#-AND FORCING THEM TO USE THEIR POWERS TO UNDO THE HARM THEY CAUSED

[fruitsofhell]

Being liable to be bombarded with random bad dunks on Steven Universe anytime I listen to cartoon analysis people talk about literally anything has gotta be some sort of human rights violation.

[michanvalentine]

Some of my favorite lines—among the saddest—that Astarion has ever said. Every time I hear them, delivered so perfectly by Neil, my heart aches. I'm sharing them with you because my husband can't take hearing me talk about Astarion and Baldur's Gate anymore!

"It’s what you want, isn’t it? To lose yourself in me." There’s an entire world behind this line: the expression on his face, the tone of his voice. There’s sadness and resignation. This is how things work—this is who he is. The person in front of him is no different from the others, just another one who wants to lose themselves in him, use him for their own pleasure, and then move on as if nothing happened. Not only that, but it's also the same old charade used to deliver unsuspecting victims to the slaughter. The same old script, one he’s tired of, one that causes him pain. His eyes grow sad as he says it, his shoulders sink, his lips curve downward, and everything about him exudes bitterness. In that moment, amidst sweet words and sensual movements, the real Astarion comes out, carrying all the heavy baggage he’s been burdened with.

"Maybe, but did he take it." Cazador is dead, Astarion won, he’s alive, and he’s free. But the death of his tormentor didn’t turn back time, the death of the monster didn’t undo the damage or return what was stolen. It’s a powerful, terrifying, and painful realization, especially when you think about how these things—these parts of Astarion—were taken and erased. Because what is gone wasn’t just lost—it was replaced with suffering, shame, anger, hatred, and horrific experiences. These are memories that will stay with him for the rest of his un-life, memories he’ll have to battle every single day.

"All right, I’ll do it." The way he says it, after Tav/Durge delves into his mind and uses his greatest fear against him, is utterly heartbreaking. Once again, there’s resignation, but there’s also fear and, worst of all, a hint of submission. In that moment, Tav/Durge is the embodiment of Cazador. They bring back his most horrifying experience, fill him with pure terror, and remind him of how useless, weak, and pathetic he is—unable to defend himself. It makes him feel small again, lost, and willing to do anything just to feel safe. And this is coming from the very person who, up until that moment (unless the player is a complete sociopath xP), had been helping him regain a shred of self-worth and independence. It’s truly a low blow, a betrayal—especially because Astarion depends on Tav/Durge, much like he depended on Cazador, but in a positive way instead of a negative one. They force him, against his will, to do something he doesn’t want to do, and with that statement, Astarion seems to be saying, “Yes, master.”

"I didn’t know how to say no." This one is heartbreaking too, it hits right in the heart. It really hurts, especially in context, but also in general. Saying "no" is a fundamental right of every free individual. But Astarion doesn’t say that he can’t say no—he says he doesn’t know how to say it. And that’s truly sad, because at this point, it’s no longer just an external imposition; it’s something internalized. And of course, it goes without saying that here too, Tav/Durge took advantage of Astarion—of his inability to defend himself, to immediately recognize and stop behavior that should be shut down at the first sign because it’s harmful to him. Once again, Tav/Durge betrays him in the worst way, right after an agonizing confession, no less—Astarion opens up and admits to having very real struggles with sex.

Do you have any favorite lines too? Obviously, there are a billion more funny ones, but I’m afraid I’d need an entire day to write down all my favorites. I just love this little shit too much. xD

[dostoyevsky-official]

The Courts Can’t Stop the Trump-Musk Coup

Many of Trump’s orders are illegal, and unconstitutional, and brazenly so. Most good-faith lawyers can see that, but “good faith” does not describe the current state of the federal judiciary. Trump and MAGA have captured and corrupted the courts: They have seeded the lower courts with federal judges more loyal to Trump and his white-supremacist movement than they are to the law. They have stacked the Supreme Court with justices hostile to civil rights and equality. This doesn’t mean that cases brought by the ACLU, AFL-CIO, or Democratic state attorneys general are destined to fail. Their cases are righteous (and, legally speaking, right) and must be brought. Some might even succeed.

But the courts will not “save” us. They will not be the backstop protecting us from the Trump-Musk takeover, and any person who tells you otherwise, especially if that person is an elected Democrat in Congress, is selling you an excuse for inaction and complacency. Trump and Musk are barbarians at the gate; calling in the lawyers to tell them they’re trespassing isn’t going to halt their advance. Courts are not known for their harm prevention—they’re best used when trying to hold someone accountable for the harm they already caused.

The most obvious reason for this is that the courts move slowly. They are designed to move slowly. [...] If we’re very lucky, in a year or two we’ll get final rulings on whether Trump is allowed to do the bad things he started doing two weeks ago.

[...] The quickest tools the courts have at their disposal is the “temporary restraining order” (aka “TRO”) and the “nationwide injunction.” You’ve likely heard these terms before. These are temporary orders issued by a court that purportedly prevent the implementation of new laws or policies pending a full trial (or hearing) and ruling on the “merits” of a legal challenge. Often, these temporary orders themselves are appealed all the way to the Supreme Court (which potentially delays the timeliness of these emergency actions), with the administration trying to lift the temporary stops so it can implement its policies while the courts sort out whether the policy is legal.

[...] In theory, these orders should be effective stopgaps. The problem is that the court has no enforcement mechanism. It has no army, no police force, no power to impose its will. Instead, the executive—in this case the president—is supposed to enforce the court’s orders. But what if Trump doesn’t? There is little reason to believe that Trump will enforce an adverse court ruling against himself. There is no reason to believe he’ll enforce one against Musk. He’s clearly not interested in enforcing the court order (and, you know, the entire piece of legislation passed by Congress and signed by his predecessor) against TikTok.

[...] Consider the constitutional crisis unfolding right now. Musk has reportedly seized access to the private information of every US taxpayer, and the payroll information of every government employee. He has no right to this information but… he has it. Who’s going to undo that damage? A court order released Thursday afternoon purportedly limited Musk’s access to Treasury files to two “special employees” with “read-only” access to the data. Musk has reportedly agreed to follow those rules. Who is going to make sure he does? Who is going to lead the crack team of forensic digital investigators to make sure that Musk is in compliance with this or any future court order? My guess is “no one.” Musk currently has a stranglehold on the government, and enforcement of his limitations is going to run on the “trust me, bro” system.

[...]There are any number of Trump orders that this Supreme Court is going to rubber-stamp, all while promoting the conservatives’ “unitary executive theory” that grants the president powers more commonly associated with those of a king. As we’ve already seen with the court’s decision to grant Trump immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts, Roberts and his co-conspirators have pre-decided that the best way to handle Trump is to ride it out, generally give him what he wants, and accrue as much power for themselves as possible. Power that they’ll be happy to redeploy once he’s gone and they are again dealing with an executive who will faithfully enforce their orders, like literally any sad-sack Democrat who ever manages to win election again.

I’m not saying that the courts do not matter. As I said, some good decisions will squeak through. [...] But the courts will not save us. Even a friendly court is not designed to save democracy from a democratically elected president, and most courts are not our friends to begin with.

[writers-potion]

Healing

Most religions have a form of healing magic - it may be called "faith healing" and "miracle".

Some healing magic is subtle, strengthening he body's own immune defences so it can fight off infections, cancer cells and hormonal imbalances. In such cases, this might not be considered magic by others.

Dramatic, sudden healings attract a lot of attention and will run into many ethical dilemmas:

What if the magician is kept in captivity to keep the king young, forever?

What if the magician is forced to heal armies that are doing terrible things?

What if the magician only heals those in power/ who can afford to pay them?

In modern society, it is possible for the line between healing magic and life science to be blurred. Magic might simply amplify existing medicines, or provide luck to surgens who are performing a particularly tricky operation.

Protection

Many people seek magical protection, and hire magicians to provide it.

A farmer might seek to protect his crops

A mother might seek to protect her offspring

A courtesan seeks protection from her lover's wives

A soldier who seek protection from attacks.

Methods through which it may be achieved:

Using an amulet, necklace, or other tools that must be carried

A mark or tattoo for protection

A circle or physical barrier surrounding the client

A blessing that wears off with time

A protection spell that can be memorized and used only once.

Talismans and Amulets

Talisman and amulets give magical enegy to the people who wear them. They are two different objects, so it's best not to get them mixed up if your story has both. The follow categorization is fluid:

An amulet gives general help, while a talisman serves one specific purpose.

An amulet keeps harm away, while a talisman empowers the wearer.

An amulet is motly secular, while a talisman typically contains divine/angelic/spiritual energy

An amulet usually works for whoever that wears it, while a talisman is custom made for one user.

An amulet deflects negative energies, while a talisman attracts positive ones.

They are generally small objects that can be worn or carried. They have symbols on them which charges them with magical power.

In ancient societies, amulets and talismans were big business, with magician earning large sums by making and recharging them.

Guarding Against Harmful Magic

Using magic to harm or kill others is generally frowned upon. However, the magician may accept the job of hexing or cursing someone, given that they are paid well.

Hexes and curses

A hex is worked in cold blood, unemotionally. A curse involves intense emotions.

A hex lasts for a given period, then wear off. A curse may last a lifetime or even generations.

A hex is usually secular, while a curse often has a religious element (placed by or on behalf of a deity)

A hex is usually Low Magic while a curse may be High Magic

A hex is always worked by a magician while a cuse can sometimes be worked by a non-magician

A hex can affet an object or a person, a curse almost always affects a person.

Hexes tend to cause great nuisance, while curses bring long-term devastating harm.

Protection against magical attacks

The afflicted person may seek to undo the hex or spell, often at a high cost (even life)

Rituals may either aim to deflect other magical attacks, get rid of the attack, or send the spell back to the sender.

Sometimes, placing a curse or hex has a consequence to the caster, and this will deter a magician from doing it in the first place.

The client may pay to lessen the impact of a curse or seek drugs to ease their pain under it.

