#A soverign for your thoughts

[seeker-ophelia]

Hjmmmk I have more big feelings about this so prepare yourselves:

#Long Post

Grab Your Tin Foil Hats, Kids!

OK lets REALLY break this down.

Ancient Elven Writing “His crime is high treason. He took on a form reserved for the gods and their chosen, and dared to fly in the shape of the divine. The sinner belongs to Dirthamen; he claims he took wings at the urging of Ghilan'nain, and begs protection from Mythal. She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him."

This guys name is now Sinner.

Sinner commits “high treason.”

What high treason is, gets explained – it is “taking the form of the divine” – we believe this to be turning into a dragon.

*What the verbiage “The Divine” means can be interpreted one of 2 ways:

A) the divine meaning a divine shape, a shape that is common to all of those that are divine (the Evanuris), OR,

B) The Divine, like the shape is unique to The Divine (title), like only Mythal can turn to a dragon.

Either way…

You would THINK

That a FOLLOWER OF DIRTHAMEN, God of KNOWLEDGE, would KNOW, that he is NOT ALLOWED to turn into a dragon, regardless of whether it is the shape of the Gods (plural), or a Mythal-only shape.

Let’s analyze THIS line:

He… begs protection from Mythal. She does not show him favor, and will let Elgar'nan judge him."

Why, why would it say she does not show him favor? If he took the shape of the Gods (plural) in vain, its literally her job to judge him.

Codex entry: The Judgment of Mythal Whenever one of the People wronged another, they would not call on Elgar'nan to avenge them, for his fury would destroy all it touched. Mythal saw this bring strife among the People, and went to Elgar'nan; she offered to deliver justice when the People warred amongst themselves. Elgar'nan saw her wisdom and agreed, binding all to abide by her verdicts.

But she denies Sinner judgement, implying either; the offense to her is so great she cannot stand it (Option B), or she cannot show him favor because she already favors him for some other reason and so would not be a fair judge.

Either way, she hands him over to the guy who is going to judge him too harshly.

So, what does dear old dad Elgar do? One would think the crime for high treason would be death. What’s a punishment worse than death?

Well, if we’re talking about Option B (offending Mythal), How about a lifetime of servitude?

Let’s remember that there are statues of wolves everywhere in the temples, they were not a late addition, Solas did not become the wolf after all the gods were gone, he became the wolf while everyone was still around. He became The Trickster ™ after the fall of the Gods. And if you look at where the wolves are in temples and such, they’re at the entrances, like a guard.

What if Elgar decides to rip Sinner from his servitude to Dirthamen, and instead binds him to the service of Mythal, the Goddess he offended so greatly she couldn’t do her job. Tear off Dirth’s vallaslin, and slap on one for Mythal. Its not so much about shape changing, because if Pride was Wisdom, he can do that on his own (Pride demon eyes=fen’Harel eyes). It is about changing ones purpose. Maybe Elgarnan gave him Purpose. Or Protection. Or Command. Or Faith (in Mythal). Or Justice. But whatever he cursed/gifted Sinner (Wisdom) with, it changed his purpose and that spirit manifested as a solas-fen, fen’harel.

Maybe he’s even stuck in wolf form, he can’t change out of it, and follows Mythal around like a puppy for a few hundred years before she decides he might be more use to her as a full elf.  

I think that the line “she does not show him favor” is really important here, because it will mean one of two things. My option B, where Solas was some random slave and took the form of Mythal-Dragon, or Option C, he was already important to her.

Option C we just simply cannot explore right now. We don’t know how they met, we know they were close, we don’t know Solas’s origin story.

But.

It is interesting where we get this codex, IN Mythals temple. This Codex entry is found in Ancient Elvhen Glyphs (revealed via veilfire) to the right side of a statue of Mythal. We can only decode it if it is the Inquisitor who drinks from the well.

SideBar: Abelas tells us Fen’Harel had nothing to do with “Mythal’s murder,” “She was betrayed by those who destroyed this temple.” Solas says, Ma'las 'a'melin ne ha'lam, Abelas. I hope you find a new name. Maybe names are like curses, placed upon ancient elves with their vallaslin, as Solas (Pride), knows only too well. Or maybe, the naming-people-for-their-backstories is a Mythal thing.

The Codex glyphs are found on the wall to the right of a statue of Mythal - mythals left side. The Left Hand of Mythal.

Hm…

Left Hand of the Divine If the Right Hand of the Divine is her blade in hand, then the Divine's Left Hand is the one concealed in her sleeve. The Left Hand is the Divine's shadow agent who enforces her will through methods that might otherwise blemish the Divine's name.

The Left Hand of the Divine. The shape of the divine.

I don’t know. Co-winkey-dink?

I don’t knooowwww.

Can it also be a coincidence that the reward for completing The Temple of Dirthamen is a shield called Dirthamen’s Wisdom?

I don’t knoooowww.

wolf form thots

this is old news but ive been thinking about this awhile. the general hairlessness/mangey look of solas' wolf form that we saw forever ago in that one trailer reminds me of how the werewolves looked in DAO (save for the werewolves not having tails). like based on this img it seems like the wolf form has hair on its head/face and then has either shorter fur or no fur on the rest of it (save the tail, which we can't see in this pic but 99% sure solas has it b/c of the murals)

and then the cursed werewolves had a fur pattern like this

i just wonder if there's any relation, if the nature of solas' wolf form is similar to their curse (some people theorized ghilan'nain may have cursed solas with the form but i can't remember who/when/where), or if its the other way around and their curse mirrors fen'harel's visage in some way because of Zathrian's (and the dalish's) view of him?

its interesting also b/c the curse is tied to a spirit (witherfang) and theres a lot of speculation about solas originally being a spirit/demon. solas phd havers is this anything

[psychopomparia]

Thinking about how the aquatic serpent leviathan mascot that Marius Von Hagen has as his animal mascot/family crest looks like Neuvillette if he were in his dragon-like form.

Like, you can't tell me that doesn't look like Neuvillette. Same white color with the purplish-eyes. It's an aquatic dragon-esque being

Now look at the design for Marius's family crest and Neuvillette's constellation

"ancestor to the dragons...water serprent."

I just found it like a funny connection I made in my head at 2 am. Marius is so special, that he gets a leviathan as his assigned animal motif.

[breezysuffers]

[HI WARNING FOR THE NEW PM VID OKAY I WARNED YOU BAI] okay so Asset and James are in death (and James isn’t really James)

massive speculation under the cut

think about it, El’aetum doesn’t sound like El’aetum, and the whole voice effect thingie kinda just sounds like the Drove

Other than a few specific instances [david HBS22 and that one non cannon Damien vid] we haven’t heard like moving water sounds unless Death was in the picture (i.e like every brachium audio up until like 3 weeks ago)

Asset doesn’t recognize the terrain that they are in, they couldn’t be in Aria, and they aren’t in the facility.

In Soverign State, the reason the meridian looks like hell is because Blake fucked it up, but nobody did anything like that this time

in imperium, the meridian didn’t like, originally have any water in it (the only sounds there were the sounds of it crumbling apart)

besides James says “I’m here to save your life” so like, there’s that.

I originally thought that the whole reason James was like “I’m not the James you know” or whatever the fuck is because he got timeloopedtm by the Meridian Avior style or something, but the whole water thing makes me think that somebody just fucking killed him and replaced him

Between his newfound racism, loss of a patience, and bitchiness, I think he might be a rouge Solitare pretending to be him or something. Asset knows about the Solitares somehow, and James seemed concerned about that. So maybe real James told them, but they forgot him?

[rpking99]

Lover Of The Queen And Soverign

Closed with @anime-bxuty

Sinon wrapped her tail around Rita's waist. The Cait Sith archer making sure not to mess with Rita at the control. She thought it be the best way she could hug both girls at the moment. "Reminds me, did I ever move my stuff in?" Hymeno scratches got Sinon to pur, and give a cat like girl; Giving Hymeno a kiss, and squeezing her ass. Playing up her actions as a greedy cat despite only stuck in a cat girl like avatar, "Thought really like it if while Hymeno gets the first round. You help me warm up, Rita" Sinon kissed Rita when the butterfly landed and bent over to tease Rita with the sight of her ass. "as she helps me get the proper equipment."

"You did not. However I had your stuff moved in months ago." Hymeno assured with a slap to the cat girls ass, chuckling to herself as she watched her lovers disemark from the mecha. As she walked off herseld, the queen was already in her doctors outfit

"Of course. I am fine with that." Rita nodded calmly, their tight pants barley containing their plump ass as they walked into the large bedroom

[spikedsoul]

maid's worst nightmare - ch 16

it's a chat with ludwig this time! ludwig is too smart for mc's wellbeing

previous chapters

@soverign-of-succ

You heaved a sigh as you finally finished up Ludwig's room. To your pleasant surprise, he had joined you to help, muttering about Morton being a big baby because he'd crashed his kart after being warned about consequences. It kept you from starting to over analyze anything Bowser did, not that you had literally any idea of the confusion you were instilling in the king koopa.

You had it firmly in your head that he just felt sorry for you and you were content to keep thinking that.

Ludwig, it seemed, had other ideas, and turned to you with an appraising look when the two of you were done. You cocked an eyebrow at him curiously when he didn't say anything.

"So do you like him?" he finally asked, crossing his arms.

"You'll have to be more specific. There's a lot of men in this castle," you replied.

He snorted and rolled his eyes. "You know who I mean," he sneered. "But just in case you try to play dumb again, I mean my dad. Do you like him?"

You blinked, genuinely surprised at the question. Did you like him? Well… to be honest, you didn't dislike him.

You pursed your lips as you sat on the edge of his bed. "Honestly, he's a little more personable than I had been led to believe. I mean don't get me wrong - he was downright terrifying when he kidnapped me, but he doesn't really seem like the ruthless ruler I was told he was. But then, I guess he does intend to trade me off… so I guess the answer is kinda? I don't dislike him, if that's what you mean."

Even so, you'd already been treated worlds better than you could've hoped and that was a very pleasant surprise. But you didn't really want to get into that with Ludwig.

"Are you trying to be dense?" Ludwig growled. "Of course that's not what I mean! I'm trying to ask if you're into him, you thick bitch!"

You winced and looked away from him; hell, right now you liked Bowser more than Ludwig. "Hasn't your father ever taught you how to talk to women?" you muttered. "No, I'm not into him, but I appreciate his willingness to keep… er, a certain person away from me."

Ludwig scoffed, rolling his eyes as he turned away from you. You quietly hoped this meant an end to the conversation.

"The guy he spat a fireball at? Yeah, I noticed. What did he even do?"

Damn.

