#''...i don't believe we should have any rulers. it is right to kill them. i had that idea when i shot the president‚ and that is why i was

[czolgosz]

sorry to be nitpicky but the quote in that screenshot is completely made up (from "the assassin makes a full confession")

I don't know a great deal about pre-20th Century American history, so when I was wondering what William McKinley did to deserve getting shot, I hit his Wikipedia page as my first stop, and

At this point I'm thinking two things:

Surely no actual human person would phrase it that way.

Yeah, that'll do it.

[zvtara-was-never-canon]

I believe Aang was right to end the war by sparing Ozai. But the only (imho) valid reason some people say he should have done it is because they wanted Aang to realize that pacifism is flawed.

I'm gonna disagree with you here, because a lot of the flaws fans talk about pacism and how ATLA in particular handles it as a concept are 99%:

1 - People being ignorant/racist and not knowing the difference between pacifist monks and "make love, not war" hippies.

2 - People being ignorant/racist and refusing to understand that there are different kinds of pacifism, even within the same cultures/people groups.

Aang is very clearly not the type of pacifist to go "You can NEVER react with ANY kind of violence towards someone else, even if it's to defend yourself/someone else" (which does exist, both IRL and in the show, just look at the owl spirit in "The Library").

We see him fight, and even be quite aggressive in said fights, in a lot of episodes. We also see he has no issues with invading the Fire Nation. More importantly, for the longest time the Avatar State was a result of him being pissed off enough at some kind of injustice that it makes him lose control, meaning he is very clearly affected by the horrors of war to the point of RAGE.

What makes him a pacifist is the way in which he doesn't WANT to lose control, doens't WANT go from aggressive to full on cruel, and, yes, wants to defeat his enemies, but not kill them.

And as I keep repeating, the show DOES make him question that last boundary he set for himself. He gets told by a past Avatar, who was also an air-nomad before anything, that, when there is such a large threat to everyone's life, including his own, he has to put aside his own spiritual needs and take a life - provided there isn't another option. But there was, so Aang took that, even after he decided that, yes, if there was no other way, he WOULD kill Ozai.

What people don't like is that Avatar, although questioning some types of pacifism, is far more interested in questioning the way people are WAY too eager to use violence to solve their issues, and, more importantly, expect someone else to get their hands bloody.

Fire Lord Sozin starts the war because he, according to himself at least, wants what's best for everyone and would like to share the Fire Nation's glory and great life with the other nations. He tries to do by invading foreign territories, killing his best friend, and commiting genocide. The fucker even has the dragons, an obvious Fire Nation symbol, to be hunted to extintion.

When Jet is angry at the Gaang for ruining his plan to free a village from the Fire Nation's control by blowing up a dam, Sokka asks "Who would be free? Everyone would be dead."

Zuko is banished because he spoke out against a Fire Nation higher-up's plan to use soldiers as fresh meat to bait the enemy into a more vulnerable position, thus assuring the nation's victory in that battle. He openly says "These men love and defend our nation, how can you betray them?"

When Zhao wants to kill the moon spirit, Iroh tries to stop him by pointing out that the Fire Nation needs the moon too (seriously, if it wasn't for Yue's sacrifice and Zhao's death, the Fire Nation would have had to create a word for "Big-ass wave that wrecks everything and kills people" like Japan did).

When Aang is deliberately trying to trigger the Avatar State because he doesn't want anyone else to die in the war, Katara, who had her life ruined by said war, is against it because while she opposes the Fire Nation, she cares about Aang and, in her own words, seeing him in so much pain and rage hurts her too. When Aang can't force himself to go nuclear, an Earth Kingdom ruler attacks Katara and makes both her and Aang, two very traumatized child soldiers, think he is going to kill her.

More importantly, when Ozai wants to burn down Earth Kingdom cities, he says "A new world will rise from the ashes, and I'll be supreme ruler of everything", to which Zuko concludes that, if they don't save the world before his dad takes over, there won't be a world to save.

And what does he say to Aang when he is about to kill him? "You're weak, just like your people. They didn't deserve to live in world, in my world."

Avatar does questions pacifism, and is critical of it on ocasion (again, watch "The Library"). But it's biggest theme is being critical of VIOLENCE, of resorting to it immediately without considering any other option and acting like it doesn't have long-lasting negative consequences, both to the person suffering it to the person inflicting it (see Azula's breakdown, Zuko's angry outburts only making him more miserable, Jeong Jeong growing to resent being a firebender, Zhao accidentally burning his own ships, etc)

The show is constantly highlighting that, yes, sacrifices need to be made for the greater good - but that CAN'T be normalized because it inevitably leads to a never-ending cicle of cruelty, as well as suffering to the one who has to do the dirty job (because lets not forget there's a big difference in how a soldier that is constantly in battle sees the war and how a king that just gives the orders but never goes into the actual combat sees the war).

The show embraces pacifism, despite knowing some versions of it are flawed, because the narratives themes are:

1 - EVERYONE is capable of great good and great evil

2 - No group has the right to impose it's own lifestyle onto others

3 - If everyone is either dead, mentally (and physically) scarred for life, or preparing to kill someone as revenge, then being killed by someone who wants to avenge that person, who will themselves be killed for revenge later, then the "greater good" you're sacrificing everything for doesn't actually exist because NO ONE will have a good life in a world that is stuck in the cicle of violence.

[ask-tdw-0666]

"help me?! You believe keeping me in a state of uncertainty is beneficial for me?! I nurtured you and endeavored to shape you into a splendid monarch, Janis, and this is your way of giving back to me?! While you sport MY crown atop your head, you show your ingratitude, you ungrateful brat!?"

"Dad, I'm thankful for you taking care of me after Mom passed away! I'm thankful for the guidance you gave me to become a great ruler! You're here because you were on a mission to eliminate the Illager race, leading to two conflicts, causing fatalities and injuries among both Overworld and Nether inhabitants. I don't want you to cause harm to anyone else or seek revenge against the Illager race…"

"So, you choose to remain and form an alliance with the very individuals who led to your mother's demise?! you believe I was seeking revenge against those vile grey creatures for the hell of it?! Absolutely not! I was seeking justice for my wife, your mother, the queen of the Nether!"

"No, I don't think it was for any reason, but trying to eliminate the Illager race and causing conflicts isn't a valid reason for what you did. I understand you loved my mother deeply, I know you made your own decisions, but look at the consequences, being stuck in a state of suspended animation as a form of punishment."

"And YOU did this to me! My own son! You're lucky your mother and I didn't have another child, Janis, and I really wish we had another! at least I would feel at ease knowing that one child I had didn't betray me and cared about their mother's death!"

"…You…You believe I don't care about losing Mother?! Father, losing Mother was the most devastating day of my life! I miss her just as much as you do, but my argument is that killing others and starting wars won't bring her back! Violence accomplishes nothing! and did you forget about your great-grandson, my grandson, my daughter's son, who is an Illager?!"

"Don't you dare mention that disgraceful act your whore of a daughter committed with an Illager! that spoiled our pure royal bloodline even more than you did when you wed that common woman!"

"Father, you leave Beatrix out of this! She might not be from a noble family, but she's the one who loves me the most! And my daughter, she's not a prostitute! She loved Thord more than anything, and he made her happy. Who am I to deny her such happiness?"

"You're making a mistake! You should have stopped her from marrying an Illager! I didn't want you to marry Beatrix and end up with a woman from a royal lineage! not some common woman!"

"I apologize for not choosing the person you wanted me to marry, but I didn't love them. My love is with Beatrix, and it will last."

"You've disgraced not just me and your mother, but the entire Thornburn family legacy…"

"And you're a terrible father…truthfully, I know you and Grandfather didn't get along well, and he was abusive towards you, but that doesn't justify taking your pain out on others, including your own child."

"I ought to knock you right out of the fucking skies....Don't act like you know everything about the hardships I faced as a child, brat. You weren't there!"

[m4rs-ex3]

harrow is an incredible character. no not because he's perfect. it's because he's not!!!!

the way that he managed to be an amazing father and have a deeply flawed character in such unison should be a gold standard for writing. he's not "too pure to be a ruler" or whatever; no goofy joke he makes will make up for the fact that he killed avizandum. that he took down the monarch of xadia, a mate and a father, when he hadn't posed as an active threat for years--or ever, really. plus he fully committed to killing zym.

"he had a good reason" did he really? like bro there are a lot of fucking dragons in xadia in the long run killing one won't do shit. he may have made the decision with an angsty smolder but it was still a stupid, impulsive one. and as for the former act, yes, thunder thighs killed sarai (and everyone's favorite lesbians :(), he orphaned three precious innocent babies without a care in the world. avizandum was a ruthless, ignorant motherfucker, on that much i agree (which leads to the discussion of how the humans are humans but xadians are just as prejudiced and pretentious but that's a worship post for another day.) and no, i won't sit here and say that in harrow's position i would be perfectly fucking civil (ronan lynch ref go brr), i'm just stating the facts. ok my interpretation of the facts. tldr he did a shitty thing, but were his intentions good? no. was his heart in the right place? nada. was his hateful homicidal mindset fueled by a reasonable inciting incident? yes yes it was!