If you like my blog, buy me a coffee☕ and find me on instagram! 📸

[aizenat]

Quick rant (maybe lol) but wtf is going on in the You fandom, especially with males bitter and mad Kate wasn’t “punished” sufficiently enough for them? Why is everyone so determined to see her punished? What did she really do? She made a business decision that gave a bunch of kids cancer (not even half as bad as all the shit her father did), and ordered Joe to kill her uncle-business partner who was trying to oust her out of her company through dickish means? Oh no another powerful white man was killed instead of able to take power away from a woman wah wah I don’t care. He was an ass and wasn’t missed.

Kate literally disowned her father after that incident with the kids because of her guilt. She spent years trying to figure out how to make things right. She’s not perfect. Okay she fucked over Nadia, then got her out and helped her restart her life after clearing her name. She can’t give Nadia her dad back, but she can ensure Nadia and her family are safe and well for the rest of her life.

Joe killed Kate’s friends, and even her half sister, and she has to raise his orphan bay bay kid; what more do you want for her? She has scars from the fire she’ll have her whole life; she gave up her power to her brother and is living peacefully as a philanthropist to help undo some of the harm she caused. She made sure Joe went behind bars and that the women he hurt got justice; standing in solidarity with women after she abandoned women last season. What punishment does a woman trying to make amends need?

And this is the gag with the conversation of restorative justice and prison abolition. It’s all “prisons don’t do anything and we shouldn’t use them for punishment; in fact, we should reform our system so we rehabilitate criminals instead of locking them up” until you have to deal with female criminals. Then it’s all about punishment.

Like it shows how the conversation about restorative justice isn’t about actual rehabilitation but letting more men off for crimes while women are still persecuted. Realistically, women will benefit most from restorative justice reforms because women are mostly nonviolent offenders. Violent offenses, especially when you include rape, sexual assault, pedophilia, etc, are MOSTLY men. Do we genuinely believe these men can be rehabilitated? Or do we just want men to not face consequences for their choices? Because if it was about restorative justice, why is Kate’s actions in this season not enough for yall? She literally undid some of her harm where she could and promises to continue trying to do better. She knows what she did is wrong, knows she can’t make everything up (loved her scenes with Nadia, and how she encourages Nadia to let Kate take the fall for anything they do so Nadia can get revenge while not going down for anything again; also loved how she accepted that Nadia wasn’t going to just forgive her and didn’t ask for it as that’s true signs of making amends), but is still going to try to do what she can. Even if she can’t be forgiven. Literally what working towards making amends for your actions looks like!

But she needed to be punished more? Why? Almost dying wasn’t enough? Losing friends and family wasn’t enough? Raising a child that isn’t hers, but loving him deeply wasn’t enough? Giving up her company so she wouldn’t be in position to cause more harm wasn’t enough? She didn’t physically kill anyone. Didn’t rape or stalk and harass anyone. Didn’t lock people in cages, force them to kill people just for a chance to leave (and not be killed), etc. Any blood on her hands is metaphorical; not literal unlike Joe’s. She didn’t deserve what Joe got.

Any dude lamenting on how Kate got off easy or whatever is an opp. Obviously so.

And piss poor at understanding stories. Because from a simple storytelling perspective as well, Kate didn’t need to be punished because this story, and this season especially, wasn’t about any women being punished. It was about Joe getting what was coming to him. It was about the women still alive who survived him getting retribution, and, most importantly, being freed from Joe.

That’s what Marianne’s inclusion was for. Her entire speech to Louise, breaking her out of Joe’s spell. They could never fully be free until Joe was brought to justice. Kate and her family would spend their entire lives looking over their shoulder. Marianne’s mother didn’t believe she was sober until she the truth of Joe came out; she got to be a real fucking artist once he was gone! Louise would be wondering about Beck; Dr. Nicky’s son still looking for Joe to clear his father’s name. The point is that no one Joe dealt with and hurt would be free until he got brought down.

In the end, Kate was freed from Joe to make amends for her actions. THAT was the point. Not punishing her but freeing her and all of Joe’s victims. I can tell yall would be shit writers for even THINKING Kate needed to be “punished.”

[stilltrails]

Rings of Power is subverting a lot of the racism & prejudice against colonized people that Tolkien wrote into his world, and it's not often talked about. Especially in regards to his racism.

(I deleted the part about antisemitism because I am not Jewish and shouldn't be speaking on that! But if there are any Jewish fans who wanted me to add it again, I will. I just didn't feel comfortable, especially since I kept in tripping over my words)

I wanted to start first by highlighting Silvan elves--especially Arondir. Who ironically happens to be played by a person of color, while the High Elves are all played by white actors. I believe this was intentional in order to spin the typical canon on its head.

This is namely because Silvan elves are said to be less wise than their Noldor counterparts. There's been so much fandom conversation about Noldorian colonization and how silvan elves being seen as lesser has some prejudice attached to it, especially in regards to the High Elves vs the Silvan. Again, Legolas gives us great PR for the silvan elves, but so does Arondir. Who takes on a more serious, commander role than Legolas was ever able to. He's put into a position that Legolas never got to be put in, and in doing so, acts wisely and less dangerous.

Amongst all of the Noldor elves in Rings of Power, Arondir, a Silvan elf, is the one with the head on his actual shoulders. Not Elrond, not Celebrimbor, not Gil-Galad, and certainly not Galadriel. This elf who comes from a 'less wise' race as opposed to his Noldorian counterparts, who came to Middle Earth majority because many of them believed they were entitled to rule, is able to think more clearly and rationally than all of them combines. While the elves of said ruling families do not.

Arondir is also able to lead people without believing himself entitled to them. He doesn't guilt trip them, he doesn't force them to fight with him, and he doesn't think they owe him anything later on in the story. And when his own prejudice comes up, Brownyn corrects him.

On Galadriel, her colonialist mindset is directly challenged in this show. While it's sprinkled upon in the books, we get to see her knocked off of her high horse by another Queen (also played by a person of color), and when she does eventually get the army she wants, we get to see how terribly it goes for her.

Galadriel was a character who believes she's entitled to so much because she's an elf and because her storyline matter more than anyone's else, and when she gets what she believes she's entitled to, she cannot handle it and ends up causing so much more harm than good.

Many people criticize the Rings of Power for having base level activism in terms of casting people of color. But if you pay attention to the stories written with the characters, you can see how it's undoing some of the harm tolkien himself did. And i don't that's discussed enough.

There a lot more to talk about in terms of the show actively challenging the racism in the text, and perhaps i'll go into more detail with that with quotes from the Silmarillion, The Hobbit, etc., but for now I just wanted to get this out.

[fantasygerard2000]

The main defense Magnifico simps use for their pwecious babygirl, that isn't being a dick to seventeen year old teenager, is this Book of Spells. This defense however fails to explain his already negative traits even before he used the book, or why he even has it in the first place.

So the book contains powerful magic that any magic user can use to amplify their own powers. However, the book's contents contain spells that are used for evil purposes. It even informs the reader that once one embraces dark magic, they commit to it.

Because we are never given any info on how or when he got the book in his possession, we can cue in the fact that Magnifico studied magic to become a powerful sorcerer, so he has access to anything that is magic while training and may have obtained the book after learning of it. He already knew it's contents are dangerous, suggesting he learned its dark purpose, however with him wanting to make himself even more powerful, he still kept it within easy access.

Now the catalyst of him embracing its dark contents was resulted by Star arriving to Rosas. Ever the paranoid, he feared that a being more powerful than him came to undone what he built. He considers using the book out of rage over himself for not being powerful enough or not knowing enough to know the cause of Star's light. Had it not been for Amaya to console him and suggesting him to look for his subjects for guidance.

The second catalyst of him accepting the book's contents and magic is when his own subjects fail to give what he wanted, an easy answer to who caused the light so he can snuff it out. Instead, they start questioning him about the system he created. To him, he sees this as an act of ungratefulness.

The third and final catalyst is when he punishes Asha for "stealing" from him by crushing her mother's wish right before them. He finds out that crushing the wishes amplifies his magic. At this point, he embraces dark magic completely and uses books contents to create a scepter so he can use to it absorb star and make himself even more powerful.

Magnifico was already a narcissist by the time he appointed himself king of Rosas, creating the wish system so that his subjects praise him with false promises. When he learns that a magical being much more powerful than him arrives, his paranoia of losing his crown takes over him as he resorts to using dark magic so that he can snuff out this threat and remain in power. When he founds out what the wishes can do, he fully abandons his own wish system entirely and focuses on getting Star so he can use their powers.

His magic backfiring and absorbing him into his own staff may are consequences of using a spell to absorb a being of magic. This bit is very hypothetical, so hear me out with a grain of salt. The kingdom of Rosas wishing for Star amplifies Star to escape the staff, as Star and Magnifico are already equal in terms of magic by the climax, Star just doesn't want to use their's to harm anyone. So the staff, programmed to do what it's made for, absorb Magnifico because he had powerful magic. With the staff made to make sure the being its sealed in is unable to escape, it's highly probable that any being with magic cannot use it once they're sealed.

Another bit that is somewhat related is Amaya's denial over her husband embracing dark magic and has hopes that there is a way for them to bring him back. She says that it has a hold on him, suggesting that she thinks the book is responsible for her husband's use of it. Once she learns that they cannot undo Magnifico's own actions, she forces herself to accept that her husband has embraced powers and ambition over her and their people.

Another minor detail for Amaya's underrated ark and also being unintentional meta for Magnifico simps being in denial that their blorbo is evil and blames the book for his own actions. And scapegoating Asha.

[light-speed-saint]

The door to Ashley’s building is locked, but I have runes to fix that. I keep a hold of the knob to make sure that it doesn’t slam as I step silently over the threshold. I put my weight slowly on to each of the steps that lead up to Ashley’s apartment, so that their creaking doesn’t betray my presence as I climb. Another quick set of runes undoes the lock on the door to her unit, and lets me slip silently inside. 