"He used to beat me up a whole lot," you said bluntly. "If I got him a sandwich that wasbt quite what he wanted, or sounded less than enthusiastic about something, or even just looked at him wrong he'd put his hands on me. If I existed around him wrong, he'd do that to me. Happy?"

Ludwig's shoulders hunched slightly, his tail slightly curling around his legs. For a moment, all he did was look down at the floor, and when he finally glanced back at you he was pouting a little. You met his eyes, keeping your face blank as you basically stared him down.

Unaware it was the same thing Bowser did, you were surprised when Ludwig threw his arms into the air.

"Stop looking at me like that! Fuck, you and dad both! I'm sorry, okay? And for insulting you! That sounds like shit and I get why he did that! But if you're not into him, what was yesterday morning all about, huh?"

You sighed, taking a moment to rub your face before replying, "That's easy, kid. He was threatening me."

"Bullshit," he muttered, "I saw his spikes raise when I opened the door. No way he was threatening you."

You shrugged and stood up, keenly aware of Ludwig's gaze on you. It wasn't your fault you weren't versed in koopa ways! Although you quietly added the fascinating fact that without the shell on, Bowser's spikes could give away his emotions in certain situations.

"Well, then I don't know what he was up to. I was definitely scared - I thought he was going to bite me or something, I dunno. So why don't you tell me, hm?" You sighed, starting to head for the door.

"You really want my opinion?" Instead of sounding skeptical like you'd expected, he sounded… surprised. Genuine. So you turned to him, head tilted, and nodded. An excited look flashed across his face, eyes getting wide for a brief moment, before he hurried over to usher you back to the edge of his bed.

Initially, he reached for your wrist, but he seemed to remember your reaction from yesterday and instead gently caught your hand in his. You smiled a little; that was definitely not something you thought he'd do, and you let him sit you back down. The sight of his wagging tail when he turned to go stand in front you suddenly made the earlier tension a little more worth it.

"You're awfully excited to tell me," you said gently.

"No one ever wants my opinion these days!" Ludwig sighed in exasperation. You weren't sure if he was being dramatic or not, but you nodded sympathetically. "Um, you might get embarrassed, but please don't stop me until I'm done, okay? Promise?"

Damn, you went from hating the kid to your heart going out to him in basically a matter of seconds. It was pretty obvious he wanted someone to talk to, or rather just listen to him, but for whatever reason the others had stopped doing that. And now his pleading eyes and clasped hands were just the cherry on top.

At this point, telling yourself not to get attached sounded like a joke when everyone was so… adorable. Well, the kids were, anyway.

"Alright," you sighed with a nod. "I'm here to listen, Ludwig. You've got my undivided attention."

Ludwig spared just a brief moment to beam before he launched into what would turn out to be a very long-winded theory on what he thought his father had been doing.

Holy fuck, were you embarrassed. Although, to be fair, it was from shame at not realizing that the king had been messing with you, as Ludwig carefully detailed in his explanation.

It became pretty clear that Ludwig was an intelligent kid. He described how, if Bowser’s shell was off, you could tell if he was startled or angry or threatening if his spikes suddenly stuck out, or how his tail might wag if he was particularly excited or happy. If he was embarrassed, he would gruff and chuff and snap. It was a little endearing to learn, honestly. At least until Ludwig went into detail about why he suspected his father might actually like you, even if you never saw him that way.

Apparently, despite his many years trying to steal Peach away to marry her, Bowser had never spent a significant amount of time around a lady that didn’t hate his guts - and even in Peach’s case, it took her years to become even relatively amicable to him, or so Ludwig heard through the grapevine. The longest Bowser ever got with Peach was just a few days before she’d inevitably get rescued.

He was careful to reiterate several times that he wasn’t totally sure it would happen, but that he did suspect it could happen that Bowser might fall for you. You, the trading pawn handmaiden who was unwilling to give her real name.

By the time he was done, you were staring down at your hands. Bowser, potentially falling for his prisoner… it was absurd, honestly. You didn’t deserve that. You barely felt like you deserved the protection you’d get while you were here.

“Uh… Megan?” Ludwig mumbled uncertainly. He moved closer to you, making sure you saw his hands before lightly touching yours.

It took you a moment to remember to look up at him. “Hm?”

“You okay? Did I break you? Sorry…”

You sighed, then smiled a little. “Smart kid, thinking of all of that within a day of meeting me. Um… it’s just a lot to think about, that’s all. But while I’m here, feel free to come talk to me about anything you’re excited about, okay? Even if I don’t understand, I’ll do my best to engage.”

He perked up, looking excited before suspicion caused his eyes to narrow. “...You mean it? No backing out, right?”

“Yeah,” you chuckled softly. ��Promise. I’m gonna head back to your dad now, though, okay? It was an order that I went straight back once I was done here.”

“Yeah, yeah. Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, lady. …You’re a lot cooler than I thought you’d be.” He smiled sheepishly at you as he helped you back onto your feet. “I really am sorry for insulting you earlier.”

You gently patted his shell as he walked you to his doorway. “It’s alright, Ludwig. Water under the bridge, okay? I’ll see you later.” He waved you out and you headed back toward the king’s room… you hoped. The hallways were still confusing, but you were doing your best to remember the exact way back. Only now, you were vaguely dreading spending more time around Bowser just in case Ludwig ended up being right - if he caught feelings for you, where would that leave you? Would he keep you prisoner forever? Would you become his new Peach?

You swallowed your overactive sense of anxiety and forced your legs to take you back to him. Ludwig had also said it might not happen, so you’d have to bank on that - besides, who’d want your broken ass anyway? Certainly not a king intent on causing havoc every so often.

But you’d be a little more careful about how you acted with him anyway, just in case.

[agentplutonium]

EA talk!! I just got back from watching it and I need to speak about it. Thoughts/Theories under the cut <33 (also, this one is a long one guys)

OKAY FIRST OF ALL I AM GOING INSANE. LITERALLY INSANE OVER HERE. okay. now. onto things that stuck out to me (gonna bold the ones I'll focus on later in this post):

"... Abomination. I am authorized to end you." "You're chorus... is giving up on me already...?"

Articulate, answers to the chorus

Hush has telepathic abilities

"Do you have any idea what that freak is capable of?"

"He doesn't know I'm in your head" "We only have one shot" really the difference in tone between this and when Doc wakes up

THE SOUNDS OF HIS MAGIC. THERES WATER SOUNDS IN THAT BITCH. LIKE A GREAT RUSH OF IT.

"I don't know what I want to do with you, I haven't decided yet"

"path of least resistance"

"My name? ... Hmm. That would be rather odd if I didn't have one, wouldn't it? Let's go with... Hush. It's got a nice ring to it."

"I'm afraid I'm a little... new, here."

mentions a lot of people who want him gone

"I didn't want to hurt you. I still Don't think I want to."

"I needed it to act as a focal point. A Conduit. A bottleneck. I used your core to focus the spell song on a single point. Like channelling the entire force of a river through a pinhole and then using that pressure of all that magic to eviscerate Reticuli [...] I don't have a core. i needed yours. I could have silenced his connection to the spell song, but I didn't want his powers to be muted, I wanted him dead." (SCREAMING)

6'6" demon,,, (not hush, but like-)

"did it never occur to you that that demon might have been right? You have no idea about the man you saved. What I'm capable of. What I'm going to do" followed by "and foolish"

"I still don't know what I'm going to do with you. but I like talking with you, so that's something."

"What am I? [...] You're gonna have to be more specific. What kind of magic user am I? It's a simpler question, I'll give you that. As a matter of fact, I'm starting to think there's a lot of things I'd like to give you. If I get the chance" (SIR-)

Not a demon, not a human, not a robot "I'm more, and less."

that bitch disoriented us on purpose with the "complicated answer" Also, there's a voice in there, and it obviously did not feel good for human empowered Doc

"Maybe for now we just stick with that simple answer. maybe someday, knowing me won't have to hurt. Only one way to find out"

"I was put on elegy to do something very important, and there are a lot of people who are in the way of that."

"I don't think I want you to hurt. I don't think I'll like that."

"I'm not gonna wipe your memories. I think I want you to remember me. One day you might look back and think that, saving me was the worst mistake of your life. but here's only one way to find out, right?"

that bitch blew us a fucking kiss I'm dying

OKAY OKAY OKAY now time for me to go into hyperfixation mode.

First and foremost, I'm putting my stance out there: This guy is a sovereign. specifically, the one from Brachium's little journey into the river. The one who said "Death is already here" THAT GUY IS HUSH. I have no proof other than a hunch (that Max helped with), but I'm telling you guys. now as for which one, I have a feeling that (out of the named Soverigns) it's A'Xerahn (Desire, the one who created vamps, for the line "there's a lot of things I'd like to show you, given the chance." (still screaming)) or N'Dellex (Dreams, created Dreamwalkers, Hush, get it?). If it isn't a named sovereign then I still believe he's a sovereign from below the river. listen ARGUE WITH THE WALL I AM RIGHT ABOUT THIS.

Moving on. I want to point out the language that Reticuli used when talking about Hush. Abomination, Freak, "I'm authorized to end you." Whoever Hush is, he has the council worried. He's not like them. They're probably scared. This also hints that Hush has done things in the past to get attention put on himself. He's talking about how dangerous he is, and what he's capable of. it's clear that the chorus knows what Hush is. But unfortunately, that lil conversation doesn't give us much. However, Hush seems to be pretty willing to give information, for the most part.

This brings me to my next point, the things that Hush has said. Hush, for whatever reason, seems very comfortable telling Doc that he wanted Reticuli dead. Not only this, but he tells Doc that there is not an insignificant line of people who want him gone. This man is being hunted, and he knows it. He then goes and warns Doc that maybe Reticuli was right and asked if they considered that. He says that they can't know what he's capable of, or what he's going to do.

Before we continue, I do kinda want to talk about the hints that we get for just what Hush is. He says he isn't human or demon. With that, for a being of power, that is, there's really only two options left, and that is Sovereign or Shade. However, he can't be a SHade, cause even when becoming tangible Shades just simply look a certain way that empowered's are aware of. "Oh but pluto, Sovereign is so out there-" not really, not if you think about it. We are getting an Avior narrative push around the same time that we got a new character. What was Avior's whole plot? El'aetum and Min'ara wanted Starlight to be the middle ground cause something was going down with the Meridian. In Inversion, Brachium met someone who tore a hole in the meridian and let the shades loose (or so I'm thinking). Who got out right as the Inversion was happening? Avior and Starlight. The fact that he doesn't give us his real name, and the endless fucking river references when he's being all mysterious- like it's obvious. Not to mention his "I am More. And Less." line. He is more than a regular empowered because he is a Sovereign, but he's also less cause in his "true form" I'll say, he is not exactly tangible or anything, he is power as a concept.