(also worthy to mention how much his rule benefited from dark magic. he ultimately made the noble decision to deny it but yk. still)

now believe you me, i recognize that a character who is seemingly perfect turning out to have a dark past isn't exactly revolutionary. but the artistry is in the execution + closure.

from a trope perspective, it really isn't a dark "past." this barbarity occurred literal months before the start of the series, where we see father of the year himself. i just feel that in other shows, the grotesque details of his crimes would use the characters, or at least the framing of the story, to imply that it's so shocking that he would do such a thing and o woe i'll never look at him the same, but it doesn't. which is really what makes his death so impactful.

he's not just a wholesome dad type who is this innocent pure-hearted king. the narrative isn't that his death is such a colossal tragedy cause he was just such a good guy. he's emotional, profound, and righteous, and all of it ends up being a double edged sword!!! because that's how human traits work!!! the narrative doesn't do anything to frame him in any way, it just presents him in full truth. and lo and behold, i don't think there's a single viewer who thinks he is terrible person.

the beauty in his story is that he warranted his own death, and he was willing to acknowledge and accept it more than anyone. he subjected himself to the consequences of his own actions, and the people he influenced most are the ones who see that.

ezran says it all himself: his father, ultimately, was a great king, and an incredible person. but he is strong enough to point out harrow's weaknesses and commit to learning from them.

harrow isn't this shining example of everything a king should be. his death isn't just this unfortunate, harrowing (haa.ha.ahaha) circumstance used to dump a truckload of character-building trauma onto our mcs. it's the first step in the entire journey of the mf show. change. it's the moment where ezran, through all his grief, sees exactly where his path needs to lead to.

harrow fucked up, he knows this, and that's all she wrote. he meant just as much in death as in life, and if that isn't friggin beautiful then i don't know what is.

aagagghh. WRITING ⬆️⬆️⬆️!!!!!!

[twstjam]

Memory Lane Part 2: Faded Scars

Characters focused on: King of Beasts!Leona Kingscholar & GN!Reader

Word count: 2.2k

Summary: You're an innocent isekai victim... until you accidentally step on a cranky lion's tail.

Or: You wander into another world and meet reincarnations of cartoon villains (who were REAL and also your friends in a past life). Leona-centric chapter.

Masterlist

AO3 Link

The Queen of Hearts, the King of Beasts, the Sea Witch, the Tactician of the Sands, the Fairest Queen, the Ruler of the Underworld, and the Thorn Fairy.

Together, they're known as the Great Seven.

Or at least, that's what Ace had told you... right before him and Grim got collared for burning the Queen of Hearts's statue and you got arrested into having tea time with his boss.

Now, you're told that Riddle was the Queen of Hearts in a past life. According to him, her powers and memories had been passed down the previous rulers of the Queendom of Roses and that he was the current inheritor, thus making him the current ruler of the kingdom (queendom?).

Or at least, that's what you got from his long-winded spiel. He had explained it with a sort of manic, frantic look in his eyes that made you fear he might actually behead you after all, which then died down into a sort of defeated acceptance when you only nodded and smiled at his rambling. The disappointment on his face made that fresh feeling of unexplained belonging twist in your chest, but what in the world were you supposed to say to all that?

Oh that's so cool that you have the memories and powers of a controlling, temperamental tyrant! Based on how you're so uptight and everybody shivers at the sound of your name I'm sure it didn't affect you negatively in any way! Let's totally be friends like we used to be in a past life! Sure, why not! ?

That was another thing you can't quite wrap your head around. He knew you? In a past life? Or at least, the Queen of Hearts did? And you were some sort of "Beast Tamer" that was the only person that the Great Seven listened to?

Oh yeah, as it turns out, Riddle isn't the only one with the memories and powers of an evil fairytale villain. There are others like him, and apparently one of them was here at the Castle of Roses.

"This is a very puzzling situation," Riddle had sighed as you stuffed your face with more desserts in an effort to drown out how much of a stranger you suddenly felt in your own body. The queen sitting across from you had his brow tightly knitted in an intense expression, deep in thought. "I can sense that your essence is theirs, just like all the others, so you should be able to remember. For the past hundreds of years, we've never had a problem like this before. Everyone's always been able to access their past memories just fine..."

He had trailed off and you paused in the middle of taking a bite out of another cupcake (why are these desserts so good?!) at the sudden silence. His gaze was still really far away, as if he was watching an intense drama unfold instead of the untouched strawberry tart in front of him.

He blinks and suddenly he's back to fairytale earth. The crease in his brow disappears as he looks back up at you and you can practically see the light bulb go off above his head.

"Maybe... we can use something to jog your memory."

That's how you're here, standing in the sweet-smelling garden and face-to-face with another thing in this world that wants to kill you.

If you really were a "beast tamer" in a past life, you must've really sucked at it. Or maybe you just didn't inherit the beast-taming abilities like you didn't inherit the memories, which was just your luck.

You don't really believe anything that Riddle had said about you being some sort influential figure like the Seven (except for what he said about your past self having a knack for getting into danger, which you don't doubt a single bit) but right now, as you're staring down a cranky lion man, you really hope he was somewhat right.

"You've got some nerve stepping on my tail and just walking away," the man/lion/furry growls. His mussed dark hair falls over his eyes messily, but you're still able to spot a scar over his left eye. On top of his head are a pair of furry ears, stiffly folded back in irritation. When he talks, you catch a glimpse of inhuman canines in his mouth. "Ain't nothin' worse than bein' in the middle of a nap and havin' some jerk step on your tail."

"As we might have it, the inheritor of the King of Beasts is here at this very castle." you recall Riddle saying, followed by an irritated sigh. "Not that I have any idea where he is... he's always slacking off who-knows-where and has his retainers running around doing chores for him. We must find him. I'll have some of my card soldiers looking as well. He's hard to miss: he's a lion beastman with dark hair and a scar on his eye."

Ears, tail, a head of luscious dark locks, and a scar...

You hadn't put it together before, but in hindsight, you really should've been able to figure it out before you stepped on Scar from the Lion King 's tail. Not that it'd have increased your chances of survival.

"Sorry—! Um, your majesty...?" He was a king, right? But— Wait, Scar wasn't the king in the movie. That was literally the whole plot... you think. You can't really remember. Even if you did, that knowledge would only be useful if the fairytales you knew actually did align with the history of this world. Wait... the Lion King isn't a fairytale! …Or is it?

The lion man is still glaring at you. You pull your mind back into the moment and try to instead think of ways to not get eaten.

...Would it count as cannibalism? Agh, question for another time!

"I wouldn't know anything about having a tail but uh, I'm sure it's not fun to get it stepped on," you stammer with a forced polite smile that you hope looks apologetic, or at least pathetic enough that he'd consider you not worth snacking on. "I'm really, really sorry. I really didn't mean to disturb your nap! But it's actually good that you're awake. The queen's looking for you, soooo..."

"Hey." You flinch at his sharp tone and your back springs up straight. Your blood turns cold with fear as you feel him examine you closely before he speaks again, "Look at me when I'm talkin' to you."

You're not eager to get up-close and personal with his sharp-looking teeth, so you do the smart thing and look up.

His eyes are green (just like the cartoon lion) with slitted pupils, like a cat's. Having never seen such a thing on a human face before, you find yourself transfixed... and then blinded.

The lion man's eyes go wide before he blinks and they suddenly start glowing a bright yellow. You squint your eyes against the light but you don't look away.

The same thing had happened with Riddle earlier when you met him. You hadn't been looking as closely then as you were too busy trying to control your erratic heart rate, but it's hard to miss when someone's eyes change from grey to red.

Just like Riddle's did, the glow in the lion man's eyes fade as suddenly as they had appeared and you're looking at a pair of green eyes again. You think his pupils go round (just like a cat's do!) but you don't have time to be sure as you're suddenly being shoved under an arm and against a hard chest as the lion man throws his head back with a loud laugh.

"Of all the herbivores!" he exclaims boisterously, a stark contrast to his drowsy anger earlier. He practically squeezes the breath out of you and you wheeze weakly.

As you're suffocated to death, your life flashes before your eyes. You see green eyes, dark hair, a scar… Wait, this just happened, didn't it?

There's a lion in front of you. A massive, full-grown lion with a mane of dark hair and a conniving smirk. For whatever reason, you don't run, and that proves to be a mistake when the lion suddenly climbs into your lap and curls up on top of you even as you scream and shove at him. You feel his chest rumble with a laugh when you give up struggling and flop back defeatedly.

You blink and your vision focuses back on a man lion instead of an actual one. The one that was actually holding you down and under an arm instead of a massive furry body. There's a very obvious difference, but you swear the smirk on his face is the exact same, eyes, scar, canines and all.

"Finally decided to show your face, huh?" the lion man chides. You only keep staring at him. You can't move even though you want to. Like with Riddle, your body suddenly feels like it has a mind of its own and your actual mind is telling you things that don't make sense but feel like they should .

The silence between the two of you turn awkward when you continue to let yourself be dragged around like a limp doll. The lion man's expression shifts drastically from a friendly one to one of shock and you almost fall on your butt when he suddenly pushes you away.

"Ugh, I hate it when that happens…" he growls. He's turned away from you, but it's obvious from the sound of his voice that he isn't only exasperated but also embarrassed.

That makes two of you.

"I don't know what that was but I do know it was super weird," you say with a shrug. Lion Man whirls around to level you with another glare, but unlike earlier, you don't flinch. You know he's not going to pounce. Not actually.

"That never happened," he snarls. He steps into your space and you can feel his hostility, but all it does is make you defiant (You mourn the loss of your self-preservation instincts, but hey, at least you're not trembling like a newborn kitten). Lion Man points his index finger at your chest and you can feel his claw-like nails through your shirt. "We're not friends , alright? Just 'cause you used to be chummy with Scar, doesn't mean we're going to be all buddy-buddy, got it?"

He aggressively jabs your chest at each emphasis and you almost stumble off your feet. You mirror his glare and shove his hand away by the wrist.

"You don't have to get your fur all fluffed up," you scoff and a low growl rises in his throat, but you're not dissuaded. "It's not like I want to be pals with you either."

"Great," Lion Man huffs, turning away. "I'm in a bad mood on account of bein' woken up from my nap, so unless you feel like losing a tooth, scram."

You're just about to bite back your assent when a voice suddenly calls back from across the garden.

"Leonaaaa!"