The living room is a mess. It has Soft pink walls cast in the unsteady glow of candlelight, with all Ashley’s furniture and belongings shoved against the wall or piled on to her desk, making space for a circle of salt. Within the circle are four candles, one for each cardinal direction. Only three are lit. Ashley is on her knees, setting her lighter to the fourth, the west candle, when she catches sight of me. “Already come to beg for this pussy?” She stands slowly, showing off the way her too small tank-top and the linen of her long skirt cling to her lovely curves. Her eyes sparkle in the half light, luminous with arrogance and triumph as she brags “I hoped you would last a little bit longer, the spell I put on you must be more—” 

Ashley’s words are cut off as I grab her throat, keeping my grip just tight enough to make her fight for each breath. I push her backwards; forcing her into the middle of the ring of salt and flame. She yelps as I spin her around and starts to struggle as I gather her wrists at the small of her back. She fights with a wild and desperate abandon, but I am strong enough that its not even an inconvenience. When she settles down, I wrap the tape, slowly and carefully, around her wrists. Even in the heat of my ire I don’t want to cause any lasting harm. 

Only when she is bound do I let my hands start to explore Ashley’s body. I pull her close so she can feel the solidness of my body against hers, and the slow powerful movement of my sinews when my hand slip under the hem of her tank top. I savour the soft skin of her belly against my fingertips, the supple weight of her breasts in my palms. My thumb passing over her nipple is all it takes to make Ashley squirm and whimper. 

“This will be easier for both of us if you’re a good girl who doesn’t resist.” I whisper into her ear. Ashley believes me. She trembles but sinks compliantly as I guide her onto her knees and then lay her gently on her back, right in the middle of her casting circle. My knife flicks out, its blade flashes orange, red, and silver in the candlelight. I cut slowly through Ashleys tank top, listening to the low tearing sound of the threads like it’s a sonata, then slide her skirt and her panties down from her hips with one smooth motion, feeling her shake as I do. 

Lying naked and bound, Ashley is helpless to stop me from indulging my most animalistic desires. But my stealth and my spells serve a deeper purpose. Ashley’s lip shakes as I touch the point of my knife to her collar bone. I am careful not to draw blood as I let it drift slowly down her chest, letting Ashley feel the bite of steel on her tender skin as I tell her “You tried to put a love spell on me.” 

She doesn’t speak as the knife moves between her breasts. When she finally gathers the courage to say anything Ashley says “I’m sorry, okay! let me go and I’ll—” 

“Do you know how to break a love spell?” I ask, as my knife flows down Ashley’s belly in a lazy zig zag. 

She struggles a little then moans in frustration. “No.” She admits. “I just cast them.” 

“There are two ways.” Ashley’s eyes glitter as I slide my fingers past her lips, into her mouth. “The oldest one is called ‘pricking the witch.’ Essentially you draw blood until all the casters magic is gone.” I stay silent a few seconds, letting Ashley feel my knife against her skin and the pressure of my fingers in her mouth; the swift beating of her heart. I look into her eyes as I flip the blade away. “But I don’t like such messy and outdated methods. There’s a newer, less gory way to handle the situation you’ve put us in.” I pause again, run a hand down from Ashley’s throat. I explore, caressing and groping. Playing with her breasts as she trembles. Then my hand glides down Ashley’s stomach and along the curve of her hip. My fingertips reach the edge of her vulva where I move them up and down in a slow, teasing motion. In a gentle whisper I tell Ashley that “You got us into this predicament, so I am going to let you choose how we get out. What will it be pretty girl? The new way, or the old?” I flash the knife out once more, its edge glinting in the half light. 

“The new.” Ashleys voice is soft and breathy as she begs. “Please please please the new.” 

“I hoped you would say that.” I smile down at my helpless captive. 

I roll Ashley onto her back, taking the opportunity to squeeze possessive fingers into the vulnerable flesh of her ass and pulling the cuffs from my bag before carefully cutting through the tape. The floor is hard, I don’t want my victim injuring herself as she squirms. There are four cuffs, each one connected to a ring of steel by a leather strap. It all forms an X that will hold Ashley in place while I work my spell. Because she is compliant and stays still, I can take my time with the cuffs; making sure that each one will restrain my beautiful captive while allowing for blood flow. When I am satisfied with my work, I turn Ashley on to her back once more. “Now pretty girl, the real fun starts.” I take out the jar of ink and place it on the floor, keeping it within easy reach but far enough away that Ashley won’t knock it over when she struggles. And she will struggle. 

The ink itself is cold and viscus, Ashley shivers when I touch it to her skin. “What are you going to do? Torture me until I recant my spell?” Her voice is defiant, but I can feel Ashley’s heart galloping with fear as I draw a circle over her chest. Within the circle I draw four diagonal lines, adding a fifth horizontal line would complete the star and make a pentagram, but its not yet time for that. Outside the circle at each point of the unfinished star a draw sigil. One each for Hekate, Athena, Aphrodite, Hades, and Dionysus. 

I wipe the excess ink from my fingers onto Ashley’s thigh and take a vibrator from my bag. I set it on low and make a slow circuit around Ashley’s clit as I tell her that “Pain can be a useful tool in magic, but its clumsy and doesn’t suit my purpose.” Ashley shivers as the first sparks of pleasure flash in her nervous system. “You can break people more profoundly using ecstasy.” I say, keeping the vibrator in place but leaning in close to whisper “And I am going to break you, Ashley Jennifer Williams.” The vibrator slides easily into her soaked cunt. “You’re so wet pretty girl. You’re not enjoying this are you?” 

The embers of pleasure burning in Ashley’s brain keep her from answering. She just lies there, chest heaving and mouth open. She can’t do anything but squirm. As the sensation of being fucked gets more intense the unfocused gleam in her eyes tells me all that I need to know. I stand up, placing my foot on Ashley’s stomach, above the vibrator but below the pentagram. I look down, taking in the whole image of her beautiful helplessness as I tell Ashley “Before I let you come you are going to tell me, tell the world, what a pathetic little whore you are. You’re going to tell us that your purpose, your only purpose, is to serve [Light Speed Saint]. That you exist to be my little fuck doll. That I own you body, mind, and soul. Do you understand?” 

“That’s not fair.” Ashley complains. “You can’t expect—” She recovers her bravery only until I use my phone to turn up the intensity of the vibrator and melt her thoughts away. She lies bound beneath my feet as bliss illuminates every nerve fibre. It shines out from between her thighs to reach the tips of her toes and depths of her brain. Just when an orgasm is ready to flash through her body like wildfire, I take it all away. 

Ashley can do nothing but moan petulantly. “I’m sorry okay.” She whines, pulling at her restraints. “I didn’t mean to—” 

I turn the power of the vibrator back up. The sudden shock of pleasure catches Ashley off guard; leaves her jaw gaping. “You know what you have to say.” I watch the helpless little twitches she makes as the pleasure builds again. Her toes curl and uncurl. Her leg shakes as her desperation grows. “Fuck” Ahsley squeaks “Fuck fuck fuck.” 

Ashley’s quivers get quicker and deeper as the heat of her need rises. I pull her back from the edge. She whimpers, all her defiance is gone, in its place is a helpless and animalistic desire. I crouch beside her, keeping my touch soft as my hand moves up and down her body. Instead of turning the power of the vibrator back up, I tease her nipples. Sending small, targeted jolts of stimulation instead of a shock of pleasure. “You’re fighting so hard.” I observe. “But you know how good it would feel to give in. Think of it. Bliss exploding through your body like a fire work. All your heavy, cumbersome thoughts disappearing in a rain of glorious sparkle. You’d be a little slave doll, free of worry and strife.” 

“I won’t.” Ashley manages to gasp. “I can’t—" She’s cut off by her own whimper as I turn the vibrator back up. “I can’t- I- I- I’m a pathetic little whore. My only purpose is to serve [Light Speed Saint]. I exist to be his, to be your, good little fuck doll. Your obedient little toy. I surrender my body, my mind, my soul to [Light Speed Saint].” 

At long last I turn the vibrator to high and leave it there. Ashley’s stomach moves up and down like waves on the sea. The quivers in her legs spread to her whole body, and her jaw hangs open as she gives a high, lilting moan. Bliss flashes like lightning; burns through every synapse in her body. The heat and light of ecstasy evaporate her thoughts and her words, leave Ashley in a pleasant daze of submission, just as I promised. 

I don’t turn down the intensity of the vibrator right away, so the pleasure is still burning; keeping Ashley a twitching, whimpering mess as I draw the last line of the pentagram and accept her surrender. “Hear O spirits.” I command. “Hear that I claim this girl, Ashley Jennifer Williams. With the power of Athena, I claim her mind. With the power of Aphrodite, I claim her body.” I watch the steady up and down movements of my new slave girl’s breasts and the steady sparkle in her eyes and say “With the power of Hekate, I claim her soul.” Ashley doesn’t say anything, just whimpers and arches her back; the flame of pleasure growing under my spell. 

Ashley moans softly as I pull the vibrator from her pussy. Her eyes are bright but empty, shining with the last embers of her thoughts. I undo the cuffs on her ankles, bring Ashley up to her knees. I brush stray hairs from her face as she smiles up at me in peaceful adoration. I run my fingers through her hair and ask “Are you ready to worship your master, like a good fuck doll?” 

“Yes master.” She says softly “please let me worship you.” 

I touch Ashley’s lip as I instruct her to “Open your mouth. Stick out your tongue.” She obeys with out thinking, parting her lips to let her tongue slide out. I keep her this way for a few seconds; a naked, mind broken whore, offering her mouth for my use. I open the fly on my jeans, revealing my cock, and grab Ashley by the back of her head. I run her tongue back and forth along the sides of my cock before I use her to make a single long lick along the bottom, from the base all the way to the tip. 

I plunge into Ashley’s mouth, fucking it slowly for the first few strokes. Savouring the warmth and wetness and submission. But pleasure lights in me as well. The soft mmph mmph mmph of her gags get louder and their rhythm faster as I quicken my pace. The pleasure of my slave doll’s body builds. Its most intense at the tip of my cock but radiates out, reaching my extremities. Soon my nervous system flashes with it. My hot cum spills onto Ashley’s tongue and I withdraw. 

For a few seconds I close my eyes and let myself float. The world and its cares have been banished to some unreachable and intangible place. I know that they will return. I open my eyes to look down at Ashley again, just as she says “Thank you, master.” A little of my cum spills on to her now irrevocably peaceful smile, and I cannot help wondering who got the best of my spell.

