love eternally to her, an immortal, in spite of his mortality. He may be content to never say it, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't like her to know.

And now I am going to talk about a manga arc that ends on like. Chapter 118/119? So spoilers if you choose to proceed any further.

Frieren has spent so long now working towards seeing Himmel again and then she. GETS TO SEE HIM AGAIN!!! I am certain that if I scoured this arc I could find soooo many details for them (and I am tempted but instead I will focus on a few details that come to mind and analyzing one very specific thing about it.

Just. Himmel saying he likes who she's become, not having any clue that he was a major influence for her becoming that way. I just love that he appreciates her at every stage she's at it's just so uwu. and then when FRIEREN said he's a ray of light??? omg omg omg omg oomg I die they both just see the best in each other and I live for it.

And Then There's The Wedding. If you read this far on this and didn't expect me to gush over this part here is where I disillusion you. Himmel's feelings for Frieren have been pretty obvious up to this point, but seeing that he would in his ideal world want to marry her and spend his life with her is GRAHHHHHHHHHH there's no words to describe it. and like. Frieren is there too? how am I supposed to interpret that but as her own paradise? even if it's as a looser interpretation of she wanted to spend all of Himmel's life with him??? INSANEEEEEEEeeeeeeeeeeeee

and then the fact that Himmel had his dreams presented before him, but he felt something was off, and didn't take advantage of it. Not even for a kiss. THIS RESPECTFUL MAN what is there not to like if anyone is good enough for Frieren it is without a doubt him. and the way they work together to get out of it???? oh man I love it

idk I just love their dynamic I think it's great and full of unfulfilled potential and I hope they get something some kind of closure if Frieren really does make it to see him again I just really love thinking about them thank you for coming to my presentation

[iknowwhereyousnoozeatnight]

couple of mello + near doodles

[mastersoftheair]

new stills for episode 4!

[paragonrobits]

So the Embers fic I'm thinking of is by a fic writer called Vathara, and I suppose the best way I can describe her work is that at one point in the story, in her author notes she outright claims that the protestors at the Kent State Shooting (a famous event where the national guard opened fire into a crowd of student protesters, killing many) deserved it for antagonizing the cops, and I THINK she referred to the cops as 'the keepers of civilization', which may give you some insight on her politics.

Embers itself is part of a AU continuity focusing on the idea of other bending arts having healing powers in their own right, though most of them were lost over time; this story branches off from canon after Zuko becomes a waterbender as well as a firebender (a concept in the fic where a spiritual wound can result in someone being able to learn another element after a brutal process), which makes him ineligable for Fire Lord, causing the story to completely branch off canon.

I will give it this much; its a well written story, with some very interesting lore and worldbuilding, and i think it was a prominent influence in the fandom for a long time.

However, it certainly has many flaws; its thesis seems to be 'the Fire Nation deserved better' as stated by the author in the first chapter, and there's a big motif about military people being treated better, or implying that the Fire Nation had every right to retaliate after Aang communed with the ocean spirit during the Fire Nation attack on the North, or that it was wrong of Aang to deceive Zuko at the South Pole... the story's biggest issues is a tendency to constantly take Zuko's side and depict him as mature, intelligent and knowing better than everyone else for the most part, and constantly depicting Aang and Katara as childish, immature and in Katara's case, xenophobic and biased against the Fire Nation, and even depicting her as backwards and reactionary. She is outright compared to a mean school girl bullying other girls.

Bear in mind, the fic's major aspects take place around the end of Season 2 and onwards; this is at the same point where Aang is trying to master the Avatar State and they have all gone through a lot of growth. There's a bunch of lorebuilding depicting the Air Nomads as brainwashing their sisters to give up their children at birth (with a lot of emphasis on family ties), and the narrative strongly sides with the Fire Nation, though at least acknowledges the Air Nomad genocide as wrong, even though while Zuko is deeply contrite in a spiritual discussion with Gyatso, he is constantly rude and dismissive towards Aang on the few times they interact directly, and the plot implies that Aang is SUPPOSED to be seen as naive.

Ty Lee here is explicitly an air nomad, but one in hiding and allied with the Fire Nation, because apparently the temple monks will drill ropes into her hands and brainwash her, meaning her ancestors took sides with the Fire Nation, the people who GENOCIDED THE AIR NOMADS. It's a real weird bit.

The story has a LOT of anti-pacifism, to the point where the author criticizes the Air Nomads for their beliefs, at one point stating "respect for life is good and all, but when it comes down to it, check which nations are still standing'.

I will also give it this; it is very much NOT a Zutara fic. It's in a weird position as hitting all the buttons for the kind of atmosphere those fics take, except that Zuko and her do not get together at all, and instead he and Mai are focused on.

It's something i liked a lot back in the day, but as time has gone on its issues are quite glaring and a precursor to the outright Fire Nation apologism we see now.

(Also there's this bit where Kyoshi was a reactionary who banned interracial/national marriages and mixing the elements, which wound up being deeply ironic when canon material later established her as being the child of an Earth Kingdom man and an Air Nomad woman.)

what is embers?

Okay, so, there are (I think) two fics with that same name. One is some super popular one that became a podcast or whatever, never read it, can't speak on it, had it recommended to me a few times but it didn't interest me.

But there was one that I did read and that I'm pretty sure either had the same name or at least had the word Embers in it and it was TRASH! It was one of those weird zutara fics that make the airnomads evil (the fic literally opens with a "the airbenders were not as innocent as Aang would want us to think" kind of line) to justify the Fire Nation genociding them and to go "Aang is a bad person, therefore Katara should marry Zuko instead." It was really, really, REALLY long (and it was either on hiatus or discontinued), and I only managed to stomach around three or four chapters.

I cannot find that one anymore, not even going through my ao3 history (so either I got the name wrong or it was deleted). I highkey don't WANT to find it, and I pity anyone who managed to read it.

[twilight-deviant]

I'm trying to remember if DP ever said where/when Vlad got Danny's DNA to make a clone in the first place............

(Yeah, hair doesn't have DNA unless you get the root. Did you want me to draw him swabbing the inside of Danny's mouth? XD)