Lion Man curses under his breath. You hear footsteps approach the two of you, and a scruffy-looking man (? He's so small and scrawny that he could be a boy for all you knew.) appears down the path. He has animal ears and a tail too, but his ears are bigger and fluffier and so is his tail.

If Lion Man is supposed to be Scar, then could this guy be a hyena?

"Leona! There you are!" he says with a wide, relieved grin. You'd assumed he was one of the card soldiers, but with a closer look, you realise he isn't at all dressed like one. "I knew I'd find you here."

"Ugh, and now I've got this guy on my tail..." Leona groans, turning his irritation onto the new stranger now. "What is it, Ruggie?"

"Riddle's lookin' for ya," the hyena boy—Ruggie—replies without missing a beat despite the deadly glare trained on him. "Says it's important inheritor business. He's even got the guards looking."

"Inheritor business, huh." Leona's ears rise at that and he glances at you over his shoulder. "Wonder what about."

"Beats me." Ruggie shrugs as he crosses his hands behind his head. "But you should probably go see him before he boils over."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm on it," Leona says gruffly as he stretches out his back and limbs. "I don't feel like gettin' collared today. I'll go see what he wants."

Before he leaves though, he turns to you, but instead of looking angry, he looks thoughtful this time. Riddle had had a similar expression earlier, where it seemed as if he was looking at something that wasn't actually there. Not in the present at least.

"I'm guessin' you're comin', huh," Leona sighs, sounding put-upon, and walks past Ruggie towards the end of the garden. He waves a dismissive hand in the air as he says, "Just remember what I said. I'm not waitin' up for you, and don't expect me to."

You roll your eyes at his back before walking after him with Ruggie tailing behind you (probably to make sure Leona actually makes it to Riddle). Leona is far ahead at this point so you could be wrong, but you think you catch the quietest little chuckle from him.

[butterflyintochains]

The Remarried Empress Post

A Huge tangent from my usual posts, because I have some thoughts. Especially about the whole Navier vs Rashta thing. This may not be coherent, and I am sorry for that in advance.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Firstly, I wanna talk about something that often goes ignored by the wider TRE fandom. Navier is, while a fantastic ruler, a deeply hurt young woman who has had to effectively rebuild her whole life. It's seen in season three of the webtoon that, in order, three men confess love to Navier: Heinrey - her husband, Kaufman - an international ally, and Sovieshu - her ex-husband. And, most tragically, Navier doesn't believe either of them to be honest. We know that Heinrey means it truthfully, but Navier doesn't, why not? Well, she views herself as fundamentally unlovable. She brushes Kaufman off due to him being under the influence of a love potion, but her former and current husbands' confessions do rock her.

We see first that Navier is thrown for a loop when Heinrey confesses to her after their wedding. Ever since she divorced, she's been bracing for another Rashta. For her new husband to have picked her for convenience, and then take a mistress on for love. After all of Rashta's wiles, Navier has come to see herself as boring and unlovable. Good for ruling with and governing, but not much else. From the novel, we also see that Navier doesn't even think much of her own appearance, from her diet being so controlled so as to avoid weight gain, she believes those around her are only calling her beautiful because they're obligated to due to her position. And, with Rashta being so loudly praised for her 'wildflower' beauty, Navier was made to feel very insecure by comparison. How fucking tragic for a woman who is meant to be in the prime of her life, could you imagine how awful you'd feel if this shit was all you'd ever known of marriage? If everyday you were waiting for your own husband to abandon you for someone else?

As for Sovieshu's confession. Boy, what the fuck are you on that makes you think you have any right to say this shit? For one, he breaks protocol. A foreign emperor, a guest with diplomatic status, tells a newly minted Empress of the empire that's kindly hosting him and his ungrateful wife, that he loves her, excuse you sir, but get your royal shit together! You're an emperor, act like one! Second, you are her ex-husband, who at every juncture: put Navier down, insulted and humiliated her, did horrible shit on Rashta's behalf to hurt her, instigated the divorce for the unborn baby of your undisciplined and uneducated mistress, exiled her brother, and banned her from writing to the one friend she had left after the Nianne fiasco. If that's how you love Navier, no wonder she broke down crying. I would have too.

As for the legions of Rashta apologists who point to Heinrey's sketchy actions to excuse Rashta. Are you lot stupid or what? No, I don't agree with everything Heinrey does, and I do think he should be more transparent with Navier now they're married. But, there's a huge difference between a prince/king/emperor doing what he feels he must to secure the future of his nation. And some girl from nowhere; lying, embezzling money, abusing innocent animals, and ordering the torture of staff, as well as selling a young lady into slavery because she doesn't like her. And then trying to pass her baby with a previous lover off as the heir to the throne. Heinrey, while not perfect, is at least competent at his job, and has a wife who he can trust to share the load. Rashta can't go two minutes without causing drama, and has a husband who actively doesn't trust her to do anything without breaking everything.

And, how can Rashta apologists justify her hiring a hitman to kill the man who helped her escape from slavery? And then to direct that hitman to kill Navier's parents for no real reason? Or doing nothing as empress to make things better for slaves? At least some of Rashta's actions as mistress can be explained as a need to survive, like paying the duke and viscount to bury her past. But, she's won her little war against Navier, she's got the man, the palace, the title, the unending wealth. Navier is gone, married to someone else, ruling another empire with him, and is now (as of the webtoon) expecting their babies. So, why does Rashta continue to allow Navier to live in her head like this?

As for Sovieshu, the real villain of this story, how anyone can justify his actions is beyond me. The cookie incident. He abandons his wife for someone he met in a forest, as far as anyone knows he knocks her up, forces his wife to live alongside his mistress, and host a party for her unborn baby. plans to spring a divorce on her and remarry her, bans her from writing to Heinrey (as well as burns the letters he sent her), the cooked bird incident. Then, decides he wants her back? Sovieshu never loved Navier, never valued her, never saw her as important. Until she found someone who did. She's not the love of his life as Sovieshu apologists say, she's an object he wants control over.

I dunno, Sovieshu and Rashta just piss me off. I hate it when people don't learn from past mistakes, and when they don't listen to external voices, and the idiot duo do neither. Like, Navier takes her overtrust of courtly structure into her new life, and works hard to set her new court to rights. Heinrey learns from his impulsiveness, and matures into a good man, husband, father, and emperor. But, when do we ever see a mea culpa from either of Sovieshu or Rashta? Never, unless they're doing it for their own gain.

This is all to say; I just don't understand how anyone can read this story, and still sympathise with Sovieshu or Rashta. Because, as far as I can see, they've done nothing to earn any reader sympathy.

[sea-owl]

Okay but you know how many Greek heroes were given impossible tasks to complete line Heracles having to complete all those labors? Imagine one of those tasks is having to babysit the children of the king and queen of the underworld for just one hour. It seems easy, until they meet Polins kids.

So funny thing I kinda based Gareth off Heracles, soooo

Gareth and Hyacinth were engaged to be married but he had been hiding a secret, which in turn led to him lying to Hyacinth and it sadly made it look like he was only marrying Hyacinth to gain immortality. He came clean about it, and Hyacinth still wanted to marry him after, but Anthony found out. He ended up demanding Gareth do 8 impossible tasks to prove his worth to marry Hyacinth.

Gareth completed them one by one and when it came time for the final task Anthony was getting nervous. Now he couldn't outright kill Gareth (he really didn't want to anymore either) as he was still Simon's champion and Anthony was a god of his word. He just needed to make the last task an absolute knockout so he knows that Gareth truly loves Hyacinth. He needs to put someone else in charge of the task that will put Gareth through the ringer, who loves and is protective of Hyacinth.

Anthony's eyes fell onto the rulers of the Underworld, the red headed queen to be precise. Perfect.

"I need you to let Gareth babysit your kids."

Penelope raised an eyebrow, "You need me to do what?"

"The final task. I'm thinking about having Gareth babysit your kids," Anthony said.

Penelope crossed her arms and shot him a look. "Be careful with your next words Anthony, but why are you making the final impossible task babysitting my kids?"

Anthony held up his hands in a wait kind of gesture. "I'm not saying they're bad Pen, but you know your kids would run circles around any non-family babysitter."

It was true to. His four niblings from Colin and Penelope were generally good kids but all four of them had inherited their mother's brains. This often left them smarter than the adult that was supposed to be watching them. They were also frankly scary in their own right like their parents.

Agatha, the oldest of four children was a gentler version of her parents. While her parents judged souls fairly and justly based on how they lived their lives Agatha was more merciful towards souls. Just don't try to take advantage of her mercy because Agatha also believes in vengeance should the situation call for it.

Thomas has interests in the rivers his Aunt Felicity presides over, specifically the River of Pain that serves as a protective border around their home from the chasm that is Tartarus. He has also charmed many of the ghosts in his parents' army, often seen training with them.

Jane who is the most like her mother in personality, power, and looks. The little girl can make the most beautiful plants and then you find out each one she creates has the capability to kill. Jane's favorite and first plant she created being the Venus Flytrap. A plant that uses flowers and a sweet-smelling nectar to trap its prey between its jaw like leaves. Also, like her sister if Jane deems vengeance necessary then may the gods help you. Anthony just knows the mortals are gonna curse future criminals with both their names on their lips.

Finally little Georgie who liked dreams. He liked seeing how dreams affected mortals from the hope and happiness of a good dream to the terrors and alertness nightmares bring. Anthony has seen him before going around the ghosts who died in their sleep and asking them what their last dreams were.

All of this mixed together and they were perfect to run Gareth ragged.

"Plus," Anthony said trying to get Penelope to at least think about the idea. "We all know Hyacinth has been itching to move to the Court of the Underworld for a while now. If Gareth truly wants to marry her, shouldn't he at least see his potential future home? Shouldn't he get to know some of the family?"

Plus, if the kids accidently kill him then Gareth doesn't have far to go then does he?