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

How would the Ganondorfs (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) & Demise react to facing a bewitched SO?

Like someone is out to hurt the Demon King, and the best way they figured out to do it is to possess their SO and force them to attack him.

Wind Waker Ganondorf: The Tragic King

Reaction: Wind Waker Ganondorf would initially be shocked and pained to see his SO turned against him. Having lived through his own tragedies and battles with destiny, this would feel like yet another cruel twist of fate. His first instinct would be to try and break the spell without hurting them, even if it means lowering his defenses. However, his rage at the one responsible for this manipulation would be absolute.

Scene: Ganondorf watches in disbelief as his SO, now under a bewitching spell, approaches him with a weapon in hand, their eyes blank and unseeing. A deep ache settles in his chest as they attack, each strike a blow not just to his body, but to his heart.

“I will not fight you,” he says, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness. His movements are slow, deflecting their attacks but never striking back. His powerful magic flares around him as he tries to undo the spell, all the while his expression darkens with every failed attempt.

When he finally manages to break the bewitchment, his fury will be unleashed upon the one responsible. His SO’s suffering would become his vengeance, and he’d stop at nothing to make sure that the one who dared to use his love against him pays dearly.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf: The Ruthless Conqueror

Reaction: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would react with immediate fury at the manipulation of his SO. His rage would be directed at whoever dared to possess them, but he would also feel frustrated and enraged by the situation. His SO being used against him would feel like a personal insult, and while he wouldn’t hesitate to defend himself, he would hold back just enough to avoid causing permanent harm.

Scene: Ganondorf’s red eyes flash dangerously as his SO, possessed and intent on attacking him, lunges forward. He raises his hand, magic sparking between his fingers, but he hesitates just long enough to avoid striking them down with full force. His frustration is palpable.

“You dare use them against me?” His voice is laced with fury, but his strikes against them are measured, designed to incapacitate without causing serious injury. He knows that they are not in control of their actions, but his patience is thin.

Once the possession is broken, Ganondorf will unleash his wrath upon the one responsible with a terrifying intensity, ensuring that no one ever attempts to manipulate his SO again.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf: The Calculating Tyrant

Reaction: Twilight Princess Ganondorf would remain calm and composed, even in the face of his possessed SO attacking him. His strategic mind would work quickly to assess the situation, seeking a way to end the possession without harming them. He would see this as a tactical move by his enemies, and while his fury would be cold and controlled, it would burn intensely. His focus would be on neutralizing the threat swiftly and decisively.

Scene: Ganondorf watches as his SO approaches, eyes glazed and weapon raised. His golden eyes narrow, and a low growl escapes his lips. He steps aside from their attack, moving with fluid precision.

“You are not yourself,” he states coldly, his mind racing to find the source of the spell. His magic flares as he weaves a counterspell, all while carefully avoiding doing any real harm to his SO. His composure remains intact, but the sight of his beloved being used in such a way makes his blood boil beneath the surface.

Once he breaks the spell, his wrath will be exacted on the manipulator with calculated vengeance. No one uses his SO as a pawn and gets away with it.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf: The Warlord

Reaction: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would be livid. His first reaction would be fury at anyone who dared to turn his SO against him, viewing the situation as an attack on his power and control. While he would revel in the challenge of fending off attacks, his possessiveness over his SO would ensure that he doesn’t harm them in retaliation. His anger would be focused on destroying the one responsible for the manipulation.

Scene: Ganondorf grins, a dangerous glint in his eyes as his SO, under a wicked spell, charges at him. “You think you can use them against me?” he growls, easily dodging their strikes. His prideful nature finds the situation both infuriating and insulting.

He doesn’t strike back with his full strength, only enough to knock the weapon from their hand or subdue them. His magic flares, burning with raw power as he attempts to sever the connection to the one controlling his SO.

Once the bewitchment is broken, his fury is unleashed in full force. He will show no mercy to the one who dared use his SO as a tool against him, and his vengeance will be swift and brutal.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf: The Corrupted Demon King

Reaction: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, having succumbed to darkness, would be enraged at the manipulation but might initially react with more aggression, only stopping himself just before causing serious harm. His SO being turned against him would feed his paranoia and malice, pushing him to the edge. However, a sliver of his old self—his love for his SO—would prevent him from going too far.

Scene: Ganondorf snarls as his SO, possessed and moving to attack, swings a weapon at him. His first reaction is to retaliate with full force, but something in him halts at the last moment. His dark magic swirls around them both as he barely restrains himself from striking them down.

“I will not be betrayed,” he growls, his eyes burning with malice, but his attacks are directed toward breaking the spell rather than harming them. The darkness in him threatens to consume him entirely, but his love for his SO keeps him from going over the edge.

Once the spell is broken, his vengeance is absolute. The one responsible for this manipulation will face the full wrath of the Demon King, and it will be a reckoning that leaves no room for mercy.

Demise: The God of Destruction

Reaction: Demise would be furious and see this possession as a direct challenge to his power. His immediate reaction would be violent, his instincts driving him to crush the threat, even if it’s coming from his SO. However, the bond he shares with them would cause him to restrain himself, directing his fury at the one controlling them rather than at his SO. His protective instincts would kick in, though his methods would be brutal.

Scene: Demise roars in fury as his SO, under the influence of a malevolent spell, attacks him. His first instinct is to strike back with full force, his fiery wrath blazing through the air. But as he looks into their eyes, devoid of the love they once held, he pauses—just for a second.

“You dare use them against me?” His voice is a deep, menacing growl as he grabs their arm, stopping their attack without hurting them. His fiery aura flares around him as he fights to break the spell through sheer force of will.

Once the bewitchment is broken, Demise’s vengeance is unleashed like a storm of fire. The one responsible for this attack will face the full wrath of a god, and Demise will make sure they suffer for daring to use his SO against him.

_____________________________________________________________

Bonus: The Demon King managed to slay the creature that had possessed his SO, but SO, horrified that they had been used to hurt him, is so very afraid to be near him. They love him so much, they never want to be used against him. What if they are used again? What if their husband actually gets hurt next time?

Wind Waker Ganondorf: The Tragic King

Reaction: Wind Waker Ganondorf, who has always carried a deep sense of tragedy within him, would be heartbroken to see his SO so afraid. The weight of their fear would mirror his own feelings of helplessness and loss over the years. He would understand their fear but also feel frustrated that despite his victory over the creature, the damage to their relationship lingers. His first instinct would be to console them, to assure them that they will never be used against him again.

Scene: Ganondorf watches as his SO backs away, their eyes wide with fear. The sight causes his heart to twist painfully, the once loving gaze now replaced with terror. He steps forward slowly, his voice quiet but commanding.

“I won’t let anything hurt you… or use you against me again,” he says, his voice gruff yet filled with sincerity. He kneels before them, a rare vulnerability in his expression. “You are more precious to me than anything. We’ll find a way to prevent this from happening again. I swear it.”

He would hold back his natural urge to be forceful, knowing that right now, they need reassurance, not dominance. His love and protective instincts would guide his actions, as he seeks to rebuild their trust and sense of security.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf: The Ruthless Conqueror

Reaction: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf would be furious at the situation, but not with his SO—rather, at the fact that they had been put in such a vulnerable position. The idea of them being afraid of him would sting his pride deeply, but he would temper his usual ruthlessness for their sake. While his initial reaction might come off as cold or pragmatic, he would soon realize that they need his reassurance, and he would work to calm their fears in his own direct way.

Scene: Ganondorf stands tall, arms crossed, watching as his SO avoids his gaze, their body trembling with fear. He lets out a low growl of frustration, but when he speaks, his voice is surprisingly gentle, given his usual harshness.

“No one will ever control you again. I will see to it myself,” he says firmly. His eyes soften slightly as he steps closer, though he maintains a strong, protective presence. “You are mine. And nothing will take you from me, not even fear.”

He would reach out slowly, allowing them the space to either accept or reject his touch, a gesture that shows his willingness to let them set the pace. Once they accept him again, he would devote himself to finding a way to prevent any future threats to their bond, whether through magic or sheer force of will.

Twilight Princess Ganondorf: The Calculating Tyrant

Reaction: Twilight Princess Ganondorf would react with a calculated calm, assessing the situation carefully before acting. Seeing his SO so terrified of being near him would strike a nerve, but he wouldn’t lash out in frustration. Instead, he would use his intellect and cunning to find a solution, ensuring that they would never feel vulnerable or afraid again. He would take their fears seriously, recognizing the depth of their love and the weight of their worry.

Scene: Ganondorf watches them from the shadows of their dimly lit chamber, his eyes narrowing as he sees the fear in their gaze. For a moment, he remains still, his mind racing with possible solutions. When he speaks, his voice is soft, but full of authority.

“You fear what you cannot control, but I will ensure that no one ever controls you again.” He steps forward, his movements slow and deliberate. “You are safe with me. Always.”

His promise is more than just words; it’s a vow to protect them by any means necessary. He would use all his resources, both magical and political, to guarantee their safety, offering them a rare glimpse into his more caring side. Though he might not show tenderness easily, he would express his commitment to their safety with action.

Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf: The Warlord

Reaction: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf would be enraged at the thought of someone daring to hurt or manipulate his SO, and he would take their fear very personally. His first instinct would be to prove his strength, showing them that nothing can stand between them and that no one would dare challenge his power again. However, seeing their fear of being used against him would force him to soften, realizing that brute strength alone cannot solve this issue.

Scene: Ganondorf snarls as his SO pulls away, the sight of their fear sparking a deep anger within him—though not at them, but at the idea that anyone would dare come between them. He slams his fist against the stone wall, cracking it as he struggles to calm himself.

“They tried to use you against me, but they failed,” he growls, stepping closer. His eyes blaze with anger, but when he sees the trembling of their hands, his expression softens, though his tone remains intense. “No one will ever hurt you again. I swear it.”

Despite his rough exterior, he would kneel before them, placing his hand on their cheek if they let him, a rare moment of gentleness for the powerful warlord. His focus would then shift to ensuring that such a thing never happens again, likely through magic or violent retribution against those who dared to harm them.

Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf: The Corrupted Demon King

Reaction: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, having been consumed by darkness, would struggle with the idea that his SO is afraid of him after the possession. His darker nature would make him frustrated and confused, but his love for them would drive him to push past his rage. He would feel conflicted between his corrupted self and the remnants of his love, and while his initial reaction might be intimidating, he would ultimately want to reassure them that nothing will ever take them from him.

Scene: Ganondorf’s crimson eyes glow in the dim light as he watches his SO shrink away from him, their face pale with fear. His heart, blackened by darkness, aches with a mixture of anger and sorrow. He clenches his fists, struggling to suppress the malice swirling inside him.

“They will never use you against me again,” he growls, his voice low and threatening, though not directed at them. He steps forward, his powerful presence filling the room, but he hesitates as he sees their fear intensify.

Slowly, his tone softens, though the darkness in his eyes remains. “You are mine… no one will take you from me. Not even fear.” He moves closer, offering his hand as a sign of trust, though the intensity of his emotions still lingers beneath the surface.

Ganondorf would dedicate himself to finding a way to break any future attempts at possession or control, likely through powerful dark magic or by eliminating the threat entirely. He wouldn’t allow anyone to come between them again, no matter the cost.

Demise: The God of Destruction

Reaction: Demise would react with a mixture of anger and frustration, both at the situation and at his SO’s fear of being near him. His pride would be deeply wounded by the idea that his SO, the person he holds closest, is afraid to be around him. However, his possessive and protective nature would ultimately drive him to reassure them that nothing will take them from him—not even their own fear.

Scene: Demise stands tall, his fiery hair blazing as his SO backs away from him in fear. His molten eyes narrow, and a growl rumbles from his throat. The idea that someone had used them to try and hurt him infuriates him, but seeing them afraid of him makes him pause.

“You’re afraid… of me?” His voice is filled with a mixture of disbelief and frustration. He steps closer, towering over them, but his expression softens slightly as he sees the terror in their eyes.

“No one will ever use you against me again,” he vows, his voice low and dangerous. “I will destroy anyone who tries. You are mine, and nothing will take you from me—not even fear.”

Demise would ensure that they never feel vulnerable again, likely using his immense power to protect them. His possessive nature would mean he would go to extreme lengths to keep them safe, even if it means wiping out any potential threat entirely.

[fadewalking]

Remember when I said I'd detail what comes after VG events for Solas? Here's me doing that.

The Bad Ending (which I am labeling as all endings where he does not choose to Atone, and instead gets forcibly shoved into the Fade hole).

Solas is literally chained to the Veil, and Rook may or may not be with him. Notably, however, in all of these instances, he does have his dagger with him. So he can use it to break free of his bonds (ouch if it's the ending where the dagger is stuck in his ribcage).

If Rook is with him, they'll either continue their fight, even though Rook got struck with what would be a fatal wound. Or, depending on the relationship, Solas decides to heal them, though that's pretty unlikely given everything that just went down. More likely, he leaves them to die or mercy kills them.

Regardless, Solas frees himself and goes into Hiding, where he spends a lot of time trying to figure out what he should do next. Let's call this span of time [Recovery].

Tearing down the Veil as he had planned it is now impossible as it's tied to his life force. Even if he were to self-sacrifice for it, someone willing and powerful enough would still need to be there after the fact to complete the ritual. And even if he found such a person, then what? How could he ensure that they bring about the world in Mythal's vision properly without him being behind the wheel? That's a nonstarter.

Maybe he could find a way to free himself from the blood magic bond, but that would take likely more blood magic, and he'd really rather not do that.

The only way he can see forward to being able to manipulate the Veil without killing himself physically is to sever himself from the power in his blood that fuels the connection to the veil. AKA, he's going to make himself Tranquil.

Now he's not going to do this haphazardly, there are several preparations. He needs a way to undo it (which canonically exists even if it's sketchy and dangerous) and he needs a way to control his power again afterward with enough precision to continue manipulating the Veil. We can call this span of time [Preparation].

Except he's kind of learned a lesson from VG, the hard way. It won't be like before. He's not going go through his his plan to tear it all down and reshape the world in the raw chaos. Instead, he will carve out another way.

So he makes his preparations and then he proceeds with Tranquility, and the subsequent path to reverse it.

Afterward, he spends a lot of time studying the Veil in it's new state and finds that now that he's severed it from his life force, the energy that held it together (magic from his blood) is slowly waning. We can call this span in time [Tranquility & Study]. This is perfect, as his new plan becomes a steady degradation of the Veil over time. This will allow flora and fauna to adapt naturally while the Veil fades. All he has to do really, is ensure that nothing harms the veil too much during this ages-long process that would cause it to degrade faster in some areas than others, because that would reintroduce the problem of catastrophe. But people are always going to do some shit for power. So he must spend his time and resources stopping people who wish to harm his Veil.

But wait there are.. considerations. More of them. The Blight is weakened but not gone due to his new Veil, and the clock is now ticking on figuring that out while his Veil degrades, because that will also mean the blight will get stronger over time. Okay. So he has to go Atone anyway and soothe the Blight however he can in hopes that when the Veil becomes weak enough, we don't unleash the beast. He probably does a lot of work underground with the Dwarves for this effort (awful, Solas hates it under there). We can call this span of time [Atonement], to include both underground work and above ground continuation of the guarding the Veil.

The Good Ending (he chooses to yield and atone after Mythal tells him it's ok to stop). This is actually incredibly similar to the Bad Ending events, just with a different order, and ultimate motivations.

First thing's first, he still needs a bit of time to process everything and physically mend. So he will do that somewhere Away from it all [Recovery]

After that, the first real order of business is Solas working to Atone. I think I'll try to detail in a separate post sometime later what that actually looks like, but for now let's just say he's underground helping dwarves, probably working closely w/ Harding & what with her newfound stone powers. He will take occasional reprieves to the lighthouse/above ground to help rebuilding efforts across Thedas [Atonement].

The Veil is still a looming problem though. And the reason it's such a problem is because it facilitates marginalization against Spirits, Elves and mages. Thus his goal in doing something about it is motivated not by Mythal or guilt (he is the guilt master though, so it'll probably still be a little motivated by guilt) but rather by his genuine drive to make the world less awful for those who are oppressed within it.

A big change also is his end goal. Whereas in the Bad Ending Timeline, his ultimate idea is for the Veil to leave completely, in the Good Ending he concedes that Some Veil is okay for the sake of other non-elf races living more comfortably in Thedas. The process for this looks nearly identical to what he does in the Bad Ending (he is still going to Tranquilize himself to release his lifeforce from the Veil), but this means he's going to have to find someone or something else suitable enough to tie to it, once the veil reaches it's desired weakness so it can then be sustained. This is a problem he has a fair deal of time to work on a solution for.

So Insert here the same expanses of time for [Preparation] and [Tranquility & Study].

This is where our verses can converge on [The Devouring Storm], whatever the fuck that is. Presumably it has something do to with the Forgotten Ones across the sea? I'm not sure, I have not seen people talk about this yet, though I'm sure they have. The Jury is still out on what this next Big Bad might have been, exactly. That's another thing I can try to detail out later. But whatever it is, it's coming for Thedas, and it's going to threaten Solas' plans once again, I bet (this guy cannot catch a break). In the Good Ending, hopefully this means finding someone to tie the Veil to at the right moment.

Okay that's all for now! If you made it this far, bless you <3.

I'm going to condense this by a lot hopefully and put it somewhere on my blog for easy reading. The whole reason I did this was to create future verses for other people to write with me in. So we now have a lot of different points in time to play with:

[Recovery], [Atonement], [Preparation], [Tranquility & Study], and [The Devouring Storm].

These are especially useful for any non-Rook muses who want to interact more with my Solas post-trespasser. Obviously, in VG there's not great opportunity for that to happen since he's locked in prison for most of it, but now there's a path forward afterward!

I think I will default to writing in the Good Ending verse just bc it sounds nicer, but if you are interested in the slightly darker timeline, do not hesitate to slide in my dms abt it. I will be thrilled that you have even taking the time to read this at all lmfao.

[dailyanarchistposts]

Friendship and freedom have sharp edges

If one would have a friend, then must one also be willing to wage war for him: and in order to wage war, one must be capable of being an enemy.

—Friedrich Nietzsche[89]

Working on relationships also means the capacity to dissolve and sever them, and to block those which are harmful. Affinity and bridging require selective openness, with firm boundaries. In this sense, cultivating joyful militancy not only requires cultivating “good” relationships, but also severing those that are unhealthy and damaging. Coulthard drove this point home when we talked with him:

Part of the effect that you see in joyful militancy is an attentiveness to cultivating healthy relationships. And I think that that’s great; there is a productive line of flight … but sometimes—and this is kind of what I’ve been thinking a lot about since writing about reconciliation and resentment—is that the whole idea of a “good relationship”—a positive one instead of a negative one—is almost entirely co-opted by relationship-destroying structures that entrench violence, dispossession, disappearance, all these things, where we’re always compelled to be productive. It’s a compulsion that’s insisted on and that is done asymmetrically across certain bodies. So it’s a demand that’s placed on us as Indigenous peoples, even in terms of having a conversation. It can even be about tone: your tone is negative … Some relationships are just bullshit and we shouldn’t be in them. We should actually draw lines in the sand more willingly, in order to avoid the kind of status quo outcome that’s caused by the compulsion to always be in a positive relationship to others. Others might suck. We shouldn’t be relating to them; we should be fighting them; we should be seeking to destroy them in some circumstances. Because their whole identity, their whole form of life is predicated on our negation. So that’s why, in Canada, Canadians can’t cease to exist in the sense that they understand themselves, because it’s predicated on a genocidal relationship. And there can be no mutual recognition, there can be no mutual respect, because the relationship itself negates that possibility. And that’s a pretty somber situation. It’s not a joyful acknowledgement.[90]

Relational freedom necessarily includes undoing destructive relationships, dissolving or attacking depleting or harmful forces. Freedom is the capacity to make friends and enemies, to be open and to have firm boundaries. Joyful, deeply transformative relationships are only possible through vulnerability and trust, but they also entail the risk of being deeply hurt. In this context, Mia Mingus speaks to the importance of a kind of love that is assertive and accountable:

What I’m talking about is reinventing how we love each other and knowing that solidarity is love, collaboration is love. And really, isn’t that what queerness is about: loving? I am talking about growing and cultivating a deep love that starts with those closest to us and letting it permeate out. Starting with our own communities. Building strong foundations of love. And I just want to be clear, I am not talking about love that isn’t accountable. I am not talking about staying in harmful and dangerous or abusive relationships. The kind of love I want us to grow is accountable and assertive. Really, I am talking about collective love, where we look out for each other.[91]

For this kind of collective love to exist, sometimes it is necessary to sever relationships. Sometimes friendship and close bonds are a messy mix of closeness, struggle, and distance. In this sense, Empire destroys our capacity to identify enemies, too: morality, policing, law, and prisons are all designed to monopolize the power to decide whose actions are right and wrong, and how they should be dealt with.