Okay, continuing on. Hush is a Sovereign. He's powerful. He can do things that others cannot. He got sent to Elegy to do something important, something that others don't want him to do. He's ruthless. And he's cutthroat. And he will do what he has to do to survive... but he's curious about Doc. He didn't know whether to let them go or not in the beginning, only to decide so at the end. He has a soft spot for them. He doesn't want to hurt them, but he will do things that might cause them to hurt. One of the last things he says to Doc was "I'm not gonna wipe your memories. I think I want you to remember me. One day you might look back and think that, saving me was the worst mistake of your life. But there's only one way to find out, right?" and guys. GUYS. I think we have a proper antagonist on our hands. I think we have a real villain. One that's gonna affect more than Docs/possibly Avior's storyline.

I think that's all imma write for tonight, but this new boy has effectively gotten me back into the redacted fandom in full swing. I literally don't know what to do with myself.

[lesbonym]

Yeah you had me at “how about I make this decision nice and easy for you” (which also happens to be the very first line). I’m all yours. That much wasn’t in doubt, but still :3

Please Nym, my Soverign, my Goddex, please make me feel good. I’ll be nice and pliant for you, do whatever you want whenever you want. Please

Maybe I should get some new lingerie, something nice enough to catch your eye, but cheap enough so your pretty knife can slice right through. Or maybe I surprise you, have a brand new knife laying on my bare stomach like a brand as you come home from a long day

Just throwing ideas out there :3

Vampire story should be coming soon

-🐦‍⬛

Mm, good girl. Love that you know that you're all mine. It's never a doubt because we all know that you're mine. I'll make all your decisions that you think too hard on, keep you acting so good for me.

I love it when my baby stays nice and pliant. All wrapped up in the prettiest lingerie. But I'll buy you a new one if I get too eager and have to cut them off. God, but it would drive me insane to get home and see you so ready for me. The thought of you loving so pretty for me with a knife ready, just makes me wanna ravish you.

Edit: I got distracted by the thought of you laod out and knife. But I'm super excited for the vampire story too lmaooo.

[idyllic-affections]

now that youre done with the archon quest; what are your thoughts on how the sinth production was handled? i found it kinda weird how its entire distribution was dependant on just a guys (also its like a cartoonish caricature of a drug, makes you feel amazing but almost immediately sends you into withdrawl too? like how was anyone buying this)

also, what do you think of neuvillette being a parental figure to furina? i've been thinking of making furina focalors' daughter instead of a different version of her. I also think her and neuvi should've been old friends, which is why she trusted him to take care of furina. And i think it would make focalors' death much more impactfull for him

(P. S. happy early anniversary!)

🐌.

man. i have so many thoughts about the archon quest. Probably enough to warrant their own post tbh HAHA

tbh, it was sort of just... there?? i don't have any particularly strong feelings about it, it felt very much like it was there exclusively to serve the purpose of progressing the more overarching plot. which isn't inherently bad. sometimes we all just need plot devices 🙏🙏 that's definitely how it felt to me--plot device-y. vacher didn't serve much of a purpose other than for progressing the plot--making you aware that fontainians return to their oceanid forms when they dissolve, letting you know they CAN dissolve, etc. he was just there to serve the bigger ideas imo

HE SO IS HER DAD IN MY BRAIN MAN. he's all of fontaine's dad if we're being real /hj /lh...... bro loves these people so much that he could never even consider deeming them guilty, and he KNOWS it. god. even though he's a soverign. even when his power was unjustfully taken from him and used to provide humanity with a throne for a god. Idk. hes so. such a gentle and empathetic guy. he really is even if it does not outwardly seem so. he's such a DAD. he's so furina's dad. she reacted so viscerally to his disapproval multiple times in the aq. he is making sure she is taken care of even though she no longer has to play archon. *head in hands* dad behavior. Dadittude.

i was actually quite fond of the whole "mirror me" situation, but this does have it's own appeal too! and focalors and neuvi being old friends would definitely be such an interesting path to explore..... definitely would make her death that much more devastating i think

(and thank you dear <333)

[quicksilverserpent]

Its funny though right because conservative americans who use these arguments they drape themselves in a rhetoric of being independent and freedom loving but the essence of their thought is all about the negation of the individual and their absolute submission to established authority. All people are to be passive drones obediently following their socially perscribed instructions and conforming to their assigned role. None of it for their own benefit but so that we can all be useful to serve the ones higher up the social hierarchy than us and to preserve the integrity of this rigid unequal order. This point of view which shames us for thinking about ourselves at all is so commonplace and normalized is in fact pure evil it desires to eradicate all diversity and nonconformity and shrink any who dont fit into the mold so microscopically tiny we disappear and just leave a hollow shell behind to be filled with thoughts convenient for others. Because to these people we are not important our happiness is not important whats best for us is not important we're infantilized and treated as incapable of knowing what that is. Obviously the only reasonable response to it can be defiantly asserting your own value your own importance your exclusive soverign right to determine who you are and what your life should be to stop "planning" your life and start actually living it taking your destiny into your own hands.

ive read a lot of anti-transition arguments towards people unsure about their gender that basically pose any sort of internal exploration as inherently solipsistic and narcissistic, with the mantra being that to think about your relationship to your assigned sex is already thinking too much; you should be thinking less! go get a job! work with your hands! volunteer for the needy! get involved in your local church! pray! marry! start a family! keep yourself busy, so you can never think about yourself again. maybe if you fill your mind with enough noise, you can drown your own conscience out.

im 100% not exaggerating btw, it's actually kind of madness inducing w how many times ive seen people use this mode of argument, it's extremely common. i think ive seen conversion therapy resources use a similar line of reasoning too. and like, if you are a cis person just trying to keep a closeted tranny in the closet, it works like a charm. you can, in fact, drown a person with enough noise and garbage until they stop thinking about their gender dysphoria or, well, anything. all the better that "i saw the tv glow" addresses it head on in relation to the closeted subject in question; yeah, go ahead, do it. you might be trans, you might actually be in serious danger, but it won't hurt if you don't think. and it will work for you, for years and years, and you'll always find more responsibilities and more opportunities to muffle your thoughts. but, maybe 5, 10, 20 years from now, none of the noise will be enough and it will dawn on you, how seriously in danger you actually are - but by that point you've drowned out your own inner conscience so aggressively that there's nothing there, just more of the static and noise of others and no interiority left to seek refuge in. you've got a job, you've buried yourself in work, you've married and have a family; you've given every part of yourself to others just to preclude the possibility of thinking about yourself, for yourself, and now there's no you.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Dungeon: Menagerie of Lament

Don’t let the howling of our collection bother you, as the canticle of our soverign makes a nest within your skull you will find it becomes a soothing resonance with the screaming of your own thoughts.

One of the many domains of the crawling king, this horrifying demiplane takes the form of a shattered moon and asteroid field hanging somewhere in the astral sea. Though lifeless and barren on the surface, the deep fissures and innumerable crags of these floating rocks have been hollowed out to serve as massive prison for horrors from across the cosmos, ranging from run of the mill aberrations to living nightmares to kingdom destroying kaiju. 

While the Menagerie began as a sacred vault to keep the worst of the multiverse’s horrors sealed away, over centuries the order that protected it became corrupted, falling under the sway of the god of torment and madness and straying from their sanctified path. Now the Monks of Lament (Or Menagerics as they are sometimes called) deal in the monsters they were supposed to contain, selling them off to despots as curiosities or warbeasts, then turning around and using their riches to breed more horrors, or reward hunters across the planes for bringing them more.

Adventure Hooks:

After successfully clearing a monster contract or two, the party are approached by a group of professional hunters known as the Savage-Rationals who recognize their talent and give them an in on better contracts. Ornim, grizzled leader of the Rationals is a valuable mentor to have, as his hard won lessons will likely keep the party alive through the most difficult challenges they face. All is not how it seems however, on some jobs, Ornim receives orders from a pallid and offputting courier, and though those missions pay the best, the Rationals must take extra risks to ensure their quarry (no matter how horrible) is captured alive and delivered somewhere particular.  Should the party get nosey, they’ll discover that Ornim has dealings with the Menagerics, and many of the creatures the party have helped track for him are still alive and waiting to be sold off, rather than being harvested for alchemical components as he’d always said.

While venturing through the cavernous highways of the underdark The party stumble into a caravan of monks guiding a reinforced cage, out on its way to be delivered to some tyrant of the deep. Both groups appear to be travelling in the same direction, laving the party in an awkward position: the monks aren't openly hostile and travelling along with them may provide additional safety through the world below HOWEVER, there’s no doubt that great harm could be done should Menagerics reach their destination, to say nothing of what might happen should their beastly cargo break free during transit.

Though shifting underdark tunnel and teleportation circle account for most of the Monks’ transportation needs, the largest and most dangerous of their inventory requires a special means of conveyance: locked into its own meteor cage and hurled at the client’s world through the astral sea. This delivery method is only so accurate which gives the party a chance to fall back and escape after their current villain delivers a one-two punch of buying a kaiju off the monks and then slamming it into the countryside outside their hometown. The Tarrasque does not qualify for free shipping but boy howdy does it arrive in style.

[writinginsunlitcorners]

Inklings challenge 2022

*CRAZED LAUGHTER*

Here is a snippet from my inkling challenge. I wanted to post from the beginning of the story, but my rough draft is so rough you can’t make sense of it. You miss out on some of my (very mess) world building because I’m dropping you off in the crisis. So here is a quick overview.

This is is set in the fantasy world of Malia, but my world-building is still in it’s young stages and is terrible. Basically this is a world set in a kind of medieval time frame. It is very pagan but there is a new (ish) religion called the Callow’hal which honors the “Hallowed Hosts and the Soverign,” and has been trying to root up the black practices and pagan ideas from the past. But they’re kind of discriminated against and though of as crackpots, and the King’s Royal Guard takes pleasure in tormenting them. They don’t honor their own pagan faith in any real devout way, but they’ve taken a spite to these “Pious Cultists” who they see as taking over the country. Even the the Callow’hal are basically just small people doing small things and they’re not actively trying to take anyone down or physically take over. (By the way, not all the pagans practiced black rituals. The people who practiced that  stuff were like druids. Kind of. That’s the stuff I’m still working out. The rest of the pagans were more like Native Americans meets Rome, very “spiritual” but not “supernatural” if you know what I mean. Juri is a young Callow’hal who is married to a  Nalvi, who believe vaguely in the “gods of the stars” which guide your way and the ‘spirits of the water’ which shape your destiny.