Penelope bit her lip debating it. Generally, she does like Gareth and remembers the little boy who followed around his older cousin Simon eager to please. She also remembers that little boy is now the man who lied to someone very dear to her.

"What are the terms?" Penelope asked.

"Gareth has to babysit your kids for 24 hours without any help," Anthony said. "If he can do that and still wants to marry Hyacinth then he will have my blessing and immortality. He fails if he goes for help, hurts your children in any way, or leaves."

Penelope stared Anthony down before letting out a sigh. "Alright, but I'm coming for both of you if he pulls out a weapon on my children."

Anthony bowed, "Thank you Penelope."

Later that day Penelope came home to her children. "Children, Mama has a favor to ask of you."

[rose-lizzzy]

They met in Rivendell.

It was the place that Xornoth had touched the least, so they figured Shrub would be reluctant to come here.

They came together to discuss what to do with her in particular. The other two were annoying, of course, but at least they haven't completely destroyed two empires.

Scott had prepared his secret meeting room, and waited outside for the rest to come.

Gem and Fwhip came in first, expressions grim and serious, both clearly ready to get rid of this issue.

Pearl followed behind, with Katherine just behind.

The seablings arrived with Pix, and while they hadn't seen much of the gnome at all, they still came to support the others. Joel didn't come, as he didn't know anything of what they talked about.

(he could see shrub, but he didn't know what the fuss was about some demon and corruption and evil gnomes. Didn't make sense to him, and he had bigger things to build.)

Scott welcomed them, and they all gathered at his meeting table.

"So I know we've had a little discussion on Xornoth and the corruption, putting that away, but there's a bigger issue." The cold elf begins, opening the discussion.

"Shrub has already destroyed two empires entirely. Who knows when a third will fall. We need to take care of her." He finishes the brief start to discussion and pauses to allow someone else to chime in.

"We should just kill her!" Fwhip growls, clearly holding a heavy grudge against the gnome.

Gem puts her hand on his shoulder "She'll just respawn, like the rest of us do." She reminds him, which only agitates the tinkerer more.

"Well what if we just figure out a way to hold her, and keep her locked up?"

"And then we torture her! Maybe we can't kill her but we could remove some limbs!" Fwhip interrupts Scott

"Woah woah woah! Guys! We can't do that!!" Katherine jumps in, expression panicked. "What about the real Shrub?!"

"The real Shrub?" Pearl questions

Lizzie, who's side of the table (being her brother and the Copper King) had been so far passive to all discussion, joins in. "What do we know of the true Shrub?"

"Nothing!" Gem lets out a shout, usual for the calm wizard. "We know nothing about her! We don't even know if there is a real Shrub. For all we know this is the real Shrub."

"No!" Katherine argues back to the wizard. "You've said it yourself before, Gem! She's corrupted! There's kindness deep inside her, I know it."

"Katherine, didn't she burn down the Overgrown? And then went and poisoned all of your plants with corruption?" Fwhip asks sharply.

Katherine pauses, searching for words. "Well..."

"I think that further proves that Katherine has a point. Even after all she did, she still believes there's good in her." Pearl steps up, having taken in the fairy for the time being, and having heard all about what happened, although she wasn't as sure as the other.

Fwhip cast a sharp glare at the farming queen, and Gem frowns in displeasure.

"Well we can't just leave her to destroy all of our empires." The wizard declares. "Any one of us could return home from this trip and find it in ruins."

Pix, who had been completely silent and neutral, observing it all, shakes his head, finally speaking. "No, she won't do that."

All eyes turn to him, expressions ranging from confusion, surprise, and one or two were upset.

"And why not?! You think she doesn't have the guts? Just take a glance at my Grimlands! Or a peek at the Overgrown!" Fwhip refutes

Pix nods agreement. "Yes, I've seen them. But she won't ruin them while you're away. Both empires were destroyed with their ruler present and watching right?" He points out, causing a ripple of shocked exclamations.

"So she wants us to suffer watching our homes get destroyed." Gem gasps out.

"Exactly." The Copper King finishes.

"Which means the only empire she could target right now is-"

Scott stands "Mine."

Just then the door opened and a head pops in

"So that's where you've been hiding! Come on out! I want a chat." Shrub grins, and all nine leaders draw their weapons, standing their ground behind Scott, watching her calmly.

[lunarflvre]

my favorite queen of nothing quotes!

+ pg numbers. queen of nothing by @hollyblack

"Cardan's hand wobbled." (5)

"No one would stand like that willingly." (5)

"All power is cursed." (10)

"I guess I hit a nerve. My best skill." (20)

"I don't know anything about him." (22)

"But Cardan's name pounds in my ears. Does he have a new seneschal? Does he have a new lover? Is he going to Council meetings by himself? Does he talk about me? Do he and Locke mock me together? Does Taryn laugh?" (22)

"It feels good to be fighting someone other than myself." (24)

"That's cheating, girl." "I'm no knight." (25)

"I try to tell myself that I don't care. That I should be glad if Elfhame winds up conquered." (29)

"I don't want to think of someone else standing beside Cardan in my place, but my mind turns idly through all the worst choices anyway." (29)

"Love is stupid. All we do is break one another's hearts." (31)

"Especially when I consider my feelings for Cardan, since there was no good reason I should have had any feelings for him at all." (33)

"Locke is dead." (37)

"He's dead because I killed him." (38)

"If you get caught, you'll be executed, Jude." "Then I won't get caught." (45)

"I knew you liked her. That's why I had to have her first. Do you remember the party in my maze garden? How I kissed her while you watched?" (47)

"I recall that your hands were on her, but her eyes were on me." (47)

"I remember Cardan on a blanket with a daffodil-haired faerie girl. She pressed her lips to the edge of his boot, and another girl kissed his throat. His gaze turned to me when one of them began kissing his mouth. His eyes were coal-bright, as wet as tar." (47)

"Jude, you can't really think I don't know it's you. I knew you from the moment you walked into the brugh." (69)

"I will make him armor of ice to shatter every blade that strikes and that will make his heart too cold to feel pity. Tell him I will make three swords that, when used in the same battle, will fight with the might of thirty soldiers." (89)

"There is no banquet too abundant for a starving man." (113)

"Maybe I believe that it's time for Elfhame to be ruled by a queen." (128)

"You're a liar. A dirty, mortal liar." (147)

"She is my wife. The rightful High Queen of Elfhame. And most definitely not in exile." (147)

"He was always a symbol of everything about Elfhame that I couldn't have, everything that would never want me. And telling him this feels a little like throwing off a heavy weight, except that wight is supposed to be my armor, and without it, I am afraid I am going to be entirely exposed. But I keep talking anyway, as though I no longer have control of my tongue." (161)

"The other is that I want you here by my side, as my queen." (163)

"Unlike Locke, I never thought love was a game." (185)

"He's so beautiful, so perfectly, horribly, inhumanly beautiful that I can barely breathe." (201)

"By you, I am forever undone." (203)

"I missed you, in the mortal world, when I thought you were my enemy, I still missed you." (204)

"My sweet nemesis, how glad I am that you returned." (204)

"It is you I love. I spent much of my life guarding my heart. I guarded it so well that I could behave as though I didn't have one at all. Even now, it is a shabby, worm-eaten, and scabrous thing. But it if yours." (209)

"I do love you, I will always love you." (278)

"I first started liking you when we went to talk to the rulers of the low Courts. You were funny, which was weird. And when we went to Hollow Hall, you were clever. I kept remembering how you'd been the one to get us out of the brugh after Dain's coronation, right before I put that knife to your throat. After I tricked you into being the High King, I though once you hated me, I could go back to hating you. But I didn't, And I felt so stupid. I thought that I would get my heart broken. I thought it was a weakness that you would use against me. But then you saved me from the Undersea when it would have been much more convenient to just leave me to rot. After that, I started to hope my feelings were returned. But then there was the exile- I hid a lot, I guess. I thought that if I didn't, if I let myself love you, I would burn up like a match. Like the whole matchbook." (291)

"I knew little else, but I always knew you." (292)

[x-authorship-x]

YOU WOULD??? OMG WHENEVER I SAY THAT I'M WRITING SHISUI/HIDAN PEOPLE ALWAYS SAY IT'S A TRASHY SHIP

Anyway. I don't actually know how well they could work in canon, but the idea for the fic is that Hidan has been around for a long, long time (in canon it's never said for how long he's been immortal iirc and I love potential immortality-based angst, also we never really see him use any chakra except for like, sticking to trees I think? So I like to think that he's been around from before the chakra people started to be born) and he used to be some sort of mercenary hired to kill people, and one day he was sent to take care of the army of a kingdom where Shisui (maybe I'll use some different name for this past version of him but I have yet to decide) was the ruler

Used to being unmatched in a fight, Hidan finds himself stopped by Shisui who is able to fight him somehow equally and so Hidan gets basically obsessed with Shisui and they eventually end up being lovers

One day Shisui, who knows will eventually die and leave Hidan alone, performs a ritual to link their souls together and make them soulmates, making Hidan promise he'll find him in every single one of his future lives (and I think I'll put some kind of soulmark on both of them as a result of the ritual to show that they're linked)

The main story takes place around the time the Uchiha coup should happen (with past memories sprinkled here and there once Shisui starts remembering his past lives) when Shisui meets Hidan during an ANBU mission and they fight since Hidan had been hired as a temporary mercenary/bodyguard to protect Shisui's target, however during the fight something happens (to be determined, I'm not super good with writing fights but I'll come up with something) that makes it so that Shisui's soulmark is revealed, after which Hidan refuses to fight him anymore

Shisui doesn't think much of it at first, but he starts meeting Hidan on every single mission after that first one (Hidan knows he can't exactly walk into Konoha, he's not stupid and I think I'll make him a bit less psycopath as well, so he waits until he sees Shisui leaving and then follows him, and since I'd put him as someone from before the chakra times he'd have no chakra for Shisui to sense him) and after a little while Shisui decides to confront him about it

I have a bit of a bullet point list after this (Hidan telling Shisui they're soulmates, Shisui not believing him, Shisui starting to have dreams/remember his past lives etc...) but that's as far as I got and it's, like, two chapters truly fully written? And that's it (because all the past stuff will be later on so I haven't actually written it as chapters yet)

It all started because I saw a fanart with Hidan and Shisui together (not romantically, they were just in the same picture) and my brain just couldn't stop thinking about them being actual lovers

I plan on making it a bit dark and go quite heavy on Hidan's romantic obsession with Shisui, and after Shisui will realize the truth I'll probably put in there some good Uchiha-obsession as well. Not on 'yandere' levels (I don't like the yandere cliché too much) but still enough to make it clear that their relationship isn't all roses and flowers (is that a saying in english? I just kinda translated a saying from my og language 🤣), they're both very unhinged and quite co-dependant with each other

And now that I talked about it with you I feel like I wanna go write more of it, so now I need to find the WIP...