For the same reason, if reduced to an imperative to always have “good relationships” with everyone and everything, joyful militancy and friendship become simplistic, reactionary, and colonial in their erasure of power relations and systemic violence. This is the hegemonic morality of Empire—the notion that Indigenous people have to “get over” the past—and it plays itself out not only in state-based efforts at “reconciliation,” but also among everyday relationships between settlers and Indigenous people that reinscribe settler entitlement. Leanne Simpson spoke to this forcefully when we asked her to share her perspective on the potential of friendship between settlers and Indigenous people:

Nick and carla: One of the themes that emerged in a lot of our interviews is the importance of trust and friendship for creating and sustaining joyful militancy and transformative movement infused with love. Under conditions of settler colonialism, trust and friendship between settlers and Indigenous people seems especially difficult, because settlers and our governments have violated this trust over and over, and broken trust is the status quo. What makes trust and friendship possible? Do you see it as an important part of decolonization? Leanne Simpson: My honest answer is no, I don’t. Friendship has been and is used by so-called white “allies” in pretty horrible ways—everything from “my friend is native and therefore …” to using friendship as a mechanism to protect against white guilt, to using friendship to appropriate. Friendship for me is a crazy-intimate, personal decision and it isn’t helpful for me to feel pressure to trust or be friends with people I don’t trust and don’t want to be friends with. The white allyship takes up a lot of space and it’s a lot of work for Indigenous peoples. White people love being friends with Indigenous peoples. For me, there is huge gap in our life experiences, often our interests and our politics. That doesn’t mean we can’t find useful and strategic ways of working together but don’t make me go to potlucks or backyard BBQs and make the assumption that my personal life is part of the movement. My personal life is not for the taking. I also see that I have a responsibility to build trust and friendships within the Indigenous community. That is important work because the forces to divide us and make us hate each other are enormous. This does indeed make our movements strong because it’s community building.”[92]

For us, this gets at the danger of setting up friendship or affinity as an ideal, norm, or expectation, especially across the colonial divide and other hierarchical divisions created by Empire. While Simpson speaks to the importance of building trust and friendship among Indigenous people, she is clear that settlers (particularly white settlers seeking to be allies) often end up perpetuating extractive, entitled tendencies. For settlers, getting out of the way might be more important than seeking connection.

Just as intimacy and closeness can be enabling, they can also be sources of coercion, manipulation, and exploitation. To insist on, seek out, or use friendship—and to pathologize its refusal—tends to reinforce these divisions and hierarchies, rather than unravel them. It regenerates the worst of Empire, where oppressed people are expected to stay in oppressive relationships, and their refusal is dismissed as “counterproductive.”

Similar patterns arise to pathologize women and genderqueer folks who refuse to “get over” heteropatriarchy, Black folks and people of color who refuse to “get over” racism, and everyone else who has experienced the liberal trope of “let’s all get along.” Entitlement to others’ time, energy, and love can be an unconscious strategy that reproduces domination through intimacy. Love and friendship can be contorted to erase power and exploitation, enforcing obedience to oppressive norms of politeness or devotion.

Joyful militancy is not a way of dividing the world into “positive” and “negative” ways of being, or asking that we all get along and be happy together. Freedom always needs to retain the potential of refusal, negation, and resistance. To turn friendship into a solution or a goal is to erase the form of freedom we are getting at, which is the freedom to work at relationships—to participate more actively in the shaping of our worlds.

[thebookofjeremiah]

"The Top Tambourine." From the Book of Jeremiah 21: 3-7.

Jeremiah continues to explain how to read the Books of Kings. During the prior frame he says this must entail the "exercise of power and the duty of care." This is embodied by the ancient world's most important figure, Nebuchadnezzar "the protection of servants."

God appears to be Nebu's biggest fan, not too much of the King, Zedekiah whose name means "the just". One just man is not proof against wicked world with a heart as rotten as it can be, like ours. But a just king, one who is willing to put his words into law, that is the impetus for change we are all waiting for. God tells Jeremiah to bring the weapons, the laws, to the center of the city and read them again and see just exactly what secrets, if any, they are hiding from the welfare of the people:

3 Then the Lord spoke to me, and I told those who had been sent to me 4 to tell Zedekiah that the Lord, the God of Israel, had said, “Zedekiah, I am going to defeat your army that is fighting against the king of Babylonia and his army. I will pile up your soldiers' weapons in the center of the city. 

5 I will fight against you with all my might, my anger, my wrath, and my fury. 6 I will kill everyone living in this city; people and animals alike will die of a terrible disease. 

7 But as for you, your officials, and the people who survive the war, the famine, and the disease—I will let all of you be captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and by your enemies, who want to kill you. Nebuchadnezzar will put you to death. He will not spare any of you or show mercy or pity to any of you. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

God says wicked people with wicked rulers are possessed by "a terrible disease" called leprosy. Leprosy is caused by people who believe God is one thing when He is actually another. All those Supreme Court Justices who overturned RVW and killed all those young girls and women thinking Pro-Life would please God have a fatal case of leprosy.

Let us just see how many deaths or statutory rapes the RVW overturn caused! And this in spite of the fact Federal Law prohibits state interference in pregnancy and federal and international laws forbid forcing a woman to be pregnant when she does not want to carry. So how intertwined is this with belief in God? How could it be?

This is abuse of power and those six SCOTUS justices need to be arrested and sent to the Hague for trial within the International Criminal Court. That is what Nebuchadnezzar would do with these fuckups. He would not show them pity or mercy.

So anytime one pretends to believe in God but violates Nebuchadnezzar, harms one of God's servants, one incurs a case of leprosy. Very hard to undo, very difficult to cure without...the weapons.

The Values in Gematria are:

v. 3: The Lord spoke to me and said: The Number is 4609, דס‎ט‎, dest, or "dust." Dust is what we use to buiild or results when something is destroyed:

"The Hebrew word "עפר" (ʿāp̄ār) generally translates to dust, but can also refer to loose earth, debris, ruins, mortar, or even metal ore. The root verb, also spelled עפר, likely describes a state of material between a solid and a liquid, something easily manipulated or scooped up. Additionally, the related noun אבק ('abaq) also means dust, but is often used in contexts of punishment or destruction."

The Law is that which pulverizes- it can teach a cruel man to be kind or punish the cruel until they are no more. But it cannot be the cause of disbelief or disease, like leprosy, AKA cruelty, which spreads misery throughout the land.

v. 4: Zedekiah, I am going to defeat your army. The Number is 8984, ףטףד‎, fatfd, "a top tambourine."

"They link the verb פתת (patat), meaning "to break up" or "crumble," to the noun פת (pat), meaning "fragment". Additionally, they connect the word תף (top), meaning "drum" or "tambourine," to the idea of breaking or fragmentation, suggesting a possible link between the sound of drums and the concept of scientific inquiry."

One has to understand how and why one should aspire to be the Prince Nsh or the King in order to know what to as a common man. God says to break it down and the follow the road.

He elaborates upon this further:

v. 5-6: I will fight against you with all my might. Fights are 220, רך‎, "flaccid." One has to make war against the forces of disbelief and cruelty and one has to win. Not with weapons or guns but in the village square with police officers who have arrest warrants. This is how a real king wields his power and wins war with the animals.

The Number is 12736, ויבןל‎ ‎‎, vivanel, "v is for vanilla." Bad, very bad.

Flavorings are impure. One cannot add a flavoring to a pure concentrate and avoid sin. Flavorings, like the belief that God wants women to do very little but give birth, is a flavoring. This is not what He said.

If one is behaving in a way that is not in concert with one's tendencies one has added a vanilla flavoring, which is why eccentricities in certain activities, however are encouraged. A Nsh or a King must be understand what is a flavoring and what is not.

v. 7: Your officials will be captured. The Number is 15476, י״התעו, yethit'o, "You are mistaken."

Read the Law one more time, then watch the news, and you explain how this world, which has been whipped up into a religious froth, could possibly believe in the God that wrote it:

Do not plot harm against your neighbor, who lives trustfully near you.

Nebuchadnezzar will put you to death. I the Lord have spoken. Now you know I think the lower classes around the world, every Jew, Muslim, black person, gay person, immigrant, women, anyone being harmed or will be soon by the Republican Party and its antics should fill up cans of gasoline and head to Washington DC and haul those assholes out of their fancy townhomes and offices and set them on fire. I am not apologetic about this. But this will not look good in the history books which must demonstrate how the lawyers and the courts must be motivated to protect us, and this because God said we must be good to each other. When we are not we must at least protect each other from the rest.

The Number is 11088, יאיאף‎ח‎, ye'ir‎ch, "the soft ones."

In order for the soft ones, the individuals for whom society has the greatest significance to work, sometimes you have to hit back, you have to hit back hard.

God tells Jeremiah the little people will hit back, there will be revolution, then chaos and death if the King cannot exercise his role properly. Self-government is another way to explain kingship in the Jewish religion and the Law is the first way one shows it. It is verily also the cure for leprosy, belief in the wrong things about God.