Juri used to be a member of the Royal Guard but he left it because they had become to cruel and greedy. One day he is home with his wife and seven year old son, and a small group of soldiers come to collect “Protection Money” from the town. The Guard are suppose to protect civilians from the Monsters in the woods and mountains, but really they’re just a bunch of goons that steal money and leave the people to suffer with whatever creature attacks them. Juri is the one who protects his town from the monsters, not the Guard. 

When the Soldiers come to Juri’s home and demand money, one soldier tries to touch his wife. Juri defends her and is killed protecting her. Her son, Eilin, also steps up to defend his mother. He is struck down by a soldier, but as he is bleeding the sign of the Hallowed Soverign appears above his head; the three-pointed star. It grows to bright and fearful to stand and the soldiers scatter. Once they’re gone, Nilah prays for help in saving her son.

ANYWAY This thing is really messy and unorganized. I actually VERBALLY RECORDED this entire segment and wrote it down from the recording because I couldn’t make my thoughts flow any other way. This isn’t everything I have, but it’s the only semi-coherent thing. Also, since it was verbal I repeat a lot of names and I’m too tired to edit right now.

 @inklings-challenge I know I am INCREDIBLY late to the party. I almost didn’t post at all because this is some of the the most scattered wriiting I’ve ever done. I wish I could have participate more.

I’m probably going to regret this later but here we go. From where Nilah prays for help.  🙈 🙈 🙈

******************

A voice echoed from the mark above Eilin’s head. “take your son outside and pierce the ground with your husband’s sword.” Nilah did as she was told. She went out and struck the earth with her husbands sword. Instantly, a fountain bubbled up from the earth a, spilling over into a warm fountaining pool.

“Draw your son into the water and bless his head with my sign,” said the Voice. “Life shall return to him, from whence it came.” Nilah did as she was bidden and Eilen’s eyes were opened, and mother and son reunited.

Juri was buried in the town graveyard. There were many mourners. Juri was one of the last great Knights, a man not consumed by greed or arrongance, but driven by duty and respect.

Now, it came to pass that the fountain which had sprung up didn’t not dissipate but remained forevermore. Sick and ailing children could come to it and have their infirmities healed answered. Men and women would come and leave their prayers buried in the earth around the pool, in hope their prayer would be better answered. A shrine of sorts was made there, and even some of Nilah’s own people came, at last bucking their superstitious and praying to the Host who dared to bear the mark of the tree, and the Being who dared take the three-pointed star as his own sigil.

And Nilah herself, who herself had long criticized her husband’s faith as mad, found that she also believed in the Hallowed Host and their Kingdom.

Now, Eilin grew into a great man of tall bearing and merry laughter. As a boy he was always gentle but firm. The younger boys loved him for he could not stand a bully, and the young girls admired his strength and his smile. Then, with maturity of age, came maturity of attitude. His neighbors often called the Eilin the great, Eilin the gentle giant, the oak warrior - for he was larger than most men in bearing, spirit, and courage - and strong as an oak tree. Much like his father in laughter and personality, their was a devotion and kindness in his voice and mannerisms that endeared people to him. He was fearless and would often go into the forest to free children who had been ensnared there.  He fought the monsters who lurked in the trees, the belching reptiles that climbed up from the depths, vomited out from those places desserted since the Callow’hal people had come.

As Eilin grew the demand on his time grew as well. More often trolls and wraiths from the black altars would sneak their way into the forest and the mountains, ensnaring men and women alike. Eilin, bearing his father’s sword, went out to meet them. Some people whispered that such demands were too much for a young man – he was certain to fall into vanity or pride – or worse, he would fall prey to the monsters he boldy faced.

           Yet for all his grandeur he would not join the royal guard however they asked. In his youth he was sent many a letter in the King’s hand. He was offered gold and silver to work for the state. He was begged and entreated. However, Eilin would not answer the messages. When at last, the Steward sent his own guards to claim Eilin, Eilin sent them back with a message of his own.            “I will not serve a sovereign who treats his subjects like slaves. My allegiance lies with Hatha, and the Hallowed that dwell there.”

           With this great rejection, Eilin’s reputation grew. A new name was added to him. “The People’s Knight.”

The Royal Guard’s grew jealous of Eilin and his fame. In their jealousy they became more cruel and vicious than before. They burned homes and attacked people who had done them no wrong – attacked especially those who believed in the Hallowed Hosts. They plundered, killing the men, enslaving the children, and treating the women with shameful disdain. Wherever they went chaos ensued.

Always, Eilin followed in their wake, making right their wrongs, mending what was broken. He became an everlasting thorn in their side, and their jealousy and hatred of him grew.

At last one of the soldier spoke. “Listen to me, my friends. Eilin is a terrible man. Great and tall. Who can bear him? Always he seems only two steps behind us, and when he is not two steps behind he is two steps ahead. He protects those who used to fear us, and with him to defend them we cannot obtain the money we once demanded to give them protection form the monsters in the woods. He gives back anything we manage to still – never can we get our share of plunder. Never do we have enough women to satisfy our needs. Once we had all these lands in our hands, caught in terror of our greatness. Our king was away, his charge on us, and the country was ours for the taking. But now a pompous, self-pious man has crept from the water like some deformed evolution of earth.”

           The men with him said, “aiye,” and “it is indeed true,” and there was much grumbling. The Soldier continued. “Let us call upon some fell beast of darkness and send him upon “The People’s Knight” who thinks himself invincible. Suppose we call upon a monster who will destroy him for us and bring down his foundations. Suppose we destroy his reputation and all he is, humiliate him before the people. Suppose we get rid of this false warrior – this infected ‘oak tree’.”

           And his friends gathered together and agreed to this hideous plot. Now the mastermind of this plot is a fiend and a horror and his name must not be forgotten for it shall be cursed in the lands of Malia, and perhaps at the end of all things all people’s of all kingdom’s shall know and despise it. It has been recorded as Falgo the Deciever, and henceforth we shall call him by this name, that he shall bear the shame of his crime even in his grave.

           Now, Falgo the Deciever and his conspirators banded together to call upon a monster who had long ago been struck down and imprisoned by the Man in White for whom no one had a name – but the Callow’hal honored as a holy ancestor and hero.  The Man in white and his band were pure of heart and mind, warriors and poets, who studied the heavens and thus rejected the numerous ‘gods’ of the cosmos. They believed in the Hallowed and looked for the coming of the new world. Some said they had been blessed by the Hallowed to rid the land of this monster; the great snake whom Falgo the Deciever now set to release.

           In many dark rituals he and his knights kept vigual. The Dark Rituals tainted their minds and souls. Their hatred grew furious, their jealousy shrinking their characters like poison. Now it came to pass that during the night, admist the rituals, several wraiths came to them, drawn by the arts they were performing. Falgo demanded of them the Master, who had long ago ensnared them long ago, and whom they now followed and worshipped. The Wraith’s in their high voices, laughed them to scorn. “The Master only answers to those who will serve him.”

           In their blind jealousy, the soldiers were all to eager to destroy their enemy. They said as one; “We will serve. Ye, even to become Wraith’s like you, if only to gain an audience with him. For it is said of old he brought up a terrible beast of great power who could utterly decimate lands and destroy peoples. We wish to call upon this beast, and have control of it, and use it to take down a dreadful man . He is our terrible enemy, and he is an enemy of your Master as well, for he serves the Hallowed Hosts.”

           So, the Wraith led the soldiers into the Center of the woods, and down a stairway into the depths of the earth. Here, they were presented to the Master. The Master was pleased with their bargain. In his black mind he thought, what fools, what fools, to bargain so much for so little!

           He gave to Falgo the Deciever and his company ten months; Ten to destroy their enemy. He said to them, “Yes I shall call upon a monster and you shall have control over it. It cannot be the same beast which was slain long ago, but it is of the same fabric and long have I worked on it.” And the Master laughed to himself because such beasts were created by malice and hatred and jealousy, and he had all he needed for his monster in the hearts of these men. “In these ten months you will have every chance to destroy the Eilin who has been a sore to you. However, I must tell you that if in ten months Eilin is not destroyed, I will take the Monster back. And you shall serve me evermore.”

           The Soldier’s agreed to this. Then the Master bid them to kneel before them, and he lay his dark hands upon their heads, and cursed them. Then he gave to each of them a ring from his fingers, and taught them words in a dreadful language, with which to control the beast, weaken Eilin, and sew iniquity among the good people of Malia.

           The Master then drew out from the hearts of Falgo the Deciever, and all with him, the darkness which rested in their souls, and fabricated a monster.  It was only a puppet, a shadow with no soul but akin to a machine the black arts could manipulate. It rose into the air, burning and scorching, ready to destroy all in it’s path. It had a great body of writhing mass which could slither like a snake or fly like an eagle.

Falgo the Deciever was given chief charge of the beast, with the others following his charge, able to control the beast to a lesser extent, and able to twist their words so people would grow confused, and brave men frightened.  Armed with darkness the men set out with their prize to destroy their enemy.

Falgo commanded the creature attack the smallest villages first, and the creature did as it was bid. Then, Falgo sent one of his men to feign innocence and ask Eilin for help, and so they would ensnare him.

The man played his part well. He ran into Eilin’s home and fell upon his knees. “Friend,” said Eilin. “Whatever is the matter?”

“Eilin, Eilin, If you were ever a friend of the people, help us now! Our village is under attack by a terrible monster. He will destroy us. You must come, you must come immediately. Help us, Eilin.”

“Show me the way.” Eilin followed the soldier to the door. Quickly he turned to his mother. “Mother, I go to war.”

“Son, I am with you.” His mother kissed him, drawing on his head with her finger, the three-pointed star. “Son, remember your mother. Return to me. Remember the healing that comes here, from the Hallowed.” She offered to him a waterskin. He tied it to his belt, He always took some Fountain Water with him, for himself and other who were harmed. Even a few drops would heal those who were injured. “The Host’s be with you!”

Eilin sheathed his father’s sword and went out. He was not afraid. He had fought many monsters and survived, for the blessing of the Hallowed was with him and had been ever since he was first bathed in the sacred water, drawn out by the sword of his father’s sacrifice. He wore with him his Holy Colors and the medallion, set with a three-pointed star. It was his custom to visit the shrine before an attack and to get a prayer from the Selgate, but the soldiers begged and entreated him, and he left without his visit, and without the Selgate prayer.

He followed the malicious soldier to the first village. He found it burned and destroyed. Many people lay dying. More were seen fleeing for their lives. Some were hiding from the flames which pelted from the sky. Then, he saw the monster.