Anon, look at me, right in the eyes: we are talking about fictional characters from the most ridiculous hair-brained series that has somehow gripped us all for donkey's years. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for how you're playing around with canon, it's all make believe anyway and we should be allowed to be as unhinged as we like haha

Have fun and screw the haters!

1) this whole idea is super cool!!! I'd love to see where you go with Hidan's religion and the morals of his human sacrifice and blood letting etc (there is a fascinating Sakura-centric fic out there where Sakura is converted to Jashinism, the author has some extremely interesting takes on the religion) and how it interlines with Shisui's own dubious morality within the bigger picture of Shinobi morals being fucked up like crazy to begin with...!

2) Shisui somehow beats Hidan and gets his interest? Ayyyy Hidan can't draw blood and kill him if he's not fast enough to catch him first~

3) toxic evil murder husbands... Nice, brings to mind-

Hidan kills people for his homicidal religious zealousness... Shisui looks like a saint in comparison but that's just because he rewrites the minds of his opponents so no one even knows how bad he is (🙏🙏🙏 Shisui deserves to be a human monster, as a little treat 👉👈)

4) Also this has the potential for that whole "A fell first but B fell harder" dynamic because Hidan has been loving Shisui as a lifestyle for DECADES but Shisui gets bulldozed by memories and pitches headfirst into obsession after fighting Hidan's claims for a little too long... 😩

Thanks for sharing, Anon! And good luck with the WIP, if you do decide to continue!

[sleepdeprivedactor]

The Fog Chapter 4

“You heard me, answer the damn question. Who are you?” The girl at the door asked with a stern face. She looked about Annie’s age, and her long sunflower-blonde hair was tied into a messy ponytail. 

“Well, uh, well I'm Mike, and this is my sister Annie.” Mike said sheepishly. He looked at Annie for reassurement, but she just gave him a don't ask me, i don't know what to do smile.

“Okay, that's a start. Now, who are you working for?”

“Well i'm unemployed but Annie over there works at a burger king.” Mike responded, gesturing towards his sister, who just continued to smile at the person at the door.

“Very funny kid. Be honest, how did you get here? Who are you with?”

“Well as you can see I'm wit-” Mike was cut off by Annie stepping on his foot and pushing him aside.

“Listen here lady, me and my brother got lost in the woods last night and couldn't find our way out. We’ve been searching for any signs of life for about two hours, and we recently found a dead body. Were tired and mildly traumatized. So if you could just let us use a phone to call our mom or something, that would be extremely helpful.” The girl studied Annie for a moment before she spoke again.

“Come on in.” She said, motioning for Annie and Mike to follow her. 

The two siblings ended up in a living room. Lilith told them to sit on the couch, and she left the room. She came back with a girl who was probably 18, and they sat down on the opposite side of the couch.

“Okay, let's start over. My name is Lilith, and this is Alli. You said you and your brother got lost?” Lilith said, gesturing to the new girl and then to the siblings.

“Yeah, that's right. We were going to go bird watching, but we saw, uh, we saw something. We don't know what, but it started following us, so we bolted. We couldn't find our way back to the path we were on, so, yeah, that's what happened.” 

“Intriguing,” Alli said. “So I'm assuming they don't know about…it.”

“That's what I'm thinking, Als.” Lilith murmured.

“Hi there, sorry, hate to interrupt, but what the actual hell is ‘it?’” Mike butted in. Annie nodded in agreement. What were those two walking about?

“A bloodthirsty monster that will eat you while you sleep.” Alli said sarcastically. Lilith snickered.

“Ha ha. Very funny. If you're gonna avoid that question, could you at least let us use your phone so we can call our mom?” Mike said dryly. 

“That won't work. There’s no service out here.”

“Well, do you know the way out of here?” Asked Annie.

“Nah.”

“How?” Mike remarked, brushing his hair out of his face. “You live here, don’t you?” He could see the two girls' eyes look away, almost as if they were scared to answer.

“Maybe we should tell them…” Alli murmured. Lilith nodded.

“This is gonna sound made up. But we're not lying. This could have false information, but this is what we know. Back in the 1400s, before humans came to America, monsters roamed the land. When humans came, they retreated into the woods. These woods. They have been waiting hundreds of years to get revenge on mankind, and now, they're almost ready. About forty years ago, two brothers, who were descendants of the monster’s first rulers, were born. Their names were Jarrett and Reginald. They used their magical powers to shapeshift into humans, and spy on the outside world. They were sent to learn more, so the monsters could overtake the humans. But, everything went wrong when Jarrett met a human girl and they fell in love. Reginald knew that the monsters would kill his brother if they found out, so they worked together to fake Jarrett’s death. Reginald went back to the monsters, and Jarrett went on with the love of his life. We’re not sure what happened to Jarrett, but it’s said that his brother is now working on something to destroy humans.” 

“What the fuck? That's the most made up story I've ever heard.” Mike said.

“It's not made up! You’ve got to believe us! It’s not safe. The monsters will find and kill you if you leave the house. We know that.” Alli remarked, attempting to convince the siblings that they’re story is true. “We’ve been trapped here for around two months. Once you step in these woods, there's no getting out. We’re trapped until these monsters are gone.”

“So what you're saying is, if we want to get home, we have to…destroy the monsters?”

Chapter 3

Chapter 5

[akasevenblog]

The Descended - Hidden Chronicles of Teyvat Act 1

this theory was made a while ago on my twitter you can read it in your native language PTBR here

This thread is the first part of a series of long theories, if you don't know me, I'm the akaseven graphic designer who does a lot of services (fixed prices) and guides for the community and in my spare time I pile up crazy theories so get ready, get one snack so lets go!

The Descended is the scientific nomenclature the irminsul and the fatui use for those who do not belong to the world of teyvat, those who originate from there and it all started with the first who came, the infamous primeval god known as phanes... but there are another name

Nahida calls him the Celestial Principle (which will have a thread of his own in the second part of this saga of theories) he being the first was the founder and practically creator of teyvat as we know it today, he was the one who shaped this world and who created the archons and celestia !

In summary (to be detailed better in the next thread) phanes (the celestial principle) completes its creation in teyvat, using the body of sovereign dragons and thus humans. however one day a second that came, fell on teyvat causing a war and chaos... Years and years later we would have the third and fourth that descended, Lumine and Aether the twins who visit worlds and happy to explore one more world would not expect to find their intertwined destinies broken and trapped in a world full of secrets... which will be revealed !

Well, so far is everything clear? all canone...BUT things aren't quite like that, we discovered that supposedly lumine is not the third DESCENT, would ether have descended alone? Why do we have these travelers? because phanes did all this who is the second throne? prepare for the twist!

So I believe it is much simpler. Travelers are interdimensional beings who work to maintain order and verify that all infinite worlds derive from the great irminsul so well and pose no danger to nearby worlds.

Despite looking very Marvel vibes, we have the clear interference of a mysterious character called K.K who on several occasions seems to know who each one is, including the two travelers! Assuming that we have an Irminsul Security Agency, we also have patents. Patents that can be configured as an observer, explorer or founder... yes dear I'm saying that the primordial, lumine aether and the second throne ARE OF THE SAME RACE AND WORK FOR THE SAME AGENCY! shocking, right? And there's more, as in every agency you need laws, one of the main ones I believe was to confirm if the honkai (energy that consumed worlds and corrupted others) would not have leaked out there, the job of an explorer, a dimensional traveler is precisely to confirm this! BUT...

as GUARDIANS of these infinite worlds they should not disobey any order, even if their rank is a founder... teyvat works as a kind of ark, this term has appeared before! honkai impact brought about this type of project, which is basically saving human knowledge, its genome so that it could be used on a habitable planet. In this Phanes is nothing more than the PIVOR of Genshin >Impact< TOTAL double meaning!

Genshin is nothing more than hybrid beings, capable of reaching the divine level! Phanes as a founder breaks any possible law, mixing the human genome with primordial dragonlords, killing them and occupying teyvat aggressively and madly without any apparent reason... why?

It has a simple and basic reason, Phanes is as human as his creations, his selfishness and ambition blinded him to think that the only way to avoid future chaos was to abuse and steal bodies, magic and technology from this world! What he didn't expect was that he had an abysmal neighbor.