The final Gemara is דס‎טףטףדרךויבןלי״התעו‎‎יאיאף‎ח‎, "The way to the end." As I stated above, to be the King one must know the end game, and this is found within one's desire to be just and fair and sweet to all beings. First, by learning how to end all sin within the Self.

[seraphon-the-god-of-peace]

1. Supreme Harmony Manipulation

The ability to impose order and balance on any chaotic situation.

Can neutralize conflicts, stabilize environments, and even heal broken dimensions.

2. Reality Stabilization

Counters reality-warping by grounding and restoring the original state of existence.

Immunity to reality-bending powers, making chaos futile in their presence.

3. Absolute Creation

The power to create perfect worlds, systems, and beings that resist corruption.

Unlike chaos, which destroys, the God of Peace can manifest eternal and indestructible creations.

4. Universal Restoration

The ability to repair anything, from shattered realms to wounded souls.

Can undo entropy, reversing destruction caused by chaos.

5. Absolute Willpower

Immunity to mental manipulation, illusions, or madness-inducing effects.

Exudes a calming aura that shields others from chaos-induced insanity.

6. Omnibenevolence

The power to inspire love, compassion, and unity on a universal scale.

Entire armies or civilizations can be swayed to lay down their weapons in the presence of the God of Peace.

7. Perfect Probability Control

Manipulates probability to ensure harmonious outcomes.

Chaos becomes ineffective as the God of Peace can guarantee beneficial and stabilizing events.

8. Elemental Mastery of Balance

Control over all elements in perfect harmony (fire, water, earth, air, light, and shadow).

Can extinguish chaotic storms or cleanse destructive energy effortlessly.

9. Temporal Mastery

Full control over time, able to rewind, fast-forward, or pause chaotic events.

Prevents chaos from ever occurring by altering timelines to their most peaceful versions.

10. Eternal Protection

An indestructible defensive aura that nullifies attacks, even those from a God of Chaos.

Acts as a shield for allies, protecting them from harm and disorder.

11. Empathic Domination

The ability to feel and influence all emotions, calming rage, fear, or hatred.

Can disarm even the most violent entities by making them experience ultimate peace.

By singing

12. Order Over Free Will

Unlike chaos, which disrupts free will, peace can unify choices for a common good.

Can harmonize all conflicting wills into a collective purpose.

13. Anti-Entropy

Directly opposes decay, ensuring perpetual growth and renewal.

Creates a force of eternal sustenance for life, rendering chaotic destruction moot.

14. Cosmic Unity

Can merge opposing forces into a cohesive whole, using chaos itself as a tool for creation.

Transcends duality, making peace not an opposite of chaos but an ultimate resolution of it.

15. Enlightened Aura

Radiates a field of pure enlightenment, dispelling ignorance, confusion, and hatred.

Drives away chaotic forces simply by existing in the same space.

16. Immortality Through Transcendence

Exists beyond time, space, and physical form, making the God of Peace invulnerable to all forms of attack.

Their essence is eternal and omnipresent.

17. Ultimate Resolution

A final ability that can end any conflict, force reconciliation, or erase the source of discord entirely.

This power cannot be countered, as it operates on a level beyond duality.

Other abilities:

Universal Harmony Travel

The God of Peace can effortlessly traverse any universe, timeline, or dimension.

They do this by aligning themselves with the fabric of existence, opening portals or simply stepping into another reality without resistance.

Their presence brings immediate calm to chaotic realms, stabilizing even unstable multiverses.

2. Mindful Unity (Mind Control Ability)

The God of Peace doesn’t forcibly dominate minds but subtly influences them, aligning thoughts and emotions toward peace and understanding.

Their power can:

Pacify aggressive thoughts, making warlike entities cease hostility.

Unite fragmented minds and heal mental turmoil, rendering chaos-induced insanity powerless.

Create an overwhelming desire to protect and follow the God of Peace, rooted in admiration and respect rather than fear.

3. Divine Charisma (Ability to Gain Followers)

The God of Peace exudes a divine charisma that inspires unwavering loyalty and love.

Their presence fills individuals with purpose, drawing followers from every corner of existence.

This ability works on all beings, from mortals to gods, fostering alliances even among enemies.

They can establish universal faith, their followers willingly spreading their message and creating harmonious civilizations in their name.

[almaqead]

"The People of Jonah." From Surah 10, Surah Yunus, "The Dove."

The Mormons have openly confessed to having colluded with the Ayatollah of Iran and the Russians to attack Israel, the Capitol, Ukraine, and other strongholds of freedom around the world. The PM of Slovakia, that schmuck in Georgia, Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and his Republican Party are now out in the open they intend to use the resources of 17 million Mormons and the wealth and power of Exxon, Walmart, the Marriott Corporation, the Kochs, the Trumps, etc. to challenge the will of the God of Israel wherever His Sovereignty yet reigns.

Wherever these people go, there is corruption, war, murder, poverty, rape, incest, porn and drug addiction. And have you seen the Joe Blows hanging out in Gaza with handlebar moustaches like Turkish coffee wallas? Hilarious.

And not woof. They are officially on the New Ayatollah's shit list. And you know what that means.

About this, Allah have us...a Surah:

10: 92-109:

Today We will preserve your corpse so that you may become an example1 for those who come after you. And surely most people are heedless of Our examples!”

Indeed, We settled the Children of Israel in a blessed land,1 and granted them good, lawful provisions. They did not differ until knowledge came to them.2 Surely your Lord will judge between them on the Day of Judgment regarding their differences.

If you ˹O Prophet˺ are in doubt about ˹these stories˺ that We have revealed to you, then ask those who read the Scripture before you. The truth has certainly come to you from your Lord, so do not be one of those who doubt,

and do not be one of those who deny Allah’s signs or you will be one of the losers."

Indeed, those against whom your Lord’s decree ˹of torment˺ is justified will not believe—

even if every sign were to come to them—until they see the painful punishment.

If only there had been a society which believed ˹before seeing the torment˺ and, therefore, benefited from its belief, like the people of Jonah.1 When they believed, We lifted from them the torment of disgrace in this world and allowed them enjoyment for a while.2 

Had your Lord so willed ˹O Prophet˺, all ˹people˺ on earth would have certainly believed, every single one of them! Would you then force people to become believers?

It is not for any soul to believe except by Allah’s leave, and He will bring His wrath upon those who are unmindful.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Consider all that is in the heavens and the earth!” Yet neither signs nor warners are of any benefit to those who refuse to believe.

Are they waiting for ˹anything˺ except the same torments that befell those before them? Say, “Keep waiting then! I too am waiting with you.”

Then We saved Our messengers and those who believed. For it is Our duty to save the believers.

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity! If you are in doubt of my faith, then ˹know that˺ I do not worship those ˹idols˺ you worship instead of Allah. But I worship Allah, Who has the power to cause your death. And I have been commanded, ‘Be one of the believers,’

and, ‘Be steadfast in faith in all uprightness, and do not be one of the polytheists,’

and ‘Do not invoke, instead of Allah, what can neither benefit nor harm you—for if you do, then you will certainly be one of the wrongdoers,’

and ‘If Allah touches you with harm, none can undo it except Him. And if He intends good for you, none can withhold His bounty. He grants it to whoever He wills of His servants. And He is the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.’”

Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “O humanity! The truth has surely come to you from your Lord. So whoever chooses to be guided, it is only for their own good. And whoever chooses to stray, it is only to their own loss. And I am not a keeper over you.”

And follow what is revealed to you, and be patient until Allah passes His judgment. For He is the Best of Judges.

Allah's will has been revealed. No more need to be patient. All Muslims, People of the Dove, whose belief in God is firm, must be free of harm. This is God's Dictate. Even still so many Muslims are being harmed. Those who would harm a Muslim who are not one of the servants of God must be scorched from the earth.

There is no such thing as Atonement while evil men like Charles Mary, the Mormons, Republicans, Iranians, Russians and Chinese are permitted to flaunt the law, the Quran, or tyrannize the Mosque.

From this the Truth has come. Allah does not want to keep us. Let's make a trophy case of the cocks of the wrongdoers, unite Israel, and live out the rest of our days in the blessedness of Masjid.

Thus ends the Surah. Let the Ijtihas begin.

Governors and governments that do not adhere to the United Nations Charter and Declaration of Human Rights can be litigated against. All crowns, governors, and public officers must follow these rules.

Muslims of the world need this kind of political power. They aren't going to get it if they don't meet and discuss the ramifications of proper secular governance to the success of the Masjid.

[surv1vrd]

regeneration  healing  factor  :  Users  possess  a  regenerative  healing  factor,  meaning  that  they  can  rapidly  heal  and  get  restored  to  their  optimal  and  full  health/state  at  an  extremely  fast  rate.  Unlike  Healing,  regeneration/healing  factor  is  a  process  that  happens  unconsciously  without  the  need  for  activation,  resulting  in  a  constant  state  of  optimal  health.

Regeneration  is  a  process  that  occurs  in  all  biological  entities,  but  a  regenerative  healing  factor  is  much  more  efficient,  seamless,  and  powerful.  So  much  so  that  users  can  recreate  lost  or  damaged  tissues,  organs,  and  limbs,  sometimes  slowing,  or  even  stopping  aging,  something  natural  regeneration  can  never  accomplish  (or  does  so  extremely  slowly).  The  rate  and  amount  of  healing  vary  widely;  some  can  regrow  missing  limbs,  others  must  put  the  limb  back  in  place  for  rapid  regeneration.  The  user  is  generally  in  very  good  physical  shape,  as  their  bodies  are  constantly  reverting  to  a  healthy  state,  granting  them  nigh-inexhaustible  stamina  and  vitality.

The  regeneration  process  also  increases  the  speed  of  processes  the  body  uses  in  the  healing  such  as  endorphin  production  to  mitigate  pain  reducing  the  amount  of  time  and  severity  the  subject  feels  discomfort  leading  to  an  increased  pain  threshold.  Other  processes  included  are  the  production  of  adrenaline  and  the  fight  or  flight  response  which  are  greatly  extended  by  the  increased  recovery  leading  to  increased  physical  performance  as  the  subject  gains  elevated  strength  and  energy  while  also  able  to  push  their  bodies  harder  due  to  decreased  sensation  of  pain.