           A warning sounded in Eilin’s heart.  He knew this was a beast from the Black Kingdom. But it was not like the wraiths, trolls, or mutilated animals which lurked in the woods. This one was shadow and bone, neither living nor dead. This was a cursed beast, a damned impression of reality which the Black Kingdom controlled like a doll. He wondered from whence it had come and how it could have entered this land again when, long ago, the Holy Wit’atal (the man in white) with his band had brought down the same beast and freed Malia from it’s clutches.  

           Falgo saw Eilin coming. He raised up his hand with the ring and commanded the beast. It surged down upon the innocent people, mouth open,  Eilin, brave as he was, drew his sword. He challenged the Shadow in the tongue of the Callow’hal.

           The Beast fell to the earth like a massive serpent, and reared in fury. The holy tongue was to him, like fire on his body. He charged Eilin with terrible speed. He caught him in the coils of his shadowy form, and he enveloped the cold black breathless void into his eyes, and he pierced Eilin’s neck with the spikes which were set on his tale – spikes of icey malice. He threw his prey to the ground and roared in pleasure. Few men could survive hatred’s shadow.

           Eilin pushed himself to his knees. There was blood on his tunic and blood on his knees, but he kissed the medallion he wore and stood again. His horse, loyal beast, stood near. Eilin knew better than to mount him. He said “Stand back, my friend. Wait for my call.” He raised his father’s sword. “Aba!” He cried. “Wit’atal!” And he struck. The blade struck the Beast who lurched back in surprise and fury. Moral weapons were not suppose to trouble him, yet this one had caused pain. The Beast caught Eilin by the neck in his fluid tale and flew high into the sky. He struck Eilin with his teeth once, twice, thrice, and dropped him from a great distance. Eilin fell.

           Before he struck the ground, Falgo had a terrible idea. Suppose the Beast caugh Eilin once more, and with his claws, drove him into the ground and thus ended him in dust, humiliated and broken? Falgo thought with his mind and the Beast respond. He caught Eilin’s body in his shadowy claw and bore him down, intending to make and end of him by teeth and fire, and devour him when dead.

           Caught in darkness, Eilin saw his Father’s face. Wake up, Eilin, Juri whispered urgently. Wake up. And he touched his son’s eyes. Eilin awoke. He saw they were near the earth, moving at a mighty rate. He cried, “Be with me!” and as bravely as he could, he turned in the Beast’s grip, and drove his sword into the claw which bore him down. The Beast screamed in pain and dropped Eilin with only a moment to spare. The warrior fell to the ground and was still. He would have ended then and there, but young women from the village got between him and the beast, and shielded his body with her own, and she was born to the Halls of Light, and the Beast was weakened by her love and fled away to recover his strength.

to be continued....

[pencilscratchins]

back to bother u again but!! could u tell us more about azula and the gf u made up for her? the gears in my mind are clicking and im tempted to write about them 👁

i will literally talk about them until you guys dont want to hear it and then, probably long after (also im sorry bc i think this is longer than the first one SKSK)

- so when sokka notices that azula is flustered by nasim, he immediately makes them go over and talk to her, and he spends the whole time talking about how “into lettuce” azula is.

- - nasim thinks she’s really gorgeous, obviously, and as soon as she opens her mouth and is a disaster-- nasim realizes she’s adorable and starts to flirt.

- - - azula basically shuts down like “fairest advisory, i hath never before tasted lettuce but i am well verse in tea pairings for--” sokkas like “why are you talking like an old timey pauper,”

- they get back to the house and sokka tells zuko about it and zuko immediately is like “well i have to meet the woman who has converted my sister into a human being,” 

- he goes with them the next day and abandons his fiancé as soon as they get there to have azula bring him to nasim.

- they find her and nasim is just like fuckin HUH

- - because from nasim’s perspective; the cute awkward girl who tried to talk to you panics when you flirt back and drags her nice, obviously bi sort of familiar looking friend away. aw bummer she left, but whatever that was fun. next day, shes back and this time; she’s with the leader of a fucking soverign country but he introduced himself as “lee” and he’s just as awkward as she is and my god, there’s two of them.

- - - zukos like awkwardly trynna find out if she likes girls while also trying not to lose his mind at azula breaking down. and nasims just like “how DO i respond to this.”

- while the gaangs out and about that night, azula runs into nasim and nasim asks her out to get tea because azula mentioned knowing about it and nasim’s never really gotten into it.

- - azula accepts because she loves knowing about things, and they really get along; like azulas telling stories about iroh being tea obsessed and making jokes and nasims like… actually laughing which has never happened with no threat of violence?? 

- - - and nasim is really enjoying herself because azula’s really funny and actually listens to her talk about the boring shit nasim’s into like the environment and agriculture and seems like genuinely interested (azula never really got to learn about that stuff since ozai always made her focus on military history)

- they part ways and azula finds her brother whos like where’d you run off to? 

- - when she tells them, sokkas like “thats was a date” and zukos like “lmao no that’s was not a date, you and i did that all the time when you were an ambassador!” and sokkas like “... yeah those were dates,”

- anyway, the rest of the gaang finds them and is like “what are you talking about” so zuko spills the beans which is when they all decide to get involved because azula’s like never dated.

- enter: mischief 

- after a week of them being there and seeing each other a lot between random happenstance and the gaang’s interference, nasim invites them all to go on a tour of her family farm (“however, under no circumstance is the avatar is allowed to come” aangs like “understandable and justified! have fun!”)

- - they go and single-minded azula gets really into the farm work which sends nasim’s heart a flutter because hot girl moving hay, helps cow give birth, error error. 

- - - they meet her family too, who mentions they’ve never seen nasim so excited about someone which the gaang is like “hell yeah you go azula” but then azula is like “oh FUCK”

- because of course, azula thinks that nasim if likes her, that means she doesn’t realize who azula is and as soon as she finds out, she will not be interested so she starts to self sabotage bc like that’s her nature.

- after being ghosted for a while, nasim is like “wtf i thought we had something going” and after azula’s talk with katara, she admits her identity and nasim is like “... and?”

- -  she’s like “i knew who you were since the second time we met.” “how?” “... well, you were with the fire lord, who you look exactly like and your name is azula. hop skip and a jump….”

- they start dating and do long distance for a little bit when their vacation ends and azula heads back to the palace, but azula surprisingly, keeps wanting to go back.

- - she has her own hang ups about abandoning zuko and leaving her old life behind, but eventually iroh helps her get through it (i imagine theyve repaired their relationship at this point and iroh’s apologized) so she decides she’s gonna stay until sokka and zuko’s wedding then she’s moving back to nasim’s town and really gonna give being a person a shot.

- (also, i think katara and aang bring nasim to the wedding as a sweet gift and its then azula realizes “oh fuck we really are friends”

IM SORRY ITS NOT MORE DETAILED im not the best writer, but i would love to see what other ideas anyone would have if you’d ever want to write about it 👉👈

[empirexsin]

in his days, he has orchestrated a careful social circle for marinette. one that consists of her safety, and to hear words about the emperor that do not cease to divide her from him. there are many of those who wish for the emperor to be dethroned, for one reason or another. they say he lacks what his father had. compassion and empathy, the desire to better the welfare of the roman people, and that he cannot see beyond his own desire for blood and power. it is why, often, he incites violence in the coliseum. parading the arena in white armor, as if he has been lowered from the clouds of the gods, himself. as if jupiter has settled him down, each time, to fight wild beasts and gladiators. the roman people appear to love him when he fights. they momentarily forget what actions bestow him as a selfish leader, for they see him, as a powerful fighter. one, that he has encouraged them to call him, hercules. and such a name, they shall call him blindly. the herculean emperor, they shall say.

" i did not think you were designed for the sight of violence " when his eyes catch her line of sight, they are intense. it as if each time he looks upon her, he is diving deep into her soul, as if he may uncover things that shall benefit him, and make her clearer to him, more understanding, less a cloud of fog. it was only two moons ago, the emperor had stood in the colosseum, beneath the roaring sun, while the crowd chanted for their emperor. a spectacle, staged, yet clear in its message of showing the emperor's thirst for dominance. that could never be rehearsed. he had fought against a hungry, ferocious lion, its mane wild and untamed, and its spine had been evident, clear that it was malnourished - thus, to only make it more desperate to bite into flesh. but commodus, is a well versed gladiator, and had struck it down triumphantly, only to raise his arms afterwards to bask in the adoration of the thousands who had chanted his title.

hercules! hercules! hercules!

in the colosseum, he is not merely a soverign, but an unrivaled warrior. each battle, but an event to feed his ego untilt he sun would dip, and his hands would be covered in sand, and blood.

" you hear correctly. i will be fighting " there is a slight taste to the tip of his tongue that is unfamiliar. to inform her of such things, to bring to her attention, more of him outside of the walls of the palace. outside of what small cocoon he has built between them, so that she may only know, and hear so much. " the masses of rome shall come to watch their emperor. it is but a duty to verify that the gods have blessed me with the prowess to be rome's living hercules "

there is a pause. thoughtful. illusive.

" if you come, you may sit in the pulvinar. if you wish to see me, you will see me as i am, not behind crowds that will obstruct your sight "

Speak

closed starter for: @empirexsin

based on: “Speak. Your silence vexes me”

...

Marinette tensed, a soft swallow catching in her throat as she pressed her weight against the distant wall, torn between the endless stretch of horizon and intimacy of his request. Since her performance, she had become ensnared in a delicate ebb and flow of sociability and solitude, drifting between moments of openness and retreat. Most of her days now spent either in the company of Tullia or her uncle.

In Tullia's presence, she had become familiar with women who revelled in opulence, their taste for luxury as refined as their positions in society. Each hailed from a family steeped in prestige, bound by marriages as carefully arranged as the threads of their gowns. In their circles, Marinette learned to decipher the subtle, unspoken language of reputation: subtle nods to those who held sway and murmurs of those who sought it. It was here, amid their whispers and laden glances, that she began to understand the art of influence- how it wove its way through the air, cloaked in grace, veiled beneath the softest words.

With her uncle, however, time passed in quieter currents. Her presence often amounted to little more than a shadow at his side, observing his dealings with business partners. His world was one of stark directness and calculated gestures, where power and alliances were stripped of pretense and laid bare.