Teyvat belongs in an assumed space that contains a veil that separates the realm of light (where the elements and rulers came from) and the realm of emptiness, the realm of emptiness is a home to monsters but especially to a force that seems to be completely interested in absorbing the light! Phanes understood this, manages to create his ark and, knowing the consequences, completely detaches himself from the past, transforming his ship into a large island for his gods and future archons, uses magic from the irminsul and even from other worlds to create his shadows but a second falls from the sky, the one that the people of enkanomiya talk about the resemblance to phanes, as they belong to the same race. phanes then battles with him so that the truth is not revealed to the people and even that he returns to the agency! fzd chaos appear in teyvat and divide your nation

seeing some I read that it would be possible that the second throne is the same as the tale of the seelie, where in summary it says that a traveler from another world fell in love with that race and brought chaos, if that is the case, the second throne did not directly hit with the phanes, tried to live with the seelies but the phanes did not accept starting the war. already in the future new travelers fall into teyvat, twins who have already passed through other worlds, who possibly work for the dimensional agency arrive in teyvat with only the idea of resting until the truth is revealed…

you see, knowing about the lumine twist made me break my head, I even considered a kind of retcon and to fit it all in I was watching and reviewing and thank you to EdvardNeto and ViniPedrozaS from twitter for the good idea and also a great feat to fit lumine into all of this without leaving anything with holes! THEN First you need to know two things, the perspective of the Aether is supreme, it is not interfered by timetravels or samsaras in teyvat (like nahida and inazuma tree) another detail is that irminsul can be CHANGED as it happened in the case of the Greater Lord!

With that and for that reason I believe that YES LUMINE IS THE THIRD DESCENT but this information was modified on irminsul purposely here I tell you what may have happened. Lumine and Aether arrived together in teyvat, but for some reason the aether was unconscious!

something happened to lumine while the aether slept but it is with complete certainty to say that she participated in great events in khaenrar that culminated in her DEATH! The sister of the aether actually DIED something or someone killed her but at the same time she seemed to know it!

Somehow the consciousness and soul of the lumine is passed down to irminsul (as the greater lord does) and so a primordial body is made in khaenriah to contain that soul, fitting in with what nahida says that the lumine simply appeared in khaen that's at least her fact is on irminsul. This is what causes the khaenrah war, phanes understands that they broke the greatest possible primordial law, getting the knowledge and technology to replicate someone of their own race and still connect it to irminsul, with that the new lumine is blamed for the what provoked.

So lumine wakes up the brother who doesn't know half of what happened and they try to escape when one of the main celestials (shadows of phanes) prevents that new anachronism from leaving teyvat, after all she now belongs to that world and the aether is a stranger

however nahida insists that the luminine is linked by a kind of powerful entity that always changes its destiny, because supposedly she would have already explored teyvat before the death of her original body and her death was altered ON PURPOSE

who could change time? make irminsul configure if lumine as non-descended replaced by another name? Istaroth is one of the most possible entities that could have interfered here and made Lumine come back to life through the tree, changing all the data!

at the same time she forces her other sister (asmoday) to prevent them from fleeing, taking her cloned brother because probably istaroth may have seen teyvat's future and knew that he needed the aether's interference as a traveler and lighted her from the side of the abyss to avoid something worse!

with that we have the world of teyvat interpreting that lumine only sprouted in teyvat and went to the side of the abyss while the aether knows the true timeline that was changed by istaroth or another entity, anyway the original body of lumine was killed and she now use another! see that there is no way you can create a clone of a person who did not appear in this world! ah n be by paradox, if the original line is the two falling in teyvat and somehow the lumine is thrown in the irminsul if it deletes or replaces the dice of the third throne by another one being born in teyvat it is created as a bootstrap paradox, it sprouted without having a proper origin based on the world's POV!

in conclusion because the entities are betting on the aether and what is the interest in the traveler... curiously the name of the second who came is not second throne by case, it is possible that any traveler can dethrone the phanes of his immense throne in his and the Aether it's meant for that! as in the quotes he will supposedly ascend to heaven taking down phanes and celestia and now knowing the possibility of the death of lumine's body we have the big plot twist, Dainsleif questions if the aether will be able to save her something he couldn't...

[sonia-kate]

Me, throwing out all the theories about "Racules' real deal" I had as for now, because after latest episode everything changed and a new theory emerged

So just like every week

Shogods, I love this show and especially I love Racules

This time, we had more Hastie brothers as kids. We learned that Gira's idea about what a king should be, that he expressed from the very first episode, was what his older brother told him back in the day. That's so adorable, yet Racules called it just a child's fantasy, with his voice breaking

It feels to me, like Racules used to believe all that but a "crash with the reality" happened that made him the way he is now. Something that disencouraged him from chasing that dream, that made him bitter and ruthless. That "world is cruel so I too must be cruel to face it"? Or "people use each other so I should use them before they use me"?

Could it all lead back to Wrath of God? Or maybe Racules used to be a benevolent ruler until something happened at the end of his spin-off? Although, his deal with Kaguragi was made 15 years ago so I guess it would be the former but the spin-off will either drag it to the surface for the audience to see or just add another layer to it

There us also yet another part worth to mention. It's how after Gira gave his typical Evil King speech, Racules called him a monster. What's worth to note, that at the end of their duel, back in episode 8, when Gira was hugging now detransformed Gerojim, Racules said that he knew that Gira was the enemy of the people and was working with Bugnarok. Now, both of those were caught on camera so there's no telling how genuine those statements are or whether they're just PR. But if Racules was genuinely convinced that Gira's very being is a threat to the world, that would explain why he was so determinated to have him killed during early episodes

Of course, we need to acknowledge that Kaguragi, with his sister's help, slayed in this episode. Ironic, Racules kept Suzume to have a leverage on Kaguragi, but in the end it was what allowed Kaguragi to strip him of his power insert Palpatine saying "Ironic" gif

That being said, yet another ship for Racules goes down. First Kaguragi and Racules don't scheme together because "they are like that" but because Suzume is involved. Then, it's revealed that Racules never felt bad about killing Vedalia and turned himself to set a trap for Bugnarok. Now, Suzume's feeling were indeed just an act and she stabbed him right in the back

Of course, all of those made for cool plot points, I guess the story they set in motion was much better than any ship could be, but it's still quite sad (Hopefully Gira will regain enough memories to rekindle an ounce of brotherly love, I just want for someone to care for him, come on)

That being said, Racules' relationship with Suzume is still quite a mystery. They've been locked up together in that castle for 15 years, being each other's only mutuals available. Even if they have no romantic feeling towards each other, Racules still let her go all over him back in episode 15. Boshimar didn't seem to be bothered at all that Suzume walks freely around the castle and his only complaint was her sitting on the throne, and she still silenced him soon enough. Sure, it could have been a coincidence, and Suzume could have been only trying to save her brother from being arrested, but her directly sitting on the throne, having Kaguragi impersonate a beetle that took his line of sight to the necessary level and her waving her feet, bringing attention to the space right next to the secret button. All of it suggests that she knew that it was there. And now, could it be that she was sneaking around the castle in the stealth mode like Kaguragi and kurokos were and she found it, or maybe she managed to get it out of Racules himself? I guess we'll have to wait and see

That being said, the ending of the episode implies that the theories that the Bugnarok have infiltrated Shugoddom have been correct and now, using the fact that Racules has just been beaten and lost the crown, they decided to unleash what they've been planning and swiftly take over Shogoddom. Whether Racules was aware of the whoke deal or not remains a mystery for now, but I guess it's clear that the Bugnarok didn't reveal their presence to him before and even if he knew, they didn't know that he did

Preview for the next episode, suggests that episode 20 will be the end of another arc, that all kingdoms will unite, that the movie's coronation will be indeed a real thing and that the first 20 episodes of the show are basically a pilot supposed to explain how the status quo has been reached and how our team has been formed. If my speculations from before will turn out to be correct, this will start the middle arc of the season with more chill atmosphere, with Gira being a king of Shugoddom and having a peace among the nations (human ones, at least)

This won't last long, of course, because then The Real Threat will be revealed, with whoever was behing Wrath of God coming back (my money is still on Corsus Hastie, possibly in cahoots with Kamejim. If Racules found out about his father's being responsible for this, could this be the "clash with reality" that changed him? Also, the trip to the Underworld that every Shugoddom ruler has to go through, as the movie states?), and us entering the final arc, with, hopefully, Racules re-entering the game to stir the plot

Speaking of Racules, the lack of him in the preview has me both worried and intrigued. I wonder what happened to him after Kamejim's "warm welcome" and what will be of him once Shugoddom is taked back by the team

EDIT: there he is! 😍

[thepoliticalvulcan]

I can't decide whether to be reassured or disgusted that NatSec Democrats think American democracy is not actually threatened enough by Trump to risk war with Iran.

For context, I am writing this after the announcement that the US is sending a THAAD battery and US troops to operate it to Israel. Now this is a defensive weapon and I don't actually have a problem with this, at least superficially. I don't think Israeli civilians being subject to bombardment by missiles and rockets makes Israel any less likely to do whatever it wants to do in Palestine, Lebanon or elsewhere and there is no moral universe I want to exist in where killing civilians is justified because of vengeance, thought crime, or something something "if they experience our suffering they will be more hesistant to inflict more of it."

What it does look a whole lot to me is a tripwire.

A THAAD ain't a Patriot battery. We don't just hand those out to just anyone. The United States only has seven of them.

So you can read this as either the Biden admin perceiving there to be a very grave threat posed by the prospect of Iran's top shelf ballistic missiles being used in retaliation for Israel's retaliation for Iran's retaliation for Israel's retaliation (you get the idea.)

Or, its a symbol.

And symbols are very attractive targets.

So the THAAD is a defensive implement. It can also be understood to be either bait or a deterrence.

Its a deterrence if the Iranian regime correctly reads the presence of American operated military equipment as bait and then opts not to take that bait.

Its bait if Iran attempts to strike the THAAD as part of another attack on Israel. Which it would be sorely tempted to do because if your primary means of attack are long range missiles, you need to saturate the missile defenses or attack them directly and take them out if you want to actually do any real damage.