At  higher  levels,  a  user  can  regenerate  not  just  their  cellular  tissues,  but  also  their  DNA,  undoing  genetic  mutations  and  breakdown,  as  well  as  maintaining  one's  youth  by  extending  telomeres.  If  advanced  enough,  the  ability  will  cause  the  body  to  cease  aging  as  the  cells  are  regenerating  and  dying  in  equilibrium,  granting  a  form  of  immortality.

life-force  absorption  :  The  user  can  absorb  life-force/energy,  vitality  and  health,  while  removing  it  from  the  source,  into  their  body  and  use  it  in  various  ways,  gaining  some  form  of  advantage,  either  by  enhancing  themselves,  gaining  the  drained  power,  using  it  as  power  source  etc;  either  temporarily  or  permanently.  zavi  needs  it  to  re-energize  herself  after  her  body  heals  itself.

immortality  :  Users  possesses  immortality,  a  state  where  one  has  eternal  life  and  is  undying.  They  never  age,  are  completely  self-sustaining,  free  from  all  bodily  necessities,  and  can  survive  virtually  any  kind  of  harm,  remaining  immune  to  all  forms  of  decay.  Any  damage  done  to  the  user  would  either  be  regenerated  or  simply  remain  non-fatal.  As  a  byproduct  of  having  everlasting  life,  users  may  have  an  infinite  reservoir  of  life  energy  that  fuels  the  dynamic  system  of  their  immortality.  zavi's  ability  for  immortality  is  tied  to  her  regenerative  healing  factor.

super  strength  :  Users  are  glaringly,  obviously,  and  unnaturally  stronger  than  their  race  because  their  capabilities  are  pushed  beyond  the  natural  level  and  superior  to  most  supernatural  beings  in  their  verse;  making  them  immensely  stronger  than  normal  members  of  their  species  (in  that  'verse)  can  be  achieved  by  any  method  of  training.

Depending  on  the  users,  they  are  capable  of  lifting  from  massive  vehicles  to  large  airplanes  and  able  to  lift  massive  boulders  and  locomotives  with  ease.  Their  high-level  immense  strength  enables  them  to  overpower  users  with  peak  human  strength  and  enhanced  strength.  Users  are  capable  of  tearing  through  the  strongest  metals  with  their  bare  hands  like  paper.  Offensively,  depending  on  the  users'  strength,  they  can  send  opponents  flying  several  miles  away,  create  cracks  in  the  lithosphere,  or  release  a  force  of  energy  equivalent  to  nuclear  weapons  upon  an  entire  city.

super  agility  :  Users  of  this  ability  are  several  times  more  agile  than  what  is  naturally  possible,  being  capable  of  dodging  projectiles  that  move  several  times  faster  than  light  due  to  physical  abilities  such  as  balance,  motor  coordination,  reflexes,  speed,  etc.  Therefore,  users  could  be  considered  one  of  the  fastest  beings  in  their  universe/verse.

psychic  immunity:  The  user  is  completely  immune  to  any/all  psychic  phenomena  regardless  of  its  nature  and  origin.  Their  mind  cannot  be  controlled,  damaged,  read,  influenced,  emulated,  altered,  detected  or  communicated  with,  forcing  users  with  telepathic  allies  to  rely  on  alternate  means  of  long-distance  communication,  usually  via  technological  or  magical  devices.

Simply  put,  the  users'  mind  cannot  be  entered  or  affected  in  any  way,  making  them  perfectly  immune  to  any  mind-related  effects  and  abilities.

superhuman  reflexes:  Users  have  glaringly,  obviously  and  super/unnaturally  superior  reaction  speeds  over  other  beings  in  their  universe  because  their  capabilities  are  pushed  beyond  the  natural  level,  making  them  able  to  react  faster  than  regular  beings.

[newnevermind-sanity]

The Matriarch by the time everyone meets her is a shell of her former self.

She, unlike the other witches, does not have a great amount of power. She can sense power extremely well, knows the type, where it belongs, can even trace it back to gods and pale beings alike, but she herself is not nearly as attuned with using magic. Her children far outmatch her. Her strength however is in being a guide, in having a fierce, big personality, in being able to wrangle all of these butterfly children into studying less their powers cause mayhem and catastrophe. She tries of course to give love to each one, but she stretches herself thin. They all know their mother is trying of course, and they all respect her at the very least. Most of them do love her, and try to support and help her as much as they can.

Once her wings were a bright lilac colour, she could fill an empty ballroom with her presence. Her voice carried the authority of her title and she was the perfect example of a being who may not be the most powerful, but knew how to interact with gods and pale beings, and how to hold sway over them with her children often used as threats or as bargaining pieces. (By threats I mean: if you fuck with us, my kids are going to destroy you. And by bargaining pieces I mean 'I can ask my kid to help you but you need to do something for them.' That sort of thing.)

But then she lost Vera.

Before this, everything was going alright. There was no need for any Witch Hunts as no one violated the order. All of her children were off on their own pursuring their magic and their lives. She feels it however, the moment Vera is sealed away. Not dead, no it doesn't feel nearly as final, but she lost all contact with her child. Of course she demands the butterflies go and investigate, and all they find are the complete ruins of Vera's sanctuary. The void is dead still, there is nothing but death and signs of a war Vera and their bugs clearly lost. Enki, who is the first on the scene due to proximity (as she was close by helping a certain godling who unwillingly got into a fight with his sister he didn't win) discovers the Dream Seal on part of the voice, but when they call Priscilla to perhaps undo the magic, she doesn't answer.

Deep down they all suspect it, but no one wanted to say anything. Surely the eldest of them could not have been involved with this. Surely it had to have all been the Radiance, right? Their fears grow however when it becomes clear Priscilla abandoned her mortal body, and was adrift in dreams. There is no concrete proof however, and so they mark her as missing as well. When attempting to brute force the seal open, the void only roiled and lashed out, causing them to have to abandon their efforts.

The youngest butterfly, and the eldest, both missing or beyond their reach. Of course the Matriarch grieves.

In the time between the fall of the sanctuary and when Vera is fully revived, two witch hunts occur. One is a tragic tale: a witch of disease named Sabit finally flew too close to the sun so to say. She found a strange rot that seemed to infect the mind before rotting out the body. Rust, she had called it. Unfortunately despite precautions and working closely with Enki, Witch of Lifeblood, to keep her shell fortified, she became infected herself, and her powers and natural resistances could not fight it off. As she fell into madness and attacked Enki, she broke the Do No Harm rule. Once everyone knew of the situation, they all decide to hunt her down and put her out of her misery.

The second Witch hunt was against a witch of Time. He, Avere, was warned against even studying it in the first place by the Matriarch herself. It always ends in madness, in delusions, in disaster. He's able to convince her that he could handle it. Unfortunately, the loss of his three siblings made him attempt to change the past. He attempts to intervene with the Sabit situation first, but no matter what he did, she would always become infected. He even tried to intervene directly, but he immediately found his sister did not approve of him attempting to change fate, shouting at him how dangerous it is and causing him to flee.

The Matriarch finds a letter that she swears wasn't there in her dresser before. It's from Sabit, who had snuck into the home in order to not cause any more disturbance in the timeline before returning to her studies of Rust. It was a warning of what Avere was trying to do. By then, Sabit's death already had happened, and the Matriarch immediately calls back her children. Avere does show of his own volition, thankfully, and they don't have to devise a way to get him back into their current time. Athena, witch of truth, is very quickly able to get the story out of Avere. The Matriarch is of course furious, and shouts at him for so recklessly trying to change the timeline just to save his sister. That sort of thing had to happen in much bigger crisis, when there is no other choice, not to undo the death of a loved one.

Avere is enraged, shouting back at his mother despite her being in the right. He could not understand how she would not wish her children back and well. The argument escalates, and something happens that no one expects, no one is prepared for.

Avere uses his powers to see into the future, and with that knowledge of how people would react, he lunges for his mother. No one will ever forget how she screamed, the ripping of her wings as he tears them apart in his fury. No one forgets how easily he dodged them all with that foresight, how he tore up her face, how he tore into her shell before he was finally stopped and pulled off of the woman. It all happened so fast, not helped by his powers to speed up or slow down time around him. Enki and Fjord , Witch of Soul are scrambling to save their mother's life, while others brutally murder their brother for attacking the woman.

The Matriarch survives, but she's never the same again. Grieving the loss of four children, and dealing with the trauma that one of them tried to kill her along with the loss of her wings, she begins to slowly deteriorate. No longer is her voice big and booming. No longer can they see a smile. No longer does she dance and sing.

This only gets worse as she gets older and her body starts to fail in other ways. Fjord and Enki are the only reason she still lives, but her colours start to dim and dull.

But then one day she feels a spark, a tug, deep in her soul. For the first time in ages, Athena watches her mother suddenly bolt up into an upright sitting position, eyes wide, feeling a shift deep within the earth that used to always be there and had now awoken once more.

She dares not hope. The link is so weak, barely there, but it's active. Vera is active again. Not nearly to the power they were, but it's there. It's there...

She weeps, telling Athena what she just felt. She still doesn't hope for anything more. Just this sign alone was more than she could've asked for.

The link slowly gets stronger, and stronger as Vera regains memories and some of their strength. Athena is witness to her mother's reaction as Vera is finally fully revived by Ghost as they finally find their perfectly preserved body. She watches her mother softly gasp, drop the spoon she was holding and stare into nothing for a moment before hearing a breathy laugh coming out of here.

"They're alive." The matriarch finally manages out after a moment, "Vera. They're alive."

And the Matriarch weeps, this time in pure joy. Athena swears some of the colour returns to her wings in that moment. Sure enough, soon they could hear Vera's call from across the home, asking someone, anyone, to get to them in Hallownest. Athena goes, and brings back the news that Vera is alive, recently revived, and they needed the butterfly council as soon as possible, and wanted to see their mother when possible.

It's the happiest Athena had ever seen her in centuries.