Yet, no matter whose company she kept, the nature of her relationship with Commodus remained an unspoken subject. If a curious soul dared to ask, Tullia deftly snuffed it with practiced grace, steering the conversation elsewhere with a polite firmness which left no room for further inquiry. Her uncle, though seemingly indifferent, betrayed an awareness in small gestures- how he had quietly stalled any attempts to marry her off, despite it being her father's intention. The few times Commodus was mentioned in conversation, her uncle remained an enigma offering little more than neutral comments. But one moment stood apart, a brief exchange as they rode in a carriage this morning:

"There are many rumors about Caesar." His tone had remained unreadable. "I will neither confirm nor deny them. But let me offer counsel. What you have seen of him within the palace is only a fraction. To broaden your understanding, you must witness him elsewhere. Commodus is known for his war mentality. You will never see a battlefield, but you can experience a proxy- the Colosseum."

The notion of the Colosseum lingered in her mind. She turned it over, again and again, considering both what she knew of the place and how best to approach it. If she asked Tullia or her uncle to accompany her, she was certain they would say yes, but to go without informing Commodus felt...precarious. As far as she could tell, he did not concern himself with the finer details of her life beyond the palace, though she was certain he knew who she kept company.

"Can I go to the Colosseum?" Her voice was a soft, careful attempt to mask traces of her accent. In a way, she knew she was asking for permission, though she had dressed it in the guise of an innocent query. Stepping away from the balcony, she drew her cloak tighter around her, seeking warmth against the chill of the evening air. "I hear there will be an event tomorrow."

[mxnsterbabe]

Abe Sapien x Reader Pt 2

Pt 1 Abe Sapien/Female Reader NSFW Wordcount: 3,633 Commissions | Ko-fi | Masterlist

Tagged for; @soverign-of-succ, @that-girl-named-alex 

Beware of writer’s first NSFW, incorrect depictions of smut, and a complete lack of proofreading.

++++++++++++++++++++

 You had completely embarrassed yourself, gotten a ribbing from your boss for taking too long, and had to suffer through Liz's well meaning teasing for the entire week. So what did you do? The only thing any sensible person would have; you avoided everyone like the plague. Liz was easy enough to avoid; after all, she was away on missions half the time and the rest of her time was occupied by Hellboy.

Abe, too, seemed to stay out of your way. You didn't see him at all - or at least, not physically. Yet every time you allowed your mind to drift, every time you found yourself with downtime to sit quietly for a few moments, your thoughts inevitably drifted to him. It wasn't even like you were doing it on purpose - but just an hour earlier you had been waiting on lab results, idly scribbling in the corner of your notepad - and thoughts of Abe rose to your mind.

Sometimes they were innocent. Imagining those slender, webbed hands splayed across your shoulder. Or picturing the depths of those beautiful, dark eyes staring down at you. Other times, those thoughts were less innocent. You never allowed yourself to dwell on those ones, for fear he was somehow nearby and knew what you were thinking.

It was stupid, really, to think about him at all. In the end, you were pretty sure you were a nuisance to him at best. Someone he kept accidentally bumping into, someone who kept getting in his way. 

Huffing, you blew a strand of hair from your face and scowled at the specimen on your lab table. Well, specimen was a loose term; it wasn't alive, never had been. The translucent glass container held a swirling mass of bluish fog, twisting and writhing like a living thing. It was some kind of spirit, perhaps something like the ectoplasm within Johann Kraus. Yet so far, none of your tests wielded any results, and nor had the research books.

To make things worse, that beautiful blue was just the shade of Abe's skin; the pale teal and dark, rich navy all curling and blending together-

With a huff, you pushed away from the desk with a start. You needed a break. Staring at this ectoplasm wouldn't get you anywhere, and the cramped lab was driving you mad. You tucked the specimen away in the little metal box that served as its permanent container, shed the lab coat, and headed out.

You weren't paying attention to where you ended up; to be fair, you didn't really care. You just needed a breather, something to clear your head. Maybe you could grab something from the cafeteria, or wander the garden for a bit.

Unluckily for you, your legs didn't carry you to any of those places. Your pace slowed as recognition sparked. You knew these halls, knew the big arched doorway up ahead. The library.

Why did you always end up here?

With a scowl you spun, intending to head right back the way you came - but then you saw a flash of blue from the corner of your eyes. Too late. Wincing you edged away, hoping the dimly lit hallway could hide you, or that you could dash away when Abe turned away.

Yeah, you were never so lucky.

He spotted you immediately, eyes widening in what you assumed was surprise. No wonder, after the way you ran from him the other day. Your cheeks flushed at the memory, but if he noticed your embarrassment he didn't comment. Instead he inclined his head, lips tugging into a frown. "Are you here for the library?"

Just his voice, so rich and calm, made your heart flutter. "N-no," you stuttered, only to wince. Smooth. "I mean, uh, I'm just passing through."

"Hmm." Abe blinked, secondary eyelids shuttering sideways as he regarded you. "I have some books that might interest you. Stop by, when you have time."

Books? Your instinct was to slip off, to make some terrible excuse to run all the way back to the lab. Yet you hesitated. Interest piqued, your chest hammering against your chest, you considered the fact that he was the one inviting you. "I can spare a couple of minutes," you replied - unwilling to admit that you had ended up here completely by accident.

He led you into the library without saying a word; you trailed behind, admiring the expanse of his bare back. The first time you met he had been wearing a black t-shirt - but you couldn't deny how much you were enjoying him shirtless. Those strange blue-black designs carried on past his shoulder blades, his spine, dipping down to his hips and beneath his trousers.

Abe halted abruptly, nearly causing you to run right into his back. You jumped away before you could, and he turned to you with amusement in his eyes. "Apologies," he murmured - and was that a smile? Stepping aside, he allowed you full view of the collection of books stacked on the little coffee table in the corner.

"You got all of these for me?"

A shrug, a smile quirking at the edges of his unique lips. "They were favourites of a... a friend. She isn't here to enjoy them any longer, but I'd be delighted if someone else got to enjoy them."

The way he said friend, they way a frown twisted his features, made you think there was more to that story. Pushing those thoughts aside, you glanced down at them, and warmth settled in your chest. "And here I thought you couldn't stand me," you joked, "you went to an awful lot of effort for someone you don't like." Drifting a hand across the topmost book - an old, leather bound thing with gold lining - you couldn't deny the grin that spread across your face.

Yet when you looked up, Abe was frowning. Somehow even that looked charming, with his enormous eyes and the delicate set of his lips. "What made you think that?" he asked, and you recognised the nervous flex of his hands. Was he trying to read you? Or trying not to?

Lips pursed, you let your gaze dart aside. "Well, I don't know," you admitted quietly, "when we first met you seemed to think I was a nuisance, and then ever since I've somehow managed to make an idiot of myself."

He didn't reply, not at first, and it made your stomach sink. Had you done it again? But then you heard a laugh - little more than an intake of breath, really, and from the corner of your eyes Abe relaxed. Well, relaxed as much as he seemed capable of. "This entire time, you thought I harboured ill feelings for you?"

"Well, yes."

"Ah." He stepped forward, closing the distance between you. Reaching out with webbed hands, he paused before actually touching you. He didn't need to touch you to use his abilities, but the hesitance was cute. Frown still etched into his features, he said, "I never disliked you, although I can see why it might have been seen that way. I-" huffing quietly, he considered his words, "you remind me of someone I used to know, and I... I didn't know how to deal with the feelings that brought."

"This person," you replied, "is the same one who loved these books?" Your eyes darted to them, then back to Abe. His dark gaze was captivating, but his thoughts were a mystery. How unfair, that he could read you so easily yet you couldn't do the same.

His nod was all the confirmation you needed, but you didn't dare ask what had happened to her. 

"You were close," you concluded, features scrunching. It shouldn't have mattered, shouldn't have been relevant at all. Yet you couldn't help the spark of jealousy that rattled through you. "So, those feelings you didn't know what to do about; have you figured it out?"

There was hesitation there, his dark eyes stormy. Yet there was something else there too, a warmth you hadn't noticed before. It made your stomach coil. Then, his hands finally found yours. "I believe I have."

For a moment your mind blanked. Your hands nestled perfectly in his, like they were meant to be there. His skin, although cool, was softer than you would have thought. You traced the dark lines that decorated his skin and found them lightly raised, like natural tattoos. You hadn't known how much you wanted this - needed it - and the revelation left you breathless.

"I hope you know this isn't just because you're like her," Abe murmured, "you're wonderful in your own right too-"

"Ruining the moment here, Abe." Your eyes flickered up, a smile curling your lips.

You wondered if he was able to blush - and your question was answered as his cheeks coloured a soft purple-red. Eyes darting down, he admitted, "I'm not afraid to admit I don't have, uh, much experience with this."

"Well," you started, "this would usually be around the time that we kiss."

His gaze shifted upward, his smile so adorably hesitant it made your heart melt - and then you kissed him.

Abe's lips were impossibly soft against your own, and it lit a fire inside of you. Hooking an arm around his waist you pulled him closer, eyes slipping closed as he responded in kind. He didn't taste of anything and it was strange, your anatomy not made for each other - but he was so gentle and sweet and your bodies fit so well together that you didn't care. You got lost in him.

He was getting braver, you realised through your muddled brain. One hand gripped your hip, digging into the fabric of your skirt seemingly without conscious decision. His lips worked against your own, needy and desperate as he clung to you. It was like he had forgotten how to breathe.

Finally you were forced to pull away, pulse roaring in your ears, breath leaving you in short gasps. Your cheeks must have been scarlet - and Abe's own had turned that adorable shade of muddy purple. A smile curled at the corner of your lips as you reached up to trace your fingers alone his jaw. "I'm loving the enthusiasm," you murmured, "but is the library really the right place?"

Cheeks darkening, Abe's eyes flickered away. "Perhaps not," he answered, and his voice was so breathy it made your chest stutter. He was beautiful like this, all wound up and nervous. So unlike the calm, collected man you had first met; but this change was welcome.

"Maybe we could continue this somewhere else," you urged, tilting your head toward the door. You could barely hear yourself over the steady thud of your pulse, nerves and excitement all mingling into one. Gentle hands slipped down to take his, revelling in the way he leaned into you.

"If you're suggesting what I think," Abe murmured, "I'm not sure-"

"We don't have to, if you don't want to."

He blinked - then broke into a wide grin. Lips brushed against your cheek as he said, "that isn't what I meant. I was simply going to suggest your room might be more comfortable."

"Oh." And well, who were you to turn down such an offer? Beaming, you leaned up - and only now did you notice how tall he was - to pepper kisses along his jaw. The way he shivered underneath you made your stomach flip. This all still felt like a dream - but one you would make sure to enjoy ever second of.

Together, you slipped from the library and, hand in hand, made your quiet way to your quarters.

You had thought the wait might have dulled the desire - but if anything, creeping through the silent halls only made you want him more. Warmth pooled in your torso as you cast him a side-eyed glance, a giddy feeling rising deep within you. You were like a pair of teenagers sneaking around like this, and you hadn't felt so eager in a long time.