I will make a note of the "if" there. Iran has been pretty careful in its target selection and what munitions it uses. I find the ethos that would likely compose Iran's attempt at a sphere of influence to be incredibly distasteful but more often than not, accepting the premise that a specific version of radical Shia Islam is something the ruling class believes in literally or at least has committed to using as a tool to expand its power, I think Iran's rulers mostly behave rationally. They've boxed themselves in such that their space to maneuver is very narrow: there's no scenario where they choose "serve in Heaven" (i.e. submit the US world order) rather than "reign in Hell" (alliance with heavily sanctioned backstabby autocrats) but they play a bad hand reasonably well.

Which is all to say Iran may not take the bait. I dearly hope they don't. For the sake of Iranian civilians and for the sake of a lot of people whose lives would be impacted by a limited or all out US - Israeli offensive against Iran. As an agnostic white male in the United States, I nonetheless firmly believe the lesson of that poem about "when they came for..." is that I should fight for the acceptance of Muslims as a people worthy of safety and dignity because its the prudent thing to do if it being the right thing to do is insufficient.

What would be the downstream consequences of a limited or even a major war with Iran?

Well, at least some degree of regime weakening in Iran. This is a mixed bag if you're a fan of universal human rights. Iran is not exactly a big respecter of the Western concept of human rights. Just ask Iranian women and political dissidents. So the temptation is to be pro-regime weakening.

The devil is in the details though! Naive as it may be, my hope is for reform rather than revolution because I still remember how things went elsewhere in the Middle East but especially in Syria. Civil wars are nasty business and often, not always, but often favor the side willing to stoop the lowest low, to be the most savage. The American revolution is one of the less atrocity filled in conventional teachings, largely because both sides were seeking a political resolution rather than "kill everyone who doesn't agree with me" resolution. And it actually had a fair bit of atrocities even still: surrenders not honored, POWs executed - that sort of thing. Mike Duncan's excellent "Revolutions" podcast covers it nicely in its second season if you like ingesting information that way.

Syria though, Syria was and continues to be an abject nightmare. Maybe because all attempts to stand up an honorable, human rights respecting, pro-pluralism faction to stand against Assad and ISIL failed or were restrained because of other geopolitics (like the Rojava based resistance, which at least talked the talk but permitting them to have real influence in the civil war and backing them to the point of being a major post war player was always going to be a nonstarter with Turkey.) Regardless of whether this was an organic happening or because something something geopolitics, there ended up being no faction capable of wielding enough power to topple the Assad regime and replace it with something worth all of the suffering and death.

That's my fear with Iran. That in the event of a civil war brought on by the weakening of the state's ability to wield power internally, there may be factions that could displace the current regime, but they very well could be factions that make us miss the previous regime.

Even if a pluralist faction won out in the end, the struggle would be long and difficult. The Iranian professional military and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), the regime's dirty tricks arm, do not strike me as the type to secretly long for a time where everyone can get along and everyone respects each other's right to practice or not practice the religion of their choice as they please. The conflict would almost certainly become internationalized with regional players like Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Russia all competing for influence: much like they have been in Libya and Syria.

A long, difficult civil war creates misery and refugees.

Refugees.

The thing that has become political death to pluralist political movements in Europe and the United States. Which has acted as cocaine for nationalists who don't just want safety, order, and to ensure their preexisting populations are not made irrelevant but really, really seem to be all in on "the cruelty is the point" displays of state power and violence towards non-native born residents of their countries.

I personally think we're at a tipping point where if the Middle East could stabilize and catch its breath for a few years, a lot of people might return home and start rebuilding their lives and countries. This in turn might take some of the wind out of the sails of the nativist right.

On the other hand, if you stack another major crisis on top of every other preexisting crisis that generates refugees I think we see some new upheavals in the Middle East as desperate people arrive in places ill suited to provide for them, places that are disinterested in providing for them, and conflict - social or violent - between people doing whatever it takes to survive is likely to break out.

Refugees arriving in Europe, whether from Iran or from spillover conflicts, will further antagonize locals who are already freaking out and have demonstrated a not great ability to deal with culture shock. At which point I think pluralism dies in Europe. Not all at once and not evenly, and I don't think this means the return of interstate warfare or anything like that. Just a further coarsening of attitudes and a loosening of norms around rule of law and cruelty as long as its directed at non-Europeans, and even in some cases the wrong sort of European. As I saw pointed out, though it feels a million years ago at this point, pro-Brexit attitudes were largely fueled by hostility to Poles and other Eastern Europeans who had utilized free movement policies within the EU to seek opportunity wherever it could be found.

I don't know if all of this has been priced in by the Biden administration. Generally speaking, its foreign policy and even its rhetoric towards Israel has seemed to indicate that it understands all or most of this. That it really has learned the lessons of the Global War on Terror and the ruin and chaos that large scale military action to "combat terrorism" brings. Yet the Biden admin's action towards Israel this past year suggests that either it didn't learn those lessons or it is making a calculation that the chaos and suffering is "worth it" if it means taking Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran off of the agenda for Israel and the US National Security apparatus.

Loyalty to Israel isn't some tinfoil hat, follow the money, antisemitic conspiracy. Oh sure, AIPAC is real but its only a part of the story. This ain't bribery or brainwashing, its about cultivating longstanding bonds between people that follow them as they climb the ranks of their institutions. There is a special relationship between Israel and the US at the level of the security apparatus. There are people who have spent decades working side by side and cultivating relationships across national boundaries. That's what alliances are made of.

When push comes to shove, the US has Israel's back because the people who make up the American security establishment in key positions have a long and deep friendship with their Israeli counterparts. Nothing Israel does will ever be unforgivable because key decision makers feel a deep kinship with their Israeli counterparts and with Israel itself. Atrocities are mistakes that Israel will come to regret for practical reasons rather than morally offensive and perhaps even calculated to bring about ends that US NatSec officials don't want to believe Israel is really pursuing as a state policy.

What I fear is that US NatSec is unwilling to believe Israel is setting conditions to permanently occupy Gaza and wholly ethnically cleanse and annex the rest of Palestine, either in one fell sweep or incrementally. What do all the people interviewed in true crime docs say? "I didn't see this coming, he was always very kind to me."

What I fear even more is US NatSec knows full well what Israel intends and is completely fine with this for its own reasons, whether cultural chauvinism, some cynical "realist" thinking about regional affairs, or because the people who lived through the aftermath of 9/11 and the Global War on Terror protect their consciences and egos by blaming Muslims generically for "thwarting" attempts to remake the region into 1990s style neoliberal capitalist democracies and for occupying forces coming back missing limbs or in flag draped coffins.

To bring this back to Trump where it started, I completely think that an October surprise that takes the form of a US attack on Iran would doom Harris among younger voters and those of Middle Eastern descent. If that's the bet that Biden is making, then he doesn't really believe democracy is actually at stake.

[orbital-obvious]

Some more personal opinions about HOTD season 2

So this blockade. How does it work. It's not a siege, the Blacks only control Blackwater bay. I'd assume that food arrives to Kings Landing via land - Stromlands and the Reach are both close and are also Green supporters. Yes, a sea blockade can screw up the economy (cutting off communications with Essos) but. Like. it wouldn't starve the city. SO. how.

On the topic of the blocade, I can 100% belive the smallfolk would cheer for Rhaenyra because she brought them food even though SHE is the reason to the starvation in the first place (though, again, I have no idea how). Also I hate how the show doesn't adress the fact that Rhaenyra is fully willing to starve the people and only give them food as a PR tactic.

Hey, Mysaria, quick question, what is it exactly that makes Rhaenyra so great? Why do YOU, specifically, believe she is the rightful and good queen? In the show Mysaria is the voice of the smallfolk, but Rhaenyra is uncaring for the smallfolk (not in any way that matters) and a mediocre leader besides.

Corlys being mad at Rhaenyra was such a good moment for me.

I understand they are pushing the angle of "Rhaenyra's council wouldn't respect her cause she's a woman" which, yeah, 100%, but I think a more interesting aspect I see int he show is how Rhaenyra is NOT GOOD at running her council. Slapping a person in plain sight would not make them respect you, it's the abuse of power you have towards them. Saying crap like "I want prince Aemond's head" and then LEAVING, giving the council the option of either ignoring what you said (which sets a problematic precedent), or have an excuse to do whatever they want (which led to Blood and Cheese and in general encouraged Daemon's unruliness) is BAD. Fucking off to an udnercover mission without telling anybody is BAD.

Rhaenyra, people keep bringing up Daemon not because he's a man that needs to save you, but because he's a warrior and a battle seasoned commander whom you should use. The fact that you can't utlize your men properly is a you issue, but saying "well we have Daemon" when talking about getting Dragonriders is actually a very reasonable point. I just wish the show would have her confront her flaws instead of saying "she's a great leader they just don't like to see a girlboss winning!!!". Jace is coming close, though.

Like, don't get me wrong, the Greens aren't some awesome megabrained function, but the show makes their flaws very clear (As it should) and I just... want to see the same treatment for Rhaenyra.

You know what? At this point, Let Rhaenyra ride the dragon to battle. If she can't heed what JUST happened to Aegon in Rook Nest that is a her issue.

So.. why are they trying to tame Seasmoke? Rhaenyra knows that Laenor might yet live; therefore, Seasmoke cannot be claimed by a person and any attempt to do so is a suicide mission.

Alicent being actively kicked out from the small council was such a good scene, actually. Yes, the side that uses misogyny as a tool and justification cannot have a woman lead them. But, I think Aemond didn't kick Alicent out of the council ONLY because she was a woman. I think part of it is because he knew she would still champion to Aegon, and he can't have that. The scene where she tenderly touching his cheek... His mother still have power over him and Aemond is clearly fighting it ohhhh the acting in this show is soooo gooodddd.