By the time you reached your quarters, scanned your keycard and went inside, that warmth had spread through your entire body. You weren't sure how much longer you could ignore it.

The door slid seamlessly shut behind you, and the lights flickered on automatically. Your room was basic - you hadn't bothered to unpack most of your personal effects yet - but there was a luxurious Queen sized bed waiting for you. Perks of being senior staff.

Turning to Abe, your hands reached out for him. One cupped his angular cheeks; the other splayed across his chest. He didn't look it, but Abe was all muscle, and you couldn't help the way your hands trailed along his abs. It was strange, how perfectly smooth his skin was, but you found yourself craving the feeling of him beneath you.

In more ways than one.

"So," you murmured, "I'm usually more of a wine and dine kind of woman - but I've been waiting for this for a long time." Longer than you were willing to admit. Longer than you even realised. Just thinking about it made you shiver, heat coiling in your stomach.

His eyes, dark like the depths of space, flickered to the bed. One arm wrapped around your waist, pulled you close - but that was as far as he went. 

"Nervous?" you teased.

"Yes."

The blunt honesty threw you for a loop - but within moments you were grinning, reaching out to run gentle fingers along his collarbone. Standing on your toes, you managed to press a kiss to the corner of his lips. "You've never..?"

His eyes met yours, blinking slowly. "No," he admitted, "I've never... never gotten this far before." The admission was simple, void of any sort of embarrassment, but he couldn't quite hold your gaze nonetheless.

"But you want this?"

Eyes dark, he smiled. "More than anything."

Well, that only made you even more eager to show him a good time. You kissed him again; hungry, desperate, not caring how you looked. You had waited long enough, the desire rising until it almost spilled over. If he wanted this too, you were done waiting. Arms looped around his neck, you tugged him close, closer, until there was simply no more room between you. 

Soft lips melded against your own, tentative at first, but then meeting you with eagerness to challenge your own. Abe's slender arms scooped you around the waist, fingers digging into your hips as he deepened the kiss. Lips parted, his breath was warm against your skin. Inviting you.

When you bit down on his lower lip, he groaned. It was so unlike his gentle, soft voice and it left you reeling. Your mind was quickly scrambling, muddled with desire, and before you knew it you were towing him toward the bed.

You collapsed onto the mattress together, limbs tangled and lips still locked. Kicking off your shoes, hands scrambling at Abe's solid chest, you couldn't remember a time when you had felt so good. So right.

His hands found the hem of your shirt, tugging lightly. Asking for permission. You might have laughed, if you hadn't been so busy nibbling at his lower lip. "Take it off," you mumbled against him.

And so he did. Your bra joined it moments later, and he was already working at the zip on the back of your pencil skirt. Silently you cursed your choice in clothing - but his deft hands worked fast. Then Abe sat up, eyes trailing across every inch of your skin, and his look was so reverent it left you speechless.

"You're beautiful."

Flushing darkly, you didn't try to fight your smile. "I guess?"

He huffed, letting his hands trail down your hips. You had always liked them best, and the way his nails skimmed across your skin was sinful. There was just one issue. "You're still clothed," you noted, gazing at him through lidded eyes.

He glanced down, like he had somehow forgotten. Then with a nervous smile he said, "then help me get out of them."

There was no way you could turn down that offer. You shifted until Abe was underneath you, straddling those narrow hips as you helped him shimmy out of his clothes. You weren't subtle in how you touched him, palms flat as you touched every inch of available skin. You had often wondered if his dark markings carried all the way down - you were right. The lines were thinner, sharper, but they indeed curved across his hips, the inside of his thighs. Tossing the trousers into the growing pile, you worked his boxers next. With them gone, you were free to admire him in his entirety.

And oh, he was gorgeous. 

Yet as you let your gaze - and hands - trail across his body, you noticed something strange. Between his thighs, where you were currently perched, was completely smooth. Even stranger was the way it made you shiver in anticipation.

"I'm not built like a human," Abe supplied from beneath you. His eyes were lidded, breaths heavy as he spoke. Already he was completely unravelled, and it sparked a burst of excitement within you.

"How do I..?"

Rather than reply, he showed you. Guiding your hands, he trailed a finger across his pelvis, dipping down to between his thighs. Then Abe shuddered beneath your careful touch, and he was revealed.

Oh, so that was how it worked. You fought back a shiver of your own at the sight of him, heavy against your palm. Any other time you might have marvelled at the anatomy, your inner scientist going into overdrive - but right then, all you could think about was how good it felt.

If the way he writhed beneath you indicated anything, he felt just the same.

"I'm all for foreplay," you murmured, dipping down to lock your lips with his, "but I've been waiting a long time. If I have to wait any longer I might implode."

He laughed against you - nervous, yes, but his eyes sparkled as you pulled away.

You were the more experienced one, but your heart fluttered at the sight of him. You stroked him lightly, loving the way he groaned in appreciation, but you were telling the truth. You couldn't wait any more. Guiding him to you, you bit down on your lips to hold in a stuttering gasp. When he slid into you, you did gasp, eyes squeezing shut. 

Beneath you, Abe arched his back, hands clutching your hips so tightly you just knew they'd bruise. One hand pried free to explore your body, skimming over the curve of your waist, your stomach, before settling on your breast. He squeezed - and at the same time his hips snapped up, a low groan leaving his parted lips.

"Might want to slow down," you murmured - but words were becoming difficult. You couldn't focus on anything except the warmth blooming throughout your body, at the sensation of Abe's cool skin against your own heat. With every thrust you let out another gasp, sweat beading on your forehead. Legs going weak, you were forced to brace yourself, hands splayed on either side of Abe's waist. 

Despite your warning he was thrusting faster, sloppy and inexperienced but no less fantastic. He filled you up so beautifully you couldn't think, hands roving across your body like you were some kind of goddess. And oh, the noises that left his lips only fuelled your fire.

You were seeing stars. "Shit, babe," the words slipped from your mouth without thought - but you were too enraptured to care. Fingers curled around the bed sheets as his hips continued to arch. 

"I-I think I'm close," he stuttered, voice breathy with exertion. 

"Me too," you murmured, chest heaving. You kissed him then, fierce and bruising, lips parted as you forced yourself to breathe. It wasn't the sweet, sensual kiss from earlier but something desperate, something fuelled by the heat in your core and the building tension in your gut.

Abe's hips faltered, hands clutching the softness of your flesh as he let out a muffled, stuttering cry. 

Heat spread through you as he came - and you weren't close behind. You called out his name, hardly even aware of it, your mind nothing more than a dizzy haze. Panting, heart thundering against your ribs, you let out a breathy laugh as you collapsed beside him.

Abe didn't speak. You didn't think he was able to, eyes still closed in pleasure. Yet he managed to roll onto his side, hands seeking you out, to tug you closer.

"That was amazing," you murmured against the crook of his neck, "I'm beginning to think you lied about this being your first."

One eye cracked open, shy smile playing at his lips. It seemed, as he cooled down from his high, that the sweet nervousness had returned. "I wasn't-"

"I know," you replied gently. You brushed a hand across his forehead, fingers tracing the pattern of his dark markings. You too were beginning to cool - your thighs were sticky, bare skin chilly - but you didn't have the heart to care. Snuggling closer, you revelled in the way he held you. Like you were something precious.

You lay like that for a long time - or perhaps it only felt that way. Your eyes grew heavy, lulled to sleepiness as Abe traced circles on your waist; as if apologising for the bruises that would surely sprout tomorrow. "We should talk about this. Us," you muttered - but already you were fighting back a yawn.

"Tomorrow," he promised, and his own voice was thick with sleep, "but for now, can't we just enjoy this?"

You were hardly going to argue with that, so you simply tucked your head into the crook of his neck, and let sleep take you.

[gayregis]

what are your favorite hcs for the hansa?

canon universe headcanons... sorry if these turn out slightly angouleme-centric or regis-centric...

angouleme being trained by milva in archery, because milva learned that she had starved for a good amount of her past and wanted to give her the tools so that she would never have to starve again. the fact that she struck her with the belt weighed on her still, and she wants to have a better relationship with her because she’s just young and she also reminds milva of herself when she was young, but angouleme makes it so damn difficult because her favorite thing to do is get on milva’s nerves and milva can’t ever respond by being unfazed... so milva thinks she’ll do what she knows best and what how she and her father had a good relationship... teach her to shoot. it goes well... they talk... once angouleme has the basics, they go out once a week to the caoberta woods to shoot. angouleme isn’t great, but she’s not too bad, and ends up shooting some pheasants, which she’s quite proud of. 

cahir and angouleme being trained by geralt in swordfighting. geralt one day tells cahir he wants to train him, at first cahir is slightly offended and starts listing off times when they have fought side-by-side and he’s held his own perfectly, that he was an officer, that he has already been trained well... geralt agrees, and then gets to the point - he wants to train him specifically to be able to counter a witcher’s attacks, because ciri doesn’t know that cahir has joined geralt’s company, and when she sees him again, his other hand might also lose the use of two fingers, if he’s not careful. cahir pales a little, nods with resoluteness, and agrees, thanking geralt. angouleme joins in on occasion just because she doesn’t want to be left out and also all of the hansa members who are swordfighters need constant training to ensure their skills don’t get rusty. geralt at first is apprehensive for angouleme to join because he’s afraid that she’ll remind him too much of ciri and it will destroy him, but it turns out that this is one of the activities that actually allows him to notice more differences between the two and separate them more in his mind, since their fighting styles are extremely different and he as a professional can assess that. cahir’s training is helpful for him because all of his previous training was grounded in nilfgaardian techniques and thus propaganda, the only thing on his mind was seeking honor for his family and recognition for his valor. now, he trains not for the honor of his family, but just for his family, for the people he cares about... and also, for himself, not the concept of a country...

the only people more nocturnal than teenagers are vampires... angouleme arrives back at the palace in the middle of the night, around 2 to 4 AM, sneaks in stealthily... goes in through the kitchen, thinks she’s got it made, since no one’s up... she’s halfway through when regis coughs softly, to let her know he’s there... he was just sitting in the pitch dark, reading and drinking tea, when she happened to sneak in. cue a sapkowskian witty exchange of words, in the style that yennefer and fringilla exchange words at the lodge meeting in baptism of fire, where they dance around a concept and a hypothetical. “it’s good for you that i’m human, and because i’m human, i can’t see at all in the dark. but were i able to see, i might see a girl sneaking in from committing petty crimes, with shock on her face as she’s just been caught.” angouleme is snarky at first but then through conversation realizes that regis sincerely isn’t mad at her for sneaking out and isn’t going to admonish her or tell geralt who would likely ground her. they have a small conversation, angouleme sneaks back up to her room... sleeps in the next day. this continues occuring, except these times angouleme actually looks forward to regis being there when she gets back so they can talk. and she can tell him about the various exploits she got up to, brag about what she did, because unlike the rest of the company, regis doesn’t have that human-society instinct to scold a child when they’ve been sneaking around and stealing stuff and getting into danger. it’s good for her to be able to tell someone, not only so she can get validation, but also because if something goes wrong... if something got too dangerous... she’d have someone to tell about it. which does happen eventually...