Lady Arryn my love, the show might have forgotten that you are a female ruler who never married and was a lesbian but I NEVER will. At least they gave you a kickass dress, you look amazing. You are everything show!Rhaenyra tries to be and they would not let you shine

I don't like the way they write the Smallfolk view of the dragons and try to pass dragons in general as "gods". If the smallfolk are in dissarray over killing 10 ratcatchers when one of them is guilty of killing the crown prince (which was horrible), they should be furious at Melyes stomping and killing tens if not hundreds (which was also horrible). "It's an ill omen" no, actually, it's the best thing to ever happen to non-royalty in years.

I never thought I'll be so happy to see the freaking TWINS. The scene with the Freys was amazing. I found it interesting that the Lady was the one to take charge in the negotiations.

I really like Jace. I think he's my fav Team Black member, even if he brings into the table this vibe of "actually fucking doing something" that Rheanyra doesn't like.

Aemond in his Kingslayer, Kinslayer, outfit slayer era, going out there being a blockhead and taking the worse decisions. Love her. Aemond really screwed the Greens over by almost killing the king and gettting rid of one of three (four?) dragons they had. It's so fun to see everything implode.

Also, in my favorite interactions list, Larys-Aegon was not one I expected to see but one I welcome. It's just really good - you can tell there is emotion in there, but also that Larys is using him (he tried moving from Alicent to Aemond, and Aemond rejected him, so Aegon is his grasp for power). Might be one of the most layered relationships in the show.

lol at the Lannisters summoning Aemond, and having lions for some reason. They are just doing the most.

My friend said: "Rhaenyra should've sent Jace to Harrenhall" and oh, my god. yeah. This would be a safe place for him (at least for a while) and Jace does have better diplomatic skills than Daemon. but then we wouldn't get the Daemon getting tortured in Harrenhall plot. And that one's my fave.

Daemon fucking up and getting chewed up by the Riverlords... yeah, my skin is cleared.

Alys killed lord Grover, right? That's what they were getting at?

Daemon blaming SIMON for his dream sequence side quests is just.... Chef's kiss. I get the idea he doesn't suspect Alys because she's a woman, which might be my favorite way the show explored misogyny.

Alyn and Addam, my loves. I don't know why I just like every scene they are in. And having a discussion while Addam is shaving his blond hair while Alyn had a head full of black hair... The way one has given up any connection to Corlys and the other one is striving to get the acknowledgement of his father and the privileges that come with it... The drama, the tension.

Also Seasmoke and Alyn's meeting was the first time since Sunfyre headboop that I actually felt something for dragons.

Ser Gwane Hightower >>>>>>>. That is all.

[cannibalinc]

So well put.

I've also seen arguments from people who prefer Voldemort/Tom never bottom that they don't personally believe that sexual position has any inherent power position but that it is Voldemort/Tom himself who believes that topping=power and bottoming=submission. A sort of in-story character explanation, and I do think that's an interesting discussion to be had. Voldemort was of an era and culture of baseline misogyny and homophobia. Socially, he runs in very traditional circles. "I'm not a misogynist! Voldemort is!"

But I would argue that there's just as much text to support the opposite. Or rather, lack of text to say one way or the other that isn't speculation and interpretation.

Voldemort's reigning philosophy is POWER. (You know, the power in power bottoming). And over and over, he is about committing taboos in order to attain that power. Non-traditional sex acts is fairly low stakes compared to the other things he's been willing and enjoyed to do.

Sex is a tool like any other. We saw him do what needed to be done to charm Slughorn, Hepzibah Smith, his peers in school, his peers' children, and every other death eater. His aspirations weren't small, he didn't want to be class president, he wanted to be ruler of the wizarding world. He came from nothing, and if the only thing standing in his way was using his body to get to the next step, I don't see any reason he wouldn't use it.

And lastly, Voldemort is a hedonistic parasite who gets off on exerting power over the people who used to exert power over him (Muggles, Purebloods, authority figures etc). Pillow princess material. Lay back, be worshiped, make young Lucius Malfoy pleasure him and milk prostate for hours while a furious and humiliated Abraxas Malfoy is forced to watch.

But the biggest point of contention I see is the issue of tagging. Fixed shippers who feel betrayed and tricked when they are enjoying a story up until the "wrong" person bottoms. I've seen accusations that authors who don't tag are doing it so they get more "engagement," I've seen people say it violently triggers them, I've seen it being compared to sexual assault.

I'm pretty familiar with AO3's Terms of Service, so I'll remind any readers and writers who use the platform:

You understand that using the Archive may expose you to material that is offensive, triggering, erroneous, sexually explicit, indecent, blasphemous, objectionable, grammatically incorrect, or badly spelled.

The only tagging required by the archive is the rating and the warnings (should they apply). Everything else (EVERYTHING ELSE) is a courtesy and at the writer's discretion. Many authors chose not to use additional tags at all. Anyone may request to add or remove a tag on a work, and the author is within their rights to say no. For any reason or no reason at all. You (general you) will have a better overall fandom experience if your expectations are reflective of this fact. Expecting all other writers in your fandom to adhere to your specific tagging preferences is setting yourself up for a very bad time.

And let's be real. 95% of all Tomarrymort works, Harry is the bottom. There were 3 omega Tom/Voldemort fics last time I checked, and I wrote one of them. There is so much creativity and amazing art this fandom has to offer, it isn't going to kill anyone if Voldemort bottoms the other 5% of the time.

In the defense of bottom!Voldemort|Tom

I'm in a mood, so I've decided to break down my thoughts on this topic and I'm putting it in the tags for anyone who is interested. With a suitably melodramatic title.

The rules here are simple: if you know you won't like this, don't read it. If you read it anyway and don't like it, that is the definition of a you problem. Okay? Okay.

So let's talk about why I think it is incorrect and, frankly, offensive to claim that Voldemort|Tom bottoming is inherently out of character.

In order to have this conversation, we're actually having a bigger conversation about sex. Because that's really what this is about.

Something that has popped up in a handful of comments on my own fic is surprise that Voldemort wants to suck Harry's cock. Now, I'm going to be charitable and assume that the people who say things like this don't realize what they're implying. But the reality is that they are operating from the assumption that a man sucking another man's dick is, at least to some extent, weak and degrading. A subservient act.

This is both homophobic and factually untrue. A significant percentage of people who like dick also like giving blowjobs. It's an enjoyable, pleasurable thing to do. And even if the physical act of sucking cock doesn't turn someone on, there are so many other reasons to want to do it. Getting off on being the source of your partner's pleasure, for one example.

But let's move on to the elephant in the room: anal sex. Specifically, the act of being penetrated. The interesting thing about bottoming is that, contrary to what some people seem to believe, it's the more powerful position. Penetration is only happening because the person bottoming is granting permission. Even if that person has ceded total control of the encounter, the fact remains that they made that decision in the first place and could un-make it at any time.

If that agency does not exist, the sex is not truly consensual. Full stop.

Moreover, a strong, dominant personality =/= topping. There is no innate correlation. This is where misogyny really comes to the table. Bottoming seen as a feminine act, and femininity conflated with weakness and submission. Do I think (most) Tomarrymort readers are consciously thinking this way? No. But that doesn't mean the underlying bias isn't present.

There are so many ways penetrative sex can play out. Yes, you get the "classic" version of the person topping being dominant and the person bottoming being submissive. But you can also get topping from the bottom, where the dominant partner in every way is the person being fucked. Or maybe no one is taking a dominant role. Et cetera. This is a broad overview, not an exhaustive list.

Do you see what none of these things have? An assumption that topping=stereotypical masculinity and bottoming=stereotypical femininity. Even with a couple that likes playing with that flavor of gender roles, it's a choice they're making. And before someone willfully misunderstands me, there is nothing wrong with that choice. But don't mistake it for something it's not.

So now that we've clarified that being penetrated is not weak, degrading, or even inherently submissive, let's bring this back to Tomarrymort.

First of all, have you read the books? Voldemort is campy as shit. High drama and a surprisingly great sense of humor (his jokes are fucked up, but also pretty funny). He's not this hyper-masculine figure. On the flip side, Harry is not an effeminate man. He's a jock who will fight you.

So from whence comes this zealous dedication some people have to a fixed dynamic that puts Voldemort|Tom in the masculine role and Harry in the feminine role? Yes, we've established that sex positions are neither of those things, but we all know that's the assumption simmering toxically in the background.

I can't say for sure, but my instincts tell me that it comes from a shallow read of both characters. Voldemort is a powerful man who commands a terrorist organization. Harry is the good-hearted hero, defined by his capacity to love. And this can get twisted into Voldemort|Tom taking and Harry giving in a very reductive way. Even when the relationship is meant to be consensual.

Obviously, I don't think this is universal. I've read a lot of incredible takes on sex in this fandom, with different top/bottom/switching dynamics. And this is fanfiction, which means you can play with characterization to your heart's content. What I'm talking about is people insisting that Voldemort|Tom must top and Harry must bottom and anything else is wrong.

Why are you so adamant about that? Have you ever given it a moment's thought? If you prefer it, you prefer it, that's all fine. But when it morphs into claiming that bottom!Voldemort|Tom is out of character and bad, things have crossed over into the arena of the absurd. Like what you like, but be aware of what you're really saying when you talk about sex.

Not conflating bottoming with weakness and topping with strength would be a good starting point. Understand that there are myriad reasons a person might want to bottom. It can be a source of relief, allowing someone else to take control so you don't have to. It can be an act of manipulation. It can be a form of domination. And sometimes it's just because bottoming is what feels good and they have more fun that way. Or it's just the kind of pleasure they're in the mood for on a random Tuesday night.

No one is telling you to read things you don't enjoy. And no one is saying that fixed top/bottom dynamics don't exist in the real world. But it's ridiculous to apply a fixed dynamic to such a degree that you get upset when other people write something else and consider a fic "ruined" by it. You really should put some thought into your biases. It's good for you. But even if you don't, when you claim a sexual dynamic is inherently out of character, you're actually just wrong. So stop doing that. It will be a net gain for all of us, including you.