milva tends to roam around toussaint because she dislikes the atmosphere at the palace... it’s snooty, it’s stuck-up, and they always talk nonsense. add this to the fact that they’re all posing as noble lords and ladies undercover, and you’ve got a cocktail for disaster... milva fears opening her mouth and saying something deemed stupid by those in the court, and blowing their whole cover. so she chooses to walk through toussaint, and since they have a good source of money, she goes to the shops and bargains and talks to the shopkeepers. she also hunts in the caoberta woods and sells what she kills, not out of survival, but out of habit and not wanting to let her skills rest. what she didn’t expect was that the entire female population of toussaint have never seen an archer lady before, a woman with such nice biceps... cue lesbianisms. milva doesn’t recognize that half of the entire city is flirting with her, until angouleme tags along with her one day to visit the fletchery, and almost bursts out laughing at how thirsty this fletcher woman is and how oblivious her aunt is to it all.

geralt is highly intimidated by the duchess and misses dandelion. everyone in the hansa likes to roast dandelion for bedding the duchess. it’s good fun, but they never do it when geralt is within earshot (earshot is quite a long distance for a witcher), because he’s jealous and begins to pout if they mention dandelion and the duchess in his company. geralt on occassion bemoaned how dandelion wasn’t at the breakfast table, but then stopped because he was repeating himself... this worried the company, so they all pleaded with dandelion to wake up earlier so he could have breakfast with them. one day geralt walks downstairs for breakfast and dandelion is sitting there, he can’t decide whether to enter the room or just skip breakfast for the day, when the hansa spots him and invites him in. he grumbles a little “i thought you were in bed with her enlightened ladyship...” but doesn’t say much else... how do you talk to your best friend when you haven’t seen them in a month? breakfast is awkward and geralt leaves early. the hansa is quiet, dandelion knows he’s offended geralt because he’s always so damn sensitive, and lightly chases after him to the stables. there they have a genuine conversation about the marriage, one with less haste and one with less shock and anger... geralt explains that it’s not about him being happy for dandelion but rather about dandelion leaving him and the company... dandelion admits he didn’t realize it was about that, he thought geralt was fine now, he didn’t need his company anymore because he had gathered a company and was sitting in pure safety in beauclair, with fringilla vigo, no less... that he didn’t need to be there anymore, he has others... but it’s not about how many he has, it’s about who he has, and he wants dandelion’s company, too... he still needs his company, even though he has others’ now, even though he’s not alone and even though his arm and leg aren’t broken and he’s not sleeping in a soverign forest nation of dryads.

geralt and regis’ garden meetings are comically interrrupted every time they’re about to discuss something important or intimate. geralt is just about to speak about his feelings about yennefer, and a man runs past them chased by a furious duck. regis is about to discuss exactly why he feels so committed to humanity, and angouleme interrupts them with a shout. after they stop being bothered by whatever it was, neither of them feel confident enough to re-pursue the topic at hand.

angouleme bothering everyone when they first meet in tower of the swallow and realizing she hasn’t bothered cahir yet... halfway through she realizes this guy’s a fuckin lawful goodie-goodie , starts pestering him about that... she mockingly asks if he’s ever been to prison, he just softly responds "i spent two years isolated in the imperial citadel under maximum security for treason,” and leaves it at that. the entire company is silent and it’s awkward as hell... but angouleme is impressed and concedes, says they’re not as different as she thought, is glad to be travelling with him... he smiles and nods. the rest of the company exhales.

regis cooks a lot and he’s genuinely a good home cook. it helps that he has expertise in spices and herbs, and can also touch searingly hot metal with no ill effects. milva will drag in prey that she hunted early that morning and he’ll cook it. the palace chef is glad to have the day off on these days. regis also teaches angouleme to cook because she kept watching intently when he chopped green onions. angouleme also gets pretty good at cooking, one day she wants to make cookies with cahir. cahir is like “are you sure you know how to do this” and angouleme’s like duh obviously i’ve been learning so yeah. she does everything extremely well until it’s time to take the cookies out of the oven and she forgets to put mitts on and burns both her hands because guess who is such a great visual teacher.

angouleme also exploded an alchemy lab when regis was teaching her principles of alchemy but it was ok bc he tossed her out before the explosion and subsequent lighting of the lab on fire happened. he just stands there in the fire like “don’t worry you did great!"

the palace in beauclair has a hall of mirrors like the palace of versailles has IRL. regis cries a little every time he walks past (not EVER through) it.

the company once was walking through the streets of beauclair together. a dog came up and started viciously barking at regis, no one knew what to do. angouleme started barking back at the dog. it actually worked, it scared it away and then she yelled at its owner

this is more canon than headcanon but the company sits around the kitchen table to talk almost every night. and they use the kitchen as their space to hang out and meet with one another, if they’re feeling like they need company, they’ll just head downstairs and sit in the kitchen, and wait for someone else to show up... it’s a foolproof plan, or at least, it was, until fringilla also began to bide her time in there, and cahir was unfortunately the first one to find this out when he went downstairs. it was even more awkward for him specifically because after he faked his way out of that situation by saying he just wanted to get a snack, fringilla said “assire says her greetings” just to fuck with him just as he was walking out of the door

fringilla realized regis was a vampire really late in the game. about a week into dating geralt (and having regis piss her off) she’s just like excuse me geralt but i have to tell you. regis is a vampire. and geralt’s like... thank you...? for that?

fringilla also gets on milva’s nerves more than anyone else, more than angouleme because angouleme only gets on her nerves out of pure joy. fringilla does it without being being intentional, or in fact being intentional about it but not betraying that it was intentional. she asks around milva’s insecurities and whatnot, tells her that there’s this great book she read and wants to recommend milva... while knowing that milva is illiterate because she read her mind and found that out. but to her surprise, milva actually thanks her and takes the book. milva is freaking out later because she dosn’t know why she fucking did that, and goes to the company for help. they offer to read it for her but she declines, and instead demands they teach her how to read it herself. she has a week to do it, because she said she’d give fringilla back the book in a week. cue everyone losing their shit because they want to help milva but are terrible teachers. regis wants to start milva off on the continent’s equivalent of plato, while cahir is busy referring to his nilfgaardian-common dictionary. somehow she succeeds and when fringilla smugly asks her what she thought of the book, she gives her honest opinion. it wasn’t a very good book, she says this in her own way, you know, it’s not some academic book review, “the guy who wrote this makes shitall sense” and such. she’s extremely proud of herself but doesn’t show it as much as she feels it.

geralt completes many contracts and at breakfast, just as he’s about to put his feet up and sit around the palace for the day, he is visited by multiple representors of various noble houses, who are being crowded by palace guards, trying to get them out of the palace’s kitchen. geralt shoos the guards away and asks what this is all about and why it’s so urgent. they all give varied witness accounts of a giant bat flying around last night during the full moon. everyone at the table glances at regis and then immediately breaks their glance as to not raise suspicion. geralt makes an appointment with them all to meet them after breakfast... regis just butters his bread and says deadpan “i hope you get to the bottom of this, geralt”

modern au headcanons

pizza orders: milva - chicken and ranch, regis - mushrooms and whatever with basil, cahir - prosciutto and feta, angouleme - hawaiian pizza

starbucks orders - milva - cold brew no cream, regis - passion fruit tea, cahir - macchiato, angouleme - caramel frappuchino

regis drops angouleme off to soccer practice or whatever while blasting bauhaus

“milva said it’s my turn on the xbox” between angouleme and cahir

"uh mom made green beans” tiktok except it’s angouleme coming into cahir’s room to tell him regis made green beans

[prometheanglory]

🖊Xuehai 🥺please and thanks!🥰🥰🥰

if not for marian’s intervention, xuehai would actually have relatively tanned skin and dark hair — but also, xuehai would be pretty frail (if not dead, first and foremost.)

he is constantly using his mana, though, not entirely consciously. his body is sort of a walking hotspot of mana and his burning of mana makes for a very chilly atmosphere around him. he is emitting much more mana than usual at NRC because he is not at all fond of the heat 💀 walking AC unit

despite hating the heat and excessive warmth, he actually really likes hot teas and hot foods in general

he’s got a bit of a reputation back home for being a troublemaker prince. not that he’s slacking or not taking his duties seriously, but in that he is so headstrong that it’s hard to persuade him to do (or not to do) things sometimes.

elaborating on that last point, he’s got the tendency to break out of the palace and do work around the city just because he wants to and because he can. it can take the guards and some members of the court a while to convince him to go back...

when i think of his UM i think of him gradually building up to it on top of his constant mana burning going from a simple cold aura to the ground visibly freezing as his blizzard summoning begins. i don’t think the typical ‘softness’ of a snowfall can be found here. ice pillars errupt out of the ground at his will and icy winds blow and snow stings your skin and well. that’s just how the soverign’s wrath goes, isn’t it. it can be a very overwhelming experience, depending on how heated (nice pun) he is.

he’s very picky (but shockingly well-informed) about a variety of things, ranging from ocean tides, tea leaves, to philosophers and their works.

his demeanor, when the temperature doesn’t make him feel like ripping into a man, is much more say, roguishly charming in a noble way? is that a good way to put it? he’s very bold, spirited, and charismatic — but politely sharp enough to still entertain the mood as opposed to his usual very gruff and curt mannerisms.

his braid is a cultural thing. most citizens in the polar crests are expected to have a braid — be it singular or multiple braids, but it is mainly an old tradition that symbolized their devotion to their families and out of respect for their environment (life is very intertwined. take care as to continue that weaving and to not disrupt it carelessly). a long braid that is very neat and maintained is very praised, it supposedly shows ‘good character’ and a willingness to maintain the self.

i don’t know how to describe his physical capabilities outside of freight train. he’s not operating on the same nimble basis as some — but he’s got a lot of power and force behind his style that doesn’t need to rely on much agility and flexibility.

xuehai isn’t actually sure if he’s done growing yet. you’d expect at least marian to know but. oops. (the tailors of the city are rubbing their temples at the thought of it).